Round 5 Transcript

As Merrin's tool scrapes against the runes, they flare suddenly in a burst of cold blue light, and a cold wind howls from the gateway arch, sending Halie and Varrika stumbling back. The air is filled with the stench of decay as the dark magic within the barrier surges to life. Jeane senses a warning in the runes' energy, urging her to be cautious. Merrin's lockpicks clink against the mechanism as she works to pick the ancient lock. Suddenly, the runes' glow intensifies, and the cold wind dies down, replaced by an eerie silence. The magical barrier seems to be... waiting.

I extend my senses past the barrier again, feeling that same ancient hunger pulsing through the stonework—the ward isn't just warning us away, it's actively seeking intrusion. The magic here is old and ravenous, tied to something sentient within those walls. Merrin, I'm telling you not to touch those locks with physical tools until we find a magical key or disable them some other way—if you force the mechanism, you could trigger every defensive spell they've layered on this place. To Seraphine: Your senses are keener than mine when it comes to such things. Can you detect any gaps in the ward's pattern? Any weak points we might exploit without setting off alarms? To Varrika and Halie: We need to approach this carefully—if that barrier is as hungry as I sense, forcing entry could mean walking into a killbox lined with magical traps and summoned horrors. Merrin's got nimble fingers, but even she can't out-tinker centuries of arcane security without the right tools first. To everyone: We're not barging in blind; we're methodical hunters, not clumsy intruders. The Time-Splitting Sword is ours by right—we just need to take it without feeding whatever's waiting inside.

I feel the weight of the wards pressing down on me like a physical force as I work the locks. The runes seem to pulse and shimmer with an ominous energy, warning me not to proceed. But we've come this far, and the prize awaits. I pause, taking a steadying breath. "Alright, here goes," I mutter under my breath, focusing intently on the intricate mechanisms before me. "If anyone senses anything magical that might cause us trouble, speak up now." I give Halie and Varrika a meaningful glance, hoping they'll keep their eyes peeled for any signs of danger lurking just beyond this barrier. With a final twist of my lockpicks, I feel the tumblers align. The wards seem to throb in warning, but I push through the resistance, bracing myself for what may come next. Slowly, with a grating creak of ancient stone, the gate begins to inch open...

I don't like this at all—the air grows heavy with each step closer. Merrin, stop fiddling with those locks! The runes aren't just warnings; they're teeth waiting to close on anything foolish enough to force its way through. Varrika, ready yourself—if we need to fight our way through undead or other nasties, I want your strength up front. Seraphine and Jeane, if either of you senses any gaps in the ward or magical traps linked to those runes, speak up now before Merrin accidentally triggers them.