Hall of Blue Illumination: Recent Episodes
Hall of Blue Illumination
00:00.50 Victor So today we’re going to talk about war of wizards which interestingly enough was produced I believe before empire the pedal throne now. Ah. 00:09.84 James I Think that’s right came out the same year as ever guy with pelotherome but it was published sooner I believe. 00:21.66 Victor Yes, Professor Barker actually […]
00:04.38 Victor Well it is February Twenty Twenty four and that means well yeah I suppose March February March. It’s the beginning of the year and that means that we are. At the fiftieth anniversary of the release of dungeons and dragons the original dungeons and dragons and not too surprisingly. Lots of people are […]
part 1 – 1 minute to 44 minutes in – a panel of Tekumel experts including Mark Siefert, Rob Smith, Steve Braun, and Mark Eggert recounting their interaction & hopes for miniature use in EPT.
part 2 – 45th minute – end – Rob Smith & Scott McKinlay talk about their new miniature project & upcoming KickStarter!
Welcome to The Hall of Blue Illumination, the podcast dedicated to the fantastic world of Tékumel. In this judiciously-timed episode, our hosts discuss and compare Tèkumeláni holidays. Then they take up the “graduate level” Tékumel subject of the Undying Wizards. Show Notes: [00:00:30] Holidays in the Five Empires! The Intercalary Days are five days at […]
Welcome to The Hall of Blue Illumination, the podcast dedicated to the fantastic world of Tékumel. In this episode, our hosts discuss “Eyes”, a unique class of magical item commonly encountered by players in Tékumel. Then James and Victor discuss the peculiar Tsolyáni institution of the clan house, its importance to Tsolyáni society, and how GMs can use a clan house in their games.
Show Notes:
[00:00:33] Eyes! [“…they are shaped like small, dull gems, with an eye-like aperture on one side and a protruding stud on the other, which activates the device” — EPT 1300, p. 71]. Of all the magical items on Tékumel, eyes might be the most misunderstood by players. They’re magical items left over from the time of the ancients.
[00:01:18] For some eyes, it’s difficult to conceive of their original places in the societies that created them.
[00:01:47] James has always assumed that there are a group of eyes that were created before the Time of Darkness, and then others that were created later by peoples who still remembered or discovered the methods of their creation. James proposes that some of the stranger eyes were created by these people working in later times.
[00:03:05] The Excellent Ruby Eye (EPT §1310 (2), p. 71) is mentioned as one of the most common. It can freeze one to six beings in time. No spells can release these individuals, only another charge from the Excellent Ruby Eye.
[00:04:20] EPT actually mentions someone who was left in this frozen state for a lengthy period: Rusty. (EPT §2830, p. 103).
[00:05:32] Is a target of an Excellent Ruby Eye frozen in place? Can they be moved? In Victor’s experience, they can be moved, but it’s difficult.
[00:09:16] The Eye of Calling Forth an Unconquerable Army (EPT §1310 (8), p. 71). This eye summons an army of automata from another plane to fight for you.
[00:12:31] The Eye of Allseeing Wonder (EPT §1310 (5), p. 71) reveals invisible objects and dimensional doors. It could also help a user find nexus points.
[00:13:04] The Eye of Departing in Safety (EPT §1310 (10), p. 71). This can be used to create a “safe point” to which that a second use of the eye will return you. James notes that it only has a range of 300 feet, and Victor notes that this isn’t an exhaustive list of eyes. Regardless, if the user doesn’t set a return point, they are transported “into illimitable darkness from whence there is no returning.”
[00:17:50] Victor describes a kind of in-between place that players in Prof. Barker’s original campaign encountered when they used nexus points, that was surrounded by illimitable darkness.
[00:19:19] Eyes are relatively fragile. You can drop them without breaking them, but if you smash it with a hammer it would destroy it. The hosts discuss whether this results in an explosion of energy.
[00:20:46] The Eye of Incomparable Understanding (EPT §1310 (15), p. 72) translates any spoken human or nonhuman language. Note that it doesn’t translate written language, but there’s also no limitation on the nonhuman languages that can be understood. Victor notes an example of human use of the ESP spell on nonhumans from Dragon #9. Essentially ESP fails for all nonhuman languages except Mihálli, and the caster just hears static and garble.
[00:23:30] The Eye of Raising an Infernal Barrier (EPT §1310 (22), p. 73) raises a wall of flame at the feet of the user. James has a hard time believing that such an eye would exist before the Time of Darkness.
[00:25:20] The Eye of Exquisite Power Over Maidens (EPT §1310 (11), p. 72) charms members of the opposite sex. Nonhumans are unaffected. Its effect is permanent, until it’s used again to dismiss the effect.
[00:26:19] Similarly, The Eye of Transformation (EPT §1310 (30), p. 73) permanently changes the target’s alignment until it is used again on the target. James feels that this effect is very “game-y” rather than something that would make sense in a real context. Victor notes that it was first discovered by a player character in the Jakállan underworld.
[00:27:39] There were 33 eyes that are included in the mimeo version of EPT, and 36 in the published TSR version.
[00:30:20] Some eyes run parallel to spells, but their effects usually aren’t precisely the same. The Eye of Hastening Destiny (EPT §1310 (13), p. 72) does not act like the haste spell, and the Eye of Being an Unimpeachable Shield Against Foes (EPT §1310 (6), p. 71) does not act like the invulnerability spell. The Eye of Retaining All Things (EPT §1310 (24), p. 73) is not the same as Harsán’s putting-something-around-the-corner spell.
[00:33:11] Victor’s cat wants attention. Cats are one of the few recognizable Earth animals that appear on Tékumel.
[00:34:50] The Thoroughly Useful Eye (EPT §1310 (36), p. 74) is very important because it can be used to recharge other eyes. They’re incredibly rare. Victor suspects that this is merely a “pocket charger” and that there may be locations on Tékumel where an eye could also be recharged.
[00:36:45] Spoilers: Victor discusses major plot points of Flamesong, where an eye that is the almost the opposite of the Thoroughly Useful Eye serves as a McGuffin.
[00:38:10] Victor notes the five percent chance that an eye can be defective or explode. (EPT §1300, p. 71) Neither James nor Victor have used this effect in their campaigns because it seems so needlessly cruel.
