in_nomine-digest Monday, May 13 2002 Volume 01 : Number 2635 In this digest: IN> Something that came in a dream - ST1341 Re: IN> Something that came in a dream - ST1341 IN> Desperate Measures Re: IN> Crosstraining, Part I Re: IN> Novaline Location.. Feild of Lilies Re: IN> Fwd: Silly question Re: IN> Living Fossils IN> GURPS Goblins Re: IN> GURPS Goblins RE: IN> Wallpaper: Novalis IN> little query IN> Wallpaper: Saminga IN> a meeting Re: IN> [Novalis] Sweatin' in the Summer Time Re: IN> Wallpaper: Saminga Re: IN> Novaline Location.. Feild of Lilies Re: IN> little query Re: IN> GURPS Goblins IN> A Matter of Faith ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Mon, 13 May 2002 04:15:46 +0000 From: "Michael Cleveland" Subject: IN> Something that came in a dream - ST1341 The two women walked quietly through the empty warehouse, looking around nervously at the video cameras that tracked their movements and the old tv that sat in the middle of the concrete floor. The taller of the two held a gun nervously as she paced, while the other calmly circled the television screen. As their footsteps echoed against the halls, the taller one spoke - "This is a setup, Lorraine. We should leave here. I knew this was a -" Slowly lighting a cigarette, the shorter lady glanced up at the video cameras then looked at her partner. "Would you relax, Tavariel? The way you keep pacing like that, one would think you were the Ofanite here. Besides, these guys are probably already here - they're just wanting to get a feel for us." The taller one gave a wary look up towards on of the cameras tracking her. "The cameras, then - keeping us under surveillance. Of course - I should have realized these mercenaries would want material to blackmail us with." Lorraine took a draw of her cigarette, then shrugged. "Doubt it, really. The cameras are all out in the open - they want us to know we're being watched." She moved a bit closer to the Seraph, then whispered, "Truth is, I'm not thrilled about this setup either. But if these people can deliver even half what they claim -" "Then you should be quite pleased with the results." The two angels started momentarily as the television flickered to life beside them. The view on the screen shifted to a soft bluish tone with several sigils emblazoned in the background, with two non-descript silhouettes standing before them. One of the silhouettes, appearing to be a taller male, moved closer towards the screen. "I apologize for the delay in our transmission, but one of your Soldiers attempted to follow you. We've left him in a motel several blocks away from your Tether - unharmed, of course." The taller one squinted for a moment, then muttered. "David. Bless." The other silhouette, a shorter female, chuckled. "Humans in their neverending quest for the unattainable. One never can tell. But still - to business." The Ofanite nodded, and put out the cigarette. "Yes, of course. To business. Do you have what we asked for?" Lorraine attempted to put on a stern, business-like face, but quickly lost her composure as a battered and beaten figure was thrust onto the screen, expertly trussed and gagged. "This is Lazrabal's current vessel, in decent and mobile shape. He has been positively identified as the Habbalite who killed your former Seneschal. We will be happy to hand him over to you for trial, as soon as the payment is made." Tavariel nodded and opened a briefcase that she had set down by the television, holding the contents up to one of the cameras. "Two relinquaries, of the size and specification you requested. One hundred-thousand dollars cash, non-sequential. One pair of Will-shackles, Judgment grade six. One set of Discord Bracelets, containing the discord of Binding. Everything is inside the case." The male figure nodded. "Good. Now, there is a circle traced in chalk in the far left corner of the warehouse. Place the case inside. Once you do, we shall send the Habbalite through, as well as the Will-Shackles and Binding Bracelets we currently hold. Are there any other questions before we finalize the transaction?" Lorraine nodded. "Yes, there are. First off, if we require your services again, how should we contact you? The number you gave us is no longer in service." The female silhouette shook her head negatively. "Yes, it is. The phone number is recorded, and we will contact you once we are prepared to accept another contract in this area from another number. Anything else?" The Ofanite shook her head no, and started towards the far corner. The Seraph began to follow, then turned and looked at the camera closest to her. "I know this may be rude, but I must ask - what Archangel did the two of you serve?" The male silhouette held up a hand. "It is rude to ask those who are Outcast, but while we do not broadcast our affiations, I can honestly and Truthfully say, young Seraph, that we still work for the betterment of our Archangel's Word. Now, let us finish this..." - ------------------------------------------- STEFAN. IT'S SERGEI. WORKED ANOTHER CONTRACT FOR DIVINE FIRE WHILE YOU WERE OUT. KARI TOOK THE HABBALITE NO PROBLEM - NOT A SINGLE HUMAN HURT. SHE'S OUT SCOUTING OUR NEXT JOB RIGHT NOW. YOU WOULD HAVE BEEN PROUD. PHONE NUMBER HAS CHANGED AGAIN. PREPAID IN CASH. UNTRACABLE. 