Episode 46, “Miscellaneous Magic Items”

Welcome to The Hall of Blue Illumination, the podcast dedicated to the world of M.A.R. Barker’s Tékumel.  In this episode, our hosts review each entry in the “Miscellaneous Magical Items” section of Empire of the Petal Throne.

But first, the new edition of Flamesong is now available in print and digital formats!

[00:00:40]. The new printing of Flamesong is now available, with a new introduction by our very own James Maliszewski.  This edition also includes maps, and accents have been added to the Tsolyáni.

[00:01:20]. An electronic version is available in several formats.  If you have any suggestions about other formats or alterative marketplaces, let us know!

[00:02:41]  Miscellaneous Magic Items. (EPT §1500, pp. 75-78)  EPT describes many “miscellaneous magic items.”  But as Victor notes, sometimes the listed abilities are just the beginning of what an item can actually do.

[00:04:29] There are 24 items listed in this section.  Most are actually unique, but duplicates exist of a few.

[00:05:07] 1. The Alluring Maiden of Ngá.  The android assassin.  Androids come up a lot in Tékumel, and it’s curious that they’re so often used as assassins.  Many of these, such as the Ru’ún and the Yéleth were probably developed during the Latter Times.

[00:10:41] James raises the question of language.  In many cases, devices such as these are incredibly ancient, and pre-date the existence of modern Tèkumeláni languages.  Victor suggests that the artificial intelligences of some devices could “learn” modern languages simply by listening to enough of them.  A telepathic link capable of conveying thoughts and ideas could also get around a language limitation.

[00:12:47] 2.  The Boots of Changéla.  Where is Kettuláno?  Victor doesn’t know, but James suspects it’s mentioned in the Book of Ebon Bindings.

[00:14:38]. 3.  The Chariot of the Gods.  Victor notes that there’s a joke that the incantations spoken to activate this air car are often something like, “please tilt your seats forward…”

[00:15:56]  James believes that Armies of Tékumel (Vol. 5) – Livyánu and Tsoléi discusses a special legion that operates air cars.  Knowledge of air car operation is limited to the priesthoods of certain gods.  The priesthood of Ksárul also has a temple spell that confers knowledge of how ancient devices work.

[00:17:30] 4.  The Clockwork Automaton of Qiyór.  Qiyór the Many-Tonged is the author of Realms Beyond the Triple Knot.  The comment about the recent destruction of one of these devices reflects the contemporary activities of Prof. Barker’s own players.

[00:20:32] 5.  The Crystal Claw of Kúrutesh.  This is an example of a unique item that has many more powers than are listed in the published EPT.  This, and the Silver Butterfly had tremendous interplanar powers when used together in certain places.

[00:22:07] 6. The Cup of Súbadim the Sorceror.  Another of the Undying Wizards.  Did he create it, or did it just become associated with him?

[00:24:24] 7. The Emerald of Hagárr of Paránta.  Hagárr of Paránta is referenced as a “buccaneer”, but James notes that this is also the name of an Undying Wizard.

[00:27:13] 8.  The Glorious Cloak of Many Eyes.  James wonders about an association with the wizard Ruvádis the Wearer of Eyes, whose tower is mentioned on the Map of Jakálla (Map of Jakálla, #76).

[00:28:53] 9. The Gloves of Chirené.  We’re often given a description of what an item does, but not precisely what it looks like.

[00:30:54] 10.  The Hammer of Pendárte of Khéris.  This is one of the few items mentioned in EPT that’s not associated with the Tsolyánu.

[00:33:04] 11. The Helmet of the Three-Pointed Star.  One of the few items that is specifically not rechargeable.  It’s also a reminder that beings returned to life normally suffer constitution loss (EPT §413, p. 17), which sets a functional limit on the number of times a character can be revivified.

[00:34:27] 12. The Jade Bowl of the God-King of Purdánim.  James notes that the title “God-King” is an unusual epithet on Tékumel.

[00:37:12] 13. The Ladder of Mríddu the Magician.  “Mríddu the Magician” is otherwise unknown.  To modern players, this item might not seem that special.  But it comes from an era when TTRPGs were very concerned with encumbrance and carrying capacity.  It can also be used as a bridge.

[00:44:48] 14. The Lightning Bringer.  It would be interesting to have a better description of what this looks like.  James and Victor discuss describing ancient items so that their use is not immediately apparent.

