Round 5 Transcript

Jeane's crimson eyes gleam with predatory intensity as she traces the shifting patterns of the rune with her gaze. The lock is ancient beyond measure—Drow craftsmanship, likely from before the surface wars. See how it responds to my voice? Her lips curl in a faint smirk. It recognizes demon blood when summoned properly. Halie's right—the silver symbol is heating because this gate was built to repel exactly our kind of power. But that means we have a window. The mechanism is triggered but not fully engaged—there's a moment before it activates completely. She moves closer, her leather-bound wings rustling softly. Varrika, stand ready with your mace. Merrin, stay back and don't touch anything yet. Jeane extends one hand toward the gate, her fingers spread like claws. A faint violet mist begins to coil around her arm, drawn from within her own shadow. I'm going to probe the lock mechanism directly. If I feel a trap or wards activating, I'll pull back immediately. Everyone else—be prepared to move on my mark. She closes her eyes briefly, focusing inward, and when she opens them again, they've gone fully black. Here we go. The violet mist from her shadow snakes toward the hand-shaped indentation in the gate, seeking the inner workings of the ancient lock.

I step closer, my silver holy symbol raised before me as I trace its edge with a thumb. This is no mere lock, Jeane. It's alive—reacting to your power like a beast tasting blood in the wind. My voice cuts through the growing tension. We cannot force this thing open carelessly. The cost of your magic is too high—and the price for awakening whatever sleeps beyond still higher. I turn to Merrin, her small frame already melting into the shadows at the tower's base. You're our key. Find us a seam, a crack, anything less... obvious than brute force or arcane seduction.*

To Seraphine, I add, Keep your spells ready but contained. We need stealth first, magic as last resort—agreed?

I edge closer, my eyes darting between Jeane's intense focus on the rune and Halie's raised holy symbol, its silver surface seeming to pulse with an otherworldly light. Easy now, you two. Let's not rush into anything we might regret. Keeping my voice calm and measured, I reach for my lockpicks, the familiar weight of the tools a small comfort in this unnerving moment. Jeane, your magic is stirring something old and powerful here. Halie's right—we need to be careful how we proceed. I kneel down, my nimble halfling fingers working at the gate's mechanism as I speak. Let me take a closer look. If there's a way to open this without risking a full activation of whatever's sealed inside... well, that's what I'm here for.