Welcome to Gaia! ::

Today, as the sun crested the morning horizon, a large figure stood at the town's open gates with the guards watching a caravan come in. A large plume of dust had announced an arrival a few hours before in the twilight before dawn. Morning dew still clung to the grass on the normally arid plains. The creatures of the night were only now just starting to tuck in for the day. Most of them unaccustomed to the heat of high-noon, when the sun bore directly down on the white sand and mud-brick houses. Currently, eddies of water trickled down gutters, into alleyways, and down streets. But by then it would be all dried up. There was a public fountain for hydration, and a few local wells. The day wasn't looking to be as hot as yesterday, however, and that was mostly in part due to the sighting of storm clouds farther north.

The large figure in silver armor rested his hand on the pommel of the straight-sword at his waist and shifted his wait to the heel of his right foot. Keeping his left, front leg bent a the knee. His cape flicked behind him like a cat's tail as the low-front slammed into the high-front and regaled the town with an angry breeze. Even from this distance, small rumbles could be heard, like the beating of war drums. But the man, Novus, was not worried about battle. He wasn't worried about anything right now. The encroaching caravan was a tribe, a clan, of Imatari. The only sound that escaped from the tail of dust behind it was the collective stamp of feet and drone of chatter. Novus shifted, hiking his sword belt up and re-tightening it. Appearance was very important to the Imatari and even if you didn't look good, you acted as if you did. It wasn't narcissism. But pride in one's being. He cleared his throat, catching the nervous eyes of the guards, and straightened himself as the first beast of burden dragged it's owner's mobile-home through the front gate and another tall, armored figure jumped out. Both bowed to one another. The larger not being Novus. This Imatari was older, stronger, and no doubt wiser. By the markings on his armor, cape, and carvings on the hilt of his blade: He was most likely the clan leader. A few words were spoken, a polite exchange, hands were shook and Novus pointed the chief towards where the town's leaders resided to request trade. For now they'd camp outside. Beneath his armor, his shining, silver-blue eyes roamed over the settling Imatari. Perhaps hoping to catch something of interest.

Standing heads above the other inhabitants of the town, most of the male and even some of the female Imatari towered over the citizens of Midas town. Even still, Novus would have noticed her even if she was a child running between the legs of the walkers. The strikingly white hair almost glared in the mid-morning sun. She wasn't as imposing as some of the other's of her clan. Or what he assumed was her clan. As she was not dressed beneath wrappings, cloaks, or metal-plates. But she had come in with them. But, she gave an air of tranquility one did not often get when standing near one of their race. Usually it was threatening or mysterious. The strange girl was even stranger to him when she knelt down and handed something to a few of the town's children, who appreciatively smiled and then ran off as children are want to do. Novus wondered how anyone could survive in this heat uncovered. Or without footwear. He rolled his shoulders as he turned away from the town gate and slowly walked down the road towards the town center, following the peculiarly queer, female Imatari. As he tailed the sight-seeing tourist, he stopped occasionally to pick up a few odds and ends from the street-side vendors. The storm that had been sighted was still moving south towards the town, and Novus kept his ear out for any news on whether shops would be closing. The only shelter he, or anyone, would be able to find was at the inn and tavern. Though the clan outside of the town walls would likely set up durable tents. With his pack slung over his shoulder, Novus quietly approached the white-haired woman.
"I saw what you did." His voice rumbled from beneath his helmet, like the thunder and lightening silhouetted behind. In his outstretched hand he held a canteen, full of brisk, clean water. "Here." Was all he said. Too proud to say why he was offering. Novus wouldn't have rewarded someone else in this town for selflessness. Partly because no one else in this town would be anything but selfish. But she was Imatari. Not just any Imatari though. She was different. She wasn't covered from head to toe. Normally that would have put him off. Only insane or immoral people show their skin. Which is why outsiders are so distrusted. But it fit her and he was more curious than dissuaded. "You should get out of the sun." His rough voice thrummed. A voice that wasn't just heard, but felt. Besides, if he didn't look out for her, no one would. This town was full of crooks, thieves, and dirty guards. It was only a matter of time until a defenseless, female Imatari was taken advantage of.

