After travelling across the Trackless Sea for weeks the first mate Arak Sharpeye saw fit to keelhaul the umberlant navigator for tampering with the wares. In doing so the man damned the majority of the crew to a watery death as the seas became treacharous as a storm descended upon the ship.

The ship was torn apart in sight of a lone looming mountain jutting from the sea, perhaps the land was the mercy of Quotal or another destination to torment the slaves after their long arduos ordeal.

The first mate was struck down by a single bolt of lightning and slaves and pirates alike drifted toward the island at the mercy of the seas, and it was not merciful as a grouping of sharks tore apart many of the survivors.

Seven pirates, sixteen slaves and one whore washed up on the shore(Not including PCs)... As did countless corpses as the waters stilled, the Bitch Queen's judgement adiminstered.

_________________

How did Metzlitemoctzin make it this far ? the smell, the noise, hunger and thirst, the treatment from their captors…

This one slave is sick. No wonder his stink was so awful. She had to crawl as far as she could in their small cell, away from his rotting cough.

Oh, they moved her to another cell for a while, away from his disease together with this strange Payit female… but the end-result was worse. Packed like sardines in a can, with dozens of prisoners, including a giant warmonger, Zaltec fanatics and what seemed like a dumb halfling.

Their captors did beat the diseased one, no question. She could hear the sound of battle. And then they moved all the prisoners to the ‘Death Chamber’, as they called it. Humiliation, threatening, and leaving them on the floor like dead animals without anything to clang to as the ship was rolling…. These bearded warriors have no humanity. Save for this one who gave them some food while the others were away, maybe …
------
She saw… him. She did. It was there in the corner, waiting for his offering. He will come back. He has to. Otherwise…..
…
TEOCL !!!!! *she screams*------

The ship rolled more and more, and then this huge bang, as they were thrown 10 feet away with the shock.

People screaming, captors and prisoners alike, some drowning, others… she can’t even *think* about it… someone yelled ‘a Kraken’ ! Nula have mercy…
Water flooding their deck. She hid behind a door on top of the stairs, hoping for an escape, until…
----

Blackout

----
she woke up on a beach with so many bodies lying around. This gentle and strange Payit female by her side and the halfling as well… other captives and vile armed men… Corpses dismembered everywhere, and a wrecked barge… their former prison.

What happened ? why is she here now, wounded but alive… How did she make it this far… and what dangers and deprivation lie ahead ?
Food, she needs food. she needs it...
...for him.

_________________
Nana Anvilmar - Slower Talking, Faster Running
Lester, Jester, Chandler, Alchemister !
Pauris Sennemen de Laelith - Merchant (currently in Suzail, Cormyr)
Metzlitemoctzin - Payit slave, now freed from Silent's sadostyle of plotting !

It was as if waking from a nightmare only to find that the nightmare was real. Sleeping peacefully in her village home, she had not seen the start of the raid. She awoke to the sounds of screams, death, fire. Her training made it clear, what she had to do. As she grasped her bag of medical supplies and tools, she woke her sleeping husband. She saw him leap into action as any warrior would and she said a quiet prayer for his safety. She ran through her modest home to retrieve the children, but as she began to lead them to the point of safety which the village leaders had instructed the people use should an attack ever come, she was horrified to find that the enemy was not a band of Zaltec's hunters, as she had thought. These monsters came bearing steel, in armor and in numbers that she could not fathom. The moment of hesitation passed and she swept through the village with her two young sons in tow. They wept. She knew how terrified they were, but they were ever obedient in following her to the safety of the hidden cave in which several other old and young had been secreted.

She was one of only a few women in the village who had been trained in medicine. She had wanted to go to the city Ulatos to develop her skills further, but she had not meant to do that for another few years, when the children could more easily fend for themselves. She was skilled, though, and she found any wounded she could, determined to help her people amidst the storm of destruction and slaughter brought by the barbaric invaders that she recognized as foreigners to these lands.

The killing continued for as long as the warriors who stood against the enemy drew breath. She raced through the village, calling her husband's name. But she was caught. A thick, armored arm caught her around the waist as another struck her a blow that knocked her momentarily senseless. Her bag of healing tools skidded across the ground and she struggled against the arm that held her. She screamed and kicked, tear-filled eyes searching the village as she cried out in her native Payit tongue.

It was then that she saw the massive blade cut through the heart of her husband. Others fell around him, but in that moment of shock and agony, she saw only him. A mournful scream followed as her struggling grew stronger, but it was to no avail. Her captor struck her again and the strength left her body as her vision swam. She was dragged out of the village with so many others, bound and beaten...

----

Ines lifted her head slightly as the boat rocked. Her hand touched the barrel next to which she sat and her gaze drifted over the others in the cell. She could not stop thinking about that last moment, when she saw her husband slaughtered. The image was burned into her mind. These men who strolled past their cells, knocking on the bars with their blades for the mere satisfaction of seeing them cower at the noise had been the cause of his death, as well as the deaths of so many others. They were the healthy stock, those who had not been dragged to the lower hold below. She knew that they wanted to keep them healthy - it was clear that they needed them alive and well for whatever plans they had for them.

Nearby, another slave coughed, but did his best to conceal it. She noticed, of course, and looked upon him with concern and fear - fear for his safety. He was Payit, like her. If their captors caught wind of his simple cough, they would take him away as they had the others. He approached her then, and the soft words spoken to her told her that he knew this. He asked her not to tell, but she had no intention of breathing a word about it.

Not a moment later, the men came. It was for naught. They knew of the coughing Payit slave and came for him. Ines could only watch in horror. How she longed to call out and declare herself a physician, that she could see to him and keep him well, but she knew that she lacked the proper supplies to do so - if she made such a claim and then could not perform, they would kill them both. These men were heartless, cold, cruel. They seemed to enjoy taunting and striking the prisoners given the slightest reason to do so.

The boats rocking became more pronounced - the storm above worsened. She had never been in such a large vessel - canoes were much smaller where she came from. As the men moved her and the others in the cell to the next one over, she kept to herself once again. Her gaze drew over another female Payit who wept and screamed, a nearby male bearing the marks of Zaltec, and a savage creature of child-like stature - of the small folk that she had never seen before, and had only wondered at their existence. There were others in the cell, many others, but they were broken, frightened. After all they had been through, Ines wondered at the strength in the few who yet seemed to have hope, or at least some semblance of who they once were.

The ship rocked even harder and she had to struggle to get to the cell door. She was knocked into the other slaves with the strength of the waves outside, but she used what little strength she had to get to the bars, to hold onto them so she wouldn't be thrown around with the others. Her health was her strongest chance for survival and while she didn't like keeping her distance, she knew that if anyone else was hiding an illness, it could be dangerous for them all.

The men returned. The large one that the others seemed to mock and hate almost as much as the slaves threw rations into the cell, bidding them to hurry and retrieve them. Ines was startled, but she allowed the others to take the rations, her gaze looking out again as the other captors returned. There was talk of rats, even as the storm grew more fierce. They wanted to take them to the Killing Room, and said as much. A collective gasp and fearful murmurs took the slaves in the cell and one stepped forward to hold the cell door shut as they attempted to open it. Ines scrambled to her feet away from the door, watching the confrontation. One of the captors drew a blade and she could no longer stand silent.

"They won't kill us. They...gain nothing by doing so."

It was a quiet reassurance spoken in the tongue of the Payit, but it seemed enough to ease the minds of the few who could be reassured. The slave at the door allowed it to be opened and Ines followed after him as they were ushered out. She heard the other slaves following behind and exhaled in relief. The Killing Room was large and they made them gather in the center, a huddled mass of weak and terrified prisoners with nothing to hold onto for stability as the storm grew even worse. The ship was thrown about on the angry waves of the sea and the helpless slaves fared much worse as they were tossed around as if they were made from rags. Many were injured as bodies struck other bodies. Malnourished and deprived of proper sleep and water, all were feeble against the fury of the storm.

Then the ship began to break. Bloodied sailors fled the lower hold as the sounds of battle carried over the sounds of the storm. Water began to rush in and slave and captors alike were hurled into the sea over screams of fear and pain. Ines managed to hold onto something and it carried her to the surface of the water. The storm-tossed waves made it difficult to see or breathe, but she heard voices. Their captors called out to each other. There was land nearby. She squinted and saw them, and then the distant land.

"Sharks!"

