The Sanguine and Blackbeard's Cutlass
After eating a meal with Quetzalli and the village, you prepare to leave. On Victoria’s warning, you decide not to eat any meat and stick with recognizable fruits. Finally on much persuasion from Quetzalli, you eat a small piece of well-cooked meat. It's a little stringy, but otherwise delicious. The juice seems to pop with each bite. You don't bother to ask the meat type. Some questions are better left unanswered.
Two archers accompany Quetzalli. Both have a consistent distrusting look in your direction. They lead you and the crew to a deep ravine. The slope is too steep to simply walk down, so you attach ropes to trees at the top and guide your way down. Near the bottom of the slope, you see a pool of water. The natives are the first to arrive at the edge of the pool and calmly wait for the rest of the crew to join them.
“Are we close?” you ask.
Quetzalli leans on her feathered spear. “Close, yes. I hope you can hold your breath.”
“Alli, I’m stuck on a boat with this guy,” you say grabbing Procter’s shoulder. “You bet your onyx beads I can hold my breath.”
Procter shifts uncomfortably from your hand. “It’s not good for the body to hold it in. Does a mother hold in her baby?”
“Totally not the same,” Victoria says.
“Going to side with V on this one,” you say. Back to Quetzalli you add, “I take it we’re diving in then?”
She nods. “Our ancestors discovered this hidden pathway into the temple. No one has been able to enter through the front entryway in centuries. Xolotl destroys all who would claim the blade. There is an underwater passage that leads into the temple. The passage is narrow, better for a small number of people. You don’t want to block up the passage and run out of air.”
“Lead the way then,” you say removing your pack. “Freddy, Procter, and Victoria, you’re on me.”
Unable to take supplies during the swim, you hand your extra expeditionary gear to one of your crew. You also leave your coat and tricorn hat behind.
“Jack, you’re in charge while I’m gone,” you say. Lowering your voice you add on, “Keep your eyes peeled. I don’t want to come back to your bodies covered in arrows. If you sense an attack, strike first.”
Jack tucks a strand of blonde hair behind his ear. “Aye, captain. You can count on me.”
Quetzalli walks up to you. “Are you ready? Stick close to me. There are many chambers and the current is strong.”
“We’re ready.”
Two archers accompany Quetzalli. Both have a consistent distrusting look in your direction. They lead you and the crew to a deep ravine. The slope is too steep to simply walk down, so you attach ropes to trees at the top and guide your way down. Near the bottom of the slope, you see a pool of water. The natives are the first to arrive at the edge of the pool and calmly wait for the rest of the crew to join them.
“Are we close?” you ask.
Quetzalli leans on her feathered spear. “Close, yes. I hope you can hold your breath.”
“Alli, I’m stuck on a boat with this guy,” you say grabbing Procter’s shoulder. “You bet your onyx beads I can hold my breath.”
Procter shifts uncomfortably from your hand. “It’s not good for the body to hold it in. Does a mother hold in her baby?”
“Totally not the same,” Victoria says.
“Going to side with V on this one,” you say. Back to Quetzalli you add, “I take it we’re diving in then?”
She nods. “Our ancestors discovered this hidden pathway into the temple. No one has been able to enter through the front entryway in centuries. Xolotl destroys all who would claim the blade. There is an underwater passage that leads into the temple. The passage is narrow, better for a small number of people. You don’t want to block up the passage and run out of air.”
“Lead the way then,” you say removing your pack. “Freddy, Procter, and Victoria, you’re on me.”
Unable to take supplies during the swim, you hand your extra expeditionary gear to one of your crew. You also leave your coat and tricorn hat behind.
“Jack, you’re in charge while I’m gone,” you say. Lowering your voice you add on, “Keep your eyes peeled. I don’t want to come back to your bodies covered in arrows. If you sense an attack, strike first.”
Jack tucks a strand of blonde hair behind his ear. “Aye, captain. You can count on me.”
Quetzalli walks up to you. “Are you ready? Stick close to me. There are many chambers and the current is strong.”
“We’re ready.”