Facing the Sentinel – A Test of Wit
The moment Mellali and Hadjer stepped into the chamber, the stone sentinel stirred to life. It towered over them, easily three times their height, its glowing blue eyes fixated on the intruders in its ancient domain. Its body, carved from weathered stone and covered in centuries of dust, creaked and groaned as it shifted into a defensive stance. The air around it hummed with an ancient magic that felt heavier with each step.
Mellali's hand instinctively tightened around his arcane focus, but he could tell immediately that this fight wouldn't be like the battles they'd faced before. The sentinel wasn't just a creature of brute strength—it was a guardian of the ruins, an embodiment of the ancient magic that flowed through this place. Whatever power it held, it was far beyond the physical.
Hadjer, still in her Bladesong stance, assessed the situation with sharp, calculating eyes. "We can't overpower that thing," she muttered. "It's too strong. We need to be smart about this."
Mellali nodded, his mind racing. They couldn't take it head-on; the sheer size and strength of the sentinel would crush them. They needed to outthink it, use the very magic of the ruins to their advantage.
---
A Strategy of Wits – Using New Powers
Mellali quickly scanned the chamber. The runes on the walls, softly glowing with ancient energy, seemed to pulse in rhythm with the sentinel's movements. It was as if the guardian was connected to the ruins themselves, drawing power from the magic embedded in the stone. Mellali realized they didn't have to destroy the sentinel—they only needed to disrupt its connection to the ruins.
His thoughts shifted to his new abilities. At level six, Mellali had gained access to powerful psionic spells, and he knew that his Aberrant Mind could bend the very fabric of thought and reality in ways few others could. He would need to use his new powers creatively if they were to bypass the sentinel.
"Hadjer," Mellali whispered, his eyes flicking to the glowing runes along the walls. "The sentinel's connected to these runes. If I can disrupt the magic, we might be able to shut it down without fighting."
Hadjer glanced at the runes, her mind quickly catching up to his plan. "You're thinking Psionic Blast or something bigger?"
Mellali shook his head. "No, I'll use Mind Link to interface with the magic of the ruins. I think I can disconnect the sentinel's power source, but it's going to be risky. If the magic resists, it could backlash."
Hadjer raised an eyebrow but nodded. "I'll cover you. Just do it fast."
---
Mellali's New Ability – Mind Link and Psionic Mastery
At level six, Mellali had unlocked new powers that allowed him to push the boundaries of his Aberrant Mind sorcery. His most potent new ability was Mind Link, which let him reach out and interface with other minds—or, in this case, the very consciousness of the ruins themselves.
With a deep breath, Mellali focused on the glowing runes, his mind expanding beyond the physical as he cast Mind Link (bonus action). He could feel the ancient magic, old and powerful, coursing through the walls like veins of energy. It was alien, strange, but not unreachable.
The sentinel's eyes flickered briefly, sensing the disturbance. It shifted, raising one massive stone arm as if to attack, but Mellali was quicker. He concentrated, reaching into the very fabric of the ruins' magic, and connected. The sensation was overwhelming at first—a flood of ancient knowledge and energy pouring into his mind.
Mellali's hands trembled as he spoke through gritted teeth. "It's… old. So old. But I think I can… sever the connection."
---
Hadjer's Role – Protecting Mellali
While Mellali worked to disrupt the sentinel's power source, Hadjer positioned herself between him and the guardian. The sentinel, though still connected to the ruins, seemed to hesitate, as if sensing the shift in the magic around it. But that hesitation was brief.
The sentinel's stone fist came crashing down toward Mellali, its massive arm cutting through the air with terrifying force. Hadjer reacted immediately, casting Haste (3rd-level spell) on herself, her movements blurring with speed as she dashed in front of Mellali.
With a graceful twist, Hadjer deflected the sentinel's strike, her Bladesong enhancing her agility and reflexes. The blow missed Mellali by inches, slamming into the stone floor instead, sending cracks splintering out from the impact. She spun out of the way, her feet barely touching the ground as she maintained her defensive stance.
"Mellali, now would be a good time!" Hadjer called, her eyes never leaving the sentinel as it prepared for another attack.
---
Disrupting the Magic – The Sentinel's Warning
Mellali, still locked in his Mind Link, felt the ancient magic thrumming through his veins. He could sense the delicate balance that held the sentinel in place, the connection between the runes and the guardian's consciousness. With a final surge of psionic energy, he focused all his power on severing that link.
