Atlantis: Save the People

Brief session today, but potentially an impactful one! 

Our heroes were, if you recall, in the sunken city of Elapi, where they had been left with the menfolk after the crocodile-beast Apep had told the citizens that the heroes were there to help him eat their hearts. (Gibberish, I know.)

Akala, not wanting to let rumors fester, goes to talk with the men, and displaying an impressive master of their language, asks them to consider that they fought this creature, Thanos included. Also, why was it just telling them an evil plan? The men think this through, and Akala presses her advantage, telling them that they need to press for equality and let their voices be heard. The others chime and in agree with her, remarking, too, that there's a whole world up above Elapi, a world that these folks could be part of.

The men agree to go and talk to the priestesses, and they all head through the tunnels toward the temple. As they approach, Eithne senses magic and readies herself to counter a spell, but doesn't do anything rash. Akala shoves an elder man forward and he speaks to the priestesses, saying that he doesn't believe that sacrificing the men and boys to a crocodile-monster is in line with Oshún's will. One of the women yells out "remember Sauda!" (the high priestess killed last session), but Akala tells them that it was the monster that killed Sauda, and that creature is just exploiting the people here. Imani steps forward and puts her hand on the man's shoulder, and demand that the women listen to him.

Someone in the crowd agrees and Eithne feels the magic fade. The priestess agree to talk this over and invite one of the group to come along; Akala goes, as she has the best command of their language. The women aren't exactly universally on board with completely upending their society, but enough of them are realistic about the sacrifices and how well that's working (read: not) that they are willing to listen. Finally, it's decided that the characters will take two Elapians - one man, one woman - to the surface to see the "desert", and perhaps open up relations with the people there. 

Akala points out, though, that they really need to handle Apep first. One of the women mentions that it might be possible to repair the Vril pyramid and increase the city's defenses, but that would mean getting into said pyramid. The characters regroup and talk with a Triton named Enu, who tells them that while the Tritons of Elapi would be willing to help hunt down Apep, they're not really warriors. Eithne points out that what they really need is a way to trap the creature and prevent it from swimming off, since it's so much faster than they are. 

They also ask about the pyramid, and Enu shows them the rapid current in front of the pyramid - they call it the Lady's Wail. Anyone caught in it gets sucked out into the ocean, and no one's been brave enough to ride the current and see where it leads. Imani looks across to the pyramid, and spots a little nook where coral and seaweed have grown into the gaps between bricks. She suspects that this extra space means the bricks might move, meaning this may be where one could get ingress to the pyramid.

Thanos has some knowledge of Vril engineering (though largely theoretical), so they prepare to cross the Lady's Wail and try to make their way into the pyramid. Next time, we'll see how well that works.