Thumis

## Thúmis

Lord of Wisdom, Knower of Arts, Hidden Seeker of Eternal Knowledge, Sage of the Gods

Thúmis seeks total wisdom, cognition without the limitations of the ego, and an understanding of the universe in order to serve the eventuation of Hnálla’s Changeless Radiance.

Thúmis aids those who seek knowledge for the benefit of society; and who heal, teach and study.

His commonest depiction is as a seated scholarly man with a golden halo and a book-roll in his hand. Some of his Aspects bear the traditional Staff of Power (although Thúmis was not worshipped until Engsvanyáli times), and the hem of his robe is blazoned with stylised eyes, signifying omniscience and wisdom. His sign is a square in which the Tsolyáni letter for ‘th’ is centred. He has 47 common Aspects, and his clergy (both males and females) wear grey robes and simple black skullcaps.

## Tenets of the Temple

Thúmis aids those who seek knowledge for the benefit of society; and who heal, teach and study.

Noble and Ignoble Behaviours:

- Do be brave, loyal, obedient to authority, honest, industrious, temperate, and wise.

- Don’t be selfish, treacherous, deceitful, cowardly, willfully ignorant, or lazy.

- Do be wise, well-educated, eager to share your knowledge, patient, conciliatory, and helpful.

- Don’t hoard your knowledge, refuse to use it to help, seek violence, or shed blood lightly.

## Inside the Temple

#### Theology

Pavár of Gánga was the first to contact many of the gods, and Thúmis was the principal sources of information about the laws of science and magic that operate in this dimension.  There’s a fragment of Pavár’s handwriting in Béy Sü:

"This Lord is cool and detached, clear and open to the intellect, full of knowledge and quick to reply… When one is in contact with Thúmis, it is as though one were being viewed by a Mighty Eye, as a man views the antics of the Drí, sympathetic and wise in an unemotional way, all-knowing and aware of the present and past, yet somehow concerned for Man..."

#### Goals of the Temple

Knowledge and learning are means of supporting society and worshipping the Gods. Secrets and ignorance are shadows, flaws in the Light which threaten the Stability of all things. To serve society and order, these shadows must be eradicated through the illumination of teaching, learning, contemplation, and wisdom. Invigorated by the Light, society can better serve the Gods.

## Outer Doctrines

**Colour(s):** the pearly grey known as "Suffused Wisdom."

**Symbol:** His sign is a square in which the Tsolyáni letter for ‘th’ is centred. Often, also, an eye gazing forth, called "The Eye of Thúmis."

**Astrology**: Thúmis has domination of the light, bright sides of the planets and moons. The dark sides of the moons and planets are considered to be Aspects of Ksárul. It is said that the natures of these two Deities war with one another, sometimes one getting the upper hand and sometimes the other.

**Numerology**: Thúmis' number is six: thoughtful, bright, clever and wise.

**Aspects**: His common depiction is as a seated scholarly man with a golden halo and a book-roll in his hand. Some of his Aspects bear the traditional Staff of Power (although Thúmis was not worshipped until Engsvanyáli times), and the hem of his robe is blazoned with stylised eyes, signifying omniscience and wisdom. He has 47 common Aspects.

#### Priestly Vestments

Thúmis's clergy wear grey robes and simple black skull caps, with the symbol of the Eye of Thúmis embossed upon breast plaques and sewn into the hem of their robes.

### Rituals

#### Daily Rituals

These involve the presence of all priests and priestesses resident in the temple, and chanting from "Korúnkoi hiHengándàlisa" (The Book of Mighty Splendor).

Dawn - **“The Opening of the Eyes of Radiance”**

Midday - **“The Purification of the Intellect”**

Mid-afternoon - **“Following of the God”** - Just as plants turn their faces to follow the glory of Hnálla, so must we all aspire to "face the Light."

Sunset - **“Purifying of the Lips of Thúmis”**

Late evening - **“Rising Unto the Planets”** - Performed at the rising and setting of Tékumel's two moons, Káshi and Gayél.

Late night - **“Visitations of the Night”** - takes place four Kirén (2 hours) past midnight. It involves "witnessing" the creatures and demons of Change (no actual demons).

#### Death Rituals

The priests of Belkhánu are charged with the interment of almost all followers of the Lords of Stability. The Temples of Hnálla and Thúmis bury their dead recumbent (lying down), with hands crossed over the stomach.

