-Tribal Inuendos-

[Corothius Encinosa]

((Research used to write some of this short story includes movies like “Avatar”, “Lord of the Rings” and several books related to Dungeons and Dragons to be noted of. Some of it is also from research I've done at the local art museum, and based off of completely non-confirmed assumptions at the objects on display))

It was late in season of summer when this story would unfold. The heat that weathered well upon the forests and gave headhunters, tribesmen, and the small number of Spaniards who dominated the Jade isle, or at least the southern half of it, excellent reason to traverse amongst one another half naked as if they were upon some vacation upon islands inhabited by sun-darkened tribespeople and towering trees laiden with coconuts and an exceptional amount of beautiful flowers and plantlife. Because, in truth, the two were the same. Though the Jade isle was perhaps some earlier rendition of the our present day one.

Upon one area of this extravagant, yet deadly isle, the men of the tribe that the Spaniards had formed an alliance with were still going about their daily labors. This tribe, was notable not that of the headhunter bloodline, that lived more on the northern side of the island where the gold deposits were located amidst the mines and whatnot. At times excursions were made to the north to fight for such treasures. And when they were brought back, if not worn upon their persons as jewelry, were sent to be hidden within earthen tombs. Tombs that even now being built over with rather large pieces of stone. These stones mind you were brought down from nearby mountainsides and known caverns where their own search for gold had been made, and perhaps been succesful as well. These tribesfolk relied not on scrolls or animal skins to write their history upon. Like many tribal folk, they relied on word of mouth passed on through the ages.

Nonetheless, a good number of men of this tribe had developed very stocky, barrel-like physiques at times due to the work that they were set to complete. The formation of pyramids perhaps similarly carried out on another very nearby continent for similar purposes perhaps. Nonetheless, one of the elders was set to the task of chiseling away at one of the large boulders that had been rolled to the location by at least a handful of these hard working men. The continual sound of chipping upon stone could be heard a good distance off. But with it, was the sound of women tending to children in the distance as they were set to their own routine tasks. If one were to look at what was being chiseled upon the stone, you could easily discern that it was similar to a maze of some sort. This one, like many others, was a very simple one. And it had the addition of a few indentations upon its surface between the chiseled out line of walls where pitfalls had been implemented within the tomb. Just a little note for their own purposes. Forewarnings perhaps, or to a more artful eye, some manner of design to be oggled at in later centuries.

If one were to look at the elder, he who was enscribing such notes upon the surface of one of the pieces of the wall. A piece that had been hammered down to size and even the shape of a large block that could be more easily fitted upon the one beneath, and under the next to follow. The elder could no doubt be noted as one who earned his pay well for such useful antics of his trade. Gold was worn upon his person in a few places. His ears for instance were pierced with the smallest of figurines made entirely of gold. One would have to squint and be quite close to the elder to actually get an excellent look at the intrinsic detail that was put into chiseling into the little nugget that now hung from his aged earlobe. Around his neck one would be able to take note of a necklace of an exquisite turqoise that was easily found amongst the same rocks they dug through amongst the caves and mountainsides. Excellent locations to hide out from storms, and secret stores of food in chambers that could be made larger, and produce even more boulders to form more walls with. And in the process, find one aota of a jewel or another if one were lucky. Nonetheless, this particular necklace had several small fragments of the stark green stone placed against one another like tilework. Perhaps some sap from a nearby tree was used to hold such together. Here and there upon the necklace would be notable little figures, and even their faces, made entirely by these precious little stones of green.

[Corothius Encinosa]

Throughout the ages are told stories of witchcraft, shamans, druids, users of voodoo, and no doubt dozens more that don't easily come to mind. Upon the Jade isles, the tribesmen were very similar the indians upon the main continent of the Americas in that they practiced the use of having a shaman in their midsts, and perhaps more than one for this tale. Shamans are widely known for their use of herbs, plants, and other natural resources that were experimented with, perhaps upon themselves in too many cases, and used their findings to heal their people, or poison their enemies, as well as other uses. Through the ages, they would pass on their knowledge from an elderly to the younger. One could only guess as to how this could go about. Perhaps there were outside circumstances that would come about that would indicate a new shaman. Or perhaps they were heirs to the last, like witchs, and such powers were genetically passed on. Or perhaps like the druids, they were chosen by their god, and the spirits who were relied upon and worshipped would give particular powers to the chosen that were not normal in the least.

