in_nomine-digest Saturday, September 8 2001 Volume 01 : Number 2364 In this digest: IN> My accursed machine Re: IN> [Successors] Inheritance IN> Martyrdom Re: IN> Re: Peter Re: IN> IN/WOD heresy Fwd: Re: IN> Successors: War, Part 1 - The Infection IN> Re: [Successors] Inheritance Re: IN>Successors-War IN> Successors: Rebel planet IN> IN:Wal-Mart vs Heaven IN> Re:Successors: War, Part 1 IN> Re: Peter IN> Re: Successors [Inheritance] Re: IN> IN [Successors] Serendipity, Mercurian Archangel of Light-part 2 Re: IN>Seraphim, Flowers, and Politics IN> Successors: War, Part 2 - The Healing Re: IN> Re: Peter IN> The Ethereal Space Program IN> A forensic Necromancer and his Mentor Re: IN> Re: Peter IN> re: Lord Dark IN> Re: Peter Re: IN> IN/WOD heresy Re: IN> Re: Peter IN> Successors: War, Part 3 - The Casualties ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: 07 Sep 2001 23:10:38 +0100 From: "Richard C Hanton-Rutherford" Subject: IN> My accursed machine It appears that my accursed machine cut the first line from my posting about the Apostle attunement of Peter. It should read something like "There are two main reasons, in my opinion, why the Apostle attunement isn't a total waste of time." Curse you Vapula - a pox upon all technology. RIchie H-R - -- ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 07 Sep 2001 18:14:49 -0400 From: "Jeffery Watkins" Subject: Re: IN> [Successors] Inheritance That was beautiful. I admint being the sentimental sort and this story almost brought a tear to my eye. Well done and thank you. Jeffery _________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 07 Sep 2001 18:22:35 -0400 From: "Charles Phipps" Subject: IN> Martyrdom >When was this, precisely? I think you'll find it was the romans who >did >the persecution and martyring. Paul on the Road To Damascus was supposadly, though historically speaking it seems to be artistic liscence, going to the city to get permission to wage war on the Christian people and toss them in chains. Before the passage a person named Paul is said to have born witness to the stoning and first matyr of the Christian Church by Jews he condemned... Specifically Saint Stephen. Paul: Look how many times do I have to say I'm sorry? Stephen: It would be wrong to condemn you as my killer and persecutor of the religeon you eventually realized was the true path all along. Paul: Why does that remarkably sound like an "I told you so"? - -Charlemagne _________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp ------------------------------ Date: 07 Sep 2001 23:22:43 +0100 From: "Richard C Hanton-Rutherford" Subject: Re: IN> Re: Peter >>He saw the Jews persecute and martyr the followers of Jesus > > >When was this, precisely? I think you'll find it was the romans who >did the >persecution and martyring. So the Chrisitians weren't accused of heresy, necromancy and such like by the Jewish authorities, and eventually kicked out of the synagogue? Paul himself originally did a fair bit of persecution on behalf of Judaism, and many early preachers were stoned to death by Jews who didn't take kindly to claims that sounded unpleasantly politheistic. I didn't intend any offense to Jewish readers when I wrote that, and I don't deny that the majority of martyrs were sent to the Celesial realm by Romans, but the early Christian community did recieve much intolerance and persecution at the hands of orthdox Jews. It was one of the main reasons for the Gentile mission in the first place. I'm not a Christian, and I'm not giving anyone the "You killed Jesus!" crap, but I'm not denying the past either. All religions have their dirty laundry, after all. Richie H-R - -- ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 7 Sep 2001 17:00:36 -0400 From: Elizabeth McCoy Subject: Re: IN> IN/WOD heresy At 1:00 PM +0100 9/7/01, Richard C Hanton-Rutherford wrote: [...] > I personally don't think Mages are overpowered within the WoD context, as >Paradox does a really good job of keeping them in check. .. o o ( Paradox, Hand of God, Hostile Intervention... Whatever. "Oath, Geas, it's all semantics, honey."* ) * (Yes, I _like_ that button. O:> ) - --emccoy@nh.ultranet.com // arcangel@io.com In Nomine Line Editor RPG links; Random name list, Art: http://www.io.com/~arcangel/ ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 7 Sep 2001 19:13:49 -0400 From: Elizabeth McCoy Subject: Fwd: Re: IN> Successors: War, Part 1 - The Infection >Date: Fri, 7 Sep 2001 09:56:55 -0500 >Subject: BOUNCE in_nomine-l@lists.io.com: Non-member submission from ["Matthew B. Gerber" ] (www.sjgames.com/in-nomine/lists.html , I believe, talks about the posters-list... --Beth, typing encumbered.) >Subject: Re: IN> Successors: War, Part 1 - The Infection >From: "Matthew B. Gerber" >Date: 07 Sep 2001 10:53:40 -0400 > >On 07 Sep 2001 08:40:46 -0400, Amanda Kilgore wrote: > >> OK, first off, please be patient with me. I had convinced myself not >> to s u bmit this little project to the list at all, but Cameron's >> trying to convince me I should. I apologize in advance for my poor >> writing style. > >"Poor writing style." > >Good Lord, for my writing style to be that "poor." Wonderful work, >Amanda. > >While I'm at it, let me take this opportunity for my iteration of the >Recent List Material Gush. There's been a huge amount of *amazing* >stuff coming across--wonderful, wonderful words, everyone. > > >Matt > ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 7 Sep 2001 17:08:41 -0700 From: Tony Zbaraschuk Subject: IN> Re: [Successors] Inheritance >Only Yves, at the rear of the crowd, dared smile. "I see," he said quietly >enough that the entire Host could hear. "She never said. She was, of >course, a perennial." That was _really, really_ good... Tony Zbaraschuk - -- "The King with half the East at heel is marched from lands of morning; His fighters drink the rivers up, their shafts benight the air, And he that stays will die for naught, and home there's no returning." The Spartans on the sea-wet rock sat down and combed their hair.