Rylan was all set to make his formal introduction when he is suddenly thrown off-course by Arkun's interpretation of Brandy's mutterings...

"I'm sorry..." He stutters... the words failing him in this moment. "Y-y-you actually spoke.... to my horse? I thought that was all just..."

He looks down the thoroughfare to see Brandy tied up, looking over in his direction. A slight curl of a smile emerges on his lips.

"How marvelous..." He says, looking back at Arkun and indicating toward Aldric. "Though, in the interest of discretion, I'd be much obliged if you could keep the finer details of your conversation between us for now..."

He turns to the knight and bows. "With apologies for the imprudence of my steed.... I am Rylan of House Belabranta, son of Korvar, sworn deputy of the Lord's Alliance and devoted servant of Lliira, Mistress of Revels. I came to this valley by way of an invitation from a man named Thurl Merosska, a former griffon rider of Waterdeep who now leads a society of nobles dedicated to the art of aerial beast riding. They call themselves The Feathergale Knights." He looks to Arkun for a moment. "My dear sister Savra recently joined their ranks and I..."

He measures his words. "It's given me cause to look deeper into their operations. As my contacts in the region do their diligence, I find myself at loose ends... And since this is my first time so far afield from the City of Splendors I seek to make the most of it."

He looks to the others, a boyish grin crossing his face. "Now, I find myself surrounded by a group of interesting companions... Each of us drawn to this troubled region for our own mysterious reasons... Enticed with opportunities to deliver justice, find lost treasure and perhaps even deliver a wayward spirit to its final rest..."

He stands tall and eager, chest out, inhaling deep, hand on the hilt of his sword. "Gods, you can just smell the adventure in the air!"

With a raised, Rumble cocked his head ever so slightly to the side in genuine confusion at Aldric's initial remark. Didn't everyone by now already knew each other, or more accurately their names at least? What more was there to... "Oooh, that makes sense..." He murmured, before in clocking a look from the older knight, promptly began adjusting even the slightest hint off impropriety in stance while listening to the rest. Beyond this, the earth genasi remained respectfully quiet for a time, solemnly nodding only once in affirmation of Aldric's words about Summit Hall.

Though the whole matter of talking horses seemed to go right over Rumble's head as point of concern, at the glance from Arkun, Rumble faintly nodded in acknowledgement. Even if it might've meant a reprimand later, if push came to shove, he'd defend the druid's right to remain unbound by the stricter formalities of the knighthood. But lingering doubts over the very possibility of it every occurring left him smiling inwardly and faintly shaking his head.

"Tehh! What it smells like is that there's a whole lot going on in the Dessrin Valley that aught not be. But at the risk of sounding arrogant, I do believe will more than rise to the occasion. Now, I've, uh... *ahem*... I've already introduced myself to everyone 'fore now. But, if only for the sake of formalities, I'll say again that my name is Rumble Siltskin, a novice knight of Samular. In the interest of full disclosure, my own mission was something of a volunteer effort on my part, as its not entirely standard protocol for one of my station to be allowed out in the field." He briefly glances over to Aldric. "As for what it entailed, I was to investigate into some avian kidnappers that s'posedly ran off with some homesteaders. And while I think I might have discovered a lead on that, I'd sooner pray for Tyr to strike me down fer turning a blind eye to all that's goin on with Red Larch as-is."

Sylra listened to the exchange, her attention shifting between each speaker as the circle of introductions and intentions wound its way around. The names, allegiances, and threads of purpose formed a web in her mind—different origins and loyalties, but enough shared ground to make cooperation possible. She let the others have their say, not because she had nothing to add, but because watching how they revealed themselves was as telling as the words themselves.

When there was a pause, she stepped forward just enough to be part of the inner ring of the conversation, her voice even and steady. “Sylra Galeheart, also of the Emerald Enclave,” she said, giving Arkun the faintest nod of acknowledgment before letting her gaze settle briefly on Aldric. “The Enclave sent me here to the Dessarin Valley after I raised concerns about what I’ve seen—winds turning against themselves, thunder without clouds, heat settling too early in the season. I was told there were others in the area worth finding, and it seems that task has been fulfilled sooner than I expected.”

She folded her arms loosely, letting the desert-dry breeze curl around her before continuing. “I’ve already spoken with some of the townsfolk. There’s the matter of a frightened child who stumbled across something she couldn’t name near a tomb, and quarry workers who’ve grown restless in ways their overseer won’t speak plainly about. There’s also talk of Lance Rock—something the innkeeper claims holds an ill presence. And now,” she inclined her head slightly toward Aldric, “there’s your Rivergard Keep and the bandits it shelters.”

Her gaze swept the group, not in challenge but in measure. “I’m not blind to the truth that we can’t chase all of these at once. If the Keep truly holds organized trouble, that may demand the sooner answer. But I’d not see these other threads left to rot until they tangle around someone else’s neck. So if we’re to work together, let’s see it done with the understanding that what matters to one of us matters to all. For now, I’m willing to put my steps toward Rivergard—so long as the road circles back to these other leads when the moment comes.”

She fell silent then, letting her words settle among them like the weight of a weather change before a storm.