Round 66 Transcript

As Halie steps forward to touch the ancient runes, the pulsing light intensifies, casting eerie shadows on the stone walls. The air seems to vibrate with anticipation, as if the very fabric of reality is waiting for her next move. The creature beyond the portal lets out a low, rumbling growl, its eyes fixed menacingly on Halie. Seraphine's arcane connection hums to life, a gentle blue glow emanating from her outstretched hand as she focuses on anchoring the link.

Jeane stands at the edge of the ward she just cast, her crimson eyes fixed on Halie as she prepares to step through the portal. This is madness... sending our most pure-hearted into that abyss alone? She turns to Seraphine with a mix of concern and admiration. Wizard, you've crafted an impressive binding—clever work. But even your magic has limits. Her gaze sweeps across Merrin and Varrika, who stand ready at the entrance. If anything goes wrong in there, those wards might not hold against whatever darkness Halie stirs up. She takes a step forward, her wings rustling with barely contained energy. We should go in after her—all of us together. Strength in numbers, remember? This split approach... it leaves too much to chance. Her fingers trace the outline of her silver holy symbol absently. That creature beyond—it's no mere beast. I've felt its presence since we entered this cursed place. It's testing us. Jeane's voice drops lower as she continues, And there's something else. When that ancient entity fled... it didn't just disappear. I felt it, the moment the void opened—a rush of power like nothing I've encountered before. She looks at each party member in turn. We're playing with forces we don't fully understand. Halie's sacrifice—noble as it may be—could very well unleash something far worse. With a determined set to her jaw, Jeane moves toward the portal threshold. I'm going after her. This ends now—one way or another. If she falls to corruption, then I'll pull her out before she's beyond saving. And if that means facing whatever lies within... She meets Seraphine's gaze directly. ...then so be it. My magic is better suited for this than any of you realize. Jeane pauses at the edge of the ward, her hand hovering just above the shimmering barrier. Prepare yourselves. If I scream—run. But don't wait for permission to join me if things go south. Understood? Without waiting for a response, she steps through the portal, her form swallowed by darkness and ancient magic.

Seraphine:
I watch in stunned silence as Jeane steps through the shimmering portal, her form swallowed by the darkness within. The air crackles with the sudden release of her arcane barrier, leaving us exposed to whatever lies beyond. My heart hammers against my ribs as I turn to face Merrin and Varrika, who stand frozen in shock.
"You heard her," I say, my voice steadier than I feel. "We can't wait around for this to go wrong. She's out there alone with something we don't understand." I take a step towards the portal, my hand hovering over the ancient runes.
My mind races, trying to process the implications of what Jeane has just done. The binding I created was meant to protect Halie, not to send her into immediate danger. And yet, some dark part of me feels a thrill at the reckless courage displayed by my fellow adventurer.
"We need to move now," I continue, gesturing for Merrin and Varrika to follow. "That creature... it wasn't just some random beast. There's a purpose to its presence here, and I fear Jeane may have just stumbled right into it."
I glance at the creature still lurking beyond the threshold, its eyes fixed on us with unnerving intensity. A chill runs down my spine as I realize how fragile our position truly is. "Varrika, get ready to provide cover fire if that thing makes a move. Merrin, I need you to keep an eye on our six—make sure nothing sneaks up behind us."
With a deep breath, I push past the fear coiling in my gut and step forward, pushing through the shimmering barrier of the portal with a finality that leaves no room for retreat. The world blurs around me as I cross the threshold into a realm of shadow and arcane power.
"The binding," I whisper to myself, feeling the faint tug of Halie's presence deep within my own mind. "It still holds, but she's... changing."
The darkness swallows us whole, the air thick with the scent of old magic and decay. In the distance, I can hear a faint scream—Jeane's voice, raw with pain and fury. Without hesitation, I begin to weave my own spell, a counterspell to whatever dark force is clearly overwhelming her.
I chant under my breath, my hands moving in intricate patterns as I draw upon every ounce of my magical skill. The energy crackles around us, a visible ripple in the oppressive air. Merrin and Varrika fan out on either side of me, their weapons at the ready, as we push deeper into this accursed place, searching for our lost comrade.

I stumble against the wall, my vision clearing as reality shifts back into focus. The portal behind me pulses with a sickly green light, and I can hear... something. A low growl, wet and hungry. This is wrong—everything about this setup is off.

My fingers tighten around the crossbow, checking that it's loaded. Thirty feet of rope coils at my hip; eight torches in my pack; three healing potions around my neck. Weapons, supplies, faith—I have what I need to survive this. But survival isn't enough anymore. Not after... everything.

I should have stopped Jeane from going through that portal alone. Should have known better than to let Seraphine weave some arcane tether without understanding its cost. And Merrin—Gods, Merrin is still out there with whatever's lurking beyond this threshold.