Round 83

Seraphine's heart pounds in her chest as she teeters on the edge of the chasm, the wind whipping past her face. She can feel the precariousness of her footing, the sheer drop below. Halie! She cries out, her voice barely carrying over the rush of air. Grab onto something solid—quickly! Her eyes dart around frantically, searching for any handhold or anchor point that might save them both from plummeting into the darkness. The adrenaline surges through her veins as she fights to maintain her balance, muscles trembling with exertion.

Below, Halie moves to interpose herself between Jeane and the construct, her hand closing around the hilt of her heavy mace. Her voice cuts through the crackling air, sharp with barely contained urgency. Seraphine— She begins, but her words are cut short as the bound spirit's runes pulse faster in response to Jeane's words—each beat sending a fresh wave of dark energy across the chamber. Stand back. Both of you. This isn't a negotiation we can win with threats or bravery alone. The cleric's eyes narrow as she studies the ethereal figure, her grip on her weapon tightening imperceptibly.

Jeane steps closer to the edge of her precarious platform, eyes scanning the abyss below. Forty-nine rounds... so that's why we found ourselves split across this chasm in the first place: Merrin’s death destabilized the tower structure even further. Her fingers tighten around her wand—magic crackles along its shaft as she focuses on the immediate threat rather than the emotional weight. That changes things significantly, but it doesn't change what we need to do now: get down there and...

Above, Seraphine manages to shift her weight just in time, finding a secure foothold on an outcropping of stone. She lets out a shaky breath, relief flooding through her. Thank the gods... She mutters, then looks up at Halie still precariously attached to the beam. Halie! Are you okay? Can you see any way down without using that unstable catwalk?

Below, Halie's expression remains grim as she considers Jeane's words. Getting down there is one thing, but what about getting back up? She glances at the rapidly disintegrating structure above them. And even if we manage it, releasing whatever's trapped in this chamber... that could have consequences we can't predict. Are you sure this is worth the risk?

Jeane meets Halie's gaze steadily, her voice firm despite the gravity of their situation. Worth the risk? Merrin’s down there—our friend, our party member. We don’t leave people behind. She gestures with her wand towards the construct. Besides, whatever this thing is, it clearly knows something about what happened to Merrin. And if freeing those spirits is the key to getting her back... well, we might not have a choice.

Seraphine calls down from above. Wait! Both of you—stop! She scrambles to find a better vantage point, her heart racing as she watches the precarious situation unfold below. I think I see something... a different path down. But it looks incredibly dangerous—narrow ledges and barely any handholds. Are you sure this is the only way?

Halie's eyes narrow as she considers the options. Not the only way, no. But it might be the safest route given how unstable everything else is. She turns to Jeane, her expression a mix of concern and resignation. Fine. We'll proceed with caution—one at a time, checking each handhold and foothold before committing weight. But if anything feels wrong, we stop immediately. Understood?

Jeane nods, a determined set to her jaw. Understood. I’ll go first—if the structure collapses completely, at least one of us can still coordinate from above. She begins to carefully make her way towards the ledge Seraphine spotted, her movements deliberate and measured.

As Jeane starts her descent, Halie moves to follow, her cleric's training kicking in as she methodically checks each potential handhold. Stay close to the wall—reduces the chance of loose stones falling on us. She calls up to Seraphine. You keep watch above. If anything changes or looks unstable, warn us immediately.

Seraphine nods, settling into a crouch for better stability. I’ll be your eyes above. Don’t worry—I won’t let you fall without doing everything in my power to stop it. She begins to carefully scan the walls and ceiling for any sign of movement or instability, her fingers crossed metaphorically as she prays for their safe descent.

As they continue their careful descent, the air grows colder, and an ominous silence settles over the chamber below. The runes on the construct pulse with each step closer to it, sending ripples of dark energy across the stone floor.