days running through the sweltering jungle
you were running low on supplies
your journey from the shore was a long one
it had been filled with danger
the second you had mentioned audience with this "vampire queen" things had gone awry
initially the river tribe you had met had guided you
then when you got to a bridge near a waterfall that's when they turned on you
near the rushing waters it was sword and shot versus spear
normally you'd be able to bottleneck them on the bridge
take them one by one
they spoiled that
one of them was dumb enough to rush you and take both of you off the rickety rope bridge
what your assailtant lacked in brains he made up for in the mass that cushioned your fall
he was a mess across the rocks
you had enough time to catch your breath before running off
eluding the rest of the tribe down here would be impossible if they knew you were alive
that's when a lucky break came to you
after a few more hours of trekking through the jungle you came to a forgotten cave
growth over it gave it a sort of camouflage
you could rest in there while you planned your next move
what you discovered within the narrow passage was what changed your plans considerably
the city of the vampire queen was real
as the forgotten passage showed you
the city must have been cut into the mountains centuries past
they'd forgotten such a small entrance that seemly led to just a peephole
warm lamp fires could be seen through two holes in the rock in the back of the cavern
they peered into the most majestic throne room you'd seen on the continent
the figure on the throne no doubt the rumored figure you'd been searching for
the issue was... that was not a queen and perhaps the vampire part was literal
below you was a royal court almost like those of Europe, yet dressed in savage outward attire
you'd stumbled through fortune into what you'd wanted