Expedition Log 1

[lara_the_explorer]

Who: Lara Croft and YOU
What: Lara's arrival to Paradisa
When: June 12.
Where: Woods near the Castle Grounds/Infirmary
Rating: PG-R for language


In the middle of the woods, one could hear rustling bushes and some branches snapping as a female figure in the dark is running with a torch in hand.

"Sam! Reyes! Jonah!" the woman called out. "Shit... What is this place? I could have sworn we got out of that island..."

She looks battered, bruised, and armed with two mismatched handguns on her thigh holsters. She looks like she's been through hell and back, with dried blood, torn clothes and a thousand-yard stare. She doesn't even care about possible wolves, with what she's been through, wolves don't scare her anymore. She just wants to find her friends.

And after a minute of walking, she could see already the exterior of the castle from a distance. Not sure about what's in there, so she grabbed her gun and headed towards the castle grounds...

Comments

[lara_the_explorer]

She looked at this strange man as she got close enough to see that he has no shoes. His clothes look like something from a Renaissance Fair. She took another look at this Bilbo Baggins, still confused as to trust him. But as much as her mind tells her not to, her instincts say that this guy is no threat. It took a second before she decides to holster her gun.

"Cair Paradisa? And what are you exactly?"

[unexpected_adventures]

Her question made him frown, but then he smiled, as he knew that it was not such a strange question here. "I am a hobbit from a place called Bag End. Hobbiton is the village I grew up in and Middle-Earth is the world which I come from."

He noticed she seemed to be checking him out. That was normal considering he and Frodo were the only hobbits within the castle. "I am a fairly new arrival myself to the castle. "Do you mind if I ask your name, my lady?"

[lara_the_explorer]

Lara was just perplexed that she didn't catch Bilbo's question. Fatigue and the sudden realization that she might not be on Earth anymore made her head spin.

"Right. A hobbit. Are there any humans in this place? I just woke up at the river, and fell from atop a waterfall. I was with three of my friends before all this, and I'm just looking for them"

[unexpected_adventures]

He nodded and dug his stick into the dirt some. "There are humans, elves and other such creatures within the tower. Many different people from all walks of life have been brought here, although, I am not sure why." He frowned some. Why were they brought here? What purpose could the castle possibly want with a hobbit? Frodo was there too. It puzzled Bilbo to no end.

"You...fell from atop a waterfall? Forgive me for poking my nose in, but that sounds awfully dangerous. Is that why you look hurt and injured? What do you friends look like? I could help you look for them if you want." Bilbo wanted to help this poor girl. It sounded like she had a rough landing and nothing like the soft landing Bilbo had inside the castle.

[lara_the_explorer]

"No, I got these injuries prior to that. It's a long story..." Lara shook her head, putting her hand on her other arm in a defensive gesture.

She picked out Sam's video camera from her pocket. She remembered there are photographs in there too besides videos. "Here..." Lara showed Bilbo a picture of Reyes, Jonah, and Sam. There are other people in the series of digital photos, but Lara didn't mention their names at all.

[unexpected_adventures]

Bilbo looked at the device Lara pulled out of her pocket with a strange expression. What on earth could show pictures like that? It was like the person was actually there but not moving.

"These are the people you are looking for?" He looked back up at Lara, as he furrowed his brows together. "Do you mind if I ask what kind of contraption holds images of people inside of it? I have never seen one of those before."

[lara_the_explorer]

Amused at Bilbo's ignorance of technology, she couldn't help but crack a bit of a smile.

"It's called a camera. It's common from where I came from"

[unexpected_adventures]

"A camera? I have never heard of such a device before." Bilbo was transfixed on what it looked like and what it could do. Hobbits were such curious creatures. "Can you get me inside of the box? I mean, a picture of me? I do not fancy living inside of a camera, as I am already living inside the castle." He cracked a small smile, as he turned back and saw the silhouette of the castle behind him.

[lara_the_explorer]

Well, he seems friendly enough. It would be rude to say no and get to searching for Sam and the rest. And it's not gonna take a lot of time anyway.

"Sure"

Lara switched to photo mode. She's surprised it's still working after all she's been through. She aimed the camera at him and pushed the button, and after a clicking sound, she lowered the camera.

"Here you are"

Lara shook her head, showing the photo of himself to the curious fellow.

[unexpected_adventures]

Bilbo stood quietly watching what Lara was doing with the camera. He had no idea how such things worked, so stood holding his staff stock still. When she pointed it at him, he flinched slightly, thinking it may attack him. He thought silly things when he didn't understand something. When she showed him the photo, his eyes lit up and he smiled broadly.

"Oh! How wonderful! It's me, it's really me on there! How on earth does a device like that make me go onto that piece of paper?" He gazed at the little photo of himself and felt so pleased.

[lara_the_explorer]

"It's not paper, it's more like a digital file"

[unexpected_adventures]

The words just keep on throwing him. Sorry, Lara. "A digi- what?"

[lara_the_explorer]

"It requires a long explanation, and frankly I'm not the expert on electronics" Lara shrugged.

"So is everything in this world powered by magic?" She looked amazed at her surroundings. She switched the camera into video to document the place.

[unexpected_adventures]

"As far as I know, I think so. I was brought to this castle by some strange unknown force, which I cannot explain. The residents tell me that the castle brings you here so that you may experience paradise. Maybe that is why the castle is called Cair Paradisa." He shrugged. To be honest, Bilbo wasn't sure how the whole thing worked with giving residents what they desired most. He had just been living his simple life within the castle, never really asking for much.

"When you find your room, you will see that the room itself moulds itself around your tastes. As in what you expect back in your own world. It's odd but true."

[lara_the_explorer]

"Some unknown force... " Lara pondered about Bilbo's words. Her words may be few, but her mind is already racing. What could have this place see in her that it brought her here?

"I have a room?"

[unexpected_adventures]

"Unknown force?" Bilbo swallowed, as that sounded very ominous indeed. He shook his head of any bad thoughts at her last question. "Yes, everyone has a room, although, it took me a while to find my number. The number of your room should be on the door."

[lara_the_explorer]

"How would I know my room number? Is there some kind of concierge?"

[unexpected_adventures]

"I'm sorry? A...what?" Bilbo just stood there rather baffled at what she just asked him. He was just a simple hobbit and didn't know everything! He only just found the number above his door a few hours ago!

[lara_the_explorer]

"Oh. Never mind. I could find my room by myself, I believe I took enough of your time"

[unexpected_adventures]

"Oh, it isn't a worry! I like helping people and you seem like a nice person." Bilbo blushed a little, as sometimes his hobbit kindness could blow out of proportions. "Are you sure you can find your room alright?"

[lara_the_explorer]

"I think I could. Thank you, you've been of great help" Lara smiled. "I will see you around, I hope?"

[unexpected_adventures]

"I am glad to have been of help, as I could not just leave you wandering and searching." Bilbo smiled slightly. "Oh, I hope so! Your camera device is something that has caught my eye and my imagination." He admitted shyly.

[lara_the_explorer]

Lara smiled. He really seems to like the camera, and it's very amusing. She's feeling too exhausted to really chat anymore, so she nods and waves before going on her separate way.

[unexpected_adventures]

Bilbo could see that she wanted to part ways, so he waved and then set about on his walk around the castle grounds. His stick in his hand, he was going on another adventure.