Quest 1: A Wild Dwarf Appears! [Dictated/Action][Open to all - let me know if I messed up!!]

[fuckelves]

[Where is he? Why is there a book in his hand?]

...from the make of this place, I'd say this is Elf sorcery...

[To appease his curiosity, Thorin opens the book and finds not only his name, but the words he spoke not seconds ago written inside.]

...definitely Elf devilry.

[He tilts a brow and observes his surroundings - seems to be a lobby of some sort. Dwarves don't typically live in castles, so he knows this is not the work of his kind - and his kind would never demand the sacrifice that this castle did.]

Where in Mahal's beard am I?

Comments

[fuckelves]

You talk of this castle as if it's alive...is it?

[This thought unsettles him more than he'd care to admit...but it's fairly obvious.]

[lightbranded]

I suppose that would rather depend on how you think of something being alive. It has a mind and aims of its own. It has its own sort of magic. And that is a magic very different from any that is known in all the wisdom of my kind.

But in the end it is a castle. I do not know if it breathes or eats or does anything that you would normally associate with a living creature.

[fuckelves]

This is most unsettling.

This means that the inhabitants of the castle are slaves to its will, correct?

[He's already plotting his escape attempt...poor Thorin. That won't work here.]

[lightbranded]

Not entirely. We yet have our own wills. There is no power inside or outside of time that can truly deprive men of this.

But it is true that we cannot return to our homes. And it is true that the castle often inflicts difficult situations upon us.

[fuckelves]

...most unsettling indeed.

Tell me, if the castle becomes displeased with an inhabitant, can it bring an end to his life?

[He's suddenly worried about dropping dead in his boots if he angers the castle.]

[lightbranded]

I have never heard of such a thing. [Will says this thoughtfully.]

But there are many other punishments I have heard of. You might find yourself unable to speak, or transformed into a doll or an animal. And many other things beside.

[fuckelves]

No one turns Thorin Oakenshield, son of Thrain, son of Thror, King Under the Mountain into a doll!!

[Note, he's more upset about the idea of getting turned into a doll than an animal...]

...how does one overcome these...punishments?

[lightbranded]

You cannot. [The boy spoke mildly, as if he was not upset by this at all.]

It is merely a matter of time. Most last only a few days. When the time is right, they will end.

[fuckelves]

......I don't like this.

[Who would?]

How does one avoid punishment then?

[lightbranded]

Very few do, I find.

We cannot. Because sometimes it is a punishment, and sometimes it is merely whim of the castle. Most of the time, all we can do is endure.

[fuckelves]

...does the castle take bribes?

[Surprisingly enough, he's totally serious. It seems he's unaware that he no longer has access to the wealth he possessed in Middle Earth.]

[lightbranded]

[Will pauses. Now that was a question he had never been asked before.]

Sorry? I do not know if anyone has ever tried.

[fuckelves]

I see - and has anyone ever tried...

[He drops his voice, worried that someone or the castle itself will hear him.]

...destroying the castle?

[lightbranded]

Not since I arrived here. You might ask some of the people who have been here longer.

But,I have seen the castle damaged many times. It is always repaired.

[fuckelves]

Always repaired, eh?

[Well then consulting others on the matter hardly seems like a practical idea.]

Why would one elect to stay in such a place? Is there really no appeal to this place?

[lightbranded]

There is little else for us to do. Some of us move into the town and find residence there. And there are explorations out into the dead zone, but it is too dangerous for anyone to go there alone.

[fuckelves]

Ah...residence. Yes, there's that matter as well. This castle brought me here, but where am I to stay?

[Thorin's starting to wonder if the castle just magically grows rooms to contain so many residents.]

And what's this about a 'Dead Zone'?

[lightbranded]

There should be a room with your name beside the door. There are many empty rooms in the castle, and it never seems to run out of space for new arrivals.

The Dead Zone... [Will hesitates.]

I still do not fully understand it. But it seems to be a place where any special ability you have is lost. Even advanced machines do not work there. I do not go there, because I find the feeling very uncomfortable.

[fuckelves]

...does this castle miss nothing?

[Very detail-oriented, he notices.]

...is this a place people go to willingly? What of Dwarves like myself that possess little magic, but pride ourselves on our battle skills?

[lightbranded]

Very little, I've found.

A dwarf, really? How marvelous!

Ah, but I suppose you might do well enough. It seems to be those of us who are of magic who are most affected by that place.

[fuckelves]

[Thorin blinks a bit.]

Is it...not obvious what I am? Are there no Dwarves in your world?

[This could very well be the case; something he didn't consider before.]

It occurs to me, young master, that you know my name and I know not yours. Might I ask what you call yourself?

[lightbranded]

Not quite. In my world there are no dwarves nor elves nor dragons nor many other things beside.

I am Will Stanton. [The boy smiles, the expression almost disguising the weight of knowledge and oldness in his eyes.]

[fuckelves]

A world without Elves and Dragons...

[Thorin smiles for a moment. He could quite enjoy a world like that! But a world without Dwarves means a world without Fili and Kili. That's something he just can't live with.]

Pleased to know you, Will Stanton!

[lightbranded]

A pleasure to meet you as well, Thorin Oakenshield.

Ah, there is yet magic in my world. And the Light and the Dark and all the creatures of the Wild Magic. But there are none such races as dwarves and elves.

[fuckelves]

A world with magic, yet void of creatures such as Dwarves and Elves. It still seems a dull existence, if you don't mind my saying.

[Yes, because "creatures of the Wild Magic" sounds very dull indeed...]

Speak to me of this "Wild Magic".