LEGENDS OF HAWAIKI - Prologue

Even before dawn the village was astir as the people of Takanui set about the preparations for the days events. In the preceding days Fish, turtle, dog and even pig had been killed and dressed ready for the cooking pits, coconut was being scraped and fruits and vegetables of all kinds, both wild and grown had been gathered and readied.
It was the time of the Matariki festival, the celebrations, which following the predawn rise of the constellation Matariki marked the beginning of the New Year. For months before this day the Chief Makea Takanui had sent out runners and Vaka Tohora, those fast deep-sea outrigger canoes, carrying invitations to all the surrounding districts and islands even as far as Tafitinui. The Ariki knew too that his call would be heard even further afield as word of mouth spread the news to islands more distant than his own emissaries would travel

Descending the narrow path from the village shrine Makea Takanui smiled broadly as he looked down at the activity of the village below. The village sat on a rise overlooking the broad reef enclosed lagoon which acted as the districts harbour and provided much of its abundance. Behind him the deep green of the rainforest extended up the sides of Mt. Tuirangi whilst extending out on the sides of the village were plantations of fruit trees, taro and gourds, cut with winding paths that lead to the homes of the people.

In the village below the boy 'Pako' helped to prepare the cooking pits where pigs and dogs would be baked alongside the more common diet of fish, fowl and taro. Around him his family worked away at various tasks, everyone of them smiling and laughing enjoying the companionship and the promise that the next week would bring.

Matariki was a time when people gathered and celebrated, Tohunga would come to the sacred Malae before dawn to thank the spirits and the stars, and make predictions for the upcoming year, young warriors would contend against each other in sports of running, swimming and skill at arms and through the evenings the Karioi would entertain. It was a great ubdertaking for any community but the people and Makea Takanui both knew that the rewards would also be great, the visitors would bring many gifts to Takanui and the prestige and Influence of Makea Takanui and his people would increase.

Te Reiokura

The salt spray whirling past his face, the bright sun on his back Te Reiokura master of the Haukirarotonga stood tall and magnificent at the stern of the uneven hulled Vaka Kalia. He loved the surge of the craft as a good breeze set it forward at speed, and for almost seven seasons he had lived the life of a voyager, with his small crew of 12 he had sailed the sea paths, the Aratapu a Tangaroa as fisherman, trader and adventurer.

Today he sailed toward Nukutere to take part in the Matariki festival which was being called there, a chance for adventure and prestige in its competitons and perhaps romance in the festive nights between..

Tatiki

Tatiki looked at the people around him and smiled. These people had found him adrift in the ocean and without any thought (at least that Tatiki knew of) took him in and raised him. He was tall and fair complicated next to the other islanders. His green eyes and light brown hair instantly giving away his heritage, Tatiki was Urukehu.
Snapping from his reverie Tatiki pulled on the nets in his hand, bringing more fish up to the shore.
“Tiki!” Cried his father Wuhari. “Those fish wont catch themselves. Roamu Give your brother a hand, He’s dreaming of the out lands again.”
Roamu was everything Tatiki was not. He was a bit slow mentally and physically put a true powerhouse when it came to strength. He grabbed the fishing net and gave a pull toppling Tatiki into the surf and launching the fishing net and the fish in it into the air.
Hiama Tatiki’s mother laughed watching her family. She was too busy with the cooking to help her sons but clearly the women of the village could accomplish nothing without her.

Getting up from his backside Tatiki called to his father, “That’s the last of the nets Papa! I’m off to check the crab cages.” And dove into the sparkling ocean.
As soon as he was in water more than 4 feet deep, Mou came to him. She was his trusted companion, a porpoise who had befriended him when he got her disentangled from his father’s nets. While he was not the swimmer she was, Tatiki tried his hardest to keep pace with her, proving why he was known as one of the great swimmers of his tribe.
The traps were full and he and Mou brought them to the surface. He kissed Mou on the snout and took the traps out of the water. Handing them to his father.
Wuhari took them and winced with pain. He was not well and even Tatiki’s healing charms were no match for the shark that took his father’s leg a week ago. Tiki cursed himself for not being there to aid his father until it was too late. But he did kill the shark and took its teeth and covered his fighting staff with them. The staff was a truly mean piece of work and Tiki was forbidden to bring it in the house for fear Roamu might play with it and harm himself. But over the week Tatiki had learned to master his new weapon, and even Chief Makea Takanui noticed the weapon and had requested Tatiki make him one, so Tiki had been working on another to gift to the Chief himself, a great honor.
The Chief’s staff was made of polished coconut wood and had only the largest teeth Tatiki could find imbedded in it and the grips were wrapped in the finest lizard skins Tatiki could hunt. The whole thing was wrapped in the skin of the shark that had attacked his father, Tatiki having cured and fashioned it into a cloak for the Chief to wear.

As he sat putting the finishing touches on some jewelry he was making for Shoshoi his girlfriend. Tatiki looked up and saw one of his friends approaching…

Lani-wai-koana

Lani glided through the water. She envied her porpoise companions their sinuous bodies, the ease with which they swam. She loved to play with them, and had already spent much of the morning swimming through the reefs. She had gone out earlier than usual, that day, in anticipation of the little time that would be spared during the celebrations. The thought made her realize she would be expected on the shore soon enough, and she regretfully surfaced. Her strong brown arms pulled her to the shore, where she dove once more into the water before finally walking out.

