Round 3 Transcript

Jeane's fingers spasm against the gate's iron surface, the magic she was channeling into its lock suddenly twisting like a living thing. The violet runes on the gate seem to pulse in time with the humming, casting an eerie glow over the surrounding foliage. As Jeane's concentration wavers, the whispering voices grow louder, their malevolent intent unmistakable. The ground beneath Merrin's feet shudders again, causing her to stumble and almost fall. Her crossbow is trained on the gate, but she quickly regains her balance and scans the area for any signs of movement. The whispers take shape now: "Turn back, mortals... while you still can." Halie cuts herself short, realizing her spell might interfere with Jeane's work on the lock. "Jeane!" she hisses, moving closer but staying just out of range of the gate's aura. "Can you hold it? Or should we fall back?"

Jeane's fingers spasm against the gate’s iron surface, the magic she was channeling into its lock suddenly twisting like a living thing. Her head snaps up, crimson eyes wide as she registers the ground trembling beneath Merrin and the unholy chorus rising around them. "Damn it!" She hisses through clenched teeth, breaking her focus to survey the situation. The violet runes pulse faster now, their light harsh against the encroaching twilight. "Halie, move back—you’re too close!" Jeane calls out, her wings twitching instinctively as she fights to maintain control over the spell. "The lock’s waking up—can’t hold the connection for much longer." She can taste the dark magic in those sounds now—not just death but something older, hungrier. The whispers grow louder: “Turn back, mortals... while you still can.” A shiver runs down her spine despite herself. This place feeds on fear and hope alike.

Jeane grits her teeth, pouring more power into the lock even as she feels it fighting back. "Everyone stand ready," I have to hold this, but I don’t know how long. Her wings beat once, instinctively, as if preparing for flight though she knows that would do little good here. If this magic overloads me, the feedback could blast us all. And if I let go too soon, it’ll trigger whatever failsafe is built into these defenses. I need more information before I make a call. She turns to Seraphine: "Seraphine! Can you identify what kind of ward this is? Is it self-destructing or just awakening?" Her voice stays steady despite the panic rising in her chest. "Varrika, Merrin—you two watch our flanks. Halie, prepare a holy barrier but don’t cast yet—we need to be sure it won't trigger early." I’m in control here. I have to stay in control.

I step back immediately when Jeane calls out, but my eyes remain fixed on the gate. The violet light is pulsing faster now, each beat sending a jolt of alarm through me. The whispers have grown louder—"Turn back, mortals... while you still can"—and they're taking on more distinct voices now, like multiple entities speaking in unison. This is dark magic at work. I know that all too well from the church archives. And Jeane’s struggling with the lock? That means whatever enchantment this is, it’s alive and active. My fingers tighten around my holy symbol as I begin to pray under my breath—preparing the barrier spell without actually casting it yet. The divine energy responds immediately, a warm pulse that pushes back against the cold dread creeping through the forest. I can help with magic, but if this ward is self-destructive... we need to know what we’re dealing with. I look at Seraphine. "Seraphine! Can you identify what kind of ward this is? Is it self-destructing or just awakening?" My voice stays steady despite the fear coiling in my gut. I won’t let my panic show. The group needs me level-headed right now.

Varrika’s right—we need to be ready for anything. I glance around quickly, making sure no undead are already emerging from the shadows. And Merrin... well, if hostiles do appear, she’ll handle them. Still, I can’t help worrying. If this goes south, we’re deep in hostile territory with no escape route planned.

Focus! I snap my attention back to Jeane and the gate. The spell she’s trying to hold is clearly unstable now—the air around her hands is shimmering with violet and white sparks. She needs help, but the magic is too complex for me to safely interfere without knowing its structure. I begin to inch closer again, holding my barrier spell ready but uncast. "Jeane..." My voice is softer now, trying to convey support without breaking her concentration. What do we do? If that lock gives way, what happens next?

