Round 63 Transcript

As Seraphine finishes her ward, the ancient Prison Guardian takes a step closer, its malevolent gaze fixed on Varrika. The air around it seems to ripple with dark energy, and the ground trembles beneath their feet. Suddenly, the sound of rushing water grows louder, and a figure bursts into the chamber, dodging the guardian's swipe by mere inches. It's Halie, her eyes wide with fear and her hands clutching a small, glowing artifact. "Varrika, wake up!" Halie cries, dropping to her knees beside Varrika and frantically shaking her friend's shoulder. "We have to go, now!" The guardian's growl intensifies, and it raises a massive hand, ready to strike.

Jeane's wings snap open in alarm as she watches Seraphine and Halie stumble into what looks like a suicide run. "Enough!" She slams her palm onto the scrying table with enough force to crack its surface, unleashing a torrent of telekinetic energy downwards through stone. "I told you—don't engage that thing directly!"
Her eyes burn with frustrated anger as she sees Seraphine trying to rouse Varrika and Halie rushing in blindly. "Two minutes—that's how long my interference will hold. Do something useful before I lose control of the spell."

The scrying map shows three other signatures converging—skeletons, by the look of it—and that ancient guardian is still fixated on Varrika for reasons Jeane cannot fathom. The whole situation has "ambush" written all over it. She grits her teeth, conflicted between staying in overwatch and teleporting down to force a decision. "Seraphine! If you can't wake her, leave her—we'll come back with proper preparations. Right now, surviving is more important than heroics!"

Jeane's fingers dance across the scrying table, weaving additional wards that shimmer in the air above their positions. "Halie—I'm boosting your defenses from up here, but you need to move! That thing isn't just some mindless monster—it's hunting something specific!" She taps a rune and sends a burst of telepathic energy downwards. "Varrika is the target—whatever you do, don't let that guardian get its hands on her!"

Her crimson eyes narrow as she notices something new on the map—the sound Halie heard was no coincidence. Something else is stirring in the depths, something even older than the Prison Guardian. "New threat incoming," Jeane announces grimly. "I'm seeing a fourth signature—bigger than all the others combined—and it's moving fast."

Seraphine's heart hammers against her ribs as she feels the ancient power of the guardian press down upon them all. The air crackles with its malevolent intent, and every instinct screams at her to flee. Yet, she knows they cannot leave Varrika behind, not like this.
Jeane's furious telepathic message cuts through her fear like a knife, a stark reminder of their precarious situation. "Leave her," the sorcerer commands, her voice a silent roar in Seraphine's mind. "We'll come back for her later."
Seraphine shakes her head, a small, defiant movement. Her eyes lock onto Varrika’s still form, unmoving against the chamber wall. She can feel the guardian’s attention shift, its gaze now fixed solely on the unconscious elf. A cold dread settles in her stomach.
"I can't," she whispers, the words lost in the sudden rush of water and the guardian's enraged growl. "We don't know why it wants her specifically."
She turns to Halie, who is frantically trying to rouse Varrika. The summoner looks terrified, her eyes wide and her movements frantic. "Halie!" Seraphine shouts over the chaos. "Help me get her up! We have to move now!"
As they struggle with Varrika's limp body, Seraphine feels a sudden surge of power course through her. It’s Jeane's telekinetic boost, lending them strength. Together, they manage to haul Varrika to her feet, one on each side holding her upright.
The guardian lunges, its massive hand outstretched towards Varrika. Seraphine screams a word of power, pushing every ounce of magical energy she can muster into a barrier spell. The ward flares into existence, a shimmering shield that repels the creature for a moment, buying them precious seconds.
"Go!" Seraphine cries, shoving Halie and Varrika towards the door. "Get out of this room!"
She follows them, her back pressed against the cold stone wall as she staggers backward. The guardian snarls in frustration, its rage seeming to intensify with every step they take away from it. But they are moving now, fleeing for their lives.
The tunnel behind them echoes with the sound of pursuit, a low, thundering rumble that seems to come from everywhere at once. Seraphine risked a glance over her shoulder and froze. "Jeane," she thinks, sending the message with all the telepathic strength she can muster, "the guardian isn't alone. There's something else coming—the ground is shaking."