#82

Pasted to the page is the photo of a huge cooking table, topped with seemingly impossibly huge steaks.




Been having some quiet time in Zuldazar, learning to cook from a master chef in Dazar’alor. She - her name is T’sarah - she makes you do a lot of running around to learn at her fire, I will confess. I expected to sit a few hours and chop vegetables or break down a carcass. But I learned a lot. She taught me to make Mon’dazi (A fried dough), Loa Loaf (A dense bread) and some seasoned loins. Good, practical things to know to do if I am truthful.  It sure helps me to use up the meats I acquire in my hunting and working - I can set up a cook fire at trade stops too, and serve hot food. I’m going to teach our team to make these too, if I’m not around.

I’ve been studying more about the loa too. Jani is still my patron of sorts, though others claim he’s a trashy sort of loa, less than the others. I find it kind of rude I suppose - people attribute his lesser status I think due to the vagrants and scavengers of Zuldazar worshipping him. Ginja confided to me she thinks maybe claiming a more powerful loa might have us look better to potential buyers - and she might be right. But I am going to keep on with Jani. He has had no reason to appear dirty in my eyes. Jani has a right to be worshipped by anyone who sees him just as Krag’wa or Kimbal might.

 I saw a speaker of Jani recently, on the steps of Dazar’alor. She spoke strong words celebrating Jani, even piling some refuse - cast offs from others in the city -  on the grounds in tribute. I was able to donate some spare bones I had on me as a tribute too - she threw herself down and welcomed me to the circle of trolls she had gathered around her! Everyone clapped me on the back, or hooted, saying it was good to see an outsider giving tribute to Jani, or any Zandalari loa. Eventually she and the others were driven away by guards who claimed we were just creating a mess on the grounds. One guided me to a shrine to Krag’wa, saying I should look for a stronger loa to look to. I felt a bit bad - for the speaker. She had, I feel a right to speak of the loa as any other devoted. And to be honest, she and the gathered folk were careful to pick up everything from the pile they had on the ground, so nothing was left behind.

I haven’t seen a set place to worship Jani - I see plenty of shrines to the rest. Pa’ku for example - another loa I am told I am bound to - has countless offerings of flowers, food, incense and the like at her shrine. Who cleans that? Does the food get eaten? I asked a spear on duty and he said the offerings are cleaned up and divvied up among the less fortunate before they go bad. “Nothing the loa receives be going ta waste girl - don’t yah fret.” So I guess that’s good. He didn’t have an answer for the coin and jewels that are often left by the more well off folk. Onlt that everything has a place.

 I leave offerings to Pa’ku - I’m told she favors incense and meat at her shrine. I met her once (it was terrifying) and she seemed happy with my offerings in person, because I can fly through the city sometimes if I honor her small totems through the city. I still feel a stronger devotion to Jani. Vik’wa has told me to be cautious - some loa are jealous, even petty and vengeful to share worship. She said hers will not tolerate the worship of anyone but her - and that sounds kind of scary. What if she did worship another? like Gonk? or Kimbal? She had no answer. She only said, “I don’t be testing dose waters.”

The Earthmother is still a figure I honor too though - I can’t see her, but she’s still with me in the warm sun and fresh air I breathe. The good food I eat, the waters I bathe in. I’m careful to wear a talisman I carved in bone. I wear it in my pocket. I made it to be a sun and moon next to eachother. Elder Wooshy said it was simple, but meaningful. That, “Honoring her comes in all ways - as we can afford to. She remembers her children through good times and bad.” Which is comforting. With the loa I feel a constant need to make bigger and better offerings, pledge huge things - which sometimes I find I can’t. I give the best I can, when I can.

I feel like my life is consumed with work and loa. The jungles here are brimming with work and trade, and the city is always so dazzling. So many foods to eat and learn about - and so many people that want to talk and spend time with you as you work or idle away the time. I met a goblin the other day in fact - he set up a bar in a little cook shack by the port. I think his name was Kryzz? He wasn’t very clear. He rapped (he called it rapping? it sounded like talking.) and sang his hop hop verses. I’ve only heard of hip hop from a couple of my goblins - it’s not to my taste but I don;t stop them. I met a Nightborne elf, and a blood elf too. We shared a joint of the ganja I’ve really developed a taste for since coming here. So many people smoke it here, specially during worship time. It’s been lovely here. I start a new job in the jungle soon - hunting down raptors that are plaguing an project run by some elves in the area. I sort of can’t wait!