Round 2

The ancient tower looms before them like a malevolent sentinel, its stones covered in runes that pulse with dark energy. The air around the entrance feels thick and heavy, almost resistant to their passage. A palpable tension settles over the group as they realize this is no mere historical site—the magic here is active and hostile.

Jeane circles the gate slowly, her senses extended outward in a subtle arcane probe. Her wings twitch slightly as she focuses, the leathery appendages a stark contrast against the gray stones. "There's movement nearby," she reports softly to the group. "Not inside yet, but close enough to be concerning." She runs a hand along one of themore intricate runes, her crimson eyes narrowing as she deciphers its purpose.

Halie steps forward next, her silver cross held out like a shield against unseen forces. The runes seem to pulse more intensely at her approach, and she takes an involuntary step back. "These aren't just symbols," she says, her voice tight with concern. "They're active wards—dark magic designed to keep us out or... something in." She turns to Merrin. "What do you think? Can we disable them safely?"

Merrin approaches the gate with practiced caution, her nimble fingers tracing the edges of the runes and the mechanism holding the door ajar. "Disabling them might trigger whatever's inside," she muses, more to herself than the group. "But I might be able to bypass them without setting anything off." She glances at Seraphine. "Any ideas from your studies? Something we can use against these things?"

Seraphine steps closer, her sharp eyes scanning the intricate patterns. The air around them shimmers with an ominous energy, like heat waves rising from a campfire at night. A chill runs down her spine, a primal fear of the unknown magic that pulses within those symbols. "The runes are old," she murmurs, more to herself than the others. Her voice is barely above a whisper as she continues, "I've seen similar patterns in forbidden tomes, but never encountered them in person. They're designed to... contain something."