I assume like many Asian societies Tekumel also has "Untouchables".
How has this impacted the gaming?
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I assume like many Asian societies Tekumel also has "Untouchables".
How has this impacted the gaming?
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Wow! A shame I didn't find this thread closer to its genesis. What a marathon, I'm only up in the 600s so I really do apologize if it's been asked in to the intervening myriad of posts, I'll get there eventually!
But I did want to get a question started, and thank you for this wonderful thread and resource. I'm currently working on getting a new Tekumel game group going locally, finally having friends who are of the right mindset to go into a fun social, explore game!
Smoeone locked in stasis by an eye or other means from distant past? How would it work out when brought back? any generalizations?
If it was a Priest/Priestess? (I imagine this is easy? Especially if post Pavar, potentially even super valuable to their temple through dint of knowing Engsyvalyani stuff?)
If it was a "Good little clan girl?" from a clan that no one's heard of or doesn't exist? What if she's from a clan that did?
Would you recommend people frozen for millenia by the Ruby Eye to be a potential good variant of 'fresh off the boat?'
The one thing/group that comes instantly to mind are slavers. They are, for all intents and purposes, 'untouchables' and more or less social outcasts - despite many of them being very wealthy.
People who collect garbage and 'night soil', on the other hand, are members of ancient and respectable clans, and are dealt with politely.
In gaming terms, we just didn't have anything to do with slavers, as we moved in socially acceptable circles. Heck, even Ssu and Hlyss are more acceptable then slavers. It just didn't come up in our games with Phil, as far as I remember.
From Dulahan:
Wow! A shame I didn't find this thread closer to its genesis. What a marathon, I'm only up in the 600s so I really do apologize if it's been asked in to the intervening myriad of posts, I'll get there eventually!
Welcome aboard! I'm here to try to answer people's questions about our time gaming with Phil, so ask away!
But I did want to get a question started, and thank you for this wonderful thread and resource. I'm currently working on getting a new Tekumel game group going locally, finally having friends who are of the right mindset to go into a fun social, explore game!
Happy to help, and don't worry about asking what might be a 'duplicate' question. This is a huge thread, with lots of information crammed into it, and anything you ask helps us all understand Phil's creation.
Someone locked in stasis by an eye or other means from distant past? How would it work out when brought back? any generalizations?
Usually, it's an Excellent Ruby Eye, and you need one to get them out of it. For the person in stasis, time does not pass at all; it's like they stepped from one room to another. In general, the more time passed, the less likely that the person will find it easy to adapt to their new surroundings; some have simply gone insane, and others have died. Quite a few have adapted, however, and fit into to 'modern' society. I should note that most people are kept 'on the shelf' by the temples as living historical sources in libraries and such.
If it was a Priest/Priestess? (I imagine this is easy? Especially if post Pavar, potentially even super valuable to their temple through dint of knowing Engsyvalyani stuff?)
Yes, very much so. They will spent the rest of their lives in pretty comfortable surroundings, and kept well-guarded by their temple.
If it was a "Good little clan girl?" from a clan that no one's heard of or doesn't exist? What if she's from a clan that did?
She'd be 'adopted' by a clan descended from hers, or into the clan of the person who got her out of stasis. "You did t, you're responsible for her." If she's from a known clan, she's their responsibility, and the temples and Imperium will tread carefully. She may have property rights of her own or the clan's, and she and they will be compensated for such if it's an issue. One does not mess around with clan relations, of any kind, as it can have very serious results for everyone.
Would you recommend people frozen for millenia by the Ruby Eye to be a potential good variant of 'fresh off the boat?'
Yes, if the PC is played by a good role-player, and one who reads up on their original historical period. There would be a lot of acting involved; see also Gronan's Flemish man-at-arms, who we all thought a trifle odd at times but did get along with. Good man in a fight, too.
Does this help, any?
Absolutely. Thanks a lot! I do have a couple of players who might be interested in that too.
More to think of too! Definitely something I might throw in as an adventure at some point (thus the good clan girl option too)
I know there'll be more things to come, but that's it for the moment.
Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to pause and reflect.
Mark Twain
OK, another one that came up in my readings so far. I caught reference to some Mountain Top City or Kingdom, other side of world. I forget if it was in the South or other side of the North. But either way, I've a weird thing for cool isolated pockets like that. Probably coming from my fascination with Tibet...
I sadly forgot the name since I went many pages before realizing I wanted more. Though would it be safe to say this specific place was inspired by Nepal or Tibet? Any further neat vignettes about it?
EDIT:
Actually, something else.
My graduate studies focused heavy on Central Asia. Particularly the Mongols, but the program was holistic so I learned about pretty much the wide spectrum. Obviously the whole Horse People thing isn't going to work too well to draw on for Tekumel, but that said, there's some other cultures and cultural elements that might. Any particularly good areas other than Milumanaya that drawing on that knowledge will be extra useful for?
Yes, as I say this I am reading the posts in the late 600s about Afghanistan, and how much that influenced the Professor. Which in turn reminded me about an article I read involving some German Tourists who were traveling in Central Asia. They were in Eastern Iran, and did something nice for someone there who found out they were traveling in Afghanistan next. Gave them a pretty shawl for the wife of the pair to wear.
Afghanistan went splendidly for them. They found out much later in their trip the shawl was some sort of marker of protection from one of the more influential clans or tribes in the area, so that apparently was why they were treated like royalty, no one wanted to offend said group! And now yes, things just clicked a bit more for how Tekumel's clan structures work. Because I imagine that is -exactly- the sort of way things can go in setting.
Last edited by Dulahan; 01-19-2017 at 09:36 AM.
Personally, I was as much thinking of it as an 'off the boat' sort of thing too. PCs arrive, help someone and are given something innocuous but useful. Things go well, eventually they find out why!
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