The Thaumaturge is a dark fantasy detective story starring Wiktor Tzulski. Wiktor is the titular Thaumaturge, and wields mystical creatures called “Salutors“. These Salutors aid both in and out of combat, and each find their connections to real folklore. Between a large variety in designs and varying functions in combat, you may want to know more about these mystical allies! Check out our guide below on how to get every Salutor in The Thaumaturge and their origins.
Credit: Fool’s Theory / 11 bit StudiosUpyr – Dimension of Heart
The game spends much of its gripping prologue emphasizing that most Thaumaturges can only maintain connection with one Salutor. Szulski’s “one and only” Salutor is introduced as Upyr. However, they’re going through a bit of a divorce. During the prologue, it is revealed to the player that Wiktor has done something to fracture his connection to Upyr. In fact, much of the prologue revolves around restoring that connection with the help of Rasputin.
“Upyr” exists as a subject of early Slavic folklore. Upyr are undead creatures, typically a vengeful or restless spirit possessing a corpse. Due to their taste for blood, and many other features of the undead being, Upyr are considered to be a cultural prelude to vampires, with the two even sharing etymological roots. The Thaumaturge chooses to depict its very own Upyr with a “romantic and tragic” design. This emphasizes his close relationship with Wiktor. Likewise, it draws attention to the common relation between vampires and nobility.
Bukavac – Dimension of Deed
Upyr isn’t the only Salutor the player receives in the prologue. While Upyr’s introduction as Wiktor’s starting Salutor may be the start of the prologue’s A plot, its B plot follows a murder mystery. Solving this murder will require players follow down a path that leads to Bukavac. Taming Bukavac will then be necessary to unraveling this mystery and bringing the perpetrators to justice. Bukavac serves as a perfect way to illustrate the gameplay loop of mystery being aided by mysticism which creates more mystery.
“Bukavac” is another demonic being hailing from Slavic mythology. It is often portrayed as a six-legged water dwelling monster, a trait that is translated beautifully in its design for The Thaumaturge. Likewise, its brutish attitude is said to be a punishment for bad deeds gone unforgiven. His name comes from the phrase “to howl”, which is also represented in game, as his combat utility relies largely on a mix of shrieking and brutality.
Lelek – Dimension of Mind
The lovable Lelek is the first Salutor you will obtain following the end of the prologue. As Wiktor bridges the growing complications from his past, Lelek is a nice reprieve. A mischievous addition to the arsenal, players can simply continue following the main quest if they want to finish rounding out their roster.
“Lelek” hails from pagan Kashubian folklore. He is attributed with minor annoyances such as an itch that you just can’t scratch. Lelek is seen as both playful and dangerous. Lelek also shares his name with a small bird. Kashubian people were just as wary of the bird of the same name. In The Thaumaturge, Lelek is heavily inspired by this bird design, which likewise accounts for his small stature.
Veles – Dimensi0n of Word
Rounding out Wiktor’s core four, Veles is the last Salutor you will obtain in Act 1. Flaunting one of the most distinct designs in the game, Veles bears an introduction as strong as any of his other mystical counterparts. As with the other companions you meet in Act 1, Veles is a reward for completing a quest that he serves as the antagonist of. Veles helps players continue to learn the link between Flaws and Salutors. After all, he is another opportunity to gain both.
“Veles” is named for a Slavic God heavily associated with earthly prosperity. His portrayals split between one who loves mischief making, and one who protects and blesses livestock. The Thaumaturge lovingly interprets these stories and emphasizes these aspects by introducing Veles as a being representing wealth and deadly secrets. His design bleeds fabulous wealth, and fully captures the stories of a mischievous being of prosperity.
Not All Salutors Are Created Equal
The Thaumaturge is neatly divided into acts. Until now, all previously mentioned Salutors are obtainable in Act 1. The four that follow are obtainable in Act 2. It’s important for players to note that while acquiring the first four Salutors in Act 1 is simply a matter of being rewarded for progression, acquiring the next four in Act 2 sometimes requires navigating the game’s systems more seriously.
