From owner-in_nomine-digest@lists.io.com Mon Sep 18 17:21:43 2000 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 RAA28170 for ; Mon, 18 Sep 2000 17:21:43 -0500 Received: (from majordom@localhost) by lists.io.com (8.9.3/8.9.1a) id RAA12704 for in_nomine-digest-outgoing; Mon, 18 Sep 2000 17:19:57 -0500 Date: Mon, 18 Sep 2000 17:19:57 -0500 Message-Id: <200009182219.RAA12704@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 #1824 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, September 18 2000 Volume 01 : Number 1824 In this digest: IN> My own Personal Armageddon IN> Isaiah the friendly Seraph Re: IN> My own Personal Armageddon IN> Superior Craziness IN> Liber Reliquarum IN> Something *hilarious* Re: IN> Something *hilarious* Re: IN> Something *hilarious* Re: IN> Something *hilarious* Re: IN> Servitors of Light Re: IN> Servitors of Light Re: IN> Something *hilarious* Re: IN> Servitors of Light Re: IN> Something *hilarious* IN> Contest V: Belial Re: IN> Servitors of Light Re: IN> Servitors of Light ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Sun, 17 Sep 2000 18:04:00 -0400 From: "Charles phipps" Subject: IN> My own Personal Armageddon Okay here's an adventure idea I'd thought I'd share based on "The Final Trumpet" which I bought along with the Angelic Players Guide and Heaven/Hell (darnit...no marches) this week at a gamming shop in Lexington while visting my niece. My own Personal Armageddon Adventure Seed Tiffany is an odd Balseraph of Kobal (as the fact she acts like a Valley Girl can attest), she and her eschatology obsessed Lilim companion friend Danzarius have been hanging about in their home city for a number of years promoting the words of Dark Humor and The War. However...they don't get much attention from their superiors....that's focused on Wariel and Manniacles. Wariel and Manniacles have made it their duty to serve as carbon copies of their Superiors (Michael and Baal) for as long as they have existed...which is a very long time. Close friends before the war they even immiatated their Superiors by vowing they too would save their battle for judgement day. The Malakite and Shedim have surprisingly managed to do just that even when the other is seneschal of opposing Tethers in the same city (their superiors believing their oath will prevent trouble better than most-though Manniacles being a Shedim knows that someone ELSE killing him before judgement day is just good logistics). The competing Military bases are just troublesome all round... Tiffany and Danzarius are thus the overlooked servitors who are missed in the shuffle. Tiffany however has an idea that might make up for this fact and do for her bestest friend and love in the whole world Kobal a great service by making him laugh. *she's setting up her own private armageddon* Using her knowledge of Armageddon from Danzarius and some timely use of the Celestial Charm Song and her resonance....combined with some quick thinking and a good bit of luck. She's managed to convince both Militants that Armageddon is an individual affair that can occur in a localized area if a scaled down version of the signs is met in order (she really scored high on her resonance while playing the part of the Yogurt eating Christian new ager-don't ask-Kobal has some odd roles). Michael and Baal thus want to know what the Hell is going on because something is amiss in their reports and the ammount of disturbance going on....including a mutual six day retreat of all celestials from the city by mutual accord. and why Gabriel's sole servitor in the city has been spending all of his time blowing a horn to every celestial in the city on his bike instead of punishing the cruel (he owes a geas to Danzarius). The PCs should probably arrive as the holiest man in the city is murdered by Mannicle's forces. This may seem cute and funny on the surface but some guy is going to be released from custody/imprisonment who really deserves it, 10-100-1000 souls might well be harvested somehow (maybe a bomb in a soccer game or the resovoir), and then it's every celestial in the city vs. every celestial in the city.... (Wariel and Mannicles/with their allies are not above using songs to get this ball rolling and take into account no matter how respected the PCs are...these guys have been with their guys since the Fall and it's hard to imagine them being so stupid...and you have the potential for an interesting adventure). Sadly Kobal will be deeply offended, it's plagarising his material. - -Charlemagne ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 17 Sep 2000 18:35:55 -0400 From: "Charles phipps" Subject: IN> Isaiah the friendly Seraph >Nice character. Nice to see a relaxed seraph. Thanks. I had Isaiah's personality down before and it was just a matter of choosing which Choir best suit the boy's type. >Does Isaiah's amnesia result from some unlisted Ethereal discord >or from simply memory overflow as a result of his great age? >Earl Actually I think it comes from three places. 