It was a scream that sent many panicked slaves splashing through the water and Ines was no exception. She could hear the other screams but dared not look. She kicked in the water as hard as she could, calling out for her fellows to follow her voice. She didn't know until they washed up on the shore whether they heard her or not. As she coughed and sputtered, climbing out of the water, she looked back to see how many had made it. Her eyes burned with the salt from the water and from her own tears. There were so many dead... So many broken and battered corpses...

And then she saw the lightning. Her sharp eyes briefly caught sight of the colors of the first mate, Arak, their tormenter. He was killed instantly and she had to tear her eyes away, even as she heard his sick and malicious voice in her ears.

She collected herself as best she could. The prisoners outnumbered the captors who washed up on this shore and she couldn't help but feel a semblance of relief. Drenched and weak, she panted heavily as she hurried to the side of the Payit slave she had met before, the one who had been taken out last.

She would do her examinations on those who survived. That was her first task...

_________________

The man who was infected on the ship is no longer coughing, although now he seems caught with a particularly nasty fever. Those who were to scrutinize the young man's condition would only detect surficial injuries such as manmade bruises, grisly ulcers, and a forearm that has been gnawed to the bone by what would turn out to be a rat. The stench that surrounds him is not the smell of death, nor is it a smell of any more portentous kind - it is the smell of feces, or as the pirates on the barge would often have remarked whilst handling the slaves stowed in the lower deck: "Talk about a shitstorm!"

For now, the young aborigine seems bedfast and delirious with the rare exception of getting up to launder his soiled piece of loincloth.

_________________

UCE THIS, YOU COW.

After a few hours of rest, after washing up on shore, whilst it was still light, the young man, Jack, would head off in search for some form of food for the group. Keeping to himself mostly, he would wander off often from the group, to return some time later, with what ever manner of beast and food would inhabit the isle, dead, usually slung over his shoulder, or dragged along behind him, depending on size.

After gathering some food, he would of course, find some fire wood, and start a camp fire, using his survival skills, Skin the animals, keep the pelts, Take what he needed for food himself, and leave the rest to do what they must with the remaining carcasses.

Whilst not wandering off into the wilderness alone, he would often be seen sat seperate from the rest of the folk, sharpening his Skinning Knife. He'd speak when spoken too, but very rarely speak out himself.

_________________
Khaldun Menetnashte Khalfani
Victor Wilkinson

^totally not a lie or anything.

The tiny lump in the back of one of the cells hadn't stirred.
Since they left, Xochitl had barely moved, save to breathe, and eat when she forced herself to. Her face, small and round, made for expressing the happiest things in life, showed misery and sadness.
When the boat started to rock, however, she looked up. When it pitched and rolled, she leapt to her feet, grabbing at the wall for support; her legs were numb and cramped.
'What is going on?! What is this?"
She looked around at her companion slaves, wide-eyed, her black eyes terrified pools when the first CRACK resounded. The screams started from the upper hold, and that's when she realized something was very, very wrong. She didn't know boats. She was a simple priestess. But she knew those screams. She knew terror when she heard it, and she knew death. She'd like to have blamed it on these...huge, pale strangers, but she couldn't. In truth, she began to worry for them as well...though, mostly for herself. Especially as she was thrown into the metal bars when the ship pitched and rolled. She yelped, feeling a sharp pain in her head, when she heard what could only be the world ending. A tremendous boom, and all went silent. It was a moment before she could realize, since people will still screaming, that she had been deafened, at least temporarily, by the sundering of the ship's hull by a bolt of lightning and the crash of a massive wave. Time slowed.
Time stopped.
She saw the water rush in, with a burning horror in the pit of her gut. She was locked in a cage, under decks, on a ship rapidly filling with water. No part of that made the outcome good.
She felt water lapping around her small bare feet. Her heart screamed...her gut screamed...finally the scream reached her throat and she cried out to Kiltzi, begging for help, begging that she and so many others not have to live the last moments of their lives in terror, that they be granted the joy She promised. In that instant, she wasn't praying for her people, or her friends, or herself. She was praying for all of them. Fervently, desperately.
As though Kiltzi herself reached down and answered, the hull shook and cracked again, lengthwise across several of the cells. Xochitl ran, staggered, and jumped, feeling her muscles pull after such a long time inactive. However...it was just enough. She grabbed the rent in the side and heaved, scrambling into the water that began pouring in as the ship listed. She had no time to stop, no time to think. She got out and kicked, driving toward the surface as fast as she possibly could, just trying to get /away/. She could see others to her sides doing the same. Her head broke surface, and she smacked into a huge piece of wood. She had no idea what it was, but if she had, she wouldn't have cared that she'd found the mizzenmast and was clutching to it for dear life. Her head propped on it, she wrapped around it and found unconscious peace.
When she woke, her feet were touching sand. She could hear the lapping of the water, and she looked up to see a giant mountain. Looking around, she saw a few clambering to their feet, some of her fellow tribesfolk among them. But the dead....so many of the dead. She didn't have the first idea where to start, so she crawled up onto the beach, every inch of her body bruised, aching, torn. Falling into the soft sand, she sobbed a prayer of thanks for her life.
Now, what life had she been granted?

_________________


Aly'dra Zau'ana: Priestessish Of Eilistraee
Danika Nefzen: Druid of the Earthmother
Delia Am'Anodel: Paladin of Torm

*by the beach*
The raven haired young girl would keep close to the motherly figure, even though she found the screaming girl by the figure's side, annoying. She doesn't speak, and only responds with nods or gestures, when spoken too. When the motherly figure aids the wounded, she would try to assist in whatever way she can.

The rest of the survivors, she keeps a distance from. Watching them. Observing...

The pirates, battered but not beaten, are quick to gather up their dead and their equipment. They watch the natives warily and make their way to the north of the beach away from the corpses and their captives. When Jack returns with boar they create a camp fire and approach him together taking their fill of the food, they then go about resting in shifts, two always watching the captives whilst the others rest.

During the first night bone chilling beastial howls can be heard from the mountain, they persist throughout the night and are sometimes met by others. After the first night the pirates tripple their watch.

~

The natives scrounge through the corpses of the dead desperate for a means to defend themselves from the pirates, though definitely too scared to salvage whilst the pirates poke through their dead. The pirates were in no way thorough and six daggers are recovered from the corpses of the captors. On the first day they drag their dead from the beach and deliever funeral rites in a mass grave before gathering together, hungry, leaderless and alone.

After the first night their impromptu camp moves closer to the pirates, perhaps fearing the unknown above their brutal captors.

~

The whore seems quite content to stick with Piggy, perhaps feeling safer around the fat sod with the heart of gold.

_________________

Having appropriated a pair of daggers and whatever valuables he could find on the dead pirates, Hector would've headed off with the rest of the pirates, keeping a wary eye on the natives at all times. Bruised and battered after the ordeal on the Bearded Mermaid, and downright grumpy after a chat with the remaining pirates, he'd just partake of the roast boar, before making himself comfortable by the fire, and dozing off. He'd seem to sleep through the night, despite the savage howls, exhaustion likely having more to say in the matter than "nerves of steel".

Upon the morrow, and the change of guard, the one to try and rouse him would've gotten hit over the hand with the flat of a rapier. The correction would've been accompanied by a gruff Keep them dirty hands to yaself, ya mangy curr., and followed shortly thereafter by a brief scuffle, bloody but nonlethal.

During his shift, he'd seem more concerned with the former captives than with the source of the inhuman howls, grumbling as they get closer, and even more so at seeing that some are armed.

The sea was angry that night. Umberlee's wrath was evident. The night had been uneventful, save for the abnormal storm above. Guard duty kept Darrius's mind off from it, however. He was charged with a few others to transfer slaves to the main room in order to better handle the rat problem. No more than a few hours after doing this, however, the ship began to rock with increasing violence. The floor shifted underneath him with nary any time to react. Screams of war and battle soon took the lower deck, while cries of terror rang down from above. They were trapped between the chaos.

The ship creaked and groaned. It protested against the storm. Not for much longer, however. The waves broke the ship apart like it was a toy. Umberlee laughed in the distance, her voice booming like feminine thunder. Land was a great relief from the chaos and death. Darrius lay there until he had the strength to get up.

Darrius was never much of one to worry. His life up to this point hadn't merited it. As he looked over to the natives from his seat around the pirate campfire, however, his heart filled with fear. These lesser creatures, these savages were free now. Normally he would not worry, but they outnumbered him and his fellows now. He forced himself to break away his staring, looking back to the boar he was cooking. Jack had returned with a good sized beast, and at least he found little respite in trying to cook it perfectly.

