I left Jess' place about an hour later.

I wasted most of the morning and the early afternoon running errands. I was still trying my best to winterize and insulate my parent's cottage in the woods at the edge of town. The weather had been calm so far, but we were already do for some heavy snowstorms starting over the weekend. I picked up some big shovels for clearing out the driveway, some anti-freeze to keep the toilet bowl from breaking if we lost heat, some candles in case the power went out, and a twelve pack of Wendigo IPA.

By the time I made it back to the cabin it was already starting to get dark, and it wasn't even 5 PM. It was so cold all I could think of was the comfort of flipping on the electric heater, throwing myself on the couch, and booting up another session of Cannibal Hymn.

When the game had loaded, the flayed man now stood at the other end of the large burrow, and was looking out from the foot of the sandy mound atop which I had started the game. Before me stretched a narrow valley that lay between the red mountains I had seen in the distance from the vantage of the temple. Up ahead, hewn into the rockface of the mountain was the monumental and towering face of a columned fortress, before which stretched thick fields of crops and a sparse grove of trees.

At the end of the dusty path which sloped down from the burrow exit into the lush valley stood a strange tree.

It was short and stout, no taller than a modest apple tree. Its dark and prickly bark bore bloated deformities and cracks that betrayed the stunted tree's antiquity. Peering out from every one of the many nooks and crannies blemishing the tree's trunk was a parliament of little yellow-eyed owls, who hooted softly in its shade.

From the tree's blade-leafed branches hung strange bulbous fruit, the hue of their filmy peels ranging between ripe olive, pallid cream, and a spoiled ashen grey. Between the odd fruit, in the tree's branches, I noticed, to my displeasure, three human-shaped skins which dangled in the slow orchard breeze.

Before the tree was laid an array of offerings which I could pick up as items.

+ Item Gained - Bundle of Koka Leaves

Replenishing my stores. Fine.

+ Item Gained - Squash-Skin Lamp

The lore read - 'A simple lamp made using the dried out husk of a gourd and sea-lion oil. Used for utility and devotion. Flickering in the darkness draws moths.'

The item description read- 'Light before waqas to call a visitor'

+ Item Gained - Jar of Achepeng Chicha

The item description read- '-2 DEX and puts the character in a drunken state'

The lore read - 'A modestly potent and sweet-tasting corn beer fermented in the brewer's villages north along the Sheketepek river. Used as recreation, libation, and deliriant in equal measure.'

So the digital alcohol is just going to reduce your stats and make your screen blurry? That sucks. Why would anyone bother with that?

+ Item Gained - Owl Chonta Staff

The item description read - "+1 INT; Increases the likelihood of item drops."

The lore read - "A rod carved of sacred wood from the Great Sea of Trees past the Thunder Lands. These staves are used by Yunka shamans and spirits as energetic lightning rods. Bearing the figure of an owl, this staff whispers secrets in hidden places."

There was also a complete armor set laid out amidst the tree's tangled roots:

+ Item Gained - Puku's Turban

It was an orange cotton headscarf with an embroidered owl stitched in a deep navy blue fabric.

+ Item Gained - Puku's Breastplate

It was an unrefined leather curiass, from the shoulder of which hung a tattered grey-brown cloak speckled in white polka-dots.

+ Item Gained - Puku's Gauntlet

It was a fingerless leather gauntlet.

+ Item Gained - Puku's Leggings

It was a black cotton kilt, from which hung a leather backflap.

+ Item Gained - Puku's Boots

It was a pair of Roman-style sandals with two small white bird's wings protruding from the each of the heels.

+ Item Gained - Puku's Shield

It was another circle shield. On its front marked in blue were the stark outlines of enormous peering eyes with a tiny triangle beak.

The lore for all the armor read:

"Not so much armor as a costume used by the Puku-Man in festival plays and games. Still, it usually keeps little ones from getting into too much trouble."

In the tree's shadow stood a short elderly man who teetered on his cane. His head was wrapped in a deep maroon headscarf and his face was the face of a barn owl. He wore a long tunic dyed in spiral swirls of black, purple, and thin threads of gold.

The man with the head of an owl spoke in giddy whispers:

"Puukuu Puukuuuuu~

Worry Not, Little One,

You who bear the nudge of Murrup's scaly thumb!

Beneath the shade of this ancient grove,

You may rest your weary roots!

All across this land are the Waqas:

Sacred stones, plants, and waters.

They are the old gods!

The many children of Ghis and Ni

all scattered about the country!

The Waqas come in many forms,

But you can't miss one when you see it!

If not by their ostentation, then by their devotions.

Before their shrine you may sprinkle the venator's sacrement,

and they will surely reward your prowess with power.

Look up upon the bough of this waqa!

In the canopy’s shade you will find refreshments!"

+Item Gained - Uyuchu Fruit X 3

The description read: "Eating this magical fruit restores health."

The lore read: "Uyuchu fruit is considered sacred to all who toil under the yoke of The College of Predators, and healers praise its miraculous properties to increase bloodflow and circulation. The petals are often mixed into a hunter-of-man's chalice to keep collected vital fluids from coagulating over many months or even years."

"This tree bears the sacred Uyuchu fruit,

the food of the wise and the ruthless alike!

The fruit that eases the batterer's bruise and the scraper's sting

and which makes the hunter savour the chase all the sweeter.

Before you go,

I’m sure you’ll want to snatch back your own hide,

and feel the sun on your skin once more.

Well, your uncle Puku bequests to you a temporary solution!

A new skin of your own, on loan, of three you may choose from!"

