Having watched the others busy themselves for some time, the man in the quasi-military jacket eventually puts down his cup and folds his hands on the table before him.  "I am Atreyus.  I'm a capable scholar and a magician of some small reputation.  My purposes in coming here are probably fairly similar to that of the rest of you - I wish to see what has not been seen by so many eyes before me, to line my purse with great treasures of arguable prior ownership, and...to test my strength against what opponents the world may offer.  Something to which I am sure not even the most delicate of us will entirely demure."  He smiles tightly and continues.<br/><br/>"I have always hewn tightly to the philosophy that we are what we choose to make of ourselves.  So, for that reason, the prior origin or distant past of my companions is a matter I consider little of my business.  In short, I'm happy to have you if you'll have us."  He nods to Elda.