Round 9 Transcript

I step forward, my heavy boots thudding against the weathered stone. "Enough of this sorcery." My gravel-edged voice cuts through the tension. "We came for the blade, not to play guessing games with ancient magic."

With a grunt, I shoulder my pack and heft my mace, the worn wood smooth beneath my callused palm. "If you lot are finished dancing with the runes, let's see if the brute way works." I eye the gate, gauging its strength.

To Merrin, I jerk my head towards the lock. "Rogue, think you can pick that or break it down?" A wry smile tugs at my scarred lips. "No offense to your pretty magic tricks, sorceresses, but I'd feel better with a little dwarven steel between us and whatever lies behind this door."