Round 983

The narrow stone tunnel stretches ahead into darkness, illuminated only by the flickering blue glow from deeper within. Merrin moves forward cautiously, her mace held ready in one hand while the other traces the rough wall beside her. The passage walls are slick with moisture, and water drips steadily somewhere nearby, each droplet echoing through the confined space. The air grows colder as she progresses, carrying a faint metallic scent.

Suddenly, her foot slips on something smooth and slick covering the stone floor. Merrin stumbles, catching herself against the wall just in time to avoid falling completely. She looks down to see a thick coating of oily substance clinging to the rock beneath her boots. "Wonderful," she mutters under her breath, shifting her weight carefully to maintain balance. The passage opens up ahead, revealing a larger chamber bathed in the same eerie blue light.

Merrin approaches the threshold slowly, her eyes scanning every detail of the space beyond. What she finds is a large pool of still water dominating the center of the chamber, its surface reflecting the strange blue illumination from above. The sight sends a shiver down her spine—she's already come close to drowning once today, and the thought of stepping into unknown waters fills her with dread.