The Explorers of Tyria (IC)

The instant the first rays of dawn touched Kasaeva she jumped out of her leaf bed.  She grabbed her bag and tucked her daggers away safely, then ran outside.  Today was the day.  Finally, after six long months, she would get to see the other side of the Asura Gate for real.  She would be able to add her own memories to those of the Sylvari before her who had travelled through it.  

The birds were just beginning to sing.  It was rare for her to start her day this early but excitement had kept her from sleeping.  She had said her goodbyes the night before and now wove her way through the Grove alone.  At last, she arrived and the massive gate stood before her.  The funny little Asura stood beside it, watching her.  She stared into the swirling pinkness in the arch, simply absorbing and enjoying the moment.  After a minute the Asura huffed impatiently and said, "Are you going to stare at it all day or go through it?"  
She laughed, "Well of course I'm going to go through it!  I've been waiting for this moment since the minute I joined the Dream."
The Asura rolled his eyes, "Will you be going through the gate sometime today?"
She sighed dreamily, "Oh, alright.  I'll go through the gate now.  Goodbye!"
The Asura rolled his eyes again and muttered, "Sylvari."  

Kasaeva walked into the pinkness and shivered a bit.  For a split-second, she felt like she was floating through space but the feeling vanished and she came through the other side.  Bright sunshine streamed down on her and the air tasted like salt.  Two Wardens guarded either side of the gate.  They nodded to her as she walked down the walkway.  A small fountain adorned the center of the plaza where the walkways from all the gates met.  She sat down on the edge and played in the water.

Kalyenne checked her weapons for the fifth time that morning. Her restless fingers twitched nervously above Arden's leaf-like fur. Before her, the Asura gate was illuminated with the glow from the Grove plants. She moved towards it, Arden following in her wake. At the portal, an Asura eyed her with a bored expression.
"Another one?" he muttered to himself.
Ignoring his comment she stepped up to the portal. She wound her fingers tightly into Arden's fur and gingerly stepped through. For a brief moment she felt alone except for Arden's steady presence with her, as always. For the first time in her life she couldn't feel the Mother Tree's comforting presence nor that of the other sylvari. She emerged from the other side of the portal, slightly disorientated. Stumbling slightly, her tightly clamped fingers pulled on Arden's fur and made him yelp with annoyance. A sylvari sitting by the fountain eyed the commotion with interest. Feeling foolish, Kalyenne let go of Arden who bounded forward to a safe distance. A warden looked at her with kindness.

"First time to Lion's arch?" he asked. Kalyenne nodded in reply, trying to adjust to the brightness of the city after the partial gloom of the Grove.
"Probably best to rest a bit then, to get your bearings." he continued to say, indicating the fountain where the other sylvari was still sitting, flicking the water around playfully. Calling to Arden she wandered down the ramp to the fountain, regaining her confidence with every step. At the fountain she sat down near the sylvari.

"Hi", Kalyenne said, "my name is Kalyenne. Do you mind if I sit here for a bit? It's my first time to Lion's Arch and I don't know anyone here." Arden bounded around the fountain, trying to snap at the water as the other sylvari turned to reply.

Kasaeva looked up as the new Sylvari sat down. She smiled at her greeting. "Hello Kalyenne! My name's Kasaeva. You are more than welcome to share the fountain with me. I'm new in Lion's Arch too."
She turned with curiosity towards the yelling Charr and Asura. The Charr walked towards them and put his head in the fountain then shook water all over her and her new friend. He smelled funny. She spoke to him cheerily, "Hello Mr. Charr!"

Kalyenne wrinkled her nose at the Charr's smell.
"It is nearing noon." she replied, glancing up at the bright sun overhead.
Arden stopped snapping at the water and came over to greet the Charr. Sniffing at the fur of the charr he sneezed explosively. Kalyenne smiled and pulled Arden close. She had just entered this city and already it was so alive with new people and so much noise! She wondered what the rest of the day still had to offer.

Kasaeva tilted her head at his odd name for her.  She wasn't a leaf, she was a Sylvari and that wasn't her name.  It must simply be a misunderstanding. 
"My name's not little leaf, it's Kasaeva," she informed the Charr.  "What's yours?" 
Kalyenne had already answered his question about the time.  She glanced up at the position of the sun to see for herself.  She thought it was strange that it had just barely been dawn in the Grove and now all of a sudden it was noon.  Hmm..Lunchtime.  She hadn't eaten breakfast this morning in her hurry to reach the gate.  They would have to find some lunch.  She looked back at the Charr, awaiting his answer to her question.

"GRRahhhhrrrr" roared Vic. He somehow entered the asura gate and now, he felt like he's falling down into a bottomless pit.

