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

[wishmadeinfire]

It does not 'take', not for the wishes. Most of the time it does something - such as turning you into a child, an animal, or putting you to sleep. It considers this payment for the wishes you have made, though why I cannot say. It has taken only one thing that I know of from everyone here, though it changes between people - and I would caution you to be careful when asking. They are all usually deeply personal, some more than others.

For myself, it took my family's sword, passed down through millennia. I can no longer summon it to battle.

_{[ It was also the last remnant of his father, a man he could barely remember now except as a blur in dreams, a faint smell sometimes. Soon, he thought, even those small things would vanish and his father would be nothing but a name in his mind and a shadow. He held on to his mother only a little better. ]}

[fuckelves]

[Thorin holds up a hand defensively.]

Hold now, I was not asking what the castle took from you specifically, forgive me if I have offended you! I merely meant to ask what it takes for smaller wishes, which you have explained.

[Thorin sighs, he feels obligated to explain his loss now, since this newcomer shared his.]

To be fair, you should know what the castle took from me as well. It took a family relic from me known as the Arkenstone. My grandfather nearly died trying to save it when a dragon invaded our kingdom; it is the symbol of my house, the pride of my clan - and the castle took it from me...

[Scheme all you like to get it back Thorin, it won't happen.]

[wishmadeinfire]

A similar pain shared by many here. It is small comfort, but it is something to know you are not singled out.

I should warn you, trying to wish for it back or for a perfect replica will not work. Believe me, I tried. I make do with lesser blades now.

_{[ he had to be careful of them in the Dead Zone. It was habit, but not necessary, for him to channel his fire magic down the crystal family blade, but mere metal melted beneath the heat or became so brittle as to snap at the next strike. ]}

[fuckelves]

[Thorin nods in agreement to the first statement.]

Indeed. But even a perfect replica could not match the true beauty of the Arkenstone.

[Thorin steps back a moment, crossing his arms before his chest and tilting a brow.]

Tell me, what do you call yourself?

[wishmadeinfire]

Ashura will do fine, no need to drag my titles into anything. I hail from the land - or world I suppose - of Shurano.

And yourself?

[fuckelves]

Ashura, eh? Odd indeed...

[Tact. Thorin has none.]

I am Thorin, son of Thrain, son of Thror, King Under the Mountain.

[There is no way Thorin would not use his title.]

[wishmadeinfire]

Well, then monarch to monarch, I welcome you to Paradisa.

_{[ Ashura was a king too and had been for nearly three hundred years, placed to the throne when his father perished and his mother followed months later.}

Over the four years in Paradisa, though, he had let go of the title, releasing himself of some of the weight of his crown, though he knew he would take it again someday. ]

[fuckelves]

Can't exactly say as I'm happy to be here, but I thank you nonetheless.

[Thorin had gone through trials and tribulations to become king, it was not a title he was willing to relinquish. Besides, his people needed a strong leader. They needed him to be king, and king he would be.]

[wishmadeinfire]

I do not think anyone is ever happy to come here. I was not, when I first came. But three years has taught me to appreciate what good there is to be had here, especially since I am ever aware of what awaits me on my return to my world.

_{[ Death. The final point in a plan many decades in the making, even lifetimes depending on how you counted it. But he would see it done, because it must be done. ]}

I wish I could say this place was always peaceful in that regard, but it is not either. "Paradise" is rather a misnomer.

[fuckelves]

You have a point...I am anxious to return to my world, and yet I am not at the same time.

[He's not thrilled at the prospect of fighting a Dragon. But, he misses his nephews and still burns with the lust for revenge. It's his mission to reclaim his homeland, and he intends to do it.]

[wishmadeinfire]

It's an odd sort of feeling, is it not? You never really move past it, but more rather learn to accept it as part of your life here.

_{[ There is a quiet sound on his part from the other side of the journal. ]}

So I think you shall not find it so horrible a place - at least most of the time, when the Castle is not being cruel.

