Shay was far from being the most outstanding foreigner, or the most provocatively dressed. Races from all corners of the world were represented on the marble-paved streets of Seahurst's Trade Quarter. Androgynous elves, tall and fair in their traditional attire of forest greens and yellows, grew glances and sighs from men and women alike. A band of dwarves marched through, parting the crowd, the impeccable workmanship of their arms and armour eclipsed only by their magnificent braided beards. Here a chocolate-skinned ifrit flitted from store to store in semi-transparent silks, hot in all meanings of the word, threatening to make pants spontaneously combust in a dangerously large radius around her. There a pale-skinned half-orc in a bikini of furs and chainmail strolled, carrying her muscular physique with an amazonian beauty. Not that Shay didn't receive a few - more than a few - appreciative looks of her own, but there was little concern that she would stand out in memory.<br/><br/>It took a little time before the nagging thought at the back of Shay's time was finally pinned down. Perhaps it was because this was the Trade Quarter, but even on her way here she had not seen a single beggar plying his trade on a corner nor any orphan children running down the street playing. She also noticed symbols, inconspicuous little things that could be written off as graffiti if spotted, painted on rarely-seen crannies of buildings. Yet they were not random, but carried meaning, even if Shay couldn't decipher what those meanings were yet. It was apparent that there was at least some organization to the thieves working this city.<br/><br/>Shay felt someone bumping against her, and heard a high-pitched muttered "sorry", perhaps not an unexpected occurrence in such a crowded street - but she knew better; this was no accident, and her coin purse was almost predictably missing when she felt for it. Turning quickly enough, she managed to catch a glimpse of her pickpocket, who was either a human child or a halfling, trying to get away through the crowd while at the same time trying not to push too hard and raise a commotion.<br/><br/><hr/><br/>Pickpocket's sleight of hand: 21, succeeds in stealing Shay's coin purse. (https://elliquiy.com/forums/dicebot.php?r=58293)<br/>Shay's perception: 24, notices the sleight of hand attempt (https://elliquiy.com/forums/dicebot.php?r=58294)