The tavern door opens only about halfway before a black hooded figure slips through. They stood just over 5’2” tall, all in black from head to toe, you could even see black hair poking out from the hood. They’d scan the room with their head angled down, keeping shadow over their face, before approaching the bar to speak to the barkeep. After a few words were exchanged, the bartender would point towards the table where Gundren’s group was gathering.

Instead of a glide, the hooded figure approached the table with more of a hurried scurry. They’d pull a seat up at the table in awkward silence, looking at each individual one at a time. Eventually their gaze would rest on the human taking notes, but remain silent with the exception of some throat clearing.

As the hooded figure's gaze reaches Maxie, he smiles and pauses in eating his free meal.

"'Allo! Maximillion du Champris, at your service. Please call me Maxie."

He holds his hand out to shake.

Elra doesn't seem to notice the newest memeber to join their table, still petting the owl as she writes notes on the conversation she's listening to.

((Woops hit post before I even got fully writing. Ugh phones. Currently editing))

((Edit done.))

“Ma pleasire monsieur Maxie.” It was a pleasant, soft female voice, and the hooded figure would reach to shake his hand. It was a feminine hand, small and dainty, pale skin but with a firm grip. If you looked close enough to the hand, there’s even lighter patching and wrinkling skin, not from age though, but burn scarring. “I am Fae. Uh, Fae Black...” she’d shift uncomfortably, and take a look around the room. “I’m here to meet with Gundren. I’m assuming I was directed to the correct table?”

"You certainly 'ave."

Maxie excuses himself from the table and then then returns a few minutes later.

At Zeke calling Ethan, Etan, Ethan comments,

"Zeke, I've explained this before, my name is Ethan, Maxie just has a strong accent that makes it sound like Etan when he says it."

At Elra's mention of Oghma, Ethan comments,

"Oghma, that one of Gond's friends right? I'm not a very religious guy, but I like Gond, and if Gond likes Oghma then I like him too."

At Zeke's explanation of the threat and his automatic outlook on people, Ethan studies the man pointed out.

"How can you tell? I cant see anything about him that would suggest what you say."

At Maxie's claim that Zeke's outlook is a bit dark, Ethan nods,

"Yeah I assume no one is good or bad, no point adding automatic bias, that just makes it harder to get to the truth."

As Maxie steps away from the table, Ethan holds his hand out to Fae,

"Hi, my names Ethan, nice to meet you."

After the group has gathered and chatted for a while, a dwarf in fine attire and covered in various ornaments, jewelry, gemstones and the like enters the Driftwood accompanied by an older looking human gentleman.  The latter has graying hair and a mustache and wears heavy armor and a longsword at his side.  His cloak depicts a white gryphon and sword against a dark red background.  It is not hard for even those who do not know them personally to discern that this is Gundren Rockseeker and Sildar Hallwinter.  Sildar looks relaxed enough as he says hello to Rosene but has the demeanor of a man who is here for business, while Gundren is overly jovial, his rosy cheeks and wide smile revealing to you what is perhaps the happiest dwarf in all of Faerun.  As they make their way across the tavern they appear to be arguing but as they draw closer you realize it is more like the squabbling of a long since married couple as you hear Gundren proclaim "yes, yes, I know Sildar."  "You really do worry enough for all of us you know, and thus I do not have to!"  They quiet down as they reach your table and Gundren greets you with his arms wide in the air.

“HELLO, HELLO, MY GOOD FRIENDS!  It is so good to see you all!  I’m VERY excited about our new opportunity!”

Standing behind Gundren, Sildar simply clears his throat loudly.  Gundren gives him a glance and continues.

“Yes yes, well, how is everyone doing on this fine evening?  How are your drinks and your food?  Good, I’m sure!  Rosene wouldn’t let me down!  I can’t wait to tell you all about the mi….”

Sildar clears his throat even more loudly and Gundren begrudgingly changes the course of the conversation.  He slides a heavy envelope across the table to each of you.

“As I was saying, I was looking forward to catching up with all of you, of course!”  He nods at a few of you encouraging you to open the envelopes.  Inside each are two gold coins and a small note that reads “meet us in the stables around back at 2am, if you please.”

“Do tell me what you have all been up to as of late!  I do look forward to our... 'journey' together."  This time Gundren beats Sildar to the game of admonishing glances and settles into a chair with a large mug of ale to join in on the conversation, not giving any further specifics on why everyone is here.  Sildar merely gives you all a smile and a polite tip of the cap, as they say.  He folds his arms, leans against the wall and keeps an eye out for what is going on in the room while listening in on the conversation.

Quote from Paradox42 >>

At Zeke calling Ethan, Etan, Ethan comments,

"Zeke, I've explained this before, my name is Ethan, Maxie just has a strong accent that makes it sound like Etan when he says it."

