Round 12 Transcript

Elric takes a step back, his eyes wide with fear, and his hands raised in a defensive gesture. The dark energy within him seems to surge, causing the air around him to ripple with an otherworldly force. His voice trembles as he speaks, "I-I warned you about this! The barrier field is ancient, and it's been awakened by...by the darkness within you, Merrin."

A faint hum fills the air as the barrier field shimmers and pulses, illuminating the runes on the gate. The pulsing runes on the gate seem to respond to Elric's words, their light intensifying as they begin to display a cryptic message: " Shadow's grasp, darkness's key". The message is accompanied by a faint whisper, barely audible, but unmistakable in its malevolent intent: "Merrin, you will not leave."

I take a slow step back from the gate, my eyes fixed on the pulsing runes that seem to writhe against my skin even at this distance. The air here feels heavy, charged with an energy I can almost taste on my tongue. It's a darkness unlike anything I've ever sensed before, ancient and malevolent.
I turn my gaze to Merrin, seeing the grimace of pain etched into her face as she struggles to stand. The dark energy seeping from her leg is unmistakable now, a stark black tendril coiling around her calf like a serpent. My heart sinks into my stomach. This is not what we expected to find here.
"The runes... they're alive," I murmur, more to myself than anyone else. My voice is barely above a whisper, yet it cuts through the sudden silence that has fallen over our group. "And they don't seem happy to see us."
My mind races, trying to process what I'm seeing. The barrier field isn't just a magical construct - it's a living, breathing thing, and it's reacting violently to the dark presence within Merrin. I think of all the scrolls I've pored over in the library, all the tales of ancient evils slumbering in forgotten places. Could this be one of them?
I look at Elric, his eyes wide with fear. He knows more than he's letting on. That much is clear. But now isn't the time for questions. Now we need to act.
"We can't stay here," I say, my voice gaining a note of urgency. "Whatever that thing is, it's spreading through Merrin, and it's awakening the barrier field. We need to find a way inside the tower before either gets worse."
My eyes dart back to the gate, then to the ominous runes on its surface. Deciphering their sequence suddenly feels like the least of our worries. What matters now is stopping whatever dark force has taken hold of my friend and finding someplace safe - or at least less dangerous - than this cursed clearing.*

Jeane steps closer to the gate, hand hovering near the runes without touching them yet. Her gaze shifts between Merrin’s leg and Elric’s increasingly terrified expression. 'Shadow's grasp, darkness's key...' she reads aloud slowly, the words grating against her teeth. 'Whatever this is—it predates whatever fools occupy the tower now. The barrier isn’t reacting to them, it’s responding specifically to what’s inside Merrin. Which means we can either deal with this now and hope the thing doesn’t take root, or we wait until it’s too far gone to stop.' She turns fully to Elric then, her voice dropping to a tone that promises pain: 'Speak plainly. What is this thing? And more importantly—did you know about it? Because if you led us into a trap...'

Her wings flex unconsciously, and she draws power into herself—not enough for an offensive spell yet, but enough that the air around her crackles faintly with contained energy. The threat is clear in every line of her body: cooperate fully or suffer consequences. I need to understand this barrier field before we attempt any sequence on the gate. Merrin’s condition is my priority—whatever touched her, it wasn’t casual contact. If this thing takes root...we lose our scout and I’ll have to carry out a ritual exorcism that will draw exactly the kind of attention we’re trying to avoid.

I grip my mace tighter, staring at Elric's face. "Speak plainly," I say, voice steady despite the dread pooling in my stomach. "You knew about this...thing." The barrier field pulses again, runes flickering with malevolent light. Merrin needs help—dark energy is spreading fast. We can't just stand here while she gets worse.