Your Tapu . . . is that what you call your gods back home?

[Protection and blessings for the well-behaved, yep. Sounds pretty godlike. In that light, maybe it isn't such a surprise that people here who play the touchy feely game get some tangible benefits, and those that don't get pushed into it with increasing aggression.

But it doesn't worry him all that much. They may be glorified cattle, but a lot of them are very powerful cattle—a poor decision to bring in and then mistreat any more blatantly than they already get it.]

The gods here must be pretty desperate, considering the situation. I'm surprised they aren't even more careless about handling us.