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Philosophy -
'The Hunchbacked Assistant'
Grugánu
is, like all cohorts, a more specialised version of the prime deity. Ksárul’s
many followers pride themselves on poking their noses into absolutely
everyone’s business and claim they know everything there is to know
about any academic subject. The followers of Grugánu make no such grand
claims, but they do say they know more about magic and the outer planes
than even the arrogant Ksárulites. In the university that is the Temple
of Ksárul, Grugánu is the ‘Department of Physics’, the ones whose
work underpins all the other fields of study whether they acknowledge it
or not.
The
followers of Grugánu are caricatured as being eccentric, mad, obsessive
and often ugly to boot. Whereas the archetypal Ksárulite is a suave
man-of-the-world with a glib tongue and a poisoned stiletto, his Grugánu
friend is a crabbed hunchback poring over wormy scrolls and doing
unspeakable things in unhygienic cellars to summon demons to enforce the
will of his sinister master.
Grugánu’s
followers look down somewhat on the followers of Ksárul as being
interested in surface matters and all too often in transient power,
rather than concentrating on the great task of freeing their god by
penetrating to the utter depths of the mysteries of the world. They are
not exclusively magicians and they study all the same kinds of subjects
as the
Temple
of
Ksárul
, but with their own extra occult element. A Ksárulite architect will
design you a very nice villa, with certain entirely innocent
architectural motifs alluding to the Bednjallan period that
coincidentally make good defensive towers, a secret escape tunnel and a
soundproof chapel/laboratory in the basement. A Grugánu architect with
his inner knowledge of geomancy and astrology will make you one with the
entrance facing the rising point of your astrologically favoured planet,
bury metallic rods in the walls to channel the telluric currents of
magic around the building such that the bedroom is suffused with the
power of Dlamelish, the gardens with Avanthe and the library with
Ksárul.
A Ksárulite physician will base his diagnosis on the secret writings of
Ygnatl of Ssa’atis, expert in the multifarious physical manifestations
of the minor demons of disease; a Grugánu physician will use iridology,
reflexology and astrology and treat you using lodestones, rearranging
your home to divert malign astromagical currents and giving you a
calendar of dates on which it is astrologically important you either eat
pickled onions or make love.
The
temple does not neglect the arts; they make extensive use of music and
drama in their public rituals (and in their private demonic summonings)
and their ritual priests are adept at achieving disquieting theatrical
effects. Many puppet-play scripts of a tragic nature have been written
by followers of Grugánu, as have many musical pieces and choral
arrangements of the epics. Again there is certain occult style
associated with such works – Grugánuites would love the cool
abstraction of Bach’s fugues and the symbolism of Mozart’s The Magic
Flute, but scorn Handel and Beethoven as too obvious, grandiose and
‘in your face’.
They
are noted for their ‘research’ into magic, but do not make the
mistake of equating this with modern experimentation and scientific
method. Tekumel is going through one of its interminable
‘scholastic’ periods when most books are merely collations of
half-understood excerpts from older more respected books, ‘new’
works mean new glosses and commentaries on old works and more effort is
put into debating the semantics and interpretation of ancient
manuscripts than into finding new insights. There was a
‘renaissance’ of sorts at the start of the Second Empire period,
when people brought out their Engsvanyali treasures and looked at them
afresh, but that is two millennia past at least, and it is a dictum of
the Temple that nothing truly worthwhile is written in any modern
language (except possibly Livyani). Research as practiced by the
temple
of
Grugánu
is very much a matter of poring over wormeaten scrolls and carefully
trying to piece together the words of the ancient magics. No one tries
anything truly new – it almost always goes wrong, and a magical
mistake can lead to the destruction of entire cities.
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The
‘Chariot’ of the Gods
Grugánu
appears in the myths as the ‘charioteer’ of Ksárul. Since the Five
Empires do not, and never have had, ‘chariots’ in the earthly sense,
what does this mean? The closest object to a chariot seen by most
Tekumeli is the Chlen cart – a ponderous structure more like a mobile
shed than the rapid war-machine implied by the word chariot. And what
pulled this chariot? It could move very fast, and move between the
planes, so rapidly in fact that the gods themselves could not catch it.
The
true nature of the chariot is a matter of deep debate among the
followers of Grugánu; there are many possible interpretations.
The
public are told nothing concrete. The word ‘chariot’ in Tsolyani is
all but identical to the word ‘cart’, in fact the only time it is
used is to refer to the Chariot of the Gods. When the object is depicted
in dramatic presentations of the ‘Lament to the Wheel in Black’ it
is depicted as a black box with black wheels in which Grugánu and Ksárul
stand, puffs of coloured smoke denoting its movement between the planes.
