Round 5

The ancient runes pulsed with malevolent light, each mark in the stone wall seeming to feed the horde of animated skeletons that blocked the corridor ahead. The air itself felt wrong—thick with dark magic that pressed against skin like oil, making every breath an effort. Halie's holy symbol, a simple silver disk etched with prayers to her goddess, began to fail first. Its surface bubbled like hot lead under an unseen flame, the sacred light dimming until it flickered like a candle in wind.

Jeane stepped forward, her crimson eyes narrowed in concentration as she raised her wand. The arcane energy crackled around her fingertips, responding to her will despite the ambient corruption trying to snuff it out. "Everyone stand back!" she shouted over the clatter of bone on stone. "I'm going to try something that might… well, it's either going to work or make things a lot worse." Her dark leathery wings unfurled slightly, their tips glowing faintly with contained power.

Halie raised her failing symbol higher, focusing all her will into the corrupted metal. The air crackled around her, dark energy pressing against her skin like physical weight. "We can't fight like this!" she called out, her voice cutting through the clatter of bone on stone. "Our weapons and spells aren't working properly in here. We need to find a non-destructive way through these defenses."

Merrin slipped forward with practiced ease, her keen eyes scanning the wall's surface for any sign of weakness or hidden mechanisms. The dark magic pulsed against her skin like a physical force, making her flinch slightly but not backing away. "Alright, let's see what we're dealing with here," she muttered, leaning in to study the intricate patterns etched into the stone. "Jeane, these runes are… interesting. And probably dangerous as hell."

Seraphine began weaving a protective ward around their position, her fingers tracing complex sigils in the air while she chanted under her breath. The arcane energy flickered and dimmed as it fought against the ambient corruption, but held steady with her focused concentration. Varrika moved to flank Merrin, her heavy mace at the ready in case any skeletons got too close.

The horde of skeletons pressed forward, their bony hands reaching out hungrily, but the group's combined defensive efforts kept them at bay for now. The air grew thicker with each passing moment, the dark magic growing stronger as more undead joined the assault.