Sleep was an impossibility for Darrius. Every howl, every cold gust of wind, every twig to snap made him stiffen. His eyes stared up at the clouded sky. Not a single star shown above, almost a reflection of Darrius's spirits. He rolled over and closed his eyes, praying for sleep.

Teoxihuatl had lived much of his life in almost complete isolation. Though his harsh existence had taught him many valuable lessons, he had not been prepared for the sheer desperation and brutality of the outside world. As ill equipped as he was to deal with the horrific cruelty of the slavers, he managed to survive and maintain a tenuous grip on his sanity by focusing on the crushing monotony of the forced march.

It had taken all his concentration to distract himself from contemplating the dire reality he was faced with. However, when he was packed onto the boat there was nothing left to occupy his mind and so he slipped into a deep depression. Withdrawing into himself, he barely ate, drank or spoke, and by the time the ship broke apart he welcomed the icy claws of the water, content to let them drag him down into oblivion.

Coughing up the salty sea water, he regained consciousness on the shore amidst a tangle of corpses and cursed his ill luck, silently raging at the gods for being so capricious. Without bothering to move, he curled up into a ball and wept until he fell asleep. He woke up again as one of the natives began poking through his garments and he finally found the strength to move, despondently helping the others to recover and bury the dead.

During the next few nights his depression showed no signs of improving. If any were to take notice, they might note his eyes were glazed and his movements were mechanical, as though he walked through a dream. He made little response to outside stimulus beyond silently following simple instructions. At night he stayed a little too close to the fire for comfort and seemed fond of muttering to himself whilst holding his head in his hands.

Noting the young halfling's attention to her, Ines allowed her to join her to the water's edge. She searched the shore for other debris, though mostly seemed to pick through shells and dead fish. She particularly looked for something she could use as a bucket, perhaps to hold water. She kept fish bones and allowed them to dry out, and used one of the gathered daggers to carve pieces of wood. It didn't take long for her to have a handful of tools for which she seemed quite pleased to have made. She salvaged as much as she could from the sea - cloth which she scrubbed in the salt water and let dry on sticks she'd stuck in the sand; any scraps of metal she could locate; even bones (of the non-humanoid variety) were piled nearby for later use. She seemed to think that anything could find a use and that having the bits and pieces of scraps left over from a shipwreck was far better than having nothing.

She busied herself throughout the day and into the night with her gathering and her craftswork, as well as periodically checking on the wounded and sick, particularly the Payit man with the half-eaten arm. She prayed that they would find fresh water soon, for the salty water of the sea would do them few favors when it came time to clean wounds properly and thoroughly. For now, though, she placed a dampened cloth over the feverish man's forehead and bade him to rest.

For the others, she spoke in her Payit tongue, or at times the more common language she had begun to learn in preparation for her trip to Ulatos, should the slaves not understand her native tongue. At times, she sang quietly to Qotal in her tongue, hoping to instill some hope in the minds of her fellows - and thought in the minds of those who so openly revered the opposing Zaltec. Should she cause unrest with her song, particularly with those who served the Eater of Hearts, rather than the Plumed Dragon or others of the goodly Maztican gods, she chose to avoid those who would stir and instead sang further away, just within the ring of firelight.

The howls concerned her. She didn't recognize them and the fearful attitudes of the pirates and their former captors were no help for the traumatized minds of the other former slaves. As their camp moved closer to the other, Ines thought of what was to come. The light from the fire flickered over the faces of her fellows and she felt her heart ache for them. They were weak and scared, just as she was. It would be difficult, but they would pull through this. They had to.

_________________

As the days progress more and more wreckage from the Bearded Mermaid wash up upon the shore. Large torn planks of wood, more corpses, spoiled rations, rope and the cloth of the sails. One noteworthy bit of salvage is a ornate trumpet which is quickly snatched up by the pirates, should any of the natives attempt to pinch it their rapiers are drawn suggesting they're willing to fight over it.

_________________

One day, as Ines scoured the shoreline, she finally found what she had been looking for: a rounded piece of metal suitable for use as a bucket or pan. Taking it back to the rest of the things she'd salvaged for the group, she fashioned a weak handle with sticks and cloth. She then turned her gaze inland. Fresh water and food was the next goal. She was no hunter, but there were those among them who were. With quiet reassurance, she bade a few of the stronger former slaves to join her, her dagger in hand. They needed proper food. She just hoped they would find a fresh water stream or similar in the process.

_________________

Light and darkness. warmth and cold. intense stress and meager relief. Metzli's mood and health has been alternating dramatically since the wreckage.

For some reason she has been hoarding the spoiled rations, other natives looking at her with disgust...

But she is not eating.

Searching through the remains of the barge, her attention turned to the rope and various planks and other pieces of wood.
Unweaving the rope to small lines of hemp, weaving them back into a proper bow-string took quite a while, but in the end Metzli looked rather satisfied with the result.

The dagger retrieved from the pirate corpse on the far end of the beach helped her carve some limbs from a wrecked plank.

There it was... a fragile shortbow, indeed, but something she could use to hunt for some food - will Nula be offended if she kills an animal ?! - or at least protect herself from whatever caused these terrible howls....

Crafting the arrows will be another challenge. she could carve the shafts from another plank, but will need feathers for the flight... and possibly a stone head ?

Maybe another slave could help her out, here ?

Who knows, maybe she could use her skills and make a sling with these hemp strings... and some of the cloth found by this strange Payit female....
Once finalized, maybe another slave could have a use of this sling, and help her down a feathered bird ?

Quiet. this Payit female looks so quiet as she attends to the wounded. Metzli knows. she can feel the magic of Pluma flowing through her veins...

she needs to talk to her.

_________________
Nana Anvilmar - Slower Talking, Faster Running
Lester, Jester, Chandler, Alchemister !
Pauris Sennemen de Laelith - Merchant (currently in Suzail, Cormyr)
Metzlitemoctzin - Payit slave, now freed from Silent's sadostyle of plotting !

After the foreigners had finished eating, Jack would offer what remains of the boar to the natives, as to not let the corpse go to waste.

He would spend his time switching from walking along the coast line, to sitting in the shade, if there be any, and keeping his eye out for anything in the distance.

During his walks upon the coastline, he would often be looking out for anything of use to salvage. Anything from Weapons to Rope.

Whilst sitting, he would often find something to rest his back upon, his hands behind his neck, and hood over his face. It would be difficult to tell whether he was sleeping or not.
When not in this position, he'd be keeping count of arrows, and sharpening his Handaxe or Skinning Knife with sharpening stones.

Of course, should food run out, he would be prepared to go back into the wilderness to see what other manner of beast inhabit this isle to be hunted.

_________________
Khaldun Menetnashte Khalfani
Victor Wilkinson

^totally not a lie or anything.

The raven haired girl accompanies the motherly figure to the search for food and water.
Armed with a long straight branch with one end sharpened, a rudimentary spear.
She is a child of the wild. She is in her element. She will hunt. Just as she had done so many times before with her tribesmen.

Xochitl keeps to herself, save for leading prayers to Kiltzi to bring her people back to joy and peace. Her faith firm, she gathers up as much cloth as she can, forming a folded pile of it. It's clear she has some kind of plan for it, but as yet, there's precious little she can do with it but fold it and wait.

The pirates might notice that she doesn't give them the same hateful, fearful glances. Now and then a small smile is ventured, and occasionally some fruit is left for them. She tries, in her own way, to make nice..

_________________


Aly'dra Zau'ana: Priestessish Of Eilistraee
Danika Nefzen: Druid of the Earthmother
Delia Am'Anodel: Paladin of Torm

As time wore on, Teoxihuatl would show signs that he was dealing with his trauma. He gradually became more productive, and could even hold prolonged conversation with the other natives. He retrieved a sizeable chunk of wood from the wreckage to use as a club and accompanied several expeditions to find food and water. On one such expedition he returned to the camp with bamboo shoots and palm tree leaves with which he would attempt to fashion a shield of sorts.

Despite his improvement, however, there was always a seething anger that bubbled beneath the surface and often emerged as bouts of uncontrollable rage. Though it was unclear exactly what it was that set him off, he had already gotten into several scuffles with followers of Zaltec, and though he avoided the natives wherever possible, such a confrontation was inevitable. When Jack offered the food, he threw it back in his face along with a a stream of angry rantings.

