Spooktober 2022 - Bonus Story

"Fuck."

The broken door would be a problem. We all knew it, and yet still Zulo tried to get it open. Without magic several of us were rather useless. I sighed heavily.

Here we were in an abandoned manor looking for our boss, Mr. Heist. He of course had already unlocked his magic, him and his father, even his eldest son, putting cracks in the barrier that kept Fika from the magic of Aegimius. The barrier that caused them, Stein, and myself to fall unconscious, our spirits grabbed by Mystra to protect us.

"The only way out now is to find Ink. Their magic is most strength based." I said.

If training with his kids was any indication he'd possess the physical power, to get us through. Otherwise perhaps one of his magical abilities would help us escape. This would be so much easier if I could hear the whispers of his or his kidnappers thoughts. But of course this had to happen while we were without magic.

The six of us made our way down the hall. Darkness closing in. Thankfully Meltrin had gotten that eye from New Lanass that gave him the ability to see with technology. To bad it didn't keep Quzal from running into something. The sound of porcelin shattering pierced the silence, ruining any plans we had of suprise.

We all paused as we heard the scraping of a chair echo through a chamber ahead of us. Slowly we made our way forward, as a balcony met us with stairs on either side heading into a room. The curtains below parted just enough to eliminate a dark tabaxi tied to a chair relaxed as he waited. I chuckled inwardly. Quzal motioned for Zulo, Hades and I to go down one set, while he, River and Meltrin took the other set. Well at least two gun users were in each group. What could possibly go wrong?

I of course had the misfortune of being trained by my grandfather and father, and paused as I heard the name that has haunted me for years....the name my grandfather told me to never use....the name that was able to strike fear into half of the city council......Zumren. I froze while Hades and Zulo contained on. Not realizing I was no longer a step behind.

"You had the gaul to curse them, to continue to talk bad about the Zumren. Well it ends here and now."

I felt eyes turn towards me as I howled with uncontrollable laughter. When I finally calmed down I felt a sense of smuggness overtake me. "Who are you to judge him?"

"Followers of the Zumren"

He was watching me, they all were. Hades and Zulo at the foot of the stairs, a look of aggitation on their faces since I had given away our position. I couldn't see where River, Meltrin and Quzal were without possibly giving them away. Okay Alynys get everyone out of here without dieing and grandfather won't bring you back just to kill you again.

I descended the last couple stairs managing to avoid the fresh slime on the lower landing, mirroring Ink's face, trying and hoping I wasn't giving anything away. Grateful that they too were without magic and wouldn't be able to sense how unquiet my mind currently was, racing through possibilities. "You worship those murders?"

I felt the blade before I saw several others being drawn.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you." I heard Ink chuckle.

"How are you Ink? Mael's worried."

"They could have locked these chains a bit tighter, but otherwise." The smugness in his voice spoke volumns. He was never in any real danger.

Hades and Zulo were being directed to move closer to Ink. The shadows caused by the sliver of light leaking into the room led me to assume it was a group of about eight individuals. "The Zumren's are dead. There were all killed by my grandfather 300 years ago. Their followers hunted down and slain shortly thereafter."

The one infront of ink jestured to the room. "He missed some."

I looked about the room, and noticed it. I'd seen a rendition of the potrait in books that I'd read on the atrocities that Rania Zumren and her followers had committed, but to see one of the portraits of her.....those eyes.....my eyes..........

Stay in the shadows Alynys. You still have the element of suprise on your side.

"So you just decided to vanish, to bide your time until you could rise from the shadows and kidnap a high ranking official to bring the Zumren's back into the spotlight?"

Some of them chuckled as a shiver went down my spine. I wouldn't decend into the abyss like she had, I refused to drown in the destructive madness. I fought like hell to learn my powers on my terms, and I wasn't about to let them get unlocked through negative emotions. I closed my eyes as I was pushed into the light.

"You didn't just kidnap any high ranking official, and you know it. You kidnapped the head of the Heist family. A KUPP."

The silence was deafening as I opened my eyes. I locked eyes with Rania's......it would be so easy to descend the chasm and come out with my powers again. To have my spirit whole once more. That's when I noticed it. So simple there in her hand. I'd seen it before in my grandfather's office. A relic that had belonged to the last head of the Zumren family.

I turned and looked at the leader. "If you worship the Zumren's you'll let him go. NOW."

She scoffed at me.

Within the misty light I saw Meltrin cock his gun. "Tell them who you are." Ink prodded.

"Alynys Fenequin"

I reached for the thorny whip I purchased in Snakehelm.

"You're other name."

"Chalice"

"No. The one you were told to never use."

I heard Ink's chains break, the rope around his ankles tear.

"Zumren"

I swear I just saw the picture smile, it must be enchanted.........But magic doesn't work......Fuuuck

GM
Which organization do you belong to?

CEIE Followers

Heist Clan

Anvil