Getting Ahead

After the battle ended and Tagunban collected the head of the slain warrior both him and Banyaga along with their water buffalo were allowed to leave the village in peace on their honor. However Tagunban would be faced with a few problems at hand. The first was that his litany of shoulder cuts still needed treatment even if they weren't poisoned which Tagunban suspected given the warrior’s track record. The second was that the warrior’s head in humid jungle air would rot if not treated and lose the soul vital in the use of channeling mana. The third would be that the pair were a long way from their tribe’s territory and further still from their village all the while greatly lacking in supplies like food. When the party cleared the line of sight of the Wuakim village Tagunban would grab Banyaga by the shoulder and sit him down on the log. “You're smart, what do you know about poisons, especially the natural kind?” Tagunban asked him as he sat beside him on the mossy log. “Do you feel sick at all?” asked Banyaga in return. “No” Tagunban answered. “Then you aren't poisoned, with how fast your heart must be beating you'd be showing signs with natural poisons by now. Vomiting, excessive bleeding, delirium, paralysis, eye dilation, and a lot of other things you show no signs of.” answered Banyaga again. “Then can you help me stitch up my shoulder? I'm not much use if I bleed out or get an infection.” Tagunban asked in turn. “You can bleed out for all I care, you conveniently left out the fact your father destroyed all the heads of and crippled that warrior when he fought him.” Banyaga responded as he went to get up from the log only for Tagunban to pull him back down. “I'll pay you a damn water buffalo when we get home, two if you can help me preserve this head until we get back.” elaborated Tagunban. “Make it five and we have a deal.” answered Banyaga. “Fine five, now shut up and help.” affirmed Tagunban in response. Banyaga would then with thread and bone needle crudely sew Tagunban's wounds shut as Tagunban fixated on the dead warrior’s severed head in his hands to take his mind off the pain. The face was locked in a stoned expression of resentment, the color faded from its eyes and the blood having freshly emptied from its veins. Eventually Banyaga finished the stitching and smacked the wounds to test his job. Tagunban jolted up as Banyaga laughed and started walking pack water buffalos in tow. “Let's get moving, that head will last a day at least and I'd rather get farther away from their village before smoking that thing.” Banyaga stated as he walked. “So they do smoke them? I always guessed that but I never saw the process done.” responded Tagunban as he followed. “The real ceremony is more elaborate, this here will be just a preservation method.” Banyaga elaborated as they walked. When the light of the afternoon sun began to shine too thinly through the dense jungle canopy Tagunban and Banyaga would stop and camp under a great tree whose trailing and protruding roots could provide basic enough shelter for the night. Then Tagunban set about gathering dry wood as Banyaga tied their pack buffalo to said tree for the night. Tagunban returned with ample wood in hand before Banyaga would create a fire with the fire drill method and prepare a tripod to crudely smoke the severed head for the night. Tied by his hair to the tripod the head hung well over the fire as green or fresh wood was added to the fire causing a thick plume of smoke to envelop the head until the fire burned out and the pair drifted off to sleep. When Tagunban awoke he would examine the head in what little morning light filtered through the canopy. The skin had dried and tightened slightly, distorting the facial expression as the lip plate threatened to pop out entirely. Tagunban would untie the hair holding the head to the tripod before taking a piece of rope and securing the lip plate to the lip ensuring it couldn't fall out; before Tagunban would use the same hair to tie the dried and dessicated head to the belt of his loincloth same as other warriors in his tribe did. Though the significance of the moment wouldn't be lost on Tagunban/Kagetora. If someone would have told Kagetora before he died and reincarnated that he was destined to become a headhunter, that he'd kill a man and cut his head off as a trophy, that he would then wear said head on the belt of his loincloth for all to see. Both him and his mother would be horrified at the prospect and call them mad. Yet as Tagunban the whole prospect did leave something of a welt in his stomach at first once the adrenaline wore off now just made sense. Katas was avenged and Tagunban was on his way to claiming the power he needed to deal with the warchief. When camp was packed and the internalization had finished the party made their way back to their clan. The trip back was far from easy, vengeful tribesmen, a close encounter with a leopard, days of starvation, and a litany of various insect bites left the two ragged by the time they managed to get back to their village. Yet when they returned they received a hero's welcome from their clansmen, Tagunban’s family relished at seeing the head and trapped soul of the man who killed their patriarch while Banyaga happily feasted and reaped his water buffalo payment in association. Even though he told Tagunban he would no longer gamble with him and that all jobs needed an upfront payment from him for now on. Then came the time for Yawanu to take the head and properly preserve it for Tagunban to use. The process was an elaborate one, the remnants of the brain were taken out with a bone hook and needle through the nose before the eyes were scooped out and tongue cut off. The skin was then carefully flayed and peeled from the skull before a special resin was applied and the skin reaffixed to the skull. Yawanu took special care in this process as something of a recompense to Tagunban after not being able to help Katas with his poisoning. In the meantime the spear clan shaman looked over Tagunban and confirmed he showed no signs of being poisoned spiritually or physically. After a couple weeks had passed the head was ready for Tagunban to collect.

