Round 14

The tower groans around them like a beast waking from slumber, dust sifting down from the ceiling in a fine rain. The rumble of collapsing stone echoes somewhere above, and Varrika instinctively ducks, one hand reaching for her mace hilt. "Move," she growls, shoving past Merrin toward the opening. "Before this whole cursed place comes down on our heads." Her massive frame barely fits through the gap, and she has to twist sideways to squeeze into the narrow passage, her armor scraping against stone. Seraphine steps forward, staff raised as she watches Varrika disappear into the darkness. "Wait," she calls out, her voice tight with concern. "Let me cast a light spell first—we can't afford to stumble in the dark." She begins to weave arcane patterns with her free hand, the air around her staff shimmering with magical energy. "Stay close," she warns, her eyes flicking between Merrin and Halie. "And be ready for anything."

As the magical light springs to life—a small orb of soft blue-white luminescence that hovers just above Seraphine's outstretched palm—their surroundings come into clearer view. The passage beyond is narrow—barely wide enough for a halfling to pass through comfortably—and descends at a steep angle into darkness. Merrin pauses halfway up, one hand still gripping the stone lip as she turns back to face the group. Her face is illuminated by the magical light, casting strange shadows across her features. "There's another way down," she reports, voice tight with both excitement and anxiety. "But it's tight—very tight." Her eyes flick to Jeane, then to Halie. "And I can't see the bottom from here." The tower groans again, louder this time, and a small cascade of stones tumbles down from above. "We need to move," Varrika's voice echoes up from below. "Now!"