The game then gave me three items and a stat chart for each:

The first skin was covered in red tattoos of wild animals. I could see wolves, eagles, and jaguars.

+ Item Gained - Skin of a Hunter

LVL 4 STR 13 DEX 13 VIT 11 END 12 INT 9 MAG 9 ATT 8 RES 11

The second skin was covered in green tattoos of different plants. I could see trees, flowers, and cacti.

+ Item Gained - Skin of a Shaman

LVL 3 STR 9 DEX 11 VIT 8 END 8 INT 15 MAG 8 ATT 15 RES 8

The third skin was covered in blue tattoos of stars and the crescent moon.

+ Item Gained - Skin of a Pilgrim

LVL 2 STR 12 DEX 8 VIT 11 END 9 INT 8 MAG 14 ATT 11 RES 11

"Remember, this is only a rental!

It's your responsibility to dry-clean before return!

The charnel house lies just across these fields,

Beyond the peak of those hags and scavengers,

You’ll need to be careful,

If the flayed lord’s hands-within-hands should grasp you,

All is lost!

But…

If you’re just clever enough… careful enough...

Maybe you can outwit the Prince of Skinwalkers”

Take care, Little One!

Make your weapons clamor!

Puukuu! Puukuuuuu!~"

I brought up my loadout menu so I could fill up the open equipment slots.

Right-hand: Puku's Cane

LVL 1 STAFF WEIGHT - 3.0 DURABILITY - 12/30 PHS ATK - 65 MAG ATK - 0 FIR ATK - 0 LIG ATK - 0 STR-BON - C DEX-BON - NA INT-BON - NA FAI-BON - NA PHS-DEF - 45 MAG-DEF - 10 FIR-DEF - 30 LIG-DEF - 30

Left-hand: Puku's Shield

LVL 1 SHIELD WEIGHT - 2.5 DURABILITY - 40 PHS ATK - 40 MAG ATK - 0 FIR ATK - 0 LIG ATK - 0 STR-BON - D DEX-BON - NA INT-BON - NA FAI-BON - NA PHS-DEF - 80 MAG-DEF - 35 FIR-DEF - 60 LIG-DEF - 60

Skin: Skin of a Hunter

I decided on the hunter's skin, since Jess had reccomended playing with the melee mechanics until I had a feel for combat.

Head: Puku's Turban

LVL 1 PHYS-PROT: 9 STRK-PROT: 10 SLSH-PROT: 10 THRS-PROT: 9 MAG-PROT: 8 FIR-PROT: 5 LIG-PROT: 6 POIS-RES: 0 TOX-RES: 8 BLD-RES: 8 CUR-RES: 0

Body: Puku's Breastplate

LVL 1 PHYS-PROT: 23 STRK-PROT: 25 SLSH-PROT: 23 THRS-PROT: 21 MAG-PROT: 20 FIR-PROT: 13 LIG-PROT: 17 POIS-RES: 0 TOX-RES: 20 BLD-RES: 20 CUR-RES: 0

Arms: Puku's Gauntlet

LVL 1 PHYS-PROT: 14 STRK-PROT: 15 SLSH-PROT: 14 THRS-PROT: 13 MAG-PROT: 12 FIR-PROT: 8 LIG-PROT: 10 POIS-RES: 0 TOX-RES: 12 BLD-RES: 12 CUR-RES: 0

Legs: Puku's Leggings

LVL 1 PHYS-PROT: 7 STRK-PROT: 8 SLSH-PROT: 7 THRS-PROT: 7 MAG-PROT: 6 FIR-PROT: 4 LIG-PROT: 5 POIS-RES: 0 TOX-RES: 6 BLD-RES: 6 CUR-RES: 0

Feet: Puku's Boots

LVL 1 PHYS-PROT: 7 STRK-PROT: 7 SLSH-PROT: 7 THRS-PROT: 7 MAG-PROT: 6 FIR-PROT: 4 LIG-PROT: 5 POIS-RES: 0 TOX-RES: 6 BLD-RES: 6 CUR-RES: 0

Trinket: Owl Chonta Staff

(+1 INT; Increases the likelihood of item drops.)

Trophy: Head of Lunar Rak

Finally I decided to invest the blood-drops I had gained defeating that last jaguar boss in leveling up. I spent 1465 blood-drops to level up twice and put +2 points into my STR stat to up my damage a little bit.

A short cutscene played in which the flayed man poured out part of the venator's chalice before the Uyuchu tree and then drunk deeply from it, removing the silver goblet from his lips to reveal a bold red smear running down his chin.

Now my stats looked like...

LVL - 6

Blood-drops to LVL UP - 35/758

HP - 594 STAMINA - 95 STR - 15 DEX - 13 VIT - 11 END - 12 INT - 10 MAG - 9 ATT - 8 RES - 11 PHYS DEF - 169.3 VS STRK - 183.8 VS SLSH - 169.3 VS THRS - 154.7 MAG DEF - 145.8 FIR DEF -106.4 LIG DEF - 126 LOAD - 11.4/52.0 POISE - 0 BLD RES - 120.8 TOX RES - 108.8 CRS RES - 30

Matt: Hey, what's the deal with the owl guy?

Jess: thats the puku man!

Jess: hes one of the gods

Jess: he shows up sometimes and gives you stuff

Jess: (＾ｖ＾) puukuu puukuuuuu~

Matt: good to know.

...

Matt: so where'd he get the human skins?

Jess: uuulllll seeeeeeeee

Matt: : /

Jess: (◎▾◎)