From owner-in_nomine-digest@lists.io.com Mon Jul 19 08:17:25 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 IAA21414 for ; Mon, 19 Jul 1999 08:17:24 -0500 Received: (from majordom@localhost) by lists.io.com (8.9.3/8.9.1a) id IAA00468 for in_nomine-digest-outgoing; Mon, 19 Jul 1999 08:13:21 -0500 Date: Mon, 19 Jul 1999 08:13:21 -0500 Message-Id: <199907191313.IAA00468@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 #1286 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 Monday, July 19 1999 Volume 01 : Number 1286 In this digest: IN> Spam on the IN list Re: IN> Spam on the IN list Re: IN> Spam on the IN list Re: IN> Spam on the IN list IN> And The Bands Played On: Faust IN> And The Bands Played On: The Faustim Re: IN> Spam on the IN list ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Sun, 18 Jul 1999 07:02:41 -0400 From: David Edelstein Subject: IN> Spam on the IN list >>>I'm just wondering -- when did the spammers find us? And is there anything we can do about it?<<< I don't know how they found us, but YE GODS is it getting bad! Lately the digests contain more spam than IN posts, and if I see that goddamn cable TV decoder spam one more time... Elizabeth, consider this a petition to implement that subscriber-filtered option you mentioned a while ago. I know it will increase the PITA factor, but I think it's getting to the point that it's necessary. - -David ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 18 Jul 1999 06:47:25 +0000 From: Uncle Wolf Subject: Re: IN> Spam on the IN list David Edelstein wrote: > > >>>I'm just wondering -- when did the spammers find us? And is there > anything > we can do about it?<<< > > I don't know how they found us, but YE GODS is it getting bad! Lately the > digests contain more spam than IN posts, and if I see that goddamn cable TV > decoder spam one more time... > > Elizabeth, consider this a petition to implement that subscriber-filtered > option you mentioned a while ago. I know it will increase the PITA factor, > but I think it's getting to the point that it's necessary. > > -David The motion has been moved and seconded; any discussion? 0:-} Tom Timberlake, Cadre Cherub of Heaven - -- "Not a dog... Not a wolf... All he knows is what he is _not_ ... If only he could see what he _is_." -Boris, "Balto" ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 18 Jul 1999 10:39:49 -0500 From: "Amo Nympham" Subject: Re: IN> Spam on the IN list I'm all in favor of it. it seems to have worked for all the other mailing lists I've been on that suffered this problem. - - Dennis H. Groome V "Amo Nympham" nallix@bellsouth.net ICQ: 11430261 "I think I woke up screaming 'cause I had a dream that you still loved me" -"ACF", Stabbing Westward - -----Original Message----- From: Uncle Wolf To: in_nomine-l@lists.io.com Date: Sunday, July 18, 1999 6:46 AM Subject: Re: IN> Spam on the IN list > > >David Edelstein wrote: >> >> >>>I'm just wondering -- when did the spammers find us? And is there >> anything >> we can do about it?<<< >> >> I don't know how they found us, but YE GODS is it getting bad! Lately the >> digests contain more spam than IN posts, and if I see that goddamn cable TV >> decoder spam one more time... >> >> Elizabeth, consider this a petition to implement that subscriber-filtered >> option you mentioned a while ago. I know it will increase the PITA factor, >> but I think it's getting to the point that it's necessary. >> >> -David > >The motion has been moved and seconded; any discussion? 0:-} > >Tom Timberlake, Cadre Cherub of Heaven >-- >"Not a dog... Not a wolf... > All he knows is what he is _not_ ... > If only he could see what he _is_." > -Boris, "Balto" > ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 18 Jul 1999 13:14:46 -0400 From: Matthew Rice Subject: Re: IN> Spam on the IN list David Edelstein wrote: > > >>>I'm just wondering -- when did the spammers find us? And is there > anything > we can do about it?<<< > > I don't know how they found us, but YE GODS is it getting bad! Lately the > digests contain more spam than IN posts, and if I see that goddamn cable TV > decoder spam one more time... > > Elizabeth, consider this a petition to implement that subscriber-filtered > option you mentioned a while ago. I know it will increase the PITA factor, > but I think it's getting to the point that it's necessary. > > -David I'm not sure what you're talking about, but if it will get rid of this damned spam (most of which seems to bypass my filter and go straight to my Inbox--need to work on that...), I'm all for it. Matthew Rice ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 18 Jul 1999 23:33:37 -0500 (CDT) From: Benjamin Acosta Subject: IN> And The Bands Played On: Faust Well, it's been a while but