Bivouac à la Cuvette du diable
General Summary
Après avoir navigué sur les rivières Stir et Narn, le groupe d’aventuriers à bord de l’EHR se retrouve face à une cascade infranchissable, les forçant à accoster. Sur les rives, ils rencontrent Astrit, une villageoise souriante qui les invite à se rendre à Baümen, son village perché au sommet de la falaise, près de la cascade. Rayaar, toujours méfiante, piège l’entrée du bateau avant de suivre Astrit le long d’un sentier escarpé et glissant. En arrivant au sommet, ils découvrent une vue époustouflante sur les cascades grondantes.
Baümen est un village paisible et harmonieux, protégé par des druides et voué au culte de Rhya. Les habitants, bien que rarement concernés par les affaires du monde extérieur, offrent généreusement leur hospitalité aux aventuriers. Astrit les présente à Vorster, le doyen, et à Corrobreth , le prêtre du village. Les aventuriers expliquent qu’ils sont à la recherche d’une femme blonde, ce à quoi Vorster répond qu’un groupe dirigé par une femme blonde est passé deux jours plus tôt, sur la rive opposée, en direction des collines stériles.
Après avoir accepté l’invitation de Corrobreth à dîner, Rayaar et Karl passent l’après-midi à explorer les rives de la rivière, Rayaar pêchant des poissons pour le repas et Karl profitant du calme bucolique pour se relaxer.
Au dîner, Corrobreth raconte l'hhistoire tragique des collines stériles
“Il y a des générations, un cataclysme effroyable s’est abattu sur nos terres. Des hordes d’êtres du Chaos ont déferlé sur l’Empire. Ces monstres, assoiffés de destruction et de chaos, priaient des dieux impient et espèraient un présent du ciel. Il semble qu'ils furent entendus car le ciel lui-même semblait conspirer avec ces créatures: pendant des jours, la lune du Chaos, Morrslieb, déversait sa malédiction sur nous. Des morceaux de lune tombèrent du ciel. Le vent hurlait, et les étoiles semblaient s’être éteintes, plongeant le monde dans une obscurité glaciale et terrifiante.”
“Les druides de l’époque, voyant le désastre qui menaçait de tout engloutir, ont érigé un cercle de pierres autour des zones les plus touchées. Là où les fragments maudits de Morrslieb étaient tombés, la terre était souillée, et des abominations innommables commençaient à surgir de cette terre maudite. Les druides ont utilisé tout leur savoir et leur pouvoir pour contenir la corruption, mais ce fut à peine suffisant. La terre, corrompue par cette influence maléfique, a été imprégnée de la présence du Chaos pour des générations.”
“Autour de la Cuvette du Diable, l’endroit où est tombé le plus gros fragment de la lune maudite, la terre est restée stérile et hostile. Des plantes étranges et contre nature y poussent, et des créatures maléfiques hantent encore ces lieux. Les arbres, autrefois majestueux, sont désormais tordus et déformés, leur bois gémissant sous la moindre brise. La corruption qui imprègne ces collines les rend hostiles et dangereux pour quiconque ose s’y aventurer.”
Corrobreth conclut son récit avec une grave mise en garde : “Ces créatures du Chaos, bien que contenues, ne sont jamais complètement vaincues. Elles attendent, tapies dans l’ombre, prêtes à se réveiller à nouveau pour semer la destruction. Le cercle de pierres, bien que puissant, ne peut pas tout retenir. Il y a des forces plus anciennes et plus sombres à l’œuvre dans ces collines que vous ne pouvez imaginer.”
Malgré ses avertissements, Corrobreth accepte d’accompagner les aventuriers vers les collines stériles. Le lendemain matin, au lever du soleil, le groupe quitte Baümen en barques pour un voyage de quatre jours vers la Cuvette du Diable. En chemin, ils traversent des paysages de plus en plus désolés, les arbres devenant de plus en plus sinistres et déformés, les terres parsemées de formations rocheuses et de bosquets d’arbres morts couverts de champignons aux couleurs inquiétantes.
