Yo! So this is my first timeline, of course with a very dubious POD, in my opinion. I mean, the main source for this is oral tradition, so this might not actually exist, but I'm going to assume it does.
Anyway, I actually have exams going on right now, so I may not be able to post much of this timeline in the coming weeks, so just bear with me, if you want.
So without further ado,
The Story that Set on the Moonlit Shores, A Polynesian Timeline
Part one: The End of the Beginning, Dated about 1350 CE
Most stories incorporate some sort of change within the situation presented. This makes sense, since it is change that we find interesting and what is interesting is preserved. This seems especially true in what we call history.
However, that does not mean that the events that don't involve change are any less important. Sometimes those events are the most important ones of them all, and nowhere is this idea more prevalent than in the continuation of the Fakatau Aroha.
The Fakatau Aroha[1], or Friendly Alliance, started as a political union between the highborn Rotuman Poiriri and the highborn Pora-poran Te’ura. It quickly became an intricate trade network between what was then known as the Tongan Empire and the islands of Tahiti, due to their immense influence on the founding islands.
From the beginning, the alliance had been split in twain, but with greater Tongan and Tahitian influence, the difference between the two had exacerbated. The west, normally influenced by Tonga, was called Te Ao-tea, or the Light-lands, and included the islands of Rotuma, Rarotonga, Porapora and Aotearoa[2]. The East became Te Ao-uri, or the dark-lands, and included Hawaiki[3], Tahiti and the islands to the south. Perhaps, had Hawaiki Roa or Nga Pito[4] still remained in contact with Tahiti, they may have also become part of that region, but that is mere speculation.[5] The main differences between the two regions were the extent of Tongan influence on the alliance, as well matters of a religious nature, which caused much turmoil in the region.
This was the situation in which our non-story begins.
On Hawaiki stood two tahungas.[6] They met in secret beside Taputapuatea marae the night before the official meeting of the Fakatau Aroha was to take place.[7] The men’s names have been lost to the void of time, so for now, they shall be called Paoa-tea from Rarotonga, and Paoa-uri from Tahiti.
“We have prayed much to Tangaroa[8] to grant our brethren in Aotearoa their much needed sustenance,” Paoa-tea told Paoa-uri, “but to no avail.”
“I see,” Paoa-uri replied. “So you wish to make an offering to his son Koro[9]?”
Paoa-tea sighed and nodded. “What is an acceptable offering for this request?” he asked.
Paoa-uri stood in silence, deep in thought.
“Most of your people have not yet accepted the great god’s affections into their hearts. Only your life can satisfy him!” he eventually declared.
“I cannot let my blood drip on the marae unless I know it is the only solution left.” Paoa-tea replied after a momentary delay. “Ask me again after tomorrow's meeting.”
Upon hearing this, Paoa-uri became infuriated. Were they not also part of the Alliance? This blatant disrespect from the west had to be curtailed, for what other reason would Paoa-tea have to ask for Koro’s help and then refuse?
Paoa-uri wasn’t stupid; he knew the easiest way to solve this problem. If he killed the other tahunga now, he knew that the Tongan influence would ebb, and with it, the reluctance to embrace Koro. But, as with most good ideas, there was a drawback: Tonga was a major trading partner and a loss in this trade may result in the re-fragmentation of the Alliance.
Killing Paoa-tea was not worth the risk of chaos, Paoa-uri thought.
And so, with the dawn of a new day looking upon Paoa-uri’s inaction, the story of the Sin at Awarua set on the moonlit shores.
[1] The Fa’atau Aroha, as Teuira Henry would write IOTL
[2] The *Mäori name for OTL New Zealand.
[3] Otherwise known as Havai’i, which is OTL Ra’iätea.
[4] Alternate names that may have been used for Hawai’i and Rapa Nui, respectively. This is based on the fact that the island of Hawai’i is the third biggest island in Polynesia and Rapa Nui was perhaps once called TE PITO O TE HENUA.
[5] Just like this entire section, which was created by one Tahitian legend and many archaeological findings.
[6] Literally means expert, but has religious connotations. Cognate with *Hawaiian KAHUNA.
[7] A marae is a rectangular clearing where meetings took place.
[8] God of the ocean or the supreme god, depending on which island you are on.
[9] God of war and supreme god in Tahiti and Ra’iätea. Otherwise known as ‘Oro.
Thoughts?