Thread: Questioning chirine ba kal - part II

Hi all,

Regarding the temples and their associated metals: I went over my copy of Mitl�nyal (by Bob Alberti and M.A.R. Barker) and managed to gather the following information (the gods that are not mentioned seem to not have any association with any metal):

- Dr�: although He doesn't care about it, gold, to support his temples (pg 43).

- Th�mis: from richer patrons, certain gold objects (pg 69).

- Ket�ngku: from richer worshipers, certain statues of gold and silver (pg 81).

- Q�n: discs of real gold with prayers inscribed on them (pg 101).

- Karak�n: silver, which His clergy's sacrificial knife (the Ri'�nur) is made of (pg 110).

- Cheg�rra: same as Karak�n (pg 119).

- Wur�: silver, lead, platinum and some other metals, but no gold, iron or copper (pg 137).

- S�rku: copper is much beloved. Gold and silver are grudgingly accepted. Iron and steel are hated (pg 168).

- Durritl�mish: copper statuettes, which are used all over the Empire (pg 183).

- Vim�hla: the clergy employs a "metal weapon" called the Tetk�mne (pg 191), but the nature of the metal is not revealed.

- Dlam�lish: silver coins changed from gold k�itars (pg 212).

- Hrih�yal: silver jewelry (pg 223).

I got my hands on a printed copy of Jeff "Bethorm" Dee's giant and gorgeous Kurt Hills map.

It's just fantastic. There are so many cool little spots on it, with great evocative names.

I've taken some (extreme close-up, blurry, colors-not-accurate) shots to give you an idea.
(the map itself is well printed by the way, on good quality paper from DeviantArt).

If the Kurt Hills guide proper is half as good, we're in for a treat.

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And, if you asked my opinion, it's what Tekumel has always thrived on and needs to survive. People taking the bare bones of what Phil gave us and fleshing it out. This map reminds me of Craig's Frontier sets, and that's a very good thing...

Originally Posted by Big Andy

A couple of questions about magical fertility.

When you come into a fertile or barren area, does a spell caster notice immediately? Kind of like going into high or low G, but for other planar power? Or is it more of a you think it is going to work like normal until you actually try and use it?

Also, items work only once in a barren area, working off of "stored" juice, as it were. Are they also affected by fertile and semi-barren areas, working better/worse than before? Or do they have an internal "AC adapter" that makes them work one way no matter what amount of power is available?

Sorry to be getting back to you so late - I had some emergency overtime at work.

Yes; the place 'feels differently', Phil said. How barren, you won't know until you try something; I used to try a 'light' spell to test the power availability, if that worked tactically. Otherwise, something equally low-level as a sort of voltmeter to see if there was anything I could use. There is power in barren areas, unless it's really empty, but you have to really put a lot more effort into tapping it. I once did a heal spell in a barren area, and while I did it (I grew Vrisa a new leg) it nearly killed me from loss of stamina.

Correct. They either work once or they don't work at all. If the thing has stored charges, like an Eye, it will work normally until you use up all the charges. My mace was good for one attack, after that it worked like a normal one - which is why I tended to carry several weapons; I like to have back-ups for my back-ups. No adapters; I wish!!!

Originally Posted by Greentongue

What do teenagers out on the plantation do for fun?

Which brings up the question, how is land divided up?
Is it worked communally or does each family group have it's own plot of land?
Is it constant backbreaking labor or have innovations be included over time that allow for leisure?
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Everything that teenagers out on the farm have done since Ur. Get into all sorts of trouble, and get rescued by their elders or the PCs that the elders have hired. (Mayhem ensues, as you might guess given the trouble that kids can get into, and more ensues when the hired help goes to the rescue.) I might note that teens tend to get into trouble in the village, and tend not to do so out where the local wildlife can get at them. That's normally fatal, given the creatures you'll find.

By clan, and the clan usually divides it further by family unit. So, yes to both communal and individual; families will work their own plot of clan land, and also help out with their other clan people and their lands. And they will also cooperate with the other clans, in communal village projects.

Not really; there are enough people, usually, so that while everybody has something to do there is some free time after the chores are done. The 'tech level' is early Rome / late Greek / Macedonian, if that helps.