Beginnings III
A few days after leaving for Naturia, John and Martin meet their guide into the jungle at a small village on the outskirts of civilization.
He is a friendly looking Woodelf with some tribal tattoos and a missing eye,
“Yo, I’ll be your guide from now on. If you don’t want to die, stay close to me and do what I say. Let’s start with introductions, my name is Kora Adar. I have been a guide for around three hundred years now and I’m looking forward to working with you.”
Martin goes next and answers, “I’m Martin, I’m an apothecary and I hope to find some rare plants to cultivate.”
John adds, “I am Amsa. Pleasure to meet you.”
“Yikes…I can tell you had a happy childhood. Born from slavery?”
“Yes to both actually. My early years weren’t very happy but thanks to my sister I was able to have a good childhood.”
“No wonder you speak Elvish so well then. Welcome home, brother.”
“Thanks.”
“Now before we begin, rub this ointment on yourself.”
“Oh~ What is it?” Martin asks.
“It’s a mix of guava berries, aldove extract and bird poop. It will mask your scent and help as a deterrent against insects.”
Pulling out his notebook Martin quickly writes all that down and right after applying the ointment they enter the jungle.
Their trip takes them about five days. Along the way they see many things that would make most people turn heel and run away at the sight. Giant spiders running on the leaves above them, ferocious beasts howling in the distance, parasite ridden water and much more. Yet, thanks to Kora Adar, they traverse the jungle safely and they reach their goal without any major problems.
Exhausted, John looks ahead at a wooden wall, “I guess we’re finally here, huh?”
“Yep!” Kora Adar answers, ”This is the Poka tribe. They are quite friendly to outsiders. As long as you’re willing to help them out or give them a tribute they’ll gladly house and teach you. Here is your calling amulet, when you’re done exploring just channel your mana into this and I will be contacted that you need your guide to come back. See you two whenever that time comes, I hope your research goes well.”
“I hope so as well ahaha,” Martin answers, “Farewell.”
Waving them goodbye, Kora Adar leaves and a Woodelf in his early one thousands, dressed in colorful feathers and plant clothing greets them, “Welcome to our tribe travelers.”
Both politely bowing, Martin pulls out some vials and answers, “Greetings chief, these are vials of highly potent poison that is safe to eat once the meat has been cooked. I’m sure you will find it useful.”
Next, John pulls out some differently shaped vials and adds, “And these are healing potions. I’m sure they will be of great use to your tribe.”
“Quite the generous gifts. In the name of the Poka tribe you are free to stay as our guests.”
“Thank you chief.”
“Thank you chief.”
“Now! Please come inside. You must be hungry. Let's have a feast, my daughter has been waiting to meet you again, Martin of the Hounds.”
“I’m honored to still be remembered.”
“Hahaha, it might feel long to a short wick like yourself but to us it’s like you barely left.”
Following the chief inside, the two find many wooden houses on stilts with leaf roofs. Most of the people seem to be only half dressed covering only their privates in leaves and other plant materials but some also wear modern clothing. John’s eye is especially glued to the handsome men showing off their six packs and muscular yet lean tanned bodies.
“People seem very friendly here. To be honest I was expecting something a little more dangerous.”
“Don’t tell me you thought this is where we stop? We’ve barely entered the jungle.”
“Excuse me?”
“We’re just here to get a guide towards the place we actually want to go.”
“Then what about the offerings?”
“They’re payment. I doubt they’d send anyone to the dark tribes without leaving twice a person's worth of goods with them.”
“So how much deeper are these ‘dark tribes’?”
“No idea. That’s why we have the guide…At least I hope so.”
“What do you mean ‘you hope so’?”
“Well, it’s not like I had the chance to ask them yet.”
“So, you’re saying we might have gone out here in the middle of nowhere for no reason?”
“Yup.”
“Great…”
Sitting down at a huge communal table, Martin flirts with the chieftain’s daughter while John helps prepare the table. Eventually a huge feast of fruits, vegetable and mushroom dishes as well as some cooked insects is prepared. Sitting down, everyone is happily eating, some people are dancing and some others play music on wooden flutes and drums or sing along to it all. Then eventually, somewhere during the middle of the meal, the chief asks, “So, how long are you thinking of staying this time boy?”
“Well, if possible we’d only stay for today and take one of your guides somewhere.”
“Oh? Where to? We know this forest well.”
“We were hoping to visit the Amsa Hi tribe.”
The second these words leave Martin’s lips the music stops and people stop being jolly.
“Boy are you insane!? If you wish to die, drink one of your poisons! At least that will be less painful!”
“I have no intention to die. Chief, you know how strong I am, I simply wish to go there to learn and we need a guide to find them.”
“...”
“Are you sure about this, boy? All you will learn there is how to die in gruesome ways.”
“I’m sure.”
“...”
“I understand. I will provide a guide for you. They will point you to their territory but not enter it. You will have to find them on your own from there.”
“I understand. We will do just that. Thank you Chief.”
Sometime during the night Martin comes back to John’s tent.
“You still up? You gotta sleep or else you won’t make the trip.
“Aren’t you the one that stayed up to bang the chieftain's daughter? At least I am trying to sleep.”
“Fair. You worried or something? If you’re gonna chicken out you better do it now, you won’t be able to starting tomorrow.”
“No…I’ll see this through. Just a heads up though, if I end up not returning within three years I have set it up that my will gets released to the authorities. It says exactly what we were planning on doing in it so if I die you go down with me.”
“Smart choice. Guess I can’t just ditch you now. See you tomorrow, ‘Amsa’.”
Waking up early the next morning Martin and John prepare to leave the village with an old, crippled guide. He seems to have lost one arm and most of his teeth and is showing signs of some stray gray hairs and a few wrinkles. This means he will die soon, he has only five or so years left. To Elves, gray hairs are essentially an omen of imminent death.
Meeting at the village entrance, the chieftain greets them one last time.
“There will be no turning back from now. Are you sure you wish to proceed?”
“Yes, thank you very much for everything chief. See you soon.” Martin answers with a smile.
“I hope we do not meet soon, for I intend to live a few hundred years longer. Now, let my people send you off with a requiem to guide your souls to the afterlife.”
What follows is a somber song with enchanting sounding flutes. It seems to be sung not with words but with syllables that hold spiritual meaning.
“I shall place two seeds into the ground for each of you. Try to die with good thoughts on your mind, it will help in finding heaven!”
“They seem really adamant about this whole idea being a death sentence.”
“Well yeah but they also shit in the woods and wipe their asses with leaves so what do they know?”
“Fair.”
Another eight days of grueling hiking through the woods later their guide sits down and says, “Past this point lie the abominable lands. It is as far as I’m willing to go, for I wish to die on the lands of my ancestors.”
“Looks like we’re finally here John.”
“Are these people our goal or just another guide?”
“They’re our goal and possible final destination, hahaha.”
“Great. Let’s march on before you start another tirade.”
“Seems like you really found your adventuring spirit, ey?”
“Shut up and keep looking out for dangers.”
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