Eli is a sight that draws some odd looks. He's passingly handsome, but terribly shy-if you meet his dark blue eyes, he'll look away-sometimes with a hand to the long scar that runs sideways along his face between his eyes, and down his neck. He's seven feet tall straight, and seems to carry his weight and height easily-always ducking under doors and beams nimbly, almost unconsciously-as if a lifetime of bumped heads has given him some sort of precognition. His skin is light blue, his hair a darker shade-though between the cloak, headband, gloves and heavy vest it's almost as if he's gone to lengths to hide this obvious mark of his heritage.
Those who happen to pass near him, can at times detect the faintest tang of a fresh wind-as if there's an odd draft nearby somewhere.
...
Eli couldn't suppress a childish smile, if only to himself. This was alot different than wall duty every day, wasn't it? The exotic smells...the strange tastes...even the women seemed more beautiful, or at least they didn't seem to view him with the outsiders disdain. Not that he got many women-Steffan was usually the man who could charm the ears off an Elven maiden, while Eli was relegated to 'wingman'...but, this was the start of a real adventure, wasn't it? Bar hopping and weekend trips into the royal parklands were one thing...
He felt all his former travels would pale in comparison to this one.
...
He approached the Paladin-looking woman afterwards, as she cast about the bar herself looking for a group to hire for the lost expedition job. As much as he didn't like to admit it, neither he nor Steffan were the roughest of characters. They could use the help-and, he thought the woman could probably use theirs. She didn't seem the sort to know the wilds.
Eli had known a few Paladins-while some were good, most seem to think he was some sort of Demon. He almost always got the 'I'm using detect alignment on you' stare from first glance. So he was perhaps, more nervous than usual.
He looked back at her with some effort. He had taken in her nature and habits earlier, as best he could-he didn't consider it spying...not exactly. It had surprised him, for he felt there were almost two people clad in the same armor-one, the dour Paladin, the other just a pleasant woman. Just a few little things-a woman who tied her hair that tight into a bun, for example, did not do so all the time. Business attire, designed to mask femininity. She seemed to be nervous, but displayed a measured confidence that impressed him. And, he noticed a look on her face-or perhaps he was merely imagining it, having seen it in the mirror so often. It was the look of someone who had something to prove-and a desire to be judged beyond their face.
He was about to speak, when a young fellow-with an enthusiasm that seemed to match his own-appeared from a different direction, offering the same. Inwardly, he breathed a bit easier. It was, to Eli, a person you could like at first glance.
"...indeed, it seems we've all got similar plans." He said to the pair, eyes casting away-one hand idly touching his face. "My name is Eli Ockerbie. How about we all have a seat and discuss it over a good meal?" He said, in a businesslike manner. It might have come off as taciturn and somewhat cold, though he hadn't meant it to. Usually Steffan did the talking...