[00:39:55] The Eye of Ruling as a King in Glory (EPT §1310 (28), p. 73) causes 10 to 1,000 beings to follow the user and loyally obey his commands for ten turns. This can radically change the course of a campaign, and it’s an example of how powerful magical items were in early RPGs.
[00:44:44] The Tsolyáni Clan House. There’s no definitive description. The idea of this level of communal living is foreign to Americans and most people in the West. It’s uniquely Tékumel.
[00:47:23] The clan house takes the place of many of the stock locations in traditional RPGs (gathering places, places to find employment, places to acquire resources prior to adventuring). It’s a home base, but it also serves many of these purposes.
[00:48:48] The Sourcebook discusses the role of clans in depth, and Victor reads in excerpt (Sourcebook §1500, p. 43). Being part of a clan gives you a place in society. It’s the main foundation of society, and if player characters don’t belong to a clan, they have a strong encouragement to join one.
[00:50:36] Because Tsolyáni culture varies throughout Tsolyánu, there probably isn’t a uniform floorplan. That said, the further up and the further back from the street your place in the clan house is, the higher status you are within the clan itself.
[00:52:48] Because clans include various lineages and families, there will probably be spaces within the clan house dedicated to those families or portions of families, and they may have shared living and communal spaces.
[00:54:25] What does a clan house look like from the outside? It will have a main entrance, which is big enough for several people to enter. There probably won’t be very many external windows on the first floor. Also there will be members of the clan who are assigned to greet someone attempting to enter.
[00:56:16] Not everything is arranged perfectly. That’s one of the reasons that ditlána happens, to pull down the old and rebuild anew.
[00:58:39] Clan houses often aren’t blocky, rational structures. They might be quartered in parts of buildings, or in buildings separated by streets.
[01:00:10] A clan engaged in mercantile business might have a public area where non-clan members are invited in for business purposes.
[01:02:15] Some clans have access to the underworld via the clan house. This can be the source of several adventures.
[01:04:59] Would clan houses have armories? It depends on what kind of business they’re involved in. But it doesn’t have to be a common feature, especially in a placid urban environment.
[01:08:00] Victor teases The Egg of the World, his guide to gaming on Tékumel, and talks about the “county cousins campaign” an alternative to the “fresh off the boat” campaign, where a clan house elsewhere in Tsolyánu sends members to another clan house that needs new members.
[01:13:04] In Victor’s campaign, all of his player characters have now joined clans. They’re learning that money isn’t something they have to count out; instead they can use the clan’s resources. In this way the prices become more social and less monetary. Most clans don’t engage in internal transfers of money among members for goods and services.
[01:15:15] Of course, if adventures suddenly find themselves with a lot of wealth, the clan might come to them and request a contribution.
Hosts: James Maliszewski and Victor J. Raymond.
Producer: Thomas Tiggleman
Flamesong, Professor Barker’s second novel set on Tékumel, is finally back in print. You can purchase the paperback through Amazon. It’s also available as an ebook for Kindle, Nook, or Kobo.
Tékumel Products Referenced:
Empire of the Petal Throne is the original Tékumel sourcebook and rules set. It was first published by TSR in 1975. It can be purchased as a print-on-demand book, or as a PDF from DriveThruRPG.
Dragon Magazine was originally published by TSR, and titled The Dragon until 1980 with issue #39. The Dragon #9 was cover-dated September 1977.
Swords & Glory Vol. 1 (a.k.a. the "Sourcebook") was first published by Gamescience in 1983. It is a detailed sourcebook for the world of Tékumel. You can purchase it as a print-on-demand book, or as a PDF from DriveThruRPG.
This episode explores the relationship between the inimical nonhuman H'lüss and science fiction. There are no show notes for this episode.
Welcome to The Hall of Blue Illumination, the podcast dedicated to the world of M.A.R. Barker’s Tékumel. In this episode, our hosts discuss the use of languages in Tékumel games, before answering a question concerning the placement of Prof. Barker’s novels within the “game” and “real” Tékumel distinction.
Show Notes:
[00:00:37]. Upcoming Events: Victor will be presenting a paper at the annual conference of the International Association for the Fantastic in the Arts, and also at GaryCon, where he’ll run several Tékumel games using EPT.
[00:01:41] Victor also reveals that he’s working on a project titled “The Egg of the World: the Guide to Running Games in Tékumel” which is his attempt to unpack the setting. He hopes to be done with it by June and publish it later this year.
[00:02:43] Languages in Tékumel. Languages are at the forefront of Tékumel, but in many other roleplaying game settings linguistic differences fade into the background.
[00:05:40] Victor notices that players over time tend to adopt what they thing is the “cadence” of Tsolyáni. James has noticed the same thing in his game.
[00:07:09] James finds it interesting how often this issue of language comes up. His players’ characters have gone so far as to hire tutors to learn other languages.
[00:08:39] There is no universal language or lingua franca in Tékumel. Victor finds that players in his campaigns tend to think of Engsvanyáli as a language of last resort, probably because they’ve intuited that the Engsvanyáli Priest Kings were the largest empire in the history of the continent. It’s not always worked, but many scholars will know Engsvanyáli.
[00:11:44] Tékumel also has secret languages and argots, like the Tongue of the Priests of Ksárul.
[00:13:02] James finds it interesting how often his players actually research the languages in-game. The languages (and their mysteries when players encounter an unknown one) can help to draw players into the history of Tékumel.
[00:17:15] Sometimes there’s a perception that the players’ ignorance of Tékumel’s languages will limit their enjoyment of the setting. But there’s many things characters do in RPGs that their players don’t understand, such as riding a horse.
[00:18:22] In the novels, Prof. Barker mentions how languages sound in comparison to one another. Victor highlights a passage from Flamesong.
[00:22:43] In Victor’s campaign, his players spent time in Sa'á Allaqí, and one of them decided to stay there. For his game, Victor generated a document written in a certain script, which he’s going to give to the player to puzzle out.
[00:24:50] As Victor’s campaign progresses, he focuses on elements that have interested players. Like so many of the supposedly “impenetrable” aspects of Tékumel, you don’t throw them at the players all at once.
[00:25:40] There’s a great deal of information about military matters in the Sourcebook, but a lot of players just blow past it.
[00:28:49] Victor introduces words here and there to show how people talk. He gives an example of the Tsolyáni kíren, which is a unit of time equivalent to about half an hour.
