Originally Posted by Greentongue
Well, all right, if you both insist. You're sure, now?
Meshqu are a manifestation of the Tsolyani love of visual display; the plaques that make up one's broad collar, for example, which show one's clan, temple, and status are another. High-class people - or those with pretensions to same - have sets of these square plaques which they display by the door of their personal rooms; these are in various colors and designs, and are intended to depict to visitors the mood, emotions, status, or activities of the person within. They have rather elaborate names, like "The Plaque of Serene Alimentation" (the resident is having a quiet dinner) and are quite often used to display all sorts of things. (In houses where these are not used, a visitor would ask the major-domo for this kind of information.) There are something like 26 plaques in the 'basic set', and while there are may obscure ones, these are the most common - and of these, perhaps 12 to 18 are usually to be seen.
Phil first wrote about these in "The Tekumel Journal", back in 1977 or so, and used them as 'local color' in his novels. The 'zine article had drawings of the most common plaques, and I made a set for myself which got some use at my apartment. Visitors could see if they were welcome or not. We also did sets for Carl Brodt, back some years ago, but you'd have to ask him if he has any left.
In our games at Phil's, these would occasionally come up in the game play; we would, as a matter of politeness, always check to see if these were displayed before we tried to go into somebody's private quarters. It's a matter of politeness; we'd also ask the servants or the major-domo, as we thought appropriate.
They would also come up as part of the 'table talk'; when somebody wanted to indicate their status, they would say "I'm displaying the Plaque of (insert name here)." As we were also terrible comedians and ham actors, we'd also come up with very imaginary plaques to amuse Phil; we'd use the same flowery and elaborate words, but they'd be pretty silly - like the time Vrisa set out on her first ocean voyage, and announced that she was displaying The Plaque Of Upset Tummies next to her spot at the ship's rail.
And they also provided some of the very best moments in our games, too. We were being besieged in Castle Tilketl by the Yan Koryani, and they summoned us to surrender; The Glorious General gave them a suitable reply, all soldierly, dignified, and defiant, and then I unrolled a green tarp freshly painted with six white ovals over the battlements of the gatehouse in their faces. This is 'The Plaque Of One Being Unavailable', and which indicates that the resident is at home, but not seeing or entertaining visitors. In short, they could get stuffed.
Phil was so astonished that his jaw dropped to his chest, his cigar fell to the table (I think Kathy had to put it out before it set the table's carpet on fire), and after a few moments he started laughing. He laughed so hard, he actually had to put his head down on the table and gasp for breath. The other players seemed to think it was funny, too; Gronan was laughing so hard his face turned bright red...
We were very serious people back in those far-off days...
(By the way, you can see a replay of this game in miniature on my Photobucket page. Just saying.)
. Or maybe it doesn't. But at least it explains to me why I would want to follow any god but those of Stasis!
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