But just as he was about to pull the connection apart, the sentinel's glowing blue eyes flickered, and it spoke.
"Intruders…" the voice was deep, resonating through the chamber like the grinding of stone on stone. "You seek what lies beyond… but you are not prepared for the truth."
Mellali hesitated, but only for a moment. The sentinel's warning hung in the air, but there was no time to dwell on it. With a sharp mental command, he severed the connection between the runes and the sentinel.
The glowing blue light in the sentinel's eyes dimmed, and its massive stone body froze in place. The ancient magic that had powered it flickered out, leaving the guardian dormant, motionless.
Mellali staggered back, breathing heavily as the rush of energy left him. "It's… it's down."
Hadjer lowered her rapier, still cautious. "What was it saying about the truth?"
Mellali shook his head, his mind still racing from the mental strain. "I don't know. But whatever it is, we're going to find out."
---
The Deeper They Go – More Dangerous Every Step
With the sentinel defeated, Mellali and Hadjer pressed forward, deeper into the ancient ruins. The air grew colder, the darkness thicker. Every step they took felt like a descent into something far more dangerous than what they had just faced. The magic that had once thrummed through the walls now felt hostile, watchful.
As they ventured into the next chamber, they began to realize the gravity of the sentinel's warning. The ruins were not just a place of ancient magic—they were a tomb, a place of forgotten power that had been sealed away for good reason.
Hadjer's sharp eyes caught movement in the shadows ahead. "Mellali, we're not alone."
Emerging from the darkness, pale, spectral figures drifted toward them. Their hollow, glowing eyes burned with malice, and their bodies shimmered with an ethereal light. Wraiths—the guardians of the deeper levels of the ruins, far deadlier than the stone sentinel they had bypassed.
Mellali's mind raced. "We've gone too far to turn back now."
---
Experience Gained
Mellali: 800 XP (disrupting the sentinel's power and using Mind Link)
Hadjer: 800 XP (protecting Mellali and using strategic defense)
Into the Depths – Wraiths in the Shadows
The air grew colder as Mellali and Hadjer stepped deeper into the heart of the ruins, the faint glow of runes flickering along the ancient stone walls like dying embers. The oppressive silence was broken only by the occasional distant sound of stone shifting, as if the very ruins were alive, waiting for them to make a mistake.
But the silence didn't last long.
From the shadows of the next chamber, wraiths began to materialize, their bodies translucent and ghostly, trailing wisps of dark mist as they floated toward the pair. Their glowing eyes burned with malevolent intent, and their hollow, distorted whispers filled the chamber like an ominous chant.
"Of course," Mellali muttered, tightening his grip on his arcane focus. "Why would it ever be easy?"
Hadjer smirked, though there was a flicker of tension in her eyes. "At least they look friendlier than the wargs. Less slobber."
Mellali glanced at her, raising an eyebrow. "You're really trying to be optimistic right now?"
Hadjer shrugged, her rapier gleaming as she slid into her Bladesong stance. "If I can't be optimistic, I might as well be fast."
The wraiths surged forward, their spectral forms gliding soundlessly across the stone floor. There were three of them, their ghostly hands reaching out with a chilling, deathly cold. The temperature in the room seemed to drop further with each passing second, and Mellali could feel the icy tendrils of magic prickling against his skin.
"Alright," Mellali said, his voice steady but tense. "Let's do this. And try not to get too friendly with them."
---
The First Strike – Mellali's Psionic Power
The wraiths moved with eerie grace, their bodies shifting through the air like smoke, but Mellali's mind was already racing. These creatures weren't like the wolves or wargs they had fought before—physical attacks wouldn't be enough to stop them. He needed to disrupt their very essence.
With a deep breath, Mellali summoned the full force of his Aberrant Mind powers. His eyes narrowed as he focused on the closest wraith, casting Mind Spike (3rd-level spell) and targeting its very consciousness. The psychic energy rippled through the air, invisible but devastating as it pierced the wraith's ethereal form.
(Damage: 18 psychic damage)
The wraith let out a bone-chilling screech as the psychic attack tore through its mind, its body flickering and distorting as the energy disrupted its form. But it didn't stop moving. The creature's glowing eyes burned brighter, and it surged forward, determined to drain the life from Mellali.
