The Thousand Mask Warrior

Banten Sultanate

"I still want to ask, how did you guys get back here?” jayaseta asked shortly after he announced his agreement with Pratiwi and the surrounding community who complained about him for successfully defeating the chaos makers in the port of the Cerbon Sultanate.

“Begini, le. Actually, we decided to no longer want to work on the ship. We have even returned all our payments,” Badra said.

“We want to follow your journey. We realized that we couldn't keep stalking you, but at least give us a little longer to walk behind my niece, still feeling lost and at least the lesson time we got, he said,” said Badra the uncle at length.

Jayaseta looked at them one by one and then muttered a little, “Hmmm .. well, uncle and brothers. I'll take you guys to come with me a little longer. I'm doing this to pay for your services for saving Pratiwi and me. Besides I need a pleasant companion,” Jayaseta said.

Jayaseta's new family group did not cover their excitement with a big smile.

Suddenly Jayaseta again frowned. He was thinking. The soldiers of course wondered in their hearts. However, before one of them wanted to ask Jayaseta directly what was the burden on his mind, Jayaseta himself revealed, “I have to find a new mask. I no longer have any masks.” His words are like more to yourself.

Without Jayaseta guessing, all the soldiers even Badra his uncle smiled widely even some laughs. “Let calm Jayaseta, I even bought one mask. I plan to give it to you as a gift if indeed we meet on land,” said Kesuma, the dagger swordsman from Surabaya suddenly.

From behind his clothes, he took out a wooden mask that was so beautiful and still new. The mask given by Kesuma is a Samba mask, one of Cerbon's distinctive masks in addition to Panji. Understandably Cerbon is one of the paradise masks used for dance. The difference with the Panji mask that Jayaseta used to have is that when the Panji mask is white without facial features and shows purity, the Samba mask is a mask that symbolizes children who have cheerful faces, funny and agile. The look on his face was smiling, jambon-colored, as if showing a face that blushed in shame. Although it symbolizes cheerfulness, but basically this mask also breathes magic and is full of secrets, it sometimes looks scary.

This is exactly the kind of mask Jayaseta wants. As if the Samba mask also describes the fighting style he has. Inevitably Jayaseta came to smile widely. He accepted the Kesuma mask and thanked not only Kesuma, but all the members of the entourage who would accompany him to Betawi. But because Jayaseta had no more bundle of skin, the mask he hung on his waist, then he hid by wrapping the ivory white cloth around his waist.

***

“I have to go to Betawi as I told you on the boat. You guys will accompany me to the new Pakuan after that we walk to Betawi?” jayaseta said to his entourage.

“Team, Jayaseta?” ask Kesuma.

“Why do we have to pass through Pakuan which is towards the South? We could have gone down the north coast straight to Banten and then Betawi, the chairman,” Mahendra replied.

“Hmm ... explain to me further?” ask Jayaseta.

“Walau we are from Surabaya, we have traveled from end to end of Java island. Pakuan is the former capital of the collapsed Sunda Galuh kingdom. There's not much we can get there. Indeed many trees, fruits, and some roads are very good because they are made of well laid out stone. But it feels too swirling if we have to go to Pakuan. We better go directly to Banten first and from there Betawi will be much closer,” explained Sasangka representing the two friends of the pair of triple dagger warriors.

“Alright, if that's your decision. We are going to Banten, after all you who are very familiar with adventure.” replied Jayaseta steady.

“Then, we get ready first, maybe you can relax for a moment while we will prepare the ship,” Katilapan said as if at the same time giving orders for others to pack.

Jayaseta flinched confused, “Wait a minute. What do you mean by preparing the ship, Katilapan?”

“Lha, we will indeed leave by boat, right?” reply to uncle. “Tenang le, even though we do not use the big ship anymore, we still have a ride to Banten,” he said as if trying to dismiss doubts and concerns Jayaseta about the availability of the ship.

“True Jayaseta. We have many acquaintances in every port on this island of Java. The ship we will board later may not be as big as the previous ship, but it can take us to Banten,” Katilapan said again.

“What? We'll get on the boat?” jayaseta was surprised.

“Yes, of course. We're going down the north coast and we're going to get there faster than we walk. Besides Banten is indeed a crowded port country, therefore many ships are anchored there to le,” back the uncle asserted.

