<span style="font-weight: bold"> &lt;&lt;&lt;Lilium, before she enters the common room&gt;&gt;&gt;</span><br/><br/>The story of Vincent's life was, indeed, a grand one. Filled with love, loss, battle. Now, what was he? An old barkeeper that tried to be friendly...and life just never seemed to smile on him. Still, Lilium gets the impression that her words at least somewhat soothed the heart of the friendly old bartender, and just before she steps out into the common room, Vincent places a hand on her shoulder "Thank y'girl..."<br/><br/>Now, though, there were other things to attend to! Other things that might end up being nothing but more trouble for the Innkeeper...<br/><br/>Lilium's EXP -<span style="color: #00BF00">18,800 </span>+<span style="color: #0000FF">10</span>(Soothing Vincent) =<span style="color: #0000FF">18,810</span><br/><br/><br/><span style="font-weight: bold">&lt;&lt;&lt;In the common room of <span style="font-style: italic">The Singing Donkey</span>&gt;&gt;&gt;</span><br/><br/><blockquote class="uncited"><div>"Uh... here," Sherani replies., still slightly distracted by the taur-twin's antics. "Mind if I ask why you're askin'?"</div></blockquote><br/><blockquote class="uncited"><div>"Err... same as her," he said, pointing at Sherani with a sheepish smile. "What business do you have with us?"</div></blockquote><br/><br/>Talia's attention shifts momentarily to Lilium when she comes in from the back room. Another? Sheesh, for being the scene of an attack, this place was still full of people. Her eyes widen even slightly more when Vincent trudles out just behind Lilium. The small fennec fox shakes her head increduously - sheesh, this place was packed!<br/><br/>"Well.." She begins, her steely gaze locking on Ureck and Sherani "My *BUSINESS* with you is just that. The attack last night. I know our esteemed Captain Clyde-" She practically spits the name like it was a curse "- and our ever-watchful guard..." Here, she turns a steely glare towards the two foxtaurs and the squirrel that stood just a bit behind them "Would rather let townsfolk take care of themselves. I, on the other hand, feel like the best method of prevention...is investigation. I only heard of the attack this morning, else I'd have been here last night. I can't be everywhere at once." Once more, she casts a baleful glare over her shoulder at the trio "And it looks like our illustrious town guard can be nowhere all the time."<br/><br/><span style="font-weight: bold">Ureck</span><br/><br/><div style="padding: 3px; background-color: #FFFFFF; border: 1px solid #d8d8d8; font-size: 1em;"><div style="text-transform: uppercase; border-bottom: 1px solid #CCCCCC; margin-bottom: 3px; font-size: 0.8em; font-weight: bold; display: block;"><span onclick="if (this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display != '') {  this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = ''; this.innerHTML = '&lt;b&gt;Spoiler: &lt;/b&gt;&lt;a href=\'#\' onClick=\'return false;\'&gt;hide&lt;/a&gt;'; } else { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = 'none'; this.innerHTML = '&lt;b&gt;Spoiler: &lt;/b&gt;&lt;a href=\'#\' onClick=\'return false;\'&gt;show&lt;/a&gt;'; }"><b>Spoiler: </b><a href="#" onclick="return false;">show</a></span></div><div class="quotecontent"><div style="display: none;">With Ureck's knowledge of things Local...<br/><span style="font-weight: bold">Talia</span><br/>Ureck has heard of Talia, though only seen her once or twice in the past. She is an important individual in Espen, if for nothing else than moral. Before Ureck saw her the first time, tales had put the four foot fennec at nearly eight feet tall, capable of devouring cities, and just generally a whirling dervish of slaughter whenever her anger was riled. Needless to say, the stories didn't seem to add up at first glance.<br/><br/>However, by chance, Ureck *HAS* seen her deal with uprising, raiders, and who she deemed as corrupt guards. Despite her less then intimidating size, she is an incredible blade-wielder, and has - numerous times - devoured others twice (Or more!) her size. She is a to-the-point kind of person, very straightforward, but has an incredibly powerful commanding presence, and appreciates enjoying life rather than being gruff and serious all the time.<br/><br/>She is incredibly unforgiving to lawbreakers, though, and deals with them swiftly and mercilessly.