Welcome to our primitive adventures.
The stars wheel in the sky above. You are not asleep. Perhaps you do not sleep because your life is a living dream. Perhaps the spirit inside you whispers or rattles in your mind. Perhaps you are just anxious for tomorrow's challenge, or your companion cannot sleep. Regardless, you sleep eludes you like a swift footed antelope.
This is your last night in the Briar Camp. This is not your first visit. You have spent other warm seasons in the Briar Camp. It is a safe and comfortable place. For many years, the Clan has gathered the dead husks of thorny bushes and briar covered vines, arranging them in piles and paths. At the center of the Camp is a large grassy clearing, a relatively safe place where the Clan builds its Fire. You can only reach the clearing by winding through the paths within the briars. This is enough to keep out all but the largest of predatory and herbivorous creatures. Some of the thorns in the briar are as large as spear heads or tyrannosaur teeth.
Overhead, the stars swirl as they complete their constellation dance. They swoop and streak towards each other in a struggle to knock the others out of the sky. As they battle, victorious stars grow brighter, and the sky brightens with them, painting clouds in a brilliant red with blue shadows. Eventually, only 3 stars remain, swollen with power, until one of the stars rams its opponents from the heavens, taking on the full brilliance of the Day-Star. It will parade from east to west throughout the day.
On this day the Clan will break camp. You and the others will make your way to the Canyon to face your rite while the others make their way to the Clan Meet.
Gnarok's mind swims with memories of days long passed. Of when Otule slew the great bear that had snuck upon the clan fire, of when Umbu wrestled a stegosaur to the ground and took it's mighty horns for herself. Of the heroes of the stories he so loved to tell. Of how they all died, and how only he remained.
It wore upon his soul, and he knew that he could not stay for much longer. He loved the clan dearly, for they had taken him in when he knew nothing, not even his own name. But he had been with the clan for a long, long time. Repaid the honor debt he felt he carried for their hospitality many times over.
Today, he would find another path.
The nights are still chill, though the day will be warm. Some sleep under skins, others in portable tents of hide panels and wood poles, others simply hang their skins as screens at the edge of the thorn hedges.
Old Tharren sleeps among a pile of the dogs.
Those honored to be fire keepers this night sing songs to stay awake.
Fanki crawls out from beneath her pile of furs, rubbing at her eyes. There is too much on the young woman's mind for her to sleep. Thoughts of the god in the cave, the dark magic that had assaulted her, the protector that had emerged to save her. She could still feel the protector within her spirit, ready to heed her call when the time was right.
She walks through the quiet camp until she catches a glimpse of Gnarok standing on his own. The man is an oddity to Fanki, at once both ancient and youthful, possessed of great knowledge and great sorrow. She cautiously approaches, smoothing her skirt and offering a hesitant smile. "Hello. Can't sleep either?" she asks.
Fade is awake well before the sun begins its long journey across the sky. Like every morning she is there to greet the sun and say the prayers to the Tribes ancestors. It had been thus for the last 6 years...ever since that day she was chosen to be the new Maiden. Out of all the clans in the Tribe, she had been the one who had the dream...the dream that brought Oster to her.
It was Oster chittering that brought her out of her reverie, and she quickly finished her prayers and scooped the weasel up where he snuggled around her neck.
She gathered up her materials and, feeling a job well done, treated herself (and Oster) to a tiny bit of salted deer meat as they returned to the Fire.
Grod wakes with the sun, and looks around. Not seeing his mount, he steps outside the thorns, and calls her to him. Before long, Allyx, his young Allosaurus, steps out of the woods, her many teeth slick with her early breakfast's blood. Commanding her to kneel with short words and gestures, he saddles her and leads her by the reins back into the camp. She was small yet, barely large enough to ride, but he managed. And she would grow. She would grow mighty indeed in the coming years. Even now, they made a formidable team.
"Hello. Can't sleep either?" she asks.
Gnarok looks down at the young woman with a slim but warm smile, "Indeed, new sprout. Sleep is a luxury for the young. Embrace it while you can."
Akash spends much of the night in quiet contemplation. The rite is a vital journey for any of the young of the Clan, but doubly so for him, now.
Not only would he need to fight to prove his worth, he would need to fight doubly hard to prove he was deserving of life itself.
He contemplates calling on the spirit of his master for guidance, but balks. He is unsure how she would react to his indecision. The thoughts of fleeing the clan and making his own way far from here were his shame to bear, and his alone.
When the Day-Star finally rose, Akash steadied himself and painstakingly performed the rite of the Warrior to steady himself and be filled with confidence beyond his years. There would be time for wisdom and cunning later; for now he needed only to steel his resolve.
