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From: PMichaels@aol.com
Subject: Trickster
Message-ID: <9410191150546859726@aol.com>
Date: 19 Oct 94 10:13:58 GMT
X-RQ-ID: 6665
Given that some folks have mentioned Trickster recently, and
that the storytelling contest for RQ-Con 2 is "Trickster's Night
Out," I thought I'd share some of my recent thoughts regarding
this figure. I recognize that most of these ideas are God
Learner influenced, but then so is the whole idea of a Trickster
cult.
From the various Trickster aspects (as described in the
official cult write-up), I think the God Learners were further
able to discern or create what they called "meta-aspects."
These meta-aspects are believed to reflect the mythic roles
Trickster played during the various stages of Godtime
(according to the Jrusteli Monomyth). The Jester meta-aspect
is identified with the Creation, and includes the Imp and Comic
Fool aspects. The Deceiver meta-aspect is identified with the
Golden Age, and includes the Shapechanger, Rogue, Seducer, and
Fright aspects. The Desirer meta-aspect is identified with the
Storm Age, and includes the Thief, Mask, Truant, Glutton, and
Sexual Insatiate aspects. The Destroyer meta-aspect is
identified with the Great Darkness, and includes the
Dismembered, Murderer, and Destroyer aspects. The
Firebringer meta-aspect is identified with the Great
Compromise, and includes only the Firebringer aspect.
Here are a few new spirit spells for some of the aspects:
The Comic Fool -
Tickle/2 points/ Ranged, Instant
The caster must overcome the target's magic points with his
or her own. If successful, the target begins laughing the next
strike rank, and continues laughing for 1d10 strike ranks.
During this time the target is nearly incapacitated, and can
only parry or dodge at half normal effectiveness. If casting a
spell, he must make a Concentration roll for each strike rank
he is laughing while attempting the spell; a single failure will
ruin the spell.
This spell is often cast when the target has just taken a
drink, in an attempt to make the drink come out the target's
nose.
The Rogue -
Quicktongue/variable/ Self, Instant
For each point of this spell, the caster's skill in Fast Talk is
increased by 5%.
The Glutton -
Purge/1 point/ Self, Instant
This spell will cause the caster to immediately vomit his or her stomach
contents, with no discomfort or unpleasant
aftertaste. The caster can then resume experiencing the
pleasures of eating.
The Murderer -
Gets the Disrupt spirit magic spell (not the Destroyer aspect as in the
official cult write-up)
The Destroyer -
Damage/Ranged, Instant
This spell damages non-living, non-magical material, doing
1d3 points of structural damage to it. If the target item is in
use by a person aware of the spell caster, the user's magic
points must be over come on the resistance table. The spirit
spell Repair may be used to fix such damage.
New aspects:
All of the aspects described so far for the Trickster can be
described as "voluntary" in that a trickster initiate has to
voluntarily seek out a new shrine in order to contact a new
aspect. I think the God Learners also found what they called
"involuntary aspects." These are aspects which can manifest
and affect any worshiper of a Trickster cult, whether the cult
was influenced by the God Learners or not. Sometimes this
happens at a Trickster shrine, when an initiate is sacrificing
for the regular rune magic found for the regular aspect.
Sometimes they just manifest, affecting the initiate no
matter what he or she is doing, no matter where he or she is.
Some God Learners theorized that involuntary aspects were
parts of Trickster which not even Trickster can control.
Others God Learners said that they represent the fact that
Trickster is as likely to victimize himself and his worshipers
as he was anybody else. (A well known Trickster saying is the
Trickster's Lament: "No wonder they call me the Trickster! I
even play tricks on myself!")
Two involuntary aspects are the Outcast and the Scapegoat:
The Outcast - Trickster is often a disruptive force in the
community in which he lives. This is usually due to his
breaking of laws and standards of behavior. When this aspect
manifests, the community rises to drive the trickster initiate
away. This aspect can manifest anywhere a trickster initiate
may be found. At times, the trickster initiate will find that
the Scapegoat (see below) aspect has also manifested.
The Scapegoat - Trickster has sometimes had the sins of
people heaped upon him in order to remove their sins from
them. When this aspect manifests, the community performs a
ritual by which the trickster initiate becomes the focus for all
the spirits of reprisal, curses, spirits of possession, disease,
and bad luck that have been afflicting the people of the
community. The Scapegoat initiate is then usually
(mercifully) sacrificed, or is sometimes driven from the
community to die. This aspect is most frequently found in
Peloria and Kralorela, but can manifest anywhere a trickster
initiate may be found. Most communities will choose to
Scapegoat a trickster from another community over a trickster
they know. Some communities can perform the Scapegoat
ritual on anyone, and these usually prefer to Scapegoat
strangers.
I don't think Trickster has a chaotic aspect which is
worshipped by chaotic beings. Trickster understands that
Chaos rains on his parade, poops on his party, and otherwise
spoils his fun. He is no supporter of Chaos. However, I think
that perhaps some Chaos beings say that Creation was Glorani
Wasa playing the colossally bad joke of creating stability and
law amid the realms of Chaos. And some anti-Lunar Chaos
beings undoubtedly claim that the Red Goddess is "tricking
Chaos into becoming Lawful."
