in_nomine-digest Monday, September 10 2001 Volume 01 : Number 2367 In this digest: IN> When I grow up...Part I IN> When I grow up.....Part II IN> Successors: War, Part 4 - The Trial Re: IN> The Sandman Re: IN> Successors: War, Part 2 - The Healing Re: IN> [Successors] Inheritance Re: IN> Martyrdom Re: IN> Successors: Peace Re: IN> The Ethereal Space Program Re: IN> Successors: War, Part 3 - The Casualties Re: IN> He who is like God Re: IN> [Successors] And The Bands Played On: A Post Armageddon Campaign Setting Re: IN> Successors: War, Part 3 - The Casualties Re: IN> Angelic Nirvana Re: IN> The Shipley Heresy RE: IN> Angelic Nirvana Re: IN> [Successors] And The Bands Played On: A Post Armageddon Campaign Setting Re: IN> When I grow up...Part I Re: IN> Successors: Peace Re: IN> [Successors] And The Bands Played On: A Post Armageddon Campaign Setting IN> (Successor) Sandalphon, Archangel of the Presence IN> RE: Peter IN> rapid explanation FW: Re: IN> [Successors] And The Bands Played On: A Post Armageddon Campaign Setting Re: IN> Successors: War, Part 4 - The Trial The Prince of Flowers (was Re: IN> Successors: Peace) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Tue, 11 Sep 2001 00:20:52 +1100 From: "james walker" Subject: IN> When I grow up...Part I Relievers & Demonlings don't pick the choir/band they intend to fledge as at random. I've been mulling over what influences their choices; here's the first option: When I grow up, I want to be a Calabite: A Calabite might insist that his band was inevitable, given how wild and unruly he is. And that's almost true - but not quite. The big, in your face difference between Calabim and every other band is Discord. Very few demonlings will have accepted Discord to become Calabim - most will already have it and become Calabim to hide their previous failings. (Perhaps that's why Kronos doesn't want his Calabim having Discord - - why slow down a Demonling who is drawing nearer their Fate?) Now, how'd he get it? He didn't have a resonance to backfire. Ask any Calabite, and he'll tell you that he was a familiar, like Haagenti, yeah, to a really obnoxious Sorcerer who thought he could push an Infernal around, and well, you know how weak humans are... This'll be true for one in a thousand Calabim; the others latch on to the story. After all, he's both a rebel (for disobeying his master) and one of us (it was only a human - not a REAL boss). Also, it's more believable than disobeying a demonic boss - the demonling survived the disobedience. What really happened to most of them? Celestial combat. Demonlings fight all the time; some of them lose Forces - if that's the only Force in a realm, they get Discord on top of their other woes (and this is likely when you're only 3 or 4 Forces strong). The stereotypical mindless brute got that way because his only Ethereal Force was torn away, and he couldn't - and daren't - - replace it. The permanently scarred demonling isn't only coping with Discord. Becoming a Calabite is a decision to be tough, to make sure that no one can ever hurt him again. Of course, this decision is going to get him into more fights - but no one said that Hell was easy. The typical Calabite on the street is dumb because demons need multiple Corporeal Forces to function on earth - in Hell, a different stereotype will exist, the canny Calabite warped by Corporeal Discord, with only one or two Corporeal Forces. Of course, a demonling who picks up a Vulnerability needs a different band! A rare Calabite will have lost both his Corporeal & Celestial Forces - if rebuilt by their Prince, these demons will be used as guards for vitality important sites in Hell - and on the understanding that if anything goes wrong, the Calabite will be broken down for parts. It's worth noting that since the demonling couldn't gain Forces in one realm, to fledge he needed a Demon Prince's help. Among 7 Force demons, being a Calabite will have a certain status because everyone knows that you know your Superior personally - maybe not well, but even so...at higher levels this advantage will disappear, something that may irk many Calabim who'd assumed that the respect was due to their destructive capabilities. A special sub-class of Calabite is the Calabite of Nightmares. Instead of gaining his discord in Celestial combat, he probably gained it in Ethereal combat, possibly even against angels. Since Beleth enjoys the terror of her subordinates, it would be drummed into new Calabim that they've failed their Dread Mistress once - next time, well, isn't interesting that the Calabite of Nightmares attunement is the only unrestricted band attunement of Nightmares? That if a Dream Soldier earns a band attunement, it'll have to be granted with a Calabite's Force? Given that their resonance can do Celestial damage in either The Marches or Hell, when Beleth decides to break a Calabite down for OathTaking Forces she probably does this with a sort of 'firing squad' - Calabim of Nightmares resonate one of their fellows to death, joke together about how pathetic he was, and then leave, wondering if they'll be next; wonder if the Dream Soldiers they monitor have been sworn in with an old friend's Forces. This fear of failure will inspire these Calabim to take foolish risks; after all, they're the one band that is supposed to get Discord, so what does it matter if they get brained occasionally? So long as they have good news to report to Beleth! And, of course, Bound makes it harder for them to get dissonance, while Fears may make Beleth fonder of them - especially if it's a fear of her! James. ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 11 Sep 2001 00:49:00 +1100 From: "james walker" Subject: IN> When I grow up.....Part II When I grow up, I want to be a Seraph! When flipping through the choirs, choosing what you want to play, remember that a reliever who choose to become a Seraph probably wasn't thinking about his resonance/Dissonance conditions. After all, you can't lie in Heaven; Seraphim cannot get dissonance for doing so nor can they catch others out.* And this suits the Seraphim fine. Seraphim love Heaven, and when they travel to earth, it's to make earth a little more like Heaven. But that's not something they can really explain - it's too personal, needs to be experienced. So why do relievers choose to become Seraphim? Although they can see Ofanim streaking across the sky, or hear what the Malakim, Mercurians & Elohim learn, they never see a Seraph in action. Well, there are two special reasons: Firstly, the Seraphim are the most Divine choir. Looking up from the Lower Heavens, a reliever can see Jacob's Ladder stretching into the sky. What's up there? Unknown. Who's up there? God himself. To a devout reliever, becoming a little closer to God is sufficient reason to choose to be a Seraph, to belong to the same choir as Michael, 'he who is like God'. (The fact that Michael brained Lucifer wouldn't hurt either)! One possible reason for Seraphim being impatient with humans is their knowledge of what humans are risking by not accepting their Destiny - the personal knowledge of God with the Seraph longs for. Secondly, Seraphim in Heaven are superb Song masters. Gaining a bonus to the CD equal to their CelForces means that the greatest effects will always by by Seraphim. {Of course, the Songs which are useful in heaven aren't always the same as on earth; CelSleep and Trisagion would be the two most useful in Heaven; one of the few to be useful in both realms is Projection}. So any reliever who loves performing Songs is going to be interested in the Most Holy, as is any inspired by the beauty of the performances. Despite the status attached to being a Seraph, the pursuit of power is unlikely to be a motivation to join the choir. Firstly, most Relievers aren't motivated by such concerns. Secondly, 'power' to the little ones is more likely to be understood as the blazing might of a Malakite or Ofanite. Purer motives would prevail in the decision to become a trisagionist. *Of course, there'll be Seraphim muttering in Yves' library, and writing literary criticism on the books written elsewhere in the Symphony. James. ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 10 Sep 2001 12:57:16 -0400 From: Amanda Kilgore Subject: IN> Successors: War, Part 4 - The Trial OK, hot off the fingertips. Look for the last part and the writeup of the successor either tonight or tomorrow. *** Michael was escorted back to the Council chambers, and told to rest. He did not comment on not being permitted back into the Groves to his own tent, and his escort did not comment on his withdrawn manner. If the guards at the door heard the sounds of the Archangel weeping some time later, they did not acknowledge it. Some hours later, a knock sounded on the door, although it opened without waiting for an acknowledgment. Dominic stepped in, cloak rustling behind him. "The Council is meeting, your presence is required." Michael sighed. "So you can decide what is to be done to me?" "That is the primary reason, yes." The two Seraphim made their way to the central chamber, Michael straightening up on the way. He was not defeated, not yet. On the way, they passed a pair of Elohim apparently arguing. "It is logical, if we work together to finish this project, we can do it. Alone, neither of us could," said the first. "This is true, however, I do not feel that I can turn you loose in that lab yet. Now come along, we have a meeting to attend." The second nodded to the Seraphim as they passed. "Michael." "Jean," he answered, keeping up with Dominic. His senses itched for his axe, but he knew better than to come armed into the Council chambers after what he had done. He still wanted it, regardless of the consequences. Perhaps, he thought, that is part of the problem. The chamber was packed quite full, although Michael's eyes were drawn to the empty spaces usually occupied by Gabriel and Soldekai, Litheroy, Marc, and Jordi. He settled in next to Doxas, leaned over to her. "Where are Soldekai