Tubecar Discs

© 2017 Tangletown Games

There are many forms of wealth on Tékumel, but a satchel of tubecar discs, like the image above by Juan Ochoa, are a sure way to put a price on your head.

Imagine all the places these discs could take a party!

Where have you been on Tékumel?

New Illustrations for Fate of Tékumel

Juan Ochoa just turned in a whole passel of spot illustrations for the Fate of Tékumel RPG.

Here is a great one of a Feshenga:

© 2017 Tangletown Games

U-Con Tékumel Events

I'm attending U-Con this year (November 17-19) for the Tékumel track. The scheduling times haven't been set yet, but here are the events I am planning to run:

Title: “The Labyrinth of Elongated Shadows”

System: Lamentations of the Flame Princess

Short description: 17th Century Stargate! Servants of the Spanish Crown step through an obsidian mirror, entering a strange plane adjacent to fabled Tékumel - one filled with unearthly monsters and threats.  

Title: “Under Hmakuyál”

System: Fate of Tékumel RPG (Fate system)

Long description: In the year 176, Seal Emperor Trakonel I “the Blazing Light” laid siege to the city of Hmakuyál to put an end to the Pariah Deities. Unfortunately your relatives were in the city at the time of the siege. You’ve learned they are hostages of the Temple of the One Other. You’ve gained access to the city and must now enter the temple and rescue your kinfolk! FYI, “Under Hmakuyál” is the sequel to a scenario introduced at Con of the North 2017.

Title: “Borrowed Trouble”

System: Fate of Tékumel RPG (Fate system)

Short description: The Temple of Lord Belkhánu in Thráya has sent you to recover books and scrolls loaned to the Great Temple west of the city. But chaos lurks within this great temple of Stability!

Fate of Tekumel for Free RPG Day

Art by Mahlon  Blaine

Starting at 6 PM on Saturday, June 17, I'll be running a Fate of Tékumel game for Free RPG Day at Source Comics and Games in Roseville, MN.

The game session is titled "Lords of the Latter Times". This will be a free-wheeling Barsoomian style adventure in the early days of Tékumel. If you like strange mutants, psionics, aircars, crossed swords, and battle harnesses, come on by and play the game!

No knowledge of Tékumel is necessary for this game.

How to Fire an Eye

I made this home video for some art direction that I provided to illustrator Juan Ochoa. The thumb depresses the firing stud on the back of the Eye (opposite the face of the iris) while the first and second fingers keep the upper and lower edges of the Eye pointed at the target.

One with fat fingers needs to be cautious not to interrupt the beam with those fingers!

A Taste of Thráya

Art by Juan Ochoa, © Tangletown Games

This is an illustration detail from new PC art that I commissioned from Juan Ochoa for the Fate of Tékumel RPG. There's enough detail that those of great erudition may be able to elucidate where in the environs of the city of Thráya this character is presently found, and who this person is (i.e., social role).

The Rite of the Diffraction of the Baletl

For my scenario "The Gate to Hmakuyal" at Con of the North this past weekend, I created "The Rite of the Diffraction of the Baletl", one of the secret rituals of the Temple of Lord Hru'u, Supreme Principle of Change. The rite teaches humility, revealing the impermanence and irrelevance of personal and clan status before Lord Hru'u, as well as demonstrating the illusory character and interchangability of the person, self, and memory (i.e., the Báletl, or Spirit-Soul).

This ritual is only carried out in certain Inner Shrines within the temple. The temple typically invites groups of acolytes to participate in the ritual as a reward for devotion to Lord Hru'u and dedication to their studies. Pilgrims and devotees, particularly high status individuals who are financial patrons of the temple, may also be invited to participate in this ritual, although never at the same time as acolytes.

Once successfully cast, the spirit-selves of those seated in mediation are diffracted and shared among the presiding priests and participants. Fragments of memories, desires, experiences, and secrets are randomly transferred among the seated participants. The presiding priests' memories and experiences are NOT shared however.

***

Two priests preside over the ritual. The participants must fast for at least 12 hours prior to the ritual, and must be seated in meditation for at least three hours. Once this has occurred, the junior priest will need to make a Chusetl roll of +3, and the senior priest a Hlakme roll of +3 to fully instantiate the rite.

Each seated participant should roll 1dF.

• On a + roll, the participant gains an extremely useful memory from another person seated in mediation. This takes the form of a persistent additional aspect. The memory's potency as an aspect lasts for one scenario. It can be invoked once per session for free. 
• On a blank face roll, the participant gains a memory which lasts for the remainder of the session. It can be invoked once for free.
• On a (-) roll, the participant gains a terrifying or otherwise negative memory. This counts as a Moderate Consequence.