Le voyage est marqué par un chavirage de la barque de Karl et Angela , ainsi que par des tours de garde nocturnes empreints d’étrangeté. Au cœur des collines, les arbres disparaissent, laissant place à des étendues de terre aride. En s’enfonçant davantage dans les collines stériles, la végétation devient de plus en plus rare et le sol est jonché de rochers et de bosquets d’arbres morts, dont le bois pétrifié est couvert de champignons aux couleurs inquiétantes. La rivière, autrefois paisible, devient tumultueuse et dangereuse, forçant le groupe à transporter leurs barques et leur équipement à pied pour franchir les rapides et les petites cascades.
Au cœur des collines, les arbres disparaissent presque complètement, laissant place à des étendues de terre aride et à des prairies d’un vert acide qui semblent bouger de manière sinistre au passage des aventuriers. Le paysage est ponctué de formations rocheuses abruptes qui s’élèvent vers le ciel, donnant l’impression d’un monde déformé par une force malveillante. En début de soirée, le groupe atteint la Cuvette du Diable et installe son campement à l’intérieur du cercle de pierres.
La nuit tombe et Morrslieb, la lune du Chaos, s’élève dans le ciel, projetant une lumière sinistre sur le cratère. Peu avant minuit, une lueur bleue éclaire les eaux du lac, et une silhouette spectrale apparaît. C’est une femme, déchirée et lacérée, dont le corps translucide est entouré d’une lumière bleue éthérée. Elle implore les aventuriers de l’aider à trouver le repos éternel, les invitant à la suivre vers les grottes. Mais Rayaar et Angela, qui sont en charge du premier tour de garde, craignant de quitter la sécurité du cercle de pierres, hésitent à répondre à l’appel de l’esprit.
“Aiiideeez-moiii… S’il vous plaît… Accordez-moi le repos éternel, car j’ai arpenté ces collines bien trop longtemps. Suivez-moi et vous verrez… Suivez-moi… Et vous verrez.”
Rayaar, murmure à Angela : “Est-ce une sorte de piège ? Peut-on vraiment faire confiance à cette apparition ?”
Brunhilde : “Je suis Brunhilde. Il y a cent vingt ans, j’ai servi d’éclaireur pour l’expédition de Dagmar von Wittgenstein, qui cherchait la malepierre, une roche maudite. Après avoir trouvé ce qu’il cherchait, Dagmar a trahi et tué tous les membres de l’expédition. Il m’a poignardée à plusieurs reprises pendant mon sommeil, et il a enterré les autres vivants dans une caverne, non loin d’ici. Depuis ce jour, mon esprit hante ces terres, incapable de trouver le repos tant que mes compagnons et moi-même n’aurons pas été convenablement enterrés.”
Rayaar et Angela décident alors de reveiller les autres.
Karl : (avec compassion) “Comment pouvons-nous t’aider, Brunhilde ? Que devons-nous faire pour libérer ton âme et celle de tes compagnons ?”
Brunhilde : “Suivez-moi… Dans les grottes là-bas… Elles cachent les dépouilles de mes compagnons et les preuves de la trahison de Dagmar. Déterrez nos corps et donnez-nous un enterrement digne. »
Une brise glaciale souffle soudainement, balayant le campement et soulevant des nuages de poussière. Lorsque la poussière retombe, Brunhilde, ses yeux vides pleins de désespoir, continue de parler avec une urgence palpable.
“Il y a deux nuits, un groupe d’aventuriers est venu ici. Une femme blonde menait le groupe. Je les ai suppliés de m’aider, mais ils n’ont pas écouté. Ils sont partis vers les collines sans prêter attention à mes paroles. Ne faites pas comme eux. Je vous en prie, ne m’abandonnez pas comme eux. Aidez-moi à trouver le repos éternel.”
Les paroles de Brunhilde plongent les aventuriers dans une réflexion profonde et parviennent difficilement à se mettre d’accord sur la marche à suivre. Rayaar, sentant la gravité de la situation, prend la parole.
Rayaar : (prudemment) “Brunhilde, nous comprenons ta détresse et nous voulons t’aider. Mais la nuit est dangereuse, et nous devons nous préparer avant de nous aventurer dans les grottes. Attends-nous ici jusqu’à demain matin. À la première lueur de l’aube, nous viendrons te rejoindre et t’aiderons à libérer ton âme et celle de tes compagnons.”
