S1E2 [Bolivia]: Why Did It Have to be Snakes?!

Bill (Paulo 31)- Italian ex-soldier, now linguist tour guide.

Matt (Isaac)- mechanic, cultist who knows spells.

Max (Jenny) - femme fatale with a machete.
     [absent]Tony (Mikael)- ex-White Russian marksman, now boxer/dock worker.

Denny (Clifford)- American cowboy, barnstormer, gadget man.

Angela (Miranda)- Archaeologist searching for the unnatural.

Brian (Porter 21)- philosophy student on rifle team; with psychic ability.
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16 March: Isaac scratches his chin while surveying the murals at the bottom of the shaft, “Guarani natives [of Brazil] once told me about a Dreamer god who is asleep in a temple. Could this be it?” Miranda (archaeologist) studies the murals and stonework, “This has to be at least 10,000 years old. Man was still in his grunting stone-age time and surely didn’t have the skills to craft such wonders as this.” Her flashlight reveals loose gravel at the base of the wall. Scanning up, she finds an iron-metal disk imbedded in the wall. Poking and prodding, they soon realize it’s like a screw drilled into the wall. “Let’s dig it out.” But Paulo has other plans, “While you do that, I’ll go topside to scour the battlefield. Maybe find a crowbar to help dig.”

Two hours of digging and no end in sight; the screw longer than the 2-feet they’ve excavated. At least Paulo found 3 jerry-cans of gasoline to make Molotov bombs. And 17 grenades. It’s already evening with the sun just above the treetops when they decide to return to the aid-camp. They pile into the truck Isaac has repaired. Paulo drives, thankful he’s not in the bed of the truck as it bounces along the rough path and across the rocky ford. The Bolivian soldiers long gone from the camp; the doctors and nurses busy with patients. The sounds of war further away. Mira heads straight for the showers while others search the bombed serpent house. Where they find small metal spikes shaped like snake-fangs that remind them of darts. All sleep soundly after the exhausting day of climbing up and down those 1000 ft of steps.

17 March: Another hot day as they drive back to the battlefield stone-cap. Realization they can now hear animal noises in the area; eerie silence yesterday. Cliff directs [Navigate-extreme] the westerly drive toward where they suspect the temple. The flat forested landscape suddenly gives way to a rocky upheaval with trees knocked down. A strange rock formation thrusts up from the ground, “Holy crap, that looks like a screw drilled up from the earth.” 

They pile out of the truck and move closer, then freeze when they spot strange creatures. What can only be described as a cross-breeding of Rottweiler dogs and Komodo dragon lizards milling about eating vegetation. Cow size, 400 lbs. Lizard tongues flicking out, “Peaceful my ass, let’s shoot the damn things.”

Strong words but lousy aim. 3 rifles shots ricochet off the stone screw behind the beasts. One shot actually hits, evoking a bestial howl. But most surprising is Mira rushing towards the dogs (the girl has a death wish!). Which distracts most from hearing Isaac’s strange incantation [spell cast-Shrivel] that causes one dog to limp in pain; its charge slowed. 2 dogs charge at Jen, another snarls in Paulo’s face, while 2 more snap at Mira all alone.

Mira oh-so wanting to fry a dog with her flame-pistol but can only dodge; one biting her arm. At least Cliff’s rifle shot drops the spell-injured dog. Jen machete hacks [extreme] at one dog snarling at her, while Porter wildly swings his machete at least distracting the other dog that bites him. Paulo uses his rifle butt to wound his foe. And that’s when the air erupts with a barrage of bullets as Isaac levels his tommy-gun, dropping Paulo’s foe.

Cliff drops his rifle, drawing pistols as he blasts both of Jen’s opponents, dropping them. Mira backpedaling from her foe trying to evade their frothy bites. Jen rushes forward to aid Mira, unknowingly spoiling Paulo’s rifle shot at one of her foe. But Paulo shoots true [Disadvantage, extreme (08, 08)] killing one dog. The others gang up on the last dog; Cliff holding off shooting into the fray despite his marksmanship. Machete slashes versus snapping dog. Isaac’s blackjack bounces harmlessly off the thick fur [armored]. Cliff now close enough to kill it. Silence except for the “click” of Paulo’s camera as he takes pictures of the strange beasts and the screw-temple. Close-up of the frothy mouths lined with sharp teeth. Mira inspecting the fur, “There’s scales underneath!” And that’s when Porter begins to complain, “I don’t feel so good.” The bite on his arm inflamed and already black. “Poison?!” Mira frantically looking at her own bite wound. “We need to get back to the aid-camp NOW.” A long, bumpy hour-and-half drive.

