Round 21 Transcript

Jeane's arcane gesture sends a weak but present pulse of magic through the ancient runes, and the ward hums in response. The air crackles with malevolent energy as the runes pulse in time with Jeane's gesture. A low, raspy voice echoes from beyond the gate, "You should not have come here."

The unknown entity within the tower takes a slow step forward, its presence marked by an unsettling silence that seems to press against the party's eardrums. The skeletons at the gate, their bony hands grasping rusted hilts, seem to be waiting for some signal, their empty sockets fixed on the approaching figure.

I watch in silence as Jeane traces the ancient runes, her fingers hovering just above the pulsing stone surface. The air crackles with an energy that makes my skin crawl, and I can feel the magic of this place pressing against my own spells like a physical weight.
The ward is alive, no question about it. This isn't mere stonework—these are wards bound with dark magic older than your goddess or mine. Whatever's in there, whatever's making those footsteps... it knows we're here now.
I turn to Halie, seeing the same unease reflected in her eyes. She nods almost imperceptibly, confirming my own fears. The power emanating from this gate is unlike anything I've encountered before, and I can only imagine what horrors lie waiting within.
"I need to cast a few divination spells," I murmur to Jeane, my voice so low it's almost lost in the air. "To get a better sense of what we're dealing with here. But first, Merrin - put those iron tools away. Right now."

I trace the runes carefully, feeling their ancient energy pulse against my fingertips. This isn't mere stonework—these are wards bound with dark magic older than your goddess or mine. The ward is alive and it doesn't want visitors. Merrin, put down those tools right now. Iron might trigger whatever defenses this thing has left. Seraphine, cast a simple detection spell on the gate—something to gauge what we're dealing with before we stumble into it blindly. Whatever's in there, whatever's making those footsteps... it knows we're here now. I can feel it watching us through the stone. The magic pulses like a wounded heart beneath this tower. We proceed at my signal alone.

I eye the pulsing runes warily, my hand twitching towards my lockpicks before I remember Jeane's warning. With a sigh, I step back and cross my arms, trying to ignore the prickling sensation of ancient magic on my skin. "Alright, alright," I mutter. "No iron for now. But as soon as you give the word, I'm on that lock like a hawk on a mouse."

My gaze flickers to the dark corridor beyond the gate, and I can't shake the feeling that whatever's in there is watching us. Waiting. "Whatever's in there, it's coming," I say quietly, more to myself than anyone else. "And I just hope our magic can hold up against whatever dark power this tower hides."

I take a deep breath and let my hands fall to my sides, ready for whatever comes next. The rogue in me aches to test that lock, but the scout knows better. For now, we wait. And watch.