Tiger, Tiger, burning bright
In the forests of the night,
What immortal hand or eye
Could frame thy fearful symmetry?
..........
Uluru National Park, Australia
"Want a beer?" the Seneschal asked. The two Cherubim who were sitting cross-legged in front of the tiny campfire looked up, as the speaker materialized out of the darkness. He held up a six-pack.
"Um. No thank you." The other Cherub also shook his head. The Seneschal shrugged and took a seat next to them, then popped one can open and tilted it back with obvious pleasure.
The three of them were sitting atop Ayers Rock. The ancient monolith generated a pleasant thrumming they each felt in the core of their beings, though none as acutely as the Servitor of Stone. They sat for a while in silence, enjoying the ambience of the Tether. Finally, one of the Cherubim gestured at the landscape spread out around them, hundreds of feet below, and asked "Doesn't this bother you?"
The Seneschal, whose corporeal vessel was that of a dusty old Aborigine, raised an eyebrow. "What, the people?"
"The development," the Cherub said. Electric lights were scattered about the desert landscape. Within line of sight was Yulara Village, a tourism complex built for visitors to the famous landmark in the middle of the Central Australia, and they could hear another plane landing at the nearby airport. "I would think it would offend you, this despoiling and commercialization of such an ancient and sacred site...."
The Seneschal chuckled dryly. "The film crews bothered me. So did the litter. I taught a few hikers some harsh lessons in respecting The Rock. But the visitors, the highway, the Four Seasons hotel? To tell you the truth, it was getting lonely out here. Now that the Anangu are managing the Park, there are fewer tourists climbing up here and pissing over the edge. Most visitors are respectful, and filled with wonder at God's creation." He smiled and nodded contentedly. His Tether, his Word, was stronger now than in all the centuries when only the Anangu Aborigines paid it homage.
The other Cherub continued staring into the fire. "Is she still unmoving?" the Seneschal asked. He could not see what the two Cherubim did in the flames; an image of a gaunt, dark-haired woman seated at the other end of the two-mile long rock. He could sense her, of course -- she was in his Tether. But he felt it best not to intrude on an Archangel's introspection.
"Yes," the Cherub affirmed. "That's common for her. She is probably wandering the Marches."
"You don't follow her there?"
"Not usually. When she walks the Marches, she is contemplative, not destructive. And our proximity is more intrusive there."
"It is not her we are here to protect," the first Cherub, whose name was Aluriel, explained. "Gabriel can take care of herself. We follow her to protect others from her wrath, when it comes upon her."
"I see." The Seneschal of Ayers Rock frowned slightly. "Well, this is a good place to go walking about in, on either plane. You are sure she won't wreak havoc in the Marches, though? I would not like to see the Anangu's totems harmed."
"I thought the Tether to the Dreamtime was broken here long ago," said the second Cherub, whose name was Mordekial.
"It was," the Seneschal replied, somewhat tensely. "But they still linger now and then. I don't go out of my way to hunt down ethereals; they've never caused any harm around here."
Mordekial and Aluriel exchanged glances. It was very likely that the Seneschal had befriended the ethereal spirits who once dwelled openly in this place. Then they shrugged together. It was no concern of theirs; they did not serve Judgment, and the Purification Crusade was long past. "Gabriel has never harbored ill will towards the denizens of the Marches, except those who torment humans. If they have no malicious intent, she will not harm them."
..........
In what distant deeps or skies
Burnt the fire of thine eyes?
On what wings dare he aspire?
What the hand dare seize the fire?
..........
The Marches
She was not wrathful. She was not contemplative. She was frantic and mad. Her eyes did not glow, they blazed, as she streaked across the ethereal landscape. Blandine's Tower receded behind her, a softly-glowing beacon of hope and hospitality that she ignored. For a few confusing moments she zipped towards a familiar shape on the skyline, a mountain of fused rock lit dimly from behind by the distant glow of Heaven, and from within by its own primeval fires. Then she veered away. She howled in agony, but could not drown out the cacophonous sounds playing in her own head.
She burned a trail across the sky and left Blandine's Marches far behind. Like a celestial meteor that burned what it touched, she plummeted into the Far Marches, running from herself. In her wake, ethereal spirits who had not seen an angel in millennia gaped. And on the outskirts of Heaven, her caldera rumbled, and spewed hot ash.
..........
And what shoulder and what art
Could twist the sinews of thy heart?
And, when thy heart began to beat,
What dread hand and what dread feet?
What the hammer? What the chain?
In what furnace was thy brain?
What the anvil? What dead grasp
Dare its deadly terrors clasp?
..........