Novus chuckled, a booming laughter that echoed and escaped between the slits in his helmet. He retrieved his canteen from her and clipped it back on his sword belt. "The urchins of this town need more charitable acts." He says, shaking his head at the thought of a confrontation. Novus was intimidating. Perhaps imposing. Some might consider him even gruff and abrasive. But he wasn't going to accost someone with accusations and interrogation simply because they helped some poor orphans. "The armor helps keep out the heat." Novus cocked his head to the side. Wouldn't she know that, even if she didn't wear it. True, on a hot, muggy day; The armor was like being in an oven. But on a warm day with a nice cross-breeze, the metal, especially the silver or white steels, tended to reflect more sunlight and keep the heat out. Any of the males would have told her this, right? Or did she just avoid her peers? He was even more curious about her. She was some sort of anomaly. An Imatari that didn't cover their skin. So strange. He would have missed what she had said had he mused anymore. "I have to say that I prefer the moon over the sun. At least it's cool at night." He grumbled, almost to himself. "Yes, this town is full of depravity. Most people don't travel alone and no one stays out at night...not unless they're up to no good." He followed her gaze, lightening flashing across the sky and illuminating his dark skin around his eyes beneath his helmet for nary a second. The bolt reflected on the silvery hues and destroyed his night vision for a few seconds. He counted in his head. Four seconds, then the thunder rolled across the sky and through the ground. "But there are good people here and much to see." Novus commented, staring at the clouds for several more moments before looking back to her. Already people were retreating to their homes and the taverns. Novus wasn't sure if he was going to follow suite or stay out in the rain. Though, a six-foot man in full armor would make quite a spectacular lightening rod. Imatari weren't scared of death. Imatari weren't scared of anything. That's what his teacher taught him.

The Imatari's armor and smithing techniques were complicated and very, very amazing. Traditional armor, forged when young for both male and female, provided protection to most of the elements. A series of intricately placed vents on the outside of the suits allowed for heat to escape and the cool breeze to flow through the plate unhindered helped with arid conditions, as well as wearing loose, baggy clothing beneath. This, coupled with the fact that most armor's are kept reflective help to keep a nominal body temperature. It's far from comfortable, but it makes it survivable. A simple change, and modification of the armor, would make it suitable for a colder climate. Imatari adapt to their environment, no matter the condition and learn to thrive in it.

Novus raised a brow beneath the visor of his helm when the white-haired beauty chuckled to herself. She was musing to herself as much as he was. No doubt she found a strange man from a strange clan just as peculiar as he did her. So preoccupied with her, that Novus forgot about the storm, and only did he remember when the first droplets of rain started to clink against his armor. His boots sank slightly as the ground beneath him gave way to his weight, becoming sodden from the rain. His cape whipping at his back, yet casually restrained by the hook of one arm.
"No, not ice. You just..make me curious." He answers her question, scratching his chin beneath the edge of his helmet with a finger clad in iron and steel. She was different. She shed the Imatari customs like a caterpillar shedding it's cocoon. Normally he would've avoided a person such as her, but with her it seemed natural. A state of change that wasn't something to be feared. Even a male who was uncovered would have made him cringe. She wasn't ashamed. It that was peculiar. And she had power. Which either meant she was a healer, or something else entirely. Not a devil, for she had sacrificed her own water to help the urchins and demons cannot sacrifice for the benefits of others. He shivered as rain trickled down the back of his neck and into his clothing, soaking him beneath the mail. She had freedom, he thought. Novus was chained beneath customs and tradition, and she was free to be what she wanted. "..Because you are interesting. Your power is different than what I've seen."

Novus listened to her as they walked over to the tree. She had interesting beliefs and theories and he liked listening to what she thought. Though he had added his two cents in his own way, a few words here and there. "Perhaps too much of a good thing is bad, no?" He would ask, offering a solution to being the rain causing sickness. Novus had no need to worry about most of the cold and rain, as it was only really soaking the collar of his coat beneath the high neck-guard. His cloak, or cape, was enough to prevent most of the rain from soaking into his arm and down into his clothes. Novus enjoyed her spirituality, though it was strange. He thought to himself that talking to her was like talking to an outsider, or a shaman. Novus was learning new things, but he wasn't sure if it was entirely good. She spoke of strange magic casually. And how the rain cleansed. Each step that Novus took had his boots sink into the wet ground, and squelch as he lifted them effortlessly. She walked barefoot and barely clothed in the cool rain. It was foreign and he had no idea how she survived in the sun all day. As they found shelter beneath the tree, Novus remarked on how the lowest branches were touching him even when he stood relaxed. He brushed aside a branch in his face and slowly settled down, his back against the tree and his cape spread out beneath him with plenty of space for her to sit. She didn't need to rest on the wet ground. Unless she wanted to. "I never told you my name. Apologies. I am Novus." He bowed his head slightly in her direction, placing a hand on his chest-plate. The white-haired woman would not have heard of him, he thought. Though he came from a prestigious clan, he had long ago left and become a simple body-guard for hire.