[color=a0410d][h1]Jerod Staudinger[/h1][/color]

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As people began introducing themselves after his own introductions, Jerod began mentally tallying what he was dealing with right now. There was this fellow who introduced himself as Ferrian, who was an oddity. Sure, he claimed to only be passing through looking for a place to rest, but that did not strike him as accurate. Who in their right mind would take a place like Dragonrage Pass as ideal for a nap? No, there had to be something off with him though he could not place what. Though he dismissed that train of thought as a far more recognized face began speaking and introduced herself. General Luna, taverns had been abuzz with this upstart, rising star of a young woman made the rank of general at such a young age. Yet here she was, slumming with lesser nobles, wanderers, and sellswords, which begged one simple question. Why? Of course he did voice his opinion in that regard in the silence between introductions, not bothering to mince words about the matter either. [color=a0410d]"General, eh? The hell's a ranking officer doing this far off from her unit or tent?"[/color]

Next up was another sellsword, amusing use of the term since she was busy working on maintaining her bow. Archer of some sort, piggy backed off what he said, could have been with Grado, chose life as a sellsword now. Too little information to really judge, but he noted the dagger she was using, and approved of an archer that could at least wave a knife in someone's face when pressed into a melee. Not that it would do much, but better than cowering behind the bow, that much was certain. But he would at least offer her professional courtesy, as one sellsword would to another. [color=a0410d]"Another sellsword is always welcome. At least someone else gets the business behind war."[/color]

Next up was this Rionach woman, who struck him as a ham. Not literally, mind you, but her manner of talking was infused with energy, playing up what she said, and it was enough to make him consider the spear woman further. Her garb was attentive towards garnering the eye, but not extremely so, which meant a deliberate balance had been struck. That doesn't happen by accident, though he knew a few people that could learn from her preferred manner of dress. Turning back to his mug as she finished speaking, he considered how she had introduced herself. Glory seeker of some sort, playing up her role and acting larger than life, perhaps playing at being a hero? Damn fool errand that was, the sellsword decided, Jerod couldn't think of a hero that actively woke up and said they wanted to be a hero before marching off and doing general heroics. No, the history writers decided who the heroes were, but he wouldn't call her out on it, not yet. He would have to wait and see what else was revealed about her before making a final judgement, but it was something to keep in mind for now.

As the mage Djeld passed out tea, he passed with a quiet, but polite none the less, rebuke. [color=a0410d]"No thank you, I've my own drink."[/color] When the Dwarf that had sparked this general chatter and introductions remarked on the two sellswords and the point on Dwarven gold, he chuckled. See, this was the kind of way to talk to a sellsword, with coin and jobs. [color=a0410d]"Once I'm done with this job, situation willing, we can talk contracts. Don't readily matter who pays me, and I've never met or heard of a Dwarf not true to his word, or his gold. Best kind of employer, that."[/color] He had nothing but respect for the Dwarves, what little he had dealt with them, and there wasn't a place in the land that wouldn't accept Dwarven gold, not that he had ran into.

Kazador would call their attention to a red headed merchant and her lover, though Jerod recognized the look of the merchant. Finding people who hadn't at least heard the name of Anna was, at times, extremely difficult. Usually sold good wares, but she was a vicious businesswoman, shady but not criminal. Dangerous to make deals with that kind of woman, so he avoided her unless he absolutely had to do business. But he dismissed her lover for now, likely being towed along until she had spent him for what he was worth and cut ties, leaving him to his fate after he wasn't worth the input anymore. Even if she called him a lover, he didn't think highly enough of Anna to expect her to keep him around. But the next two that the tall dwarf pointed out were, indeed, surprising to see.

Royalty from Askr, and not just any blue bloods, but the royal siblings themselves. What those two were doing lurking with Anna was well and truly beyond his reckoning, nor did he particularly care at this point in time. He had little to no opinion on the two, having never visited Askr in his wanderings, so his knowledge and experience with them was lacking at best. Turning to the next ones, he noted the grim tone in the Dwarf's voice, plus the technicality. He would be keeping an eye on that one, he could ill afford to provide too much, or too little, trust to someone who was the Crown Prince on a technicality. He would render judgement as he gathered information, assuming the need arose. But it finally came for the dwarves to leave, before Anna noticed them, and he inclined his head in respectful farewell, finding himself having approved of their company more than anticipated with their initial arrival. Though the jumpy, energetic woman grabbing the previously silent fellow was an oddity, the more level headed woman's apology and remark brought a snort of amusement.

The arrival of the Princeling garnered his attention, mostly due to his arrival and misconception that they were an assigned unit of his, or some such nonsense. [color=a0410d]"Rather eager, are we Princeling?"[/color] The others would step in and inform him of his mistake, but he ran through what he could glean from this Marwood of Renais. Another blue blood, somehow, blunt and to the point given his introduction. Not a lot to go off of at the moment, though he seemed to care for his mount given its affection of him. He could never be bothered with mounts of any sort, though both his elder siblings seemed to prefer to remain mounted when pressed into combat, training or otherwise. Turning his eye to the woman who spoke, he let the others finish, filling that time with a swig from his mug, noting it had run empty with an irritated glance at it, promptly dismissing her from his mind for now, the mug had to run empty eventually. Didn't mean he was happy about it though, it was unlikely he'd be finding a drink elsewhere tonight. [color=a0410d]"Fire and Damnation..."[/color]