The Cromwell Chronicles · Shadow of the Ancients Run 011

In the heart of the Whispering Woods, a crumbling stone tower looms, its gate sealed by ancient runes that pulse with a cold violet glow. Jeane, the sharp‑eyed sorceress, kneels before the barrier, tracing its secrets with fingers that never touch stone, while Halie offers calm prayers and healing potions to steady the party.

Merrin, the deft engineer, searches for hidden mechanisms; Seraphine, the arcane scholar, deciphers the binding magic; and Varrika, battle‑scarred and cautious, tests the gate’s integrity with a crowbar.