King Piripi had drinks brought over, the Maori had no history of traditional alchoholic beverages and so everyone was passed one of a variety of fruit juices. As they sat outside the tattoo hut various other delegations arrived. First the Imperials of Neu Urburzis, the King was pleased that they'd remembered Kauri Timoti the youngest chief of any of the Iwi's. "Chief Kauri of the Ngāti Kahungunu will be along at some point" the King explained as he gave each of the new arrivals the traditional greeting and inviting them to come and take a seat. "It's tradition that each of the tribal chiefs declare their loyalty to the new King, they'll do it twice. First today when my son is crowned within my lifetime and the second time when he is crowned as the actual King."
"But that is many many years away" Maata squeezed her husbands arm.
"Hopefully" the King smiled as he spotted Lennox arriving. The two had never meet officially but he'd heard much of the man, a combat veteran like himself. He drew the man into the traditional nose rub and offered him a drink as he joined the rest of them. Seemingly with quiet a gathering already beginning the King allowed everyone to finish their drink before moving on. "We need to get you all dressed the part." The King said mysteriously as they stood and crossed to an open sided hut next to the main hut of the village. Under its low roof on the central table was a pile of fabrics, or at least thats what they resembled at first glance. Maata began picking them up and separating them. She quickly formed three neat piles. "The cloak symbolises status" Piripi began to explain, "We can't have you cloakless" he picked one up of the children's pile and held up against Sebastian judging the size of it. Unsatisfied he placed it back on the table and picked up the next one as with all the others it was two layers of material, the inner a corse brown twine woven material while the outer was decorative skins or feathers. One with a flash of green feathers among the black caught the King's eye and satisfied that it looked good he checked the size for Sebastian. Without much of a word he swung it around the boys shoulders and effortlessly tied the front together. The whole group were soon annointed with cloaks connected to their rank and once everything was in place headed for yet another hut, once inside the hall had been split down the middle with two ropes forming a walkway down the centre. Piripi lead the men to the left while Maata lead the women to the right.
"Your Majesty, we've a space here for our brothers" Kauri Timoti yelled above the throng of noise that was filling the hall. The King pointed the Neu Urburzis delegation towards the young chief who greeted those who were technically part of his Iwi and had some of his fellow members of the Ngāti Kahungunu shuffle around to make space on the reed matting they were all sat on. "Before we have any coronation there has to be a gathering of all the Iwi councils." Kauri motioned at everyone sat down, "Each Iwi has ten people here, their chief and anyone invited by the King from that Iwi." Each of the others had been sat with their own Iwi's and the little groups shared out snacks of dried smoked meat, fresh fruit and flatbreads as Piripi and Maata took their place on thrones at the end of the room. Each person was sat in their own cloak and while some tribes took the time to discuss their own business others joked and teased neighbours about such trivial matters as rugby results or recent marriages while each Iwi with a foreign guest explained the process.
The Achkaerin Emperor found himself sat on the opposite side of the room to the Ngāti Paoa Chief, Maata Mere the 22 year old woman sat next to Serenity and called across to the Emperor. "I'm sorry I couldn't greet you personally" she had to partly yell above the echoing sound, "For Tepu (spiritual) reasons when in council the males and females sit seperatley." she explained. She turned to Serenity, "We'll each be expected to make a report on our tribe, just a quick formality, then the Prince should be ready for his crown."
Down the way with the Ngāti Rongomaiwahine had a similar problem as its Chief was sat on the opposite side of the hall to Sophie and Lilian but left it to his daughter Serak to explain to the Morelanders what was happening. As the groups chatted a conch shell was blown and the room fell silent and Piripi stood. "Welcome to the latest gathering of the tribal council. I am Piripi not of the Ngāpuhi but of the Iwi and I bring greetings of the ferns. Our Iwi stands at some 6million people and its Chief is in good health, his heir is Prince Kimo." With that the King sat down and the Chief of the next Iwi stood.
"I am
Tama of the Ngāti Porou and I bring greetings from the Whales. Our Iwi stands at some 5million people and its Chief is in superb health" The tall muscular chief seemed to flex his muscles and pose slightly as he said it causing a ripple of laughter through the group. "His hier is Olana." He sat down and one by one all the Commonwealth's Iwi's gave their report, it was then Princess Lilian was given a nod by the Ngāti Rongomaiwahine members and stood (OOC- Dave allowed me to write this so its clear how things are done).
"I am Lilian of the Morelanders and the Ngāti Rongomaiwahine. I bring greetings of the Honey Badgers. Our Iwi stands at some 100million people and our Chief is in fine health, his heir is Princess Rhiannon." she breathed a sigh of relief and retook her seat. Soon the others gave their reports and then Piripi stood.
"I am delighted the Iwi's have gathered and that our guests are here. With the Commonwealth and its friends accounted for I believe now is the time to appoint our new King." The King stood along with the Chiefs who motioned for their guests to follow them and the group headed outside. Each person was handed a small stone carved axe and then the group proceeded towards the hut in which Kimo was preparing.
Piripi was joined by Tama of the Ngāti Porou and Kauri Timot.
"Ko wai hei rangatira!" Piripi yelled towards the hut his axe levelled. "Ko wai hei rangatira" he repeated. He waited and a third time yelled "Ko wai hei rangatira" A small nervous looking figure in a cloak much to big for him appeared on the porch of the house. In perfect harmony the three men, Piripi, Tama and Kauri began to yell in unison.
"Ko wai hei rangatira
Kaore ia e oma
Ko tenei whenua
a ko ia te whenua
whakaputaina tana waka
kua oti tana haere
ka mate te whenua
kaore ia e mawhiti
Kua karangatia koe
arahina te tangata maori
te rongo i raro i te kapua
kua mutu te waa
[1]As soon as the song was over a group of around twenty men carried out a
canoe and placed it between the Prince and his father. Piripi looked at the boat and at his son, "Canoe or crown?" he posed the question.
"Crown" Kimo said nervously.
Piripi turned to the Chiefs and the foreign guests all holding their stone axes. "Destroy" he said with a smile and as a cheer went up he, Kauri and Tama rushed to the canoe and began hacking at it with the axes. The others rushed forward and joined them dragging the guests with them urging them to set about the canoe. As they hacked and slashed at the boat a roar of high pitching screaming came from around them as children, including Princesses Astrid, Aeolia and Lamia surged forward grabbing up bundles of the chopped wood and scurrying back towards freshly dug pits about thirty meters away. As they dropped one batch the group sprinted back still screaming and cheering. Piripi was enjoying himself as he destroyed the beautifully made boat, "The children scream to frighten the evil spirits so we have an auspicious day" he laughed, "They terrify me yet alone the spirits" those around him laughed and they hacked off more of the boat and threw it behind them. Soon the boat was reduced to kindling and by the time they'd finished smoke was raising from the pits as the wood had been ignited. Now stones were being put on top and soon leaf wrapped food would be placed on the hot stones and buried ready for the evenings feast. Slightly out of breath Piripi had one of his men collect the axes and then grabbed his son walking with an arm around him towards the large central hut. "Soon we shall crown him, but first I think we need to get our breath back and have a drink" As they reached the doorway people began taking pot mugs of water and juice as they milled around. Many came up to Kimo exchanging the breath of life with him before adding to his cloak a single thread in different colours soon he would be crowned but for the last few minutes he was free to enjoy the day.