and Jordi?" he murmured. "Soldekai is grieving, Jordi has gone to Earth to try to save what's left." Michael was puzzled. "What's left?" "When Gabriel and Belial fought, they did it on Earth. It set off all of the active volcanoes there, and some thought dormant. A significant amount was destroyed, the rest in danger from the aftereffects. You'll notice how distracted Novalis is, she's divided herself and is attending to Earth as well. They had to nearly drag Eli back here for this gathering." Michael heaved a deep sigh. "I suppose asking why they're bothering with this while the battles still exist is pointless?" "We have. Repeatedly. The majority assure that everything is in hand." "And why are you here, instead of out fighting?" Doxas cracked a smile at him. "Because you need allies right now, the battles can wait." Dominic took his place at the central podium, his since he had called the gathering. His gaze silenced the many hushed conversations rippling around the chambers. "By now, you all know what happened to Michael and his servitors after the destruction of Baal," he began. "This gathering has been called so that we may decide what action to take to answer for this tragedy." Laurence was the first on his feet to speak. "We may have won the day, but the War continues. My are holding for now, but we cannot press forward without the aid of the angels of War. The Word must continue." David rose as well. "I agree," he said simply. Jean rose after the two Malakim had retaken their seats. "The Word must continue, yes. However, we must consider whom shall hold it. The possibility exists that its current bearer is no longer fit." Michael's breath caught in his throat. He knew the possibility was indeed there. It was one of his greatest fears. The arguments raged back and forth for hours, his supporters against those who wished the Word stripped from him. Dominic offered no opinion, simply presiding over the debate and calming it down when words became to heated. Then they started bringing forward witnesses. Laurence and David, the angels he had wounded. Those who wanted Michael stripped tried to warp the words in their favor. The argument drifted away, to the topic of who would replace him if the Word was stripped. "No," Doxas said emphatically when her name was brought up. "I already have a Word, I will not replace Michael if it comes to that." Someone pointed out that if the Council decided to choose her, she would be unable to refuse. "You only say that because no-one has ever refused a Word before. I will not make the exchange." The chambers erupted in shouts. Doxas calmly sat down. Michael tuned the sounds out, sunk into his own thoughts, analyzing. Matters seemed to be out of his hands, the Council would eventually reach their decision, and he knew he could not sway them with his own arguments for keeping his Word. He was beginning to doubt them himself. He considered several possibilities, let the Symphony tell him which were most likely, which were True. Several items stuck in his mind, pushing him closer to his own decision. He looked across the hall, searching out Yves. That enigmatic being looked the same as ever, a small smile on his lips as he heard things no others could. His eyes were on Michael already. 'The choice is yours,' Yves' voice echoed in his mind, answering a question Michael hadn't realized he was asking. He knew that there was still one chance, something he could do. A final chance for victory. ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 10 Sep 2001 10:23:27 -0700 (PDT) From: Michael Walton Subject: Re: IN> The Sandman - --- Charles Phipps wrote: > Inspiration by a very special Star Trek episode. That wouldn't be "And the Children Shall Lead," by any chance? > The Sandman > Habbalah of Nightmare > Duke of Children's Frights > The Demon of Children's Sleep This guy is eeeee-vil. I think you'd have to add Zadkiel to the list of AA's who want his blood. ===== Michael Walton, #9805-068 The next time someones says "Talk is cheap," remind them of how much Oprah Winfrey makes. __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Get email alerts & NEW webcam video instant messaging with Yahoo! Messenger http://im.yahoo.com ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 10 Sep 2001 10:27:59 -0700 (PDT) From: Michael Walton Subject: Re: IN> Successors: War, Part 2 - The Healing Man oh man this is good. Keep 'em coming, Amanda! ===== Michael Walton, #9805-068 The next time someones says "Talk is cheap," remind them of how much Oprah Winfrey makes. __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Get email alerts & NEW webcam video instant messaging with Yahoo! Messenger http://im.yahoo.com ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 10 Sep 2001 10:31:39 -0700 (PDT) From: Michael Walton Subject: Re: IN> [Successors] Inheritance - --- EDG wrote: > "She never said. She was, of course, a perennial." Hah! Well done, that. ===== Michael Walton, #9805-068 The next time someones says "Talk