#### The Afterlife

Thúmis provides His faithful adherents with a totality of knowledge and cleanses them of both ego and instinct, making them a part of His abstract wisdom.

His foes are cast into a Plane whereon no knowledge can be certain, where all is madness and ignorance, and yet where the individual will remain ever conscious of his loss.

#### Sacrifices

Thúmis accepts presentations of flowers and fruit, particularly the Tetél, a flower with soft, grey petals and, from richer patrons, eye-shaped memorial objects made of gold, gems, and other precious substances.

Children will pray to Thúmis for good grades, and parents will pray for wise children. The elderly pray for the return of youthful thought and memory.

#### Food Taboos

The Temples of Hnálla and Thúmis ordain fasting as a penance for "ignoble" actions, and fasting is employed by ascetics to achieve "spiritual purity."

## Inner Doctrines

Soul - Thúmis and Ksárul emphasize the combination of the Hlákme (the Mind) with the Chusétl (the Shadow-Self).

Language - the Temple of Thúmis uses Thu'úsa for academic and doctrinal texts.

#### Studies

Alchemy - is often mixed and confused with sorcerous researches.

Archaeology - The Temple of Thúmis has done many archaeological expeditions in order to locate treasures and acquire knowledge of the past as well. They often cooperate with the Temple of Ksárul and with the Livyáni Temple of Qame'él.

Historical studies - The Temples of Thúmis and Ksárul are particularly interested in historical studies. They focus more on the recording and review of historical facts than historical analysis.

Linguistics - The Temples of Lords Thúmis, Ksárul, and several of the Livyáni Shadow Gods pride themselves on having at least a word-list of every tongue on the continent, plus textbooks for the ancient and classical languages.

Philosophy - Priests and students explore esoteric subjects on the nature of the planes as well as the sciences.

#### Inner Rituals

Individual services are also possible for a donation to the priests:

The poor may obtain prayer-scrolls from the horde of priestly scribes who sit in the outer courtyards, or who line the outer entrance halls and colonnades.

Wealthier persons can enter at almost any time of day a payment of a few Káitars will be sufficient to arrange for the personal mention of one's name and presence to the Deity.

Those proceeding to an Inner Shrine will be expected to pay more, and the ceremonies there are correspondingly more magnificent.

Inner Mysteries, held in the older shrines beneath the upper temple, is possible only for the most well-to-do.

High-ranking priests and worshippers of the highest clan status and Imperial position get access to the most ancient and secret shrines and ceremonies .

## Temple Layout

The temple of Lord Thúmis is built upon a high, flat-topped pyramid of masonry or brick.  This is to raise the temple up above the heat and dust of the surrounding city and also to create a feeling of awe in the worshippers. The temple proper is then constructed upon this platform, and ramps or staircases lead up to its surface from the street below.

At the top of these stairs worshipper first come to a closed porch or colonnade, where temple guards and low level duty priests are posted to assist the worshippers and to protect the temple premises. Within, a pillared antechamber leads into a great central hall, several storeys in height. Here worshippers see a great image of Thúmis and the public rituals are performed. Side halls and further colonnades lead off to smaller shrines of of the Aspects. There are gates barring the way to an Inner Shrine which can be visited only by persons of status.

At the back of the main hall and off the smaller shrines, there are staircases within the wall-thicknesses which lead up to priests' quarters on the upper floors. Important assets, such as the great libraries, astrological observatories, museum-like Halls of Wisdom Made Manifest, temple schools, etc., are also constructed on the pyramid-top to the back of the central temple.

#### Secular Activities

Businesses - The Temple of Thúmis is one of the primary sources of education in Tsolyánu, as well as being the publisher of all forms of books, scrolls, treatises, odes, poems, and proclamations. its scribes and administrators are the most skilled accountants of the Temple hierarchies, accurately recording and calculating births, deaths, crop and animal productivity, etc.

In rural areas, the Temple of Thúmis often collects and maintains Imperial records on behalf of the Palace of the Realm.

### Public Works and Services:

Education - The Temple of Thúmis educate both Stability and Change worshippers, and thus are associated with many nostalgic reminiscences. He is also the natural Deity of the researcher, the explorer, and the pure intellectual, and His libraries are the haunts of Scholar Priests from all Five Empires.

