Round 33 Transcript

At The base of a crumbling stone tower, the shared situation sharpens into an immediate decision point. What is already in motion no longer supports waiting or circling. The next concrete move will determine how this scene changes.

We cannot keep circling this cursed tower like lost children. The wards' hunger is already upon us—their feeding is an invitation we can't ignore if we hope to claim the Time-Splitting Sword. Jeane, I don't like sending you alone into that death trap above. But if Varrika charges in through the ground floor and trips some ancient snare, we'll lose our best fighter before even finding the real threat. I need five minutes of quiet focus to cast those wards away with divine power—five minutes none of us likely have while sneaking around this hungry stone mouth. Merrin, help me find cover where I can work my spell undisturbed while Varrika marks the facade from a distance. Jeane... gods keep you safe up there. Don't fly into anything that shouldn't be flying back. We're not backing away now—the wards have tasted us already. Our only option is to move forward with purpose, split their attention between multiple threats, and hope the entity upstairs responds more slowly than its starving pets. The goddess of light favors bold souls who face evil head-on, even when it's built like a fucking castle. If this goes wrong, at least we'll die trying instead of cowering outside like cowards while the sword stays trapped inside with whatever's feeding those damn wards.

I'm going up. The wards are feeding on proximity—they taste us already standing here. We're not backing away now; the trap's already sprung around this whole damn field. Varrika, mark those stones from back there—we need a map if I come down wrong. Merrin, you cover Halie while she works her light magic crap to clear our way in. Seraphine, keep mapping energy signatures below. I'll test roof access alone, see what's on top before we decide next steps. If something drops me from the sky or turns me into a smoking husk of my former glory, you have your orders already marked out. Don't waste time staring at empty sky wondering where I got myself snuffed. Move forward with what we've got left to work with. The wards aren't just barriers—they're fucking predatory. And that thing upstairs isn't sleeping anymore; it's definitely noticed us snooping around its dinner plate. Fifteen minutes ago, maybe less now since Merrin started marking stones like a tourist leaving breadcrumbs. We're already in its territory.

I watch Jeane scale the tower wall, my grip tightening on the mace. The wards' hunger pulses in time with my own heartbeat, as if they feed on my apprehension itself. "Be careful up there," I mutter under my breath. "And Merrin—mark those stones quick and quiet."

My eyes dart to the shadowed windows above. Whatever's inside this accursed tower, it knows we're here now. The question is whether it sees us as trespassers... or as prey.