in_nomine-digest Monday, September 10 2001 Volume 01 : Number 2368 In this digest: Re: IN> Successors: Peace Re: The Prince of Flowers (was Re: IN> Successors: Peace) Re: IN> When I grow up...Part I Re: IN> (Successor) Sandalphon, Archangel of the Presence Re: IN> (Successor) Sandalphon, Archangel of the Presence Re: The Prince of Flowers (was Re: IN> Successors: Peace) Re: The Prince of Flowers (was Re: IN> Successors: Peace) Re: IN> (Successor) Sandalphon, Archangel of the Presence Re: IN> [Successors] And the Bands Played On: A Post Armageddon Campaign Setting IN> Successors: To Reign in Hell IN> Fwd: (Successor) Sandalphon, Archangel of the Presence Re: IN> (Successor) Sandalphon, Archangel of the Presence Re: IN> When I grow up...Part I Re: The Prince of Flowers (was Re: IN> Successors: Peace) Re: IN> Successors: To Reign in Hell IN> When I grow up...Part III IN> When I grow up...Part IV Re: IN> In Nomine: Anime? Re: IN> Successors: To Reign in Hell Re: IN> Successors: To Reign in Hell ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Mon, 10 Sep 2001 17:01:53 -0400 From: "Jeffery Watkins" Subject: Re: IN> Successors: Peace > You're welcome, but the name's Mike. Not that being >confused with one of the writers of GURPS IOU is at all insulting... Oops! Sorry, that's what I get for trying to send off a quick note in reaction, instead of a thought out praise of contemplation. Either way, Mike, a wonderful work. Jeffery _________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 10 Sep 2001 17:13:40 EDT From: Galen Silversmith Subject: Re: The Prince of Flowers (was Re: IN> Successors: Peace) > From: EDG > 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.) This seems a little dangerous. Hathias can't tell his servitors to do ANYTHING, at least nothing that meets his goals, as that would be productive and dissonant. I'd say 'mortal' or at least 'human' rather than anyone. This also makes soldiers less than useful, as it is hard to give them instructions. > Rites > ------- > - Spend six hours relaxing in a park or an open field. This seems a little light for a hell-based ritual, but, uh, what the hell. > 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. Image? "Hey, man. Sorry. I flaked." ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 10 Sep 2001 17:17:52 -0400 From: "William J. Keith" Subject: Re: 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: > James. Neat; keep this up. What's below isn't quite the same line of thought, but it's close -- it was intended to portray an 8-Force Reliever who's hesitating a while before topping that next plateau. Since I haven't written a single extra line on it for months, this looks like an opportune post to follow with it. ;^) - ------ Decisions, decisions. Well, one actually. But it's a life-shaping, soul-shaking developmental plateau, and as such deserves considerable thought. So I can take some time to mull this over. Okay, so I have a tendency to go up against newly-fledged demons, 7 or 8 Forces or so, and even occasionally a 9-Forcer new to Earth duty. It's decently fair play, after all -- picking on someone your own size. And after all, it's such *fun* to tell them they just got their butts kicked by a Reliever. Admittedly, it's a bit bloodthirsty. Hey, they're demons, it's what they're due. With this mindset, it's looking like a pair of black-feathered wings is in my future. But most of them are so stuffy. Besides, not all the butt-kickers are Malakim. I mean, look at my boss. Michael is Utter Coolness, he's great in the aforementioned kicking department, and he's a Seraph. And being Most Holy isn't too shabby either. Focus. Focus. This isn't about myself. What do I do best? How can I best serve Heaven? I whoop up on demons, have fun doing it, and then embarass them just a little more. Of course, the last part is only good as long as I'm still a Reliever, so that wouldn't make the cut unless I chose a Choir not generally renowned for its fighting abilities. Cherubim are nice guys generally. They're dead serious when it comes their charges, which is totally right and proper. I could enjoy defending humanity from Hellspawn. Humans are great to be around. Ofanim are a blast, too. I can kind of understand the Judges' point of view on excessive Pride and all, but let's face it, when you can do your job with grace, speed, and a bit of wit among the rapiers, why not? I *do* like to talk. In fact, I'm pretty good at it, when the swords aren't swinging. Not Elohite. I'd never be able to stay calm enough. Once the demons have been routed, it's perfectly fine to relax, sit back, and enjoy the fruits of victory with a cheerful crowd. Nothing I like better than a well-deserved party. There's still the Malakite option. It's decently sensible, if