Tribal Childhood

There are many things both in this world and on Earth that are naturally intrinsic to the uncompromising and straight forward mind of a child. Things long forgotten and alien to the adult mind even when it’s masquerading in the body of a child. It was for these inexplicable reasons that a majority of the children in the tribe largely rejected the young Tagunban, who did begin to own that name out of necessity in spite of still thinking of himself as Kagetora in his mind. Tagunban was easily caught out as off or some sort of imposter by the village children, like when an adult caretaker tries to join a child’s game and interrupts its natural flow ruining it for everyone. Tagunban however wasn't very resentful of this fact, his original youth wasn't too different between not going to school and being a dirty tramp most mothers wanted their children to avoid. Mostly though it was the fact that with his adult mind Tagunban didn't get the same joy out children's games as they did and he'd much preferred the company of adults even though they infuriatingly saw him as the child his body technically was. Tagunban’s favorite moments were that of education, especially with an adult that entertained his thirst for knowledge such as the village shaman Yawanu or his father Katas as opposed to being off-put by it like many other adults; for it wasn't the basic curiosity of a child but the hunger for real understanding of an adult. As rare as those moments were in his early youth.

One day during Tagunban’s seventh rain or as he understood it as seven years old with age being defined by the number of annual monsoons or rainy seasons one has survived; Yawanu met with Katas in their hut one day. Yawanu was a man firmly in his adulthood but who had yet to meet the cruel embrace of middle age, a lighter tan skin than many of his contemporary tribesmen that was less weather scarred and beaten to boot. Though one would struggle to tell in many areas as the man’s skin was almost entirely blackened from his numerous elaborate tattoos that covered him head to toe depicting various mythologic tales and personal feats as a shaman. The man held an elaborate spear so decorated with various horns, feathers, bones, and beads that made it completely unwieldy for actual combat. Dressed in the full traditional wear of tribe shamans, the bottom layer was that of a woven robe of various garish shades of predominantly red but also white and gold. Followed by a lightly woven burgundy overcoat with a golden trim design, an elaborately patterned blue cloak over his shoulder, and a red headcloth folded and tied in such a way that it resembled a pair of horns sticking out the top of his head. Along with numerous accessories of golden jewelry as piercings, armbands, necklaces, and hair pins. Yawanu stood at the threshold of the hut until Katas’s first wife, a woman of the same middle age waved a hand to invite him in before she returned to her weaving. Katas slowly entered the hut ducking his head as to avoid a collision between his headcloth and a sturdy stick support beam. “May this morning find you and your family well Katas.” greeted Yawanu as he stepped before the warrior respectfully. “The same to you shaman, now tell me your business here.” responded Katas in a respectful but curious tone. “I’ve come to discuss young Tagunban’s future, I’m sure you can see he’s well different from the other children.” stated Yawanu gesturing at Tagunban who then approached the shaman and his father in curiosity. “Of course I have, you'd have to be blind not to notice how quickly he developed.” again responded Katas, the grin of pride slowly spreading across his sun tanned and tattooed face. “Not just physically but mentally as well, he’s already asked me questions beyond childlike curiosity. With your blessing I would like to take him on as my apprentice and train him as a shaman.” Yawanu exclaimed to Katas in an upbeat and hopeful tune. Katas in turn let out a dark chuckle of denial as Yawanu’s smile began to fade from his face. “You mean waste his potential by forcing him to play babysitter to the wild whims of the spirits? Bah-I’m going to train him as a great warrior. Clever and strong like a bear, then maybe we’ll see an Axe Clansmen claim the title of warchief, no more arrogant Sword Clansmen treating us like their dogs.” bellowed Katas in annoyance to the question. “Forgive my intrusion veteran warrior but let me warn you not to insult the work of a shaman or the spirits he keeps from invading your fields, hut, or family members. Tagunban’s gift is one that should be shared with the whole tribe, not just our clan or your family.” chided Yawanu to Katas in a greater annoyance. “Watch your tongue spirit speaker, great warriors are who kept those sea dogs to the East at bay during their invasion of old; and a clever warrior is one who is the hardest to kill.” calmly but firmly stated Katas with the authority that comes from his home. Yawanu pinched the center of his brow and let out a breath in annoyance before returning to a neutral face. “Well he is your son, and while I don't agree with you I can compromise. “I ask you to let me help you educate the boy, make him the most clever warrior he can be.” Yawanu responded in defeat. Katas thought for a moment then closed his eyes and nodded to Yawanu. “Very well, when between his training as a warrior you may see to his spiritual training. Do not make me regret this decision, spirit speaker.” Katas relented in turn. Yawanu closed his eyes and nodded in respect before turning on his heels and exiting the stick hut.

