[h3][center][b]Opera Night[/b][/center][/h3]
~[@The Irish Tree] (NEP)~
[hr]

Nephele left the interior of the house, heading to where Gerald had indicated the graveyard had been. Just a quick jog through the foyer, a hallway, and then out the backdoor that was located in the dining hall. Immediately upon exiting the back door and following a short dirt path towards the fenced off graveyard, there was a [i]noticeable[/i] shift in the towns atmosphere. Despite the day now having started to shift into noon, there was a gloom that hung over the air as she stepped into the graveyard. Not to mention...the slight macabre, whimsical nature the entire graveyard itself gave off.

[hider=Graveyard][img]https://orig00.deviantart.net/b082/f/2011/133/3/4/graveyard_by_minola_belka-d3g8vu9.jpg[/img][/hider]

The trees seemed to twist at angles that just seemed ever so slightly off. A light mist hung over the ground as a few black birds observed the intruding dragon from above, cawing impertinently at her trespassing. Honestly, it almost seemed like the graveyard itself was pulled right out of some heavily embellished story. Thankfully it wouldn't take her long to find Geralds daughter. It was difficult to miss the blue-dressed girl wearing highly embellished clothing that was fit for a noble of some sort. Her back was turned to Nephele as she ran up. In fact, she seemed to be slowly practicing some sort of waltz by herself in front of a large stone grave of some sort where the path split into different directions.

As soon as the dragon made her way to her, it took a few seconds for the girl to notice her.

[color=7ea7d8]"WEH!?"[/color] Upon turning and noticing Nephele, the white haired girl did a rather comical and over exaggerated jump backwards, flailing her arms a bit before she held her arms in front of her protectively. Now that she was facing the dragon, it was easy to make out a few more distinctive features about her dress. On the left side of her head, was a blue butterfly-shaped hairpin holding her hair together and a masquerade mask was hanging form her neck, currently not in use. She appeared to be in her early twenties, and her short cut white hair was well kept and groomed.

[hider=Christine][img]https://safebooru.org//images/1510/7ca03ec78e902fd79c404c582a5d21aa.jpeg?1582461[/img][/hider]

[color=7ea7d8]"E-eh?"[/color] Upon taking a few seconds to collect herself she finally responded with a light laugh. [color=7ea7d8]"And here I thought I was the master spooker of people here. I must be gettin' rusty."[/color] She gave Nephele a bright grin, seemingly unbothered by her monstrous nature. [color=7ea7d8]"Soooo...who are you? Haven't seen you around the village before and we don't get many new people around here. Not some dastardly dragon hoping to snatch a princess and keep her all to yourself, are you?"[/color] She giggled at her suggestion.

[@Eviledd1984] - Maria
[hr]

Maria got the seemingly easy job. Just hang up a chandelier. Couldn't be too difficult, right? As Nephele left to fetch the mayors daughter. She would head up to the stairs easily enough without much trouble. Now that the house was all quiet, however, there was simply unsettling about it. It was quiet. [i]Eerily[/i] so. The sort of cool, unsettling silence that could make a persons hair stand on end.

Still. Nothing else seemed out of the ordinary, and if she'd continue to the balcony where the Mayor had directed she'd find a length of strong rope tied to a series of pulleys that eventually reached the chandelier below. If Maria attempted to lift it, it would seemingly be lightweight, and easily moved despite a presumed heavier nature by Nephele. She'd find herself able to bring it up and tie it without too much of an issue. Almost [i]too[/i] easily done.

When she was done however - she'd hear what sounded to be footsteps. Definitely not the kind that could be mistaken for old wood creaking or groaning. It was followed by the sound of something breaking and the sound of creaking, like something had been opened. The noises were coming from a room over, but the door was closed. The Mayor hadn't said they were alone, but with the silence in the rest of the mansion it seemed like they would have been alone.

Would she check the source of the noise? Or leave well enough alone?


[color=8882be][h3][center]~Arletta Dupain~[/center][/h3][/color]
[@PaulHaynek][@The Irish Tree] 
[hr]

Arletta pulled her sword cleanly from the second hound, flourishing it in front of her as she readied to strike another blow. With at least three of the five or six hounds now defeated, they would hopefully back off, but the furious bellow from Magnus seemed like it might be a bit too much to hope for. She barely had time to react to Magnus's fury as the axe slammed into the stagecoach, eye widening a bit at the Minotaur's rage.

The last remaining hound snarled at Magnus, slowly backing away from the enraged monster before bolting away, whimpering as all the hounds bit it had met an untimely end. The dullahan sighed, glad the battle was over as she walked over to Magnus who was consoling his newly gifted tunic.

[color=8882be]"Aha..."[/color] Arletta chuckled. [color=8882be]"I'm certain she won't be too upset, Magnus."[/color] Arletta said. [color=8882be]"Although, typically wearing clothing into battle is going to get it roughed up a little."[/color] Ah, hmm, maybe she could by him some armor at some point? Shouldn't be too hard...well, getting armor to fit a minotaur might actually prove a little difficult. Anyways...Arletta turned to the man on the stagecoach.

[color=8882be]"Hey, you alright up there!"[/color]