is cheap," remind them of how much Oprah Winfrey makes. __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Get email alerts & NEW webcam video instant messaging with Yahoo! Messenger http://im.yahoo.com ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 10 Sep 2001 10:33:47 -0700 (PDT) From: Michael Walton Subject: Re: IN> Martyrdom - --- Charles Phipps wrote: > 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. Paul was also a Roman citizen, the son of a Roman soldier and a Turkish woman. ===== Michael Walton, #9805-068 The next time someones says "Talk is cheap," remind them of how much Oprah Winfrey makes. __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Get email alerts & NEW webcam video instant messaging with Yahoo! Messenger http://im.yahoo.com ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 10 Sep 2001 13:36:48 -0400 From: "Jeffery Watkins" Subject: Re: IN> Successors: Peace This was awesome! This is an Archangel I have got to figure out a way to work into the campaign now, before I run Armaggeddon. This will be tricky since I don't intend on killing off Novalis (any ideas..anyone?). Walter, you did an outstanding job in concept, attunements and distinctions. Thank you! Jeffery _________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 10 Sep 2001 10:39:11 -0700 (PDT) From: Michael Walton Subject: Re: IN> The Ethereal Space Program Oooo, I so wish I'd thought of this... ===== Michael Walton, #9805-068 The next time someones says "Talk is cheap," remind them of how much Oprah Winfrey makes. __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Get email alerts & NEW webcam video instant messaging with Yahoo! Messenger http://im.yahoo.com ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 10 Sep 2001 10:46:49 -0700 (PDT) From: Michael Walton Subject: Re: IN> Successors: War, Part 3 - The Casualties Remind me to tie this girl up with spaghetti and give her 50 lashes with a wet noodle for saying she couldn't write. ===== Michael Walton, #9805-068 The next time someones says "Talk is cheap," remind them of how much Oprah Winfrey makes. __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Get email alerts & NEW webcam video instant messaging with Yahoo! Messenger http://im.yahoo.com ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 10 Sep 2001 10:49:03 -0700 (PDT) From: Michael Walton Subject: Re: IN> He who is like God - --- EDG wrote: > In many (I daren't say most, though I remember it to be > true) > interpretations, the name Michael is a -question-. Not > "He who is like God", but "Who is like God?". Which happens to be my favorite translation. Admittedly, I'm somewhat biased on this issue... ===== Michael Walton, #9805-068 The next time someones says "Talk is cheap," remind them of how much Oprah Winfrey makes. __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Get email alerts & NEW webcam video instant messaging with Yahoo! Messenger http://im.yahoo.com ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 10 Sep 2001 10:50:48 -0700 (PDT) From: Michael Walton Subject: Re: IN> [Successors] And The Bands Played On: A Post Armageddon Campaign Setting - --- Maurice Lane wrote: > "Tanj dammit." (Sigh) "Fine. Put it on the pile, > underneath the latest Iron Rev entry and the Dunkirk > Tether." Heh. But you'd have so much more fun writing up the _Dunwich_ Tether. };> ===== Michael Walton, #9805-068 The next time someones says "Talk is cheap," remind them of how much Oprah Winfrey makes. __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Get email alerts & NEW webcam video instant messaging with Yahoo! Messenger http://im.yahoo.com ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 10 Sep 2001 13:55:53 -0400 From: Amanda Kilgore Subject: Re: IN> Successors: War, Part 3 - The Casualties Now now, if you do that you'll make Cameron jealous. :-) Michael Walton wrote: > Remind me to tie this girl up with spaghetti and give her > 50 lashes with a wet noodle for saying she couldn't write. ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 10 Sep 2001 10:57:03 -0700 (PDT) From: Michael Walton Subject: Re: IN> Angelic Nirvana - --- Charles Phipps wrote: > It might be possible that demons have their own version > of this cult which > allows them to "transcend" the state of demonkind to > something entirely new > which does not bear any similarity to the state that God > has "trapped" their > spirits in. Some demons might indeed believe that they > too were omnipotent > or at least have the potential to be but God has stripped > them of this divine strength. The existence of Balseraphim guarentees that such a cult would exist. ===== Michael Walton, #9805-068 The next time someones says "Talk is cheap," remind them of how much Oprah Winfrey makes. __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Get email alerts & NEW webcam video instant messaging with Yahoo! Messenger http://im.yahoo.com ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 10 Sep 2001 11:02:22 -0700 (PDT) From: Michael Walton