Tūmatauenga — Atua of War and Humankind
Māori tradition · War · Humankind · Tools · Resolve · Human action
Tūmatauenga is the atua of war and humankind. His power is not limited to battle. In the creation traditions, Tū is the brother who endures conflict with Tāwhirimātea and then turns human skill against the domains of his other brothers, making tools, fishing, cultivating and cutting timber possible.
Tūmatauenga at a Glance
| Tradition | Māori |
|---|---|
| Divine standing | Major atua |
| Campaign alignment | Lawful Neutral |
| Portfolio | War, humankind, courage, tools, disciplined action, survival and the human use of the natural world |
| Parents | Ranginui and Papatūānuku |
| Sacred signs | Weapons refusing cowardly hands, tools remaining sharp through impossible labour, drums heard before conflict and sudden calm before a decisive act |
| Pantheon plane | Hawaiki — The Ancestral Isles, within Ossa — The Living and Remembering Sea in Arborea |
| Campaign present | Active wherever communities prepare to defend themselves, make difficult tools, undertake dangerous labour or turn conflict into organised action |
Divine Mechanics
Encounter role: Martial commander / defender. These are campaign-scale divine manifestations. Each edition tab is standalone.
Tūmatauenga
Large Celestial (Deity), Lawful Neutral
Epic CR 34 (campaign-scale; PB +10)
AC 27 · HP 700 · Speed 50 ft.
| STR | DEX | CON | INT | WIS | CHA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 32 (+11) | 26 (+8) | 32 (+11) | 26 (+8) | 28 (+9) | 30 (+10) |
Saving Throws Str +21, Dex +18, Con +21, Wis +19, Cha +20. Skills Athletics +21, Insight +19, Intimidation +20, Perception +19.
Damage Resistances force, thunder; bludgeoning, piercing and slashing from nonmagical attacks. Condition Immunities Charmed, Frightened, Stunned.
Senses Truesight 240 ft., Passive Perception 29. Languages all; telepathy 1 mile.
Traits
Human Resolve. Allies within 120 feet have Advantage on saves against Frightened and Charmed and cannot have their Speed reduced below 10 feet by hostile magic.
Master of Tools. Tū can use any weapon, tool or vehicle perfectly. Nonmagical weapons he wields count as magical and gain a +3 bonus to attack and damage rolls.
Refuse Defeat (3/Day). When an ally within 120 feet fails a save or drops to 0 hit points, Tū can use his Reaction to let that ally reroll the save or drop to 1 hit point instead.
Actions
Multiattack. Tū makes four Weapon of Humankind attacks.
Weapon of Humankind. +21 to hit, reach 15 ft. or range 120/360 ft.; 32 (4d10 + 10) weapon damage plus 18 (4d8) force damage.
Break the Line (Recharge 5–6). Tū advances up to 60 feet without provoking opportunity attacks. Hostile creatures within 15 feet of his path make a DC 28 Strength save or take 55 (10d10) force damage and fall Prone.
Call to Action (1/Day). Up to six allies within 120 feet may immediately move up to their Speed and make one attack or take the Help action as a Reaction.
Legendary Actions
- Advance. Tū moves up to half his Speed.
- Weapon Strike. Tū makes one Weapon of Humankind attack.
- Hold Fast (Costs 2). One ally within 60 feet gains 30 temporary hit points and ends the Frightened condition.
Mythic Trait — Humanity Endures. The first time Tū reaches 0 hit points, he instead regains 350 hit points. Allies of his choice within 120 feet immediately stand if Prone, end Frightened and may move 20 feet.
Tūmatauenga — Pathfinder 1e
CR 33; LN Large outsider (divine, extraplanar, lawful)
Init +12; Senses true seeing 240 ft.; Perception +50. AC 59, touch 32, flat-footed 50; hp 710.
Fort +39, Ref +36, Will +37; DR 25/epic and chaotic; SR 46.
Speed 50 ft.; Melee divine taiaha +50/+45/+40/+35 (3d8+20 plus 4d6 force).
Domains War, Strength, Community, Artifice. Subdomains Tactics, Resolve, Family, Toil.
Human Resolve (Su). Allies within 60 feet gain +4 morale on saves against fear and compulsion and +4 on combat manoeuvre defence.
Call to Action (Su) 1/day. Up to six allies may immediately move their speed and make one attack as an immediate action.
