Zanshin's Sojourn

By Lorca

Coming into Rune from the northeast, Zanshin again marveled at the majesty that was the gem of Sepharia, as well as being the seat to Lord Agrippa’s rule. Coming from the somewhat seedier town of New Rigel, where is roguish way were more… tolerated, the omnipresent guards coupled with a community of local vendors who watched out for presented quite the challenge for someone unskilled in the other classes. Determined to make the most of his first stop in an attempt to travel the world, Zanshin determined to talk to (or at least check out) everyone of worth inside its fine walls.

And what people there were to speak with! From exploring the abandoned, yet clearly once quite majestic, Focault Magic Factory, to surreptitiously checking out Tristian and the rest of the guards, there was indeed quite a lot to see. He even attempted a task from Lord Agrippa, but found it a bit too wholesome for someone of his persuasion, not to mention boring compared to his normal tasks. With a good feeling of familiarity over the city accomplished, he was beginning his preparations for his journey to Xaventry, the remote wooded city, as well as the next stop on his trip. Stopping by the magic shop, he was startled to overhear Grimaldi speaking of an abandoned mansion in the more northeast portion of the city. Hearing this, he could slightly remember seeing such a thing when approaching the city, as well as the occasion glimpse while wandering the castle. If it truly were abandoned, it could bankroll a significant portion of this trip, assuming there was looting to be done. Determined to at least check out this landmark, he slipped out as quickly as possible and made his way north.

Arriving at the mansion, he was surprised to see how truly unruly it was, especially when compared to the rigid order of Rune. In addition to the chaos, it was clear there were some powerful forces at work here. Venturing in, while avoiding or defeating some of the lesser denizens found on the lower floors, he slowly began to work his way upwards. Finally reaching the third floor, he began to notice the area becoming significantly more dangerous. Tripping over, and just barley dodging a snare, that without the watchful eyes of the guards, people might be looking to hunt and loot him. Running into a magical barrier erected by his pursuers and being unable to head down the way he had come up, his only hope came from a hidden tunnel heading down which he had seen earlier while exploring.

Evading and fleeing from both the monsters as well as what appeared to be a roguish wizard out to kill him, Zanshin dove into a room with an older man who appeared to be nervously pacing. Recognizing the man from paintings throughout the mansion, Zanshin had a moment of panic of being caught looting, but quickly remembered the more important, more relevant facts at hand. The old man, seeing his distressed state, ushered him into a sidewall, revealing a lift! Riding to the top, Zanshin collapsed out of the lift, determined to hide up here until his abuser abandoned his pursuit. Hearing commotion below him, with a start he realized the lift was heading back down.

Finding the best hiding spot available, Zanshin began to notice, out of the corner of his eye, weird shadows. First thinking he was just exhausted and paranoid he thought nothing of it but as time went on, coupled with the intense alertness from being chased, he began to notice something was awry. Finding that focusing on… it was nearly impossible, however if one unfocused ones eye, out of the corner a hideous monster glistened and moved, always just almost out of view. This of course, did precious little for Zanshin’s already harried mental state. Hearing the lift rising again, Zanshin realized that between this unseeable demon and his rising pursuer, his situation could be improved.

After what seemed like forver, the lift opened to reveal his attacker. However, it seemed that his two concerns seemed to cancel each other! As his attacked tried to enter his cubbyhole, he was met with significant resistance, all the while this hidden demon appeared to be slightly more seeable, as if it had laid an enchantment keeping out people who might be able to harm it. While this certainly was a relief, Zanshin still found himself unsure how he would escape.

Some time later, the his attacker having grown weary of attempting to enter, the lift began a slow, defeated decent, only to be interrupted by a crashing of gears and hardware! It sounded like after years of rusting, coupled with little maintenance and rare use had delt the elevator its final blow. While momentary smug, thinking of his attacker stuck in such a precarious position, Zanshin soon realized he was stuck now as well.

Listening with interest, he could hear what sounded like a hatch pop open on the lift, then the sounds of someone crawling through abandoned air ducts in the mansion. Hearing this gave him a modicum of hope… although he was still not sure how precisely he would escape. Finally, he could hear what sounded like footsteps above him, on the roof. After a minute or two of silence, came the sounds of a horrifying battle. Part magic, part blood, part metal, along with the booms and crashes of thunder and lightning seemed to rain down from the roof, and then blessed silence. Unable to do much, Zanshin began to eat what little food he had and wait, all the while trying to think of a better plan.

Finally, after what seemed like weeks, the old man (whose name he had discovered reading the books laying around, was Winterbourne) came up in a repaired lift, and while slightly eccentric, rambling about a Pumpkin Head, was kind enough to show him the exit. As he hurried down the steps, only one thought filled his mind: he must return with friends of his to fight the hideous demon he had been trapped with for so long. Only then could he truly relax. On he way out of the mansion, while walking back to Rune, he passed by a party of more experienced adventurers, with a somewhat grim look in their eyes. With a start, he realized his attacker, looking slightly worse for wear, was leading the pack. Zanshin realized they were slightly ahead of him, preparing to go confront whatever had caused such a ruckus on the roof. Zanshin smiled, and prepared to do similarly.