<br/><br/><span style="font-weight: bold"> Foxtaur Twins </span><br/><br/>Ureck knows very little about the duo, other than they are always seen together. They've been trying to join the guard together for some time now, but their antics make them less-than-professional. The fact that they are never apart makes them a dangerous pair, and there have been scattered reports of them predding on smaller creatures (Which equates to almost everything), in town. They are two not to be trusted.<br/><br/>If they HAVE been admitted into the town guard, things were not looking good for Espen...<br/><br/><br/><span style="font-weight: bold">Zoe </span> (Pronouced Zee-oh)<br/><br/>The squirrel is who makes Ureck's blood run cold. He's seen her numerous times during his employ of the Grangers. She is certainly higher up on the totem pole than he could ever hope to be, and is a rather potent mage. Ureck has personally seen her simply motion towards somewhat...and have a bulging stomach seconds later. Despite her species preference for less-alive fare, she is a predator, pure and simple.<br/><br/>Zoe never travels by herself, being a little less-powerful in melee, but she is an important person to the Grangers. She is, more or less, one of the handful they will call on when they want someone to dissappear. The fact she was there at the moment indicated those above Ureck were less than pleased with his no-show the night before...and, more likely than not, she has been dispatched to solve the problem of Ureck forever.<br/><br/>The strangest thing is, she is missing her companion - a strange human who carried a hawk with him. A hunter of relativly high skill by the name of Trizzen</div></div></div><br/><br/>Ureck's blood runs cold as he really realises who the squirrel was. Likely, his attention would be alot more on her than Talia.<br/><br/>Zoe's gaze meet's his own...and he sees her run her tongue along her lips, narrowing her eyes at him. Likely, her newest target.<br/><br/><span style="font-weight: bold">(DC 25 spot check to catch the look Zoe is giving Ureck, and notice that something is not quite right about it...)</span><br/><br/>"So." Talia begins, slipping up onto one of the stools beside Ureck, Sherani, Calia, and Spike "Here I am. Commanded to aprehend the lot of you, but it seems to me that - unless you are guilty of something - you were gone when I got here. If you are guilty of something...you are coming with me. Either willingly, or inside of me. Your choice." She certainly seemed confident, despite her size. Something was not quite right...<br/><br/><span style="font-weight: bold">(DC 22 spot check to notice the exchanged glances of the foxtaur twins when Talia mentions 'they were not there'. Surprize? Anger? DC 25 to spot the same on Zoe's face)</span><br/><br/>"Now...tell me. What, exactly, happened last night. As far as I know, a fight broke out. A cook was killed. The attackers have either been..." Her eyes lock on Sherani's stomach for a brief moment "...Dealt with, or escaped." Here, her intense gaze focuses on Lilium.<br/><br/>One of the foxtaurs - the seemingly more brash female - growls under her breath, her voice booming over Talia's own "I bet they set somethin' up. Paid off a bunch of low-lifes to attack, just so they could get free room and board from that idiot Vincent. Course, they ate the attackers, so didn't even have to pay them. They get off clean. I say we just eat them and be done with it."<br/><br/>Talia turns an intense gaze on Grettle that, surprizingly enough, causes the foxtaur - easily outweighting her by a thousand pounds - to back up "I am very much going to have a word with Clyde about those he allows into his guard. You have been wearing on my patience all morning. Now, shut up. We'll have words later." The Foxtaur seems to fume angrily, but does not respond, other than crossing her arms angrily over her chest. Her brother is grinning like a hyena, earning a harsh elbow in the rib from his pissed sister "Oof!" The two begin to scuffle back and forth, trying to get in little elbows or pushes whenever able. Talia, sighing and shaking her head, turns her attention back to her job.<br/><br/>"Shady things are happening around here. You can imagine how suspicious it is for, on the very night of the attack, a handful of strangers just so happen to wander into town, bunk up at the same establishment..."