Seeing the additional people enter the room, introductions continued for a short time until Cid and [i]twelve[/i] individuals had introduced themselves. Cid caught the newer ones up with the mining plan, allowing those who entered before to gather their thoughts and assess their fellow party members.

(Time skipped to get us moving forward. Treat all new members as if you've met them here by name. The 8 PCs are you guys but there are 4 additional members, 2 of which are mine and the last two generic bodies until utilized by any more new members. Treat it like mortal kombat where there's still characters to be unlocked but still there.)

"Now that introductions are complete well move onto the first phase of the operation. For one week you will travel by chocobo to Lux Mau. Preparations have been made for certain artifacts to be used in this operation. Greg carries this item." Cid looked over to the Moogle who floated around the front. He wore a summoner's horn and carried a small pack on his back. 

"A pack of hoarding!" Greg said loudly with his small voice barely reaching the ears of everyone else. "I've got 'month of supplies for us all!"

"Eager as ever to leave the walls? A summoner with magic such as your should reconsider his lifespan outside them. There's danger our way and you're unfit for the journey let alone the destination." Kevess had only spoken his name before but not he seemed more than eager to berate the moogle summoner. His voice was deeper, contrasting with the moogle's humbled volume.

"Oi! I'll beat your bandaged butt, without me familiar!" The moogle's antennae wiggled, making the red puff on the end glow like a dim torch. 

"Perhaps it would be better to take this matter outside, gentlemen." Cid said, interrupting the two of them. "To me the situation calls for a leader who is more than capable of settling squabbling among party members. Who believes oneself qualified for this position?" Cid scanned the room again looking for a volunteer leader. 

"Mr. Highwind." A voice said from the hallway. "We've got an issue regarding the runners." A paladin walked in, wearing light weight armor and carrying a large bastard sword on his side. His bright red hair contrasted with his light blue skin. This man wasn't human and in all other ways appeared to be a Glacier Elf. 

"Blizz, what's the issue?" Cid turned around to greet the familiar man.

"The merchant who was bringing them has left with the pack sold." The Paladin's brow was crinkled as if [i]he had one job.[/i]

"What happened to the pack?" Cid said.

"Apparently he was sick of the pointy eared community so the first man who wanted them got them. Unfortunately we cannot find this man and his new pack." The paladin rolled his eyes. "Leaving us with but a short supply of runners in the stable."

"Those in our stable would be better suited for travel, supplementing their numbers was the plan anyway. I've heard that the merchant was bringing some unfit for mounting. We've only got seven without the extra."

"Won't be a problem for me!" The moogle said, knowing he could easily ride alongside someone else. "If no one's too shy of me."

"I've no need of mounts. I'll see you at the base of Lux Mau. Until then amateurs." Kevess walked out the door, heading toward the destination. Greg made an audible growl.

"Be wary of that one." Cid looked at the party. "Back to the issue at hand, we need a leader and a means of transportation for the remaining eight." Cid said. 

"I'm just glad that mummy's not the leader." Greg said under his breath which already seemed to be the default. The moogle turned around then 

"Hey, you the one who rode in on the white runner! You've got your own so that means everyone else has a ride right?"

"Wait, white runner? That's the same man who purchased the runners." Blizz said looking at him closely. "Tell us rider, do you own the pack that we were going to purchase. What was the price? We can double it." Blizz seemed desperate.

"Calm yourself. We've no coins to spare if they are to bring back the Magicite in abundance, besides from what I've heard a weeks travel might have pushed the merchant's runner's too far. Even if this is the rider who paid the price, he would know their condition firsthand." Cid looked at him. "Rinn was it? Is it true you are the rider of a white runner?"

(I'll add the color coding later. I'm sleep[s]y[/s] -ing.)