Just when he thought he was going to die, someone said, "Stay in line...or else!"
"What? Did i die? Where am I? asked Vic. "This is Lion's Arch, get back in line if you want to enter, if not SHOO~" replied the Iron legion solider standing at the entrance of the asura gate. Still trying to figure out where he was, Vic saw this beautiful city right in front of him. The whole place was decorated with lightings and there were several people and creatures coming out from other asura gates. Having been at war all his life, this is a very different scene from what Vic experience everyday. Unlike black citadel, No one is brawling here and he sees other people/creatures including chars talking to each other. The only bad thing about this place is the soaring sun right above his head which is making him perspire like crazy.

"Wow~ this is incccgrrredible..." said Vic aloud while mesmerizing the things happening in front of him. Still being suspicious of everything around him, Vic took a few steps forward and saw a fountain. "Just the thing I need" , thought Vic and he started running towards the fountain and..."SPLASH!"

"Grrrahwhooooooo~", yelled Vic while splashing water all around him. Just when he was preparing to jump into the fountain again, he realizes that there were 3 wet figures, standing in front of him. There were 2 plant-like creatures and a char. "O no, I didn’t know there was someone here! I’m so sorry. My name is Vic Chillax but you can call me Chill”, said Vic.

While waiting for the odd-smelling Charr to respond, Kasaeva saw out of the corner of her eye another Charr rushing towards the fountain.  She jumped up just in time to avoid being smashed into and received a shower.  She shivered a bit at the sudden wetness and stared in bewilderment at the roaring Charr.  She thought he was going to splash them again when he suddenly stopped and announced his apologies and name.  She stared blankly at him in response.  The fountain had been relatively peaceful for a while but now things seemed to be going a little bit crazy.  She wasn't sure she really wanted to stay any longer.  The first Charr nodded to the second, then turned back and gave his name.  Gur.  An interesting name.  Kasaeva supposed it was probably quite normal for a Charr.  Gur announced he was hungry and started to walk away.  She glanced at Kalyenne and then, thinking Kalyenne probably didn't want to stay here any more than she did now, grabbed her hand and ran after Gur. 
"I'm hungry too.  Do you know where we can find something to eat here?  I've never been here before."

Kalyenne stumbled after Kasaeva, dripping with water from the fountain. She was a bit taken back by the sudden appearance of the loud second charr. As she was pulled along she gave a brief wave to the second charr, who had announced his name as Chill. As she and Kasaeva approached Gur she heard Kas enquire about food. She realised that all the excitement had made her quite hungry. And she could use a moment to dry off. She hoped Gur know a good place to stop at. Arden trotted after the small group, shaking the water from his fur as they walked.

Kasaeva cocked her head at him in confusion.  Water and fish...?  She just wanted to eat lunch.  She sighed when he said he didn't know anything either.  "Well, that makes three of us.  Guess we're in good company."  She brightened as an idea came to her.  She dropped Kalyenne's hand.  "Stay right here!"  She ran back past the fountain and up the walkway to the wardens.  "My new friends and I are new here!  Where can we find something to eat?"
One Warden gave her a friendly smile, "Well if you're in the mood for seafood and beer there's a little outdoor bar on the boardwalk.  Or you can visit Lion's Shadow Inn.  Aela always has something good to eat.  She'll also give you a room if you need.  If you just want a snack, there's plenty of vendors and merchants hanging about the Trader's Forum."
"Thank-you very much!"
"Anytime."
Kasaeva ran back to the group and announced their options.

The char nodded to chill and started walking off with the 2 plant creatures following behind. Chill saw them talking to a warden and overheard what they were saying. "BEER!?, that's sounds like a good plan!", thought chill and he ran after the rest. "Did I hear beer? Mind if I join? I believe you are gur?, said chill to the char. And the 2 missys are?, asked chill.

Kalyenne moved to the side to allow Chill to walk with them. The feeling of loneliness she felt after leaving the grove was starting to ebb as she talked with the others.
"I'm Kalyenne and this is Kasaeva", she replied to Chill, indicating the other sylvari. Turning to Gur she answered, "and I'm here to explore the world! I've seen so much in the Dream but experienced so little. It is so frustrating at times." She frowned as she thought about the gaps in her knowledge of the world. So many sylvari were content to stay in the grove but that option had never appealed to her. She wondered if a similar urge to explore was acting on Kas. Maybe they could team up if that was the case.

Kasaeva walked towards the docks with the rest of the group.  Her nose wrinkled as the dripping wet Charr pushed in between her and Kalyenne.  She side stepped so as to not rub up against his wet fur.  She had kind of been hoping he wouldn't follow them but perhaps it would be okay if he wasn't near a fountain.  She smiled when she heard Kalyenne's answer to Gur's question.  "Really Kalyenne?"  She ran around Chill to walk next to the other Sylvari.  "You too?  All of my friends in the Grove thought I was crazy for wanting to leave.  I don't understand how they could not want to leave!  The world is so much bigger than the Grove and there is so much to learn and do--so many adventures to have!  With so much to discover, how could anyone possibly want to stay home?  When my mentor told me yesterday that I could go, I packed what I needed and said goodbye!  Oh!  We're going to be such great friends!"  She wrapped her arms around Kalyenne and squeezed her tight for a moment before continuing walking.  She sighed contentedly and was glad to have found a sister to travel with.