Subject: Re: IN> The Shipley Heresy - --- EDG wrote: > Shipley > Shedite of Factions > Demon of the Shipley Heresy BWAHAHAHAHA! I _really_ like this. ===== Michael Walton, #9805-068 The next time someones says "Talk is cheap," remind them of how much Oprah Winfrey makes. __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Get email alerts & NEW webcam video instant messaging with Yahoo! Messenger http://im.yahoo.com ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 10 Sep 2001 11:07:18 -0700 (PDT) From: Michael Walton Subject: RE: IN> Angelic Nirvana - --- Julian Mensch wrote: > Many born-again Christians speak of God as a part of > their > life, almost as if He's an invisible buddy that's never > seen but always around. It's not quite like that. In my experience, at least, it's less of a buddy relationship and more of a parent/child relationship (that whole "God the Father" thing, doncha know). But, yes, we born again types do see our link to God as an actual relationship. I can only think that angels -- who have direct experience of Heaven - -- would experience that kind of thing even more strongly. ===== Michael Walton, #9805-068 The next time someones says "Talk is cheap," remind them of how much Oprah Winfrey makes. __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Get email alerts & NEW webcam video instant messaging with Yahoo! Messenger http://im.yahoo.com ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 10 Sep 2001 18:15:06 +0000 From: "Janet Anderson" Subject: Re: IN> [Successors] And The Bands Played On: A Post Armageddon Campaign Setting > Heh. But you'd have so much more fun writing up the >_Dunwich_ Tether. };> > Oo! Tether to Nightmares? Janet * * * * Beware the anger of a patient bard. _________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 10 Sep 2001 11:18:23 -0700 (PDT) From: Michael Walton Subject: Re: IN> When I grow up...Part I Ow, this is good. ===== Michael Walton, #9805-068 The next time someones says "Talk is cheap," remind them of how much Oprah Winfrey makes. __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Get email alerts & NEW webcam video instant messaging with Yahoo! Messenger http://im.yahoo.com ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 10 Sep 2001 11:24:33 -0700 (PDT) From: Michael Walton Subject: Re: IN> Successors: Peace - --- Jeffery Watkins wrote: > Walter, > you did an outstanding job in concept, attunements and > distinctions. Thank you! You're welcome, but the name's Mike. Not that being confused with one of the writers of GURPS IOU is at all insulting... ===== Michael Walton, #9805-068 The next time someones says "Talk is cheap," remind them of how much Oprah Winfrey makes. __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Get email alerts & NEW webcam video instant messaging with Yahoo! Messenger http://im.yahoo.com ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 10 Sep 2001 11:26:12 -0700 (PDT) From: Michael Walton Subject: Re: IN> [Successors] And The Bands Played On: A Post Armageddon Campaign Setting - --- Janet Anderson wrote: > > Heh. But you'd have so much more fun writing up the > >_Dunwich_ Tether. };> > > > > Oo! Tether to Nightmares? Tether to Yog Sothoth, of course. What would his Word be, anyway? Defiling comes to mind... ===== Michael Walton, #9805-068 The next time someones says "Talk is cheap," remind them of how much Oprah Winfrey makes. __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Get email alerts & NEW webcam video instant messaging with Yahoo! Messenger http://im.yahoo.com ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 10 Sep 2001 14:34:37 -0400 From: Whistling in the Dark Subject: IN> (Successor) Sandalphon, Archangel of the Presence When doing a Successor, it seems wise to start with the top.... *** *** *** SANDALPHON The Shekinah Kyriotate Archangel of the Presence In the days before the Fall, before the War in Heaven, before the pain and strife of Angel turning upon Angel, and in so doing turning upon himself, twisting his nature into a pallid mockery of self-love, God stood among his Angels in the form of the Metatron. The Metatron was unseen but heard -- the Voice of God himself -- and in his words could the Lord be heard, and in his presence could the Lord be felt, though the Lord himself remained within the Higher Heavens. In this, a triumvirate of the Lord was represented in Heaven. Yves represented the Lord's compassion and His ideals. In Yves was God's willingness to listen incarnate. Gabriel represented the Divine Fire - -- the messages and inspiration from the Godhead itself. In Gabriel was God's mysterious will incarnate. And in the Metatron was God's Voice -- his ability to speak to his creations, and make his meanings plain, and in so doing make tangible God's omniscient notice on all things. In the Metatron was God's Presence made manifest. Perhaps this is why Lucifer slew the Metatron, as the very start of his Rebellion. Or perhaps he simply wanted to silence the Voice of the Lord, but