[00:30:15] Where do the novels fit with respect to the real/game Tékumel divide? [GPD: “Real” Tékumel versus “Game” Tékumel has been discussed before on HOBI, most notably Ep. 13.]. James clarifies the question, this is about the presentation, not about the canonicity of the events depicted therein. The storyline is the same between “real”, “game”, and “novel” Tékumel.
[00:32:30] Prof. Barker wasn’t exactly clear why he made the distinction. It could have been in part because he was surprised by what players did when they encountered the world he created.
[00:33:01] Even reading the Sourcebook, there’s not a lot of room for adventurers wandering around doing amazing things. It’s presented in a very dry, academic tone.
[00:34:40] James confesses that he’s not really that interested in “real” Tékumel. Both Victor and James agree that it’s hard for “real” Tékumel to exist after the death of Prof. Barker, since it was purely a personal conception within his own mind.
[00:36:30] Victor uses Roger Zelazny’s Chronicles of Amber to illustrate what he’s trying to articulate.
[00:40:07] How much do we know about “Real” Tékumel? It is mentioned in EPT, but it really comes out in Dragon #9. But otherwise we never will find it.
[00:41:10] Prof. Barker suggested that you discover Tékumel by playing it. Of course, your games will differ, and you make it your own.
[00:43:53] There is a distinction that should be made though: “Game” Tékumel is more “full of goodies.” There’s more magic, more ancient technology. Things are more extraordinary, less mundane.
[00:46:05] Back to the original question, Victor feels that the novels are their own Tékumel. James feels that they occupy a “middle space” between game and real Tékumel.
[00:48:07] Victor often gets asked if Harsán was a player character. He really wasn’t, and the only true player characters who show up in the novels appear in the background and are heavily adapted. Victor gives a few examples, including his own Mt’tk.
[00:49:51] Victor finds Prof. Barker’s depiction of Mt’tk as “eerie.” “Prof. Barker was observing far more closely how I played that character than I realized.”
[00:51:10] Prof. Barker would listen to what other people were doing in their Tékumel games, and validate it. There’s a recursive aspect.
[00:52:24] Prof. Barker also seems to imply that “real” Tékumel is kind of boring. This is analogous to actual history versus entertainment media and games set in a historical context.
Hosts: James Maliszewski and Victor J. Raymond.
Producer: Thomas Tiggleman
Flamesong, Professor Barker’s second novel set on Tékumel, is finally back in print. You can purchase the paperback through Amazon. It’s also available as an ebook for Kindle, Nook, or Kobo.
Tékumel Products Referenced:
Empire of the Petal Throne is the original Tékumel sourcebook and rules set. It was first published by TSR in 1975. It can be purchased as a print-on-demand book, or as a PDF from DriveThruRPG.
Swords & Glory Vol. 1 (a.k.a. the "Sourcebook") was first published by Gamescience in 1983. It is a detailed sourcebook for the world of Tékumel. You can purchase it as a print-on-demand book, or as a PDF from DriveThruRPG.
Man of Gold, the first of M.A.R. Barker’s novels set on Tékumel, is back in print. You can purchase it through Amazon or CreateSpace. It’s also available as an ebook for Kindle, Nook, or Kobo.
Dragon Magazine was originally published by TSR, and titled The Dragon until 1980 with issue #39. The Dragon #9 was cover-dated September 1977.
Non-Tékumel Things:
The International Association for the Fantastic in the Arts (IAFA) was founded in 1982 “to promote and recognize achievement in the study of the fantastic.” This year it was held in Orlando FL from March 16 to March 20.
Gary Con is an annual spring gaming convention held in Lake Geneva, WI to honor the memory of E. Gary Gygax.
The Chronicles of Amber is a series of fantasy novels written by Roger Zelazny.
The Cadfael Chronicles are a series of murder mysteries written by Edith Pargeter under the pen name Ellis Peters. In these novels, Cadfael is a Benedictine monk, living in England during the succession crisis called “the Anarchy” (1138 to 1153).
Lindsey Davis wrote a series of crime novels set in ancient Rome staring Marcus Didius Falco.
Welcome to The Hall of Blue Illumination, the podcast dedicated to the world of M.A.R. Barker’s Tékumel. In this episode, our hosts discuss EPT’s divine intervention mechanics at length. But first, James and Victor engage in a brief discussion about imperial heirs.
Show Notes:
[00:00:35] Children of the known Tsolyáni princes? Victor found a reference in the Sourcebook, in a reference to dueling masters. (Sourcebook, § 1.960, p. 117). At the Threshold of Glory in Jakálla, Viumél hiArkódu tutors the children of Prince Rereshqála.
[00:02:14] James has wondered about the hidden heirs a lot, since this system seems very unwieldly and difficult to maintain in the long-term.
[00:03:13] But the idea of using the trials to make sure that the strongest candidate accedes to the Petal Throne, and that there’s no tradition of primogeniture works just fine.
[00:04:00] Victor notes that according to EPT, the “farming out” of the heirs is a “recent custom.” (EPT §200, p. 13).
[00:05:13] Every few hundred years, there’s a breakdown in imperial succession. Victor notes several.
[00:09:36] In Flamesong a “forgotten” prince from Emperor Hirkáne’s generation is uncovered. [GPD: Spoiler alert? Why haven’t you read Flamesong yet, it’s great!] It’s weird that no one seems to acknowledge Nalukkán after the mere span of a generation, even though he says that he was given troops to put down the rebellion in Fasíltum. [GPD: which occurred in 2340 AS. To save you some time humble listener, with respect to published sources, EPT is set in 2354 AS, and the Sourcebook is set in 2358 AS. Hirkáne dies in 2364 AS, which touches off the succession crisis that occurs in the background of several of the novels.]
[00:11:30] Divine Intervention. This is covered in EPT §2110, p. 91. Victor notes that this was present in early D&D campaigns, but James guesses this is probably the first published mention of the game concept. People don’t appreciate the fact that Prof. Barker pioneered several innovations in gaming concepts with EPT that are still with us today.
[00:16:00] Victor covers the initial paragraphs of this section. James wonders if the restriction of the divine intervention mechanic to player characters might be to prevent players using their hirelings to game the system.
[00:18:22] The discussion of player offerings and “sacrifices” is interesting, as is the note that player characters can only willingly be sacrificed by other players.
[00:19:28] Based on the text of EPT, it seems that divine intervention isn’t merely a method of last resort, but something that is a normal option, even if you don’t do it all the time. Victor and James review the final portion of the “example of play” in §2810 at page 102, which ends with the hapless characters suggesting divine intervention.
