Round 98 Transcript

Jeane's magic crackles at her fingertips, attempting to distract the wardstone's energy from their fear and terror. The force of her magic is palpable, but the wardstone pulses harder, its energy surging in response to the female arousal emanating from the party. The pipe wedged under the door handle groans ominously as the wardstone's energy intensifies, threatening to dislodge it at any moment. Hera's eyes are wide and terrified as she struggles to maintain her grip on the pipe, her knuckles white with tension. Water continues to pool around their feet from the broken shower stall, making every step precarious. Silra wedges a nearly full bottle of lubricant under the door, buying them 30 seconds before the wardstone's energy surges again. Jeane's gaze darts between the party members, her eyes locking onto Abby's as she whispers, "We need to focus on something else, now."

I can't let Hera be this close to that thing. The wardstone's pulse is getting stronger every time she braces herself against it. We need to switch—let me take her place at the door. I'll use my shield arm, try to brace with the heavy mirror without touching her skin. If I have to make contact, I can handle it—I'm not as pure as she is. My faith will protect us both from corruption.

I brace my back against the door, feeling the heavy pipe dig into my hands as I try to keep the wardstone's energy at bay. My heart is racing, and I can feel the fear rising in my throat like bile. "Abby," I say, my voice trembling slightly. "We need to find something bigger to brace this door with. That pipe isn't going to hold forever."

I glance around the room, my eyes scanning over the various sex toys and bondage gear scattered across the floor. It feels surreal that just moments ago we were using these things for pleasure, and now they might be our only hope for survival. The water from the broken shower stall continues to pool around our feet, and I can feel the slippery lube making it harder to keep my balance. I shift my weight, trying to find a stable position as the floor seems to tilt beneath me. Jeane is pacing back and forth, her hands crackling with energy as she tries to focus on something other than the wardstone's pulsing presence. Silra is searching frantically through the drawers, looking for anything that might help us shore up the door. I take a deep breath, trying to calm my racing thoughts. "Halie," I call out, my voice barely above a whisper. "We need your help. Can you use your faith to protect us from the wardstone's energy?"

The cleric nods, her eyes closed in concentration as she begins to mutter a prayer under her breath. I turn back to Abby, who is crouched down beside me, her face pale and her eyes wide with fear. "We need to work together if we're going to survive this," I say firmly, my voice steadying slightly. "I don't know what's happening out there, but I know that we can't let it in here."

I grip the pipe tighter, feeling the metal bite into my palms as I brace myself against the door. The wardstone's energy is getting stronger with each passing second, and I can feel the pressure building behind me like a physical weight. But I refuse to give up. We've come too far to let this thing defeat us now. With a deep breath, I steel myself for whatever comes next, ready to fight until my last breath. "On three," I say to Abby, my voice a low growl. "One...two..."

The door shudders against its frame as the wardstone's power surges again. I can hear the wood creaking ominously, and I know that we have only moments before it gives way completely. "Three!" I shout, throwing all of my weight against the pipe as Abby pushes from the other side. The metal groans in protest, but holds fast as the door slams shut once more. For a moment, there is silence save for the pounding of our hearts and the rush of water across the tile. But then, slowly, the wardstone's energy begins to fade, until finally it is gone entirely. I sag back against the door, my body shaking with exhaustion as I try to catch my breath. We did it. We survived. But for how long?