I’m a Doorman at an Assassin’s Hotel

Orthanc loomed over the barren plains, its dark, glossy surface gleaming with a sinister hue. The air was heavy, as if weighed down by unseen forces, pressing against the very will of those who dared approach.

"This place gives me the creeps," Lorne muttered, swallowing hard as he gazed at the towering spire. "Are we really going in there?"

Elyssa remained silent, her sharp eyes fixed on the tower. Her hand rested lightly on the hilt of her dagger, a quiet yet unmistakable signal of her readiness.

"Where's Kress?" Lorne suddenly realized the absence of their third companion, glancing around with growing concern. "He was just behind us, laughing at me. Where'd he go?"

Elyssa frowned, her eyes scanning their surroundings with precision. "When did he vanish?" Her voice was icy, tinged with a faint trace of unease.

"I don't know…" Lorne rubbed the back of his neck, exasperated. "That guy's always joking around. Maybe he went off to cause more trouble."

"Focus," Elyssa snapped, her tone brooking no argument. "He can take care of himself. Our priority is understanding Saruman's intentions."

Lorne hesitated, but he followed her lead, muttering under his breath, "That guy's never reliable. He's probably off stirring up a hornet's nest."

As they approached Orthanc, the oppressive silence grew thicker. Lorne couldn't help but blurt out, "Wait… something's wrong."

"What now?" Elyssa's voice remained sharp as her eyes darted to the surroundings.

"In the movies—uh, I mean, in other accounts—Isengard was supposed to be a massive war factory," Lorne explained, gesturing to the desolate plains. "Orcs, furnaces, the works. But this…" He waved at the eerily empty landscape surrounding the tower. "This is just… empty. It doesn't make sense."

Elyssa considered this for a moment before replying, "The threads of reality have changed. The situation here may be far more complex than you think."

"Great," Lorne muttered, unease prickling at him. Just then, a familiar mechanical voice echoed in his mind:

[Ding! Mission Triggered: Retrieve Saruman's Palantír. Rewards: Special Skill Card x1. Failure Penalty: Forced Stay in This World.]

The sudden announcement made Lorne flinch, nearly causing him to trip over his own feet.

"Something wrong?" Elyssa's gaze snapped to him, her tone tinged with irritation.

"Uh, no, nothing," Lorne stammered, forcing a grin. "Just… the whole vibe here is creeping me out."

His eyes drifted toward Orthanc's peak, where a faint, flickering glow seemed to beckon. The dark tower pierced the somber skies, casting an intimidating silhouette that felt alive with menace.

"Ready?" Elyssa dismounted, her voice calm but commanding.

"Yeah… not really, but sure." Lorne dismounted as well, gripping his sword tightly and taking a deep breath.

As they neared Orthanc's massive entrance, the air grew heavier. A low, resonant voice echoed from within, sending shivers down Lorne's spine.

"It seems we have guests."

Elyssa and Lorne exchanged a quick glance before advancing cautiously toward the opening doors. The massive gates creaked open with a metallic wail, revealing a grand hall bathed in dim, unnatural light.

At the center of the hall stood Saruman, clad in flowing white robes that seemed to radiate cold malice. Beside him were two shadowy figures. One was a man cloaked in crimson, absently spinning a ring on his finger. The other wore a dark visor, his posture casual, yet his aura exuded quiet menace.

"Strange allies…" Elyssa's voice, usually steady, now carried a hint of disbelief. "Doctor Strange… Matt?"

"You know them?" Lorne whispered, eyes darting between Elyssa and the two figures.

"Old acquaintances," she replied curtly, her gaze icy. "Though it seems they've chosen a new cause."

"What are you two doing here?" Elyssa's voice rose, sharp and cutting.

Doctor Strange met her gaze, his expression one of measured calm. "Elyssa, our purpose remains unchanged. The Dawn Hotel seeks to maintain balance, and we've uncovered secrets in Orthanc and the Space Stone that could tip the scales of the universe."

"Balance?" Lorne interjected, his voice thick with skepticism. "So teaming up with Saruman is part of your definition of balance? What kind of logic is that?"

Saruman's lips curled into a cold smile as he surveyed Lorne. "Young man, you know little of power or balance. My collaboration with the Dawn Hotel is born of shared curiosity, not allegiance. You, however," he leaned forward, his eyes narrowing, "are mere intruders."

"Enough." Strange's voice cut through the tension, his tone stern but steady. "Saruman, our agreement is contingent on trust. Don't test it."

"Trust," Saruman mused, his voice dripping with amusement. "A fragile construct, easily shattered."

Elyssa's knuckles whitened as she gripped her dagger. "If this is the 'balance' you speak of, then the Dawn Hotel has abandoned all principles."

Strange stepped forward, his tone softening but firm. "We fight for what we believe is right, Elyssa. Don't let your judgment cloud the truth of our mission."

"And what exactly is your mission?" Lorne asked, his irritation bubbling over.

Matt Murdock, the man in the dark visor, chuckled dryly before speaking. "Simple: to keep the Space Stone out of Sauron's hands. Now, can you guarantee you'll succeed?"

The challenge in his words hung heavy in the air. Before Lorne could retort, Saruman gestured toward the center of the hall, where a stone pedestal held a crystalline orb glowing with an eerie blue light.

"Here lies the key to our research," Saruman declared, his voice reverent. "This artifact can unravel the fabric of space and time… or rewrite it entirely."

Strange stepped closer to the pedestal, examining the orb with a mixture of awe and caution. "Saruman, you're toying with forces you can't control. The Space Stone's energy is volatile; any misuse could destroy Middle-earth—or worse."

"Doctor," Saruman countered smoothly, "great risks accompany great discoveries. If we are to defeat Sauron, we need tools of equal power. This Stone is such a tool."

"You mean a weapon," Elyssa snapped, her voice brimming with disdain.

The debate raged on until a deafening roar shook the tower, cutting through their argument. The ground trembled beneath their feet as a wave of darkness loomed beyond the hall's arched windows.

"What's happening?" Lorne shouted, his voice rising over the chaos.

Saruman's expression darkened as he turned to the windows. "Our guests have arrived," he said, his voice tinged with grim satisfaction.

Elyssa peered through a narrow slit in the wall and froze. On the horizon, a vast army of orcs marched toward Orthanc, their sheer numbers blotting out the landscape.

"Sauron's forces?" Lorne asked, gripping his sword tighter.

"No," Saruman replied, a dangerous glint in his eyes. "An enemy of all."

Strange's face grew taut. "We're out of time. Saruman, if you have a plan, now is the time to act—or this tower becomes our grave."

Matt leaned casually against a column, his smirk never wavering. "Well, this is shaping up to be quite the showdown. Don't disappoint, Saruman."

As the tension in the hall reached its peak, Lorne glanced between his companions and their unlikely allies. The stakes had just risen far beyond what he'd anticipated, and the path forward had never been more uncertain.