At a crucial point in the story Hru’u recalls the chariot, at which
point the wheels fall off and Hru’u’s demon servitors blow away the
smoke. In processions the chariot is a huge silver and black chlen cart
carrying statues of Grugánu and Ksárul, pulled by dozens of sweating
acolytes in long black shrouds which reach the ground.
An
interesting custom in Purdimal is for students at the large temple
school run by Ksárul and Grugánu to form chariot teams and to have a
race through the streets for a prize of wine and beer. The chariots used
are lightweight constructions of chlen-hide and carry a
charioteer in a Gruganu costume and a Ksarul who throws sweets and
coppers to the watching crowds. Some other temple
schools have been inveigled into taking part; the prize for the last
three years has gone to a team from the
Temple
of
Ketengku
, though it is thought that the husky youths they employ to pull their
chariot are actually officer cadets from the Legions taking the Ketengku
course in ‘Military Camp Hygiene’.
The
linguists of the Temple know that the word used in the Engsvanyali
version of the poem is a generic term for ‘vehicle’, used for chlen
carts, sedan chairs, palanquins, hand carts, boats etc. It was also used
(and not many know this) for such esoteric modes of travel as tubeway
cars and air-cars. Classical Mu’ugalavyani versions of the legend do
not attach the class-symbol for vehicle to the word ‘cart’ referring
to this object, but the symbol for magical or ancient technological
device. Thus, reason these savants, the object driven by Grugánu was a
kind of ancient air-car.
Nonsense,
aver the scholars of ancient technology. Engsvanyali had a perfectly
good word for air-car – not much used, but it was there – if they
had meant air-car they would have said so! And no air-car has ever gone
from plane to plane except via a nexus point created by a magician (and Grugánu’s
highest circle technology scholars have seen a couple of the objects
under discussion and even driven them, so they should know). The chariot
really was a kind of cart, in some very old manuscripts in Duruob, a
Kenemuz sigil often associated with ‘Demon’ is applied to the word.
Therefore it was a cart pulled by plane jumping demons, probably
offspring of the Beast Without a Tail.
Piffle,
say the demonologists. No one can control such a beast without the Reins
of the Sky-Spheres, which, as any fool knows, follow the pattern
utilised by the Hokun when riding their Glass-devils on the
Island
of the Many Jagged Deaths. It cannot in any way be considered equivalent
to a chlen harness, which is what you would need if it were a cart. And
what in the Fifty-Three Hells do the Livyani know about it anyway? They
do not even believe in Grugánu and this Duruob manuscript is heretical
trash about Quyove being a mighty goddess! Ipso facto, the chariot must
be a device akin to an Eye which opens nexus points at the press of a
button and in an infinitesimal instant, enabling Grugánu and his master
to make numerous quick getaways from their enemies.
Rubbish,
hoot the geographers derisively. For starters here is no such place as
the Island of Many Jagged Deaths and the Hokun are merely a legend, the
Reins of the Sky-Spheres are in fact derived from the equipage used to
control a Bazakh, a recently discovered beast from the lands of the far
west, but apart from that the argument of the demonologists holds true,
and shows remarkable logic for ones whose grasp of reality is so
nebulous. The assertion made by the linguists is patently false;
Classical Mu’ugalavyani has separate symbols for ‘spell’ and
‘magical device’; the one for ‘spell’ is the one used in the
manuscript in question. The mighty Lord Grugánu had a magic word with
which he could open nexi in one short utterance. If these linguists
would stop sticking their noses into other people’s fields of
endeavour and start analysing the code-word ‘chariot’ in the light
of Numerology and Gematria they might find that original magic word and
thus unleash an age of exploration the like of which has not been seen
since the Latter Times. They sharpen out cartography quills in
anticipation.
Grugánu
himself, in all his aspects, is ineffably silent on the matter.
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Sects
of Gruganu
The
three major sects of Ksárul, The Ndalu Clan, the Society of Blue Light
and the Refulgent Blue Curtain, all have adherents among the followers
of Grugánu, as do some of the lesser sects such as the Cartographers of
the Luminous Pylon. However the majority of the
temple
of
Grugánu
follow their own unique sects, a couple of which are detailed below.
The
Adjusters of the Telluric Energies
This
sect is passionate about the study of the flows of magical energy and
the consequent spots of high and low magical potential. As well as
making minor adjustments to localised flows as part of their practice of
medicine, architecture and other arts and locating the prime sites for
given rituals and shrines they believe that by constructing buildings
made of certain materials or burying idols made of particular metals
they can effect large scale changes in the nature of the world. They are
at this moment taking curiously wrought golden demons to bury at key
sites in the Barrier Ranges in Do Chaka which will allegedly create a
barren area for the magics of Vimuhla thus making it easier to repel
invasion from Mu’ugalavya, and have made a vast brass gong which they
are placing in a newly built shrine some tsan north west of Hauma for
some inscrutable purpose. They sometimes cooperate with those followers
of Sarku and Avanthe who have similar ideas.
