30th day, 2nd month of Spring, 470 AR (After Retreat of Elves)

By ship, dirt road and walk through the Shadow Realm, the six adventures arrive in the City of Secrets, Triolo. Stone spires line along the coast overlooking the clear waters and reef near the city, ever the reminder of the age when elves benevolently ruled the lands. Sheltered by hills and the reef, the city is rich, markets teeming in rich red dyes and scholar's tools. Humans and dwarves talk business in open gathering dens, an occasional gnome moving quickly amidst them, frequently looking over their shoulders. Minotars frequent through the lively streets. Soldiers in scale armor with spear watch over the market and docks from guard posts, occasionally shouting down to patrols and traders to move along. The day is warm, clouds distant over the islands to the southwest.

Midnight (by the alias James Fathomear), emerges from the shadow roads near the city in the morning. The halfling, Arabella, crosses paths with him while they await entry to the city, both granted entry just before noon once permitted by a scrutinous sergeant minotar, both unaware of the other's identity. Only the gearforged, Cobalt, and the dwarf, Thuldor, chance upon each other before arriving, by the same caravan in the early afternoon, but in separate wagons. Shortly after, Falhorn takes the same path into the city with another small caravan, while Lailah finishes the long process of disembarking, tied up by dock handlers who create a docketed identity for her. Each of you are identified as visitors.

The city is lively, known to the Seven Cities as one of the wealthiest. Though wizards do not make themselves known, it is said that the city employs magic in warfare. The secret is only thinly disguised, as those who know of the arcane can see material components sitting in the window of a simple shop on the main street near the south gate. Few look twice at any of you, truly disinterested in armed folk of all sorts, including mercenaries and pirates, who remain civil and call the city their home.

Foreigners such as you are more common in the market and docks, where you are welcome to stay between the north and south gates and the ocean to the west. Nurians are common- but thanks to her height, Lailah stands noticeable as she first arrives by vessel and looks about the market for her first fresh meal in the country. Tents and carts compose the marketplace, where the bulk of free trade occurs, from the sale of weapons and armor, slaves and mercenaries, trinkets and oddities looted from ruins, to everyday food. Hawkers are heard again and again in the common tongue. The gearforged, Cobalt, is the first to chance upon her as she follows her nose to a stall. The woman's sketch is almost a perfect match- save the hair subjected to three weeks at sea. Midnight (James) incidentally spots Lailah from further off as he scans the from the central bridge of the marketplace, just after Cobalt.

The rest are not so fortunate to chance upon her during the early afternoon in their first hours in the city.

Cobalt, Midnight: Contact Laila and decide your first course of action, with each other or independently.
Lailah: Make yourself found by Thuldor, Arabella, and Falhorn.
Thuldor, Arabella, Falhorn: Find Lailah or decide an independent course of action.
Falhorn: You may have contacts here. Your status as a half-elf is not respected in the city, unlike most places.

((Describe yourselves and decide on your daily expenses, which will determine where you stay for the night. Triolo caters to the entire spectrum, and is welcoming of all civilized races - anyone who accepts gnomes is certainly tolerant. As this is the first time anyone has been here, you're generally unfamiliar with the city, but the locals and guards are friendly enough to point you in the right direction, so long as you stay on the west side of the city.))

Cobalt had kept mostly to himself in the caravan, speaking slowly and politely when addressed but otherwise dwelling on the curious direction his life -- or afterlife, he supposed - had taken.  He had  paid no more attention to the fate-touched dwarf than he did any other traveler, even when a breakdown in the wagon train had delayed their carts next to one another for a few hours.

His brief time so far in Triolo had been liberating and pleasant.  It was refreshing to see the arcane arts treated with a wink and a nod instead of a witch hunter and a crossbow.  He had settled in Zobeck impulsively, but perhaps he wouldn't return there.  Walking the streets of the town, he had found his way impulsively towards the market.  Perhaps there was gold dust there, or other components, for cheaper than he had to pay his fence in Zobeck.

It is there that he spots the tall, blond Nurian - no, aasimar, he knew.  His first contact.  With any luck he was more informed than he was.  Hopefully she was expecting him.  Though he lacked the biological reasons a strange traveler might accost an attractive stranger, he was still quite uncomfortable bothering anyone he didn't know.  Anyone at all, actually.  He approaches from down the aisle before standing on his alloy toes to peer over her shoulder.

