Tatiana Blayde

One evening as the orange sun was setting behind the hills west of Mount Mox, a beautiful but deadly warrior stranger strode along the banks of the River Myklo and into the markets of Mox City. Her baggage was scarce; she carried only a small pouch on her back that contained little more than flint and tinder. In each of her hands were weapons like nothing that had ever been seen in the Splinterlands. At a glance, these two fans could be mistaken for glamorous accessories, but upon closer inspection anyone who approached would realize that the blades of her fans were razor sharp and crafted of a stronger steel than can be made from any Splintral quarry's iron.

She went straight for the jerky stand where the famed trapper Korprus Giyo sells his exotic cured meats, slapping onto his counter a small purse containing coins of pure gold. These coins were not the seed coins with which everyone in the Splinterlands was familiar. Seed coins only contain a small amount of gold, but upon sinking his pointed teeth lightly into one of the shining coins from the lady's purse, Giyo quickly realized that these coins were far more valuable. “Not from around here, are you?” the trapper asked curiously of the beautiful stranger.

With eyes as sharp as the blades of her fans, the young woman looked him over, as if deciding whether she could trust the jerky merchant with her identity. Finally she said: “I am not. My name is Tatiana Blayde, and I hear there is a call for Gladiators.” Her tone implied that she would answer no further questions.

Wrapping up a massive collection of his best jerkies, Korpus Giyo understood immediately and simply replied: “Eastern edge of town there,” pointing to the massive Gloridax arena as the last rays of sunlight illuminated the crystal sculptures adorning its western wall. “Can't miss it.”

Tatiana took her package of exotic Praetorian jerky from the counter and paid the trapper. Then nodding in curt appreciation, she turned and set off toward the arena. Korpus Giyo watched her walk away until she was out of sight, especially noticing the extremely long shadow that she cast in the setting sun.