Sorry to burst the bubble gang but Big Justin the wise teen was poached by Gawker over the weekend. They overheard him being wise at a party and he got hired. keep em peeled for 'big mans wisdom', the tentative title of this future feature.
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"WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THIS?" the warboss' voice booms. "Are these fiends approaching OUR lands? Where were these creatures last seen? They need to be dealt with as we make the journey to Numalayo." He grips the club tightly out of anger. "Battle has arrived on our doorstep. The luxury of preperation is over. We must move soon and strike at these things swiftly. You have done well young one. Go rest, the healers will take care of you. Their numbers will be driven back once more." Kano marches to the tents of the warriors as he plans his next tactic.
As Kano awakens from the prophetic dream, he feels a great disturbance in the world beyond. As always, the only sensible thing to do is prepare for war. Kano sits by the fire in a meditative pose while he smears grinded ochre underneath the bags under his eyes. Truly the burden of his position weighs heavily on him as he hums an old tribal hym and cleans the blood from his shark tooth club. After a couple minutes he rises up and goes to where the men who remained loyal to him trained. He takes a couple swings at one of the training posts. His eyes are closed. He lets the spirits guide his movements.
I'm around. Just having a bit of difficulty figuring what to post if anything with all that's going on, plus I feel like I hogged the scene before so I thought I'd take a break from that. Anything I'd do at this point might feel like filler even if I do some mountain prep stuff.
When night falls, Kano tells everyone he is in the spirit world. In times of great turmoil, he does this practically every night. Every night he prays. Every night he communes with Ku for guidance and every night Ku restores his power and bestows wisdom upon his avatar. He sits in a meditative pose, smears the chia paste around his eyes, and as his eyes roll back he goes into a trance that must remain uninterrupted for an hour. Kano tells one of boys to tell the others no one is to interrupt him. The process is delicate. In the morning, he is refreshed, but sometimes beset with a bewilderment from the vivid visions he acquires from the world of spirits. He petitions his deity with an offering of the salamander his group felled. With this petition, he hopes Kukailimoku, Seizer of Lands, will offer some guidance.
Spells replenished: all rotes, 1 cure wounds, 1 magic weapon
"Hm, must be excited to get visitors. Kano says scratching his head. He pulls away the chia paste. "I'm going to say its best to not be touching this stuff. For now. Help yourself to the rest. I would think your travel would have left you very hungry."
Kano nods, looking satisfied, until the druid speaks, and then he looks deeply troubled. "It is good you told me these things. I will help any way I am able. I know the importance of what you are doing." He pauses for a second and seems hesitant to speak and frought with worry. He snapped back to the matter at hand with the mention of the old woman. "Boba? Sorry if she bothered you. She is....very old. The years have not been kind to her. She was an herbalist. Saw her share of loss. Over time this took a toll on her mind. Boda's been with us as long as I can remember. If you want to know more, ask her yourself. I try not to pry."
Cool, just waiting on everybody's responses to things, and then Kano will go and commune for guidance and getting his spells back. Just thought we'd do a quick Q&A session/meet and greet first so he doesn't have to call them Foreigner 1 and Foreigner 2.
"So...I already have learned a number of things. You are on a mission of great importance. You are looking for beekan and travelling with a mainlander elf. Because Ku looked upon you favorably, I grant you my protection as prince of the Demon's Maw. Others have not seen what I saw and doubt my judgement. Saying outsiders should not be trusted. Do not prove them right. Relations with mainlanders have not been good. Not as bad as they were, but still not good. I have seen your quest in visions. As well as some glimpses from the future. Ku has granted me much knowledge I would not otherwise have, and for that I am blessed. But barring the mission, I know next to nothing about you. Who you are, where you come from, how you got here. Until you give trust, you will not gain trust. I will ask these things of you and if you wish you may ask whatever you wish of me.
Kano turns to look at the thunder in the distance as if it was on cue. "An ambush is a danger we can face any time. From the bug men or the traitors. I say we rest briefly. Tend to the wounded. Then once the storm is over, we head for the sacred ground. He looks down at Ulani's arm "They will be dealt with. Don't worry. I'd end this with as little fighting as possible if I can." Kano tells here reassuredly. He raises an eyebrow at the shifting of the elf. Apparently the old woman knew what she was. He leaves the elf to deal with the old woman and instead he goes over to Temlen and leans over the mainlander. "And if you are hiding something mainlander, I will find out. I don't think you would be as arrogant to hide from a man that hears the gods." "It will be hard to reach Numaloyo in these conditions and I may need to commune with Kukailimoku for guidance. The storm is here. Take shelter and perhaps some of you foreigners can tell me about who you actually are." He shot a glance at Sinathel and gestured towards one of the larger thatched huts before getting up and beginning to head on in.