I keep my crossbow trained on the gate, fingers tense on the trigger as the ground trembles and the unholy whispers grow louder around us. Shit, shit, shit. I mutter under my breath, scanning the area for any signs of undead emerging from the earth. Jeane's struggling with that lock, Halie's praying up a storm, Varrika's on high alert... and me? I'm just trying not to piss myself as the world seems to come alive with dark magic. "Everyone stay sharp!" I call out, my voice tighter than I'd like. "If any of those bastards try to claw their way out, I want them dead before they can even think about standing up." I mutter a string of curses as I shift my weight, keeping my balance steady. Elric didn't say anything about this. If the old man knew how bad it was going to be, he could've at least warned us.

I risk a glance at Jeane, seeing the sorcerer's wings twitching and her hands sparking with violet energy. "Jeane!" I hiss, "You got that lock under control or what? Because I'd rather not find out what happens if whatever's behind that gate decides to come knocking on its own."

The air crackles with dark energy, a physical presence that makes my skin crawl. The whispers have taken on a more distinct quality now—dozens of voices clamoring in unison, each one a thread in an immense web of malevolence. It’s unlike anything I’ve ever studied.
I watch Jeane struggle with the lock, her wings twitching as she pours more power into the spell. The violet runes pulse faster, almost painfully bright now. She needs help, but what can I do? My magic is different—focused on knowledge, not on direct manipulation of wards.
"I... I think it's awakening," I call out over the rising cacophony, my voice strained as I try to process the deluge of ancient information pouring into my mind. "The runes—they're responding to our presence. Each mark is a syllable in some long-forgotten incantation."
I take a step closer, squinting at the complex patterns etched into the iron. My eyes water from the intensity of the light, but I force myself to focus. "This isn't just a lock—it's a living entity. A guardian spirit bound to this place."
I risk a glance at Jeane, then back at the gate. The whispers are getting louder, more insistent. They sound hungry. "If we can’t convince it to let us pass peacefully... it might be better if we find another way in."
My heart hammers against my ribs. This is far beyond what I was prepared for. But there’s a thrill too—a chance to study something truly ancient, powerful, and terrifying. "Maybe... maybe there's an older ward, a failsafe. If we can find it, we might be able to deactivate the entire system without having to brute-force this one."
I look around frantically, searching for any other symbols or runes in the area. The ground feels like it’s shifting beneath my feet. "Everyone else—stay back! Don't let anything touch you, especially not any of these symbols!"

I feel my grip tighten on my mace as the ground trembles beneath my feet. The violet light from the gate pulses faster now, casting harsh shadows across the faces of my companions. I can hear the whispers growing louder, their malevolent intent unmistakable. "Everyone stand ready!" I bark out, positioning myself between the gate and the rest of the party. My eyes dart from Jeane to Merrin to Seraphine, assessing our situation. "Jeane, how long until that lock gives way?" I demand, my voice tight with urgency. My gaze lingers on Merrin, seeing her crossbow trained on the gate. The rogue's always been quick with her weapons, but I know she's out of her depth here. "Merrin," I growl, "watch our flanks! We've got trouble coming, and it won't be pretty."

I turn to Halie next, seeing the cleric's holy symbol gripped tightly in her hand as she prepares a barrier spell. "Halie, have your prayers at the ready—we may need them soon," I warn her. Finally, I look at Seraphine, seeing the wizard's unease as she studies the runes on the gate. "Seraphine," I press, "what do you make of those runes? Any chance we can disable them before they do something nasty?"

I shift my weight, every muscle coiled and ready for combat. The dwarf in me knows the value of preparation, but the warrior in me itches to charge ahead. Old towers like this... they always have their secrets. And their curses. I think grimly, my eyes scanning the area for any signs of undead rising from the earth. But by the gods, we didn't sign up for a massacre. We need to end this fast or get out while we still can.

And Merrin... she's too reckless. If hostiles do appear, I'll cover her flanks and make sure she doesn't get isolated. But first... I focus on Jeane again, seeing the sorcerer's wings twitch as she fights to maintain control over the spell. "Jeane," I call out, my voice steady but urgent, "can you hold that lock? Or should we fall back?"

My heart pounds in my chest as I wait for her response. The air feels thick with magic now, and the whispers are growing louder by the second. We're standing on the edge of a blade here, and one wrong move could send us all tumbling into darkness. I think, my grip tightening on my mace. But we came this far. We've faced dangers before. And we'll face them again.

Whatever's behind that gate... we'll deal with it together.