Play@YSDC

Posted: **Sun Aug 23, 2015 10:06 pm**

Merida, Yucatan, Mexico
Early June, 1918

A mule drawn trolley clatters past the open windows of the Restaurante Colonial on Federal Square. At a large table inside, dirty dishes are being picked up by a young black haired woman in a long white dress. The occupants of the table pause from their discussion as she does so. They are a small team of experts funded by the Carnegie Institute of Washington to survey archaeological sites in Mexico, the Yucatan to be precise. They have already spent several months surveying major cites including Chichen Itza and Uxmal. Now they are in Merida, Yucatan, resting up and researching their next move. The libraries and bookstores of Merida are often sources of information not widely available outside the Yucatan.

The team consists of archeologists; David Johnson, Anna Vesse Dahl, Percy Richmont, photographer Mitch Cooper, and guide Quinn Villavicencio. They liked to hang out here as the beers where cold, the food was good, and large ceiling fans keep the open air restaurant relatively cool in the hot Mexican summer. They were discussing Dr. Johnson's latest find, the crudely bound notes of a mid-nineteen century explorer named Donald Stillbridge. Johnson had found them in a box in a storage room at the Archaeology Library. The notes are on coarse paper with a string binding The front and back covers are each composed of two sheets of heavier paper that are glued together. The contents are written in hand and with black ink. Throughout Stillbridge employed short, incomplete sentences that efficiently convey information and ideas. Reading the notes you can tell that Stillbridge was well traveled. He visited most major Mayan sties and many minor ones. He is obviously well versied in native customs and culture and was fluent in English, Spanish, French, and Yucatec. Of the many sites mentioned in the book, one catches your interest.

The site is Xamanik and according to the notes and crude diagrams, is located in Quintanna Roo near the coast across from the stretch of water between the Yucatan shoreline and the island of Cozumel. Once a thriving town and later a religious site, the ruins are now a collection of overgrown mounds and tumbled stones. Near the center is a large, overgrown centoe that, not doubt, was the primary water supply for the community. Stillbridge also documented the presence of a large "caracol" or astronomical observatory. Long abandoned even before the Spanish came the site remains essentially undisturbed. Stillbridge reports stelae and monuments bearing crisp clear Mayan writing, scores of relics and artifacts and much more. Furthermore, he briefly interviewed Mayans living in the region and all said that they avoided the area because it was 'bad lands' and 'haunted". Stillbridge's time there was short. He spent only two day's there from July 8th and 9th, 1889.

Stillbridge never excavated there. He drew a rough map of the site and copied a few writings, but that was the extent of it. The journal goes on the describe a assortment of other sites and the ends abruptly and without explanation. The last date is September 10, 1889 at the town of Muna.

: The Ruins of Xamanik

Posted: **Sun Aug 23, 2015 11:41 pm**

"It is said," comments Anna Vesse Dahl, "that the Mayans threw offerings, gold and suchlike, into cenotes. How I'd like to swim in its blue waters. We should go to Xaminik"--Anna looks from one to the other, Percy, Mitch and Quinn--"what do you think, Professor Johnson?"

Posted: **Mon Aug 24, 2015 6:01 am**

"Absolutely!" says David Johnson, his excitement mounting. "We need to organize an expedition to Xaminik. We need to make all of the necessary preparations first, of course. As much as I want to see it, we can't go in unprepared. The site has been there all these years, so I doubt a small delay will hurt. The locals avoid it, so they shouldn't disturb it."

Posted: **Mon Aug 24, 2015 11:47 am**

"May I?" asks Anna, desiring a close look at Stillbridge's notes and their binding, especially the glued together cover.

Posted: **Mon Aug 24, 2015 12:51 pm**

Anna looks over the notes and inspects the glued pieces of paper that make up the covers.

Posted: **Mon Aug 24, 2015 1:54 pm**

"Yeah the idea of swimming in a lake filled with gold is quite appealing" Mitch moves to where Anna is peering at at the cover of the book. "See anything of note, doll?"

Posted: **Mon Aug 24, 2015 2:16 pm**

Anna glances at the others when Mitch says "doll." "Hmmm," she murmurs, twisting the notes round and peering at them closely. "I'm afraid not, Mr. Cooper."

Posted: **Tue Aug 25, 2015 4:26 am**

"I believe you meant to say Miss Dahl, Mr. Cooper," says David. "Let's try to be respectful. I think we should start by doing some preliminary research on Mr. Stillbridge's 1889 expedition and find anything more we can about Xamanik. We'll need to visit Mani and find out if anyone remembers his visit there, though it was nearly thirty years ago. I hope we can discover where he went from there and anything he may have reported about the site. Ideally, I'd like to talk to the man himself, if he's still alive and we can locate him. Even if he's far away, we can always send a telegram."

Posted: **Tue Aug 25, 2015 12:19 pm**

Mitch shrugs, pushes his hat back on his head and gives a chagrin smile, "Sure thing Prof. Didn't mean no disrespect Miss Dahl"

Posted: **Wed Aug 26, 2015 10:20 am**

I agreed that we must have some caution. But even if there is no gold, at least we may find more exemples of the writing to help to decifer it.- says Percy also happy.

Posted: **Wed Aug 26, 2015 1:00 pm**

"Yes, Mr. Richmont," says Anna to Percy, "let's take another look at the Archaeology Library where the Professor found the notes. And browsing Merida's bookstores would be fun." She realises afterwards that Percy was probably referring to the Mayan writing on the monuments.

Posted: **Thu Aug 27, 2015 3:43 am**

"I agree, more research is in order," says David. "When we do eventually go to Xamanik, I may be able to decipher the writing myself. I've studied Mayan hieroglyphics."

Posted: **Fri Aug 28, 2015 9:24 am**

"What you said, Professor, about trying to locate Stillbridge is a good start," says Anna. "Maybe send a telegram to Brown University to enquire?"

Posted: **Sat Aug 29, 2015 1:27 am**

Quinto, explorer

Quinn looks at the notebook after Anna and wonders.

"Rodrigo!" he calls out to the waiter he knows. "Wheel out a boiling steaming pot of water!"

The explorer tries to steam off the paper on the cover.

"I'll ask around my guide contacts to see if any know Stillbridge or his wherabouts."

Spoiler:

Posted: **Sat Aug 29, 2015 3:41 am**

"Excellent ideas, both of you," says David. "While you're doing that, I'll continue my research in the library."

Posted: **Sat Aug 29, 2015 9:25 am**

"Right," she says decidedly, "I'll go find a post office or someplace to send a telegram; also, I'll ask my Prof. Ackland at Boston University about Stillbridge. Afterwards there's the bookstores: shops need to be browsed, you know!"

"Good idea, Mr. Villavicencio, but there's nothing written between those glued sheets."

Posted: **Wed Sep 02, 2015 5:19 am**

Once the meeting is over, David heads to the library to begin his research on Xamanik and on Stillbridge.

Posted: **Wed Sep 02, 2015 9:19 am**

Anna Dahl walks beside Mitch Cooper, heading for the post office in order to send two telegrams with an enquiry about Stillbridge: one to Prof. Johnson's Brown University and the other to Prof. Ackland of Boston University--where she studied for her degree.

"So you're our expedition photographer," she says, indicating the camera dangling from his neck, "do you wish to take snaps of me, Mr. Cooper?" She laughs. "Now, do I smile and look at the lens or do I pretend you're not there?"

Posted: **Wed Sep 02, 2015 2:45 pm**

Percy will go to the library to read anything abouth the area.

