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	Defiance took in the responses and reactions that each person seemed to give, starting with those that arrived after him and working his way back around again. Tabaxi, two of them in fact, and they looked like the sturdy kind of travelers, and he imagined the two had plenty of interesting stories to share. They didn't either give him the kind of death glare that implied an overt hate, so that was progress too! Might be able to swap stories around a campfire, then, they would be spending a good month at least traveling together after all. Wasn't too much else to glean from merely looking at them, siblings from what they were saying, and he offered the two a warm, friendly smile and offhand wave. No sense being rude to those he'd be working with, and they were showing themselves to be polite enough. Sounded like locals too, from the way they spoke and carried themselves, which was good. They'd know the local area a bit better than those who'd traveled a further ways to get here. [color=598527]"Pleasure to make your acquaintances, both of you. Like I mentioned to these fine two already here, names Defiance. Mercenary and hunter, at your service."[/color]

	Next to enter was a Goliath, this far south? Well, he had swung a fair bit upwards in a north easterly direction during his trek, so he supposed it wasn't surprising to see one. He'd done his homework on them after his first encounters with the powerful, and reclusive, people, and was impressed with them overall. Earned their keep, treated life as a daily challenge, and were damned good to have around when it came to warding off trouble. The imposing presence along worked wonders, and this one was no different in that regard. Still, the goliath would get a friendly, polite nod and wave from the tiefling, though he didn't repeat himself a [i]third[/i] time with introductions and such, given he was fairly certain by the time he got to addressing the tabaxi siblings, well, the Goliath had already arrived. Armed to the teeth, and he knew first hand that simple didn't mean any less deadly. In fact, sometimes it was more deadly given how much force such tools could bring to bear with singular purpose.

	Next up was an elf that seemed to have history with the genasi who had given him the death glare. There was always one, sadly more usually, but one he would take as an improvement. Defiance listened to this elf all but harassing the fiery redhead and he couldn't help but chuckle at the display before him. Oh this was going to be a good time, he could imagine, given the back and forth going on between the two. Even if one of them openly disdained him, well, he could always try and prove his worth as he always did. Might work this time too, but hey, no sense being down about it. Still, it seemed the two had history, and as far as the genasi was concerned, probably nothing good. As for the elf, she seemed to put that history to good use, and had introduced herself as a 'master wizard', interesting! Perhaps they could discuss schools of magic, western methodology was intriguing indeed, and there was no harm in learning or improving ones craft through the use of another discipline completely.

	Abraham Garrick finally decided to show up, and the Tiefling focused his attention on the man. Aging, but in good health it looked like, though it seemed the resident Orc was keen on asking his questions first. Good ones too, smart as he looked then, given the kit the fellow had on hand from a glance. Who was coming along, who these beasts were going to, how to identify them, the works. No names, but that eliminated sending word ahead if someone proved to be the more unsavory type. Seems the orc was along for the gunsmithing, which gave him a good idea of those he worked with. Lot of firearms, lot of ranged prowess, though that did weaken things a touch if trouble got close. Then again, that was probably what the Goliath was around for as well. He provided muscle, and Defiance would provide finesse. Trying to identify those who would be coming after them was also good to know, being able to prepare for specific methods was usually better than just hoping you prepared for everything well enough. No luck there, not really, but the map intrigued him and the tiefling would collect it barring anyone else stepping.

	[color=598527]"Map is definitely helpful, thank you very much. Tea as well, if you'd be so kind? As for my questions, well, let's start with the pragmatic. Road and trail conditions this time of year, especially along this route you planned? Last thing we need is the wagon getting stuck in some muddy rut, or worse, depending on the conditions. Speaking of, what are our alternative routes in case something goes sideways? Mudslides, flooding, impassable blockages, the works. There's a couple branching trails and routes marked out here, though what's passable for 'a wagon or two' and what's passable for 'a herd of hippogriffs, several wagons, armed guards and pheonix' differ greatly. I've got a knack for routing on the fly, but better to stick to the plan if at all possible."[/color]

	Mr. Garrick briefly called the butler back in, asking to have some tea brought in before turning his head back to the tiefling and listening to the rest of what he had to say, nodding his head a little in acknowledgement as Defiance spoke.

	"The road conditions are usually pretty hot and dry for the most part. The first part of your journey will be through mostly desert, of course the further east you go the more livable conditions will get- of course I'm sure the desert won't bother some of you. If it does rain you'll have to worry about flash flooding. Other than that your biggest concern will just be making sure you ration your water properly, and I have of course sent enough with y'all that it should last you at least until you get where there are rivers and creeks again. As for alternate routes, I'm afraid there aren't many. I've got one marked off in red for you should anything happen, but for the first part of your journey water is so sparse that you have to hit specific watering holes or you risk endangering the hippogriffs. Of course you'll have the ocean for part of your journey, but that really doesn't do much good as far as drinking water. You'll have a few more options when water gets more plentiful."

	Defiance accepted the tea with a nod of gratitude, taking a sip as he listened to Mr. Garrick answer his first set of questions. Hot, dry, and beyond the odd chance of flash flooding, it would be water that would be the key concern. The man certainly said as much, and the tiefling went through his mind to figure out what they could do for water should planning have proven insufficient. First thought, in the rare chance it did rain, they could collect rain water, that would be a relatively safe method of collection, though that relied on, well, rain in a desert. That also creates the concern for flash flooding, but that bridge would get burned if they had to cross it. Alternative routes didn't exist until they were well and truly out of the water starved leg, but that meant anyone looking to waylay this caravan would be also able to plot out the route. No real means to avoid conflict if it was looking for them, then. Once water is more plentiful options opened up, and they did have one backup though they needed to hit watering holes for the sake of the hippogriffs. The ocean was a welcome bit of news, even if not for drinking water, it was vastly preferred over the desert alone.

	[color=598527]"Meaning anyone wishing to try and waylay us would know our route without too much effort, given the need for water. So trouble is pretty much certain, good to know. So, on a less pragmatic footing, I'm curious what has an elderly human, no offense, willing to overlook the horns and such that most of time has people throwing holy symbols and praying, and all that fun nonsense. Otherwise, your letter mentioned the Pheonix reaching its destination was of utmost importance, even above everything else. I have trouble believing money alone is the reason for that, care to explain that one or is it one of life's little mysteries?"[/color]

	"Frankly, my boy, I couldn't care less about your heritage. What I care about is how well you can do your work, and word of mouth says that you're pretty damn good. As far as the phoenix goes, pardon my bluntness, but that's between my client and I." 

	Defiance snorted in genuine amusement at the remark on how well he could do his work. Apparently someone had been saying nice things behind his back, or at least honest things. He could work with that, frankly, and the remark was somewhat worth of respect. As for the pheonix, he wasn't surprised that was a stonewalled avenue, and he shrugged, returning to his chair, tea in one hand and the unfolded map in the other as he took to studying the route in detail. He could pry information from the hired help along the way, or hells, maybe the pheonix itself would prove to be a source of information all its own. Still, even if he got nowhere, the pay was good and he couldn't argue that. He might take some of that funding they were getting before hand to stock up on extra water, he hated deserts, but he wouldn't have come out to this job if he wasn't willing.

	[color=598527]"Fair points, no more questions from me. I'll hang onto the map unless someone else wants to see it, going to see about fine tuning our route where ever possible. Never hurts to be prepared."[/color]