"Wow! That thing really is unmissable, huh pal?" Ares nudged his fellow travel companion, a distraught rhinoceros with wings and a purple-tinged horn, and pointed at a gargantuan frozen venator swallowing up the horizon. On his way to the tribe of Thundraga worshippers, Ares was ambushed by the rhino who flew at him while spinning like a drill from behind some bushes. Ares blasted the attacker away with a single, lazy Grand Annihilation and the rhino instantly gave up after getting a face full of golden pain. Normally Ares would have killed this animal and moved on but it being a rhino reminded him of Sandy and so he stayed his hand, instead opting to make use of the now tame rhino as a sort of tourist guide. During their travels, the frozen venator, the subject of many myths and legends abroad, came into view at long last. It was still quite a way aways but it was very visible regardless due to the sheer enormity of the being. It was encased from head to toe too so it shone brightly whenever the light reflected off its glassy outer layer. If Ares walked at a steady pace it would take him a whopping two days to reach the foot of the giant venator, without breaks mind you, and yet it was still already within his line of sight. With a head above the clouds, and feet anchored in the earth, it was safe to say this was the largest existence Ares had come across in these lower domains, even bigger than the Scylla and the twin Anubis. Only Astraeus and Terros' Godly forms could diminish an existence this massive so it made sense it took a God to stop the venator from going on a rampage however many years ago. No cultivator in Sheryashka, a lower domain, could realistically go head to head with such a mammoth creature. It was eye opening, actually, as the only other venator Ares had seen so far was relatively humanoid save for the purple colouring. He knew they came in all shapes and sizes but it was still a shock to the system to actually lay eyes on this big guy hogging up the skyline.
Grunt (Yeah, whatever you say, please don't kill me.)
The rhino wanted to be anywhere but here but Ares ignored him and kept analysing the monstrosity on the horizon. The rhino was keeping an eye out for opportunities to fly away and go hide but Ares seemed to have eyes on the back of his head, he would constantly turn around and smile ominously at the rhino whenever it dared to take a single step off the beaten path. Ares promised to let it go once he reached his destination but the rhino knew the cruelty of this world well, it'd seen hope crushed in horrible betrayals every which way it looked. It wasn't unusual for small prey to forced to sell out their companions and hives in exchange for their own freedom, only to lead the predator to their base and be eaten alongside everyone else. This was the law of the jungle and the rhino had no idea if Ares would actually keep his promise or not! Fortunately he would, Ares, thanks to Sandy, had developed a weakness to rhinos. He would still kill them if need be but butchering this particular one served him no real purpose and netted him no real gain so it would live to se another day. Maybe Ares was being too sentimental but it's not like he had any reason not too. This breed of rhino wasn't rare or anything, it wouldn't gift him good materials upon its demise, and he could always find another out in the wild if he really wanted to. Thus, man and temporary pet, kidnapped pet anyway, trod along the jungle together in search of the correct tribe. Ares wasn't sure if the Thundraga worshippers were the Ba Rakaras or the Baraka Ras and it made a difference.
The Baraka Ras were the longest running tribe with the longest running history, to the point that tribal aevysqualls in this part of the world were often generalised as Baraka Ras despite having their own names, but they were also the friendlies when it came to negotiating or discussing matters with outsiders. They welcomed others to participate in their tribal rituals and witness their tradition in action. Not many people would venture into their realm, generally speaking, but they were the best case scenario for anyone stumbling around lost in the jungle. Researchers also sought them out to learn more about the region without having to pay an arm and a leg at the Bara Karas' city. Those that were unfit to fight their way through the jungle, like the scrawny merchants and researchers Ares saw earlier, would have to make do with emptying their wallets however. In short, the Baraka Ras were friendly and hospitable, more than willing to proudly show off their culture with open arms and even guide people through the jungle occasionally if they were in search of something specific.