Posted: **Wed Sep 02, 2015 4:44 pm**

"That depends Miss Dahl whether it's for the official record or just holiday snaps" he grins, in a goofy sort of college boy way, "I guess when the Prof is about we'd best keep it totaly professional"

Jogging to get in front of her he opens the camera and points it at her, "Watch the birdie"

Posted: **Sat Sep 05, 2015 2:16 pm**

Quinn, explorer

Quinn makes his way through the tumult of the bazaar. Voices haggle around him, smells of cooking foods mix with human body odor, sunlight darts among overhanging tent flaps. Quinn keeps an eye out for pick pockets as urchins scramble underfoot. The explorer stops by several shops - tools and expeditionary equipment, travel books, maps and cartography, guides and escorts - checking if any may have worked with this Prof. Stillbridge. His travels then bring him to a mechanic and auto rental business that does brisk trade with foreigners. Perhaps Stillbridge used his services? Then onto a bar frequented by his profession, those who take their afternoon siestas through alcohol.

Posted: **Sat Sep 05, 2015 4:30 pm**

Posted: **Sun Sep 06, 2015 1:33 am**

Posted: **Sun Sep 06, 2015 8:35 pm**

Quinn, explorer
Streets of Merida, Yucatan

Quinn travels through the hot streets of Merida. He checks with all of his usual contacts and comes up with nothing about Stillbridge. Though he is asked many times if he is starting a expedition. Many want work.

Posted: **Sun Sep 06, 2015 8:47 pm**

Anna and Mitch
Merida

After writing a short telegram and sending it to both Prof. Johnson's Brown University and Prof. Ackland of Boston University. She leaves the Hotel that they are staying at as a return address. Then they travel down to busy La Dalator street. There the see several bookshops that specialize in archaeologic subjects. After several hours of searching the come to the shop belonging to a pump german named Detrick Messer.

"Donald Stillbridge. Oh yes I have heard of him. He working in the Yucatan about 20 years ago. Vait a minute. I think I has something written by him." Detrick rummages through a stack of periodicals. He pulls out a Archaeological Journal from 1885. There is a article about the contemporary Mayan people in it. "Do you vish to buy it?" the portly German says.

Posted: **Sun Sep 06, 2015 8:57 pm**

David and Percy
Merida

David and Percy arrive at the Library of Archaeology in Merida. It is quite extensive and John soon finds what he is looking for.

Donald Stillbridge studied at the University of Chicago. His passion was Mesoamerican culture particularly the Mayan. He was known as a renegade who derided intellectuals and went out on his own to see first hand what the Mayan people were about. While his methods were criticized at the time, his results rarely where. Though controversial, information Stillbridge made public about many heretofore unexplored sites turned out, often many years later, to be generally accurate. There is no mention of Stillbridge in any publications for almost 20 years.

Donald Stillbridge, 1887

Posted: **Mon Sep 07, 2015 5:21 am**

"It seems there's no trace of Stillbridge since the turn of the century," says David. "That likely means he has passed on. A shame, really. I'd have loved to meet the fellow. We could have exchanged theories! Our best bet would be talk to the people who knew him, such as in Mani."

Posted: **Mon Sep 07, 2015 10:23 am**

"Oh, yes please," Herr Messer. "We are interested in Mr. Stillbridge, his work among the people of Yucatan and his archaeological discoveries about the Maya. Do you know of anyone who knew him or could be of help to us?" She smiles charmingly at the portly German, and loops her arm through his. "Perhaps Mr. Cooper would take our photograph--we're on an expedition y'know!"

Posted: **Mon Sep 07, 2015 6:20 pm**

"But we could still ask here if anyone knew him maybe? We don't have much to loose".- says Percy not very convinced.

Posted: **Mon Sep 07, 2015 10:48 pm**

"It's certainly worth a try," says David. "There's a good chance he used this library when he was here. We can see if there's anyone old enough to have been here back then that remembers him."

Posted: **Thu Sep 10, 2015 3:19 pm**

Percy takes a look to see if there is someone old in the staff, before making questions

Posted: **Thu Sep 10, 2015 5:40 pm**

Tabs wrote:

"Oh, yes please," Herr Messer. "We are interested in Mr. Stillbridge, his work among the people of Yucatan and his archaeological discoveries about the Maya. Do you know of anyone who knew him or could be of help to us?" She smiles charmingly at the portly German, and loops her arm through his. "Perhaps Mr. Cooper would take our photograph--we're on an expedition y'know!"

"Let me zee." The man says as he rubs his chin. "I never met the man and the only things I know about him are from those publications. I might know a couple of gentlemen who might know about Stillbridge. There is......" The German gives you a list of men to question. You spend the rest of the day searching out these men but in questioning them you do not get any new information.

Posted: **Thu Sep 10, 2015 5:42 pm**

David and Percy inquire about Stillbridge with some of the older staff at the library. Only one remembers the man and only slightly. He says that he met Stillbridge over 20 years ago when he was doing research at the library. He doesn't remember what research that he was doing.

Posted: **Fri Sep 11, 2015 10:40 am**

Anna returns to the Restarante Colonial, orders a large coffee and whatever cake they sell, and finds a table. Before her is the periodical Archaeological Journal from 1885, which has an article on the Maya by Stillbridge, but apart from this find, she's had a fruitless day.

OOC: The Ruins of Xaminik is a cenote surrounded by mounds? and Muna, the last entry in Stillbridge's journal, is situated far from Xaminik? (Muna is south of Merida, Xamink is north-East.)

Posted: **Fri Sep 11, 2015 4:53 pm**

Quinn, explorer, after a fruitless afternoon, returns to the Restaurante Colonial to await the others. He sees Anna reading an old magazine.

"Any luck? What are you reading?" he asks.

Posted: **Sat Sep 12, 2015 4:46 am**

"Let's go back to rejoin the others and fill them in on what we've learned," David suggests to Percy.

Posted: **Sat Sep 12, 2015 10:15 am**

Anna slides the Archaeological Journal across to Quinn while taking a bite of cake. A little self-consciously she dabs at the butter cream at the corner of her mouth. "Would you like something to drink?" she asks, "And your day, anything interesting?"

Posted: **Mon Sep 14, 2015 1:37 am**

Quinn, explorer

Quinn rises and takes off his hat as Anna joins him. He pages through the 1885 Archeological Journal.

"I spent the afternoon rambling about talking with contacts but turned up nothing. Yes, I think I will have a drink."

Looking at the article about Stillbridge's Mayan expedition, the explorer comments: "Well if the good professor was active back in 1885, he's either dead or a doddering old man today."

Posted: **Mon Sep 14, 2015 9:18 am**

Percy resigns himself.
"Well, I suppose there probably didn't keep any record of what books he used to read. Let's go then."

Posted: **Mon Sep 14, 2015 11:22 am**

"You been in the Yucatan long, Mr. V--, may I call you Quinn?" asks Anna, when he speaks of contacts.

"My guess is that Stillbridge left this earth a long time ago."

Posted: **Tue Sep 15, 2015 4:46 am**

David returns with Percy to rejoin the rest of the team at the restaurant and fill them in on their findings.

Posted: **Thu Sep 17, 2015 10:12 am**

Anna places her tea plate, with its crumbs--evidence of a devoured cake, upon an empty chair. "Anything to report?" she asks the assembled party. "Prof. Johnson, I sent those telegrams to our universities, the ones with an enquiry about Stillbridge."

