Ollan inclines his head in a brief nod at the group's request for usage of the room. "Right up the stairs and to your right. I'll tell the others you've arrived once they return."
Upstairs, the sitting room is of moderate size, capable of accomodating perhaps some two dozen individuals. Glass doors with drawable curtains for those seeking privacy mark its entrance, and inside a number of padded couches and chairs are scattered throughout the room. Against the western wall is a small table, upon which rests a vase filled with local flowers. Two large windows are set into the far wall, allowing light to enter the room and providing a fair view of the street below. At the center of the room is an long oval table ringed in chairs. An inkwell, a large map of Breland and a half empty bottle of wine rest on it, evidence, perhaps, of the previous occupants.
Some moments after the group settles themselves, a waifish looking halfling girl makes her into the room, and, smiling sheepishly, deposits a tray laden with snacks and ale at the edge of the table. The girl departs as quickly as she arrived, leaving the party alone in once more in the room.
It is perhaps a half hour before the group is disturbed again. A party of four approaches the room's glass doors, their leader, a regal looking Elven male, his hair the color of raven's feathers and his lean form clad in a fine indigo doublet and dark gray pants wastes no time in gently pushing them open. Following almost immediately behind him is a man whose contrast of pointed ears to otherwise human facial features mark him as a half-elf, his short, thick red hair hanging over one eye at a rakish angle. The two pulling up the rear are a hulking Shifter male, his dark hair worn in a multitude of long braids that hang to his shoulder and a tall, sharp eyed, brown skinned and dark haired human female garbed in well worn leather. The familial resemblance between the first two is enough to identify the pair as Izril and Arlas to all present. The other two, however, are familiar only to the men they once served alongside. Edaura Masvidel, the commander of the Iron Ravens outriders, and Nakaz, one of the infantry captains under Captain Ranos.
"Hmph. Only ten so far? A weak showing." Nakaz grunts. The Shifter nods a greeting to Galec before snatching a handful of wafers off the food tray and shoving them into his mouth.
"We don't even know how many of us were invited, Nakaz." Edaura points out. "Even Izril said as much, and the Captain's letter to him gave him specific instructions. Where is the Captain, anyway? Didn't Goran go looking for him years ago? How come we've heard nothing of that?"
Edaura's words elicit a snort and a headshake from Arlas. "I ran into Goran last Sypheros. Unless the Captain is at the bottom of an ale flagon in Lower Dura, Goran won't be finding him anytime soon." Arlas responds dryly. The half-elf's mood shifts quickly, however, and a smile soon plasters itself across his face. "Nevertheless, its good to see so many old faces in one place again!" he pauses. "And some new, I see." He remarks, glancing at Wen and Horat. His gaze quickly darts back to Ixen. "...You're the Seren boy, aren't you? Olladra's Eyes, you're bloody huge now. How in the name of the Sovereign Host are you here? We all assumed you returned to Argo.....your homeland." He manages.
Before Arlas can continue his greetings and well wishes, Izril interrupts him. "It is as Edaura said. There is much to discuss, and much that needs answering. For now, let us attend to questions. I've explained something of the situation to these three. I will gladly answer any questions my old companions have, but first, I would like to know who you are, newcomers, and what brought you here. I do not doubt the Captain's reasons for making you a part of this, but I would prefer to know more of you before we undertake this task."
Nakaz
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A Beasthide shifter by birth, Nakaz grew up in a small village in the Eldeen Reaches, untouched by the ravages of the Last War. That is, until a Thranish infantry unit decided to requisition food supplies from the hamlet, and when its inhabitants refused, set it aflame. Nakaz and the village's other warriors attempted to resist, but were eventually driven off by the superior arms and training of the Thranish soldiers. Homeless, Nakaz wandered Khorvaire in search of an opportunity for revenge, eventually encountering Captain Dhakken Ranos and his ragtag Iron Ravens. Seeing the vagabond warrior's plight, Ranos offered the shifter a place amongst the Ravens, but not after thrashing him soundly when the enraged Nakaz attempted to assault the Masvidel siblings (Edaura and Sarim) out of loathing for their Thranish heritage. Nakaz soon proved his worth to the unit as much through animal cunning and sharp wit as his terrifying strength and battle prowess.
For the most part, Nakaz is terse, impolite and entirely uncivilized despite years spent in human company. He is, however, nearly fearless and incredibly protective of his own, and has rescued numerous members of the Ravens from certain death on the battlefield. He has also proven himself a capable commander when the situation demands it, though he prefers to defer that role to others more suited to it, such as Edaura or Izril.
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Edaura Masvidel
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The daughter of an exceptionally devoted Paladin of the Flame, Edaura grew up in the shadow of an even greater religious fervor than most Thranes experience. Differences in opinion between Edaura and her somewhat overzealous father drove her to flee her homeland at the age of 16, taking her brother Sarim, then a young initiate of the Silver Flame along with her. Keen eyes, deft hands and her consummate skill with the longbow (which her father had instructed her in the usage of since childhood) earned Edaura service in the ill-fated Greywolf Company as a scout. Two years later, When the Greywolf company was routed nearly to the man in a border skirmish near the Thrane-Karrnath border, Edaura and the remainder of her unit fell in with a recent deserter from the Karrnathi military, the legendary Dhakken Ranos, and were amongst the first members of his newly minted Iron Ravens. Edaura herself was given command over the company's outriders, and soon became one of Ranos' most trusted lieutenants.
After the dissolution of the Iron Ravens, Edaura adventured alongside Nakaz and her brother Sarim, briefly reviving the Greywolf Company name. Her brother's decision to return to Thrane and the priesthood brought a premature end to the arrangement, however, a fact which Edaura still somewhat resents.
For the most part, Edaura is a stern, pragmatic woman, hardened by years of mercenary life. She is not without emotion though; apart from Sarim, the Iron Ravens are the closest thing she has had to friends or family since she was a teenager, and she cares fiercely for each of them as a result. She also, as head of the unit's reconaissance division, feels a deep sense of responsibility toward them; Their lives, to her, depend on the accuracy of her observations and reports. Edaura is on especially close terms with both Nakaz and Arlas: The shifter has been a longtime companion of hers, and the half-elf shares her responsibility in regards to gathering intelligence for the unit. Rumors of a failed romance between the Half-elf and the Thranish woman were once bandered about during the War, but no evidence exists to confirm the relationship.
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