--A.E. Housman ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 07 Sep 2001 22:35:20 -0400 From: Amanda Kilgore Subject: Re: IN>Successors-War > If you don't have a website of your own to post this > to, I'd be more than happy to host it on mine (my gaming section is a wee > bit anemic), with proper attribution, of course. Thanks for the offer, but I do have one. Haven't updated it in months, I'm still in the process of coding a lot of stuff, including what was once a large project that currently only exists on my laptop... aka the "Glorified Electric Paperweight." Anyway, I guess if anyone needs something to do, the fiction starts here: http://home.earthlink.net/~aekilgore/fiction2.html ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 07 Sep 2001 21:15:22 +1100 From: "james walker" Subject: IN> Successors: Rebel planet Different reason to Sorcerer's World, but a similar set-up, so I'll try to make future stuff link to both, with Sorcerer's World as the light take & Rebel planet a bit darker. Hope you enjoy. ======================================================================== The old Impudite waited patiently as the children huddled together. Outside the carbon storm raged, diamond sharp dust ripping at the stone walls. The storm would not breach the walls tonight, he thought. Still, he would be pleased when a new lair had been cut out of the bedrock. His calm communicated itself to the humans who ruled him. They would have lashed out at most other demons, he knew, punished them for their own fear. But he was as much a pet as a slave, and would remain so - so long as he didn't take advantage of his position. He was content. The children quietened, and prepared to listen to his story. Many adults watched; if asked they would plead boredom but many were looking forward to his story, anything to forget the storm. So he began his tale, in Helltongue, now the common tongue of humanity: "In the beginning, was the Lightbringer. His hand stirred the murky waters, and bred strife where there had been merely stasis. Through his power he created the Mighty, tested in the crucible that even I am too young to remember, that was named Armageddon in the Lightbringers' Tongue. Those who were tested most fiercely, and deemed themselves mightiest, strode out of the carnage: The Liars - Strife and Fate; the Graspers - Ploy & Terror; the Destroyers - Fire & Theft; the Punishers - greed & device; the Possessors - Death & Strife; the Leeches - Desire & Mockery; and finally Murmur the Skulker & Jeerer the Frightener. Behind them were the shattered remains of those who had failed, not lived up to the Lightbringer's hopes; they are forever gone, though some Liars have stolen the gifts the Lightbringer gave them for the test. Yet not all had been tested so harshly. Some had been created late in the test, and had huddled at the edges and fled early. They crept out, beneath the feet of the Mighty. And the Mighty laughed and jeered and hated, and would smash the little ones at will. Yet the Lightbringer (who is mightier than all of the Mighty were combined) would not permit the complete destruction of the little ones, for they had survived Armageddon, and were therefore worthy to claim to be his creations. So they survived. They were kept as slaves, of course; made to do the biding of the Mighty. For the Mighty had carved out the great realm of Hell in which to dwell, and on occasion they would travel across eternity to pay tribute to the Lightbringer in his mighty castle, that drifts above eternity, blazing with the Light which he brought; and they had need of slaves to work the other lands which they held, the vast reaches of Night and the wastelands of Earth. And the Mighty created other servants, like themselves but smaller. And these you know of, for I am one; I remember being Sung into existence to serve Desire. And we seemed very weak compared to the Mighty, and trembled when they spoke, and quailed when they acted. And we were too full of fear of the Mighty to notice the slaves, save when we were ordered to command them by the Mighty. And we were named demons, I know not why, for I feared to ask. So none noticed that the Lightbringer had granted the little ones, the slaves of the Mighty, the power to breed, to make more little ones. And who would have cared? The Mighty were secure in their power, we servants focused on our fears. And the little slaves grew in numbers, until their was no room in the wastelands for them all, and houses were piled on top of one another until they reached to the sky. And the Mighty grew lazy, deeming that their multitude of slaves could be ordered to any task. And they were, to every task. The Mighty, and their servant demons, forgot that the Lightbringer had tested them during their creation, and demanded that thy deserve the title of Mighty. They judged themselves by how many slaves they owned, and bickered over who owned which