The doctors curious as to the source of the bites but evasive answers. Dr. Gomez insisting, “I need to know specifics if I’m to properly treat you.” An offered suggestion of monitor-lizard saliva has the doctor treating with shots. Hours pass till Porter’s fever breaks. Meanwhile, the noontime report to New York. Cliff handing Paulo the radio that’s plugged into the camp antenna. Shapiro on the other end, “You’ve already recovered the item? No? Delays? Poison? OK, understand. But remember the urgency. You’re not the only ones looking. We’ll brief you more when you get back. Pay raise as Tier 2.” Paulo using his broken English to advantage, “Copy. Tier 3 briefing and pay. At least Tier 3 considering we rescue Mr. Meadham’s mommy.” Shapiro’s denials drowned by Paulo’s bluster, “Team Alpha, awaiting Tier 3 brief. Over and out.”

18 March: Mira has gathered medical supplies. Paulo has convinced nurse Elena to accompany. Mira offers a cover story, “With you along, we can identify and treat war patients quicker. You stay safe in the truck while we search the battle fields. It’ll be a long drive back to camp; you can keep the patients stable.” An hour-and-half later, they park the truck just beyond sight of the temple. Mira climbs a tree to set the radio antenna, “Just in case you need to make calls to the camp.” The nurse settled in; they trek toward the temple.

Scavengers have already arrived to feast on the dog carcasses. Otherwise, silence. Realization the upheaval is recent (within weeks); the toppled tree roots not dried, the upturned ground still shows live grass roots. Scanning the temple, Cliff spots what looks like a door halfway up. They climb the spiraling screw threads to reach it. A carved stone-plug more than a door. Using pitons as anchors, they tie ropes to give leverage to pull it out. Straining to the point of almost a hernia when it finally budges, then falls out. Revealing a downward spiraling shaft, 10x20 ft wide and high. Paulo takes time to drive another piton to anchor a rope, “In case it’s slippery.” They enter 2 abreast with flashlights drawn: Porter+Cliff, Isaac+Jen, Mira+Paulo.

The walls of the sloped chute are covered in etchings of snake heads. Which causes all to study the carvings instead of watching their steps. Which explains Porter+Cliff stepping on a pressure plate activating swinging blades. Cliff dodges out of the way; Porter is sliced [11 damage for a major wound; CONsave]. Isaac is able to study the mechanism and disarm it. They continue down along the 3^rd revolution till they come upon slots in the ceiling from which snakes wiggle out. Mira and Jen squeal when snakes drop on them. Luck they rapidly brush them off without being bitten. Along the 6^th revolution, they come upon a 20ft wide “well of souls” open pit of writhing snakes.

“Careful. Red next to yellow; those are deadly coral snakes!” Spotting an overhanging snakehead buttress, Mira uncoils her whip, lashes an anchor, and swings across.

She then ties a rope to the buttress and tosses it back to the others. Porter tries to mimic Mira’s swing but fails; luck that Cliff was ready for such as he activates his jetpack and zooms to the rescue. Cliff repeats the jetpack crossing for the others.

They stand under an archway carved in the likeness of a snake; emerald eyes glare at them. In the huge open cavern before them: 3ft tall cylindrical ledges, each smaller than the base, stack upwards ending at a stone throne 18 ft high. Where a lifeless wrapped mummy sits observing the entrance. Once again, strange incantation as Isaac casts another spell [Flesh Ward]. Cliff warns all, “Look for traps.” Ignoring his own wise words, he and Porter step forward beyond the arch. “ZAP, zap.” From the archway, green rays beam from the emerald snake-eyes, “Ouch! Son-of-a-bitch!” Green pustule blisters form on their legs where the rays hit. Mira throws her rope thru the archway hoping to draw fire as she too crosses under the arch. “ZAP.” Green blisters form on her stomach. Paulo digs the grapplehook from his backpack and lassos the snake archway to then climb. “ZAP.” Except Paulo is able to Dodge [01 critical]; hanging upside down, he is able to pluck out the eyes which he hands over to Mira. Excitement till the pustules burst, revealing snake scales. “Eewe.”