[00:51:28] Victor reads an entry from “Reports to the Petal Throne” describing the tubeway car system, and another mysterious device that ends up in the Temple of Vimúhla in Jakálla.  Victor believes it was probably a “trash collector.”

[00:54:50] 15. The Little House of Tranquil Dwelling.  Originally found on another planet, this is a fascinating item.  James notes the extra information given in Gardásiyal.

[00:59:08]. 16. The Magical Chest of the Topaz God.  This seems to be similar to Harsán’s spell of “Placing Things Around the Corner” and D&D’s Bag of Holding.

[01:01:20] 17. The Mallet of Inimitable Fealty.  This suggests something about the Priest-Kings and their priorities.

[01:06:34] 18. The Mighty Wall of Thúmis.  What does it look like?  Gardásiyal answers the question.

[01:08:49] 19. The Music Box of Nekkutháne.  Victor reviews the description of the Ngóro.

{01:11:22] 20. The Silver Serpent of Nayári of the Silken Thighs.  How would players use this device?  It seems more like something that would be used in a novel.

[01:13:42] 21. The Skullcap of Girigámish.  Why did the priesthood of Ksárul believe it was necessary to create these?  Maybe we should ask one of the ancient forms of Ksárul?

[01:15:43] 22. The Speaker to Heaven.  This is a reminder of the Man of Gold, but it’s not.  It’s probably not going to be clear which ancient deity it depicts.

[01:17:43] 23. The Trumpet of Metállja.  Another Undying Wizard.  The strength requirement is what is so odd about this item.

[01:19:52] 24. The Wondrous Enhancer of Jewels. This is another indicator of the early days of EPT.  Victor also notes that because so many of these items are recharged by the Thoroughly Useful Eye, the Eye becomes a kind of meta-item that is incredibly valuable.

[01:21:32] Miscellaneous magical items are never found for sale, but temples or the Imperium might lend them out for special missions.

Hosts: James Maliszewski and Victor J. Raymond.

Producer: Thomas Tiggleman

Tékumel Products Referenced:

Flamesong, Professor Barker’s second novel set on Tékumel, is finally back in print.  You can purchase the paperback through Amazon.   It’s also available as an ebook for Kindle, Nook, or Kobo.

Lords of Tsámra, is the third of Prof. Barker’s five Tékumel novels.  It was originally published by Zottola Publishing between 2002 and 2003.  Currently out-of-print, it can only be obtained at significant cost from third-party resellers.  The Tékumel Foundation plans to reissue Prof. Barker’s last three novel in print and electronic versions in the future.

Empire of the Petal Throne is the original Tékumel sourcebook and rules set.  It was first published by TSR in 1975.  It can be purchased as a print-on-demand book, or as a PDF from DriveThruRPG.

The Book of Ebon Bindings is fantastic, but currently out-of-print.  The 1978 (or was it 1979?) edition was published by Imperium Publishing. Theatre of the Mind Enterprises re-printed it in 1991.

The Armies of Tékumel books were published in six volumes by several companies over a twenty-year span beginning in 1978.  All are now out-of-print, and some are harder to acquire secondhand than others.  In addition to miniature painting guides for the respective armies, these volumes detail military units, their equipment and commanders.  Volume V specifically addressed the armies of Livyánu and Tsoléi. 

The Strategic Review was an early RPG periodical, a predecessor of The Dragon.  It was published by TSR from 1975 to 1976.

There were several supplements for the Gardásiyal ruleset in the Adventures on Tékumel line.  They were published between 1992 and 1994 by Theatre of the Mind Enterprises and are now out-of-print.

Man of Gold, the first of M.A.R. Barker’s novels set on Tékumel, is back in print.  You can purchase it through Amazon or CreateSpace.   It’s also available as an ebook for Kindle, Nook, or Kobo.

Non-Tékumel Things Referenced:

Expedition to the Barrier Peaks is a module for Dungeons & Dragons first published in 1980.  It takes place in a crashed spaceship, and introduces robots and science fiction elements into the otherwise traditional fantasy setting.

Lord Darcy is a character originally created by Randall Garrett.  He is an detective in an alternate earth where magic exists, and the tales of his exploits were published in three novels and several short stories between 1964 and 1989.

You can email us at citizen@tekumelpodcast.com.  You can also find us at our website, on Twitter, or on Facebook.