Pronunciation: (rhymes with whatever she chants)
The Bone Woman was a nasty old crone. As a rare female shaman in Olbar the Mountain Tall’s Great River Tribe, she held powerful sway over her people. Smarter and more cunning than average, she used fear, superstition, and manipulation to hold that sway without second thought.
She saw her role threatened by Nonna, symbol maker of the neighboring Hoan G’Tay-Sho human tribe and new bride of young tribesman Adar. Upon Nonna’s arrival the Bone Woman promptly told superstitious Olbar that the timid painter of dreams was in reality a consort of demons. Olbar promptly banished Adar and Nonna, never to return upon pain of death. It was a double win for the Bone Woman: she eliminated a potential rival, and deepened Olbar’s reliance on her.
Years later, Adar and Nonna returned to the Great River Tribe. The Bone Woman demanded that Olbar kill them for defying their exile. She leaned into her accusation of Nonna as a demon-lover, knowing the ploy would be effective after Olbar’s terrifying encounter with “evil spirits” (actually, Preservers) in the Forbidden Grove. The hulking chief played into her plan and ordered his warriors to slay the couple.
Cutter and Skywise ultimately foiled that plan. The Bone Woman then secretly plotted with the Thief to steal Skywise’s lodestone, which scheme also failed. What became of the Bone Woman is unknown. She was not present when Cutter returned to Olbar’s tribe three years later. Given Olbar’s volatile temperament, it is likely she did not meet a pleasant end.
