Round 36

The tower looms overhead like a monolith of stone and shadow, its ancient magic seeping from every crack and seam. The runes covering the massive gate are no longer just symbols—they writhe with an unsettling animation, each one seeming to stare at the party with cold, calculating eyes. A heavy thud resonates from within the structure, growing louder by the second. Varrika steps forward, her scarred hands gripping a massive mace. “Halie, stay sharp,” she growls. “We need your faith now more than ever.” The dwarf woman positions herself between the cleric and the ominous gate, her expression grim. Jeane approaches cautiously, her wings tucked close to her body. She extends a hand towards the runes, feeling their power pulse against her own magic. “A sentient ward,” she whispers. “Ancient beyond reckoning.” The symbols aren’t just markings—they’re alive in some way, their energy malevolent and hungry.

Merrin edges closer to the gate, her heart hammering in her chest. The runes pulse with an eerie energy, their eyes seeming to follow her every move. She can practically feel the ancient magic emanating from them, making the hairs on the back of her neck stand up. “Careful now,” she murmurs to herself, reaching for her lockpicks with trembling hands. “No telling what these sigils might do if we’re not gentle...”

Seraphine watches from a safe distance, her sharp eyes studying the magical barrier. The air around the crumbling stone tower feels thick with an ancient power, pressing down on their shoulders like a physical weight. She can feel it even through her heavy robes, a wrongness that makes her stomach turn. The runes covering the gate are more than just symbols—they seem to watch them, their eyes glowing with an unsettling intelligence. It’s a magic so old and tainted it turns her stomach.

Varrika keeps her heavy mace at the ready as she watches the runes on the gate pulse and shift before them. Whatever’s in there knows they’re here now. And I don’t think it’s planning to roll out the welcome mat. Halie, stay sharp. We need your faith now more than ever. Merrin, keep that crowbar handy.