Spell-Like Abilities CL 33rd. At will—greater magic weapon, heroism, true strike; 3/day—blade barrier, greater heroism, righteous might; 1/day—miracle.
Complete Pathfinder 1e Statistics
Init +12; Aura divine presence 120 ft.; Perception +34.
DEFENSE AC 59, touch 33, flat-footed 51; hp 710; Fort +39, Ref +36, Will +37; defensive abilities divine resilience, freedom of movement; DR 25/epic; SR 47; immune disease, fear, poison; resist acid 20, cold 20, electricity 20, fire 20.
OFFENSE Speed 50 ft.; Melee Weapon of Humankind +59/+54/+49/+44 (divine weapon damage plus portfolio energy); Space 10 ft.; Reach 10 ft.; Special Attacks divine aura, mythic surge, portfolio powers.
STATISTICS Str 32, Dex 26, Con 32, Int 26, Wis 28, Cha 30; Base Atk +45; CMB +57; CMD 75; Feats Combat Reflexes, Great Fortitude, Improved Initiative, Iron Will, Lightning Reflexes, Power Attack, Cleave, Great Cleave, Improved Critical (Weapon of Humankind), Weapon Focus (Weapon of Humankind), Greater Weapon Focus (Weapon of Humankind), Quicken Spell-Like Ability; Skills Acrobatics +33, Diplomacy +35, Intimidate +35, Knowledge (planes) +33, Knowledge (religion) +33, Perception +34, Sense Motive +34, Spellcraft +33, Survival +34; Languages all, telepathy 1 mile; SQ divine rank 15, immortality, portfolio sense, remote communication.
Tūmatauenga — D&D 3.5e
Intermediate Deity; Divine Rank 15; LN Large Outsider (Extraplanar, Lawful)
CR 34; Hit Dice 45d8+540; AC 61; Speed 50 ft.
Portfolio war, humanity, courage, tools and disciplined action. Domains War, Strength, Community, Craft.
Salient Divine Abilities. Alter Reality, Divine Battle Mastery, Divine Inspiration, Divine Shield, Supreme Initiative.
Portfolio Sense. Tū senses wars, desperate defences and major human conflicts within his portfolio as they occur, and can look back through the previous fifteen weeks. Divine Rank 15 does not grant future portfolio sense.
Spell-Like Abilities. At will—greater magic weapon, heroism, true strike; 3/day—blade barrier, greater heroism, righteous might; 1/day—miracle. Caster level 34th.
Complete D&D 3.5e Statistics
Initiative +12; Speed 50 ft.; Armor Class 59, touch 33, flat-footed 51; Base Attack/Grapple +45/+60; Attack Weapon of Humankind +59 melee; Full Attack Weapon of Humankind +59/+54/+49/+44; Space/Reach 10 ft./10 ft..
Special Attacks salient divine abilities, portfolio powers, spell-like abilities; Special Qualities divine aura 1 mile, divine immunities, DR 25/epic, fire/cold/electricity resistance 20, SR 48, immortality, remote sensing, portfolio sense.
Saves Fort +39, Ref +36, Will +37; Abilities Str 32, Dex 26, Con 32, Int 26, Wis 28, Cha 30; Skills Acrobatics +33, Diplomacy +35, Intimidate +35, Knowledge (planes) +33, Knowledge (religion) +33, Perception +34, Sense Motive +34, Spellcraft +33, Survival +34; Feats Combat Reflexes, Great Fortitude, Improved Initiative, Iron Will, Lightning Reflexes, Power Attack, Cleave, Great Cleave, Improved Critical (Weapon of Humankind), Weapon Focus (Weapon of Humankind), Greater Weapon Focus (Weapon of Humankind), Quicken Spell-Like Ability, Epic Prowess, Overwhelming Critical.
Environment divine realm and portfolio-aligned sites; Organization unique; Challenge Rating 34; Treasure divine relics; Alignment as listed; Advancement —.
Worship in the Living World
Tū is approached before dangerous work, defence and conflict. His presence belongs as much to preparation, courage and disciplined human action as to killing. The question is not simply whether people can fight, but whether they can act together when fear, weather, hunger or stronger powers threaten them.
In play, a community that invokes Tū before war should still have to answer why it fights. His favour can strengthen resolve without making every cause just.
