Arriving for the Tourney (Jenna, Open)

[David]

David stepped off the boat onto dry land, and he could do nothing but smile. How he had missed dry land. Clearly, the sea was not a place where he felt comfortable. The voyage from Val Royeaux, while short, had not been a pleasant one. There had been several storms, and David couldn't remember the last time he had held his meal for longer than a few hours. This left within him a large craving for one thing and one thing only. Food. And just about anything would do.

After walking past the docks, ignoring the majority of the dockhands and crowds, he was finally able to stumble upon an establishment with a sign over the doorpost of a Rusty Anchor and a beer mug. That was enough evidence for him. Not thinking twice, he opened the door, and quickly realized just how far from home he truly was.

The pub was a plain wooden building, with little in the way of decoration. Unless, of course, you considered broken glass and dried bloodstains a part of the decor. He looked around at the crowd and realized within seconds that this was a local pub, one which rarely saw any visitors. Regardless, David was starving, and he decided the table at the corner of the establishment would do well enough. Taking a seat, he ordered a turkey leg and a pint of ale, and sat quietly, observing his surroundings. As the young blonde waitress returned with his order, David smiled as he handed her the coin.

"Merci Mademoiselle. Thank you."
The waitress blushed a bit and smiled in return, and walked off to take other patrons orders. No sooner had David taken to sips of his ale and a bite from his turkey leg, 5 large, rather ignoble men had gathered around him.

"You Orlesian?" The largest one asked.
"Oui, what's it to you?" David calmly replied in his accented voice, taking another sip from his pint before the man slapped it out of his hand. David closed his eyes and tightened his lips, as the mug slammed onto the table, the large man hovering over David.
"Our grandfathers fought to keep you smelly Orlesians out of our country once and for all. We don't take to kindly to your kind."
David winced from the horrid smell permeating from the brute of sweat and alcohol, and calmly looked up at the man.
"Monsier, I believe it is you who are smelly..."

Before David could react, the man had grabbed him by the shoulders and thrown him over the table and into the center of the pub. David groaned in pain as he stood back up, hearing behind him the drawing of daggers. Not waiting to see who drew the daggers, David drew his sword and shield and stood at the ready, with his shield up and the edge of his sword touching the top of the shield, blade poised to strike.

"Well lookey here boys, we got ourselves a fighter." The largest man grinned. "We've got you outnumbered Orlesian."
"Then what are you bastards waiting for?" David growled. "Come and get me."

With that, two of the men charged forward, daggers drawn. Quickly, David stabbed one in the chest, then used his shield to bash the other back as he withdrew his blade from the first assailant. As he went to stab the man who had fallen to the ground, another charged at him, knocking him over into a few tables, causing their ale to spill all over him.

What a fine start to a Nevarran vacation....

[Maria Pentaghast]

Nevarra City was at its peak as the time for the Grand Tournament was drawing every closer. The city centre itself was bustling with life. Stalls of various sizes revealed their priceless treasures while its owners used the power of their voices to entice people to buy their items, they ranged from many different clothes, which were made of various but limitless material. Others were freshly picked fruit, or even home made pies were on sale, despite the stalls and their owners being busy in order to gain some coin the centre itself was just as busy. People, men, woman and even children of different ages marched across this busy section of Nevarra City as they headed towards their intended destination.

Just outside the castle gates stood three soldiers of Jenna's patrol guards. That was awaiting the arrival of their captain. But she did not come, instead they stood together and saluted as Maria emerged from out of the castle and stood before the guards. The Dragon Huntress used her eagle eyes to scan the soldiers who stood before her and realised that as usual they were well armed and wore the best defence that Nevarra had to offer.

The physiques of each guardsman were top notch. She couldn’t but admire Jenna's patrol guards and immediately her smile disappeared and was replaced by a look of utter seriousness and of focus. Dressed in her full Dragon Huntress full armour she paced east and west of the guard’s men and spoke to them with honour and respect for her friend Jenna. "Men, unfortunately your captain is currently unavailable at this moment in time. She is preparing herself for the tournament, however she has asked that I take her place. Which will only be today" With the soldiers ready Maria marched in front of them and headed into the city.

With each step taken Maria focused on her surroundings. When it comes to helping Jenna, it was a pleasure to help her dear friend. Some of the inhabitants watched them as she guided the guards around different parts of the city to follow Jenna's usual patrol route. As the armour clinked with each step Maria and the guards watched the people like hawks as they continued to make sure that the peace was upheld.

But it was not long before a loud noise was heard. Maria turned over towards the direction of the sound and signalled the men to follow her, it came from a pub, which would to be in turmoil. Upon entering the pub Maria saw what had just happened to the man and immediately went into action, she signalled the men and headed to aid the stranger. Quickly Maria placed her hands onto the attacker's back and lifted him off the stranger, then she twirled him around until he faced Maria and punched him as hard as it could.