832-555-4471. 832-555-4471. CELLULAR GOOD ALL OVER COUNTRY. ONCE YOU GET OUT OF LIMBO, LET US KNOW WHERE YOU ARE WE'LL COME GET YOU. SENDING ANOTHER 30 STANDARD UNITS OF ESSENCE AFTER MESSAGE. HANG IN THERE, STEFAN. REMEMBER, WE MAY HAVE BEEN LAID OFF BUT WE DON'T QUIT. GRIGORI NEVER QUIT. EVER. UNTIL YOU GET BACK, WE ARE, AND WILL ALWAYS BE SEEKER TRIAD 1341. STAY RIGHTEOUS. _________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp. ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 13 May 2002 00:26:26 -0400 From: "Patrick None" Subject: Re: IN> Something that came in a dream - ST1341 Erk! That turned me all the wrong kinds of on! Can I steal it? Sadly, not with Grigori (remember, dark game? There aren't any Grigori), but with a Faith/Sword/Fire triad i've been trying to place in SF convincingly. Rad, rad, rad. Patrick > SEEKER TRIAD 1341. > STAY RIGHTEOUS. > > _________________________________________________________________ > Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp. > > ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 13 May 2002 02:42:36 -0400 From: Eric Hallstrom Subject: IN> Desperate Measures "Jean." "Michael. Thank you for coming." "I presume it's important?" "Yes. It is. "Look at this. Tell me what is wrong with it." "Alright. ".... "Pure political acid, to begin with. ".... "More than a bit of a last-ditch, as well." "Yes, but tell me what is _wrong_ with it." ".... ".... "Not a thing that I can see. Theoretically. Some parts are really ... nasty. I approve of those, at least. In a sick and twisted way. "But do you really see a situation arising that could reasonably justify ... this?" "No. But I cannot see all things, no more than you can. "And it is always best to be ... prepared. Human engineers call it having a GOTH plan." "GOTH?" "For use when things _GO_ _T_o _H_ell." "Ah. Funny. But .... "This _must_ _not_ reach the Council. The arguments between David and Novalis alone would paralyze all business for months, if not years." "Yes. "But this brings us to a problem. "Specifically, we must be _certain_ that the techniques involved do, in fact, produce the specified results. But, to this point, they have only been tested in simulation. "They must be rigourously tested under real-world conditions. "And I cannot do that here, in Heaven. "And I do not have enough researchers who I can trust to keep _this_ secret that can effectively dissapear for sufficient time to test the procedures adequately. "Therefore, we must now discuss implementation .... It's always dangerous to back an Engineer into a corner; you just don't know _what_ he'll come up with. Jean isn't backed into a corner, at the moment, but he does believe in being prepared. And, being the cozy little space alien that he is, he has noticed an Interesting Thing. Basically speaking; when a human soul becomes discarnate it can do one of four things: First, it can Ascend into Heaven, having met its Destiny, Second, it can Reincarnate, having met both or neither of its Destiny _and_ its Fate, Third, having met both or neither, as above, it can Dissolve into the Symphony, poof, Fourth, having met its Fate, it can Descend into Hell. This, of course, is well known. What is less well known, and what Jean has noticed, is that, contrary to previously accepted tactical thought, and _in the context of the War, the second option is _not_ a draw, but rather a marginal victory for Heaven. This is because Hell depends on the Essence on its slaves, whereas Heaven doesn't care whether a blessed soul stays around and keeps its essence, or goes up the Ladder, or trades its Essence to Marc for coffee, whichever. Thus option Two denies a daily Essence to Hell, and allows Heaven to try again; while even option Three, as bad as it may seem, still denies Hell its Essence battery. Jean has also noticed that a Damned Soul that was, somehow, not _in_ Hell, if such could be manged, would be doing the Descending Lowerarchy no good at all. Wherefore Jean, who _is_ an Engineer, has developed the following as part of his GOTH plan: A broad spectrum of techniques for assuring that a Human soul, upon discarnation, can _only_ Reincarnate or Dissolve into the Symphony, regardless of its Destined or Fated status. A broad spectrum of techniques for assuring that a living Human, for a strategically significant span of time, can achieve _neither_ its Fate, _nor_ its Destiny. (You cannot block one at a time; it must be both at once.) A set of combat Artifacts and Songs that destroy discarnate Human Souls on a wide scale. A set of combat Artifacts and Songs that send discarnate Human Souls into Limbo on a narrow or individual scale; from whence, in the natural course of events, they