The Book of Drastic Resolutions: Cult of Taeterisus undefined undefined More... [Close] [Close] X10 CULT OF TAETERISUS by Stephen Martin, with thanks to James Frusetta Mythos and History Cult Ecology The Cult in the World Piece of Taeterisus (Acolyte) Memmbership Taeterisus Special Divine Spells Miscellaneous Notes Greg Stafford on Chaotic Tricksters MYTHOS AND HISTORY There are many aspects of Trickster, for many powers and elements were influenced by his presence. Chaos gave rise to its own version when it was forced into the laws of creation. This chaotic version of Trickster is usually not distinguished from the local aspect, since both beings caused trouble wherever they went. He is worshiped only among chaotic beings, who know him by different names: he is Tokaz Varaz to the chaotic goblins of the Pavis Rubble, spirit of all that is scary in the darkness; and Ragnaglar's Balls to the broos, formed when a jealous and vengeful Thed learned of Ragnaglar's affair with Malia. Among sophisticated Lunar chaos-philosophers, he is called Taeterisus (Risus for short). Chaos foes sometimes call him Twisted Trickster or Wakboth's Tears. Taeterisus did all that he could to integrate Trickster into the void, but was eventually dismembered by Eurmal. He re-formed in Prax, and played a joke on Wakboth which distracted the Great Evil at a crucial moment. He managed to survive when the Sun returned by hiding under a pile of dung, and is still around to play his dangerous and malicious pranks on whoever is available, much like all aspects of the Trickster. Taeterisus is rarely depicted by chaotic beings. He is pictured as a warped version of Trickster among sane societies. Thus, among Orlanthi he is seen as a monstrous version of Eurmal, with great fangs and many deformities. Dead members are handled in whatever fashion is held by the local chaos community. Many members prefer to use their Swallow spell to devour the dead (or dying). Taeterisus promises members that he will swallow their souls when they die. The runes of Taeterisus are Chaos, Disorder, and Illusion. CULT ECOLOGY Taeterisus' cult is a refuge for those creatures of chaos who do not conform to their particular race's "norm." Even among chaotics there are some with a sense of humor, which is liable to prove deadly unless they can gain some kind of power to defend themselves. The cult is never large, smaller even than most widely-known Trickster aspects. Members can worship at regular Trickster shrines if they are not recognized as chaotic, possible for human and ogre members. Worshipers of Taeterisus have all of the worst features of Tricksters and chaotics. They are destructive and vindictive, with a penchant for practical jokes, the deadlier the better. No one will put up with them. They hate other tricksters more than they do the rest of the world, and go out of their way to destroy or corrupt them; Chaos Slime is a favorite tool for this. However, they will normally not do anything to destroy a shrine to Trickster, perhaps to save it for their own use. Taeterisus has no established worship days. Members who tend a shrine will decide when they want to perform services, and will usually choose the most inconvenient times. THE CULT IN THE WORLD Taeterisus' cult is as little-organized as any Trickster's. Members with more power rule, and others serve as slaves. The cult is uncommon, since it is more sophisticated than most chaos societies can support, but the occasional worshiper can be found anywhere in Genertela except Prax. There is little cooperation between members, and none between individual shrines. If pressed, most members would say that the "temple" in Dorastor heads the cult. Members from other areas often try to emulate the feats of that site, since it has had a number of "famous" worshipers. Shrines are the only worship site. Each provides a different spell, as is normal for Tricksters; Swallow is most common. The oldest known shrine is in Dorastor, near the zombie town of Neverdead. It is actually a multiple shrine, with four worship sites located in close proximity. These sites provide Chaos Gift, Panic, Create Dung Heap, and Swallow, giving local Terrors a useful complement of spells. PIECE OF TAETERISUS (ACOLYTE) MEMBERSHIP This status is the same as in other Trickster cults. The initiation process is the same, but Taeterisus' worshipers are more likely to be sent on truly dangerous missions. Where a normal trickster might have to steal a stick from a wyvern's nest, or find a pearl in a dung heap, Taeterisus' followers are likely to be sent for the grave earth from a vampire's coffin, or to retrieve a gem from inside the body of a gorp. Pieces are acolytes, and gain reusable Divine spells. If a Piece maintains a shrine he is called Terror, and gains a yearly increase in POW if he leads worship services. Pieces learn no Spirit Magic from the cult, but none is forbidden. For a description of Chaos Gift, see Gods of Glorantha, Cults Book (pg 66). Duration is 15 minutes, with no cyclic effects. The Chaotic Feature rolled has an equal chance to be beneficial or detrimental, as normal. Divine Magic available: Chaos Gift, Create Dung Heap, Illusory (Smell, Sound), Panic, Reflection, Swallow, Worship Taeterisus TAETERISUS SPECIAL DIVINE SPELLS Create Dung Heap 2 points ranged, temporal, stackable, reusable This is a specific illusion spell, described in Gods of Glorantha (Cults Book, pg 71). It turns whatever is covered into a heap of dung for the duration of the spell. The spell covers an object of average human size, and additional points can increase this (13 SIZ per spell stacked). The spell includes a strong and very accurate olfactory component. If the illusion is cast on a target, the caster must overcome the victim's MPs with his own. If successful, the illusion travels with the target, masking his appearance and smell, though not the sounds he makes. MISCELLANEOUS NOTES OGRES This cult is a favorite of ogres, since through it they gain access to other Trickster shrines, because of their normal human appearance. As long as the tender of the site does not identify the ogre as chaotic (and possibly even then), a Piece of Taeterisus will be able to sacrifice for spells just like any other Trickster. A well-traveled Piece of Taeterisus can gain a large complement of spells in this fashion. A favorite such spell is Lie, which the ogre then uses to confound Storm Bull worshipers the world over. GREG STAFFORD ON CHAOTIC TRICKSTERS Excerpt from the Lore Auction, RuneQuestCon II, January '95. Audience Member (AM): Does Trickster have a chaotic aspect that is worshiped by chaotic Beings? Greg Stafford (GS): No. AM: Yet in Wyrms Footnotes 7, Steve Perrin had a Trickster cult associated with chaotic creatures of the dark. GS: The cult is probably there, but has changed its form as our continuing education allows us to evolve a better understanding for determining these things. SP: And saying there are no chaotic tricksters is not the same as saying there are no chaotic Trickster deities. GS: It's not saying that chaotic deities are not Trickster-like. When I say there are no chaotic Tricksters, I mean that all chaos breaks the rules. In a sense, that makes them all Tricksters, because that's what Tricksters do. Return to The Best of Volume Chaos