It would have turned out by now that the bedridden Payitan man, named Machakw, is not Payitan at all. He merely knows the fundamentals of the language. "Praise Qotal!" he would often recite in agony to his good healer.

_________________

UCE THIS, YOU COW.

In the dead of the night, amidst the bickering, abberrant horrors burst from the cliff face beside the beach and dragged a unsuspecting maztican to an early demise, the collapsed cliff face revealed a pitch black tunnel that went on beyond the visibility of the humans. The disjointed clicks and clacks of the hooked horrors could be heard within, chattering amiably as they devoured one of the interlopers.

The two groups exchanged heated words regarding their need to protect one another and put the bad blood behind them, at least temporarily, the fat one Piggy came under a verbal assault from one of the pirates who seemed ill-inclined to mingling with the natives, after being pinned by Hector Edward or 'Piggy' bullrushed him, pummelling the man's face into a fine mush.

A group of pirates, backed up by a few dedicated of Zaltec went to investigate the tunnel and tensions were high as the pirates demanded they step back. Clearly concerned by the large mazitcan and his hand made club and shield, before they could rend each other however, a monstrous hook handed abberration burst forth from the cliff face.

It was felled by the archer and the group made the decision to move further up the beach.

~

It became apparent to the group that they wouldn't be safe beside the colony of hook horrors and a scouting party was sent to search the island for a place of relative safety. What they found was breathtaking...

_________________

Xochitl follows Darrius and Jack, and before them...

A breathtaking pyramid, reaching to the heavens, crafted of solid gold. Not caring so much for gold, same as Jack, and with Darrius too wary to act, the three step inside. A statue of Qotal makes the young Payit priestess fall to her knees in supplication. While she serves Kiltzi, the Lady of Joy, she like all of her kind pays respect to the God-King. Inside, a bottomless pit in one chamber and a fountain whose floor is covered by vast amounts of gold. A sense of overwhelming dread fills the young priestess as they find a room whose floor is littered in feathers, murals of Qotal and Zaltec at war all over. She hurries out of the temple, and keeps to Darrius' side like a shadow, obviously finding some kind of comfort in the gruff foreigner's presence.

_________________


Aly'dra Zau'ana: Priestessish Of Eilistraee
Danika Nefzen: Druid of the Earthmother
Delia Am'Anodel: Paladin of Torm

The jungle was breathtaking.
Surprisingly, despite the long days spent at sea until they grounded near that beach, Metzli almost felt 'at home' near these dense plants, tall grass and palm trees.
Green color everywhere, and a heavy rain which forced them to build a shelter with large palm leaves.

The men of steel brought them clothes, at least. Dropping her wet rags and putting on one of these strange outfits brought some unexpected comfort after a long and stressful day.

This large slave, Teo. He was brave and attacked this large boar with a club. Oh, Metzli helped as much as she could with her sling, but the Payit got wounded nevertheless.
The two of them walked further south, and found this strange mountain, and the ruins of a village, surrounding a magnificent golden pyramid.

The sun was setting, and the men of steel suggested the group move to the Pyramid to seek shelter and hide before the beasts attack again. What a dreadful thought... They moved hastily and... entered the splendid pyramid.

The interior matches the beauty of the outside, no doubt, but something is wrong, she can feel it. While the two groups separate once again - natives pausing in one corner of the entrance, men of steel on the other side - Metzli wanders a bit to explore the side chambers, and frowns at the sight...

This cascading rain... is it a temple to Azul ? is this indeed a sacrifice room ?

_________________
Nana Anvilmar - Slower Talking, Faster Running
Lester, Jester, Chandler, Alchemister !
Pauris Sennemen de Laelith - Merchant (currently in Suzail, Cormyr)
Metzlitemoctzin - Payit slave, now freed from Silent's sadostyle of plotting !

The pirates set up a makeshift camp in one corner, using the looted clothing as makeshift bedding. They keep to themselves and discuss, in hushed tones, the huge and glorious gems and the mass of treasure within the temple.

"That ruby'll see us retired! We could buy waterdeep!"

"Yeah... cursed though, remember?"

"We could make Piggy grab one and see what happens to him..."

_________________

::

Piggy stays in his corner with Chastity emptying the remains of the recovered rum. He seems to be taking every excuse to dodge the bored and greedy pirates, as well as the natives, thinking that it will likely prolong his own survival by quite some time. But then again.... those gems do really look nice.

::

Jack spends the majority of his time outside, only really entering the temple when things get either too dangerous, too dark, or he gets too tired. Of course, if he can find any game to hunt, he will not hesitate to do so.

He can often be seen leaving with the shovel that 'Piggy' gave him, and heading off into the woods, along with several sharpened wooden staffs, to create small pit traps, in hopes that some animals may lay in wait.
When he moves within the forests, he moves lightly, silently, and always trying to remain undetected by what ever predators may lay in wait in the mysterious tropical island.

Once again, whatever game he does find, he would take a pelt as a trophy, then take some of the carcass for feeding, and leave the rest to the other natives and pirates.

Jack would occasionally be found just sitting outside, against a rock, or a tree, or one of the ruins, near to the temple, gazing up at the mountain, thinking about the howling, and the bears, silently.

_________________
Khaldun Menetnashte Khalfani
Victor Wilkinson

^totally not a lie or anything.

Machakw could be often seen asking favours from Piggy. Most satisfied he seems with his own people, sticking with the motherly figures or the big brawny ones, and veering quickly away in the sight of an approaching pirate, no matter how civil.

_________________

UCE THIS, YOU COW.

Xochitl keeps to herself, usually, or near Jack or Darrius when she can find them, trying to learn as much as she can about their new....friends. The priestess still leads the slaves and whatever pirates will join, be it mockingly or with good heart, in dances, songs and prayers of joy and love to Kiltzi. It seems totally insufficient, but it's all she has, and all she can offer.

_________________


Aly'dra Zau'ana: Priestessish Of Eilistraee
Danika Nefzen: Druid of the Earthmother
Delia Am'Anodel: Paladin of Torm

Hector, for the most part, would stick around with the rest of the pirates, though unusually silent. From time to time, he'd offer the others a bottle of rum, which would likely get passed around and emptied rather quickly. After giving the pyramid's interior a detailed inspection, gawking at the treasures to be found inside, he seemed to fall into a sullen silence.

More often than not, his eyes could be found sizing up the precious stones within. From time to time, they'd move to inspect the natives, rather warily, then on to the remaining pirates, regarding them with a mixture of disdain and irritation.

The pirates and the natives don't seem very inclined to dancing, the odd female would join her for a time before giving up. Apparently the wounds are too fresh for the natives and the pirates simply don't give a damn.

_________________

Teoxihuatl seemed to be growing increasingly angry as time wore on. Though the temple was magnificent, he hated it. Terrible visions of Zaltec and Qotal swam through his dreams and haunted his memories, causing him to lose out on sleep. His hatred for the pirates hadn't waned either, and he was growing increasingly frustrated with a number of natives who seemed to have forgiven them. He spent most of his time propped up against a wall amongst those natives that stayed near by, trying to ignore the pain in his wounded foot whilst watching over them, being particularly protective of the one they called Metzli.

Grateful for this protection, Metzli would stick close to Teo at times, but disappear to another corner once in a while.
Surprisingly, she would tuck some of that roasted boar hidden in her clothes before leaving, almost un-noticed.

_________________
Nana Anvilmar - Slower Talking, Faster Running
Lester, Jester, Chandler, Alchemister !
Pauris Sennemen de Laelith - Merchant (currently in Suzail, Cormyr)
Metzlitemoctzin - Payit slave, now freed from Silent's sadostyle of plotting !

Itzli would spend a large amount of time studying the markings in the temple, showing clear interest in those depicting Zaltec but yet taking care to keep the distance between him and the mural for now - almost as much as he would attempt to put between himself and the 'white skinned devils'.
Occasionally attempting to make conversation with his kin, he might often be seen exploring the rest of temple.

Similar to Teoxihuatl, he would show clear disdain for those seeming to think trust and forgiveness should be offered to the devils, a large hand trailing across some of the scars on his chest as he mutters such thoughts to any natives he presumed to be of a similar mindset.

_________________

Signature by Maryn! <3 I am also seen as DM Snuffles.