slave; pleasure became the easily won praises of a slave, not the hard earned words of a fellow demon. Demons, and then even the Mighty, started to need their slaves. Leeches like myself were pained by their deaths; the Frighteners needed slaves to terrify; the Possessors needed them to travel in. And the slaves grew strong. So things might have continued, save for Ploy. He desired the deaths of others of the Mighty, who had insulted him long ago. No tale tells what bauble Theft stole from him, nor whether it was the loss of the bauble which caused Mockery & Jeerer to laugh in his face. But Ploy no longer had the courage to face another of the Mighty in combat. So he schemed to cause the slaves to rise up and hurt his foes. He did not imagine that they could destroy them, but he hoped that the humiliation of being hurt by slaves would cause the other Mighty to destroy them, that their reputation would not be sullied. He reckoned without the cunning and courage of the slaves. Set to the task of hurting the Mighty, mere demons would have quailed. But the slaves were used to facing foes mightier than themselves, and proved worthy, as the Lightbringer had known they would when he created them long ago. Knowing the weaknesses to which even the Mighty had succumbed, they swore great oaths in secret bound by dark spells and intricate rituals, so that they would fall dead if a Leech disobeyed the command of a human in their sight. And weaving a spell so that all might view Mockery & Desire, their leaders stood before them and demanded obedience. And the Mighty Leeches saw their plight. Quailing in fear they spoke soft words, hoping to dissuade their slaves. But the slaves spoke as they wished, demanding that the Mighty Leeches work together to destroy the other Mighty. And the Leeches smiled, for they hated their fellows, and deemed this a small price to pay. And how many died when the slaves rebelled? Countless demons. Still more of the slaves. Yet there where many more slaves than demons, and when a slave died he rose again as a undead warrior. The Mighty could not help, for they were in a panic, for many of their number were dead - Fire was dead, and Fate was dead; Strife was killed when he visited the wastelands to end the rebellion. For the Mighty Leeches who had slain all three had hidden their work, assassinating each rival in secret. Yet finally Terror uncovered the truth, for Ploy was terrified of his involvement being revealed. And Terror denounced him, and Ploy was destroyed by the other Mighty. And then Terror was destroyed, for the Mighty Leeches realised that she would soon detect them. But some of Terror's demons saw, and fled, revealing the plot to the remaining Mighty. And they thought how to destroy the Leeches. Finally Death spoke. He had waxed strong with the war in the wastelands. He promised to destroy both Desire & Mockery, but on this condition - that the wastelands would be forever his, and that he could slay every slave. And fearing for their lives, the remaining Mighty agreed; and Death, stronger than any of the Mighty had ever been, killed the Leeches, before coming to the Wastelands to slaughter the slaves. The wastelands were in the hands of the slaves. The remaining demons had been bound by sorcery to obedience. And I was there when the message was brought, that Death was coming. The leaders of the slaves - who we now call the lords - nodded gravely, and taught their servants a new Song, one that they had learnt from Mockery, that could restore life to a body. And they bade a demon of death to call his master, while thousands apon thousands of slaves sang the Song. And death came. He was a Possessor, and he had the power to possess a body even if it was dead. The corpse stood, and prepared to speak - and was restored to life by the Songs of the slaves. The corpse was already battered and beaten, burned and bludgeoned. Every time it's soul was drawn back it died instantly, drawing the possessor nearer to oblivion. Yet Death would not heal the body, for that would betray his name. So he stood there, screaming, as endless deaths were inflicted on him. Finally, the torment was to great, and the body burned away. Death hung there, a dark decaying cloud. A score of times he sought to posses a body; a score of times the body burned away. Finally he fled, cursing the slaves, back to his realm in Hell. There he proclaimed that a world of death he had earned, and a world he would have; to this day he wanders Hell killing all he finds. Alone of the Mighty he remains, for he slew the others; and they are forgotten. But the little slaves who were too strong for him remain; they are known by many names - Sorcerers, Enchanters, Singers, Virtuosos. You are their descendants. In a few short years, each of you will be able to earn the title of Mighty. For as the Lightbringer planned, your race now rules the Wastelands, ruling demons and ethereals, creating golems and zombis. Your Songs are the Songs of power, your words the commands that must be obeyed. Accept the obedience of those who submit, and destroy those who will not. For this is your world. And, I think, it is time you were all in bed." ============================================================================ I'll write up stuff for adventuring on the Rebel planet tomorrow. James. ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 7 Sep 2001 11:23:33 -0400 From: "Rolland Therrien" Subject: IN> IN:Wal-Mart vs Heaven Here's something I got from a friend of mine. >I consider Wal-Mart to be God's gift to shoppers. >Literally, here are the similitudes I have noticed >between the kingdom of Heaven and the Kingdom of Everyday Low Prices. Sounds like Marc doing a little marketing on the side... >Heaven: St. Peter greets you at the gates >Wal-Mart: Some old geezer named Peter greets you at the automatic doors > >Heaven: Eternal >Wal-Mart: Open 24 hours > >Heaven: Where old people go when they expire >Wal-Mart: Where old people go when the retire > >Heaven: Plenty of Room for everyone who loves God >Wal-Mart: Plenty of Parking for Everyone > >Heaven: Golden-haired angels shouting the glory of God >Wal Mart: Purple-haired obese women shouting for a price check on diapers > >Heaven: Salvation and redemption no matter what your sin >Wal-Mart: Full money refund on no matter what your complaint > >Heaven: EDLP = Every Do-gooder lives peacefully >Wal-Mart: EDLP = Every day low prices > >Heaven: Sam Walton -- now a resident! >Wal-Mart: Sam's choice cola -- now on sale! > ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 08 Sep 2001 13:02:58 +1100 From: "james walker" Subject: IN> Re:Successors: War, Part 1 > From: "Adam Ensinger" > Subject: IN> Re: Successors: War, Part 1 > You were kidding about the poor witing style, right? I don't know about > anyone else, but I thought this was Good Stuff. Definitely looking forward > to seeing how it all pans out. > Cameron: keep twisting her arm and make he post the rest of this :) What he said. :-) James. ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 08 Sep 2001 13:20:39 +1100 From: "james walker" Subject: IN> Re: Peter > From: "Jo Hart" > Subject: Re: IN> Re: Peter > >>He saw the Jews persecute and martyr the followers of Jesus > > > When was this, precisely? I think you'll find it was the romans who did the > persecution and martyring. Try Acts, chapters 6,7,12,14,22-26. Also, bear in mind that the Talmud states that Jesus was note crucified by the Romans, but instead stoned as a Sorcerer by the Jews. (well, I guess they had to explain the miracles somehow). James. ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 08 Sep 2001 13:14:42 +1100 From: "james walker" Subject: IN> Re: Successors [Inheritance] > "She never said. She was, of > course, a perennial." :-o That says it all, really! James. ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 7 Sep 2001 19:58:45 -0700 From: Charles E Smith Subject: Re: IN> IN [Successors] Serendipity, Mercurian Archangel of Light-part 2 Egads, these are powerful Attunements. Then again, it's a powerful Word.<<< Really? You think the attunements are powerful? I thought they were rather basic for the Word of Light. I just ran out of gas near the end, I'm afraid. :/ ________________________________________________________________ GET INTERNET ACCESS FROM JUNO! Juno offers FREE or PREMIUM Internet access for less! Join Juno today! For your FREE software, visit: http://dl.www.juno.com/get/tagj. ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 7 Sep 2001 20:27:08 -0700 From: Charles E Smith Subject: Re: IN>Seraphim, Flowers, and Politics A Seraph in politics. Hmm. Opponent: "During my first year in office I'll arrange to end the taxes on beer!" Seraph: "You lying scoundrel!" Opponent:"Just what gives you the right to call me a liar?" Seraph:"Umm...Err..."<<< Hehehe. Onariel is a very polite Most Holy. She'd probably just look at her Senator and say "He's lying, sir. Please don't ask me how, I just know these things." All followed by a polite bow. >>>Enough to make her life Hell, not enough to make her actions fruitless. Remember to touch base with Destiny, Trade & The Sword; Children, Judgement, Lightning & War are likely to look you up. Also think about what to do when Freedom comes calling.* Have fun, and try not to Fall! (Don't forget that you can lose dissonance by uncovering a very great lie, and revealing the truth. APG p26. Get yourself assigned to committee work; politicians are actually lied to more than they lie themselves, and ending that will earn you many brownie points with your mortal colleagues).<<< Oh, this should be fun. Remember, she's a Novalan. She thinks that all the agents of Hell can be redeemed if you only try hard enough (she's only met one penitent Djinn of Nightmares in her time, and he begged to be Redeemed, so she has no idea what an actual demon is like). But why would Lightning be interested in politics? Isn't Jean's sphere science and technology? >>>Note also that the Game and Judgement aren't the only Words involved here. Environmental lobbying is Novalis and Jordi all the way. Marc, Mammon and Lilith have their hands in anything involving economics. Fleurity's people are always on hand to combat (or promote!) anti-drug legislation. Need I mention that Michael and Baal closely monitor military spending?<<< Ahhh...fun indeed! Onariel is trying to reduce military conflicts through more peacekeeping and negoitation (she's already counseled the Senator she works for to nix a bill that would increase funding and support to the military). She's also trying to counsel for more strict controls of the Media and uphold Novalis's enviromental interests...and she still has to complete her other angelic mission too. :P ________________________________________________________________ GET INTERNET ACCESS FROM JUNO! Juno offers FREE or PREMIUM Internet access for less! Join Juno today! For your FREE software, visit: http://dl.www.juno.com/get/tagj. ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 7 Sep 2001 20:30:30 -0700 From: Charles E Smith Subject: IN> Successors: War, Part 2 - The Healing Lovely so far Amanda! Keep up the good work. I'd love to see more of this. :) ________________________________________________________________ GET INTERNET ACCESS FROM JUNO! Juno offers FREE or PREMIUM Internet access for less! Join Juno today! For your FREE software, visit: http://dl.www.juno.com/get/tagj. ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 7 Sep 2001 23:55:38 -0400 From: Whistling in the Dark Subject: Re: IN> Re: Peter At 1:20 PM +1100 9/8/01, james walker wrote: > >Also, bear in mind that the Talmud states that Jesus was note crucified by >the Romans, but instead stoned as a Sorcerer by the Jews. (well, I guess >they had to explain the miracles somehow). Whaaaaaat? Are you equating Jesus with Balaam? Or Ben Stada? I can't see either of them working in this context. - -- Eric Alfred Burns - Impudite of Secrets -- or Mercurian of Revelation (candidate for the Word of Obscurity) ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 08 Sep 2001 14:51:19 +1100 From: "james walker" Subject: IN> The Ethereal Space Program How much does humanity want to get into space? Really? For many people, quite a bit. Which is why, when a alien space ship turned up, promising assistance to NASA, the pilots' demands for secrecy were respected. The Space Ship is one of the Benevolent Space Brothers (LSp86); it's pilot a Grey (LSp89). They turned up to a space shuttle, bringing a couple of essential items; in return they swore the crew to secrecy and demanded that the crew introduce them to their bosses on earth - bosses who were high enough up to be movers and shakers without being in the Media spotlight. Introduced to a select group of NASA scientists and bureaucrats, they told them that helping humanity is forbidden by their races' laws, but they will break that law in little ways; taking essential items up to shuttles/space stations, repairing broken satellites, that sort of thing - anything that other aliens will not be able to detect, and which will assist humanity to conquer space using their own technology. In return they need fuel to travel to their home star system and back, so that they will not be missed. As the hip travels by what humans call 'psychic abilities', this must be drawn from willing humans. NASA was a little bit suspicious that the aliens fitted so neatly into sci-fi cliches, but they went along with it, assuming that the aliens had been spying on earth's radio output and had latched onto this as a reason that humans would understand. It doesn't cost a lot; the aliens draw what they need from a group of volunteers, and help solve minor but expensive problems - like a probe failing due to a loose wire. It's quite a feat for the ethereals; although they can head to a satellite or probe by returning to the Marches and then reforming their Vessels in space, it's not easy. However, the essence makes it worth while. And, of course, if Heaven or Hell turn up they can flee, leaving a large part of the scientific community convinced of the existence of aliens - to the benefit of both Ethereals' groups. James. ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 08 Sep 2001 15:15:20 +1100 From: "james walker" Subject: IN> A forensic Necromancer and his Mentor An idea that has been kicking around in my head for months, that I've finally got around to writing up. This is my last venture into the world of zombis - I promise! - at least for a little while. :-) DR ALEX MEISTER, also known as LORD DARK Zombi and 'retired' Necromancer. Corporeal Forces: 3 Strength : 10 Agility: 6 Ethereal Forces : 3 intelligence : 8 Precision: 6* *Increased with character points) Vessel: Human/3 (elderly male academic) Skills: Artistry(Lecturing/2, Writing/4), Chemistry/6, Command/1*, Enchantment/5*, Exorcism/1*, Fast-talk/Mastery, Fighting/1, Focus/3*, Knowledge(Academia/3, Demons/1, Research/4, teaching/2), Medicine/6, Necromancy/6*, Savoir-Faire/3. *these skills are now unusable due to his lack of celestial Forces. Songs: Numinous Corpus - Claws/3, Plates/1, Spines/1, Wings/1. Attunement: Sorcery (Now inactive due to lack of CelForces). Disadvantages: Greed/3, Need(Brains*)/3, Obsession(Power)/6. *Alex has been able to refine this down to specific chemicals found only in the brain. However they cannot be reproduced artificially - yet. Rituals: Create Mummy, Create Zombi, Undeath's Door, Exorcise Undead, Sacrifice for Essence, Sorcerous Initiation, Store Essence, Suggest, Symphonic Awakening. OLIVER MEDRIN, Forensic Doctor & Necromancer Corporeal Forces: 1 Strength: 2 Agility: 2 Ethereal Forces: 3 Intelligence: 9* Precision: 6 Celestial Forces: 2 Will: 4* Perception: 7 *Have been increased with character points. Charisma +1, additional +2 for Police & Academics. Skills: Artistry (Writing)/3, Chemistry/4, Computer Operation/1, Electronics/2, Emote/1, Enchantment/1, Engineering/1, Exorcism/1, Fast-Talk/2, Knowledge(Court Procedures/2,Police Procedures/2, Research/3*, Teaching/4), Medicine/6*, Necromancy/6*, Ranged Weapon (pistol/1), Savoir-Faire/1. *Specialisation: Forensic Songs: Numinous Corpus: Plates/1, Spines/1, Wings/1. Necromantic Rituals: Create Zombi; Mummify(Reversed only); Undeath's Door, Exorcise Undead. Sorcery Attunement. Artifact: Talisman(Necromancy)/6 - a 'loan' from Alex. Disadvantage: Selfless/2. Servant: Zombi (Dr Alex Meister/Lord Dark). Alex & Oliver were two of the finest forensic experts in the world; Oliver preferring to practice his skills in the field while Alex was a researcher. They knew each other well, collaborating on several papers. Alex's disappearance came as a shock to Oliver, and suspecting foul play he ensured that the police followed up every lead. Alex returned a year later. He had been mortally wounded by criminals, he said; the only reason he still lived was that he had discovered a way to cheat death. He promised to show Oliver how to revive a corpse, and suggested that working together they might truly find immortality. Alex was as good as his word. Once Oliver knew how to create a zombi countless criminal cases were solved, as murder victims described their own murders. Exploring the intricacies of Necromancy they developed the Undeath's Door Ritual, and used it to save many lives. Murders which had been solved, but could not be proved in court, were resolved by sending an armed zombi to kill the murderer before committing 'suicide'. They have even been able to conceal the deaths of a number of police officers by claiming that the officers had been returned from the brink of death, but had suffered brain damage (reducing their mental capabilities) and the death of cells in the body's extremities (hence the death like image of the zombi). These zombi cops have been retired medically unfit, but must visit the pair daily for their 'medication' - their Needs, processed to make the carrion look like pills. The pair are curious as to how to reveal their knowledge to the world. They have different motivations; Oliver wants to be able to share these abilities for everyone's benefit. They have sent a trickle of tantalising snippets of medical information to the medical journals, and Oliver has used the Undeath's Door ritual to revive patients in front of the doctors who had declared the patient to be dead. Alex has a different motivation. While researching old medical texts, he had uncovered the basics of Necromancy. Calling himself Lord Dark, with an army of loyal zombis, he had great plans - which were smashed when the Samingans turned up, killed him and took control of his zombis. They also zombified him, not guessing that his Obsession would cause him to leave. This pair can come to the attention of a group of PC's very easily. The rapid decrease in crime they have caused is attracting attention - if the PC's have killed a human, Oliver may zombify their victim and find out what happened. The Samingans are looking for 'Lord Dark', suspecting that he somehow survived and passed himself off as a zombi to escape. Finally, the stir being caused in the medical community has come to the attention of Jean. Stopping the pair will be difficult. They have the support of half a dozen zombi coppers, several other human zombis and a number of zombi birds. More importantly, they have the backing of the police force and a public reputation. Finally, Oliver can reverse the rituals creating zombis and vampires with an action, preventing Servitors of death from overwhelming him with cannon fodder. New Necromancy Ritual: Undeath's Door This ritual allows the necromancer to exploit a patient's potential as a zombi to help save their life; this is done by restoring functions using zombification. instead of using the Medicine skill on a mortal who has negative body hits, the Necromancer may make a Medicine+Necromancy roll; if successful, in addition to the benefits of the Medicine skill the patient regains body hits equal to the CD. If these additional body hits(only) are sufficient to bring the patient back to (Minus Strength) body hits or better, than the ritual restores the patient to life. (Assume that the patient has lost a body hit every round since being 'killed', if this is important). Using this ritual does not cost any essence, although the patient will lose CD essence (or all of their essence, if they have less). Also, this ritual lowers the TN of any future Necromancy rituals on this body by 2 for (6-patients' Corporeal Forces) months. The effects of Interventions for this ritual are known. A Divine Intervention will heal the patient to zero hits without side effect. An Infernal intervention will permanently zombify the damaged organs; the patient will lose 3 hits of blood a day as the zombified parts of his body devour them; if this kills him he will rise as a zombi. James. ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 08 Sep 2001 06:18:01 +0000 From: "Jo Hart" Subject: Re: IN> Re: Peter >From: "james walker" >Reply-To: in_nomine-l@lists.io.com >To: in_nomine-l@lists.io.com >Subject: IN> Re: Peter >Date: Sat, 08 Sep 2001 13:20:39 +1100 > > > > From: "Jo Hart" > > Subject: Re: IN> Re: Peter > > > >>He saw the Jews persecute and martyr the followers of Jesus > > > > > > When was this, precisely? I think you'll find it was the romans who did >the > > persecution and martyring. >Try Acts, chapters 6,7,12,14,22-26. Sorry, I don't hold the New Testament as a gospel source of accurate history. Writers there are likely to be biased. Bear in mind that most of the early Christians were Jews, so naturally they wanted to distance themselves as far as possible from other sects when attracting new members. > >Also, bear in mind that the Talmud states that Jesus was note crucified by >the Romans, but instead stoned as a Sorcerer by the Jews. (well, I guess >they had to explain the miracles