The armored man leapt from a ledge and landed with a crouch. He rose to his full height, standing in a dark, cold cave. The sounds of many people in clanking armor moving about echoed through the tunnels. The cacophony of their movements, their voices and the barking of their hounds mingled in the darkness. He narrowed his eyes and scanned his surroundings.
"Lord Garland!" one of his subordinates shouted to him.
"This way!" he shouted in reply, above the sounds of the other soldiers. Then he marched forward, knowing his troops would obediently follow him.
Just a matter of time, now, he thought darkly to himself, grinning behind his faceplate.
She was freezing cold. She was in a bed, in freezing room with clothing far smaller and thinner than she liked.
Where am I? she thought, glancing around the room.
Shuffling over to the side of the bed, she threw her legs over, only to yelp as something cold and wet touched her feet. Jerking them back onto the bed, she peeked over the side of the bed. The floor was cover in about an inch of water.
That's… strange, she thought. Looking around, she saw that several stepping stones led from the foot of the bed to a dark hallway. There we go. I need to get out of here or I'll freeze.
Crawling over to the foot of the bed and swinging her legs over the side, she pulled up the thick blanket that she was sleeping under, and wrapped it around herself before stepping off onto the stones.
Still cold, she thought, but not as bad.
After crossing the stones and entering the hallway, she quickly discovered it was a dead end.
Great, she thought, sitting in the corner and wrapping the blanket around herself. I'm in a cold room in my undergarments. I have no idea who or where I am, and I really don't want to freeze to death.
Then she heard the sound of stone grinding against stone. Looking up, she saw that a stone slab was rising up on the hallway wall opposite her.
A way out, hopefully, she thought to herself. Maybe I won't freeze to death.
I wonder where I am, the man thought, sitting in a chair at a small table, staring at a lamp.
He had awoken in a room lit only by candles on the wall, shadows cast across it. He had already risen out of bed and walked to the hallway, and the wall had slid open for him. He had found the aforementioned table and chair, a shelf with folded clothing, and three hat racks full of… hats. A wooden staff that looked like a tree branch hung on the wall.
He had dressed in the provided clothing, which was a pair of baggy black and gray striped pants, a simple black shirt and (most noticeably) a long black coat made of thick cloth with an animal skin belt. He had a high-collared black mantle, a pair of light colored animal skin gloves, similar shoes and a side pouch.
Of the hats, most shared the same characteristics: tall (all of them, to varying degrees), pointed (all but one), wide brimmed and very noticeable.
Of them was a tall, straw hat with a very wide brim (which he didn't like); one was a black cloth pointed hat with a leather base and brim (he liked that one a bit more); and one was a black top hat (the only one not pointed).
He decided, however, on a dark one that wasn't so tall or wide. It was made of lighter material and its brim could be pulled down over his eyes.
I like the top hat, he thought. Suppose that would be a bit flashy, though.
He focused his gaze on the firelight of the lamp. It was transfixing, and a strange feeling washed over him. He raised his hand at the flame, closed his eyes and focused.
Fire… he thought.
"Burn for me, power of Salamander! Fire!" he shouted. A ball of flame shot from his hand, consumed the lamp, struck the wall and dissipated, leaving a scorch mark. The room fell into darkness.
Fascinating, he smiled to himself. He raised his hand, focused again and conjured a fireball in his palm, lighting the room again. He heard stone grinding behind him in the hall. He walked towards the wall, grabbed the wooden staff and walked to the hall, finding a new doorway.
Time to answer some questions, he thought as he stepped through the door.
When the man awoke, he was in a room with an open skylight. After getting his wits about him, he tried scaling the walls to the skylight, but found it impossible. Then a room conveniently opened up, containing the clothing he now wore (the green coat and bandana being the only thing that was really interesting) and a set of long daggers. The door out had opened after he finished dressing, and he now found himself in a large room with several passageways.
He stood in what looked to be some kind of foyer or hall, with a water fountain and some statue of a lady. The room, he noticed, was well lit, made almost completely of white marble and had more than enough passages out, in his opinion.
Right, left, other right or up? Why the complexity? He scowled, glaring at the offending halls.
Maybe I'll wing it, he thought. I mean, whoever is that opened those doors wouldn't put me in a labyrinth, right? Provided there is anybody…
Walking towards the center of the room, he glanced down the three lower paths, seeing only the walls of a bending hallway.
He glanced towards the stairwell, decided it was the likely to be the least boring of the four, and started walking towards it.
Maybe it'll lead me to the roof or a window or something. I can probably slip outside and get a feel for my surroundings, at least…
I like this, a lightly dressed man thought as he jogged up a staircase. Good exercise, keeps me warm in this frosty place, exhilarating…
The man had awoken in a sealed chamber with a dirt floor, found a dead end, and, when kicking the wall as hard as he could proved futile, he was provided with some clothing (a blue, lightweight gi, much to his liking).
His 'morning jog' came to an end when he approached the top of the long stairwell. He slowed down to a walk as he entered a large, high ceilinged room at the top of the stairwell. He spied a large window, paced over to it and gazed out. He widened his eyes and nearly gasped at what he saw: he was in a tall tower of a white fortress, surrounded by snow-white mountains as far as he could see.
Wait, this tower is higher than those peaks, he realized. How high is this place?
He looked down at the ground.
Looks like I'm on the outside edge of this place. He glanced behind him, seeing a straight hallway. An' that probably leads towards the center. 's also my only option for now.
Moments later, he was walking down the hall. He heard something; he blinked, paused and listened again. He heard it again. The sounds of distant voices echoing down the hall made him grin.
Somebody else is 'ere, he thought, resuming his walk, but more slowly. Maybe they know somethin'…
A man stepped into the round hall, his left hand resting on the threshold, gaze shifting from the right to the left.
