Vlad stepped into the dark cave, the air still and ancient. As sunlight spilled in behind him, the shadows retreated, slowly illuminating every inch of the small, forgotten chamber, sealed for who knew how many years.
In the far right corner, covered in a thin layer of dust, rested a black wooden mask. Pitch darkness nested in its hollow eyes, staring back at him, slowly fading away as light flooded the cave.
Holding his breath, Vlad strode forward and reached for the mask, lifting it in one swift motion. The thick layer of dust slid off its surface like water over glass.
The mask was featureless, simple, smooth, and expressionless, save for two hollow eye sockets. It was made of dark wood, its surface polished to a mirror shine, and as Vlad looked at it, he saw his own reflection staring back at him.
After a moment to steady his breath and still his thoughts, Vlad activated Appraisal and focused on the mask, ready to see if he had struck gold or found something useless.