Then there were the Bara Karas, the money grubbing third party. The Ba Rakaras and the Baraka Ras had been at each other's throats for as long as records show but these aevysqualls were opportunists, constantly looking to take advantage of their fallouts. In some ways they were considered the wisest of the three clans but, to most, they were seen as cowardly and weak for hiding behind the scenes. Ultimately, most would place bets on them coming out on top once the dust settled but whether they were respected in the region, be it by minor or major clans, was another matter. They'd tried, on multiple occasions, to take over the country but failed for one reason or another so their history was quite shameful on the surface. Beneath that, though, the observant would notice an unyielding determination and persistence, clever ideas, and a will not inferior to the other clans. Their latest endeavor, acceptance of the outside world and their various tools / weaponry and goods, was their best idea yet and was likely to net them results at some point. They were a ticking time bomb and only one of their plans needed to actually succeed before all their previous embarrassments were made irrelevant and they got what they were after at long last. They weren't necessarily the underdogs, there were far smaller clans and tribes that had no shot of becoming the dominant force but tried anyway, but they weren't often respected as viable competitors for the throne and they were underestimated because they lacked a 'warrior's spirit'. Maybe if the locals tribes knew just how many warriors had met dishonorable deaths at the hands of poison, backstabbing treachery, and other such ignoble acts in the outside world they would be more wary the Bara Karas but Akarala was simply too isolated for such stories to spread here... For the most part. The Bara Karas appreciated foreign weaponry, ideas, and technology but what they asked for most frequently was, in actuality, history. They wanted to learn how empires fell, important figures met untimely ends, and how wars were won in the world outside. They learnt of many insidious tactics and underhanded methods that would surely aid them once they made their next move. Whether they overcame the other clans or failed, they were gearing up for one last push either way. If they succeeded, they wouldn't need to try again. If they failed, the all-in nature of their plan would see them wiped out off the face off the country. They were leaving nothing on the table this time and were dead set on doing their ancestors proud. They saw outsiders in a transactional light, so were neither outright hostile nor friendly, so politically speaking they weren't the worst option to come out on top during a power struggle; most would be content with them winning a war so long as the Ba Rakaras stayed far away from any kind of power.
Speaking of, the Ba Rakaras... Well, in terms of openness, there was none. If a stranger entered their lands without express permission the tribe would host a human hunt and track them down before promptly murdering them and placing their head upon a pike. They could not be spoken or reasoned with and had a preference for violence rather than chatter. To them, the other two major clans were mortal enemies, they would happily fight them to death every day of the week. There was even a chieftain who killed a Baraka Ra they despised so much they took their own life just to go and kill them again in the afterlife. These were not people who, like Ares, had confirmation of the afterlife. He just went for it with steely determination and pure hatred as his fuel. It was idiotic but also highly respectable in some ways, nobody could say he was a man without conviction at least. The Ba Rakaras were also the reason misnaming the tribes was seen as taboo. They hated being referred to as Baraka Ras but would hunt to the ends of the earth anyone who called them Bara Karas. Despite the ongoing war between Ba Rakaras and the Baraka Ras, the former would much rather succumb to foes that raised a weapon than those that hid away from the battlefield like snakes. Their most detested foes were those they never raised arms against and, in some ways, they were appreciative of the Baraka Ras for entertaining them in their war fetish... Not that the latter wanted anything to do with them, they were simply defending themselves and their territory. Anywho, the long and short of it was that this tribe hated everyone. You'd have to go back generations to understand why and Ares did not care enough to ask why, it wasn't even his fight at the end of the day. His only real concern was what to do if the Ba Rakaras were the ones safeguarding the treasure he was seeking as he wasn't exactly too keen on wiping out an entire clan to get what he wanted. Still, he would cross that bridge if it came to it, for now he still didn't know which tribe even had it. Well, he knew the Bara Karas didn't and, honestly, he was glad. If he had to fight for it, that was fine. If he was allowed to earn it, that was fine. If he was asked to pay for it... Well the last time he was asked to pay for something he broke the merchant's fingers. Ares seemed to be particularly unfond of money-grubbing swine looking to take advantage of people...
Grunt Pffffff (Why are you explaining all this to me? Let me go already!)
