Cult of Taeterisus - Chaos Trickster.txt

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The Book of Drastic Resolutions: Cult of Taeterisus
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CULT OF TAETERISUS
by Stephen Martin, with thanks to James Frusetta


  Mythos and History 
  Cult Ecology 
  The Cult in the World 
  Piece of Taeterisus (Acolyte) Memmbership 
  Taeterisus Special Divine Spells 
  Miscellaneous Notes 
  Greg Stafford on Chaotic Tricksters 


MYTHOS AND HISTORY
There are many aspects of Trickster, for many powers and elements were 
influenced by his presence. Chaos gave rise to its own version when it was 
forced into the laws of creation. This chaotic version of Trickster is usually 
not distinguished from the local aspect, since both beings caused trouble 
wherever they went. He is worshiped only among chaotic beings, who know him by 
different names: he is Tokaz Varaz to the chaotic goblins of the Pavis Rubble, 
spirit of all that is scary in the darkness; and Ragnaglar's Balls to the broos, 
formed when a jealous and vengeful Thed learned of Ragnaglar's affair with 
Malia. Among sophisticated Lunar chaos-philosophers, he is called Taeterisus 
(Risus for short). Chaos foes sometimes call him Twisted Trickster or Wakboth's 
Tears.
Taeterisus did all that he could to integrate Trickster into the void, but was 
eventually dismembered by Eurmal. He re-formed in Prax, and played a joke on 
Wakboth which distracted the Great Evil at a crucial moment. He managed to 
survive when the Sun returned by hiding under a pile of dung, and is still 
around to play his dangerous and malicious pranks on whoever is available, much 
like all aspects of the Trickster.
Taeterisus is rarely depicted by chaotic beings. He is pictured as a warped 
version of Trickster among sane societies. Thus, among Orlanthi he is seen as a 
monstrous version of Eurmal, with great fangs and many deformities.
Dead members are handled in whatever fashion is held by the local chaos 
community. Many members prefer to use their Swallow spell to devour the dead (or 
dying). Taeterisus promises members that he will swallow their souls when they 
die.
The runes of Taeterisus are Chaos, Disorder, and Illusion.
CULT ECOLOGY
Taeterisus' cult is a refuge for those creatures of chaos who do not conform to 
their particular race's "norm." Even among chaotics there are some with a sense 
of humor, which is liable to prove deadly unless they can gain some kind of 
power to defend themselves. The cult is never large, smaller even than most 
widely-known Trickster aspects. Members can worship at regular Trickster shrines 
if they are not recognized as chaotic, possible for human and ogre members.
Worshipers of Taeterisus have all of the worst features of Tricksters and 
chaotics. They are destructive and vindictive, with a penchant for practical 
jokes, the deadlier the better. No one will put up with them. They hate other 
tricksters more than they do the rest of the world, and go out of their way to 
destroy or corrupt them; Chaos Slime is a favorite tool for this. However, they 
will normally not do anything to destroy a shrine to Trickster, perhaps to save 
it for their own use.
Taeterisus has no established worship days. Members who tend a shrine will 
decide when they want to perform services, and will usually choose the most 
inconvenient times.
THE CULT IN THE WORLD
Taeterisus' cult is as little-organized as any Trickster's. Members with more 
power rule, and others serve as slaves. The cult is uncommon, since it is more 
sophisticated than most chaos societies can support, but the occasional 
worshiper can be found anywhere in Genertela except Prax.
There is little cooperation between members, and none between individual 
shrines. If pressed, most members would say that the "temple" in Dorastor heads 
the cult. Members from other areas often try to emulate the feats of that site, 
since it has had a number of "famous" worshipers.
Shrines are the only worship site. Each provides a different spell, as is normal 
for Tricksters; Swallow is most common. The oldest known shrine is in Dorastor, 
near the zombie town of Neverdead. It is actually a multiple shrine, with four 
worship sites located in close proximity. These sites provide Chaos Gift, Panic, 
Create Dung Heap, and Swallow, giving local Terrors a useful complement of 
spells.
PIECE OF TAETERISUS (ACOLYTE) MEMBERSHIP
This status is the same as in other Trickster cults. The initiation process is 
the same, but Taeterisus' worshipers are more likely to be sent on truly 
dangerous missions. Where a normal trickster might have to steal a stick from a 
wyvern's nest, or find a pearl in a dung heap, Taeterisus' followers are likely 
to be sent for the grave earth from a vampire's coffin, or to retrieve a gem 
from inside the body of a gorp.
Pieces are acolytes, and gain reusable Divine spells. If a Piece maintains a 
shrine he is called Terror, and gains a yearly increase in POW if he leads 
worship services. Pieces learn no Spirit Magic from the cult, but none is 
forbidden.
For a description of Chaos Gift, see Gods of Glorantha, Cults Book (pg 66). 
Duration is 15 minutes, with no cyclic effects. The Chaotic Feature rolled has 
an equal chance to be beneficial or detrimental, as normal.
Divine Magic available: Chaos Gift, Create Dung Heap, Illusory (Smell, Sound), 
Panic, Reflection, Swallow, Worship Taeterisus
TAETERISUS SPECIAL DIVINE SPELLS
Create Dung Heap
2 points
ranged, temporal, stackable, reusable
This is a specific illusion spell, described in Gods of Glorantha (Cults Book, 
pg 71). It turns whatever is covered into a heap of dung for the duration of the 
spell. The spell covers an object of average human size, and additional points 
can increase this (13 SIZ per spell stacked). The spell includes a strong and 
very accurate olfactory component.
If the illusion is cast on a target, the caster must overcome the victim's MPs 
with his own. If successful, the illusion travels with the target, masking his 
appearance and smell, though not the sounds he makes.
MISCELLANEOUS NOTES
OGRES
This cult is a favorite of ogres, since through it they gain access to other 
Trickster shrines, because of their normal human appearance. As long as the 
tender of the site does not identify the ogre as chaotic (and possibly even 
then), a Piece of Taeterisus will be able to sacrifice for spells just like any 
other Trickster. A well-traveled Piece of Taeterisus can gain a large complement 
of spells in this fashion. A favorite such spell is Lie, which the ogre then 
uses to confound Storm Bull worshipers the world over.






GREG STAFFORD ON CHAOTIC TRICKSTERS
Excerpt from the Lore Auction, RuneQuestCon II, January '95.
Audience Member (AM): Does Trickster have a chaotic aspect that is worshiped by 
chaotic Beings?
Greg Stafford (GS): No.
AM: Yet in Wyrms Footnotes 7, Steve Perrin had a Trickster cult associated with 
chaotic creatures of the dark.
GS: The cult is probably there, but has changed its form as our continuing 
education allows us to evolve a better understanding for determining these 
things.
SP: And saying there are no chaotic tricksters is not the same as saying there 
are no chaotic Trickster deities.
GS: It's not saying that chaotic deities are not Trickster-like. When I say 
there are no chaotic Tricksters, I mean that all chaos breaks the rules. In a 
sense, that makes them all Tricksters, because that's what Tricksters do.



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