Round 1

Amidst the Whispering Woods' oppressive gloom, a crumbling stone tower stood sentinel, its entrance sealed by an ancient rune-covered gate that breathed a faint, cold violet glow. The air was heavy with the scent of damp earth and decay, and the trees seemed to lean in, as if sharing a dark secret. Jeane's eyes gleamed like polished obsidian as she knelt before the gate, tracing patterns in the air with fingers that never touched the stone. Halie stepped forward, her silver holy symbol held aloft, and the symbols on the barrier pulsed in response to her prayer of unity and courage. Merrin searched for hidden mechanisms, her hands steady despite the chill seeping from the runes, while Seraphine examined the intricate runic patterns with a magnifying glass, murmuring about binding magic that seemed to keep something contained within. Varrika tested the gate's solidity, her battle-scarred hands tracing the rough stone, searching for cracks or weak points.