Unknown Armies

Rumors

The Castrati

You give up a little something, you gain a little something...

It's more than I'd do, no matter how much power behind the throne you're looking at. But then, my cock's always had a special place in my heart.

I could've put that better. But the principle is sound.

Look, in China they backed up the Emperor, in Russia they backed up the Tsar. Two of the oldest and largest places in the world, and in both places they held more actual power than the ruler himself, and why? Because they were implicitly trusted. Guy loses his bean-bag, he can't bear children, no threat of a rival bloodline coming along. Guy chops it off – willingly - in order to "be of service," and he's given an immense amount of power by some weak ruler.

They raise the ruler's kids, take charge of education. They watch over his wives and his mistresses, make sure they know what's what. They do it all, baby, and they did it all until the old Kings went the way of the Dodo as far as modern sociopolitics were concerned.

The key phrase being the latter. The Underground knows better than modern sociopolitics. There are still Kings – and there are still Castrati. They're in almost every city, every town, working to focus power in the hands of a single person again, just like the good old days. In the bigger cities they run booster clubs and volunteer organziations, in the rural townships they might be the police force.

Outside of America? God only knows, man, God only knows. I've got a buddy who swears that the entire Christian missionary force in Uganda is made up of Castrati, looking to set up a new Prester John, but I've got things closer to home to worry about, myself.

Ivan23 | profile | May 23, 03 | 10:26 am

Visitor Comments

[Delta Green-Countdown's] Skoptsi anyone?

I love the idea of the castrated as somehow magically embued. Not that I'd like to try it, mind you. As if they are not able to 'do what humans do best' [fill the planet with more of us] they are conduits for something unhuman [inhuman?].

Also having the whole sexless/loveless/passionless thing going on too freaks me out to the point of wanting a shower. Blee.

Chris Glew | profile | May 23, 03 | 4:10 pm

Don't have Delta Green - the idea came from Arkon Daraul, actually. I love the idea of conduits, though! That's a really good twist on it...

Ivan23 | profile | May 23, 03 | 7:48 pm

I love the Necessary Servant connection. This must have been one of the major marks of the Archetype prior to the "personal assistant" era.

Menzoa | profile | May 23, 03 | 9:52 pm

I guess I should know who or what Arkon Daraul is but as I'm kind of new to UA you are just gonna hafta forgive this dullard!

I like the conduit idea too. (It's not mine either but them's the breaks). I find theat Magick is better served in a game when it's unquantifiable and slightly beyond the grasp of the player.

At least you don't get: "<yawn> I cast my 3rd Level Charm Badger (tm) that'll work..." - Bor-ring.

I always maintain that the forces that Adepts/Mages/Magic Users/Shaman/Wize Ones/Fey... etc use are beyond their ken. Thus unpredictable behaviour manifests even if the 'spell' has been cast a number of times.

If the creature (or PC) is a conduit then it is a force of chaos. Therefore is unquantifiable and... well, scarier.
My Two Cents :)

Chris Glew | profile | May 24, 03 | 4:45 am

Chris - Arkon Daraul is the author of a real-life book called A History of Secret Societies, from 1961. I only came across it because a lot of my college research dealt with secret organizations.

My copy was reprinted 1994 by CItadel Press. Like most researchers into this kind of thing, a lot of what he says makes very little sense; but it's a decent primer on the Assassins, Castrati, Charcoal-Burners, Rosicrucians, Vehm and others. I'd recommend a copy to anyone playing UA.

Ivan23 | profile | May 24, 03 | 8:31 am

Menzoa -

Oooo, personal assitants ... yeah, a lot of the ones I know maintain that they're part of a massive underground organization, so why not?

Actually, this could be parlayed into a good adventure bit. What if it's not AA at all - but his secretary - who's manipulating everything? Doesn't matter how many 'bad guys' the players mess up if they don't also get his shadow ...

Ivan23 | profile | May 24, 03 | 8:33 am

If you haven't read it, pick up Statosphere, the Avatar's sourcebook. In it is the an Archetype called the Necessary Servant. Their first Channel is the ability to identify each other as "people to work with," a sense that could very well lead to an impression of a massive underground organization.

Even if you make Alex is too clued-in for that story line, he may be hiring someone to do all his manipulating for him, so he can keep his hands a little cleaner. Of course, the PCs can think they've discovered that the underlings are really running the show...

Menzoa | profile | May 24, 03 | 2:43 pm

Heh heh. The infamous "long shadows loop" on the Current 93 album WHERE THE LONG SHADOWS FALL is a recording of Alessandro Moreschi, the Last Castrato. What energies was David Tibet harnessing in threading that through twenty-plus minutes of music? What could you release by playing it under the right circumstances?

Dan L-K | profile | May 24, 03 | 5:35 pm

Menzoa : Thanks! I'll pick that up if I manage to get a campaign going in the not-too-distant future.

Chris : I picked up my copy of Daraul after posting, and what do you think is the alternate name he gives? Skoptsi. ::shiver::

Dan : I think the real question is, what happened to the missing minutes of music that would have made it thirty-three minutes and three second long?

Ivan23 | profile | May 26, 03 | 7:37 am

And now, gentlemen and ex-gentlemen alike... I present you the Eunuch Archives. Registeration, insofar as I can make out, is free.

http://www.eunuch.org/vbulletin/index.php

thanthos | profile | May 30, 03 | 8:06 am

I'm reminded of a copy of a book I'd read, about three years ago; 'Underground Education'. Very informative, especially about the more unpopular regions and aspects of history. The statements on the Skopsi and castrati was informative, enlightening, and at points, both funny and tragic. In some cases, it was a selection made for them, and in others, one made by them.

It's a dedication to a higher principle than I could adhere to, and thusly, salute. But, it's a decision I wouldn't make, and can not sympathize beyond simple accolades.

To each their own, I suppose.

Mr Unlucky | profile | Jul 26, 03 | 2:42 am