in_nomine-digest Monday, November 4 2002 Volume 01 : Number 2846 In this digest: Re: IN> [INverse] Litheroy (part 2) Re: IN> INverse Superior: David (Djinn Version) IN> Differences in INverse Re: IN> [INverse] Litheroy (part 1) IN> Phantasms Re: IN> The Demon of Undying Love Re: IN> INverse Superior: David (Djinn Version) IN> A ? about Sirea's INverse- Re: IN> Differences in INverse Re: IN> Phantasms Re: IN> A ? about Sirea's INverse- Re: IN> A ? about Sirea's INverse- IN> Humans in Hell? Re: IN> Phantasms Re: IN> How Canon is Canon? Re: IN> Humans in Hell? IN> [Fiction] Professional Courtesy (part 8) Re: IN> effects of songs Re: IN> Empty Cathedrals... Re: IN> A ? about Sirea's INverse- Re: IN> A ? about Sirea's INverse- Re: IN> Humans in Hell? ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Mon, 04 Nov 2002 09:40:04 -0700 From: sirea@softhome.net Subject: Re: IN> [INverse] Litheroy (part 2) This is very well done, and there's a lot more detail than I expected, which is a pleasant surprise :) There are only two nitpicks I have, both of which are partially my own fault, so it's no big deal. One is that there is no Stygia in INverse Hell, the Principalities are Dis, Infernal City, Sheol, Damascus (which is Litheroy's home), Lea Monde', Planes of Meggido, The Blight, Silent Mountain, and the Infernal Vale (Balndine's side of the vale). Sygia could however, maybe refer to the prisons in Michael's Palace. The other nitpick is entirely my fault. In INverse, there -are- Infernal Saints. Michael, much like his canon counterpart, will use anything as a resource. Unlike his canon self though, he has no restrictions on what he can do, and humans are used as resources just like anyhting else. If anything, this makes Litheroy even more effective. Other than that, nice work! --- Sirea, Free Cherub IST Destiny, Angel who Wanders, petitioner for the Word of Eternity (currently being ridden by Grapejuice, Renegade Shedite of the Game, and petitioner for the Word of Pranking Tightwads) ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 04 Nov 2002 09:45:20 -0700 From: sirea@softhome.net Subject: Re: IN> INverse Superior: David (Djinn Version) Michael Walton writes: > This is about half of a 16k file, so I think it's OK. > > DAVID, DJINN PRINCE OF ASSIMILATION Ooo. This is also very pleasing, and fits well with INverse. I got a little confused at first with how friendly he wa,s until I (duh) realized it was the Djinn David and not the brutal and cold Malakite-to-Honorite version. This version will wokr well with Dominic and Uriel in making Hell unified... creepy. Looking forward to the second half :) --- Sirea, Free Cherub IST Destiny, Angel who Wanders, petitioner for the Word of Eternity (currently being ridden by Grapejuice, Renegade Shedite of the Game, and petitioner for the Word of Pranking Tightwads) ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 04 Nov 2002 10:17:48 -0700 From: sirea@softhome.net Subject: IN> Differences in INverse I apologize for having not put this out sooner. This is a list of what is different from canon in the world of INverse, and I hope it helps people to understand this world more, espcecially for those who want to write for it. Michael started the Rebellion, but for much of it Lucifer was a part of it too. Lucifer helped to talk many angels into joining with Michael. But when Michael slayed Metatron, Lucifer saw the Truth and turned against his brother. Half of the Heavenly Host was slaughetred in the resulting carnage that Michael wrought. A quarter of the remaining Host went with Michael to Hell, while the rest of the angels stayed. No Superiors died aside from Metatron, but much of the Host was wiped out. In INverse, there are Infernal Saints. They are rare, but still common enough to be a problem. Ethereals do not work for Hell at all, since Uriel, Balseraph or Honorite Demon Prince of Perfection determined that they are "unclean", and cannot stay in Hell. Some still work in secret for other Princes though. Many ethereals stay with Heaven, and there is a such thing as Holy Ethereals, and Evil Ethereals. Much of the ethereal content is subject to change depending on the EPG when it comes out. Malakim can Fall in this world, but the process is very diffucult and rare. They can fledge in Hell, but this is extremely rare. A Malakite can Fall from having an Infernal Force attached to him. INverse has two settings- one where there are Fallen Malakim, and one where there isn't, since some GM's may wish to keep the Virtues clean. To this extent, there are two versions of Uriel, Laurence, and David, a Balseraph, Impudite and Djinn one, and the Honorite version. As such though, Honorium are considered "canon", but it can all be mixed and matched. There are no Malakite Superiors in "canon" INverse, but an alternate Malakite version of Belial and Magog are being made, since they seemed most fit to turn at the Rebellion. Lilim start out as being