"Ah, now that is something I miss.  Fine cuisine in beautiful cities.  Are you Lailah, perchance?  I was told to seek you out."

As for himself, Cobalt is obviously a gearforged, though of notably exquisite (some might say indulgent) construction.  His chassis and limbs are covered in a comprehensive series of burnished steel sections that cover him from neck to toe, hiding his arcanomechanical skeleton.  His face is an impassive mask of pale ceramic, from which a pair of burning teal eyes peer out.  The whole figure stands just below six feet tall, and takes a step back to give Lailah space after getting her attention.

Thuldor is a dwarf with a thick grey smoke cloud of a beard, laid evenly over his plain metal chain armor, and thick linen coverings underneath. His facial fluff obscures most of his wrinkly old mug as well as constantly smelling of beer and various waxes. At his old age, he has become accustomed to dropping a little coin for said indulgences every so often and he isn't ashamed of it. He lives a comfortable lifestyle, knowing that he can produce fine additions to any town, magical or otherwise. He's also never been opposed to learning a new trade, so perhaps that may be in the cards for him here. 

An excitement brushes over his previous melancholy. Responsibility and minor terror aside, he'd still have to live through what he'd assume could be a lengthy process. He could explore then fill up the tome over time, there was no rush.  

He'll first look for the Blacksmith Guild representative. He needs to establish who he pays dues to here for their services which he'll surely be using. This is something even Thuldor is comfortable asking a guard for information about as he takes his dues seriously. 

After that he'll look for a bed to rent near the ocean. Its a rare occasion for him to be out this close to it, and he wants to hear it. He'll ask the Guild representative about a recommendation, and maybe another guard after that. Its where he'll be sleeping after all, its serious business. 

THEN, he'll make a dedicated effort to make himself found by the others. Specifically, by standing obviously in the middle of the market, somewhere in the shade near the sea.

He believes that the easiest way to be found, is to stand still in a easily viable area.

But not in the sun.

He does enough standing in the sun. 

James Fathomear, gives Arabella, the halfling an easy smile and a short half-bow,

"Nice to have met you my dear, but I have business I must attend to."

James turns and strides off into the city, making his way to the central market, hopeful he might find his contact.

Not long spent scanning the market, from the large centre bridge, James notices a possible match for his contact, an imposing figure of a women.

James makes his way through the crowed, but is beat to his target by a ornately constructed and adorned gearforged.

James diverts his attention to a nearby market stall, but keeps his ear out as the gearforged asks the women if her name is Lailah.

James, stands ready to see how things play out, positioning himself, if he needs to take action.

Falhorn is a fairly average looking fellow that many mistake for human since he tends to cover his ears and head with a head cloth. He is clean shaven with medium brown hair. He stands at around 5'9 and has a slender build that many would see as weak. His eyes are brown and seem to look right threw most people. He wears a little bit above average style clothing which usually gives him away as a merchant and craftsman as he often has some of his Jewelers and tailors tools on him. He almost always has a smile and air of calm around him, even in dire straights. 

Falhorn enjoyed his mostly uneventful journey to the city of secrets. On the way he noticed a fellow thief doing the usual and confronted the lad in thieves can't. The lad was from the city and on a journey home from a job. Falhorn was able to acquire info on an contact he could meet in the city that would help him with anything he needed including setting up shop. Falhorn made his way into the city and to the aforementioned informant at the docks. A man who's underground name was Oonderbite, as he had a pronounced under-bite.  He spoke to the man in Thieves cant, a common language to many of the underground and also offering 5 gold for the service. 

"Tell mob head White Crow is visiting. Too'm need a cackle. Too'm looking for a mot. Mot aasimar. Mot may hap needed some scripture from a queer bit maker. Too'm looking to Switch fancy Booze and Piece Man it too. I'm a good family man after all. "
TRANSLATION: "Tell the thieves guild boss That White Crow is in town. I'm looking for an informant. I'm looking for an Aasimar woman. She may have needed a fake identity from a counterfeiter. I'm also looking to find jewelry and fence it too. I am a good fence after all." 

(White Crow is Falhorn's underground name)

As the Oonderbite answers Falhorn scrutinizes the man  = Insight check: 24  = to see if the fellow is trying to trick him in any way. 

After which he would find his way to the proper Jeweler/tailor guilds to also pay his dues. After the dues he will find a nice place to settle down that would fit his wealthy style of living. Once all of his official business was done, then he would follow the lead given to him by Oonderbit (if any and if without any more prying) to find his target of his current mission.

