The Guildmaster looked around and replied "This building was finished just today. So you may have to give it some time before the place fills up."

(Ahhhh! I don't want to have to double post! But, I did it before I thought about just editing the one above. T_T)

He couldn't help it. The food was good and so was the wine. He finished off his 10th plate of food with a great sigh, the waitress was taken a back about his order in the first place but soon stood in amazement at his accomplishment. Drake waved the girl over, "May I have another bottle of wine? It is simply divine." he said, giving her a charming smile.

Some of the loose women began to sit next to him, awaiting until the moment he would be in such a drunk stupor that they could take advantage of him. This would never happen. He smiled at their stupid grins of anticipation, their coy laughter and desirous eyes overlooking his body from head to toe. Stupid weak women, I have other business to attend to tonight. he thought with a wicked smile.

Tonight, he would begin his work.

((Yay! Another villain))

Alexandria looked to the guildmaster "Hmmm... you may want to be on guard then... in my experience places like these... especially when they're new are targets to powerful people... lucky for you though you have death on your side"

The Guildmaster wasn't quite sure what Alexandria meant (not that he knows her by that name, thats just the one I'll refer to the character by) but he decided not to question it.
"I think we will be fine" he replied, then as an after thought "I have some important business to tend to, if you'll excuse me." He bowed and left, heading out to the castle.

(I will be back later tonight, but something came up and I have to go.)

Drake walked out into the night, the rain had cleared and the moon was once again beaming down through the clouds. He would begin with some of the guards, if he wanted some chaos, he couldn't have them running around could he? He walked into an alleyway where he was sure there was plenty of echo and cried, "HELP! Someone is robbing me!" In a pitiful voice. As two guards rushed into the alley way, he decapitated them with one swing.

"Such a chivalrous act, too bad it didn't get you anywhere." He felt a tingle of joy, the night was still young and he wanted to make the most of it. He walked out into the street greeting the lamplighters with a nod.

Alexandria felt two souls depart from their body all of a sudden mixed with pain. Her scythe appears in her right hand and she slashes open a portal to the crime scene and steps through it to the alley and the portal closes behind her. She looks around the dark able to see easily due to her curse. Alexandria felt around for a soul with malicious intent. She felt several of them and lowered the Radius and found one nearby. Alexandria 's scythe disappeared in a puff of black vapor and she draws her cloak around her body and follows Drake's soul signature.

By the time Cross had finished drinking, the moon was full and bright in the sky. He teetered this way and that as he flew, but he was not drunk in the traditional sense; it proved very hard to get intoxicated when you existed without blood... Cross' coordinated skills may have been dulled, his speech slurred, and his tongue a tad bit loose, but other than that he was perfectly fine. A human who had drunk only five steins of mead would easily compare to Cross with a good fifty...

Cross heard a voice cry out for help, but just giggled in a very inebriated manner. "Lisshen to dat chick... Hic! Musht be playin' a shilly game with her hic! Husband... S'kinda goofy to be playin hic! That loud, though..."

He made his way back to the Guild somehow, bumping into furniture three times on the way in. Some looked at him funny, but other just rewarded him. One gave him a good pat on the back, saying "Don't worry about him... He's just gettin' his reward for a job well done."

Cross was about to interject with a well-timed 'Damn straight!' when he felt something. A presence he should have felt long ago. It was a sobering experience, for sure; if Cross still had a heart, would be beating in his throat right now. His soul filled with a mixture of hope and hesitation as the pillar of fog which comprised his lower half began to draw him elsewhere.

The Grim Rider was nearby.

Death.

Could it be that his mission was over? Had he found what he was seeking after all these years? These thoughts and more filled his head as he was being subconsciously drawn to Alexandria, his body seeming to function independently. He was entranced now, merely drifting towards her in a hypnotized state.

(Alexandria. We meet again.)

Cordain found his way to the Heroes Guild without problem. It was getting dark, maybe he would sneak into a room? Entering the building he casually strolled up to a door for a room. As soon as nobody was looking he picked the lock and went in. 'Not a bad place I guess, certainly not the finest establishment. I guess it will do though...' As this train of thought went through his mind he walked around the room, inspecting everything. He decided to go to sleep, and stretched himself out on the bed. After all, he had a busy day ahead of him in the morning.

Drake's hair on his arms stood up. Master, please protect me from death once more. "Well, haven't seen you in a while. Of course you were in a different form back then," he said loudly, turning to face her, "I have to say I am a little disappointed though, your predecessor was much more of a beauty. I don't have time to deal with you at the moment, I have some business to attend to."

He closed his eyes, concentrating hard on her mind. He saw a tiny spark that was her deepest desire and grabbed onto it, bringing it to the surface as his illusion for her. It would hold her long enough for him to make his getaway. He ran down the street, towards the castle until he was close to its outer edge.

Raisa had gone out to do some shopping not long after she had seen her room. She didn't even set her things down. It was almost as though she had too much A.D.D. to even care that she needed to unpack her books. No, instead the thought of checking out some of the local stores until it was time to get back to the room overcame any other thoughts of wanting to rest or unpack or change clothes or get some supper, even. No. Must. Shop.