Here are two city Trickster spirits which I have adapted from
_A Field Guide to the Little People_ by Nancy Arrowsmith and
George Moorse. I place them in cities in Safelster, but think
they could just as easily be placed anywhere in the West.
Euraeuro
The Euraeuro is a worldly and waggish. He usually appears as
a two to three foot tall humanoid, but can appear smaller. He
wears elegant bright red clothes, including a cap. However, he
is also a shapeshifter and can appear as a piece of red thread.
Euraeuro is constantly fascinated by women. He will often
change himself into a thread in order to be made into the
bodice of a dress. Once he has reached his goal, he will spring
forth into his physical form (ripping the bodice apart in the
process) and run away screaming, "I'm a titty-toucher! I'm a
titty-toucher!" He is also fond of hiding in chamber pots,
tickling the pot's user when least expected. Euraeuro's
curiosity also extends to the bed. Slipping into a bedroom
through the keyhole, he will lift up or pull the covers off of a
couple making love. His most disliked feature, however, is
that he will often shout out comments from hiding. These
comments are always about the women he has spied upon, and
include rude remarks, comparisons of body parts with other
women, and critiques of love-making.
A manifestation of the Imp aspect, the Euraeuro is found only
inside the city of Drom and appears to be unable to extend
beyond the city walls. Euraeuro teaches the illusion spell
Phantom Touch to trickster initiates who find him. A
trickster initiate must first successfully learn something
intimate about a woman by voyeurism, and then use that
information to the woman's embarassment, before being able
to sacrifice for the spell.
(adapted from the "Barabao" spirit of Venice, Italy)
Eurmalindo
Eurmalindo is not only obscenely obese, but he is also rude,
lazy, and cruel to animals. He appears as a two foot tall
humanoid, wearing pointed copper shoes and a domed copper
hat. He wears dark blood red clothes. He usually manifests
physically walking down a road. As he walks along, his speed
and bulk increase. His fat spreads until he brushes the
buildings to both sides of the road, and he speeds up to a fast
run. He never steps aside for anyone, but barges ahead despite
whoever is in his way. Unfortunate travellers who are not
quick enough to take shelter in a recessed doorway are often
bowled into the sewage ditch, and have sometimes been killed
by being crushed against a building. He is also known for
kicking animals with his pointed copper shoes.
The Eurmalindo eats only the raw meat of cows, sheep, and
goats, which he steals from local farmers. With a whistle, he
can call these animals to him. Then he starts walking down a
road, gradually picking up speed, with the animals being forced
to follow him. He runs until he comes to a cliff, at which
point he tucks himself into a ball and bounces safely to the
bottom. The animals are unable to stop in time, and die on the
rocks below. The Eurmalindo then feasts on the carcasses into
the night, and his horrible laughter can be heard kilometers
away.
A story is told of a farmer who confronted Eurmalindo about
his lost livestock, to which Eurmalindo is said to have replied,
"Would you rather that I eat your children? I would if I could,
you know. You men have forgotten how I used to feast. I will
eat as I am able, until I am once again able to eat as I wish."
A manifestation of the Glutton aspect, the Eurmalindo is
found in the city of Dangk and can manifest anywhere within
five kilometers of the city. He will teach the spell Create
Size to a trickster initiate. (Create Size is a specific illusion
which will increase the SIZ characteristic of the caster. I
haven't worked out the spell specifics yet.) To sacrifice for
the spell the initiate must steal a herd of animals from a local
farmer, drive them over a cliff, and join Eurmalindo in his
feast.
(adapted from the "Pamarindo" spirit of Gemona, Italy)
Lastly, here are some suggested readings regarding Trickster.
Other suggestions to add to this list are welcome, and would
be greatly appreciated.
Gunn, Thom. (poem) "Street Song"
A poem for the Truant aspect.
Herrick, Robert. (poem) "To the Virgins, to Make Much of Time"
A poem for the Seducer aspect.
Lopez, Barry H. _Giving Birth to Thunder, Sleeping With His Daughter :
Coyote builds North America_.
A collection of sixty-eight wonderfully told stories about
Trickster from forty-two American Indian tribes.
Marvell, Andrew. (poem) "To His Coy Mistress"
A poem for the Seducer aspect.
Radin, Paul. _The Trickster : A study in American Indian mythology_.
A scholarly exploration of the Winnebago Trickster Cycle.
Robinson, Edwin Arlington. (poem) "Miniver Cheevy"
A poem for the Truant aspect.
Shirley, Jackson "The Lottery"
A (play? short story? I forget.) for the Scapegoat aspect.
Welsford, Enid. _The Fool : His social and literary history_.
Originally written in 1936, this is the history of the comic
fool from the Greek "laughter-maker" to Charlie Chaplin.
Thoughts and comments are welcome.
Peace,
Peter