Fanki sighs. "I wish I could embrace sleep. My thoughts are restless. Perhaps the day's journey will help me quiet them."
People are moving now, bringing down tents, packing bundles and baskets. You can break your fast with nuts, dried meat, smoked fish, but or a thick grainy bread. People tend not to cook on moving day.
You pack up your own kit, knowing that a challenge is forthcoming. The group follows the winding way through the thorn bushes and out onto the hilly plain. Small woods are scattered here and there, but nothing that would be called a true forest.
You make your way with the group to a wide green river and to a menhir that stands beside it. The single stone thrusts from the ground like the broken tooth of an elder. The others stop and seem to be waiting for something. There is muttering and shuffling of feet as they grow impatient.
Akash goes off to see his parents one last time before he leaves.
As always, since the incident, there is tension. His parents try not to show it, but they're as frightened of him as most of the others in the tribe, even if that fear is mixed with worry for his well-being.
Before he leaves, his mother gives him a braided cord necklace, for good luck.
He reaches out to hug her and she flinches, briefly, before recognizing the action for what it is.
"When next we meet, I will have become a man." he declares, the Warrior's pride tinting his usually more reserved nature. "I love you." he says, looking her in the eyes, and then sliding them over to his father, who simply looks...tired.
The man gives him a small nod, grabs his spear, and walks away on his own mission, to forage for food.
Goodbyes said, Akash wanders to the meeting point where the travelers gather before setting off.
Before leaving, Gnarok seeks out the clan elders, specifically the eldest of the three clan-mothers, Iyemba. She was the oldest of the clan aside from him, and he often sought her counsel.
"Revered Iyemba, I give you greeting this morning." He takes a deep breath before saying, "I have been with the clan for many moons. I know my talents are well-loved and oft used but...I cannot tie myself to this place. To this life. There are answers I long for that I cannot find here. Once I have completed my rite, fate may call me away from the clan. I want you to know that I do not leave because I do not love you all well. I leave because the many loves I have lost among the clan weigh on my heart. There is so much out there I want to see, and I must east the burden on my mind if I am to return and live well."
Fade wanders over to where the Crone and Mother are waiting. The stranger, Gnarok, is speaking with Iyemba, so she waits until he is finished.
Once he leaves, she approaches her "sisters".
"It is time for my trials to begin...I hope I bring honor upon our clan and tribe!"
"If no, then you will most likely be dead!", Iyemba, the Crone says.
"Come come now Iyemba! No need for such negativity! Fade will do well and will take her place with us as the new Maiden. So let's offer her our sincerest best wishes and blessings."
Yama, the Mother was always so positive and happy...her faith almost brought tears to Fade's eyes.
With a hug and silent thanks, Fade leaves her "sisters" and goes to join the others taking the rite this year.
Iyemba moves toward the stone, walking slowly. He face is lined with the trails that she was walked, her teeth as worn as the standing stone. She wears a motley of the hides of different animals, bird wings, and at her neck a leather braid from which dangle animal teeth, bones, feathers.
At the stone, her twisted fingers trace lines and symbols left by others over the years. Her hand covers a blood brown hand print. Her mouth moves and she might be muttering something, or perhaps the stone itself is speaking.
Her other hand holds a walking stick as weathered as she is. She thumps the stick onto the hard ground, then turns to face the gathered crowd.
"Let those who seek to pass through the valley present themselves. The stone would know you better."
With his piece said he approaches Iyemba and the stone, "I am Gnarok. I seek answers and freedom and a new path to whatever the spirits intend for me." He stands and nods, before stepping aside for the next hopeful.
Fade steps forward next, with a slight smile towards Iyemba and Yama, and introduces herself to the others.
"I am Fade from the Spirit Cat Clan to the north. Until recently I was just another clanswoman until I was chosen by the Ancestors to take up the mantel of The Maiden. I look forward to this challenge and working with all of you!"
With his piece said he approaches Iyemba and the stone, "I am Gnarok. I seek answers and freedom and a new path to whatever the spirits intend for me." He stands and nods, before stepping aside for the next hopeful.
Fade steps forward next, with a slight smile towards Iyemba and Yama, and introduces herself to the others.
"I am Fade from the Spirit Cat Clan to the north. Until recently I was just another clanswoman until I was chosen by the Ancestors to take up the mantel of The Maiden. I look forward to this challenge and working with all of you!"
Iyemba nods as she listens to your words. She considers each of you solemnly in turn. "You will pass through the Valley of the Winged God. Enter here beyond the stone, follow the river to the arch at the mouth of the Valley. Listen to the voice within, except for you, Akash, that voice will get you killed...or worse. Listen to the voice of the Valley, but do not believe everything that it says. And as for the winged god, what it offers may be bane or boon, but either way take care in your dealings with it. Should you succeed in your material journey, rejoin the tribe at the great meet. Should you undertake the journey beyond this world, then know that we will carry you in our memories."