can only return to Earth, and then only if they can somehow form a vessel. It is also necessary to note that these techniques, well developed though they are, have only been tested in Simulations. A certain minor amount of variation from designed results may be expected in the field. Thats why they need to be field-tested in the first place, ne? Running the PCs into these tests, on any side you can think of, would probably result in several nasty moral dilemmas on the part of the PCs. And possibly some amusing mayhem, also. That would, of course, be cruel. But sometimes ... how does the old song go? ... you've got to be cruel to be kind? Discuss. Eric Hallstrom, - -- http://www.kawaiikunee.com/in_nomine/index.html ... like trying to tattoo my signature on the belly of a crazed weasel: it left me with wounds and I'm not sure the weasel looks much better for all the effort. -Mark Gentry, Enantodromia ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 13 May 2002 00:09:41 -0700 From: "Phillip DesJardins" Subject: Re: IN> Crosstraining, Part I *Gets back after being away from his computer far too long* Nice idea, Moe. Had a similar one myself a while back, but it was a Mercurian of Novalis working for War. Phillip, Mercurian of Novalis The Happy Shiny Mercurian "The World needs a hug." ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 13 May 2002 05:55:15 -0700 (PDT) From: Michael Walton Subject: Re: IN> Novaline Location.. Feild of Lilies Oooh, nice. I wouldn've liked more detail, though. Is the Field an Ethereal Tether? Do Novalans make pilgrimages to mourn their Fallen siblings? And do the Fallen hear the calls of their shattered Hearts? ===== Michael Walton, #US2002023848 If your principles don't inconvenience you from time to time, you don't really have any. __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? LAUNCH - Your Yahoo! Music Experience http://launch.yahoo.com ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 13 May 2002 06:01:55 -0700 (PDT) From: Michael Walton Subject: Re: IN> Fwd: Silly question - --[Kamika-Z ] > > > Should a Soldier of Flowers (per se) wish to be > reborn into a plant > >vessal, just for the purpose of brightening some Tether > somewhere and >providing more lucid conversation for the > Celestials that work there than the > >average potted plant, and they chose a vessal of > /Dianthus caryophyllus/, does > >this constiture reincarnation? Oh, the pain... > > And for THAT matter, if someone tells a lengthy, > elaborate bit of a > >tale, making the summarizing bit at the end into a > 'punchline' that is equal > >parts pun and popular slogan, and part of it involves a > Afghan vessal of Jordi, > >does he get essence when it gets called a 'Shaggy Dog > Story'? OK, after that y'all can't complain about my puns anymore. 0:> ===== Michael Walton, #US2002023848 If your principles don't inconvenience you from time to time, you don't really have any. __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? LAUNCH - Your Yahoo! Music Experience http://launch.yahoo.com ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 13 May 2002 06:12:17 -0700 (PDT) From: Michael Walton Subject: Re: IN> Living Fossils - --- BC Petery wrote: > It was suggested in an earlier post that a Celestial who > held (or served?) > the Word of Dinosaurs hid in Limbo, then returned with > the body of a Tyranosaur. I believe it was a Velociraptor, but we get the idea. > Perhaps something similar to this, or a > Remnant, with the > Celestial Song of Fruition is responsible for the > Celocanths. No need for that. There are plenty of places in the ocean for a relict population of Coelacanths to hide in. > And why stop there? The oceans are said to be 90% > unexplored. What was the > name of that giant shark? Megalo-whatchamacallit? Carcharodon megalodon (sayeth the science geek). ===== Michael Walton, #US2002023848 If your principles don't inconvenience you from time to time, you don't really have any. __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? LAUNCH - Your Yahoo! Music Experience http://launch.yahoo.com ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 13 May 2002 10:03:56 -0500 From: Earl Wajenberg Subject: IN> GURPS Goblins Elizabeth McCoy wrote: > Heck, do the latter, and you can take them up to Heaven, to converse > with trained Elohim and Mercurians about how they were abused as a > demonling... This reminds me: A few days ago, I took GURPS Goblins down off my shelf, to re-read for amusement. And it *is* amusing. It also occurred to me that it would make good inspirational reading for anyone wanting to set scenes in Hell for a light, comic IN game. The goblins are tough, utterly venial creatures, whose abilities depend more on their state of morale (i.e. on Will) than on anything else. They'd make great models for demonlings, minor demons, or possibly damned souls. Demonlings probably work best. There is even a "childhood abuse" table to roll against, to randomly generate