The echo of their footsteps rang softly through the dark caverns as Hans and Yang moved forward, alert to every shadow and sound that might indicate the presence of Skaven. The humidity in the air made the atmosphere heavy, and the smell of earth and mold filled their nostrils with every breath. They had killed dozens of Skaven along the way, and by now, they seemed to have reached the center of the place. Hans had learned to trust his instincts, and now they were telling him something wasn't right.
"This place..." Yang said in a low voice. "It has few patrols for how big it is, something is going on inside."
"We'll know soon enough," Hans replied.
With each step, the ground became more uneven, with debris and bones everywhere. Now and then, the light from the torch they carried illuminated the marks on the walls, symbols Hans didn't immediately recognize, but couldn't ignore. There was something strange about them. Like a strange familiarity that rang in the back of his mind. Hans didn't respond immediately; he bent down and touched a fresh mark in the stone, his expression barely changing. It wasn't a natural trail. The marks were clumsy, made by claws or very crude tools. Yet they didn't seem random; there was a pattern to all of them.
They advanced a little further until the tunnel opened into a larger chamber, dimly lit by half-burned torches nailed to the stone walls. Heat and the smell of stale sweat filled the air, making it even heavier. From his position, Hans could see what appeared to be some sort of makeshift camp. Several rusted cages stacked on top of each other, rudimentary tools, and rickety tables covered in scrolls and poorly maintained maps. There were also open barrels, some containing stolen supplies, others containing substances he didn't want to analyze too closely.
Yang touched his shoulder, discreetly pointing to the right. Among the shadows, hunched figures could be made out, moving nervously. They weren't ordinary patrols. They looked like workers, even slaves, dragging materials toward a large opening in the rock at the back of the room.
Hans watched silently, assessing the situation. It wasn't worth fighting here without knowing how deep the tunnel network was. And they didn't know how many more might be hidden in the shadows.
He leaned toward Yang and whispered, "Let's not engage them yet. First, we need to know what they're building."
Yang nodded. They both began to move around the edge of the chamber, staying out of range in the dim light. Every step was measured, every movement calculated to not betray their presence. Hans kept one hand near his sword, ready to act if necessary. His mind worked quickly, connecting details: the markings, the slaves, the hidden structure. Everything pointed to something bigger than a simple Skaven lair.
When they were close enough to the large opening, Hans could see something that confirmed his suspicions: leading down a deeper tunnel, reinforced with stolen wood and metal, were makeshift rails, like a freight transport system. Further into the darkness, the sound of tools working, hammers hitting stone... and something else. A rhythmic sound, almost like a drum, that seemed to come from deep within the earth.
He turned to Yang, his voice low. "This isn't just a hideout or a lair to stage their attack on Durben. They're building something."
Yang frowned, looking out at the blackness before them. "What do we do?" she asked, without raising her voice.
Hans was quick to respond: "We'll go down. But not now. This is more complicated than we thought. We won't fight if we can avoid it. First, information. Then, destruction."
The descent was slow. The reinforced tunnel spiraled downward, and the air grew heavier the deeper they went. The sound of hammers and metal clangs grew clearer, along with the raspy, raspy voices speaking in a rapid, squeaky language Hans could barely understand. When they reached the bottom of the slope, they hid behind some piled-up planks. In front of them lay a large underground chamber, much larger than they had expected. There were makeshift scaffolding, enormous, partially carved stone pillars, and rudimentary machinery powered by pulleys and manual labor.
But what caught Hans's attention wasn't the structure itself; it was what stood at the center of it all: a large, sickly green stone, propped up on a raised platform. Though it didn't glow brightly, the mere presence of the rock seemed to corrupt the air around it. Hans squinted. He wasn't an expert, but he'd heard enough stories to recognize what it was.
Witch stone.
Yang saw it too. He murmured softly, barely a whisper, "They're building a witchstone conduit..."
Hans nodded, not looking away. "A duct or something worse."
I knew that warpstone was the basis for many Skaven weapons: bombs, war machines, and poisons. And here it seemed they were planning to use it in much larger quantities.
Hans leaned a hand against the wall beside him, assessing. The place was too big for two people to destroy directly without being discovered.
He turned to Yang. "We need to find a way to cut off the supply," he said quietly. "If we collapse the structure or block the entrance, at least we can buy some time."
Yang looked around, thinking. "We could sabotage the scaffolding," he suggested. "If the roof falls, this entire section would be buried."
Hans considered the idea. It was risky, but it made sense. Besides, destroying that witch stone now could prevent a much bigger disaster later.
They crouched again, preparing their next move. Hans quickly checked his belt: ropes, hooks, small bottles of oil, and other materials he'd brought for these kinds of situations. It wasn't much, but it would be enough if they acted quickly.
Moving through the shadows, Hans and Yang maintained their measured movements, alert to any patrol that might surprise them. The plan was simple: reach the main supports of the scaffolding and weaken them to cause a controlled collapse. However, as they advanced, Hans noticed something out of place.
Small wooden towers near the main routes were connected by taut ropes that glowed faintly in the torchlight. He stopped dead in his tracks and raised his hand to signal Yang to stop as well.
He looked more closely. It wasn't a simple surveillance system. Each cord seemed connected to a hidden bell or some improvised mechanism. Accidentally touching a cord was enough to set off an alarm throughout the room.
Yang noticed it too and frowned. "Any ideas?" she murmured.
Hans nodded, examining the pattern of ropes. They were designed to detect quick or careless movements, not a slow, meticulous infiltration. They could get around them if they were careful, but they would have to do it much more slowly than planned.
"We'll have to change our route," Hans whispered. "We'll go around to the right, closer to the edge of the room. It'll be slower, but less exposed."
Yang nodded silently.
They both took a few steps back and began to skirt the traps, keeping close to the cavern walls. Each step was measured, and each movement was calculated to avoid brushing against the ropes. As they advanced, Hans reflected on how rudimentary yet effective the system was. The Skaven weren't stupid. Chaotic and brutal, yes, but not lacking in ingenuity. He knew that if they touched a single rope, they'd have the entire burrow upon them in seconds.