<div class="floatright">(https://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/8/82/Ionia.png)</div><strong>Ionia</strong>(https://docs.google.com/document/d/1_KSfC_btBbk9x1rkSRQcZYoTKejDnUslzIWtKOpS0L8/edit)<br/><br/>Only a few weeks after leaving Taldor, the sheer sincerity of the outside world already amazed Ionia.  She was certain somewhere amongst these revelers, someone was plotting to steal a dance partner from a 'friend', or show up a rival in one of many competitions, or even worse, but there was a world of difference.  In Taldor, no one would come to an event like this to dance, or look at butterflies, or enjoy food, or even compete in games.<em>Everyone</em>would have come here to be seen in their newest dress, to show up their rivals, stab their friends in the back, and put notches on their belts.  Ever simpering greeting and every false smile would hide eyes that measured your worth to someone in their plans for personal aggrandizement.<br/><br/>She and her companions had taken a room last night when they got into town.  Ionia had made an open offer to the other girls to share her room to split the cost.  Without the time to get a proper dress made in local fashions, Ionia had chosen to show up in her parade armor.  It was a delightfully attractive and feminine configuration, ebony leather and polished steel hugging her bosom and baring her tiny waist.  Men certainly were known for polishing up their armor and adding colorful surcoats, why shouldn't she get some of that action.<br/><br/>She wasn't going to war, of course, so Ionia left most of her traveling gear in her room, including her spear, but did tuck her Model Seven into her satchel along with some alchemy she'd prepared for the day.