Round 103 Transcript

Halie's concentration is interrupted by a faint creaking sound coming from the compartment behind her. She looks up from her sketching, her blue-grey eyes narrowing slightly as she senses the subtle change in the air's energy. The Bound Spirit within its circle stirs more violently, its coal-black eyes fixed on Halie with an unblinking gaze. Seraphine takes a cautious step back, her hand instinctively going to the hilt of her mace. Jeane calls out from above, her voice sharp and concerned, "Halie, be careful! The symbols on that box are definitely a warning. We need to figure out what they mean before you touch anything else."

The whispering in the air grows louder, and Halie's brow furrows in intense focus as she returns to her sketching. Suddenly, a small piece of parchment slips out from beneath the box, floating towards her like a ghostly message. Halie catches it, her eyes widening as she reads the cryptic message scrawled on it: "The Test begins where shadows fall."

Seraphine takes a deep breath, the air thick with an ancient, oppressive energy. She glances at the floating parchment in Halie's hand, her sharp eyes tracing the cryptic message. The 'Test begins where shadows fall' - it feels like a challenge, a dare whispered on the wind. Her fingers tighten around the hilt of her mace, the cold metal providing a small comfort against the unknown threat looming before them.
"Shadows and darkness... sounds like something right out of our worst nightmares," Seraphine mutters, her voice so low it's nearly inaudible. She looks around at the flickering torches, their flames casting long, dancing shadows across the chamber walls. "But Halie’s right—we can’t just leave this place without trying to find Merrin."
She turns back to Halie, who is still kneeling by the box, her brow furrowed in concentration as she works on the detailed sketch. The cleric's determination is admirable, but Seraphine feels a pang of worry for her friend. This kind of deep magical study can be dangerous, especially with something as powerful and malevolent as whatever lies bound here.
"Just... be careful, alright? Those symbols look like they could unravel your mind if you're not cautious," Seraphine says, stepping closer to offer what support she can. Her gaze drifts back to the Bound Spirit, its ethereal form writhing within its confinement. "And keep an eye on that thing. I don't trust anything that looks so... desperate."
As she speaks, Seraphine feels a familiar tingle in her fingers—a sign of the arcane energies swirling in the air. It's a sensation she usually finds exciting, but here, it feels ominous. She flexes her hands, trying to dispel the feeling.
"I can feel the magic building up. It's not just the binding—there’s something else at work here." She looks back at Halie. "Whatever this test is, whatever 'beginning' we've stumbled upon... I have a feeling it's going to push us to our limits."

Jeane stands on the precarious platform of shifting books, wings half-spread for balance. Ah—round 50 now. The catwalk collapse happened just before this round started. She looks up at Merrin's dangling form above her, then to Halie pulling desperately at the rope. We've got maybe ten seconds before this whole structure comes down. Jeane's crimson eyes glow faintly as she channels arcane energy into her hands.

I'm going to try and levitate Merrin—it's risky magic in these conditions but it might be our only chance! She raises both hands, palms up towards Merrin's position. Seraphine! Back away from that edge—the books are getting agitated. Jeane begins weaving an intricate gesture, her claws tracing glowing arcane symbols in the air around her. The platform beneath her shifts ominously as the tower responds to her magic with a groan of stressed stone. Hold on, Merrin! With a sharp exhale, Jeane unleashes her spell—an arcane force lances upward towards Merrin's form, wrapping around her body like spectral vines and lifting her off the beam. The magic pulses rhythmically as it struggles to maintain its hold against gravity and the shifting platform beneath Jeane.

Come on... come ON! The books forming her platform tilt dangerously as the arcane energy draws upon their unstable foundation. Keep pulling, Halie—it's not enough! Jeane's own feet scramble for purchase as the platform bucks like a restless horse. She braces one hand against the wall while maintaining the levitation spell with the other. Merrin! Grab onto something solid above you! The whispers in the air intensify to a frenzied chorus as the tower reacts to the magic being used within its walls. The crystal pulses faster now—each beat like a hammer striking an anvil of doom.

This is taking too long! Jeane snarls through gritted teeth. Halie, pull HARDER! As Merrin's form finally begins to rise towards safety, Jeane feels the platform beneath her give way completely. The books collapse inwards with startling speed, their ancient pages rustling like a thousand sinister wings.

[...] She plunges into darkness as the floor disappears.