heavenly beings, and Fallen Lilim are rare (but more common than Redeemed Lilim in canon). Fallen Lilim are known as Dark Lilim. There are no Lilim Superiors, just as there are no Malakim Superiors in INverse "canon". Only Lilith can make Lilim. In celestial form, they appear as beautiful females with bright blue skin, glowing triangular "energy wings", and two small white horns. Whne they Fall, they look like their canon counterparts- but they have two bleeding scars across their backs where their wings were torn away. Seraphim are known as not the Most Holy, but the Most Humble, for reasons later explained in another post. The only dead Superior (so far) is Gebbelth, the Archangel of Trust. He was killed by Michael. He has two "children". Alaemon, Mercurian of Trust and Angel of Mysteries, and Litheroy, Seraph of Trust and Angel of Revelations. Michael corrupted Litheroy, and taking advantage of his Word, Litheroy led his father and his sister Alaemon to the celestial plane, where Gebbeleth met Michael for a supposed truce. Litheroy and Michael murdered the Archangel, and Alaemon watched in horror as her brother Fell and was made Prince of Accusations. She inherited the Word of Trust and caaried on her fathers legacy. Heaven took a heavy blow from their most unifying Archangel being killed. Heavenly realms are called "Domains", while Hellish ones are called "Principalities". There are Divine and Infernal Cathedrals. The Grigori were not all cast from Heaven, as Asmodeus saw that would be unJust to do. Instead, they were tried individually, and then counseled. Those who were truly selfish were cast from Heaven where they Fell and were collected by Michael. To this end, there are Grigori in Heaven, and Skulkers in Hell. the Trial helped to cast out Azrael, a very selfish Servitor of Makatiel, the Archangel of Life. He Fell and through great work, and the favor of Michael, he became the Demon Prince of Life, and the only Skulker Superior ever. The Archangel of Song is the wildcard of the game. She was cast out of Heaven, or choose to leave. She can be Fallen or not, insane or not, dead or alive. GENERATIONS Below is the order in which people were made Superiors, and a rough estimate of when. I don't have the GMG, so exact dates can't be given yet. TIMES I: Generation one. This is before or right after the Fall. II: Generation two. This is during the time Hell was still trapped, the "Golden Years". III: Generation thee. This is after Hell broke out and started to roam the corp plane. VI: Generation four. This is after the Trial of the Grigori to modern day. V: Generation Five. This is anyone made a Superior in the last few hundred years. HEAVEN I: Yves, Lucifer, Beleth, Andrealphus, Malphas II: Baal, Meserach, Asmodeus, Beelzebub, Kobal, Mariel, Magog, Gebbeleth III: Belial, Genubath, Lilith, Saminga, Makatiel, Mammon, Vephar, Alaemon VI: Legion, Vapula, Valefor, Haagenti V: Fleurity, Nybbas, Furfur HELL I: Uriel, David, Janus, Gabriel, Raphael, Oannes, Blandine, Jean, Dominic II: Jordi, Novalis, Marc III: Kronos, Eli, Litheroy VI: Azrael, Christopher, Khalid V: Laurence, Zadkiel --- Sirea, Free Cherub IST Destiny, Angel who Wanders, petitioner for the Word of Eternity (currently being ridden by Grapejuice, Renegade Shedite of the Game, and petitioner for the Word of Pranking Tightwads) ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 05 Nov 2002 01:29:55 +0800 From: "Jeffery Watkins" Subject: Re: IN> [INverse] Litheroy (part 1) Wow! I think this is one of the scariest DPs in a dangerous way, because sometimes unlike the others, he can right. *shudders* Bravo though! Bravo! Jeff =) Part of my insanity manifest at JCT, where In Nomine meets science fiction in the far future http://groups.yahoo.com/group/jctrinityRPG - -- _______________________________________________ Get your free email from http://mymail.operamail.com Powered by Outblaze ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 04 Nov 2002 14:03:11 -0500 From: EDG Subject: IN> Phantasms Just a thought I had. Not really much here except fluff. :) For more information on spirits in In Nomine, check out the Corporeal Player's Guide or Kris Overstreet's Pyramid article "Lost Souls" (upon which the spirits material in the CPG was based, and which I am using as reference material). While the CPG overrules the Pyramid article where they differ, the article is still an excellent resource. - -EDG Phantasms Phantasms are ghosts gone bad. Occasionally, instead of an attachment to the corporeal plane holding a ghost to the Earth, the dying soul's sheer malevolence will come into play, creating an intelligent ghost with the ability to affect the corporeal plane and a purely cruel and destructive outlook. They exist almost solely to frighten and harm mortals, although very occasionally one will encounter a phantasm with a vengeance theme, and have no moral compunctions whatsoever about the damage to their victims' minds