Anyways, there were those of the Jade island tribes who were not wholly built for the strong work with the tombs or the mining carrying out within the caves. There were of course, other responsibilities that had to be shared and taken up. Like hunting for food for instance. In a distant clearing within an accolade of trees that surrounded the serene atmosphere where this tale would actually take place, a dozen or so young men were gathered. Many of these came together as a warband in times of battle with the headhunters of the north. When not at war, they were put to use being sent through the woods to hunt, track, and bring back just enough meat to feed the important people of the tribe. Meat was a prescious commodity in their number. The island itself was not wholly large where one would find herds of cattle grazing about, neh. Perhaps a puma or other large cat might be caught nearby, and put to its' death before it ate one of their children. A rarity that was shared amongst only a particular number of the tribe. Those who were sacrificed for example, and needed to be fattened up beforehand. Or the elders who ruled and reminded the others of the law.

Nonetheless, these men were continual in their training, their exercising, their contests and feats of skills that would dazzle many a woman, and even themselves to give even more reason to be of their number. For with such exhibition of their bodies, a young woman could be easily foretold of ones abilities elsewhere, in more private locations. Some of these women of course were off to the side, some sisters, others mates, still more looking to become mates, if not mates already and a mother of one. For with the number of young men who were about were also a number of even younger, those who were not allowed to hunt, but perhaps had a brother who did, or had some inner yearning to become one when he was older. And these younglings had their tendency to attempt the same feats that that were being done by the men twice their height, and who knows the multiplicity of their strength. Yet eager were they always to learn and be of that elite group.

In this clearing, were a fallen tree or two that had decomposed some through the ages. These still, and even now in use for the men who would run and leap over them with varying maneuvers that their abilities would allow them to best the next with. The tests and trials to see who was the best perhaps here and there noted. Whilst others of their number learned with and from one another, for they were all of the same tribe, and trained with one another on a normal basis. They trained not only on the ground, but within the nearby trees as well. Many of their number had become adapt at running up the base of a tree that rose straight up from the ground and could reach the branches that were well beyond their height with ease, and be within those same branches a breath after their first foot had left the ground far below.

Others tuned their abilities within the same trees to scale the strong limbs that would pass over the ground below, and pass from one branch to the next of another tree. There were even particular areas within their territory where they constructed particular branches to be woven together with vines to form unseen bridges from one tree to the next, to enable their traversings over the ground and any enemies who might pass upon it. Many of these branches, were not much wider than their very foot, yet, it became a skill they became well practiced at using, and could easily run from one tree to the next . With these skills came the need for acrobatics, and maneuvers that would require them to leap from one branch to another. The use of smaller branches to swing from etc etc. Similar antics were used in Japan by ninjas.

Now, this area had been in use by the tribe, and their ancestors for quite a few generations. It was used for festivities at particular seasons of the year as well as for other occasions where celebrations were wanton to be held where more than the entirety of the tribes people could gather about. That being so, these trees were at least a hundred years old. Some trees lived longer, others lived shorter lives. There were of course many which were struck by lightning, leaving them ebon and hollowed out at times. Whilst others were had been picked away at by one bird or another leaving it a hole ridden rise of wood that could take on many features and personalities depending on the bird who decided to peck at it. Trees themselves were different throughout the world. In the not so far distance there was an entire area where a circular portion of the forest had been subdued by the birthing of a tornado, or perhaps some major storm that had sent many of the trees to their deaths. Some warned the others that it was to be avoided, for even when approached, you could feel the ghostlike trepidations ahead that perhaps belonged to the dead, still lurking about for reasons they knew not of in the least. Or perhaps it was just someones parents worrying of their children, and making up stories to strike fear into the younglings to ensure they traveled not where it was perhaps too dangerous for them to wander. Such stories had particular ways of scaring children into their beds, keeping them awake throughout the night.

Nonetheless, back to the clearing where a handful of the young men were gathered. A few were still working on their maneuvers, whilst one who was older aided them, and joined in to allow himself to exuberate in the tricks himself. His body easily being twisted in mid-air to navigate between branches that rooted out from the fallen tree they were skilled at leaping over. His limbs being turned then bent beneath the stretching fingers of dried branches that would nick the flesh if he did not follow through with the tact successfully. Leaving him with a bloody scrape afterwards if he failed. It required the use of many muscles, muscles that were worked upon for the years in the making, and the maintaining of a diet that would ensure that his stomach did not become bloated with food, and the muscles thereon remained existant and ever noticeable.

There were others gathered about, for there was also a large protruding boulder that was smotched within grass and hillock alike. Vines traversed along the sides of it, whilst particular edges of the boulder jutted outwards and were at times used for exercises in their routines as well. Some time ago, someone had spent some time chiseling away at one side of its' surface. Enscribings had been enlaid upon it in their tribal etchings that were easily read by any who laid eyes upon it of their tribe. Or at least those who had learned such a form of writing. Surrounding these enscribings was a framelike additive. Triangles and lines had been grooved into the stone with an ease of craftsmanship that was still worn to that day during their battles with paint upon their flesh. In other lands these markings could be considered runes.