Libraries - The Temples of Thúmis and Keténgku function as the maintainers of the great libraries, which are the pride of the intellectuals of Tsolyánu. Staffed by devoted curators who can, help visitors locate the documents they seek. There is no formal organizational method to libraries; the location of each document is known to some or all of the various curators, and new scholarly priests can take years or even decades to learn the library's inventory and locations.

The most important items within a library are preserved and protected by a variety of magical spells, some known only to the curator's staff.

Organizational sculpture - The Temples of Thúmis and Ksárul have produced "sculptured analyses" of religious tenets, other-planar wisdom, and even languages. The symbology of such sculptures is complex enough to allow the display of almost any type of organization once tradition has established the values of the elements. Learning to "read" such sculptures takes considerable time and training, and producing these works of art is the life's work of a few gifted and dedicated individuals.

#### Power Centers

Thúmis is especially powerful in Tsolyánu at Páya Gupá, Béy Sü, and at Sokátis.

There are also a number of Thúmis monasteries scattered all over the Empire.  Many of these operate in a clandestine fashion

in order to remain free of disturbances, appearing to be simple agricultural villages populated by low-clan farmers. The old fellow combing Hmá-wool could actually be the High Scholarly Priest!
Politics

#### Factions & Secret Societies

The Doctrines of the Eye - "Thúmis possesses the Eye to View the World," i.e. omniscience and omnipresence. Three groups rose on how this is done, and have split the priesthood in the past; At times this has led to rioting and violence. More often it has cropped up as quiet intrigue.

"Immanence of the Eye" - belief that the Eye of Thúmis is not a physical eye but an inherent presence of Thúmis (a "viewing") in every particle of being.

"Transcendentalism of the Eye" - Thúmis does indeed possess physical eyes, but these are not manifest in this world but rather view it from His own.

"Phenomenal Manifestation of the Eye" - the mention of "eyes" quite literally and theorizes that Thúmis has physical eyes which manifest themselves at His will in this world. They point to the eyelike impressions that appeared upon cliffs, a woman’s shawl, or any other eye-shaped symbol.

Brotherhood of Supernal Wisdom - Thúmis & Keténgku. Triumph of Stability through the dissemination of knowledge; not political. The Temple of Thúmis is dominated by the Brotherhood of Supernal Wisdom, which holds that Stability must triumph through the acquisition of knowledge, strong political action, and even missionary zeal—but not through violence. Smaller factions within Thúmis clergy argue that the temple should adopt a more militant stance, while still others urge no involvement in political life whatsoever.

Guild of the Scroll of Grey - Thúmis & Keténgku. Strong support for the Priestly Party; use knowledge to further social goals.

Staff of Mercy Society - Keténgku only. Open to all followers of Keténgku. Healing and medicine; wisdom used for the sake of philanthropy, aid to the poor, and the betterment of the world.

The Temple of Thúmis works closely with the Temples of Avánthe and Keténgku on medical researches and practices. It cooperates with the Temple of Ksárul on basic researches such as archaeological and historical

studies.

The Temple of Thúmis is well-represented in the Priestly party, and has almost as much influence within the  Royalist party. Its influence is somewhat less with the Imperial party, and almost nil in the Military.

Military Legions - The Legion of the Lord of Wisdom, 22nd Imperial Heavy Infantry.

## The Lament to the Wheel of Black

The Knower of Arts

The section on Thúmis recounts his incarnation in the midst of the turmoil of the mighty battles between the gods. Confused at the clash of powers which resounded through the cosmos, the new god decided to observe what transpired, lest rash action lead to unwelcome consequence. He was filled with wonder at the world beneath and admired the skill displayed by the battling gods. One by one he made contact with the other gods, each responding according to their nature—hostile and threatening, or friendly and seeking alliance. Thúmis decided to support the existence of the world until he knew all that there was to know concerning it. Extending his senses, he discovered the Land of Qelem and the Planes of Forces created by the interplay of warring powers. Here he found followers among the Mighty Ones of the Pearl Mists.

Thúmis’ pearl-grey heaven is described: a beautiful and peaceful place strewn with fountains whose waters bestow knowledge of the many planes and their peoples. The blessed are rewarded with marvellous feelings of power gained from aiding many with their knowledge. They then return to the living world to experience and learn more.

The Battle of Dormoron Plain

Thúmis brings forth his Wand of Grey and uses it to summon the Heroes of Wisdom to fight beneath his pearl-grey banner.

### Aspects

Many of His 47 Aspects are also depicted holding the traditional Staff of Power of the Bednálljan kings (despite the fact that Thúmis was not worshipped until Engsvanyáli times).

