View source for The Beginning of an Odd Partnership

THE BEGINNING OF AN ODD PARTNERSHIP

'''Place:''' Lower Trade District AND Ox-Strength tavern

'''Synopsis:'''Kaedin and Maxine start a partnership, to do good deeds and make Money!



<pre>-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=<* A02: Lower Trades District *>=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-

          The Lower Trades District is the home of the working man of Alexandria. The Lower Trades is divided, unofficially, into two parts: that controlled by the gobbers, and that controlled by the khazad. The two areas stand in contrast, one with a strong, almost formal architecture and a predilection for blacksmiths, the other a mixture of propped-up rubble and gunpowder. The latter's started to grow however, and take form with the aid of the more structured Arvek Nar. Still, the two stand as uneasy neighbors, though the oruch more easily work both sides, often in the spirit of a friendly, if competitive, warriors' competition that's unique to Alexandria, itself.

          Here, the "khazad section" boasts a number of blacksmiths, glass smiths, artifice shops, and basic taverns, as well as any number of trades shops and eateries. The sweet tinge of oil, iron, and spiced BBQ is everywhere. Shrines to Reos, or marks of the same, are found over most doorways, in homage to the khazad Mountain Father and World Smith.

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 Maxine          A curious looking gnome wearing chainmail.           
 Kaedin          Excitable and Charismatic An Lucht Siuils.
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Not as busy as usual, the lower Trade Distric still has it's usual goings on. One particular 'merchant' is a rather short halfling with a sign that says 'ask about stuff' in four languages, one of them being the gnome language. Next to the sign is a barrel and a wooden frame on top of it wit hthe halfling working on it, apparently, it's some sort of trap that he is studying, a dagger in one hand and a chisel in the other as he looks to be poking and prodding the best, and quickest, way to disable it.

Maxine is currently making her way through the trade district. She is attempting to look at each of the items on the carts before moving on. She seems to be moving slowly, but when she reaches the cart with the halfling making the trap, Maxine stops, tilts her head and studies it a bit closer. She offers no advice on how to accomplish his task, probably because the look on her face states she has no idea what he is attempting to even do. “Greetings.” She says simple and with the offer a smile afterwards.

The halfling looks up from his work and places his tools next to the trap. "Hello!" he says with an upbeat voice and a very warm smile as he looks up at the gnome. "How might I help you today M'lady?" he asks as he leans on the sign next to his barrel and looks her over from head to toe, a fighter type by his best guess.

Maxine doesn’t seem really to notice what he is wearing, She motions to what he wrote on his sign, “Stuff?” she inquires, “Which...stuff?” Oh the subtly of it speaks volumes to her as she not completely innocent in her past.

Kaedin blinks and tilts his head at the gnome. "Alotta stuff, appraisals, gossip, need me to find you somthing that can;t be gotten yourself. Scouting, Ruins delving, just ask away, and since your pretty, I'll even give you one question for free!" he says with a smile, his hood drawn back so his truly happy and charismatic smile can be seen.

Maxine raises an eyebrow and then winks at him. She leans in close and lowers her voice. “Work.” she says quietly. “I need work.” she offers to him, “Something honest, pays well, but not overly good, so people will question what I am doing. Have any ideas?”

Kaedin looks around and leans in, speaking in gnomish, though his halfling accent is clear. "Well, there are pirates out in the waters, I'm looking for a partner, a business associate, honestly. Disableing those who deal is means of plundering and general meanness is a good way to get noticed, by good folk as well as bad folk." he says, and looks up once more to make sure no one is listening in. "Plus, if those pirates have gold on them, a few orphiages could do with some of that gold for the kiddos."

Maxine seems to think about this for a moment. She studies the man before her carefully before nodding, “No killing if we can help it.” she offers to him simply. “I have no taste for it if it can be helped. Justice must be sought.” She nods at that firmly. “The funds should go to those that need it.”

Kaedin nods. "No killing if it can be avoided. Besides, it's better for one to live and suffer, then die and find peace." he says simply as he tilts his head up at her. "Oh! I'm Kaedin! It's nice to meet'cha!" he says extending a hand twoards her.

Lips pursing at his suffering comment Maxine takes his hand, “Lancer Maxine.” she offers, “call me Maxine..” She tilts her head to him, “I do mean it.” She states simply. “I really don’t have much stomach for killing if there is any other way. Undead are an exception, they are vile...” she points out.

Kaedin blinks at her. "You said it once, no need to repeat yourself." he says with a smile as he lets go of her hand, without having pilfered anything from her. "Hmm, I think our first order of business is to find any known bandit activity, I know a few big guys who would probibly like to put boots to butts on bandits." he says with a smile.

“Sorry, I am used to people not realizing I mean it. I think its the fact I am a gnome. Generally gnomes are chaotic.”She shrugs. “Agreed.” She nods once at him. “I can also check with the town guard and see if there is any thing they suspect and need help proving.” She offers.

Kaedin smiles at her. "I'm sure you get the itch to play a harmless joke now and again. Might be funny to see the big folk around here get flustered.' he says with a smile. "The guards might have some info. So, aside from wanting to do good, what's your trade? Since you known mine already."

