A few years ago I wrote a series of short fiction pieces that were included in the Era: The Empowered Roleplaying Game, published by Shades of Vengeance. A fifth anniversary edition of the game is due to be released in early 2024 I believe.

I had great fun writing the shorts and Ed Jowett, the man behind the Era range and MD of Shades of Vengeance, has kindly allowed me to share the fiction here on the blog.

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An Origin Story by Angus Abranson (first published in Era: The Empowered RPG Core Rulebook)

I’ve always hated fairgrounds. Don’t ask me why – it’s just an irrational dislike, I guess.

Whatever the reason, they’ve always seemed spooky, making me on edge instead of at ease. Empty fairgrounds are worse. And disused fairgrounds? Always to be avoided.

So why, you may very well ask, am I here? I’m wondering that myself – it’s half past two in the morning, the sky is as clear as any I’ve seen with the moon full and stars shining like there is no tomorrow, nature has kindly decided to leave a fine ground frost already and, just to top it off, I ran out of cigarettes well over an hour ago.

The truth is that I haven’t got the first clue what I’m doing here amongst these rusting relics of my childhood nightmares. I’m sure I’m supposed to be downtown at The Helix nursing the beginnings of what could become a legendary hangover with Frankie, Joesy and The Surfer, instead of freezing my arse off next to a collapsing big dipper and “Count Vlad’s Horror Spectacular”.

I got a call from an old college friend, a guy called Alexander Motya – a rich kid, the “good at everything he tries” type – asking me if I needed a cash up-front job. Now, normally, I wouldn’t touch this sort of thing – if it ain’t 100 per cent above board and legal I won’t do it.

Alright, so the Kumpf case involved a bit of breaking and entering, and yeah the McNeill episode got a bit sticky but I had good intentions behind them.

Anyhow, I remember Alex from our Claremont days together. He was the type of guy you absolutely hate – rich, good looking, athletic, intelligent, a complete sicko. I’d have loved to hate him but the man had a great personality. He could make even Kirsten ‘Ice-Maiden’ Strayer laugh and, believe me, that wasn’t any mean feat. So, when Alex calls me up offering some fast cash, I think about it for about a lamb’s shake and invite him over to the office.

He comes over about an hour later and, lo and behold, seven hours later I’m freezing my now well-paid arse off dying for a ciggy.

I’m supposed to be waiting for a “business partner” of Alex’s to turn up so I can hand over a package. The “package” in question is currently in the back of my car – it was a bit bulky for me to be carrying around for god knows how long, waiting for this guy to turn up. I was told it’s some kind of antique sword… all I know is it’s one big mother, and heavy too. It’s all boxed and wrapped up anyhow so I ain’t got a real clue what it looks like, if it’s even a sword.

“Where is the package? If Castoff has crossed me, there will be blood.”

I jumped, literally. That voice was spine-chilling and how the hell did they creep up on me like that? I obviously needed the nicotine fix worse than I thought!

“Hey, man”, I said turning around. “Chill, It’s in the car.” I nodded in the direction of the vehicle, blowing into my hands and rubbing them, to both keep them warm and also hide the fact they were still shaking from being startled.

I couldn’t see the guy well. He appeared silhouetted, even though the moon was casting plenty of light. Then he… moved. The blackness of the silhouette just seemed to float, loosing some of its shape, towards the car. I tried swallowing my surprise but think a high-pitched curse managed to escape.

Tendrils of darkness reached into the car, picking up the wrapped package. “At last…” the darkness hissed. I watched, immobilised, as it tore open the package and draw an ornate looking sword from the sheath within.

“Now for the second part of the agreement.” The voice seemed to carry a hint of amusement, as the figure turned to face me. “The blooding…”

Before I could react, a tendril of darkness holding the sword lashed out towards me. I turned to run but was too slow. I saw the tip of the sword appear from my chest, followed by the rest of the blade, the hilt, and the murky black tendril. But I felt no pain, just a slight chill as the darkness passed through me.

“What!?!” The voice, seemed startled. As startled as I was, I knew a window when I saw one. I started to run blindly, getting away the only thing I could think of.

Glancing back, I saw it rising into the air, its black tendrils reaching out again. The sword glinted in the moonlight as it arced towards me. I dived towards a disused duck shooting kiosk, in the hope for some protection… but I passed right through its wooden fronting. Through it, not breaking it, not touching it, I just slid right through the wood and then continued to go through the floorboarding and into the ground like it was thin air! Submerged in the earth, but unharmed. Incorporeal.

Alex and I need and a stern talk when I get back.