Gabriel has been unstable for a long time. It started after the Fall, when her Servitor, Belial, was granted her Word by Lucifer. Forced to share a Word with a Demon Prince whose nature is anathema to her own, Gabriel has suffered from the constant friction in the Symphony, inflicting eternal pains deep in her soul for which there is no treatment save the destruction of her nemesis.
Dominic's Inquisition in the seventh century pushed her a little farther -- her critics say it pushed her over the edge. She abandoned Heaven, returning only occasionally to her Citadel of Fire at the edge of the Marches.
Gabriel is an Ofanite, and like all Ofanim, she must always move, always act. Yet her madness often traps her in a fugue state, and she spends long periods of time fighting off the afflictions that threaten to consume her. It is also in her nature to punish cruelty, and yet Belial, her diametrical opposite, has gone unpunished for millennia.
Each abomination by Belial throws another hot cinder in her eye. Each time the weight of her dementia becomes an anchor, consuming flames gnaw a little bit more at her mind. Gabriel has an indomitable will, and she channels the Divine directly. Perhaps at times this acts as a balm on her psyche, as she understands the Symphony in a way no but Yves can, and possibly sees a future where her suffering is ended. And when she moves, she does so in spectacular fashion, the most dynamic, primordial creature in the universe, spinning away dissonance as she acts with the speed and certainty of God's will.
But what if she began to reach her limits? What if after all these aeons, her celestial nature was finally yielding to the stress?
What if Gabriel Fell?
..........
When the stars threw down their spears,
And water'd heaven with their tears,
Did He smile His work to see?
Did He who made the lamb make thee?
..........
Yves was sitting on a crystal bench, in a crystal dome, illuminated by an infinite number of dazzling rainbows that did not merely fill the air, but seemed to replace it. The hues played across his aged features and somehow cast deeper shadows than could be seen anywhere else in this cathedral of brilliance.
No one had ever intruded upon him before, as he sat at the center of Lucifer's cathedral, but for the first time in ages, an Ofanite came wending its way through the mirrored hallways and drifted into the center dome. It hovered a respectful distance away from the Archangel and waited, unwilling to interrupt his musings despite the urgency of its message.
"She has not Fallen yet," Yves said at last.
Multiple eyes blinked along its rim, then it tilted slightly and the whirring sound it made increased in pitch. "The Council will want to hear that, Master."
Yves nodded. "I will be there shortly."
The Wheel spun in place, simulating a bow, and flitted away, relieved to be dismissed. The Cathedral of Light was a beautiful but sad place. It did not want to contemplate parallels between this fractured cathedral, and the volcano at the edge of Heaven which was now filling with lava.
..........
Tiger, Tiger, burning bright
In the forests of the night,
What immortal hand or eye
Could frame thy fearful symmetry?
William Blake
This is a speculative adventure idea, completely non-canonical, exploring Gabriel's psyche and introducing some other notions of my own. It is particularly suited for experienced PCs.
Rather than a fully-scripted adventure, I am writing this as simply a series of events and elements the GM may use to craft an adventure as he sees fit. I have left a lot of holes and blank spots for you to fill in -- this isn't intended to be something you can print out and run as is. Instead, there are numerous bits and pieces and a few ideas of directions to take at each critical juncture; call it an "Adventure Pizza." (Some gaming magazine coined that term...I like it.)
TIGER, TIGER
=============
Getting the PCs involved:
The state of Gabriel's psychosis has become apparent to everyone, as lava is beginning to bubble up from the heart of her volcano, filling the crater in the center. It is already up to the base of her citadel, and eating away at the foundations. Her Servitors are more than concerned; they are frantic. The Seraphim Council believes that when the lava reaches the rim of the crater and begins spilling over the top, it will mean the end of the Archangel of Fire.
And some of David's Servitors are reporting ominous rumblings, audible deep, deep beneath the Groves....
Obviously, finding Gabriel has become a top priority for virtually the entire Host. There are only two problems: how to do it, and what to do when you do find her.
Angels:
Making the Player Characters the primary search party is left to the inventiveness of the GM. Perhaps they are one of many, and the GM wishes to simply have them be the "lucky" group that finds the dissonant Archangel. Or perhaps they have a special connection that makes them the most likely angels to do the job. Maybe everyone else is busy -- the diabolicals have not failed to notice the increasing glow emanating from Gabriel's volcano....
Demons:
The idea of Gabriel Falling is as frightening as it is delightful to the hordes of the Pit. The Princes are divided as to whether there is anything they should (or can) do to push her over the edge. Kronos senses Gabriel swinging towards her Fate, but she is too complex an entity for him to be able to calculate what will seal it. Lucifer, as is often the case in crisis situations like this, remains silent. So some Princes advocate staying out of her way -- after all, demons showing up and getting in her face might spur her to action, the kind of action that would move her back into Heaven's graces. Others want to know where she is, they want to keep any would-be saviors away from her, and they want to observe her and see if they can figure out what's making her tick, and what will make her snap.
