Unable to find Mira, Mikael
drives Jen and Cliff back to the hotel, “Pretty lady always run off. No worry;
she be back. Now where Porter and Isaac?” As they go room-to-room, about to
knock, they hear Paulo inside his room, “No. No more snakes!” A pause, then,
“NNNNOOOOOOO!!” Jen chiding, “Yeah, we’ll just leave him to his fantasies of
his girlfriend Tyranissh.” Knocking at Porter’s door, “Just a minute.”
Shuffling sounds (he’s hiding the egg). Porter soon joins them as they head to
Isaac’s room, “Yeah, I’ve been studying these scrolls we found at the Bolivia
temple. We’d best gather our gear, and weapons, for tomorrow’s desert trek."
Wednesday, 31 May: A hearty breakfast, “Better fill up. Something tells me the reverend
expects us to fast in the desert too.” They arrive at the church finding Mortimer
and his son already talking to the pastor. And others to greet them, “Sheriff
Cliff, at your service. I understand you folks are joining our little outing.
That’s the barber Harry Matthewson who used to be blind.” They look over in
time to see Harry pick up a whole turkey, distend his jaws, and swallow the
turkey WHOLE! Like a snake! Jen speechless with her jaw wide open in disbelief.
Mira shocked, “Even the bones?!” Porter pondering, “He’ll either be constipated
or leave one huge dump.”
The reverend politely waiting, “Now Harry, I told you this is a spiritual journey. No food or drinks allowed.” Mikael using the warning to hide his flask. “Now if everyone is ready, it’s a long walk; maybe 25 miles. Not 40 days like me but your own spiritual preparation.” The team trailing last as they can only ponder yesterday’s re-appearance of the reverend, after his murder.
Hours into the walk when Mikael is caught sipping from
his flask, “Why my son? Are you that weak? Now I cannot let you enter the cave
as you will not be pure like the others.” Mikael trying to smooth things, “Am
Russian, is ok! Besides, this vodka, not water.” The reverend disappointed. And
denying.
Another 4 hours of walking across the dry, dusty fields.
The lack of water taking its toll (CON checks). Isaac and Lloyd starting to
suffer dehydration and heat exhaustion. Another 4 hours walk, and Lloyd complaining
of headaches, flushed skin, and hallucinating…signs of a heat stroke. Mikael
rushes to their side with his flask. While Isaac refuses, Lloyd guzzles. The
reverend scolding, “Look, we are at the doorsteps now. Yet you have cursed the
child from entering the cave. Now both of you will not receive blessings.”
Mortimer pleads for forgiveness, “It wasn’t his fault!”
The reverend saddened but firm, “Come. You can be the first. Your son will have
to await another day’s pilgrimage.” And with that, Mortimer is escorted into
the cave. Long minutes of silence as they eye the sheriff outside with them.
Then suddenly, a yelp of surprise from within. Cliff tries to enter the cave but
is blown back by strong wind (sandblasted for 1D6 damage). And that’s when the
reverend exits, leading a happy Mortimer. Who smiles at his son, “It was
wonderful.” Everyone noticing his fangs instead of canine teeth.
Already having slanted snake-eyes, Mira willingly enters
the cave with the reverend. Normally, minutes required for eyes to adjust to
the dark. But Mira can see perfectly…the 9 duplicate reverends curled up
together like snakes! And another reverend laying on a stone slab (like the
child’s picture in the church).
Horrifically, she watches as a full-grown reverend
crawls out of the groin of the prone reverend and crawls over to join the other
reverends curled up.
Meanwhile, the others wait impatiently, “What’s taking
her so long? What’s going on?” And that’s when they hear Mira scream (failed Sanity
check). And once again, a strong wind blasts from the cave mouth. This time,
Cliff prepared as he uses his jetpack to overcome the blasting wind. Once
inside the cave, he too sees the madness inside.
Everything happening at once outside the cave: the sheriff
pulling his gun to then turn on the others, Porter and Mikael drawing their own
guns, while Jenny runs toward the cave. Bullets flying everywhere but
concentrated on the sheriff, who (using his luck to survive) pulls a hapless
Harry in front as a shield. His movement throwing off his own shots (90s twice).
