towerofanimus | Unexpected arrival [open]

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Unexpected arrival [open]

Characters: Thorin Oakenshield and you.
Setting: Room 2-18 then down the corridor and staircases down the tower afterwards
Format: Anything
Summary: Thorin wakes up and is not in a good mood
Warnings: Swearing in Khuzdul and possible angst

Room 2-18

Thorin awoke with a start. What in Durin's name was going on? He'd been sleeping at their camp last time he remembered. Now, he looked up and saw a stone celing. The room looked circular in shape slightly. Where the hell was he? He looked down where he lay and frowned. White clothes? Why was he wearing a white suit?

He felt his neck. A collar? Who did this to him? His heart beat a little faster as he swallowed. Was this some kind of sick game? In more out of panic than rage, he removed the shirt and threw it onto the floor. He was still dressed in his white trousers as he gazed around at his new environment.

How had he got here and why? Where were the rest of the company? Was this some kind of elaborate magic trick? Witchcraft. He growled under his breath as he spotted a chest at the foot of his bed. Opening it, he saw some items familiar to him. His sword, his armour and other belongings. He rooted through the items and found the map and key.

Thank Durin he still had that. His heart was pounding as he went towards the door. Was he in some kind of prison? Damn, if the elven king had done this....

No. It couldn't be. This was no elven design. He was annoyed and angry now. How dare someone yank him from his journey. He slammed on the door and yelled.

"Who did this to me? Answer now! You cannot keep me within this cage!"

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"Letters?" He gave the elf a confused look. To be truthful, he never looked at the letters and instead ripped off his shirt. He was angry and still was. The elf's tone caused him to bristle. He sounded hateful of being within these walls. A year? Thorin's heart sank. How would he ever escape.

Damn, he would though. Or die trying.

"A year? Ill news indeed. Unfortunate, aye. Have you not found a way out within a year of being here? Surely, a way out must exist."

"There should have been two letters near your bedside, explaining what has happened. Everyone brought here has gotten one, it's usually one of the first things one finds." Of course, it was obvious that Thorin had worried more about his gear once the sleep paralysis had worn off. Legolas had been to worried about where he was, trying to find out what had happened and where his friends were. Which he'd discovered over time, or so they'd all been told. And there was the grave markers for all the past residents.

Graves that he was likely not to visit that day, now that he'd found a dwarf who neglected reading the letters. And yet, the elf-prince couldn't bring himself to blame him. He knew how hotheaded dwarfs could be.

"There is supposed to be a way out but not one that we can access. We were told that we'll die if we leave the tower."

Thorin's gaze turned dark. Die? No, that could not be true. He stared at the elf with anger and dread coursing through his veins. "Are you certain of this, elf? Who makes these rules up about dying?" He swallowed and gripped his sword hilt slightly harder than normal. Perhaps, whomever imprisoned everyone, seeked some form of pleasure out of ending lives?

Thorin frowned. "I did not read the letters as I wanted to find a way out of my room. I have six items of my belongings inside my chest. Are you the same?"

"I can't be certain because it's impossible to leave the tower. The laws of this world are still foreign to me but it was mentioned by Ruana, or someone assuming her identity, several months ago on the terminal network." It felt like almost a lifetime ago that he'd talked with Ruana, who had a childlike mentality at the time rather than the sadist that had ended Dax's life. What would happened to them all now?

"I had, yes. You may gain more while you are here and I and many others have. It does not come without cost though. Which I've no doubt you will learn."

"Impossible?" Thorin grunted. How could the elf be quick to make assumptions such as these? Unless, he was rightly sure of himself. Limited options were beginning to get on Thorin's nerves and dampen his hopes of escape.

He gave the elf a look of uncertainty before sighing deeply. What a mess. "Then, it seems you are my ally in this quest for freedom, elf. What be your name?" He wasn't in the habit of befriending elves. Even now, he eyed the elf with some contempt.

A year within the tower and dying mulitple times, watching friends die and vanish without a trace... It was enough to take most of his hope away. The only reason he still had much of any was because he needed to, for Frodo and because he had Gandalf and Haldir here. Haldir especially had kept the prince from falling into complete hopelessness.

"I am Legolas. We are well met, Master Dwarf." He already knew who he was, recognized him from when his company had passed through Mirkwood. Perhaps he wouldn't recognize the prince. Better that he didn't, in fact. Legolas didn't need to watch for someone else to try to kill him here.

"Legolas." He nodded. He thought the elf bared some resemblance to the woodland elves which dwelled in Mirkwood. Thorin had no friends in Thranduil or any of his folk. He pushed aside his prejudices for the moment as he needed an ally to escape the tower. This elf may prove a useful asset to helping him escape.

