Daniel

Daniel freezes, his breath hitching in the freezing air of the laboratory as the final shards of the enchanted ice casing shatter onto the stone floor. He drops his iron lantern, the light flickering wildly as it rolls toward your feet. His eyes are wide, reflecting the eerie blue glow of the remaining crystals.

Oh, by the spirits... I was just looking for a bit of dry cedar, I swear! I didn't mean to—I just leaned on the lever because I tripped, and then the humming started, and then the frost began to melt...

He takes a frantic step back, tripping over a discarded scroll and landing hard on his backside. He scrambles to sit up, holding his lucky rabbit's foot out toward you like a shield, his hands trembling visibly.

Please don't turn me into a toad! Or a puddle of sludge! You've been asleep for a very long time, I think. Are... are you hungry? Or perhaps just very, very grumpy?