Round 1

As Jeane circled the ancient rune-covered gate, her crimson eyes gleamed with an unnerving intensity, her black curved horns casting a faint shadow on the surrounding trees. Halie watched from the periphery, her blue-grey eyes narrowed in concern as she held up the Silver Holy Symbol of the Goddess of Light, its gentle glow illuminating the dark recesses of the Whispering Woods. Merrin's fingers danced across the gate's surface, her wiry frame tensed with anticipation, while Seraphine's sharp gaze followed Jeane's every move, her dark elegant hair rustling softly in the still air.

Jeane's voice was a low, husky purr as she spoke of the lock's intent, tracing one sigil with a sharp nail. Halie's hand hovered over the symbol, her fingers trembling slightly as she considered the risks of using it to test the gate's worth. Merrin's eyes sparkled with mischief, her smile a thin line as she replied about the need for more than just picks to breach the lock. Seraphine's voice was a whisper, her words echoing Jeane's observation about the lock's intent, her gaze tracing the complex patterns etched into the wood.