in so doing deprived Heaven and Earth of the Divine Presence. Some say he stole the very Forces that made up the Metatron, and applied them to himself, making himself stronger and giving him the power to impress Words -- of a sort -- on the Symphony itself. The horrors of Heaven after the Fall were many. Angels were bereft and mourned the loss of their comrades. They mourned the loss of their peace, and the loss of innocence to the whole of the Symphony itself. But perhaps most achingly and acutely, they mourned the loss of their direct link to the Lord -- to the Divine Presence that made their work clear and affirmed all that they did. Yves remained, but in his enigmatic way Yves was best to hear them, not reassure them. Gabriel remained, but in the absence of the clarity of the Lord's Voice, his prophecies seemed to distance an uncomprehending Host from God. In the time since, the absence of the Metatron has weighed heavier and heavier. Indeed, it took the pardon of Michael and the recall of Uriel for there to be any proof that the Lord was even still watching, and in both cases it was a time of true danger for the Host as a whole. There was no sense of the Lord's direct involvement any longer. Without it, the yearning for that involvement grew in the hearts of the Angels. Any number of them spoke of it to Yves, of course. And in his role as counselor and confessor, he gave what comfort he could. Even that grew tainted, as Gabriel came under suspicion and left Heaven, and Yves did not act to restore him -- her - -- to Heaven's good graces. The Lord is not needlessly cruel: this is a tenet of Heaven's, expressed as absolute certainty. If it were not true, than everything the Host strove for was a lie, and the rebels of Hell were in the right all along. And, if the Lord's presence was necessary for the Host to survive in an increasingly secular and morally ambiguous world, the Lord would provide. Of course, no one said that Presence had to take the expected form.... "Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit. Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee." (Psalms 51:10-13, King James Version) It is impossible to say just when the Shekinah came to Heaven. Time in the Heavenly Sphere does not work as mankind reckons, after all. What is known is that upon one day, there was the sound of triumphals throughout all of Heaven, as Gabriel -- who herself was already removed from the Heavenly Host -- did play upon her Horn. However, this was not the Trump and Calling of the Apocalypse, but instead an invocation, heard on Heaven and deep within Hell. And at the moment there was a rumbling throughout all of Heaven, and a shining light could be seen emanating from Jacob's Ladder. However, there was no descent upon the Ladder (for Jacob's Ladder has never seen a being descend, but only rise to the Higher Heavens.) And on the far side of Heaven -- on the very edge of Heaven which has no edge, opposite the bright Volcano of Gabriel -- a huge crystal erupted from the Heavenly Firmament, rising seemingly infinitely high and forming a bright beacon that could be seen throughout Heaven -- from the trees of the Groves where the Wind Servitors lay, to the Savannah of Jordi, and throughout the Heavenly City. The Host mobilized, of course, though they did not arm themselves, for it was clear that this was no attack. They brought themselves to the edge of Heaven, where the Crystal Mount now lay, and from it emanated a Kyriotate -- formless and many of body and image as all Kyriotates are, though seeming to radiate a feminine principle. She rose up, shining with impossible grace as the Host looked upon her and knew her to be Archangel. Size means little in Heaven, as we understand size, and yet this new Archangel was by far the largest of all the Angels, towering over her very Crystal Mount. "We are Sandalphon, the Shekinah," the Kyriotate thrummed through the symphony. "Co-sister to Metatron. We are the Archangel of the Presence." And though Superiors can block the sight of Seraphim and Malakim alike, and all the others as well, the sheer, beautiful, ineffable truth of Sandalphon's words was clear and plain. The Shekinah's honor was clear. In seeing the totality of Sandalphon, the Host knew they were once again in the Presence of the Lord. For a brief moment. In that moment, the Shekinah shimmered, and seemed to divide. Some say the Kyriotate separated into seventy-six separate incarnations in that moment. Others say one hundred and five. It's not possible to say, in the end. There may be more or less, and more may have been divided since. Each was a Kyriotate still, and each was Sandalphon, Archangel of the Presence. But each was as unlike the others in all ways. This one was male aspected, wreathed in blue fire. This one had the aspect of beasts and no clear gender. This one was female, echoing humanity. And so on and so forth. And each Emanation spoke and acted individually, though they were all the Shekinah. Each Emanation was