Round 127 Transcript

As Jeane speaks, the ward spell she cast stabilizes the crumbling stone around them for a moment, but it's clear that time is running out. The ground shudders once more, and a section of the wall behind them gives way, sending a wave of dust and debris crashing down. A faint glow emanates from the darkness below, illuminated by the faint light of a spirit's presence. The Bound Spirit's malevolent energy surges through the air, making it difficult for Seraphine to focus. Jeane's grip on her arm tightens, her voice low and urgent. "We need to move, now. We can't let that thing down there get the upper hand." Suddenly, the torches on the walls flicker ominously, casting eerie shadows on the crumbling stone. A chunk of the floor gives way, sending a shower of rocks and debris down into the hidden chamber where Merrin fell.

Jeane's expression darkens at the urgency of Seraphine's words, her crimson eyes scanning the unstable ceiling above them. Freeing spirits is no small matter—we could be releasing untold horrors on ourselves. She pauses, considering the alternatives. But leaving Merrin down there... that's not an option either. Her wings twitch restlessly as she weighs their options, each beat stirring up more dust in the already choked air. Fine. We go after her directly—fast and decisive before this whole place collapses on us both. Jeane reaches for her crossbow, checking its load with practiced ease. You take point, use that keen perception of yours to spot any hidden dangers or magical traps. I'll cover our rear and keep an eye out for anything... untoward that might be following us. As Seraphine moves forward cautiously, Jeane's eyes narrow, fixed on the ominous glow emanating from below. And when we find Merrin—and whatever's down there with her—stay close. We may need to work together if things get ugly.

I take a deep breath, my heart hammering against my ribs as I step forward into the crumbling passage. The air is thick with dust and the acrid smell of ancient stone, but beneath it all, I can still feel that malevolent presence coiling in the darkness below. Jeane's ward spell has bought us a few precious moments, but I know it won't hold forever.
My fingers brush against the hilt of my heavy mace as I move, reassuring myself with its solid weight. The feeling of being watched intensifies as we descend deeper into the tower's bowels, the whispers of the bound spirits growing louder in my mind. They sound frantic now, like caged birds beating their wings against the bars of their prison.
We reach the edge of the collapsed floor, where a jagged hole yawns open into the unknown depths. A faint, eldritch light glows from below, casting eerie shadows on Jeane's face as she moves to stand beside me. Her expression is one of grim determination, but I see the flicker of something else in her eyes—fear, perhaps, or a deeper, more primal excitement.
I crouch down at the lip of the pit, peering into the darkness with my magelight held high. The beam cuts through the gloom, illuminating a twisted mass of ancient stone and rusted metal at the bottom, along with what looks like... a tattered robe? My breath catches in my throat.
"Merrin!" I call out, my voice echoing strangely in the confined space. There's no answer, only the continued whispering of the spirits, growing louder by the second.
"I think I see her," I say, turning to Jeane with a mixture of relief and apprehension. "But there's something else down there too. Something... old."