Credit: Fool’s Theory / 11 bit StudiosMorana – Dimension of Mind
Though you can’t welcome Morana into your arsenal until Act 2, you can encounter her much earlier. Players will need to have already acquired the previous four Salutors. You will also need to complete a slightly convoluted string of side quests, though the limited window to complete some of them is more forgiving than it may seem. However, the difficulty towards the end is anything but. The string culminates in “The Horses in the Sky”, which requires players to have invested in the dimensions of both Word and Mind. Aside from the resource investment, and the stress of meeting quest goals before progressing too far past them, this endeavor is manageable enough. However, this unlocks the ability to fight Morana later in Act 2, which is where the real difficulty comes in. Don’t underestimate a Goddess of Death!
“Morana” is a Goddess hailing from Slavic mythology. She is portrayed as the Goddess of Death and Rebirth. Morana especially represents the cycle of life and death as it relates to nature, and she is most closely associated with rituals that represent the death winter brings. Many of these seasonal rites also involved the people’s deep wish for an early spring to come to their frigid land.
Djinn – Dimension of Heart
Acquiring Djinn will be slightly more straightforward than its Act 2 counterparts. Though “Fearless” is a limited time side quest similar to Morana, it is a singular endeavor that you’re more likely to meet with ease than hers. Plus, it provides the player with another opportunity to reunite with the “charming” Rasputin! However, Djinn still maintains an intriguing role in the world of The Thaumaturge in its own righttt. Djinn is one of two Salutors that Wiktor can actively lend away to another Thaumaturge. You’ll obviously miss out on using the Salutor’s abilities for yourself. However, the potential positive or negative consequences of giving up such power in exchange for rapport with a fellow magician is purely up for the player to weigh.
“Djinn” originated as a concept in Islamic folklore and have since spread and become popularized to many others throughout the several centuries of their legend spreading. Their morality varies, with some being treated as “sinners” or misfits. Other practices include hailing them for protection, though this is frowned upon as idolatry by many who believe in their existence in the modern day. Though they are typically invisible spirits, they can sometimes take on a slender, almost snakelike ethereal form. The latter is what The Thaumaturge chose for its own depiction, creating a unique design for such a storied entity.
Krampus – Dimension of Word
Though it requires a bit of snooping around to begin, “A Rod for the Hero” is easy enough to reach the end of. Even accounting for the aforementioned snooping done with “The Real Fireworks”, Krampus can be acquired early enough into Act 2 that players will not regret dedicating the effort. Considering he’s a real threat in combat, tracking down Krampus through these side quests is highly recommended if players want to bolster their roster for future encounters.
“Krampus” is a classic figure of Christmas folklore. Naturally, this means he hails from Christian traditions. While St. Nicholas rewards good folks with gifts, Krampus accompanies him to do the opposite. Krampus punishes children who are disobedient or otherwise ill-mannered. He’s even said to kidnap the worst of them. Krampus makes for more than a fine addition to Wiktor’s host of mostly-demonic helpers.
Golem – Dimension of Deed
Golem is one of the final Salutors players will have the opportunity to tame during their time playing The Thaumaturge. He is also the second which players can give up control of, alongside Djinn. Golem’s boss fight is among the most difficult in the game, so players should use their time to prepare wisely. This encounter can be triggered during “Clay Ambitions”, a main quest that serves as the culmination for Golem’s earlier introduction. As with Djinn, whether you keep him or not, and the fallout from either decision is up to you. Golem’s power is certainly a boon players may not want to miss out on.
“Golems” are a core figure in Jewish folklore. They are guardians of the community, often warding religious communities against invaders or other forms of evil. Of course, this means that despite their solemn nature, they can prove very hostile to perceived threats. Both aspects are captured within the Golem of The Thaumaturge.
The Thaumaturge is a dark fantasy RPG developed by Fool’s Theory and published by 11 bit Studios. The Thaumaturge is out now on Steam, with the team announcing plans for a console port later this year.