Posted: **Fri Sep 18, 2015 4:38 am**

"Thank you, Miss Dahl," says David. "It may take them a little while to reply, so we'll need to keep busy in the meantime. I think Professor Stillbridge is unfortuantely passed on. He hasn't published anything or been mentioned in publications since the turn of the century, and he doesn't seem the sort of man who would rest on his laurels. Mani sounds like our next stop. The people there may remember his visit. It's not the sort of thing that happens every day." He repeats the findings his research has produced to the rest of the team.

Posted: **Fri Sep 18, 2015 7:07 pm**

"Sorry" says Mitch as he slides a chair up to the table. He pats his satchel, "Had to pick up some film for the camera". He smiles at the Professor and Anna, "After all no film, no pictures. Did I miss anything?".

Reaching into his jacket pocket he produces a scratched and tarnished cigarette case and snaps it open.

Posted: **Sat Sep 19, 2015 5:25 am**

David fills in Mitch on what he has missed.

Posted: **Mon Sep 21, 2015 2:45 pm**

Did I miss anything?".

"Not really, Mr. Cooper," says Anna, helping herself to one of Mitch's cigarettes. "Prof. Johnson was suggesting we go to Muna--Stillbridge's final journal entry was in Muna."

OOC: Mani/Muna, which one is it?

Posted: **Mon Sep 21, 2015 3:37 pm**

Tabs wrote:
OOC: Mani/Muna, which one is it?

OOC: Its Muna. My bad. The adventure has it as Mani but I changed it to Muna!

Posted: **Mon Sep 21, 2015 5:37 pm**

"I see" says Mitch closing the case after Anna has taken a cigarette, "So we're off to Muna then. This would make a great picture for the journal if we could get a map of the Yucatan and have you and the prof pointing to the place" he opens his satchel and takes out a new reel of film, then almost as if it was an afterthought turns to Quinn and Percy, "And yourselves as well of course".

Hiding a small grin he busys himself with his camera.

Posted: **Mon Sep 21, 2015 7:30 pm**

Quinn, explorer

Quinn takes another drink and nods at Mitch. He's seen the photoman eyeing Anna's gams.

"Muna it is," he says. "I'll organize logistics and such."

Posted: **Mon Sep 21, 2015 9:54 pm**

Grognardsw wrote:Quinn, explorer

"Muna it is," he says. "I'll organize logistics and such."

OOC: Quinn knows that Muna is a easy three or four hour train ride south of Merida.

Posted: **Tue Sep 22, 2015 12:33 pm**

Anna walks over to the hotel counter, unpins a dog-eared Yucatan map, and returns with it to her companions. She pins its corners with a salt cellar, coffee cup, etc., and points at Muna while speaking behind a fixed smile, "Like this, Mr. Cooper?"

Posted: **Tue Sep 22, 2015 1:52 pm**

"Excellent. Now if the prof and the others would like to squeeze in", Mitch points his camera at the group, "Now all looking at the map....hold it"
With a click the photo is taken. Mitch smiles as he winds the camera on, "Thanks. Thats the first official photo for the expedition journal".

Posted: **Wed Sep 23, 2015 5:50 am**

"We'll pack our bags tonight and leave in the morning," says David after posing for the picture. "It's a long train ride to Muna, so we'd better be prepared for an overnight stay."

Posted: **Fri Sep 25, 2015 5:51 pm**

Muna, Yucatan

The train pulls to a stop at the station at Muna. Your group steps out into the platform. It is about high noon and the sun beats down from the clear blue sky.

Posted: **Fri Sep 25, 2015 5:54 pm**

As the others sort out the gear, Mitch will take several shots of the station making the sign a priority.

Posted: **Fri Sep 25, 2015 6:47 pm**

Posted: **Sat Sep 26, 2015 3:17 am**

Quinn, explorer

Quinn lights a cigarette and looks about the station.

"Are we giving the site a quick look over, or will we need to equip for light excavating?" he asks the archeologist.

Posted: **Sat Sep 26, 2015 6:12 am**

"We don't know of any sites of archaeological interest near here, at least not yet," says David. "The first thing we should do is find an inn or something of the sort where we can stay. While we're there, we can start talking to people and gathering information. Stillbridge's visit was probably the most interesting thing to happen here for some time, so there are probably people who remember it, maybe even spoke to him. He may have even stayed in the same place we'll be staying."

Posted: **Sat Sep 26, 2015 11:34 am**

Mitch continues to take photographs including one of Quinn and the Professor in conversation, "I'm getting some great shots here" he mutters as he winds on the camera.

Then casting around he spots Anna, "If you stand over there by the 'Muna' sign it will make a great shot, a real eye catcher" he grins and nods towrds the station sign.

Posted: **Sat Sep 26, 2015 12:17 pm**

Before she poses under the station sign, Anna sidles up to Mitch. "I'm flattered, Mr. Cooper"--emphasising the "Mr."--"but you are all together too familiar" she whispers, although hisses may be more correct. "I have no wish to be a tattletale, but I'll speak to Prof. Johnson about you and your unwanted attention." She smiles sweetly for the benefit of the group.

She says to Quinn, "I can't wait until we get to Xaminik, we'll certainly need you to source equipment for us then." Anna looks around the station and what she can of Muna, "What kinda place is it?" she thinks to herself, hoping they will find a decent hotel, Stillbridge's hotel? as the professor hoped.

Posted: **Sat Sep 26, 2015 3:08 pm**

Tabs wrote:

Anna looks around the station and what she can of Muna, "What kinda place is it?" she thinks to herself, hoping they will find a decent hotel, Stillbridge's hotel? as the professor hoped.

OOC: Muna itself is a medium sized city of about 2000 people. Of Archeaological note. It is a couple of miles north of the ruins of Uxmal. Uxmal is an ancient Maya city of the classical period. It is considered one of the most important archaeological sites of Maya culture, along with Palenque and Calakmul in Mexico. You team has visited this site at least three times.

Posted: **Mon Sep 28, 2015 9:18 am**

-Well, besides the logistic, I don't think we should spend much time here. We have a long journey to make.

Posted: **Tue Sep 29, 2015 4:30 am**

"We're mainly here to get background information on Stillbridge and his earlier expedition," says David. "The ruins of Uxmal aren't too far away. Perhaps that's what brought him here. Maybe we can find his old dig site, if there is one."

Posted: **Tue Sep 29, 2015 4:38 am**

"Well, I think we've all been to nearby Uxmal," comments Quinn, breathing out some smoke rings. "That site has been well picked over, so perhaps Stillbridge visited elsewhere. Let's see what we can learn at the local hotel. A place this small may have only one, and Stillbridge could have stayed there."

He looks up and down the street, expecting a hotel to be near the train station.

Posted: **Tue Sep 29, 2015 9:53 am**

Mitch feeling somewhat bruised by the rebuff he has been handed by Anna, but determined to not let any embarassment show in his face, busies himself with his camera. Although there is little picturesque in this station, he does manage to find a few good pictures of a group of brightly dressed natives as well as several more recording the unpacking of the gear from the train.

Posted: **Tue Sep 29, 2015 6:23 pm**

"The hotel it is then," says Anna. She collects her valise, and then follows any other passengers to the station exit, "Hotel?" she asks with a decent Spanish accent.

Posted: **Wed Sep 30, 2015 9:44 am**

To the hotel then says Percy

Posted: **Thu Oct 01, 2015 4:35 am**

David nods. "Agreed," he says.

