The Clan of Sky Blue Water, Distinguished and Sedulous

Some background before we begin


The short of it: I fell in love with the Empire of the Petal Throne boxed game in the late 70s as a high schooler.  College and life intervened and my love of the setting sat idle until 2014, when I got back into gaming.  The group lasted about a year before collapsing—just as I was about to take over the DM slot and dust off my dormant EPT campaign.


I have one player, my good friend Chris.  We don’t play as regularly as I might like, but often enough that my interest in Tékumel has remained rekindled.  Between sessions, I’ve taken the time to flesh out some of my 30+ year old ideas.  Chris isn’t familiar with Tékumel, so we decided to operate in more of a “one-off” mode so that adventures are kept short.  Once we get to a point where he is comfortable with the setting, I have a “campaign” mostly ready to go.


We’re using Béthorm, a skill-based, points-buy system, with a 2D10, roll low mechanic.  Chris plays all PCs and I play the rest.  I’d really like to minimize the “roll playing” and emphasize the “role playing”, but frankly neither of us are quite there.

And off we go...Into the Cistern

Like many of the better-off clans in Jakálla, Sky Blue Water was proud to boast it had its own cistern.  In a city as large and densely populated as Jakálla, water and sanitation were a continuing concern.  Sure, Jakálla had running water.  But the supply wasn’t as constant—or as clean--as the Palace of the Realm would have one believe.  Access to a steady supply of clean water was a true luxury.  And a sign of status.

When Sky Blue Water first built their clanhouse, they had taken advantage of an area not filled by the last Ditlána, the periodic ritual razing of all or portions of a city upon which new structures were built, to create the cistern.  Old stonework was cemented over to create the holding tank, which lay approximately two stories underground—deep enough to stay cool but not so deep as to be affected by Jakálla’s periodic flooding.

The cistern sat in the middle of the clan’s courtyard, housed beneath a columned roof of blue-gray slate.  The tank itself, probably the remains of a previous occupant’s great hall, was accessed by a spiraling flight of stairs.  It was a popular gathering place for members of those lineages whose apartments sat at ground level and could not take advantage of cooling breezes.

So it was a source of great anxiety when the water level suddenly dropped.  There must be a leak somewhere, and the precious water was draining into Jakálla’s Tsuru'úm or underworld.  Gúrush hiChayénga, the chief clan elder, ordered the cistern drained, cleaned and the leak to be found and patched.  This work was assigned the highest priority, as summer was rapidly approaching and the water supply was urgently needed.

The real excitement came when Gemet hiDangól, chamberlain of Sky Blue Water, while relaying items discussed by the clan council, read the following to the assembled representatives of the lower clan lineages:
 
“We have been informed that our hiIndukar cousins (most diligent) discovered what looks to be the outline of an ancient doorway while effecting repairs to the clanhouse cistern.  This is likely the source of our problems.  The scholar Wachánu hiVayéshtu (esteemed among his peers) speculates that it may predate the last Ditlána.  He seeks to assemble a team of explorers to investigate what lies beyond that door, that we may exploit any gains to the betterment of Sky Blue Water.  This survey needs to be completed within the fortnight, so that the repairs may be completed and the cistern refilled before the start of the dry season.  To those who participate in this survey, a portion of any spoils will be given to their lineage coffers!”


The party


  • Wachánu hiVayéshtu, scholar and antiquarian
  • Kéttukal hiBaláshi, purveyor of exotic goods, assigned by clan to act as cataloger/appraiser
  • Tabriz hiIndukar, laborer
  • Tufiq hiIndukar, laborer
  • Ikané hiShúkla, an Aridáni, Wachánu hiVayéshtu’s minder, a volunteer
  • Rachan hiShúkla, Ikane’s younger brother, attendant to the hiVayéshtus, a volunteer
  • Údey hiDangól, friend of Rachan hiShúkla, attendant to the hiChayéngas, a volunteer
  • Kámat hiDangól, Udey’s cousin, friend of Rachan hiShúkla, wine steward to the hiChayéngas, a volunteer


 
 




















 








































 














Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Sons' of the Vríddi -9 Dohála 2340. Part 2

Image
The game definitely started to take a darker turn as the evening went on. Part 2 Practice makes perfect, as someone once said, and both Horu and Ghachayal had a lot of practice doing these types of jobs.   Yet, something was bothering Ghachayal; why should a lowly scribe be such a concern and require this attention? Wouldn't it have been easier, and cheaper, if Agama had just gotten some toughs from the marketplace to settle the matter? A few kaitars, a quick stab in the back when Kageshi was making his way home one night, the obvious victim of a robbery. Normally, Ghachayal didn't bother to ask why, or even expect an answer. When given a task he saw it through and that was the end of it. Many things had changed in the last few months, including it would seem himself. Lost in thought, Ghachayal suddenly started, and almost fell from the palanquin. "You realise that you've been set up" a voice had clearly said. A voice that didn't belong to Horu, o...
Read more

Sons' of the Vríddi -9 Dohála 2340. Part 1.

Image
Game Session 12, November 25, 2017 This is the first part of a long and productive Saturday evening of gaming. I have jumped ahead about 8 months real time, (and 6 months game time) from the first post. The party is currently 3rd Level. 9 Dohála 2340. (6 months and many hundreds of Tsan later) Part 1. The evening is cool, but tolerable, and the nearby neatly tended garden is full of the sound of insects and other nocturnal creatures. If one carefully looks one can see armed guards patrolling the shadows.   Although only 5 people are seated on the thick carpet the amount of noise being generated by them would lead one to believe, were he not standing nearby, that a party was being held. Much laughter, and shouts of joy and disbelief could be heard. A musician is playing on a stringed instrument, adding to the general merriment. The five people are, and in no particular order, Horu hiFa'asu, Ghachayal hiKhalumis, Dadayal hiVríddi , Autso hiVríddi, and Agama hiViri...
Read more

Why did we decide to write another Tekumel blog?

As I mentioned, this blog is different from most other blogs! How? It's the collective work of people who don't play together, for one thing. So the Tekumel we're talking about is always OUR Tekumel. Remember that line by Prof. Barker in "Empire of the Petal Throne"? "This is MY Tekumel. Now make it YOURS!" (Capitalization mine). We've all done this to one degree or another, and we're sharing the results with you. Why do we bother? Well, as you guessed, there's a reason for this endeavour. In short, there are a couple popular misconceptions about Tekumel that are really getting on our nerves. This blog is an answer to all of them. If someone ever tells you "you can't understand Tekumel"/"you need a Degree in Tekumeli Studies to play or run Tekumel"/any variation of the previous points...point them to this blog! If someone ever asks "But what do you DO in Tekumel?", point them to this blog. If someo...
Read more