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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Dichotomy" data-source="post: 3104339" data-attributes="member: 12941">[sblock=Shea & Roach]As Nav stares out at the mire of filth that serves as the square in Diamond Lake, he sees someone that clearly doesn’t fit in.Her face is tanned from travel, and her hair has faded to a strangely iridescent red.  Both contrast sharply with her watery blue eyes.  Hair is mid-shoulder length, but almost always worn in a bun.  She appears travelworn, but not grungily so.  She wears scalemail, a steel gray cloak. A Morningstar slung across her back, a 'quiver' of javelins crosses it in the other direction.  A loadedbackpack sits in the middle.  A sickle hangs on her right hip, and a small pouch on her left.  She stands a full 5'4" and a slim 115 lbs.She certainly seems much more likely to have coin than the average citizen of this cesspool.Nav notices the traveller and stands to approach her.You see before you a young man a couple inches shorter than 6 feet.  He's dressed in neat enough clothes, but they have obviously been patched and mended more than a few times.  They hang off of his frame slightly, which would be hard not to do since he is thin to just before the point of skeletal.  The first actual feature you notice is that his hair is pure white, and his skin is rather pale even though he also looks weather worn.  He walks with an assured air that suits him well, and as he approaches he makes eye contact where you notice that his eyes are the silver of a finely wrought chain.  He has a javelin loosely strapped to his back and a small belt pouch that appears to be empty."Do ya have a coin to spare m'lady, the sun is full and my belly has been empty for over a day.""Coin is rarely spare in this world friend, but i will very happily fill your stomach in trade for a bit of conversation.  I know of a good place here."  Alexis leads Nav to The Spinning Giant.As the pair walks, Nav continues the conversation.  "Conversation I can do m'lady, but it might want for the hurry in which I'll likely eat.""No concern.  Time enough to eat and talk, follow me."  After a brief pause, Alexis continues, "You don't appear to be from this place.  Or have i misjudged?""Born and raised m'lady, although I hope to remedy that as soon as I can," Nav replies.  "That's the one common trait in this town, everyone wants out.""it certainly appears that way."  But rather than dwell on the subject of flight from Diamond Lake, Alexis changes to something hopefully less depressing.  "What trade do you practice?  You certainly don't have the look of a miner."Whichever pays, although I've never been much for work in the mines.  I tend to find a coin wheree'er I can either through song or parlor trick.  It's enough to help me scrape by most seasons."  Nav turns the question back to Alexis.  "And you m'lady?  What brings you to this hole at the end of the line?""Hmm... Parlor tricks tend to be a bit shady.... Not in line with my preferences," she replies.  "I tend toward the more martial types of service.""Not my preference either, but I do what I must to get by, and squirrel away a coin when I can.""I've actually come looking for work.....  of that same martial variety, though it seems to be lacking.""The mines always seem to need guards," Nav offers helpfully, "but you'd be fighting off the miners more'n any enemies I'd think.""True....  and it may come to that, but for the time being i'll hold out for a slightly," Alexis pauses for emphasis, "cleaner job."As the pair enters the Spinning Giant between the legs of the depiction of Flailing Felanore, you find the tavern only partially full.  There are a couple of tables of garrison crowd, and no other patrons at this hour.  Several of the men raise their eyes at the sight of your entering.  It seems that more than one man's gaze lingers a bit on the sight of Alexis.Alexis continues, "You said your leaving, or wish to leave.  Do you have a destination?""As most people in town, my dreams usually settle on the free city m'lady, but anywhere must be better than here."  Nav pitches his voice lower.  "You might be fighting a few off'n here as well it seems.""Those fights are not much trouble," Alexis laughs shortly and moves to a table.  "And though this is not much of a place to look at, it's certainly better than some.  But i've only just arrived...""And you mean to stay for a time?""Well until i realize there's no good work to be had.""HA!" Nav retorts.  "Then this is merely a resting place until Able can carry you on!""Able?" Alexis asks."There is little good about this town m'lady.  Did you arrive on foot?""On borrowed horse, but i'll leave on foot unless my fortune changes," she replies."Ah.  Able is the company that runs the coaches in and out of town.  I had assumed that such a capable lady as yourself had utilized them to reach town.""Your flattery is lost friend,"Alexis responds.  "Now where the hell is our waitress?  Perhaps this Able is in search of coach guards," she muses."Flattery is never lost m'lady, merely an investment into good company."  In response to Alexis' musing, Nav replies, "For the rates they charge, they must need a good strong arm to protect most of their customers.  