All Hallow's Eve

[Jen]

Everything was primed and ready to go as the sun started to set along the treeline of Kalmarden's most famous estate. Amelia VonHagen was the lead council woman of the country with a few other infamous faces -- all of which would be present. None of the humans present ever found it strange that she never showed her face before night had fallen, or that any of the town meetings were held well past dusk. They just associated it with her sympathizing with the working folk, allowing them to go from their shops and fields to supper -- and then back again.

This season there had been a plague and people had been dying. Her ladyship had sent over extra grain to help during their fall festival. The townspeople had hardly noticed the forty odd straggling strangers that had disappeared. Death was not unheard of in Kalmarden. Everyone knew not to roam outside the cities once dusk started to fall. The monsters roamed freely outside the cities, they avoided the lights. That was why, in every window among the cities and towns of Kalmarden -- candles crowded the windowsills in order to flush away the evil dark things of the night.

Oh, of course there were rumors of vampires and werewolves. None of those had actually been proven because, well, all the witnesses were dead. There were any number of wicked faeries, imps, and demons to plague the men and women of Kalmarden. They knew that, but they were so isolated most of the year that they didn't think that it could be any different for anyone else. In fact, they often seemed like mindless cattle -- wandering from one chore to the next, living in a fog.

It was cause for great celebration, however, when Anabel VonHagen opened her estates to the public and to the world for her various entertaining events. This event was one of the biggest of the season and it was the eve of the feast and Ball. Gossip had it that the theme this year was going to be Fairy Tales. The women and men of Kalmarden were anxious and excited, ready for the food and games.

The large clearing surrounding the VonHagen Mansion was alight with candle lanterns and many long tables covered with pristine white cloth. There was a large bonfire set close to the woods but far from the house, yet to be lit. There were many classic games scattered throughout the large clearing. A few servants were plopping large fat red apples into barrels as guests started to arrive.

There was no sign of Ana, and the guests would have plenty to do in the mean time. In the front hall of the Mansion were festive gowns, entire suits, masks of exquisite make -- everything a person could ever need or want for a costume was arranged within one large recieving room. Everything for the perfect Fairy Tale Ball. One servant stood at the door with a few guards to keep order -- that servant would direct event goers to pick out their costume and guide them back to the event once they were through.

For now, though, the smells and sights of the Festival outside would be enough entertainment until Ana arrived -- no doubt getting herself ready for the entrance to her party.

[Sage]

It was more than rare to see Kraven out of his signature armor, yet those in the know would not be fooled. A suit of polished black and gold armor sat waiting, coiled to attack even without it's master, on a staircase landing off the main hall. Kraven himself marched forward and pulled a large, frightening mask that covered the front and sides of his face. It was the visage of a great evil, a nameless beast covered with long hair, and brandishing threatening horns.

Not that many would recognize Kraven simply by seeing him without his armor, but to complete his transformation, he pulled on an overly long cloak, covering his entire torso and sweeping the floor. Kraven was probably the only soul not excited for the festivities. It left his mistress so exposed, his duties were skewed into that of a simple host, entertaining the ignorant masses to appease them another season. Kraven grumbled as he fussed with the fabric around his neck as he slowly made his way to the roofs.

Those of Kalmarden were conditioned, warned against certain things. They knew to avoid the dark, to stay in their homes whenever possible without the protection of the sun on their backs. And the dark forests seemed uninviting to simple farmers and merchants and the like. And so, as a reward for the first few to arrive, he would light the way, and ease their minds. But once the first guest had arrived, Kraven would leave and let the rest suffer in the dark for not trusting their true provider: Ana VonHagen.