1:) Ethereal Discord: It's hard to stay truthful completely when you live amongst humanity so long. Thankfully it was removed by Gabrielle on my first adventure (we did a service for her which was dramatically sucessful) and he's avoided it thus far. 2:) Human-o-envy: Basically the whole memory overflow thing you mentioned is partially responsible for Isaiah wanting on occasion to retreat to a simpler lifestyle and existence that the humans exist in. Thankfully it doesn't take much to jog him out of it...I hope he comes to see himself blessed for his existence instead of it as a burden (envy is a deadly sin and if anyone is wise enough to recognize it...). 3:) Lost Ethereal Forces: You spend 20,000 some odd years amongst humans your bound to encounter some and lose a force or two. - -Charlemagne ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 17 Sep 2000 16:46:26 -0600 From: "ben" Subject: Re: IN> My own Personal Armageddon > My own Personal Armageddon > Adventure Seed As much as it pains me to say this, this is an excellent adventure seed. Deranged demons, subterfuge, demon-angel cooperation, screwing with the expectations of the players, and a mastermind behind it all for enterprising angels to bring down. What more can you ask for? I like. I didn't like Wariel being the name of Michael's stand-in. First, it sounds like Wario ("It'sa me, Wario!"), and second, War -iel? Michael? Archangel of War? No. Don't go there. As a Kobal fanboy, I would say Kobal would *love* this event. By existing as a small-scale apocalypse, it's a mockery of the big picture. That's funny. In fact, I'd have Kobal behind the whole thing. > -Charlemagne Ben ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 17 Sep 2000 20:35:18 -0400 From: "Charles phipps" Subject: IN> Superior Craziness Here's some thoughts on why some crazy people are crazy.... Gabrielle The prettiest gal in all of Heaven (and once the most attractive guy) has of course the whole Belial aspect but Belial is the source of the infection not the cause. Like walking in a rainstorm with no clothes on or hanging around plague victems...Gabriel started going under when he/she stopped punishing the wicked like she was before to mitiagate Belial's destructive excesses. Destroying Magog in my opinion was going to be a big momment of healing for Gabrielle because the eradication of a Demon prince is very close to her old position as the Wrath of God which she's abandoned along with being the Messanger of Heaven....now she's basically just the Messanger of God and letting her servitors handle the cruel. If she wants to recover her sanity she's going to have to eradicate Belial, Sadahm Hussein, and a bunch of other people who need it. fire is a cleansing agent and she's just keeping it burning. *** Eli Okay we've heard nine or ten different theories...now here's another one. Eli has gone on a walkabout. Basically for twenty five thousand years he's been going along with the methodology established around Lucifer, Beleth, Kobal, and Andrephalus. His plans for Creation, Heaven, etc are all that the previous existence that was with these guys as archangels was ideal and the best thing for Heaven would be for them to return and resume their old jobs. However Eli has given up hope that's ever going to Happen or that it SHOULD. Thus for the past hundred years or so Eli has been sampling everything that's good, pure, and decent about humanity and recording it down. The memories he's had or pre-fall and the rest he's simply removed for the purpose of not clouding his mind. Thus he intends to return to Heaven to start a whole new age for Heaven, completely new and changed. Which may get him soul-destroyed as much as hell. *** Saminga The Lord of Death old boy is not so much stupid in my opinion as he is off the wall unconnected with reality (just like David isn't stupid-he's slow witted). My best guess is that Saminga is suffering from acute Haagenti Syndrome-that because he is abused and beaten and terrified that he will instead of dying or submitting shall grow to destroy his oppressors. A kryiorite nobody liked and probably Jordi (my guess to his superior) disliked, my guess is he became a Shedim to feel stronger...one voice instead of divided, one view instead of it. Hell wasn't much better though so he ended up imersing himself with the Egyptians whom he was terrifed of but who appreciated him.... he slowly gathered power and became Death. Now people rant how stupid Saminga's ideas are and