Falhorn couldn't help but love this game of hide n seek he was playing. No one could hide from him for long. Although, in the back of his mind he couldn't help but wonder when he would see that "thing" again. 
"No matter" he thought to himself, "take everything as it comes, that's what ol' Morack would say after all."

Lailah is of the kind that looks human, but is not in subtle ways. For one, she is much grander in stature than the average man, standing at nearly seven feet tall when drawn to her full height. She was trained as a knight and a warrior, so her posture was always perfect. One could tell that she made an effort to remain inconspicuous, as she was wearing simple wool breeches, a cotton shirt with a leather vest, sturdy traveling boots and a hooded cloak. But people were obviously taking notice of the woman who was practically a giantess compared to them.

Her skin was pale, almost as though she'd never seen the light of the sun, but had a strange quality to it. When the light struck it in certain ways, it was almost like she was a statue carved from marble. Her features gave the same impression, holding a beauty that was usually reserved for art pieces. Her hair was like spun gold, and she had it pulled back away from her face in a loose ponytail. Her eyes glittered like sapphires as she looked at the food offered at the stall. Her attire was mostly loose, but in areas where it hugged closely one could tell that she possessed muscle befitting her size.

She was practically starving after travelling by sea for so long. Meals on the waters weren't near as savory as what she was smelling here, and as engrossed with the food as she was she didn't take notice of the gearforged as he approached. She turned, a look of surprise in her eye and her hand reaching for something at her hip that wasn't there. Her hand flexed softly when she remembered there was nothing at her hip but her satchel. She'd let some of the men from the ship take her armor, weapons and a few other belongings to an inn (not too expensive, she didn't have gold to throw away). She was starting to rethink that choice a bit.

"I am Lailah. And you must be Cobalt." She looked the gearforged up and down once, and gave him a bit of a tight smile "I don't think I've ever seen one of your kind up close before...not meaning 'your kind' in a negative way, mind you, just gearforged in general." She wanted to kick herself for fumbling over her words like that, she was usually much calmer. Having an item that was looked after by a god would throw one off their game, it seemed. She turned back to the food, looking at the selection "Well that's one down, four more to go. What do you think, Cobalt, what looks good here?"

Cobalt took another half-step back as Lailah greeted him. Statuesque was not sufficient - the woman looked like a walking caryatid and could likely support the weight to match. Now that she was no longer bent over the stall's selection it was a little intimidating.

Noting her strange grasp at the air to her flank, he once again reflected on his lack of information. What exactly was he dealing with here?

And why ask such a question of a being who could not taste? Perhaps it is my fault for making such a weak introduction. Strong, probably, but prone to vapid questions. I should know better - communicate more simply.

"Well," he began. He paused, leaning to the side to look past her. There was a decent selection, but near the corner was a decadent assortment of pastries. One looked to be a semicircular confection filled with a thick paste and brushed with brown sugar, looking not unlike sand.

"The sphinx paws look good. I think they name it after something out in the bay."

His input offered, Cobalt turned, scanning the rest of the market. A vendor of exotic dyes caught his eye, but coin was scarce for now. Instead he was looking for a quiet place. Perhaps the end of the pier?

"We should talk more seriously, but it should be someplace else."

James relaxes as the woman confirms herself to be Lailah and recognises the gearforged.

James approaches the pair,

"I couldn't help but overhear, your names is Lailah? I'm looking for a Lailah, my names if James Fathomear, I believe you may be expecting me?"

James addresses Cobalt,

"And your name was Cobalt? Are you another brought in for the, ah, extraordinary undertaking?"

James gives an easy smile and winks at the pair.

Arabella grumbles to herself as she walks through the streets of Triolo. She is of middling height for a halfling, which means she is dwarfed in this human-sized city. She stands out, both due to her height (or lack thereof) and because of her clothing. She is dressed entirely in overlapping animal hides and furs, none of which smell all too pleasant. They are roughly stitched together into a dress, and some appear to have moss or lichen growing on them. Her lank blonde hair is mostly covered by a brownish-red shawl. She leans on her quarterstaff as she walks through the town, using at a walking stick. At her age, she isn't meant for these sorts of long journeys anymore.

She puffs on her pipe as she tries to find this Lailah in town. She's glad to be rid of James. He was a nuisance on the last leg of her journey, always wanting to talk to her. Arabella prefers silence to small talk. Clearly, she is going to have to make several adjustments to her preferences if she is to make it through this ridiculous quest. Not that she's complaining about being tasked by Freyja. She wouldn't do something so stupid as complain about a summons from one of the Vanir.

