INT. EAGLE CASTLE, NIGHT
Fade in.
A STIRLAND guard walks down an empty hallway, suspicious. The wind blows, and a torch flickers behind him.
INT. CATACOMBS, NIGHT (HOW COULD YOU TELL THO IT ALWAYS DARK)
We look outwards over ABELHELM VAN HAL'S unadorned tomb. It dark. The shadows are moving unnaturally. Abruptly, they draw together and coalesce in front of the tomb. A woman in grey. MATHILDE WEBER, but a decade and change older than we know her. Marked by years of spellcraft and neglect by the tabletop community (who buys a mini that's literally just a grey chick for that much, cmon GW).
MATHILDE
She just isn't good enough.
She steps closer and puts a hand on the tomb.
MATHILDE (CONT'D)
I'm sorry. Things are falling apart. She isn't strong enough, and...and...I know you deserve better, but we need you.
A long pause. There are footsteps approaching, but MATHILDE gestures and they stop, then fade away. A choked sob.
MATHILDE (CONT'D)
I need you, Abelhelm. I'm sorry.
Underground leitmotifs swells and we see a close-up of MATHILDE lifting the BOX into frame and onto the tomb. Viewers do not question how it wasn't in the earlier wide shot because she is a wizard. MATHILDE closes her eyes and steels herself for the hardest choice of her life. This is the point of no return.
MATHILDE
Senthoi.
The box opens, and she removes the LIBER MORTIS. With the slightest hesitation, MATHILDE flips to a well-worn page. She has read it many times, spent decades now weighing this possibility. She spares the engraving on the tomb one last look.
MATHILDE
...For Stirland. You would understand. You will understand.
She starts to chant from the page, but then the room is filled with blinding divine light. Rhythmic, ritual chanting can be heard. The voices of hundreds, perhaps thousands of legendary Imperial heroes.
MATHILDE (OFF-SCREEN)
what the fuck
A shining ball of divine energy descends from the ceiling towards the coffin. MATHILDE watches in shock as divine energy flows through the cracks and into ABELHELM's body. Everything is still for a few moments, and then the coffin lid starts to move.
MATHILDE
...Abelhelm?
ABELHELM (MUFFLED)
...I don't suppose the Colleges teach 'Move Rock' to mere Magisters, do they?
Luckily, MATHILDE is BUFF and they are able to move the LID. ABELHELM is very happy to see MATHILDE and STRUGGLES to find WORDS. MATHILDE is REAL SHOOK. The dudes are still chanting.
ABELHELM
...were you waiting here the whole time?
MATHILDE
What? No, that's absurd. That's obsessive. I'm not obsessed. No, I went and spent five years in a hole with some dwarves, too.
ABELHELM
...did they give you those muscles?
MATHILDE
No, these are all mine.
MATHILDE has successfully cast DECEPTION.
ABELHELM
Hey, SIGMAR, why did you...make me alive again?
SIGMAR (VOICEOVER)
Shit's getting real in Sylvania, I guess? I dunno.
ABELHELM
Vampires?
SIGMAR (V.O.) (TRAILING OFF)
I mean, probably, that's usually what it is. Go stake some vampires, bro.
ABELHELM (LOUDLY)
Aight.
ABELHELM snatches the LIBER MORTIS from MATHILDE and runs out of the room to go ignore his children who've been placing flowers on his grave for their entire lives. MATHILDE looks up at the still blinding lights and stomps petulantly.
MATHILDE
This is horseshit. All my work, just for you to snatch it away! I've spent half my life working to fix this, and...Gah, you...you!
SIGMAR (V.O.)
Don't you ever try to steal one of my boys again. You think this is petty? You've got NO IDEA.
The LIGHT and CHANTING slowly fades away as the HEROES harmonize their chant of 'HOES MAD.' SIGMAR leaves to ignore the CHAOS GODS some more. The shadows come back in.
FADE TO BLACK.
MATHILDE (V.O)
GOD
DAMN IT
