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The following entries are notable stories, items, people and places to help you further immerse yourself in the stories and to gain greater depth of understanding in certain scenes and situations - they are for those who wish to delve deeper into the alternate reality of Tisal Thulu. This page is always under construction and improvement.
LEGENDS & TALES
Fall of Crogmoor
Crogmoor Castle, along with the lands it controlled, was established in TM1097*, or thereabouts, when the second son of the High King struck out west of the Pallenides to seek a place where his fortunes would not be too closely governed by his elder brother. He displaced the previous inhabitants with violent force, leaving them much depleted and much embittered against the newcomers - a state that pervaded for the whole of the occupation, which ended with the fall of th castle at the hands of an evil sorcerer in TM1292.
This tale is told in more detail in The Histories of Tisal Thulu, Volume 1.
* TM indicates the reckoning of Thul Macha, which begins at the time of the last Great Turning. See the corresponding timeline here.
Minstrel King
The Minstrel King is the name given to the son of Eric (or Elrik) Dirridain, Lord of Crogmoor. The King is said to have gained the High Throne by enchanting a dragon with the beauty of his piping, lulling the beast into a trance and bending it to his will. Some tales even tell of his taming and riding the beast, though the scholars contend that the legend has much outstripped the reality.
This tale is told in The Legends of Tisal Thulu, The Minstrel King. (Not yet released)
The Fey Doors
From the tales of Dirridain to the accounts of Sontar's quest and Drego's feats of thieving, many tales tell of portals through to other folds of the universe, other realities, or other kingdoms separated by spiritual membranes. The Fey Doors is the common name given to these channels. Whether or not they are legend or true physcial phenomena is a hotly contested subject among scholars of the east, but in the west the Magi Schools contend that they regularly seek and utilise such portals in order to gain mystical knowledge, or to commune with - and command if they choose - ethereal beings from these other worlds.
Pantheon
Hennubeth, Hibideth, Harrubeth
[Hen·nū·beth], [Hih·bih·deth], [Han·rū·beth]
These are all names given to the same deity, the sun-eyed, four-armed goddess of the ancient Alturians, the original inhabitants of the southern Grullenbruk region - though the cult has spread throughout Tisal Thulu since the time of the last Great Turning. She is spoken of as a feminine essense, though she wields all of the battle-prowess and strength of the male-essence gods. Her form is slim and often includes breasts, in rare cases full nudity, and her skin colour ranges from pink to blue to white and even jet. She is often depicted as being encrusted with gems of multiple colours too, especially in festival effigies and statuary for private, wealthy individuals who wish to bring honour to her - and to themselves - through a show of wealth and religious devotion.
Most followers of Hennuvic beleifs are as peaceful (or not) as anyone else, but there is an extremist sect of devotees who believe that differeing devotions should be bent to conformity, or stamped out. Such cults are stronger in the west, where they meet the greatest resistance from those still clinging to allegience to Gilmesh, or to lesser god-cults.
Many inhabitants of all faiths use common Hennuvic curses and oaths, such as 'Hennu's Eye' (or other body part) or 'By Hennu' etc.
Gilmesh
[gēl·mesh]
Despite acceptance that Gilmesh was cast down in the last Great Turning, his stalwart devotees take comfort and strength in the idea that this shadow-clad god is most at home in the underworld, beneath the earth and stone of the world, and stalking the realms under the cover of night.
Gilmesh is most often depicted as a bull-headed god with taloned feet. His skin is usually depicted as jet, and jet and ebony are the most common materials used in statuary depicting the deity. These are generally small - probably to enable quick hiding or transport if Hennuvic radicals threated them. There is one large one, however, still in existence, on the island south of Thulmeremuut, tangled among the vines and creepers of the jungle there. There are rumours of a healthy Gilmeshan cult in Thum Saren as well, though no details of it s size, artefacts, or practices are available to scholars of other lands.
Anugwosh
[ah·nū·gwsh]
Anugwosh is a god of sea and storm, mostly worshipped among the remote islanders of the Mulmuut. Anugwosh is depicted as a squat, pot-bellied god, often with an erect phallus, sometimes also with breasts, and it is custom among followers to never use pronouns in relation to the god, but always to speak the name in full. Consequently, no strong sense of gender is attached to Anugwosh in most areas.
Isultu
[ih·sūl·tū]
Isultu, God of Thieves, takes the form of a yellow-eyed black cat, or sometimes a black rat with red, shining eyes. Sexless and without temple or priests, this god asks only for each thief to hone their skills, challenge their daring, and give credit to Isultu for the gifts of luck and darkness.
Notables
Captain Crecken
Captain Crecken was a pirate who ruled the Hennugwosh for two decades, and is said to have mapped the coasts of nearly every landmass in the eastern hemisphere. Known for stealth, merciless vengeance, and a love of garrish clothing (and women), he is an unmistakable figure on many a portside inn sign, most often signifying a brothel, rather than a true place of lodging and food. His ship, the Hightooth, is said to have sunk somewhere in the Great shoals, and to be pinned to the bottom under the weight of gold bullion stowed in its hold, and as ballast, after it raided Thulmeremuut and melted the crowns and armour of the Giant Kings. Most scholars discount this as just another sailors' yarn.
Sana Glory
Sana Glory is the title given to the highest-ranking sana (monk) of the Hennuvic order. This man or woman is said to hold the light of Henu's Eye within the forehead, which grants foresight, wisdom and long life.
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Artefacts
Shadowsword
description
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Tooth of Aorlin
This is an enchanted spear, used in the battle of the last Great Turning by Aorlin, HIgh Sana of Gilmesh. He was disarmed in the fight and th espear fell into the sea. When Henubeth was cast down, and the eastern continent shattered into fragments, an island of the Thum Saren Archipelago was thrust up and the weapon was later found. Its power helped forge the stronghold of Hasputo - hence the spear on the Hasputo Crest.
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Languages
Frennish
description
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