Posted: **Mon Oct 05, 2015 3:25 pm**

You find a passable place to stay at the Hotel Tropica. Mule drawn carts and a few automobile pass up and down the cobble stone street outside the hotel. Children run and play in the street as a group of old men watch from the porch of a barber shop across the street.

Posted: **Mon Oct 05, 2015 3:58 pm**

"The Tropica, let's hope it has ceiling fans and running water," says Anna. She spots the old men at the barber shop, and wonders to herself if they can carry a tune . . . ?

Posted: **Tue Oct 06, 2015 5:13 am**

"Yes, that would be nice," says David. "Hot water would be too, but I'd settle for running. I'm sure they won't have electricity, but gas lamps are a possibility." He leads the way into the hotel and looks to see if there's someone working the front desk.

Posted: **Tue Oct 06, 2015 9:26 am**

-Specially, because as soon as we start the expedition, we won't be able to enjoy those things.

Posted: **Tue Oct 06, 2015 3:24 pm**

A man in is thirties with short brown hair and a bushy mustache is at the front desk. He smiles at you with a few missing teeth. "Yes Señor, how may I help you."

Posted: **Wed Oct 07, 2015 2:22 am**

"Good day, sir," says David. "We'd like rooms for the night, please. A separate room for the lady, and the rest of us can double up."

Posted: **Wed Oct 07, 2015 3:01 pm**

Quinn, explorer

Quinn glances around for a hotel guest book. If there is one, he looks back at he earliest dates in case Stillbridge may have signed it.

Posted: **Wed Oct 07, 2015 7:30 pm**

Grognardsw wrote:Quinn, explorer

Quinn glances around for a hotel guest book. If there is one, he looks back at he earliest dates in case Stillbridge may have signed it.

OOC: The guest book goes back about 4 months.

Posted: **Wed Oct 07, 2015 7:32 pm**

"Yes Senor, it would be my pleasure." he says with a smile. He hands you three keys to rooms on the second floor. He rings a bell and two teenaged bellhops run up to help you with your luggage.

Posted: **Wed Oct 07, 2015 7:56 pm**

"Just a moment, I have an idea," says Anna, but without telling what it is she hands her valise over to Quinto.

Children run and play in the street as a group of old men watch from the porch of a barber shop across the street.

She walks quickly--a little skip?--across the street, ruffling the hair of a playing child on her way to the barber shop.

"Hola, caballeros," she says in cheerful Spanish.

Posted: **Thu Oct 08, 2015 1:10 am**

The old men look up at Miss Anna and the one of the far left answers. "Good afternoon Senorita."
"

Posted: **Thu Oct 08, 2015 5:19 am**

"Thank you," says David, paying the man and signing the guestbook. "We're members of an archaelogical team. An archaeolgist named Professor Stillbridge visited Muna once, about thirty years ago. Do you know who in town might know about his visit?"

Posted: **Thu Oct 08, 2015 10:15 am**

"Thank you, sir," replies Anna. "I'm Miss Dahl, a member of an archaeology expedition and am interested in Yucatan's fascinating history. I wondered, have you been coming here to the barber shop for a long time? I ask because we'd like to know more about a predecessor, one Donald Stillbridge, who was here in Muna in 1889?"

Posted: **Thu Oct 08, 2015 11:47 am**

-And is there any library or museum here? -asks Percy to the man in the desk.

Posted: **Thu Oct 08, 2015 3:29 pm**

Mitch enters the hotel lobby as Anna exits, moving politely to one side. "Hey prof don't bunk me with one of you that snores". He chuckles to himself as he winds on the film in rediness for a shot of the hotel's interior, "Hey Percy ask him again it will make a good shot for the journal"

Posted: **Thu Oct 08, 2015 3:56 pm**

Percy sighs and then says:
-Senõr, my companion want to take a picture of this moment. Do you mind?

Posted: **Thu Oct 08, 2015 9:58 pm**

Tabs wrote:

"Thank you, sir," replies Anna. "I'm Miss Dahl, a member of an archaeology expedition and am interested in Yucatan's fascinating history. I wondered, have you been coming here to the barber shop for a long time? I ask because we'd like to know more about a predecessor, one Donald Stillbridge, who was here in Muna in 1889?"

"1889?" The man muses. "That was a long time ago." He looks over at the other men sitting there. "Does anyone remember a Senor Stillbridge?"

He turns back to Anna as the others confer among themselves. "There are many Mayan ruins in this area so there have been lots of men coming to poke around them."

One of the men with shaggy white hair and a milky left eye says to the others. "Do you remember that tall Americano who came into town and got real sick? I think Doctor Alcalá took care of him." He shakes his head as if trying to rattle the memory into place. "I don't remember what happen to him."

Other men chime in some saying they remember the man and others that did not. Those that remember are mixed on what they know. Some say he got better and two or three say that the man got worse and died.

Posted: **Thu Oct 08, 2015 10:03 pm**

kabukiman wrote:Percy sighs and then says:
-Senõr, my companion want to take a picture of this moment. Do you mind?

The man seems flatters that you want to take his picture. He straightens his tie and runs his hand over his greasy hair.

He looks at Percy and says in a very dramatic voice that "No that there are no museums in town and the only library is one run by the nuns at Our Lady of Mercy church. It many religious books and those for children."

Posted: **Fri Oct 09, 2015 12:11 pm**

-Well, thank you. Maybe we will take a look there latter.-says Percy

Posted: **Sat Oct 10, 2015 12:46 pm**

"Thank you, gentlemen," says Anna. "Doctor Alcalá," she repeats to the one with the milky eye, "where can I find him?"

Posted: **Tue Oct 13, 2015 3:11 pm**

Tabs wrote:
"Thank you, gentlemen," says Anna. "Doctor Alcalá," she repeats to the one with the milky eye. "Where can I find him?"

The man motions over to one of the children playing in the street. "Pedro, take this lady over to Dr. Alcalá'a clinic. Now that's a good boy." He turns back to Anna. "The Doctor's clinic is just a few blocks away."

Posted: **Tue Oct 13, 2015 5:07 pm**

"Thank you, once again." Anna hands a few pesos to Pedro, "Just a moment, chico." She nips back over to Hotel Tropica--hopefully she will catch the others before they go to their rooms to unpack--to tell of a lead about Stillbridge.

Posted: **Wed Oct 14, 2015 5:06 am**

David is still at the front desk arranging for their rooms. He turns when Anna enters. "Any luck, Miss Dahl?" he asks.

Posted: **Wed Oct 14, 2015 8:56 am**

"Professor," says Anna, "an old man across the street remembers a 'sick Americano' from way back, 1889 hopefully. He was treated by one Dr. Alcacá; there's a little boy, outside now, who can take us to the doctor."

Posted: **Wed Oct 14, 2015 9:25 am**

-So, finally we are arriving somewhere.- says Percy.

Posted: **Wed Oct 14, 2015 10:24 pm**

"Well done!" says David, smiling. "Solid detective work. We can leave our baggage here, and the hotel staff will take it to our rooms. Let's go see the good doctor."

Posted: **Thu Oct 15, 2015 8:17 am**

Anna smiles.

Posted: **Thu Oct 15, 2015 11:38 pm**

"Beauty and brains," cracks Quinn

Posted: **Fri Oct 16, 2015 2:04 pm**

Percy ignores Quinn remark and waits that the Professor leaves the building to follow him.

Posted: **Fri Oct 16, 2015 4:41 pm**

The young boy leads you a few blocks away to a small two story clinic. The waiting area is crowded but a nurse quickly leads you to the office of Dr. Alcalá. He is a short portly man in his late 60's with a bushy white mustache.