Runes in lands where witchcraft and sorcery were said to enchant one object or another with whatever rune was placed upon it. Different powers came with different runes. Perhaps they were produced as they were envisioned, as whatever deity or god wove into the creators mind to form it into. Or perhaps this was some ancient art that was passed down from one mouth to the other through the ages. It was an ancient form of magi, so very ancient, that as the generations would pass, they would become useless, their meanings changed or translated wrong. Or even made up entirely and not the same that were truly used when they were runes told by firelight by the elders to children of their heros and those who made history in the earliest of ages.

Nonetheless, a conversation had been undergoing between the young man who had just completed another maneuver. His continued exertions upon the process had kept it changing in form and style each time. His instincts allowed to control what he would do next. Allowing his body to adapt to the situation, the surroundings he would deal with and navigate around to pass to the otherside. And in the process, obtaining additional abilities and tricks that he learned his body was able to produce, and repeat as he learned them, to put to use elsewhere when the situation would arise.

When the conversation caught his attention, he took another short break from such exercises. The few others who were working at the same wondering off to look for another location to practice upon. In those moments, a matter of proposition came up between himself and he who had begun the conversation again. A conversation that had yet to be concluded, but one which was said was not one he would agree with. A small conflict of personal culture, between the uprisings of the two young men and those they grew up with perhaps, or shared company with more recently. It led to a matter that was not shared by the two of them, and whilst not at all out of breath from his last maneuver, the young hunter approached the nearby structure of stone that was only a few steps away. Humor was in the air upon the matter that was being jested on. For words were coming to his mind that were not true at all, or exaggerated to an extent that would cause even himself to snicker upon with the taint of such untruth.

In the process, for some reason he questioned himself not for, or even wondered upon at that moment of jesting, he reached forth for the enscribings upon that stones surface. His finger pointing to it, where he would begin to smoothly pass his touch along the framing contours towards the nearing corner that would descend with further runes his touch would not even begin to follow. Perhaps in that bare moment, something was felt, some festive humor filled him like the breath that was taken into his lungs, for perhaps, that was what it was, the air of the festivities that was still circulating within the very air from the events that day.

Nonetheless, in the next moment...the sound of a tree creaking in the distance broke the silence of the air with it's dissarrayment. The normal sound of branches breaking and disheveling in the descent before it would be hampered upon the earth below by its own fruititions of growth that season. Many of its branches still green, something not at all abnormal when a tree fell. For some fell merely because half of its base was rotted out, whilst the other half was still green and lively. Yet, no earthen decipherment was heard when it fell, nothing to proclaim it was some hidden triant that had been lurking in the distance and had finally succumbed from its roots to fall over from it's stance. It seemed as normal as the air that they still breathed.

The number of those who were gathered about there rushed to see the fallen tree, a rare sight in and of its own. For these were creatures who had lived longer than themselves, for who knows the length of years for, if not forever. A sight to behold, and exclaim over and ask one another the reason for its' fall. Whilst others would jest that it was not a coincidence at all. That perhaps someone had made it fall on purpose, and that something was setup for that particular conversaion that was being held, to ensure that it would be held no more and be concluded as one that would not occur. Was it though? Was there some point in the early morning when someone had snuck to it's base and taken enough from it that would cause the tree to fall with perhaps a push or a shove at a particular signal? Was it a chance that was set and ready to be acted upon to ensure that a message would be enforced and the set moral and vise of the tribes cultural would remain as it would, and not falter from what they believed to be in the right? Or was it something else? Did it perhaps have some unition with the stone, and the enscribings upon its surface. Had the two aged patrons of that vast area been united through their rootings beneath the earths surface where they were in depthed ways connected with each other. Was there perhaps something to the matter that only the shaman would be able to whisper of, if he was so of the mind to talk about, and explain. Or would it remain a little mystery? Secrets that would not be able to be revealed, better off untold to mystify ones mind.

Perhaps though, he who had touched the runes, had done similar before. Perhaps he had some connection to his surroundings as the shaman of their tribe had as well. Perhaps he was being watched over, and the aged tree decided it time to enact its ancient rite to fall. A forewarning at times, a most honorable farewell in other situations. A tree to fall, a fallen tree. Would either of the young men seek to join it and fall themselves? The symbolism could be taken lightly by many, a new obstacle to be used and enjoyed. An abundance of resources now available to be used for constructing one thing or another. Those who had been gathered about, were drawn together for another purpose not too soon after. Their heads drawn to the earth in concentration, as well as jest. In sorrow as well as justification and uncaring. Yet when they all would leave, perhaps there was something about their moods that had reason to lay about the fall of the tree.