The winding narrow streets of Almare were paved with ancient and cracked stone with the occasional statue on either side or sitting in the center of a plaza. Between the buildings and roads were grassy areas where black trees clawed upwards with their branches towards the overcast sky. The path to the marshland was southeast which took Raya near the bustling docks and through the market where throngs made up of every sort went from shop to stall and stall to shop. The bard attracted very little attention here as the people in the market were far more interested in material wares than curious travelers.<br/><br/>As she walked a patrol passed her by evidently chasing some pickpocket or petty thief. The base soldiers of this town didn't seem unusual at least; they wore simple chainmail or leather armor and favored a mixture of spears, longswords and crossbows. Up ahead however a more unusual soldier was in charge of the gate; a knight by the looks of him. The tabard over his plate armor sported an emblem depicting a jawless skull with a rather large red droplet on its forehead. Raya had seen the emblem before and knew it was tied to the most devoted followers of the vampire lords; a group formally known as the Sanguine Order but more commonly referred to as the Sanguine Cult. They were said to actually worship vampires although she had not yet learned the specifics of the faith.<br/><br/>The knight was having the lesser soldiers stop anyone who caught his eye which seemed to be almost anyone besides the most typical of citizens. Perhaps the event being planned by the local aristocracy had called for an increase in security or perhaps this knight was simply overzealous in his devotion to his job. On his back was a greatsword though from how terrified the common folk were of him he seemed to have no need for it. Although she was leaving the town passing through the gate would no doubt require avoiding or assuring this knight that Raya was no troublemaker. Alternatively she could take a long way around to another gate but it would take some time as the other main gate led the opposite direction towards the Old Wood.