The Yaaxil are Paititian "protector goddesses" who were dedicated to guarding the Silver Box of Ix Chel, which was stored within a cenote on the outskirts of Paititi itself. They are led by the Crimson Fire.
History[]
When the Key of Chak Chel and the Silver Box of Ix Chel were forged by the goddess Xquic, she also created the Yaaxil as guardians of the Silver Box. Placed upon the world within the city of Paititi, taking up residence within several interconnected ruins near and within Paititi. Most Paititians don't know that the Yaaxil are real, though one believed that they are and wrote about them[1].
Lara Croft saw some creature killing a Trinity soldier near Kuwaq Yaku. She described it to Abby as fast and making hissing sounds, Abby thought Lara was joking, as she described the legend of Pishtaco[2], a mythological boogeyman figure in the Andes region of South America. Lara was however certain on what she saw.
Lara again encountered the Yaaxil when she went into cenote, to retrieve the Silver Box. The Yaaxil tried to stop her reaching the box, but once Lara entered the Box's room, the Yaaxil stopped, and only after they realized that the box isn't there they attacked Lara again. The Yaaxil chased Lara through out the cenote, until she took a long jump off of a cliff and climbed out.
Yaaxil had also tunneled towards the Mission of San Juan and there had been sightings of them there. Some were near the Ancient Aqueduct tomb, but most were around the tomb known as Tree of Life.
The Yaaxil still protected the City of the Serpent, as is was where the ritual of the Silver Box of Ix Chel took place. Crimson Fire who represented Chak Chel waited for her counterpart Ix Chel, to complete the ritual. Lara once again came and took the place of Ix Chel, and made a bargain with the Yaaxil to stop Pedro Dominguez who wanted to remake the world instead of restarting the sun. The Yaaxil killed every Trinity soldier they saw, amongst them the Trinity High Council, effectively dismantling the Trinity organization.
Once Lara had completed the ritual to kill Kukulkan and restored the sun's energies, the Yaaxil were sighted heading for San Juan. Lara follows their trail down into an underground temple, and there discovers a "silver gate", a now-broken portal to the realm of Xquic. Having completed their mission, the Yaaxil were allowed to return to Xquic's side. Their leader, Crimson Fire, leaves a message of thanks for Lara.
Trivia[]
In the Cenote, some Spanish conquistador helmets and bodies can be found, which means that the Spaniards may have fought the Yaaxil.
Gallery[]