Not too long afterwards during Tagunban’s eighth rain Katas would take him outside during a cool dry season evening and sit him down next to a patch of bare earth, stick in hand. “Sit down son, it's high time I teach you about the lands you live in.” Katas ordered before he knelt to the ground popping his old knees as he did so followed by an annoyed grunt. Tagunban quickly followed the order and sat down before the patch of bare earth. “We live on a great big island.” Katas stated as he began to draw a crude map of their island home in the dirt with the stick. “We live here in the Northern Highlands of this big island.” Katas continued as he began to draw five distinct territories across the island. “Which is why we are referred to as the Tribe of the Highlands by the other tribes of the island. Our tribe is then made up of three major clans along with a smattering of minor and sub clans that aren't important for now. Our clan is the Axe Clan, we live the highest up in the hills of any major clan and we take pride in our warrior abilities also…” Katas remarks before grabbing his personal headhunting axe from the wall of the shack behind them it was propped up against. The axe was one unlike any Kagetora had ever seen in his life on Earth, like a two sided battle axe the axe had a blade on each side each was a peculiar half crescent shape that came to a point at the top end of the blade. Above both blades the large crude steel axe head came to a spearing point for thrusting. “...these axes of course. Flesh, bone, leather, and anything else our mighty axes shear through as if they were air alone.” Katas explained before setting the axe back against the stick hut wall. Then there’s the Sword Clan who call themselves great leaders and warriors which is why at moots they will only ever vote for members of their own ranks as warchief… even when us Axe Clan warriors are far superior. They concern themselves more with the blood in their veins than the blood on their weapons.” grumbled Katas angrily forcing himself to stay on topic before continuing. Finally of the major clans there is the Spear Clan who live in a lowland valley in the South of our territory. They are a clan mostly concerned with spiritual things over real flesh and blood problems. The shaman Yawanu, the one who wanted to take you to become some spirit speaking shaman came to us from the Spear Clan as do many of the shamans in our tribe across all clans. Our clans all being the same tribe agree to never go to war or raid each other. If there is a problem between clans it is either solved with a duel between champions or a grand debate in front of the warchief. For it’s the warchief’s job to make peace between our clans and war with the other tribes. You understand all that?” asked Katas as he looked at Tagunban waiting for a question. “I think so?” answered Tagunban, still processing all the new information. “Good, then it explained it well.” happily exclaimed Katas before he’d continue the lecture. “Other tribes include our ancient brethren to the West, the Tribe of the Buffalo who live in a land of grass so tall a whole elephant can disappear inside it. To the southwest is the Tribe of the Jungles who live in a massive jungle so thick the trees block out all light from the ground, they make our trees look like barren patches in comparison. It was in a battle with Jungle Tribesmen that I took my first head.” Katas exclaimed before pulling out the head of tan skin, with a lip plate, and linear tattoos. “To our Southeast is the Tribe of the Ancients who live in a land a lot like ours, it's just their land is a bit warmer, wetter, and has more volcanoes I hear. It was in a raid against the tribe of the ancients where I got my second head.” Katas elaborated before pulling out the head with dark black skin, short curly hair, and multiple bone piercings. “And finally to our East is the Tribe of the Seas, stories passed down from our ancestors tell of how in great war canoes they invaded the Eastern coast eating the hearts of those they deemed not worthy of taking the heads from. Our ancestors fought and kept them at bay with our iron weapons. Regardless, the lands I heard are cool, even colder than many of our mountain tops. That in the wet season their rain chills to the bone.” Katas finished elaborating. “Just know that each of these tribes are our enemies and that someday you will have to fight them to take what we need and defend what we have when trading and intermarriage arent options.” Katas added at the end before wrapping a toned muscular arm around Tagunban’s shoulders. It would be at that moment that Kagetora/Tagunban would truly accept Katas as a father figure. While if it weren't for his end of life flashback before his death he would have no memories of his original father. This man was here now and in spite of the strange circumstances: the polygamy, the age gap between him and his third wife, and display of severed human heads. This man clearly had the human care and compassion in his eyes a father has for his son.