 She makes her way into the market, trying to keep an eye out for a woman who matches the description she was given. It's hard given that everyone here is so tall.

(Perception: 10)

Lailah nodded at Cobalt's suggestion, picking up a few of the pastries and setting down a silver piece from her purse. She wrapped all but one up in cloth and stashed them away at her waist, then took a bite of the one she still held. The pastry itself was light and fluffy, which was complimented by the heavy sweetness of the cream and accented by the brown sugar on top. It was the best thing she'd had in weeks. She turned to thank the gearforged for his suggestion, then noticed that they were no longer by themselves.

When the man introduced himself Lailah gave a nod and sound of recognition, though her mouth was still partially filled with pastry. She took a moment to chew, swallow and wipe her mouth with a cloth "Ah yes, James. So that's two. I hope the others will find us just as easily..." Lailah took another bite of the pastry before stashing it away.  At which point a man came up to her and offered a piece of paper and a wave of goodbye before heading off. The paper held the name of the inn she was going to call home for her stay in Triolo, the Sea's Respite.

She tucked the paper away with a nod "There are dark beings that dog our steps, James. It's best not to talk about the extraordinary where others can hear, even in code." She motioned with a hand away from the stall, then started walking in that direction "I've a room at an inn, should be a little more private. The walk will also allow me to stand out to any others that are looking for me will have an easier time." 

Thuldor is directed to a quarter of the city just west of the south gate, next to the docks that line the entire city's west waterfront. Several workshops and stores are arrayed here, near the marketplace. There, Thuldor heads into a prominent outfitter's store, where he speaks to a guild bureaucrat. The dwarf, Kranath, spares a few minutes of his time to show a metal workshop. He moves with a purpose, keeps his hands down at his sides while he stands, speaking quickly but clearly to you. The shop has a second-hand room mainly used for apprentice work and repairs, which they charge a nominal fee for its use. A spot in the forge is half again the nominal fee. It appears there is room for you today, but Kranath suggests it is filled every day when a ship returns from a long journey, but you can use it in the evening in that case. For inns, he says you have quite the pick, many close to the docks. He recommends a Nurian inn, almost across the street, right next to the marketplace, called The Pointless Moon in common.

There, it is clean, and the innkeeper, a human Nurian woman, merely gestures to a board posting their simple requirements. They provide a room, a door with a lock, clean sheets and a bed, no extras- anything else can be found at the marketplace. You spot a gnome who looks out from an open office door, checking on you, then returning his attention back to his desk. She says in difficult to understand common that one man keeps his cart open through the night near the inn offering food and a few oddities. She takes your coin and offers a key and clean sheets.

 Falhorn finds Oonderbite near a brothel, who accepts his coin. He looks about nonchalantly, nodding once. "Aye sir. Ground's nice an' wetting. Got hunger worts to feel. Mah needs em' little things." (Sure thing. There's work to do here. The constables are hard to pay off. I'll go talk to the others to see it done.) With that, he strolls away from the brothel, toward the northwest corner of the city, gradually picking up speed to a hustle before heading along the road. It appears you picked the right man.

Just off the main road, Hose Petiare exudes wealth, standing tall at the center of the city, next to one of the great libraries. Falhorn is, at first, invited as a customer, and when they discover otherwise, they turn you over to an accountant. They quickly and efficiently prepare a license for work, which needs to be stamped once you have shown your wares to a Biblitori official- a member of the state of Triolo. You're given warning that elven jewelry is taxed differently and is to be taken directly to the Biblitori before being sold at the markets.

Returning to the brothel, Oonderbite is waiting. "Cackling yer sister, sun-topped. White Crow's welcome." (Found the girl, in the open. This one's free for you.) He tells you the girl was spotted in the bazaar just a bit ago, and that she'll be hard to miss- because she's with a gearforged now. It looked like she just sailed in. If you lose her, just find the boys at the docks and they'll find her again. With that information, you head to the streets...

Arabella goes to search the streets herself...

Cobalt, James, and Lailah talk in the street on the way to the inn, not having passed any time yet.

Thuldor pays his Guild dues for the month to Kranath.

