Simple and direct:
* A terrible misfortune befell the travelers on their journey.
* As fate would have it, a sudden storm befell the village.
More complex:
* The unexpected news of his father's death befell him while he was celebrating his graduation.
* What befell the ancient civilization remains a mystery to historians.
* The king, once powerful and revered, was struck by a strange illness that befell him in his prime.
Figurative:
* A wave of despair befell the team after their crushing defeat.
* A sense of peace befell her as she sat by the quiet lake.
Note: "Befell" is often used in a more formal or literary style. It can sound archaic in everyday conversation.