The day started with confrontation, the groups were tucked up asleep within the pyramid. Two from each camp watched the others rest as people slowly but surely began to stir, Piggy and the whore Chastity were roused rudely by the pirate named Jon. A few swift kicks to the mans side illicited a grumbling response from the fat drunk who clambered slowly but surely to his feet.

A scuffle was narrowly avoided in the temple after Hector drew steel, but the natives had all stirred and seen the inheritant weakness within the oppositions group. Three of the pirates left the temple, leaving perhaps half an hour after a group of natives who had left to hunt in the jungle.

~

The remaining pirates had left to find their hunter Jack to see what he had discovered on the island, during their absence the largest of the natives Itzcoatl and the conniving Itzli roused the group to take up arms against the skeletal guard the pirates had left behind. They gave up their arms as Jack, Darrius and Hector returned. The advantage had shifted to the natives and the pirates had apparently realised this. They were ejected from the temple but the three who were disarmed seemed ill-inclined to leaving the apparent safety of the pyramid as the sun began to set... and the beastial cries began anew.

~

Darrius and Hector set off to find the wayward pirates before they would fall victim to the horrors of the night, upon the beach they discovered their companions. They were chasing a lone female across the beach, blades drawn and already dripping with the blood of the native behind them. Darrius and Hector were quick to cut off the natives escape and the larger of the two drove his blade into her back. A swift execution was delievered to the other native who still drew breath.

Perhaps it was simple coincidence that the pool of water within the temple became tinged red whilst Chichiwawa was inspecting it. Or perhaps someone on this island has a vested interest in how this experiement pans out.

~

The pirates returned to the temple in full force, and were met by the male natives with a handful of females ready to defend their refuge from the white devils. One of the white devils begged and pleaded with Ines to let him inside, to avoid falling prey to the beasts that stalk the night.

"Tie me up, just lemme in!"

Before she could respond Darrius had grabbed him and pulled him back with the assistance of Hector. He protested violently, flailing in their grasp, barking

"We're doomed you sods, we're going to get eaten we're-"

He was cut off by Hector's blade as it drove into his chest fatally. The man died on the steps of the golden pyramid and as his blood dripped onto the steps the door swung shut on those that had dared to view such heresy. They were all condemed by whatever power fuels the magic of the pyramid.

~

Panic set in for the natives but the pirates were cool and collected, they were bloodied adventurers and capable enough to deal with the threats that lurked in the maztican jungle. The pirates took to the mountain to see through the night as the natives ran like headless chickens through the jungle, toward the beach.

_________________

Xochitl spent her time flipping between fury and sorrow, anger and fear. When the pirates killed the man who wished to stay with the natives, even her optimistic nature was shaken. However, in Darrius' and Jack's silent (or not so silent) derision of the murder Hector committed, she found her hope renewed, somewhat. She could see that at least in some of them was the most rudimentary sense of civilized honour, and she could work with that.

While the Natives ran, something...terrifying...attacked. Flashes of white, some kind of weapon. Her mind couldn't even comprehend. However, even in joy, one must have strength. To save her people, she thought nothing of producing her dagger and leaping at the beast. It worked to divert the creature's attention, for...about ten seconds. She was a dancer, a singer, a lover. Not a fighter. She would later not remember the blow that took her off of her feet, leaving her insensate, in a pile.

When she woke it was to Jack's and Darrius' voice, and a wash of relieved thanks ran through her. They ordered her to heal their men, and in return offered their battle skill to protect her; a deal she knew she could not refuse. She stayed close to Jack and Darrius, her estimation of them being protectors only rising with their actions. She knew they could be saved. She knew they could feel the touch of Kiltzi's joy.

The temple...they led her back into the temple despite her wishes, and she clung close, when they were blocked in the entry to the main chamber by a man...feathers...so many feathers. Her heart spasmed in terror...Hector had spilled blood here, not in a sanctified manner, but in a heathenous murder. What would the Gods do? What payment would Qotal demand?

The feathers flew out...all their injuries healing, even her aching head repairing itself. When they cleared...Hector was gone. She stared to Teo, then to Ines, then Darrius-and-Jack...What had they done now?!

_________________


Aly'dra Zau'ana: Priestessish Of Eilistraee
Danika Nefzen: Druid of the Earthmother
Delia Am'Anodel: Paladin of Torm

As Hector, Jack, Darrius and the five remaining pirates made their way up the mountain, darkness began to descend upon the land, bringing with it the bestial howls. No sooner had the lads formed a defensive perimeter around the top, than bear-shaped figures started becoming visible in the forest. A multitude of red eyes watched the eight men, and for a few moments, all was strangely silent.

All until Jack fired an arrow and the things charged. Muttering a curse under his breath, Hector moved down the slope to engage the beasts along with the rest of the pirates. The fight only lasted seconds but two men were down and bleeding profusely. Hector and Darrius moved to offer assistance to them, managing to stop the bleeding and stabilize them. It was then that Jack suggested he go scouting, and not long after returned with word that one of the natives, a priestess, had been taken.

The three quickly decided to go rescue her, leaving the other pirates to watch over the wounded. After a quick trek, they arrived to the temple grounds, just in time to see three of the bear-like figures carrying the woman off toward a nearby cave. As luck would have it, the beasts turned around whirling their nets and brandishing clubs, charging the three hardened veterans of the Maztican jungle. Sure enough, the beasts were cut down, and the woman taken back to the mountain, without further incident.

After she was roused from her "sleep" by Jack, and the situation explained, she agreed to heal the wounded. First the two with the more serious injuries, then Darrius and finally Hector. If there would any doubt in the old seadog's mind that he was far from well loved, that would have dispelled it.

Still, he had no time to worry about such things. What mattered was survival. After a brief talk, the pirate group started back toward the Temple, where they found the door open. Warily, they made their way inside, only to stumble upon the sight of a number of natives staring wide-eyed at the walls. Following their gaze, it soon became apparent why: The murals on the walls had altered themselves to depict the three pirates killing the natives that had left to hunt. Another depicted Hector killing the pirate that had entertained the thought of defecting to the natives' side.

Killing had never bothered the old pirate, but the scene in the temple... was downright macabre. For once he found himself agreeing with a native, in the sense that the priestesses frightened pleas to vacate the temple seemed sound. But, for some reason and against his better judgement, he agreed to take a look inside the temple's main room with Jack and Darrius. After having convinced to lead, since he was the only one with a shield, Hector proceeded carefully inside the room, eyes warily examining his surroundings.

He only stopped as he heard his two companions' cries of alarm. An invisible barrier prevented them from proceeding further, essentially trapping him there. Alone. With a clearly visible pillar of light in the middle of the room, surrounded by swirling white feathers, which almost seemed to gather into a humanoid shape. Remaining calm and collected, he yelled some more instructions to those outside the wall of force, then proceeded inside.

As soon as he had approached, Hector felt the compulsion to walk into the pillar of light. He never questioned why or if it was dangerous... he just stepped forward and into the light. The feathers surrounded him, and soon enough the room, the light... everything faded into darkness as he was transported away.

The temple was bustling with activity that morning, the pirates were conspiring and the natives watched vigilantly. The images on the walls were clear in the minds of each inhabbitant, of Hector cutting down one of the pirates atop the pyramid, of the pirates mercilessly slaying three of the natives to even the numbers seemingly. But where was Hector? He had been whisked away by the power that protected this sacred place, no one seemed to think long on the whereabouts of the thug but the feathers that littered the ground served as a reminder of his absence. The ones that weren't plucked up by the natives as a keepsafe goodluck charm began to swirl of their own accord and flow toward the room holding the pool, and a resounding splashed echoed through the halls followed by a gasp as Hector pulled himself up.

His comerades came to assist him out of the pool, he was stark naked, but the symbol of Qotal was tattoo'd across his shoulder blades a dragon, its tail roping around the flesh like a necklace, the eyes a dull blue. The natives gasped in surprise, and the pirates scowled but tended to the bloodthirsty pirate all the same.

~

Metz began to search the large chamber proper, gasping in surprise as she uncovered a number of mirrors previously caked in dust. They were all focused on the centrifigal shaft of light that flowed through the ceiling. But something was missing. Something had been removed from the center of the room.

_________________

Tension was extreme among all parties - Pirates taunting each others, natives arguing on whether their raptors should be helped, trusted, ignored, abandoned to the Gods, fed to the beasts outside or simply slain on the spot for sheer revenge...