About a week after Katas sat Tagunban down to explain the immediate world to him Yawanu would approach him in turn for another lecture. “I heard your father discussed with you the status of things in our current physical world, young one. I think it is time you learn the eternal status of spiritual things in our world.” Yawanu stated before placing a hand on Tagunban’s shoulder and guiding him to the shaman’s hut. Tagunban, eager as always to learn about this strange and growing less and less new world to him eagerly walked with him. Tagunban had never been in the shaman’s hut for very long before, a handful of times as an infant some of those sick and all of those confined largely to his mother’s wicker basket without much means to truly observe the world around him like he wanted too. Inside the hut was a menagerie of: hanging herbs, dried animal parts, powders in different leather bags, tools of both metal implement and various natural material constructs of unknown purpose. Yawanu then sat Tagunban before a stone ringed fireplace before he went preparing a fire in the usual way of stacking sticks. Then instead of using a flint and steel, rubbing sticks together, or stealing a portion of someone else’s fire, Yawanu stood before the pile of sticks and held his hand out. In the palm of his hand he materialized a creature of luminous yellow flame, shaped something like a salamander, with the wings of an eagle on its back, and a dog’s head the creature shot forth a ray of fire into the stick pile setting it ablaze in an instant. With a wave of his hand the being vanishes from thin air before Yawaman sits across the fire from Tagunban. “That was a spirit, but we’ll be getting into that later.” Yawanu teased before removing his cloak and overcoat then lowering the top of his robe to reveal a tattoo diagram on his chest. The tattoo was a circle with an equal sided cross in its center, five symbols surrounded the perimeter of the circle with an additional symbol in the center circled in the center of the cross. Meanwhile on each line of the cross another entirely different style of symbol was present. “This symbology tattooed upon my chest is our earthly understanding of the fundamental energy of our world, Mana. Mana is the spiritual force that connects everything living and not in our world, men, beast, tree, rock, rivers, clouds, breaths of air, everything possesses Mana to some degree.” Yawanu elaborated before pointing to the cross at the center of the circle. “We humans possess four fundamental forms of mana within our spirit: physical, channeling, spiritual, and social mana. Physical Mana determines our speed, strength, and endurance beyond the working of our muscles. The greatest masters of Physical Mana could leap even the tallest trees or punch holes into great boulders without any harm to themselves. Channeling Mana is the source of magic power for all Headhunters like your father, yet it can also be accessed by channeling your mana through the medium of a trapped human soul. The soul resides in the human head and if treated properly can be trapped in it after its body’s death. The two souls together can be used to resonate Mana and access great powers. Our tribe’s Channeling Mana techniques are fairly straightforward, usually revolving around modifying a warrior's weapons, say with flames or what have you. Am I making sense so far?” Asked Yawanu inspecting Tagunban for confusion. “So what happens to the soul while it's bound in a head?” Responded Tagunban somewhat horrified at the prospect of essentially enslaving a soul in a severed head. “Those who have returned from the Isle of the dead after their heads and souls were returned to them say that the feeling is like that of a dream. The soul goes to sleep unable to pass on as to preserve itself, it's thought to be the same as when one reincarnates into the womb of their mother after death. Don't worry too much though, a head can typically only be preserved for so long anyways before the seal breaks and the soul escapes and many tribes will purposely break the seal after the warrior who wielded the head has died themselves. Did that answer your question?” responded Yawanu warmly. “Ya I think so, you can keep going now.” Stated Tagunban in contemplation. “Next is Spiritual Mana, this determines a human’s ability to interact with spirits, to see them, communicate with them, or control them. Spiritual Mana is the primary mana of shamans like myself in the same way Channeling Mana is the primary mana of headhunters like your father. The greatest shamans could wield great spirits like weapons, see in its entirety the whole of the spiritual world around us, and make it their plaything. We'll go over why headhunting is more common than spirit speaking later. Finally the last human mana type is Social Mana, the ability of one to influence the minds and wills of others. This makes it incredibly popular for those in positions of power like clan elders and tribal chieftains. The most powerful Social Mana masters could kill the weak willed with a glance, order them to turn on their tribesmen, incapacitate whole war parties, or form great hordes out of tribes with long standing hatreds and rivalries. Now there are attunements and elements of mana, those are the six other symbols of the diagram; but I think we'll save that lesson for another day. This lesson is running long and I'd like to finish off on spirits.” Lectured Yawanu as he summoned the strange fire spirit again in his hand. “There are two forms of spirits, spirits of the dead and spirits of nature. This spirit here is a spirit of nature, like all spirits it is made up of purely mana; this one being the mana manifestation of campfires like this one. Since natural phenomena have no will of their own, its mana naturally manifest into beings with their own wills such as this. Spirits of the Dead are made up of the leftover mana of a soul after its death, typically human but it can happen with greater beasts and spirits of nature. While spirits of nature are created to balance out the spiritual universe, spirits of the dead are created out of its imbalance. This can give them negative powers and affect everything around them whether intentionally or not.” Yawanu lectured with an electric passion as Yaguban sat there trying to process all the information. “This is all so much, and this isn't all of it.” Tagunban exclaimed into the fire. “One last subject for the day and then we're done. I mentioned earlier how Channeling Mana and Headhunting is more commonly used by men than Spiritual Mana and the intrinsic power of spirits. That is for two reasons: the first is that spirits are often picky about who summon them and use their powers; a pact must be signed between a shaman and spirit that respects the demands of both. The second reason is that spirits only have access to very specific powers, the fire ray for my fire spirit or the ability to rust iron and steel for a rust spirit. Think of it like this, Headhunting powers are like wet clay, they can be reshaped and molded infinite times for infinite possibilities. While Spirit powers are like iron tools, they are strong but have one shape that can do maybe one or two different tasks. This is where we'll end it for the day, the sun looks like it will set in an hour. You should go home and help butcher whatever your father and brothers have brought back from their hunt.” Yawanu exclaimed to Tagunban before helping him up off the floor. “Y-ya will do.” Tagunban answered as he walked towards the door of the shaman's hut.