She went and checked out the magic shop and got her short-sleeved 'coat' enchanted with troll's blood. Sure, she probably could have figured it out herself, but enchanting really wasn't something that Raisa had spent very much time studying. That and she didn't want to mess up and possibly ruin her most favourite coat EVAR.

After spending a good 200 silver on that, she looked into her change purse. There... wasn't... too much left, but she was sure that she could afford to buy a potion or two...? She wouldn't have been able to afford the troll's blood enchantment on her coat if she hadn't gotten that reward for helping in the earlier fight... and then the hundred from joining that guild.... She sighed as she dropped her money bag back into her pocket. Oh well. No more shopping.

Raisa walked back to her room, taking in the scenery of the town. It was a nice place, really. Smaller than where she was from, but nice. Hopefully whatever it was that was bothering the monsters could be figured out quickly. Raisa thought about it some, wondering if anyone in the town would have any ideas. A bunch of big trolls organized like that wasn't a horribly common thing... Or, at least, that's what the books she had read said.

Raisa came back to her room to find the door... Unlocked? Strange. I thought I had locked it.... She thought to herself. When she walked into the room she saw some guy! In her bed!! Raisa jumped and dropped her key. "Wha-who are you!?" She pointed at the guy, "Why are you in my bed!?" But... Something about the guy looked farmilar. "Heeeeey~" Raisa said with suspicion and a hint of recognition in her tone, "You're that thief! I saw a poster of you back in the Southern Kingdom's capital!" Raisa quickly realized that her key was on the floor and was therefore fair game. Well, that and everything she owned and was carrying... In fact, everything in the whole world was fair game to this guy! He took whatever he wanted! Raisa quickly picked up the key, holding it in her hand and watching the thief very carefully.

WHY THE HECK IS HE IN MY BED!? Was the major question running through her head, but along with it were a number of warnings about the theif. Such as, if he comes near you, you'll be missing you're spell book! Or money! Or something! And other things like, WHY IS HE IN MY BED!? WHYYYYYYYYYY!?
You know, the general things someone thinks when they find a thief in their bed....

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Armand awoke from his nap just as the sun was setting. The curtains covering the window were, of course, closed, but he could still see some of the dimming sunlight on room's carpet covered floors. He sat up and yawned, stretching out his arms above him, before slipping his feet into a pair of simple black house shoes and changing out of his bed clothes.

He looked out over the streets and smiled. All those poor and pitiful people meandering about the city. Waiting for their doom. And the newly established Heroes' guild? Ha! Don't make me laugh! What will a guild of mis-matched wanderers do for the good sir King? Nothing more than come and take the money for joining before running away. At least, that is what any good oppurtunist would do. And who is to say that the King hadn't done something to provoke the mosters? Certainly all those clever, clever little 'Heroes" would think of that?

The recent monster activity did bother Armand, though. Certainly they hadn't just suddenly decided to take out this town? Had the monsters forgotten their place? They hadn't done anything of the sort for almost as long as Armand had been living in his manor. Something had to have happened, and Armand planned to find out what. Not that it really mattered to him, though. And if things started to look bad, then he would simply drop any association he had with this little project of his.

But, in the meantime.... It could give him some useful information.....

((Sorry, Armand doesn't want to leave his house... He's a bit of a recluse. He might send someone else out, though.... It depends.. :/ ))

Alexandria turned mid stride and faced cross. This man felt soulless yet at the same time tethered to his body. Her voice slightly echoed as she spoke "You look troubled wraith."

Arabella had meant to stay up and maybe visit the guild building but as soon as she sat one the soft bed in the room she had been given at the inn she fell asleep. By the time she woke up it was late- much to late to do any walking about or guild visiting. It was too bad really, she could sense more and more strange beings flocking there every hour; she could feel them even in her sleep.
She got up after trying hopelessly to go back to bed and dressed in a tunic and leggings to write another letter to her mother. Her mother never replied but maybe- just maybe- she would find the time in her busy life to speak to her daughter. It was more likely her aunt intercepted the letters out of spite but writing made her feel closer to home.

(When I talk like this, Alexandria, it's OOC. Cross hasn't actually said anything.)

((Sorry I edited... and hi))

(( I have no clue what's going in this rp right now.))

The wraith drew closer to Alexandria, one arm now outstretched in a gesture of longing. His mouth was opened in a sorrowful manner, as if preparing to wail, but his eyes were hidden by his mask. He did not make a sound as he neared the woman. The power of Death called out to him, a sweet siren song filled with promises of bliss and eternal rest.

Boxes and other obstacles on the street were overlooked, the filmy black smoke of Cross's lower half just gliding over them. The phantasm had almost reached her when his body crackled with a purple energy, and he was suddenly repelled from her. Roughly thrown to the earth a foot or so away, the spectre now lay on his back, completely unconscious and unaware of what he had been doing.

Alexandria looked to the wraith that was now on the ground. She walked over to him and stood over him looking down upon him. The poor man must've been cursed like she was. "Are you alright?"