"Thorin, son of Thror, son of Thrain." He nodded once. He was no king under the mountain here. Wherever here was. How far away from Erebor was he now? It pained his heart.

Glad that Thorin hadn't gone into a fit of murderous rage, Legolas gave him a bit of a smile. A smile that was, hopefully, reassuring. For all that Legolas knew and saw here, he was still just one of many and there were others that had been here longer. Gandalf for example.

"Hail and well met. The names of your father and grandfather are familiar to me." For reasons that he won't comment on. "How long ago did you awaken here in the tower?"

He might have gone into a fit of murderous rage if he knew who you were, Legolas. If Thorin knew you are the son of Thranduil it would have made things a whole lot worse. Instead, Thorin just nodded and grunted in acknowledgement.

He raised an eyebrow. What did the elf know of his family? He was suspicious of this and did not want his family known to elves. It was a certainty though. When it came to Thror, his grandfather. Being king, he often had many come and pay homage to his kin and the Arkenstone. Bad memories for Thorin.

"I awoke not many moments ago. Perhaps an hour."

It would only be a matter of time until he found out, of course. Haldir had often taken to calling Legolas 'my prince' whenever they were together. And since there was only one elven realm left that had a king, it would be easy for Thorin to guess just where and who Legolas had come from. There was time enough until that happened though. Haldir was more inclined to tolerate Gimli than any other dwarf and since Gimli was gone now...

"Then you'll not have eaten, I would guess. And you'll not be able to until you've had the oatmeal in the cafeteria."

Legolas didn't make any comment about how he knew the names of Thrain and Thror. that would simply give too much away. And while Legolas had gotten over his aversion to letting others know about his heritage, he wasn't exactly willing to die again so soon.

"Nay, I have not eaten or drunk anything since being brought here. Oatmeal? I could do with something to eat and drink." Thorin nodded. He was famished. The elf knew where to find food and drink, so maintaining the alliance would be a good thing for now.

"Would you be willing to show me this cafeteria. Some food and drink inside of me may improve my mood some." He grunted.

Improve his mood? Legolas very much doubted that. It was likely that few would be in a good mood this month with whatever Jason might do and the menu for the month. At least it was food though, and Thorin would have the oatmeal before being forced to eat the nutribars.

"I'll show you the way, of course." He'd shown Sam, after all. The Hobbit was a friend, a companion in their quest, though. This was Thorin Oakenshield. There was a bit of a difference between the two, but Legolas reminded himself that dwarves weren't so horrible as he'd be raised thinking. Gimli had proven that to him.

"Come, we'll take the elevator. Unless you'd prefer to walk down a hundred floors?"

Thorin nodded towards the elf. He was being civil at least. It could be worse. The dwarf may have yelled in anger at the elf if he let his prejudices well up. For now, he kept his thoughts to himself.

"The elevator will be fine. Although, you will have to explain to me what an elevator is." He grunted. So many foreign concepts made the dwarf feel out of his depth. Something he didn't like feeling around an elf. He did not want to walk a hundred floors though. That was foolish.

Motioning for the dwarf to follow him, Legolas lead him to the elevator and hit the button for it to come to their floor. Thankfully, it seemed that it hadn't last been used to go all the way to the bottom and soon arrived for their use. For all of Legolas' hesitation in using it, he had to admit that his distaste for it had lessened since he was injured in the Administrator levels.

"This is the elevator. Simply explained, it is large box used to raised and lower a group of people from one floor to another. It will take us a half hour to get from this floor to the first." Which would still annoy some people but it was better than the possible hours it would take to walk down every floor.

"What know you so far of this tower?"

"I know not much of this tower. If the truth be told." He gave the elf a look of annoyance. It was frustrating not knowing where he was and the elf having the upper hand in the situation. Thorin could not stand being bested by an elf in any situation.

"This elevator sounds like witchcraft." He grunted. He wasn't in the best of moods but needed to stay near the elf, if he were ever to find a way out. He sighed and stiffened slightly. He wanted a drink and something to eat. His mood would perhaps improve if he found such items. "Do you know how to work this elevator?"

"I do but only at a very basic level. And that is only due to the time I've spent here and the... less memorable trips in it." Infighting, the administrative levels. Suddenly, the elf exhales a sharp breath but his expression is much the same. As though nothing had happened. "I use it only when absolutely necessary. I care not for it but it is, by far, the easiest way down."

Even if he didn't trust it. He wasn't going to admit such to Thorin though. He hits the button to take them to the first floor.

