Colgrave listens respectfully to the others, nodding with appreciation at both his prospective allies' demonstrations of their respective talents - Karananak's swarm-shifting and Thalin's simple charm (which, he feels bound to confess, makes his own abilities in that field appear rather pale and amateurish by comparison).
Easing himself to his feet, he bows to the master of the house with an elaborate flourish of his hand. "I am Colgrave," he repeats once more for the employer's benefit. His opal eyes shimmer and flash as he surveys the assembled company for a moment. A checked serpent noses out from his sleeve and winds its way up his arm to coil around his neck, its scales a brilliant blue. He strokes it absently with a fond hand as he speaks.
"The Mournland, hmm? No place for a pleasant jaunt, of course, but then you were clear enough about the perils appertaining to your proposal. I have a few caveats relating to the precise intent and details of your scheme, which I should like to enquire about in due time, but for now let me say that in broad outline I believe I should be agreeable enough.
"As for my own qualifications, I'm tolerably well versed in the arcane; I fear I've always had a remonstrable proclivity for parlour tricks -" here he interrupts himself to flick his seal high into the air, where it promptly vanishes with a little wink of light; the next moment a little bundle of violets appears there and falls into his waiting hand, tied with a silk bow. "-and if one indulges such regrettable whims for long enough, sooner or later one is bound to pick up some more practical applications. First and foremost I am a creature of deception and chicanery," he concludes with a wry smile of self-deprecation, "but I am not incapable of the odd application of brute magical force, when the situation calls for such."
He holds his violets up to his nose and sniffs at them before immolating them instantly with a wave of his hand, leaving only a wisp of sweet-smelling smoke. In their place the metal seal is back, spinning between the fingers of his hand once more as he takes his seat again.