Round 34

The gate's runes pulsed with malevolent light, each symbol seeming to stare at the party like cold, calculating eyes. A heavy thud resonated from within the tower, growing louder by the second. Varrika stepped forward, her scarred hands gripping a massive mace. "Halie, stay sharp," she growled. "We need your faith now more than ever." The dwarf woman positioned herself between the cleric and the ominous gate, her expression grim.

Jeane approached cautiously, her wings tucked close to her body. She extended a hand towards the runes, feeling their power pulse against her own magic. "A sentient ward," she whispered. "Ancient beyond reckoning." The symbols weren't just markings—they were eyes watching them, studying their every move. Whatever was inside had stopped its approach, now simply... observing.

Merrin circled the gate warily, her rogue's instincts screaming warnings. She muttered under her breath, "Ugh, I hate magical defenses. Always so...icky." But she kept her fear in check, focusing on finding any physical traps first. She motioned for Varrika to hold back with her weapon.

Halie stepped back, her silver cross clutched tightly in one hand. "I feel it," she said, her voice tight. "Something ancient behind those eyes carved into the stone—alive, yes, but wrong in ways my faith doesn't recognize." She turned to Seraphine. "What do you sense?"

The elf wizard stood before the gate, her dark elegant hair catching the dim light. Her keen eyes traced the runes' patterns, a shiver running down her spine. "Halie," she murmured, "can you feel that? What does your faith tell you about what we're facing here?" The wrongness emanating from those sigils was palpable, a chilling aura that seemed to seep into her very bones.

The runes pulsed faster now, their light growing brighter and more insistent. The ground trembled again as another heavy thud sounded from within the tower. Whatever lay beyond the gate was no longer just observing—it was responding to their presence.