how a world of Zombies is no fun for anyone but remember HE'S A SHEDIM. Like Malphas he believes the best world is where there is no one but himself and a world of the dead is the only place where Corruption, Lust, the Game, the War, Gluttony, Fire, Dark Humor, Fate, Hardcore, and Greed will cease to exist. Saminga will be alone, surounded by servants, and the other words will simply...die..... The Reaper will be master of all and never need fear again for Heaven, Hell, and Earth shall be one tomb that he himself is. Saminga alone among the Princes aspires to be God. - -Charlemagne ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 18 Sep 2000 17:32:59 +0930 From: Gnezda Subject: IN> Liber Reliquarum Can someone please email me the rules for the Eli attunements? I've got the rulebook, but a friend has it at the moment, so I can't check out the specific rules. I've *really* been thinking about making a mercurian of Eli lately, and making him a real whizz-bang artificer type, ie the sort of character who'd be weaker than most of the other pcs, but then makes these rocking artifacts for them instead. Also, if anyone has any rules (either house rules, or playtest Eli stuff, subtle hint to those working for SGJ ;)), I'd really appreciate them too. I've sent an order for the Liber reliquarum, but it may be a while, so any help, advice or rules in the mean time will be greatly appreciated. Thanks a lot. :) Milan ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 18 Sep 2000 17:58:25 +0930 From: Gnezda Subject: IN> Something *hilarious* By the way, I thought I'd post this link to the mailing list. Being role-players yourself, I think you'd all find this absolutely hilarious; or rather it *would* be hilarious if this essay wasn't serious... http://www.chick.com/articles/dnd.asp ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 18 Sep 2000 20:14:25 +1000 From: "Azrael" Subject: Re: IN> Something *hilarious* Subject: IN> Something *hilarious* > By the way, I thought I'd post this link to the mailing list. Being > role-players yourself, I think you'd all find this absolutely hilarious; > or rather it *would* be hilarious if this essay wasn't serious... > > http://www.chick.com/articles/dnd.asp Ahhhh Jack Chick...where would religious humour be without him? Azrael ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 18 Sep 2000 21:54:35 NZST From: "Alex Liddell" Subject: Re: IN> Something *hilarious* By the way, I thought I'd post this link to the mailing list. Being > > role-players yourself, I think you'd all find this absolutely hilarious; > > or rather it *would* be hilarious if this essay wasn't serious... > > > > http://www.chick.com/articles/dnd.asp > >Ahhhh Jack Chick...where would religious humour be without him? It's a good thing he doesn't know about IN, otherwise he'd have us all for dinner. You think Hack 'n' Slash D&D is satanic... last night I had a personal meeting with Lucifer himself and he *swore* he has nothing to do with D&D.... I believed him of course, I couldn't help but believe him. Alex _________________________________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com. Share information about yourself, create your own public profile at http://profiles.msn.com. ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 18 Sep 2000 10:33:42 -0400 (EDT) From: "Rev. Pee Kitty" Subject: Re: IN> Something *hilarious* On Mon, 18 Sep 2000, Gnezda wrote: > By the way, I thought I'd post this link to the mailing list. Being > role-players yourself, I think you'd all find this absolutely hilarious; > or rather it *would* be hilarious if this essay wasn't serious... > > http://www.chick.com/articles/dnd.asp What do you mean? I thought the article was dead-on. Heck, I remember the first time I played D&D, when I was 12. We accidentally summoned a real demon - jumped right out of the bowl of Doritos - and conjured up a fireball that set my sister's bedroom on fire. One interesting night, I tell ya... - -- Rev. Pee Kitty, of the order Malkavian-Dobbsian, Q4B4L! Meow! And finally, a special message to \|/ ____ \|/ anyone who thinks I give a damn... ~@-/ oO \-@~ /_( \__/ )_\ \__U_/ ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 18 Sep 2000 09:49:57 -0500 From: Earl Wajenberg Subject: Re: IN> Servitors of Light I agree with Michael Walton that there's no reason to suppose a hugely disproportionate number of Angels of Light fell in the War in Heaven. Oh, maybe somewhat more than the average one third, since misplaced loyalty to a Superior probably drew some, and Lucifer may have worked harder on some of his own. But also, the unfallen Light angels have very largely been re-assigned to other Archangels, I'd think. Some would seek it entirely on their own, repulsed by what their old master did. The rest would be leaned on heavily by many parties in Heaven, so as to increase the distance between themselves and their old Master. 