"Now what do we have here?" A croaky voice boomed across the acrid plains sending shockwaves of sound spreading through the wasteland.
"It seems that a group of outlaws led by an Amani are trespassing into our territory boss!" Another voice replied.
"Shut up you half wit I can very well see that!!" The croaky voice boomed once more. This time carrying a hint of annoyance as someone stupidly replied to their rhetorical question, ruining the chance to play evil for them.
"Oh! I'm sorry boss it's my shortsighted brain that can't compare to you intelligence" The other voice once again responded.
"Ugh! Do you want to die?!!"
"Yeah do you have a death wish? The boss said to shut the fuck up!!"
The rest members of the band of raiders quickly rushed to berate the stupid one that couldn't read the clue. All the while trying to curry the bosses favor.
After settling things with the ship and preparing some light baggages, the group of four people and one cat disembarked and then embarked on a journey to the nearest city in the barbarian tribes territory.
According to what Johan knew about the savage region corroborated with Hulu's own testimonies, the barbarian territory had three tribes and hundreds of clans. The three tribes each ruled a different area of the region and we're mostly at loggerheads with one another.
The Amun tribe that Hulu's clan once belonged to was the second largest as well as the second strongest tribe and their area of jurisdiction covered the land mass from the barbarian/ Hybrid borders, stretching across a small savannah and unto a dessert were their area merged with the next tribe.
The strongest tribe as well as the tribe with the smallest population was the Seraparti tribe an their area of jurisdiction was a forbidden forest and lush valley that lay at the center of the barbarian territory.
The forest was forbidden to all except the Seraparti tribe and many who had tried to invade, including outlaws and hybrids never came out alive to tell the tale. This fact spoke volumes of the Serapartians strength.
The last of the three tribes was the Hisantu tribe. They were the tribe with the most population and the scarcest of food supply causing the clans within the tribe to be divided in opinions and everything they did. This in turn weakened the tribe causing them to be ranked at the bottom of the three tribes.
The Hisantus were individually strong and numerous, but due to their division it was quite easy to pick them apart.
The areas inhabited by the Hisantus was a vast acrid wasteland that stretch from the savannah all the way down to the coastal area of the continent.
Of the three tribes, the Amun tribe inhabiting the savannah region had to constantly battle against hybrids and that alone was enough to scare the Hisantus from trying to possess the territory as that would mean coming in direct conflict with the hybrids.
The Hisantus were in a weak alliance with their own neighbors which were the outlaws from the mainland that had an advantage in technology. A majority of the Hisantu clans were in actuality mere subjects of the outlaws.
As for the Serapartians, their otherworldly nature and strength was the reason that despite the barbaric nature of the savage continent, they seemed to not be affected. Living in their paradisiacal forest and drawing jealousy from the entire human community but never engaging in the affairs of the region.
From the coast to the nearest Amani city in the savannah, Von and his mottley crew of four and one cat plus a spiritual weapon would have to cross through the acrid plains and dessert, territories of the numerous Hisantu clans.
After encountering more than twenty raiding parties in just three days, it was already becoming irritating for them. Although they were all quiet used to the routine.
Johan and Maya were non combatants and the majority of their battles were fought by Von, the size shifting Peanut and surprisingly Hulu the barbarian who was quite skilled in close quarters combat using his trusty scimitar and a set of hidden daggers.