The Sanguine and Blackbeard's Cutlass
You get a slight sinking feeling within your chest, but you know what you must sacrifice in order to save Quetzalli’s life. You gently lift her body from the ground and place her on top of the altar. You take her hand in yours and guide her hand to the hilt. Once her fingers wrap around the gold-spiraled handle, her body jolts with sudden rush of power. The wound at her side begins to close on its own.
Her hands begin to grip the cutlass on her own strength, and she sits upright still holding the cutlass. You take a step back fearful of Blackbeard’s words. You just hope saving her life was enough to not be the recipient of the blade’s thirst for blood. She swings her feet from the edge of the altar and jumps down. Silent, she walks towards you. You begin to raise your arms in defense...and then feel the warmth of her body against yours.
She embraces you in a tight hug. Surprised at first, you stand with your arms still in the air, but then eventually return the embrace.
“Thank you,” she whispers into your ear. Her voice quivers as if fighting off tears.
“How does it feel?” you ask.
“It feels as if I could run for days and never tire,” she answers. She kisses your cheek and then steps back. “Come, we have blight to destroy.”
You navigate through the temple and arrive at the front entrance. Giant stone steps lead down to a narrow pathway leading up to the temple. Looking down, you see a large creature and several smaller bodies engaged in combat. Then you hear a voice you recognize: Victoria’s. You rush down the steps as quickly as you can to join the fray.
You see Freddy, Procter, Victoria, and the two archers fighting off a giant beast. The beast has the body of a lizard and the head of a dog. From the stories the natives told, you recognize the beast as Xolotl, the scourge upon the island. At your arrival, Xolotl, turns to you and Quetzalli.
“Convenient. You have brought the blade to me. After I kill you, I will destroy my twin brother, Quetzalcoatl, once and for all,” it growls.
Quetzalli steps forward. “Quetzalcoatl has returned. I am the vessel in which the feathered-serpent inhabits. You have poisoned this island for too long. Your day has come, beast.”
Your gaze wanders to Victoria who gives you a questionable look. No doubt wondering why the native woman holds the blade and not you. You answer with a shrug.
Xolotl charges towards Quetzalli swiping its massive claws. Quetzalli dodges, and returns the attack scoring several deep slashes on Xolotl’s forearms. The rest of the party joins the attack. Procter and Victoria begin reciting the incantation to their spells. A flurry of arrows fly towards Xolotl’s head. The two native archers reload their arrows without pause. Throwing daggers quickly follow the arrows as Freddy let’s loose a series of his chosen weapon. Confident at the amount of forward pressure, he pulls out his mandolin and begins to invigorate the party with a song. You make straight for Xolotl’s flank intending to output damage on the undefended area.
Quetzalli whispers into the cutlass. You’re unable to decipher her words. Suddenly, she begins swinging the blade in aggressive attacks. Even though she is not near the beast, her strikes seem to cut through the air. Huge cuts appear at Xolotl’s chest and the number grows at each slash made by Quetzalli. Finally unable to take the blows, Xolotl crashes to the ground. Quetzalli walks calmly to the fallen beast and stands over its head. With one swift motion, she removes its head.
Her hands begin to grip the cutlass on her own strength, and she sits upright still holding the cutlass. You take a step back fearful of Blackbeard’s words. You just hope saving her life was enough to not be the recipient of the blade’s thirst for blood. She swings her feet from the edge of the altar and jumps down. Silent, she walks towards you. You begin to raise your arms in defense...and then feel the warmth of her body against yours.
She embraces you in a tight hug. Surprised at first, you stand with your arms still in the air, but then eventually return the embrace.
“Thank you,” she whispers into your ear. Her voice quivers as if fighting off tears.
“How does it feel?” you ask.
“It feels as if I could run for days and never tire,” she answers. She kisses your cheek and then steps back. “Come, we have blight to destroy.”
You navigate through the temple and arrive at the front entrance. Giant stone steps lead down to a narrow pathway leading up to the temple. Looking down, you see a large creature and several smaller bodies engaged in combat. Then you hear a voice you recognize: Victoria’s. You rush down the steps as quickly as you can to join the fray.
You see Freddy, Procter, Victoria, and the two archers fighting off a giant beast. The beast has the body of a lizard and the head of a dog. From the stories the natives told, you recognize the beast as Xolotl, the scourge upon the island. At your arrival, Xolotl, turns to you and Quetzalli.
“Convenient. You have brought the blade to me. After I kill you, I will destroy my twin brother, Quetzalcoatl, once and for all,” it growls.
Quetzalli steps forward. “Quetzalcoatl has returned. I am the vessel in which the feathered-serpent inhabits. You have poisoned this island for too long. Your day has come, beast.”
Your gaze wanders to Victoria who gives you a questionable look. No doubt wondering why the native woman holds the blade and not you. You answer with a shrug.
Xolotl charges towards Quetzalli swiping its massive claws. Quetzalli dodges, and returns the attack scoring several deep slashes on Xolotl’s forearms. The rest of the party joins the attack. Procter and Victoria begin reciting the incantation to their spells. A flurry of arrows fly towards Xolotl’s head. The two native archers reload their arrows without pause. Throwing daggers quickly follow the arrows as Freddy let’s loose a series of his chosen weapon. Confident at the amount of forward pressure, he pulls out his mandolin and begins to invigorate the party with a song. You make straight for Xolotl’s flank intending to output damage on the undefended area.
Quetzalli whispers into the cutlass. You’re unable to decipher her words. Suddenly, she begins swinging the blade in aggressive attacks. Even though she is not near the beast, her strikes seem to cut through the air. Huge cuts appear at Xolotl’s chest and the number grows at each slash made by Quetzalli. Finally unable to take the blows, Xolotl crashes to the ground. Quetzalli walks calmly to the fallen beast and stands over its head. With one swift motion, she removes its head.