Round 19

The stone tower stood as a monument to forgotten power, its facade crumbling under centuries of neglect and something far more insidious. The magic that pulsed through its walls wasn't mere defense—it was predatory, feeding on something within. Merrin approached the structure with practiced caution, her rogue's senses on high alert.

The ground beneath her boots vibrated faintly in rhythm with the pulsing green light that now seemed obvious from this vantage point. She pulled out her tools—lockpicks, crowbar, and other implements of her trade—moving with an efficiency born of countless similar situations despite the fatigue gnawing at her muscles.

"Any weak spots?" Merrin called out, her voice barely carrying over the wind whistling past Jeane's wings as the succubus woman circled higher. "Hidden entrances? I need to know what we're up against before we try breaking in." Her dark eyes studied the pattern of wards visible on the stonework, forming a maze designed to consume intruders rather than merely repel them.

Jeane beat her wings steadily, rising higher over the structure. The air grew thicker with each meter gained, tasting of something oily and wrong that made her want to gag. She circled once more, her crimson eyes narrowing as she studied the pattern of wards.

"I'm getting a full aerial map first," Jeane replied, her voice strained from the effort of maintaining altitude while fighting the thick air. "The upper levels are too dark—something's absorbing light up there. And these wards... they're not passive. They're feeding."

Halie stepped forward, her cleric's robes rustling softly in the wind. "Jeane, fly higher and give us a proper map of what's above us," she commanded, her voice firm despite the apprehension visible in her eyes. "Merrin, Varrika—map every stone on the ground floor. If something feels wrong or looks out of place, mark it immediately." She turned to Seraphine. "Start casting that wider detection spell now, but do it quietly."

The tower's magic pulsed again, a wave of hunger that seemed to taste the air around them. They had perhaps an hour before whatever was inside noticed their presence snooping at its doorstep.