I can gain a deep enough understanding of honor. And really, I do like slaying demons. Still... why are all my friends betting on Mercurian? - ------ William ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 10 Sep 2001 16:20:33 -0500 From: EDG Subject: Re: IN> (Successor) Sandalphon, Archangel of the Presence At 02:34 PM 9/10/01 -0400, you wrote: >When doing a Successor, it seems wise to start with the top.... This is *nice*. I have a feeling I'm missing some references in the middle, but it's still very good. - -EDG ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 10 Sep 2001 17:18:17 -0400 From: "Jeffery Watkins" Subject: Re: IN> (Successor) Sandalphon, Archangel of the Presence Very, very nice. I liked the questioning at the end. Very epic. Jeffery _________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 10 Sep 2001 17:23:50 -0400 From: "Jeffery Watkins" Subject: Re: The Prince of Flowers (was Re: IN> Successors: Peace) Oh, this IS vecious. Thank! Jeffery _________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 10 Sep 2001 16:28:46 -0500 From: EDG Subject: Re: The Prince of Flowers (was Re: IN> Successors: Peace) At 05:13 PM 9/10/01 -0400, you wrote: >This seems a little dangerous. Hathias can't tell his servitors to do >ANYTHING, at least nothing that meets his goals, as that would be >productive and dissonant. I'd say 'mortal' or at least 'human' rather than >anyone. This also makes soldiers less than useful, as it is hard to give >them instructions. True enough, but I can't think of a better one. Help? > > Rites > > ------- > > - Spend six hours relaxing in a park or an open field. > >This seems a little light for a hell-based ritual, but, uh, what the hell. He -is- the Prince of Flowers, and by extension laziness and relaxation. > > 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. > >Image? "Hey, man. Sorry. I flaked." Exactly. - -EDG ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 10 Sep 2001 17:29:25 -0400 From: "William J. Keith" Subject: Re: 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 >Eric Alfred Burns Yah. Beautiful imagery, by the way -- the Shekinah were both individual and recognizably communal. Also nice to see a Heavenly Successor that doesn't involve Novalis biting the dust... even mine is succumbing to that. William ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 10 Sep 2001 17:45:23 -0400 From: "Jeffery Watkins" Subject: Re: IN> [Successors] And the Bands Played On: A Post Armageddon Campaign Setting >Now, for some reason, I see as caricatures: Blandine is the prissy theatre >major (No, no! Do it properly! We slay each other simultaneously, so that >in death we may have that which we never had in life!) and Beleth as the >angst-loving goth chick (Right, yeah, symbolism, joined forever in eternal >agony, because my love for you is the death of me, and death is the finest >of lovers..) I meant to comment on this days ago, but I loved it. LoL *g* Jeffery _________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 10 Sep 2001 14:53:45 -0700 (PDT) From: Michael Walton Subject: IN> Successors: To Reign in Hell Armageddon did not go at all as planned. Their commander had lied to them about everything -- the countermeasures against the Light of Heaven, Hell’s overwhelming numerical advantage and especially the Host’s will to fight. Demons died left and right as the first to realize their mistake either surrendered or hid until the battle was over. A few demons (mainly those who couldn’t hide from their Superiors) bore the brunt of the Heaven’s defense as the Princes cut and ran. Not that it saved them; Archangels took the opportunity to strike down their opposite numbers whenever they could. Saminga’s demon and zombi hordes broke ranks when Novalis buried him under a carpet of greenery, and Baal’s forces routed completely when Michael tore him asunder. The worst moment was when Lucifer himself fell from Heaven like lightning once more, this time never to rise again. All things considered, it was not a good day. Even the rumor that all of the Archangels were dead was cold comfort to the demons as they huddled in Hell waiting for the Malakim to show up and finish the job. They looked at each other with open fear in their eyes, wondering what forms their torments would take. What they got was Kobal. The last survivor of the Demon Princes materialized among the beaten demons with a huge grin on his face. “What a sad lot,” he said, “No victory to celebrate, no Princes to gloat about it -- and worst of all, no smiles! Somebody’s got to cheer you kids up.” The Impudite smiled a wicked predatory smile. “And since Lucy’s not here to blow sunshine up your skirts, we need a new leader. I nominate... KOBAL! Heil me.” Kobal gestured, and a throne of