Brunhilde avec une expression de soulagement mêlée d’inquiétude annonce: “Je comprends… Mais faites vite, car chaque moment que je passe ici accroît ma souffrance. Je vous attendrai, mais sachez que les ténèbres ne dorment jamais.”
Le lendemain matin, à l’aube, le groupe se met en route vers les collines stériles, guidé par Brunhilde. Elle les mène à travers un bosquet dense jusqu’à une grotte, où ils découvrent un petit monticule de terre : une tombe peu profonde. Des os blanchis par le temps dépassent du monticule.
Brunhilde : “Voici ma tombe. Je vous en supplie, restaurez ma sépulture afin que je puisse enfin trouver la paix. Vous trouverez les dépouilles des autres membres de l’expédition en empruntant le passage de droite.”
Alors que les aventuriers commencent à explorer la grotte, des couinements inquiétants retentissent de l’extérieur. Quelques secondes plus tard, le chef des skavens, Crot, apparaît à l’entrée, son épée brandie.
Crot Raüdig : “Bougez-pas ! Bougez-pas ou mourez ! La Pierre! Donnez ! La Pierrrrre!!”
Derrière Crot se trouvent deux autres skavens armés, tandis que deux autres se faufilent le long du ruisseau souterrain pour prendre les aventuriers à revers. Le combat qui s’ensuit est sanglant.
Rayaar, toujours vigilante, aperçoit le mouvement des skavens et se retourne juste à temps pour bloquer leur attaque. Avec une agilité féline, elle pare les coups avec sa lame, bloquant leur avancée vers le groupe principal. Elle engage les skavens dans un combat rapproché, frappant avec précision pour les tenir à distance.
Thulgrim , voyant le danger approcher, se jette sur Crot Raüdig avec une rage décuplée. Brandissant son marteau avec puissance, il assène des coups violents qui résonnent dans la caverne.
Crot, plus agile qu’il n’en a l’air, esquive les premiers coups mais est forcé de reculer sous l’assaut implacable de Thulgrim et Karl.
Brunhilde, flottant au-dessus du sol, tire des flèches spectrales sur les skavens. Ses tirs précis transpercent l’air, frappant leurs cibles avec une efficacité glaciale. Les flèches, faites de lumière bleue éthérée, s’enfoncent dans la chair des skavens, qui poussent des cris de douleur stridents avant de s’effondrer.
Angela, malgré sa nervosité, commence à incanter des sorts de protection et d’attaque. Des éclairs magiques jaillissent de ses mains, frappant les skavens avec une puissance foudroyante. Ses sorts parviennent à infliger des dégâts considérables, perturbant les rangs ennemis.
Corrobreth, voyant Thulgrim en difficulté face à l’agilité de Crot Raüdig, murmure des prières ferventes à Rhya. Une lumière douce et protectrice enveloppe Thulgrim, renforçant sa résistance et lui permettant de repousser les assauts furieux de Crot.
Les skavens qui ont tenté de prendre le groupe à revers sont repoussés par les efforts combinés de Rayaar et Brunhilde. Rayaar, avec sa maîtrise du combat rapproché, terrasse les skavens avec une précision létale. Angela, quant à elle, avec des éclairs magiques, finit par neutraliser les derniers résistants.
Dans un dernier acte de désespoir, Crot Raüdig tente une attaque frontale sur Karl. Mais le Magicien, protégé par les prières de Corrobreth parvient à porter le coup décisif.
Après un combat intense, les aventuriers se tiennent victorieux. La grotte est jonchée des corps des skavens, et le silence retombe lourdement, seulement troublé par les râles d’agonie des ennemis vaincus. Brunhilde, flottant près de sa tombe, remercie les aventuriers de leur aide et les supplie de terminer ce qu’ils ont commencé...
