002

The Spaniards very clearly seemed to have questions, he noted. Likely beginning with 'What the fuck', leading into 'what the fuck', progressing through a brief 'what the fuck', before finally wrapping up with a sincere and heartfelt 'what the fuck'.

They were quick on the uptake, though, and in no hurry to contradict what he was saying when he was clearly backing them up. It was almost a pity that he was going to leave them in suspense for a moment, but he needed to keep control of the narrative more than he needed to give the two of them enough clues and hints to potentially try to get the upper hand in the discussion.

It would be stupid to try. Gods tended to smite both uppity mortals and sassy lesser gods over that sort of thing. If he didn't, then that would be a problem, whether it seemed like he was too tolerant of them or it seemed like he didn't have the power to smack them down.

"The details are of consequence, but can be delayed. In summary, despite interference to the point that the message itself was lost, with only the underlying traces of divinity within them pushing them with the deep assurance that they must make it here first, our messengers have arrived." he declared openly. "It is through no fault of their own that the message was lost. It was intercepted. The awakening was stilled, the traces of divinity slumber yet, and cannot awaken until long after a newborn babe has died old and grey, and his bones crumbled to dust from time. We are betrayed by those we have bargained with. This was foreseeable. It is our error and a mistake that we rightfully claim, to have placed too much trust in an agreement made, and thought too little of what no promises were compelled to not be done."

"Surely the gods are without flaw or error!" the high priest barks, seeming for a moment to be offended at the very idea before his mind catches up to who is saying it and how he had appeared here.

That was not quite good enough, however. Something more impactful was required, and so he twisted the form of Jaguar Man around himself and into being with a snarling roar that set the high priest flinching back for a moment, uncertain of himself.

"Tzekel-Kan." he said, as the image of Jaguar Man pulled itself back within his smaller body. "It is your opinion that the gods cannot make mistakes? Would that this were so. Then Quetzalcoatl would not have taken his stone club and knocked Tezcatlipoca from the sky, and left him to be the sun, untroubled. Tezcatlipoca would not have overthrown Quetzalcoatl in turn. Tlaloc's bride would not have been stolen, and he would not have poured fire down from the heavens in his wrath... and cruel words would not have driven Chalchihuitilcue to openly weep and shed her tears as rain for forty days and nights, until all the world was flooded by them. If the gods made no mistakes, then the first age would still be ongoing, and the survivors of the turning of the eras would not have become monkeys, nor birds, nor fish as new men were fashioned to populate it anew."

"I... My Lord's point is well spoken." Tzekel-Kan said, falling to his knees in abasement as he presses his hand to the ground. "I have shamed myself before you!"

"Rise, Tzekel-Kan. You serve the gods to the best of your ability, in the ways you most understand. There shall be need of you and chief Tannabok in your own different ways, soon indeed. For now, I shall dispense with the subtlety and cleverness that has served us poorly, and speak." he said. "I am the Jaguar, lord of the underworld. I come bearing a reminder, that the age of the Jaguar is upon you, and if swift and decisive action is not taken, it will begin with bloodshed unlike any that has been seen before in this realm."

"If action is not taken...?" Tzekel-Kan asked. "My lord Jaguar, it was..."

"The current interpretation of the prophecy is that the dawning of the age should be greeted with sacrifice. If that were so, then there should be no need for messengers. I also would not be here. Remember this, Tzekel-Kan... the words of the gods travel to mortal ears, awake or in dreaming, but it is by the hands of mortal men that they are written or carved. And if the gods are not perfect beings, then how much more imperfect are the men who inscribe what they believe they have been told, certain and with no seeming need or ability to ask for it to be said once more, as chisel is raised?" the newly named Jaguar declared. "No. The intended message was this reminder, a correction of this interpretation... and a warning of what is soon to come. He comes. The beast in the flesh of a man, who is known by the name Cortes."

"Ooooh." Miguel said slowly, followed by Tulio's quiet "Crap."

It was the visible realization on their faces, the recognition of a second shoe dropping, which did as much to convince the others of the state of urgency about things as Jaguar's own words had.

"War is on the horizon, and seeks to sniff and claw its way to the city of El Dorado. There is much to discuss, and many preparations to be made." Jaguar declared, pushing forward with things. "Better for that discussion to take place in a more secure location, with cups of xocolatl."

"Now that I can make happen." chief Tannabok said, visibly relieved to have something that he could do, rather than flounder in confused uncertainty at the proceedings and revelations.

"For Miguel and Tulio's sake, be sure to go light on the chilies." Jaguar noted, making a generous gesture that at the same time ever so discreetly undercut the men. "They do not yet grow across the ocean, and so their tongues will not be accustomed to it."

"First-timer's drink? Light on the powdered chilies, heavy on the honey. You got it!"

It was as much for his own sake as anything, as Jaguar would be finding out how well his professional face held up to spicy things with this, but all the same... he made sure to smile and nod at the Spaniards, making sure it was clear that he felt that he was doing them a favor.