[i]Sir Ragnest Starkweather and Tyron Hearkdale set out across the dusty wheat fields to the edge of the Kingdom of Vaolos. Weary looking and carrying all manner of luggage apparel, they soldiered on, covering their faces with small brown mouth cloths to prevent the entry of whipped dust into their lungs. It was early morning and the sun was piercing through the clouds on a slant, hitting only certain areas of the wheat field due to the dust and the mist it was creating. It was a magical scene, but the participants in it were far from happy.

They had recently abandoned their estate, Ragnest had anyway, to flee the great civil war that had only recently broken out in Vaolos. But alas, they had no choice, to stay would mean killing ones brothers and sisters which neither Ragnest nor Tyron was too confident with.[/i]

"We should reach Nanking in roughly three months from now!" Ragnest shouted as he tried to be heard over the whirring mist. Glancing back over his shoulder to see a struggling Tyron he asked, "Tryon my friend. If your energies are failing I will wait behind for you".

"No m'lord" he replied, always eager to serve Ragnest whom he looked up to. "Although we should take care not to be spotted by the Xi'anese in our Vaolosian insignia, it might raise questions!".

"No, we will enter this country as honourable men as is our way of life! After all, if we forsake honour what hath we left but the clothes on our backs and our friendship. We have lost all else, and that is where it must end!"

Tryon expected to hear this; it was common for Ragnest to uphold honour, tradition and appearances at all times, but he worried, one day it would get him killed.

"What do you know of the Xi'anese m'lord!" Shouted Tryon, lifting his mouth cover up for a second to speak and then dropping it back promptly.

"Not a great deal unfortunately! I was always one for history but the Xi'anese were always a mystery, we have hardly any works on their culture and those who have entered their lands rarely return to document it! Not sure what that says about our current expedition!"

"No, I imagine it says a lot, but what other choice do we have?"

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[i]Three months from the aforementioned passage, and truthful to Ragnest's words they had arrived at the grand city of Nanking. They had only minor trouble along the way, passing unnoticed by a few patrols and struggling to communicate with the locals, but nothing too serious.

As they approached the magnificent pale gates they were greeted by various guards in, (what I assume is typical Japanese clothing). Gestured forward, the pair ventured into the city.[/i]

"Wow" said Tyron silently, quite unable to take in the scene that was before him. 

The streets were filled with people running, trading and conversing all in magnificent colours of various shades and fabrics. The street itself looked as if it was almost paneled along the walls with the occasional shop or apartment filling in the windows and facets that sprung out from the otherwise flat edges of the street. The colours of the buildings themselves were rather pale, cream almost, but what stood out the most was the grand way up the palace. These were brick lanes, each continually paving their way up the palace which stood majestically over the city, its height and grandeur seen from every possible corner. 

Both stood in amazement for at least a minute, this was quite different from their rural humdrum houses and manors. Even Vaolosian cities were relatively dull compared to the architecture here.

"3000 years and quarter of a million people" remarked Tyron, still unable to take his eyes from the great palace gleaming in the sun.

"Quite right my friend, but we must declare our presence to the king before we embark upon wild discussion and exploration of the city" replied Ragnest, once again inclined to follow strict rules of formalities.

"Then let us go m'lord, I for one am happy regardless of my place within this city. But, I do not like the bricks so much, I prefer gravel due to the sonic impression it makes on my mind" Tryon mentioned, giving Ragnest a mildy humorous look to which he returned.