The undercroft was made up of a mix of old wood and stone built by the ancestors of the elves and hill dwarves of a time long past. "There is only one path to the palantir, Serna, however, sometimes the way forward is the way back."

"What is that supposed to mean?" The Shield Maiden scratched her head, "You know, you're beginning to sound a lot like Dungeon Master. Are all Lore Masters so cryptic or is this just an Elven thing?"

Arlhenwe and Caliaphy looked at each other for a moment, "It's an elven saying, young one."

"Oh!" Serna responded simply.

"The scroll contains the words to awaken the palantir where I specialize in, Serna." The loremaster said.

"I will handle the traps according to the notes in the journal, and any puzzles we encounter Serna, you can help with, okay?" The kurori winked with confidence.

"Okay!" The Shield Maiden replied as she took her position, "I'll be right next to you, Caliaphy, to protect you should you spring a trap by accident."

Caliaphy winked again and allowed the loremaster to take the lead down the long stone hallway leading to the palantir. All seemed normal at first but as the three of them progressed, a female laughter unknown to them echoed throughout the old halls. The voice taunted them, "Three little mice, three little little fools come to thwart me? You shall never reach the palantir. Arbor Haven is MINE!!"

The kurori huffed, "Never say never...you baddie-person-you!"

"Yeah!" Serna shot back defiantly, "Show your face, you mean, nasty baddie, so we can kick your butt and take your name!"

Arlhenwe didn't utter a word as they walked and kept an eye out for danger. The voice was hard to discern due to the echoing yet seemed familiar.

"Who is that?" The Shield Maiden whispered to The Fairy as she readied her Weapon of Power, "I thought we were alone down here."

"This place is designed to test those worthy enough to achieve the goal of finding and activating the palantir, Serna." The loremaster reminded her, "but who or whatever may hinder or help us, other than that I do not know. I am sorry."

"That's okay, you have nothing to be sorry about," Serna confessed as she took the Loremaster's hand reassuringly, "You didn't know there was some mean, nasty baddie creeping around her in the dark with us. We'll find her, take care of her, find the palantir and save Arbor Haven. Okay?"