banana peels materialized under him. This display of power alerted the most powerful demons present. They took a closer look and saw remnants of Superior-level Forces spinning within Kobal’s being. The most perceptive of them recognized those Forces as having come from Lucifer and Kronos. The smartest of the demons immediately hailed Kobal as their leader, and the others (who were almost as smart) quickly followed suit. “That’s better,” said the Clown Prince. “Now, I’m going to need some new Princes to whip this place into shape and get the War running again. Who wants the job?” The boldest of the demons, about fifty in number, stepped forward. Kobal blasted them all out of existence. “So much for the ambitious upstarts who’d stab me in the back first chance they got,” he said. “Now, who wants to lick my boots?” The shrewdest of the demons, nearly another fifty, climbed over each other in a mad rush to fall at Kobal’s feet. He let the quickest of them get close enough to start licking his boots, then blasted them all out of existence. “And that takes care of the sycophantic yes-men,” he said. “Now, who’s so mad at Heaven that he can’t wait to go back up there and give God a wedgie?” This time, only a dozen demons stepped forward. Kobal saw the rage in their eyes as looked at him with anger and defiance -- but he could also see that their hatred of Heaven burned even hotter than their hatred of him. “You’ll do,” he said, and started handing out Words. When the ordeal was over -- and ordeal it was, for Kobal never mastered the process of granting Words enough to do it as gently as the Lightbringer could -- nine Princes emerged from the Pit to rule over the shattered remains of Hell. They were full of hate, and their hate made them strong. And their Words were Artifice, Condemnation, Deceit, Desire, Excess, Fear, Taking, Violence and Winter. And Kobal looked upon his works and said, “Now we’re cookin’ with gas!” There’s the setup. Anybody want a crack at any of these, go to it! I’ve got dibs on Winter, though. ===== 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 17:58:48 -0400 From: Elizabeth McCoy Subject: IN> Fwd: (Successor) Sandalphon, Archangel of the Presence >Date: Mon, 10 Sep 2001 13:20:35 -0500 >Subject: BOUNCE in_nomine-l@lists.io.com: Non-member submission from [Whistling in the Dark ] (Repeat after me, all -- POSTERS LIST! O:> _Especially_ if you're one of the honored regulars. ) >Date: Mon, 10 Sep 2001 14:17:10 -0400 >From: Whistling in the Dark >Subject: (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 - - > Systems type - Manager by day - Writer - Online Journaller > ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 10 Sep 2001 15:16:30 -0700 (PDT) From: Michael Walton Subject: Re: IN> (Successor) Sandalphon, Archangel of the Presence Heh... a Successor to Metatron. So obvious I didn't even think to do it. Nice one. ===== 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 15:22:12 -0700 (PDT) From: Michael Walton Subject: Re: IN> When I grow up...Part I Hah! This I like. ===== 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 15:23:57 -0700 (PDT) From: Michael Walton Subject: Re: The Prince of Flowers (was Re: IN> Successors: Peace) - --- EDG wrote: > At 05:13 PM 9/10/01 -0400, you wrote: > > >This seems a little dangerous. Hathias can't tell his > servitors to do > >ANYTHING, at least nothing that meets his goals, as that > would be > >productive and dissonant. I'd say 'mortal' or at least > 'human' rather than > >anyone. This also makes soldiers less than useful, as > it is hard to give > >them instructions. > > True enough, but I can't think of a better one. Help? Easy as pie. Simply define "anything productive" as "anything that would help the subject toward his/her Destiny." ===== 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 18:14:05 -0500 From: EDG Subject: Re: IN> Successors: To Reign in Hell At 02:53 PM 9/10/01 -0700, you wrote: > When the ordeal was over -- and ordeal it was, for Kobal >never mastered the process of granting Words enough to do >it as gently as the Lightbringer could -- nine Princes >emerged from the Pit to rule over the shattered remains of >Hell. They were full of hate, and their hate made them >strong. And their Words were Artifice, Condemnation, >Deceit, Desire, Excess, Fear, Taking, Violence and Winter. How could I resist? He does reflect some of my tendencies, though. - -EDG Jareth Lilim Prince of Artifice Jareth is one of the few Lilim who chooses a male aspect; the fact that this makes him stand out like a sore thumb is just fine with him. It gives him all the more opportunity to showcase his inventions, and when people come knocking at his door to build new devices for them, he knows exactly what it will cost them. Jareth