This leader, Hector - he took quite a bath, she grins.

Metzli recovers slowly from the shock. for it was a shock - first the Coatl appearing to them and taking away this man and then... returning him changed profoundly !
Other natives call this a sign - this was more than a sign. This was an order. Their fate was inside the pyramid, for Good or... *she shakes her head*

There is no way out. There must be a way in.




Dust... all this dust on selected spots, while the rest of the pyramid was all clean... Mirrors underneath ! more search revealed many similar devices, engraved with a symbol of Qotal eating its own tail.... cyclicality, or the symbol of His eternal return... Ines would know... the Payit is a follower of the Plumed one - now... off to find her !




Returning to the pyramid entrance, Metzli noted a change in the atmosphere. Both groups were planning things... separately ? Ines was in talk with the pirates... and the raven-haired hin was in tense discussion with Itzli, the fierce warrior with the Zaltec markings...

Ines searched the mirror scene with her, right underneath the shaft of light and they found...
...
they found....
... that something was missing.

The whole group muttered, and reverted to the entrance shaking their head, forming plans to build... a ship to escape the Island !
ha ha ha. the fools.
She will find it. she will find what's missing right there... and then... they will understand, they will....

A reflection under water. A mirror ? a ball ? Looking deep through the water, Metzli noticed a shimmering light... something is there, something is waiting for them...

The Zaltec follower fell in the pool. hahaha. well, she slipped and touched him slightly. he fell. and she felt sorry for him. Especially as he failed to recover the source of this reflection....
His Zaltec markings started to burn as he touched the holly water of the pool... he felt unconscious, taken away by the pain, suffering from his burning scars and the contrast with the icy water....

And then the whore saved him.
Speak about a symbol.

The hin seemed wiser, yes. oh, she is quiet. but SHE can be trusted. She will do good. certainly better than this... *eyeing at Itzli down in pain, soaking wet on the marble around the pool*

She covers him with a spare outfit of hers. the warrior may be of help later, yes...

Turning back to Chichiwawa, Metzli helps her enter the pool slowly, pointing at the reflection under water.

"Fetch it, little one, Fetch it ! if it's a mirror, we need it ! we need it ! I want it... I... err... we need it ! "

The hin dives and...


...

_________________
Nana Anvilmar - Slower Talking, Faster Running
Lester, Jester, Chandler, Alchemister !
Pauris Sennemen de Laelith - Merchant (currently in Suzail, Cormyr)
Metzlitemoctzin - Payit slave, now freed from Silent's sadostyle of plotting !

.. and the Hin finally got it !

The source of the reflection was a sphere-shaped crystal. She just knew it...
Turning to Teoxl, she calls for help retrieving the crystal from the hands of the swimming little one... only to be faced by a pair of wide-open cold eyes...

Why this cold look ? Suspicion is growing among their ranks ?

It took them minutes to return to the shaft of light... and the crystal did fit perfectly in the hole !
A deep sound fills the hall as the light shaft is refracted to the numerous mirrors she uncovered earlier... and towards the largest one, on the far side.

Something changed....

The mirror surface is almost.. liquid. and then... rubbery.

could it be... *her hands on her head, shaking nervously*
The Coatl ! *she screams*

Is the whole pyramid... part of the Plumed Serpent body ? Others simply look at her with disdain...

The sun sets... and with the disappearing light shaft, the living mirror is altered again... to its original state.
They will have to wait for the night to end...

Hatred - Suspicion - names called, anger and threats.
Teoxl and Itzli form a league now. against her ? why ?
'You pushed him in the pool, Traitor'

The fool was readying for a dive himself... this doesn't convince them.

Time will tell. They will understand. The thing is.... SHE KNEW IT ! SHE WAS RIGHT !
If only they could find a way out... without risking their lives with the beasts outside....
The sunlight will save them, no doubt !
...
A long night - these nightmares, again. the clouds... the voices !
...

Early morning, the next day... she wakes up before many natives and pirates. Time to clean the crystal and mirrors before the sun rises !


Time...
The shaft appears... and... disappears right away !
She runs to the camp by the entrance, screaming for Ines to come and witness the oddity... only to watch the pirates run to barricade the door - something is trying to enter ! and then they hear a distinct sound of scratching in the Eastern room of the pyramid...

THE BEAR-LIKE BEASTS ARE INSIDE !

A small group is swiftly taken down by the Pirates as all slaves seek shelter in the corridor...



Safe. They are safe !
All seems quiet again... too quiet...

The days seemed as though they stretched forever. It had seemed like a year since Darrius last slept, yet he was restless and unable to drift asleep. Perhaps it was the cold floor beneath him or maybe the constant threat of danger. Whichever it was, exhaustion was beginning to take its toll. After a few minutes of tossing and turning against the cold pillar, he knew what he had to do.

Carefully, he glanced about himself, watching carefully for others. He reached inside a secret compartment in one of his belt pouches and pulled out a small vial. Inside was what looked like a few weeds stuffed into a tube. Darrius smiled to himself. "Dreammist," he said internally. He went about making a tea of the weed, carefully watching the proportion of it to water. As it was done, his smile broadened. "It has been too long," he thought. He lifted the cup of tea to his nostrils and inhaled deeply. His bloodshot eyes nearly rolled all the way back in his head as he did so, but it was exhilarating.

He just barely managed to toss the cup of tea away, splatting the contents across the floor, before he drifted into perhaps the most vivid dream he had experienced. Darrius was unsure whether he was awake or asleep, but it didn't truly matter. Slumped against the pillar once more, he saw the great feathered dragon flying about him atop the pyramid. A scourge of the bearlike creatures were at the base. He wasn't alone though, Hector, Jack, some of the more helpful natives were there as well. The dragon swooped low, its golden glow seemed to dispel the bear creatures and they'd disappear in a wisp of shade. It then flew up high and seemed to become the sun.

Darrius's dreaming continued, perhaps less sensible and relevant than that of his vision of Qotal. For once, however, he had gotten some rest.

The past day had been a living nightmare for Hector. After having stepped in the devilish white light gods knows how long ago... he just woke up in the pool of the temple. Naked. He was lucky the contact with the water snapped him back to consciousness, and he made his way out of the pool as quickly as he could. The grizzled old pirate was half-drowned by the time he crawled out.

He didn't even care that a large crowd, including Darrius and quite a few natives, was there to meet him. They stared at his naked form, while he gasped for breath, before Darrius made his way over and tossed him Ulrik's armour, muttering about the former sailor being naked... as well as having a tattoo of a pagan god on his back.

None of that really bothered Hector, oddly enough. The old sea dog was far more concerned with what was going on inside his head... He felt remorse! Pity. Sorrow. For every man and woman he'd cut down. For Ulrik. For the natives. For those who had come to an untimely end because of him, one way or another.

It was maddening! He had never felt such feelings before... ever since he had left his home as a boy of thirteen. Ever since he killed his first man at fifteen. He had never once felt even a slight pang of guilt. But now... it weighed on him like a lead weight. And most irritating of all... was that these feelings made their way into his head against his will. The thought weren't just alien, they were forced upon him by a "higher power" as well. That was something that didn't sit well at all with the faithless pirate.

And things only got worse from there on, as he would soon find out, much to his chagrin. As one of the pirates tossed him a blade, he found that he couldn't bring himself to grab the damned thing! Even worse! He couldn't even punch Dorn's stupid face, or slit his throat for the insults.

And to top it all off, the damned tattoo started to burn like mad, hot enough to make him fall to his knees, yelling and flailing as he told one of the savages the truth! He may have done so callously, but damnit, it was the truth! She was better off knowing all her loved ones were likely dead, or slaves, and her civilization toppled by the Golden Legion!

Hells with that! the pirate thought to himself. I'll weather it out somehow. I can't die all the way out here. Not by the hands of the savages. Not by the hands of the idiots who dared call themselves pirates. And not by the fangs and claws of whatever horrors inhabited the caverns.

Still, despite everything, he found himself leaving the pyramid with Edward, Darrius and one of the native girls. The fat swine, Edward, managed to botch things up and fall down a pit, impale himself and pass out. Darrius, the fool, tried to jump the pit, and ended up tumbling atop Piggy. Normally, Hector would've called them fools to their faces and left them to die a horrible death at the hands of the bear creatures that could be seen deeper within the cave... but since he had acquired a "conscience", matters weren't as simple as all that.

