Round 61

Halie moved forward with her holy symbol raised, her voice firm as she addressed the group. "Enough. We're not breaking in blind." She pulled out her journal and began to sketch the intricate runes covering the ancient gate, her brow furrowed in concentration. "Varrika, stand guard at the corner—you're our shield against anything that comes from within." Her gaze shifted to Jeane and Merrin, a clear warning in her eyes.

Jeane, however, remained rooted near the entrance, her crimson eyes fixed on the pulsing red symbols etched into the stone. The air around them seemed to thicken with each beat of the ward's magic, and she could feel the growing hunger emanating from within the tower. She turned to Merrin sharply as the halfling approached the lock, her voice low but urgent. "Stop fiddling with the lock—you're provoking it. And don't think about using your iron tools anywhere near that metal; it might be warded against such things."

Merrin paused, her hand hovering over the ancient mechanism. She could feel the ward's power like a physical pressure against her skin, and the whispers from within had grown more insistent, more... hungry. With a deep breath, she made her decision. She stepped back from the gate, her eyes meeting Jeane's for a moment before scanning the perimeter for alternative entry points.

The tower stood silent and ancient around them, its secrets locked away behind layers of magical defense. The sun began to set, casting long shadows across the clearing, as the adventurers faced their most challenging obstacle yet—the ward itself.