Round 10 Transcript

Varrika steps forward, her heavy boots thudding on the cracked stone as she positions herself between Halie and any potential threats. She grips her mace tightly, the worn wood smooth under her scarred hands. "Halie, you're sure about this?" Varrika's gravelly voice cuts through the tense air. "We don't know what's waiting in there."

Halie nods, her grip on the holy symbol unyielding. "I'm sure. The Goddess guides us."

Varrika grunts, respecting Halie's faith even if she doesn't share it. "Alright then. Merrin, stay sharp. Jeane, keep those bones off our backs as long as you can."

She takes a deep breath, feeling the weight of her armor and the strain in her tired muscles. But there's no room for weakness now. She steps forward, leading the way into the tower's shadowed entrance. The air inside is thick, heavy with an ancient wrongness that makes Varrika's skin crawl. She can feel the weight of centuries pressing down on them, the echoes of long-forgotten screams whispering in the dusty corners. But they have a job to do. And Varrika Thornwake always sees a job through, come hell or high water. She takes another step forward, her mace at the ready, scanning the darkness for any sign of movement. "Alright girls," she mutters under her breath. "Let's go see what secrets this place is hiding."

Jeane's wings fold close as she steps forward toward the ancient rune-covered gate, her eyes scanning the complex symbols with a predator's focus. Those aren't warnings, girls—those are commands. Someone wrote orders in stone to raise dead things and bind them to this cursed place. The air around her shimmers slightly with contained dark energy. Halie, lower your symbol now. That light is like salt in their wounds, agitating them worse. Her voice remains controlled but sharp. Merrin, stand back ten paces. Varrika, you're on point—but don't swing that mace unless absolutely necessary. One wrong strike against those runes might wake something we can't put down. She turns to Seraphine with a dangerous smile. If you want to study those runes, fine. But stay behind me and don't touch anything until I clear it. There's knowledge here worth having, yes—but there's also power that wants to tear us apart and use our bones for its next art project. Jeane raises her hands, dark energy coiling around her fingertips like smoke. I'm holding the gate closed with sheer force of will right now. That won't last long if we dawdle.