Cliff has had enough; he jets upwards landing next to the throne. Yet as soon as he touches down, the mummy and throne and stacked rings of ledges crumble away revealing a HUGE withering snake. 12ft diameter by 100ft long. Shock and sanity check, “Holy shit; that is a HUGE coral snake!” Standing precariously on its squirming head, Cliff draws his pistols and fires multiple shots. Most ricochet off its thick scales [10 points armor] but some penetrate. Before anyone else can act, the snake whips its head toward the archway, swallowing Isaac whole.

More Sanity check at what just happened, “Holy shit. SHIT. Mother….” Mira stops talking when the snake lunges for her; she dodges. Then draws her derringer and fires (the bullet plinking harmlessly off the scale).

Jen raises her shotgun for a point-blank blast [extreme]. The pellets tinkling to the ground, unable to penetrate the 10-point-armored hide. Porter reasons a grenade better chance to wound the beast; some damage. Paulo reasoning a better chance as he uses twine to tie 5 grenade pins then stands exposed, “Eat Me.” Further along the snake’s inside, Isaac triggers his Tommy-gun. A muffled stream of gunfire while those outside see ripples along the body as the bullets impact the inside of the scaly-armor. Meanwhile, Cliff holds onto the bucking snake as he tries to shootout the unprotected eyes [Disadvantage – miss].

Paulo closes his eyes as the snake rises before him, then lunges toward Porter swallowing him whole. Then tail-whips [01 critical] Paulo. Hit so hard, his shoes remain in place as he is violently propelled across the room. Still holding the twine. 5 rhythmic blasts as his unpinned grenades detonate toward the back of the chamber. More sanity checks at the violent loss of an ally. Mira lites a stick-of-dynamite; “BOOM!” Cracks form in the scale armor. From inside, Porter struggles to withstand the stomach acid and constriction as he finds his shotgun, “BLAM.” Finally, the snake collapses lifelessly.

Allowing Isaac and Porter to crawl out, covered in ichor and acidic slime. Standing triumphantly upon the snake, Cliff notices an opening in the cavern floor. “Another shaft about 50 ft deep.” One-by-one, they descend a knotted rope into a 10x10ft chamber.

More snake sculptures. And a mummy laying on a plinth (rectangular slab); a stone chest at her feet. As they move the tight-fitting lid, stale air hisses from inside. Where they find ceremonial robes, scrolls, a cat-of-9-tails with iron fangs at the ends, a 2-headed serpent staff, and another box. Inside: empty except for the impression of a now missing crown. Porter puts his hand on the crown impression [psychic ability], “Everything here was owned by the mummy. Mira says this temple over 10,000 years old. But the crown has only been missing for 4,000 years.”

Suddenly, from the opening above, they hear a weak voice, “I don’t know about you, but I could sure use nurse Elena right now.” Its Paulo! “How the hell did you survive?!” “I don’t remember much, other than flying faster than Cleffs’ rocket-pack. But from where I woke up, I’d guess I hit the snakes’ soft underbelly softening my landing. I am alive, right?”

They take their time gathering the artifacts and mummy, being sure to cover it in cloth, “We don’t want to have to explain things to Elena nor the aid-camp staff.” Once at camp, wounds treated, Paulo’s cracked ribs wrapped tight, they call New York, “Expect pickup tomorrow. Over and out.” Jen puzzled, “Pickup? They don’t want us to hike or drive back to Santos?”

19 March: It’s near noon when they are surprised by throbbing sounds growing louder. Till a huge shadow blots out the sun.

The huge airship hovering above them. Lines lowered. Then radio instructions, “Courtesy of Mr. Conners, Caduceus’ Quartermaster. We’ll lower a platform for you to load your finds. Then climb aboard yourselves.”

The team is treated with comfort for the 6-day flight back to New York. Most spend the time peering out the windows as South America and the Atlantic pass below them. The flightcrew soon tires of the constant questions and pleads to fly by Cliff, “Please sir. Just sit back and relax. We got this.”

Next session: https://riggle2hs.blogspot.com/2020/02/s1e3-hang-onits-gonna-get-bumpy.html