E is for Egg of the World

The Egg of the World is some semi-mythical concept and/or object that Tsolyáni associate with the creation of the World. Some theologians hold that the Egg of the World was created by Hnálla, the Supreme Principle of Stability and Master of Light, first of the Five Lords of Stability in the Tsolyáni pantheon. They hold that when he dropped the Egg as a result of the other Gods bickering, it shattered with all the shards becoming the men, plants, animals and other creatures that inhabit the world.

Or it could be an item of mystical power, for every Tsolyáni child knows the story of how the Undying Wizard, Subadím the Sorcerer scaled the mighty Thénu Thendráya Peak, the tallest peak in Tsolyánu's northern mountain range, in search of the Egg, and of his "High Eyrie" located on the slopes of said peak, from whence he set off on his search. His magical creations are said to still await his return.

D is for Dlásh

Dlásh is Livyánu's Forbidden City - access is controlled and foreigners are strictly forbidden. Transgressors may find themselves sacrificed to The One of Fears, one of the Livyáni Shadow Gods and patron demon of the city.

One might say "what happens in Dlásh, stays in Dlásh" to borrow an over-used phrase. But with festivals such as The Feast of Re-Entering and The Festival of Terrible Sights, is it any wonder?

C is for Cinnamon

The smell of musty cinnamon is not something one wants to smell in the depths of a Tsolyáni Underworld for it is the distinctive scent of the Ssú, the Enemy of Man.

B is for Béy Sü

Béy Sü is the capital of Tsolyánu, a sprawling metropolis with over a million souls*. The name means "Soul of the World". It lies on the banks of the Missüma River about a thousand tsán north of Jakálla, Tsolyánu's next largest city*. The main part of the city lies on the western shore of the river; on the eastern are a few temples, some villas, the Necropolis (or City of the Dead) and the dreaded Tólek Kána Pits, the Imperial prison.

This picture is from the cover of the original game box that the Empire of the Petal Throne RPG (EPT) came in, way back in 1975.

* at least IMT - "In My Tekumel"! :-)

Resin Ahoggyá!

Resin Ahoggyá bodies molded by Jeff Trnka of JTFM

Here is a pic of our upcoming Ahoggyá models - both armoured and unarmoured variants - along side our Princess Vrísa Vishétru figure for scale. The arms are being done in metal by RAFM and fit the socket holes like a charm (finally something goes right!)

The arm variants can be seen here, in their "green" stage.

The intent is to sell them in sets of 10 or as individual models. Unfortunately, these are turning out to be quite costly and as a consequence will be our highest priced release yet. It's not decided yet but the full retail for a set is likely to be close to $110.00US.

Tékumel Club members will get their club discount, of course, which will help make it a little less painful.

A is for Ahoggyá

The Ahoggyá are one of Tékumel's intelligent non-human races. It is a squat creature with four legs and four arms spaced around a roughly cylindrical body with a carapace on top. There is no head as such, rather there are four sets of eyes that are spaced around the body between each set of arms and legs. Below each pair of eyes are it's other features - one each of mouth, "ears", "nose" and reproductive organs. The latter three just look like nobbly bits. It doesn't really have a front though I usually take the eyes with the mouth to be forward. Ahoggyá are generally considered brutish and rude - hell, they ARE brutish and rude. Human notions of polite behaviour and manners are lost on an Ahoggyá.

RIP Professor Muhammad Abd-al-Rahman (MAR) Barker

Professor Barker has died at the age of 83. I know he left teaching a long time ago, but that is how I have always thought of him - as "the Professor".

The official press release can be found here, at the Tekumel Foundation site.

RIP Professor.