Sacrifice
Talt and the Golden Claws accept you and your family into the fold with open arms. Some of them were even from the old country and you are able to recount old tales of the land you left behind.
Talt sets you up with your own parcel of land as farmers are highly valued in this new world. Some draft animals are given to you to start you on your way. Even your home is already built for you as the laborers of the town stay constantly busy. Everyone for the most part is kind and helpful.
As the months go by however, you are worried by a tradition that takes place the last week of every month.
Midday of the last week of the month a raffle is conducted with all the names of the townspeople save for the men of fighting age and capability. The person who is selected is then adorned with feathers, ornate beads and clothing and given a great feast in their honor. The following day, priests of the town along with another of the raffle "winners" choosing make a journey into the westward forest where they then sacrifice the chosen to a horrific monster the Golden Claws call the "Spider Maiden".
Upon further research you learn that when the Golden Claws first settled the area there was much war and bloodshed. The most terrifying of these enemies were the man spiders of the dead woods. Apparently the rumors of monsters on Hoj-Zeema were true. These beasts would capture townsfolk, drag them to their lair in the dead woods, then feed upon them by draining all the fluids from their bodies.
Eventually it was discovered that these creatures were capable of communicating and a deal was struck. In allowing the Golden Claw tribe to remain, a tribute must be given their leader, the Spider Maiden. This monthly tribute is a human sacrifice, to be consumed before the priests of the village as a sign that should the Golden Claws deny them, they will be utterly destroyed. As part of the deal, the man spiders will eradicate any other tribe that attempts to move into the territory.
This all sounds pretty horrifying to you, your imagination runs wild with thoughts of what this awful Spider Maiden looks like. Fear of night attacks by these monsters frighten you, but the people assure you that as long as a tribute is given that there is nothing to fear.
That does little to calm your nerves. For many restless nights you are plagued by nightmares of spiders dragging you into the darkness.
Talt sets you up with your own parcel of land as farmers are highly valued in this new world. Some draft animals are given to you to start you on your way. Even your home is already built for you as the laborers of the town stay constantly busy. Everyone for the most part is kind and helpful.
As the months go by however, you are worried by a tradition that takes place the last week of every month.
Midday of the last week of the month a raffle is conducted with all the names of the townspeople save for the men of fighting age and capability. The person who is selected is then adorned with feathers, ornate beads and clothing and given a great feast in their honor. The following day, priests of the town along with another of the raffle "winners" choosing make a journey into the westward forest where they then sacrifice the chosen to a horrific monster the Golden Claws call the "Spider Maiden".
Upon further research you learn that when the Golden Claws first settled the area there was much war and bloodshed. The most terrifying of these enemies were the man spiders of the dead woods. Apparently the rumors of monsters on Hoj-Zeema were true. These beasts would capture townsfolk, drag them to their lair in the dead woods, then feed upon them by draining all the fluids from their bodies.
Eventually it was discovered that these creatures were capable of communicating and a deal was struck. In allowing the Golden Claw tribe to remain, a tribute must be given their leader, the Spider Maiden. This monthly tribute is a human sacrifice, to be consumed before the priests of the village as a sign that should the Golden Claws deny them, they will be utterly destroyed. As part of the deal, the man spiders will eradicate any other tribe that attempts to move into the territory.
This all sounds pretty horrifying to you, your imagination runs wild with thoughts of what this awful Spider Maiden looks like. Fear of night attacks by these monsters frighten you, but the people assure you that as long as a tribute is given that there is nothing to fear.
That does little to calm your nerves. For many restless nights you are plagued by nightmares of spiders dragging you into the darkness.