"Guess that got its attention," Mellali muttered.
---
Hadjer's Grace – Dancing with the Wraiths
As the wraiths closed in, Hadjer moved like a blur, her Bladesong turning her into a whirlwind of speed and precision. Her movements were graceful, almost effortless, as she weaved between the wraiths, her rapier flashing in the dim light.
With a quick step forward, she cast Booming Blade (cantrip) and slashed at the second wraith, her blade cutting through its ghostly form. Thunderous energy crackled around the creature, waiting to explode if it dared to move.
(Damage: 10 piercing + 7 thunder damage if it moves)
The wraith shuddered as the magic took hold, its form destabilizing as the energy wrapped around it. But Hadjer didn't stop. With her Bladesong still active, she spun on her heel, striking out at the third wraith with the same deadly precision.
(Damage: 9 piercing)
Her rapier sliced through the wraith's body, the ethereal creature letting out a distorted wail as its form flickered and dimmed. Hadjer grinned, her eyes flashing with confidence. "Not so scary after all."
Mellali chuckled under his breath. "I wouldn't get too comfortable. They're still moving."
---
The Wraiths' Retaliation – Cold and Deadly
The wraiths, though weakened, were far from defeated. The first wraith, its form flickering but still dangerous, lashed out at Mellali with its ghostly hand, its touch like death itself.
(Damage: 12 necrotic damage + 2 Strength drain)
Mellali gasped as the wraith's cold hand brushed against his arm, the chill sinking deep into his bones. He could feel his strength draining away, his muscles weakening as the necrotic energy sapped his life force. His vision blurred for a moment, but he gritted his teeth, refusing to fall.
"I'm fine," he muttered, though he could feel the toll the attack had taken. "Just… a little chilly."
Hadjer darted in front of him, her eyes narrowing as the second wraith, wrapped in the energy of her Booming Blade, dared to move. The thunderous magic detonated, sending a shockwave through the wraith's form.
(Booming Blade thunder damage: 7)
The wraith let out a wail of pain, its body flickering violently before it lashed out at Hadjer in retaliation.
But Hadjer was too fast. She danced out of the way, her movements fluid and precise, avoiding the wraith's grasp by mere inches.
---
Mellali's Counterattack – Psionic Fury
Shaking off the lingering cold from the wraith's attack, Mellali knew he couldn't let these creatures get the upper hand. He needed to end this, and fast. Summoning the full force of his psionic power, he cast Psionic Blast (3rd-level spell), sending a shockwave of telekinetic energy rippling through the air.
The blast hit the wraiths with brutal force, sending them skidding back across the chamber.
(Damage: 21 force damage)
The wraiths shrieked as the blast tore through them, their ghostly forms destabilizing and flickering with each hit. One by one, they collapsed, their ethereal bodies dissipating into the air like mist, leaving behind only the faint echo of their deathly wails.
Mellali exhaled sharply, his shoulders sagging in relief. "That was… intense."
---
Aftermath – Victory and Rewards
As the last of the wraiths vanished into the ether, the room fell silent once again. Mellali and Hadjer stood in the center of the chamber, their breaths heavy but victorious. The wraiths had been formidable, but they had managed to hold their ground—and now, they had grown stronger for it.
Hadjer sheathed her rapier, wiping the sweat from her brow. "Still not a fan of ghosts. They're way too clingy."
Mellali chuckled weakly, though he still felt the lingering effects of the wraith's touch. "Yeah, I think I've had enough of the cold for a while."
As they stood there, catching their breath, a soft, ethereal light shimmered in the air where the wraiths had fallen. Slowly, the light coalesced into three distinct objects, hovering in the air before them.
Drops:
Wraith's Essence: A rare magical component that can be used in spellcraft or sold for a high price.
Spectral Cloak: A shimmering cloak that grants resistance to necrotic damage and advantage against being frightened.
Ghoststep Ring: A magical ring that allows the wearer to become ethereal for up to 1 minute once per day, making them immune to physical attacks while in this form.
Hadjer raised an eyebrow, examining the spectral items. "Well, at least they left us some parting gifts. I'm calling dibs on the cloak."
Mellali smirked. "Fine by me. I'll take the ring."
They quickly divided the spoils, their spirits lifted slightly by the unexpected rewards. Though the battle had been fierce, they had come out stronger, and the spectral gear would give them an edge in whatever lay ahead.