Ziusudra, Priest-King of Shuruppak (Might 40)
An ancient priest-king from the antediluvian age, Ziusudra ruled over an ancient people called ‘the Black-Headed Men’ in their city, called ‘The City of Healing’. He claims he was the last king of that place before the great flood, ruling for 3600 years as king and high priest. When the flood came he was warned by the god of magic and the nether-sea Enkig (this name is unknown to theurgists, but is usually assumed to be a titan: likely either Kronos or Tethys, or possibly Prometheus or Koios). He built a great boat and used it to save the people. After the flood receded and civilisation was re-established he was rewarded with the ‘breath eternal’ by the lord of the heavens (Ouranos, most theurgists assume).
Many Christian theurgists are deeply disturbed by a spirit claiming such a similar story to that of Noah but without any mention of God. As such the truthfulness of this daimon is often brought into question, or worse his name intentionally removed from grimoires. Pagan theurgists are more open-minded, and claim at least some of his story is corroborated by what survives of the writings of the ancient Babylonian theurge Berossus (see below).
Ziusudra is well known among theurgists as a source of genuine wisdom and sound advice. He seems to have a keen understanding of the nature of men, the skills of governing, and moral philosophy. He also has a great knowledge of theurgy though he claims that much of his knowledge that once worked with ease is useless in the current age. Still he knows the names of many spirits forgotten by men. For these reasons he is usually summoned by theurgists who have a great problem with seemingly no solution possible, in the hope he will offer some advice or fragment of lost knowledge that will allow for an unforeseen solution.
Ziusudra is one of the few unbound spirits who recall not only the age of Aries (which ended between 1 and 500AD) but also the preceding age of Taurus (which ended in the 3rd millennium BC, possibly coinciding with the great flood). It is theorised by some that the operation of magic changes with the astrological ages, which may have caused the fall of the cult of Mercury. As such Ziusudra may offer valuable insights to a Magus researching this concept.
Characteristics: Int +9, Per +3, Pre +4, Com +3, Str +2, Sta +2, Dex 0, Quik 0
Personality Traits: Regal +3, Philosophical +3, Authoritative +5
Abilities: Magic Lore 10, Folk Ken 8, Philosophiae (Moral) 12, Craft: Boatbuilding 6, Antediluvian World Lore 10, Leadership 15
Powers:
The Wisdom of Ancient Kings, 5 points
Ziusudra may impart 15xp in leadership, philosophiae (moral), or folk ken to the theurge up to a score of 15, 12, and 8 respectively. They must spend a seasons absorbing these insights to gain the benefit.
Ancient Theurgy, variable points
Ziusudra knows many true names and invocations, mostly of ancient and largely forgotten spirits. He will freely teach minor names (below 20 might) and will teach major names (up to 40 might) in exchange for unique services or gifts. He can also teach theurgical invocation spells for these spirits if they are daimones. This power costs 1 point per 5 levels of names and spells taught. The theurge must spend a season per spell or name committing it to memory. Generally he will only teach a single name and the accompanying invocation, or several names without a ritual, as part of a single pact.
The Breath Eternal, 3 points
For those who have a problem that truly cannot be resolved by mundane means Ziusudra sometimes offers them a unique gift – a single one of his own breaths, imbued with the power of the heavens. This breath (which must be captured in a vessel such as a jar) contains 3 pawns of Auram vis with a spell like effect (MuAu 25) which, when breathed in, grants the person who breathed it a temporary Auram aligned might score of 0 for sun duration. This is only a curiosity in itself, but is always paired with the following:
To See Through Heaven’s Eyes, 5 points
This grants the target the personal power virtue. The power granted is a level 20 InAu power which allows them to recognize the level of all boundaries or vestiges they can see that are associated with Auram, and to pass through any of them into the Twilight Void if they should desire to do so. This costs 1 point of short term fatigue to activate and is concentration duration.
Coupled with the Breath Eternal this allows passage into the magic realm through any mundane thing associated with Auram as if the Magus was a magical being. Note that they will lose their temporary might score the second they enter the magic realm. The exact place they are in the magic realm depends on the point of entry. Once in the magic realm it is up to the Magus to find what they are looking for and a way back out. Though they no longer have temporary might they can still use this power to pass through Auram boundaries and vestiges and hence navigate the magic realm to a degree.
Generally Ziusudra has this power last until they return from the magic realm but sometimes he allows them to keep it permanently.
Gift of the Navigator, 5 points
To those rare few who invoke him as a spiritual ancestor of sailors and boatbuilders Ziusudra may gift the virtue Homing Instinct, however, this also inflicts the flaw Anchored to the Sea. Both are permanent.
Vis: When banished his final breath contains 8 pawns of Aurum vis.
Addendum: Berossus, Babylonian Theurge and Chronicler
Berossus was a later Babylonian priest of Marduk. Highly accomplished in his own right he is mostly remembered for writing several works in Greek for his patron Antiochus Soter, the Seleucid Emperor. These works are the original source (filtered through several intermediary authors) for much of the (scant and unreliable) knowledge of Babylon and the Persian empire in Christian Europe (Ctesias’ Persica was favoured by pagan authors but Berossus by later Christian writers, or at least those works relying on Berossus managed to survive to be used as sources by later authors).
Ironically in life he was much better known as an astronomer (an art favoured by the Babylonians while historical writing was not). His writings on astronomy are largely lost but were once highly regarded – so much so that a statue of him was erected in Athens.
His work is somewhat unique in presenting a complete narrative from creation to the time of writing, as the Babylonians understood things. Finding an intact copy of Berossus or even substantial excerpts would be invaluable for any Magus interested in the ancient magic of Babylon.
By some accounts Berossus retired to the island of Kos in the Aegean where he founded a school of Astronomy. It is possible that Berossus’ Babylonian astronomy survives in the Order of Hermes as part of the mysteries of Hermetic Astrology. If the site of his school could be found it may offer insights into the magic of the stars.
You can also read this post here: https://lexhermetica.wordpress.com/2019/11/07/ziusudra-30-daimons-for-november-7/