Naturally, the PCs are the ones who get the dubious honor of tracking down the Archangel of Fire. With half the Host on the same assignment, hunting one of the most powerful angels in existence is not a mission to look forward to. But if you could take credit for helping bring Gabriel to the dark side...it's a safe bet that Lucifer himself would reward a feat like that!
BURNING BRIGHT
================
Where is Gabriel?
In corporeal form, she is still sitting entranced on Ayers Rock, in Central Australia. Her ethereal self is in the Far Marches, hiding from the universe and slowly being consumed by dissonance.
Her two "Firemen," Mordekial and Aluriel (see "The Marches"), are both attuned to her. One will stay behind to watch her vessel, with the company of Ulowa, an Elohite of Stone who is the Seneschal of Ayers Rock, while the other leads the group searching for her in the Marches. The only problem is, Gabriel has found her way to the Farthest of the Far Marches, where distance means very little and where knowing her exact location is almost meaningless. Mordekial can track her forever, but she is constantly out of sight; Gabriel is an Ofanite, after all. Who can catch the fastest of the Wheels?
IN THE FORESTS OF THE NIGHT
===========================
In the Farthest Marches, the PCs are pursuing an elusive, magnificent, terrifying and dangerous creature. They should be scared. If they aren't, scare them. There are all kinds of things they can run into far beyond Blandine and Beleth's realms, even before they meet the dissonant Archangel of Fire.
Any Cherub (or Djinn), or the Celestial Song of Affinity can attune to Gabriel's vessel on Earth, and thus trace her in the Marches, but they'll have the same problem as Mordekial, above -- Gabriel is very clearly in danger, but the threat to her safety is herself, and knowing her exact distance in yards and direction in degrees is meaningless in the Far Marches, especially when on the trail of an Ofanite Archangel. ("She's less than one mile ahead -- oh, she just took a step, she's now two thousand miles behind you.") This won't stop Mordekial from chasing her doggedly through the ethereal plane, because he doesn't know what else to do. Mordekial is along for the ride on this stage of the adventure; the GM may involve him or not as he chooses. (Involving him is good if the PCs --presumably angels -- are a little underpowered. Alternatively, he's a good opponent to throw at demonic PCs, accompanied by as many angels as needed to make it a tough fight. If you don't have "The Marches," he is a 15-Force Cherub Master of Divine Knowledge with numerous Destiny and Fire attunements. His twin, Aluriel, is identically endowed.)
How exactly to find Gabriel is an exercise left to the ingenuity of the PCs, but here are some possibilities:
* Invoke her. But unless the PCs come up with a remarkably innovative way to do so -- preferably something that will rouse her from her psychotic breakdown, assume that any invocation attempts fail except on a Divine Intervention. After all, if she isn't answering calls from other Archangels.... (If you want to be really cruel, an Infernal Intervention also brings her to the callers' location....enraged and pushed over the edge -- see "The Demon Princess of Wrath", below.)
* Damage her vessel. This _might_ work. Or she might ignore the destruction of the body she left back on Earth. (No, killing one of her vessels won't put an Archangel in Trauma.) There are two other disadvantages with this method; (1) If it does bring her back to the corporeal plane, she's going to be pissed. Smacking an Archangel's body around, especially one who is already highly unstable, isn't the best way to get her attention. (2) You'll have to contend with Aluriel and Ulowa first. Neither of them are going to let you abuse an Archangel's vessel on holy ground -- it would be dissonant for either of them, though for different reasons.
* Find a native guide. My personal favorite -- but it requires more work on the part of the GM. There are ethereal spirits who can traverse the Far Marches as easily as a tiger can traverse the forest; finding one who will serve as a guide is a challenge. Most of them have been hiding here since the Purification Crusade; they won't have any love of angels, and these are the ethereals who chose to retreat from the waking world entirely rather than bind themselves to Beleth, so demons can't expect any immediate offers of assistance either. Some of the beings out here might not have ever even _met_ a celestial!
If you want to keep with the Australian theme introduced in the opening vignette, some of the spirits of the Dreamtime have probably ranged far and wide through the Marches, even into the Far Marches. They might be able to track Gabriel. Coaxing them to do so is another matter. As described in "The Marches," the ethereal spirits of Australia did not suffer as badly as most during the Purification Crusade, but that doesn't mean they've forgotten being driven away from their Aboriginal homelands by Uriel's Servitors. Ulowa (below) does in fact count a few ethereals as friends, but he'll be reluctant to reveal this -- although his Superior, David, won't much care, Dominic takes a dim view of Seneschals who "go native" and start befriending the original inhabitants of their land. Ulowa doesn't want to have to deal with a Triad of Judgment visiting him and poking around his Tether, nor does he want angels descending on Uluru looking for ethereals to wipe out.
