Reflection and Repercussions

The Cave Troll's loot is tucked away in a small side chamber to the back of the main cave, which explains why you never saw it during your previous visit. Exhausted after you fight, you had never taken the time to properly explore the primary cave. Your new loot is a beautiful sight: it fills the cavern from end to end, gleaming faintly here and there in the illumination of the spiders webs. You've never seen so much stuff before in your life; piles and piles of treasure, your treasure. Dana is not as impressed; if anything, she seems underwhelmed. She leaves you behind to stare in amazement at your new riches, while she searches for anything she can use.

To your right rises a messy, waist-high, heap of tarnished gold coins, covered in dust and cobwebs. You reach down to pick up one of the grimy coins, and stare at it in awe. So utterly useless, and yet so utterly precious. Even if you weren't a monster, confined to the woods as you are, you will never be able to spend that coin. However, nothing else symbolizes just how far you've come.

You've only seen gold once before in your life, when a hero had been emptying out his inventory to make room for more loot taken from one of your recently murdered brethren. You'd watched as the shining, gold coins had tumbled through the air to scatter and dance across the ground in bright flashes of light. In that moment, your greatest desire had been to own one of those coins; they were just so beautiful. You had been so entranced by the sight that you had barely felt it when the hero had made his way up the canyon and slaughtered you as well. Never before had you felt the difference between yourself and a hero so much. All you had been able do was wait patiently to die, while the hero threw away gold, confident that he could gain more. Now, you own not just the coin you hold, but the entire pile it came from.

You feel a brief stab of pity for the Cave Troll; no wonder it had fought so hard to drive you off. Who knew how long it must have taken him to build this hoard? How many heroic attempts to kill him had it taken him to preserve it? You place the coin back on the pile with a sigh of regret. You'd been **** to defend yourself against the Cave Troll, unwilling to risk return to your old life. Was it truly worth it though? Were you any better than the heroes that had tormented you for so long? You shake your head in a futile effort to put your mind at ease, and turn to examine the rest of the hoard

To the left is a jumbled mess of books, scrolls, vials, bottles, and other assorted items, while further back, towards the rear of the cave, is an assortment of weapons and armor. It seems the Cave Trolls had a rudimentary sorting system: gold on the right, arms and armor to the back, and everything else on the left. Dana is currently rummaging through the various piles of equipment, looking for something to use. She stands up, dusts off her hands, and walks over to you. "You'll be disappointed to hear I can't use any of the armor," Dana say, her tone biting. Her friendly attitude towards the spiders earlier had made you hope that she had forgotten your little tiff previously. Obviously not. Why can't you use it? you ask carefully, trying not to offend her. "It's all either broken or won't work. The only thing I could find looks like it's made for a dwarf," she replies brusquely. Why would that be problem? you ask confused. Dana rolls her eyes. "The type of armor you can equip is dictated by your race and class. Some races, like elves and humans, are similar enough that they can wear the same kind of armor, but dwarven armor can pretty much only be worn by dwarves." "Oh. Well, that makes sense," you reply So you didn't find anything? "Just these." Dana holds up a finely carved, wooden pendant in the shape of a tree with spreading roots and branches. Text flashes before you：

Forest Amulet
Allows wearer to go completely undetected in forest or woodland areas

The text disappears as Dana slides the cord holding the pendant over her head, and tucks the pendant itself underneath her poncho. "Well , those could still be useful," you say, trying to stay positive. Dana is unmoved by your efforts. "Uh huh." You try again. Where did you find them? you ask. "With some ranger gear," Dana remarks tersely. That didn't make sense though; didn't Dana just say she hadn't been able to find anything? Wait, you say, Why couldn't you use the ranger gear? Dana looks at you as if you are the biggest idiot she has ever seen. "Do you remember when I said equipment was restricted by race and class? I am a priestess, not a ranger. So yes, there was a variety of equipment back there, but since none of it was for humans and priestesses I can't use it." Oh. Okay, you respond, slightly cowed.

You look over the hoard again. Given what Dana said, if she can't use any of this, then you definitely can't. Nor can you really take it with you; you don't have anywhere to put it. You turn to Blix. I thank you for your offering; it is a gift beyond compare. I would ask that it remain here with you to safeguard it. I can think of no better guardians. Would you be willing? Blix is as eager to please you as always. "Of course, Great One. It would be our privilege. We shall guard it with our lives." Good, that was taken care of. You turn back to Dana. Shall we return to the Lair" you ask. All she says is, "I'll meet you there," and starts walking back through the cave without you. You hastily say farewell to Blix and Hrax, and chase after her.