Veleitu

Veleitu is a tradition of Folk Magic practiced by the Mu'o'a people of Motu and Atu Motu. Like many folk traditions, it is primarily concerned with healing, protection, and the maintenance of balance between the mortal and divine aspects of reality. Unlike most such practices, however, Veleitu preserves an extensive body of lore devoted to the art of Dreamwalking. Practitioners of Veleitu are known as Faifāitonu. Within this tradition exists a specialized group of adepts called the Fai Tala, who are widely regarded as the most accomplished dreamwalkers in the Great Ring.

The World According to Veleitu

The world is a living thing, no less alive than any creature that dwells within it. The physical realm is its body, The Dream its mind, and The Spirit Realm its soul. These three realms are neither distant nor distinct from one another. They are integrated as skin, blood, and bone are within a living body. Within this vast being exists a multitude of entities, all of which are equal in the context of reality, whether they take the form of the smallest pebble or the mightiest of the Aku.

The Faifāitonu teach that to thrive in the world, one must understand their place within it and respect the place and nature of all other beings. They uphold the sacred rules known as Mu'a, the system that governs how all things in the world are to be treated. Violating Mu'a disrupts the balance of the world and invites both spiritual and social consequences. The Faifāitonu also instruct their people in the proper progression of life and existence, from the youngest hatchling to the ancient Fua'aku who continue to dwell among their descendants.

The Practitioners of Veleitu

In every Mu'o'a community, one or more Faifāitonu serve as dedicated spiritual authorities. They teach the rules of Mu'a, treat the sick and injured, interpret dreams and omens, and mediate between the people and the Aku of the local region. The Faifāitonu are consulted in most decisions made by the community's matai, particularly those that touch upon supernatural concerns. They preserve the stories of their people and maintain the histories of their communities. Their magical practices rely primarily on traditional materials and rituals used to provide healing and protection, empowered by the belief the Mu'o'a place in them. Faifāitonu are embedded in every aspect of communal life and are not regarded as a separate institution from the authority of the matai.

The Fai Tala, as specialists in the art of Dreamwalking, occupy a distinct role within Mu'o'a society compared to the Faifāitonu who remain rooted in a single community. They are wanderers who carry the stories of one village to another, helping to bind the wider Mu'o'a culture together. Much of their time is spent traveling between settlements, where they learn, preserve, and teach the shared folklore and history of the people. As a result, they are also master storytellers.

When their wandering allows, the Fai Tala perform many of the same duties as other Faifāitonu. However, when circumstances require it, they are capable of acts beyond the reach of most practitioners. By physically entering The Dream, the Fai Tala can directly approach and interact with the Aku within their own domains. They may also seek out and retrieve objects or substances that exist only within stories and legends, such as flowers from the depths of the sea that can cure any disease, or Artifacts of great renown, such as Tama's Fai Fuamoa.

Retrieving objects from The Dream carries the risk of incurring Invasive Narratives. The Fai Tala are trained to recognize and manage these dangers and are judicious in their use of Dreamwalking for such purposes. Each Fai Tala also receives the aid and guidance of a patron Aku, with whom they bond during the latter part of their training, and whose signature they carry upon their Eidolon within The Dream.

The Rites and Implements of Veleitu

The Faifāitonu employ a wide variety of rituals and materials in the practice of Veleitu. Chants and prayers form part of daily life, and offerings of food, flowers, coconut products, and finely carved or woven objects are made to the Aku on a regular basis. Under special circumstances or during specific ceremonies, animal sacrifices may also be offered. Offerings are carefully presented at sacred sites such as marae, springs, or groves. Faifāitonu also interpret dreams and omens, examining both the physical and mental realms for signs of the future and the state of the world. Additionally, they oversee rites of passage that mark the lives of individual Mu'o'a - from the hatching of eggs to the funeral rites for the deceased. Whenever physically possible, graves are dug by the Faifāitonu or by those training to become one.

The practice of Veleitu also involves several physical implements. These include wooden figures, staffs, and ceremonial paddles imbued with spiritual significance; stones, coral, and shells used to channel spiritual energies and maintain balance; and ritually significant plants, leaves, flowers, and colored pigments applied in blessings, body marking, or to anoint ritual objects. These items act as foci for the belief of the Mu'o'a, granting them potency throughout the lands they inhabit, and in some cases, magical power comparable to the Artifacts found across the Great Ring.

Among the Fai Tala, it is also common to use substances and techniques that alter the practitioner’s mental state. They drink a ceremonial beverage known as 'Ava to induce relaxation and mild euphoria, enhancing awareness of the multiple layers of the world and facilitating interaction with The Dream and Spirit. When necessary, they also employ practices such as meditation, fasting, and sleep deprivation to open the mind to wider reality. These methods support the practice of Dreamwalking, which requires navigation according to the laws of story and Association, and the deliberate abandonment of the habits of the physical realm.