Cross was completely out cold. He did not move, nor did he breathe. Then again, he didn't breathe anyway. His head was tilted to one side in his unconsciousness, which was enough to allow a single tear to roll down his porcelain cheek. It glistened as it went, a pure sapphire jewel gleaming in the light, before joining with the earth and becoming a tainted mass of mud on the ground.

Remnants of the violet energy moved in tiny arcs around his body before fading away, crackling and snapping loudly before fizzling out of existence. Something was indeed holding Cross to this plane, and it would not let him leave at any cost. Oddly enough, no seal or insignia had formed with the energy; a standard sorceror would need one to produce a spell in the first place, while an adept would design their own as a calling card. Clearly a different magical being was responsible for this event...

((@ Lady Lily: This is more of a player driven thing. Saros has given us an oppurtunity to follow a plot, but right now I think everyone's just kinda doing their own thing. Not everyone has met, either. It's nearing the end of the day, so my guess is that once everyone has gone to bed and is done with all their activities for the day, Saros will give us a new post telling us that it's the next day and what the weather is like... Along with any random rumors around the town. And... I don't really know what to do in the rp, either... ^ ^;; ))

Alexandria looked down at the man at her feet. She couldn't leave him there so she agai made he scythe appear in her hand. She hit the bottom of her scythe on the ground below them and they sank into the ground and appeared in her room in the heroes guild. Her scythe disappeared and she got the wraith on her bed and she sat in her chair and made a book appear in her hand and started to read it.

About fifteen minutes later, Cross woke up, sitting up on the bed as he rubbed his head. If it were possible for ogres to be hitting war-drums inside his head, the spirit could have possibly blamed them for his pain, for that is very well what it felt like. Furthermore, he ached all over; it almost felt like he had pulled every muscle in his body.

After a time, he decided he would probably be more comfortable laying down. He looked over at Alexandria and remembered the source of his pain. He struggled to speak, even in that condition.

"Y-you... Ngh... D-death..."

He suddenly burst into a terrible cough, jerked into a sitting position once more as he hacked and gagged on air and saliva. After a minute or so, he returned to his position.

Alexandria looked up from her book. Her hood was down so you could see her shoulder length void black hair, her black eyes, and her white face. She spoke to Cross "I am not death... I am merely his warrior... and who might you be?" She was curious about why a wraith would be around town and not attack someone.

"C-cross..." He sputtered again for a time, then continued. "Cross... R-road..." He twitched then, a spasmic pain of some sort running up his back. He then gazed at her intently. If one could see the eyes under that mask, they could see a glimmer of hope. "K-know me?"

It was easy to tell that he was fighting back immense fatigue. He seemed to have difficulty keeping his head fixed toward her; he would have to move his neck slightly just to try and keep it off the pillow. A warmth surrounded his form, beckoning him to sleep, but he had to at least hear if she had any information on who he was.

(Wow, you guys have been busy though, haven't you?)

Cordain awoke with a start, Apparently this room was taken. A quick study proved the owner to be a dark elf. She seemed a little taken aback, but that was normal for the occasion. Cordain jumped to his feet and bowed to this person. "ah, why hello there. I was not informed that such a beauty resided here." As Cordain spoke this he wondered how far flattery would get him... sometimes it was easy and that was all it took. Hopefully not this time, for that was painfully dull.

(Meanwhile, in the Kingdom...)
Nightfall of Day 1:
The weather was clearing quite nicely and it was a warm night. the workers had all gone to bed and the night watch was on patrol. The gaurd post had been doubled as a crime spree had hit the streets like a storm. This combined with Cordain's appearance had everyone keeping a close eye on their pockets... yet somehow so many things were stolen in such a short time, and all over the kingdom in fact! Rumors started spreading like wildfire, everyone blamed Cordain or had been convinced that he was a ghost, since many things disappeared from plain sight. Truthfully, Cordain was not the culprit, the thieves guild had been turned invisable temporarily and they took full advantage of it. But nobody knew about this or would believe it even if they were told. No, the legendary thief Cordain was on the prowl!

(A word for the monsters...)
Other rumors spread about the Graveyard... A starnge fog had covered the area and the area as a whole felt like an arctic climate. The ground was frozen over with ice from the rains. People had sighted the living dead in the area, but nobody could figure out why. There was an ancient crypt that was in the center of the graveyard, and the entance had been broken down from the inside. Skeletons, Ghosts, Ghouls, Zombies... all these and more were easily spotted through the fog now and again. They didn't seem hostile, until anyone got close to the graveyard and tried to enter...
The king has sent word to the Heroes Guild and had posters set up telling of a 250 silver reward for anyone who simply finds the cause of this. The person who actually solves the problem gets another 250 silver. If one person does both... they get 500 silver.
Surely this was enough to tempt at least some of the heroes?

Alexandria shook her head to Cross "If I've ever met you before I can't remember" The man looked pained "rest and be greatful that death doesn't have you in his sights" Alexandria smiled and went back to reading her book. Death spoke into her head "Unrest brews in the graveyard seek the guildmaster" Upon hearing his voice her book disappeared and she brought her hood back up and walked out of her room to go looking for the guildmaster to ask him about the supposed trouble.