Bah, I meant Pel (the volcano goddess), not Kali. Don't know how I got the two confused. Sorry if I'm laying on Kano's tribal dialect a bit thick. Hope it's still coherent.
Kano sits by the fire and gestures the others to come closer. "I am not half the tale teller my father was." he says with a hefty sight. "But his tale was burned into my mind long before I took the Demon's Maw. As a young man he told a tale to the children. Years ago, my father, the great Haku Speaks with Fire told my generation of creatures from the deepest depths of the earth. Creatures that drank the blood of Kali in the sacred fire-mountain. The very fire mountain my people consider sacred ground today. When these creatures drank their meal; the burning blood of Kali, their blood was filled with fire. It filled them with a rage that drove them to attack the People. But the creatures had one weakness; They feared the sun and did not attack during the day." the big man pauses as he gazes at the bodies of the beasts. ...until today. he clears his throat. "It is strange that these creatures attacked my village. Not only have they not been seen outside tales, but they came during the day. I believe the Demon's Maw and the creatures have some connection with the great fire mountain."
"There are...some old legends of the lizards that bleed fire. My father, Haku, He Who Speaks with the Flame would have known more I'm sure." He said with a glance at the bonfire.
Did we learn something new and important about the world? - Yes. Ku believes these foreigners have a great but tragic destiny behind them
I'm going to add some bonds to the sheet based on what little interaction there has been so far.
Kano grabs his gut and surveys his situation before making a move. His injuries are starting to get to him, but there are still many others worse off than him. It was just one thing after another in Demon's Maw.
He asks for Ku to help him once more by enchanting his weapon.
Kano nods, satisfied that Ku's power has wretched another from the claws of the great darkness. Seeing this, he whirls his toothed club and charges the last salamander.
Kano utters a tribal curse word too difficult for most outsiders to comprehend and moves to drag the unconscious Garn away from the fight. He calls upon Ku's power to heal.
Kano winces as he takes the hit, but tries not to let it show as it would be bad for morale. He attempts to club the creature again. He'd soon need to call on the power of his god.
Kano takes his club and surveys the battlefield calmly. He could not let the creatures enter the village, so he charges the creature heading towards the hut. The others could handle the other one.
Kano shakes himself out of the trance he put himself in. He squints at the elf. "Despite your...otherness, Ku does not look unfavorably upon you. But there are other forces at work here. Ku grants me knowledge from channels beyond ordinary senses." He gets close to Sinathel and looks the bird right in the eyes. "I knew this creature was no ordinary bird. Eyes are different. And I'm aware of the legends of the Demon's Maw. That it leads to the 'other world'. A more dangerous world. If this is true, it is not because Ku is angry. Ku does not lash out in petty ways out of rage. If Ku was angry, many of us would already be dead, such is the might of Kukailimoku, the Seizer of Lands. The followers of Ku don't ASK for the land to abide our existence. We SEIZE our rightful place. Either stand our ground or find new land. But these things cannot be fought. We must move on. Gather the boats. I will go with the outsiders. Make sure they don't disrespect the graves of our ancestors or disrupt the spirit world because they do not know the ways. Ulani is in charge. I will deal with Otan one way or another." Kano marches over to the statue of Ku and picks up a large club. The end of the club is far heavier than the boys were sparring with, and the weapon is about 3 times its size. It has seen a lot more use too. The shark teeth on the sides of the heavy wooden club are covered with old blood stains. With that he also picks up a rounded shield and pouch of supplies. He siddles up close to the others and speaks harshly, quietly and through his teeth. "You may mean well, but do not talk to my tribe this way." he said, irritated at the tribe's panic and the constant challenges ot his authority.
Kano says nothing. Only turning to the great statue once again. He opens his mouth but no words come out. The tatooed man just solemnly mouths 'Ku will know'
Kano pauses for a while, just glaring intensely at Otan for a solid ten seconds. He then walks up to Otan as to get right in the youth's face. He speaks quietly but slowly overenunciates every single word. "These foreigners know their place, Otan. Unlike you. They will seek Ku's authority just like anyone would. They will get their, thing and rid its taint off the island. I am not so foolish as to handle these no-breaths without conditions." Kano says, glaring at Otan. He was put in a difficult position. He could not side against his tribe, but he could also not have his authority questioned.
