Round 828

The chamber opened before them like a yawning maw, the air inside cool and damp against their skin. Water filled the space, flowing in from a narrow channel at one end and disappearing into another at the opposite side. The blue glow came from luminescent algae clinging to the stone walls, casting everything in an ethereal light that made shadows dance.

Merrin surfaced with a gasp, her eyes wide as she took in their surroundings. The water lapped at her waist, cold and insistent against her skin. She looked around quickly, cataloging details—Varikka nearby, ankle swollen, face set in pain; the current tugging at her legs; the vast space of the chamber stretching out before them.

"Everyone alright?" she called out, her voice echoing slightly off the stone walls. Varikka shifted her weight, balancing on one foot with obvious discomfort. "Everyone but me," the warrior growled. "My ankle's shot." Merrin waded closer through the water, stopping when it reached her chest. The current grew stronger here, pulling at her legs.

"How bad is it?" she asked, already knowing the answer. Varikka's injury limited mobility severely, and in a space like this with rising water...