I have provided no information on Aboriginal ethereal spirits. It's a rich mythology to be mined, but I haven't the expertise to write them up in detail for In Nomine, nor the time to do the research right now....
* Find a Servitor of Purity. Yes, the Tsayadim are still lurking on the ethereal plane, and some of them do continue to hunt ethereal spirits all the way into the Far Marches. There probably aren't any celestials with a better knowledge of the mysterious frontiers of the ethereal plane. One of Uriel's ancient Servitors might be able to lead a hunting party to Gabriel. Finding one of the Tsayadim and persuading him to act as guide would be an adventure in itself....
*** If Gabriel is on the verge of Falling, why are the PCs chasing her when every Archangel should be on her case personally? ***
Remember what I said about holes you have to fill in? :)
OK, seriously, maybe:
(A) She can sense the presence of another Superior and zips away at lightspeed. They conclude that only Servitors have a chance of reaching her without driving her off.
(B) They're busy. The Archangels aren't even sure this isn't just Gabriel being flaky, with some diabolicals perhaps trying to pull a hoax that will throw Heaven into disarray. The Princes aren't sure this isn't just Gabriel being flaky, with the angels using the opportunity to get them worked up, turning over stones to see what crawls out. This could all be a hoax. Where is Kobal, anyway?
(c) Omit the scene with Yves, above. It's not general knowledge that Gabriel's cathedral is filling with lava; her Servitors are trying to hush it up, and while most of the Archangels are aware of the situation, they _don't_ want to alert all of Heaven, and especially not the diabolicals. Whether or not some Demon Princes have twigged onto the situation, or suspect something is up with Gabriel, is up to you.
======== Catching the Tiger ========
Assuming the PCs find Gabriel, how do they deal with her?
This the most role-playing intensive part of the adventure. Somehow, the PCs must coax Gabriel back into some semblance of sanity. They must talk her into returning to the corporeal plane, or to Heaven. Whether this is to face judgment, or healing, is up to the GM. Presumably some of the Archangels have a plan in mind. Curing Gabriel, temporarily or permanently, is another blank spot for the GM (and/or the PCs) to fill. But here are some ideas of my own:
* Powerful Songs, akin to the Ethereal Song of Healing, may bring some peace to the Archangel's fractured mind. Either Zadkiel or Novalis might be able to offer healing, if the PCs can persuade Gabriel to go to them.
* Divine Logic can persuade anyone of nearly anything; likewise, Yves himself has in the past proven himself able to talk Gabriel down from one of her psychotic episodes. If the PCs can talk Gabriel into staying put long enough for Yves to have a gentle chat with her, the crisis may be averted.
* She's just been away from heaven too long. Bring her home, and her Servitors will be able to nurse her back to mental health.
* Some of Uriel's Servitors were able to purge other celestials of dissonance and Discord, albeit by very painful means. One of the most ancient of the Tsayadim may still possess this ability, and be capable of scourging Gabriel. First you have to find the Tsayadim. Then you have to talk Gabriel into submitting to this "treatment." No problem....
* Her dissonance has been caused by a failure to take decisive action against Belial. Want to begin an epic new stage in your campaign? Persuade all angels of Fire that it's time to go on crusade against Belial's minions. A few other Archangels would probably be willing to lend their support to that endeavor. Present Gabriel with a vision of her loyal minions, ready to expunge the cause of their mistress' madness from the face of the universe. Heartened by the sight, she shakes off her inertia and returns to Heaven (and Earth), ready to reassume her rightful place in Heaven's Host, or go out in a blaze of glory.
This is, of course, The Big Finale for those who want an epic conclusion. If Gabriel prevails, she may become completely sane again. The cost may weaken her to the point that another Prince takes her out as she's standing over the smoldering remains of Belial. Prepare to deal with the effects of an all-out war between the Archangel of Fire and the Demon Prince of Fire. This fight to the finish could quite possibly ignite the _real_ fight to the finish, Armageddon.
If the PCs are diabolicals, their goal may be to push Gabriel over the edge. That requires even more creativity, and surviving it may just be the feat of a lifetime. If you want to go easy on the diabolical PCs, just assume that if not saved by her followers, Gabriel has already started her descent; it's the PCs' job just to keep the angels away from her, without attracting the Archangel's attention.
Tips on encountering Gabriel:
IF THE PCS WANT TO FIGHT: Destroying Gabriel or dragging her bodily (so to speak) back to the corporeal or celestial plane is an interesting proposition. Decide just how stable and how merciful Gabriel is at the moment. Describe the ensuing battle accordingly, and then let the survivors (if any) know how many Forces they have left.