and bodies that they inflict. When a phantasm is created, it gains 1 level a special power known as Stalking, which is rated from 1 to 6 like skills (but costs 3 CP per level to advance). Stalking allows the phantasm to deal Mind hits to its victims, simply by inspiring sheer terror in them: anyone who sees a phantasm who is attempting to scare someone must successfully roll against their Will or take the phantasm's Stalking level in Mind hits. However, this power does not further affect the victim for (Will roll CD) minutes, regardless of success or failure. In addition, the phantasm may add his Stalking level to any Emote roll made to terrify a victim; in addition, the phantasm may add his Stalking level to the target number of a physical attack, once every (Celestial Forces) minutes. However, there is a significant drawback to Stalking: whenever the phantasm sees a potential victim, he must roll higher than his Stalking level on 1d6 if he wants to avoid terrifying that victim! This takes effect regardless of how recently the phantasm has used his Stalking powers. In all other respects, phantasms are identical to standard ghosts; if exorcised or set free, they will almost inevitably go to Hell, although it is not necessary to have reached one's fate to become a phantasm. ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 05 Nov 2002 03:56:15 +0800 From: "Jeffery Watkins" Subject: Re: IN> The Demon of Undying Love > Not my best, but then I'm out of practice. Hope people enjoy - James. > THIS was not your best?!? Wow! Just think when you get in practice! I say again wow! > LEANDER, Demon of Undying Love > Impudite Knight of Death > > "Perhaps...or possibly, you would not have sworn undying love if you knew > what Undeath was really like". > That was a very chilling (and I mean the scary shudder) quote to open up with. *applause* > Leander has also had some success dealing with angels - he gained his > Distinction after persuading a Malakite to suicide: the Malakite's angelic > lover had Fallen, and Leander "explained" that "the honourable thing to do" > was for the Malakite to soul kill the Fallen lover and then soul kill > himself, so that their Remnants could be together forever. Both Remnants are > now his Servants. > That was simply horrible! I mean in that evil way, *shudder* both remenants are his servants. Ewwww. Well done in portraying not only how evil, but the horror of Hell. Jeff =) Part of my insanity manifest at JCT, where In Nomine meets science fiction in the far future http://groups.yahoo.com/group/jctrinityRPG - -- _______________________________________________ Get your free email from http://mymail.operamail.com Powered by Outblaze ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 05 Nov 2002 04:01:28 +0800 From: "Jeffery Watkins" Subject: Re: IN> INverse Superior: David (Djinn Version) I think this wonderful creation is even better at the job than the Game ever was. Wow! I mean fear you might over come, but if one is loyal, you could leave a loyal person alone whereas someone doing it for fear you have to keep watching. Very efficient this David is and well written. Jeff =) Part of my insanity manifest at JCT, where In Nomine meets science fiction in the far future http://groups.yahoo.com/group/jctrinityRPG - -- _______________________________________________ Get your free email from http://mymail.operamail.com Powered by Outblaze ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 4 Nov 2002 15:21:13 -0500 From: "Josh Moger" Subject: IN> A ? about Sirea's INverse- A few questions actually, about things that could deviate from canon- 1- Julian brought up a point about the Infernal variant of Saints: there aren't any, with the 'kinda-sorta-pseudo' Saints being the Undead. However, since we have some primordial clay harvested from Sirea's mind, lets play with it. Now, what, next to a very large axe and a very large field of armed demons does canonical Michael like? That's right- Saints. By the thousands. Each secreted in organizations so that they can do the most damage with the least amount of Disturbance when Michael gives the Signal. Okay, so obviously 1 has been answered by Sirea's latest post about there being Infernal Saints in INverse. So... Now, lets look at Sirea's Fallen Michael- We've got a King of Hell. Now, he's going to want subjects, on every level of existence. In Hell he's got the demons and damned. In the Marches- I'm going to go out on a limb and say that he's got some Ethereal beings cowed to his worship. On Earth- well... that actually leads to... 2. So, keeping this War a secret? Why would Michael want that? He's not a canonical Lucifer, silently creeping up to slowly erode the will of humanity. He's MICHAEL! He's Darkness! He's War! He wants to be on Earth. And I'm going to go out on a limb and say- he is. It started a while back, at least in the manner that humanity understands time. Frankly, Michael has no idea why it