Maxine opens her mouth to protest and then smiles at him, “Harmless jokes prevent me from being that stiff paladin that everyone hates.” She points out, “I am a weapon smith.” She motions to her scimitar. “Not my make, but soon I will make one like it.” she says, “Dedicate it to Serriel and Over all use it as the best I can, Maybe one day I will even be a mounted lancer!”

 GAME: Kaedin rolls sleight of hand: (5)+11: 16
 GAME: Maxine rolls perception: (11)+3: 14

Kaedin smiles. "You can be a paladin without being stuffy and hard faced, besides, you look to pretty not to smile alot, AND!" he says as his hand moves quickly to her year and he comes back with a silver coin in his palm. "You had this in your ear." he says with a wining smile.

Maxine rubs her ear and then looks at him, “Well aren’t you the charmer.” She offers and winks at him, “This is going to be a ..business...relationship right.” Maxine eyes him lightly. Almost taking him in fully as if to check him out. “I am a good girl..” she points out, “Not some silly little gnome who believe’s coins came out of her ear.” She rubs her ear to make sure that they don’t just fall out of her ear. “I mean if they did, I probably would be rich. Can you imagine it. A coin dispensing ear, You are all normal when you wake up, then you sneeze and BAM! you shoot a copper out of your head..”

Kaedin chuckles. "My life is business Maxine, and if I'm going to have someone watch my back, then there has to be a deep sense of trust and companion ship. That doesn;t mean we have to run off to the nearest priest for a wedding... I'm attempting to avoid that, though my pa might show up and well... he iddnt like that I wasn't a tinker like him." he says with a smile as he places the silver in her hand, it came out of her ear at any rate. "But yeah, a 'business' relationship and a 'companion ship' are two differant things. if you get hurt, I'm not going to think about the cost of healing, I'm going to get you heal at any cost, understand?"

Maxine thinks about this and nods. “Friends. And don’t worry.’ she offers him a wink. “My parents are going to be coming around any time soon, and if they do, they ain’t going to be offering anything CLOSE to wedding bells.” She rolls her eyes. “Your dad was a tinker?” She motions to what he was working on, “You seem to have gotten something from him.” She points out.

Kaedin frowns at the trap. "Yeah, I'm pretty handy at disabling a trap, makeing a trap, and locks... heh, as much as I travel, I one day hope to have a nice home with a warm hearth, a pretty wife, and alot of children, trade in this lithe figure of mine for a propper Halfling partiarchs form." yes, he means a round belly. "But, until that day, I'm doing this kinda stuff."

Maxine nods, “one day children, there are many years for that.” she nods, “You want a belly?” she laughs and reaches out to pat his, “A proper wife will make you have one, Make sure to get armor that fits over it though Just case you need to re-done it.”

Kaedin chuckles. "Yes a propper belly, and a fishing hat. Maybe open up a Taven in a small town." he says with a chuckle. "You may be a paladin, but do you drink? or at least, will you let me buy you a warm meal?"

“I drink but I don’t get drunk.” Maxine offers, “And as for warm meals. I enjoy warm meals muchly.” She motions for him to lead the way. “You would open a tavern.” she offers as her eyes twinkle. “Don’t all adventurers one day open a tavern?”

Kaedin nods. "Yes, or a smithy, or a library, or a monastary, or win land and have a fifdom, though, I don't think i would make a good fife lord..." he says as he packs up his shop, well more like takes the trap apart and folds the sign down and leads her twoards the nearest tavern. "And yes, a wife who can bake cakes, I love cakes, but she shouldent be a door mat eather, I need someone who can match wits with me, witty banter is ever so much fun."


<pre>-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-<* A06: Ox-Strength Tavern *>--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-

          The Ox-Strength Ale Tavern is known for being one of the most dangerous dives in the city.  Frequented by the worst sailors, mercenaries, thugs and looters, the place is hardly the prettiest nor the tidiest of taverns, though--of late, that has been changing. Locals claim the once foul-tasting food "No longer burns the stomach--as much, anyways." Plates show signs of repair instead of cracks, though the still infamous odor of old beer and stale sweat insists on hanging about the place, and the smell of brine is near-constant.

          What used to be bricked-up windows have been somewhat opened. Heavy bars let in a reluctant breeze and prevent the clanging of heads against glass (which seems nearly afraid to exist). Bloodstains adorn both the nearby walls and the bricks themselves from thrown patrons and fists.

          The lights are dim, a few oil lamps hung from hooks in the splintered ceiling beams. A smattering of tables, scratched and carved into by many a blade, dot the expanse of the floor. Most of the tables are arranged in a wide circle to give plenty of room in the center of the bar for hasty escapes or the routine bar-brawl or fight. A worn-out steam piped stove sometimes provides warmth to the tavern. Occasionally an aging dog of some mangy breed or another can be seen sleeping near the stove or by the bar itself. Overhead the fireplace is a tribute to Rada, the patron of fishermen and rivermen everywhere.

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“You want someone who bakes, but will chase you will the rolling pin when you are naughty.” Maxine giggles at the thought of this, “I would LOVE to watch that some time.” She giggles. “OOH one day you will have that I am sure..at least the wife with a rolling pin!” She follows him towards the tavern.