I finally managed to find enough spare time to write up my first Superior for the "And The Bands Played On." As you could see below, I decided to change the identity of the sorceror turned Superior from Count St. Germain to Faust. I did this for several reasons. The first was name recognition. More people know more about Faust's basic background than know St. Germain's. Another reason is that Faust's back story gives him stronger ties to Hell, and makes things more personal. And finally, he has a one word name. All the Superiors have a one word name. Why break the pattern? Incidently, I did a little light research on the web and found out there was a historical Faust who was the basis for the stories. He lived in the 1500's and was well known enough that Martin Luther took his claims of being a master of the arcane seriously. So I don't have to fudge after all and insert a totally fictional character into history. Anyway, I hope you all like it. It's the first time I've made a Superior for In Nomine and I tried hard to come up with choir attunements appropriate to his Word. I'm not sure whether some are too strong or too weak. If any one has any alternate suggestions I'd like to hear them. And on with the show. The Faustian Gambit Faust stared down into the dark abyss as gray ash was whipped about behind him by the unrelenting winds. Far below, just barely within sight, lay the purpose of his journey, a black, glistening, gelatinous surface which undulated like it was a living being. Faust recognized it for what it was, the final remnants of souls smelted by Saminga for their Forces. It had been accumulating in The Chasm for centuries, as the broken and diminsished victims of Saminga's, so mindless and without will that they could not have even been considered beings anymore, lept into it in some instinctive search for escape. Faust closed his eyes and bowed his head, steeling himself for the plunge below. It was important he have the upmost confidence in himself and his plan. If he had any doubts in his plan, if he had the slightest weakening of his sense of Self, then all would be lost. He would be dissolved, another pathetic wretch absorbed into the great undulating sea of Forces. But if he succeeded, then he and his confederates would have all the power they needed to see their plans to fruition. Faust opened his eyes and took a look down one more time. The black, shifting mass below rose and fell in a mockery of breath. Then he shut his eyes and took the last step. Down, down, down he plunged, all the while concentrating, centering himself in preparation for what lay below. Finally, he hit the bottom and was slowly drawn under by the dark, oozing slime. Almost immediately an assault began on his mind and soul. The memories of a thousand murderers, the echoes of a thousand urges filled his head. He felt the black ooze all around him, trying to insinuate itself into him, between his Forces to break them down, digest them, absorb them. The sudden attack almost overwhelmed his defenses, but Faust's preparation was not in vain. He shut out the memories, silenced the urges, forcing himself to recall his lessons and studies as a mortal sorceror. Remembering all he could about the art of essence shaping, he shielded his Forces from the corrosive dark mass which he was immersed in. Having successfully preserved himself from the soul sea's identity dissolving embrace, Faust began his counter-attack. His Will burst outward, branding the loose Forces around him with his sense of Self. Utilizing the lore he had uncovered both in life and in Hell, he began to turn the tables on the dark sea, bending and shaping the Forces to his will, absorbing them into his soul. The sea, with no will of its own, had no defense against Faust. Force by Force, the soul sea diminished, and Faust grew. Faust felt an exhilerating rush of essence as the components of the sea were devoured by his Self. Finally, the darkness was gone and only Faust remained, lying on his back on the gray slab which was the Chasm's bottom. Faust slowly got up, feeling euphoric with all the power that was his. But he knew he could not stop to rest. He knew if were to do nothing he would not be able to keep all the Forces he had gained. There was too much, way too much for him to hold all together by Will alone. Eventually they'd unravel, and he'd lose most of them to the Symphony. He'd still retain enough to be more powerful than he ever had been, but Faust was unwilling to settle for that. He needed all the power he had now if he was to ever have a chance of challenging Hell's Hierarchy. What he needed was a Word, to stabilize his grip on the Forces he had gained and bind them to his soul. Normally the only way for someone