The Sanguine and Blackbeard's Cutlass
“Now that you’ve met our high priestess and champion, we must discuss the blight,” the chieftain, Quetzalli’s father says.
He leads you back outside the tent and through the village streets. You pass by an accomplished-looking Procter holding a chicken affectionately to his breast. The dusty street continues out of the village passing the cluster of huts. It leads up a grassy hill where you see a lone tree at the top. The tree itself is blackened, as if it barely survived a fire. The overgrown grass surrounding the tree doesn’t look affected by the fire. At the top of the hill, you get a full view of the temple. Uninhibited by the jungle, the temple is larger than you thought. Its peak is almost to the clouds.
“What do you see, shipmaster?” the chieftain asks.
“The tree. It looks burned, although the area surrounding it gives no sign of a fire,” you reply.
“Yes. This tree, and many of its seedlings, have fallen victim to Xolotl’s corruption.”
“What do you suggest I do?” you ask. “I’m only here for the cutlass.”
For a split-second, a flash of yellow appears on the tree trunk like an eyelid opening for a brief moment.
Ignoring the tree, the chieftain continues, “Many of our ancestors have tried to obtain the blade. None were Quetzalcoatl incarnate, but some were close to the blade…very close. With my daughter’s help, and the knowledge of our ancestors, I believe you can reach the cutlass and use its power to cure the blight.”
You realize this is probably your best chance at receiving the cutlass. There’s no telling the dangers that lie in wait wandering through the jungle. Still, you are slightly suspicious of the natives. Not because of the chieftain’s sharpened teeth, but because you’re skeptical of things seeming too good to be true. The chieftain offered a direct route to the cutlass, and put his beautiful daughter at your disposal? Yeah, you were a bit suspicious, although it’s still your best bet at reaching the temple.
He leads you back outside the tent and through the village streets. You pass by an accomplished-looking Procter holding a chicken affectionately to his breast. The dusty street continues out of the village passing the cluster of huts. It leads up a grassy hill where you see a lone tree at the top. The tree itself is blackened, as if it barely survived a fire. The overgrown grass surrounding the tree doesn’t look affected by the fire. At the top of the hill, you get a full view of the temple. Uninhibited by the jungle, the temple is larger than you thought. Its peak is almost to the clouds.
“What do you see, shipmaster?” the chieftain asks.
“The tree. It looks burned, although the area surrounding it gives no sign of a fire,” you reply.
“Yes. This tree, and many of its seedlings, have fallen victim to Xolotl’s corruption.”
“What do you suggest I do?” you ask. “I’m only here for the cutlass.”
For a split-second, a flash of yellow appears on the tree trunk like an eyelid opening for a brief moment.
Ignoring the tree, the chieftain continues, “Many of our ancestors have tried to obtain the blade. None were Quetzalcoatl incarnate, but some were close to the blade…very close. With my daughter’s help, and the knowledge of our ancestors, I believe you can reach the cutlass and use its power to cure the blight.”
You realize this is probably your best chance at receiving the cutlass. There’s no telling the dangers that lie in wait wandering through the jungle. Still, you are slightly suspicious of the natives. Not because of the chieftain’s sharpened teeth, but because you’re skeptical of things seeming too good to be true. The chieftain offered a direct route to the cutlass, and put his beautiful daughter at your disposal? Yeah, you were a bit suspicious, although it’s still your best bet at reaching the temple.