Round 13

The ancient stone groans under immense weight, a sound like the earth settling after centuries of waiting. The gate's surface pulses with a hungry light that makes the skin crawl—ravenous magic sleeping until someone wakes it wrong.

Jeane moves closer to Merrin, her tall frame bending to study the lock mechanism over the halfling's shoulder. Her crimson eyes trace the runes with predatory focus, reading danger in every carved line. "Wait," she hisses, voice tight with apprehension. "These aren't just barriers—they're triggers." The gate groans again from inside—something heavy moving against stone. Footsteps approaching.

Merrin's picking at the lock mechanism, her halfling fingers nimble but careful now, listening. "Looks like a ward-breaker rune here," she mutters, pointing to a small symbol near the main lock. The metalwork around it glows faintly with trapped power.

Halie steps between Varrika and the gate, hand raised in warning. Her blue-grey eyes are fixed on the pulsing runes, jaw set in determination despite the fear coiling in her gut. "Wait," she says, voice steady despite the dread crawling up her spine. "We don't know what these runes do." She glances at Merrin's tools. "Merrin, put down that iron. Jeane—" The succubus is already tracing symbols in the air with her finger, eyes gleaming with dangerous curiosity. "—stop that. We need to assess this thing properly before we start poking it."

She draws her holy symbol, letting its silver catch what little light filters through the trees. A prayer forms on her lips but breaks off as the gate's magic pulses again, stronger this time. The footsteps inside pause, waiting.

Jeane moves closer to Merrin, her tall frame bending to study the lock mechanism over the halfling's shoulder. Her crimson eyes trace the runes with predatory focus, reading danger in every carved line. "Wait," she hisis...