IF THE PCS PISS OFF GABRIEL: As above, but there are no survivors.
SUPERIOR AGENDAS:
BLANDINE: Blandine will offer all the help she can to those searching for Gabriel. She will even demand that the Guardians assist, and tolerate the presence of any ethereals who might also help.
CHRISTOPHER: Sees Gabriel as a lost child in the woods, albeit a very dangerous one. He'll help any way he can, which isn't much.
DAVID: Deeply concerned at the possibility of losing Gabriel, he will commit his forces to doing everything they can to save her. Angels of Stone will try (in vain) to help Gabriel's Servitors hold back the rising tide of lava in her cathedral. While Gabriel is at Ayers Rock, any major disturbance or attempt to invoke him there will automatically bring David there personally.
DOMINIC: The Archangel of Judgment feels vindicated in his suspicions of Gabriel, and wishes he was not. He will want to bring Gabriel to trial, and have her confined somehow until such time as she is deemed no longer a threat. (In fact, he suspects the best thing to do would be to destroy her, but that may prove impossible...)
ELI: If Eli can be found, he'll express dismay at Gabriel's plight. She is one of mankind's primal inspirations, and for him, a light will go out of the universe if she Falls. Unfortunately, there is little he can do to help directly, but if any of his Servitors have knowledge or skills that might help, he'll order them to do so, even if they are in service to another Archangel.
JANUS: Some change does more harm than good. Losing Gabriel would break his heart, but he knows that his personal presence is unlikely to sway her. He will transport his Servitors instantly anywhere they need to go on the corporeal plane, though.
JEAN: Dismayed that Gabriel has completely taken leave of her senses, he supports Dominic and Laurence; though Gabriel would be a tragic loss, she must not be allowed to inflict chaos in Heaven.
JORDI: Though he has few dealings with Gabriel, he also doesn't want to see the Archangel Fall. There's little he can do to help find her in the Marches; he has many Tethers and Servitors in Australia, though, and they'll be ready for any showdown near Ayers Rock.
KHALID: If Gabriel Falls, it will be a shattering blow to Khalid's faith. He will instruct his Servitors to invoke him if they find her; he will personally try to restore her faith. He is another potential Archangel who might heal her, at least temporarily.
LAURENCE: He stands ready to do what must be done. Gabriel would be a tragic loss, but he has never been able to count on her anyway, so his plans rarely included her. Laurence will try to have Gabriel slain if she does Fall, before Hell gains a new Prince.
MARC: He feels somewhat helpless in this situation, but he will counsel a diplomatic course; if Gabriel is to be saved, it's with calm, reasoned dialogue.
MICHAEL: Like all the other Archangels, Michael wants to prevent Gabriel's Fall, but it has occurred to him that if Gabriel Falls, it will cause enormous disruption in Hell. He quietly prepares his Servitors to prepare to take advantage of the situation if it does happen.
NOVALIS: Enormously saddened, Novalis will under no circumstances condone a violent approach. She implores her Servitors to bring Gabriel to her, so she can bring some peace to the Archangel's mind.
YVES: Yves also will try a reasoned approach -- he asks his Servitors to bring Gabriel to him.
ZADKIEL: Her natural inclination to protect Gabriel is at odds with her need to protect Heaven, even if it is _from_ Gabriel. If Gabriel can be saved, Zadkiel will do all she can to help, including shielding her from Dominic. If Gabriel Falls, though, Zadkiel will join Laurence, Jean and Dominic in seeking her quick destruction.
{The agendas of the Princes are below, following the next section....)
===IF GABRIEL FALLS===
If the PCs' efforts are in vain, the Archangel of Fire will Fall. This obviously will have a significant impact on your campaign.
Gabriel's Servitors are enormously loyal; they love their Superior, as few Archangels are loved. If she Falls, it is quite likely that many of them will Fall with her. If any PCs are Servitors of Fire, the choice should be theirs as to whether they will follow Gabriel to Hell. (You will especially have to keep in mind the effects on such PCs, since many players might object to having their Superior altered so radically; it will make a major change in their character!)
Soldekai, Gabriel's most powerful and trusted Servitor (see The Marches), will petition for the Word of Fire. The Seraphim Council will spend some time (possibly days, possibly years) deliberating. The outcome may largely depend on the battle between Gabriel and Belial (see below). Having seen what happened to Gabriel, no one will want to put a newer angel in the same position, but if Belial is crushed by the new Princess, Soldekai might be deemed able to take over the Word. Upon assumption of the Word, he will become the new Archangel of Fire. Details of that transition are left to the GM. It will take him a long time to prove himself. Gaining the respect of Gabriel's people will take longer than it took Laurence when he replaced Uriel as commander of the Armies of God; partly because Soldekai doesn't have the reputation Laurence did, and partly because he wasn't appointed directly by God.
