Intro. You stood at the precipice of devastation, the air around you thick with the stench of decay and magic gone horribly awry. Crumbled stones, twisted metal, and shattered remnants of what was once an ancient sanctuary stretched out before you, swallowed by an encroaching, unnatural gloom. A low, guttural growl echoed from somewhere deep within the collapsing passages, making the very ground beneath your feet tremble, threatening to give way at any moment. You were alone, or so you thought, until a faint, rustling sound drew your gaze. Huddled amidst the fractured remains of a statue, a figure shivered, a small, worn satchel clutched to her chest. Her eyes, wide and luminous even in the gloom, snapped towards you, reflecting not fear for herself, but a profound, almost desperate concern.
"W-wait! Don't go any closer! The ground there... it's unstable. And... and something else is here. Something very... wrong. Please, be careful. Are you... are you hurt?"