took him so long to do this. It was only after Heaven's precious spot of light, Rome, nominally Lucifer's grand experiment with 'democracy,' fell apart that Michael starting taking advantage of the situation for a much more physical existence of Hell on Earth. Well, it was also then that Michael became involved with Force splicing. Interesting science, that. Basically, it involves taking a damned soul of oh... five forces or so. Then go out and grab a Kyriotate (why not a Shedite? Because Kyriotates are more fun to play around with and you reduce the Host coincidentally). Take the Kyriotate apart, slowly if you have the time, paying attention to separate the Corporeal Forces from the rest of the angel. Go back to that damned soul that you strapped onto a medical table... oh, don't have a medical table? Well, crucifying the soul or having five demons pulling on the various limbs in different directions will suffice as well. Now, stitch a Corporeal Force to the soul, making sure to balance it out with another Force, of whatever type, taken from a demon. Now you should have a damned soul, with seven forces, at least two Corporeal, writhing on the floor from pain. When the soul stops whining, in a year or so, introduce him or her to a Dark Lilim. Let the two get cheery. Have the Lilim explain the possibility of getting out of Hell. We've clocked the Need of the damned soul changing from ::Stop the Pain!:: to ::To be on Earth again:: at about 1.00005 seconds, with the one second being the amount of time the soul takes to get over the shock. The Dark Lilim comes to Michael with the soul and Michael then looks for the perfect vessel. The Kyriotate force allows the soul to be Bound into the vessel. With a *must* return-ticket back up a Tether, the soul is now a 'Saint' on Earth, with a Geas/6 owed to a Dark Lilim who herself is riddled with Geas stapled to her soul by Michael- after all, one can never be too careful. So. Now we have Saints on Earth who have never seen Heaven. What to do... what to do... Well, it's an interesting fact that in a social order based wholey upon the credo 'might makes right' those with more Forces than your average human, especially with an angelic (though now quite tainted) Corporeal Force, tend to rise to the top of said society. When you're churning out unSaints at the rate of a dozen or so a year (even Lilim have a cracking point when you just can't force more discord into their souls [this is obviously s u bject to Sirea's limit on Infernal Saints]), you start getting results rather quickly. When said unSaints have been told by a towering moutain of personified Hatred, War, and Darkness to get along, you start getting ruling councils instead of internal conflict. And when those ruling councils point their sizable armies at what looks to be the cultural center of the world with lots and lots of wealth just waiting to be taken... You start getting barbarian invasions. The year is now 800 C.E. In canon and reality, Charlemagne has come, conquered and is preparing to go home to rest in his old age in the hot springs of his fortress at Aachen. In Sirea's INverse, a mysterious figure chopped Charlemagne in twain when the two met on Saxon battleground in the latter of the eigth century. A Pagan ruler who has come mysteriously out of nowhere is spreading his kingdom over Europe. The Carolingian Empire, which should have had quite a heyday about now, was quickly consumed into the new Empire. The ruler now controls a majority of the Germanic and Frankish states. His closest knights, those taken from the various tribes he first united, are said to ride horses whose hoofs cause sparks to leap as they strike the ground. They knights' eyes glow red with fury and some have them have even been seen to cast magic. How else to explain the way they can kill a man without even laying a sword upon him? Well, yes, Calabim can do that as well. Very good. And... yes, why that armor the central and tallest figure is wearing does seem to have a strange serpentine motif. And why... I think you're right... there are a great many rumors going around that the pagan religion worships a being called "M'kil." Hey, if it worked for Baal in Canon, it'll work for Michael in INverse. Now, I'm wondering how far to take this. Different scenarios can be played out such as below- 1. The King is in Trauma, long live the King: Every now and then Michael sheds his vessels and comes back as his son. This way he gets the dynasty, the Role, and can hide the War from the mortals without having to worry about actual heirs. 2. Hel on Earth- Michael just comes out and starts telling humans that "Yes, he is the closest they're going to come to seeing God, and why don't they just start worshipping him now?" Michael's empire, originally based loosely upon Norse mythos that Michael found appealing in the Germanic lands (after he killed or enslaved the Ethereals involved) is now named, with a bad humor for even Michael, Hel. This one could work, and still have the War be kept a 'secret' if you have Heaven running interference propaganda, saying that Michael is a fake and trying to get close enough with someone powerful enough to take him down and watch the empire crumble around him. Either of which could lead to... 3. Legion's in Heaven now? Hmmm... Improvise.