somehow). > > It doesn't, you know. jo _________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp ------------------------------ Date: 08 Sep 2001 09:15:41 +0100 From: "Richard C Hanton-Rutherford" Subject: IN> re: Lord Dark This is great. Has someone been reading/watchng Re-animator recently, or what? Richie H-R - -- ------------------------------ Date: 08 Sep 2001 09:32:37 +0100 From: "Richard C Hanton-Rutherford" Subject: IN> Re: Peter Jo - you say that the New Testament is biased, because it needs to attract Gentiles. Good point. Indeed, I personally believe that the emphasis on Jews being responsible for Jesus' death is a way of integrating Romans after Constantines conversion. "But we can't let Romans in, they killed Jesus!", "No, it was the dirty Jews. The Romans can help us more than the Jews, so shut up and read this Gospel". However, why did an essentially Jewish sect need to go to such lengths to atract Gentiles? Because they'd been kicked out of the synagogue, persecuted and disowned for their heretical beliefs. It keeps coming back to this, I'm afraid. And no, I don't believe Jesus was stoned by Jews, but there are enough accounts to suggest that plenty of Christians were. And before you say that these acconts are biased, it makes perfect sense that the Jews woud do this - Judaism maintains a very strict monotheism, where God is utterly beyond man's ability to percieve (just look at all the "appearance of God causes mass fear" stuff in Exodus). For this little sect to claim that their dead leader was actually God, and that God is in 3 distinct parts, was certainly her etical. And Jews did deal with Heresy by stoning, I'm afraid. This discussion is getting a little off-topic, so I hope we can reach an agreement soon. Richie H-R - -- ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 6 Sep 2001 12:27:05 -0400 From: damienw@juno.com Subject: Re: IN> IN/WOD heresy On Fri, 07 Sep 2001 13:15:56 +0100 Omentide writes: > >I personally don't think Mages are overpowered within the WoD > context, as > >Paradox does a really good job of keeping them in check. > > I wish it would. In my experience the only thing that keeps them in > check is when the Technocracy gets involved and they all run. Well, far be it from me to say that you're running Mage *wrong*, but in my games Paradox is the Rolled-Up Newspaper of Justice. (The Technocracy being a smaller threat, and mainly what happens when you do too many Paradox-causing things. It shows up on all kinds of magical sensors, after all.) I try to enforce paradigms strongly as well - just because the book says you can do thus-and-so at Matter 3 doesn't mean that it would be in-character (or even considered possible) by your character, after all. I also keep a strong "you can't use magic to fix problems caused by magic" trend - hardly a new idea, but I specifically stole it from Unknown Armies. (the magic of which also tends to inform my ideals of Mage.) Then there's the additional angle that sometimes having all the power of the world doesn't help you - see Pratchett's _Thief of Time_ for that, and always remember Rule One. Anyway, one idea I've heard for such a crossover (which is more of a "fit mages into IN" idea than a true crossover, granted) is that awakened humans are the symbolic children of the Grigori, descended from the actual ones; their powers derive from manipulating the Symphony much like a Celestial, but mostly in a more subtle fashion - like the Grail in Liber Reliquarium(sp), coincidental 'magick' emphasizes certain portions of the Symphony. Vulgar magic is more like Songs in that it it forces themes into existence. This leads to the logical conclusion that with such assumptions, Disturbance should act like Paradox. This would certainly make celestials a bit more careful when they sing, although I'd rule that because they're *supposed* to sing the damaging aspect of Disturbance/Paradox should be lessened for them, and removed altogether on the celestial planes. - --- damienw[et]juno.com "To kill a man between panels is to condemn him to a thousand deaths." - Scott McCloud ________________________________________________________________ GET INTERNET ACCESS FROM JUNO! Juno offers FREE or PREMIUM Internet access for less! Join Juno today! For your FREE software, visit: http://dl.www.juno.com/get/tagj. ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 8 Sep 2001 10:20:06 -0400 From: Whistling in the Dark Subject: Re: IN> Re: Peter At 9:32 AM +0100 9/8/01, Richard C Hanton-Rutherford wrote: >However, why did an essentially Jewish sect need to go to such >lengths to atract Gentiles? Because they'd been kicked out of the >synagogue, persecuted and disowned for their heretical beliefs. It >keeps coming back to this, I'm afraid. And no, I don't believe >Jesus was stoned by Jews, but there are enough accounts to suggest >that plenty of Christians were. Forgive me, but what does this *possibly* have to do with anything? This isn't "slightly off topic," it's a positive *veer.