<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;">Spot check against Ulinar: 1d20(14) + 9 =  23; failed</div></div></div><br/><br/>As he trotted brisky through the near-empty streets, Ureck returned the gaze of his few onlookers out of the corner of his eye, but otherwise he paid little attention to them. It felt like any other day for the collie, wandering through the dusty pathways to fulfill some distant goal he had been given. He was used to the dangers, his various experiences having grown on him, and he was streetwise enough to know how to stay out of trouble. He knew which merchants were reliable, which ones were ripoffs, which people to smile at... and which people to avoid eye contact with, he acknowledged bitterly as the hippo and his engorged gut passed by.<br/><br/>Even so, he still wasn't sure what to think about his teammates. Sherani seemed pleasant enough, if a bit scatterbrained, but Lillium and her fox had caused all sorts of thoughts to fill his mind. Of course, their little stint earlier gave his thinking a mildly competitive slant, but aside from that he felt everything from awe to attraction to fear. It was a sensation not helped by the evocations of his ring. He could feel it, the power the fox, the kitsune, all of them possessed, the power that could so easily turn into corruption before his eyes. He involuntarily reached up to feel the earring bolted to his ear, its oppressive weight dragging down his spirits. He frowned.<span style="font-style: italic">There is fear in being brave, but there is no bravery in having fear...</span><br/><br/>He would trust them. He had to.<br/><br/>Upon turning into the market alley, he scanned the various stands and goods, looking for a seller he recognized. His thoughts turned back to his satchel and the rather useless things inside it. If only he had known he'd be backstabbing the Grangers so soon, he'd have found some time to pack. Alas, now was not the time to complain, and once he spotted a familiar merchant he rushed over to find some more appropriate supplies.<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;">((Given there was time to buy some things. If not, disregard this section.))<br/><br/>Trotting up to the merchant, he gave a quick greeting nod before he looking over the wares he had displayed. A surprisingly well-kept, if somewhat old, crossbow caught his eye, and with a quick flash of gold from his money pouch he had purchased it along with a number of bolts. Taking a moment to load a shot (if he's allowed to) before fastening it to his belt, he thanked the merchant before jogging off to catch up to his companions.<br/><br/>(Ureck spent 40 GPs on a light crossbow and 50 bolts; he now has 473 GPs)</div></div></div><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;">Spot check to see Lara's predicament: 1d20(13) + 9 = 22; pass</div></div></div><br/><br/><blockquote><div><cite>Sillyness wrote:</cite>“Sherani, Ureck, That mouse is a friend”</div></blockquote><br/><br/>Ureck froze as he watched the scene unfold before him, eying the tiger warily as he prepared to make a meal of the young mousegirl. Normally, he would have stayed away in hopes of avoiding trouble, but even before he could register the mouse's relation with Lillium both she and Sherani had rushed headlong into the scene and made their presence known. Even then, the collie was not quick to follow. Perhaps his compatriot's actions would be enough to get the thugs to back off, but if worse came to worse it would be better if he could give them cover from afar. What a coincidence, that he'd find use in his new purchase so quickly...<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;">(If he hasn't been noticed yet and if there is appropriate cover alongside the street; ignore otherwise)<br/><br/>Hide check: 1d20(13) + 11 = 24</div></div></div><br/><br/>Retrieving the crossbow, he lifted it up to his face and closed one eye as he focused in on the trio behind the tiger and rat. If any of them made a false move, he'd make sure to give them something to chew on themselves...