"Please come in. How may I help you?" He says in Spanish.

Posted: **Sat Oct 17, 2015 4:17 am**

Since he does not know Spanish, David lets Anna and Quinn do the talking, though he makes a mental note to learn the language at the earliest opportunity.

Posted: **Sat Oct 17, 2015 12:27 pm**

Quinto, explorer

Quinn steps forward, nods and smiles to the doctor.

"Buenos días Dr. Alcalá. Mis amigos y yo estamos esperando que usted puede ser capaz de ayudarnos. Hace muchos años, en 1889 un alto Americano llegaron a la ciudad y se pusieron muy enfermos. Usted lo tratado . Su nombre era Donald Stillbridge. ¿Recuerdas algo de él? ¿Cómo estaba enfermo? ¿Dónde había estado , o se va , por aquí? Él era un arqueólogo."

Posted: **Sun Oct 18, 2015 6:05 pm**

Anna takes the opportunity to look around the clinic. "Professor, if you wish to ask anything, I'll translate it for you," she offers.

Posted: **Mon Oct 19, 2015 3:19 am**

"Thank you, Miss Dahl," says David. "Translation would be wonderful. The first thing I'd want to ask him is about Donald Stillbridge, but it sounds like Mr. Villavicencio already asked that."

Posted: **Mon Oct 19, 2015 9:33 pm**

"A American names Donald Stillbridge? I don't get many Americans as patients. When did you say I saw him?" The Doctor says.

Posted: **Tue Oct 20, 2015 2:55 am**

Quinto, explorer

"Sí Doctor, en 1889. Este doctor Stillbridge estaba investigando las ruinas locales Muna. Yo no hago la naturaleza de sus lesiones."

Posted: **Tue Oct 20, 2015 12:28 pm**

"1889. That was quite a long time ago." The doctor rubs his chin. I might remember a anglo that I treated then but I am not sure. Let me check my records." he goes over to a couple of tall file cabinets and starts going through some records.

"Oh here it is." He says as he pulls out a file. He opens it on his desk and starts reading. "Oh I remember now. Donald Stillbridge. He come in with complaints of stomach pain and coughing up blood. He died later that day after he begin vommiting large amount of blood. Autopsy showed a large bleeding ulcer in his stomach." Doctor Alcalá looks up from the papers. "I believe his is buried in the old cemetary by Our Lady of Mercy."

Posted: **Tue Oct 20, 2015 4:04 pm**

Percy feels sorry for the man. After having dedicated his life to science, to end his life without glory, in such a forgoten place. He then asks:

-Ask the good doctor, if he said anything or made any remark before his death?

Posted: **Tue Oct 20, 2015 4:28 pm**

kabukiman wrote:Percy feels sorry for the man. After having dedicated his life to science, to end his life without glory, in such a forgoten place. He then asks:

-Ask the good doctor, if he said anything or made any remark before his death?

The doctor thinks for a moment and says. "I don't believe so. Nothing comes to mind. I only saw the man for a little more than a day before he died."

Posted: **Tue Oct 20, 2015 10:57 pm**

Quinto, explorer

"Gracias doctor. ¿Recuerda usted si él entró solo, o acompañado por un local?"

"Vamos a tratar de Nuestra Señora de la Misericordia."

Posted: **Wed Oct 21, 2015 2:24 am**

"I believe he was alone." Says the Doctor.

Posted: **Wed Oct 21, 2015 5:24 am**

"Ask him if he left behind any writings when he died," suggests David. "A letter, a journal, something of that sort. Something that might explain where he went and how he fell ill, perhaps."

Posted: **Wed Oct 21, 2015 12:43 pm**

"Yes, the cemetery," says Anna to Quinn, and to Percy: "Let's show our respects." She translates the professor's question.

Posted: **Wed Oct 21, 2015 1:35 pm**

-That seems a good idea- says Percy

Posted: **Wed Oct 21, 2015 1:40 pm**

A helpful nun helps you by suggesting where to search in the medium sized cemetery by the Church. After a half hour you find Stillbridge's grave. A small stone marker shows his last resting place.

Posted: **Wed Oct 21, 2015 9:39 pm**

Quinn, explorer

After dropping a coin in the church tithe box, Quin asks the nun: "Good sister, are there any priests still alive who worked at the church during the time of Mr. Stillbridge's burial?"

Posted: **Wed Oct 21, 2015 9:58 pm**

"No Senor. Father Gomez died ten years ago. Father Francisco has been the church priest since then." Says the nun.

Posted: **Thu Oct 22, 2015 4:14 am**

David examines the marker, looking for an inscription. He hopes to find the dates of Stillbridge's birth and death, and possibly an epitaph.

Posted: **Thu Oct 22, 2015 1:15 pm**

The marker only says. "David Stillbridge Died June 27, 1889"

Posted: **Thu Oct 22, 2015 2:10 pm**

This is all very strange. He travelled all alone? What did he expected to do? Found evidences and bring more people latter?-says Percy

Posted: **Fri Oct 23, 2015 4:04 am**

Quatermass wrote:"No Senor. Father Gomez died ten years ago. Father Francisco has been the church priest since then." Says the nun.

"I see. I don't suppose the grave diggers back then are still alive?" asks Quinn, clutching at straws.

Posted: **Fri Oct 23, 2015 5:16 am**

"I doubt it, or that they'd remember if they were around back then," says David, "but it's worth a try."

Posted: **Fri Oct 23, 2015 1:07 pm**

Your group spend the rest of the day questioning the inhabitants of Muni about Donald Stillbridge. Other than what you have already found out, they can tell you nothing about Stillbridge.

OOC: You have found out everything you can about Stillbridge in Muni.

Posted: **Fri Oct 23, 2015 2:51 pm**

-Well, it seems we can just do one thing more: follow his steps.- Says Percy.

Posted: **Sat Oct 24, 2015 5:15 am**

"Yes, we'll need to start preparing for an expedition to Xaminik itself," says David. "We'll head back to Merida in the morning."

Posted: **Sun Oct 25, 2015 4:25 pm**

"Xaminik," says Anna, agreeing with the professor. Now she is eager to get back to the Tropica and hopefully be first to draw the hot water into a tub.

Posted: **Wed Oct 28, 2015 7:59 pm**

After spending the night in Muni you arrive back at Merida the next day eager to prepare for the new expedition.

Posted: **Thu Oct 29, 2015 5:46 am**

"All right," says David once everyone gathers. "Let's put together a list of everything we'll need for the expedition. Once we head out, we won't be able to get anything we forget unless we go back."

Posted: **Thu Oct 29, 2015 3:35 pm**

-Well, we need food, water, and a guide for a start. And some locals to make the digging.

OOC: Do we have the equipement (tools) for the excavation, or do we need to buy them too?

Posted: **Thu Oct 29, 2015 5:38 pm**

kabukiman wrote:-Well, we need food, water, and a guide for a start. And some locals to make the digging.

OOC: Do we have the equipement (tools) for the excavation, or do we need to buy them too?

OOC: Your expedition has the tools to do your work like survey equipment, shovels, tents, cooking utensils, etc. What you don't have right now is transportation (horse, mules, automobiles?) and perishable food stuffs. Your expedition usually hires a few men to take care of any cooking, manual labor, and to take care of any animals you might have with you like mules.

