Maybe it was because Odin himself was Icebergian that he always seemed to attract the type to his guild. The main member was Venus of course, Odin's queen and likely the strongest member of Eternal Nightmare, although Odin was chasing her for that title and getting closer and closer each day. But now there was someone new that had appeared, seemingly out of nowhere. One of the perks of ruling a cult that was spread all throughout Fiore was that, occasionally, interesting people were brought to Odin's attention by his followers. The only difference was that, today, he was actually hoping to meet one of them.

He had sent out a letter to the man, who's name Odin had specifically asked not to be told. He always found it more fun if he had to guess who it was that was coming to meet him. Would it be a rune knight who intercepted the note? Maybe an army would show up. Maybe that's why he chose the Majura Gallery: nobody would care if it blew up over a dispute. It's original owner had long since disappeared, and it didn't seem like it had been left to anyone. Odin was constantly shocked that it was still even open. The person joining him would know the name and description of the Lic-

Odin paused for a moment, running a hand through his silver mop of unkempt hair. "That's right, not a Lich anymore."

This was going to take some getting used to.

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Knowledge. Progress.

Truth.

Absolutes that many have striven for through the eons of human existence on this dirty ball of dust and moisture called Earthland. Pursuit of Knowledge, or rather that absolute concept of Truth has always been an unattainable, ever inaccessible goal that men have lived, struggled and died for in the quest to receive even a morsel, a blessing of that sweet nectar. To truly understand the absolutes of the universe and hold that knowledge within their grasp. The search for Truth was almost as eternal as the quest for Power, or it's true name, Destruction. These absolute concepts have driven men, beasts, entities and even the God's mad with desire to understand them even but a bit.

But what happens when you grant a mere mortal a piece of that knowledge.

And then you rip it all away in an instant.

---

"Shi.. shi...", a wheezed laugh could vaguely be heard in the back of an alleyway within the city of Oak. Other vaguely disturbing and disgusting sounds also could be heard. The soft moan of agony, the sound of flesh being pierced and sliced. A scrape of bone and a crunch of something heavy being dropped on clearly fragile materials. The sounds, sights and smells of this alleyway revolted and terrified the young messenger. A random nobody who had joined recently after getting old enough to actually join the Guild. The poor kid wasn't truly evil, more so just a citizen of the city the Guild was in and in desperate need of some coin. How was he to know that that coin would come with the danger and knowledge of Oak's most recent serial kidnapper and killer.

The sound of something on the ground cracking was enough to cause the air that had been held tightly in his lungs to be released violently. Exhaling in a rather sharp and raspy gasp that suddenly caused the alleyway to go deathly quiet. Terrified for his life, the boy stopped moving, holding his breath in an vain attempt to stave off the oncoming danger. It was palpable, just how terrified the boy was. Liquid seeped down the leg of his trousers as his body was racked with mini seizures. A sound to his right caused him to jump, sending his body crashing into some trash cans and once again causing a terrible ruckus in the alleyway. It was made all the worse due to the suffocating silence that followed after such a terrible sound.

His heart beat loudly in his ears, precious liquid attempting to sustain his very existence. His eyes were wide open and bloodshot, looking around desperately for any potential threat that may come his way. It was only when a wet, slippery, slopping sound could be heard that his heart truly sank. It originated from the direction of where he had been heading. The last known location that the cult had pinpointed of the killers location. Earlier in the day the young man had been filled with pride, given such a job directly by Odin himself to deliver this missive to a mysterious individual that had his Guild Master's attention. This was the kind of job someone like him needed to get his recognition in the guild. Now however... he only wished that he could tell his mother goodbye one last time before everything went to shit.

---

"Ah. Ah..." Constantine sighed as his bloody hands waved through the crisp cold liquid of the water pouring down from the people's houses. The murky liquid was clearly still dirty but the insane man didn't care too much for that, only barely putting forth the effort to make himself look presentable for such an esteemed guest. The man's grasp on reality skewed just how he perceived the world or reality. Certain truths and aspects just no longer seemed to matter, while others held a higher regard or importance to him.

For example, most people considered the life of their fellow man to be worth something. At least worth something worth saving. It was actually interesting how far out of the way that some people went to preserve that life when in reality that life fading would neither benefit nor harm the person. In reality the whole idea of saving ones life was a vain attempt to show ones mastery over life itself. To stroke their own ego and show that they had the power to grant and sustain life.

