Round 690 Transcript

As Merrin struggles to grip the rope again, her fingers slipping from the frayed fibers, Varika's voice rings out across the ledge. "No, no, no! You have to hold on, Merrin! We can't give up now!" The Guardian takes another step closer, its eyes fixed intently on Merrin as the ground beneath her feet shudders violently. A chunk of stone dislodges from the ceiling above, crashing down mere inches from where Varika stands, sending dust and debris swirling around her. She ducks instinctively, her leather-bound book clutched tightly in one hand as she peers up at Merrin through the cloud of dust. "Merrin, look out! The Guardian is going to—"

The Guardian's gaze snaps towards Varika, its eyes narrowing as it takes another step closer.

I watch Merrin struggle to grip the rope again, my heart pounding in my chest as I see her fingers slipping from the frayed fibers. "No, no, no! You have to hold on, Merrin!" I cry out, my voice strained with effort as I try to pull myself up onto the ledge. "We can't give up now!"

But even as I shout, I know it's futile. The rope is weak, and my strength is fading fast. I can feel the ground beneath my feet shifting and shuddering, and the air is growing thick with noxious gas. And Merrin... she's still down there somewhere, lost in the darkness, and I don't know if she's alive or dead. I take a deep breath, trying to steady my nerves as I scan the ledge once more. But there's nothing - no other way down, no other way out. It's the rope or nothing at all. And so, with a silent prayer to whatever gods might be listening, I grip onto the ends of the rope and start hauling with all my might, my muscles burning with effort as I try to pull Merrin up to safety.

Shit! The rope... it's too weak! I feel my stomach drop as I watch Varikka tumble towards the edge of the ledge, her hands flailing wildly as she tries to regain her footing. The rope snaps, the frayed ends whipping through the air before falling limply to the ground. "Varikka!" I cry out, my voice filled with panic as I lunge forward, trying to grab onto her arm. But it's too late - she slips over the edge, her body disappearing into the darkness below. For a moment, there is only silence, broken by the distant sound of Varikka's scream echoing off the stone walls. Then, a splash - and then silence again. "No, no, no," I mutter under my breath, my heart pounding in my chest as I stare down into the chasm below. But there is no sign of Varikka, no movement in the dark waters that fill the bottom of the pit.