Posted: **Thu Oct 29, 2015 6:01 pm**

"I'll ensure our camp larder is fully stocked," says Anna; "obviously," she explains (for her own benefit), "a woman in the twentieth century is not expected to wear the apron strings, it's just that I choose to do it."

Posted: **Fri Oct 30, 2015 5:53 am**

"We'll need to hire animals, and handlers for them," says David. "Pack mules to carry our equipment, and perhaps horses to ride. Automobiles are a possibility too, but we don't know how the roads are out there."

Posted: **Sun Nov 01, 2015 4:30 pm**

Quinn, explorer

Quinn nods as the others begin discussing supplies and transportation. He goes through his mental checklist of expedition preparation and starts making calls and visits to local horse farms, equipment outfitters (including an apron for Anna), food store, truck rental, and town surveyer office for possible regional maps. Asking along the way for reliable local labor.

Posted: **Sun Nov 01, 2015 5:26 pm**

Anna accepts the apron with good grace and a curtsy to Quinn. "Why thankee, zir!" she says in her best English serving wench voice.

Posted: **Fri Nov 06, 2015 4:27 pm**

Quinn quickly goes to action organizing the expeditons stores and using his contacts to hire some men and buy horses and mules. Quinn hires four men. Two brothers, Hernando and Juan Carlos. Herando is tall and thick bodied while he seems to be a bit simple in the head. His brother Juan Carlos is shorter and thin with a hawk like nose. Juan is a experienced scout and is good in handling mules and horses. The other two are a uncle and nephew, Old Pedro and Jose. Old Pedro is white haired with a beard and good cook. Jose is a baby faced 18 year old.

Anna gets to ordering food stuffs with Pedro's help. Everyone gets to packing their personal items and the expedition's tools and equipement.

Posted: **Sat Nov 07, 2015 12:39 pm**

Anna prepares pinnekjøtt--cured pork ribs, and with Pedro visits Merida's marketplace to purchase some livestock to be slaughtered at Xaminik. She falls for an adorable lamb--with its perfect tail, "Flossy, I'll call you"--destined for a fårikål stew.

Posted: **Wed Nov 11, 2015 3:04 pm**

Merida
The Yucatan

Your group is ready to go. The mules are packed with supplies with Flossy in tow. The expediton members ride on horses while the hired mexicans walk. The sky is clear and the morning is warm which hints to the heat to come with the rising sun.

Posted: **Wed Nov 11, 2015 4:35 pm**

Anna squints up at the clear sky and adjusts the sombrero, which hangs on a piece of cord round her neck and shoulder. She encourages her horse--"Dobbin"--to trot beside the professor's.

"How long to Xaminik do you think, sir?"

Posted: **Thu Nov 12, 2015 4:15 am**

"Well, the site is about 150 miles east of Merida," says David as he rides alongside Anna with no greater skill than she has. "That's about five times as far as it was to Muna, plus we'll be slower on horseback with mules in tow. I estimate it will take us a few days to get there."

Posted: **Thu Nov 12, 2015 6:25 am**

Quinn enjoys the ride, taking in the scenery and slow pace of life hereabouts. He makes small talk with the others, chatting about past explorations, Mexican culture, recipes, and such.

"Tell me about local legends," Quinn asks the local Mexican help. "Folktales of the fantastic or strange. Are there any ghosts or strange beings said to haunt the region?

Posted: **Thu Nov 12, 2015 10:43 am**

-You shouldn't ask such things. If they start remembering ghost stories, they may run away. Or worst, ask for more money-says Percy as a joke.

Posted: **Thu Nov 12, 2015 11:49 am**

"Okay," says Anna. "I must remember to place an extra blanket or two under my--er--my seat." She pats Dobbin's chestnut flank: "Plenty of time for us to get acquainted, hey boy?"

She comments to Percy whilst watching Quinn as well as listening for a reply from the Mexicans: "Locals are always nervy of the supernatural, Mr. Richmont."

Posted: **Fri Nov 13, 2015 4:34 am**

"That's true everywhere," says David, "even in New England. There are all sorts of local legends there, and not all of them can be chalked up to native superstition. The European settlers brought plenty of their own with them."

Posted: **Fri Nov 13, 2015 10:21 am**

"I am only familiar with Boston, apart from that city I know little about New England," says Anna. "Which one is your favourite legend?"

Posted: **Sat Nov 14, 2015 7:04 am**

"Definitely the Headless Horseman," says David with a smile. "That type of legend originated in Europe before it came to America, as part of Washington Irving's story, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. The horseman was supposed to be a Hessian artilleryman who had been decapitated by an American cannonball during the Revolutionary War. That much actually happened in 1776. As with most legends, there's a grain of truth to it."

Posted: **Sat Nov 21, 2015 2:56 am**

Quinn, explorer

"Or maybe Dr. Stillbridge encountered El Cucuy," jokes Quinto. "The Latino version of the bogeyman, El Cucuy has terrified children for generations. Used by padres across the world to dissuade their children from misbehaving, El Cucuy is a shapeshifting figure that hides in closets or under beds and torments -- and eats -- niños who don’t listen to their parents."

Posted: **Sat Nov 21, 2015 1:09 pm**

"Now that, sir," says Anna, "is a very disturbing spook!" and adds, "I don't think I could scare my children with talk of El Cucuy."

Posted: **Sat Nov 21, 2015 3:11 pm**

Your group finds easy travel and good roads for the first three days of your trip. The sky is clear and sunny with a hot wind blowing from the southwest. You pass through the cities of Tixcocob, Izamall, and finally reach Valladoldid at the end of the third day. Valladolid is a popular base for visiting nearby major Mayan ruins such as Chichen Itza and Ek' Balam, as well as Cenote Ik Kilso.

Valladolid is a great city to spend the day exploring the history and culture the Yucatan peninsula has to offer. From colonial era churches and architecture to natural wonders like cenote notable sights to visit in Valladolid are the colonial era cathedral Ex-convent and church Convent of San Bernardino de Siena named after saint Bernardino of siena in whom was built by Franciscan missionaries between 1552 and 1560. Located in the Sisal neighbourhood and a short 10 minute walk from downtown it also has a wonderful park where you can sit and enjoy tranquility and peacefulness. In downtown Valladolid, you can find the cathedral of San Gervacio located in the main square of the city. Valladolid has a chessboard-like street grid and at the city center it’s a plaza with a park square in the middle surrounded by stores where you can enjoy a walk and purchase souvenirs, food or refreshments. Located a couple of blocks from the heart of the city is the Cenote Zaci, a landscaped freshwater cenote or underground sinkhole in which you can access the inside and explore its cave.

From here you will be heading into more rugged backlands of the Yucatan. Your figure it will take about three more days to reach where you think Xamanik is at.

Posted: **Sun Nov 22, 2015 11:17 am**

"There's plenty to see and do," she says to all. "Let's rest for the night in Valladolid--I could do with a comfy bed? I'd like to visit Cenote Zaci. Chaps, anyone else interested?"

Posted: **Sun Nov 22, 2015 1:12 pm**

Quinto, explorer

"Si senora, let's visit the big hole. Though I have been there once before, it still fascinates me to see a cave in the middle of a populous city. It's a reminder that dark depths can exist anywhere beneath us. In body or in mind."

Posted: **Sun Nov 22, 2015 3:06 pm**

It is easy to book a hotel, livery the mules and horses, and visit the cenote.

