>>5795983“Or they must have been a Founder. But this is not like the rest of Hogwarts’ architecture. It isn’t in the style of any of the common rooms either, from what I’ve seen on paintings, and it is damaged in a way Hogwarts could never be. So… I’m betting not Founders level of magic, but still something quite fantastic. No one today can pull this off”
Taylor and Raven come down too.
“Oh Merlin, I think I can hear Elliot getting a history erection from here,” Taylor says.
“You have <span class="mu-i">no idea</span> how excited I am! And also absolutely <span class="mu-i">terrified</span>!”
“I don’t understand…” Raven says. “Merlin studied soon after the Founders, or maybe even <span class="mu-i">with </span>them. If this came after the Founders, how could Merlin have known about it?”
“For only on that day does the star hang above the future cradle of the most vile and ancient magic,” you say, quoting the book that guided you to Merlin’s Last Light. And there is a certainty in your voice, as if you could see the events connecting. “Merlin created the Hall of Prophecies. He foresaw this place. He foresaw what is hidden here.”
“So below us…”
“Below us is the ‘cradle of the most vile and ancient magic’,” you say, nodding. “Is it wrong that I’m shaking in excitement?”
“And you criticize me for wanting to summon a demon.”
“Come on, through this door.”
You open the door below and follow through a long corridor. As you go, the well built floor gives way to rock, and the well-lit hall gives way to a spacious and dark cave. With your wands lighting the way, you move into the darkness.
“There was a battle here. A big one. A long time ago.” Lily crouches down and picks up something from the floor. It is bent and burned beyond recognition. “This is goblin silver. I don’t know what sort of magic could do that to goblin silver. It must have been-”
“Rrr-” A sound comes from in front of you, like air from a hoarse throat.. “Rrrrk.”
The four of you freeze.
“Rrrnrrk…” comes the sound again. But this time it doesn’t come from in front of you. It comes from the side. It comes from above. It comes from all around you. “Rrrannnrk…”
“Back away,” Lily whispers. “Slowly. To the door.”
You gently place a foot behind the other, silently trying not to make a single noise. Then you hear something fall to the floor. You turn, and silhouetted by the light coming from the corridor is… a creature. It looks like a small humanoid, possibly even a goblin, if not for it being completely deformed. One of its arms is three times as large as the other, and the light made it seem like it was made out of something dark and almost liquid.
“Ran… rok…” the creature says.
And then pieces of the creature, and the silver in Lily’s hand, and dozens of other points in the ceiling of the cave begin to glow red. And the ones above you start to move.
“Ranrok!” The creature screams in a deformed, grotesque voice before leaping at you. “RANROK!”
“<span class="mu-i">Stupefy!</span> Run!”
> Roll a d100+20. Bo3, DC: 80 