Thread: What is Forbidden (for butterfly0408)

What is Forbidden Deep in the heart of the jungle lay the lake of Baress, said to be the birthplace of the gods and the source of all life. Its deep, clean waters provided a bounty for the tribe of the same name and whose people prayed daily to the gods for blessing them with their bounty. It had allowed the tribe to grow from a small group of nomads to a powerful tribe that commanded a small army and all the territory around the waters. Absorbing smaller tribes through warfare and marriage. Stone buildings lined the dirt streets that the people walked and traded in, intricate carvings of past battles, celebrations, and the gods lining the walls. In the streets warriors bearing shields and spears walked beside farmers and craftsmen. In the corners slaves made their way from building to building performing their tasks. Above them all the royal palace stood before the lake and shined magnificently as the sunlight fell upon it. It was truly a home fit for the chief and his family and only rivaled in magnificence by the Temple of Sharok that stood in the center of the city. The Temple of Sharok, built over ten generations ago by the first priests under the direction of the gods. It was a massive pyramidal stone structure, stones steps leading to the chamber of the gods where the priestesses lit incense and prayed to the gods of the jungle. From there one could travel to the lower reaches of the temple, the chambers of the priests and priestesses, the healing chambers, the library, the astronomers chambers, and many others. It was said there were lower reaches of the temple, ones that went deep into the dark corners of the earth. Most said that was just hearsay and rumor but all agreed that if they did exist you would have to pass by his chamber to get to them. The chamber was nestled deep in the heart of the temple, buried away from prying eyes that might disturb his work. The room was shrouded in darkness save for the subtle green light that didn't so much shine as it did creep from a bubbling pool in the center. Exactly what it contained was up for speculation. It seemed to be a fog and a liquid at the same time, one's eyes never quite being able to focus on the churning green swirls. Whatever it was you could be assured it was dangerous much like everything else in the witchdoctor's chambers. Along the circular walls were wooden tables carved specifically to fit against them. Almost every inch of their space was crowded with clay pots and plates, the contents of which ranged from the mundane to the macabre. A bowl of wheat lying next to a the preserved eyes of a traitor. Dried apples kept beside the powdered remains of a dagger wasp, the poison of which could kill ten men when wet. From the ceiling numerous charms and talismans hung all with various uses. Some were simple designs hewn from reeds by the temple priestesses. Others were more intricate and fashioned with gold and precious jewels. The ones that always drew the eye though were the ones that appeared crude and evil, bones belonging to animals and other things and tied with thing leather strips caked in what appeared to be tar. All of these had a purpose, whether they warded spirits or attracted them, and none of them were there for simple decoration. Many of these items were forbidden or at the least frowned upon but many concessions were made for the tribes witchdoctor. Tarok stood before the green pool, naked save for brown loincloth and an intricate headdress topped with the skull of a antelope. In one hand he held a bowl filled with a slimy black substance the surface of which was occasionally broken by a small bubble. In the other he held a brush that he would, very slowly, dip in the bowl before he brought it down on his brown skin. For the past hour he had stood there tracing his brown skin with intricate black swirls. His face was a mask of concentration ensuring each stroke of the brush was perfect, the substance drying instantly when coming into contact with his skin. Behind him a young girl sat against the wall, a slave gained from one of the tribes raids. Her hands and feet where tried with thick ropes and her arms were covered in long cuts where Tarok had bled her for his needs. It was blood magic and it was very forbidden, even for him, but he was sure his ends would justify the means. The girl looked on, terrified of what she had been forced to witness and believing she would soon be sacrificed to some dark god. In reality Tarok was planning nothing of the sort and believed she should be grateful he saved her from the life of a sex slave. Regardless of his intentions he still gagged her, finding her incessant screams and crying annoying. He was youngest witchdoctor the tribe had known, taking on the mantle after the death of his father who carried the title before him and from where he had learned his craft. Sadly he had not taught him everything he knew before he passed on the polite way of putting it. They had found his chambers covered more blood than a man could survive without but no body. An unfortunate deal with spirits gone wrong and Tarok had been forced to look to other methods of learning the art. Scrolls, carvings, experimentation... Letting out a sign Tarok pushed the girl out of his mind. He had other things to worry about. You can come out now, he said without looking up. I know you've been standing there for some time now. Few visited his chambers save the emissaries from the chief of temple workers and even then it was only to summon him to a more hospitable meeting place. There was one, however, that seemed to like his company enough and he in turn.