Round 1

Amidst the Whispering Woods' eerie silence, the crumbling tower stood as a monolith, its stone walls cracked and blackened, roots clawing through the mortar like skeletal fingers. The heavy gate, etched with ancient runes, pulsed with faint violet light, casting an otherworldly glow on the damp earth. Jeane's dark wings half-extended for balance, she circled the gate slowly, tracing one rune with a clawed finger as her companions watched with bated breath.

Halie stepped closer to the gate, her holy symbol held out not for its magic yet, but as a focus for her thoughts. "This binding work is ancient evil," she murmured, her eyes tracing the runes while her mind sorted through prayers and wards that might turn this defense. Merrin, meanwhile, edged around the gate, her nimble fingers searching for any weaknesses in the arcane lock. Seraphine stood beside Halie, her eyes fixed on the pulsing runes with an air of quiet reverence, while Varrika eyed the gate warily, her calloused hands tightening on her mace.

As the companions worked, the forest's mist curled around the tower's base, muffling distant howls that seemed to come from all directions at once. The air hung heavy with old magic and wrongness, making the halfling rogue's skin crawl. Yet, despite the ominous atmosphere, Merrin's fingers moved with a practiced ease, tracing the edges of the runes in search of a hidden catch. Seraphine's eyes sparkled with arcane knowledge, her hand instinctively moving to the heavy tome of forbidden lore tucked into her belt pouch. Varrika's gaze swept the shadows at the forest's edge, muscles tensed for combat, ready to face whatever lay beyond the gate.