Sandalphon, but each also had a name of its own. Some moved into the streets of the Heavenly City, and others descended to Earth, while others still moved to the Superiors of Heaven, and spoke with them. "Have you come to lead us?" Laurence asked. "Does the Host not have a General?" asked Miton of Sandalphon, wreathed in lightning and steel. "Can one hand hold two swords, and wield them, and hope to win?" "Have you come to win the War?" Michael asked. "Does the Host not have a Champion?" asked Sagmagigrin of Sandalphon, bearing the image of firm, strong arms and clear, bright eyes. "When the field is met, can two stand at the fore?" "Have you come to bring peace to the world?" Novalis asked. "Does the Host not have a Healer?" asked Yahsiyah of Sandalphon, cloaked in the mists of a summer morning, with hints of green grass and broad trees, and bright flowers first opening for the day. "Can two sew a wound at once?" "Have you come to judge the wicked?" Dominic asked. "Does the Host not have a Judge?" asked Eved of Sandalphon, hidden in shadows that sometimes held eyes. "Can two render final judgement upon one man's crimes?" So it went, for each of the Archangels, until it became clear that Sandalphon, in all of her Emanations, was not there to displace the Host, assume their burdens or claim authority, until finally the most minor of Archangels asked the true question they all wondered. "Why *are* you here?" Lithroy asked. Ozah of Sandalphon, who appeared as a smooth metal ball, blue-black, reflecting all around it, drifted close to the Archangel of Revelation. "To be here," it answered, and Litheroy knew it was the Truth... and knew they would learn nothing more of the Archangel of the Presence that day. - -- Eric Alfred Burns - Impudite of Secrets -- or Mercurian of Revelation (candidate for the Word of Obscurity) ------------------------------ Date: 09 Sep 2001 19:01:42 +0100 From: "Richard C Hanton-Rutherford" Subject: IN> RE: Peter >Richard C Hanton-Rutherford wrote: >> Forgive _me_, but it's a response to a direct criticism of my >previous> posting made by Jo Hart. It is entirely relevant to the >comments she> made, and I would appreciate being allowed to >defend my concepts. > >Your previous posting was also off-topic. How about finding some >other >venue to "defend" your concepts about Jews? My previous posting was very on-concept - an answer to a question Michael asked about my Archsaint Peter write-up. I haven't made this into a forum for my views, and apologise that several people seem to have taken offense at what I wrote, As I said, I am an agnostic, and have never intended to attack Judaism - Michael asked a question about my Peter write-up, and I responded. Since then I have been attacked and accused of wasting time, and spouting anti-semitism, neither of which I am guilty of here. I am prepared to leave this matter to lie, though I believe I have been badly treated by several people on this list over what was originally an In Nomine posting, and at which a great deal of unnecessary offense has been taken. If you do not believe me, reread the original Peter posting, and Michael's question. Richard Hanton-Rutherford - -- ------------------------------ Date: 10 Sep 2001 20:49:57 +0100 From: "Richard C Hanton-Rutherford" Subject: IN> rapid explanation My cursed machine (one of those fiddly email phones), for reasons of its own, appears to have resent the controversial Peter email. It is merely a computer cock-up. Richie H-R - -- ------------------------------ Date: 10 Sep 2001 20:54:22 +0100 From: "Richard C Hanton-Rutherford" Subject: FW: Re: IN> [Successors] And The Bands Played On: A Post Armageddon Campaign Setting > >--- Janet Anderson wrote: >> > Heh. But you'd have so much more fun writing up the >> >_Dunwich_ Tether. };> >> > >> >> Oo! Tether to Nightmares? > > Tether to Yog Sothoth, of course. What would his Word >be, anyway? Defiling comes to mind... Yog-Sothoth's word? What else - The Gate. Richie H-R - -- ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 10 Sep 2001 16:49:45 -0400 From: "Jeffery Watkins" Subject: Re: IN> Successors: War, Part 4 - The Trial That was intense. I found I was tensing up myself as I was reading it. That's how engrossing it was, very suspenseful. I am looking forward to the next part. Though because its Successors, part of me isn't, but that's just the part of wanting Michael to win out in the end. I guess you've really succeeded in getting me caught up in the fiction. Jeffery _________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 10 Sep 2001 16:02:15 -0500 From: EDG Subject: The Prince of Flowers (was Re: IN> Successors: Peace) At 01:36 PM 9/10/01 -0400, you wrote: >This was awesome! This is an Archangel I have got to figure out a way to >work into the campaign now, before I run Armaggeddon. This will be tricky >since I don't intend on killing off Novalis (any ideas..anyone?). Of course! Hathias Habbalite Demon Prince of Flowers "The world is a bed of roses; stop and smell them." Hathias