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The Smiths of Akhunom
Temple
craftsmen who specialise in the making of magical
weaponry. Most of their creations are merely chlen-hide decorated with
particularly scary sigils and with specialised designs (poisoned daggers
are a favourite) but they do on occasion get their hands on sufficient
iron to make something special. They make sacrificial knives and swords
from artfully tarnished silver and have a spell to make this material
strong enough to use in combat.
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Brotherhood
of the Silver Eye
Also
known as the Squinters, this sect believes that the Eyes of the ancients
really were eyes, and that their god, often depicted with a cast in one
eye, invented them and used one as such. Rumour has it that membership
is only gained by pulling out one’s own left eye. This is not true –
it is surgically removed (though without anaesthetic) so as to leave the
muscles around the eye socket intact. Most members use false ‘Eyes’,
glass and silver constructions that nonetheless scare the unwary. Those
who can afford it put real Eyes in their empty sockets and learn the
special squint to depress the firing stud at the back. This gives them a
+1 bonus to hit with their eye. Especially dedicated types replace both
eyes in this fashion and use only psychic magic to find their way
around.
The
Brotherhood know as much about Eyes as anyone in Tsolyanu, and do
attempt to repair broken ones and allegedly have access to a Thoroughly
Useful Eye.
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Lords
of the Black Chariot
Warning!
Spoilers Ahead!
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Select
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A
secret organisation within the
Temple
of
Grugánu
who are cooperating with the
Temple
of
Hrü
’ü
’s Cusp of Night Society. They believe that Grugánu is the true
cohort of Hrü’ü. After all the Chariot was Hrü’ü’s
therefore the charioteer must have been his servant before he went
over to Ksárul. They Lords of the Black Chariot say that Grugánu
was loyal to Hrü’ü all along and led Ksárul into disaster at
Doromoron Plain. The Tenth Wall is not the creation of the One
Other, the despised Pariah God, but of Grugánu himself. Grugánu’s
aspect Ukhum does not seek the keys, but actually guards the Blue
Room to stop anyone releasing the arrogant prince within. Wuru,
they say, is merely a very large Feshengu kept as a pet by Hrü’ü;
perhaps a demon, and certainly not a true deity and cohort.
The
Lords of the Black Chariot are actively spying on the Ndalu
Society and informing the Cusp of Night what is going on behind
the scenes in the Ksárul temple. They also aid the Cusp of Night
with magic and in trying to transfer Ksárul temple lands to the
temple
of
Hrü’ü
. As yet none of this activity has come to the attention of the
Ksárulites,
and it is hard to say what they would do if they did find out.
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Temple
Organisation
The
temple
of
Grugánu
has no time for the silly subversiveness of the Ksárulites. Everyone
has a circle and states it openly to his fellow priests, all know who to
defer to and who to command. This is especially true among the scholars
and magicians; they hold the power in the temple and all the Patriarchs
and High Adepts come from this branch of the priesthood.
They
still conceal their exact circle from outsiders though, but anyone
tolerably familiar with their robes and symbols can divine who is high
in the hierarchy and who lower down.
Any
temple in a large town or city will have access to an underworld, and
will have non-human servitors, even if this is only a couple of tame
Kurgha to guard the treasure chamber. Larger temples will have Qol
worshippers as well as humans, and Qol can rise in the priestly
hierarchy. It is often a shock to students from small towns to find
their lecturer in advanced magical studies is not just wearing a mask
but is in fact a real mutant reptile.
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Creating
a Grugánu Character
The
Temple
of
Grugánu
is a small one and the priests must often double up between branches; an
administrator in the scriptorium might also be a cantor in a choir
during the rituals, or a high ranking scholar be the only one qualified
to utter the recondite syllables of certain incantations.
Members
of the
Temple
cannot take the attribute Magic Dampener, the magicians just
would not allow such a person into the
Temple
, nor may they have the defects Uneducated or Low Pedhetl.
All
temple personnel, even the
Temple
Guards
, must take Theology of Grugánu 1; the temple is a complex and
dangerous place and those who do not recognise the symbology of the
place are putting their souls at risk.
Administrative
Priests must take Admin 1, Ritual of Grugánu 0 and one of
the following skills; Singing 1, Acting 1, Musical
Instrument 1, Energy Management 1, Law 1 or a Scholar
skill. Energy Management is learned by non-magicians in this
Temple
and groups of Admin priests are drafted in to provide extra energy for
particularly complex feats of ritual magic.