He will also request to pay for the second hand room, and its upkeep. He's got money, and he wants to invest in this place a little so he can do a little more than apprentice work here later on. For this, he'd donate a considerable amount, going as far as sponsoring a blacksmith training program to have an apprentice passively upgrade the second hand room to a respectable forge that everyone can eventually use. Thuldor has all the skills to build it, and, maybe tomorrow, he'll be ready to teach someone how to do so. His only request is that they keep an entry list once the upgrades start rolling out, so that any damages or stolen property can be properly dealt with.

Pending this deal, he travels to the Pointless Moon, and doesn't consult a guard. He's actually quiet impressed with Kranath and looking forward to doing business with him. He pockets the key, checks out the room, and goes back to the front to leave. 

Afterwards, he smiles upward and is glad he rented the room. When it gets late, he'll have somewhere to sleep that isn't uncomfortable and for that he is grateful. Wandering down back into the docks and marketplace, he finds a spot under a tree that is easily visible, and sits down. 

"Mmm." 

Cobalt stares blankly at James.  He did not know the face.  He did not know the name.  The only reason he had not reacted with aggression was because Lailah seemed to know it.  The human was the nondescript black hair was laying on the charm a little thick, and it was off-putting.  This whole business was supposed to be hush-hush too, and he was a little heavy-handed with reference to their shared business.

As they walk, he keeps an eye out for a potential shadow.  They were already risking attention, being an eclectic trio.  They didn't need any more eavesdroppers.  Otherwise he keeps quiet until they reach Lailah's room.

Arabella finds herself growing frustrated with the city. She has no leads on finding the Lailah, and she's been away from civilization for so long she isn't even sure who she should ask for directions or help. She taps the ashes out of her pipe and stows it in a pocket hidden among her layers of furs and hides.

Suddenly, out of the corner of her eye, she notices a stray cat. While this might be a city where she is out of her depth, there is still nature here. She begins to hatch a plan. It's risky, but she's struggling to think of other options. Perhaps some of the animals here have seen Lailah. She begins to look for a secluded alley or shadowed corner where she might commune with some of the city's strays without attracting notice. With any luck, anyone who noticed her would simply think they saw a female halfling talking to her pet.

Perception: 14

James pinches the bridge of his nose and lets out a quiet sigh.

Stepping close to Lailah, James watches those nearby, as he whispers to her.

"A secrete works best if you don't confirm you have one in a busy market place."

James steps back away from Lailah with a broad smile, and in a more normal volume says,

"Yes lets head to the inn, we can discus the extraordinary plans for our adventure."

"The old ruins at the edge of the goblin wastes, should be a lucrative endeavour indeed."

"And hopefully one to get our names written in the story books or told by the bards."

James smiles broadly, being his over the top adventurer-self, as he walks along with the other two.

Cobalt, James, and Lailah arrive at the inn. The first floor features cramped tables, with only one customer in the afternoon. A younger man moves about, cleaning the floor, while an older male cook prepares an evening meal for the patrons later. It includes an office and another room with a large table for privacy, currently unoccupied. The woman patron looks your way, slowly taking a drink, turning her eyes back to the food before her. "Sit wherever," the young man offers as he continues sweeping without looking your way, "we still have some roast fish." When he looks to you, looking a little longer to Cobalt, he tilts his head. "Or we do have a... tincture! Against the sea's winds. Would you like?"

The black cat laughs at Arabella. "They all look alike. Lost, frightened, confused. That one sounds the same! You're different, though." The cat presses its side against Arabella, looking up in expectancy.

Another tabby in the alley approaches, a keen look in it's eyes. "Witch, I saw that one just now. Far more lost, and frightened, than the others. And hungry. And she smelled different from humans, even the ones from the sea." The tabby pads closer, looking to a pair of humans in the street as they pass. "So strange that any go hungry. With so many fish just laying around. So when she came back this way, I followed her. To see how she hunted. That girl went to that place, just down the road."

"Hey, witch. I listened to you. Pet me."

"Don't bother a witch, imbecile! Here, I'll show you to the den she went to." The tabby slinks around into the street, moving behind crates along the way and making herself more scarce as she could. Following her a ways, she stops at a corner, hopping up on an unoccupied stool beside the cobblestone wall of the corner building. She looks in the direction of the Sea's Respite. "Be careful, there was a lot of fear around that woman."

They'll have been there for twenty minutes when Arabella arrives. They might be in a room upstairs or at the first floor private room- the boy will ask if she's looking for the group of three if she so much as looks around inside.