Kaedin giggles. "Knowing my luck with trouble, yeah probibly." he says as he walks into the tavern, still a rough place, but it's getting better, Kaedin might start going to other places, but the Ox-strength might be a place to find some fun times, or a lead or two. He leads Maxine twoards a side table and hops up on a chair, taking his crossbow out, loading a bolt into it and lays it on the table, a small deturant.

Maxine raises an eyebrow as she looks at the weapon and then around, “Never underestimate the power of guilt.” she says with a wink, “Ho ho you have luck with trouble.” She teases and climbs into her own chair before leaning back against it. Her feet are curled up comfortably as she looks around. “So what is good to drink and eat here?”

Kaedin kaedin smiles. "I think Ale is pretty good, and eather the roast fowl or soup, I honestly wouldent trust the pork unless I cooked it myself." He says as he waves over a waistress, and motions for Maxine to order first.

“Fowl, ale, and bread.” she states simply, “And some cheese.” She looks back to Kaedin, “I don’t trust pork unless I kill it.” Maxine chuckles. “A midwinter ham smoked though is very nice.”

Kaedin nods and smiles. "I agree, honey glazed and served with potatoes and carrots." he says, and orders the same thing maxine did. He smiles at her and sits back. "I think this will be the beggining of a wonderful relationship, who knows, we could end up hunting after a dragon's horde." he says with a smile.

Maxine’s eyes light up for a second, “A whole pile of gems.” she offers and then clears her throat, “That can be used to help a town.” she does mean that part, but apparently just the idea of treasure does still appeal to her.

Kaedin smiles. "Or build a town, give anot of peole a place to live and some honest jobs." he says, and the thought of there being an Inn there is in his mind as well.

Maxines nods at that, “sounds great..” she offers and then looks at Kaedin, “Wha cha thinking about.” she offers and leans forward to rest both elbows on the table and look at him. Her feet drop down to kick under her chair. “You got a smile on your face...”

Kaedin smiles at her and winks. "Thinking about the future, I think ten children would be good..." he says with a nod. "Hmm, might have to marry one of the tall folk for that though..." he says with a silly grin.

Maxine’s eyebrow’s disappear as her eyes go big, “TEN..” she eyes him, “You realize that squeezing out a babe ain’t easy right.” She stops. “Though a tall folk might be able to do it. I don’t don’t know what woman would want ten though, Unless making them was really fun..”

Kaedin gives a goofy giggle. "Well i don't wanna brag.." he says, but clears his throat due to the company he is currently keeping. "Well, maybe Five..." he says, and his face lights up when the food arrives. "Yum!" he says as he picks up the pint of ale (yes, they come in pints), and he offers a toast. "To the future."

Maxine chuckles and picks up her ale also, “To the future,” she toasts and then laughs, “Aye people mate.” she winks at him, “Just because of my profession doesn’t mean I am blind to what people do..” she points out and starts to dig into her food.

Kaedin nods and eats as well, swallowing a few bites before speaking again. "Yes, but one would want more then just children and a meal out of a mate, you would want someone you can talk to, laugh with, and spend old age with when you are all senile and forget stuff."

Maxine chuckles, “Very true, I always thought true love was someone who remembered your shoes for you when you forgot them.”She points out. “One day..” she shrugs and then looks at her food.

Kaedin giggles. "Most halflings don't wear shoes, I wear them because they come with sheathes for my daggers." he says with a smile before he eats more.

Maxine looks at Kaedin, “Well then your wife will have an easy task!” she points out and beams at him. She takes a healthy swig of her ale before tearing some bread off, “What about you, What is love to you?”

Kaedin blinks and tilts his head. "I don't think you can describe love as easy as other things. it's not like lust, want or greed, it's much more sacred. I mean, I like money, i like money alot, but i wouldent put money before a loved one."

Maxine shrugs, “Yeah but..” she stops and tilts her head to think about it. “I guess...I mean what type of woman.” she stops. “Or man, would you fall in love with?”

Kaedin blinks and tilts his head. "First of all, it would be a woman, and second of all, I really can't pin down a definate trait, i mean, if she isn't a doormat and is smart, then anything else is up to fate i guess."

Maxine laughs and holds up her hands, “OKay doormat a no go. You want her fiesty..someone to keep you one your toes.” Maxine taps her chin, “I shall have to hunt for said woman, who wants ten children...so you can grow your Patriarch belly.”

Kaedin blinks and tilts his head. "Hunt for her? But why would you want to do that? Who knows, could be you." he says with a smirk, half joking, but the implied joke IS there.

Maxine shakes her head without missing a beat, “I really can’t cook. and you don’t want me to try.” she states, “I burn things soo quickly. I burned water the other day. Like really how do you do that?”

Kaedin giggles. "You could always learn, not that hard to learn to cook, start easy, and move on to harder things.' he says with a nod, and finishes his meal. he then pays for both their meals and looks around. "I have to ride out to the temple, I'll keep an ear out for some work and find you if i get a lead." he says as he takes his crossbow and slings it over his shoulder. "Take care."