From owner-in_nomine-digest@lists.io.com Thu Nov 20 23:05:36 1997 Return-Path: Received: from lists.io.com (lists.io.com [199.170.88.15]) by pyramid.sjgames.com (8.8.5/8.8.5) with ESMTP id XAA07716 for ; Thu, 20 Nov 1997 23:05:36 -0600 Received: (from majordom@localhost) by lists.io.com (8.8.7/8.8.5) id WAA18640 for in_nomine-digest-outgoing; Thu, 20 Nov 1997 22:54:34 -0600 Date: Thu, 20 Nov 1997 22:54:34 -0600 Message-Id: <199711210454.WAA18640@lists.io.com> From: owner-in_nomine-digest@lists.io.com (in_nomine-digest) To: in_nomine-digest@lists.io.com Subject: in_nomine-digest V1 #480 Reply-To: in_nomine-l@lists.io.com Sender: owner-in_nomine-digest@lists.io.com Errors-To: owner-in_nomine-digest@lists.io.com Precedence: bulk in_nomine-digest Thursday, November 20 1997 Volume 01 : Number 480 In this digest: IN> A burning question IN> What Choir was Uriel? IN> An angel, a vignette, and two adventure seeds Re: IN> What Choir was Uriel? Re: IN> [BUFFY] the Slayer Project, Giles Revisited Re: IN> What Choir was Uriel? Re: IN> An angel, a vignette, and two adventure seeds Re: IN> A burning question Re: IN> What choir was Uriel? Re: IN> A burning question Re: IN> A burning question IN> IN Christmas tunes... Re: Fluff (RE: IN> Superior's Hearts) RE: IN> A burning question Re: IN> A burning question Re: IN> What choir was Uriel? IN> Re: Fluff (Betting Pool on Andre's bright Word) IN> Song: Divine Touch (feedback please) Re: IN> Song: Divine Touch (feedback please) IN> Strange Question Re: IN> Strange Question Re: IN> Superior's Hearts Re: IN> Strange Question Re: IN> Superior's Hearts IN> Seraphic Superiors... Re: IN> Introducing the Angelisco Re: IN> Superior's Hearts ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Wed, 19 Nov 1997 21:51:25 -0500 (EST) From: MUG282@aol.com Subject: IN> A burning question One if the most intersting concepts in Angle type writtings is METATRON, how does that concept fit into In Nomine if at all... I saw it mentioned once in a short story concerning Lucifer but that's it. If you could answer this for me I would be most appreciative- Thanx...MUG282@aol.com. ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 19 Nov 1997 21:53:11 -0500 From: David Edelstein Subject: IN> What Choir was Uriel? >>>Uriel was the first angel to become a Malakite. His original Choir? Unknown. Seraph would be a likely candidate.<<< That would be my choice. - -David ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 19 Nov 1997 22:18:46 EST From: Neel Krishnaswami Subject: IN> An angel, a vignette, and two adventure seeds Hello again, This week's NPC is a minor word-bound angel, with a short background vignette and a pair of adventure seeds featuring him. I've also gotten enough of my expanded writeup of Michael done that I feel safe in announcing that I'll post it in a week or two. - ---- Achmetha ("Brother of Death") Elohite Servitor of War Friend of the Fighters Angel of Casualties Corporeal Forces 2 -- Strength 4 Agility 4 Ethereal Forces 3 -- Intelligence 6 Precision 6 Celestial Forces 5 -- Perception 12 Will 8 Vessel: Human Male/2 Skills: Ethereal Harmony/6, Corporeal Healing/4 Ethereal Healing/4, Ethereal Tongues/5 Skills: Fighting/4, Dodge/6, Emote/6, Detect Lies/6 Attunements: Elohim of War, Mercurian of War Distinctions: Friend of the Fighters Discord: Merciful/6 (Achmetha is supposed to record the casualties of war, not add to them. He *gets* a point of dissonance for overcoming his Discord!) Artifacts: The Book -- a book in which every casualty (direct and otherwise) of every conflict in history is recorded. Normally it gets its reports of casualties directly from the Symphony, but sometimes when there is heavy celestial disturbance, Achmetha needs to personally show up and find out who died and why. The book is a manifestation of Achmetha's word, and it costs him 1 Essence to look up something in the book. Others can use it at a cost of 3 Essence (5 for infernals), but it cannot be permanently taken away from him, and the pages will go blank if he is soul-killed. The Story: Back in the old days, when David was first showing mankind how to pile rocks on top of each other and Dominic was having a little talk with Hammurabi, a nameless Elohite of War was wandering through the little space between the Tigris and the Euphrates. It watched humans savagely butcher each other in pointless disputes, more often than not with no infernal prompting. And so it came to the objective conclusion that war was a great evil. Deeply troubled, it returned to Heaven and went to the Groves, where the Archangel of War was waiting. "Michael, I have travelled on Earth for many days and seen many things that trouble me," said the young angel. "Tell me what you have seen, and I shall try to explain it," replied the old seraph. "I have travelled on Earth for many days, walking between the Tigris and the Euphrates, in the lands where David teaches men to build with stone and Dominic