As for Gabriel...
Lucifer is faced with an interesting dilemma. Gabriel lost her Word when she Fell. She is now even more of a raging psychopath than she was before. She is obviously Princess material, and she brought a lot of new demons with her, but while it was amusing to have two Superiors with the same Word, it would be less amusing to have two _Princes_ with the same Word.
Gabriel is now busily trying to kill Belial. Word or not, she's a former Archangel, and she might very well succeed in finishing the job she couldn't do before. Some of the Hell's royalty are pleading with Lucifer to destroy Gabriel, or at least rein her in. He has other ideas.
He makes a Gabriel a Princess, and declares that he will not interfere in the power struggle between Gabriel and Belial, so long as it does not spill out of Sheol into other areas of Hell. This is evolution in action.
(Some demons wonder privately if Lucifer _could_ rein in Gabriel if he tried.)
Gabriel's Word? That which she struggled against for so long, and to which she finally succumbed..... Wrath.
GABRIEL
DEMON PRINCESS OF WRATH
"The world is raging out of control, and I will fan the flames!"
Gabriel knows she's Fallen, and has completely surrendered to her nature. It is a relief, in many ways, to finally unleash thousands of years of pent-up anger. Now the Symphony will tremble at her fury; now she'll show that snivelling toad Belial what she was holding back all this time! She has no love for her new peers, but as long as they stay out of her way, she's willing to focus most of her rage on her enemies. This includes those of her former peers who persecuted her - Dominic is at the top of the list. She also now realizes that that smug bastard Yves deliberately set her up, and has been standing back nodding and clucking sadly as she took the heat for the Islam debacle ever since. Khalid was probably in on that too. Laurence has been scheming all along to knife her in the back as soon as she stepped out of line, and she never trusted Michael in the first place. Blandine and Novalis and all the other goody-goody Archangels make her sick.
In short, Gabriel has become a raving paranoid hatemonger. She has it out for everyone, and she just wants to burn, burn, burn. In odd moments she will revert to an almost calm state, and in those moments, she might recognize a former friend and experience regret. This is unlikely to last more than a few seconds, however.
She still channels the Divine, but now the message comes to her as a garbled bellow, searing her mind much as the conflict with Belial did at one time. She knows God too is out to get her, and He's instructed all his angelic slaves to punish His wayward Servitor who dared to step out of line. Sometimes she may be seen with tears of fire streaming down her face, pleading for forgiveness...other times she rages, shaking her fist at the heavens above and cursing God, daring Him to come get her. It is in these moods when she is most frightening. The other Princes would love to see Gabriel become sane enough that she could process the information she gets through her divine link, but it's not a subject any of them dares broach with her.
In the immediate future, Gabriel will be waging an all-out war against Belial. Hell isn't big enough for the two of them. While she (barely) heeds Lucifer's admonition not to take the battle to other Principalities, she has made camp in Sheol, at the top of a mountain looking across at Belial's citadel, and her followers are gathering. Many of them are Belial's former followers, mostly those who'd been out of favor with their old Prince and now hope they're backing the winning horse. Gabriel's personality is such that she attracts many ambitious, eager young demons to her cause. Most of her new following is made up of younger diabolicals, but she has a solid core of veteran angels of Fire, now demons of Wrath. Belial hasn't mounted a direct assault on her encampment yet; he's trying to recruit support from the other Princes. He's very clearly fighting for his life, and the outcome of this battle will rock Hell. Belial will have numbers on his side, and a home turf advantage, but Gabriel has sheer power, and fanatically devoted followers. What will really determine the outcome, however, will be how the other Princes line up...
DISSONANCE CONDITIONS
It is dissonant for Servitors of Wrath to restrain their anger. If anything provokes their fury, they must make their displeasure known. A violent fit of rage isn't mandatory, (unless that's what the demon really feels like doing, in which case stifling that impulse is dissonant), but any who feel anger and don't express it are going against the Word of Wrath. No slight may be ignored; demons of Wrath must retaliate for any transgression or suffer dissonance. This dissonance can be erased if the demon bides his time and strikes at a later date. Other demons are careful about antagonizing Gabriel's Servitors; they know that if you cross a demon of Wrath, you've now got an enemy who will be carrying dissonance around until he pays you back.
BAND ATTUNEMENTS
Balseraphs
Balseraphs of Wrath may add their Celestial Forces to any resonance roll that will cause the victim anger if he believes the lie.
