<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;">Sorry guys, my parents have a REALLY irritating way of rearranging my priorities for me. -.- Ugh, can't wait till I'm alone again...</div></div></div><br/><br/><blockquote><div><cite>Sillyness wrote:</cite>“Your money is no good here, Helix insisted everything upon his dime. If a fine bottle of wine is what you wish, we’ll provide only the very best”</div></blockquote><br/><br/>The cool yet courteous way in which Veryn addressed the group brought a small grin to Alexei's face. Perhaps it was the locales he usually chose or some part of his admittedly solitary demeanor, but in any case the wolf wasn't used to being treated with such respect while staying at inns. More often than not he'd be dismissed quickly as some wild ranger, quickly sent off to the cheapest room on the premises when the owners failed to overcharge him. However, the fox didn't even balk at the idea of giving him his finest wines, let alone question his ability to pay for such a luxury. "I fear your very best might be too fine a drink to waste on a soul like me. Alas, your generosity is very much appreciated."<br/><br/>As he waited for his order, he crossed one leg over the other as he glanced around the room idly before his eyes alighted on Kahmori and Vendra as they continued to touch and tease each other. It was funny how quickly the priestess settled into Kahmori’s company, despite haven gotten a view of his insides just earlier that day. Now, it seemed like they were the best of friends… or probably more than the best of friends, given how things were carrying along. A soft chuckle escaped his lips as he crossed his arms. At least she was adapting to her new circumstances just fine now, and he had to admire her for her ability to do that.<br/><br/><blockquote class="uncited"><div>"You know, Kahimori, you're really quite fortunate to rely, as you do, on your strength and skill. It all comes naturally, does it not? Those like I and Alexei contort our thoughts in ways that are profoundly unnatural, and so we must always bear in mind the theory which underlies our power. It takes a great deal of time every day to cement that power in our minds...”</div></blockquote><br/><br/>Xali’s statements towards Kahmori quickly drew the wolf’s attention back to her, his face blank but attentive as he listened. Although he didn’t show it, he couldn’t help but feel that the leopardess’ attention to him was somehow skin-deep, and his putting two-and-two together didn’t aid the situation much. Kahmori had clearly been in her sights since even the caravan trip, but with the onset of Vendra (and possibly Brady, he wasn’t sure) his affections back have been, well, divided. Such were the problems with, as the lizardgirl put it, “being a horndog”. Ah well, he was sure they’d work out all the kinks in their little group sooner or later. Besides, he had a feeling that sharing their arcane knowledge with each other would be good for both of them.<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">It all comes naturally, huh?</span>Again, something about Xali’s phrasing struck another of Alexei’s soft spots, causing yet another pall to drop over him. He didn’t want to be so reserved around his new companions, yet given his circumstances he had a lot to be dejected about. In truth, the leopardess’s statement, when applied to him, was both right and wrong. On one hand, it was clear that his magic was the product of intense study that he had refined into a combat-ready form during his travels. On the other hand… where had he performed this intense study before? He had no recollection of the time, of the texts he must’ve read, of the practice he must have done. It was almost like it was just THERE, from the very onset of his existence. It was yet another empty hole in his being that he wished he could fill…<br/><br/>Ah! They were discussing strategy! It was a welcome exit point from his musings, and he immediately put his mind to work processing the ideas of his companions. Although Kahmori’s idea of blasting their way into the crypt sounded strangely entertaining to the wolf, it was ultimately Brady and Xali’s interjections that made the most sense to him.<br/><br/>“I was thinking much of the same thing, Miss Xali and Miss Brady,” he began, placing a hand on his chin pensively. “I feel it best for us to be as discreet as possible, deal with any encounters as silently and quickly as we can. That being said, I believe we will be detected sooner or later, and if such is the case Miss Xali’s spells should be a nice backup along with my own. As for the book, our main priority should be neutralizing the necromancer, so we should leave that out of the picture until we figure out everything else.”<br/><br/>He used one black claw to scratch his cheek thoughtfully. “Still, perhaps I have picked up some more data during my travels that could come in handy. I should have it right here…” Reaching into his bag, he produced a large leather-bound book that, despite the care Alexei had taken, showed its age. Closing his eyes, he placed his fingers on the edge of the pages and mumbled to himself. “Now what page was it on…?”<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;">Knowledge (education) check: 1d20(1) + 16 = 17<br/>Sorry to make the same check as Brady, just wanted to establish what Alexei knows.<br/><br/>Also… fail roll of 1. X)</div></div></div>