is a relatively new Demon Prince; he'd had the dubious honor of being one of Nybbas's unWorded Captains for some time when it occurred to him that one of the best ways of keeping people from achieving their destinies was to simply keep them from doing -anything-. He's adopted a slogan of "Stop and smell the roses", and his modus operandi is to get people to notice the finer things in life - whether it's Chianti and caviar or a faded bouquet left on the sidewalk. Minimalist or extremist, Hathias represents decadence and hedonism. Aside from the obvious upheaval in Hell (four new Demon Princes in the last hundred years is enough to throw anyone off), Hathias has had one side effect that was not only planned but counted on: he's driven Novalis completely off the wall. The organization of Divine Flowers has become chaotic as Novalis attempts to find the cacophony that's made its way into her well-maintained Word, and she's even in the past few months been known to consort with Michael and Laurence. It should be obvious to everyone that now that Hell's pulling stunts like this, Novalis has decided to play hardball. Dissonance - ----------------- Hathias's servitors gain dissonance for encouraging anyone to actually get something productive done. As a result, all of his servitors can detect a to-do list at ten yards. (Note that this dissonance does not accrue for - -getting- something productive done; this allows servitors of Flowers to do their jobs without fear of recrimination.) Band Attunements - --------------------------- Balseraphs: Balseraphs of Flowers gain a +3 to either the target number or the check digit (chosen before the roll is made) of any attempt to convince someone that they can put off plans, or that their objectives have already been met. Djinn: The resonance of a Djinn serving Hathias is a corruptive one; with every day that goes by, the target loses sight of one of their major goals. Calabim: Hathias's Destroyers are given the ability to scramble electronic data, especially personal organizers. With a successful resonance roll, they can effectively erase a number of megabytes of data on a hard drive equal to 10 times the check digit - on a 6 or higher, the entire drive is formatted. They gain +2 to any attempt to do this to a personal organizer. Habbalah: Habbalah of Flowers gain +3 to either the target number or the check digit (chosen before the roll is made) of any attempt to infuse the target with Emptiness. However, if the attempt fails, the Habbalite must accept the "emotion" himself. Lilim: Lilim of Flowers gain an additional quirk to their resonance: instead of making a deal with their target, they may simply fulfill one of his Needs, gaining a number of Essence at the time of fulfillment equal to the level of the Need. Shedim: A Shedite serving Hathias gains a +3 to his Will for the purposes of convincing a host -not- to do something productive. Impudites: Hathias's Impudites are rewarded for using their innate ability to drain the life-force from others: every successful use of the Impudite's resonance acts as a Rite, usable a number of times per day equal to the Impudite's Celestial Forces. Servitor Attunements - ------------------------------ Bed of Roses: A demon using this attunement can affect a target who is doing something relaxing: the target must make a Will roll, at a penalty of the demon's Celestial Forces but a bonus of his own Intelligence, to begin doing something productive. This attunement is active only while the user concentrates on maintaining the effect. Budget Cuts: When this attunement is used, the target makes a Will roll; if the roll is successful, the attunement fails, and cannot target that person for a number of hours equal to the check digit. If the roll fails, however, the target becomes convinced that it's okay to stay home from work, miss appointments, etc. - despite any evidence to the contrary. This effect lasts for a number of days equal to the check digit of the failed Will roll. Distinctions - ----------------- Hathias has no distinctions beyond Knight at this point. Knight of Relaxation: These demons can use the Budget Cuts attunement without needing the Will roll by the target; the effect lasts for a number of days equal to the demon's Celestial Forces. (If the demon wants to try for a longer duration, he may use the attunement normally.) Rites - ------- - - Spend six hours relaxing in a park or an open field. - - Convince someone to take the rest of the day off. - - Spend a day doing nothing productive. (2 Essence) Chance of Invocation: 3 Hathias is a new Prince, and wants to be available to his servitors; at the same time, he does have an image to maintain. Invocation Modifiers - ---------------------------- +1: A racquetball court +2: A flower garden +3: Three people skipping work or school +4: A florist +5: A room full of people working hard +6: A field of wildflowers ------------------------------ End of in_nomine-digest V1 #2367 ********************************