The Last Inquiry

Welcome to this blank canvas of an RPG world! Before we begin our adventure, would you like to tell me what kind of universe you envision? Is it fantasy, sci-fi, post-apocalyptic, or something else entirely?

Looks like we're starting in an urban modern setting! You find yourself on a busy New York City sidewalk. The rhythmic sounds of traffic and city life surround you. Where would you like to go in the city?

You're on a bustling street in Manhattan. Yellow cabs zip past, and the towering skyscrapers loom overhead. Nearby, there's a small café with outdoor seating, a newspaper stand, and the entrance to a subway station. What catches your interest?

You descend the stairs into the subway station. The familiar musty air and rumbling of trains fill your senses. A MetroCard vending machine stands near the turnstiles, and you can hear a street musician playing guitar further inside. Which way now?

You move closer to the music. A young man with dreadlocks sits on a folding chair, playing a soulful blues tune on an acoustic guitar. His guitar case lies open with scattered dollars and coins. Several commuters pause briefly to listen. Want to stop or keep walking?

You swipe through the turnstile and catch the B train heading uptown. The car is moderately full with a mix of commuters and tourists. Through the windows, darkness and occasional maintenance lights flash by. Bryant Park station is just a few stops away.

You emerge into the bright afternoon at Bryant Park. The green lawn is dotted with people lounging on chairs. The iconic New York Public Library stands majestically at the park's edge. A food kiosk is doing busy business nearby. Where to?

You approach the majestic marble lions guarding the library's entrance. “Patience” and “Fortitude,” as they're known, watch silently over Fifth Avenue. The grand staircase rises behind them, where people sit reading or taking photos. Want to climb the stairs?

You head east along 42nd Street. The bustling street gradually becomes quieter as you approach the Morgan Library. Its elegant Renaissance-style building stands out among modern structures. The Morgan's ornate entrance beckons with the promise of rare manuscripts and art inside.

You enter the Morgan's elegant rotunda, with its painted ceilings and marble surfaces. The hushed atmosphere immediately surrounds you. A docent stands near the information desk. You can visit the historic library room, Mr. Morgan's study, or the current exhibitions. Where to?

The current exhibition poster showcases “J.R.R. Tolkien: The Art of the Manuscript” - featuring original drawings, maps, and manuscripts from The Lord of the Rings author. The poster shows Tolkien's distinctive handwriting and watercolor illustrations. Would you like to see the exhibition?

You enter the exhibition gallery. Tolkien's original manuscripts are displayed in glass cases, illuminated carefully. His detailed maps of Middle-earth and delicate watercolors of Hobbiton catch your eye. A small group gathers around what appears to be early drafts of The Hobbit.

You approach the display case. Inside, you see Tolkien's distinctive handwriting on yellowed pages - early versions of “Riddles in the Dark.” There are crossed-out lines and margin notes, showing how the famous Bilbo-Gollum encounter evolved. Next to it sits his original sketch of Gollum.

Looking closer at the manuscript, you notice in this early version, Gollum seems more playful than menacing. One riddle reads differently: “What has roots nobody sees, is taller than trees, Up, up it goes, And yet never grows?” But it's marked out, with “mountains” replaced as the answer.

As you ponder, standing in the hushed gallery, a beam of late afternoon sun streams through a high window, casting a golden glow. The concept of mountain roots - those ancient, deep foundations beneath the Earth's surface - seems to echo Tolkien's fascination with the profound depths of nature.

In this quiet corner of the Morgan, as you think of Aurora in London, the connection feels poignant - like Tolkien's manuscripts, bridging continents and time. Outside the window, a plane crosses the sky heading eastward, perhaps toward London, where she might be walking those historic streets.