[fuckelves]

Aye, odd indeed. I don't know that I shall ever accept it.

[It's hard for him to let go, or to ever accept the fact that he may never see his nephews or sister again.]

But if it is not a horrible place all the time, that is a comforting thought.

[If such a thing exists in this place.]

[wishmadeinfire]

Sometimes it is quite nice. I have seen more worlds than I thought I ever might, and known more people than I thought I ever could and learned many things. So no, not all of it is bad.

_{[ And he had been through such horrors too. They all had. ]}

Where are you right now? I hope you have not been sitting at the entrance this entire time.

[fuckelves]

I do not make a habit of wandering around places that I am unfamiliar with...

[Thorin has a terrible sense of direction, he gets lost easily so he tries not to put himself in situations where people can see this.]

((ooc: Not sure if this was a serious question in case you wanted to tag Thorin elsewhere, so I figured I'd answer anyway XD. Thorin has a couple logs up, and I put him out on the Winchester/Fairfield expedition too))

[wishmadeinfire]

Oh, well, I think there is a map in the journal to help you. You should have a room assigned to you as well. You might find that more comfortable. We have a dear little Hobbit who made his quite comfortable indeed.

_{[ooc: Oh! I didn't realize he was out there. They should meet out there! :D Hi 3' dwarf, meet 6' not-elf. ]}

[fuckelves]

Aye, someone mentioned that to me not too long ago - that'll probably be the first place I go is my room.

[Thorin chuckles to himself as Ashura mentions a Hobbit.]

Mr. Baggins, I assume? Aye, I know that particular Hobbit quite well.

((Yep~ he's in town poking around the saloon right now, unless something changes anytime soon - and heeey now, Thorin is 5'2" and not an inch shorter! He will start a barfight if someone mocks his height XD))

[wishmadeinfire]

Well, there is him, and we have had another that comes and goes, but I never learned his proper name. The poor thing was terrified... but perhaps he shall return.

And yes, I would suggest finding yourself your room. You can make it your own and thus make yourself more comfortable. Having a sanctum of sorts makes the adjustment easier, that little flavor of home in a strange world...

_{[ooc: Hahaha. Link me and I'll have Ashura poke in? ELF RAGE. ]}

[fuckelves]

Now that you mention it, I do recall meeting another Hobbit that I didn't recognize.

[He seemed familiar, but Thorin didn't pay this feeling much attention at the time.]

Aye, I'll do that soon enough. First though I think I shall find a nice pint or ten of ale...

((Sounds awesome! Here are the logs he's in now:A Few Good Drinks, What Soothes a Savage Dwarf. Aaaand the section of the expedition he's in: Around town, but there's a new post for the expedition so he might be moving from there soon...))

[wishmadeinfire]

Ah, well, you can either wish for that or you can head into the town. We have several ale houses there, as I recall, though you might not recognize some of the names of the drinks. Still, it is worth the exploration.

_{[ooc: that's what back-tagging is for, lol. YAY. ]}

[fuckelves]

I've seen on the map that there's a bar in the castle itself? Is this so?

And I'll stick to my ale, thanks.

((Schweet! :) ))

[wishmadeinfire]

Oh, yes, I do believe there is. I do not frequent it often - I wish up wine from my own world preferably.

[fuckelves]

But is there not a price for such a wish? This is what I've heard, after all...

[wishmadeinfire]

Oh there is, but it is like a tab at a bar. Eventually you will pay for them, but not right away. It is like a tab coming due, you simply do not know when or how you will be made to pay.

[fuckelves]

Yes, that coincides with what I've heard...and it does indeed make me nervous to make wishes.

[He can make do without them anyway. He's used to not having his wishes come true.]

[wishmadeinfire]

Eventually you do, and you learn to integrate them into your life. I have had nothing terrible happen to me as my forms of payments, and none seem to last more than a week except on the rare occasion.