Border markers in the jungle
A common sight in the jungle of Damus is this particular form of tribal markings and warnings left on tree trunks, branches or stakes.
The Segaii and sometimes the Bugits also, try to let strangers and enemies know, that they area about to enter their tribe's hunting grounds or outskirts of the villages.
The simplest form of them, the tribal markings, carved into tree trunks and large rocks. These consist of a few geometric shapes carved into the surface with claws or a knife. They usually consist of a combination of lines, circles, squares, triangles and are clearly distinguishable from each other. For example, Ledkir's mark is a circle with a right-leaning triangle inside, commemorating Shadbak, the rhino-segai, who founded the village.
The simplest form of them, the tribal markings, carved into tree trunks and large rocks. These consist of a few geometric shapes carved into the surface with claws or a knife. They usually consist of a combination of lines, circles, squares, triangles and are clearly distinguishable from each other. For example, Ledkir's mark is a circle with a right-leaning triangle inside, commemorating Shadbak, the rhino-segai, who founded the village.
There are "puppets" built on stakes driven into the ground or on sticks hanging from tree branches, mostly consist of empty or fern-stuffed armors, which they try to make more striking and frightening with skulls, bird feathers, animal skins and natural paint. These are more to keep strangers away.
In places of battles for territory, these are sometimes directly the remains of the hunters (warriors) of the fallen, losing tribe.
Inter-tribal border fighting is part of everyday life for the Segaii, as hunting grounds are crucial to survival in a dying environment. Erasing, destroying or redrawing each other's marks on the common border is also a favorite pastime of the hunters, which is how the different tribes annoy each other.
The Bugits also mark the entrance to their lairs and caves. In their familiar environment, they pose a serious challenge to a Segai hunting party or a smaller warband, so they have no reason to hide their presence. In addition of the puppets, they also often use captions. More or less correctly, they engrave or paint the name of the tribe, settlement and often the name and title of their leader, using the cuneiform writing of the Beast language, as they belive that the mention of their powerful, great chieftain will drive away strangers.
Tiger-segai hunter (warrior)
Frog-bugit shaman
Megjegyzések
Author's Notes