[00:21:49] Many early examples of play end badly for the players. Victor and James discuss an example from early D&D.
[00:23:28] Back to EPT, it’s also noteworthy that you can’t purchase divine intervention on credit.
[00:24:39] There’s an example of divine intervention that may be referenced in the novels. Going from memory, Victor relates that he’s heard that prior to the war with Yán Kór, a player character from Prof. Barker’s campaign requested divine intervention from Sárku when he realized that his cohort was about the get wiped out. He made a vague request of the god, and the result touched off the war.
[00:28:52] Has any player character ever called on Avánthe? The nature of the god is relevant to the kind of intervention granted.
[00:29:30] Calling for divine intervention did happen while Victor played with Prof. Barker. But by this time (the mid-80s), the players were all aware of how many unintended consequences could result, and so only used it when matters were especially dire.
[00:30:43] Bob Brynildson played a priest of Avánthe for a while. Later, the group discovered that the priest was actually an accomplished assassin, illustrating that even Avánthe has pragmatic aspects.
[00:31:58] Victor notes the caution given to players about looting the shrines and tombs of the gods they worship. This will end the players’ chances of divine intervention. But the gods don’t always mind you looting the other god’s holy sites – in Tékumel, context is everything.
[00:36:03] The only thing that these mechanics don’t take into account is the differences in the results of calling upon a cohort instead of their god. Is there anything a god can do, that a cohort can’t?
[00:37:06] The interests of the Gods of Change are generally more in tune with the attitudes and needs of adventurers. Victor notes that in the recorded instances of divine intervention, only Thúmis is mentioned. This occurs in the Epic of Hrúgga.
[00:40:01] Most of Prof. Barker’s early player characters “gelled” because they worshiped either Vimúlha or Ksárul. They either wanted to burn their problems away, or acquire personal power and knowledge, respectively.
[00:40:58] Left unanswered by EPT is how often divine intervention occurs in the world of Tékumel.
[00:41:45] In both James and Victor’s groups, their players have only tried divine intervention twice. James gives a great anecdote about the first time his players tried it.
[00:45:30] Knowing the ultimate goals and motivations of the gods are beyond human comprehension. Victor gives his view on this. He believes that there’s some kind of larger struggle going on between Pavár’s pantheon on the one hand, and the Pariah Deities on the other. Pavár’s gods have an interest in keeping Tékumel in its pocket dimension, while the other deities oppose this.
[00:47:26] These kinds of questions are big part of the dispute in the College at the End of Time. The “Blasphemous Accelerators” like the wizard Metállja feel that the gods are actually bad for humanity, and that they impede humanity’s progress. One of the Blasphemous Accelerators’ bases of operation is in the Unstraightened City, which seems to be cosmologically important.
[00:49:30] In the History of Engsvanyálu (i.e., The Ever-Glorious Empire), Prof. Barker speaks to the concept of the “Hero of the Age.” Basically, everyone is against the Goddess of the Pale Bone, and the actions of the Hero of the Age have cosmological significance.
Hosts: James Maliszewski and Victor J. Raymond.
Producer: Thomas Tiggleman
Flamesong, Professor Barker’s second novel set on Tékumel, is finally back in print. You can purchase the paperback through Amazon. It’s also available as an ebook for Kindle, Nook, or Kobo.
Tékumel Products Referenced:
Swords & Glory Vol. 1 (a.k.a. the "Sourcebook") was first published by Gamescience in 1983. It is a detailed sourcebook for the world of Tékumel. You can purchase it as a print-on-demand book, or as a PDF from DriveThruRPG.
Empire of the Petal Throne is the original Tékumel sourcebook and rules set. It was first published by TSR in 1975. It can be purchased as a print-on-demand book, or as a PDF from DriveThruRPG.
Man of Gold, the first of M.A.R. Barker’s novels set on Tékumel, is back in print. You can purchase it through Amazon or CreateSpace. It’s also available as an ebook for Kindle, Nook, or Kobo.
The Ever-Glorious Empire: Éngsvan hlá Gánga was written by M.A.R. Barker and released as a netbook in 1996. It is available for purchase as a PDF at DriveThruRPG. It details the history of the Empire of the Priest-Kings of Gánga.
The Tongue of Those Who Journey Beyond: Sunúz was originally published in 1994 by Prof. Barker. You can purchase the PDF from DriveThruRPG.
Non-Tékumel Things:
The Advanced Dungeons and Dragons 1st Edition Dungeon Master’s Guide is available as a PDF from DriveThruRPG.
Arduin is a roleplaying game and setting written by David A. Hargrave, and originally self-published in 1977. Several subsequent publishers have released products for Arduin, most notably Grimoire Games. Early on, Arduin incorporated material from genres beyond traditional medieval fantasy.
RuneQuest is another Chaosium product with a distinguished history. It first saw print in 1978, and is based on the same Basic Role-Playing framework as Call of Cthulhu.
Tom Moldvay authored the second edition of the Dungeons and Dragons Basic Set, published in 1981. It is colloquially known today as the “Moldvay Basic Set.”
You can email us at citizen@tekumelpodcast.com. You can also find us at our website, on Twitter, or on Facebook.
Welcome to The Hall of Blue Illumination, the podcast dedicated to the world of M.A.R. Barker’s Tékumel. Our hosts begin this episode with a discussion of “demons” as they appear in Empire of the Petal Throne. How do EPT’s demons differ from Prof. Barker’s later conceptions of them? Then, James and Victor finish their review of the magical tomes section of EPT.
Show Notes:
[00:00:34] Following on their discussions of magical items and books in Empire of the Petal Throne, Victor got interested in looking at EPT’s demons. “Demons” in EPT are basically just big monsters, while demons in later works like the Book of Ebon Bindings are lesser trans-dimensional beings of great power.
[00:02:25] The first mention of demons in EPT is in the Group III spell The Demon (EPT §500, p. 25). This is a precursor to the more elaborate summoning rituals in the BEB.
[00:03:23] The Demonology spell in Swords & Glory provides access to the servitor-races of certain gods.
[00:04:11] All of the demons mentioned in EPT’s The Demon spell are also mentioned in the BEB.
[00:05:14] The next time demons show up in EPT is in the section on cursed scrolls. (EPT §1610, pp. 78-79). On a d20 roll of 20, Kukligásh the Eater appears. Interestingly, he doesn’t show up in BEB.
