The Neetha were already an old tribe in the Democratic Republic of the Congo when they stumbled across the remains of a super-ancient civilisation that created the Machine, which they turned into their own home. In 2002, anthropologist Diane Cassidy led an expedition to find the Neetha, but were captured. She was allowed to live as the current Chief Rano's eighth wife, while the rest of her party was devoured. Over the five years she was imprisoned, she taught Ono English and came to learn to speak the language of Thoth.