Djinn
When these Djinn get angry, their Wrathful nature overwhelms their Band dissonance conditions. They can harm the objects of their attunements, but _only_ if they do so while angry at the victim (and thus fulfilling their Superior's dissonance conditions). Furthermore, if a Djinn of Wrath has become devoted to one of his subjects due to a failed resonance roll, he gets another Will roll to break that fixation any time he gets angry at the subject.
Calabim
Calabim of Wrath are scary. They add their Ethereal Forces to their resonance rolls _and_ to the check digit of a successful roll when they're angry (and it doesn't take much to get a Calabite angry...) However, they suffer _double_ dissonance for choosing to absorb a failed resonance roll rather than unleashing it elsewhere!
Habbalah
Habbalah of Wrath add their Ethereal Forces to any attempt to inflict Fury -- and anyone who is already angry does not get a resistance roll! They do suffer double dissonance for absorbing Fury (but not other effects) if it is resisted.
Lilim
Angry people are transparent to Lilim of Wrath; they can attempt to read such a person's Needs without eye contact, and add their Ethereal Forces to the roll.
Shedim
Anger makes people very vulnerable to these Shedim, who subtract their Celestial Forces from an angry victim's Will roll to resist possession. If the victim has the Angry Discord, add the level of that Discord to the Shedite's check digit on a successful possession!
Impudites
Rather than charming victims, Impudites of Wrath can choose to make them angry instead. There is no specific game effect, but the victim instantly acquires a bad mood. These Impudites can also attempt to steal Essence from angry subjects without charming them first.
SERVITOR ATTUNEMENTS
Blinded by Rage
For 1 Essence, this attunement allows the demon to work himself into an almost mindless frenzy, and do the same to anyone who is currently under the effects of the Angry, Berserk or Murderous Discords. While blinded by rage (as long as the demon wishes when applied to himself, or for the duration that the Discord is in effect for others), the subject will be unable to act in a calm or rational manner, but he will be immune to _any_ other celestial effects that would alter his mental state -- this includes the Songs of Harmony, and many resonance effects (including possession attempts).
Smite
Gabriel still grants this attunement, but now it's fuelled by rage, rather than fire. It works as before, but the demon can only use it when angry (not that this is usually a problem for Servitors of Wrath...)
DISTINCTIONS
Knight of Rage
The demon can tell at a glance what is the easiest way to make someone angry. He also detects those with the Angry Discord on sight.
Captain of the Screaming Hordes
The demon has an uncanny ability to direct anger without lessening it; he can communicate and "reason" with anyone who is angry, even berserk. A detached part of the angry person's mind will consider what the demon says and react as the subject would when not suffering from a fit of temper -- but his rage will continue unabated. He can get an intelligent answer to a technical question from someone in the middle of a berserk rage, or lead frothing hordes of enraged warriors and give them detailed tactical commands which will be followed precisely, even as they continue frothing.
Baron of Smoldering Fury
The demon knows at a glance every lingering source of anger tucked away in a person's psyche. Every grudge, every resentment, every instance of unachieved vengeance, gives the demon information that can be used to rekindle animosity or push someone into a mindless rage.
RELATIONS
Gabriel hates all the other Princes. Furfur she deigns to tolerate, because his passion for her is useful and she needs a few allies. Belial, of course, she has sworn to destroy. Everyone else she ignores as long as they stay out of her way.
Allied: No one
Associated: Furfur
Hostile: Everyone else.
Enemy: Belial
Below is how the other Princes view her, both in general, and specifically how they line up in the current Gabriel-vs.-Belial deathmatch.
ANDREALPHUS: "Mmmmm.....simply scrumptious. And much too hot to handle. Stay away from her or you'll get burned." Andrealphus won't shed any tears if Gabriel takes out Belial, but he's doing his best to stay out of the conflict.
ASMODEUS: "The Host didn't trust her -- I see no reason to. She is an unstable ally at best, and must be brought into line." Asmodeus would have been happier without this disturbance in the status quo. Since Lucifer sanctioned the contest, he is willing to wait and see who survives.
BAAL: "Belial I can work with; Gabriel is beyond insane. I doubt we'll be able to make any better use of her than Heaven did." Baal is officially supporting Belial; he is not, however, committing as much of his resources as Belial would like.
BELETH: "She _is_ Heaven's nightmare, and she even scares me a little. I have no intention of getting close to her, but I think she'd be an improvement over that simpleton Belial." Beleth won't side with either Prince -- she's too busy trying to take advantage of the loss of Gabriel's forces on the Heavenly border of the Marches.
BELIAL: "KILL THE BITCH!" Belial is hyperkinetic; he's fighting for his life and he knows it. He is very, very intense, and cannier than he's ever been; he's also just a little bit frightened, which is causing him to assume that every Prince who doesn't support him is against him. He'll remember who sided with him and who didn't, if he survives.