[00:06:34] In the books section of EPT (§1700, p. 79), Lord Origób appears in entry 11, which was discussed in depth in Episode 47.
[00:07:30] The next reference (EPT pp. 88-89) is prefaced by a full page illustration. I involves priests of Sárku summoning the fire demon Jnékshaa.
[00:08:10] The next reference occurs in §2810, p. 99, “Nakoné, who resembles a great black worm.” This name doesn’t appear in the BEB, but it sounds similar to the “Sweet Singers of Nakomé.”
[00:09:50] After James notes that these seem like Prof. Barker’s “first drafts” of demons, Victor notes that he actually talks about that in Dragon #11. Victor supplies a great quote from the article.
[00:11:40] Even though Prof. Barker suggests that “Saturday Night Special” demons might be amenable to compromise, that’s not what happens in the example of play in EPT (§2810, p. 102). There, the players encounter the demon Kurritlakál.
[00:11:55] Before that, the child-like demon Lelmiyáni appears. Another demon who is mentioned earlier in EPT, but isn’t identified as such, is Srykárum. (EPT §2810, p. 100). Death Himself is also mentioned, and in the BEB he is also treated as a demon (Missúm, BEB p. 79).
[00:13:56] Speaking of odd entities that might be demons but aren’t so named, the Group III spell entry prior to The Demon (EPT §500, p. 25) mentions “Gorún, the undead priest of the God Sárku…” The line between the higher undead servitors of Sárku and actual demons is fuzzy.
[00:16:00] Another odd mention occurs in EPT §2810, p. 100, “the Temple of Hés, the little God of Humor.” He shows up as a demon in BEB (p. 69).
[00:16:49] Victor compares the description of Kurritlakál in EPT (2810, p. 102) to that in the BEB (BEB p. 41). He’s one of the major demons of the BEB.
[00:21:30] James is amazed at the detail in the BEB. There’s a lot of hidden information about the history of Tékumel and its cosmology.
[00:22:26] Books (Cont’d). Our hosts resume their discussion of the magical tomes listed in EPT.
[00:22:40] 13. Kízhaga Dlittlúmri. This is a very magical tome, with specific but diverse powers. “Fireball” isn’t an EPT spell, and so it’s interesting that this tome has this ability.
[00:25:29] 14. Jnéshtlaq Kéq Yóssu. All of the mentions in this entry (“the Secret City of Schyák in N’lýss,” “the Tomb of the Lord of Black Mold”) do not appear anywhere else.
[00:28:52] 15. Guppíshsha Hrákkuq Mazhzhátl. Who wrote this, since you have a 25% chance of horrible things happening to you?
[00:31:23] 16. Zrú Hsún Tí Ch’à. “The Excellent Travelling Volume.” I wonder where you could get that?
[00:32:42] 17. Jurrúmra Miye’éklun Tlakotáni. James discusses the etymological place of tla-, and the mysteries surrounding the founding of the Tlakotáni dynasty. This book affects alignment, which is more difficult to change in EPT, normally requiring a visit to a temple.
[00:39:05] 18. Duré’ep Tkásh Sneqsí’va. Pretty much a cursed book, which might only be of interest to the priesthood of Drá. It’s also odd that it’s written in Milumanayáni. Most Tsolyáni would think of the Milumanayáni as illiterate barbarians.
[00:41:46] 19. Hlórush Zhdanáwi Migún. Is this the human language of Mihálli, or the actual language of the Mihálli race? Victor believes it’s the latter, for two reasons: it’s the one non-human language that humans can learn to read, and Prof. Barker would have noted specifically if he meant the language of the humans of Mihálli. A discussion of (the non-human) Mihálli language ensues.
[00:46:36] 20. Mó’om Té’ep Srásy. You could use this book as a set up to find the materials to construct these beings; it creates an opportunity for multiple adventures.
[00:49:29] 21. Barukán Lli Fèshdrubál-Chrén. Another book that suggests alignment is an essential aspect. Also, it’s odd that this connects “wishes” to Belkhánu. It’s also odd that Fnér-Khmíshu doesn’t appear in The Gods of Yán Kór, but Victor suggests this might be the product of linguistic differences between eastern and western Yán Kór. This could also be one of the elements of the original versions of Tékumel that never got explored further, or the conception of it evolved. There’s also very little reference in EPT to foreign deities, and nothing as far as aspects of Pavár’s pantheon.
[00:55:47] 22. Du’on Duqala Toruuna. Not a typo, there are no accent-marks for this entry in EPT. Gardásiyal includes them for this book (Du’ón Duqála Torùúna). Victor and James discuss the “epic feel” of some aspects of “game” Tékumel, and divine intervention.
[01:00:09] 23. Mi’ithurish Hrshenga Mmeghusane. Another entry lacking accent-marks. It’s interesting that priests and magic-users of either alignment can use it, which lends credence to the idea that Hrsh is very different conceptually from the Tsolyáni gods. However, this entry doesn’t actually tell you who Hrsh is, or that he’s a Mu’ugalavyáni god.
[01:03:25] 24. Púrohlan Znamríshsha Kagékte. It’s interesting that this is written in Bednálljan, given that Pavár only described the pantheon at the end of that era. So who wrote it? Pavár? James notes that there’s actually several centuries between Pavár’s revelation of the pantheon and the acceptance of the new order.
[01:07:03] James feels like they need to discuss divine intervention in more depth, given how much it’s come up.
Hosts: James Maliszewski and Victor J. Raymond.
Producer: Thomas Tiggleman
Flamesong, Professor Barker’s second novel set on Tékumel, is finally back in print. You can purchase the paperback through Amazon. It’s also available as an ebook for Kindle, Nook, or Kobo.
Tékumel Products Referenced:
Empire of the Petal Throne is the original Tékumel sourcebook and rules set. It was first published by TSR in 1975. It can be purchased as a print-on-demand book, or as a PDF from DriveThruRPG.
The Book of Ebon Bindings is fantastic, but currently out-of-print. The 1978 (or was it 1979?) edition was published by Imperium Publishing. Theatre of the Mind Enterprises re-printed it in 1991.
Swords & Glory Vol. 1 (a.k.a. the "Source Book") was first published by Gamescience in 1983. It is a detailed sourcebook for the world of Tékumel. You can purchase it as a print-on-demand book, or as a PDF from DriveThruRPG.