understands modern technology; he just questions the value of some of it. The Prince's favorite inventions are ones that don't require electronics, instead involving coal, steam, or other sources of kinetic energy. He also enjoys using terminology from pulp science-fiction: some days, it seems as though everything is an Engine of some sort. Although Jareth hasn't been a Prince for long, he's already come up with some inventions that have given him the eye of Hell - even one that will ensure that he is remembered even if he manages to perish: the Gate of Hell, replaced after Armageddon, powered not by the Angels of Final Judgment (who were always too kind, in Jareth's opinion) but by the Fate Engine, which dissolves misguided souls back into the Symphony rather than returning them to Heaven. The Gate takes the form of a set of massive wooden doors, always open; the Fate Engine operates through a pair of devices that look and work like infernal Tesla coils, blasting souls into oblivion. More than one entering soul has been frightened into complacency by the very rumor of the abilities of the Fate Engine. Dissonance - ----------------- Servitors of Artifice gain dissonance for giving someone a piece of technology without receiving something in return. (This -does- include Jareth!) Band Attunements - --------------------------- Each Band has an affinity to a certain type of device. (These may overlap.) This affinity gives them a +1 to both the target number and the check digit regarding the creation and operation of devices of that type. Balseraphs: Balseraphs of Artifice have the ability to alter blueprints and schematics permanently; they may make one major change per Essence spent. (This does not count as destroying a device.) However, any attempt to lie about the capabilities of an existing device automatically fails. Balseraphs have an affinity for devices of reproduction (anything from photography to nanites). Djinn: Jareth's Djinn can use their resonance to attune to one device per Celestial Force. Treat these devices as corporeal artifacts with a level equal to the check digit of the resonance roll. Djinn have an affinity for devices of detection (microscopes, satellites, etc.) Calabim: Calabim serving Jareth are given a pair of thin black gloves. These allow them to control their entropic fields to the extent that they can successfully work on technological devices. However, the gloves also prevent the Calabite wearing them from using his resonance while he wears them. (Jareth never creates Calabim; all Destroyers serving Artifice are there by their choice.) Calabim have an affinity for devices of destruction. Habbalah: Punishers serving Artifice can affect a device's "mood" - essentially warping the way the device behaves toward its operator. "Angry" causes the device to harm the operator (with sharp corners, snapping lids, etc.) at every opportunity, "Unhappy" gives the device a reluctance to operate at all, and so forth. Habbalah have an affinity for devices of manipulation. Lilim: Jareth's Lilim are gifted with the ability to create masterworks. Not only do the devices they create command higher prices (in cash or Geases - GM's discretion, but usually at least 150% cost), on a creation roll with a check digit of 6, the device actually becomes a level 1 artifact. Lilim have an affinity for devices of creation. Shedim: Shedim of Artifice can possess a machine instead of a human, but they must possess the entire machine; measure the machine's parts as Forces much like a Kyriotate of Lightning does. If the machine has more major parts than the Shedite has Forces, the possession fails. Shedim have an affinity for devices of communication. Impudites: Takers serving Artifice are operators rather than designers. It takes only a Perception roll (the GM may choose to modify according to the complexity of the device) for an Impudite of Artifice to discover how a machine operates. Impudites have an affinity for devices of interface (such as locks, keyboards, etc.). Servitor Attunements - ------------------------------ Repair By Pugilation: This attunement is activated by repeating the age-old mechanic's mantra: thumping the malfunctioning device and shouting at it. For a number of hours afterward equal to the demon's Celestial Forces, the device will work flawlessly - but when the attunement stops working, the device takes (5 times the demon's Celestial Forces) in body hits Sputter: A demon with this attunement can cause a device that he can see (visual media do not count; the demon must have actual line of sight) to stop working entirely for a number of minutes equal to his Will. Although this does not actually damage the machine, it's often enough to make a quick getaway or to remove a part from a rampaging