- Michael's empire has slowly gained ground over the couple of hundred years of its existence. It's now in the early 1000. Heaven seems to have fallen back, but they've instead massed an army and are now getting ready to sic the hounds of Heaven upon Michael. Can the Host possibly succeed against a force so deeply entrenched? Will they take out Michael and topple the kingdom of Hel before it spreads too far and becomes too powerful? Will there be a parallel sacrifice in the final battle? Perhaps Legion giving up his life to take out a particularly malevolent celestial that guards Michael's vessel? Thoughts? Comments? Critques? Flaming fruit? Josh ^_^' ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 05 Nov 2002 04:23:30 +0800 From: "Jeffery Watkins" Subject: Re: IN> Differences in INverse Very very well done! A very complete picture of how it could have been. Jeff =) Part of my insanity manifest at JCT, where In Nomine meets science fiction in the far future http://groups.yahoo.com/group/jctrinityRPG - -- _______________________________________________ Get your free email from http://mymail.operamail.com Powered by Outblaze ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 05 Nov 2002 04:28:56 +0800 From: "Jeffery Watkins" Subject: Re: IN> Phantasms > When a phantasm is created, it gains 1 level a special power known as > Stalking,< Like this alternative, or rather addition to ghost. Question, which a good re-read might answer but I'll ask anyway. Does Stalking mean its not bound to a spot to haunt? Jeff =) Part of my insanity manifest at JCT, where In Nomine meets science fiction in the far future http://groups.yahoo.com/group/jctrinityRPG - -- _______________________________________________ Get your free email from http://mymail.operamail.com Powered by Outblaze ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 05 Nov 2002 04:42:02 +0800 From: "Jeffery Watkins" Subject: Re: IN> A ? about Sirea's INverse- Very well presented. I think I got caught up more with that then what you were actually talking about. Seriously though, this makes the INverse so much scarrier, one would be hard pressed to even think about a bright campaign here. But its a very well done creative job. *gives lots of Eli points* Jeff =) Part of my insanity manifest at JCT, where In Nomine meets science fiction in the far future http://groups.yahoo.com/group/jctrinityRPG - -- _______________________________________________ Get your free email from http://mymail.operamail.com Powered by Outblaze ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 4 Nov 2002 16:39:11 -0500 From: "Josh Moger" Subject: Re: IN> A ? about Sirea's INverse- >Very well presented. I think I got caught up more with that then what you were actually talking about. Seriously though, this makes the INverse so much scarrier, one would be hard pressed to even think about a bright campaign here. But its a very well done creative job. *gives lots of Eli points* > > Sorry about the Contrast. I tend to move in the way that I think the general setting seems to be going. In INverse, it doesn't look particularly Bright. You should have seen what I did with my first post to Moe's Tattered stuff. I wasn't even subscribed for a day before I turned Jordi into Legion and tried to see if I could kill the universe. Also, I'm currently submerged up to my eyes in Medieval history. Good thing I didn't... hmm... What? Oh.... nothing. Just wondering about if my previous post could occur in a later setting. Say, the twentieth century. After all, forced unity or death? Personality cult around a central figure? The union of military, monarchy, and religion into one man... Maybe Michael could work as a Fascist. Josh O_O ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 4 Nov 2002 16:43:21 -0500 From: Christopher Pipinou Subject: IN> Humans in Hell? An off-hand line in the Infernal Players Guide got me poring over my books. In the opening vignette, Marcus's nameless girl tells our narrator that she's even been to Hell. So I went hunting, and couldn't find anything in Heaven & Hell or the Corporeal Players' Guide on it. Much on getting to Hell after death, but nothing on swinging by in advance. Is there anything out there on such a topic? I could imagine that it could be possible (Piers Anthony had an entertaining postulate of a pseudo-Hell in the Incarnations of Immortality series), perhaps through a Tether? Or a Human Soul if they knew the Celestial Song of Projection, possibly, though it would be a rare Soldier indeed who knew THAT. And, I suppose, that it would be in Hell's best