Round 4

As the violet runes pulsed with renewed energy, the party's collective tension ebbed slightly, though unease lingered beneath the surface. Halie's measured tone remained firm as she cautioned Varrika against impulsive action, urging Merrin to scout ahead while Jeane extended the ward's duration by 10 minutes through her Time-Stretching Cantrip. The sorceress's dark energy swirled around her hands, casting a protective cloak over the barrier as the runes glowed brighter, their intricate patterns unfolding like ancient hieroglyphs before Seraphine's inquisitive gaze. With her fingers tracing the runes' paths, she murmured, "These aren't just wards against undead." The air was heavy with anticipation, the flickering torches casting eerie shadows on the cracked stone as Varrika shifted her weight, her crossbow loaded and at the ready, finger resting lightly on the trigger, ever vigilant for signs of movement in the darkness beyond the light's reach.