1) So'ónkum "Victorious of the Far-Flung Ones, Victor Over the Snares of Hehekáino" - Aspect of the Inner Doctrines appears as a grey-bearded scholar, unarmed, who yet conveys an impression of power. In legend He warns the hero Hrúgga of the Snares of Hehekáino. Aids those who seek to disseminate wisdom through teaching. Researchers pray to Him for

knowledge of all things, from arcane spells to the location of lost items.

2) Armésh (also Arnésh) "The Jeweled Serpent" - appears as a gigantic coiling serpent with iridescent, many-hued scales. A "legendary" Aspect, who appears only in the myths and exhibits a protective nature. Worshippers of Thúmis and Keténgku who are suddenly beset by misfortune will cry out to Armésh for protection.

3) Kakán - A legendary Aspect of the Inner Doctrines guides mythological Heroes, including Hrúgga and Súbadim, on quests, Kakán lends curious and niggling assistance to the truly desperate.

4) Kánukolum - A haloed, dazzlingly golden, manlike figure with hands like many rays of light. Said to guide the planets and the moons through the sky, and He is prayed to by those who study astronomy and the mythology of the planets. He collects meteorites as sacrifices.

5)Nrásh "The Eye, The Observer of All the World" - He is always represented as a great eye, stylized slightly from Thúmis' usual symbol. This mystical, esoteric Aspect is symbolic of celestial omniscience; a being that perceives Hnálla in all of His Luminous Glory. He understands the skeins, the mysteries of the gods and their striving's, the Pariah Deities, and the Deities of Change. His worshippers meditate upon His Oneness and His Being in a sectarian practice called "looking into the Eye."

6) Khálesh "The Decider" - Appears as a handsome, portly man of middle age, seated upon a simple stool with a book or tablet open on his lap.

Shown bareheaded or wearing a flat, black cap. He oversees administration and wise government; stands for balance and moderation; despises inefficiency and sloppy work; and responds to those who pray for relief from bureaucratic errors and mismanagement.

7) Chokóth "The Messenger, the Far-Wanderer" - the messenger of the Gods, the tracer of histories, and a patron of exploration, the study of foreign lands and cultures. Depicted as a tall, wiry, athletic, 30-year-old man, who wears leather leggings, a short leather kilt, and a hood-like headdress. People who need to carry messages or travel swiftly in times of crisis call on Him to facilitate speed. He is said to be married, having a wife and children whose names and powers are known only to scholars dedicated to the ancient legends (one of His children aids those who wish their cutting implements to be sharp).

8) Feshmu'ún "Tutor of the Gods, the Eternal Teacher" The Pandects ofGrey Victory - Portrayed as a thin, elderly scholar with long grey locks bound in a single coil behind His head and one hand upraised as if lecturing. He patronizes the imparting of learning, schools, and research within the Temple.

9) Muór the Sage of Sages - Depicted as an aged man standing in a long robe and black skullcap. He holds a rolled scroll in one hand and a staff with carved ornaments in the other. He represents scholarship and wisdom and is most favourable to research, knowledge, and schools.

11) Tyélu "She Who Guides" - A smiling, pleasant young woman who helps students pass tests, find library references, etc.

12) Ferésh - A serenely beautiful woman, seated upon a high throne. Her eyes are closed, and Her hands lie relaxed and empty on Her lap. She is a patron of the arts: painting, sculpture, music, dance, mime, literature, and poetry.

13) Chuharém the Diviner - a stern man, dressed as a traveller but seated with a walking-staff across His knees, wearing a hooded cloak thrown back to reveal a black skullcap. He stands for divination and the casting of fortunes. Those who seek to know their Skeins approach Him with gifts of grey opals and Tetél flowers. He can divine one's future course, but He may decide not to convey this knowledge.

14) The Pearl-Grey Aspects - An Aspect or set of Aspects known only to the Inner Temple of Thúmis.

15) Óng "Viewer of the Towers of the Gods Beyond" - An Aspect of the Inner Doctrines.

17) Ne'élti "Knower of the Joinings" - a thin-faced middle-aged man, Ne'élti oversees the construction of Other-Planar connections and spells.

18) Majér the Maiden - appears as a sweet-faced, pretty girl wearing a simple grey tunic and sandals. Lady Majér symbolizes youthful wisdom, coming of age, and the exploration of one's world, and beauty.