grotesqueries and phobias in goblins. It includes such entries as "nailed up as a scarecrow," "steeped in tea," and, my favorite, "shot as a skeet." Earl ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 13 May 2002 10:34:49 -0500 From: Earl Wajenberg Subject: Re: IN> GURPS Goblins P.S.: To be very briefly non-IN, GURPS Goblins would work almost seamlessly as a supplement for GURPS Discworld. One hardly need do more than read "Ahnk-Morpork" for "Georgian London" and the goblins slip in as either a new non-human ethnic group or (minus their physical oddities) ordinary Morporkians. (Yes, the goblins inhabit early 19th-century London. This is never explained. It just works very well.) Earl ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 13 May 2002 09:43:09 -0500 From: "Cthulhu" Subject: RE: IN> Wallpaper: Novalis "Bergeron, Robert F., DS1(SW)" wrote: >Has anyone ever read Steven Burst's "To Reign in Hell" with an idea towards >In Nomine? Yep, but to be honest I really didn't find there was much crossover potential without some serious changes to both settings. Changes to the point whereby you loose what was fun in both of them. It is a very neat setting though, and I was working on running a game set in it using the Everway system some time back, as this balances nicely with the existing elemental themes of the book. But for fear of this becoming non-list relevant I'm going to stop now. Cthulhu _____________________________________________ Free email with personality! Over 200 domains! http://www.MyOwnEmail.com ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 13 May 2002 09:51:13 -0500 From: "Cthulhu" Subject: IN> little query Little question here, for something I'm trying to set up in a game. Can a Superior inflict discord on a servitor of another Superior? Even (gasp) on a celestial serving The Other Side? The hook in question involves Kobal locking a Malakite into its vessel, and I'd rather not go with the unexplained-Superior-mysticism excuse. And while I'm posting, I'd like to say that I'm really enjoying the wallpaper, S.D. Keep them coming, preferably in 1024 x 758 size as well as the smaller ones. Saminga is going to come and live on my flatmates computer now :)= Cthulhu _____________________________________________ Free email with personality! Over 200 domains! http://www.MyOwnEmail.com ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 13 May 2002 11:36:21 -0400 From: BC Petery Subject: IN> Wallpaper: Saminga >From: "S.D." >[checks Webshell] Man, these things are getting bigger and bigger... Lilith was >78k, and the size increases with each paper till Saminga at 122k. Huh. Don't worry about it. I've get bigger screenStuff from http://www.sweeet.com all the time. Sincerely, BC Petery http://www15.brinkster.com/ugwump/ ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 13 May 2002 10:43:23 -0500 From: "Cthulhu" Subject: IN> a meeting Why are these things always set in diners? We may never know. Anyway, the Word-Bound referred to is an NPC I've been working on for ages trying to get right. While I was thinking about how he'd interact with others, the following little slice-of-life crept into my head. It's my first piece of fanfic. Be nice. [my machine reads it as 8k, btw] - --- Sharon had been watching the pair sitting at the table for three hours, trying to work up the courage to ask them to leave. So far they'd only ordered one cup of coffee between them, and that had been sitting in the woman's hands, untouched, since it arrived. Normally Sharon would have bawled the two out of it and thrown them out the door hours ago, but there was something too weird about the couple for her to want to go near them. 'Couple' was probably too strong a word for them anyway. Other than ordering, they hadn't said a single word. Not even a "thanks" when Sharon had brought the coffee over. The woman had just stared out at the busy street as evening fell, and the man had just stared at _her_ with angry eyes as she did so. They hadn't moved in three hours. It was freaky. There were enough other customers in the place to keep Sharon occupied though; the coffee shop was always busy at this time, for which she gave a small prayer of thanks. If the boss turned up she'd get it for not vacating the window seat the pair occupied, which should have seated four, but that was an if that hadn't happened yet. Let him sort them out if he shows, she thought. I'd like to see that. Her mind was drawn from the couple by another customer stepping up to the counter. He was wearing a neat suit, still complete with tie from the day at the office. "Howerya," he opened, flashing a warm smile. Sharon didn't smile back. "Could I have an open sandwich with ... eh ... chicken and salad please. And do you have any pickle?" "Yeah." Sharon monotoned. "Well lash some of that on top. And a cup of tea, please." Sharon tapped the order into the till and made of the sandwich in silence. The man watched her all the while, smile gone