I’m playing in a D&D game on Thursdays. The GM wanted to run something big, so he picked up NECROPOLIS and asked us all to make Egyptian characters. Well, the Gary Gygax version of Egypt, which is, if I recall AEgypt, or something equally silly. I asked him if I could play an Arabian character, and he said, “Sure.” Or maybe that’s AErAEbijjjan. (Don’t forget the silent q.)
And so, I get to play Ashalan’Ikalhu, “the needle pulls the thread.”
Speaks-With-Diaphram has a character who’s name means “Behold! The Power Arises.” That’s cool, and it fits as one of SWD’s characters. But my character had to be more subtle. After all, he’s a priest of the God of Murder, Ikalhu…
Back when the world was still mewling, the Gods divided their duties, each taking up a task, fulfilling their roles. They appealed to the Men, offering them gifts in exchange for their positions, and the Men assigned the Gods their places in the celestial order. Theanna offered men fire and tools, and so they called her Mistress of Wisdom, Crafter, and Maker. Jonan Ra gave them a code of laws, and so they called him the Maker of Justice, Keeper of Laws, Heaven’s Hammer . But when it came time to name the guardian of the gates of death, two Gods gave Man gifts, two brothers named Ulaki and Ikalhu.
Man told each brother to build a hall in the lands of the dead to show where he would spend the rest of his days. Both built a mighty fortress, filled with pleasures, treasures and delights for those who found their way to the hall. When Man saw what the Brothers had built, he was impressed and could not make a decision. “Show me the Gate,” he said, “and how I might enter.”
Ikalhu and Ulaki went to the gates and showed Man how he might enter. Nightmares and terrors guarded Ikalhu’s gate. The road leading to it was dark and filled with unspoken dangers. He said, “Only the worthy may enter my hall. Only those with the courage to find their way.”
Ulaki smiled and showed Man his Gate, open wide, without a single guardian, the road well lit and safe. “Any may pass the portal into my kingdom,” he said. “It is open to all who seek it.”
Man looked at both gates, and he chose the palace of Ulaki. “You shall keep the gate of death,” Man said. Then, he left with Ulaki to enjoy the pleasures of his palace.
Ikalhu stood and watched, his brow darkening. “Is that so?” he asked. “Man would rather have the pleasures of paradise available to any and all? Not to those who earn it, who have the courage to take it?” He nodded and slipped back into the darkness. “Very well,” he said, disappearing from the world. “We shall see how many visit my brother’s palace of heavenly delight.”
And so, Ashaval’Ikalhu is an assassin-priest (5th level cleric, 5th level assassin). When he commits murder, he steals the soul and sends it to Ikalhu. Then, he writes the name down in his holy book. When he dies, he goes before Ikalhu and shows him the book. “I sent these souls to you.” And, if he is worthy, he may sit at Ikalhu’s table.
Ashaval’s name means, “the needle pulls the thread.” Not as melodramatic as “Behold! The Power Arises,” but then, he doesn’t need to be…