Ben hadn’t seen folk, or at least decent folk, in many moons, not since he left legion territory and vanished into the wasteland. Disappearing into the dust and the wind on his journey east, where he was met by the rising sun, and radscorpians and bark scorpions and colossal snakes. He’d walked far without seeing a friendly face, just the faces of raiders or the dead. So arriving in Independence was just what he needed. Ben had come across it the night before, seeing the glow of the tower from the distance and approaching cautiously. To his relief it was town, no, a city, and had learned from passing traders (which grew more frequent as he approached) that it was known as independence, and that it was presided over by a woman-emperor by the name of White. Stalking the wastes around the city, Ben found a distant place where he could make camp, approaching cities at night was only asking for trouble. So he settled down for the evening, watching the glow, and the occasional passage of traders arriving and departing. 

In the morning Ben crouched by a nearby stream and stripped down, out of his defaced legion armor, which he had stripped of insignia and painted black. He washed himself, using some of his precious bar of soap, having heard that there was a celebration occurring. Ben wished to be presentable, so donned his nicer clothes before making way to the city. As he got to the edge of the city he was stopped by a pair of the city’s legionnaires, who asked him his business in independence.

“Hey, you. Stop.” 

It some dusty point of ingress the pair of rifle armed guards halted him.

“Who are you?” There were many ways that question could be answered, depending on how it was asked, but Ben did the sensible thing of moving his hands from his sides and away from his weapons.

“My name is Ben, Flag, and I arrived from yonder way to see what the festivities are regarding.” Hen spoke in a very formal and restrained manner, as he was taught when he was young, consciously avoiding Latin. They eyed him suspiciously none the less, before conferring quietly between themselves. 

They both looked at him with a peculiar glance, it wasn't every day someone came around speaking like they were from an old book. They talked amongst themselves for a moment before the one with the automatic rifle slung it over his shoulder. 

"Just head in, everyone is around the tower celebrating, the sheriff should be there too if you have anything you need to ask." They walked away wiping their hands clean of the curious wastelander. Ben let out a sigh of relief, he didn't want to be known as hailing from the legion, he wasn't sure how people to the East felt about them.