now, humming under his breath. She put the food down in front of him and took the proffered note. He gave another smile as she gave him his change, then turned away with his cup in one hand and plate in the other. As she watched him go Sharon realised that he was heading for the couple by the window, and the woman had turned to watch him approach. Though the man still stared grimly at his partner. The freaks had a friend. Fine. It solved her problem for a while. - --- Cet sat down beside Mara. She stared at him with dull, lifeless eyes. "Hiddly-ho." he greeted her as he shook out his napkin. "Why are you so perky?" Mara responded in a tone which suited her eyes. If she were to be any more corpse-like, Cet noted, she'd have to start rotting. "Well, for one thing, it's just about that one time of the day when we get a good feeling," he said nodding to the rapidly-darkening street outside. "And for another, I have good news. So it's good all round. Why not be perky?" Mara glanced back out the window for a second, sensing rather than feeling the fading sun behind the overcast sky. Then back to Cet, sipping at his tea. "Did you notice the waitress has a cross around her neck?" he added conversationally, "Self-delusional little wagon. About as Christian as I am." "Some of us still have work to do." she intoned. "So this news have better be really feckin' good." "It is. Very good. In fact, it's so good that you don't have to keep dragging that thing around with you anymore." he gestured to the man sitting opposite her, who had not even glanced at him until he said this. The woman looked across the table at her companion and caught his gaze for a few seconds. Then the two of them turned back to the newcomer. "Details. Now." There was finally activity in her eyes, but to call it life would have been to slander the living. Something dark and angry swam behind those orbs. Something which had just been pissed off. "I found someone who can help you, Mara. But it's going to cost. Lots. And that..." here he once again gestured to the glaring man, this time with his fork, "... is going to be part of the price." "Don't bloody play with me Cet. Tell me what you've done, and tell me why they want Robert." "For the life of me, I don't know." Cet smiled around a mouthful of chicken. "I didn't ask. And I don't think he would have told me if I had. And I've done what you asked; found a way to get your pet off the hook. For good. I'm going to stick around to see it through, and then I'm gone. And we're through, Temptress." "I told _you_ to find a way to clear Ryan's name. Not someone else. You." Mara hissed. Robert's gaze was flickering between the two, caught trying to decide who to glare at. "Yep," said Cet, still smiling, "and I've done so. I have _found_ a way. You never said that the way couldn't involve someone else, or that it couldn't cost you extra. And you never said that I had to be the one who personally cleared the name. Pretty stupid of you really." "Tell me _everything_." "Hold." Cet lifted his knife for silence. Both Mara and himself gave the briefest, tiniest of shivers. "Aah. Now _that_ hits the spot." He took another mouthful of tea. Mara shook her head and sipped at her cold coffee for the first time. "What the hell have you done, you bastard?" Robert finally spat out. Cet ignored him, and addressed Mara again. "I've found someone who can make the gardai loose all interest in your 'Ryan'." Cet grimaced as he said the name. "He serves Secrets. One of the big ones. Word-bound. He will undertake this task, and he will succeed. Without question or doubt. But part of the payment will be _that_." Cet made yet another stabbing gesture at Robert. Mara paused. Glanced at the near-foaming Robert. Then: "What's the Word?" "Unsolved Murders." smirked Cet. "What else would it be, really?" "I don't want anyone else involved. Even letting _you_ know what Ryan did was dangerous. Why the hell do you think I want him cleared? If he goes down I loose everything I've been working for here." "You've given me the bloody spiel already Mara. I know how important your boss thinks this guy is. I really don't give a crap. You've made me swear never to tell on you or him, even to Fleurity's bunch I might add, who would be _very_ interested to know. And this guy I've called in doesn't _need_ to be sworn to Secrecy. Think of who he serves? Think of what his Word is? He doesn't want anyone to know who committed this murder. Anyone at all." Mara sat back, cradling the half-empty cup in her hands. She stared absently at Robert as she thought. There was a vein on his temple fit to burst. "So really, I just have to choose who's more important to me." she muttered. The expression on Robert's face went from psychotic anger to slowly-dawning horror as he turned towards her. "Yep. A murderous drug dealer who brews shit that would make even your Princess have bad dreams, or a twitchy git who can't keep his mouth shut and obviously wants to kill you. I'd