Tears of Amiha

There weren't always dragons in the Valley, but empty vast oceans where the Dragon Gods came and where humans first created and lived through the bone of a Dragon named Amiha. When the world was just water, thousands of islands were formed, and rise up through the pouring tears of Amiha. Inside a valley, of this one island, a nation was born, a country that raised itself from the ashes. They say legends were born in this valley. This simple Village will become a safe haven and refuge for humans across the islands of Amiha. Inside this nation, warriors are born through blood, war, and bravery. The land of Mahar the people that lives in Mahar believes they are descendants of the dragon. It is said a mighty Dragon laid down its fires to the valley that created the nation. The Mahar people mark their skin with inks and elaborate tattoos it symbolizes their status and bravery, often called “The Painted ones of Mahar”. For hundreds of years, the Mahar people live in relative peace, but that soon will be changed. Across the islands of Mahar from the west, an island called Aswa.

An island said to be inhabited by great evil and monsters when an evil dragon named Sita corrupted thousands of humans created by Amiha. The creatures of this island frequently pray and hunt for human flesh when they finally venture out of their islands when they wiped out every single humans that steeled in Aswa. Because of this, the Aswa managed to wipe out several human settlements across the neighbouring islands and created devastation to different tribes from the islands, many became live stocks for the Aswa.

The Aswa drove the humans to different islands, many tried to fight them off many tribes from these islands were successful but eventually, the Aswa were able to pushed through them slaughtering and devouring as much as they can. The Aswa have different clans, and they sometimes fight against one another. That is the only reason the tribes were able to escape from their onslaught, for every clan of Aswa are also trying to kill each other for food source and territory. The most powerful species of Aswa are Manavas very terrifying creatures they stand as big as a man, they have the teeth of a bat and eyes of a shark they are very primal and incredibly aggressive. The skin of Manavas is cold as ice and loves to eat nothing but human flesh. Another species of Aswa is called Managal a female Aswa who possessed bat wings and incredibly long and sharp claws. The Managal loves to hunt and eat pregnant women and children. The Aswa formed clans that formed their society, and they called it Kwueba. The Mahar who now have the most powerful tribal kingdom in all the islands now faces a crisis of which many tribes from other islands are migrating to the east to seek refuge from the onslaught of the Aswa. The Mahar is led by their Queen named Inay who said to be a direct descendant of the Goddess Dragon Amiha and creator of humans. Inay have given passage and safe haven to tribes who were able to travel to the island kingdom of Mahar. The refugees have given the queen every information and details about the incoming peril the Aswa will bring to the eastern islands when they finally wiped out and capture every human on the western islands. Queen Inay knows she needs to stop the Aswa before they even reached the Mahar islands.

Many years ago, she remembers how her father helped other islanders from the Aswa in the northern islands. As her father's daughter and Queen of Mahar it is her sole duty to save and preserve humanity from the Aswa. The Mahar have produced one of the most brave and skilled warriors across the islands, of Amiha. The Mahar warriors are renowned for their skill of the sword and spear. The Mahar even created a combat system called Eskrila that is directly focused on fighting the Aswa. Queen Inay called upon all her warrior chiefs to a council, at nightfall the warrior chiefs gathered in circle at the halls of Toroga “the Queen's hut”. All clan leaders from Mahar came to the queen's orders, each tribal clan greeted by the queen. One by one, she goes around greeting them and placing her hand on the heads of the warrior chiefs as a sign of respect and admiration. The Matriarch Inay is considered as the mother of all the warrior chief of Mahar, and they are her sons, the Raha's of Mahar. As tradition of Mahar only a woman can lead the Island kingdom and be the head priestess for the dragon Goddess Amiha. The men are guardians and protectors of Mahar and must be tested and prove their worth to be given rank or status. Queen Inay giving her greetings to the warrior chief's but, she avoided one. Queen Inay came back to sit at her throne, her scribe proceeds to call the names of the one by one. Abad, Aglalannawan, Anat, Binusilan, Dawiliyan, Dekat, Dumingiw, Imbanon, Gimbanonan, Ginalinan, Sibollanit, Apolaki

The Queen greets the chiefs, "Amiha Mahar my warrior chiefs, welcome to my hut"All the chief took one knee unheated their swords raised it to the air and all of them shouted "Amiha Mahar!!!”, but one chief did not take a knee from the back of the group of warrior chiefs. The queen then asked the warrior chiefs that a great danger will befall Mahar. The warrior chiefs from all tribal clans in the Mahar islands knows about the crisis with the Aswa. Some war chief believes from the information from the refugees that arrived in their territories that the Aswa is now creating human farms to have steady supplies of human for them to feast on. Queen Inay then declared that this incident cannot be dealt with by taking in refugees. The Queen stated ”Now we can't just stay idle in our island while thousands of people slaughtered and eaten by the Aswa, Chiefs of the Mahar clans will you join me and destroy the children of Sitas!!!!" All the warrior chief raised their swords and started a battle cry. A celebration then proceeds, for they are now for sure going to war against the Aswa. The Queen served rice wine to her chiefs, and roasted pig was served to all the tables of the chiefs, dancers, and signers from the Queen's court entertained the warrior chiefs. One warrior chief by the name of Apoji a great and well known warrior, but feared and hated by many Mahar for he and his warriors called Apolaki do not worship Amiha and do not consider the queen their ruler. They are often called silent warriors, for they kill quietly. Apoji is short by stature with a young yet brutish face, his body is blocky yet muscular despite his short disposition, he was able to defeat giant warriors across many islands and tribes who challenged him.

