"One of your possessions drops from your pack into the lava. Most materials will melt at these temperatures, and before you can reach it, it’s a lost cause. Blast it. What did you lose?"

---

In pursuing lost knowledge Lunden was learning you might lose things dear to you. However, the Baron assumed one might lose things of an abstract nature: the sense of self, morals slowly blurring, and a shift in one's persona. The herald did not expect that to sometimes mean a physical, literal thing could be lost on a wayward venture.

... Despite how much sense such a loss made.

"Well... that's unfortunate," Crispin noted, the grey watching as the pendant sunk further into the pool of lava.

With a snort and a sigh, the heraldic shook their head, "I should have been more cautious."

"Important?"

"Important enough," another sigh, "Let's continue... I want to catch up to the others."

With the pendant lost to liquid fire, the duo journeyed forward- sights set on catching up with a party who was further in. A fact Lunden could scarcely believe as even this level seemed so perilous and unkind to even the most cautious of adventurers. Sharp fractured basalt, dangerous lava, aggressive hellhounds, and other trials made the Furnace deadly to all. How was it some made it further into the dungeon so easily...?

Was experience truly so powerful a tool?

"What was it?" Crispin asked, pulling the roan heraldic from his thoughts.

"Hmm?"

"The pendant- what was it for?" Idle chit-chat and curiosity to pass the time while things were calm enough. Enjoyment and ease had to be taken when offered; it may not come easily later.

"A gift acquired in my youth, a locket from an old flame," Lunden paused, a slight chuckle escaping him as the irony suddenly hit, "I guess... In that regard, it makes sense a flame would reclaim it." At least the roan could see the humor in the situation despite genuine disappointment in the loss. However, maybe it was simply a sign.

It was time to move on.