From owner-in_nomine-digest@lists.io.com Sun Oct 22 17:39:18 2000 Return-Path: Received: from lists.io.com (lists.io.com [199.170.88.15]) by pyramid.sjgames.com (8.9.3/8.9.3) with ESMTP id RAA05321 for ; Sun, 22 Oct 2000 17:39:17 -0500 Received: (from majordom@localhost) by lists.io.com (8.9.3/8.9.1a) id RAA30317 for in_nomine-digest-outgoing; Sun, 22 Oct 2000 17:38:16 -0500 Date: Sun, 22 Oct 2000 17:38:16 -0500 Message-Id: <200010222238.RAA30317@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 #1866 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 Sunday, October 22 2000 Volume 01 : Number 1866 In this digest: IN> Contest? (Re: Michael's Challenges) Re: IN> Michael's Challenges: Cloak and Axe IN> Re: [Charles & David's] Challenges - Take it to Email Re: IN> Michaels Challenges: David and Goliath IN> Michael And ...?!? (Soul Soccer, pt. 1) Re: IN> Michael's Challenges: Baal and Beleth #1 Re: IN> Michael's Challenges - Eye of the Storm Re: IN> Michael And ...?!? (Soul Soccer, pt. 1) Re: IN> Michael's Challenges - Eye of the Storm Re: IN> Contest? (Re: Michael's Challenges) Re: IN> Michaels Challenges: David and Goliath Re: IN> Michael And ...?!? (Soul Soccer, pt. 1) Re: IN> Michael's Challenge: Faith Re: IN> Michael's Challenges: Cloak and Axe Re: IN> Michael's Challenges: On the Fly Re: IN> List "Contest"? Re: IN> Michael's Challenges: On the Fly Re: IN> Contest? (Re: Michael's Challenges) Re: IN> Michael's Challenge: Faith IN> Michael's Challenges: War and Destiny Re: IN> Michael's Challenges: War and Destiny Re: IN> Michael's Challenges: Baal and Beleth #1 Re: IN> Michael's Challenges: Cloak and Axe Re: IN> People, I know this one's Just Asking For It, but retain your dignity, OK? Re: IN> Splatbooks: An Abstract Exercise Re: IN> Michael's Challenges: On the Fly Re: IN> Michael And ...?!? (Soul Soccer, pt. 1) Re: IN> Michael's Challenges: On the Fly IN> My presence Re: IN> Michael's Challenges: On the Fly IN> Fwd: German game IN> A Challenge vignette ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Sun, 22 Oct 2000 09:18:37 -0400 From: Elizabeth McCoy Subject: IN> Contest? (Re: Michael's Challenges) At 11:40 PM -0500 10/21/00, Charles Glasgow wrote: >Yes, it is a contest. A friendly one, where the losers walk away as happy >as the winners, but it's still a contest. > >After all, *somebody's* gotta write the best story... I doubt that -- there's too many different tastes around here. There may be a top five list, but I doubt there will be a unanimously acclaimed Best.22222222 (Great, Io-lanthe discovered the numberpad and the up and down arrows on the keyboard...) >David, OTOH... I don't have enough of a 'sense' of David to be able to write >him fully. Anybody else planning on doing David? I can just *feel* the >potential there, but I don't have the character knowledge to fully tap into >it...) (The human soul faced the Seraph across the arena, keyboard in hand... Oh, not _that_ David? O:> ) - --Beth, typing w/a uncoopertive baby (iolanthe) causing typos. "She's either babbling, or summoning Elder Gods. I'm not sure which." ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 22 Oct 2000 09:22:18 -0400 From: Elizabeth McCoy Subject: Re: IN> Michael's Challenges: Cloak and Axe At 12:30 AM -0500 10/22/00, Charles Glasgow wrote: >----- Original Message ----- >From: "Elizabeth McCoy" >To: >Sent: Saturday, October 21, 2000 10:31 AM >Subject: IN> Michael's Challenges: Cloak and Axe > > >> Hah. Fiction. Even with a wiggly baby! > >The only thing I didn't like about this story is that my personal preference >re: the Michael/Dominic grudge is an explanation where they both share the >blame for it. In this one, it looked like all the bad feeling and >responsibility for such was on Michael's side alone. Look at the "hostility" charts -- it's Michael->Dominic, not vice versa. The Hostility isnot mutual. I'm sure Dominic is _snitty_ about it... But as I mentionedbefore, this is more of MOe's Dominic view, and he mellows. Also, this would be one who had just been doing some serious soul-searching because of a Kobalite return -- in this continuity. He was ready to settle some old debts. (Which doesn't mean that they would hve _liked_ each other afterwards, but there might have been some closure and a willingness to go Neutral- but-prickly at each other///) >Outside of that quirk of mine, however, this was a *very* well-written >story. Thank you! - --Beth, typing w/a uncoopertive baby (iolanthe) causing typos. "She's either babbling, or summoning Elder Gods. I'm not sure which." ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 22 Oct 2000 09:24:58 -0400 From: Elizabeth McCoy Subject: IN> Re: [Charles & David's] Challenges - Take it to Email Since both of you agree that this should be taken to email... DO IT. - --Beth, List Admin ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 22 Oct 2000 08:50:47 -0500 From: "Charles Glasgow" Subject: Re: IN> Michaels Challenges: David and Goliath - ----- Original Message ----- From: "Azrael/Demigouge" To: Sent: Sunday, October 22, 2000 2:48 AM Subject: IN> Michaels Challenges: David and Goliath *LOL* I like how the opponent that made Michael come the closest to losing so far was a *3-Force demonling*! How wonderfully ironic! (Admittedly, Blandine came durn close herself.) - -- Chuckg ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 22 Oct 2000 10:41:31 -0400 From: David Wood Subject: IN> Michael And ...?!? (Soul Soccer, pt. 1) The note had made its way by tether, from hands of servitor to servitor, until it made its way to the Seraphim Council and finally to Michael's hand. He had just read it, and looked at it with wonder and more than a little pained uncertainty. Laurence asked, "Another challenge, I take it. What else but a challenge from Baal himself could have you so concerned?" Michael was distracted. Something in him, at the gut level even below 'warrior's instincts,' told him that this was not only deadly serious, but would be grossly stacked against him. He continued looking at the note, trying to puzzle out the motives behind it, and understand its peculiar requirements. And he looked up at Blandine. Blandine realized instantly what was happening. "Oh merciful..." She couldn't bring herself to finish it, and instead said "No!", shaking her head. "Yes," Michael managed to mutter. "I have here a challenge from Beleth." And he read: Dearest Archangel of War, I seek to take you up on your challenge. Meet me in the exact middle ground of the Marches, at the top of the hour of your choosing. My terms for the battle are that any songs and attunements may be used, *except* for the Ethereal and Celestial Songs of Dreams. The victory conditions -- and the prize -- will be obvious. (The note itself was written with a stylish and thin hand. Upon reading 'Dearest Archangel of War,' Michael's resonance got a whack as if from a frying pan. Instead of a signature, there was a hastily sketched spider. As if a signature was necessary.) Blandine by this point was up and wailing. "No, you *can't* let her do this! There is far too much at stake! Laurence, you have to annul the challenge! This combat mustn't take place!" Everyone noticed her extreme reaction, and considered it unreasonable, or at least wondered what she knew that nobody else could see. Laurence held up a hand. "Blandine, please," he told her, to try to calm her down (or at least silence her plaintive cries). He turned to Michael and said, "We understand the ...significance that the Marches hold to you, but Michael issued the challenge -- 'anyone, anywhere.' The decision to withdraw is his, and his alone." Michael looked toward Blandine again and considered. The challenge was his to withdraw, but could he? Beleth was unlikely to be any sort of challenge physically. Backing down from that fight would be a blow to Heaven's morale and a boon to the Adversary. And yet, Beleth wouldn't issue such a challenge unless she felt she had an edge. She may not have the strength, but she is cunning, and knows the Marches. She was once the Angel of Fear. One way or another, it is still her stock and trade. Michael at last shook his head. "I cannot turn down this challenge. There is no way to back away from it and still save face." Dominic arose and stared at Michael intently. "This isn't your Pride leading you into the fight, is it?" Michael turned sharply to Dominic. "It is not *my* Pride forcing my decision, but the Pride of Heaven itself. Backing down would be as good as conceding victory to her." Dominic said nothing more, but nodded solemnly and sat down again. Near Dominic, Yves stood up and, smiling, went over to speak quietly to Blandine who, though quiet, was obviously distraught over the situation. Laurence nodded. "It was always a possibility to