<br/><br/>Leaning over, she snatches a piece of bacon off of Sherani's plate, puts the tip of it in her mouth, and begins to chew thoughtfully "Well, I'm ready for storytime. Who wants to go first."<br/><br/><br/>Current EXP totals<br/><div style="padding: 3px; background-color: #FFFFFF; border: 1px solid #d8d8d8; font-size: 1em;"><div style="text-transform: uppercase; border-bottom: 1px solid #CCCCCC; margin-bottom: 3px; font-size: 0.8em; font-weight: bold; display: block;"><span onclick="if (this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display != '') {  this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = ''; this.innerHTML = '&lt;b&gt;Spoiler: &lt;/b&gt;&lt;a href=\'#\' onClick=\'return false;\'&gt;hide&lt;/a&gt;'; } else { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = 'none'; this.innerHTML = '&lt;b&gt;Spoiler: &lt;/b&gt;&lt;a href=\'#\' onClick=\'return false;\'&gt;show&lt;/a&gt;'; }"><b>Spoiler: </b><a href="#" onclick="return false;">show</a></span></div><div class="quotecontent"><div style="display: none;">Undol - <span style="color: #00BF00">18,400</span><br/>Spike -<span style="color: #00BF00"> 18.170</span><br/>Lilium - <span style="color: #00BF00"> 18,810</span><br/>Calia  -<span style="color: #00BF00"> 18,330</span><br/>Ureck -  <span style="color: #00BF00">18,500</span><br/>Sherani -<span style="color: #00BF00">18,440</span></div></div></div><br/><br/>Current Health Totals<br/><div style="padding: 3px; background-color: #FFFFFF; border: 1px solid #d8d8d8; font-size: 1em;"><div style="text-transform: uppercase; border-bottom: 1px solid #CCCCCC; margin-bottom: 3px; font-size: 0.8em; font-weight: bold; display: block;"><span onclick="if (this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display != '') {  this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = ''; this.innerHTML = '&lt;b&gt;Spoiler: &lt;/b&gt;&lt;a href=\'#\' onClick=\'return false;\'&gt;hide&lt;/a&gt;'; } else { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = 'none'; this.innerHTML = '&lt;b&gt;Spoiler: &lt;/b&gt;&lt;a href=\'#\' onClick=\'return false;\'&gt;show&lt;/a&gt;'; }"><b>Spoiler: </b><a href="#" onclick="return false;">show</a></span></div><div class="quotecontent"><div style="display: none;">Ureck - HP <span style="color: #008000">49/50</span><br/>Sherani - <span style="color: #00FF00">55/72</span><br/>Undol - <span style="color: #00FF00">17/20</span> (with 2 being subdual)<br/>Spike - <span style="color: #008000">36/36</span><br/>Lilium - <span style="color: #008000">31/31 </span><br/>Calia - <span style="color: #008000">54/54</span></div></div></div><br/><br/>A note on HP/Condition...<br/><div style="padding: 3px; background-color: #FFFFFF; border: 1px solid #d8d8d8; font-size: 1em;"><div style="text-transform: uppercase; border-bottom: 1px solid #CCCCCC; margin-bottom: 3px; font-size: 0.8em; font-weight: bold; display: block;"><span onclick="if (this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display != '') {  this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = ''; this.innerHTML = '&lt;b&gt;Spoiler: &lt;/b&gt;&lt;a href=\'#\' onClick=\'return false;\'&gt;hide&lt;/a&gt;'; } else { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = 'none'; this.innerHTML = '&lt;b&gt;Spoiler: &lt;/b&gt;&lt;a href=\'#\' onClick=\'return false;\'&gt;show&lt;/a&gt;'; }"><b>Spoiler: </b><a href="#" onclick="return false;">show</a></span></div><div class="quotecontent"><div style="display: none;">From now on, I'll not be posting the exact total of enemy HP. I *WILL* still be posting the AC, so the player can post their hit if they make it, rather than having to wait on me. <img alt=";)" src="./images/smilies/wink.gif" title="Wink"/> Enemy HP will now be shown in different colors, with dark green being almost unhurt, to blood-red being nearly incapacitated. Also, I will strive to give some visual clues to their condition in my description of battle.<br/><br/>Ailments and the like (Held, Digesting, whatever..), I will still mention in their readout.<br/><br/>Not that battle is going to happen soon, just wanted to let everyone know the new system, when it does arise!  <img alt=":evil:" src="./images/smilies/evil.gif" title="Evil or Very Mad"/></div></div></div>