Kasaeva whirled around when she heard the familiar voice and nickname from behind her.  "Caevana?  What in the world are you doing here!?"  She ran back and hugged the tall Sylvari tightly before leaning back and looking up at her.  In their days of training, Caevana had followed her everywhere.  If Kasaeva went, Caevana did too.  When Kasaeva had made her decision to come to Lion's Arch though, Caevana hadn't followed--she'd said goodbye.  Kasaeva hadn't expected her to come though.  She wasn't quite as adventurous as Kasaeva.  She supposed that Caevana's loyalty had won out over her unadventurous spirit.

Kasaeva laughed.  Caevana was such a worrier.  She said it was "sense" but Kasaeva had always thought she worried entirely too much.  "Silly Cae.  I would've been just fine!  But no matter, I'm happy to see you.  As to my friends....well, it's kind of hard to avoid becoming friends when the splash you with fountain water."  Kasaeva laughed and turned back.  She pointed to the bigger Charr, "That's Gur and he's hungry.  That's Chill and he likes running and jumping in water...also yelling or roaring or...growling?  I don't know, whatever that thing is called.  That's what he likes to do."  She paused pondering the growling, roaring, yelling thing.  She jumped when she realized she hadn't finished her introductions and had forgotten the best one.  "Oh!"  She pointed to the Sylvari.  "That's Kalyenne!  She wants to travel and explore the world too!!"  Kasaeva clapped excitedly.
She grabbed Caevana's hand and ran back to the group.

As Chill was walking towards the docks with the group, he saw another sylvari walking towards them. "Another one of them! Is this their home city or something? ", thought Chill. He didn't have time to answer his own question as Kas was bringing the new member to the party. "Hi there! I'm Chill and nice to meet you! , said Chill politely. He feels that the least he could do is to control himself and be polite especially after splashing water on the rest just now. Furthermore, they were the first friends he made after coming here. At least that's what he thinks... 

"So, about that beer???", said Chill with a smile on his face. The thought of drinking 200 jugs in front of his new friends and looking at ther shocked faces just makes him smile.

Kalyenne smiled at Cae as she introduced herself. She started to wander towards the docks when Gur mentioned that he had lost his gear. A quest! she thought to herself excitedly, forgetting about her hunger for a moment.
"Where did you leave it?" she inquired of Gur, turning back to face the group.

Kalyenne turned to the lionguard. "Of course we are keeping out of trouble" she replied cheerfully. She supposed they must look out of place, especially as most of them were still damp from the fountain. "It's our first time here and this fellow," she continued, helpfully indicating Gur who seemed to be keeping quiet, "seems to have misplaced some items at a tarvern. Where is the closest one that has card games?" She smiled at Gur, glad to help him in his quest.

Kasaeva listened eagerly to the conversation between Kalyenne and Gur and was disappointed when Gur said he had no idea where his gear was. It was hard to look for something without any starting point. Perhaps Gur would be able to find something out after asking around.

A man in golden armor walked up and Kasaeva's brow wrinkled in confusion when he started to question them. She knew he was a guard for Lion's Arch. She wondered what was so wrong with Sylvari and Charr being together. She was glad when Kalyenne answered and brightened when Kalyenne thought to ask the guard for Gur. She was excited about the possibility of an adventure here in Lion's Arch.

Kasaeva smiled back at the guard as Caevana spoke. Kasaeva, oblivious to the shadowy figure, took advantage of Caevana's pause to add her thoughts. "Thank-you very much! It's good to see a fellow Sylvari already making your way in the world." Gesturing to the others, she said, "We're just getting started." When Caevana asked about Gur getting his gear back, Kasaeva chimed in.
"Yes, that would be most helpful! He needs his gear so we can go on an adventure! Could we perhaps help you with something in order to earn his gear back?" Her hopeful eyes watched the guard's as she smiled sweetly.

"oh.. Um.. Yeah we should probably do that" Kalyenne replied to Cae, looking at Gur as he walked away from them. The group seemed smaller without the big charr, though Chill was still with them. Kalyenne hoped Gur would be able to get his gear back. What could she do to help him? She didn't know anyone here and would probably be more of a hindrance then help. She bit her lip, debating to herself. He was probably glad to be rid of them. But hadn't he just said that they were friends?

"Well, if you want to see us later you know where to find us" Kalyenne called out to Gur, indicating the direction of the docks. That seemed the safest thing to do. She wondered if they would see him again. He had seemed friendly enough but Kalyenne was keenly aware that she knew very little about the other races of Tyria. Arden, who had been wandering towards the shadows, came bounding back at the sound of her voice. She wondered what he thought about the sights, sounds and smells of this city. She was glad to have a familar companion with her.