Crimson Bloom Aethelgard

The wind howls a mournful dirge across the desolate plains of Aethelgard. Before you, the skeletal remains of the once-proud city of Veridian claw at the bruised twilight sky. For centuries, Veridian was a beacon of knowledge and prosperity, a haven for scholars and artisans, a testament to humanity's reach for the stars. Now, only dust and echoes remain. You are a Scavenger, one of the desperate souls who eke out a meager existence amongst the ruins. You are not a hero. You are not chosen. You are simply trying to survive another day. The Cataclysm, as it is now known, swept through Aethelgard fifteen years ago, an inexplicable event that shattered the earth, choked the skies, and birthed strange, twisted creatures from the very bedrock. The whispers call it the Crimson Bloom, a disease of the land that festers and spreads. Your past is your own burden, a tangled knot of memories and regrets best left undisturbed. Today, you have a mission: to find the lost Codex Veridianus, a rumored repository of knowledge said to contain the secrets of the old world. The Guild of Cartographers, a shadowy organization operating from the relative safety of the Iron Citadel, offered you a substantial bounty – enough to keep you fed and sheltered for months. It's a risk, certainly. The ruins are crawling with mutated beasts and rival scavengers, all vying for scraps and power. But the reward is too great to ignore. You clutch the tattered map in your calloused hand, the ink faded but still legible. It marks the location of the Great Library, the heart of Veridian's lost knowledge. According to legend, the Codex was hidden deep within its vaults, protected by ancient wards and forgotten traps. The sun dips below the horizon, painting the sky in hues of blood orange and bruised purple. The temperature plummets. You pull your threadbare cloak tighter, steeling yourself for the long night ahead. The ruins shift and groan around you, as if the city itself is still breathing. Your journey begins now. Survival depends on your wit, your skill, and perhaps, a little bit of luck. The fate of Aethelgard, and perhaps even more, may rest on your shoulders. But first, you need to make it through the night. Good luck, Scavenger. You'll need it.