Jayaseta stood up and shook her head violently, “No, no. We are on foot. You know I'm not used to boats. I will easily get seasick,” Jayaseta replied with a huff. “I'm already caught in the middle of the sea. You're the one who understands that I can't swim too,” said Jayaseta shyly.

***

With great difficulty and against his seasickness, Jayaseta accompanied by his entourage of new colleagues finally arrived at his destination. The main port in the Sultanate of Banten had had a large enough area to reach the port of Sunda Kalapa which had been captured by the Sultanate of Demak and named Jayakarta where it was now renamed Betawi when it fell to the the Walanda Company.

Jayaseta was very calm because it had reached land even though the episode still felt puyeng and the land he stepped on seemed to still be swaying like when in the sea. But other than the feeling of the rest of the seasickness, he was fine. It's good to touch the ground again.

According to the story of the soldiers of his new friends, a variety of merchandise was brought to Banten through the port because of the crowded place. There are rice and rice from central and eastern Java as well as Johor, the fragrant sandalwood from the Lesser Sunda islands, nutmeg and cloves from Maluku, pepper from Lampung, etc, diamonds and gold from the Sultanate of Brunei, even goods from foreign countries such as silk and bowls from China and beautiful fabrics and weavings from Hindustan.

Not only that, there were even many shops selling sharp weapons and weapons such as keris, swords, spears and small cannons. There are also those who sell beautiful art items from fragrant sandalwood. Not far there are also those who sell men's clothing separated from the sellers of women's clothing. Only then can be seen the store of spices and drugs are quite spacious and large and can be seen directly from the entrance of the market. Understandably, spices are trading materials that are highly sought after in the archipelago and abroad.

Next to a row of spice and medicine shops, there are two rows of shops where Bengalis and Gujaratis sell tools and tools from iron which is usually used for agriculture and household. The shops of the Chinese are located far behind which are also quite spacious and consist of many rows where they sell meat, chicken, fish, fruits, vegetables, pepper, shallots, rice, etc, even gems.

Jayaseta also noticed the Banten residents in the market who were average men bare-chested. They wear knee-length pants, sometimes trousers. While the rich man is seen from the beautiful large belt that is inscribed with gold and jewels and keris that was carved beautifully. Their trousers are crooked to the ankles in beautiful colors. So is the fabric that surrounds the waist. They walked by their messengers. Some were accompanied by two or more personal bodyguards with sharp weapons on their waists.

Jayaseta felt her stomach start to rumble, her throat dry and her body needs a comfortable place to rest for a moment. Apparently food stalls and taverns lined the market a little far from the harbor, fish market and spice market. The group immediately headed for the shops.

While walking towards one of the neatly lined stalls, Jayaseta always looked around. He really enjoyed this trip and was always happy to see a world so rich in things.

Jayaseta himself was already impatient to get to the city. He needed to find a place to stay, clean up, including shaving his mustache and beard that had been long for days on the ship.

After all, however, he was unlikely to continue traveling further with this entourage. He had to think about his plan again. The main goal is to keep seeing Salman's grandfather to ask about the poison Kyai Plered in his body. Although thankfully until now, Kyai Plered has not reappeared bothering him, still he needs to get a definite answer.

Before long they had eaten together.

***

The city of Banten is very boisterous and crowded. They entered through a beautiful gate. This gate is a city gate fenced in the walls of bricks that bend with a thickness of seven palms.

Three dagger warriors from Surabaya; Sasangka, Kesuma and Narendra who have often been to Banten explained that the wall fence along the city of Banten has three gates, but neither hinged nor iron lock, only a large wooden cross was closed and guarded by many guards. These bodyguards use thick, heavy wooden shacks that are used to hit people looking for trouble. This thick wooden crib is quite good when used as a weapon. When used as an enemy plunger, the general enemy will be heavily injured but not to death, the term enemy will be summarized to then account for the mistakes obtained further.

Another case if they are armed with a sword or spear that has sharp sides where people will have a chance to die greater due to cuts due to the scratches of the sharp weapon. In addition, the choice of betung as a weapon can be said to be much cheaper, simple but no less powerful than other weapons.

Banten Sultanate soldiers themselves are equipped with a large round shield up to half their bodies. They also carried long spears in their right hands. Several different special forces were seen guarding two, one as a shooter with a rifle or a shoulder blade with a bullet that he slipped on his waist. He also prepared a fire to light a rifle. While the other is his assistant who is ready to recharge the bullets with other rifles. There were also troops with shields and swords. But unlike the spearmen, many of these troops wore abdominal, chest and shoulder protective clothing with metal-plated clothing.