Located in the heart of Valladolid, you find the semi-open cenote. It has a diameter of 150 feet and is 260 feet deep. Vines hang down from the cliff like walls of the cenote. Several people are swimming in the refreshing turquoise waters. You know that there is a rare species of eyeless black fish known as "lub" the lives the the waters of the cenote. A connecting cenote is covered with stalactites and stalagmites and there is a walkway around the entire cenote. It is a cool relief from the hot sun and quite beauiful.

Posted: **Mon Nov 23, 2015 6:58 am**

David looks around the cenote with wonder. "I never get tired of exploring places like this," he says. "I'm sure it brings in the tourists. I wonder if the locals spend much time here. Often people don't explore their hometowns the way they would if they're visiting somewhere new."

Posted: **Mon Nov 23, 2015 10:54 am**

"I can't resist--I have to take a dip in its waters," says Anna. Hopefully she can hire a bathing suit.

Posted: **Wed Nov 25, 2015 1:57 am**

Tabs wrote:"Hopefully she can hire a bathing suit.

OOC: No but your hotel is close by

.

Posted: **Wed Nov 25, 2015 4:58 am**

Quinto, explorer

"Is your camera ready Mitch?" jokes Quinto when he hears Anna may be donning a swim suit.

Posted: **Wed Nov 25, 2015 12:44 pm**

Anna pops back to their hotel. Within 20 minutes she returns to Cenote Zaci in her bathing suit--she had packed it in anticipation of the cenote at Xaminik, anyway she enjoys water and is a good swimmer.

Once in the cenote she takes note of the other bathers, who else is in the pool?

OOC: Excuse the waves, but I liked her cap in this pic.

Posted: **Wed Nov 25, 2015 8:04 pm**

There are several other swimmers in the pool, mainly children and teenagers though there is a middle aged couple enjoying the waters as well.

Hernando and Juan Carlos have followed Anna from the Hotel after seeing her unusal attire. A large grin comes over Hernando and the large man jumps into the cenote fully clothed and begins to play with the children in the pool . He laughs and seems to having a great time. His brother Juan Carlos pulls out a thin cigarette and lights up. A look of fondness comes over his face as he watches his brother swim.

Posted: **Thu Nov 26, 2015 5:19 am**

David watches the scene with amusement, but he does not go in the water himself, not being much of a swimmer.

Posted: **Thu Nov 26, 2015 10:08 am**

Anna joins in, splashing the children as well; its noise, their shouts and laughter echoing around the cenote.

"Sir," she calls in Spanish to the clothed Hernando, "I hope your watch is a waterproof one?"

Posted: **Sat Nov 28, 2015 3:52 am**

Quinto, explorer

Though tempted, Quinto does not go swimming. Since that time he was attacked by an alligator in the swamp, he has been reluctant to go in water. The explorer lights a cigarette and watches the others. He thinks about the upcoming expedititon and runs through the checklist of equipment in his head.

Posted: **Sat Nov 28, 2015 2:17 pm**

Tabs wrote:Anna joins in, splashing the children as well; its noise, their shouts and laughter echoing around the cenote.

"Sir," she calls in Spanish to the clothed Hernando, "I hope your watch is a waterproof one?"

Hernando looks confused for a second and then a wide grin appears on his face. He shows Anna his bare wrist. "I have no watch Senorita. That is for rich men.......and women."

Posted: **Sat Nov 28, 2015 3:39 pm**

"I am not rich, sir!" says Anna, but concedes, "though I do own a watch. Tell me, why are you and your friend"--she nods at his brother Juan--"not at work today?" She treads water, and peers beneath her circling feet: "How I'd love to dive down, deep down."

Posted: **Sat Nov 28, 2015 3:48 pm**

Tabs wrote:"I am not rich, sir!" says Anna, but concedes, "though I do own a watch. Tell me, why are you and your friend"--she nods at his brother Juan--"not at work today?" She treads water, and peers beneath her circling feet: "How I'd love to dive down, deep down."

The smile on Hernando's face falls. He begins to look about and then glances at his brother and back to Anna. "I.....I.....am....sorry Senorita. Is there something you need us to do.....?" he says with almost a mournful tone.

Posted: **Sun Nov 29, 2015 9:44 am**

"No, I am sorry--I didn't wish to make you uncomfortable," she replies. "I'm just a gringo, Anna--Anna Dahl, an archeologist on her way to Xaminik."

EDIT:

"I'm just a gringo. I look forward to our excavation of Xaminik." Anna prepares to swim away.

Posted: **Sun Nov 29, 2015 11:11 pm**

After a hour or so enjoying the cenote, your group gets back to preparing for the next day. Before dawn you are on your way into the eastern Yucatan. The road quickly turns into a dirt mule path and then disappears totally. Quinn studies his maps and point the way.

Posted: **Mon Nov 30, 2015 5:11 am**

David follows Quinn's directions, glad to finally be on his way to Xaminik at last.

Posted: **Tue Dec 01, 2015 6:17 am**

Occasionally wrong but never uncertain, Quinn leads the way.

Navigate [1d100] = 64

Posted: **Tue Dec 01, 2015 10:56 am**

Anna trots her pony (it is not a horse really) after Quinn.

"How much further today, sir? I confess to being so unused to riding that I'm saddle-sore already."

Posted: **Tue Dec 01, 2015 1:46 pm**

The journey is uneventful though it takes your group four days instead of the three you though it would take to reach the area where you think Xaminik is.

You travel through the scrub jungle of the eastern Yucatan. It is hot though the trees provide some shade from the sun.

As you travel along a dirt path though the jungle you come upon two men and a boy leading some skinny cattle. The men wear wide brimmed hats and have machetes tucked into their rope belts.

Posted: **Wed Dec 02, 2015 6:02 am**

Quinto, explorer

"Good day sirs," says Quinto in Spanish to the two men. "We seek the ruins of Xaminik here about. Do you know where it may be?"

Posted: **Wed Dec 02, 2015 11:04 am**

Anna, her movements slow, her joints stiff, climbs down off the pony and stretches manfully. She plays with Flossy's ears, the sheep bleating, possibly, with pleasure, though no doubt oblivious to its destiny in the stew pot.

Anna squats, pulls out a small trowel from her belt, and desultorily chips at the earth and stones between some tree roots.

Posted: **Thu Dec 03, 2015 4:36 am**

Not knowing Spanish, David hangs back and lets those who do converse with the locals.

Posted: **Thu Dec 03, 2015 5:09 am**

The men look at you suspiciously at first but then seem to lower their guard. "Xaminik? I know that there are several Mayan ruins around here but I don't think I have heard of Xaminik. Maybe one of the older men in our village would know."

The young boy comes up and starts to pet Flossy and gives Anna a smile. "You are Americans?" he says.

Posted: **Thu Dec 03, 2015 9:15 am**

"Yes, that's right," answers Anna in Spanish, pausing at her chipping. "We're archaeologists, that is we search in the ground with tools, like these"--she holds up the trowel--"for evidence, such as pot sherds--broken cups and bowls--and stone foundations, which tell a story, the history of a place and its past. What is your name, young man? I'm Anna Dahl."

Posted: **Thu Dec 03, 2015 2:15 pm**

Tabs wrote:"Yes, that's right," answers Anna in Spanish, pausing at her chipping. "We're archaeologists, that is we search in the ground with tools, like these"--she holds up the trowel--"for evidence, such as pot sherds--broken cups and bowls--and stone foundations, which tell a story, the history of a place and its past. What is your name, young man? I'm Anna Dahl."

"I am Pedro." the boy says with a shy smile and continues to pet Flossy.

