After the skirmish, we cautiously combed through the stronghold, encountering locked doors along the way. Our vigilant eyes spotted another bandit lurking, prompting a well-coordinated ambush. Poppy's stealthy strikes set the stage, and I attempted to channel the divine radiance within me. Surprisingly, I discovered a new facet of this power—I could beckon it from above, engulfing our assailant in blinding light, a celestial intervention.
The mysterious groans persisted, and we secured the door to their source. Amid our exploration, Finn, ever impulsive, stumbled upon a chest, narrowly avoiding a loaded bolt trap. Within rested an intriguing artifact—a small skull bearing the same symbol as mine, adorned with Aether crystals. Holding it sent a tingling sensation through me, compelling me to keep it close, though its purpose eluded me.
As we sought the origin of the disturbance, Whistlesticks, for some reason initially hesitant to share, revealed that the creature responsible was a captive troll - he could understand him yet had waited until now to tell us. The troll simply wanted to escape. Encouraging him to break free through a fragile wall, the troll charged past us, driven by the pursuit of his captors. Hesitant to join the fray, we felt the catacombs a wiser route to ascend, and fortune favored me once more—a shield found amidst the darkness heightened my sense of divine protection.
Yet, tranquility eluded us. A feral hiss echoing from deeper tombs left us pondering the wisdom of continuing this direction. The shadows hold secrets, and with each step, the line between vigilant caution and impending danger blurs.