After navigating the Stir and Narn rivers, the group of adventurers aboard the EHR come up against an impassable waterfall, forcing them to land. On the riverbank, they meet Astrit, a smiling villager who invites them to visit Baümen, her village perched on the clifftop near the waterfall. Rayaar, ever wary, booby-traps the boat entrance before following Astrit up a steep, slippery path. When they reach the top, they discover a breathtaking view of the roaring waterfalls. Baümen is a peaceful, harmonious village, protected by druids and dedicated to the cult of Rhya. The inhabitants, though rarely concerned with the affairs of the outside world, generously offer their hospitality to adventurers. Astrit introduces them to Vorster, the village elder, and Corrobreth , the village priest. The adventurers explain that they are looking for a blond woman, to which Vorster replies that a group led by a blond woman passed by two days earlier, on the opposite bank, heading for the barren hills. After accepting Corrobreth's invitation to dinner, Rayaar and Karl spend the afternoon exploring the riverbanks, Rayaar catching fish for lunch and Karl enjoying the bucolic calm to relax. At dinner, Corrobreth tells the tragic story of the barren hills "Generations ago, a terrible cataclysm befell our land. Hordes of Chaos beings swept across the Empire. These monsters, thirsting for destruction and chaos, prayed to gods and hoped for a gift from heaven. It seems they were heard, for the heavens themselves seemed to conspire with these creatures: for days, the Chaos moon, Morrslieb, poured out its curse upon us. Pieces of the moon fell from the sky. The wind howled, and the stars seemed to have gone out, plunging the world into an icy, terrifying darkness." "The druids of the time, seeing the disaster that threatened to engulf everything, erected a circle of stones around the worst-hit areas. Wherever the cursed fragments of Morrslieb had fallen, the earth was stained, and unspeakable abominations began to spring from this cursed land. The druids used all their knowledge and power to contain the corruption, but it was hardly enough. The land, corrupted by this evil influence, was imbued with the presence of Chaos for generations." "Around Devil's Basin, the place where the largest fragment of the cursed moon fell, the land remained barren and hostile. Strange, unnatural plants grow there, and evil creatures still haunt the place. Trees, once majestic, are now twisted and deformed, their wood groaning in the slightest breeze. The corruption that permeates these hills makes them hostile and dangerous to anyone who dares venture there." Corrobreth concludes his tale with a grave warning: “These creatures of Chaos, though contained, are never completely vanquished. They wait, lurking in the shadows, ready to awaken again to sow destruction. The stone circle, though powerful, cannot hold back everything. There are older, darker forces at work in these hills than you can imagine." Despite his warnings, Corrobreth agrees to accompany the adventurers to the barren hills. At sunrise the next morning, the group leaves Baümen in boats for a four-day journey to the Devil's Cuvette. Along the way, they pass through increasingly desolate landscapes, the trees becoming more sinister and deformed, the land dotted with rock formations and groves of dead trees covered in eerie-colored fungi. The journey is marked by the capsizing of Karl and Angela's boat, as well as by eerie nighttime watchtowers. In the heart of the hills, the trees disappear, giving way to stretches of barren land. As you move deeper into the barren hills, vegetation becomes increasingly sparse, and the ground is littered with boulders and groves of dead trees, their petrified wood covered with eerie-colored fungi. The river, once peaceful, becomes tumultuous and dangerous, forcing the group to carry their boats and equipment on foot over rapids and small waterfalls. In the heart of the hills, the trees almost completely disappear, giving way to arid expanses of earth and acid-green meadows that seem to move ominously as the adventurers pass. The landscape is punctuated by sheer rock formations that rise skyward, giving the impression of a world distorted by a malevolent force. In the early evening, the group reaches the Cuvette du Diable and sets up camp inside the stone circle. As night falls, Morrslieb, the moon of Chaos, rises into the sky, casting an eerie light over the crater. Shortly before midnight, a blue glow illuminates the waters of the lake, and a spectral figure appears. It's a woman, torn and lacerated, her translucent body surrounded by an ethereal blue light. She implores the adventurers to help her find eternal rest, inviting them to follow her to the caves. But Rayaar and Angela, who are in charge of the first watch, fearful of leaving the safety of the stone circle, hesitate to answer the spirit's call. "... Please... Grant me eternal rest, for I have paced these hills far too long. Follow me and you will