teaches men how to live by laws. And this is good; it is good that men have shelter from the storm and the wild beasts, and it is good that men are ruled by law rather than whim. But the word of war: all I have seen of it is killing and death, and these are things of evil, and not of God." The angel of War listened, and when the Elohite finished, Michael spoke. "It is true that war entails death, and misery, but the good must be defended from the evil, and ofttimes the price of peace is higher than we would like to pay." The Elohite nodded, and asked, "But the suffering remains evil?" Michael said, "Sometimes killing is needful, but I will agree that human suffering is offensive to the eyes of God." "Then," said the Elohite, "your word brings evil, for there is no war without suffering." The Elohite frowned, and continued. "But God is good, and it was He who gave you the word of War. The paradox troubles me." The archangel of War gave the younger angel a speculative look, and then he asked, "If I told you that I agreed with your reasoning, but that it was irrelevant because God has commanded me to war, would you continue to serve me?" The Elohite averted his eyes from Michael, and in a very soft voice, he said, "No. I would not." The archangel of War uncoiled his serpentine mass until he rose above the highest towers of Heaven, and spread his wings so wide that they blotted out the Sun. Eyes blazing with divine lightning and in a voice louder than thunder, Michael demanded: CAN YOU DEFY ME NOW, KNOWING I COULD DESTROY YOU IN AN INSTANT? The Elohite took half a step backward, but then he straightened, and very calmly said, "I will not obey blindly, though you may erase me from the Symphony." And suddenly Michael had veiled his power again. "Good," he said, "you are indeed qualified for the word of Casualties. I had planned on giving it you much earlier, but the Council demanded this last test." Achmetha -- he now realized that was his name -- looked at Michael in wonderment. "And what are my duties?" he asked. Michael smiled, and said, "Your duty is to record all the suffering and death war causes, so that on the Last Day I can ask God the reason for every wrong caused by my word." Adventure Seeds: Seed #1: Sometimes even angels forget the meaning of subtlety, and cause a *really huge* disturbance in the Symphony. Maybe you want to remind the players that there are other people paying attention to what's going on, and that the value of a human life doesn't depend on how much 'screen time' the NPC gets. Have Achmetha show up and gently quiz the angels on the names, jobs, families and lives of the people they killed and injured. If they don't know, well, it looks really bad that /angels of the Lord/ aren't paying attention to the consequences of their actions. But Achmetha is a reasonable angel; rather than letting Dominic and their Superiors in on what happened, he's willing to let things slide if they'll help him find out who the victims were. Not just names; the PCs will have to talk to grieving widows, shattered lovers and shocked friends. It won't be easy or pleasant, but they should have thought about that *ahead of time*, right? If they show genuine contrition and repentance, they might even make a real friend in Achmetha. His book contains the circumstances of every casualty in every war, including the War. An enterprising young angel can surely make good use of that information. Primarily, though, this is a way to remind the PCs why they should act like they're on the side of the angels, and to tie them tightly enough into their setting that next time they'll think twice about breaking out the C4. Adventure Seed #2: This one is more fun from an infernal perspective. It turns, of course, on Achmetha's book. Since the War is a subset of War in general, the casualties caused by divine/infernal battling are recorded in Achemtha's book. Including, as it happens, the ambush and murder of the newly word-bound demon of Glory at the hands of Baal's servitors. If positive proof of Baal's treachery can be obtained, then he can be blackmailed by threatening to show the evidence to Asmodeus. (A rift between Asmodeus and Baal? Who could benefit, hmm? But wait, there's more!) But this info has a short half-life. The demonic word of Glory was a hotly- contested one, with several candidates advanced by multiple Princes. Soon, Lucifer will appoint a new demon of Glory, and Baal's actions will merely be taken as evidence of evolution in action. But at this instant, while Hell is bereft of a demon of Glory, it's treachery. (If this seems illogical and contradictory, well, yes.) No, the PC demons aren't the ones assigned to *whack* Achmetha and grab the book; that would be far too easy. The PCs' Princes don't want (or *say* they don't want) a fight between Asmodeus and Baal just this instant. No, the PCs are the ones ordered to *protect* the angel. Well, just let the Malakim of War