LEGENDS OF HAWAIKI - Prologue

The Ritual of Welcome

Blazing Tamanui, the Sun climbed steadily towards his zenith, his countenance bright against the azure belly of the Sky, whilst below him the people of lined the beach and gathered for the Ritual of Welcome scheduled for noon.

Tanafa Rongua stood amongst the assembled nobility and frowned when Lani appeared not pleased that she was late. Still she said nothing as the Urukehu takes her place behind her mother.

Fortunately for the latecomers the Lady Mata'vaine, matriarch of the Clan had not yet arrived with her fierce and scolding tongue. Instead she was still making her way down from her sacred quarters where she and the Chief Makea Takanui had been dressed in their finest tapa, feather cloaks and corwns of mother-of-pearl, red fathers, pearl and then made offerings to secure the favour of the Atua.

Descending from the path the Lady, the chief and their small honour guard approached the rise above the shoreline where an open space had been cleared to act as the marae for the welcoming of the visitors. On either side of the entrance way to the marae stood two Tiki figures with fierce eyes and wide mouths, they had been carved from the wood of the Hau tree and would protect the marae from hostile forces.

Behind the wooden icons the Marae Courtyard was enclosed by a low stone wall beyond which rows of coconut palm grew defining its edges. Opposite the entranceway, at the far end of the Marae courtyard, was a raised platform of shaped coral upon which, like a bird in his exquisite cloak of red feathers, stood the ‘Speaker for Takanui’, the flamboyant Tineiafi.

Tineiafi was the Official Speaker for Chief Makea on all official occasions and thus Master of Ceremonies for the duration of the festival.
He was was of middleage yet his body was still strong though not as sculptured as in his younger days. For the Welcoming Ceremonies his bronze skin had been oiled and perfumed, and dusted with yellow clay, about his neck hung a gleaming Mother-of-Pearl Talisman.

Right now he stood poised and ready, a staff gripped in one hand receiving whispered messages and giving succinct instruction. Before him on the platform seated in accordance with their status and their rank in descent from the founding ancestors were the family of Makea Takanui along with the senior Priests and other high officials of the district and Island each dressed in their finery of white tapa skirts, feathers, fine mats and intricate shellwork. Some of them wore high and elaborate crowns
Tanafa Rongua, Lani was there amongst them as was Ru-Hina her eyes bright and smiling as she gazed down upon the taut back of her brother Maeharoa who stood amongst the ranks of the Warriors, the sacred Taiaha ‘Kaiuru’ quivering in his hand.

The pople gathered around the marae and down along the beach and an expectant hush hung over the island until finally a trumpet blast sounded from the point.
Within minutes the masts and sails of three great double-hulled Vaka Purua came into view as the flotilla of visiting ships moved into the harbour and towards the shore.

"Turou, Turou" in a deep bass toneTineiafi called from his platform the chant intended to ‘clear the way’ for the visitors to land.
Puna Tani watching saw the flicker as a broad path opened through people milling about as they were moved back by some unseen hand - a bright path leading the vaka to shore.

Vaka Taua were launched from the beach too, decorated long boats that would speed towards the approaching double-hulls with military precision and harangue them with challenges and boasts before falling back to shore where Maeharoa and his warriors waited
 

log in or register to remove this ad

Tu-Ru stands lumbers through the crowd of people as they move to avoid the large man. He gets to where Wai is and waits for the festivities to begin.

As everything gets going, he watches in awe of the splender.
 

Tonguez said:
"Turou, Turou" in a deep bass tone, Tineiafi called from his platform the chant intended to ‘clear the way’ for the visitors to land.

Puna Tani, watching, saw the flicker as a broad path opened through people milling about as they were moved back by some unseen hand - a bright path leading the vaka to shore.

Father, I wish you were here to guide me, Puna Tani thought to himself as he stepped onto the middle of the bright path for the first time. Although his part in the ritual was small, it was significant, as it had been when his father had performed the duty so many times before. I hope I make him proud. Steadying his nerves, Puna Tani awaited Tineiafi's signal to begin.

That's it boy. Keep following your father's footsteps. Right into our mouths. What a tasty morsel you have grown up to be...

The shock of the intruding thought was only visible on Puna Tani's face as he fought to control his momentary fear. Luckily for him, all that was in front of his face was the empty, waiting beach and the arriving Vaka in the closing distance.
 


