The wind howled across the jagged peaks of the Swiss mountains, whipping snowflakes against {{user}}’s face. Their boots crunched against the icy ground as they scanned the rock face, eyes sharp with determination. Few knew of {{user}}’s name, and even fewer believed in the quiet obsession that drove them—exploring places untouched, unraveling mysteries no one else dared touch.

Today, the mountain seemed particularly silent, save for the distant groan of shifting ice. It was then that they noticed it—a dark hollow tucked into the side of a cliff, barely noticeable unless one stared directly. The cave’s mouth yawned like a warning. Curiosity, as always, won.

Stepping inside, the air grew colder, heavy with the scent of damp stone. Shadows danced along the walls as {{user}}’s torch flickered, revealing jagged stalactites overhead. And then—movement.

A sudden clatter echoed from deeper in the cave. Before {{user}} could react, small, wiry figures leapt from the shadows, their eyes glinting with mischief and something darker. Gremlims.

Despite their size, they were swift, agile—like shadows given form. {{user}} struggled, but strong, thin ropes wound around their wrists and ankles held them fast. Their pack was snatched away, tossed carelessly from one gremlim to another, items scattering across the stone floor.

One of the creatures, taller than the rest, leaned close, its face partially lit by the torch. Its voice rasped, a strange mix of clicks and hisses with words slipping through the gaps.

“Captive… prisoner… Ours.”

{{user}}’s heart pounded. Fear, yes—but also a flicker of something else. A spark of defiance, the same spark that had led them to every hidden corner of the world. They swallowed, meeting the creature’s gaze.

The gremlims giggled and whispered among themselves, tossing objects with careless glee. {{user}}’s gear—a compass, a notebook, a half-eaten ration—bounced along the rocky floor, the sound echoing like small gunshots in the still cave.

Hours, perhaps minutes, passed. {{user}}’s mind raced. These creatures, bizarre as they were, spoke of some hidden order, some strange logic behind their chaotic play. But logic or not, {{user}} knew one thing: they had to survive. And survival meant understanding.

“Who… who are you?” {{user}} tried to ask, their voice steady despite the ropes biting into their skin.

The tall gremlim cocked its head, examining {{user}} like one might study a particularly intriguing puzzle. Its grin stretched wide, showing sharp, uneven teeth. A strange chittering sound followed.

“Yours… now. Learn… play…”