Sessions 15-16
It was decided that Mischief, Sylas, and Trance would climb the tree high enough to get a good view. Mischief had to be pulled up on a rope half the way, and she was too heavy for Trance with all her metal. Sylas was used to it.
Somehow, Sylas was able to convince the catchawatcha to leave the three alone, and they finally made it up to the topmost branches. Looking out, they could see a step pyramid covered in greenery to the east, and high up on a mountain they could see a tower with what looked like a windstorm swirling out of its top.
The three descended with cautious haste, and informed the group of their findings. They discussed their next course of action, and agreed that the mountaintop tower might have something to do with the encircling sandstorm. Trance wanted to go immediately to find a way up to the tower, but Alarac suggested going to the nearby pyramid first. The group agreed with Alarac. Here, Trance took a long drag from her pipe, offering it to Sylas (who declined), then to Alarac (who accepted).
Upon entering the next clearing, the group beheld the step pyramid, half engulfed in a landslide that seemed to have occurred ages ago. It was covered in green growth, and had two gaping entryways on either side of a wide set of steps leading to the top. The party started looking around for clues as to what the pyramid was used for, finding little. Alarac went up the steps to investigate the top, finding a basin filled with standing water. He peered in, using a greatarrow to stir the sediment, seeing white objects in the murk. He peered closer, lost his balance, and fell, splashing his face in nasty old rainwater. The white things were human teeth. Disgusted, Alarac left to go back down the stairs.
Telling the group about his find, Trance shared in his disgust at gross, blunt human teeth. Alarac asked if any muck or algae would be useful, and Trance couldn't think of any use other than for fertilizer. This led to a discussion about the usefulness of a potential garden on the ship. Trance excitedly clasped her hands under her chin, giving Helena big kitten eyes, and Helena only considered it after the mention of "boozy fruits."
Umi, finishing her inspection of the carvings in the stone, surmised that the pyramid was a temple of death. Rejoined, the party peered into the darkness of one of the doorways. Seeing no immediate threat, Sylas lit a torch and they entered. They walked unimpeded for several yards, seeing the walls festooned with twisting and intertwined snake patterns, as well as lined with seamless sarcophagi made of opaque blue-green glass.
Umi, casting her dancing lights, revealed their path led down a stairwell, which was blocked by heavy roots and vines. Trance went to start sawing through a root with one of her daggers, but Sylas caught her by the wrist to stop her. Her breath caught in her throat at the sudden contact, but she hid her surprise. He impressed upon her the importance of checking for traps. After some further investigation, it appeared the roots and vines were naturally-occurring, and Helena and Sylas chopped through them, revealing the entrance to the dark stairwell.
Alarac suggested Trance fire an arrow down to see if it triggered any traps. Trance added to the suggestion by using a flare arrow, firing it and setting off a trap on its way to the bottom. In the bright light the flare provided, as well as with Umi's dancing lights, Trance could see multiple trapwires strung floor to ceiling, and minute holes in the walls. She pointed them out to the others, leading the way carefully down the stairs.
The room at the bottom was maybe 40'x40', the walls lined with the same sarcophagi and intricate, knotted snakes. In the center of the room was a raised altar flanked by two pillars. On the altar was another sarcophagus, lid slightly ajar and wafting blue mist. Wrapped around the pillars were two great Naga statues, each holding aloft a large metal halbard. The floor was covered in a thin layer of murky water. Trance decided to test for traps, finding some mosaic tiles under the water at her feet, and tossed them in various locations in front of them. No traps were detected. Sylas noted that the first thing to be done was to get the halbards out of the hands of the statues. Unfortunately, they were high up and out of reach. Before he had a chance to attempt a climb, Helena strode up to the altar, intent on opening the sarcophagus and looting it. Trance cried out to stop, that it wasn't worth it. This was when Helena laid into her, demanding she stop trying to lead Helena's crew like Trance was the captain. Trance, taken aback, denied doing any such thing. That she didn't choose any of this. Helena countered, asking why Trance came along with them in the first place, if she didn't like this lifestyle.
Trance just stared at her flatly, folding her arms, then turned to walk back up the stairs. She stopped once out of sight, and fumed silently, tail lashing and ears flat.
Sylas chided Helena, asking why she was so specifically mean to Trance; that she was acting out of character and this was not like her. Helena blamed Trance, reiterating that she didn't want to be here. Trance, having heard the whole interchange came back to defend herself, but they argued back and forth like a hadn't said anything. Trance followed the argument back and forth with great interest like she was watching a tennis match. Alarac, having produced a sack of dried meat to munch on, was likewise on the edge of his proverbial seat. He leaned down to ask Trance what was happening, and she responded, "I think, they once mated, and now they are no longer mating, and that is why the anger."
Helena shouted "NO ONE MATED!" Then she redirected her rage, pointing out Trance's racist remarks, stating "You think you're better than anyone not covered in matted fur."
This struck Trance deeply. She clenched her fists, tears welling.
"No. I know I am not better. I know I am worthless thing. This is why I call you shaveskin, to feel better than I know I am. I am object to be used. So use me. I fight, I heal, I follow. I am not better. I am not in charge. I am a slave." And she burst into tears, covering her face. This sudden outburst surprised Helena to silence. But, rather than have an emotional conversation, she said "Oh hell. Get ready to run." And she shoved the lid off the sarcophagus, scooped up a load of something blindly, and made a dash for the stairs as freezing blasts shot from the mouths of the statues. Alarac and Trance were already on the stairs, but everyone else in the room dove to get out of the way of the billowing cold mist. Umi, Helena and Sylas were not fast enough, and were seared with cold. Trance fell to her knees, intent on staying, not caring if she lived. Helena shouted to Alarac to "grab the cat and go." He hoisted Trance under an arm and fled. Rushing up the stairs, several party members set off barbed dart traps, turning themselves into painful pincushions. Sylas, already injured, fainted on the stairs. Seeing this, Trance clawed her way out of Alarac's arms and rushed to him. Helena and Umi were already hoisting him, but Trance stayed just ahead of them, looking back with concern. Once everyone was safe outside, Trance dug her claws into the earth and greenery, calling upon the spirits of nature to heal Sylas, Mischief, and Helena. Sylas regained consciousness, weakly chiding Helena for her recklessness. Then most of the group set about pulling the barbed darts from their flesh, yelping in pain. Trance noticed Helena missed a barb in the back of her shoulder, and offered to remove it. Helena nodded, then winced as it was pulled.
Trance then dug in her bag, pulling out a bottle of health potion, and shoved it at Helena's chest. She refused, but Trance didn't move, glaring at her insistently. Helena sighed, taking the potion and applying it.
"If you choose to sell me, I will understand. I have not been a good slave." Trance muttered.
Helena, taken aback, insisted she was no longer a slave, and that no one would sell her. That she could go wherever she wanted when they next made port. Trance admitted she didn't want to leave, that she had come to like the group, and that if she hadn't wanted to be with them, she would have remained on the ship with the other slaves. "And I like you, Hhh-elena." she said, pronouncing the name with some difficulty. "I respect you. You are my kapat."
Touched by Trance actually using her name, Helena was flustered for a moment, then threw up her hands, blurting, "Oh hell, good for you!"
The party took a short rest, getting their bearings and licking their wounds.