The Forgotten City VI Report

“That is a huge motherfucking crocodile!” Alex said as the massive beast heaved in the water, but it was in Oemani and none of the rest of them understood him. He had been slowly giving Kegho language lessons, but the tall barbarian absorbed little but curses and sex industry terms.

“Arrows aren’t working,” Riven said matter of factly when her bowstring snapped. Disgusted, she dropped her bow and drew The Emerald Eye, ancient and copper, a sword of deep time.

Alex clocked Papa Croc in the eye, the big one, the big crocodile, all one ton of reptile. The little thief giggled, his battlecry. More tiny crocs climbed from the water. Nine-feet tiny.

Kegho and Papa Croc attacked simultaneously and missed simultaneously, the barbarian letting fleet footwork foul the swing of his axe.

“Vile water lizard,” Theo said as he brought down his mace for a glancing blow as the croc chomped his foot and calf.

“ENOUGH!’ Teleptyon thundered as energy, purple, arcane erupted from his Staff of Power, pulping the inside of the tiny crocs menacing Riven and Theo.

“My thews!” Asbjorn cried out as the crocodile bit him, ripping muscle and crushing bones. He cut deep into the neck of the watery brute with his bonerating sword.

“Seek the death of my enemy,” Riven whispered to her sword and struck down the croc attacking her.

With a roar, Kegho cleaved the head of Papa Croc. Cold blood began to flood the lagoon. He kicked away the feeble bite of a tiny croc as Teleptyon summed his purple rage again. Papa Croc and a tiny one died hissing.

The remaining tiny croc nipped Kegho, and everyone tried to kill it, tripping, missing, slapstick abound. Teleptyon cannot stop laughing long enough to attack. Finally, Merciful Theo crushed its skull with his mace.

The lagoon is frothed with blood and lopped off limbs and reptilian heads littered the shore. Asbjorn limped to Theo and said, “Leg hurty, swamp puppy bited me.” Riven restrung her bow and gave it a stern talking to. Alex searches for secret doors; he found none and glowered at the altar.

“Look, friend Alex, the blood flows away,” Kegho said, laying a huge hand on his companion’s small shoulder.

“A natural spring,” Alex said. “We should follow the water, it may lead into the valley.”

“I don’t like boats,” Kegho said, remembering his time on the slave galley.

“I like fish,” Asbjorn said, under the ministering hands of Brother Theo.

“We should skin these creatures and butcher them for food,” shrewd Alex said.

“I like fish,” Asbjorn said again.

“They are reptiles,” Riven said, breaking off her bow berating.

“I like reptiles,” Asbjorn said.

“We should get the crocodiles out of the water and get started,” Alex said slowly.

The slapstick continued as many in the party fell into the water, splashing and sputtering. Kegho was able to swim out, and was helped on shore with rope thrown by Theo, but Riven and Telepyton were swept away by the deceptively swift current.

Quick and sensible Alex hooked a grapple to the altar and tethered a boat to go after Riven and Teleptyon. The soggy wizard had a horrible head wound that Theo was able to heal; Riven, wet and unhappy, sat on the shore and clucked.

Butchering the crocs yielded much skin and meat; the bones and offal placed in the water to sink or wash away.

Outside, they feasted with Elissa and Yahi, and saw them off, back to the fortified cave with water and meat.

Bellies full, all seemed peaceful, until Kegho heard chanting in the distance…