Dragon Magazine was originally published by TSR, and titled The Dragon until 1980 with issue #39.
The Dragon #11 was cover-dated December 1977 and its above-referenced “Seal of the Imperium” article can be viewed or downloaded free-of-charge from the Tékumel Foundation here.
The Excellent Travelling Volume is a fanzine written and edited by our very own James Maliszewski. All 13 issues are available as PDFs from DriveThruRPG, or in print via the TETV website or Lulu.
There were several supplements for the Gardásiyal ruleset in the Adventures on Tékumel line. They were published between 1992 and 1994 by Theatre of the Mind Enterprises and are now out-of-print.
“The Almighty Gods of Yán Kór” is an article written by Prof. Barker. It discusses the beliefs of the Yán Kòryáni. It can be purchased as a PDF from DriveThruRPG.
The Armies of Tékumel books were published in six volumes by several companies over a twenty year span beginning in 1978. All are now out-of-print, and some are harder to acquire secondhand than others. In addition to miniature painting guides for the respective armies, these volumes detail military units, their equipment and commanders.
Non-Tékumel Things Referenced:
James M. Ward created Metamorphosis Alpha, a sci-fi roleplaying game first published by TSR in 1976. You can learn more about it here. It has seen several editions over the years, and can be considered an antecedent to Ward and Jaquet’s Gamma World, which was published by TSR two years later.
Welcome to The Hall of Blue Illumination, the podcast dedicated to the world of M.A.R. Barker’s Tékumel. In this episode, our hosts discuss the enigmatic group of deities known as the Pariah Gods. But before we get to that, Victor and James review the first twelve books listed in the magical tomes section of Empire of the Petal Throne.
[00:00:39] Books. Victor begins by discussing the Books section of EPT. (EPT §1700, p.79). As noted, there are “two to five copies” of each of the listed books on Tékumel. James wonders about what this means, since writing on Tékumel is so much older than writing on Earth. Victor speculates that the “two to five” specification is a legacy of the abstractions of original D&D, which was the primary example Prof. Barker was working with when he wrote EPT.
[00:05:01] Does the process of creating one of these books make it proof against age? Some are clearly quite ancient, while others are recent. This implies that the method of creating them isn’t wholly lost.
[00:06:55] Generally, if a character knows the language used in a book, then they automatically benefit (or suffer!) from its effects upon reading it. Some books will actually disappear if they’re not read, and others are disguised. Victor suggests this is an attempt to deal with reluctant players.
[00:09:43] 1. Korúnkoi hiQiyór. This is one of several books that grants experience levels to the right kind of character, while being ineffective or penalizing others. It’s very similar to several of D&D’s magical tomes. Victor notes that just because these incantations are attributed to Qiyór doesn’t necessarily mean that he actually wrote them.
[00:11:23] 2. Korúnkoi hiSsánu hi Missúma. There are a lot of peculiar differences here, including that the effect of this book is harmless to non-humans, even if they’re priests or magic users.
[00:12:54] 3. Korúnkoi hiKhéshdu hiMrúrgayal. Interesting that this book can be reused. The effects are also limited, and the entry doesn’t explain how long it takes to read.
[00:15:48] 4. Korúnkoi hiSsyúsayal. The fact that many of these books disappear indicates that they’re inherently magical, in addition to the effects they bestow.
[00:17:01] 5. Timándàlikh hitùplanMitlándàlisayal. James notes that Gardásiyal has additional notes on the books, often talking about their rarity. For this book, it states that copies are abundant.
[00:19:12] 6. Chégudàlikh hi Qón. There’s no description of the physical dimensions of these books. Victor notes that historically in the real world, there was significant variation in the physical formats of “books.”
[00:20:51] 7. Chánisayal hiHayá. We know that there are some “low” cartography maps in the Imperium, and these are probably an example. Victor and James could probably talk about maps for another hour, but choose to defer that discussion to another time.
[00:22:44] 8. Korúnkoi hiKérdusayal.
[00:23:20] 9. Dímlalikh tlaSsúgayal. Interestingly, Gardásiyal notes that copies are kept in the temples of Karakán in many cities of the Imperium, and that a similar book exists for followers of Vimúlha and Chiténg, but that the locations of those are uncertain.
[00:24:53] 10. Hénganikh hiZhálmigan.
[00:25:57] 11. Li’ób Miffánsa Missrábchi’i MikKsárulkchi. This book is Livyáni. This is also a place where turns and melee rounds are shown to be distinct. In-game, there are several strange things about this book. For instance, why does it reference the Tsolyáni god Ksárul?
[00:28:40] 12. Chnéshaq KhyChnéshayalu. The difference in the classical Tsolyáni preposition “khy” from the modern Toslyáni “hi” is mentioned. James notes that in Gardásiyal, it’s spelled “khüChnéshayalu.” Also, according to Gardásiyal, there’s only one copy, and it’s in the Library of the Imperial Chancellery at Avanthár. Where does a book go when it disappears?
[00:31:02] The rest of the books are more mechanically complicated. They’re also harder to pronounce. But our hosts save those for another episode.
[00:32:02] The Pariah Gods. They’re somewhat mysterious. We first find out about them in the first set of Imperial Dispatches in the April 1976 issue of the Strategic Review. This is less than a year after EPT. Victor reads the entry.
[00:35:33] James brings up an entry in Dragon #4 (December, 1976), which also mentions the Goddess of the Pale Bone.
[00:36:42] Victor discusses the use of the terms “good” and “evil” to refer to gods and priests. Within the published EPT, these generally align to “stability” and “change” as used in later material. But the pariah deities are in opposition to both of these factions, however you label them.
[00:38:31] There’s not much in the dispatches that appear in Dragon #4 about the pariah deities. Dragon #9 and #11, discuss gods of the inimical races, but doesn’t directly speak about the pariah deities.
[00:41:32] The Tékumel Journal #1 discusses gods in foreign places, but doesn’t say much about any gods besides Pavár’s pantheon.
[00:44:33] The undying wizards aren’t really mentioned in EPT. Súbadim appears in one paragraph.
[00:45:40] The “Temple of Ksárul” article in Journal #2 is the first appearance of the One Other (Tékumel Journal #2, p. 15). This is also where we first get aspects of the gods.