see... Follow me... And you will see." Rayaar, whispering to Angela: “Is this some kind of trap? Can we really trust this apparition?" Brunhilde: “I am Brunhilde.One hundred and twenty years ago, I served as a scout for Dagmar von Wittgenstein's expedition in search of the malepierre, a cursed rock.After finding what he was looking for, Dagmar betrayed and killed all the members of the expedition.He stabbed me repeatedly while I slept, and buried the others alive in a cave not far from here. Since that day, my spirit has haunted these lands, unable to rest until my companions and I have been properly buried." Rayaar and Angela decide to wake the others. Karl: (with compassion) “How can we help you, Brunhilde?What must we do to free your soul and those of your companions?"Brunhilde: “Follow me... To the caves over there... They hide the remains of my companions and the evidence of Dagmar's betrayal.Bury our bodies and give us a dignified burial." An icy breeze suddenly blows, sweeping through the camp and raising clouds of dust.When the dust settles, Brunhilde, her eyes empty with despair, continues to speak with palpable urgency."Two nights ago, a group of adventurers came here.A blonde woman led the group.I begged them to help me, but they wouldn't listen.They went off into the hills without heeding my words. Don't be like them. Please don't abandon me like them. Help me to find eternal rest." Brunhilde's words plunge the adventurers into deep thought, and they find it hard to agree on what to do next. Rayaar, sensing the gravity of the situation, speaks up. Rayaar: (cautiously) “Brunhilde, we understand your distress and want to help you. But the night is dangerous, and we must prepare ourselves before venturing into the caves. Wait for us here until tomorrow morning. At the first light of dawn, we'll join you and help you free your soul and those of your companions." Brunhilde, with an expression of relief mixed with concern, announces: “I understand... But please hurry, for every moment I spend here increases my suffering. I'll wait for you, but know that darkness never sleeps." At dawn the next morning, the group sets out for the barren hills, guided by Brunhilde. She leads them through a dense grove to a cave, where they discover a small mound of earth: a shallow grave. Time-bleached bones protrude from the mound. Brunhilde: “This is my tomb. I beg you, restore my grave so that I can finally find peace. You'll find the remains of the other members of the expedition by taking the passage to the right." As the adventurers begin to explore the cave, ominous squeaks sound from outside. Seconds later, the Skaven leader, Crot, appears at the entrance, his sword brandished. Crot Raüdig: “Don't move! Don't move or die! The Stone! Give! The Stone!!!" Behind Crot are two more armed skavens, while two more sneak along the underground stream to catch the adventurers off-guard. The ensuing battle is bloody. Rayaar, ever vigilant, spots the movement of the skavens and turns just in time to block their attack. With feline agility, she parries the blows with her blade, blocking their advance towards the main group. She engages the skavens in close combat, striking with precision to keep them at bay. Thulgrim , seeing the danger approaching, pounces on Crot Raüdig with tenfold rage. Brandishing his hammer with power, he strikes violent blows that echo throughout the cavern. Crot, more agile than he looks, dodges the first blows, but is forced back under the relentless onslaught of Thulgrim and Karl. Brunhilde, floating above the ground, fires spectral arrows at the Skaven. Her precise shots pierce the air, striking their targets with icy efficiency. The arrows, made of ethereal blue light, sink into the flesh of the skaven, who let out shrill cries of pain before collapsing. Angela, despite her nervousness, begins to cast spells of protection and attack. Magical bolts of lightning burst from her hands, striking the skavens with blinding power.His spells inflict considerable damage, disrupting enemy ranks. Corrobreth, seeing Thulgrim in difficulty against Crot Raüdig's agility, whispers fervent prayers to Rhya.A soft, protective light envelops Thulgrim, strengthening his resistance and enabling him to repel Crot's furious assaults. The Skaven who tried to outflank the group are repelled by the combined efforts of Rayaar and Brunhilde.Rayaar, with his mastery of close combat, knocks down the skavens with lethal precision.Angela, meanwhile, uses magical lightning to neutralize the last of the resistance. In a final act of desperation, Crot Raüdig attempts a frontal attack on Karl. But the Magician, protected by Corrobreth's prayers, manages to deliver the decisive blow. After an intense battle, the adventurers stand victorious. The cave is littered with the bodies of the Skaven, and silence falls heavily, disturbed only by the agonized cries of the vanquished foes.Brunhilde, floating by her grave, thanks the adventurers for their help and begs them to finish what they've started...
