Round 8

The violet glow of the rune-covered gate pulsed with an otherworldly energy, casting flickering shadows on the cracked stone as Varrika stood watch beyond Halie's light. The air was heavy with moisture and unseen movement, and Merrin's wiry frame scanned the shadows, her dark eyes alert for any sign of undead. Seraphine's slender fingers danced across the arcane script etched into the gate, seeking hidden weaknesses in the ward's magic.

Jeane's voice cut through the oppressive silence, her words indistinguishable from the crackling energy that fueled her magic. The Forceful Ward Extension held firm, but Varrika's crossbow remained at the ready, scanning the darkness for any sign of movement. Halie's light cast an eerie glow on the stonework, and Merrin's crossbow bolt was loaded, poised to strike if the undead breached the perimeter.

As the minutes ticked by, Seraphine's scrying ritual revealed a hidden pattern in the ward's magic, a vulnerable thread that could be exploited to gain entry. Varrika's eyes narrowed, her grip on her crossbow tightening as she watched the shadows, ready to intervene at a moment's notice. The forest held its breath, waiting for the party's next move, as the violet glow of the gate pulsed with an otherworldly energy.