Had MAR Barker still been alive he would have
turned 88 today. Although I never got the chance to game with him, I was fortunate
to have enjoyed an email correspondence with Phil in the mid 90's, and interact
with him on the old Blue Room site. His creation has provided my group and I
countless hours of enjoyment over the years. There have been many RPG settings
created over the years, but none have held my attention as thoroughly and for
as lengthy a period as Tékumel. I remember the first time I was introduced to
the setting. One of my closest friends in High School, Harvey, showed me the Sourcebook –Vol.1 in
the hallway, in between classes, one autumn day in the mid 1980's. I been
exploring the world ever since! Over the years my groups have survived the Stews
of Jakalla, and fought in the underworlds of the same city, tramped over the
Chaigari Protectorate, been taken as slaves, and feted as heroes. They have
thwarted nefarious plots and have had comrades die in ancient caverns far below
the world –alone. Tékumel has provided my group and I a little bit of
everything, and has kept me coming back for more.
Recently I
had the pleasure of being invited to play in an online game. Those of you who
have spent any time online looking for, or at, gaming blogs have no doubt come
across Ben L.'s Mazirian's Garden . A wondrous and truly inspired work, it led
me to leave a comment for one of the entries, something I never do, with the
exception of Chirine's blog that is. One thing led to another and I was invited
by Ben to join the group. Yesterday was my first game and it was great time for
me. I can honestly say that I felt much
of the same magic that I experience when gaming on Tékumel in Ben's game. The
same majesty and sense of wonder is present, along with an otherworldliness
that makes it easy to immerse oneself in the environment. Not surprisingly I
brought in a Tsolyáni to the Dreamlands, the brave Bashán hiTankolel. A devoted
follower of Mighty Chiténg, he is a Kuruthúni of the 8th Imperial
Heavy Infantry, a member of the Red Mountain Clan, and a nephew of Shemék
hiTankolel of Pecháni fame. His first session went well, and I look forward to
the next game.
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