your situation and after reading over this, I feel that the compound or texturing may have dried too fast or was too thick and has cracked. This does happen.
You could buy some paint filler. It comes in a paint can and you actually paint it on. Its thick and will penetrate those cracks and will like it says, fill it in. Then after drying, you can paint it. It will not ruin the texturing, but fill the cracks.
You will not need to sand before using. The filler will only be found in a specialty paint dealer like sherwin William's or the likes.