Welcome!

You trudge through the long dry grass of the savannah, each step taking more effort than the last. I need to find water! You think to yourself. If only you hadn't decided to go trekking by yourself and if only you hadn't misplaced your map at the last river. How were you supposed to know that not all kougra are friendly? You pause for a second as you hear a slight rustle over to your left, but dismiss it as nothing. Stepping forward, a feral cry rings out and you find yourself pinned to the ground by a huge creature. Fear courses through your body as the creature's eyes glitter dangerously and then grins, showing a neat row of sharp teeth and long canines. The teeth of a predator. This is it, you think, and you shut your eyes. To your surprise, low laughter rings out and the weight on your chest eases. Opening your eyes, you see the creature sitting on its haunches nearby and grinning widely. It is quite magnificent, with a deep brown coat marked by white stripes on its back, tan underbelly, four white stockings going past the knees and black stripes on its back legs. Looks kind of like an odd predatory antelope O_o .You pick yourself painfully off the ground and stare warily at the creature. Finally he speaks with a light, accented voice " I apologise human. I thought you were prey." He looks you over. "You're too lean anyway." A slow smile spreads over his face "You look as if you need some assistance. Why don't you come back to my tribe's camp and refresh yourself? And," He grins wickedly "You can get a map and get yourself oriented. Humans don't usually venture this way unless they're lost" Embarrassedly you follow him as he sets off at an easy gait through the grass, long tail held jauntily in the air.

Soon you arrive at a large campsite with twenty or so tents. The creature gestures at a large tree with wide-spreading branches, at which you drop gladly into the shade and savour the slight relief from the heat. The creature disappears into a large tent and returns moments later with a jug of cold water and slices of fruit which he places before you. As you tuck in, he begins to speak.

You have found yourself at the Aripaka tribe, of which I am the tribe's Shaman, Jiralai. We are a nomadic tribe of storytellers and traders who wander wherever our feet take us, though it is usually limited to the plains and jungle because we feel most at home here. Though don't get me wrong, we do travel through villages and towns, but we simply prefer to camp out here in the wilderness. In our travels we have visited places I'm sure you have never even heard of. But we will offer you hospitality for as long as you wish, for that is our way." He settles himself beside you in the shade and continues on. "Our tribe are principally storytellers, or bards, if that is what you wish to call us and we have strong mana, so much of our lives also revolve around the practise of magic." He glances at your confused He glances at your confused face "And no, we are not wizards, we do not use magic for our own ends or to summon evil creatures from other worlds. Our magic is softer...we use it to nurture, heal and grow natural things, or weave it within our stories to make it a magical experience. ou could say it is the magic of the earth. These are the two types of magic we possess, but most of the tribe only have one or the other. A few of us leave the tribe at times to wander the rest of the land to weave their stories and to gather new ones from other bards, but eventually they find their hearts yearning and their feet lead them back home.

When a storytelling takes place, our storytellers captivate the audiences and immerse them into wonderful faraway worlds. Believe me, you have never seen the like. I as shaman am the chief storyteller and healer, and have the rare combination of all my people's magics. But nevertheless I do have a particular specialty, and that is weaving stories.He pauses. "Would you be willing to stay for tonight's telling?" You nod enthusiastically, curious to hear the stories. "Wonderful. In the meantime, enjoy yourself in the ways you see fit."

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