But what if someone sought out the value of life for a different reason. Not because taking it away was funny, or some act of power over death. But because human's, and really all existences had a power within them that was born at birth and was cultivated carefully over the course of their lives. And that this power was the key to unlocking all knowledge, all Truth in the universe.

Constantine didn't consider himself insane. In fact he viewed himself as very stable and well put together. Sure he had screamed in pure agony for four years but that was really due to the loss of his connection with his Library. Of course that may have knocked a few screws loose, but in his own mind he was extremely self aware of who and what he had become. A twisted abomination that would have been put down by who he once was. But that person no longer existed. Killed over the years by various acts that lead to his own downfall. He was but one of many, one of the ones who failed in their endeavor to collect and understand Everything. And now. It was his turn.

Constantine stared at the missive before him, plucked off the decrepit corpse that lay behind him after his ghoul tore the boy apart. It was a request to meet the Guild Master of Eternal Nightmare. An interesting proposition. Not something that Constantine himself would've immediately gone for, then again he wasn't scheming too far ahead these days, too many random and unintelligible thoughts making that hard to do. But it did come with a prospect that definitely piqued Constantine's curiosity. He wondered what the body and soul of a Guild Master contained...

---

It would be hours later that Constantine would finally arrive at Majura. Primarily because Oak was actually a rather large town, and partially because he kept getting lost. This meant he had to ask for directions, and well... not too many people speak vague ramblings and rapid gesturing. Many homeless people joined his collection that day as he slowly proceeded towards his destination. Upon arrival he was almost sent away but a look from the man's crazed eyes silenced the woman at the front desk. His ratty mop of white hair overshadowing orbs of pure malice and hunger. A twisted grin permanently etched onto his face as he slunk forward, searching for the one who had summoned him. He yet did not know who he was looking for, only to come to this location. But now that he was here... there were indeed many interesting pieces that he could potentially add to his collection as well. Much... more intriguing and valuable pieces...

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Post WC: 1653
Topic WC: 2421/2500

Odin stood, admiring the artwork in a slightly new way than he ever had before. Of course, he had spent some time in the gallery before, but as a Lich it became harder to appreciate the beauty of... well, life. Odin had been an immortal being, everlasting and impossible to kill by normal means. He could have buried himself at the bottom of the ocean for centuries and returned to a brand new world without anyone having the power to stop him. He had been tempted to do so on a few occasions actually, but his commitment to bringing Morrigan back always pulled him away from such drastic measures. But life had never been a concept Odin had to concern himself with, he moved outside of the mortal coil that trapped almost all beings. And now he didn't. He didn't have that fallback. He was on a timer once more to complete his task. He could age, albeit slower than the average human, and he could die from time. It was that mortality that gave him new meaning, and evoked emotions he had never felt before as he looked upon the glowing landscape depicted in the gallery art before him. He couldn't put into words exactly why he found it so beautiful, it simply was. And the emotions took Odin by surprise. He raised a finger to his cheek and wiped a forming tear from his eye. He had no control over the emotions, having spent so long without needing to hide them. No one could see how he felt through the skull, but now it was out in the open. He could feel, and everyone could see it. People would see him feel pain, love and, most terrifying of all, rage.

There was a slight commotion occurring behind him: quiet enough that many would not necessarily pick up on. But the Wizard Lord, attuned to any change in the winds in case he were under attack, felt the fear from the receptionist as she allowed a man entry into the gallery proper. Oak City was full of hardened thugs and criminals. The people who lived and worked here knew their type and had the power to deal with them. If a staff member of a landmark location such as Majura was scared, then the being that caused her fear would be the exact kind of person Odin wished to meet. But not yet, as the former Lich merely glanced in the direction of the silver-haired man before focussing back on his painting, pondering whether or not he wished to purchase it and add it to a collection in the guild hall. Approaching the man would be incredibly dull, as it would halt any possible viewing of what he would do in the location. Majura was often visited by rich merchants and foreign dignitaries: that's why Odin had chosen it. Not only did he wish to meet this new member of his guild, but he wished to see their interactions with this world. Would they outright attack some of the patrons of the gallery? Would they simply appreciate the art planted all around the room? Perhaps there was a third option? Odin couldn't wait to find out.

-Exit-