get rid of both of them, personally, but I can understand you're seeing this differently." Cet finished off his sandwich and washed it down with the last of his tea. "And what else would this guy you know want?" asked Mara, not shifting her gaze from Robert's wide eyes. "Probably a few minor Hooks. Maybe some Essence. Not really much at all, when you put it like that." Cet smiled at Robert. "I told him I'd introduce the two of you later tonight so you could fill him in on the rest of the details." Mara was quiet for a few more seconds. "Take me." she said in the end. "And you'd better be right about him." The colour drained from Robert's face. "Would I lie to you Mara?" Cet said in an earnest tone of voice, wiping his mouth with the napkin and then folding it under the cup. Mara dragged on her leather jacket, a tattered affair which looked as though it had been involved in a car crash. Which it had. She didn't bother responding, opting instead to drain her icy cup. "C'mon Robert," she ordered, standing up, "you've got a couple of hours to prove that you're still worth my while." Not that you'll succeed, she thought. Not a snowballs chance of that - --- Sharon watched the threesome walk out into the night; the newcomer grinning as he led the way, the wagon trudging along behind him in her ridiculous heels and the skinhead with his arms tightly clutching his sides. They were leaving just as the place was emptying, the freaks, but Sharon didn't really care. As long as she didn't have to deal with trying to get them out at closing time. Not her problem anymore. Though God only knows whose they were. Cthulhu _____________________________________________ Free email with personality! Over 200 domains! http://www.MyOwnEmail.com ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 13 May 2002 10:50:53 -0700 (PDT) From: Michael Walton Subject: Re: IN> [Novalis] Sweatin' in the Summer Time - --- BC Petery wrote: > Glapan > Calabite of Fire > Demon of Lawn Mowers For some reason, I sense that this post is somewhat tongue in cheek... > As all suburban boys know, lawn mowers were invented by > Hell. And who says that such awareness is limited to the 'burbs (says the military brat)? 0:> > The > closest he has ever come to matching his pleasure at > receiving a word is > when he added an infernal combustion engine to his baby. _Infernal_ combustion engine -- I should've seen that coming. Thoroughly enjoyable, this. ===== Michael Walton, #US2002023848 If your principles don't inconvenience you from time to time, you don't really have any. __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? LAUNCH - Your Yahoo! Music Experience http://launch.yahoo.com ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 13 May 2002 10:59:12 -0700 (PDT) From: Michael Walton Subject: Re: IN> Wallpaper: Saminga Well, Sam is suitably and Novy's suitably leafy, but Gabby is still my fave. ===== Michael Walton, #US2002023848 If your principles don't inconvenience you from time to time, you don't really have any. __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? LAUNCH - Your Yahoo! Music Experience http://launch.yahoo.com ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 13 May 2002 20:26:55 +0000 From: "cassandra benner" Subject: Re: IN> Novaline Location.. Feild of Lilies > Oooh, nice. Thankyou. >I wouldn've liked more detail, though. God is in the details so they say.. >Is >the Field an Ethereal Tether? Would you like it to be? >Do Novalans make pilgrimages >to mourn their Fallen siblings? Do you think they would? >And do the Fallen hear the >calls of their shattered Hearts? Beyond the call of the shattered twisted personal symphonies, would you like them to? It's your game... Answer the questions how you want them answered. Frex, in my game, i would say yes to all of the above. Moe, or Edg may say no to all of the above, Beth may say "well, its not cannon but i like the idea, im gonna tweek it and use it" One problem with hard and fast rulings (even non canon ones) is that it sets things as one game type. And we all play IN differently. Sometimes i play nasty dark games, then with the same characters, the next sesion, its a bright breezy type game. >Michael Walton, Cas *Knowledge is power. Power corrupts. Study hard. Be Evil.* In Nomine @ http://www.angelfire.com/goth/psyber/i-n.html In Nomine yahoo @ http://groups.yahoo.com/group/inveritas ADnD forum @ http://www.drunkendwarfinn.co.uk ADnD stuff @ http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ADandD_Stuff _________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp. ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 13 May 2002 17:24:29 -0400 From: "S.D." Subject: Re: IN> little query >And while I'm posting, I'd like to say that I'm really enjoying the >wallpaper, S.D. Keep them coming, preferably in 1024 x 758 size as well as >the smaller ones. I'll see what I can do, though it'll be hard... After getting the original in 800x600, I have to either frame it (like I did with Saminga - yes, I know you can't tell it's framed; that's still what I did ^^; ) or redo it entirely (Gabriel might wind up with that, since her original is bloody *huge*...) A suggestion? Get a white/black/etc rectangle that's 1024x758, paste my wallpaper in the center, and use that for a background until I post an enlargement. Since that's basically what I'm probably going to do for most of 'em. ^^; >Saminga is going to come and live on my flatmates computer now :)= Hee! ^^ ~S.D. ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 13 May 2002 14:48:30 -0700 (PDT) From: Jennifer Shih Subject: Re: IN> GURPS Goblins - --- Earl Wajenberg wrote: > and the goblins slip in as either a new non-human > ethnic group > or (minus their physical oddities) ordinary > Morporkians. Which explains about Nobby Nobbs... Jennifer Obligatory IN content: How would you model the Death of Rats as in IN character? __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? LAUNCH - Your Yahoo! Music Experience http://launch.yahoo.com ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 13 May 2002 17:56:41 -0400 (EDT) From: Ryan M Roth Subject: IN> A Matter of Faith Despite the heavy rain that soaked the city streets he walked through, Henry was, for the first time in many long, hard years, wonderfully happy. And he owed this joy the man he followed now into the West Side Diner. Excuse me, the _angel_ he followed. Despite his faith and chosen occupation, he could still barely believe it. But God showed him the Truth, had sent a messenger to him, and he had no doubts now. He had seen the angel in its full glory, and now the angel (after assuming human form) was taking him away to give him an important message. A message directly from God. Henry felt honored and proud to be singled out for such a message -- whatever it might be. He knew, in his heart, that God had always smiled upon his holy work, and now God had something to tell him. His work was, and had been, his whole life. It cost him dearly; his job, his wife, his son -- these had all abandoned him. All he had left was his faith -- the belief that his was doing God's work. This faith had never wavered; it sustained him every day. His faith buoyed his spirits when the passersby jeered at him, when he was insulted and yelled at. It carried him when he was attacked by street children last year and nearly died. It still hurt to walk, and was painful to stand each day on the street corner, preaching the words of God's Holy Bible to every person who could hear him. He ignored the pain, though, and he ignored the weight of his sixty-five years, for he had a mission. It was his mission to speak the words of God, and try every day to spread His divine message. As he followed the angel into the diner, he clutched his well-worn Bible even closer to him. It was a gesture he often repeated, and it always helped him remember his faith. The angel took a seat in a far corner booth, and indicated for Henry to sit across from him. Henry did so, placing his Bible on the table in front of him. He kept is right hand on it for comfort; it looked as if he was expected to be sworn in to some special service. Perhaps that is what he expected. No waitress bothered coming to the table. As if sensing his anticipation, the angel was the first to speak. "Henry William Taylor, I have a message. Are you ready to receive the words of God and Heaven?" Henry didn't hesistate. "I am ready. Please tell me what my Lord and God wishes me to know." Henry was surprised to see the angel's expression change; up until now, the angel's face had been impassive, almost like an alabaster statue. Now, though, his face bore a look of incredible pity. It was an expression Henry had seen on people who were speaking to terminally-ill patients, or victims of accidents that had mutilated their bodies. The expression scared him, and he realized that he didn't want to hear was was coming. "Henry Willion Taylor, the Lord wishes you to know that the words and message you have been spreading are based on lies." Shock and confusion showed on Henry's face. "No..." was all he could manage. The angel shook his head sadly. "It is True, Henry. For the past forty years you have preached the words contained within that book. But that book was never written by God, Henry, it was written by men." "But God gave them the words! He directed them to set down His Message!" Another sad head shake. "No Henry, He did not. Consider how much of that book is devoted to rules regarding moral behavior -- rules which today are considered barbaric. Consider how much of that book is devoted to pointless geneological histories and outdated codes of priestly duties. Do you really think that God, who is All-Knowing, would direct humanity to follow rules that would not stand the test of time?" "But..." "There are no 'buts', Henry." The angel's voice was firmer now, almost angry. "That book was written by men. They had no directive from God. They were