Other people are here, he thought. I can hear them.
His eyes caught a flash of red around the bend, disappearing from view.
Ah-ha, he thought, smiling. He strode as swiftly and quietly as he could, following after the mysterious figure. But then he paused.
What if they're dangerous, he considered, resting his left hand on the rapier at his hip. But I don't want them to think me a threat, either.
Removing his hand from his weapon, he walked as calmly and naturally as he could muster, and rounded the bend.
There stood a red-haired man in crimson and black armor, with a sword hanging from his waist. The man's back was to him slightly, but the slightest noise would draw his attention.
He stepped away from the wall and called out in greeting.
After waking in a crystal lit chamber, dressing, having an exit provided for him (he assumed), winding his way up a flight stairs, down a hall and into this circular hall, he stopped to take in his surroundings.
This place has a holy feel to it, he decided. He knew that much. He had yet to answer his questions about who he was and what he was doing here, but he knew that this place was somehow important.
He glanced to his right and saw how the light seemed to flow from that direction (perhaps from a window), and started to walk towards it. He had walked around the bend when he heard faint footfalls behind him, causing him to pause. He rested his hand on the hilt of his sword and waited.
He heard his follower pause, then step towards him slowly. After a brief moment, the person called out: "Greetings, friend!"
The figure was male and spoke with a slight, indefinable accent. Turning to face the individual, he saw a man, slightly taller than himself, with long, silver hair pulled into a loose ponytail. We wore a red jacket with an ascot, gauntlets, black pants, tall boots, a red cape, and a brimmed red hat with a feather. He also noticed a rapier at his belt and a red shield on his arm. His most noticeable features, however, were his large, pointed ears.
A friendly smile crossed the elfish man's face and he raised his hands. "I don't mean any harm, my friend," the elfish man said, shooting a pointed look at his nameless companion's hand, which was resting the hilt of his sword. He moved his hand.
"Good to finally find someone in this cold place," the elfish man. "I awoke and found myself in a warm little chamber. You wouldn't happen to know what's going on here, would you?"
"I'm afraid not. I woke up in a sealed chamber as well, it seems."
"Say… you wouldn't happen to have a… name… would you?" the elfish man asked.
The nameless man shook his head. "No," he replied. "I cannot seem to recall anything such as that prior to my awakening."
"Ah. Me neither," the Elfish Man said, shaking his head. He glanced up again, down the hall they had come from, to look at something. The nameless man followed his gaze.
There running down the hall towards them was a burly, browned-haired man, wearing what appeared to be a blue gi. He offered a wave to them, which the elfish man returned. The nameless man just nodded. He came to a stop in front of them, with no noticeable labor of breath, and smiled broadly.
"G'mornin' friends!" he said. "You two wouldn't happen to know anybody in charge 'ere, would you?"
"Nay," said the nameless man. "We do not know what is going on here."
"I'm going to assume," the elfish man said, "that you woke up in a domed room with no memory. Am I correct?"
"Eh?" said the newcomer, and then he laughed. "Aye, you're right."
"No name either?"
"Nope," he replied.
"Ah-ha, it would seem I'm not alone in this place as I had feared," said a new voice.
The three looked up to see a man in green, with a green bandana. He paced up to them.
"From what I heard of your conversation, you don't know where we are, what we're doing here and no, I don't recall anything," he said, frowning with brows furrowed.
The burly man laughed again while the elfish man grinned.
"Anybody else here, or is it just us?" asked the green man.
"There is. At least two. They're coming this way now," said the elfish man. The others glanced at him. He smiled and gestured to his ears.
"Should we go to them?" asked the burly man.
"Let us just wait here," said the nameless man. The others nodded.
"What's this way?" the burly man asked the green man, gesturing towards the way that the nameless man was walking.
"There's a doorway and a window," he replied, "but they're sealed tight."
"Aye, I see," said the burly man.
A few minutes later, the small group could hear footsteps from where the burly man had gestured.
A moment later, a man in a black coat and hat with a staff rounded the bend. He paused upon seeing them, looking at each one, before raising his hand in greeting.
"Hallo, friends," he said, a hint of uncertainty and suspicion in his voice.
"G'day, my friend," said the burly man in reply. The others nodded to him. The black-robed man looked about, and then stepped towards the outer wall, saying nothing. When no one else said anything, the elfish man strode over to him and engaged him in quiet conversation.
The nameless man looked around and started walking towards the window area. The green man and the burly man noticed him moving away, and started after him, followed by the elfish man and the black-robed man.
When the five of them arrived, they found a red-haired woman in a white robe standing in front of a large, stone door. She was mumbling to herself, and appeared to be shivering slightly.
"Excuse me, my lady," the nameless man started. The woman yelped and spun around. She glanced a bit frantically at the group before replying.
"O-oh. Hello there. You wouldn't happen to know how where I can find someone in charge around here? I seem to be a bit lost."
"Nay. None of us know anything about this place."
"Ah," she said. "Then you wouldn't happen to know how to open this accursed door would you?"
"I tried already," said the green man. He opened his mouth to say something, but a grinding sound cut him off. They all looked to the door as it slowly slid open.
"Ah. Never mind, then," he said.
They all glanced through the door, then at each other, then back to the door.
"Should we go in?" the black robed man asked.
"It seems someone wants us to," the nameless man said, stepping through the threshold. The others followed him cautiously.
The room inside was round, with a very high ceiling.
"What do we do now?" asked the burly man, as the last of the six stepped through the door. The door slid closed behind them, causing the green man and the woman to give shouts of surprise. Before anyone could do anything further, the whole floor shook, before it started to rise, revealing itself to be an elevator.
"Up we go, then," stated the elfish man.
"Yes," agreed the nameless man. "So it would seem."
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