Your mind races to understand what is going on. You put the last thought you had out of your head. No matter what trouble John is or what you got yourself into, you know you have to figure things out and find safety.

Keeping a weather eye on John who still looks wild-eyed and is mumbling something too low to be heard, you pound vigorously on the wood until the elderly doorkeeper looks out again, sees you and sighs. "I said...."

"I heard you and we aren't either one. We've been lost in the desert and desperately need hospitality and my... friend here needs medical attention"

The doorkeeper grunts and closes the window, and you hear a number of gears and wheezing hydraulic motors behind the wall. After a time you notice that the stone gate is slowly swinging open, and you begin to see the road inside the citadel which is much like the path you've been on, but gleams like a pearl. John shuffles up to the entrance ahead of you, which suits you fine, and then suddenly runs like a deer into the quiet streets beyond. You walk inside yourself, and as the gates swing shut again, you notice the gatekeeper is waiting in a nearby doorway, with a kindlier look on his face.

"C'mon then," he says, "food, water, and a reasonable cot this way."

"What about..?" You say, pointing in the direction on John's rapidly diminishing form.

"Oh the guards will deal with him presently. He'll be seen to."

You wonder at the silence of the beautiful city, and ask. "Is everyone asleep now?"

"Yes, except for you and I, the guards, and a few other servitors. The rest of the city's population will awaken after sundown. Very soon now. You would be wise to be asleep yourself by then."

The doorkeepers words keep echoing in your ears as you walk the cobble stone road.. "Yes, except for you and I, the guards, and a few other servitors.."

Why is John not included, you wonder to yourself. Is my mind going crazy from exhaustion? Is John real? Did I image him?

You look at John. He seems... Unhinged. Some guards are coming near him. You ask the doorkeeper about him:

"What will the guards do?"

"Uhh.. They'll- they'll help him."

You notice that John making strange movements; the guards are closing in, brandishing what appears to be needles.

"Why do we need to be away from the citizens?" You ask.

"Well," the guard sighs, "let's just say they don't take too kindly to strangers, especially topsiders like yourself."

The Gatekeeper, motions you to follow him and leads you through quiet stone corridors. You want to see what is happening with John, as it evident from the noises behind you that some sort of kerfuffle is in progress. Who is winning and how serious is the fight? Is your possibly lunatic acquaintance going to be okay?

The tunnels you are now using are not in the main part of the city, but in some side caverns. Still, they are clean, and only a little musty. At the end of the 3rd left turn after that first right (You were counting,) The Gatekeeper opens a sturdy steel door and points into a room that could easily pass for a monastery or other kind a cell. On the right, two basic, comfortable single beds are inside, with a fluffy pillow and a blanket folded at the feet of each one. On the left is fair-sized table lit by an oil lamp holds bread, cheese, fruit, and some unidentifiable beef jerky. Several books, a pitcher of wine and two mugs sit nearby on a closed trunk. There are ancient looking tapestries on one wall that seem to be covering something, because there is motion in them, like a light breath of wind. You notice how easily the door could be locked from the outside and balk at the doorway.

"How did you prepare a room for us so quickly?"

"I didn't," he says, "this is my room but I can easily use another one, and get out some more supplies for my supper. I thought you said you were hungry...?"

Your tummy growls in response. The room does feel inviting, but this city is as odd as everything you've encountered all day, and everything else has been rather dangerous. Will you accept his invitation and rest in this room? Perhaps you should ask a few more questions?

bump

I was waiting for someone to decide whether the protagonist accepts the situation or not. I'd think it likely that he would, given how hungry, thirsty, and sleepy he is by now. Maybe you could do the honors on that, LesterKnight?

Gladly!

Ahem... "clears throat"



You'll pass out if you don't eat something, so you accept the guards offer. He tells you to wait whilst he gets supplies. He also tells you to lock the door tight, and if he doesn't return, don't go looking for him, and DON'T OPEN THE DOOR IF THE BELL RINGS. Only open if someone knocks. Before you ask why, he pulls out a key and gives it to you, then walks out and shuts the door with a loud THUMP. Taking heed to his advice, you lock the door with the key. You've got the room to yourself now. He didn't say you couldn't look anywhere. Maybe there's some interesting materials around that can tell more about this place?

bump

You hungrily tuck into the fresh bread, aged cheese, good wine, etc and predictably, you become rather sleepy afterward, but you also need to relieve yourself. A quick peek behind the tapestry reveals a place for this function, well-aired by a large grating above it. You test the grate and find you could remove it with the simple tools remaining to you. The only thing about this that bothers you is the rather odd scraping noises you hear echoing down the corridors. It sounds very far away

Now it is time to rest. You gratefully snuggle into your borrowed bed and fall asleep at once, even while you are still promising yourself to look for papers and other clues to this strange place. Hours must have passed you by when you awaken, because you feel fully rested, but no one has checked on you and the room is just as you remember it. You hear an odd scraping noise behind the tapestry, quite close now, and then the bell rings outside the cell door. Which should you check first, the peephole on the door or the odd noises behind the tapestry?

bump

bump

*main character still snoring*

(someone needs to make the next choice)