know what's up, right? Good plan, except that the Malakim of War Achmetha usually hangs with have been called to an emergency in Azerbaijan. How the PCs will explain their mission to an angelic servitor of War is left as an excerise for the servitors of Kobal. Servitors of the Game will note that protecting an angel from death is treason. (Servitors of the Game will *also* be ordered to protect Achmetha, since Asmodeus doesn't want a break with Baal right now.) - ---- Neel Krishnaswami neelk@alum.mit.edu ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 19 Nov 1997 21:00:42 -0700 (MST) From: Kingsley Lintz Subject: Re: IN> What Choir was Uriel? > >>>Uriel was the first angel to become a Malakite. His original Choir? > Unknown. Seraph would be a likely candidate.<<< > That would be my choice. How about Kyriotate? Uriel wasn't recalled...Uriel IS *ALL* of the Malakim... (Heh heh. Nah.) ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 19 Nov 1997 22:53:32 -0500 From: Frank Lazar Subject: Re: IN> [BUFFY] the Slayer Project, Giles Revisited >I should really know better than to post Slayer Project chapters the day a >new episode airs. There are some minor updates to the Divine Players >chapter: > Given the new revelation about Gile's past as "Ripper", a more apropo description might be that of a redeemed Hellsworn Sorcerer, or perhaps one still struggling for redemption. - ----------------------------------------------------------------------- | _ | | We are dreamers, shapers, singers and makers. /_\ | | We study the mysteries of laser and circuit, // \\ | | Crystal and scanner, holographic demons, \\ //___\\ | | And invocations of equations. \\ // \\ | | \\__// \\ | | These are the tools we employ. And we know... many things. \\ | | \\ | | | Frank Lazar http://www.interactive.net/~fmlazar | \\ | - ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 19 Nov 1997 23:53:34 +0000 From: "Nathaniel Eliot" Subject: Re: IN> What Choir was Uriel? > > > Uriel was the first angel to become a Malakite. His original > > > Choir? Unknown. Seraph would be a likely candidate. > > That would be my choice. > How about Kyriotate? Uriel wasn't recalled...Uriel IS *ALL* of the > Malakim... (Heh heh. Nah.) That's sick and twisted, you know. The really sick thing is, I can *almost* see it happening in my game. `Twod confuse the fuck out of any players I get, esp if they are playing Malakim at the time. Nathaniel Eliot temujin9@ix.netcom.com "From where do you come barbarian, Crow: You mean you're a prostitute and you don't know from where guys-- Mike: Don't make me wash your mouth out with soap. http://brie.bmsc.washington.edu/people/merritt/books/Eye_of_Argon.html ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 19 Nov 1997 23:50:31 +0000 From: "Nathaniel Eliot" Subject: Re: IN> An angel, a vignette, and two adventure seeds > Achmetha ("Brother of Death") > Elohite Servitor of War > Friend of the Fighters > Angel of Casualties I like it, a lot. It fits well into both standard In Nomine and my particular offshoot of it <1>, provides a good way to reign in H/K <2> and random violence angels, and provides good potential for plot lines all over. Especially with Michael; he and Achmetha are going to load their Celestial undergarments when they find out what exactly God (possibly) is and does <3>. <1> Currently low contrast with the tint all screwy. The vertical hold is a bit twitchy, too. God's an Ethereal, Lucifer never fell, Enki may or may not be diabolic, and you don't even ask about Janus/Valefor. <2> Hunter/Killer - specifically, characters who solve any problem by methodically placing lead in anyone who is related to the problem, as well as any witnesses. If that's what you want, play Shadowrun... <3> Ask if you care. Nathaniel Eliot temujin9@ix.netcom.com "From where do you come barbarian, Crow: You mean you're a prostitute and you don't know from where guys-- Mike: Don't make me wash your mouth out with soap. http://brie.bmsc.washington.edu/people/merritt/books/Eye_of_Argon.html ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 20 Nov 1997 00:39:46 -0500 From: The Other Chris Subject: Re: IN> A burning question MUG282@aol.com wrote: > > One if the most intersting concepts in Angle type writtings is METATRON, how > does that concept fit into In Nomine if at all... I saw it mentioned once in > a short story concerning Lucifer but that's it. If you could answer this for > me I would be most appreciative- Thanx...MUG282@aol.com. C'mon Beth, that's two of us who want to know now. Actually, I had a thought (ho ho, how very droll!)that the different manifestations of God that featured in Pyramid ages ago (sorry guys, can't remember the issue number), could be adapted to become the faces of the Metatron instead (the idea of God making a personal appearance has never sat well with me). If I were to have the Metatron in the game, it would be as a kind of remote tool for God to use when