Round 68 Transcript

Merrin's Reflection moves closer, its dark form rippling like water as it approaches Jeane from behind. The air seems to thicken around it, making every breath feel heavier and more labored. The ground trembles once more beneath Jeane's feet, and the section of wall behind her slides open further, revealing a narrow passageway that stretches deep into the earth. The flickering light emanating from the dark tunnel casts eerie shadows on the walls, making it seem as though the reflections are drawing closer with every step.

The thing on the throne is ancient power made manifest, and it doesn't care about our petty quests or personal demons—it cares about feeding. I can feel it pulling at the corruption still clinging to me from that possession, trying to drag it back down into the pool. We don't have time for philosophical debates about why we're here. That 'artifact' in the water? It's bait. A glinting promise designed to lure us closer so this thing can feed on our souls or whatever passes for them in creatures like us. The very thought of it makes my skin crawl—what little is left that isn't already tainted by this place. I've faced elder evils before, and they all have one thing in common: no mercy. We don't need a plan to die slowly in this pool; we need a strategy to survive. And every second we stand here arguing about purpose or meaning is another second that thing gets stronger while we get weaker. The reflections are circling like vultures, waiting for us to make a mistake—don't give them the satisfaction. My wound from the shard needs tending before it festers and I'm useful to no one, but treating it here means exposing myself while Seraphine tries to figure out magic that doesn't work. We need light, we need protection from whatever's in this water, and we need a way to test if that thing on the throne is actually bound or just... very, very patient. If we're going to act, act now with purpose. If we're going to retreat, do it fast before this place decides to collapse the tunnel behind us. Standing still achieves nothing except letting the darkness win by inches.

I take a deep breath, trying to calm the frantic beat of my heart. The air here is thick with old magic, cloying and oppressive, making it hard to think straight. But Jeane is right—we can't just stand here contemplating our doom.
The thing on the throne radiates an aura of ancient power that chills me to the bone. It feels like a vast, uncaring presence, one that has been waiting for us all along. I try another spell, focusing every ounce of my will into the simple words of a light cantrip, but again, nothing happens. The runes on my staff remain stubbornly dark, and I feel a fresh wave of helplessness wash over me.
My eyes dart around the chamber, searching for anything that might help us. The water in the pool ripples slightly, as if disturbed by something beneath its surface. It's a disturbing sight—a liquid void that seems to swallow all light and reflection. And there, half-submerged in its depths, is the glinting object we saw earlier. An artifact? A trap? Or both?
"I think... I think you're right," I say quietly, my voice trembling slightly as I try to gather my courage. "That thing on the throne... it's not going to let us leave easily. And whatever is in that water... we can't risk it."
I turn back to Jeane, my expression grim but determined. "We need to find a way to test its power without putting ourselves directly in its path. Maybe there's some kind of ward or barrier spell we could cast around the pool. Something to hold whatever's inside at bay while we figure out how to deal with it."
The thought of using magic in this place, where my own spells have proven utterly ineffective, terrifies me. But the alternative—doing nothing while the darkness closes in—is far worse. I glance at the narrow passageway that has opened behind us, then back at the flickering light emanating from the tunnel ahead. We are trapped between two unknowns, and the choice feels impossible.
I look down at my staff again, feeling its familiar weight in my hands. It's more than just a focus for my magic; it's a symbol of everything I've studied, of all the knowledge I've tried to gather against threats like this one. And yet, here we are, utterly unprepared.
"We can't go back now," I say, my voice gaining a fraction more resolve. "Not with those reflections watching our every move. Whatever lies ahead in that tunnel... it has to be better than what's waiting for us here."
I square my shoulders, meeting Jeane's gaze directly. "Whatever we do, we do it together. And we do it now, before the strength to act leaves us completely." My fingers tighten around the shaft of my staff, a silent promise to myself—and to her—that I won't let this darkness take me without a fight.
I turn back to the pool, the dark water seeming to beckon me with a sinister promise. The artifact is still there, its glinting surface seeming to mock us. It's a risk, trying to retrieve it without knowing what it is. But in a place like this, sometimes the greatest danger isn't the monster itself—it's the fear of confronting it.
"Stay here," I tell Jeane, my voice soft but firm. "Keep watch on those reflections. I'm going to try something."