Round 17

Varrika stood between Halie and the gate, her silver holy symbol at the ready, as the faint runes pulsed with an otherworldly energy. The ward's hum had grown weaker, its power waning like a dying breath, leaving the party to face the unknown dangers beyond the gate. Varrika's eyes scanned the tower's interior, her hand tightening on her mace as she searched for any sign of movement. Halie, meanwhile, felt the residual magic in the runes, her eyes widening with a mix of excitement and trepidation.

As Varrika spoke, her words were laced with a practiced caution, born from years of battling undead threats. The air was heavy with ancient power, and Varrika's instincts screamed at her to be vigilant. Seraphine's quill scratched against parchment with increased urgency, her brow furrowed in concentration as she tried to decipher the sequence of light and shadow that would unlock the gate.