Into the Heart of Darkness is the second chapter of the Golden Realms in Age of Wonders 3.
Prelude[]
Athla Map from "Into the Heart of Darkness"
"While the battle rages for New Aldor, my sister Allie has joined Ham to investigate the rumors that Karl Hushwick is attempting to unlock the mystical Seals of Power. These ancient structures hold back a terrible evil that cannot be allowed to escape." - Ernest Thistlewood
Introduction[]
Leadership[]
Ruins of New Hartwood
My sister Allie is following the river deep into the jungle. At some point she will come to New Heartwood, scene of a massacre but a few short weeks in the past. I shudder to think what they shall find there, how many bodies, staring blankly into the sky, how many children...
Ham told us more of the Keepers. He explained how they long struggled to hide the locations of the Seals from outsiders, lest they try and unlock the awesome powers they hold back. He admitted that the Keepers themselves were the target on the night of the Heartwood Massacre 57 years ago, and he breaks down as he admits that New Heartwood fell for similar reasons. A magical, tainted gem was given to him for safekeeping by a human sorceress. A gem that might unlock the Seal's Power, a gem the raiders would come looking for, a gem he left with Karl Hushwick for safekeeping. He laments that the whole situation is his fault, and I find it hard to muster more than token disagreement.
But dwelling on the past accomplishes nothing. We will rebuild New Heartwood, find Hushwick and recover this gem. If we find those responsible for the colony's destruction, we'll deal with them as well. The Keepers have failed in their sacred mission, and it is up to us to put it right again.
Overview[]
Leaders[]
| Leader | Allie Thistlewood | Jurwak the Loyal | Karl Hushwick | Bolmor the Silent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allie Thistlewood - Halfling Sorcerer (Player, Pale azure/yellow) | War | War | No contact | |
| Jurwak the Loyal - Orc Warlord (Black/red) | War | War | No contact | |
| Karl Hushwick - Halfling Arch Druid (Red/green) | War | War | No contact | |
| Bolmor the Silent - Dwarf Arch Druid (Brown/white) | No contact | No contact | No contact |
Heroes[]
- Allie Thistlewood - Halfling Sorcerer (Player)
- Ham Binger - Halfling Theocrat (Player)
- Jurwak the Loyal - Orc Warlord (Jurwak)
- Karl Hushwick - Halfling Arch Druid (Karl)
- Bolmor the Silent - Dwarf Arch Druid (Bolmor)
Cities[]
- Jurwak the Loyal
- Shtem - Goblin Village (Jurwak's Throne)
- Sicol - Goblin Outpost
- Uallar - Orc Outpost
- Gurrug - Orc Outpost
- Karl Hushwick
- Dawnspring - Halfling Village (Karl's Throne)
- Burrenlap - Halfling Outpost
- Nalessi-Sul - Naga Dwelling
- Samarsh - Naga Dwelling
- Bolmor the Silent
- Baduran - Dwarf Outpost (Bolmor's Throne)
- Kiln Dur - Dwarf Outpost
- Darembor - Dwarf Outpost
- Independents
- New Hartwood - Halfling Outpost (Razed)
- Harbor District - Halfling Outpost (Razed)
- Hill District - Halfling Outpost (Razed)
- Dastum - Dwarf Outpost
- Senter-Foa - Naga Dwelling
- Sourcevale - Halfling Outpost
- Bog End - Halfling Outpost
- Drash Gar - Orc Outpost
Fortresses[]
- Independents
- Carcerac
Outro[]
The Path of the Serpent[]
Karl Hushwick's last moments
Hushwick is dead, but it seems as though we are too late.
As his life slipped away, Karl confessed. The gem had been speaking to him, whispering secrets, and he had been listening. There was will in the gem as well as power, and that will had guided Karl to crush the gem on the altar of a Prime Seal, starting a process that would lead to the ultimate power being unleashed into the world. He laughed as he said this, he seemed to think that whatever had been in the accursed stone would reward him somehow. And then he died.
From here, we have no choice, the Prime Seals are activated and this cannot be undone. Their guardians will hold for a little while, but cannot be trusted to stand against any sort of concerted attack. Ham plans to lead an expedition so we can capture them for ourselves, perhaps he feels that by doing so he may finally be able to find some redemption...