Patterns Discerned 4: The Demons of Ksárul and Grugánu

So. On to the demons associated with Ksárul and Grugánu. I've been putting this off, in part because I had other things on my plate, and in part because things get more difficult at this point. It's not that there are no patterns to discern here, but the patterns become more diffuse. Gone are the widespread, obvious expressions of affiliation that we saw with Sárku (the "Bákte in Death" and "Worm Triumphant"), with Hrü'ü (the "Errant Chusétl"), and even with Dlamélish (the "Mouth-over-Mouth" and "Barbed Staff"). Instead, with the name-glyphs of Ksárul's allies we see affiliation expressed more subtly, with diverse elements that vary greatly in execution, that in no case are found in the majority of glyphs, and that are not combined in patterned ways. It is as though the ancient mages that composed these glyphs were coy, tentative, and uncertain about the true allegiances of these demons.

Twelve demons are said to be affiliated with Ksárul the Doomed Prince of the Blue Room, and His cohort Grugánu. Húrsha and Erbulé are of the substance and essence of Ksárul. The major demon Ge'én is said to have a "clear friendship" for Ksárul and Grugánu, and Giritlén, as we have seen, is ambiguously and rather unhelpfully said to be of the substance and essence of Hrü'ü or Ksárul (or Their cohorts). Héssa is of the essence of Ksárul but unknown substance, Chéssa of the essence of Grugánu and the substance of Ksárul, and Mi'royél of the substance and essence of Grugánu. The remaining five demons share affiliation with other deities: Qu'ú is of the essence of Grugánu but the substance of Chiténg; Njénü of the essence of Ksárul but the substance of Sárku; Mishomúu of the substance of Ksárul but the essence of Sárku; Zanátl of the substance of Ksárul but the essence of Hrü'ü; and Uní of the essence of Ksárul but the substance of Hrü'ü.

The "Three-Barred Box" or "Blue Room" Motif, Highlighted in Red

The most common shared element, although it is only found in five glyphs (those of Chéssa, Héssa, Húrsha, Njénü, and Giritlén), consists of a more-or-less rectangular device defined by three slender vertical lines, which I will refer to as the "three-barred box." In two glyphs (Chéssa and Héssa), two such "boxes" are stacked, one atop the other. In two others (Húrsha and Giritlén), the "boxes" have no tops and the "lines" are less clearly-defined, but I believe these glyphs nevertheless quote or reference the same "three-barred box" motif. A sixth glyph, that of Uní, also displays three very short vertical lines in the lower register, and this too may be a very truncated version of the "three-barred box," although I am uncertain of this. I am also uncertain what the "three-barred box" motif is supposed to depict. It may depict the catafalque upon which the Doomed Prince lies dreaming. Or (more likely in my opinion) it may depict the hanging azure draperies (or aurora) which surrounds the Blue Room in which He is imprisoned. In either case, I suspect it broadly represents the Blue Room as a whole.

The "Half-Lidded Eyes," "Drooping Mouth," and Associated Elements of the "Dreaming Chusétl" Motif

A second element, visible in the name-glyphs of Húrsha, Erbulé, and Mi'royél, is a pair of crescents arrayed side-by-side. This element resembles a pair of eyes, and it recalls the "wide-opened eyes" we saw in the demons affiliated with Lord Hrü'ü except that the bottoms of the "eyes" are missing. As a result, these "half-lidded eyes" now have a rather different quality, and appear somnolent rather than alert. I propose that the "half-lidded eyes" also represent the Chusétl, the Shadow-Self of dreams and visions, but that in this form they represent the "Dreaming Chusétl," or "Chusétl in Repose," a reference to the sleeping Doomed Prince.

In all three cases, curling emanations emerge from the right-hand side of the "half-lidded eyes" and arch over them to extend to the left. Once again, I suggest that these represent exudations or manifestations of power by the "Dreaming Chusétl," again a reference to the powers of the sleeping Lord Ksárul. It is interesting that unlike the emanations from Hrü'ü's "Errant Chusétl," these emerge initially from the hidden right (the "back-side" in scripts read from the right) before moving "forward" to the left. These emanations may therefore reflect Ksárul's penchant for secrecy and surprise. Perhaps we could even call them "ambush emanations." Two glyphs (Erbulé, and Mi'royél) exhibit a second emanation that curls downward, beneath the "eyes," but remains to the right.

