Mr. Blackwell was the account manager for the Boatdock Grill restaurant, which
was being built on the banks of the Tennessee River on Amnicola Highway. During
site preparation, a 1,500-year-old Native American burial site was uncovered.
Mr. Blackwell visited the site during the resulting archaeological
investigations. It was during his visit that he noticed a small bracelet of
shell beads partially exposed in the wall of the dig site. Whether it was
avarice, curiosity, or whim that led him to pocket his find is unknown. After
washing it off at home, he gave it to his wife, Diana as a Christmas present.
She is unaware of its origin, and not overly fond of its aesthetics. She has
placed it in her jewelry drawer in her dresser and forgotten about it.
The bracelet belonged to a shaman of the Citico village people over 1,000 years
ago. This shaman (Udayana by name if magic is used to find the information) had
a great friendship with the Uhktena, Mayomanmasi, who had given him the
bracelet. The Uhktena are a race of wise "horned serpents" (dragons) that live
in the rivers and lakes of North America, and who would teach promising humans
from time to time. They are like huge snakes with colorful rings on them,
buzzard's wings and antlers like huge stags, and had "Ulunsuti" (magic crystals)
in their foreheads, that gave them power over light and dark and let them see
the past and future.
After centuries spent mostly in the Golden Paradise (parallel universe) that she
calls home, only appearing from time to time to see what Man was up to since her
People left the area, Mayomanmasi was suddenly called by the spirit of her dear
friend Udayana. Enraged at the despoiling of the sacred burial site, and the
theft of the shell bracelet, Udayana called on Mayomanmasi for vengeance he can
no longer exact himself, being but an insubstantial spirit.
Mayomanmasi came upon Mr. Blackwell's boat in the lonesome twilight as mist rose
from the dark waters of Chickamauga Lake and, in one great lunge, bit the boat
in half, swallowing Henry, except for an arm that got tangled in the anchor
rope. The dragon then pulled the ruined craft to the shoreline of Skull Island
and wedged it under a submerged tree. The investigators can find the wreck,
marked by huge teeth, if they look closely for the fuel and oil slick that has
bubbled up from the outboard motor.
Mayonmanmasi is jealous of her kill, though, and will attack anyone trying to
remove the boat, (or the arm) from its place under the water. She will, however
speak (or bellow in indignation, more likely) telepathically to the
investigators as she attacks, calling them defilers and thieves. She will not
stop her attack to explain her accusations.
However, if the party includes a Native American, she is 35% likely to hold off
and speak with the person about why she has done what she has done. This
increases to a 50% chance if the person is also a Shaman, and almost 100% if the
shaman recognizes her as an Uhktena and calls to her as such. She is not evil,
after all, merely vengeful.
Returning the bracelet to Udayana's grave will placate both the Shaman's spirit
and the Uhktena. Mayomanmasi knows much that happens on and in the Tennessee
River, and if befriended, will make a useful ally.
But wait, what has Mr. Blackwell's daughter Jenni put up for sale on the
internet auction site? Looks like some of Mom's old jewelry... The clock is
ticking. Bwahahahaha!