Falhorn misses the group, but as he heads north to the docks, spots a pair hauling luggage to an inn. Passenger's luggage. Tactfully following them, he arrives at the same inn mere minutes after Arabella. The boy will ask the same of Falhorn.

Lailah orders some of the roast fish from the boy and makes her way over to the private booth "If either of you wants something, I'm more than happy to cover it." She seats herself and motions to the other two to join her "We wait for three more in our group: a witch, a dwarf and a spy. I don't worry about the spy, Falhorn I believe his name was, finding us. The other two we might have to inquire about ourselves if we don't run into them soon." The boy returned with her plate of fish and she tossed him a silver, before tucking into her plate. It could be described as ravenous, but the way she went about it was much too neat for that descriptor.

Lailah looked up to her two companions after a few mouthfuls "I will say, talking about this without a majority of our party sets me on edge. Though I'm already on edge I would suppose." The last sentence was more to herself as she returned to her food, savoring the smokey taste and spices. She'd been fed fish for weeks while she sailed, but that was boiled and largely flavorless. Even this was a welcome change. A thought seemed to occur to her while she was in the midst of chewing, so she quickly swallowed and addressed her company once more "I do think formal introductions should wait until we're all here, but Cobalt this is 'James', James meet Cobalt."

Cobalt glares witheringly at the young man's offer - body language that doesn't show on the blank ceramic of his face. A tavern selling anti-rust tinctures that actually worked seemed quite unlikely. . . and the nerve to imply his enchanted clockwork couldn't handle a little bit of wind and spray! Still, he reins in his indignation and hands the waiter a gold piece.

"No. . . Thank you. . . But here's a tip for service to my friends. If you notice anyone listening in, tell us later. . . . I will be grateful."

In the private room, he ensures the door is closed before sitting down with the others. He listens, at first, watching with both envy and disgust as Lailah mangles her meal. The woman had an appetite, befitting her frame.

Digesting this new information and the two new names, he tilts his head to the side, one hand idly playing with the hem of his black and silver robe. There was a curious inflection that slipped out when Lailah introduced James. It was concerning, but he was more concerned about their other compatriots.

"Nothing you said conflicts with information I was given.". Noticing a flake of fish meat at the corner of the aasimar's mouth, he alters his speech patterns again. "A witch is bad. Too much attention to have a mage. A spy is a liability. Do you know him personally? Who does he report to?"

"A spy you say? Interesting..."

James sits back considering Lailah's words.

As Cobalt voices his confirmation and concerns, James leans forward.

"So you both were given more information on who to expect?"

"What was you information on me? That I was an adventurer with dashing good looks and a penchant for getting into and out of hard places?"

James smiles, leaning back and running his fingers through his hair.

There is a look in James' eye that doesn't quite match the smile.

James grows a little more serious again.

"Well it appears you have me at a disadvantage."

"I was informed of this endeavour and brought on to help in...less than ideal circumstances."

"There wasn't a lot of time for details. I only know the most basics of the task and that I was to meet Lailah here in Triolo and that there would be others."

James turns to Lailah,

"I agree we should wait for the others before we go into more details, and I might suggest we might also make use of a more secure location to discuss them."

James turns to Cobalt,

"A witch is no problem if she knows to keep a low profile and if she has travelled here without trouble, she probably does."

"A spy isn't a liability in this kind of endeavour, quiet the opposite actually."

James smiles broadly, the hint of a laugh at the corners of his mouth and eyes.

"I would assume, if this spy, Falhorn, was chosen to join us, then he was trusted with the secret, so whoever he is loyal to, must also be trusted."

James looks Cobalt up and down,

"So what do you do then? What trouble do you bring, other than standing out in a crowed?"

James' smile is almost a smirk, as he waits for the metal man's reply.

Cobalt waits as James rambles along, fishing for compliments before defending some strangers they had yet to meet. Wait. . . Is he flirting? Perhaps it is a good thing I have forfeited some ability to emote.

"I was chosen because I know how to keep my mouth shut," he replies, pointedly. There is a pregnant moment before he sighs and continues. "I make good decisions. . . I know about dragons and I am a decent blacksmith. I don't know why I was picked for this beyond that. I also was only given Lailah's name, so I don't know why I was picked. . . Or what we are even meant to do."

He leans back, but pauses, feeling his staff pressing against his dorsal plating. He adjusts himself, drawing it out and leaning it against the chair next to him while he surrenders his turn to speak.