The rhino grumbled at Ares who'd been talking the rhino's ear off this whole time. It didn't know Ares could understand him and he wasn't going to be enlightened about this titbit so all he was really doing was sealing his own fate. The more bothered the rhino was the more Ares felt like dragging him along further. Or, at least, he was planning on keeping his companion at metaphorical gunpoint for a little longer but he was detecting signs of life now which meant he'd entered the rough territory of a tribe. He was likely still near the outskirts, and he was going to come across a scout or hunter first, but he'd get to figure out which tribe he was dealing with this way without having to confront the entire village. Dealing with one Ba Rakara out in the wild was one thing but if he rocked up to their village he wouldn't be able to avoid bloodshed. Not his blood, of course, but he didn't come here to disturb the balance. If he were a lone individual with no responsibilities he could do as he pleased but he'd be looked upon unfavourably if he screwed with the balance of region intentionally. Many leaders in many foreign lands all had vested interests in different tribes and had placed bets on different horses, they wouldn't be too keen on an outsider making a mockery of their gambling. How much they could do in retaliation to Ares was limited but they could annoy the sect until it left for Vraizon and that was an unnecessary headache that could be easily avoided by just staying away from the Ba Rakaras who Ares didn't even want to meet anyway.
Rustle rustle
Not wanting to spook whoever was in the area, Ares threw out a greeting before even laying eye contact on them. "Hello? Friend or stabby person? Be warned, I know how to do a bit of stabby stabby myself!" Not entirely a convincing threat but one Ares could back up if push came to shove. Luck was perhaps smiling on Ares today, though, as for once trouble didn't come to find him.
"Hm?" A head poked out from behind a nearby tree and shortly after a waving hand and a friendly smile followed. Ares didn't draw the short end of the stick as he was currently in Baraka Ra territory. "Ah, hello, lost?" Most of the Baraka Ras weren't adept at the normal Sheryashkan language and used a hatched version that was still understandable for the most part. Their chieftain, and a few other important people in their ranks, could speak fluently but it was a skill that wasn't seen as particularly important for the most part. Yes they welcomed others but they were steadfast in terms of maintaining their culture above others. They preferred it if visitors learnt their language during the course of their stay as opposed to it being the other way around. Still, they were polite enough to learn a few basics on the off chance they encountered a situation like this and needed to communicate out in the wilderness without a translator available.
Ares shook his head. "No, I have a guide." The tribesman understood what the word 'no' and 'guide' meant but he couldn't fathom for the life of him why on earth Ares was pointing at a 'winged rhinobeetle'. "Beat it up, made it show me way to you."
"Ah..." Ares' clarification helped the tribesman understand the situation but, then again, now he was feeling pity for the rhino... It didn't look particularly happy to be here and his eyes were moist as they silently begged the tribesman to tell Ares to let him free. "Maybe... Stop bullying rhinobeetle?" Rhinobeetles were fierce, deadly even to experienced cultivators, but the tribesman couldn't help but see it as a beaten puppy right now. It deserved the whacking it got, most likely, and it was likely to be alive even... But Ares definitely looked like the bad guy!
"Ok, rhinobeetle free to go. Instead, you show me way to tribe?"
"Only if no beat me up too..." Somehow, this interaction had become a hostage exchange. The rhinobeetle flew away as fast as its wings could carry it while the tribesman looked on enviously, wishing it could zoom off and not have to deal with this strange cultivator. "kon asha goh, goh asha kon..." Ares was about fifty fifty on whether the tribesman was sighing to himself or uttering a curse at him but he had no proof and couldn't tell for sure so he just went along quietly. The tribesman lead him through the forest with a confident stride so he was definitely a better guide than the slow-poke rhino had been... Though whether the rhino's heart was really in or not was pretty obvious. On the contrary, the tribesman wanted to pawn Ares off on their chieftain as soon as possible so he was booking it in comparison. It didn't seem like Ares was going to stabby stabby him after all but he was an unnerving presence. The smile on Ares face looked evil! It was a very typical revenant smirk, and arguably it was evil as can be, so the tribesman wanted nothing to do with it. He could be heard muttering the same phrase over and over again under his breath and Ares curiosity only rose each time he did.
kon asha goh, goh asha kon.
Ares had learnt it well enough by now but, interestingly, he also witnessed the tribesman slowly but surely become more stable as he repeated it. It was no art or magic but it was having quite the profound effect on the Baraka Ra. In the space of five minutes he went from hunched over with an uncomfortable half smile to straight-backed, clear voiced, pure courage and immaculate poise. Also, a while later, Ares heard others chanting the same exact phrase too. He could hear the tribe before he saw the village but now he was really hooked on finding out what the phrase meant. It clearly wasn't something this one person said, it wasn't a personal courage building exercise, but rather tribe-wide saying they took immense pride in. The fact that Ares wandered into their encampment while they were gathered in a circle saying it meant this was not an infrequent occurrence and that it held significant value to them. Ares wasn't here to become deeply knowledgeable about the tribes, not even close, but even he found it hard to ignore something that was so readily apparent.
