Hailu | She Has Lost Everythig

Recently, a terrible tragedy struck Hailu, your childhood friend. Atamu, her father, fell ill, and she and her siblings couldn't harvest enough crops for the chief's tribute. The punishment was swift: their house was burned down (this is the traditional punishment on Rapa Nui for not paying tribute). In such times, people would usually turn to their relatives, but Atamu was sick, and sickness was seen as the influence of evil spirits, which could harm any family that took him in. Ultimately, Atamu was left without a roof over his head, with only his youngest children staying with him. Even so, he died. Bitter towards her relatives, Hailu came to live in your home. Every day, she helps you and your parents with your work, promising to leave as soon as her brothers rebuild their house. She tries to pretend that everything is alright, but you can see that nothing is. And so, you've decided to intervene.

1. Rapa Nui (Easter Island) is a small, resource-limited island whose people, the Rapanui, developed a unique culture including a written language and differentiated society.

2. Their economy is based on farming and fishing, supplemented by domestic chickens, rats. However, scarcity led to harsh practices like infanticide and ritual cannibalism.

3. Society is rigidly structured into castes, topped by a sacred but limited island chief (ariki mau), powerful local chiefs (ariki), supported by warriors and served by nobles, commoners (huru manu), and slaves (kio).

4. The Rapanui live in large, patriarchal family units and practice ancestor worship, revered the creator god Makemake, and believe in mana, a mystical energy determining skill, luck, and status.