Round 40

In the depths of the tunnel system, a faint hum reverberated through the air, like the quiet buzzing of a thousand forgotten wings. The group stood frozen, their eyes fixed on the glowing plates above, as the three-beat rhythm of the ground pulsed into a deliberate, pulsing cadence. Sister Hale's hands rested firmly on her holy symbol, her steady gaze unwavering in the face of the unknown.

Sister Hale's voice cut through the tension, her words laced with a mix of caution and curiosity. "This deliberate three-pulse rhythm isn't random subsidence or collapsing ruins," she said, her eyes scanning the chamber for any sign of movement. The group waited in silence, their anticipation hanging heavy as dust and decay. Silra shifted her weight onto the pressure plates, her lithe form settling into a cautious stance, as if anticipating a trap.

Gravedigger Renn's fear-smell wafted through the air, threatening to overwhelm Jeane's senses. The ground beneath Silra pulsed in rhythmic sequence, and she could feel the weight of their collective uncertainty bearing down on her. Suddenly, the silence was broken by Sister Hale's measured tone. "We need to decide if we're testing further or pulling back before Gravedigger Renn's panic contaminates our positioning completely."