Round 25

The ancient gate loomed before them, its surface crawling with intricate runes that pulsed with a malevolent light. The magic felt wrong—old and dark, sentient in a way that made the hairs on the back of their necks stand up. Jeane stepped forward, her fingers tracing the symbols carefully as she cast Detect Magic.

"Fuck," she hissed under her breath. "This isn't just a ward. It's... alive. Or something like it." The power thrummed against her skin, cold and hungry. She signaled Merrin to back away from the gate immediately. "Put those iron tools down. Now."

Merrin complied, stepping back with her hands raised. "Got it. No poking the angry magic door with metal things. Message received loud and clear." She glanced around at the others, her expression showing both apprehension and curiosity.

Seraphine moved closer to the gate, her sharp eyes studying the runes intently. "This is fascinating," she murmured, more to herself than anyone else. "The spellwork is... unlike anything I've seen before. It's not just defensive—it's aggressive." She traced a pattern with one finger, following its path across the stone. "See how these lines connect here? It's not just about keeping us out; it's designed to... do something."

Jeane nodded, her crimson eyes fixed on the pulsating symbols. "To do something bad, you mean. Like maybe curse us or animate more undead guardians?" She turned to Merrin. "We need to figure this out before we try to force our way in. I don't want to trigger some ancient death trap just because you got impatient."

Merrin snorted. "Impatient? I'm the one who suggested we scout ahead and gather intel before busting down the door." She glanced back at the gate warily. "But yeah, no arguments here. Let's figure out what this thing does before we start dancing with it."