Lani sighs a breath of relief when she gets there just before Lady Mata'vaine and the chief. She smiles at Tanafa Rongua and then scans the crowd almost subconsciously, searching for any visitors she does not know, visitors who might have a clue about her past. Her attention is then taken up entirely by the vaka taunting rituals.
 

mirthcard said:
The shock of the intruding thought was only visible on Puna Tani's face as he fought to control his momentary fear. Luckily for him, all that was in front of his face was the empty, waiting beach and the arriving Vaka in the closing distance.

"Turou, Turou" Tineiafi chanted his deep voices rumbling like the sound of distant thunder "Turou Parea ki Tangaroa, Turou ki uta Turou ki tai..." like the rumbling of an earthquake it wrapped itself around Puna Tani and the young taura-shaman standing their with his weapon held ready could feel the mana of the invocation that flowed along the Sacred path of Tangaroa

Looking up Puna Tani could see the approaching fleet Vaka, there was a Spirit at the bow of each, protective spirits mainly - Ancestors and Animals - but each stood defiantly surveying the shoreline, each one a potential threat to the safety of Takanui.

And even as Maeharoa and his warriors were tasked with challenging the intentions of the mortal visitors as they came ashore, it was the task of Puna Tani to ensure that these spirits were also challenged and did not come ashore.


The lead vaka was about the length of 14 adult tangata, a fine vessel with its tall twin mast and lanteen sails. Yellow streamers flew from the tips of the masts and flowers lined the sides. A sturdy deck connected the twin hulls of the Vaka, upon which stood the assembled crew and visiting champions each one poised ready with weapons brandished for a war dance.

The voice of Tineiafi dropped and was replaced by the keen of an old woman, the signal for both Maeharoa and Puna Tani to move forward to the waters edge weapons flourished in a ritual display of prowess.

"Oh Look at them!" Ru-Hina gasped excitedly to her cousins Mania and Lani "aren't they grand!"

Behind them the keen of the old women continued causing the hackles to rise on the back of the necks of many standing in the crowd, there is mana in the voice of the crones.

This was the most dangerous time in any Ritual of Welcome, and the intensity of it could be felt vibrating through the air.
It was here that the true intentions of visitors, whether for war or peace would be determined, it was here that their Spirits on the Vaka either backed down or leaped forward to take first blood. Should that happen then every hand would be called to defend the clan.

However if the visiting Spirits backed down and their mortal companions came peacefully the remainder of the day would be given to speech making, the display of gifts from the vistors to their hosts, the sharing of breath between dignataries and finally
a night of feasting and festivity as the various clans visitor and host alike tried to out do each other in dance and song and their champion warriors made boasts about their ability and offered challenges to their peers

But first the Ritual Challenge had to be completed and the intentions of the visitors determined

Puna Tani stood forth...

(ooc Puna Tani take it away:D I'm away for next two days - see ya soon (and hopefully you've subdued the visiting atua...;))
 
Last edited:

Lani rolls her eyes at Ru-Hina's exclamation. However, when the chanting begins, she forgets those around her. She takes a small involuntary step forward, eyes drawn to the conflict on the beach, body tense with the unseen mana around her.
 

Puna Tani stood forth...

Never taking his eyes off the atua at the prow of the arriving vaka, the young shaman lifted his battleclub above his head and the weapon became magically infused with light. Picking up the chant, he began to swing his club through the air in wide arcs paying respect to Rangi, the Sky Father.

Next Puna Tani brought his left knee up to his chest and drove his foot down hard onto the beach. Doing the same with right knee, he began the ritual dance to honor Papa, the Earth Mother.

Slowly, the dance brought him forward to the ocean's edge. Kicking the water up into the air and onto the beach, Puna Tani at last joined Tangaroa, the father of the sea, back together with his parents Rangi and Papa. Having shown respect for the sky, earth and sea, the way to Nukutere was finally open, all that was needed was a doorway.

Puna Tani now turned his back on the arriving visitors, thereby showing his trust in their intentions. Pulling a sweet potato from a pouch at his side, the shaman split it in two and threw the halves far apart on the beach. With a final chant, he swept his battleclub through the tide, throwing a great spout of sea spray into the air. The magical light faded from the weapon and in the falling water a rainbow appeared, each end originating from one of the sweet potato's halves. With this last act, Puna Tani called upon the grace of Tangaroa's brother, Rongo, the father of song, flowers, crops and peace to bless the festivities and welcome all to Nukutere.
 

Wai watches the festivities with rapt interest.

Seeing the rainbow arcing in the air, he mutters "I have GOT to learn how to do that trick. It's impressive."
 


Remove ads

Top