Round 37

The tower's ancient stone exhaled dust and decay as the wards fed, each pulse sending a fresh wave of corruption across the group. A shadow lingered at the uppermost window again, this time definitely a figure. Merrin [C] was on the roof mapping alone, Halie [B] was casting a spell at the base, Varikka was marking stones from the side, and Merrin [C] was providing overwatch. The ground shifted loudly under Merrin's feet—ward slab settling? Everyone now knew they were here, just not sure how the entity upstairs responded yet. The tower's ancient stone exhaled dust and decay as the wards fed, each pulse sending a fresh wave of corruption across the group. A shadow lingered at the uppermost window again, this time definitely a figure. Merrin [C] was on the roof mapping alone, Halie [B] was casting a spell at the base, Varikka was marking stones from the side, and Merrin [C] was providing overwatch. The ground shifted loudly under Merrin's feet—ward slab settling? Everyone now knew they were here, just not sure how the entity upstairs responded yet.

The wards' hunger pulses increase, and something ancient shifts weight inside the tower. A low groan echoes through stone, not wind but purpose. The shadow upstairs begins to move—slowly, deliberately. Time just ticked below fifteen minutes. The wards' hunger pulses increase, and something ancient shifts weight inside the tower. A low groan echoes through stone, not wind but purpose. The shadow upstairs begins to move—slowly, deliberately. Time just ticked below fifteen minutes.

I nod sharply at Jeane's signal, my heart pounding. No time to waste. I scramble down the crumbling stonework, scanning for footholds. Varikka follows close behind, mace at the ready. "Keep your eyes peeled," I mutter. "Anything moves, we move faster." At the bottom, I crouch by the heavy wooden door, ear pressed to the weathered wood. No sounds from within. I risk a glance back at Jeane, still...

I descend from the roof slowly, my wings retracting as I touch down on stone. The wards' hunger is unnatural—I've felt this before in places where power feeds on desperation and death. Whatever's chained to that altar isn't some forgotten guardian; it's the anchor keeping this place alive with malice. We don't have time for careful exploration now, not with fifteen minutes left until whatever...

I understand what you're saying, but we can't just leave now. The wards are active predators—they've already sensed us snooping around, and whatever's inside is stirring awake. If we back away undetected now, we lose our chance to retrieve the sword and waste all this preparation. We need to move quickly and efficiently—scout the ground floor for entry points, map the wards' patterns, and p...