Tagunban would meet Yawanu along with Katsu, Ta Da, and the chieftain at Yawanu's hut. There Yawanu would step out with Tagunban’s head trophy, the trophy looked immaculate as if the head was cut off yesterday as opposed to nearly a month ago. “This is the least I could do to repay my debt to your family. This is my best work yet.” Yawanu stated mournfully as he handed the head to Tagunban. “I keep telling you there is no debt, you did all you could to help my father, it's not your fault.” Tagunban responded assuringly. “I'm afraid I still disagree, I am the village shaman and I couldn't uphold my sacred duty to you all. I deserve your hatred, I…” Yawanu pleaded before being interrupted by Katsu. “Nevermind all that. Tagunban, it's time for you to discover what power that head gives you. There's a good chance it'll be a fire power like father had.” Katsu proclaimed as he guided Tagunban with the head to the village center. “How do I use my powers exactly?” Tagunban asked, confused as he was excited. “For the first time? Close your eyes and focus your mana like you're meditating, now like you're focusing your physical mana channel it into the head.” Yawanu answered before being blown off by Katsu again. “He doesn't know, don't listen to him. Channeling your mana is about willpower and visualization. You are beating the world into submission with your mana and you have to believe that.” Katsu declared before being caned about the head by the chieftain. “Obviously neither of you two will work as teachers in this matter if you give such fool advice. Listen well boy I taught your father and Ta Da myself when they were my initiates and as head of the Axe Clan with your father gone it's my responsibility to teach you too.” The chieftain ordered before being interrupted by Katsu. “Over my dead body old man! I'm the head of the family now so it's my job to teach my younger brother!” Katsu shouted over the old man. “Need I remind you all that Katas entrusted me to oversee Tagunban's training.” Yawanu interrupted. Soon the discussion broke out into an argument of passionate shouting and flaring tempers before Ta Da would put his fingers to his mouth and let loose a deafening whistle that stopped everyone in their tracks. “We can all train him in our own ways. Katas was my brother in arms, I helped him train Katsu and Bongao and I intend to help train Tagunban.” Ta Da exclaimed in his usual low monotone voice. “At least I taught one of you well.” The chieftain responded as he took a breath and stepped back. “Tagunban, my advice is that you think of your battle with that warrior. Think of how you felt, your heart pumping and your mind blank. Then try to put that feeling into their head and lash out. The first time is always the hardest and goes differently for everyone.” The chieftain lectured. “And my advice is to simply not think about, do what feels natural in the heat of the moment and see what that gets you.” stated Ta Da in response. Tagunban would hold the head trophy aloft by a tied knot in its hair as he thought of whose advice made the most sense at the time. Tagunban would combine the different pieces of advice he heard into an idea that made sense to him. Tagunban would close his eyes and stoke the burning energy of his mana internally before imbuing it with feelings and energy he felt in combat with the warrior. Channeling that burning hate riddled energy through his arm and into the head before his mana was to overflow and spill out of it without thinking about it too hard. The result would be a loud crackle of energy that spilled out violently from the head's eyes. All his new teachers gathered around him and cheered in response. “He who channels the wild mountain thunder!” cheered Katsu. “Initiate of Ridti thunder god brother of Great Puthaw!” cheered Yawanu. “Another great Tiya warrior for the Axe Clan!” cheered the chieftain. “A formidable power.” Ta Da cheered quietly. Tagunban meanwhile would be happy in the reveal at the nature of his new powers, while part of him wanted fire abilities like his father, lightning and electricity is certainly nothing to sulk about and fits him considering the age of electricity his soul first came from. “Alright everyone, as we all agreed, we will all be able to train young Tagunban here as he learns to use his abilities. May Katas gain another worthy successor to his position as a great warrior.” proudly proclaimed the chieftain.