he wanted to talk to people directly. It's the closest He could come to direct contact without destroying the person he wanted to talk to. the Metatron itself would be a personalityless construct with no mind of its own. Terry Pratchet and Neil Gaiman described the Metatron as "The Voice of God" in "Good Omens", and I think this would work very well. It could be used to explain those Biblical incidences where God is supposed to have appeared directly to individuals. I could do more on this if people are interested. TOC ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 19 Nov 1997 01:02:17 -0500 From: "Thomas Davidson" Subject: Re: IN> What choir was Uriel? > From: Elizabeth McCoy > To: in_nomine-l@lists.io.com > Subject: Re: IN> What choir was Uriel? > Date: Wednesday, November 19, 1997 2:31 PM > > At 12:05 AM -0500 11/19/97, Perry M. Lloyd wrote: > >This is for the canon masters. > > > >About Uriel, what choir was he? I assume Malakim, like Laurence and David, > >and not Seraph, like Michael and Dominic. Although the Dommie-Uriel seems > >plausible. > > Uriel was the first angel to become a Malakite. His original Choir? > Unknown. Seraph would be a likely candidate. > I thought that choirs/bands were something that you *were*, not something you *become*. Perhaps Malakim are an exception to that? Thomas Davidson tdavidso@suffolk.lib.ny.us MUSIC: Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Rolling Stones, Rush, Jimi Hendrix GAMES: Champions (old and new), In Nomine, Nephilim TV: The X-Files, The Simpsons, Superman, The Tick, The Animaniacs OTHER: Religion, Philosophy, mysticism, the runes, the Tarot, writing ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 20 Nov 1997 04:18:03 -0200 From: "Cristiano Guião de Freitas" Subject: Re: IN> A burning question > > > C'mon Beth, that's two of us who want to know now. > Three :) > Actually, I had a thought (ho ho, how very droll!)that the different > manifestations of God that featured in Pyramid ages ago (sorry guys, > can't remember the issue number), could be adapted to become the faces > > of the Metatron instead (the idea of God making a personal appearance > has never sat well with me). > If I were to have the Metatron in the game, it would be as a kind of > remote tool for God to use when he wanted to talk to people directly. > It's the closest He could come to direct contact without destroying > the > person he wanted to talk to. the Metatron itself would be a > personalityless construct with no mind of its own. Terry Pratchet and > Neil Gaiman described the Metatron as "The Voice of God" in "Good > Omens", and I think this would work very well. It could be used to > explain those Biblical incidences where God is supposed to have > appeared > directly to individuals. > I could do more on this if people are interested. > > TOC Oh Yes Please!!!!!!! Cris (The Brazilian One) - -- "Ancient spirits of evil, transform this decayed form to Mumm-ra! the ever-living!" ---Mumm-ra, the ever-living ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 20 Nov 1997 08:57:43 +0100 (MET) From: David Skogsberg Subject: Re: IN> A burning question On Thu, 20 Nov 1997, The Other Chris wrote: [Metatron] > If I were to have the Metatron in the game, it would be as a kind of > remote tool for God to use when he wanted to talk to people directly. > It's the closest He could come to direct contact without destroying the > person he wanted to talk to. the Metatron itself would be a Ah, an Emissary Device (read _A Fire Upon The Deep_ by Vernor Vinge to catch my drift - what the heck, read it anyway: it's a damned good book). cd "In the beginning ARPA created the ARPANET. And the ARPANET was without form and void. And darkness was upon the deep. And the spirit of ARPA moved upon the face of the network and ARPA said, "Let there be a protocol," and there was a protocol. And ARPA saw that it was good. And ARPA said, "Let there be more protocols," and it was so. And ARPA saw that it was good. And ARPA said, "Let there be more networks," and it was so." -sir.steward - -- cd skogsberg | d97skog@dtek.chalmers.se Starving Freshthing at Chalmers University, Dept. of Computer Science and Technology ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 20 Nov 1997 03:11:52 -0500 From: "bruce dykes" Subject: IN> IN Christmas tunes... Well, it is this Christmas season, and Shadowcat is wondering what kind of music is heard by celestials in the IN universe during the holiday season. Well, Kobal has the Christmas Lounge open in Shal-Mari for all eternity, where every other song played is "It's always Christmas in Heaven." (see Monty Python's "Meaning of Life" for the Christmas Lounge) Meanwhile, a favorite holiday tune among the more terrestrially focused demons is Spinal Tap's "Christmas With the Devil": "The elves are dressed in leather, the angels are in chains, Christmas with the Devil" Bruce Impudite Captain of Cross-Licensing bdykes@intac.com ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 20 Nov 1997 08:41:18 -0500 From: johnk@lucent.com (John Karakash - Lucent ASCC) Subject: Re: Fluff (RE: IN> Superior's Hearts) > > Wrong and right are relative terms. To wit, any action I get > >a cut of has got to be 'right'. ;) > > Oh, well, if *that's* what it would take... Hm. I'd have to > disqualify you from the pool anyway. A three-way split of the take, > between thou and I and David? That sounds good! I think I'll invest mine in chocolate chips (it's baking season.... mmmm!) - -- ___________________________________________________ / \ |John Karakash - Lucent Technologies (formerly AT&T) | | (919)380-4629 | | | | The power to tax involves the power to destroy. | | -Chief Justice Marshall | \___________________________________________________/ ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 20 Nov 1997 09:31:14 -0800 From: "Steven Feldon (Exchange)" Subject: RE: IN> A burning question My co-GM and I, on a lark, went back to the creation and called Yves "The Knowledge of God", Michael was, pre-War, "The Hand of God", and Metatron was "The Voice of God." He showed up twice in our campaign and only spoke one word, but when he did, a new Wordbound angel came into existence. (Malaki, the Angel of Honor, if you must know.) Looked like a short, bald man dressed in white, with orator's lips, a willing smile, and a way of not having answering questions. . . . steve -----Original Message----- From: The Other Chris [SMTP:otherchris@erols.com] Sent: Wednesday, November 19, 1997 9:40 PM To: in_nomine-l@lists.io.com Subject: Re: IN> A burning question MUG282@aol.com wrote: > > One if the most intersting concepts in Angle type writtings is METATRON, how > does that concept fit into In Nomine if at all... I saw it mentioned once in > a short story concerning Lucifer but that's it. If you could answer this for > me I would be most appreciative- Thanx...MUG282@aol.com. C'mon Beth, that's two of us who want to know now. Actually, I had a thought (ho ho, how very droll!)that the different manifestations of God that featured in Pyramid ages ago (sorry guys, can't remember the issue number), could be adapted to become the faces of the Metatron instead (the idea of God making a personal appearance has never sat well with me). If I were to have the Metatron in the game, it would be as a kind of remote tool for God to use when he wanted to talk to people directly. It's the closest He could come to direct contact without destroying the person he wanted to talk to. the Metatron itself would be a personalityless construct with no mind of its own. Terry Pratchet and Neil Gaiman described the Metatron as "The Voice of God" in "Good Omens", and I think this would work very well. It could be used to explain those Biblical incidences where God is supposed to have appeared directly to individuals. I could do more on this if people are interested. TOC ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 20 Nov 1997 13:49:34 -0500 From: Elizabeth McCoy Subject: Re: IN> A burning question At 12:39 AM -0500 11/20/97, The Other Chris wrote: >MUG282@aol.com wrote: >> >>One if the most intersting concepts in Angle type writtings is METATRON,[...] > >C'mon Beth, that's two of us who want to know now. Hmph. Okay. There's a brief mention of him in the APG. Unless something changed after I saw the draft, he's dead. O:( Poor thing. That said, feel free to create non-canon versions to your hearts' content. - --emccoy@nh.ultranet.com // arcangel@io.com In Nomine Line Editor GURPS, Roleplayers, In Nomine stuff; Art: http://www.io.com/~arcangel/ ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 20 Nov 1997 13:49:04 -0500 From: Elizabeth McCoy Subject: Re: IN> What choir was Uriel? At 1:02 AM -0500 11/19/97, Thomas Davidson wrote: >> Uriel was the first angel to become a Malakite. His original Choir? >> Unknown. Seraph would be a likely candidate. > >I thought that choirs/bands were something that you *were*, not something >you *become*. Perhaps Malakim are an exception to that? At the Fall, yes. Malakim did not exist before the Fall. They originated from (as?) those angels who (to paraquote something Derek said) "Raised their fists in the air and found they had become something different." Uriel was the first. (David not far behind.) In these days, Malakim are created normally, and nobody swaps Choir once they've fledged. - --emccoy@nh.ultranet.com // arcangel@io.com In Nomine Line Editor GURPS, Roleplayers, In Nomine stuff; Art: http://www.io.com/~arcangel/ ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 20 Nov 1997 13:50:34 -0500 From: Elizabeth McCoy Subject: IN> Re: Fluff (Betting Pool on Andre's bright Word) At 8:41 AM -0500 11/20/97, John Karakash - Lucent ASCC wrote: >> > Wrong and right are relative terms. To wit, any action I get >> >a cut of has got to be 'right'. ;) >> >> Oh, well, if *that's* what it would take... Hm. I'd have to >> disqualify you from the pool anyway. A three-way split of the take, >> between thou and I and David? > > That sounds good! I think I'll invest mine in chocolate >chips (it's baking season.... mmmm!) Now we just have to get them to start betting. - --emccoy@nh.ultranet.com // arcangel@io.com In Nomine Line Editor GURPS, Roleplayers, In Nomine stuff; Art: http://www.io.com/~arcangel/ ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 20 Nov 1997 14:39:38 -0500 (EST) From: Pee Kitty Subject: IN> Song: Divine Touch (feedback please) This is an idea a player of mine and myself worked up. I'd like to know what you all think of it, and whether it's balanced or not. NEW SONG DIVINE TOUCH While the demonic equivalent should be "Infernal Touch", most demons continue to use the angelic name in the spirit of irony. These songs involve channeling the raw power of the Symphony into another person, for better or for worse. As the name implies, they all require contact, and are somewhat risky--if the casting roll is ever failed with a check digit of 6, the caster is Stunned for (10 minus his appropriate Forces) rounds. The Symphony is not to be invoked lightly. * Corporeal - When channeled into flesh, the power of the universe is a blinding and numbing experience. A hit to a specific part of the body (arm, leg, head, chest) must be scored in combat. Roll versus Fighting at -4; if the target's Dodge roll has a higher check digit, the touch misses. The body part hit becomes numb and useless, effectively crippled for rounds equal to the check digit of the Song roll. A head touch results in total blindness instead, and a chest hit cuts the victim's Strength and Agility in half (minimum 1). The victim is also Stunned for one round. At the caster's will (and demons almost always choose this), the body part may *appear* crippled and deformed. Arms shrivel, foreheads collapse inward, etc. This has no additional game effect, but can be useful for intimidation purposes while the Song lasts. * Ethereal - Invoking the Symphony within someone's mind is a truly awe- inspiring experience. This Song can only be used on Mundanes (including Soldiers); it opens up their mind to the Symphony, making them *aware*, even beyond what a Soldier knows. Instantly, the subject knows and understands all that the average Celestial does about angels, demons, the Symphony, the War, etc. This can save a lot of explaning when recruiting human allies. In addition, while the Song lasts, the human can notice ripples in the Symphony with a normal Perception roll! The duration of the song is the check digit in hours; at the end of the duration, the subject can no longer detect Celestial disturbances. The caster must decide (when casting) if the other effects (knowledge of the Symphony) are permanent, or only last for the duration of the song. Note that enlighting more than a chosen few mortals permanently is a good way to get the unwanted attention of your Superior... * Celestial - When the raw spirit of All is channeled into a vessel, it can force the spirit within to manifest. A Celestial affected by this Song immediately assumes Celestial form! The Song may be resisted with a Will roll; if the target's check digit is equal to or higher than the Song's, he resists. Otherwise, he must assume Celestial form for rounds equal to the check digit *plus* the target's Celestial forces. In addition, Kyriotates and Shedim cannot repossess the host they were in for the check digit in days. If the subject does not want to risk Celestial combat, his only recourse is to ascend to Heaven or Hell. If used on a Mundane, this Song merely fills them with feelings of wonder for a few moments. * Essence Requirement: 1 for the Corporeal version; 2 for the Ethereal and Celestial versions. * Degree of Disturbance: The check digit plus the performer's total Forces (not including the ripple caused by the target in the Celestial version). Rev. Pee Kitty, of the order Malkavian-Dobbsian (Married to Rev. Unibomber on 11/15/96 - be jealous ;) Meow! - -= Windows 95 =- A 32-bit patch for a 16-bit GUI shell running on top of an 8-bit operating system written for a 4-bit processor by a 2-bit company who cannot stand 1 bit of competition. ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 20 Nov 1997 15:11:27 -0600 From: tom timberlake Subject: Re: IN> Song: Divine Touch (feedback please) Pee Kitty wrote: > > This is an idea a player of mine and myself worked up. I'd like to know > what you all think of it, and whether it's balanced or not. > > NEW SONG > > DIVINE TOUCH > [much snippage] > * Celestial - When the raw spirit of All is channeled into a vessel, it > can force the spirit within to manifest. A Celestial affected by this Song > immediately assumes Celestial form! The Song may be resisted with a Will > roll; if the target's check digit is equal to or higher than the Song's, he > resists. Otherwise, he must assume Celestial form for rounds equal to the > check digit *plus* the target's Celestial forces. In addition, Kyriotates > and Shedim cannot repossess the host they were in for the check digit in > days. If the subject does not want to risk Celestial combat, his only > recourse is to ascend to Heaven or Hell. If used on a Mundane, this Song > merely fills them with feelings of wonder for a few moments. Additionally, the Celestial Divine Touch will make a Mundane capable of seeing Celestial forms without any of the usual rolls, almost as if he were a Celestial, until the Song ends. This, of course, assumes there is anyone in Celestial form to be seen. > * Essence Requirement: 1 for the Corporeal version; 2 for the Ethereal > and Celestial versions. > * Degree of Disturbance: The check digit plus the performer's total Forces > (not including the ripple caused by the target in the Celestial version). > Just one quick amendment that I thought to suggest. Also, there is a version for the Upper Heavens that transforms mortals into immortal perfection. This is the one rumor to have reliably reached the Lower Heavens from the Upper Heavens. No mortal has been subjected to this yet, to the best knowledge of the Host, though Yves wears a knowing smile and says nothing when asked about it. Unsubstantiated rumor, though, mentions both Enoch [Enos] and Elijah as _possible_, but unconfirmed, recipients. tom timberlake, mandarin's butterfly to James the Stone Malakim ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 20 Nov 1997 16:35:11 -0500 (EST) From: Emily Dresner Subject: IN> Strange Question Okay, I have sort of a strange question. Has anyone conceived of anything which would constitute a sort of "Celestial Marriage Vows?" I'm more interested in some sort of temporary swearing between two Infernals (I promise not to kill you for your coveted M&Ms for this year, my dear) then between two Divines, but the question is pretty much the same. I was just working on timelines for my NPCs, and I realized, hey, this would be handy dandy knowledge to have. Emily K. Dresner, M.S.Eng. Applications Programmer III and Balseraph of the Game Desktop Applications Team - Medical Center Information Technology Current Quote: "Never look directly at the sun through a Pattern Lens." -- the LintKing ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 20 Nov 1997 17:09:24 -0500 From: Elizabeth McCoy Subject: Re: IN> Strange Question At 4:35 PM -0500 11/20/97, Emily Dresner wrote: >Okay, I have sort of a strange question. > >Has anyone conceived of anything which would constitute a sort of >"Celestial Marriage Vows?" I'm more interested in some sort of temporary >swearing between two Infernals (I promise not to kill you for your coveted >M&Ms for this year, my dear) then between two Divines, but the question is >pretty much the same. Well, with Lilim, you swap Geasa -- "For [duration] I swear I shall not betray thee." Or something like. I've been assuming that a Lilim can put a full-blown Geas on any *willing* subject ("Yes, you're right, I owe you." ), so you could have "vows" performed in front of a Lilim... Wow. Lilim as wedding ceremony types. What a concept... >I was just working on timelines for my NPCs, and I realized, hey, this >would be handy dandy knowledge to have. Uh-oh.... - --emccoy@nh.ultranet.com // arcangel@io.com In Nomine Line Editor GURPS, Roleplayers, In Nomine stuff; Art: http://www.io.com/~arcangel/ ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 20 Nov 1997 14:01:29 From: Jeff Miller Subject: Re: IN> Superior's Hearts >What about celestials who have risen -to- the station of demon prince or >archangel? Haagenti or Laurence for example. > >Perhaps upon attaining this status their heart shatters. The title >of Prince or Archangel is much more than a title, it seems. It carries >with it a great deal more power than mere political power... > I don't like the idea about the Heart shattering. Maybe they consume their own Heart when they become Superiors or the Heart transforms into their cathedreal. [Later: I see that part of that has already been covered but I like the idea the Haganti(sp) ate his own Heart. ] Jeff Miller Program Director/Webmaster for Agamemcon II Burbank Airport Hilton -- May 22-24, 1998 Contact Info: 24161-H Hollyoak (714)643-8352 Laguna Hills, CA 92656 www.primenet.com/~shadocat/agamemcon.html ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 20 Nov 1997 17:00:46 -0600 From: Eziel Subject: Re: IN> Strange Question [Beth] > Well, with Lilim, you swap Geasa -- "For [duration] I swear I shall > not betray thee." Or something like. > > I've been assuming that a Lilim can put a full-blown Geas on any > *willing* subject ("Yes, you're right, I owe you." wrap around the person> he's an honest one, though>), so you could have "vows" performed in > front of a Lilim... > > Wow. Lilim as wedding ceremony types. What a concept... Wow is right! And here i thought i'd explored almost every aspect of lilimdom. "Do you, Asmodeus, swear not to cheat Beleth in The Game for a period of not more than 2 earth years? And do you Beleth swear not to plague his mind with terrifying visions in the interim?" "We do, Lilith." zounds, but that's frightening! In the alternative, i suppose any of Dominic's servitors could serve as a justice of the peace in a quick, simple, yet official ceremony. Certainly not as binding, but hey, divorce is a cinch! ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 20 Nov 1997 13:59:37 From: Jeff Miller Subject: Re: IN> Superior's Hearts >>> Sure! David has the catacombs, Janus gets the treetops, and Mikey >>> runs around playing warrior on the surface. >> >>Do they know at what point their Hearts stop, and new ones start? > >Oooo, weird.... Sure. Seems reasonable. There's probably >little bits of the Groves which don't really belong to *anyone*. > I like the thought that Celestial geography is different from Corporial. Maybe the Heart that one part of the Grove represents depends on ones perspective. Say there's a stone cliff in the Grove. If you see it as a representation of stone then it is David's Heart; if you see it for its tactical implications then it is Michael's Heart; and if you see it as someplace that's tall, it is Janus' Heart. Jeff Miller Program Director/Webmaster for Agamemcon II Burbank Airport Hilton -- May 22-24, 1998 Contact Info: 24161-H Hollyoak (714)643-8352 Laguna Hills, CA 92656 www.primenet.com/~shadocat/agamemcon.html ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 20 Nov 1997 19:31:44 EST From: Neel Krishnaswami Subject: IN> Seraphic Superiors... Just a little vignette, inspired by the thought of trying to deal with a Seraph superior with a resonance check digit stuck at "6". - ---- My apartment is on the fifth floor of a building with no elevator. I thank God every day that the place came pre-furnished; I can't imagine trying to carry furniture up those narrow little stairs. Before I could unlock the door, I had to pause to unbutton my trench coat, since my keys were in my pant pockets. I had just opened the door and stepped inside when I was hit on the head with a small rubber object. "Sloppy, kid, sloppy," I heard a familiar voice say. I turned to see Michael sitting on the couch. His army-boot clad feet were propped up on the glass coffee table, his right hand held what had certainly been the last bottle of beer in the fridge, and his left hand was holding an orange children's dart gun. He took a pull from the beer bottle and waved the dart gun accusingly at me. "If this had been a .45, you'd be up in the Groves trying to figure out where your brains went." It could have been worse, I thought. Last time he showed up, he had shown me how properly broken ceramic was sharper than surgical steel. He had broken ever piece of flatware I had owned, and torn up the couch demonstrating. I sighed, remembering my attempts to come up with an excuse to satisfy the cleaners' curiousity. Michael asked, "You got news, kid?" I looked up, my musings interrupted. "Yeah, boss." He nodded, and then swung his legs off the table (leaving nasty mudprints on the glass), and stood up. "That *is* interesting. I'll be off, then, kid. Oh, and Vanetti's on the up and up, but a Balseraph's been feeding him lies." God. I say two syllables and he knows everything I've spent the last six months trying to do, just like that. He grinned at me. "You just have know how to listen to the Symphony, kid." I just stared. I didn't even say anything, and he knew. Michael started to laugh. "Kid, talking to yourself out loud can be a dangerous habit." With that, he was gone. - ---- Neel Krishnaswami neelk@alum.mit.edu ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 20 Nov 1997 21:18:56 -0200 From: Andre Ribeiro Subject: Re: IN> Introducing the Angelisco Cristiano Guião de Freitas wrote: > Maybe you're reading too much "Turma da Mônica". What about Mônica, > Djinn Servitor of Baal!? :-) Engracadinho... Why not Cebolinha, Balseraph Servitor of Kobal?? ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 20 Nov 1997 18:53:26 -0600 (CST) From: redneck@txdirect.net (Redneck Gaijin) Subject: Re: IN> Superior's Hearts >[Later: I see that part of that has already been covered but I like the >idea the Haganti(sp) ate his own Heart. ] > Maybe it's still down there. };-{D Anybody wanna look? Redneck (Hmmmmm. Heart.) Kris Overstreet, will write for food... | Do not taunt Happy Fun Belial. http://www.txdirect.net/users/redneck | * * * c/o White Lightning Productions | "I love the sweet smell of http://www.jurai.net/~redneck/wlp/ | humiliation in the morning!" Webmaster for Antarctic Press | --- Kobal reaffirms himself http://www.antarctic-press.com/ | ***QUESTION EVERYTHING*** ------------------------------ End of in_nomine-digest V1 #480 ******************************* The material here is (C) 1997 Steve Jackson Games, Incorporated. All rights reserved.