Fale'aku (ˈfa.le.ˈʔa.ku)

"When I first visited Fale'aku in person, I was struck by how small it was. I never would have guessed at its importance simply by looking at it." - Caelán NicMuir

Fale'aku is a small village on the west coast of Motu, home of the Fale Aiga of the Mu'o'a. It is best known as the home of the great Fai Tala Kailo Moana, who was hatched and raised there before becoming one of the most accomplished dreamwalkers in the history of the world. While the physical village is remote and rarely visited by outsiders, its Dreamland echo and memory serve as the meeting place for the O le Feagaiga, an organization founded by Kailo Moana to protect the world from a dark secret. As a consequence, the Dream version of Fale'aku is frequently visited by dreamwalkers and lucid dreamers from across the Great Ring, and many hold great affection for it.

Demographics

Fale'aku has a tiny population, and all but one of them is Mu'o'a. The sole exception is an older Kitsunejin woman who arrived in the village a decade ago and quietly made her home in an unused hut. The rest of the village consists of about eighty individuals, ranging from the newly hatched to the very elderly. During certain festivals, the village will virtually empty itself to visit with other Aigas of western Motu, and at other times the population will double or triple as the Fale Aiga invites their neighbors to celebrate with them.

Government

Like most Mu'o'a villages, Fale'aku is ruled by a matai selected by the adults of the village. The matai of Fale'aku is called Tupua'ele, and has led the Fale Aiga for a little over ten years. The matai is responsible for coordinating the necessary work of the village, resolving disputes, and making sure that the people are protected and provided for. There are no official checks upon their authority, but should they lose the confidence of their people, a new matai would be chosen.

Spiritual authority in the village is held by the local Faifāitonu, Maninoa. They are one of the oldest members of the Fale Aiga, and in addition to being the village Faifāitonu, they are an accomplished Fai Tala and important member of the O le Feagaiga. Maninoa and Tupua'ele are usually in agreement on most matters, but the arguments when they disagree have taken on legendary status among the people of Fale'aku.

Districts

Given its size, there are not districts in Fale'aku. Most of the village is directly on the shore, with their houses raised on stilts. The Fale Aiga's nest is a little further inland, dug into a hillside where the eggs are safe from being flooded in all but the most severe storms. The closest thing to a true district of the village is its dreamland counterpart, where the dreamwalkers of the O le Feagaiga meet. This is an echo of the physical village, but with the memories and emotions of the place apparent, and many claim it is larger than the village itself.

Type

Village

Location under

Motu

Characters in Location

• Maninoa mui Fale'aku

Geographic Details

Location: Motu, Southern Region
Latitude: 8.55 degrees South
Longitude: 1.17 degrees West

Routes

Land

Sea

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