Round 3

As Seraphine's fingers danced across the rune lattice, tracing each curve with a steady hand, the air around her seemed to vibrate with anticipation. The gate hummed softly, its ancient magic pulsing in time with the elf scholar's movements. Jeane hovered nearby, her dark wings rustling softly as she studied the runes with a sorcerer's trained eye. Her gaze was drawn to the violet light that reflected off the obsidian sheen of her skin and armor, a sense of unease creeping into her expression.

Meanwhile, Halie stood firm, her hand on Varrika's shoulder, pulling her back from the gate with a gentle yet insistent pressure. "Wait, Seraphine," she said, her voice low and measured. "Let us observe the full pattern first. Touching one without understanding the sequence could trigger something we're not prepared for." The violet light played across Halie's concerned features, her eyes darting between her and the runes.

Merrin worked quietly at the gate mechanism, her lockpicks clicking softly as she probed the keyhole with a practiced touch. Her focus was intense, her brow furrowed in concentration as she searched for the sweet spot that would let her manipulate the inner workings without setting off any alarms. Varrika stood watch, her mace gripped tightly in her scarred hands, muscles coiled and eyes alert for any sign of danger. The violet light pulsed ominously against her weathered armor, every instinct screaming to keep her companions safe.

As Seraphine continued her study, the air grew thick with ancient magic, an oppressive weight pressing down on them all. Her eyes darted from one glyph to the next, a frantic search for any subtle shift or vibration that might reveal the key to disarming the gate's curse. The silence was broken only by the soft hum of the gate and the occasional click of Merrin's lockpicks, a sense of tension building as they waited for the perfect moment to proceed.