She watched as her fist slammed deep into his face and then kicked up towards the guards who held him with little trouble. While the third man slowly began to stir, Maria thrusted her foot into the guy's chest to keep him down. The last of the attackers dashed towards Maria and actually punched her right in the face, but he gasped as the Dragon Huntress simply grinned with excitement and simply headbutted him in the nose. He keeled over in utter pain, but Maria simply walked behind him and literally kicked his bottom so that he landed on the guy who was kicked in the chest.

With a gentle sigh she walked over to the stranger and offered him her hand to help him up.

[David]

David saw the men begin to move towards him, and readied himself to fight. He was down, but not out. He would fight on the ground if he had to. Before he had to kill any more of them, however, a group of guards led by a woman charged in, breaking up the fight. David sighed a great sigh of relief, as he sat up and placed his sword and shield back on his back. He looked up, and smiled as a large, strong woman helped him get back on his feet. She was wearing dragon huntress armor, and was rather tall. Taller than David actually. Still, the help she brought was much appreciated.

"Merci madame." David smiled, graciously accepting her hand. Groaning on the way up, he looked at the woman and bowed his head shortly. "My name is David Bouvier de Jader. Thank you very much for saving my life." He looked at the woman. She was strong, well built, wearing very sturdy armor. Clearly, she was someone important. Who exactly she was David hadn't the faintest idea. Still, she was clearly important, and she saved his life. Enough reason to be courteous.

"Clearly, I have stumbled into the wrong part of town. I... Am a bit of a foreigner." He grinned, his voice thick with his orlesian accent. Still, it was not an accent of wealth, nobility, or any form of self-entitlement. It was simply the accent of his home. He continued "This is my first time in Cumberland. Perhaps you could point me in the direction of the tourney?"

[Maria Pentaghast]

With the last of the attackers being hauled away Maria regained her composure and sighed. She had actually enjoyed the battle and was even ready for more, but the fight was over much, which disappointed her. Luckily the guards slowly began to clean up the place and began to talk to the barkeeper about what had transpired in his establishment. The young dragon huntress began to wonder if Jenna would have done if something like this would happen, still at last there were no innocent casualties. She soon turned back to the man who looked like he held his own against the thugs; still Maria was impressed in his chose of weaponry.

A sword and shield represented both offence and defence. It can be used for vice versa, for example a sword is often used to attack but it can also defend against another weapon. And a shield is used to block weapons but could also be used like a weapon to shove into an opponent, the man took Maria's hand and gently she helped him up to his feet and he even expressed gratitude to her. And even spoke his name, as David Bouvier de Jader, his voice definitely confirmed that he was from Orlais.

With the atmosphere now back to peaceful standards once again Maria happily replied to David in a focused tone. "I am Maria Pentaghast Dragon Huntress of Nevarra, you do not need to thank me but your quite welcome. I must admit you fought well against those thugs, unfortunately in these parts people like them hate people from Orlais". She said quietly but showing her respect for David.

Still Maria was sickened because of this. It didn’t matter who people were from, what did matter was that at least they were human. Then David spoke about the tournament and she was happy to guide him to where it was being held, with a nod Maria spoke to David with the utmost respect "We have been expecting you David! Please follow me and I will personally escort you there".

[David]

David smiled softly at the Dragon Huntress. Her civility was... Unexpected. It was good to receive such kindness so far from home, especially after his less than hospitable welcome. What struck him however was her last name, Pentaghast. That was the name of the Nevarran King was it not? It pleased David that despite the fact that this woman was clearly high nobility, she was still humble enough to put on her armor and patrol with common guards. Also, he had seen her take a direct punch to the face and do nothing but grin it off and proceed to beat the living daylights out of him. If anything, that merited quite a bit of respect.

“Thank you Maria, but I did not fight as well as I should of.” David grimaced. “To be taken down by a drunken charge… I should have known better.” He then looked to her and grinned. “Still, I must admit it was rather amusing to see their faces when a mademoiselle such as you beat them senseless.”

David picked up his satchel and followed Maria and out of the pub and through the streets of Cumberland, very pleased that now he was traveling with considerably better company than that he had encountered in the pub. She was also much fairer to look at. Outside of the pub, David said. “I must say, it is refreshing to see a noblewoman who can fight and displays humility. Too many in Orlesian noblewomen… and men for that matter… get off on the smell of their own piss, and fear the sight of dust bunnies, much more so large, angry thugs. It’s nice to see a mademoiselle who can fend for herself.” David smiled, looking quickly at Maria, then continuing to take in the rest of the sights of Cumberland.

