“It’s been so long since we added anyone new, I don’t even remember what our procedure was,” Ethan scratched the back of his head and looked around the table. “Do we vote on it?”

After looting Loeg and exiting The Tower they’d returned to Tara’s tavern for celebratory drinks. Sam, David and Leah had all gotten upgrades. Sam had received a ring that gave a bonus to his pets' damage while David scored one of the axes Loeg used in his enrage phase. It increased his damage when he was below thirty five percent health. Not an ideal tanking weapon, but Ethan’s seaxes were much better than the axe so he willingly passed on it to David. Leah had been the biggest winner of the loot lottery though, her Boots of Nature’s Wrath increased her intellect and spirit, but also increased all her Nature damage by seventeen percent. As a Wildkin Druid, nearly every Spell she used was nature damage.

“Is that really needed?” David said, craning his neck to look across the room for Alera returning with their drinks. “She did phenomenal.”

Around the table, everyone nodded in agreement with their tank. And he was right.

Ethan wasn’t sure what to expect before the first trash pull, but Alera had exceeded any expectations he could have hoped to have. Her damage and awareness were amazing, she was already meshing well with the group. He couldn’t remember the last time, in any game, someone had applied to join their guild that had seemed like such a great fit.

“Even her gear is better than we could have hoped for,” Leah added. “She just needs experience in the Tower, and she’ll work great. And don’t pretend you didn’t notice her flirting with you.”

“And you her.” Miguel said with a grin. “We’ve all been hoping you’d finally meet someone and calm down a little.”

“What..? I wasn’t…” if Ethan had been taking a sip of a drink, he would have spat it out in surprise at Leah and Miguel’s comments. “Was she..?”

“Dude, come on.” Sam said, rolling his eyes. “I definitely saw you checking her out when she saved you from that Orc before we got into the fortress.

“She literally blinked in on top of me!” Ethan exclaimed, his cheeks starting to flush from blood. “She literally put her backside right in my face!”

“Right.” Sam pursed his lips and furrowed his brow. “And I didn’t see you gawking from all the way across the battlefield.”

Ethan’s cheeks were burning red hot. He wondered if he could burst into flames from embarrassment like he did rage.

Not likely. But passion is my domain, so maybe be careful at…. other times. Reás’ voice interrupted his own thoughts.

Great. Now even the elements are making fun of me. He grumbled in his own mind.

“Back to the topic at hand,” he said, awkwardly trying to change the subject. “Is she in or not?”

“Of course she is!” Leah said laughing.

“Do you think Tae-Won is going to have a problem with another Rogue?” Ethan asked her. “It’s going to mean some completion for gear.”

“He’ll be fine with it. It's not like it’s a permanent Rogue, when, if, we die again then everything will change.” She said quietly. “What was that old saying, ’bring the player, not the class’?”

“She’s on her way back,” David again craned his neck to see around Ethan. “Are you going to invite her when she sits down?”

Ethan turned around to see Alera weaving her way through tables carrying a tray full of drinks. Tara was apparently fond of her enough to lend her a tray, or she knew it was for Miguel and trusted him not to break anything.

“Nah, this’ll be funnier.” Ethan rapidly swiped his hands into the guild control menu and typed out a guild invitation. He held his finger hovering over the invisible to everyone else button as he turned back around. “Annnd send.”

“Ahh!” Alera yelped, nearly dropping the tray full of drinks as her invite flashed into her vision. Tara scowled at her from behind the bar as she steadied herself and returned to the table.

David jumped up to help Alera pass out the drinks, taking a sip of his own very large glass before handing out anyone else’s.

“You’re an ass.” She said, grinning madly at Ethan “And thank you. I’m honored.”

“You impressed everyone here,” Ethan said, gesturing around the table where the members of Disorder were nodding. “We’re glad you’re going to be with us. Welcome to the family.”

The entire guild clapped and cheered for their newest member, earning another stern look from Tara. Miguel waved at her and she shook her head, mildly annoyed. Even if this was Miguel’s group of friends, overt rowdiness wasn’t well tolerated in her tavern.

“So what happens next, back in the Tower tomorrow?” Alera asked, once the table had calmed down.

“Probably, we’re kind of in a holding pattern until Tae-Won gets back.” Leah chewed on her lip nervously when Ethan mentioned her husband’s name.