In the glyphs for Húrsha and Erbulé (but not Mi'royél), the "half-lidded eyes" are underlain by a wide, drooping "mouth." Although it is only present in these two glyphs, both of these demons have the strongest and clearest affiliation with Ksárul, and I firmly believe that the "drooping mouth" is somehow a part of the overall "Dreaming Chusétl" motif. Actually, it is not entirely true that the "drooping mouth" is limited to these two demons: we also see it in the name-glyph of the major demon Marássu (see previous post). In fact, Marássu's glyph displays all of the elements of the "Dreaming Chusétl" motif: the "half-lidded eyes," the "drooping mouth," and both the upturned and downturned "ambush emanations" emerging from the right. While Marássu is known to be "friendly" to Ksárul, his glyph suggests a much stronger affiliation than that.

Two other elements should be addressed. Again, neither appears in very many glyphs, and yet both do appear to be associated with the demons allied with Ksárul, and rarely appear elsewhere.

The "Trumpet" Motif, Highlighted in Red

One of these elements is the "trumpet" motif, composed of one or more triangular forms flaring widely toward the left. "Trumpet" elements of various sorts are recognizable in the glyphs for Erbulé, Mi'royél, and Mishomúu. As to what these elements depict, it is possible that they do indeed depict trumpets or some other variety of sound-producing instrument. It is interesting in this regard that the "trumpet" motif is characteristic of the glyph of the demon Ó. Lord Ó has no identified affiliation with Ksárul or with any other deity, but he is titled "He Who Echoes Between the Planes," and is described as "a breath of sound which is not sound." We may guess that the "trumpet" motif pertains in some way to vibration, resonance, and interplanetary energies. Beyond that, it is hard to say what it might signify, in terms of the theology and mythos of Lord Ksárul: the clarion that summoned His forces at Dórmoron Plain? The final key that will stir the Doomed Prince from His slumber? Something other, signifying his dreaming insinuation between the Planes? We can only guess.

The "Claw of Grugánu" Motif, Highlighted in Red

The final element, and possibly the most iffy, is a curling taloned- claw device that we see, in quite different forms, in the glyphs of Mishomúu, the major demon Ge'én, and possibly Húrsha as well. This element is perhaps clearest in the glyph for Ge'én, where it is a free-standing element consisting of a four-taloned claw and forearm (or foreleg). In Mishomúu's glyph, a three-taloned claw emerges from the "Trumpet" motif, and in Húrsha's, a three-, four-, or even five-taloned claw extends from the "three-barred box." This should be a fairly obvious expression of alliance with Grugánu, although it is noteworthy that none of the demons that display the "Claw of Grugánu" element have a specific affinity with Grugánu (as opposed to His Master, Ksárul).

Patterns Discerned 3: The Demons of Hrü'ü and Wúru

Twelve demons are somehow affiliated with the Supreme Principle of Change Hrü'ü and His cohort Wúru. However, in general this is a motley grouping, whose allegiances are often uncertain.

Only three (Durún, Ka'íng and Narkonáa) are categorically stated to be of the substance and essence of these Deities; Hrgásh supposedly is as well, but this is "hearsay," while the major demon Marássu is apparently "allied" to these two deities (and His glyph allegedly displays this alliance). Giritlén is ambiguously said to be of the substance and essence of Hrü'ü or Ksárul (or Their cohorts), while Gurushá is of the substance of Wúru but unknown essence, and Chríya is of the essence of Hrü'ü but unknown substance. The remaining four of these demons show mixed allegiances: Neré is of the substance of Wúru but the essence of Sárku; Mikoyél of the essence of Wúru but the substance of Chiténg; Zanátl of the essence of Hrü'ü but the substance of Ksárul; and Uní is of the essence of Ksárul but the substance of Hrü'ü.

With demons of such diverse (or mysterious) allegiances, we might hope to find some element diagnostic of affiliation with Hrü'ü and Wúru, but we would surely expect to see many enigmatic or unidentifiable elements. This is indeed the case; and if you think the demons of Lord Hrü'ü are obscure, wait until we start looking at Lord Ksárul! Holy Moley!