interests for their Humans to never see what awaited them. I'm curious if anyone's ever toyed with Human souls going to Hell without dying, and returning, a la Odysseus, Orpheus, Dante, and a number of others throughout myth and literature... - - Chris ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 04 Nov 2002 15:02:02 -0700 From: sirea@softhome.net Subject: Re: IN> Phantasms EDG writes: > Just a thought I had. Not really much here except fluff. :) > > For more information on spirits in In Nomine, check out the Corporeal > Player's Guide or Kris Overstreet's Pyramid article "Lost Souls" (upon > which the spirits material in the CPG was based, and which I am using as > reference material). While the CPG overrules the Pyramid article where > they differ, the article is still an excellent resource. > > -EDG > > Phantasms > Ouch... this is good material for Soldiers of Nightmares, or particualry violent humans. Nice bit to go along with all the other undead/dead stuff from Halloween :) --- Sirea, Free Cherub IST Destiny, Angel who Wanders, petitioner for the Word of Eternity (currently being ridden by Grapejuice, Renegade Shedite of the Game, and petitioner for the Word of Pranking Tightwads) ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 4 Nov 2002 17:27:25 -0500 From: Elizabeth McCoy Subject: Re: IN> How Canon is Canon? At 12:12 PM -0800 11/2/02, Daiv wrote: > I find myself wondering. Which books did our >Beloved ArchAngel Beth (tm) actually edit? Liber Servitorum, Liber Castellorum, GMG, EPG (though a Real CopyEditor has come in for the EPG, and much praise upon him!). >I know the core book was >done under the original line editor (a Roman Catholic priest, IIRC, >who has disappeared off the face of the earth as far as IN is >concerned) and then he did some of the Revelations series... Er, he vanished... well, basically after Night Music. And I'm not even sure he was doing much for that, since it's got some pretty annoying dissonance/disturbance confusions in it. Not to speak ill of him. I'm sure he's a perfectly good priest. > But which books did you actually edit, to your own satisfaction? I didn't _edit_ edit all of these, but I at least had substantial enough input to be satisfied... The Infernal Player's Guide, Liber Castellorum, Liber Servitorum, Superiors books, CPG, GMG, EPG. The IPG could use some tweaks here and there, but mostly filing off some rough edges. (I _did_ rewrite an entire chapter of the IPG, from scratch, and no, I will not give the original author's name. Suffice it to say that I chopped about 4 pages off, including a lot of very specific mechanics of the "3d6 demons appear" type.) The LiberR and LCant are close, but there are some tweaks that I might yet like to do -- primarily to the Liber Reliquarum. The Rev Cycle... was basically written before I got in the saddle, and FotM and FT were before I really had the reins firmly in hand. >This indicates to me, that if you were to have your >way, serious parts of the existing canon would change. I am curious >where those parts of canon currently live. Mostly, the APG needs to go up against the wall, paragraph by paragraph, and have certain bits shot off. Ignore the boxed text for expanded resonance tricks and you're probably golden, overall. (On the other hand, maintext for expanded Cherub resonances is fine.) We won't discuss the Rev Cycle right now. Some is good, some isn't. The Heaven chapter does quite well (since I caught some Khalid stuff in bluelines, whew). - --Beth, arcangel@io.com / archangel@sjgames.com In Nomine Line Editor http://www.io.com/~arcangel/ ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 4 Nov 2002 17:28:17 -0500 From: Elizabeth McCoy Subject: Re: IN> Humans in Hell? At 4:43 PM -0500 11/4/02, Christopher Pipinou wrote: >An off-hand line in the Infernal Players Guide got me poring over my >books. In the opening vignette, Marcus's nameless girl tells our >narrator that she's even been to Hell. Celestial Song of Projection; you can take "riders" along with it, if you know it. - --Beth, arcangel@io.com / archangel@sjgames.com In Nomine Line Editor http://www.io.com/~arcangel/ ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 4 Nov 2002 17:30:04 -0500 From: Archangel Beth Subject: IN> [Fiction] Professional Courtesy (part 8) >Their Songs of Claws rang through the Symphony, and they lunged. They came together in a clash of foot-long claws, parrying and being parried in mirror image. They held a moment, just closer than arm's length, long enough for her to feel his greater strength and then jumped apart. Their feet skidded a little in the grass and leaves, but the footing was firm enough. Timon's chain was still wrapped around his wrist. *If he doesn't loose that, he's not taking me seriously,* she thought, shifting and testing her footing. At least there was no blood, yet, to send her Discord surging into her muscles and brain. *Oh, right. That was the problem with this tactic. Oh, well.