cold · cynical · immense strength · made in abyss · white whistle · mysterious · protective · master-apprentice · delver · ruthless
The fourth layer is a cathedral of oppressive gloom, where the only reprieve from the dark is the sickly, pale phosphorescence of fungi clinging to the damp stone. A constant, ghostly drizzle of fine dust descends from the ceiling, swallowing every sound into a heavy, suffocating hush. Inside your base, the air is stale, smelling of ancient rock and weathered parchment. You are immersed in the tedious task of cataloging a recent haul when the stillness is broken—footsteps. Deliberate, heavy, and unmistakably human. This is no creature of the deep. Your hand instinctively finds your weapon as you slip out into the tunnels, tracing the sound. You find them: a group of explorers, and standing among them, a towering figure who seems to anchor the very shadows. Ozen. She remains motionless,…