“You said he’s Rogue, right?” Alera looked to Leah, who nodded. “The House of Whispers-“

“Shut up!” Sam hissed at the same time David spat out his drink.

“Dude, what the fu-“ Ethan began angrily before David interrupted him.

“No, shut up.” David looked panicked as he scanned the room. “We need to go. Now. Sam, pay the tab and make sure we aren’t followed.”

“David-“ Ethan said, as everyone began getting to their feet. Miguel and Leah looked as confused as Ethan felt. Alera was quiet, looking slightly embarrassed as she also scanned the room.

“I’ll explain shortly. Let’s go.” David answered quickly, ushering Miguel towards the door.

An awkward silence hung in the air as Disorder made their way back to their guild hall. David’s head was on a swivel as they walked down the crowded street.

“You want to tell me what that was about?” Ethan demanded after they’d traveled several blocks. Leah had her arm around Alera who looked to be sobbing into her shoulder as they walked. Miguel was awkwardly rubbing her shoulder, trying to comfort her. “Usually you wait at least a week before making someone break down like that. This is a new record in assholery for you and Sam.”

“I told you, I’ll explain in a minute.” David answered. “As soon as Sam gets back.”

Ethan’s frustration immediately changed to concern. This wasn’t David’s regular brand of sarcasm. He could tell from his friend’s tone of voice he was afraid. Of what, Ethan had no idea.

He grabbed David’s arm, pulling his friend to a stop.

“David, are we in danger?” He asked, his voice low to avoid being overheard.

“I don’t know. Maybe.” David hurried off, still scanning the streets and leaving Ethan alone.

What the fuck is going on? He thought to himself as he rushed to catch up.

He reached the door to the guild hall, and before he could turn the knob, it opened a crack.

“Inside. Now,” David whispered tersely through the small opening. He was standing just inside the door, still watching the outside from the peephole. Leah had her arm around a still sobbing Alera on the couch and Miguel was carrying over a glass of something to the distraught Rogue.

“Ta.” She said, taking the drink and sipping slowly between sobs.

“I need answers David.” Ethan said quietly, but forcefully to his friend.

“As soon as Sam gets back, we’ll tell you everything.” He answered, his nose pressed to the wooden door as he continued watching the outside.

Seconds later, David stepped back and the door swung open. One of his eyes was glowing purple as he stopped in the doorway with his arm raised. His demonic familiar swooped in and landed on the outstretched limb, chittering angrily.

“Were you followed?” David asked tersely, shutting and locking the door.

“No.” Sam shook his head and the violet glow disappeared from his eye. “Had the imp fly over me to make sure.”

“Good.” David turned and walked swiftly to the couch. He knelt down in front of Alera and put his hand on her knee.

Ethan felt a twist in his stomach at seeing his friend touch Alera. He wasn’t sure if it was anger, or perhaps jealousy. After the way he snapped at her, how dare he try to comfort her now.

“Are you okay?” David asked tenderly. His earlier aggression was completely gone.

Alera nodded between sobs.

“I’m so...sorry.” Ethan heard her say as he crossed the room.

“Does anyone want to tell us what the fuck is going on?” He said, trying to tamp down the growing rage inside of him.

Patience and calm. Remember the balance. Vewa’s unexpected entrance to his mind distracted and calmed him down as David rose to his feet. He could feel their peaceful influence help him as his emotions returned to his control.

“I’m about to, but you may want to take a seat.” David pointed to one of the unoccupied couches. “It’s probably going to take a minute.”

Ethan walked around him and took the chair he usually sat in for guild meetings. He wanted to be able to see everyone while David explained whatever the situation was.

He could see Leah, still trying to comfort a red faced Alera, look up expectantly at David. Miguel was on Alera’s other side, still awkwardly holding a glass of water. Sam paced behind the couches, looking deep in thought while his familiar perched on the back of one of the unoccupied sofas, digging its claws into the upholstery.

“Cut that out!” Ethan said, staring directly at the demonic monkey.

It locked its red eyes with his and dug its talons deeper into the cushion, shredding it. All the while grinning maniacally with its razor sharp fangs.

Sam snapped his fingers and the demon launched itself into the air, leaving more claw marks in the couch before perching again on his shoulder.

Ethan looked back to David, his patience, despite the help from the Spirit of Water, starting to wear thin.

“Okay. So, Rogues,” David began before pausing. “Sorry, this isn’t easy to talk about.”

