Round 1

As Jeane Cromwell stood before the ominous gate, her crimson eyes scanned the rune-covered stone with predatory focus. The air was heavy with the scent of decay and forgotten rituals. Halie's hand rested on the hilt of her mace, a steady presence beside Jeane. Merrin's nimble fingers danced along the ancient stonework, searching for the lock mechanism. Seraphine's elven eyes narrowed as she traced the intricate patterns of the runes, each symbol pulsing with malevolent power. Varrika's gaze swept the shadowed archway beyond, her hand tightening on the grip of her mace. The silence was broken only by the soft clinking of Merrin's lockpicks as she worked to disable the mechanism.