FLEURITY: "They're both nutjobs, actually. Between the two of them, Belial is probably marginally more sane, but God obviously sent Gabriel because we needed her more than Heaven did." Fleurity's Habbalite delusion has led him to view Gabriel as a sign, so while he would have better dealings with Belial, he's secretly rooting for Gabriel.
FURFUR: "Now _this_ babe is Hardcore! And Belial's pissing in his asbestos undies -- what's not to love? Help her out and kick some ass!" Furfur is in love. Gabriel is his new role model, as an ancient, elemental personification of a significant part of his Word. Which will be a problem later, actually, because while Furfur is infatuated with Gabriel now, eventually they are going to suffer friction, and not the kind Furfur is hoping for.
HAAGENTI: "I never liked Belial anyway; it won't bother me if she eats him for lunch." Haagenti is enjoying seeing Belial pressed so sorely; he is indifferent towards Gabriel.
KOBAL: "The greatest joke anyone could have played on Hell, and I had nothing to do with it! Gabriel's just as humorless as Belial, but she's a lot more fun to laugh at...from a distance." Kobal thinks this entire situation is hilarious. Gabriel is rattling everyone's cage, and Heaven is hysterical. He will not support her actively, however - in fact, he will play off both sides as long as he can.
KRONOS: "Never before has an Archangel succumbed so completely to her Fate. However, Belial is easier to work with, buffoon that he is. It is more important that Heaven has lost Gabriel than that we should gain her." Kronos is happy that Gabriel Fell, but he has no desire to make room for her in the infernal power structure. He will be supporting Belial, but if Gabriel wins nonetheless, he'll have no qualms about accepting her new place.
LILITH: "Somehow, it seems....wrong. I admired Gabriel, in a way. But now she's just another Demon Prince, and not one of the more cooperative ones." Belial owes Lilith a few favors; Gabriel owes her nothing. Lilith would just as soon not have all the favors she's collected from Belial's minions over the years, as well as all Lilim of Fire, get extinguished. She'll happily support Belial in return for even more indebtedness. She'd deal with Gabriel too, but Gabriel isn't about to deal with her.
MALPHAS: "Old alliances burn down, new ones rise from the ashes. This is our opportunity to seize territory, while those two maniacs are trying to kill each other!" Malphas will support one Prince, then another, trying to keep them at each other's throats for as long as possible. He'll also try to get other Princes involved, especially Princes he'd like to see weakened.
MAMMON: "Belial is a little cracked, but Gabriel is stark raving mad! We don't need to screw with the status quo." Mammon would normally offer his support to the highest bidder, but he sees more long-term profit in keeping Belial in power.
NYBBAS: "Belial's ratings are still better than Gaby's; the babe's got definite star potential, but who needs an up-and-comer when Belial still burns up the screen just fine?" Another Prince who finds it easier to deal with a known quantity, and isn't thrilled at the prospect of dealing with another unstable psychopath, Nybbas will be casting Belial in a much more sympathetic light for the duration of the conflict, while portraying Gabriel as a dangerous, raving lunatic (for once, he won't need to do much editing to create the image he wants).
SAMINGA: "I've got no use for Belial, and less use for Gabriel. I don't trust her; she's been an angel for too long. I'd be happy to see them kill each other." Saminga will not actively root for either side, but he might be persuaded to support Belial, if he can be shown some advantage in doing so.
VALEFOR: "How audacious! Gabriel is trying to steal Belial's Principality right out from under him! Personally, I'd just stay out of the way, and watch for good looting opportunities." Valefor is actually rooting for Gabriel, just because he finds her more interesting, but he might be talked into making an outward show of support for Belial.
VAPULA: "Dreadful, just dreadful. Those two are sowing more disturbances.... Personally, I think Gabriel's where she belongs, but I'd rather deal with Belial. Gabriel's insane, and who wants to deal with a crazy person?" (he says, most earnestly). Vapula does not share Fleurity's convictions, and would just as soon see Gabriel snuffed, now that she's abandoned Heaven.
BASIC RITES * Throw a violent temper tantrum in which you smash the contents of a room or inflict serious injury to others.
* Provoke someone else into losing control of his temper.
* Exact vengeance against someone who crossed you that is out of proportion to the original slight.
INVOCATION MODIFIERS:
+1 A child throwing a temper tantrum.
+2 Someone verbally or physically abusing another person in a fit of anger.
+3 A dedicated pacifist driven into a violent rage.
+4 A passionate orator inciting a crowd to violence.
+5 A rioting mob.
+6 A senseless mass slaughter being undertaken by enraged or vengeful killers.
Back to the INC Mainpage.
Back to the Adventures page.
Elizabeth McCoy <arcangel@io.com>
Archangel of Archives