With that, she kneels and makes a few marks in the soil, creating a threshold of sorts. She remains on this side, but stands and steps aside so that you may pass.
The walls of the valley hug the river as it and the ground fall away in a slope.
Akash, son of Akhan. Spirit-warden of our clan, and apprentice shaman. I journey to prove myself worthy to carry the weight of the task I have been given.
Grod spurs Allyx forward, and together they bow to Iyemba. "I am Grod, called cunning for my taming of this great beast, Allyx. We go together."
You enter the valley with the Day Star not yet at its peak. It is high overhead by the time the walls have risen beside you and now tower overhead. The river lies to your left, deep, slow, cold and green. The lot of you walking abreast would take all of the room on this side of the river. The other bank on the other side is wider.
Allyx raises his nose into the air, his nostrils flaring. Ahead, around a bend, you soon smell it yourself. Something large and dead.
Akash sniffs the air and growls low.
"Beware. Something that big dying, here, is bound to attract scavengers. Be ready to defend yourselves." he says, readying his whip and hatchet as he cautiously approaches to peer around the bend.
Gnarok readies his axe and shield, "I smell it too. A grim omen." His green eyes flit towards Akash, "I am always ready."
As you round the bend, you find the carcass of a great sloth. It has been dead for a few days, most likely. Large chunks of flesh have been torn from the creature's flank where it lies on its side.
When asked to present herself, Fanki steps forward hesitantly. "I am Fanki. I have been cursed by the gods, but have been blessed by the spirits of the land. I now carry a guardian within my soul, and I seek to learn more about them and their intentions."
When the group comse upon the corpse of the sloth, Fanki gasps. "A great predator is nearby. I will call forth my guardian to protect us."
The young woman closes her eyes in concentration. Her hair and furs stir in an unseen wind, and a glowing sigil appears on her forehead. After a minute, the sigil flares brightly, and the guardian appears beside her--a woman seemingly made of blossoms, bark, and antlerlike branches. The being stands protectively in front of Fanki, ready for trouble.
Fade keeps Oster close by as the others examine the corpse of the great beast. She keeps her eyes peeled for any movement that might signal the attacker might be returning to its kill.
Perception:
As Fade scans the surroundings, she notices a footprint and traces of another. Gnarok believes it to be the print of a large cat of some sort, and the bites in the carcass suggest the same.
It is strange that there are no scavengers about, no vultures or pteradactoids circling above, and nothing on the ground either.
"Hm, a big cat, most likely. Whether longclawed or sabertoothed, we will be in for a fight if it returns."
Fade approaches the carcass and looks it over.
"Now why are the scavengers not swarming this free meal? Look not even a sky lizard circling? This is very strange."
Know. Nature:
Grod looks around, taking in the scene carefully, and looking at the wounds on the corpse for clues as to what made them.
Allyx is distracted by the smell of something edible, apparently.
"Better we move on, before whatever is scaring off the scavengers returns."
Fanki works a magic spell, surrounding her protector with a field of armor, then nods her agreement. "Yes. We should not linger."
Patches of the giant sloth's fur are matted with a sticky tarry substance that has a bitter smell. You don't recognize it.
The sloth's tongue is missing, but it isn't unusual for a predator to eat a tongue first. Hells, it is common practice among your own group to eat first the tongue of a mammoth that you bring down.
As you move further into the canyon, you hear a mixed cacaphony of animal voices. The deep yowl of a cat and the higher pitched hoots and honks of a group of raptors.
"Perhaps they'll run each other off. If not, we may need to prepare for a fight."
Akash creeps forward to take a look at the beasts, trying to stay out of sight.
"Careful...if they are fighting over the food we may be able to sneak past them."
Allyx perks up at the sound of raptors. She hisses a bit. "Shhh. It's ok, girl. We'll deal with them if we need to." Grod says, reaching forward and patting the back of her head.
"Careful...if they are fighting over the food we may be able to sneak past them."
Fanki stands close behind her guardian, letting the other tribe members take the lead.
Nature:
Listening to the sounds, Fade is sure that the cat is in danger as the sounds are more defensive and an attempt to intimidate.
"Let's move forward and see if we can break this fight up. It sounds like the cat might need our help!"
Gnarok says softly, ”Indeed. The cat is weakened. Let us fend off these raptors.”
He readies his axe and shield for battle.
"Our help? Why?" Akash growls, but readies his weapons as well. At the very least it's prudent to fend off the more capable foes.