Heart of Darkness

Neshir asked for the party to help her investigate a dwarven colony in Central Aliaanza’nchi where chaos has erupted in the frontier highlands. The party would be tasked with investigating the cause of the chaos and helping to reestablish order.

In the coastal city in the Scorched Land where the territorial government is headquartered; the dwarves oversee human laborers who are building weapons for the war against the Mujikan Empire. The party and Neshir met with the territorial governor to discuss what happened upriver. The governor hired a navy captain to oversee the border region of the highlands where the rich gold and jewel deposits were at risk of attracting invasions from Mujikan held territories in the continent. The governor lost contact with the captain after the latter's arrival in the highlands.

After meeting with the territorial government, the party rented a boat that would take them upriver into the highlands with Neshir. Along the journey, the party came under attack by indigenous humans who showered the boat with arrows- nearly killing one of the heroes.

The party arrived at an army outpost where dwarven soldiers were enjoying a musical concert by the army band. Neshir went to speak with the fort’s captain and had the party speak with the soldiers to find out any information they may have on the highlands. The soldiers detail rumors of monsters attacking the base in the highlands- but described them as a disguise for the more likely probability of a Mujikan invasion. The party slept at the fort for the night and departed once again on their boat to continue traveling upriver.

The party arrived in the highlands where the river swallowed and the jungle became pitch black. Mysterious statues appeared on the waterfront in the form of impaled skulls. The party entered an abandoned fort where inside they found the remains of slain dwarven soldiers who appeared to be the victims of vampires. The party found a live soldier and brings the party to help her save him. The soldier informs the group a sole vampire was responsible and that he was the captain sent to protect the highlands. After the soldier died, fangs began to protrude from his mouth and the party decapitated him. They then explored the fort before departing for further upriver.

In the highlands castle, Neshir left the party to track down the vampire captain while the party explored the site. In the throne room, the party walked into an ambush where killer bats descended from the ceiling and attacked. The party was nearly slain before they finished off the monsters. The the vampire captain arrived to finish them off, he foretold of a powerful evil soon arriving. Before killing the party, the vampire's head fell to the floor as Neshir sheathed her sword behind it. The party left the castle and returned to the coast.