Round 20 Transcript

As I mutter my incantation, the tunnel's walls seem to brighten ever so slightly, casting eerie shadows on the rough stone. The air remains heavy with the stench of death and decay, but at least we can see where we're going now. The rumbling from above grows louder, and the skeletons halt their advance, their empty sockets fixed on us like lanterns in the dark. Varrika readies her mace, while Merrin's head bobs slightly as she's carried by Seraphine. Jeane's voice echoes back up the tunnel, reassuring us that she's still alive and guiding us deeper into the passage. Suddenly, a chunk of debris crashes to the ground just ahead of us, sending dust and rock flying in all directions. The skeletons take advantage of the distraction to surge forward, their bony feet clicking against the stone floor as they close in on us. We have to move, and fast.

I let the illumination spell dissipate with a frustrated wave of my hand, cursing under my breath as I process what's happening above ground. Merrin trapped at the bottom of that pit—if she doesn't wake up soon, we could lose her before even getting inside this cursed tower properly. And now Halie's hurt too? Fantastic. My wings twitch irritably as I consider our options. The tunnel is narrow here, which might actually work in our favor against those skeletons for the moment—at least they can't surround us or attack from multiple angles like they did up top. But that also means we're all bottlenecked together with no real way to defend ourselves properly if they manage to push their way through. I call back up, keeping my voice steady despite the knot of worry forming in my chest. "Seraphine! Is Halie conscious? Can she walk at all? If not, I need you to keep her stable andMoving—we can't stop here."

The ground shakes again, more violently this time, and I instinctively brace myself against the tunnel wall as dust rains down from above. The rumbling seems to be getting stronger with each passing moment—whatever ancient magic is keeping this place standing is clearly pissed off now. I mutter a quick spell under my breath, creating a faint magical shield around me just in case. "Varrika?" I shout up the tunnel. "You still alive up there? Those skeletons giving you any trouble?"

The silence stretches for an agonizing moment before her voice echoes back, strained but defiant. "Still here! Skeletons are... slow, but they're persistent bastards. I can hold them off for now, but we need to move—this whole place is about to come down around our ears!"

I grit my teeth in frustration—I should be up there helping her fight instead of hiding like a coward in this narrow passage. But if I go back and get trapped with the skeletons too, we're all screwed. "Understood!" I call back. "We're moving now—just keep them busy for another minute or two!"

To myself: Great. So not only do we have Merrin potentially dying at the bottom of that pit, Halie with a head injury, and those goddamn persistent skeletons to deal with... now we're also racing against time before this entire cursed tower collapses on top of us all. I take a deep breath, steadying myself. Fine. If we have to move fast through dangerous territory while carrying injured party members, then that's what we'll do. "Seraphine!" I call up the tunnel again. "As soon as you're clear of the skeletons, I want you to cast any and all healing spells on Merrin—whatever it takes to wake her up or stabilize her. We can't afford to carry an unconscious body through this maze."

To myself: And if that doesn't work... well, we'll cross that bridge when we come to it. For now, our priority is getting everyone into this tunnel alive and away from those skeletons. I mutter another quick spell, this one meant to enhance my strength and endurance temporarily. The magic tingles across my skin as the enchantment takes hold—I should be able to carry at least some of Halie's weight if needed without tiring out too quickly. "Okay," I mutter to myself, squaring my shoulders and preparing to face whatever comes next. "Let's do this. Stay together, stay alert, and for the love of all things unholy—don't stop moving."

I start forward at a brisk pace, wings tucked close against the narrow walls as I head deeper into the unknown depths of this cursed tower, praying to whatever dark gods might still listen that we make it through this alive.

I frantically try to keep Merrin's head from bumping against the rough stone floor as I half-drag, half-carry her down the narrow tunnel, my heart hammering against my ribs with every step. Varrika is right behind me, her mace held at the ready as she scans the dark passageway for any sign of movement from those skeletal monstrosities. Halie's unconscious form is a heavy burden, her limbs threatening to snag on every outcropping of rock.
Jeane's voice echoes down the tunnel, a lifeline in the suffocating darkness. "Seraphine! Is Halie conscious? Can she walk at all?" My mind races as I try to formulate an answer. Halie is barely breathing, her pulse weak and thready beneath my trembling fingers.
"I... I don't know," I call back, my voice strained with effort and fear. "She's not responding." I cast a quick glance over my shoulder at Varrika, who meets my gaze with grim determination in her eyes. We have to keep moving—every second counts now.
As we round a sharp corner in the tunnel, I nearly stumble over a loose rock, Merrin's weight pulling me off-balance. I steady myself against the wall, panting heavily. "Varrika," I whisper urgently, "we need to get Merrin out of here fast. That collapse was no accident—this whole place is coming apart at the seams."
I feel a sudden, sharp pain in my side as I take another step, my foot catching on a root that has pushed its way through a crack in the floor. I cry out, dropping Merrin's arm for a moment as I try to regain my balance. The tunnel spins around me, the air thick with the scent of damp earth and ancient decay. "I... I can't hold them both," I gasp, my legs shaking with exhaustion and pain.