Apoji even managed to be chosen as chief of the Apolaki clan, he is called by other chiefs as “The little fox”. He is the only warrior chief, tattoos that are different from the rest of the warrior chiefs. Apoji's tattoos and the Apolaki clan are pure red, with black wrapping his limbs like bracelets. Unlike regular Mahar tattoos, the design of their marks resemble the waves and the wind, while the rest of Mahar same with warrior chiefs resembles mountains and stars. During the feast, Apoji and his warriors silently sitting in the corner eating their roasted pig, Apoji was requested by the queen's servant to meet the queen outside the great hut. Apoji came out and there he saw the queen waiting with her lady of tears, a group of women bound to serve the queen through her death. Apoji came out raised his sword in the air and said in a calm voice "Amiha Mahar" Queen Inay then asked Apoji "Chief I would like to asked why do you not kneel again? Please refresh my memory”. Apoji then put his sword back to his scabbard, he then said to the queen. “I bow to no queen or king. I only bow to my wife, in my clan our wives are seen as descendants of the river goddess. Our women cared and showed respect to us as warriors and men, the least we can do is treat them as our own goddess and will only bow to them. I will not apologize my queen, women in my land suffer greatly by the curse of the river. Many women of my tribe must consistently be near and stay in the water, luckily our lands are surrounded by rivers and lakes. They can't even step away from water, in just two hours of absence of water they turn into stones. A cursed to befall women of my tribe a hundred's of years ago when a wife of our tribe had an affair with a river god.

That is why you don't see man Apolaki women travelling. Besides from that because of the curse of the river goddess, many women in my tribe produced multiple daughters. It's very rare for them to produce sons, hence many women in my tribe are trapped to the rivers and lakes of our lands. So all men in my tribe are hardened, trained to the core as warriors, and they do not serve anyone but, the women in their lives for they depend on us. My own sister and wife have not even seen the shores of the sea or the magnificence of your city, my queen. For they are trapped.” Queen Inay acknowledge the suffering Apolaki women suffers through. She never thought if the stories about Apoji's tribe were true, for many believed that the Apolaki's abused and isolate their women. The Queen then asked Apoji if he can gather his best warriors to join the others to campaign against the Aswa. Apoji accepted, but he will only do so if the Queen will provide food and protection for his tribe while they are gone which the Queen promised to Apoji that she will personally make sure the people of his tribe will be taken care of. The Queen Inay then said the warriors of Mahar will set sail in 7 suns. Apoji and his warriors sailed back to their lands throug the river after two days of travel. The Apolaki lands are not located further inland. The houses of Apolaki's are built in the middle of the rivers, and

he great hut of the warrior chief Apoji is floating in the middle of the lake. All the huts, the stores, and trades are in the middle of the water. Boats and canoes are everywhere, children jumping up and down, playing in the water. Fisherman and hunters butchering and cleaning their catch in the water. The Apolakis world is centred in the water. All the women are submerged in the water, washing clothes and singing and laughing. Some women even dive to hunt for fish and fix the houses. Some women were planting water lilies and rice to the terraces near the rivers. As long as they submerge themselves in the water, they will be safe. Apoji came back and all his people greeted him with smiles and cheers.

The warriors went and kissed their wives, who greeted them in the water. Apoji then rode his canoe towards the great hut in the middle of the lake. Apoji was tying his canoes at his docks and several maidens greeted him his wife Idarna came from behind him tackled him through the water. The maidens were laughing and giggling, his sister then came out from the water fixing the foundation of their home. Delandiwa Apoji's sister is the engineer and master builder of the tribe. Delandiwa is responsible for designing houses that can be stable in the middle of the water, making the lives of women in her tribe much better. Idarna was kissing Apoji's face everywhere, telling him how much she misses him. Apoji with big smile just

He told his wife, “I miss you too”. Apoji's face shifted from smiles into sadness. Idarna and his sister noticed the sudden change in his expression. Apoji gave his wife a deep kiss, brushed her hair, then came out of the water. Apoji silently walked away towards his great hut. Delandiwa and Idarna looked at each other and knew something is not right. The two of them walked inside, and there they heard and saw Apoji ordering the blacksmith to sharpen his sword and clean his shield. Apoji then proceeded to check on his spears and javelins. Idarna then asked Apoji “My love, what are you doing? You look like you are preparing for a war?” Delandiwa then said to Apoji “Brother, what happened to your visit with the queen?” Apoji just looked at the two women, he took a deep breath then told them “The Aswa is almost in the process of wiping out the whole eastern islands. Refugees are flooding to Mahar lands; many made it to the ocean, and they were slaughtered by the Aswa.

The two women did not question when they heard what he said. They knew all the Mahar warriors would sail east and face the Aswa. Night came and Apoji filled the tub with warm water for his wife to sleep. Apoji’s wife then asked him, “My love, when will you go?” Apoji carried Idarna to the tub and gently placed her inside. He then said, “I will be gone in two days”. Apoji then proceeds to brush her hair and kiss her. Idarna closed her eyes and told Apoji how much she loved him. Next, the Apolaki's prepared their boats and equipment to sail to the capital of Marha. The morning every warrior of Apolaki gathered at the docks

All their wives and family members are watching them. Apoji then came up to the boat and screamed, “Let’s go to war!!" The wives and the families were crying. The warriors kissed their wives for the last time. Apoji then got out of the boat and hugged Idarna and Delandiwa, kissed them both and boarded again. The Apolaki’s journey towards certain death facing the Aswa is almost suicide, but they must do what they are meant to do is fight and die for their people. Apolaki sails and Apoji's boat is in the center. Apoji grabs a horn made of shell, blasts it. As they sail away, the wives and families of the warriors watch them in the distance. The uncertainty of their loved one coming home is slim, yet the consequences of not dealing with Aswa is significant. Faith is the only thing that can decide if the warrior will return home or if his sword and shield will live. The future of mankind lies within brave warriors like them. Mahar's future now rests with their sword and their victory.