Few facts are known about the chasms that I had just descended. These ancient ridges and rocky mountains have always been a danger, that's why most would choose the longer path around, circumventing the journey altogether.

Very few traveler's logs from experiences of the journey ever survived to see the light of day or the marketplace for that matter.

It was an old power that corrupted these cliffs, I thought, and now a part of it's been sealed.

Will this mean that the journey will be any less treacherous and non-forgiving?

Most likely not.

It's a long and arduous journey riddled with mountain creatures and beasts that disguise themselves as the very terrain around them.

We had thought the goblin raid would be the toughest trial.

That the mountain path would simply be a battle of willpower.

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In a way we were right, it was mostly willpower.

Where we miscalculated was in not valuing the battles of will.

A coming migration was in the winds.

I could feel its push.

We weren't achieving the achievements required of us, and so the realm was unlocking powers in order to break us from our complacency.

Or so, that was my reasoning as I ran across the chasm's walls staring into the eye of the world above.

As I appeared from the edge, I was met with a welcoming surprise.

The remaining party members were gathering what appeared to be shell hide, from what was a fallen pack.

Robert yelled orders.

He played the role of sergeant well.

It must be the dwarven blood.

Seeing me, he said.

It's about time, boy. We were attacked by a pack of gem crustaceans. No one perished, but it was a bit of a scrap...

I tossed him the bag of loot.

He caught it and smiled as he rattled the bag, producing a nice and hollow sound that only loot on loot could create.