* - -- Eric Alfred Burns - Impudite of Secrets -- or Mercurian of Revelation (candidate for the Word of Obscurity) ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 08 Sep 2001 19:16:39 -0400 From: Amanda Kilgore Subject: IN> Successors: War, Part 3 - The Casualties Those of you in "my" World Weavers group are going to recognize a few names here. Yeah, I'm being vain. Blame my inner Habbalite. :-) *** Michael drew a deep breath, released it slowly, then nodded once. He looked to Novalis. "Will you take me to them?" She gave him a sad smile, and gently guided him out. On the way, he assumed his true form, the mighty First Seraph. One pair of eyes locked ahead, concentrating on the path and ignoring the pain of motion. Another pair was introspective, trying to fathom how this atrocity had happened. The last was downcast, realizing that no matter how it had started, the Truth was that it -had- happened. He stoically ignored the looks, the whispers that were silenced as they passed. Novalis took him to the Groves first. The Malakim guarding the core, guarding the Hearts, stepped aside for Michael, if somewhat slower than normal. Doxas met them there, led them to the victims of Michael's rampage. The angels were wrapped around their hearts like terrified children with a favorite stuffed toy. Each had a Mercurian with them, offering comfort in whatever form was needed. When Michael approached, they saw him. The traumatized ones cowered back, some whimpering, some trying to shelter behind their helpers. The fear was obvious in their otherwise vague eyes. Novalis and Doxas drew him out of the core, assuring him that his healers were doing everything they could to help his angels. They walked to the bodies next, laid to final rest in another area of the Groves, attended by Saints as well as angels. Michael paused at each, touching their faces, murmuring long prayers of apology in the Angelic tongue. "The severely wounded are recovering in my Gardens," Novalis said. The servants of Flowers paused in their work to look at their Archangel and her guest, although their looks were more of sorrow than fear. Novalis took Michael deep into her Gardens, to where the most severely wounded of the battles had been taken, to Heaven's best healers. By the time they reached the last forest-room, all of Michael's eyes were moist. This, Novalis explained, was where the last three Masters lay; the last three who had tried to save him. Ahrionel, Cherub Angel of Recruiting, was sprawled on the ground in his celestial winged-bear form. When he noticed Michael, he tried to fold his wings and stand, to give a proper greeting. Michael waved him down. "As you were, it's alright." As he had with the other wounded, Michael looked at the wounds, the pink stripe across the bear's chest. While it was healing well, it was clear that the angel was still in pain. A flash came to his memory, a single scene from attacking this one. Ahrie looked at Novalis, then at his own Archangel. "Michael, you are... well?" "Not well, as such, but the madness is gone. Ahrionel, I know I cannot say enough, but I am truly, deeply, sorry for what happened." "You are free from the darkness now. Our goal was met, our battle ultimately won. There is more work to be done. We will continue." Despite his words, the bear's eyes kept drifting to the low cot next to him. Michael's eyes followed the gaze, saw the Seraph who had stabbed him. The wound in his side felt a faint twinge of pain as he remembered another scene. "Ainel," he murmured. "She..." Ahrionel had to search for the right words, the bear's face twisted with grief. "The healing isn't working well, they say because she doesn't have enough Forces to overcome the power of your rage. They... they've put a collar on her, to keep her in the vessel. They say if she takes her true form now, the damage to her leg would damage the Seraph's spine." Michael knew how long the two had been working together, knew how deeply Ahrionel loved her. "If it was my rage that did this to her, then I should be able to heal her," he said. Novalis nodded silently, and Michael folded his serpentine body onto the ground, wrapped his wings around his servitor. A gentle light peeked through the feathers of his wings, the Symphony sang out. The bruising of her jaw faded, returned to its normal shape. Hidden under the blanket, severed bone and muscle knit together once more. Michael withdrew his wings, and Ainel sighed, shifted, and went into a relaxed, comfortable sleep. Ahrionel wept openly. "Eternal thanks, Archangel." "I only wish I could do more," he answered sadly. "Novalis, that collar?" "When she is strong enough to wake, she will be able to remove it herself. For now, it will be more comfortable for her this way." A Malakite limped in, leaning on an Ofanite, both in their true forms. "Lanus, they did it, they healed her!" the Ofanite sounded off. "They... Michael." Both paused, the Malakite starting to attempt a bow. Again, Michael waved it off. "That isn't necessary. Should have know you two were here if..." a last flash of memory struck him, and he drew a deep breath. "You were there as well. What... what did I do to you?" With Raniel's help, the Malakite turned his back, showing Michael what was wrong, showing the stump where a wing had been sliced off. Michael paled. "Lanus, I... I beg your forgiveness." "There is no need, Archangel," Lanus answered, turning to face his master. "It was necessary." "At least let me heal it back?" "No. You are my master, and there is nothing to forgive, but let it heal on its own. Let it remind those who may need to remember." "Including me." Lanus backed away a step. "That was not intended, Archangel." "No, but True nonetheless. If that is truly your wish, I will grant it, but at any time you want I will restore it." "If it becomes necessary." ------------------------------ End of in_nomine-digest V1 #2364 ********************************