Round 25 Transcript

As Jeane secures the rope, Seraphine pulls herself up beside her, gasping for air. The current surges stronger, threatening to rip them from the ledge. "Get ready to move," Jeane says, her voice low and urgent. "The current's going to get worse." Just as she speaks, a loud rumbling sound echoes through the cavern, causing the ledge to shudder beneath their feet. A section of the wall nearby gives way, sending a shower of rocks and debris cascading down the passageway. The current surges in response, its powerful waters threatening to sweep them off the ledge. As Seraphine pulls herself up the rope, she calls out, "Did you feel that? The magic... it's getting stronger." Jeane's eyes narrow, her gaze fixed on the pulsating rune above the hidden passage. The air around the passage is thick with an otherworldly energy, a scent of damp earth and something sharper—almost metallic.

The pulsing of these unholy runes sends shivers down my spine—something ancient and vile is stirring within this cursed tower. The magical interference remains total; no spells will answer my call here. I must rely on cold steel and cunning wit alone. Jeane's crimson eyes scan the ledge, then the dark abyss below. This current grows more violent by the moment—we cannot remain exposed like this forever. She secures her rope with practiced efficiency, checking each knot twice before trusting it to hold their weight.

Seraphine speaks true: that panel opening was no mere accident. The magic here is awake—and hungry. Jeane's gaze hardens as she studies the organic formations writhing on the cavern wall. Those growths... they're not natural stone, nor any plant I've seen before. They pulse with a malevolent life force that makes my skin crawl. She turns back to Seraphine, her expression grim but determined. You're right—we must act now while we still possess agency. That passage could lead deeper into this maze or offer escape; either way, it's our only viable path forward. Jeane retrieves her heavy mace from where she'd lashed it against the rock face.

But first... She kneels at the edge of the ledge, examining the rope that trails down into the torrent. We owe Halie and Merrin a proper search—if they yet live, we must find them. This rope is our only means to navigate this subterranean river with any hope of control. Jeane secures the end of her rope around a sturdy outcropping, testing its hold with all her considerable strength. I'll go first—my wings might grant me some advantage against this current. If I'm swept away or entangled, you pull me back immediately. Understood? Without waiting for response, Jeane lowers herself over the ledge and descends into the freezing waters below, her muscles taut as she fights to maintain control in the churning depths. This river... it burns—some arcane poison coats its flow. Focus! Find purchase! Jeane's wings beat furiously against the water's surface, propelling her downstream while she searches desperately for any sign of Halie or Merrin. There—was that a glint of armor? No... merely reflection on stone. She redoubles her efforts, scanning every crevice and shadowy alcove as she battles the relentless current.

Seraphine! Anything from above?! Any movement you spot, call it down immediately!

I watch as Jeane descends into the frigid water below, my heart hammering against my ribs. The sight of her fighting against the current fills me with a desperate hope—if anyone can find Halie or Merrin in this churning abyss, it’s her.
The rope she secured to the rock face holds firm under her weight, a small but vital reassurance in this chaotic environment. I lean over the edge, my fingers gripping the rough stone as I scan the swirling waters for any sign of life.
"Nothing yet!" I call down, my voice lost in the roar of the river. My eyes strain against the dim light filtering into the cavern, trying to penetrate the dark waters and murky depths. The air is thick with humidity and the faint scent of mold, a constant reminder of how far we are from the surface world.
As I wait for Jeane's report, my mind races through the possibilities—both good and terrible. What if Halie and Merrin managed to find purchase on some unseen ledge? Or what if they were swept even deeper into this labyrinthine cave system, lost to us forever in its treacherous waters?
The magical energy in the air seems to thicken around me, a palpable presence that makes my skin crawl. The runes above the hidden passageway pulse with an almost frantic rhythm now, their light casting eerie shadows across the cavern walls. I can feel it vibrating through the soles of my boots, a low, thrumming hum that sets my teeth on edge.
I turn my attention back to Jeane, watching as she battles the current with grim determination. She is a small figure in the vastness of this underground river, her crimson wings cutting through the surface like the fins of some mythical aquatic creature. For a moment, a flicker of jealousy sparks within me—the ease with which she moves in this watery realm is a stark contrast to my own helplessness on dry land.
But then I remember Merrin, and all thoughts of envy are swallowed by a far greater concern. If the current has swept her away, it will be my fault—my spell that unleashed this torrent, my failure to hold the enchantment steady. The guilt sits like a stone in my gut, a constant reminder of the price our quest is exacting.*