“The Children of Tāne-Mahuta”

​There were many children (creations) of Tāne-Mahuta, but one of the more significant and forgotten beings were the Watchers, whom were masters in the arts of Magic, chosen by the gods to explore and awaken hidden knowledge of the new world. These mystics were both revered and feared by all living things, because with their great power came greater responsibility.

​They traveled the world, using their knowledge to develop their understanding of the laws of nature, thereby enhancing their magic. But over time, this undertaking became corrupted as The Watchers delved deeper into the core of Papatūānuku, mining their Earth Mothers precious mana and unlocking the secrets of the gods. This unexpected discovery slowly poisoned their minds, and the power they obtained began to twist and distort their spiritual and physical nature to reflect their desire.

​Eventually they challenged the domination of the gods, and were cast out from their spiritual abode. This ignominious sleight only made them resentful, and they set about controlling nature to their own benefit, and the gods had no choice but to declare war on this fallen caste. They tasked the Children Of Māui the unenviable task of chasing down and destroying The Watchers – a task made more difficult when the Watchers finally transformed into the ‘Feathered Serpents’ – the Taniwha – and used their awesome Dark Arts to fight back.

​This terrible war became known as The Taniwha Wars and it changed the face of the world forever.