to obtain a Word was for Lucifer or the Seraphim Council to grant it. But with Armageddon occuring above, all bets were off. If Faust's theories were right, if he had interpeted the texts he had read in the Archives correctly, then the Symphony would be in a state of transition. In such a malleable and unsupervised state, it just might be possible for a being sufficient power and skill to briefly, just briefly, impose his Will upon it. Perhaps just long enough to gain a Word. Faust closed his eyes and began the ritual, focusing his Will and expanding it outward to touch the Symphony. Immediately he felt a shock as his mind touched the entirety of existence. For a brief moment he was stunned, overwhelmed by the sheer majesty of Everything. Then he regained his control and began the Will War. At first the battle went poorly for him, his Will splattering off the Symphony like a snowball off a granite wall. Faust knew then that God was still in control. Then, as he continued his efforts, Faust felt that wall disappear. For one second the Symphony was masterless. In that second Faust had his opportunity. "KNOWLEDGE!" he shouted to the Heavens, to the Damned, to the Symphony. "KNOWLEDGE SHALL BE MY WORD! BY MY WILL AND MY HEART I BIND IT TO MYSELF, TO MY SOUL!" And the Symphony answered in a burst of glorious song, a chord of celestial harmony so pure and resounding that Faust almost wept at its beauty. He felt the chord wash over him, echoing in his Forces. Faust then knew the Symphony's answer meant yes. FAUST AVATAR OF KNOWLEDGE "The World is the ultimate classroom. Those who learn its lessons well will succeed when it tests them." Everyone has heard of Faust. Everyone knows the story of how the good doctor traded his soul to a demon for arcane knowledge and power, of how he reveled at his new abilities, and his tragic end when his soul was dragged down to Hell. What everyone doesn't know is what happened afterward. When Faust walked through the gates of Hell his personal Demon was already there to greet him. "Mephistoples" or more accurately, the Demon behind that guise, Hatiphas, was waiting to pick up Faust for her master Kronos. Faust was considered a prized accquisition, a perfect case study of a man's quest for knowledge damning him to his Fate. Faust, the proud and powerful sorceror, was reduced to a lowly functionary filing books in Kronos's Archives. For centuries he toiled in obscurity, ignored by demons as he moved from shelf to shelf, making sure books were put in their improper place. During those centuries his resentment and regret for being tricked into his current Fate grew into a hatred of the entire order of Hell itself, and Kronos in particular. He could not be content to eck out an existence of toil and tedium, of being thankful just because he avoided the real tortures. He had contempt for Infernal Society, with its waste, ignorance, and stupidity. Didn't the fools know that it didn't have to be this way? That the established order only existed because no one ever concieved of challenging it? Faust wasn't the only one in his beliefs. He encountered like-minded souls among the Damned from all principalities. He wasn't the only one to believe that the Infernal Order could be overthrown. Eventually they began forming an underground organization right under the Princes' noses. A secret organization dedicated to preparing for the time when Hell was at its weakest, when a rebellion had the best chance possible for success. When that day came they would have the knowledge, power, and resources to lead the Damned to rise up and overthrow their oppressors. Until that time came, they were to slowly and quietly accumulate knowlege and power. Then that day finally came. Gabriel's trumpet had sounded and Armageddon had begun. The great hordes of Hell went into battle, and only a fraction of their forces stayed in Hell. Enough to control a beaten and cowed populace. Not enough to control an organized rebellion, who had planned for this day from its founding. One of the key elements of the plan was to gain a method of augmenting Damned Souls with more Forces, in order to make their ranks stronger. As a sorceror, Faust researched and came up with a method. The method carried him and his compatriots to Abbadon, where the Chasm lay. There he harvested the Forces necessary to catapult him to Superior Status. He quickly augmented his fellow humans as much as he could, giving them power equal to the most powerful servitors. They then went and augmented others, and organized a movement so powerful that it convinced some of the more free thinking Princes that an alliance with the Damned Rebellion would be powerful enough to break away from Hell's current system. After Faust