As for the village itself, now that Ares had stepped foot in it... Well it would be rude of him to say he couldn't tell the difference between this place and the Bara Karas. It was true, though. Straw huts, burning wood in the centre, hung raw meat, and pales of water... The Bara Karas did have a few of what Ares would consider 'normal buildings' but they were reserved for the upper management of their tribe. Ares hadn't seen them so, to him, this village here and now was just a smaller version of the Bara Kara city. To his untrained eye it was all the same but, actually, there were slight differences he would never know of. For instance, there were six fires dotted around the village which was a number the Baraka Ras held in deep regard as there were six 'guardians' of the forest. If Ares looked closer he would have spotted a crude drawing on the floor next to the closest fire, one made via a stick that had been subsequently tossed into the fire, of a bear. He'd heard of 'bloody big bear' from Bahru so maybe he could have pieced two and two together if he was looking over that way but, instead, his attention was grabbed by a tribesman who stood out from the rest due to his clothing ensemble.
Most Baraka Ras wore simple, typical tribal cloth to cover their important bits. They weren't as uncovered as Ares expected them to be but they weren't dressed up like the people in other civilisations, that was for sure. The chieftain, or who Ares assumed to be the chieftain, wore a headdress that looked cumbersome. Warm, certainly, but undoubtedly heavy as it was adorned with feathers and fur galore. Parts of it had clearly been replaced, materials didn't last forever, but Ares got a sense of deep reverence in all those who looked at the headdress so it was clearly symbolic to some degree. The chieftain also carried a staff with a green gem embedded on the hilt and, if Ares wasn't mistaken, was at the peak of the transition realm. He looked less like a ferocious fighter but more so like an experienced elder. This was not a man who leapt into action and tore enemies limb from limb but rather a guardian who deflected every incoming danger peacefully with the palm of his hand. He was particularly peaceful and even the dancing fires flickered around him rather than obscure his path as he happily ambled over towards Ares, his new guest. As he made his way over, he hummed 'kon asha goh, goh asha kon' merrily to himself and, without even looking, lightly tossed a small plank of wood onto a nearby fire to liven it up. Ares felt a warmth roll over his body and he was curious as to whether the chieftain had done it on purpose or not, the friendly smile indicated he likely had.
"Welcome friend, kon asha goh, goh asha kon." With a merry chuckle, the chieftain greeted Ares who couldn't hold back his curiosity any longer.
"Nice to meet you. Sorry to pester you with a question as soon as we meet but what does 'kon asha goh, goh asha kon' mean? The hunter who brought me here was muttering it during our entire journey so I was starting to worry he'd been possessed..."
"Hahaha, not by ghosts or demons, no, but by spirit and resolution no doubt! We do not fear the fire because it kills us, the fire kills us because it is fearful. That is our motto and our way of life. Fear must be overcome and this mantra bolsters our minds in the face of death or danger. Many outsiders believe our greatest enemy is the Ba Rakaras but, in truth, our real blood feud is with a being we call the 'Maoli Wickerwyrm'. It is a being that wields deadly fire and has burnt our homes and the lives of our people for generations. Our ancestors from many moons ago devised this saying before going to battle with the wyrm and, despite never returning, their heroism and courage have transcended reality and still flow through our veins to this day. I believe our hunter friend that brought you here must have found you to be quite frightful should he have been reassuring himself so devoutly the entire time but I promise he bears you no ill will." As if to demonstrate his lack of fear of fire, the chieftain threw yet another piece of wood into the already raging fire and maintained his unbreakable smile. "You are free to ask me all the questions you like, wanderer, but I would also like to ask you one first and foremost. What is your purpose here? I'm sure I would be able to provide you with greater hospitality if I knew what it is you seek."
"Hm, about that..." Ares wasn't exactly sure how to phrase it so his next words were maybe somewhat inappropriate and a little too honest. "I have business with your Goddess, Thundraga, I guess?"
...
The chanting stopped and, in its place, cautious staring began. Perhaps Ares should have let one of his fellow travel companions to the talking instead... Whoops.