From owner-in_nomine-digest@lists.io.com Wed Mar 3 01:21:23 1999 Return-Path: Received: from lists.io.com (majordom@lists.io.com [199.170.88.15]) by pyramid.sjgames.com (8.8.7/8.8.7) with ESMTP id BAA05877 for ; Wed, 3 Mar 1999 01:21:22 -0600 Received: (from majordom@localhost) by lists.io.com (8.9.3/8.9.1a) id BAA28019 for in_nomine-digest-outgoing; Wed, 3 Mar 1999 01:19:54 -0600 Date: Wed, 3 Mar 1999 01:19:54 -0600 Message-Id: <199903030719.BAA28019@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 #1132 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 Wednesday, March 3 1999 Volume 01 : Number 1132 In this digest: RE: IN> Servitors of Judgement -- Behind the Music IN> Munchkin Player's Guide Re: IN> Servitors of Judgement -- Behind the Music Re: IN> Munchkin Player's Guide Re: IN> Word of Redemption IN> Re: in_nomine-digest V1 #1131 Re: IN> Munchkin Player's Guide Re: IN> Servitors of Judgement -- Behind the Music Re: IN> Servitors of Judgement -- Behind the Music Re: IN> Servitors of Judgement -- Behind the Music IN> Re: Word of Redemption IN> Father of the Bride [plot hook] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Mon, 1 Mar 1999 16:49:05 -0500 From: "Sheep Boy" Subject: RE: IN> Servitors of Judgement -- Behind the Music Whistling in the Dark wrote: > The following just sort of hit me while I was going through > some older > articles. There's a lot of presupposition of the worst > when it comes to > Dominic and the Inquisition. So, this came out. Comments welcome. Just wonderful, Eric, thank you. I always enjoy a little depth added to the superficially sterotyped. Great job! - Stavro +-stavro@crackden.org-------------------------ICQ#18493910-+ | "Cinema, simulated life and trauma | | Birthright, culture, Americana" | | - Rage Against the Machine, "No Shelter" | +----------------http://www.crackden.org/------------------+ ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 1 Mar 1999 17:48:20 -0500 From: David Edelstein Subject: IN> Munchkin Player's Guide >>>Think of it this way: it would sell well.<<< I know. That's what's scary. I'm half-tempted to write some and post it, but I'm afraid half the players out there wouldn't realize it was satire. - -David ("So, are these rules canon....?") ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 1 Mar 1999 22:56:01 -0000 From: "Ramesh Satkurunath" Subject: Re: IN> Servitors of Judgement -- Behind the Music Whistling in the Dark wrote: WOW, I almost stopped shuffling for a moment :-), Love the depth. Ramesh aka Demon of Fiddling, Balseraph of ???? "First you must learn Fiddling, then you must forget Fiddling. Must you remember to breath for breathing to occur? No. It is the same with Fiddling" ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 1 Mar 1999 23:01:40 -0000 From: "Jo Hart" Subject: Re: IN> Munchkin Player's Guide - -----Original Message----- From: David Edelstein To: Blind.Copy.Receiver@compuserve.com Date: 01 March 1999 22:59 Subject: IN> Munchkin Player's Guide >>>>Think of it this way: it would sell well.<<< > >I know. That's what's scary. > >I'm half-tempted to write some and post it, but I'm afraid half the players >out there wouldn't realize it was satire. > Don't let that stop you. It happens to me all the time ;0 jo ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 2 Mar 1999 09:22:36 +0100 (CET) From: Anders Gabrielsson Subject: Re: IN> Word of Redemption On Sun, 28 Feb 1999, Ramesh Satkurunath wrote: > I see Redemption as kinda like trying to give up drinking, gambling or any > vice (note: I am not comparing being an alcolic to being a demon, I am > comparing being a demon to being an alcoholic [If that makes sense]). The > First step is admitting you have a problem, and plucking up the guts to try > and do something about it, someone who goes to AA for the first time > probably hasn't sworn of booze, but they do want to change. The same goes > for a demon trying to Redeem they can't honesty swear they will never > commit an act of evil again, it's what they are, but they want to change. > If armed guards were at AA meetings ready to shoot anyone not pure in their > conviction to give up drinking, they wouldn't be too successful. Ah, but that's not how a Malakite would do it (if I were running things). It would more be the equivalent of a stern check at the door, and then, when you've admitted you need help, he'd help you... by giving you your own, personal sniper, who'd follow you around, constantly tracking you with his rifle, and ordering him to shoot you the moment you get within three blocks of a liquor store. ;) Anders Gabrielsson anders@stp.ling.uu.se The contents of this message belong to me and nobody else. So there! A discordian is anyone willing to look at the windmills and concede that they might be giants. ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 2 Mar 1999 07:22:03 -0600 (CST) From: Benjamin Acosta Subject: IN> Re: in_nomine-digest V1 #1131 Kevin Walsh wrote: > Indeed. Most demons should regard redemption with the same horror a human > might regard being assimilated into the Borg collective with, or being > brought into Mind/Union with the Amnion. > I am Jeanus of Heaven. You will be redeemed. Your celestial and ethereal distinctiveness will be added to our own. Resonance is futile. Personal symphonies are irrelevent. Prepare for Redemption. This vigenette brought to you by Ben, The Angel of Neat Ideas One of the the few Angels left on the list ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 2 Mar 1999 08:30:06 -0500 (EST) From: Emily Dresner Subject: Re: IN> Munchkin Player's Guide On Mon, 1 Mar 1999, David Edelstein wrote: > >>>Think of it this way: it would sell well.<<< > > I know. That's what's scary. > > I'm half-tempted to write some and post it, but I'm afraid half the players > out there wouldn't realize it was satire. Oh, hell, just do it if you have time. It would breathe some life back into the list. - - Em ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 2 Mar 1999 14:42:36 +0100 (CET) From: Anders Gabrielsson Subject: Re: IN> Servitors of Judgement -- Behind the Music That was... very good. I've found it very difficult to get inside the Judgement mindset before, but this made it much easier. Thanks. Anders Gabrielsson anders@stp.ling.uu.se The contents of this message belong to me and nobody else. So there! A discordian is anyone willing to look at the windmills and concede that they might be giants. ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 2 Mar 1999 15:24:03 -0500 (EST) From: "Starsurfer, Seraphim of Creation in Service to Destiny. Angel of Words" Subject: Re: IN> Servitors of Judgement -- Behind the Music Wow. I was very impressed by this piece. It gave a different side to the oftenly percieved view of servitors of Judgement. A well written and thoughtful story. Starsurfer, Seraphim of Creation in service to Destiny, Angel of Words ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 2 Mar 1999 11:13:53 -0500 From: Whistling in the Dark Subject: Re: IN> Servitors of Judgement -- Behind the Music >Wow. > >I was very impressed by this piece. It gave a different side to >the oftenly percieved view of servitors of Judgement. > >A well written and thoughtful story. > > >Starsurfer, Seraphim of Creation in service to Destiny, Angel of >Words Thank you, and thank you to all who wrote to me and here. I liked writing it, and I'm glad it's been so well received. - -- Eric Alfred Burns | | non in-nomine mail to sabre@annotations.com ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 02 Mar 1999 08:30:42 PST From: "Krowe _" Subject: IN> Re: Word of Redemption >Wow. Guess we'll need to publish the "Munchkin Player's Guide" soon, >which will come complete with stats for Superiors. So PCs can kill >them. ;) There's a difference between munchkinism and just player enough to get your character that far. And where did say anything about playing against other Superiors, we're only interested in playing out _becoming_ Superiors. After that we've already decided to start over with something fresh. Krowe Malakite Master of Destiny, Angel of Redemption Lord Master Librarian of the Night Angels Space Marines Lord of XAOZ "What good fortune for those in power, that people do not think." -- Adolf Hitler, 1889-1945 "Love is a dirty trick played upon us to achieve the continuation of the species." -- novelist W.Somerset Maugham, 1874-1965 ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 3 Mar 1999 07:16:57 -0000 From: "Jo Hart" Subject: IN> Father of the Bride [plot hook] [NB. I was going to write this up as a fully detailed scenario, but it was getting a bit long -- these are the basics] Scenario for a PC group of angels, mundane servants or soldiers of God (this one would probably work with a mixed group). The lead-in is slightly easier if one of the PCs is working for Laurence. Theme: It's easy to take mortal allies for granted, but they do have lives and families outside celestial circles... Basic Storyline: The scenario begins when PCs are contacted by a messenger from a local angel of Laurence (Lareshet) (or some tether which belongs to a superior allied to the sword). The request for help is couched in almost embarrassed tones, rather than as a command, and it doesn't seem to be anything to do with demon-hunting. When PCs turn up to be briefed they find out the reason for this. A soldier was killed bravely in a recent skirmish with demons, and it turned out that although divorced, he was very close to his daughter who is getting married this week. Unfortunately, messages sent back to Heaven went slightly awry and ended up at Laurence's private office, and the archangel decided that it would be a Good and Noble thing if he were to offer to stand in for her father and give the bride away in person. So orders were sent down for angels to check that the proposed husband is worthy of the offspring of such