They also explained that the Banten Sultanate did have tremendous defense, even to the villages. Each village is surrounded by a barbed fence for security. Various people live there, such as Malay, Bengal, Gujarat, Habsyi and Chinese villages in the west that fenced in the ketucup. In the Chinese village many Walandas, Pranggis, and the British lived there.

Many reports say that the pale-skinned and blond-haired people are described as having giant bodies that surpass the average height of Javanese or indigenous people. If you notice this is not very accurate. Just like the bumiputra, the Caucasians were short and small, indeed although not a few who had a tall body.

Because of the wealth and diversity of Banten is seen that makes Mataram interested in mastering it. But with the power that Banten has also, Mataram until now still can not touch it. How not, on each elbow of the fence of the fort there is a cannon where half is forked, half is not.

The strength of the Banten army can also be seen in the harbor that they have passed. The Banten naval armed forces are also worth taking into account. His warships resembled galley ships with two sail masts. The series is narrow and is the role that follows the stern of the ship. The lower room is used for slaves and rowers while the soldiers or soldiers are on the deck to make it more free to fight. Four cannons were placed in front.

When entering the city, Jayaseta saw along the wall there are three-story wooden buildings that are beautiful and sturdy. The distance between the two buildings is about a stone throw. In the evening the river and creeks are also guarded by people who also use betung as their weapons. The river is about three feet deep, where the water is calm but murky. This is because the river can also be a means of traveling through the water and the enemy can just slip into the city of Banten.

In the center of the city there is a large square with a royal palace in the South. In the eastern part of the square there is an armory that is closely guarded by soldiers. While the mosque is on the west with a beautiful carved wooden pole. Walled sasak and thatch roof or rumbia.

According to the third explanation of the Surabaya swordsman is about the arsenal which is one of the most interesting places for the warriors, champions and travelers who are interested in canoegan like them and Jayaseta himself, he said, it contained tens to hundreds of sharp weapons used for warfare and as a reserve storage of weapons for the Banten soldiers. They will go in and out of the armory to borrow weapons that will be taken on duty or training to then be handed back into the warehouse. Complete records are made in this activity. There are various types of long swords and spears that are specifically used for warfare.

Jayaseta understands that there are different types of armory. There is an arsenal used to store cannons and fire powder where it is usually also placed differently from other weapon warehouses because it has different maintenance methods. There is an arsenal used to store royal heirloom weapons that have special power and authority so that they are placed near the palace, call it keris-keris and spear-tobak heirlooms of kings and princes of the kingdom.

Jayaseta realizes Kyai Plered's spear is the ultimate type of weapon whose storage must be closely guarded and could be a place of storage is kept secret. There is also a general arsenal of weapons in the form of large weapons of war.

There are various spears with various blades or sharp parts. The type of spear blade shape is called a kitchen. For the arsenal in Banten on average is a straight or real single blade, and long and taper like Ron Pring kitchen, Lotus Cup kitchen, New Cup kitchen or Tropong New kitchen. There are also some that bladed a lot such as dwisula or trident. Ordinary many-bladed spears are used to attack enemies armed with swords in order to lock and release swords from enemy hands.

Most landeyan or wooden handle or spear handle has a length of panurung or more for the purpose of a large war face to face but a distance that is longer than a one-on-one fight. The length of the panurung landeyan is twice the length of the dedeg. One dedeg is the size of approximately the size of a human height from the soles of the feet to the ends of the head. It was a size long enough for a spear. Jayaseta remembers Kyai Plered's spear wounding him using a landeyan sehasta, which is only along the end of the elbow of the hand that is bent perpendicular to the tip of the finger stretched upwards, where with landeyan or short handles this makes the movement of soldiers jamihai Raden Pekik more freely.

Not only that, there are also unusually long spears, called landeyan blandaran which is three times the length of the blade! Very long, which from the name alone can be explained that the spear with a very long landeyan is usually placed in the blandar of the house, or a large and transverse main piece of wood that serves as a buffer for the roof of the house.

The discussion of this weapon makes this group of warriors cheerful and excited. Jayaseta then decided to stay at a simple inn but at a fairly expensive price. Understandably, he was in the middle of the city, even close to the square and the palace. However, he needs to use the money he brings with him properly.