Deep in the jungle surrounding Zuanwa, two Ta'zesh approached a cave. Arrows notched, they stalked down into it. Taking cover at a bend, and soundless peaking in, they saw a younger man peering deeply into a fire. His shoulders were exposed, exposing intricate burn marks that wrap around them. The necklace was also around it. It did not seem as though the Rul noticed them, until, without any provocation, he spoke, "Please turn back. Your presence distracts from my mediation." 

Akata stepped out, "We are here for the Za'wal's necklace." 

He responded harshly, "It is my mother's. I will be separate from it when I rejoin her." 

Akata grunted, "So be it." Despite taking careful aim, her arrow completely veered off. The second and third arrows did not perform any better. 

The Rul continued to gaze into his fire, "As you can see, I do not fear your arrows." 

Sowing her bow, and grabbing her dagger, Akata took one step towards him before pulling back instinctively upon hearing the hissing of a snake. She did not see them until now, but they were numerous. Their skin blended into the caverns, and their bite was lethal.  

The other hunter, Uwana spoke, her voice not as confident as her partner, "Just who are. You bare the marks of the Rul and what we are after, but you can not be. You must be a Lota'wal." 

Waving his hand over the flame, it turned blue and seemingly jumped up before returning to normal, "I am the Ruanza'ka. The gods speak to me through the fire. They trust in me their secrets."  

Akata holding back a shout, "Ruanza'ka? You must be a lying Lota'wal or. or a Loza'zesh wearing the flesh of a dead Rul." 

The Ruanza'ka scoffed, "You may believe what you wish, Akata." 

Uwana stopped her partner, "I have never heard of a Za'ka. If we believe you that it exists, why would be bestowed to you?" 

Holding his hands still over the fire, the hunters could see his badly burnt hands, "An empty vessel has room to be filled. It was by fire and suffering I have become more." 

Uwana lowered her voice, "If not gifted by the gods, what fearful thing could he be. We should leave now." 

Akata muttered back, "We can not leave with nothing." 

The Ruanza'ka responded, "Then return to your Za'watem with this, From water the city born, from water, it shall die. Once the greater light sets, the heavens will cry.

The city sleeps in rising tide, spurred by fools who speak more than they listen. Within the wave, a minnow has washed upon your shores, and the fools would have you think his fins were glided, but if he speaks with another's voice then he must be thrown back. They will yell and scream that it should be obvious at sight, but the gods can see what we can not, and place the greatest proof within the heart. 

The Ta'ral and Rul will be the first to awake, and if still bound with bramble, it will only bleed the water for the sharks. Then those who survive might twice awaken from tribulation and become as I have. 

Finally, a metal beast bound and tamed by those of distant shore comes. You can't defeat them, nor can you lose to them."


[hider=Story Summary]
Cave hermit and pet snakes harassed by bow-carrying women.

Two hunters from Zuanwa tracked down a former slave and a necklace he stole, and find him in a cave, surrounded by venomous snakes and arrows refuse to hit him. He calls himself Ruanza'ka, and the hunters believe him to be a Lota'wal or Loza'zesh but the more cowardly/wise of the two decides to leave well enough alone, but the brave/foolhardy hunter doesn't want to leave with nothing. The hermit then tells them a prophecy about how the city about how Zuanwa is doomed. 
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[hider=Might Summary]
Starting: 5MP/ 5DP 
Ending: 2MP/ 2DP

-3 MP to claim astrology port ( Magic related to the stars or zodiac, by itself, it primarily leans itself towards augury, however it can blend with other magic systems taking stronger influence from that magic system than from other astrological magic.) 

-2 DP (Enhanced with Augury Port) 
Thaumaturgy: A more advanced form of sorcerous fortune, which is usually conscious but can be subconsciously used. Thaumaturgy has limited usages, but is more controlled than regular sorcery and can potentially be used without effort. In addition, it can even occur in response to premonitions, for example a person can suddenly be aware of a dangerous object quickly approaching them and it is quickly repelled from them. It can be used for the following purposes, its range is determined by the skill of the user: 
-> Causing something to change color and/or shed any color of light up to the brightest of a torch. 
-> Causing something to suddenly move for a brief moment. 
-> Causing something to persist for longer than otherwise expected, IE food spoiling slower or a candle burning for longer. 
-> Causing something to slow change temperature, though this can cause an object to reach more extreme temperatures if given time. 
-> Causing something to emit a particular noise, with more complex noises requiring greater skills. Animal calls are considered immediate noises to produce through thaumaturgy. 

-1 DP (Discounted with augury port) 
Hospitality: Non-intelligent creatures are less likely to attack augurs unless provoked. Skilled augurs, when acting non-maliciously towards them, can sometimes take actions that would otherwise provoke them such as entering or lingering in their territory, touching them, or administering treatment to them. Non-intelligent creatures who still attack them are often less effective at doing so, either hesitating or becoming confused or they act more slowly. 

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