[00:47:30] The Pariah Gods are first described in depth in the Sourcebook. (Sourcebook §1.610, p. 55) There’s some discussion of the Goddess of the Pale Bone and the One Other, and their artifacts and temples. There’s also a fascinating bit about the One Who Is. Even this discussion is relatively limited.
[00:49:47] Even though the Book of Ebon Bindings is devoted to demons of change, the Goddess of the Pale Bone is still worse. James notes that the Sourcebook “opens up” the theology of Tékumel to non-Tsolyáni deities.
[00:51:24] Victor mentions the rules for spellcasters in Swords & Glory’s “Player’s Handbook.” It’s odd that Ksárul is retained in the pantheon while being at war with everyone else; while at the same time the One Other plays an instrumental role in imprisoning him. They’re almost mirror images of each other. James notes that there’s something different about Ksárul from all the other Tsolyáni deities.. He seems aloof from them.
[00:54:57] Victor explains that the reason they became known as the Pariah Deities is because they didn’t want to “play ball” under the Concordant. At least that’s how it’s presented in the histories, which are also presumably written with a pro-Pavár bent.
[00:55:52] Victor gives an example from one of his sessions with Prof. Barker, where the player’s actions led to the victory of the One Other on an alternate Tékumel. There was no mention of the other gods at all, and the player characters were treated as curiosities, but not poorly.
[00:57:32] There are no descriptions of the Pariah Deities’ rituals. The One Who Is remains mysterious. Victor gives an example of a passing encounter with the One Who Is, and his prison.
[01:00:05] James speculates that one of the main aspects of the Pariah Gods might be that they want everything – that they aren’t willing to share with the other gods.
[01:01:20] The gods of Pavár’s pantheon are a neat package, even with their various aspects. Perhaps those who are particularly scholarly theologians understand that there’s more complexity than the simple categories humans use to describe them. This understanding might be part of the groundwork towards becoming an Undying Wizard. Victor notes that based on his encounters with Súbadim, he believes him to have some kind of connection to Ksárul.
Hosts: James Maliszewski and Victor J. Raymond.
Producer: Thomas Tiggleman
Flamesong, Professor Barker’s second novel set on Tékumel, is finally back in print. You can purchase the paperback through Amazon. It’s also available as an ebook for Kindle, Nook, or Kobo.
Tékumel Products Referenced:
Empire of the Petal Throne is the original Tékumel sourcebook and rules set. It was first published by TSR in 1975. It can be purchased as a print-on-demand book, or as a PDF from DriveThruRPG.
There were several supplements for the Gardásiyal ruleset in the Adventures on Tékumel line. They were published between 1992 and 1994 by Theatre of the Mind Enterprises and are now out-of-print.
The Strategic Review was an early RPG periodical, a predecessor of The Dragon. It was published by TSR from 1975 to 1976.
Dragon Magazine was originally published by TSR, and titled The Dragon until 1980 with issue #39.
The Dragon #4 is subtitled “Special Empire of the Petal Throne Issue” and cover-dated December 1976. It can be viewed or downloaded free-of-charge here.
The Dragon #9 was cover-dated September 1977.
The Dragon #11 was cover-dated December 1977 and its above-referenced “Seal of the Imperium” article can be viewed or downloaded free-of-charge from the Tékumel Foundation here.
Man of Gold, the first of M.A.R. Barker’s novels set on Tékumel, is back in print. You can purchase it through Amazon or CreateSpace. It’s also available as an ebook for Kindle, Nook, or Kobo.
Swords & Glory Vol. 1 (a.k.a. the "Source Book") was first published by Gamescience in 1983. It is a detailed sourcebook for the world of Tékumel. You can purchase it as a print-on-demand book, or as a PDF from DriveThruRPG.
The Tekumel Journal was the first journal devoted to gaming on Tékumel. Issue #1 and Issue #2 are available for purchase from DriveThruRPG as PDFs.
The Book of Ebon Bindings is fantastic, but currently out-of-print. The 1978 (or was it 1979?) edition was published by Imperium Publishing. Theatre of the Mind Enterprises re-printed it in 1991.
Swords & Glory Vol. 2 (a.k.a. the “Player’s Handbook”) was first published by Gamescience in 1984. It provides an intricately-detailed ruleset for creating characters and gaming on Tékumel. You can purchase it as a print-on-demand book, or as a PDF from DriveThruRPG.
You can email us at citizen@tekumelpodcast.com. You can also find us at our website, on Twitter, or on Facebook.
Welcome to The Hall of Blue Illumination, the podcast dedicated to the world of M.A.R. Barker’s Tékumel. In this episode, our hosts review each entry in the “Miscellaneous Magical Items” section of Empire of the Petal Throne.
But first, the new edition of Flamesong is now available in print and digital formats!
[00:00:40]. The new printing of Flamesong is now available, with a new introduction by our very own James Maliszewski. This edition also includes maps, and accents have been added to the Tsolyáni.
[00:01:20]. An electronic version is available in several formats. If you have any suggestions about other formats or alterative marketplaces, let us know!
[00:02:41] Miscellaneous Magic Items. (EPT §1500, pp. 75-78) EPT describes many “miscellaneous magic items.” But as Victor notes, sometimes the listed abilities are just the beginning of what an item can actually do.
[00:04:29] There are 24 items listed in this section. Most are actually unique, but duplicates exist of a few.
[00:05:07] 1. The Alluring Maiden of Ngá. The android assassin. Androids come up a lot in Tékumel, and it’s curious that they’re so often used as assassins. Many of these, such as the Ru’ún and the Yéleth were probably developed during the Latter Times.
[00:10:41] James raises the question of language. In many cases, devices such as these are incredibly ancient, and pre-date the existence of modern Tèkumeláni languages. Victor suggests that the artificial intelligences of some devices could “learn” modern languages simply by listening to enough of them. A telepathic link capable of conveying thoughts and ideas could also get around a language limitation.
[00:12:47] 2. The Boots of Changéla. Where is Kettuláno? Victor doesn’t know, but James suspects it’s mentioned in the Book of Ebon Bindings.
[00:14:38]. 3. The Chariot of the Gods. Victor notes that there’s a joke that the incantations spoken to activate this air car are often something like, “please tilt your seats forward…”
[00:15:56] James believes that Armies of Tékumel (Vol. 5) - Livyánu and Tsoléi discusses a special legion that operates air cars. Knowledge of air car operation is limited to the priesthoods of certain gods. The priesthood of Ksárul also has a temple spell that confers knowledge of how ancient devices work.
