Round 20

Jeane steps back from the corridor's threshold, her crimson eyes narrowing as she studies the pulsing symbols on the walls. The demonic magic here is thick and wrong—rotten, almost, like old meat left in the sun too long. "Halie has the right of it," Jeane says coolly to Varikka, who stands mace-ready at the edge of darkness. "Those breathing marks aren't natural arcana—they're demon-work... Merrin edged closer to the dimly lit corridor, her crossbow at the ready. The air in this place was thick with a malevolent energy that made her skin crawl. Those breathing symbols on the walls... they were not natural. There... Seraphine felt her heart hammering against her ribs as she stepped into the corridor's mouth, her keen elven eyes straining to make out more than just the faintly glowing symbols on the wall. The air itself seemed to hum with an unnatural energy, heavy and cloying in her lungs. "This magic... it isn't right," *she murmured, more to herself than anyone else. She took a slow step forward, her hand reaching up to touch one of the pulsating runes carved into the stone...

Varrika's grip tightened on her mace as she watched Seraphine venture deeper into the corridor. "Wait!" The dwarf woman called out, her voice echoing off the stone walls. "We don't know what kind of trap this might be—let me go first..." But it was too late. As soon as Seraphine's fingers made contact with the rune, a low rumble echoed through the corridor, and the symbols on the walls began to glow even brighter, pulsing in time with something unseen. "Merrin, get back!" Halie shouted, her hand already reaching for one of the healing potions at her belt. "This isn't good—something's activating!"

Jeane felt a surge of dark energy wash over her as the symbols flared to life, and she quickly began chanting a protective spell, her wings spreading instinctively for balance. "Everyone, form up!" she commanded, her voice tight with concern. "Whatever's happening here, it's not going to be pleasant..."