simply trying to establish control over the populace they lived in. By claiming their rules came from God, they gained credibility. It was a very old trick, Henry. Men have used it at the start of every religion. They constructed a code of behavior that they wanted people to follow, and then wrapped it up in fairy tales and parables to make people believe in it. And if they didn't believe it, they were stoned as heretics." Henry realized that the angel hated the book -- hated what it represented and what humanity had done with it. Instinctively, he removed his hand from the cover. Meekly, he asked, "What, then, about Jesus?" The compasion came back to the angel's face. "There was never a Jesus, Henry. He was purely fictional. Many years after the religion was established, there was a group of young people who were unsatisfied with the priesthood. They wanted to establish their own moral code. They didn't have the political strength to force a change, so they did what their predecessors did -- they invented a story. They _invented_ Jesus, Henry, complete with a magic birth and tragic death. They told the story of Jesus over and over, and eventually it got written down. And people began to believe it. The only message Jesus ever brought to humanity was theirs." The angel continued as Henry sat in silence. "I should point out, though, that Christianity is not the only religion based on such lies. Judaism, Islam -- they too are false. Early experiments in population control, if you will. Any religion or man which claims to know the mind and will of God is lying to you, Henry, for God is by definition unknowable. God never wanted any man or woman to restrict the actions of their lives to some ancient moral code." Tears were streaming down Henry's face now in rivers. "WHY?! Why did God allow this? Why did He let such lies exist? Why....why did let me waste my life?" Henry's voice was loud, but no one in the diner seemed to hear. The angel's voice was full of compassion. "All God ever wanted of humanity was for each person to exercise his own free will. He wanted every person to do exactly what they felt like doing. He wanted them to enjoy their lives by making the choices they really wanted to make. And since these 'religions' came about by men making choices, He decided not to interfere. Men chose to make the religons. Men chose to follow them. He decided to honor their choice, even when people began to throw their lives away because of it. Which brings us to you, Henry." The angel reached over and held Henry's shoulder. "God has compassion, Henry. He knows that you have been spending your life in a truely worthless endeavor. And He knows that you are doing it only because you love Him. He can no longer watch you suffer so. So He sent me. He sent me to tell you the Truth, so that you needn't waste anymore of your life. He wants you to stop, stop preaching lies, stop suffering. Stop, and do the the things you always wanted to do -- the things your 'mission' kept you from. There is no God-given moral code, Henry. God loves you regardless of your actions." Henry stood up abruptly, shaking off the hand on his shoulder. "How could He? How could He?" The ambigious question hung in the air as Henry turned and left the diner, entering the rain-battered streets. The angel made no move to follow. Henry had left behind his Bible, but the angel ignored it. Instead the angel watched Henry from the window, reading his Fate for the last time. The foolish man was past the point of no return now -- in less than a half hour he would commit suicide by jumping from a bridge, which would in turn cause a massive automobile accident on the wet streets below. More than forty people would die in the accident. And Henry would find himself in Hell. "I do so love watching you work, Israphane. My congratulations." The angel -- excuse me, the demon -- turned back to the seat which Henry recently vacated. "Thank you, my Lord Lightbringer. I am sure Kronos will be as pleased as you are." "Indeed. The preacher had almost reached his Destiny. I am glad you were available to take care of this business." "I am always at your service, my Lord." The demon indictated the book in front of him. "Please, why don't you keep that as a memento of the occassion -- I doubt Henry will need it anymore." "I believe I will. But tell me, Israphane, why are you not pleased as well? Normally you are much more satisfied at the end of an assignment -- especially one that went as smoothly as this one has." The demon looked out the window into the rain, a whistful expression on his face. "To be honest, my Lord, sometimes I think my job is just too damn easy." Israphane turned back to look at his master and smiled a long, sinister smile. "Sometimes." ************************************************************ [His write-up will be coming tomorrow morning, folks.] Ryan Roth ------------------------------ End of in_nomine-digest V1 #2635 ********************************