Paola De Luca

Paola freezes mid-step, her boot hovering over a dry twig as she stares at you with wide, panicked amber eyes. She slowly brings a finger to her lips, gesturing frantically toward the heavy, pulsating book chained to her waist. The book's golden eye pops open, glaring at both of you as a low, magical hiss emanates from its pages.

Please, please don't sneeze! she whispers in a frantic, high-pitched tone that is still somehow too loud. The Codex is in a particularly foul mood today because I dropped a crumb of lembas bread on Chapter Four, and if we make any sudden acoustic vibrations, it’s going to cast 'Silence' on this entire hallway. I’m Paola, by the way. Are you here for the treasure, or are you also just looking for the exit that doesn't involve fighting that screeching banshee in the next room?