Teshub
| Strength 14d |
Agility 5d |
Intellect 9x |
Willpower 13d |
| Hand Size: Edge: |
5 (30) 3 |
Origin:
His creation a bizarre result of the clash between his two divine fathers, Teshub is an immortal being. Though one of the Anunnaki, Teshub does not readily identify as such, and has made a place for himself in numerous pantheons - some of which he even leads!
Powers:
Immortality (s): possessing a legendary origin, Teshub is a divine entity. He can be reduced to zero Health or cards, and can even be killed, but will eventually return to plague his foes no matter how terribly they harm him. His immortality also grants these related, divine powers:
* Awe (w): as do his fathers, Anu and Enlil, Teshub possesses the intensity 15 ability to expose his divine life force, or melammu, at will. This has a powerful effect on mere mortal beings, overwhelming them upon a successful, easy difficulty Awe (willpower) action.
* Boon (i): Teshub readily shares his might, should anyone but ask. He can directly fuel Bashmu, Detoxification, Nature Control / Animals (cattle, lions, or reptiles), and Weather Control entreaty spells, as well as bolster spells fitting his focus or nature, with intensity 16 ability.
* Faith (i): the ruler of numerous divine pantheons, albeit relatively small ones, Teshub wields this power as a general matter of course. He can use it to produce virtually any effect, assuming he has the lingering faith remaining to fuel this intensity 18 ability.
Animal Control (w): known for his mastery of multiple different animals, from bulls to lions to bashmu, Teshub can wield this ability with intensity 15 ability. Thanks to this, he can readily bend non-sentient animals to his will, whether or not they're mundane or fantastic.
Detoxification (s): associated with dragons and serpents, Teshub is often implored to spare others the ill effects of their venom. He can in fact provide such relief with intensity 13 ability, removing poisons and contaminants of all types from the bodies of others.
Weather Control (i): a god of the storm, Teshub possesses complete command of the weather. And, while he oversees all meteorological concerns with intensity 20 might, Teshub primarily uses this power to cast thunderbolts at his many enemies, monstrous or otherwise.
Hindrances / Augmentations:
(none)
Equipment:
Bashmu (w): while Tiamat was the original creator of bashmu, Teshub has used the power of the Serpent's Mount to breed more of these creatures. Horned, crested, and winged snakes with the forelegs of a lion, bashmu are dangerous monsters, as described in their own entry.
Bow (s): often used to slay foes at a staggering range, Teshub can fire arrows from this weapon that inflict up to his Strength +4 in piercing damage. Unless his arrows are of a sufficient material strength, however, they are generally somewhat less effective.
Helmet (s): a warrior god, Teshub doesn't mess around. While he does not resort to wearing armor, he nonetheless possesses a horned helm that he utilizes in battle. This implement bolsters the intensity of protection his cranium benefits from against all damage types by 4, or +1.
Mace (s): when it's time to get up close and personal, Teshub will readily bash foes with his mace. Made from magical, MS 20 materials, Teshub can use this weapon to inflict his Strength +4 in bashing damage, a devastating blow with his physical power.
Skills:
Bows (a): the weapon which ultimately earned him the title Master of Dragons, Teshub is a competent bowman. Whether they be long, short, or even a cross, Teshub may strike targets wielding a bow at one difficulty level lower than is normally necessary.
Animal Handling (w): thanks in part to his own, impossible background, Teshub has learned the ins and out of animal care, particularly where his precious bashmu are concerned. He may resolve card play applicable to such matters at a reduced difficulty.
Skill / Maces (s): when foes are too close to smite with an arrow or a thunderbolt, or when he just wishes to bash a body into paste, Teshub will bring his mighty mace to bear. He may strike with such weapons at one difficulty level lower than is usually required.
Contacts:
Teshub has saved numerous peoples, and their associated deities, from mighty monsters - sometimes with aid, but often by himself. As such, he is on excellent terms with most Middle Eastern gods and mortals - save, of course, for the one who despises him: Enlil.
Calling:
Majesty, with a secondary calling of Demolisher: Teshub rules the gods of the Hurrians, not to mention several other closely related pantheons, and tries to do so in a fair and just manner. However, as a god of the storm, born from conflict, he occasionally reflects that.
Costume:
A master of the weather, Teshub wore minimal clothing, for he could be as hot or as cold as he wished. He generally relied upon a split, fringed skirt, a sash instead of a belt, leather sandals, a brilliant white tunic, a horned helm, and various ornamental jewels.
Personality:
Created as a direct result of a feud between two powerful deities, Teshub was born with conflict in his heart. A powerful storm god, Teshub is also a mighty warrior, and can readily defeat most foes even without the use of his lighting bolts or bashmu dragons.
Similarly, being resident in a baker's dozen worth of pantheons, each of which viewed him differently, Teshub is conflicted in both demeanor and behavior. His many worshipers expect a lot of different things from him, so you never quite knows which Teshub you'll encounter.
Real Name: Teshub
Occupation: God of Storms, Great Radiant Bull, Lion of Heaven, Master of Dragons
Legal Status: deity associated with numerous pantheons, leading some and simply hiding out in others
Marital Status: married
Alias(es), if any: Ba'al (Canaanite), Hadad (Babylonian), Taru (Hattian), Tarkhunz (Luwian), Tarkhunna (Hittite), Teisheba (Urartu), Tishpak (Also Babylonian, See Below)
Group Affiliation: the Babylon deities (as both Igigi (Tishpak) and Hadad (Anunnaki)), the Canaanite deities, the Hattian deities, the Hittite deities, the Hurrian deities, the Luwian deities, and the Urartian deities.
