Naught but Ashes! (event)
Perhaps one of the most dangerous aspects of Mas'en Malik's magnum opus are the litany of deadly "trap" rituals that have been written into the work, apparent tests to weed out the unworthy. All of these are accompanied by explicit warnings as to their true nature, but these are written in their own sequences of coded phrases often yet more esoteric and difficult than the suicidal spells they accompany. We knew the risks, and we took every precaution, deciphering far more of the text than we needed so that we might suss out some hint of deception.
It was not enough.
The screams of the Magi I assigned to take the lead and their assistants are the first indication that something has gone terribly wrong. I watch in horror as one young man breaks off from scribing a rune on the floor to begin writhing in agony. His panicked cries dwindle first into hoarse rasps, then into stony silence as I am witness to his face disintegrating into an oily, ash-like substance. Glancing around in panic, I can see the baleful effect rapidly spreading through the other participants as the ritual descends into chaos. It may be too late for the others, but if I act quickly in raising a ward I may just be able to save myself. Out of the corner of my eye I can see my Court Magi attempting to do the same.
N-no!