An Introduction To TÉKUMEL By Donald A. Kaiser, With the assistance of Lady Anka’a, Jeff Berry and Karin Karejanrakoi Portions compiled from the writings of and conversations with Prof. M. A. R. Barker Tékumel Copyright: M.A.R. Barker and the Tékumel Foundation Portions abstracted from works published by: Different Worlds Publications San Francisco, CA Portions abstracted from works published by: Tékumel Games, Inc. Minneapolis, MN Portions abstracted from works published by: Tita’s House of Games Berkeley, CA ART CREDITS: James Garrison: Pages 9-11, 31-35 Chris "Bear" Huddle: Cover, End Illustration Don Kaiser: Page 10 Dave Magi: Pages 25, 36, 38 Special thanks to Tony Bloxzyl, Lady Anka’a, Jeff Berry and Brett Slocum for editorial assistance. FRONT COVER: Emperor Tontikén Riruné "The Slave of Demons" 39th Seal Emperor during one of his secret ceremonies in the Golden Tower atop Avanthár. END ILLUSTRATION: The author, as H’hranka hiKággmodu, Yán Kóryani Legate to the City and Province of Hekéllu and the Chaigári Protectorate, and Priest of Belkhánu in high ceremonial garb. Table of Contents E. The Five Lords of Change .............................10 Forward .........................................................................iii 1. Hrü’ǘ .........................................................10 Map ...............................................................................iv 2. Vimúhla .....................................................10 I. History ....................................................................1 3. Ksárul ........................................................10 A. Times of the Ancients .......................................1 4. Dlamélish ..................................................10 B. Time of Darkness .............................................1 5. Sárku ........................................................10 C. The Latter Times ..............................................1 F. The Five Cohorts of Stability ..........................10 D. The Historical Empires .....................................1 1. Drá ............................................................10 E. The Empire of Llyán of Tsámra ........................1 2. Chegárra ...................................................10 F. The Three States of the Triangle .....................1 3. Keténgku ...................................................11 G. The Dragon Warriors .......................................2 4. Dilinála ......................................................11 H. The Fisherman Kings .......................................2 5. Qón ...........................................................11 I. The First Imperium ...........................................2 G. The Five Cohorts of Change ..........................11 J. The Golden Age of Éngsvan hla Gánga ..........3 1. Wurú .........................................................11 K. The Time of No Kings ......................................3 2. Chiténg ......................................................11 L. The Second Imperium ......................................3 3. Grugánu ....................................................11 M. Recent Events ...................................................4 4. Hriháyal .....................................................11 1. The Creation of Yán Kór ..............................4 5. Durritlámish ...............................................11 2. The War Between Tsolyánu and Yán Kór ....4 H. The Shadow Gods of Livyánu ........................12 3. The Death of Hirkáne and the Rise of 1. Qame’él .....................................................12 Dhich’uné .....................................................4 2. The Shadowed One ...................................12 4. The Tsolyáni Civil War ................................5 3. Kirrinéb ......................................................12 5. The End of the Civil War and the Crowning 4. Vrusáemaz .................................................12 of Mirusíya ...................................................5 5. Guodái .......................................................12 6. The Current Situation in the Five Empires ...5 6. Ru'ungkáno ...............................................12 II. The Planet Tékumel and Its Solar System .............6 7. The Horned One of Secrets .......................12 A. Astronomical Data ............................................6 8. The Lost One of the Sea ............................12 B. Physical Information ..........................................6 9. Quyó ..........................................................12 C. Climate ..............................................................6 10. Ndárka ......................................................12 III. Human Ethnology................................................... 6 11. The Sea-Goddess of Kakársha ................12 IV. The Five Empires ..................................................7 12. Kikumársha ..............................................12 A. Tsolyánu ...........................................................7 13. The One of Fears ......................................12 B. Yán Kór ............................................................7 I. The Pariah Deities ...........................................13 C. Mu'ugalavyá .....................................................7 1. The Goddess of the Pale Bone .................13 D. Salarvyá ...........................................................8 2. The One Other ...........................................13 E. Livyánu .............................................................8 3. The One Who Is .........................................13 V. The Gods of the Five Empires ..............................9 VI. The Priesthood and Temple Life ..........................14 A. Stability and Change ........................................9 A. The Priesthood ...............................................14 B. The Concept of Noble Action ............................9 B. Temple Life .....................................................14 C. The Great Concordat of the Temples ...............9 C. Monasteries ...................................................15 D. The Five Lords of Stability ...............................9 D. Temple Finances ............................................15 1. Hnálla ..........................................................9 E. Lay Priests .....................................................15 2. Karakán ......................................................9 VII. Clan and Daily Life ...............................................16 3. Thúmis ........................................................9 A. Clan ................................................................16 4. Avánthe ......................................................9 B. Lineage ...........................................................17 5. Belkhánu ...................................................10 An Introduction to Tékumel – i C. Education .......................................................17 F. Hokún ............................................................32 D. Women ...........................................................17 G. Mihálli .............................................................32 E. Sexuality .........................................................18 H. Nyaggá ...........................................................32 F. Marriage ..........................................................18 I. Páchi Léi ........................................................33 G. Slavery ............................................................19 J. Pé Chói ..........................................................33 H. Servants ..........................................................19 K. Pygmy Folk ....................................................33 I. Medical Care ...................................................19 L. Shén ...............................................................34 J. Behavior ..........................................................20 M. The Shunned Ones ........................................34 K. Dress ...............................................................21 N. Ssú .................................................................34 L. Personal Possessions .....................................23 O. Swamp Folk ...................................................35 VIII. Magic ..................................................................24 P. Tinalíya ..........................................................35 A. The Five “Selves” ............................................24 Q. Urunén ...........................................................35 B. Personal Magic ..............................................24 XIII. Adventuring on Tékumel .....................................36 C. Psychic Magic .................................................24 A. The Great Metropolises ...................................36 D. Ritual Magic ....................................................24 B. The Underworlds .............................................37 E. Universal, Generic and Temple Spells ............24 C. The Sákbe Roads ............................................38 F. Military Magic ..................................................24 D. Overland Adventures .......................................39 G. The Devices of the Ancients ............................25 E. Ocean Voyages ...............................................39 H. Psychic Dampeners ........................................25