Although just as many come in on a free one way ticket.""Yes i had heard so many of the residents are," she pauses a moment, "transplants.""Which only drives the ever present desire to leave."Only slightly later than expected, a somewhat weary looking waitress stops by to take your order.  "Sorry, I have to make sure the 'boys' get what they need.  I'm sure you understand.""You must keep them happy," Nav replies.  "They keep most of us from getting into too much trouble.""No, but you're here now," Alexis replies as well.The pair continues talking after they've placed their order."You certainly seem anxious to leave," Alexis notes.  "But your lack of coin, if that's the truth, would likely prohibit any means save your own feet.  So the question is, why are you still here?""You're new to town so you don't understand the condition of this place.  I make moderate sums from time to time, but it never seems to stay in my pockets for long.""Perhaps that has more to do with your appetites?" Alexis offers."Where else would I go without more than two coins?" Nav retorts."I've left a town's safety without a copper to my name.""Since the Red Death took me Day, I've wanted to go somewhere else, but fortune doesn't shine on everyone all the time, and I have enough friends left here to see I don't end in a gutter.  It shines on me often enough though, I'm still around ain't I?""A good friend is not lost in this world.... wait, your Day?""Me mum.""She was your... oh.  Well i'm truly sorry.""It was long enough ago that it's but a memory.""Death, though imminent is rarely welcomed.""The Red sort was never welcomed at all.""I don't imagine, no."  "So where'd you say you were from again?" Nav abruptly switches the conversation."Me?" Alexis asks.  "I'm from around.  i've been traveling for so long it doesn't seem i'm from anywhere.""It must get easier with practice then."Alexis shifts the conversation again.  "Well you seem honest enough.  Should i leave, and should you need a friend to travel with, you can surely travel with me.""Much obliged m'lady, I am handy enough with this spear," he pats the javelin's hilt "and have more'n a couple tricks up my sleeve," Nav states with a wink."Tricks...  We all have our tricks," Alexis says winking back.  She returns to the previous line of conversation.  "The hardest part about traveling has been stopping... For me at least.""Well if you're lucky you won't be stopped here for long.  If you're not...well you will be I'm sure," Nav says while peering around the room to see who is near them for any reason."I'm not worried, there's always work somewhere.""That there is, especially if you have a strong arm or stout back.""Among other," she pauses a moment, "talents, yes.  There is always someone looking for help."Nav grins.  "There are often those around to lend a hand as well.  So, ever think of joining the city guard?  They seem to leave as soon as they can like the rest of us, so there must be openings from time to time.""Actually, that's what originally lead me here.""The guard?  But they weren't hiring after all or are you too recently in town?""Yes. A friend had suggested, given the common 'tourists' of the town, that the city guard would likely be seeking help.  But it seems they aren't in need, or at least not of me.""Sad news indeed.  If'n I hear of any work, I'll be sure to find you first," Nav replies."Well i thank you again.  Where do you stay?  Did your mum, Day, leave you a home?""She never had one to leave.  I grew up with squatters mostly, although many of them have since found work and places to stay.  I stay out at night when I'm able, with friends when I can, and at the flop house when I must.""Where are you staying," he asks."Where ever there's a cheap warm bed.  For the past few nights i've called the flophouse home.  Nothing honorable, but better than the wet ground.""Well if we're both around come winter, I'll likely be there too.""I'd suggest it.  Sad as it is, winters in the wild are not friendly, not in the least.  Though their cliental is not the most," Alexis pauses, "trustworthy.""No I've spent more'n my share out in them in town here, but rarely do I stray out of late.""How is your food?""Eh, good enough, but nothing on the company," Alexis smiles, if somewhat complacently.  "The wine is better elsewhere though.  Perhaps tonight is a good night for a rousing.  Do you have other things to attend to this evening?""Most nights are, though I tend to avoid it when I can."  Nav grins.  "Tonight just happens to be open though.""Good, let us drink away our troubles tonight, on me and the gods.    And if we play correctly, we may earn a few free drink ourselves.""I often play correctly, in fact today treated me well, so your first drink is on me.""Hmm... very well.  Let us start low, and work our way up.  to the Feral Dog," Alexis resolves."A fine place to spend a coin," Nav agrees.After Alexis leaves coin for the bill and a generous tip, the pair again passes between the legs of Flailing Felanore.Outside, Alexis turns to Nav.  "You are a find friend, I must say, it is good to know you.""And you 'm'lady' are the best mark I found all day.""'Mark' am I?  We shall see...""I don't believe I've caught your name quite yet though..."  Nav sticks out his hand, "They call me Nav, Nav Baxtalo.""Ah, yes, silly me... My name is Alexis."[/sblock]</blockquote>

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