A city of Warriors

[Les Mei]

Les Mei calmy walked up the road leading to Avaren, the city of warriors that she had been seeking for over a month now - not that it was hard to find, it was just that she had started so far away.

A journey of over two years led me here She mused silently Even if at first I did not head directly here. We shall see if it was worth it...

Les turned a bend in the road, and was suddenly confronted with the sight of the city walls, and the mass of people streaming in an out. She had to work hard to control the gasp that nearly emerged, and the surprised look on her face. Newcomers to cities often got pegged as easy targets, and she would rather not start a fight with a theif, or have her possesions stolen.

I've never seen such a large city... She shook her head. Bigger than my home by far, though that's not so surprising.

She walked with the crowd, and entered the city, stopped breifly by one of the gate sentries, enquiring as to her buisness in the city.

"I seek to test myself against it's fine warriors, of whom I have heard tales." She replied to his query, and he smiled at her compliment to his city and motioned for her to pass. She returned the smile and bade him a good day before continuing into the city.

Inside the walls, she lost the battle to control her countenance, and a look of amazment passed upon her face. It was so amazing! The fine buildings, the sheer mass of people, the calls of men and woman selling things, and the variety of the things they sold! Les had never seen it's like before, and suddenly felt self-consious for being so new.

She hoped that she didn't look too outlandish in her archers' armour from her homeland...

[Io]

Io was bored and boredom was a rare thing for this girl. There was no one important to steal from now these days. Except the king but she was nowhere ready for that. She walked along minding her own business. She pick pocketed a few people but foreigners where always broke. Io bumped into this young woman and stole her change purse. Not much there. She turned around and got the woman's attention.

"Hey miss this was stolen from you...", she said blandly.
"Oh my by who!?", she replied very shocked.
"A girl with um, a...coat and a candle. Gotta watch out foe the crazies....", she said still monotone.
"Well, thank you miss.", she said and walked away.

Io's reply was between 'ayuh' and 'mmmhhhmmm'. She walked around feeling like nothing more than a cow in a herd or a sheep in a flock. Then the oddly dressed girl, kinda like a weird archer, stopped in front of her. She was obviously in awe of the city. Io leaned over to the girl, "Scoot it princess".

[Les Mei]

Les stepped sharply back from the stranger, and raised an eyebrow.

"Princess?" She inquired, and brushed some of the travel dirt from her armour. "I should think I would be far from it."

She surveyed the girl, wary of the stranger who had addressed her. She carried two knives, and therefore was likely quick with her fingers - possibly in more ways than one when she needed money.

"And if you mean for me to leave the city - I don't think you're in any position to turn me away. I've travelled too far for this opportunity to leave now." Les smiled then, hoping to get on the girls good side, as she didn't wish to make enemies so early in her time here.

[Io]

"Yes, Princess, But I understand that you are an independent and self-reliant female individual who deserves my respect and who isn't an object but a sensitive creature with feelings," Io droned on like she had said the phrase a billion times. The woman seemed nice enough but Io wasn't a very polite person. Being raised by a bunch of thugs tends to make you a jerk.

Then the woman got Io's words mixed up. Io sighed. "Th-that's not what meant, sorry. It's been a bad day.", she apologized. "I'm Io". She held out her hand for a shake.

[Les Mei]

Les' smile grew wider, and shook Ios' hand.

"Les. And no need for an apology - I've managed to get over the whole sensitive feelings part." She said in reference to Ios' statement, and laughed. "And I can certainly understand when someone's had a bad day."

Les gave her surroundings another look, still amazed at the city, though not showing her amazement nearly as much as she had before.

"So this is the great city of Avaren. It's certainly bigger than anything I've ever seen, as you may well have noticed. It was hard for me to imagine it's size, though it's been described to me."

Les shook her head in wonderment.

"And you live here, I assume. And therefore you must think me an un-cultered countryman, don't you?"