a brave soldier, help everything to go smoothly, arrange for an honour guard, and make sure that some suitable dowry[1] is provided. Unfortunately, PCs were the only local angels available to help... and Lareshet really needs that local knowledge. [1] My father defines a dowry as "A bribe that fathers used to pay, so that men would take away their daughters. But they'll do it for free these days." But there are a few minor problems lurking along the way: It turns out that neither the bride nor groom are religious and they weren't planning a church wedding (This would not look good to an archangel who sponsors Christianity) Two soldiers, ex-comrades of the dead man, were members of a private mortal order of soldiers of the sword. As well as paying their respects to his widow, they are looking to follow their order's traditions by recruiting a replacement from his family -- since he won't be able to train his own successor. One of the demons involved in the soldier's death survived, and is seeking vengeance against both his family and fellow soldiers. There is a local demonstration scheduled against the Catholic Church for its involvement with anti-gay rights. Naturally it'll be happening near the wedding. - -- Set-Up Catch the PCs when they are all together, preferably somewhere public (on some public transport or in the middle of a cinema would be ideal). An ofanite swirls around them, makes vigorous conversation to check their names -- he has been given one role name -- and passes on a letter, with the advice that it is urgently important, although sadly may not involve any demon-slaying. Before he leaves, his mobile phone rings (to the tune of 'Onward Christian Soldiers'). He listens to it, nods briefly, and adds more brightly to the PCs that perhaps there might be some demon slaying after all. He also remembers to say that they should ask for Leo Smith. Briefing The note is phrased very politely and asks the named person if they could spare a small amount of time to speak with the undersigned about a local mortal matter, and that he would be most grateful for the favour. It adds a request to invite any other local celestials the reader works with, who can make time in their schedules. Lareshet gives a phone number. On ringing it, a secretary answers in the name of a detective agency. She asks who the call is for and what it is about, before asking the caller to hold the line a moment. She checks this with 'Leo' before putting them through. His voice is soft and clipped, expresses gratitude for the call, and asks them to meet him in a local tether to discuss this more fully. He is nervy enough to drop hints that an archangel is personally involved in this. When they do meet him, he tells them this story: Last week, brave servitors of Laurence were able to hunt down and destroy the last vestiges of a secret group of anarchists which had been caerfully nurtured for about a hundred years by some demons of Factions. Casualties involved in the fight were a few angelic vessels, and some soldiers -- who had been gathered together from several of Laurence's other operations to help with this task. On clearing up afterwards, Lareshet (who was the surviving angel in charge) took responsibility for notifying the soldier's next-of-kins. One of the men lived on his own, and when the angel spoke to his landlady, she said that although he had been divorced for 10 years, he was very very excited about his daughter's wedding -- which was to be the next week. As the angel who had been working with that particular soldier was in trauma, Lareshet sent an Ofanite up to Heaven, to make sure that an appropriate senior in the hierarchy was notified. The Ofanite returned shortly afterwards, very excited, clutching a letter in its hot little hand. Due to a misunderstanding, it had gone straight to Laurence's private office. The archangel has graciously agreed to attend the girl's wedding in person and give her away, in lieu of her father. The angels are to see that things run smoothly, check out the husband-to-be, arrange for an honour guard and be as supportive as possible, in memory of a brave man who gave his life for a good cause. (In the time between being notified which angels are coming to be briefed and actualy seeing them, Lareshet will have been attempting to get permission from their usual reporting angels to have them seconded to him for this week). Information about the mortals involved: - - The soldier (John Lacey) had been estranged from his wife for the past 12 years, and she had acquired a civil divorce on grounds of abandonment. Not a church one, naturally. She remarried a few years ago. - - His daughter lives with her mother and stepfather. She came to his funeral alone, and didn't talk to any of the other attendees. Her fiance has just finished medical school. - - They all know about John's death. The marriage is still scheduled for next Sunday. - - Addresses for the girl and her fiance