Meanwhile, Jenny is buffeted by the strong winds (suffering
4D6 damage but successful CON save). Literally pinned against the walls of the
entrance by the sandstorm. Another hail of bullets drop the sheriff allowing Porter
to come to her aid. Finding hand holds, he pulls the two of them inside the cave.
Just as the winds subside. Allowing Mikael and Isaac to just walk in.
Arriving just in time to hear and see Cliff unloading 6
bullets into the reverend on the stone. [Mentally disobeying the command in his
head from Yig to not damage it. Accepting the curse spewed at him.]
The 10 reverends start rising and attacking the party
(they fight like zombies in a movie, very slow and rely on mass tactics). Lots of shooting followed by Mira getting out
a stick of dynamite. All run out except
Isaac (who fails his DEX check). The blast concussing Isaac into the walls [“Major
Wound” to the chest]. A smoke cloud billows from the collapsed cave mouth.
Mournful tears for a lost comrade, till Isaac steps forward thru the cloud of
dust. “Isaac, you’re alive!” Mikael pointing out, “Ya, along with this reverend
copy.” An unconscious reverend zombie at his feet.
It’s a long walk back to town, dragging the zombie, and
only having half of Mikael’s flask to survive off of. They sneak into the hotel.
“Time to call Meadham and report in. Can’t wait to leave this hell-hole.”
Thursday, 1 June: Except, no one is going anywhere. They must wait out the dust-storm
leaving waves of topsoil in the streets.
Saturday, 3 June: Only one day of the storm before they drive back to Oklahoma City to
then fly back to NYC. Bringing the preacher zombie, Mortimer and his son, and
the egg Porter finally reveals in his possession. Turning all over to Caduceus,
“So, did we prove ourselves worthy for upgrade?” On the phone, Meadham very
pleased, “Yes indeed, Tier 3. Come to my estate in 2 days. Dr. Goncalves will
provide directions.” Paulo declining, “Not for me. I plan to just crash in my apartment.”
Mikael also declining, till Meadham mentions, “Pity, it comes with a raise.”
Monday, 5 June: Porter doesn’t need to reference the map, as he’s been there before.
They pull up to the Meadham Estate gate where they are greeted
by Dr. Goncalves. Who opens the gate then hops on the running board, directing,
“Up the road, 2nd left, follow the gravel driveway, then turn right,
…” While they can see the main house down the road, they pull off early to a
barn. Where they are greeted by Joshua Meadham himself, “Come, follow me
inside. I’ll conduct the initiation ceremony.”
They are led into one room and each given maids, “Take
off you cloths then bathe in that barrel of rainwater, then dress in those
robes.” It’s at this time they all notice Isaac’s chest covered in snake scales
and almost imperceptible scales covering the rest of his body. “When did you
get that?!” Silence. So, they follow the simple rules till they notice the gossamer
thin robes: more like shed snake skins!
Dressed, they are led into a temple adorned with snake
images. Goncalves brings
them golden goblets filled with milky fluid, “Drink.” Porter hesitates as he
studies the drink [extreme occult roll] – snake venom! Realization they are being
initiated into a cult. Meanwhile, Mikael studies Goncalves’ facial expression [psychology roll] – realization he is pleased to have
the team join their cult.
Surprisingly, all drink from the goblets [CON failures] –
a very powerful hallucinogen. Their vision blurred as another door opens;
Joshua Meadham standing there with more mobility than portrayed at Caduceus. Joshua
shakes their hand, welcoming the new initiates. “We will now begin the last
step.” In the middle of this temple; a lot of snake paintings and carvings on
the wall; one humongous statue of a snake god in the center on a plinth in the
middle of a pit; hundreds of snakes in pits– cobras, etc.
Porter (the 1st initiate) is led forward to a medieval
rack where he is wrapped tightly in snake skin, “This will simulate you being
reborn into the faith of Yig.” Porter proceeds to wiggle free, sliding down
into the pit of snakes. Where he climbs out unharmed. Cliff, the next initiate,
is wrapped then slizzers free, climbing out of the pit.
Mikael has seen enough of this blasphemous warping of the
baptism ritual. He slips off to the car and returns with dynamite! Tossing a
couple sticks of dynamite into the middle of the ceremony and temple, he
suggests, “Run!” Then, “Fizzzz…KaBLAM!!” Luckily, his allies smart enough to
escape. Along with Meadham.
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