Thread: Questioning chirine ba kal

Originally Posted by chirine ba kal

Yes, that's her! You can't make this kind of thing up - history is quite often very much odder and funnier then fiction...

Well, some PCs have almost done more outrageous things...

Originally Posted by chirine ba kal

It's something a bit more complicated then it seems. Just like any human society, really.

No, worshippers of Dilinala don't 'marry' males; the Temple is all about "Woman for woman alone", as is mentioned in all of the source materials. Generally, they are often/usually lesbians, but that's an oversimplification; if somebody in the temple wants to marry / have kids, they transfer over to the Temple of Avanthe for a while. So, you do have ranking Priestesses of the goddess with families; men may or may not be included, depending on the way the relationships are set up and what the clans involved have to say about things like property and legacies.

This was there in EPT, from the beginning; it was one of the way's that Phil told us that we were not in Kansas, anymore. Keep in mind that lesbians were rare and relatively alien back in 1976; these days, LGBTQ PCs and players are neither. (I've had both, in my campaigns.) The people who live on Tekumel don't really much care about this subject as the source materials indicate, and as long as the right people are appeased, anything is possible. As Phil used to say, "File your paperwork with the Imperium, and nobody will care."

Admittedly, these days "lesbians are alien and persecuted" is going to convey "you're not in Kansas anymore, Dor'othy hi Tlankotel" more efficiently, for most people.
But the fact is, Tekumeli would have most issues with queer people, because how dare they dressing inappropriately to their station? (Unless they're into one of the orders who practice assassination and disguise, I guess).
Fun question, Uncle - there's a temple with predominantly lesbian priestesses, and another with predominantly bi priests and priestesses. Is there a temple that gay priests would be naturally drawn to?

Originally Posted by Greentongue

Matter of opinion I suppose.
With so few sites that have EPT content, I felt it was worth joining and try to keep it "alive".
Mostly just to show a pulse, for anyone looking.
I figured that OD&D people might remember it and/or be likely to have interest.
My style is in the OD&D mindset and I'm trying to "relive" those original games, somewhat.
While everything has moved one since then, reenacting doesn't hurt. IMHO.
=

Oh, all right; understood.

I'm still bemused that we're where we are in this thread; I never would have guessed it, myself...

Originally Posted by AsenRG

Well, some PCs have almost done more outrageous things...


Admittedly, these days "lesbians are alien and persecuted" is going to convey "you're not in Kansas anymore, Dor'othy hi Tlankotel" more efficiently, for most people.
But the fact is, Tekumeli would have most issues with queer people, because how dare they dressing inappropriately to their station? (Unless they're into one of the orders who practice assassination and disguise, I guess).
Fun question, Uncle - there's a temple with predominantly lesbian priestesses, and another with predominantly bi priests and priestesses. Is there a temple that gay priests would be naturally drawn to?

True, true...

Ah, I'm not getting this; the people we met in Phil's games had no issues with LBGTQ people - admittedly, in the matriarchy of Yan Kor the clan ladies would laugh at gay men, but that's about it - and they don't dress any differently then any one else, at least in the way Phil ran his world. Am I missing something?

No, not really.

Originally Posted by Big Andy

Couple of non-human questions.

Can an aspiring Emperor/Empress use non-humans as champions in the Kolumejálim?

Has any Imperial offspring ever been raised by non-humans?

Also, do any armies on Tekumel use anything like plumbata/lawn darts? My son saw a thing about Jarts on a "Famous Dangerous Toys" youtube video and asked me about them, which prompted a discussion about Roman troops that used them, after describing the wildly dangerous ways my brothers and I "played" with them when we were kids. He plans on having his character carry 5 on the inside of his shield in Roman fashion.

Not that I'm aware of; I'll go back and listen to the interview we have with Phil on tape to make sure, but as far as I know, no.

Not that I am aware of; it never came up in-game, and as far as I know it's not in any of the texts.

Probably; I'd have to go back and look through all the units in the army lists to see who. I can think of one Tsolyani legion that certainly would, if they found out about them, and I think I recall 'darts' being mentioned as being used by skirmishers of various kinds. I'll have a look...

Chirine,

Just wondering, how do clans like the Tlakotani, Vriddi, and Ito trace lineages? Are there specific forms of address or clan titles which indicate status and pedigree within the respective clans?

Shemek

Originally Posted by chirine ba kal

True, true...

What, in your games, too?

Ah, I'm not getting this; the people we met in Phil's games had no issues with LBGTQ people - admittedly, in the matriarchy of Yan Kor the clan ladies would laugh at gay men, but that's about it - and they don't dress any differently then any one else, at least in the way Phil ran his world. Am I missing something?

I think you're missing the fact that this was a comment on the way our world has changed, not Tekumel... I was thinking about the reaction to settings that have kept the anti-LGBTQ discrimination as part of their societies, and I think they definitely are giving a "no more in Kansas" vibe to people today.

As for the comment about "queer", I was thinking about people who dress in the clothing of the other gender. I can see how that would be the worst problem on Tekumel, given the insistence on proper clothing.

No, not really.

Too bad, I'd have to default to Karakan and/or Vimuhla, then!

Originally Posted by Shemek hiTankolel

Chirine,

Just wondering, how do clans like the Tlakotani, Vriddi, and Ito trace lineages? Are there specific forms of address or clan titles which indicate status and pedigree within the respective clans?

Shemek

Yes, very much so. The lineages are traced through both parents, in all directions, so it does get pretty complex. Generally, the specific lineage is often the most 'noble' and 'senior' one that the person can trace, but not always. Ito are pretty stock and standard, in their North and South factions; the Tlakotani have the 'regular' and 'imperial' lineages; the Vriddi are very different and more complex, with both ancient Nlyuss and modern Tsolyani lineages; they tend to have elaborate lists in order to keep them straight. To be 'a Vriddi of the Vriddi' is to be of the oldest and most noble of their lineages.

I don't know if Phil included these terms in the Tsolyani language books, but I'll look after I'm finished with the convention show.

Originally Posted by AsenRG

What, in your games, too?


I think you're missing the fact that this was a comment on the way our world has changed, not Tekumel... I was thinking about the reaction to settings that have kept the anti-LGBTQ discrimination as part of their societies, and I think they definitely are giving a "no more in Kansas" vibe to people today.

As for the comment about "queer", I was thinking about people who dress in the clothing of the other gender. I can see how that would be the worst problem on Tekumel, given the insistence on proper clothing.


Too bad, I'd have to default to Karakan and/or Vimuhla, then!

Yep...

Oh, right, gotcha! Thank you for the clarification!