Post by The Horror on Nov 8, 2018 21:42:01 GMT
Fourteenth day of the second moon, 115 AD
This is my third day with the natives, fifth since I set out from Linyanti with the Ivory Band and our guide, Lopopo, a summer islander from the forestry camp across the river. Aside from his rudimentary ways, Lopopo seems to have an intellect approaching that of an Essosi man, for he has a grasp on both the native language and High Valyrian. I start to suspect that we were not the first to try to attempt to civilize these people. Someone performed an admirable job of teaching him some of our ways. Lopopo makes the amusing assertion that his own forefathers were also explorers and I have politely accepted his farcical notions.
For two days straight we trailed across the woods in search of these Mmbambo Sothoryi tribe that Lopopo had told us about. He said that they were a bit shy, but friendly enough and kept good relations with his people. I had seen these so called Brindled Men often enough in the fighting pits of Meereen but never close enough to assimilate their differences to humans apart from the fur pattern that gave them their name. The Ghiscari seem to have a penchant for using them as gladiators, claiming they were 'too stupid and bellicose' to be used as proper slaves. To be fair, a Ghiscari man would likewise be deemed such by the standards of Volantis, so perhaps I shall be pleasantly surprised.
It was late afternoon and we approached the clearing. I must admit that I was not ready for what I saw when I first glanced at the creatures standing amidst those primitive mudhuts. Massively muscled, big-boned creatures with long arms those beastmen could crush a man's head with nothing but bare hands. Their sloped foreheads lead to flat noses, suggesting animalistic snouts rather than the clearly outlined human nasal apparatus. They had coarse black hair and thick furred skins brindled in patterns of brown and white. While the males wore chest armor made out of bones of some unlucky fool, the females wore nothing except a piece of clothing that his their genitals. Never had I seen such an inhuman visage before me.
This initial shock was rather amplified after they saw me and the Band approaching. Waving their bone tipped weapons and shouting in their obscene tongue, the dozen or so savages bared their square teeth at us, much like monkeys from the Summer Islands when displaying agression. My men were quick to answer by unsheathing their swords at the first sign of a threat. It was only with Lopopo's intervention that a bloodbath was avoided. Lopopo diffused the tensions by speaking something in the Sothoryi tongue and offering the tallest of the natives- whom I would later learn was their chief- a large yellow fruit as a gift to the tribe. After that, the tribesmen set their weapons aside and came to greet us. Telling Captain Nicolaelis to sheath his blade, however, was not that easy. But after threatening to witholding his payment, I was able to have him put the sword aside. Really, I must speak to Vaenor about their recurring bouts of unprofessionalism.
The Chief was the first to introduce himself. Gubug, he is called, or something of the sort. He carries a huge staff wherever he goes, and is likely the symbol of his supremacy. It has a small elephant skull on top, and, from the beastman's size, could easily have been ripped out by Gubug himself with the animal still living. (Perhaps a phallic symbol?) After we had been greeted by each of the natives, the Chief dispatched two of his hunters to find us food for a night of festivities. I was not surprised when they returned with a small ape, not much different from the Brindled Men themselves apart from the reduced size, skewered on a stick. I must make an effort to study this simian species at a later date. I suspect bestiality to be a custom among the locals, excepting the local Summer Isles. My men refuse to taste it at first, but I had to convince them in order not to possibly attract the unwanted fury of our hosts. I have tasted far worse, of course, and at least this ape meat is well salted. (Must consult Lopopo. Potential for mining?)
Sitting around the fire that night, as the female danced highly sexualized tribal dances around us, Lopopo told me some of his people's knowledge about the Sothoryi. He said that many brave men had bedded Sothoryi women, but in every one of those cases the offspring was unborn. And then he explained that the Mmbambo were a very puny tribe, often harassed by their much more aggressive neighbors from the deep jungles. These Brindled Men from the interior were much more barbaric and savage than the Mmbambo and were known for practicing cannibalism and worshipping dark gods. When I inquired about the nature of these gods, Lopopo shook his head. Apparently, these figments are so powerful in their imagination that they dread being overhead by these primal idiot gods. I was able to glean one noteworthy fact though. These monstrous deities seem to reside in a particular locale, which the brindled men say is not named with mortal sounds. (Not that the Brindled tongue is particularly complex to begin with. Perhaps they speak of Dracaros? Dare not hope.)
When the feast was done, the Chief seemed obliged to allow us to use his mudhut to spend the night. I woke early the next day to observe the habits of the Mmbambo and was not surprised by what I saw. Like humans, their society was divided by gender roles. The males, larger and stronger, would leave early in the morning to hunt while the females would take care of the children and pick a curious red berry from what seemed like a primitive small farm. I'm starting to believe the Ghiscari were wrong in their observations about the Sothoryi. I do not think these creatures stupid. Rather, they are lazy, for they do not toil to produce enough for the next day and are content to collect the bare daily necessities. Vaenor should find them easily exploited. All of this done by the morning, and during the afternoon they waste their day away by resting or bedding each other under open sky, not bothering to seek privacy for such acts. This said, they also do not seem to have developed the concept of marriage, for the males seek different females to bed. I, of course, cannot critique them for this behavior. The Freehold is hardly remembered for its traditions of monogamy.
We shall leave in the early morning, I do not wish to overextend our visit, lest we damage our prospects of contact with the Mmbambo. Lopopo say they might know where there's a salt mine nearby and I believe Lord Maltalos might be interested in this information. For now I believe we can seek peaceful relations with these neighbors, they shall not prove to be a nuisance. However, if need be, I believe they can be dispatched with ease.
My academic interest in this region has not dimmed, but my responsibilities to my patron must take precedence. Once Linyanti is secure and stable, I shall return to my true task. I can already smell the magic in the jungle air...
