Matiki
Each tribe has its own story of the Great Wasting. Some call it a Great Fire, or the Barren Centuries. Others, an Endless Winter. The truth lies buried in all these tales. There was an ancient time of horror and famine. But in those dark years, our gods first stepped forward. Tukohama, Hinekora, Tawhoa, and the rest.
Warrior
The Karui had no gods before that?
Witch
{All} your gods appeared then? There weren’t any before that?
Sorceress
We call it the Winter of the World… The Maraketh had no gods before that. Did you?
Ranger
You had no gods before the Great Wasting?
Huntress
We know the Winter. Did you not have gods before then?
Monk
Curious. All your gods arose in the same era? None before that?
Mercenary
You telling me you didn’t have gods before these bad times?
Druid
And afore that? Ye had no gods at all?
Matiki
No. For us, history begins there. The Great Wasting erased all that came before. Maybe… there wasn’t even a {before,} for us. When did the first Karui emerge from that volcano? Something to ask Hinekora, Navali.
Navali
The Mother of Death can recall only her own memories. History begins at the rise of the gods, because that is when Hinekora was born.
Matiki
Hmm. Curious. So the End of Time, as she recalls it, is really… her death.
Navali
Yes.