engine to see what's wrong with it. Distinctions - ----------------- Knight of Technology: Jareth's Knights can tell at a glance not only who made a device, but who its current owner is. Captain of Gears: By looking at a piece of machinery, a Captain of Gears can envision a full schematic or blueprint for that machine in his head, and copy it down with pinpoint accuracy up to (Ethereal Forces) later. Baron of the Touch: Any machine within eyesight of a Baron of Artifice will respond to his mental commands. He may give one machine one command within a single round; this may not be something that the machine could not normally do, but any of the device's standard operations are within the Baron's control. Rites - ------- - - Finish work on a technological device, either creation or repair. Chance of Invocation: 5 Jareth is almost always available to his Servitors. However, as a Lilim, he expects a very, very good reason for being summoned. Invocation Modifiers - ---------------------------- +1 A blueprint or schematic +2 The notebook of Leonardo Da Vinci +3 A device that the demon has just repaired successfully +4 An area filled with working devices (a server room, a busy highway) +5 A device that the demon has just successfully created +6 A device performing a function that no other device performs ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 11 Sep 2001 08:41:46 +1100 From: "james walker" Subject: IN> When I grow up...Part III When I grow up, I want to be a Habbalite: I wrote a bit about this in digest #2287, while talking about religion in Hell, so this'll be short: Habbalah claim to be angels. Balseraphs claim that habbalah are angels. Any demonling who, no matter how slightly, wants to be an angel is going to fledge as a Habbalah. This is something for redemption crews to consider - any non-Habbalite you meet has already refused the chance to become an angel, in his own mind at least. Habbalah actively recruit. Most demons couldn't care less what you become. the Habbalah know that God's work must be done - and you can do it! And the Habbalah resonance is ideal for recruitment. The more intelligent demonlings are going to have questions about the War, God, angels, Heaven and so on. The only demons they can really talk to about this are the Habbalah. Further, habbalah will tend to be the most intelligent demons, as their resonance rewards high ethereal forces, unlike any other. This will make the habbalah a tempting option for the smart. (For anyone with a knowledge of Myer-Briggs, or better yet Jung, consider a Habbalah whose personality is a shadow dominated NT/Rational. Scary, yes? Believable, yes?) James. ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 11 Sep 2001 09:28:01 +1100 From: "james walker" Subject: IN> When I grow up...Part IV When I grow up, I want to be an Impudite: The Takers, and the demonlings from whom they are drawn, are the Infernals who realise the potential of humanity to benefit the demon(ling). Demons tend to despise the hordes of Damned Souls who are driven through the gates of Hell; ignorant 5 Force failures that they are. For a demonling though, the Damned are a source of protection, training and power which can cause the demonling a degree of fondness for humans. Weak as a Damned Soul is, to a 2-4 Force demonling a 5 Force human can be a potential protector. Coming into existence without skills or other resources, a demonling's one advantage is that he speaks Helltongue fluently. As the Damned need to learn Helltongue quickly so they can obey demonic orders, it wouldn't be difficult for a demonling to attach himself to a human to arrange a trade. In addition to protection, most of the Damned will have a wide selection of skills to teach; a small handful will have Songs or Sorcerous rituals. Given that the first skill the demonling is likely to master is a language, they will tend to specialise by language. Continual exposure to humans from a specific region/culture will grant the demonling local skills, such as Area Knowledge; these demonlings will make excellent familiars, getting them out of Hell and continuing their specialisation is human culture. Those who remain in Hell will establish themselves as the front men for gangs of humans; understanding demonic society better than a human ever could, they make the perfect middle men between demons and humans, and can hope to be recruited as foremen/slave drivers by full demons. In both cases the demonling is learning far more social skills than he would otherwise. Unfortunately for him, he's likely to attract the attention of Habbalah recruiters; on the upside a gang of humans has the power to beat up a 7 Force demon, or failing that forcibly drag off the demonling and wait for the Habbalite resonance