The "Wide-Opened Eyes" or "Errant Chusétl" Motif, Highlighted in Red

The most obvious common element in these glyphs, present in eight of the twelve (those for Ka'íng, Giritlén, Neré, Narkonáa, Hrgásh, Zanátl, Chríya, and Mikoyél), is a pair of vertical ovals, arranged side-by-side. In most cases, these are joined by two slender ligatures (although Ka'íng's glyph has four, while for Chríya and Mikoyél, the ovals are pressed close together with no space for any ligatures at all). In three cases (Hrgásh, Chríya, and Mikoyél), these ovals are further joined by one or more chevrons at the top. This odd double-oval element gives many of these glyphs a quality of wide-eyed staring faces, and indeed it is tempting to see them as depicting widely opened eyes. This may be what this element literally depicts, but it must represent something more. The design most strongly recalls the symbol of Drá, cohort of Lord Hnálla, but this cannot be. Can it? Instead, I am going to suggest that it represents the Chusétl, the "Shadow-Self," the self of dreams and visions, the ethereal counterpart of the Hlákme. Specifically, I believe that the "Wide-Opened Eyes" motif represents the "Errant Chusétl," actively wandering the Planes Beyond, seeking Truth in Darkness, and perceiving the glories of perpetual Change; this in contradistinction to the "Chusétl in Repose" or "Dreaming Chusétl" that we will see in a later post.

Examples of the "Emanations" from the "Errant Chusétl," Highlighted in Red

In all cases, additional elements emanate from the top or side of one or both "eyes" of the "Errant Chusétl." These emanations vary widely and each is unique, but there are broadly two types: exuberant plumed arabesques curling toward the left (Ka'íng, Giritlén, Neré, Hrgásh, and Mikoyél); or short, spindly "antennae" projecting to the left and right, and sometimes upward as well (Narkonáa, Zanátl, and possibly Chríya). We can guess that these projections from the Shadow-Self represent various forms of perception, learning, and manifestation by the Chusétl, but their precise meanings remain unclear.

Other elements, particularly in the lower register of each glyph, are also difficult to interpret. The glyph for Zanátl includes a closed-loop representation of the "Bákte in Death," which is unexpected, since Zanátl has no (known) affiliation with Lord Sárku. Neré, who does have some allegiance to Sárku, displays the right-hand end of the "Bákte," which projects from one side of the "Errant Chusétl." On the other side, apparently emerging from both the end of the Bákte" and the side of the Chusétl, is a plumed emanation. Even this is unexpected, since the Chusétl is not believed to survive the death of the Bákte. Perhaps this half-Bákte represents part of an open-ended living (or sleeping?) Bákte.

Possible "Portrait-Glyphs"

Three of these glyphs may consist of visual representations of demons, rather than abstract symbols. The name-glyph for Durún certainly appears to be a profile portrait of the demonic Beast which is the Steed of Lord Hrü'ü. The glyphs for Chríya and Mikoyél exhibit staring eyes that lack the connecting ligatures of other glyphs, and these may represent literal portrait eyes, rather than the symbolic "eyes" of the "Errant Chusétl" motif. Chríya's glyph certainly looks like the "frightening face" device employed on the shields of warriors. The glyph for Mikoyél looks rather like a portrait as well, of an entity holding a staff or scythe, but perhaps we should reserve further comment until we discuss the demons affiliated with Vimúhla.

Enigmatic Glyphs

Finally, three glyphs (those for Uní, Gurushá, and Marássu) display none of the common elements, and also do not appear to be portraits. Uní's glyph is dominated by what appears to be a variant of the Bákte-Hlákme-Worm combination (a variant identical to that found in Kurritlakál's glyph, discussed in the previous post). This combination should strongly indicate affiliation with Lord Sárku, but no such affiliation is indicated in Ebon Bindings. The glyph for Gurushá is simply perplexing; it contains no elements I can recognize (yet), with the exception of three (!) possible four-pointed Hlákme stars. Finally, there is the glyph for Marássu the "Ever-Nearing Pursuer." This looks vaguely like it might be another portrait, depicting a fanged face. However, the half-lidded eyes and the drooping mouth may be symbolic content, specifically suggesting affiliation with Lord Ksárul, as we shall see in a later post. While Marássu is not unfriendly to Ksárul, it is surprising that his glyph shows affinity to Ksárul but not to Lord Hrü'ü.