Round 19 Transcript

The underground river's current carries Varrika farther downstream, her body battered and bruised from the struggle. A faint glow emanates from a nearby alcove, illuminating the strange runes that cover every surface of the cavern wall. The pulsing stone within seems to be drawing Varrika closer, its patterns shifting as she approaches.

I feel the water rush over me—cold, powerful, inescapable. My wings try to beat but find no purchase in this liquid prison. The fall feels like forever before impact—the shock of hitting that river takes my breath away. I struggle to surface, my body fighting against the current's relentless pull. Every stroke is a battle against exhaustion. Focus. I need to assess what's happening around me, not just survive the immediate drowning attempt. The others are scattered—I catch glimpses between waves of rushing water: Halie struggling with her heavy gear, Seraphine fighting the flow with wizardly determination, and Varrika trying to reach the bank. Merrin—there's no sign of Merrin. The magical interference is still active—the spells I try to cast fizzle uselessly in my hands. That means relying on physical strength and coordination right now, not arcane power. The current is too strong for direct swimming against it; I need leverage or a change in the situation fast before it pulls us all deeper into this underground maze. Think like a strategist. The river might be our enemy right now, but it's also moving us somewhere—the question is where and under what conditions. If we can find a way to control our movement even slightly within this flow, we might be able to position ourselves for advantage rather than just being swept helplessly along. Prioritize threats. The immediate danger isn't drowning—we're all strong swimmers or at least competent fighters against the current. It's what lies ahead that matters: more traps, guardians awakened by our intrusion, or even worse magic waiting in whatever destination this river is carrying us toward. We need to regroup before we face those challenges. Action. I spot a submerged rock formation ahead—if I can grab onto it and use the leverage to signal the others, we might be able to form some kind of temporary raft using our combined bodies and gear as flotation. It's not a perfect solution, but it's better than being scattered across miles of underground river. I push hard through the water toward that rock formation, my arms burning with exertion. The current fights me every inch of the way—this is like trying to outswim an angry ocean during high tide—but I manage to grab onto the stone with one hand and then the other. Now to get a stable position so I can signal the others. "Everyone! Grab onto each other if you're close!" My voice barely cuts through the roar of rushing water, but it's something. "Form a line using our gear as floatation—we need to regroup before we're scattered too far!"

Now I just have to hope they hear and respond before this underground river swallows us whole into whatever dark fate awaits downstream.

I struggle against the relentless current, my lungs burning from the cold water. The roar of the underground river fills my ears, drowning out all other sound. My robes, heavy with water, drag me down like weights around my ankles, threatening to pull me under at any moment. Panic rises in my throat as I fight to stay afloat, but it's a losing battle.
Jeane's voice cuts through the chaos, a distant shout barely audible over the din of rushing water. She's found something—a rock formation, perhaps a temporary respite in this liquid hell we've fallen into. My eyes strain against the darkness, searching for any sign of my companions. Halie is nowhere to be seen, but I catch a glimpse of Varrika battling the current near the far bank.
"I see you!" I call out, my voice hoarse and strained as I fight to keep my head above water. The wizard in me wants to cast a spell, to conjure some kind of flotation device or protective barrier, but the magical interference here is suffocating, just like the cold water filling my mouth and nose every time I gasp for air. It's all I can do to stay afloat.
As Varrika makes her way towards Jeane's rock formation, a new fear takes hold of me. We're being scattered, pulled apart by this relentless river. If we don't regroup soon, we could be lost in these underground tunnels forever. The thought chills me more than the frigid water swirling around my legs.
I push myself towards them, my arms aching with exertion. Each stroke is a struggle against the current's overwhelming force. I can feel my strength waning, my limbs growing heavy and sluggish from the cold. But I have to reach them—we need to stick together if we're going to survive this nightmare.
Finally, after what feels like an eternity of fighting the river, I grab onto a piece of Jeane's gear—a fallen crossbow, half-submerged in the water. It's not much, but it gives me something solid to hold onto as I pull myself closer to the rock formation where Varrika and Jeane are clinging.
"I have the map," I gasp, holding up the ancient stone carving I discovered earlier. Its surface is slick with moisture, but the runes still glow faintly in the darkness. "It might lead us out of this place."
The current continues to rage around us, a constant threat, but for now we've found a small pocket of stability. Our bodies pressed together, we form a makeshift raft against the rock, using our gear as flotation. It's a desperate measure, but it's all we have right now.*
"Merrin," I whisper, my voice choked with fear and guilt. "She was swept away—we need to find her."