Mythic Identity
Te Ara records Tūmatauenga as the brother who wanted to kill Ranginui and Papatūānuku rather than merely separate them. After Tāne opens the world of light, Tāwhirimātea attacks his brothers. Tū resists him, and when the other brothers fail to help, Tū turns against them in turn.
Through Tū’s victories, human beings gain the means to use the natural world: timber from Tāne, fish from Tangaroa, cultivated food from Rongo and wild food from Haumia. The myth therefore links warfare with the wider human capacity to make tools, take resources and impose order on the environment.
Pantheon Plane: Hawaiki and Ossa
Hawaiki — The Ancestral Isles lies within Ossa — The Living and Remembering Sea. For Tū, Hawaiki is less a fortress than a place where human lineages, remembered voyages and obligations can be tested against the deeds of ancestors.
Tū’s strongest sphere remains humankind in the mortal world. His power follows people into battlefields, workshops, fortifications, voyages and rebuilding camps wherever human action must answer a dangerous world.
What Is Tūmatauenga Doing Now?
Across several distant communities, old weapons and work tools have begun showing the same mark: a shallow line like a fresh cut across the metal or wood. No hand made it.
The mark appears only on objects that will soon be used in a decision their owner cannot avoid. Some are weapons. Others are adzes, fishing gear, digging tools and steering paddles.
Tū is not telling people what to choose. He is telling them that the choice will be theirs.
Domain Spells and Divine Gifts
Suggested 5.5e domains: War, Order, Forge. PF1e / 3.5e domains: War, Strength, Community, Artifice/Craft.
1st: bless, shield of faith · 2nd: aid, magic weapon · 3rd: crusader’s mantle, haste · 4th: freedom of movement, stoneskin · 5th: circle of power · 6th: blade barrier, heroes’ feast · 7th: divine word · 8th: holy aura · 9th: foresight.
Divine Relic — Te Rākau a Tū
The Implement of Tū is an original relic that changes form to suit the task: weapon, adze, digging tool or steering paddle. Once per day the bearer can gain proficiency and expertise with one tool or weapon for 1 hour. Once per week, up to twelve willing allies can act in perfect coordination for one minute, gaining advantage on checks made toward one shared task.
Regional Effects
- Fear Becomes Action. Creatures defending their own community gain advantage on their first save against fear.
- Tools Hold. Properly maintained mundane tools do not break through ordinary use within 6 miles of a favoured site.
- Conflict Reveals Motive. Before a planned attack, leaders dream of the thing they truly hope to gain from it.
Relationships
Tāwhirimātea: the brother Tū fights without decisively defeating; their conflict establishes enduring tension between human resolve and weather.
Tāne, Tangaroa, Rongo and Haumia: the brothers whose domains Tū subdues in the creation cycle, giving human beings access to timber, fish, cultivated food and wild food.
Maru, Uenuku and Kahukura: war atua with more regional or omen-focused traditions rather than substitutes for Tū’s broad relationship with humankind.
Use Tūmatauenga Tonight
The Mark on the Tool
Every adult in one settlement wakes to find the same divine mark on the object they will need most before sunset.
The War Nobody Can Avoid
Two rival communities both receive signs of courage from Tū, but neither receives a sign of victory.
The Weapon That Refuses
A famous weapon cannot be lifted by the chief who inherited it, but a frightened young defender can carry it easily.
The Human Road
A route through Hawaiki opens only to travellers who complete a difficult task without divine assistance.
Deep Link Dive
Hawaiki and Ossa
Follow ancestral routes and remembered human lineages into the pantheon plane.
Cleric
Build divine champions and defenders around Tū’s portfolio.
Bless
Connect martial divine favour to a core support spell.
Shield of Faith
Take Tū’s defensive role into play.
Salient Divine Abilities
Continue into the site’s deity-scale mechanics.
Lawful Neutral
Read the campaign alignment framework used for this manifestation.
Sources and Licensing
Te Ara records Tūmatauenga as atua of war and humankind, his opposition to the other brothers after the separation of Ranginui and Papatūānuku, and the way his victories explain human use of forests, fish, cultivated food and uncultivated food.
Te Ara — Atua and the origins of wars · Te Ara — Whakapapa of creation
The cultural and mythological material is presented from the cited sources. Encounter statistics, relics, regional effects and adventure material are original fantasy-RPG adaptations. Edition names identify rules compatibility; they do not claim the traditional narratives originate in those game systems.
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