After navigating the Stir and Narn rivers, the group of adventurers aboard the EHR come up against an impassable waterfall, forcing them to land. On the riverbank, they meet Astrit, a smiling villager who invites them to visit Baümen, her village perched on the clifftop near the waterfall. Rayaar, ever wary, booby-traps the boat entrance before following Astrit up a steep, slippery path. When they reach the top, they discover a breathtaking view of the roaring waterfalls. Baümen is a peaceful, harmonious village, protected by druids and dedicated to the cult of Rhya. The inhabitants, though rarely concerned with the affairs of the outside world, generously offer their hospitality to adventurers. Astrit introduces them to Vorster, the village elder, and Corrobreth , the village priest. The adventurers explain that they are looking for a blond woman, to which Vorster replies that a group led by a blond woman passed by two days earlier, on the opposite bank, heading for the barren hills. After accepting Corrobreth's invitation to dinner, Rayaar and Karl spend the afternoon exploring the riverbanks, Rayaar catching fish for lunch and Karl enjoying the bucolic calm to relax. At dinner, Corrobreth tells the tragic story of the barren hills "Generations ago, a terrible cataclysm befell our land. Hordes of Chaos beings swept across the Empire. These monsters, thirsting for destruction and chaos, prayed to gods and hoped for a gift from heaven. It seems they were heard, for the heavens themselves seemed to conspire with these creatures: for days, the Chaos moon, Morrslieb, poured out its curse upon us. Pieces of the moon fell from the sky. The wind howled, and the stars seemed to have gone out, plunging the world into an icy, terrifying darkness." "The druids of the time, seeing the disaster that threatened to engulf everything, erected a circle of stones around the worst-hit areas. Wherever the cursed fragments of Morrslieb had fallen, the earth was stained, and unspeakable abominations began to spring from this cursed land. The druids used all their knowledge and power to contain the corruption, but it was hardly enough. The land, corrupted by this evil influence, was imbued with the presence of Chaos for generations." "Around Devil's Basin, the place where the largest fragment of the cursed moon fell, the land remained barren and hostile. Strange, unnatural plants grow there, and evil creatures still haunt the place. Trees, once majestic, are now twisted and deformed, their wood groaning in the slightest breeze. The corruption that permeates these hills makes them hostile and dangerous to anyone who dares venture there." Corrobreth concludes his tale with a grave warning: “These creatures of Chaos, though contained, are never completely vanquished. They wait, lurking in the shadows, ready to awaken again to sow destruction. The stone circle, though powerful, cannot hold back everything. There are older, darker forces at work in these hills than you can imagine." Despite his warnings, Corrobreth agrees to accompany the adventurers to the barren hills. At sunrise the next morning, the group leaves Baümen in boats for a four-day journey to the Devil's Cuvette. Along the way, they pass through increasingly desolate landscapes, the trees becoming more sinister and deformed, the land dotted with rock formations and groves of dead trees covered in eerie-colored fungi. The journey is marked by the capsizing of Karl and Angela's boat, as well as by eerie nighttime watchtowers. In the heart of the hills, the trees disappear, giving way to stretches of barren land. As you move deeper into the barren hills, vegetation becomes increasingly sparse, and the ground is littered with boulders and groves of dead trees, their petrified wood covered with eerie-colored fungi. The river, once peaceful, becomes tumultuous and dangerous, forcing the group to carry their boats and equipment on foot over rapids and small waterfalls. In the heart of the hills, the trees almost completely disappear, giving way to arid expanses of earth and acid-green meadows that seem to move ominously as the adventurers pass. The landscape is punctuated by sheer rock formations that rise skyward, giving the impression of a world distorted by a malevolent force. In the early evening, the group reaches the Cuvette du Diable and sets up camp inside the stone circle. As night falls, Morrslieb, the moon of Chaos, rises into the sky, casting an eerie light over the crater. Shortly before midnight, a blue glow illuminates the waters of the lake, and a spectral figure appears. It's a woman, torn and lacerated, her translucent body surrounded by an ethereal blue light. She implores the adventurers to help her find eternal rest, inviting them to follow her to the caves. But Rayaar and Angela, who are in charge of the first watch, fearful of leaving the safety of the stone circle, hesitate to answer the spirit's call. "... Please... Grant me eternal rest, for I have paced these hills far too long. Follow me and you will see... Follow me... And you will