Posted: **Thu Dec 03, 2015 4:07 pm**

"Come to our camp later, Pedro, I'll find you something sweet to eat," says Anna. "Do you know of any ruins, statues or old objects kept by the villagers?"

Posted: **Thu Dec 03, 2015 5:00 pm**

Tabs wrote:"Come to our camp later, Pedro, I'll find you something sweet to eat," says Anna. "Do you know of any ruins, statues or old objects kept by the villagers?"

"My mother has a statue of Mary." he says.

Posted: **Thu Dec 03, 2015 5:28 pm**

She smiles. "Good boy. I'll come and pay my respects to your mother when we are settled."

To the professor: "That boy I was speaking with, his mother has an old statue of the Virgin, it may be worthwhile visiting . . . ? I'll do so anyway--never hurts to keep in with the locals."

Posted: **Fri Dec 04, 2015 4:34 am**

"Yes, that's an excellent idea," says David. "The statue would be too recent to come from Xamanik, as there was no knowledge of her until the Spanish arrived, but you never know what the locals may know."

Posted: **Fri Dec 04, 2015 10:27 am**

"You're teasing me, Prof. Johnson!" replies Anna about the statue; "maybe, and okay this is a long shot, it's a statue of a pre-Columbian goddess?"

Posted: **Fri Dec 04, 2015 4:31 pm**

Percy looks bored and stays out of the pool. He is anxious to see the ruins and this seems to him a waste of time.

Posted: **Sat Dec 05, 2015 6:40 am**

David strokes his chin in thought. "That is a possibility, Miss Dahl, though unlikely as you said," he says. "Many ancient cultures throughout the world worshipped a 'Mother Goddess' figure, though she goes by many different names. In fact, the early Catholic Church confabulated the Virgin Mary with this goddess figure to make their religion more appealing to pagans. I've long suspected that there was ancient transatlantic contact between the Mayans and their ancestors and other cultures, particularly the Phoenicians, so they mey have gotten the idea from them. It is worth investigating."

Posted: **Sun Dec 06, 2015 3:27 pm**

The men invite you to come to their village. They say it is only a half mile down the path.

Mitch checks his watch. "It's not even noon yet. We might as well go. They might know where Xaminik is?"

Everyone agrees and you arrive at the village while the sun is high in the sky.

The village has about two dozen huts with several large pens with goats and chickens. As you walk into the village people stare at you and children begin to follow you with wide eyes and shy smiles. The men who brought you lead you to a large hut and a small group of men meet you there.

Posted: **Mon Dec 07, 2015 2:21 am**

David smiles back, but since he does not speak Spanish, he allows Quinto and Anna to do the talking.

Posted: **Mon Dec 07, 2015 9:39 am**

"Professor," says Anna, "if you'd like to ask a question I'll translate it into Spanish for you, no need to ask me, consider it done."

She introduces themselves and explains the reason for their visit to the village men: "Good day to you, sirs . . . " etc., etc., ending by requesting that they can pitch camp nearby.

Posted: **Tue Dec 08, 2015 2:10 am**

Quinto, explorer

"Hello little friends," says Quinto in Spanish to the urchins following them. "You have a lovely village."

He kneels down to be at their eye level and takes out a 50 centavo coin. "Have any of you heard about Xaminik? Can you tell me where it is?" He hands the coin to the boy who looks most responsible, in Quinto's subjective opinion. "There is more if you get true answers."

Quinto walks along with the rest of the party to the village center to meet with who he assumes to be the village elders or leaders.

Posted: **Tue Dec 08, 2015 5:25 am**

"I was about to suggest we ask if they know where Xaminik is," says David. "That's the one word Qunito just said that I understood. We should also ask the elders, both about Xaminik and about Stillbridge. Maybe one of the elders remembers seeing him thirty years ago. Do we have a photo of him we could show them?"

Posted: **Tue Dec 08, 2015 10:47 am**

OOC: Didn't we find a magazine, and if so was there a photo of Stillbridge in it?

Anna bows to the village elders and presents Prof. Johnson; she repeats his questions.

Posted: **Sun Dec 13, 2015 1:32 am**

Quinto rummages through the backpacks looking for the archeology magazine. He almost mistakenly pulls out his tijuana bible.

Posted: **Sun Dec 13, 2015 10:26 am**

Posted: **Sun Dec 13, 2015 6:07 pm**

The men invite you into a hut which is open to the south and west. A small fire is a few feet away and some women stir a iron pot filled with some sort of stew. The men offer you some crudely wrapped cigars. They take the magazine and pass it amongst themselves and look that the picture of Stillbridge. They shake their heads and say they do not recognize him.

At the mention of Xaminik, they start to talk amongst themselves in a worried tone. The lead man of the village silences them and then turns to talk to you. "Xaminik. That is a bad place. I would not go there if I were you."

Posted: **Mon Dec 14, 2015 4:16 am**

"What about Xaminik makes it a bad place?" asks David.

Posted: **Mon Dec 14, 2015 10:30 am**

Anna takes a cigar but sheepishly pockets it, explaining that she doesn't wish to choke on the tobacco smoke and embarrass herself. She peers into the cooking pot, and makes appreciative noises to the women. Can she guess what the meat in it is?

Posted: **Mon Dec 14, 2015 1:05 pm**

Percy thinks that it's odd that they don't remember. But probably the dying man that left the place didn't seem very similar to the photo.

Posted: **Mon Dec 14, 2015 2:52 pm**

Mr. Handy wrote: "What about Xaminik makes it a bad place?" asks David.

The head man pauses as if collecting his thoughts. "Ghosts wonder the forests there. Spirits of the Mayan slain by the Spanish. They are angry spirits." Another man speaks up. "And at night demons fly above the trees looking for travelers to carry off to Xibalba." Several men node their heads in agreement.

Posted: **Mon Dec 14, 2015 3:04 pm**

Percy is disapointed. He expected better. But this vague stories aren't worth a book of folklore.

Posted: **Tue Dec 15, 2015 6:24 am**

"The Mayan civilization collapsed centuries before the Spanish arrived," says David, ever the historian. "The Aztecs were in control of the area at that time, though there were still living descendants of the Mayans around then, just as there still are today. Have any of you ever seen these spirits or demons?"

Posted: **Tue Dec 15, 2015 10:02 am**

" 'Maya' could be their generic term for old, stone-building societies, Professor?" interjects Anna in English, and comments, "Xibalba--the Maya underworld, the place of fear.

Posted: **Tue Dec 15, 2015 2:08 pm**

The women serve you bowls of a spicy pork stew which is quite good. For the next hour the men tell stories about ghosts, demons, missing animals, lost children, noises, and other strange things connected with the area around the site. Though none of the men here has experienced anything themselves. These stories are tales told by their uncles, fathers, and grandfathers. It seems that the place has had a bad reputation for generations and none from the village has dared visit it in many years. This really interests David as the site other than Stillbridge's short visit might be truely undisturbed and undocumented.

Posted: **Tue Dec 15, 2015 2:50 pm**

-So, it seems we are indeed lucky. Imagine all the finds that are waiting for us! Pottery, inscriptions! We will make history

Posted: **Tue Dec 15, 2015 4:10 pm**

"I don't know about that, Mr. Richmont!" laughs Anna; "but it does sound most intriguing."

Posted: **Wed Dec 16, 2015 3:32 am**

"Indeed it does," says David. "Of course, Stillbridge found it first, so he deserves the credit for that." He turns back to the head man. "Where exactly is Xamanik?"

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