First would come Yawanu’s training, Tagunban would once again be invited to Yawanu’s in which Yawanu would light a fire and lower his robe to reveal the mana diagram he half explained to Tagunban during his training as a child. “Today I finally tell you what these six other symbols represent.” Yawanu exclaimed as Tagunban sat down across the fire from him. Yawanu pointed to the symbol at the bottom left of the diagram. “First is the alignment of your head trophy, Tiya the formless wrath. Fire and lightning, death and destruction, carnage and righteousness. Result of the mana that flows in thunderstorms, wildfires, and volcanic eruptions that has chosen the Tribe of the Ancients as its vessel. Some fools may label it evil or cruel but we shamans know that destruction is vital for new life to begin as well as the necessity of destruction when facing evil. Whether your powers are good or evil, that depends solely on you and your actions as a man.” Yawanu said as he reached across the fire and touched Tagunban’s forehead before pointing to the symbol on the top right of the diagram. “Ntoto the unyielding stability. Iron and stone, strength and durability, gives life and takes it away, supporting and inhumane. Result of mana that flows through the ground beneath our feet, mountains, metals, and earthquakes that has chosen our tribe; The Tribe of the Highlands as its vessel. The land gives nourishment to life yet we fashion its metal to take life, thus is the duality of the land and of man itself. To bring life into this world and to take it away all the while serving as its foundation.” Yawanu lectured as his hand pointed to the symbol at the very top of the diagram. “Lugangu the vibrancy of life. Flesh and wood, growth and decay, young and old. Result of the mana that flows through living things, men, beasts, plants, and fungi; that has chosen the Tribe of the Jungles as its vessel. Yet it is not the pure and wholesome energy some say it is. For in life there is death, whether by claw and fang, poison and venom, or sickness and old age. Like all mana alignments, even Lugangu is neutral.” Yawanu lectured as Tagunban thought of his father’s fatal poisoning by the man whose very head he was holding. Yawanu then pointed to the symbol at the top right of the diagram. “Masa the joy and danger of freedom. Water and ice, flowing and unstoppable, formless and true. Result of the mana that flows through water and ice yet also oils and molten lava; which has chosen the Tribe of the Seas as its vessel. Do not underestimate its destructive power for blood flows through your veins, it is the sweat on your brow and the flood that destroys a village. Water, if determined enough, can cut through stone and crush a body with ease.” Yawanu explained as his finger pointed to the symbol on the bottom right of the diagram. “Mupepe that which fills the void. Air and smoke, unfeeling and ever present, mysterious yet necessary. Resulting from the mana that flows through the air as well as smoke and other effects having gasses that has chosen the Tribe of the Buffalo as its vessel. Another great power I warn you not to underestimate, a clever user could fill the air in your lungs with an invisible gas that takes your life in an instant or puts you to sleep mid combat. They could create a gust of wind that ruptures your lungs or do the opposite and steal the air from your lungs. Some warriors even concentrate the air around their weapons so much that even one small cut from them will cause the air to rush into the wound and make it explode violently.” Yawanu elaborated before briefly pointing to the symbol at the center of the diagram. “Finally there is Mbungi, the pure mana that has not been tied to an attunement. We know it to be real from the likes of spirits yet it has not chosen a race of men to be its vessel. Its powers are of the unknowable yet ever present things like time, the pull to the earth, things in the air, experience, and other energy the likes of which we still don’t understand. Now as for my training for you, this rainy season you must go out and meditate upon the hilltops during thunderstorms. Be one with Thunder God Ridti and study the breadth and capability of thunder. That is all for today.” Yawanu ordered as pulled his robe up.

Then came the basic training, from the chieftain it would be long exercises in channeling his powers through areas other than his head trophy. Days of shooting crackling electricity between his fingers before moving onto sending out small bolts out his hands attempting to hit a water buffalo skull on a nearby post. When Tagunban managed to hit the skull with a weak shock reliably the chieftain was content to pass him off to Katsu. Katsu’s training involved exercises in pure power, they focused on Tagunban sending out as much electricity as possible in one jolt. The progress was slow and Katsu impatient leading to an incident where Tagunban badly electrocuted and momentarily paralyzed himself. Still the once they assured Tagunban was ok the exercises continued until Tagunban managed to electrocute a banana tree to the point the thing exploded into charred ashes and burning splinters. It took all his channeling mana to do it but after a few days of making sure the technique wasn't a fluke Ta Da would come and take over Tagunban’s training. The training with Ta Da was different, where Katsu and the Chieftain were prone to angry shouting and call outs, Ta Da was calm and understanding. Yet that didn't stop his training from being among the hardest, the exercise was simple even if the execution wasn't. Tagunban and Ta Da would spar, the goal was for Tagunban to channel and hit Ta Da with his mana attack mid battle. What made this especially difficult was that if Tagunban stopped for even a moment, showed signs he was channeling his mana, or was too slow to take advantage of an opening Ta Da would strike him relentlessly. In spite of only having one arm the man was incredibly quick and skilled in combat, easily able to strike and maneuver circles around the young warrior. It would be months before Tagunban would even get close and the monsoon rains began to fall. Still as they trained the more Tagunban used his channeling mana the less he had to think of it, the quicker and more natural it became. Soon Tagunban would have the epiphany that changed everything, he realized that while channeling mana did rely to a degree on visualization the thought process in his head was what was slowing him down the most. Tagunban didn't have the time in battle to think out the entirety of his attack in words, instead he would force the image of his attack to flash in his mind along with the physical and spiritual feelings his body felt while doing the attack and trust his muscle memory and instincts to carry out the attack. This change of thought process is what made Tagunban succeed in giving Ta Da a shock during a rain soaked spar. When Tagunban showed he could do the technique reliably and get Ta Da with a shock repeatedly Ta Da stated this portion of the training was complete. Tagunban could channel his mana throughout his body, could use the full brunt of his powers without killing himself, and could channel his mana without thought. When the rainy season monsoon ended, that would mark the start of his advanced training.