presented his terms of alliance, those Princes quickly agreed, and the Utopia Faction was formed. As noted above, Faust calls himself the Avatar of Knowledge rather than the Prince. This is because he feels that he isn't a Demon Prince at all. He gained his Word not through the whim of Lucifer, but through the Symphony itself. Though he was a Damned Soul, Faust felt the origin of his Word lacked any Diabolical Nature. He, alone of all beings, claimed his Word for himself from the Symphony. Neither Demon Prince, nor Archangel, Faust felt himself to be a unique Superior, and titled himself Avatar. Dissonance It is dissonant for a Celestial Servitor of Faust to totally destroy knowledge. At least one copy must remain, if only in the head of the Servitor. Band and Choir Attunements Despite being a human and a new Superior Faust has managed to gain a number of demons into his service. Some are servitors granted by his allies as gifts, some were renegades who signed on to what they saw as a rising star, and some, such as Hatiphas, were just summoned and bound into service by Faust. Faust also happens to have acquired a number of angelic servitors. Some of the Outcast and Orphaned angels who remained in the World chose the Utopia Faction as the lesser of two evils, or even a potential good in the face of Asmodeus's dream of authoritarian domination. Faust has somehow become the most popular Superior to choose from among the Utopia Faction. He technically isn't even a Demon Prince, his Word has very positive connotations, and the society of enlightened self-interest he advocates seems to be the closest one can get to a selfless society in a world that is damned. Mix in the theory some angels have concieved that perhaps Faust didn't win his Word for himself at all, but was granted it unknowingly by God as part of some ineffable plan, and it's no wonder Faust is the most popular Superior for an Outcast who needs a Word to serve to choose. Balseraphs Faust's Balseraphs are the encrypters of knowledge, ensuring only the worthy have access to it. By using their resonance on any form of recorded knowledge (books, computer files, DVD's) a Balseraph of Knowledge can cloak its true contents with a false disguise. Photo's can be doctored, text altered, video totally changed. This change is permanent unless dispelled by command of the Balseraph who encrypted it. Only the Balseraph who encrypted it, a Seraph who succeeds on its Resonance with a CD of 4 or higher, or one who possesses the Student of Knowledge Distinction can see past the false face of an encrypted medium and see it for what it is. Djinn A Djinn of Knowledge can attune itself to a piece of lore or inforamtion, allowing it to track its flow. The Djinn can just attune itself to THE CONTENTS of a book, videotape, disc, or picture, and can not only track the object, but all copies of the information made from that object, even transfers from one medium to another. Each piece of information counts as one attuned subject, and touching any copy will allow the Djinn to break the attunement. Calabrim Faust's Calabrim are gifted with a knowledge of entropy and its effects. Upon a successful perception roll they can look at something damaged or destroyed and see its undamaged state. They can read burnt pages, view scrambled video, and see disassembled jigsaw puzzles for what they are. Not only that, but the check digit of a successful perception roll can be applied as a bonus to any attempt to fix or repair the subject, including Songs of Healing. Their knowledge of entropy gives them a fine control over their resonance, giving them the power to reverse it. Any damage they inflict via their resonance can be repaired through another application of it, as the Calabrim retraces its steps. Calabrim of Knowledge tend to have a neater appearance than other Calabrim, due to their greater control. Habbalah Habbalah of Knowledge benefit from knowledge of the mind and its workings. They may add their Ethereal Forces on any attempt to utilize the Perception based aspect of their resonance. Lilim A Lilim of Knowledge has a knack for sensing what someone needs to know. She may add her Ethereal Forces to any attempt to sense such a need. Shedim Shedim of Faust do not have to corrupt their hosts. In fact, it is dissonant for them to do so. Instead, their hosts must learn something new each day. Impudites Instead of stealing essence, Impudites of Knowledge can choose instead to read the surface thoughts of a subject for CD in minutes. Faustim Faustim of Knowledge have a greater knowledge of themselves and their personal Symphonies, which expands their ability to emulate to include resonances and attunements. The effects of such abilities emulated lasts