Ritual
priests must take Ritual of Grugánu 1, two of Acting 1, Singing
1 and Dance 1 and one of Energy Management 1, a Scholar
skill and Ancient Language 1.
Scholar
priests have the greatest number of options. They must have Ritual of
Grugánu 0 and must take at least one level of an Ancient
Language and one level of a Scholar skill. At various circles
they gain access to certain specialist skills and specialisms of
standard skills as noted below.
Lay
priests must know Theology of Grugánu 1 and Ritual of Grugánu
0, must have one Scholar or Artisan skill, and can
learn the curious special skills and specialisations as noted below.
Theology
of Grugánu has a number of specialisations; Ksárulite
Philosophy enables the priest to use this skill as a Theology of Ksárul
skill one level lower; the Outer Doctrines can be used to give a
bonus to Ritual of Grugánu and rolls for arts used in relation to such
rituals; the Inner Doctrines are available at 7th
Circle and can be used to give a bonus to magic skills.
Priests
may learn the following ordinary scholar/artisan/artistic skills; Medical,
Apothecary, Engineer, Jeweller, Glassblower,
Architect, Armourer, Chlen-hide worker, Cook,
Locksmith, Dance, Music, Theatre and at the
3rd Circle or above (5th for a lay priest) they
may learn the specialisation Mystical applicable to any of these.
This specialisation encompasses a smattering of knowledge of the various
quasi magical doctrines and knowledge of the
Temple
and enables the person to enhance their work in a magical way. For
example a mystical medic will know more about healing magically
inflicted illnesses, a mystical apothecary will know the magical uses of
various substances, a mystical armourer’s wares will take enchantments
more easily and so on.
Scholars
may learn the Scholar skills Astrology, Alchemy, Numerology,
Other Planes, The Tsu’urum, Geomancy, Ancient
Literature, Ancient Artefacts, Geography and Philosophy.
At
5th Circle
or above (7th for lay priests) any of these may likewise take
the specialisation Magical which enables them to be applied to
enhancing the casting of spells and manipulation of magical power. Thus
a magical astrologer gets a bonus to finding the right day to cast a
particular spell, a magical geomancer knows the right place and
direction to sleep in to recover more magic power and so on, a mystical
geographer knows the location of strange magical phenomena and can have
a go at mapping other planes and so on.
Priests
may also learn the skill Knowledge: Creatures of Ksárul,
enabling them to interact with the creatures of the underworld without
fear, and at 5th circle may learn Language of the Qol
to level 1 for 4pts; this is a spoken language only, transcribed
as phonetically as possible using the Tsolyani alphabet.
At 7th
circle or above magicians may learn specialisations of the Ritual
Magic and Psychic Magic skills relating to the various groups
of spell; thus a magician with the specialisation Psychic Magic 1 Body,
would get +2 casting psychic body spells, not a mere +1. At 9th
circle or above this knowledge of magical theory and practice becomes so
acute they can learn specialisations of the Energy Management skill of
the same kind; this enables them to reduce the effective level of the
spells in this group by 1 in terms of power cost and gain +1 in
resisting that group of magic.
At 7th
circle the scholar priest may learn the scholar skill Demonology,
including the specialisations Summoning and Dismissal;
this is dangerous knowledge and it is fortunate that actually carrying
out these rituals requires the resources of a good sized temple to
succeed. At 10th circle they may learn Scholar: Pariah
Gods, with the specialisation Ways of the One Other, and Language:
Sunuz. This is knowledge definitely better kept secret.
At
12th circle or above a scholar with at least two levels in
Ritual or Psychic Magic, two levels of an ancient or secret language,
knows the Inner Doctrines of the Theology of Grugánu and knows the
magical specialisations of two scholar skills may learn Magical
Research, a 5 point skill that makes the hideously difficult and
dangerous task of developing new spells and magical arts slightly
easier.
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Aspects
of Grugánu
These
are in addition to the Aspects mentioned in Mitlanyal Vol 2.
Ukhum,
Seeker of the Keys
This
aspect wanders the world in various guises seeking the keys to the ten
walls surrounding Ksárul’s Blue Room. He is prayed to by those about
to embark on difficult and dangerous quests in the underworld and planes
beyond.
Yith,
Poet of Disquiet
A
slender and ascetic figure of indeterminate gender with jet black eyes.
He/she inspires artists in the creation of works that communicate the
mysteries of the universe and unsettle the audience. If he had been a
Toslyani Yith would have been HP Lovecraft’s patron deity.
Batlak,
the Father of the Qol
A
great black skinned Qol wreathed in dark flame, he is also the aspect of
Grugánu related to medicine as he has the knowledge to reshape flesh
and bone, and either drive men insane with visions or drag them back to
the mundane plane.
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