"Go get help from th' pyramid, lass! Bring rope. Hector yelled toward Ines, who after a moment's thought ran off. Not too long after, rope was brought, along with all the remaining pirates! A rescue effort was mounted, and both Edward and Darrius were brought out alive. Much to Hector's... relief?! A quick dash to the pyramid followed... and once all were safely inside, the old sea dog finally allowed himself a few moments to rest.

Still, the day was far from over, for the aged pirate. One of the natives was going on about having found the missing piece of the incomplete mechanism in the main room. She believed that he had some part to play in making it function.

That made Hector not only suspicious of the seemingly crazy girl, but also of the contraption. Three other natives, including the one whose family he had "saved", were there as well. Those were odds the old sea dog didn't much care for, so he made his way back to summon Darrius, who surprisingly went along with the idea quite easily. Upon reaching the temple's main room, and uttering a rather dark comment about ending the lives of the other pirates for their continued offer of insults, the sailor found, much to his dismay, that the tattoo and whatever force had put it there to begin with, disagreed with his even considering taking human lives. Agony soon followed, provided by the burning of the feathered serpent marking on his back.

When he was able to stand back on two feet again, Hector drew closer to the orb the young savage had been fiddling with. That had made up his mind. What did he have to lose anymore? He was hardly himself anymore and the chances of getting off the island were slim at best. He agreed to try making it work, though he would have to wait until the next day for the sun to rise. One more night in this accursed place. One night Hector planned to spend sleeping as soundly as he could.

But even that plan came undone... with a rather forceful and insistent banging on the temple door. Shaken from his sleep, then fully awakened by another long and forceful bang, the old sea dog took it upon himself to rouse the rest of the pirates, and get them to prepare as best they could to hold out until daybreak.

"Up on yer feet, ye lazy sods! Brace th' door!" He yelled, and much to his surprise, he found that the other pirates executed without a fuss. He joined them in bracing the door, hoping it would hold out a few more hours, until he heard... scratching noises and faint grunts coming from the eastern room.

He barely had time to give one more order, before the silhouettes of the strange bear-creatures could be seen within the pyramid: "Three o' us will brace th' door, th' rest of ye go defend the corridor to the eastern room!" A fight ensued, with one of the four pirates being seriously wounded and having to pull back, while the other three managed to fend the creatures off. For the time. But as it had already become apparent to Hector over the last week, "when it rains, it pours"...

Despite Machakw's uncultured origin, he seems very discreet in his way of acting and moving. For the past few days, he would have lingered about the biggest of the natives, especially Teoxihuatl whom he seems to have deliberately befriended. Never does he communicate with the pirates on his own initiative, rather he whispers his business to one of the more suave-spoken women, and stands behind to study the reaction. Piggy for his disarming humanity is an exception to this, of course. Physically, the ordeal most evidently wears on him; his ribs bulge out even more than they did to begin with, and his skin has developed the hue of sickly, pasty yellow.

When the beasts broke in, Machakw was certain to hide behind his friends in the most heroic fashion, but deliver a few sharp jabs at the intruders, nonetheless.

_________________

UCE THIS, YOU COW.

Ines was disappointed by the bickering between her native kin. They assaulted each other verbally over Metzli's strange behavior. As far as Ines was concerned, it was not the young one's fault that the one she pushed into the water had proven to be a servant of Zaltec. This was a holy temple to Qotal. What did they expect to happen? As slippery and frantic as Metzli's mind tended to be all the time, she probably hadn't even considered that. She hadn't considered it when she had befriended them, after all.

The clash of faiths was beginning to take its toll on them all. It was easier to band together in the beginning, but when differences became more prominent in their group, it turned into a problem. She did her best to keep them together, using her own personal guile and charisma to stay the wrath of her kin for as long as she could effectively do so. It was getting harder. She only hoped that they kept their word to continue to work together with the pirates for as long as they needed to in order to survive. It was all she could ask of them.

Her heart was heavy, despite her apparent friendliness and calm. When she looked upon these pirates, these devils foreign to her land, she saw the death of her husband. The leader, Hector, spoke of their land being taken by more of them, that it would be impossible to return without being taken again. He told her of the army, of the conquerors...and she believed him. As she curled up next to the door of the temple, she remained awake for long hours into the night, secretly concealing her tears and a wounded heart. She would not be able to return to her home, and even if she was and could find her old village, it was likely no more than a ruined site of death and ash. Her sons... They were so young. There was no chance that they had survived for this long on their own, even if they had not been found that night.

She had a fitful sleep that night, disturbed by images of what had happened and what continued to transpire even now. She felt a certain kindness and hope toward the man who had been touched by her god, and yet she felt worse because of it. He had been a part of it all, mercilessly killing her people and feeling no remorse for it. Yet, here he was, marked by Qotal and bestowed a second chance by Him. What right did she have to stand against the judgment of her god? She could understand the suspicion and questioning looks given to her by her native kin, particularly those who were not fond of Qotal - and it seemed there were many, in comparison.

Her troubled dreams ended abruptly when a sound, a sensation drew her awake. She placed a hand on the wall as she shook her head to wake herself up, but the moment she heard another pounding on the door right next to her, she let out a yelp and scrambled away in fright. The others had already begun to stir. She was on her feet in a moment, still a bit disoriented. The pirates swarmed on the door to hold it closed while her kin called to retreat into the next chamber. She pleaded with them to help, especially when the others shouted that they heard sounds from the other chamber. Still, her kin hid in the corridor. She remained where she was, her fingers resting close to her little dagger.

Then she saw them. At her cry, several of the pirates rushed into battle with the white beasts. She stayed back and out of their way, unable to help in battle, though her eyes remained trained on them, noting every slash and wound. As the battle finally ended, she rushed forward to offer her help to the wounded, despite her trembling hands.

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As the night dragged on, the pirates gave up trying to contain the assault of the strange bear-like creatures. First two of them retreated to the already crowded center room, followed soon by the others as well. Soon enough, the remaining pirates along with the large native Teoxihuatl had to fight off a wave of the creatures as the door burst open.

The fight wasn't without casualties and yet another pirate fell grievously wounded. Soon as the beasts had been driven back, Teoxihuatl attempted to secure the door, but got abducted by the horde. As the sound of wardrums began to fade, so too did the night, the first light of dawn making its way into the temple's main room, spreading throughout the room as it hit the spherical diamond in the floor. And morning brought with it the return of Jack, who had apparently found and "befriended" a bear somewhere on the island's surface.

The mirror toward all the light reflected by the gems seemed to converge on began to glisten, drawing the attention of those around. Soon enough a female slave, Hector, Ines and Darrius approached, with all the others watching from a distance. The slave girl touched the mirror, her hand going through its surface, much to the surprise of those present. A inpatient Darrius tried to shove the girl through the mirror, but before he could do so, a figure wearing a plumed headdress reached out and pulled the frightened maztican through.

Not without a bit of arguing and disagreement, the pirates set off to cut down a few trees to build a barricade with. As they were doing so, a great cloud of white plumes erupted from the temple, before scattering to the winds. As they rushed inside, Hector and Darrius learned that one of the natives, spurred on by the conniving Machakw, had broken the mirror with a rock, and had been "exploded", as one of the pirates was eager to clarify.

Jack returned carrying a few young trees while the others were still arguing over various issues, but nobody seemed to hurry to help him with turning them into a barricade or spears to help stave off future attacks. As they argued, the day dragged on, slowly turning into night once more.

The inhabbitants rested without disturbance, and when they awoken clear divisions within the group were apparent. Some who agreed with the actions of the renegade mirror breakers, others who didn't care one way or another and the followers of Zaltec who hated residing in the temple at all. The pirates, of course, were blissfully ignorant of the significance of the events and continued to complain about their empty stomachs.

A group of the natives seemed to be conspiring quietly with one another, one of whom was a woman of un-matched beauty marred only by time, and the grit that gathers on those without the luxury of time to wash thoroughly. As time pressed on pirates began to leave the temple to hunt food, and the natives continued to trapse around the temple suspiciously. They mingled with one another, though no one seemed interested in what the followers of Zaltec had to say, they were planning all the same for the nights activities.

Hector, being the genius that he is, decided to attempt to clamber down into one of the temples pits alone, without a rope as a safeguard. This decision would possibly cause much regret in the immediate future as he lost his footing and tumbled down to the bottom with a resounding crunch. He howled and the pirates gathered to see what had happened, and much to their dismay they heard the ominous drums of the qouggoths as prey had been seemly given to them on a silver platter.