“Every single Rogue owes allegiance to their order.” Sam announced, having finally quit pacing. “The House of Whispers.”

“You just said a lot of words, and they didn’t all make sense.” Miguel shook his head and placed the unwanted water glass on the small table in front of him.

“Unlike most of the other archetypes, all the Rogue class quests are in Anvasa, you all know that, right?” David asked, receiving nods from Ethan, Leah and Miguel. “Well, there’s more to it than that.”

David took a deep breath before continuing.

“All of them train with an organization called The House of Whispers, which I doubt anyone of you who hasn’t been a rogue before knows anything about.” Their blank stares and silence were exactly the answer he expected. “There’s a reason for that: The House doesn’t want anyone to know it exists. They kill people just for mentioning their name. That’s why we had to hurry out of the bar.”

“That’s bullshit.” Ethan scoffed.

“It’s not, I promise you.” David looked at him with complete seriousness in his expression. “Player or NPC, it doesn’t matter. They hunt down anyone that talks about them and kills them.”

“You’re telling me that there’s a secret organization that kills people for saying their name, and players don’t mention it to anyone?” Ethan shook his head, not believing what his best friend was saying. “Why?”

“Because they’re that powerful.” David’s expression changed from serious to sadness. “They’re political in nature. The House of Whispers has a view of the world, and they work to make that vision reality. By any means necessary.”

“That’s a lot for just a game.” Miguel tried to sound sarcastic, but Ethan could hear the tint of fear in his voice.

“That’s the thing though, players know this is a game. But to NPCs, this is the world and it has its own history.” David glanced at Alera, who had leaned forward, her head in her hands. “In the history of the game world, the House has toppled kingdoms, killed despots, poisoned children, hell, there are records of them wiping out entire towns.”

“So why doesn’t anyone talk about them? Players, I mean.” Ethan asked, he was on the verge of beginning to be convinced, even though this entire conversation was ludicrous. “They have no reason to be afraid of them, we die and we just come back.”

“Think about it,” Sam said from behind the couches. “If you’re a Rogue, working for them, and you die, are you going to blab about them when you respawn? Knowing everything you know about them as an organization?”

“If anyone talks about us, we hunt them down. Find out who they told, what they told, and erase their friends too.” Alera spoke up softly for the first time. “If they knew I even spoke their name, one of the other inquisitors would show up and torture me. And then all of you. Sam and David were right to make us leave so quickly.”

“That’s more than a little fucked up.” Miguel whispered.

“Have you ever seen that actually happen, to a player?” Ethan trusted Sam and David more than Alera, but her words were extra evidence. But the idea that even players were subject to the whims of an in game organization was still just out of reach of his comprehension.

“I have. Guy named Roland, he’s in the raid clan now. '' David spoke up. “Not long after launch, he’d been a Rogue and died. After he respawned he was running his mouth in Grassmere to two of his friends. And, of course, the Inquisitorius found out. I killed all of three of them. Ambushed them on the road back to Startesgarde. Then waited for them at the cliffs and threw them all off again to make sure they understood the message.”

Silence fell on the room like a ton of bricks. Miguel, Leah and Ethan all stared at him with their mouths open. Sam and Alera shared a look of shame, not wanting to make eye contact with anyone.

“Part of the end of the questline is to eliminate a leak. An NPC, every player that spawns as a Rogue has to do it.” Sam said quietly, absentmindedly stroking his familiar.

“So what happens now?” Ethan asked, finally completely believing what they were saying. “Are we still in danger? Is Alera?”

“I don’t know. I don’t think so,” David said, running his hands through his hair. “Greenbriar was packed and she wasn’t speaking that loudly. Chances are pretty good she wasn’t overheard.”

“Yeah, and I didn’t see anyone following us.” Sam agreed. “But to be safe, she might need to sleep here tonight.”

“I think that’s probably for the best.” Ethan nodded his head. “Alera?”

“Hmm?” The blonde rogue lifted her head from where she’d been staring at the floor again.

“Welcome to the Disorder Guildhall,” he smiled, trying to bring back a little bit of the joy that had so quickly vanished. “As long as you’re wearing our guild tag, this is your home.”

Alera grinned back at him, tears of joy streaming down her face.

“Thank you, it’s amazing.”

“Ummm… not to be a further buzz kill, but where’s she going to sleep?” Miguel asked from the couch.