"This Gaia, is it a god? If so that is a noble thing. I respect that. But you need a guide. I can see why..." Kano surveys the camp slowly. The mountain of a man lets out a long, tired sigh. That land was both sacred and a source of great shame. For years the chief godess of fire, Pel, the Devourer of Earth was said to have made her home in the volcano. No man, woman, or child dared venture there. The tribes still had a sense of loyalty to her to the point where even the newly converted adherents to Ku would not dare tread on those lands. But for the followers of Kukailimoku, there was another reason. It was the land of the dead. Many years ago, what was then the cult of Ku performed human sacrifice by hurling people, alive and screaming into the fires below. The followers of Ku would not tread that land out of both respect, and secret shame. If anyone was to tread in those lands, it would have to be one who could show the spirits the respect they deserved and could withstand the dangers there. Someone who rejected Pel's fire long ago. "Me. It would have to be me." he says at last.
"You may want to head to the purple lights. To the great mountain in the center of the island.But I should warn you, its sacred ground to the tribes of the Eye. Think it not best to tread on sacred ground. But for those who don't follow the tribe's ways it may be different." He said as he glanced at the totemic statue behind him.
"The bug men are no small problem on the island these days. Many of our older warriors and hunters spend time fighting them these days more than anything else. Some of the others here know of their ways...their rituals. I put no stock in breathless rituals, but it never hurts to know." he turns to Ulani as if she had something to day, but continues on after a short pause. "Bee-cun." the tribal ponders. The words sounded strange to his tongue.
He shook his head. "I'm not sure, but perhaps someone else would know...I would need to know more." Spoiler:
Kano nods approvingly at Ulani's actions and then takes moves towards the drumming boy and claps twice to snap him out of his trance. It could be difficult to snap out of such trances. Many people ended up feeling disoriented. Kano knew from experience. He then eyes the panther and the foreign humans before turning to the elf. The large tattooed man moves up to the creature and the outsiders. It was true the tribesmen had seen elves before, but Kano rarely spoke to elves or even foreign people. He prefered not to speak if it wasn't necessary. Times demanded that he parley with others beyond his usual duties in spreading Kukailimoku's word however. If Ulani was right, he would need to talk to some of the other tribal lords soon. "And so the elves and two no-breaths from off the island seek refuge in the Demon's Maw." he gives a slight bemused smirk. "Times are worse than I thought. This beast is controlled by you yes? Not closely but, I've seen tribes work this way before. Calm it down and keep it away from the children so the burgeoning hunters don't get any ideas. Then you can indulge me concering who you are and what brings you to the Burning Eye tribe's lands.If it goes well, you'll have safe passage through these lands, and what little shelter we can provide. This way our preparation can go on as Ku would have it."
As you approach the clearing the smell of smoke and sulfur clouds the air and a faint drumming permeates throughout the earth. These sensations grow stronger as those who approach the sounds and smells see a group of dark skinned, dark haired people clad in clothing made from the plants in the region. With many of the men covered from head to toe in black tattoos with intricate patterns. In the middle of this camp with crude yet sturdy dwellings made of reeds and mud is a great bonfire. Two young boys, their skin free of any of the black patterns on the skin of the older tribe members spar with oddly shaped clubs with the sharp teeth of carnivorous animals embedded on the sides. Meanwhile, a slightly older teenage boy covered in vaguely scale-like patterns beats a drum as he stares into the fire as if he's in some kind of meditative trance. In the middle of it all, a cloudy eyed dark skinned woman with flowing black hair and swirling black patterns on her face converses anxiously with the large man in the middle, who sits on a chair. The man in the chair is perhaps the most imposing one of all. He is large and bulky, bordering on corpulent. He's easily more heavily tattooed than anyone there, with tattoos going all the way up to his forehead. His medium length hair is pulled back to show even more of the black canvas he's turned his head into. The patterns swirl around his dark, hardened eyes. He sits in beside of a wooded statue of a humanoid creature with a great big snarling mouth. He wears the same symbol around his neck. He gazes at the woman, stoically listening to her concerns before he raises his hand to silence her and with that the camp stands still and the drumming stops. The large man stands up and speaks in a deep booming voice. “Ulani, my most trusted adviser has told me of the changes in the spiritual landscape of the island. These are trying times for the Tribes of the Eye. A great wave is coming, and we must train here in Demon's Maw. Remain strong. As warboss and avatar of Ku, I must turn to the Seizer of Lands for guidance. Kukailimoku, soaked in the blood of his enemies, prepares us, makes us strong, makes our ships strong to weather the oncoming storm. Praise Ku!” the other members of this small tribe repeat back to him. |