The main gate to Pax is known as the Forest Gate. It is usually manned by two bored looking guards of the Pax Honestus, the legion formed to keep order in the new outpost. Apart from the usual farm traffic that comes to and fro on a regular basis, most new arrivals come through the portal and the gate guards have little to do save stare into the nearby forest. Paths from the gate lead down into the forest and the River Clearwater.
The most notable thing apparent to new arrivals is not the gate or guards but rather the long, high, elegant walls of the town. The Wall (Pax) has an air of balance and grace to it, despite the fact that it also looked sturdy enough to withstand whole armies - and its design was somehow foreign to the eyes - unlike everything else in Pax, which was simple and functional and the very opposite of beautiful, the wall was built to some completely different standard. As if it had been plucked from elsewhere, from another city, and simply plonked here without thought. Or as if it had always been here, in spirit.
The dapper looking Sergeant Caverton often tends the gate. He is assisted by Private Jarren Youngblood
If the guards were doing the usual guard past time of staring into the forest, they might notice the signs of another coming.
Kayko had been up since early morningtide. She started the day like any other. Waking up, raking her fingers through her hair,making a quick breakfast, feeding Ting, start packing up and start moving down the path, where she was told Pax Balthasar was. She had heard rumors of a great summerfestival in Paxand came to see how her trading would do. So, hopefully she was in the right place
Half way there, she started humming, almost to the beat of ting's hoofbeats, and her own footsteps. That's right. Kayko was walking besides the donkey and his load. She almost never rode on the little cart. Why give the little guy that much more to haul? Whenever he stopped, or paused, she'd stop and watch him. Waiting to see if there was reason for him to stop. If there wasn't, she'd simply give him a pat on his haunches to start him on his move again.
When she came out of the forest and saw the wall , she smiled. The person that gave her the directions did mention a beautiful wall..and this one did hold a certain beauty. After her pause, she continued..she humming quieted more as she came closer.
She stopped and looked at the guards. They shouldn't give her much trouble right? she was a trader with goods, and today was the day of the summer festival. Than again..after that war...who knows?
"Excuse me..Is this where the summer festival is being held?"
She pushed away some wet stray hairback behind her ears, with the rest of the wet hair. Along with her usual schedual, she had washed her hair in the river earlier and had not tied it back with her ribbon yet, opting instead to let it hang down, free so it could get dried evenly by the morning sun.