consider, that the Fallen would issue challenges in order to get more than just Michael's one promised boon. We must proceed, as Michael said, but we must proceed carefully." Michael finally noticed Yves, and his words having an effect on Blandine. They calmed her some, but also filled her with surprise. He felt a chill through his being, wondering what he was saying, and felt torn between arguing against or thanking him for his interference. He would have to ask him later. "For instance," Laurence continued, "the request that negotiating begin at the top of the hour. What advantage could she seek to gain from that? Blandine? Do you have any idea?" Blandine was still looking up at Yves. Her face was plaged with doubts, but Yves just nodded. She began, haltingly, "Well, ummm..." She cleared her throat. "Many peoples' bedtimes coincide with the top of the hour. After that, most are asleep within fifteen to thirty minutes." "And the forbiddance of the two Songs of Dreams? Why not the Corporeal Song of Dreams too?" Laurence asked, though he had a terrible suspicion. Blandine answered, "I believe the Corporeal Song of Dreams will be required, as she intends the fight to take place *inside* someone's dreamscape." Michael understood now. Beleth planned the challenge to take place inside someone's dream. It was her prerogative to choose the location, and for it, she chose the most unpredictable battlefield she could think of. Finally, he asked, "And what would a fight between an archangel and a demon prince do to the dreamscape?" Blandine said, a little more weakly, "Literally anything. It could push it either way, toward her tower or mine, or..." She choked up some. "...tear it asunder." Michael blinked. "I shall take it on your authority that 'tearing a dreamscape asunder' is a bad thing." One or two members of the Seraphim Council chuckled at this comment. They were either shushed or stared into silence. Laurence shook his head at that. "Michael, the next time you decide to issue a blanket challenge like this, please also remind me of this incident." But Michael continued. He said, "Blandine, let's assume for the moment that she already has a dreamscape chosen. What is she likely to do to it unchallenged?" That question, Blandine didn't have the heart to answer. She looked down at her seat, and tried to hold back the tears. Michael didn't really need the answer at this point, his Resonance told him enough. "So Beleth has not merely issued me a challenge, she has made it an ultimatum. There is no way I can let this go unanswered. I will have to go to the Marches and meet her on her terms." (TO BE CONTINUED -- sorry! Just staking out the territory here. I don't think you'll be disappointed by the other parts. At least I *hope* you won't be disappointed...) - --David http://skipjack.bluecrab.org/~dwood "Failure is a coyote-ugly nineteen-year-old nymphomaniac who, while she's making love to you, ridicules you for not being able to find anybody better looking." ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 22 Oct 2000 10:48:05 -0400 From: David Wood Subject: Re: IN> Michael's Challenges: Baal and Beleth #1 Quoth Jo Hart on 10/22/00 2:52 AM: > (Ack. Too busy today to finish this. Will do the Beleth bit later, unless > anyone has an astoundingly good idea and wants to jump in) Well, now that you mention it... My chapter 1 of Michael vs. Beleth (Yes, it's SERIALIZED! MUAHAHAHAHA!) crossed yours in the mail, sort of. Let's see if it plays well in Peoria. Or Shal-Mari. Any theatre in a storm... - --David http://home.bluecrab.org/~dwood "I use a body rub called Halitosisto make my breath seem sweet." -Monty Python, episode 17 ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 22 Oct 2000 11:52:56 -0400 (EDT) From: "Rev. Pee Kitty" Subject: Re: IN> Michael's Challenges - Eye of the Storm On Sun, 22 Oct 2000, Charles Glasgow wrote: > > > After all, *somebody's* gotta write the best story... > > > > Who decides which story is the best? > > Well, how it's usually worked here before is that the story that got the > most applause was usually 'the best'. Of course, some people use other > judging criteria. *shrug* Wait wait wait.... there was a story or two that I was going to applaud for but didn't have the time because I was skimming fast and heading out to work. Sometimes a story is great but the reader has nothing to say... For the record, I've