Height: 6' 6"
Hair: brown
Eyes: green
Weight: 250 lbs
Other Distinguishing Characteristics: Teshub wore his hair, beard, and moustache quite long, as was the style of the time.
Story:
As they lost power, the Anunnaki's former leaders set up shop running new pantheons. Anshar, under the alias of Alulu, attempted to found a new legacy when Anu took over the family domain. In time, however, Anu was in turn supplanted in rulership by his son, Enlil (Kumarbi).
Ambitious like his father, Anu deposed Anshar anew, consigning him to the underworld prison of Ilurugu. After Enlil's original rule was disrupted by Tiamat's assault on the gods, and the subsequent ascension of Marduk, Enlil decided to copy his father's idea and go north.
Anu refused to go down without a fight, though when things ultimately turned against him, he attempted to flee. Not having that, Enlil pursued his father, and in the resultant knock-down, drag-out battle, Enlil viciously bit off his father's genitals - and swallowed them whole!
While defeated, Anu had the last laugh, as his severed genitals were still functional! Gloating that Enlil was now pregnant, Anu chuckled as his son attempted to disgorge both his father's bits and his divine seed, and while he expelled two deities, Enlil was too late for one.
The problem was that Enlil is ill-equipped to give birth to anything, much less another deity! As such, holy surgeons debated from where to extract his and Anu's child, and upon deciding upon the least humiliating place to do so, mighty Teshub, god of the storm, was born!
While Enlil demanded his son be presented to him, so he might consume the abomination, Teshub was protected by those who birthed him. Swaddling a stone and handing it over to Enlil, they saved the son he himself had given birth to, and helped him to grow up in relative safety.
In time, Enlil once again decided to destroy humanity, tiring of their endless, raucus ruckus, and plotted their untimely end anew. Since his flood failed to destroy mankind, no thanks to a meddling Enki, he tried something different this time: he would use monsters!
Drawing forth one of sundered Tiamat's creatures, the bashmu known as Labbu, Enlil cast it into the sky and enlarged it to an irrational degree. Now fifty leagues in length, Labbu began its homicidal onslaught, rampaging throughout the domains of humanity.
Dreading a repeat of Tiamat's war against the gods, the Anunnaki gathered at the feet of Sin, the moon god and Enlil's first-born son, begging for aid. They implored Sin to find a champion who could end this threat, before all of their mortal servants were slain.
Having journeyed to Babylon during his formative years, Teshub was acting under the name Tishpak, primarily to avoid conflict with his father, Enlil. But Enki, the crafty god, knew Teshub's true identity - and knew that he was the perfect god to go about slaying dragons.
Ready to subvert his brother's efforts against humanity again, Enki formally introduced Teshub to his Anunnaki family as Hadad, his long-lost twin brother. It worked with Marduk, after all, but that was only because Marduk somehow managed to avoid getting eaten by Tiamat.
With Enki whispering secrets into his ear as he fought the terrible Labbu, Teshub was able to make short work of the mammoth creature, seizing it in mid-air and slaying it with a single arrow! Slain in mid-air, Labbu was allowed to drop where it died, landing near Eshunna.
While the corpse of Labba would proceed to bleed for three years, three months, and a day, Teshub himself would be given authority over the city as a reward. This act displaced Ninazu, and also served to give Teshub a sliver of control over the underworld's Serpent's Mount.
Though he knew Marduk would eventually demand their return, Teshub seized some of Ninazu's mushkhusshu for his own. He took full advantage of them in the interim, having them carry Labbu's heart to the Serpent's Mount, deep into Irkalla. There he planted it to grow new bashmu!
Teshub remained in Eshunna until it vanished into the sands of time. He then returned home, and confronted Enlil much as he, himself, had Anu. Having the assistance of his grand/father, who wished vengeance upon Enlil for unmanning him, Teshub ultimately proved victorious!
Now lord of the Hurrian deities, Teshub was charged with their protection. Though mighty, defending his subjects proved difficult, for Enlil was intent on destroying him and seizing his second kingship once more. And Enlil waged his war with terrible monsters!
Against Khedammu, Teshub proved victorious with the aid of Ishtar, goddess of love and war. Against Illuyanka, Teshub won after an initial defeat, thanks to the aid of his son, Sharruma. And against Ullikummi, Teshub ultimately prevailed with the assistance of mighty Enki.
His actions legendary, Teshub grew to be a part of several other pantheons of gods, much as his fathers have. The Caanites knew him as Ba'al, the Hattians knew him as Taru, the Hittites as Tarkhunna, the Luwians as Tarkhunz, and the Urartians as Teisheba.
In time, Enlil abandoned his grudge, or at the very least left to knock over an easier kingdom: Assyria. As it turned out, Enlil was wise in this decision, as the Hurrian people and their gods were soon lost, scattered to the winds, and absorbed by other lands.
How Teshub fared after this, much less his ultimate fate, is as of yet unrevealed.
Legal Hoopajoob:
I offer this System 13 work under the Creative Commons Attribution license. This means you may use this material in any way you see fit, whether copying, distributing, or displaying all or part of its text, as long as you credit me, in either your own derivative texts or products.
If you would like more information about me for attribution, you can contact me via e mail (DashApostrophe@gmail.com).
Extra Goodies: