From: RuneQuest-Request@Glorantha.Holland.Sun.COM (RQ Digest Maintainer) To: RuneQuest@Glorantha.Holland.Sun.COM (Daily automated RQ-Digest) Reply-To: RuneQuest@Glorantha.Holland.Sun.COM (RuneQuest Daily) Subject: RuneQuest Daily, Thu, 20 Oct 1994, part 2 Sender: Henk.Langeveld@Holland.Sun.COM Content-Return: Prohibited Precedence: junk --------------------- 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