Round 26

The spiral staircase descended into darkness, each stone step groaning beneath Jeane's weight. The air grew heavy and cold—thick with decay that clung to her skin like cobwebs. Merrin's torchlight flickered far above, casting distorted shadows on ancient walls slick with moisture.

The runes here pulsed slower than those upstairs, almost lazy in their malevolence. Varrika's voice crackled over the comms: 'Jeane, I've got movement at the entrance—three skeletons so far. They're not rushing but they're definitely interested.'

Jeane nodded grimly to herself, crossbow held ready as she moved deeper into the chamber. The ground beneath her feet seemed to vibrate with dark energy—the sound of rushing water grew louder, and Merrin's faint cries echoed from somewhere above.

Seraphine descended carefully after Jeane, her heavy gear weighing her down as each step echoed in the oppressive silence. The runes here were unlike anything she'd seen before—fresh corruption layered over ancient wards. Her fingers traced one particularly vivid pattern as she passed, and she felt a jolt of wrongness crawl up her arm.

Whatever is happening down here, she thought, it feels... alive. The magic pulsed with an unsettling rhythm that seemed to match her own frantic heartbeat. She could feel Merrin's distress echoing up from below—she had to get down there and help before whatever lurked in these depths claimed them all.

The tower's dark heart pulsed with malevolent energy—the sound of a thousand dry bones clicking together from beyond the door. A voice like wind through graveyard weeds hissed out: 'Ahhh... fresh meat! So many years I've waited... so many souls feasted upon!'