for their normal duration, even if the ability itself fades from the Faustim beforehand. Seraphim Seraphim of Knowledge suffer no penalties when applying their resonance to audio and video reproductions. They also can use their resonance against text, enabling them to see the truth of books, newspaper articles, and email. Cherubim Cherubim of Knowledge can share skills and knowledge with an attuned person or object. The Cherub would have access to any skill or knowledge the attuned possessed. Attuning to reference media such as a book or a disc gives them access to all the contents. For living subjects of attunement, the exchange is two way, and they have access to the skills and knowledge of the Cherub as well. They can only perform Songs if they are Symphonically Aware, though. Offanim Offanim of Knowledge are the ultimate researchers, able to sense where knowledge of a particular subject can be found. Their expanded resonance extends beyond physical geography to include what pages in a book or where on the internet to look something up, or how far into a video tape the information their looking for is in. Elohim Elohim of Knowledge may use their resonance on audio and visual reproductions, both live and recorded, without penalty. They may also examine something written and ascertain the author's state of mind at the time it was written. Malakim Malakim of Knowledge have knowledge of strengths and weaknesses. They may make a perception roll and find either a weakness in their subject's fighting style (penalizing a subject's dodge by the CD) or a weakness in their mind/body/soul (adding the CD to the CD of an attack.) This also works with Songs and offensive Attunements, and can be applied to objects as well as beings. Kyriotates Kyriotates of Knowledge have complete access to the memories of their hosts, including any of their skills, as long as they remain inside that host. Mecurians Mecurians of Faust are the ultimate investigators. They are able to sense who among a subject's friends and associates has the knowledge or lore they need to know. Servitor Attunements Sorcery: Faust has the ability to grant the Sorcery attunement to any human souls who are Symphonically Aware. Total Recall: The being has photographic memories. Scholarship: The being has a general, college level education... in every subject. He has the equivalent of a skill of 11 in any sort of general Knowledge, except Area Knowledge. Triumph of Reason: The being can make anyone concede practically anything, as long as he believes it himself. In two minutes, with a successful Precision roll, he will prove to his target that a+b=c, therefore he is right and any other possibility must be absurd. The victim may resist with an Intelligence roll. Distinctions Student of Knowledge: The being has complete comprehension of what someone or something is trying to convey. Language, slang, technical jargon, metaphors, and just poor writing are not obstacles. The message a speaker, written work, or picture is attempting to convey is automatically understood by a Student of Knowledge. Disciple of Lore: Just by touching a reference medium a being can access the information they're looking for if it's recorded in it. Oracle of Illumination: This Distinction grants a being a limited Omniscience, allowing him to get the answer to any one question about the present or past for a cost of 5 Essence. The question must be simple, direct, and answerble in three words or less. Proper names, such as "Jane Kirley" or even "The Nybyssian Institute for Responsible Journalism" count as a single word. Use of this attunement requires a minute of meditation in which one communes with the Symphony. Relations As the organizer of the Utopian Faction Faust has allied himself with the more human-oriented and freedom minded Princes. They needed him because of his influence over the humans that he had, and he needed them because alone, even with his Superior status, there was no way he and the Damned would be able to break away from Hell. With bargaining and compromise they all have managed to get what they want. Now they are all in this together, but Faust knows it's only for as long as it's mutually beneficial. The trick is to give them enough that they keep coming back for more. Allied: No One Associated: Lilith, Nybbas, Kobal, Mammon, Andrelaphus Neutral: Malphas, Alaemon (Sometimes Hostile due to Word Conflicts) Ethereals, Remaining Archangels Hostile: Saminga Enemy: Kronos, Asmodeus, Belial, Vapula, Fleurity Basic Rites Spend at least two hours reading Spend two hours doing research Spend at least an hour teaching willing students Spend at least an hour learning something new Saving a book from burning Stealing Knowledge from an Enemy Getting someone else to read a book Chance of Invocation: 1 Invocation Modifiers +1 a college textbook +2 The Encyclopedia Britanica +3 Solve a difficult mental puzzle +4 On the grounds of a college library +5 In a classroom of enthusiastic students +6 In possession of a unique item of lore (Only Copy, or at least 1st ed.) ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 18 Jul 1999 23:46:53 -0500 (CDT) From: Benjamin Acosta Subject: IN> And The Bands Played On: The Faustim Faustim, the Emulators One of the first projects Faust attempted when things had settled down enough for him to experiment was to try to create his own celestial servitors. Lilith, the only other human Superior, had managed to create the Lilim. Perhaps, due to their common human origins, he too could create such beings. So he asked Lilith for her assistance, and in return for him not attempting to create Lilim she would help him learn to create unique servitors in his image. And thus the Faustim were born. Resonance The resonance of the Faustim is to learn and emulate. They are able to assense a being's capabilities and temporarily alter their personal Symphony in order to use an ability they observed. Dissonance Unfortuanely, altering one's own persnal Symphony is not without risk. If Faustim makes a mistake when trying to adapt itself it may accidently inflict dissonance instead. Manner and Appearance Smart and savvy, Faustim try to cultivate an aura of competence, control, and confidence at all times. They like people to believe their on top of the situation and they always have a plan. Trust them, they know what they're doing. Faustim get along with most other celestials, appreciating the strengths and weaknesses of each type. They especially get along well with Lilim due to their common background of being unique beings created by human Superiors. Other celestials don't have any particular predjucice against Faustim, but are not sure exactly what to make of them. They're definitely not angels, but considering their creator and the circumstances of their origin they might not be demons either. Their ambiguity makes other celestials unsure of how they view Faustim. In corporeal form Faustim like attractive vessels and try to cultivate an appearacne that inspires confidence in them. Celestially they look like their corporeal vessels but with gold skin. Game Mechanics A Faustim is capable of percieving a being's abilities and weakness's and temporarily alter its personal Symphony to use a skill or song it observed. With a successful Perception roll, a Faustim can instantly evaluate someone and learn about their strengths and weaknesses. Compare the roll's check digit to the chart below for a description of the resonance's degree of success. 1...You know the attributes of the Realm the subject is strongest in, as well as most debilating discord in that Realm. 2...You know the above, as well the skills and songs the subject has which falls under that Realm, and all the discords in that realm. 3...You know the above, plus the attributes of the Realm the subject is weakest in, as well as the most debilatating discord in that Realm. 4...You know the above, as well as the skills and songs which fall under both Realms, and all of the discords in both Realms. 5...You know all the attributes of the subject, all the skills and songs they possess, and all the discords they have. 6...You know all the above, plus the Resonance and all attunements possessed by the subject. With a successful Will roll, a Faustim may temporarily alter their Symphony to gain one skill or song observed for the CD in hours. The Faustim may emulate any song or skill observed from a successful Perception roll for CD in minutes afterward. They may also emulate one skill or song they observe being performed after making a successful Perception roll to observe how the action manifests in the being's Symphony. The effects of any song performed by a Faustim lasts for the normal duration, even if the Song fades from a Faustim before it ends. An unsuccessful Will roll can cause a Faustim to temporarily alter itself in an undesired manner. With an unsuccesful roll the Faustim will either gain a point of dissonance or a temporary discord for CD hours. On a CD of 6 the Faustim gains both a point of dissonance and a temporary discord for 6 hours. ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 19 Jul 1999 09:10:44 -0500 From: Earl Wajenberg Subject: Re: IN> Spam on the IN list I'd sure like to see the spam gone, but what's the "PITA factor" David mentions? Earl ------------------------------ End of in_nomine-digest V1 #1286 ******************************** The material here is (C) 1999 Steve Jackson Games, Incorporated. All rights reserved.