Her footsteps trailed behind her as she ran to the home she shared with Tanafa Rongua Takanui, Makea Takanui's sister. The sun had dried most of the sea water from her skin, and she wrung out her hair before walking inside. No one was there, and she imagined the woman and her family were already at the chief's house, with the rest of his close relatives. She shrugged quickly into her malo and the new woven shirt she had made for the holiday. The clothing felt constricting and she had a moment of claustrophobia, but it subsided quickly and she dashed out the door.

On the way to the chief's house was Tatiki and his family. She slowed to a walk as she neared and, once there, smiled at him. "How is your family?" she asked respectfully, as was custom. Then, before he could answer, she peered out at the water and asked, "How is Mou? I did not have a chance to visit you two this morning, because of all of this." She waved around at the village.

As Lani turned towards the village she saw a small creature approaching them.. His skin was a mixture of brown and yellow and his bald head was covered in tatoos and markings.. His clothing was threadbare, a small loincloth seemingly made of a strange mixture of bark and tanned hide. Round his waist was a small belt adorned with shells and animal teeth. A pair of drums hanging loosely from his side, one larger than the other, banged against his legs as he waddled towards the pair. He seemed to be muttering to himself, and was walking with his head down, clearly not noticing, until he bumped into them that is, the two friends standing by. He stops his song suddenly as he walks into Lani's legs...

"Eh! Watch where you go big ones! Me be walkin' here! Important!"

He seems to do a little dance as he berates the two for standing in his way, on the word "important" he points at himself and lifts his chin up, making sure the pair notice him.

Recognition comes into his eyes as he lifts his chin and looks at the pairs faces for the first time:

"Lani! Tatiki! Why you not say who you was? You give me fright! Me was ready to write song bout nasty big people! Ohh, this funny happening, me get tatoo on head about this!"

He points to the intricate markings on his bald head and finds a clean spot:

"Right there! Good spot!"

He grins to himself as he does another little jig, you get the feeling this creature is not all right in the head...

Lani smiles at him. "Where are you going in such a rush, Little Brother?"

Tatiki finishs the polishing and finaly addresses his friends. "We're off to the open of the festival. Will you be playing Little Drum Brother?" Tiki reaches into his shell purse and extracts a huge sharks tooth. "Here you are. I saved you this for your belt."
"Lani, Mou would love to see you again. She loves to dance the waves with her sister."

Tu-Ru O'Punga Barbarian

Tu-Ru hefts his large club on his shoulder as he approaches the village. He had come to celebrate with the others, but was unsure how his presence would be taken. For his part in the festival he had swore off long pork for the extent of the festivities. His stomach was telling him that the decision was a foolish one. He longed for fresh meat, but knew that he must eat differently if he wished to be accepted. As he approached the villiage he looked for familiar faces. Thus he would feel less out of place...

Wai-Tu-Mata Takanui

"Is this the last load? Can I go now, father?" Wai smiled his best grin, showing off even white teeth.

Rangi sighed, knowing that it would take him at least two more trips alone, but having trouble denying his only son. "All right, go play with your friends... AFTER you take that load down to your grandmother."

With a quick thanks tossed over his shoulder, Wai ran into the village. Stopping at the small hut where his grandmother now lived, he dropped the net bag filled with the latest load of coconuts from his father's plantation. Ignoring the two O'Punga workers that his father employed who were busy preparing the coconuts for the feast, he laid a quick peck on his grandmother Moana's cheek before leaving the small hut.

Looking around, he spotted many familiar faces in the crowd. Friends and cousins darted and played -- at least those who weren't still preparing.

Looking up on the hill, he spotted a large figure hesitating at the edge of town.

"Hey, Tu-Ru, is that you? How have you been? It's been years since I saw you last. What have you been up to?"

Wai was hoping that his cheerful greeting would put the bigger O'Punga at ease... years of living and working with his father's hired hands had shown him that they were often uncomfortable around crowds... And the last thing Wai wanted during such a happy occasion was trouble.

Puna Tani sat on the straw floor of his hut, meditating. He reached out with his inner self, searching...

We will devour you, little brown one. You want to court our power, but you will never be able to control us. Your mettle has never been truly tested. When it is, you will fail. Our hunger is greater than yours. We look forward to our next meal.

Snapping out of his trance, the shaman wiped his brow with the back of his hand, sweat dripping off his fingertips. Hands quivering, he pulled on his ceremonial armor and gripped the handle of his sharpened club. In the weapon's highly-polished surface, he saw his reflection.

How much I look like my father... he thought, ...wearing his armor, holding his weapon, communing with the spirits as he once did so well. Am I doomed to be consumed by the Beasts like him? Do I have what it takes to join the ranks of the Tanguru? Can I hold off their hunger long enough?

Shaking off his concerns, the shaman collected himself. His hands became steady, his demeanor was now confident and strong. Talking aloud, he spoke to the empty hut, "Battle will come soon enough, beastlords, and then we will see what we will see. Until then, I have a celebration to attend."

With that, Puna Tani left the dark hut behind and strode defiantly out into the bright sunny day.