Battletech: Far Rising

The Tribe of Tanoa

Deep in the Jungles, Kaetetoa

The Central Council of Tanoa roosted in the Long Nesting House. Hetman Peteros sat at the head of the circle of 12, with the Shaman Krepesk in the center, stoking the flames at the central fire pit. Outside the 12 elders, the rest of the Tribe roosted.

The Tetatae of Tanoa would convene for a decision to be made.

Krepesk nodded to Peteros, and he began.

"For 600 years, the Human Enclaves have persecuted our people. The Tetatae have been as peaceful as we can, helping them, trading with them, and they have responded to each kindness with aggression. For 600 years, the way of the Tetatae has been to move, and avoid them. Now, our numbers are so low, and our land so divided we must ask again. What are we to do about the humans?"

Their language was high and crowing. The clucks and caws of chickens mixed with the range of vocalizations exhibited by corvids. The 12 council members surrounding the Hetman nodded, before Porak, the youngest council member, stood. She had an ovoid body as was standard for the Tetatae, with large legs extending above her body, and down in an avian towards her legs. Her arms hung low in front of her light brown, almost blonde feathered body. Her four pupils looked around the room, before the skin slid forward towards her beak, before sliding back in a blink.

"Our people have existed on Kaetetoa long before the humans. We were once Natives of the Plains, and we knew no division. We traveled in the Great Flock as one, and would forage as one at the edge of the forests.

Life was Good.

"Then came the first Decision, as the First Two tribes split, one staying on the Plains, and the Second journeying deeper into the Jungles of Kaetetoa. And so the plains Flock would keep to their nomadic ways, and we of the Jungle flock would learn how to sharpen stone, and cut wood. We built the nesting house, and learned how to plant the seeds. This was the way of the Tetatae.

"The day the Stars Fell, the first humans arrived in the plains. Weakened, frightened, and injured, the humans came to our plains brothers seeking help, and the Tetatae gave it willingly. When they had established themselves, they returned our brethren's kindness with enslavement, and hunting. It was only when we had learned their language and converse with them, that they stopped hunting us for sustenance, and trade began once more. For 500 years, the humans grew, and more of the Tetatae learned their tongue, and even we of the Jungle Tribes would trade with the more peaceful humans. But whenever hardship fell on the humans, they gave cruelty to the Tetatae.

"Over a hundred years ago, the second star fell. These humans came with guns, more powers, and the Locust. Great Birds of Steel, that Resembled the Great Elder."

"The Great Elder, The Great Elder, The Great Elder..." The Tribe chanted 12 times, to signify the importance of their god.

"They would take these Great Birds of Steel and fly over the enclaves, and as is human nature, they did war upon each other. The fighting was violent, and cost many tetatae, humans, and Steel Birds. The bloodshed ended with the departure of one of the stars, and the humans settled into their enclaves on the plains. Though the fighting slowed, this didn't stop the humans from encroaching into the jungle, and taken our lands from us. Each time, we ran from them. Each time, we did not fight them.

"Then came the time of great destruction. The Humans used the remains of the stars to build machines, and burrowed into Kaetetoa. From within her, they would take great heaps of stone, and forge new tools, and this was how they sustained themselves. They pressed the Tetatae from the plains entirely. They pushed into the jungles and slashed and burned our homes and territories away. They have pushed the tribes to join together, under one Nesting House. We the Tetatae are now the Tribe of Tanoa, the Tribe of Unity, for we are the only tribe left. The humans have taken this Gift to us from the Great Elder for themselves, they have committed every crime imaginable against us. And now..."