Round 3

Jeane descends the stairs with purpose, her crimson eyes flashing in the gloom as she addresses Halie. "The runes on that gate—there's more to them than meets the eye. I can feel ancient magic pulsing through them, and not all of it friendly." She moves closer, her dark wings rustling softly. "We need to find a way to bypass that barrier before Merrin gets herself killed exploring whatever's up there. And Seraphine—we could use your expertise on these seals."

Halie steps forward, her silver cross catching what little light filters down from above. "Wait." Her voice is firm despite the unease evident in her posture. "We need to think this through. That gate is obviously protected by more than just physical barriers. If we rush in blindly, we could trigger something far worse than whatever Merrin might stumble upon."

Merrin's voice crackles over the comms link, barely audible through the thick stone walls. "—hear me? The upper floor is clear so far, but there's a weird energy up here. Like... like the air itself is alive with magic."

Seraphine steps closer to Halie, her expression thoughtful. "I agree with Halie. We should proceed with caution." She glances around at the oppressive darkness surrounding them. "But we can't just leave Merrin and Varrika up there alone either. The risk of separation is too great."

Varrika's voice comes through next, steady and controlled. "—in position at the top of the stairs. I've got a clear line of sight down into the main hall. If anything moves, I'll see it."

Jeane's eyes narrow as she considers Halie's words. "You're right, of course." She sighs, her wings settling against her back. "But we can't stay here forever either. The longer we hesitate, the greater the risk that whatever guards this place will find us first."

Halie nods slowly, her hand tightening on her mace. "Agreed. But we need a plan—a coordinated approach." She looks around at the group. "Jeane, can you work on deciphering those runes remotely? Seraphine, can you help reinforce our defenses down here while we wait for Merrin and Varrika to secure the upper floor?"

Seraphine nods, already pulling out her spell components. "I can set up a minor ward to alert us if anything approaches from below."

Jeane begins to mutter under her breath, her hands moving in complex patterns as she focuses on the distant gate rune. "Fine. I'll work on the runes. But if Merrin gets herself killed up there, I'm holding you responsible, Halie."