This is my third day with the natives, fifth since I set out from Linyanti with the Ivory Band and our guide, Lopopo, a summer islander from the forestry camp across the river. Aside from his rudimentary ways, Lopopo seems to have an intellect approaching that of an Essosi man, for he has a grasp on both the native language and High Valyrian. I start to suspect that we were not the first to try to attempt to civilize these people. Someone performed an admirable job of teaching him some of our ways. Lopopo makes the amusing assertion that his own forefathers were also explorers and I have politely accepted his farcical notions.
For two days straight we trailed across the woods in search of these Mmbambo Sothoryi tribe that Lopopo had told us about. He said that they were a bit shy, but friendly enough and kept good relations with his people. I had seen these so called Brindled Men often enough in the fighting pits of Meereen but never close enough to assimilate their differences to humans apart from the fur pattern that gave them their name. The Ghiscari seem to have a penchant for using them as gladiators, claiming they were 'too stupid and bellicose' to be used as proper slaves. To be fair, a Ghiscari man would likewise be deemed such by the standards of Volantis, so perhaps I shall be pleasantly surprised.
It was late afternoon and we approached the clearing. I must admit that I was not ready for what I saw when I first glanced at the creatures standing amidst those primitive mudhuts. Massively muscled, big-boned creatures with long arms those beastmen could crush a man's head with nothing but bare hands. Their sloped foreheads lead to flat noses, suggesting animalistic snouts rather than the clearly outlined human nasal apparatus. They had coarse black hair and thick furred skins brindled in patterns of brown and white. While the males wore chest armor made out of bones of some unlucky fool, the females wore nothing except a piece of clothing that his their genitals. Never had I seen such an inhuman visage before me.
This initial shock was rather amplified after they saw me and the Band approaching. Waving their bone tipped weapons and shouting in their obscene tongue, the dozen or so savages bared their square teeth at us, much like monkeys from the Summer Islands when displaying agression. My men were quick to answer by unsheathing their swords at the first sign of a threat. It was only with Lopopo's intervention that a bloodbath was avoided. Lopopo diffused the tensions by speaking something in the Sothoryi tongue and offering the tallest of the natives- whom I would later learn was their chief- a large yellow fruit as a gift to the tribe. After that, the tribesmen set their weapons aside and came to greet us. Telling Captain Nicolaelis to sheath his blade, however, was not that easy. But after threatening to witholding his payment, I was able to have him put the sword aside. Really, I must speak to Vaenor about their recurring bouts of unprofessionalism.
The Chief was the first to introduce himself. Gubug, he is called, or something of the sort. He carries a huge staff wherever he goes, and is likely the symbol of his supremacy. It has a small elephant skull on top, and, from the beastman's size, could easily have been ripped out by Gubug himself with the animal still living. (Perhaps a phallic symbol?) After we had been greeted by each of the natives, the Chief dispatched two of his hunters to find us food for a night of festivities. I was not surprised when they returned with a small ape, not much different from the Brindled Men themselves apart from the reduced size, skewered on a stick. I must make an effort to study this simian species at a later date. I suspect bestiality to be a custom among the locals, excepting the local Summer Isles. My men refuse to taste it at first, but I had to convince them in order not to possibly attract the unwanted fury of our hosts. I have tasted far worse, of course, and at least this ape meat is well salted. (Must consult Lopopo. Potential for mining?)
Sitting around the fire that night, as the female danced highly sexualized tribal dances around us, Lopopo told me some of his people's knowledge about the Sothoryi. He said that many brave men had bedded Sothoryi women, but in every one of those cases the offspring was unborn. And then he explained that the Mmbambo were a very puny tribe, often harassed by their much more aggressive neighbors from the deep jungles. These Brindled Men from the interior were much more barbaric and savage than the Mmbambo and were known for practicing cannibalism and worshipping dark gods. When I inquired about the nature of these gods, Lopopo shook his head. Apparently, these figments are so powerful in their imagination that they dread being overhead by these primal idiot gods. I was able to glean one noteworthy fact though. These monstrous deities seem to reside in a particular locale, which the brindled men say is not named with mortal sounds. (Not that the Brindled tongue is particularly complex to begin with. Perhaps they speak of Dracaros? Dare not hope.)
When the feast was done, the Chief seemed obliged to allow us to use his mudhut to spend the night. I woke early the next day to observe the habits of the Mmbambo and was not surprised by what I saw. Like humans, their society was divided by gender roles. The males, larger and stronger, would leave early in the morning to hunt while the females would take care of the children and pick a curious red berry from what seemed like a primitive small farm. I'm starting to believe the Ghiscari were wrong in their observations about the Sothoryi. I do not think these creatures stupid. Rather, they are lazy, for they do not toil to produce enough for the next day and are content to collect the bare daily necessities. Vaenor should find them easily exploited. All of this done by the morning, and during the afternoon they waste their day away by resting or bedding each other under open sky, not bothering to seek privacy for such acts. This said, they also do not seem to have developed the concept of marriage, for the males seek different females to bed. I, of course, cannot critique them for this behavior. The Freehold is hardly remembered for its traditions of monogamy.
We shall leave in the early morning, I do not wish to overextend our visit, lest we damage our prospects of contact with the Mmbambo. Lopopo say they might know where there's a salt mine nearby and I believe Lord Maltalos might be interested in this information. For now I believe we can seek peaceful relations with these neighbors, they shall not prove to be a nuisance. However, if need be, I believe they can be dispatched with ease.
My academic interest in this region has not dimmed, but my responsibilities to my patron must take precedence. Once Linyanti is secure and stable, I shall return to my true task. I can already smell the magic in the jungle air...