 

 Arvel smugly thinks to himself **I've got them.**

As Gundren approaches, there is a look of admiration and desire in Ethan's eyes, but it not for the dwarf, but for the various gems that adorn his cloths.

As Ethan looks in the envelope, he sees the note and pulls out the coins before putting them back in the envelope.

"Ok, so what is this then, is it work, will we get paid? I'm stalled a bit on some of my designs and I really do need more money to continue."

Reaching over to his oversized gauntlet, Ethan presses his thumb to a cut stone near the wrist end, and with a flare of magic, a double hatch set into the surface of the gauntlet opens out.

Ethan takes the envelope and reaches into the void inside the open hatch, his arm passing oddly too deep into the space within. Ethan then closes the double hatch the same way as it was opened, again with a spark of magical energy.

Maxie pockets the coins and flags down Rosene  and asks to have his pack returned, as he won't be staying the night (with apologies).

"Monsieur Rockseeker! It is so wonderful to finally be meeting you in person. Your reputation may proceed you, but you more zan live up to zee expectations you inspire."

He stands and raises his glass.

"Allow me to be zee first to thank you for zee tremendous opportunitay you 'ave presented us. I propose a toast to you, monsieur, and (more importantly) to success in our endeavors!"

Ethan looks at Maxie with confusion,

"Do you know what the job is? I may not have been paying full attention when we agreed to this meeting. How much are we being paid?"

"I know as much as you do. But I do know we are involved in an endeavor and zerefore toast to our success!"

Sildar gives Gundren a long look and a smirk at the confusion.

The overly enthusiastic Gundren looks a bit flustered for a second but recovers and replies "yes, yes, well there's plenty more where that came from, if you would kindly..." he taps one of the envelopes that hasn't been picked up quite yet and raises his eyebrows up and down.  He holds his index finger up over his mouth to signal "shhhh".

My friends, there's no need to depart.  There is a room waiting for each of you upstairs along with any food and drink you desire, courtesy of the Rockseeker brothers!

Gundren is also easily overtaken by the flattery of 'Maxie' and his fancy accent, paying a great deal of attention to him versus the quieter members of the group.  He does raise an eyebrow and take a strong interest in Ethan's gauntlet as well but does not say much about that at the moment.

(Maxie would have heard that the Rockseeker Brothers are known for being honest chaps with good intentions but long term business stability is not their forte.  They often roll into an area when a new business opportunity arises and throw lots of gold around, but their ventures never seem to last as long as promised.  Gundren seems to be the most enthusiastic, leading his brothers into all kinds of "can't miss" opportunities that promise to make everyone filthy rich in no time.  Luckily the initial gold investments along with any short term gains from the opportunities themselves usually make those that Gundren recruits to help plenty happy and they move on with their lives afterward with few complaints and a story to tell.  A few accounts might suggest that it is Gundren's excessive enthusiasm and big mouth that gets them into trouble more than anything.)

Zeke bows his head in an apology to Ethan for the mangling of his name.  

As the envelopes scatter on the table, Zeke reaches out and cautiously pulls one towards him - carefully checking the seal on the envelope before sliding into the folds of his cloak unopened.

He sits back as Maxie raises his loud toast, drawing the attention of the entire tavern to their table.  'I wouldn't be so loud about our impending endeavor Mssr., perhaps a quieter toast?' again, Zeke's voice is low but pitched so it carries across the table easily.

Zeke catches Sildar's eye and nods, then shifts himself ever so slightly so his view of the room compliments the grizzled warrior's. 

Sildar gives Zeke a knowing look and small nod at his words, and his attentiveness.

Seeing that he has Gundren's attention, Maxie attempts to hold it as long as possible by speaking effusively about his companions.

Elra, the studious follower of Oghma and owl-lover.

Etan, and their skill with devices.

Zeke, and their dedication to protectiveness

Even the quiet Fae and their steady, calm nature.

He flatters them all, raising his glass to each of them in turn

(ooc: Did I miss Tarja and their introduction? If so, point it out to me.)

Fae would have rushed to stand up to meet Ethan, with an H's, handshake. She'd bow her head in greeting unable to say much more before Gundren and Sildar approached. She'd have remained standing to greet the pair with a formal bow before taking her seat back at the table.

Fae would shift uncomfortably, almost trying to fold herself in, her body reaction like a wince as Maxie tries to give a boisterous toast. She'd sigh in relief when Zeke suggests a quieter toast, "I would have to agree. A quieter toast would suffice." She'd reach out for one of the remaining envelopes, read it while she can before tucking it away in her bag.

Noting Tarja's entrance,

"Maximillion du Champris. Please call me Maxie. A pleasair to make your acquaintance."

He presents his hand to shake.