can be provided. Lareshet will begin by asking PCs to try to subtly check out the family, find out what the current wedding plans are, and make suggestions for suitable wedding presents. He will be the liaison with his archangel's private office. He can give them an Amex platinum card to cover any expenses incurred. It has a little sword and a cross embossed onto one corner, but shop assistants will treat it as a standard charge card. With no limits. At the Girl's House PCs can talk to the girl and her stepfather, and her mother once she returns from work. It will be clear that they are not a rich family. How this goes depends on how PCs present themselves to the mortals. If their cover story is basically plausible (friends of John, unofficial police investigation, etc.) then they can find out: - - Her mother is still very bitter about her own divorce. She also rants about the Catholic Church and its hidebound attitude to things such as divorce. - - The girl herself says that she quite liked her father, although he was a bit grim and unsmiling, but that she never remembers seeing much of him when he was still living at home. He spent all of his time away with his friends or on business. She is sad at his death, but didn't feel close to him. - - The wedding is planned for next Sunday, at a local registry office. The girl explains simply that it was a lot cheaper and she didn't want to upset her mother -- who has a bee in her bonnet about church things. She is getting quite nervous about it all. - - The mother suspects that the house has been watched for the last couple of days. She claims it is an intuition, and that she has seen parked cars with dark windows on the other side of the road. The others don't recall this. (NB. This actually is the car of one of the other soldiers.) If they want, the girl can introduce them to her fiance. She can arrange for them all to go out for a pizza together. Other Elements: The Other Soldiers: Two soldiers who were members of the same secret order as John, the order of the white eagle, have come to check out the family members for potential new recruits. They don't intend to turn up at the wedding, for fear of attracting undesirable demonic attention to their covers. They are highly trained and experienced soldiers of heaven, practiced at tracking, shadowing, disguise, sharpshooting and fighting. They'll also be using contacts to search through records to do checks on any potential recruits. One or other of them may turn up in the same location as the bride, her mother, her stepfather or the groom, to observe from a distance. It will look suspicious if anyone notices. Order of the White Eagle[2] One of Laurence's knightly orders. Mortals and soldiers alike can be inducted, but there are strong Grigori bloodlines within the order -- membership is traditionally hereditary. One in each generation of a knightly family is selected by the last member to be trained in the ways of the Eagle and the Sword. Members keep strong cover identities but when the need arises, they are prepared to wield arms and fight for their patron. In cases such as this, where the knight was killed before training a replacement, his comrades will take on that responsibility for him. Their MotherHouse is an old chapel in the Black Forest (or some other suitable location). As a traditional order, they will only be looking to recruit male catholics. [2] It is just possible that the eagle motif signals a link to some ancient offshoot of the roman cult of Mithras -- but do you want to tell Laurence that? Revenge Attacks: Two of Malphas's demons, a Shedite and an Impudite, survived the last attack by fleeing back to Hell. The Shedite is mad, bad, dangerous and would happily burn down the world to seek its revenge. Its companion is more level headed and suggests a nastier (but safer) form of revenge, beginning with mortal associates of any of the angels or soldiers who destroyed their beautiful anarchy. It just so happened that they decided to begin with John, who had devoted his life to infiltrating their organisation and provided the other servitors of the Sword with the information they needed to bring it down. They also have access to a couple of mortal servants -- not the level of backup they have become used to, but disposable humans, nevertheless. They know nothing of the angelic involvement and will be seeking to ruin lives, relationships and jobs of anyone who seemed to be important to the dead soldier. Either of them have a chance to recognise the soldiers of Heaven, who were also present during the last fight (and likewise for the soldiers and the Impudite's vessel). The Shedite may turn up inside any of the principals when the angels meet them, or may use one of the bride or groom's friends. ------------------------------ End of in_nomine-digest V1 #1132 ******************************** The material here is (C) 1999 Steve Jackson Games, Incorporated. All rights reserved.