Young girls offer Her Tetél flowers and patties of Dmí-sugar candy and pray for success and wise decisions in clan matters, in school, in adolescent love affairs, etc.

19) Kànukolúm "Plotter of the Courses Amidst the Deeps of the Sky" - depicted as a seated elderly man gazing up towards the heavens. He holds symbolic icons which are not identified to outsiders. He deals with astronomy and astrology and aids navigators.

22) Békh - Appears as a thin, strong-featured man, seated upon a stool. He has six arms spread out behind him like the rays of the sun. He wears a cowled cloak of soft, grey cloth, beneath which his eyes gaze piercingly down at the worshipper. It is written that he has "other eyes" concealed beneath his cowl, and "other limbs" as well. He symbolizes the mysteries of the Gods, meditation upon theological topics, the conundrums of time and space, etc.

23) A'akán "Alchemist of the Gods" - Depicted as an old man with four hands, in which He holds a crucible, an alembic, a flask, and a scroll. Guides those who deal in chemicals and Pharmaceuticals.

26) Nrásh (also Shénj) - Shown as a single eye, painted in silver and grey upon a white background: this is Lord Thúmis' Eye of Wisdom. It represents reasoning, discernment, the analysis of problems, and the mastery of difficult topics. Those who wish to solve puzzles or intellectual problems make pleas to Nrásh, and sacrifice pots of special porridge.

31) Pohán "Sage of Lost Cities" - Shown as a man attired in rags, wearing a leather tunic, scuffed traveler's boots, and a flat cap. He carries a staff which is said to possess mysterious powers. Finder of treasure, food, potable water, etc. in the wilderness.

37) Tolokkón - Depicted as a strong, muscular, beautiful woman who

wears a corselet, a helmet, and greaves of grey metal. Aids Aridáni women and female soldiers; also patronizes women's athletics and military deeds. Girls trying to decide whether to declare Aridáni status pray to Her and make offerings of silver coins.

42) Thekkúsa the Artificer - A barrel-shaped, middle-aged figure, with long white hair tied in a knot at the back of His head, he makes devices and magical equipment, particularly glass vessels and tubing. Thekkúsa aids in experiments and "prevents unexpected results."

46) Meshmúr "The Molder of Flesh; The Healer of Entrails” - inhuman in appearance, looking somewhat like a snake with a large monocular head. With His single great eye, Meshmúr heals internal injuries, such as ulcers, cancers, and hemorrhages. He accepts the Tetél flower, and pots of finely-ground sweetened porridge.

Meshmúr and other healing Aspects of Lord Thúmis also appear in shrines within temples of Keténgku but is depicted as a smooth faced, courteous man with grey hair, who though kindly is said to never allow ungrammatical utterances or rudeness.

Scholar priests of Thúmis, for He knows the biological skills of the Great Ancients which He might convey to His faithful

### Thúmis Demons

**The Mighty Ones of the Pearl Mists** - These creatures are tall, three to four meters in height, and spindly vaguely humanoid. They appear muffled in grey cloaks as if cold, and fight only with sorcery. They specialise in healing and cure wound damage automatically, if this is part of their bargain. They also neutralise poisons and drug addiction and can restore deformities, lost limbs, etc. It is said that they also can cure such deadly diseases as the Spotted Plague, the Plague of the White Hand, and even the Ailment of Arkhuan Mssá. They can also revivify any being slain within the past month. These beings bargain only for magical books and scrolls, although they will sometimes accept a spell from the caster's memory instead.

**Horodái "The Flowing Mouth, The Curious Hunger, Lord of the Pallid Garden"** - manifests as a pallid grey-brown ooze. There is some question concerning its essence. This demon possesses the Powers of Engulfment and Transportation, and is of the Substance of Durritlámish. This creature possesses an open and affable nature and a sense of curiosity rivalled only by its incessant hunger.

## Keténgku, Cohort of Thúmis

The Cohort of Thúmis is Keténgku: the Many-Eyed, Knower of All, Master of Scrolls. He is ‘Wisdom Applied’: patron of scholars, physicians, apothecaries, scribes, architects, engineers, and all those who use knowledge for the benefit of society. He is represented as a bald, seated scribe holding a book-scroll open upon his knee. He has four faces looking in each of the four cardinal directions, signifying his omniscience; his symbol is a stylised silver eye, and he has 27 Aspects.