to wear off. A demonling with a gang of humans is likely to owe his life to them a number of times over, especially as he's the only ally the humans have. Of course, the most useful humans, those with the finest skills, will be too powerful for a demonling to browbeat and too shrewd to trick. The demonling will watch in awe as the humans he most wants to sponge off are charmed and befriended by Impudites. Although Liars, Lilim & Habbalah will all think of themselves as experts on getting what they want from humans, only the Impudites get humans to open themselves up and give freely; only Impudites know that the most useful humans know much better what they have to offer than the demons they're talking to. By the time the demonling has reached 6 Forces, he's drooling with anticipation, desperate for the Impudite resonance. A special sub-group of Impudite is the combat capable leech. Most common among Servitors of The War & Death, these battle veterans are created by the different nature of hell compared to earth. A human with 3 Corporeal/1 Ethereal/1 Celestial Forces is a savage bruiser on earth, and is probably very skilled in combat. Being the ultimate weakling in hell is a painful shock. They still have their skills, however, and the demonling can offer protection in return for training. Roaming the plains of Abaddon with a motley of human hangers on, a demonling of Death can easily meet his quotas for Soul-stripping, and in the process be trained by the most brutal stalkers, poisoners and killers humanity has produced. In Gehenna, the brutal regimentation makes this harder; however these demonlings can still wax strong with the aid of a human sidekick. When they become Impudites, they see no clash between their resonance and Superior; the humans are only valuable for helping the Impudite master their Superior's Word, after all. James. ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 10 Sep 2001 20:10:16 -0400 From: Elizabeth McCoy Subject: Re: IN> In Nomine: Anime? At 8:53 PM +1200 9/9/01, Alex Liddell wrote: >What on earth is going on here? I just browsed the site to see that SJ is >converting IN for some kind of Japanimation rules? Converting? On the contrary. It's not a conversion. It's an add-on, for sticking in anime conventions into the existing rules (and where to bend them, for best effect). At least, so they tell me. O:> It's a totally optional "setting" to play In Nomine in, not a revision to the main book. (Heck, it's only 32 pages -- there's not enough room in 32 pages to put the whole system into...) As for all the other stuff -- well, give it time. The line does not sell well enough for it to be worked on the way that, say, GURPS Traveller is worked on. (Duh -- consider the duration that Trav's been around, versus poor wet-behind-the-wings IN/SJG. O:> ) This may sound like a plea to buy more books, and you can take it that way if you feel like it, but the facts are that things which have a higher chance of leaping off the shelves (or at least jumping happily?), and which are cheaper to produce (32 pages vs 128...) are going to have a higher priority. IN Anime is a good test-subject for the 32-page format, since it _does_ tap into the current anime fads which have made Guardians of Order (Big Eyes, Small Mouth) successful. If it does well, other ideas might well be considered for 32-page treatment. - --emccoy@nh.ultranet.com // arcangel@io.com In Nomine Line Editor RPG links; Random name list, Art: http://www.io.com/~arcangel/ ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 10 Sep 2001 18:48:22 -0500 From: "Prodigal" Subject: Re: IN> Successors: To Reign in Hell From: "EDG" > > Servitors of Artifice gain dissonance for giving someone a piece of > technology without receiving something in return. (This -does- include > Jareth!) I don't even want to think about how Geas-ridden one of Jareth's servitors has to be after a few years in service... ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 10 Sep 2001 19:19:00 -0500 From: EDG Subject: Re: IN> Successors: To Reign in Hell At 06:48 PM 9/10/01 -0500, you wrote: > > Servitors of Artifice gain dissonance for giving someone a piece of > > technology without receiving something in return. (This -does- include > > Jareth!) > >I don't even want to think about how Geas-ridden one of Jareth's servitors >has to be after a few years in service... I'm not sure why. Jareth isn't Vapula - he doesn't just randomly give out technology to hapless servitors. Also, regardless of the fact that Jareth is a Lilim, he recognizes that Geases are only one form of transaction. The exchange might be as simple as one piece of technology for another. - -EDG ------------------------------ End of in_nomine-digest V1 #2368 ********************************