Inciting Incident

One night when the Darkness was particularly deeper than normal and the Sunless Sea fog began to creep into Murkwell, a spell cast by Healer went awry. Too much magic at once, they always say, can backfire. Perhaps the events of that night were caused by Healer's actions. More likely, it was a result of decisions made decades prior, and a result of decisions Veronika made that night.

Magic from the Sea caused Healer's own magic to spark out. As a result, Veronika woke up in the middle of the experiments that were being done to them. The trauma of what Veronika saw that night and the ensuing argument/fight against Healer is what caused Murkwell to be wiped off the map. Regardless of what happens at Murkwell, it is a direct result of Veronika defending themselves from what they've seen and been exposed to.