Round 23 Transcript

The runes on the ancient gate pulse with malevolent energy as the unknown entity takes another slow step forward, its approach accompanied by an unsettling silence. The ward hums in response to Jeane's gesture, its dark magic swirling around the party like a living entity. Merrin's hand tightens around her iron tools, and Varrika's grip on her heavy mace becomes more uneasy. As the tension builds, Halie casts a protective ward of her own, attempting to shield the party from the ward's malevolent energy. The air crackles with ancient magic as Seraphine examines the intricate patterns on the gate, feeling the cool stone beneath her touch. The runes hum in response, and the ward's energy surges, bathing the party in a faint, eerie glow.

The runes pulse beneath my fingertips—not dead stone but something alive, ancient malice condensed into sigils. I step back from the gate, my skin crawling despite the leather gloves. "Merrin, put down those tools right now." The iron in her hands could set off half a dozen traps before we even realize what's happening. The ward hums in response to my gesture, a low vibration that sinks teeth into my skull. Whatever's inside knows we're here. Knew the moment we stepped within its domain. The footsteps I heard earlier—slow, deliberate, measured—were no trick of wind or stone settling after centuries of neglect. Something large is moving towards this chamber. Seraphine's right; this isn't mere stonework. These wards are bound with dark magic older than our gods and our mothers combined. They remember who built them, what purpose they serve—and their orders haven't changed in five hundred years.

I approach the gate, silver holy symbol extended, tracing the runes with my eyes rather than hands. The magic here isn't just old—it's... alive? Conscious? I can feel it pulsing like a wounded heart beneath the stone. We need to document these sigils properly before Merrin touches them with iron, or we'll have traps springing left and right. And whatever's making those footsteps inside... it knows we're here now. The air feels wrong—heavy, like we're breathing through water. Varrika keeps glancing up at the tower's dark windows. I understand her unease, but we can't just stand here all day letting the magic wear on our nerves. Let's take an hour. Document the runes, cast some basic protective wards of our own, make sure Merrin knows exactly what she's dealing with before she even touches those locks.

I step closer to the ancient gate, my eyes tracing the intricate patterns of the runes carved into its surface. The stone is cool beneath my fingertips, yet I feel a strange warmth pulsing from them, like a heartbeat. A shiver runs down my spine as Merrin's iron tools clatter against the ground nearby.
"This isn't just a door," I murmur, more to myself than anyone else. "It's a living thing, a ward bound in dark magic older than any of us. The runes hum with a low, ominous vibration."
My gaze darts up to the top of the tower, where a single lit window glows like an angry eye in the gathering darkness. The unknown entity within has stopped its approach for now, but I can still feel its presence pressing against the ward like a fist against a door.
"We need to be ready," I say, turning back to face my companions. "Whatever's in that tower... it knows we’re here now. And it doesn’t seem happy about visitors."

Merrin eyes the pulsing runes warily as she steps back from the gate. She can practically feel the magic thrumming in the air, heavy and oppressive. Whatever this ward is, it's no ordinary barrier. "Right, no touching with iron," Merrin mutters, reluctantly putting away her lockpicks and crowbar. "Wouldn't want to set off some ancient curse or trap now, would we?" Her tone is light, but there's an undercurrent of tension in her voice. She glances sidelong at Jeane, gauging the sorcerer's reaction. "So what's the plan then, boss? We just wait for this thing to invite us in for tea and biscuits?"

Merrin knows she's being flippant, but the nervous energy buzzing under her skin needs an outlet. She takes a deep breath, trying to calm the flutter of unease in her stomach. Whatever's inside that tower... she has a feeling it's not going to be a pleasant reunion. Still, they've come this far. Might as well see what secrets this old ruin is hiding. Merrin squares her shoulders, ready to follow wherever this twisted path leads. Just so long as they all make it out in one piece.

I step forward, mace at the ready, as Merrin backs away from the gate. The pulsing runes have my hackles up—this ain't no ordinary ward. Whatever's in that tower, it knows we're here now. Halie, keep your distance. Let's document those runes first, make sure Merrin knows exactly what she's dealing with before she starts fiddling with any locks. Jeane, Seraphine—you two cast whatever divination spells you think might help. I'll keep watch and try to stay between Halie and the corridor. My heart's pounding but my grip on the mace is steady. We're all tired from the journey but there's no time for rest now. Whatever horrors lie waiting beyond this gate, we face them together. The Time-Splitting Sword is our goal and I'll see us through to it or die trying.