The Sanguine and Blackbeard's Cutlass
The tunnel leads in a straight path for a few hundred steps and then begins a series of switch-backs. After what feels like an eternity of hiking, you arrive to a solid rock wall. Quetzalli doesn’t seem to break a sweat during the incline. While you’re in superb shape, your physicality is more dependent upon quick, dexterous movements. The raw strength required to climb uphill for hours is certainly something you’re not used to, nor conditioned for.
“What now? you ask. “We’ve seemed to hit a brick wall, metaphorically, well kind of literally, speaking.”
“I don’t know those words. Stand back,” Quetzalli says.
She removes the onyx-beaded necklace from her neck and holds it to the wall. A low rumbling emanates from within the stone. Thin lines appear in the stone. They run up and down connecting into a rectangle. The rumbling begins to get louder and you feel the ground beneath you starting to shake. Then, suddenly, a light appears at the rectangle. The stone in front of you swings open like a door. Quetzalli enters and you follow closely behind. The doorway leads into the temple’s catacombs. Stone coffins line the walls along with various altars and small statues of the feathered-serpent.
“This is the necklace of Quetzalcoatl’s high priestess,” she explains. “In the temple’s former years, the high priestess lived here. The necklace is what you call ‘a key’.”
“Why do you no longer reside in the temple?” you ask.
“The guardian drove us out. He once lived in your world. Do you know the man, Blackbeard?”
“He was the deadliest man on the seven seas,” you answer. “I can’t believe he was actually defeated in combat. Rumor is, they were ambushed while celebrating and the entire crew, including Blackbeard, was stumbling drunk. I find it hard to believe any man could kill him in a fair fight. Wait…are you saying Blackbeard is here?”
“Once the wielder of Quetzalcoatl’s blade is defeated, he is charged with protecting the blade until Quetzalcoatl is born again. This is normally a peaceful process, but something is different with the current guardian, Blackbeard. He is obsessed with the blade and will do anything to prevent anyone from taking it.”
“One man drove everyone out? Your village looks more than capable of handling yourselves.”
“Not just one man. His crew resides here as well. I know not how they ‘live’, unless they have sworn fealty to the blade as well. If they have, their soul will reside in the blade for eternity along with Blackbeard’s.”
“I imagine you have a plan on how to steal the blade from Blackbeard and his undead crew,” you say.
“I will kill him,” Quetzalli answers tightening her grip on her spear.
You begin to protest at her answer, but you sense movement out of the corner of your eye. One of the coffin lids moved, you’re sure of it. Suddenly, all the coffins burst open almost simultaneously with an explosion of rock. Skeletons, armed with ancient swords and battle axes, begin to rise from their resting place.
Quetzalli goes on the offensive masterfully spinning and stabbing her spear.
“What now? you ask. “We’ve seemed to hit a brick wall, metaphorically, well kind of literally, speaking.”
“I don’t know those words. Stand back,” Quetzalli says.
She removes the onyx-beaded necklace from her neck and holds it to the wall. A low rumbling emanates from within the stone. Thin lines appear in the stone. They run up and down connecting into a rectangle. The rumbling begins to get louder and you feel the ground beneath you starting to shake. Then, suddenly, a light appears at the rectangle. The stone in front of you swings open like a door. Quetzalli enters and you follow closely behind. The doorway leads into the temple’s catacombs. Stone coffins line the walls along with various altars and small statues of the feathered-serpent.
“This is the necklace of Quetzalcoatl’s high priestess,” she explains. “In the temple’s former years, the high priestess lived here. The necklace is what you call ‘a key’.”
“Why do you no longer reside in the temple?” you ask.
“The guardian drove us out. He once lived in your world. Do you know the man, Blackbeard?”
“He was the deadliest man on the seven seas,” you answer. “I can’t believe he was actually defeated in combat. Rumor is, they were ambushed while celebrating and the entire crew, including Blackbeard, was stumbling drunk. I find it hard to believe any man could kill him in a fair fight. Wait…are you saying Blackbeard is here?”
“Once the wielder of Quetzalcoatl’s blade is defeated, he is charged with protecting the blade until Quetzalcoatl is born again. This is normally a peaceful process, but something is different with the current guardian, Blackbeard. He is obsessed with the blade and will do anything to prevent anyone from taking it.”
“One man drove everyone out? Your village looks more than capable of handling yourselves.”
“Not just one man. His crew resides here as well. I know not how they ‘live’, unless they have sworn fealty to the blade as well. If they have, their soul will reside in the blade for eternity along with Blackbeard’s.”
“I imagine you have a plan on how to steal the blade from Blackbeard and his undead crew,” you say.
“I will kill him,” Quetzalli answers tightening her grip on her spear.
You begin to protest at her answer, but you sense movement out of the corner of your eye. One of the coffin lids moved, you’re sure of it. Suddenly, all the coffins burst open almost simultaneously with an explosion of rock. Skeletons, armed with ancient swords and battle axes, begin to rise from their resting place.
Quetzalli goes on the offensive masterfully spinning and stabbing her spear.