>>5945726The heavy oak door creaks open, unveiling a dimly lit, musty brick-grey chamber with an endless spiral staircase disappearing into the darkness. With Silberkralle, your ancestral sword, you firmly gripped the sword in your hand. It is most likely that whatever intentions these individuals harbour are far from virtuous. In times past, your father bravely exterminated a necromantic cult. Lurking in the shadows are dangers that even the most valiant crusader, knight-errant, or adventurer may struggle to overcome, such as undead horrors, treacherous traps, and malevolent spirits.
Among the myriad perils that lurk in the shadows, necromancy stands as a sinister art capable of defying the natural order and raising the dead to serve dark purposes. From disgraced students of the universities and dabbling criminals to more extensive and dangerous networks of the vampire covens. While it may seem logical for them to gather here amidst the corpses and skeletons, they may not be the sole interested party in this foreboding place, hinting at a convergence of disparate forces with divergent aims.
Legends speak of whispers, rumours, and ancient lore surrounding the adherents of the black doctrine, a forbidden sect whose origins trace back to the enigmatic time of Isidor, shrouded in mystery and dark deeds. Schwarzherr's cult and philosophy were the black doctrine. It advocated for things long since forgotten, yet some tenets remain in modern civilization. Their tenets include the establishment of a magocracy, the subjugation of all under the tyrannical rule of the Schwarzherr, the utilisation of necromancy and other forbidden magics to achieve dominion, and a vehement disdain for the constraints of lawful governance. In the dominions of the Schwarzherr, it was said that no semblance of law existed except that which aligned with his tyrannical will.
To this day, whispers persist among those seeking to free Schwarzherr from his extraplanar prison. Some hope for rewards, while others see his example as a guide on how to do things. Others are more interested in tearing a rift in the fabric of reality and making a pact with his jailers. The infernal denizens of <span class="mu-i">Atria Tormentorun</span> are as amicable to the gods as they are to him, and they see the mortal realm as great hunting grounds.
You have been descending the spiral stairs for a good few minutes now. If you have to guess, you are already deep under Sternheim. Indeed, cities in this world can be as perilous as the ruins and dungeons that the vagabonds explore. Being a young town, Rittersbach lacks the history and time to develop its own secrets and mysteries. It is said that in the oldest cities, you can spend your life delving into the underground tunnels, catacombs, and halls. Some serve as shelters for outcasts, criminals, and undesirables, while others function as ancient vaults and storerooms for the city's elite, offering free treasure if unclaimed.