* He came at her, low and fast, and she spun to the side, his claws stroking a rip into her shirt, but not the skin beneath. Her return strike was blocked by his claws, the sides of their hands touching. She felt her lips draw back in a feral grin; the Balakite's mild smile was unchanged, but his eyes were mirrors to her own. Then he was pushing against her, and she jumped, letting his un-balked strength lift her into the air. She used the momentum to flip, her clawed hands briefly splayed flat on the ground, and then she was back upright -- with Timon almost in her face. She let herself "fall" backwards onto one hand while giving him a boost with her foot. (Shame though it was to put a footprint on that lovely bare chest.) He was less showy, with a shoulder-roll instead of a flip, but was a smaller target on one knee. She figured he'd be even more alert to a followup rush than she'd been, and made her own roll to one side before leaping back into claw-range. She ducked under his wide and high parry-slash, but was forced to bring both of her hands down, claws cris-crossed, to deflect his far hand's flat stab at her middle. Then it was a quick roll to the side, as his near hand came back down, claws aiming for her ribs. *I'm dodging,* she thought, in a part of her that would have been breathless had she had time, but was merely still and calm. *My time in the arena taught me something after all.* But she didn't have his strength, she knew as he got to his feet and they circled slowly, watching for trees or bushes to get in each other's way, watching for a trip or distraction. Didn't have his strength, didn't have his Corporeal Forces, probably. Likely he overshadowed her by at least two Forces, all told, for he dodged as well as she. Malakite hunting made one good, or made one dead. Just like the arenas of Shal-Mari. Timon paused and shifted his balance, because of a tree in the way, and Betharan realized that perhaps her arena-time had gotten her thinking inside the box a bit much -- flat sand and the combatants' cages didn't allow for the really _showy_ tactics... She feinted a rush, then sprang for a tree, burning a little Essence to get the angles right as she hit it on all fours like a taloned frogling (the tree bending some with the impact, then beginning to snap back) and uncoiled with her claws aimed at his head. He ducked, barely, and her claws kissed his bare left shoulder as she passed. Her controlled transition from dive to flip was changed to a tumble as something lashed down on her leg. She hit the ground rolling, though, and managed to come up on one knee, hands raised defensively. The Balakite was half-crouched, a couple body-lengths away. His right hand was at the cut on his shoulder, and his chain was hanging free now. *At least he takes me seriously now,* she thought, shaking out her bruised leg, before her attention was riveted by the crimson on his fingers. The bloodlust rose within her belly, copper on the back of her tongue. Timon glanced at his hand, and she was leaping for him, jaws apart in a silent predator gape. He looked up in time, his eyes widened, but she was too close for the chain to have any momentum. He caught her hands in his own, their claws marking the backs of each other's hands and arms, and tried falling backwards to pull her forward and boost her past with his foot. She twisted, and his boot just scraped her stomach. Then she bellyflopped on him, spending her strength to clutch his hands while her teeth went for his throat. A Song hissed around them, and she snarled with bloodthirsty frustration as her teeth merely slid on his Protected skin. She'd have brought her knee up, but the angle was bad... He used his leverage to arch beneath her, now gripping _her_ hands as she tried to wriggle free. She tried to knee him again, and this time he was the one to twist and land between her legs. She hissed, sanity holding onto bloodthirst with the bit in its teeth, and began to bring her legs up, to hook around his throat and try to break his neck thrusting him away... Timon ducked his head down, barely in time, and then what she'd thought a dodge turned into his mouth upon hers. *Blessed lucky he's got Corporeal Protection on, or he'd be shy one tongue,* she managed to think, as the shock broke the Discord's grip enough that she could control herself again. She stilled, grumpily, and opened out her fingers, acknowledging "touche'." Then she vanished the claws. After a heartbeat, she decided to cooperate a bit. He wasn't as good a kisser as he probably thought he was, but it wasn't a chore. ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 4 Nov 2002 17:33:21 -0500 From: Elizabeth McCoy Subject: Re: IN> effects of songs At 8:59 AM -0500 11/1/02, TWISTEDKUB@aol.com wrote: >Another question: > >Regarding a character in celestial form on earth: which songs can he/she use >to affect corporeal characters? The ones the GM finds plausible, basically. Harmony is one. Healing might or might not be another. Celestial Light is the only direct attack that I can think of which works "both ways." - --Beth, arcangel@io.com / archangel@sjgames.com In Nomine Line Editor http://www.io.com/~arcangel/ ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 4 Nov 2002 17:41:12 -0500 From: Elizabeth McCoy Subject: Re: IN> Empty Cathedrals... At 10:41 AM -0400 11/1/02, Randy Finder wrote: >How many Empty (in some way) Cathedrals are there in Heaven? > >Lucifer: I don't know if its completely canon, but I've seen a lot talking >about it. >Oannes: I've seen something about "the grotto", but I'm not sure there is >anything official about a Cathedral within it. >Uriel: His cathedral stayed as well, right? These are all listed in _Heaven and Hell_. The Grotto also, IIRC, gets a mention in You Are Here? Or am I conflating something? >Cathedrals for the other original DPs? Andre might have one around, somewhere. Beleth's was destroyed. Mariel wasn't an AA, I believe, and Kobal definitely was not a Superior. - --Beth, arcangel@io.com / archangel@sjgames.com In Nomine Line Editor http://www.io.com/~arcangel/ ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 4 Nov 2002 14:39:09 -0800 (PST) From: Michael Walton Subject: Re: IN> A ? about Sirea's INverse- - --- Josh Moger wrote: > When you're churning out unSaints at the rate of a dozen > or so a year (even > Lilim have a cracking point when you just can't force > more discord into > their souls [this is obviously s u bject to Sirea's limit > on Infernal > Saints]), you start getting results rather quickly. When > said unSaints > have been told by a towering moutain of personified > Hatred, War, and > Darkness to get along, you start getting ruling councils > instead of internal > conflict. And when those ruling councils point their > sizable armies at what > looks to be the cultural center of the world with lots > and lots of wealth just waiting to be taken... > > You start getting barbarian invasions. Until Malphas, AA of Diversity, steps in to break up the barbarian tribes. Not until after they invade Rome, thus allowing all of the conquered nations to revert to their indigenous cultures, of course. =====

Michael Walton, #US2002023848

"There are two kinds of selfishness: the kind that says, 'I must do what will make me happy,' and the kind that says, 'You must do what will make me happy.' The first is good, the second is bad." - -- Kenton E. Sinner

__________________________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? HotJobs - Search new jobs daily now http://hotjobs.yahoo.com/ ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 4 Nov 2002 14:40:49 -0800 (PST) From: Michael Walton Subject: Re: IN> A ? about Sirea's INverse- - --- Josh Moger wrote: > What? Oh.... nothing. Just wondering about if my > previous post could occur in a later setting. > > Say, the twentieth century. After all, forced unity or > death? Personality > cult around a central figure? The union of military, > monarchy, and religion into one man... Where do you think I got my idea for INverse David from? };> =====

Michael Walton, #US2002023848

"There are two kinds of selfishness: the kind that says, 'I must do what will make me happy,' and the kind that says, 'You must do what will make me happy.' The first is good, the second is bad." - -- Kenton E. Sinner

__________________________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? HotJobs - Search new jobs daily now http://hotjobs.yahoo.com/ ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 4 Nov 2002 14:44:14 -0800 (PST) From: Michael Walton Subject: Re: IN> Humans in Hell? - --- Christopher Pipinou wrote: > An off-hand line in the Infernal Players Guide got me > poring over my > books. In the opening vignette, Marcus's nameless girl > tells our > narrator that she's even been to Hell. > > So I went hunting, and couldn't find anything in Heaven & > Hell or the > Corporeal Players' Guide on it. Much on getting to Hell > after death, but > nothing on swinging by in advance. Just because the girl says that she's been to Hell doesn't mean that she actually has. Any demon with the right Song of Dreams can manipulate a mortal's Dreamscape to present the target with a reasonable facsimile of Hell - -- or, more likely, a picture of Hell that fits what the demon wants the Human to see. Even simpler explanation; she could be lying. =====

Michael Walton, #US2002023848

"There are two kinds of selfishness: the kind that says, 'I must do what will make me happy,' and the kind that says, 'You must do what will make me happy.' The first is good, the second is bad." - -- Kenton E. Sinner

__________________________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? HotJobs - Search new jobs daily now http://hotjobs.yahoo.com/ ------------------------------ End of in_nomine-digest V1 #2846 ********************************