"I will explain while we head down. This tower, called Animus, is an entirely different world from what we know. All life on Arda has apparently been destroyed, we are the only survivors. They claim to save one person from each world and that none of us are from the same Arda. Each month, a different administrator controls the tower. This month, Jason is our caretaker. For lack of a better word. There is also Riki and Ruana. Zo does not take control of the tower, not that I'm aware of. None of them seems to have much care for us and I warn you: never anger Ruana. She will kill you."

Or play with someone until they break. Halloween had just been a game to her, she had thought they were having fun.

"On that note, if you die, you will wake up in your bed the next day. Your injuries will be completely healed and it will be as though nothing happened. You will remember it though. I recommend not testing that."

The elf's words caused him to frown deeply. Kill? This Ruana creature could kill whomever she encountered. Thorin would either die trying to end her miserable life or nothing at all. He would not back down to anything here. Dying wasn't an option at the moment. He looked back at Legolas with sombre eyes.

"Jason? He is the caretaker here? Is it him that is responsible for feeding and watering us? He does not do a good job from what I can see." Thorin growled and annoyance could be seen on his face. As for the others, they seemed as hostile as Ruana.

"What manner of creature is Ruana?" Thorin was curious to know.

"For this month, he is. You can tell that it's his month because of the food served. He's arguably the most cruel of the administrators. Ruana is worse. And that was from Dax's words." Dax... Legolas cleared his throat and went on, ignoring the memory that suddenly surfaced.

Ruana. How did one explain Ruana? Her twisted view on life, on the residents, how she dealt with them. The child-like woman he'd spoken with in comparison to the one from Infighting, from killing-

"We don't know much about her to know what she is. We know that she was here a thousand years ago though when the last group of administrators ruled. The ones before the ones we have now. She makes the other administrators cower in fear."

"She sounds like a beast from Mordor itself. What other foul demons lay before us in this hell hole?" Thorin almost snarled the last word. No demon would end his life. He had a quest to complete and dying would be an inconvenience. No. They would not take his life.

"Perhaps we could fight her. Has anyone tried to and survived?" He swallowed. It was a valid point. Surely, someone would have stood up to such an evil.

"If only. I think her more foul, for I have fought against those from Mordor. They could be killed. So far, none have dared attempt to attack her. When many of us were taken to the pods for a competition between administrators, two people attempted to attack Jason. Ruana immediately intervened and stopped them. Another was killed by her friend to save her the suffering and Ruana was... not pleased. If there is an administrator to truly fear here, it is her."

What other foul creatures? Oh Thorin, you truly do not want to know. The things that Legolas has witnessed, fought against, died from... They are countless but a few ever remain on his mind so that he'll not be caught by surprise.

"Beware the Uruk-Hai. They travel in packs. And I have felt Nazgul within the tower. You will know when they approach. Flee. Do not fight them." His expression should be enough to tell Thorin not to doubt him on these instructions.

"This Ruana sounds like a formidable foe to fight. Can we not muster together a small army within this tower to defeat her?" He was good at mustering troops together. It was what he was brought up to do, being the grandson of a king. It was in his blood. He would be damned if this Ruana would take his life or anyone else's.

"Uruk-Hai? Nazgul? Surely, beasts from Mordor. Uruk-Hai sounds Orcish by name." Thorin grimaced. He hated Orcs. Nearly as much as the dragon, Smaug. "You know I do not flee from a fight easily, Legolas. We dwarves stand our ground and face our enemy with courage and honour."

"Perhaps. There is a group here dedicated to finding a way to restore out homes. Gandalf can put you in contact with our leader." He doesn't want to say more than Gandalf and the princess might want. While he knew that Thorin, in his mood and how stubborn he knew dwarves to be, would help rather than hinder, he didn't want to risk anything.

"Uruk-hai are stronger, faster and more intelligent than the average orc. Nazgul serve Sauron. You recall the tales of the rings of Power? Nine were given to the kings of men... There are nine Nazgul. Ringwraiths."

"Gandalf? He should be able to help us surely. In the past, he has been able to use his wit and magic against most deadly foes." Thorin gazed at Legolas with a heavy heart. If the wizard could not aid them, what then? Uruk-Hai and Nazgul raided the tower. An evil spreading amongst the corridors put Thorin on edge to say the least.

He nodded. "Aye. I know of the tales. Ringwraiths? Ill news indeed, Legolas. We are not alone in our cause though. Perhaps elf and dwarf can reunite against this evil. Put aside out differences for now." He looked up at the elf with a glimmer of hope. Prejudices aside, Legolas was one of the closest allies he had at the moment.

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Unexpected arrival [open]

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