Round 36

The tower's main gate swung open with a groan that seemed to echo the very stone of the place. Darkness yawned beyond the threshold, punctuated only by the ominous pulse of ancient runes lining the walls. The air inside was thick with dust and something else—an old magic that made Halie's skin crawl despite her faith. She paused at the entrance, her hand instinctively moving to the silver holy symbol at her neck, its cool metal a comforting anchor in this swirling chaos.

Seraphine stepped forward, her staff held ready as she scanned the shadows with practiced eyes. "Stay close," she warned softly. "Whatever opened this gate, it wasn't friendly." The runes on the walls seemed to pulse faster in response to their presence, their light casting harsh patterns across the stone floor. Jeane followed, her wings tucked tight against her back in the cramped space. She could feel the magic pressing in from all sides—cold and ancient and wrong.

Varrika brought up the rear, her crossbow held ready as she scanned the darkness behind them. The corridor stretched on into blackness, the walls lined with those damned pulsing runes that made her skin crawl. She could feel it too—the magic here was actively hostile to her presence, pressing down like a physical weight. And Merrin was already striding ahead without a second thought, leaving them all exposed in this cursed place.

The growl echoed off the stone walls again—closer this time—and a pair of glowing eyes materialized in the shadows, watching the party. The runes pulsed faster now, their glow intensifying as if in challenge. The air grew colder still, heavy with magic that pressed down on them from all sides. Varrika tightened her grip on the crossbow. "Merrin," she hissed. "Wait. We don't know what's in there."

Merrin paused, her hand still on the dagger at her belt. The corridor ahead stretched into darkness, the walls lined with those damned pulsing runes that made her skin crawl. She could feel it too—the magic here was actively hostile to her presence, pressing down like a physical weight. And Varrika was already striding ahead without a second thought, leaving them all exposed in this cursed place.

The growl echoed off the stone walls again—closer still—and a pair of glowing eyes materialized in the shadows, watching the party. The runes pulsed faster now, their glow intensifying as if in challenge. The air grew colder still, heavy with magic that pressed down on them from all sides. Merrin's grip tightened on her dagger. "We need to be careful," she whispered. "Whatever opened this gate, it wasn't friendly."