That wasn't the least of their problems however, as Dorn, one of the more racey members of the crew had been taken to the sacred pool with the breathtakingly beautiful native. He was killed shortly after and his heart plucked from his chest, the highest form of heresy on the soil of the Plumed One, but it seemed to garner the attention of Zaltec. The pool turned to blood, boiling and gushing around the woman as she brought the heart to the sky, as the body of Dorn lay still and motionless. The walls of the temple began to shudder violently and the all but the rubies within the glamarously antechambers shattered, the visages of the Plumed One dissolved and bled, and the temple itself seemed to ooze crimson liquid. The followers of Zaltec were driven to a frenzy, drawing weapons and chanting the name of their god as those faithful to the plumed one took their chances with the wilderness.

The pirates reacted similarly, abandoning their efforts to rescue Hector as they ran with their tales firmly between their legs. When the dust settled the pyramid lay in the moonlight, glinting red, and within the sacred pool stood a woman with gleaming red eyes, her thirst for blood and sacrifice unabated as the natives made their way to the pit... and to see just how lively their next sacrifice would be. Hector.

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Ines was quiet, dismal. When the mirror had been broken, she felt as if a piece of her had gone with it. Her heart and her hopes had plummeted, and the agony of the situation threatened to consume her. She felt weakened by the infighting, and by the clever, devious ways of the servants of Zaltec. And so many of the others took to them. How many among them were loyal to the Plumed Dragon? She realized that she was no safer with her own people than she was with the pirates.

That was what made it even more difficult. As the pirates and the other natives went about their business, she remained silent and alone, though her tears had run dry in the night. She sat near the ray of light, thinking, praying. She felt lost, like all that they done was for naught, all the steps they had taken had only taken them further away from freedom.

Her home was gone, her family killed. She had been enslaved, tossed into the sea, and then hurled into a perilous land where death reached with clawed digits to grasp at them. She felt helpless. Most of all, though, she felt alone. There was no one to talk to, no one to share stories or encouragement. These natives were not the same as she was. She was forgiving, willing to work with their former captors to find a way to escape this place. They were bloodthirsty and demanded retribution. She could not blame them, but at the same time she couldn't condone their actions. But they didn't listen to her. The Plumed Dragon did not call to them in this land as much as Zaltec did. But she could not join them...

Her thoughts were interrupted by the great commotion that took the various other groups. She hadn't been paying attention, so lost in her thoughts for most of the day. She moved with the others and it didn't take long for her to figure out what had happened. Despair took her and she retrieved her satchel of healing supplies, following the group outside of the temple. Her eyes searched as they escaped, but she did not find who she was looking for...

Her gaze fell on the pyramid as she stumbled back, ghostly pale and breathless in the moonlight...

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Metzli reacted to these events in a way which probably did not surprise her fellow former captives...
As she progressively felt she was losing control of the situation - her destiny - she progressively lost even more sanity... at night.
Daylight did bring some comfort and mental quietness, it seems, but her rare ties to some other natives did stretch to a point of mutual ignorance...

she hoards food. that she does.

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Nana Anvilmar - Slower Talking, Faster Running
Lester, Jester, Chandler, Alchemister !
Pauris Sennemen de Laelith - Merchant (currently in Suzail, Cormyr)
Metzlitemoctzin - Payit slave, now freed from Silent's sadostyle of plotting !

"Mother, how will we know when the servants of Zaltec have come?"

Ines smiled warmly as both of her sons looked up to her for her answer. "The village is well protected, my sons. Your father and the other warriors and scouts know these lands well, and they know the tell-tale signs of encroaching Jaguars from the east." She made a simple gesture in the given direction as she explained to the young boys. "These skirmishes between our two villages have continued for decades, and will thus go on. But the Plumed One shall keep us safe, as he always has."

The tallest of her sons, Tochtli, stood straight, his expression stern and well practiced. "I will join the ranks of the warriors someday, Mother. I will become an Eagle."

Matlal was quick to mimic his older brother's claim and Ines felt her heart swell with warmth. Already her husband had made arrangements for their eldest son to travel to Pezelac, where he could take an apprenticeship with an esteemed Eagle Knight who was well known to the village Councilors. He would be a strong warrior one day, as determined as he was.

"Tochtli, Matlal. Retrieve our dinner."

Ines and her sons turned to look at the towering figure who approached. An instant later, the two young boys shouted at one another and took off into the trees. Ines smiled faintly as her husband placed his hand around her and on her shoulder.

"They take after you so, Cuauhtémoc," she spoke quietly.

"There is warmth in their spirits that matches yours, my citlalmina..."



"Citlalmina..."

Ines started as she came awake suddenly, unaware of the word that had been on her lips. As she opened her eyes, she realized she could see nothing, and that the air was so very cold. She wrapped her arms around herself, rubbing at her arms. There was already movement among the others, so she stood and began to move around to get her blood flowing quicker. Her mind was distracted, as she could still see the images of her children and her husband - now long lost.

The day progressed slowly, and the svirfneblins who had taken them in were very generous with their food supply. It didn't take long for her fellow natives to again begin to devour the supply of what the others called "rothe" meat.

But then several things happened, all at once it seemed. The two slavers, Darrius and Jack, went out into the caverns. Darrius managed to get his arm stuck in a wall because of something he thought was a lever of some sort. It took some trying, but his arm was freed. No sooner had he been freed than the white beasts attacked from the darkness. They overwhelmed Metzli and nearly carried her off, but the one named Jack stopped them. Metzli was severely wounded, with a fractured wrist and a cracked skull. Ines did her best to patch her back up, but it was as if the foolish girl didn't understand her. She ordered her to stay down, and it was not until she mentioned she could die if she didn't listen that Metzli finally stayed still and rested as she should.

It was then that she heard the voice...

"Plumaweaver..." The voice that addressed her magically left no doubt in her mind. It was the priestess of Zaltec of whom the others had spoken. She asked for her assistance against more slavers that had arrived, companions of Hector and the others. As the offer to join forces lingered in her mind, Ines felt a new surge of emotion. It was strength and determination, hope for the path upon which they currently walked. She also felt anger of the likes she had never felt directed toward Zaltec's followers before. She knew the ways of the Eater of Hearts. If she and the rest of the Payit and other noble natives joined with them, they would simply be sacrificed when all had passed. Their hearts would become the sustenance of the vile Bringer of War, Zaltec.

She refused, adamantly. As she stood and turned from Metzli to Darrius to examine his injured arm, she placed a hand into her pocket. The handful of feathers she had taken from the temple were still there, carefully wrapped so they would not be crushed. Perhaps she would be able to keep them until they would need to be used. Perhaps she would have the chance to use them someday. That was not today, though, and as she spoke quietly with Hector about the servants of Zaltec and the second boat of slavers, she thought again about her lost family.

Two sons, strong and bright, their lives cut short due to the hatred and greed in which Zaltec relished. A loving, protective husband, his life ended due to bloodlust and rage. They would not be forgotten. Their lives would be celebrated once she and her people found freedom at long last. She didn't know where these strange, small people intended to take them, but it would be their best chance for survival.

"Citlalmina..."

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The sound of men barking orders echo’s across the beach, tents are set up just past the tide line though wide berth is given to the trees that cover the remainder of the island. Weapons are ferried across from the galley lying in wait on the shore, carried on the backs of broken men and women – natives plucked from Maztica to endure a life of servitude and degradation. Their masters watch them carefully, many sporting whips on their hips to keep them in line.
Once the makeshift encampment is erected the slaves are ushered back to the boat, and presumably back into their cages.

Men rush around to keep the pickets as night encroaches and the bestial howls of the quoggoths fills the island. Men begin to cry out in panic as their camp is waylaid by the bear-like monstrosities, they fight their way back to the beach as arrows, rocks and nets are flung from the safety of the tree-line, when it seems slaughter is certain two figures disembark from the galley to turn the tide.

The smallest, a hunched human with a frantic mop of auburn hair and obsidian cane, conjures great gulfs of flames to drive the beasts back as the other, sporting tusks jutting from either side of his chin and a body mass that rivals most ogres, charges into the fray wielding a huge great-axe cleaving and rending those foolish enough to remain.

“Hurr that was fun boss.”

“It gets better” remarked the diminutive mage.

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