[00:17:30] 4. The Clockwork Automaton of Qiyór. Qiyór the Many-Tonged is the author of Realms Beyond the Triple Knot. The comment about the recent destruction of one of these devices reflects the contemporary activities of Prof. Barker’s own players.
[00:20:32] 5. The Crystal Claw of Kúrutesh. This is an example of a unique item that has many more powers than are listed in the published EPT. This, and the Silver Butterfly had tremendous interplanar powers when used together in certain places.
[00:22:07] 6. The Cup of Súbadim the Sorceror. Another of the Undying Wizards. Did he create it, or did it just become associated with him?
[00:24:24] 7. The Emerald of Hagárr of Paránta. Hagárr of Paránta is referenced as a “buccaneer”, but James notes that this is also the name of an Undying Wizard.
[00:27:13] 8. The Glorious Cloak of Many Eyes. James wonders about an association with the wizard Ruvádis the Wearer of Eyes, whose tower is mentioned on the Map of Jakálla (Map of Jakálla, #76).
[00:28:53] 9. The Gloves of Chirené. We’re often given a description of what an item does, but not precisely what it looks like.
[00:30:54] 10. The Hammer of Pendárte of Khéris. This is one of the few items mentioned in EPT that’s not associated with the Tsolyánu.
[00:33:04] 11. The Helmet of the Three-Pointed Star. One of the few items that is specifically not rechargeable. It’s also a reminder that beings returned to life normally suffer constitution loss (EPT §413, p. 17), which sets a functional limit on the number of times a character can be revivified.
[00:34:27] 12. The Jade Bowl of the God-King of Purdánim. James notes that the title “God-King” is an unusual epithet on Tékumel.
[00:37:12] 13. The Ladder of Mríddu the Magician. “Mríddu the Magician” is otherwise unknown. To modern players, this item might not seem that special. But it comes from an era when TTRPGs were very concerned with encumbrance and carrying capacity. It can also be used as a bridge.
[00:44:48] 14. The Lightning Bringer. It would be interesting to have a better description of what this looks like. James and Victor discuss describing ancient items so that their use is not immediately apparent.
[00:51:28] Victor reads an entry from “Reports to the Petal Throne” describing the tubeway car system, and another mysterious device that ends up in the Temple of Vimúhla in Jakálla. Victor believes it was probably a “trash collector.”
[00:54:50] 15. The Little House of Tranquil Dwelling. Originally found on another planet, this is a fascinating item. James notes the extra information given in Gardásiyal.
[00:59:08]. 16. The Magical Chest of the Topaz God. This seems to be similar to Harsán’s spell of “Placing Things Around the Corner” and D&D’s Bag of Holding.
[01:01:20] 17. The Mallet of Inimitable Fealty. This suggests something about the Priest-Kings and their priorities.
[01:06:34] 18. The Mighty Wall of Thúmis. What does it look like? Gardásiyal answers the question.
[01:08:49] 19. The Music Box of Nekkutháne. Victor reviews the description of the Ngóro.
{01:11:22] 20. The Silver Serpent of Nayári of the Silken Thighs. How would players use this device? It seems more like something that would be used in a novel.
[01:13:42] 21. The Skullcap of Girigámish. Why did the priesthood of Ksárul believe it was necessary to create these? Maybe we should ask one of the ancient forms of Ksárul?
[01:15:43] 22. The Speaker to Heaven. This is a reminder of the Man of Gold, but it’s not. It’s probably not going to be clear which ancient deity it depicts.
[01:17:43] 23. The Trumpet of Metállja. Another Undying Wizard. The strength requirement is what is so odd about this item.
[01:19:52] 24. The Wondrous Enhancer of Jewels. This is another indicator of the early days of EPT. Victor also notes that because so many of these items are recharged by the Thoroughly Useful Eye, the Eye becomes a kind of meta-item that is incredibly valuable.
[01:21:32] Miscellaneous magical items are never found for sale, but temples or the Imperium might lend them out for special missions.
Hosts: James Maliszewski and Victor J. Raymond.
Producer: Thomas Tiggleman
Tékumel Products Referenced:
Flamesong, Professor Barker’s second novel set on Tékumel, is finally back in print. You can purchase the paperback through Amazon. It’s also available as an ebook for Kindle, Nook, or Kobo.
Lords of Tsámra, is the third of Prof. Barker’s five Tékumel novels. It was originally published by Zottola Publishing between 2002 and 2003. Currently out-of-print, it can only be obtained at significant cost from third-party resellers. The Tékumel Foundation plans to reissue Prof. Barker’s last three novel in print and electronic versions in the future.
Empire of the Petal Throne is the original Tékumel sourcebook and rules set. It was first published by TSR in 1975. It can be purchased as a print-on-demand book, or as a PDF from DriveThruRPG.
The Book of Ebon Bindings is fantastic, but currently out-of-print. The 1978 (or was it 1979?) edition was published by Imperium Publishing. Theatre of the Mind Enterprises re-printed it in 1991.
The Armies of Tékumel books were published in six volumes by several companies over a twenty-year span beginning in 1978. All are now out-of-print, and some are harder to acquire secondhand than others. In addition to miniature painting guides for the respective armies, these volumes detail military units, their equipment and commanders. Volume V specifically addressed the armies of Livyánu and Tsoléi.
The Strategic Review was an early RPG periodical, a predecessor of The Dragon. It was published by TSR from 1975 to 1976.
There were several supplements for the Gardásiyal ruleset in the Adventures on Tékumel line. They were published between 1992 and 1994 by Theatre of the Mind Enterprises and are now out-of-print.
Man of Gold, the first of M.A.R. Barker’s novels set on Tékumel, is back in print. You can purchase it through Amazon or CreateSpace. It’s also available as an ebook for Kindle, Nook, or Kobo.
Non-Tékumel Things Referenced:
Expedition to the Barrier Peaks is a module for Dungeons & Dragons first published in 1980. It takes place in a crashed spaceship, and introduces robots and science fiction elements into the otherwise traditional fantasy setting.
Lord Darcy is a character originally created by Randall Garrett. He is an detective in an alternate earth where magic exists, and the tales of his exploits were published in three novels and several short stories between 1964 and 1989.
You can email us at citizen@tekumelpodcast.com. You can also find us at our website, on Twitter, or on Facebook.