After walking a few blocks through the crowded streets, his stomach growled as he realized it still had been a while since he ate. He looked over at the Huntress and asked.

“Maria, where we are going has food right? If it did that would truly be lovely…”

[Maria Pentaghast]

To protect a warrior of the tourney was now Maria's duty, at least until Jenna took over. This David truly had earned the right to take part and had shown courage and skill against his opponents, this realisation made her boil with excitement. But right now she had to focus on her surroundings and keep him safe at least until the tournament began. He did however seemed quite pleased by the comments she had given earlier; she quietly listened to his words and simply responded with a respectful smirk on her face.

She was even thinking of testing him personally. However too much excitement can lead to less focus and determination, instantly she shook the idea away from her mind as she marched across the streets with only a few guards. The others had taken the thugs away and had reported to their captain, with very little problems it would seem that boredom would be knocking.

Despite thinking this, Maria eventually replied to David and spoke with a determined voice. "Battle has been a huge part of my life, I know nothing else but duty and loyalty. Besides I didn’t become a Dragon Huntress for nothing" She said while placing a smile on her face. But a familiar sound was heard as it had come to the fighter’s stomach, and he had deserved a good meal. As she smirked she nodded to him while saying "A good warrior never fights on an empty stomach, follow me".

Maria moved northwards and quickly came upon an inn. Slowly she opened the door and entered inside, there she told the guards to continue patrolling but also they were to report to her should anything suspicious occurs. With that sorted out she talked to the innkeeper and immediately he smiled and headed towards the kitchen to prepare some fresh food. Turning back to David Maria nodded to him. "I talked to the inn keeper and he'll make you their special for today".

[David]

David smiled as they approached the inn. Finally, an establishment that didn't have blood stains on the floor. As Maria went to speak to the proprietor, David took a seat in a nearby booth, putting his satchel next to him. As Maria approached, he grinned and replied. "Merci, thank you very much for all of this. It is not what I expected when I came to this country." He then pointed toward the booth seat opposite of his own, offering her a seat. When the food and drink came, David lit up, and happily, though rather rapidly, devoured the meal. It had been a good while since he had had a decent meal, and it clearly showed in his complete and utter disregard for typical social graces that came with eating at a table. Finally, with the plate thoroughly empty, David smiled a bit of a messy smile as he grabbed a cloth to wipe his face.

"That was very, very good. Thank you again." David lowered the cloth then grabbed his pint and took a swig. Looking at Maria, a thought came to him. How was it that Nevarran's allowed women to be dragon huntresses? Wasn't that a man's job? Back in Orlais, only men were allowed to be Chevaliers, though women had found their way into the archery corps. Still, that was an entirely different animal. And there was no doubt how capable Maria was, but it still confused him.

"Maria, I have to ask" David started, his curiosity finally getting the better of him. "Is it common for noble women in Nevarra to become dragon huntresses? Understand, I mean no disrespect, it's just... Unusual. In Orlais, there are rarely any women in the armed forces, and women of nobility are all too content to waste their time on frilly things like fashion or gossip." David took another swig, then quickly added. "I do not mean I think that's how women should behave..." He hated how orlesian noblewomen acted. They annoyed him to no end. "It's just... different is all." He smiled nervously, not sure if he had offended his lovely host. If he did, he was certain she could think of very painful ways of showing it. Or, perhaps shed be flattered. That's the response he hoped for anyway.

[Maria Pentaghast]

Having an empty stomach was not good for a warrior. Maria could see that he needed to eat something and luckily she knew there was a tavern here, luckily the food was cheap so upon paying for the meal she calmly walked back and sat down on a wooden seat just in front of David. A smell of freshly made food drifted through the air and soon made its way on a wooden plate and was placed in front of David, Maria smiled as he thanked her for the dinner and quietly she watched him dig in.

Hopefully the cuisine of Nevarra had kept its reputation. Luckily it did as he finished the entire plate full of food and even drank down his drink, now that his stomach had been full Maria watched as the inn keeper took the empty plate and headed back into the kitchen to wash it up. Maria quietly began to plan her next move by taking him to the tournament area.

Deep down Maria figured that Jenna owed her one by taking her place on patrol. However he soon asked quite an interesting question, she nodded and was more then happy to answer him, with a smirk Maria's reply with filled with pride. "Only those that have the blood of my family that runs in their very being can become a Dragon Hunter or Huntress, for generations my ancestors has followed this path. Now I am also a Dragon Huntress and I am proud to follow in their footsteps, fashion or gossip means nothing. My friends are battle and war, and my brothers are victory and survival" She spoke in utter confidence and meant every single word. Because these frilly things to Maria meant nothing, only weapons and the art of war.