see." Rayaar, whispering to Angela: “Is this some kind of trap? Can we really trust this apparition?" Brunhilde: “I am Brunhilde.One hundred and twenty years ago, I served as a scout for Dagmar von Wittgenstein's expedition in search of the malepierre, a cursed rock.After finding what he was looking for, Dagmar betrayed and killed all the members of the expedition.He stabbed me repeatedly while I slept, and buried the others alive in a cave not far from here. Since that day, my spirit has haunted these lands, unable to rest until my companions and I have been properly buried." Rayaar and Angela decide to wake the others. Karl: (with compassion) “How can we help you, Brunhilde?What must we do to free your soul and those of your companions?"Brunhilde: “Follow me... To the caves over there... They hide the remains of my companions and the evidence of Dagmar's betrayal.Bury our bodies and give us a dignified burial." An icy breeze suddenly blows, sweeping through the camp and raising clouds of dust.When the dust settles, Brunhilde, her eyes empty with despair, continues to speak with palpable urgency."Two nights ago, a group of adventurers came here.A blonde woman led the group.I begged them to help me, but they wouldn't listen.They went off into the hills without heeding my words. Don't be like them. Please don't abandon me like them. Help me to find eternal rest." Brunhilde's words plunge the adventurers into deep thought, and they find it hard to agree on what to do next. Rayaar, sensing the gravity of the situation, speaks up. Rayaar: (cautiously) “Brunhilde, we understand your distress and want to help you. But the night is dangerous, and we must prepare ourselves before venturing into the caves. Wait for us here until tomorrow morning. At the first light of dawn, we'll join you and help you free your soul and those of your companions." Brunhilde, with an expression of relief mixed with concern, announces: “I understand... But please hurry, for every moment I spend here increases my suffering. I'll wait for you, but know that darkness never sleeps." At dawn the next morning, the group sets out for the barren hills, guided by Brunhilde. She leads them through a dense grove to a cave, where they discover a small mound of earth: a shallow grave. Time-bleached bones protrude from the mound. Brunhilde: “This is my tomb. I beg you, restore my grave so that I can finally find peace. You'll find the remains of the other members of the expedition by taking the passage to the right." As the adventurers begin to explore the cave, ominous squeaks sound from outside. Seconds later, the Skaven leader, Crot, appears at the entrance, his sword brandished. Crot Raüdig: “Don't move! Don't move or die! The Stone! Give! The Stone!!!" Behind Crot are two more armed skavens, while two more sneak along the underground stream to catch the adventurers off-guard. The ensuing battle is bloody. Rayaar, ever vigilant, spots the movement of the skavens and turns just in time to block their attack. With feline agility, she parries the blows with her blade, blocking their advance towards the main group. She engages the skavens in close combat, striking with precision to keep them at bay. Thulgrim , seeing the danger approaching, pounces on Crot Raüdig with tenfold rage. Brandishing his hammer with power, he strikes violent blows that echo throughout the cavern. Crot, more agile than he looks, dodges the first blows, but is forced back under the relentless onslaught of Thulgrim and Karl. Brunhilde, floating above the ground, fires spectral arrows at the Skaven. Her precise shots pierce the air, striking their targets with icy efficiency. The arrows, made of ethereal blue light, sink into the flesh of the skaven, who let out shrill cries of pain before collapsing. Angela, despite her nervousness, begins to cast spells of protection and attack. Magical bolts of lightning burst from her hands, striking the skavens with blinding power.His spells inflict considerable damage, disrupting enemy ranks. Corrobreth, seeing Thulgrim in difficulty against Crot Raüdig's agility, whispers fervent prayers to Rhya.A soft, protective light envelops Thulgrim, strengthening his resistance and enabling him to repel Crot's furious assaults. The Skaven who tried to outflank the group are repelled by the combined efforts of Rayaar and Brunhilde.Rayaar, with his mastery of close combat, knocks down the skavens with lethal precision.Angela, meanwhile, uses magical lightning to neutralize the last of the resistance. In a final act of desperation, Crot Raüdig attempts a frontal attack on Karl. But the Magician, protected by Corrobreth's prayers, manages to deliver the decisive blow. After an intense battle, the adventurers stand victorious. The cave is littered with the bodies of the Skaven, and silence falls heavily, disturbed only by the agonized cries of the vanquished foes.Brunhilde, floating by her grave, thanks the adventurers for their help and begs them to finish what they've started...
Report Date
08 Jun 2024
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