Thread: Questioning chirine ba kal

Originally Posted by Dulahan

A different observation. It's weird how views and understandings change with time. I've been trying to research Sarku's temple more carefully due to prominent potential NPCs in my game, and finding that... wow, I'm sorta 'getting' Sarku a lot more. Like enough that I can definitely see the appeal of his worship amongst the common folk outside of the typical "Woohoo I wanna be undead" sorts, and indeed, ignoring ever doing that.

My initial impressions were definitely formed by first reads of the novels, sourcebook, and Mitlanyal back in college. But over a decade later, it's definitely different.

Of course, reading the novels again might change that right back when Dhic'hune shows up...

Agreed. Originally, the Sarku people were all pretty much cardboard targets / generic bad guys; over time, like everything else, we learned a lot more nuanced things - and had a lot more nuanced play, as a result.

Originally Posted by Zirunel

Then write one!

It'd be a fun project, and a useful one. I know I would enjoy reading it.

Agreed; plenty of materials in the files, scattered around all of the texts...

The "Legend of Cleopatra" Indiegogo is now up and running:

https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/t...atra-fantasy#/

We'll backing this one as we have the previous ones - all sorts of useful people and fantastical beasts...

Originally Posted by chirine ba kal

The "Legend of Cleopatra" Indiegogo is now up and running:

https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/t...atra-fantasy#/

We'll backing this one as we have the previous ones - all sorts of useful people and fantastical beasts...

Phil would love these. Heck, you can fill out a couple of Avanthe legions at least.

And the monsters are great, as are the "Really Truly NOT CONAN Figures! Honest!"

Originally Posted by Dulahan

That sounds like a hell of a project. Especially when one doesn't have access to the files and texts.

Well, it's true you can just throw up your hands and say it can't be done, but I think that kind of defeatism is not only unseemly, but unnecessary.

Like many (most?) of us, I once imagined that the Professor's files held a wealth of previously unpublished Tekumel lore, but it has become very clear over the last five years that that simply isn't the case, and there is much less there than meets the eye.

On the one hand, there really isn't much there there. There are few crown jewels. Early drafts of familiar publications sure, but not much that is truly new to us.

On the other hand, the snippets of unpublished knowledge that may be scattered around in there clearly aren't going to see the light of day. Not anytime soon, if ever.

In effect, we already know most everything we will ever know about the setting.

Therefore, if you want a Bednalljan history, look at what you already have and begin there. EPT and the Sourcebook describe the beginning, Nayari and her successors. The Engsvanyali history describes the Tarishande dynasty and the end of the First Imperium. Everything in between is a bit of a mystery, but tabletop RPG is SUPPOSED to be a creative hobby, right? So create. There'll be bits and bobs in Deeds of the Ever-glorious, maybe in the Blue Room archive, but really you have to flesh out the rest yourself. Why wait for revelations from the Professor that will never come? If you love the setting but you are troubled by the gaps, then just write something up and fill them.

Done and done.

Originally Posted by Zirunel

Well, it's true you can just throw up your hands and say it can't be done, but I think that kind of defeatism is not only unseemly, but unnecessary.

Like many (most?) of us, I once imagined that the Professor's files held a wealth of previously unpublished Tekumel lore, but it has become very clear over the last five years that that simply isn't the case, and there is much less there than meets the eye.

On the one hand, there really isn't much there there. There are few crown jewels. Early drafts of familiar publications sure, but not much that is truly new to us.

On the other hand, the snippets of unpublished knowledge that may be scattered around in there clearly aren't going to see the light of day. Not anytime soon, if ever.

In effect, we already know most everything we will ever know about the setting.

Therefore, if you want a Bednalljan history, look at what you already have and begin there. EPT and the Sourcebook describe the beginning, Nayari and her successors. The Engsvanyali history describes the Tarishande dynasty and the end of the First Imperium. Everything in between is a bit of a mystery, but tabletop RPG is SUPPOSED to be a creative hobby, right? So create. There'll be bits and bobs in Deeds of the Ever-glorious, maybe in the Blue Room archive, but really you have to flesh out the rest yourself. Why wait for revelations from the Professor that will never come? If you love the setting but you are troubled by the gaps, then just write something up and fill them.

Done and done.

That works, provided that when people complain it's not "real" Tekumel you simply have the self confidence to tell them to go fuck themselves.

Originally Posted by Gronan of Simmerya

That works, provided that when people complain it's not "real" Tekumel you simply have the self confidence to tell them to go fuck themselves.

Totally agree. "Real Tekumel" is as out there as it will ever be. There won't be much more, if any. So the complainers don't actually have very much to throw at you.

The rest is gaps. Gaps that will be filled by "Your Tekumel." Be clear that your Tekumel is your Tekumel. Issue a disclaimer to that effect, whatever, but don't hesitate to stand up for Your Tekumel. Create it, make it yours, share it. You love it, right? So have the confidence to stand up for your take on it.