Episode 3: Bimar

Urban decides to follow Apo Tagipusuon and check how Makisig is doing.

Buluyagon shrugs, and leads the way through the village, speaking to Ybus and whoever else will follow. The loquacious tikbalang waxes poetic over the rice wine produced by Pula, the village brewmaster, but also mentions several other things that might interest you:

• Buluyagon makes casual mention of talismans (which he refers to as anting-anting) that protect one in battle. He says that the enchantments on these are woven by the babaylan, chief of whom is the one you've already met, Apo Tagipusuon.

• The pintados (painted warriors) also draw battle prowess from their tattoos, and Buluyagon shows off his: lightning bolts across his chest. A great balete tree across his back. Python skin patterns on his forearms. Crocodile hide patterns on his biceps. On his hocks and fetlocks, cloud patterns representing the winds. There is only one place to go to get tattooed, and that is the hut of Topeng, the mambabatok (tattoo artist). He promises to take you there later.

• Buluyagon proudly shows off his kris, an elegant blade crafted by the master blacksmith Tambusar.

He repeats his invitation to drink. Where would you like to go?

Erden takes mental note of all of the things he's learning about tikbalang culture. Once there is offer of drink, he gladly accepts. A chance to relax and unwind sounds really nice after what they've gone through recently.

Ybus is hopeful for drink, and maybe after sobriety, tattoos.

Baracus is curious about both the talismans and the tattoos. He will drink to honour the custom of hospitality. Among his people, this would cement certain rights and responsibilities as a guest.

Meanwhile, Buluyagon merrily leads the way to the brewmaster. Pula (which means "red horse," your guide explains) is a rather imposing individual even by tikbalang standards. Powerfully built, his tanned skin covered in tattoos all done in red ink.

"Hoy, Buloy!" he calls, "I heard about today's foray. Come try this five year old basi."

Buluyagon sniffs the sugarcane wine in its earthenware jug. "Yeah, pare, that's the stuff!" The younger tikbalang takes a cup and pours a measure into it, before downing it in one gulp.

Buluyagon introduces you collectively as "the fools." Pula bows, and Erden notices part of his right ear has been nipped off, and more than a few battle scars are evident on the tikbalang's arms, cunningly hidden among his tattoos. The brewmaster hands everyone a cup of basi.

"To victory," the tikbalang toast, and you all settle on benches outside Pula's abode as Buluyagon recounts today's battle against the kalding.

Pula turns to Ybus. "Hoy. Pare. Spheres of flame from your hands, eh? Try some of this, it'll put some fire in your belly haha!" The brewmaster takes a dark jug from his shelf and pours two fingers of smoking, amber liquid into the halfling's glass.

As he is taken out of the makeshift harness, Ybus taps his own head with his belaying pin.

He gladly takes the cup and swigs the drink like it's bottomless. As the liquid fire burns its way down his throat, he wheezes, "Ay pare!"

The amber drink goes down Ybus' throat like liquid fire and he goes down in a heap as if felled by a titan's fist. But he lies there for only a moment - suddenly the fuzziness in his mind and limbs is burned away and he feels every cell in his body glowing hot! He springs back to his feet, his eyes bulging, as all his senses open up like floodgates. And as promised, there is indeed a fire in his belly.

Ybus hiccups and seems about to belch.... and a gout of flame erupts from his mouth! Buluyagon ducks just in time, suffering no more than a singed mane. Pula is grinning from ear to ear.

"I haven't managed to fix that little side effect." Pula says, mournfully. It seems he is referring to the fire-breathing but then he adds, "It turns you completely sober. Otherwise, it's perfect!"

Next, Pula pours Baracus a drink out of what looks like a cow udder. Buluyagon snickers.

Baracus does not hesitate to drink the udder beverage.

In fact, he grabs the udder and drinks another directly from the teats!

Erden takes this time to relax and enjoy the antics of Ybus and Baracus' impressive constitution.

The two tikbalang laugh uproariously and slap Baracus on the back. The drink tastes like fermented yak milk and tickles the half-orc's insides, but he is able to keep his mirth under control.

Pula sets a pale blue concoction in front of Erden next, and gestures for the gnome to drink.

Erden shrugs and smiles, "Down the hatch!" he says, tipping the cup back and trying to swallow it all down. He manages to swallow all of it and wipes his lips with the back of his sleeve. He smiles and opens his mouth to speak, but all that comes out is pink bubbles.

He looks confused for a moment and then breaks out into uncontrollable laughter, spewing pink bubbles everywhere!

Baracus laughs uproariously. It is good to be among a community again, far away from crowded, stinking cities and together with a people with traditions and humour and kinship. He let's himself relax (helped by the yak milk no doubt).

He asks about the tattoos and talismans, their significance and power. Having been only a baby when his tribe passed over to Acheron, Baracus bears none of the tribal markings his people are famous for.

"Wait, I'm sober?" Ybus asks contemplatively, his voice oddly calm and even. "Interesting. This concoction bears further alchemical research. Why, the possibilities of marketing an imbibement that immediately negates an individual's intoxication could prove extremely lucrative. We could call it, 'Hair o' the Horse!'"

"I call it Firebelly Whiskey," Pula says. "But Hair o'the Horse has a nice ring to it! I'll use that for my next project."

Pula shows Baracus his talisman, a triangular medallion that he claims makes him impervious to arrows.

"I'm taking them to see Topeng next." Buluyagon says.
"Tattoos. Good idea," Pula replies with a toss of his mane. "Will come in handy tomorrow. Speaking of which, here's one last drink." He pours a smoky green liquid for Rydler.

Rydler grabs the glass on the table "To good company and gracious hosts." raising it slightly, he clinks it back on the table, followed immediately with drinking it down.

His cool display is accompanied by puke "My, settlements still, remain the same. Also, thoughts, don't say handy, then give a smokey green liquid, to someone accompanied by a, green man. Anways, TATTOO'S!" Rydler raises the glass triumphantly and begins a march forward before slipping in his puke. He remains face down, a keen ear can hear a subtle whisper "fuck."

"Alright, party's over," Pula laughs. "At least, until tonight's feast. I'll see you boys there!" The brewmaster hands each of you two bottles (udders, in Baracus' case) of the drink you sampled, then starts cleaning up. Grabbing a cup of sugarcane wine for himself, Buluyagon takes you to see Topeng, the tattoo artist. Climbing the stepped rice paddies you come across a curious sight: the ritual cleansing of the remains of several tikbalang warriors who fell to kalding weapons.

"We tikbalang celebrate all the phases of life. Yes, even death, which is simply a prelude to rebirth. When a tikbalang warrior dies, even the least among us, they are placed on a wooden throne in a place of honor. The body is blindfolded and arrayed for war. About the neck is placed a garland made of the rarest blossoms, and the mummified heads of slain enemies. For eight days and nights the warrior's deeds are chanted amid feasting and strong, rice wine. On the ninth day the body is placed in a wooden coffin suspended from the sacred cliff so the dead may join the sky-gods." Buluyagon suddenly grabs Ybus' arm and implores all of you, "Promise me, if I should fall tomorrow, burn me. Don't let that maggot thing eat me!"