been kidding around about the 'contest' thing, but I'm definitely, 100%, about as extremely as possible with David here. This is no contest, no competition. It's just people taking a great idea and running with it... - -- Rev. Pee Kitty, of the order Malkavian-Dobbsian, Q4B4L! Meow! There will be no taxes. Everyone will be rich without working. We will germ-warfare all other nations out of existence so that our Armed Forces can be disbanded, and there can finally be World Peace. -- Ivan Stang (for President) ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 22 Oct 2000 10:05:43 -0500 From: "Charles Glasgow" Subject: Re: IN> Michael And ...?!? (Soul Soccer, pt. 1) - ----- Original Message ----- From: "David Wood" To: "In Nomine mailing list" Sent: Sunday, October 22, 2000 9:41 AM Subject: IN> Michael And ...?!? (Soul Soccer, pt. 1) > Laurence held up a hand. "Blandine, please," he told her, to try to calm her > down (or at least silence her plaintive cries). He turned to Michael and > said, "We understand the ...significance that the Marches hold to you, but > Michael issued the challenge -- 'anyone, anywhere.' The decision to withdraw > is his, and his alone." Errrr... while this story *does* look to be shaping up into a real rip-snorter, and I look forward to seeing it, I hate to have to point out that your setup got one of the premises wrong. From Douglas Muir's initial Day Zero message that started off the Challenges of Michael... - ------------- "I see." _Pride_, thought the Angel of the Sword. _Hubris, even. And yet... yes, he does have a point. A sword kept sheathed grows dull._ "Well. Do you have... parameters, for this challenge? Rules, of some sort?" Michael nodded vigorously. "Oh, yes. As I said, I've given this some thought." "One, it must be held here in Heaven. Obviously, I'm not going to wander off into the Marches, or stage a battle between Superiors on Earth. But any location in Heaven is fair ground." "Two, I'll fight anyone who shows up, Superior or not, at any place in Heaven, at any place in Heaven, using any means of combat they require --" [...] - ------------- So while Blandine's Tower was acceptable, because it's both in Heaven and in the Marches, the middle of the Marches is *specifically* right out. And the dreamscape of a corporeal dreamer would be *doubly* out... *shrug* Ah well. We'll just call this a Michael's Challenge Elseworlds or something. A cautionary tale as to why Michael *didn't* really say "Anytime, anywhere". I look forward to part 2. - -- Chuckg ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 22 Oct 2000 10:12:37 -0500 From: "Charles Glasgow" Subject: Re: IN> Michael's Challenges - Eye of the Storm - ----- Original Message ----- From: "Rev. Pee Kitty" To: Sent: Sunday, October 22, 2000 10:52 AM Subject: Re: IN> Michael's Challenges - Eye of the Storm [snip] > For the record, I've been kidding around about the 'contest' thing, but > I'm definitely, 100%, about as extremely as possible with David here. This > is no contest, no competition. It's just people taking a great idea and > running with it... For the record, I think I'll retract the word "contest". - -- Chuckg ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 22 Oct 2000 11:18:35 -0400 From: hbias@earthlink.net (Harris Bias) Subject: Re: IN> Contest? (Re: Michael's Challenges) >Best.22222222 >(Great, Io-lanthe discovered the numberpad and the up and down >arrows on the keyboard...) Heh. > >>David, OTOH... I don't have enough of a 'sense' of David to be able to write >>him fully. Anybody else planning on doing David? I can just *feel* the >>potential there, but I don't have the character knowledge to fully tap into >>it...) > >(The human soul faced the Seraph across the arena, keyboard in hand... >Oh, not _that_ David? O:> ) > Now, *that* would be entertaining. - -- G. Harris Bias hbias@earthlink.net "He had some measure of the infuriating trait that causes a young man to be a nonconformist for its own sake and found that the surest way to shock people, in those days, was to believe that some kinds of behavior were bad, and others good, and that is was reasonable to live one's life accordingly." -Neal Stephenson, "The Diamond Age" ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 22 Oct 2000 12:05:58 -0400 (EDT) From: "Rev. Pee Kitty" Subject: Re: IN> Michaels Challenges: David and Goliath A very unique approach! Original... what a loop to throw into these matchups. :) Archangel... Archangel... Archangel... Archangel... Imp... Archangel.... Bravo. - -- Rev. Pee Kitty, of the order Malkavian-Dobbsian, Q4B4L! Meow! Want to hold up a bank in Latin? "Catapultam habeo. Nisi pecuniam omnem mihi dabis, ad caput tuum saxum immane mittam." (I have a catapult. Give me all the money, or I will fling an enormous rock at your head." ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 22 Oct 2000 11:42:05 -0400 From: David Wood Subject: Re: IN> Michael And ...?!? (Soul Soccer, pt. 1) Quoth Charles Glasgow on 10/22/00 11:05 AM: > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "David Wood" > To: "In Nomine mailing list" > Sent: Sunday, October 22, 2000 9:41 AM > Subject: IN> Michael And ...?!? (Soul Soccer, pt. 1) > >> Laurence held up a hand. "Blandine, please," he told her, to try to calm > her >> down (or at least silence her plaintive cries). He turned to Michael and >> said, "We understand the ...significance that the Marches hold to you, but >> Michael issued the challenge -- 'anyone, anywhere.' The decision to > withdraw >> is his, and his alone." > > Errrr... while this story *does* look to be shaping up into a real > rip-snorter, and I look forward to seeing it, I hate to have to point out > that your setup got one of the premises wrong. > >> From Douglas Muir's initial Day Zero message that started off the Challenges > of Michael... [assorted snippages, er... snipped.] Keeeeee-RAP. And I have that message archived, too in my 'Michael And' folder. > So while Blandine's Tower was acceptable, because it's both in Heaven and in > the Marches, the middle of the Marches is *specifically* right out. And the > dreamscape of a corporeal dreamer would be *doubly* out... > > *shrug* Actually, wanna know the scary part? I think I have a way whereby this can *still* work in the 'official' continuity. There are aspects of the challenge that are still wiggly, and can make *everybody* uncomfortable if tweaked right. And Beleth's just the one to do that, you watch. By the way, I think people will love what I do with HER... > Ah well. We'll just call this a Michael's Challenge Elseworlds or > something. A cautionary tale as to why Michael *didn't* really say > "Anytime, anywhere". Bah! I *despise* 'what-if' stories! > I look forward to part 2. I look forward to it too -- I have to flesh out my corrections somehow, and I can't WAIT to see how I pull myself out of this hole! Probably just digging himself deeper, - --David http://home.bluecrab.org/~dwood ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 22 Oct 2000 08:28:52 -0700 From: Charles E Smith Subject: Re: IN> Michael's Challenge: Faith Very nice David! :D It makes me wonder about just how dispassionate Elohim can be. I mean, to sacrifice one of your own Servitors in a suicide attack (even if he is a Malakite and will just come back a few minutes later in Heaven), it speaks of a determination as hard as that of any Demon Prince. Then again, that just may be what the War needs... Charles Smith. ________________________________________________________________ YOU'RE PAYING TOO MUCH FOR THE INTERNET! Juno now offers FREE Internet Access! Try it today - there's no risk! For your FREE software, visit: http://dl.www.juno.com/get/tagj. ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 22 Oct 2000 08:02:52 -0700 From: Charles E Smith Subject: Re: IN> Michael's Challenges: Cloak and Axe Nah, now you'll just be _cold_ and tired! O:> To _really_ remove the effects, you need to have a baby yell in your ear to start the day! O8> <<< LOL! Not gonna happen to me for at least ten or twelve more years, when I'm an old man of 30 and ready to settle down. :P ________________________________________________________________ YOU'RE PAYING TOO MUCH FOR THE INTERNET! Juno now offers FREE Internet Access! Try it today - there's no risk! For your FREE software, visit: http://dl.www.juno.com/get/tagj. ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 22 Oct 2000 11:34:16 -0500 From: "Erich S. Arendall" Subject: Re: IN> Michael's Challenges: On the Fly > Laurence looked at Eli. "There has to be the danger of injury." > "I take it, then, that you have never been burned." > Laurence was silent. Fantastic work, EDG! A clever way to bring everyone's favorite AWOL Archangel in, and well-penned (keyboarded?) to boot! :)