'Course, that *does* mean there are some angels with the interesting line in their resumes, "Created by Lucifer." Earl ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 18 Sep 2000 10:52:30 -0600 From: Tim Groth Subject: Re: IN> Servitors of Light I think there are plenty of good reasons to assume that most Servitors of Light went with Lucifer. Primarly Lucifer managed to split up Beleth and Blandine, convince the embodiement of Love that his Word was BS and almost turned Dominic. He was charismatic and persuasive and his Servitors would be more likely to listen to him and consider his words correct. Beyond that they were probably at most of his talks, and were subjected to more of his arguments than anyone else. Also I don't think manay of the Servitors of the loyal Archangels went with the Rebels. The Rebels' Servitors probably provided the bulk of the Fallens forces. I imagine Lucifer got key celestials and had them bring any angels underneith them. The lack of Servitors of Lucifer in canon is probably because of their gimmickiness. Its more likely to me that Lucifer never had many Servitors than the bulk of them decided not to follow him. Being a Servitor isn't having a job its a profound connection with the Superior and the Word they hold. Quiting is difficult, and I don't think that many of them did. Timothy, Angel of Rambling Ofanite of Creation ArchRival of Mathus If you have time to kill, why not kill it at http://ucsub.Colorado.edu/~grothtp/In.html ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 18 Sep 2000 10:57:23 -0700 (PDT) From: Michael Walton Subject: Re: IN> Something *hilarious* - --- Gnezda wrote: > By the way, I thought I'd post this link to the mailing list. Being > role-players yourself, I think you'd all find this absolutely > hilarious; > or rather it *would* be hilarious if this essay wasn't serious... Hmmm. I'd be interested in finding out what the author thinks of IN. OTOH, the essay touches on (accidently, in my opinion) a very real concern. Some people have real problems separating fantasy from reality. For those people, RPG's are truly dangerous. As players amd GM's, we have a responsibility to discourage that sort of thing whenever we encounter it. For my own part, I don't play in demonic campaigns and don't allow demon PC's. Sure, the crazies are goning to be crazy whether they play in my game or not... but nobody will be able to say that I encouraged it. By the by, as a born-again Christian, I think that the writer of the essay is an extremist. Believe me, we're not all fanatics. ===== Michael Walton, #9805-068 "God, protect me from my friends - -- my enemies I can handle." __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! Mail - Free email you can access from anywhere! http://mail.yahoo.com/ ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 18 Sep 2000 11:01:24 -0700 (PDT) From: Michael Walton Subject: Re: IN> Servitors of Light - --- Earl Wajenberg wrote: > But also, the unfallen Light angels have very largely been > re-assigned to other Archangels, I'd think. Some would seek > it entirely on their own, repulsed by what their old master > did. The rest would be leaned on heavily by many parties in > Heaven, so as to increase the distance between themselves and > their old Master. It's also likely that the few un-Fallen Lighties who haven't been assigned to other AA's are now under permanent house arrest -- Heaven wouldn't want them to be destroyed or tempted into Falling, so it would take a _really_ important matter to allow one to visit Earth. ===== Michael Walton, #9805-068 "God, protect me from my friends - -- my enemies I can handle." __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! Mail - Free email you can access from anywhere! http://mail.yahoo.com/ ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 18 Sep 2000 13:18:42 -0500 From: David Edelstein Subject: Re: IN> Something *hilarious* Azrael wrote: > > > By the way, I thought I'd post this link to the mailing list. Being > > role-players yourself, I think you'd all find this absolutely hilarious; > > or rather it *would* be hilarious if this essay wasn't serious... Not hilarious -- pathetic and tragic. > Ahhhh Jack Chick...where would religious humour be without him? http://www.amadan.org/Innomine/Jack_Chick.html - -David ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 18 Sep 2000 11:16:01 -0700 (PDT) From: Michael Walton Subject: IN> Contest V: Belial Greetings from the Dark Side... I've been sitting on these guys for weeks -- let them be unleashed! Inferna "The Torches" The life of a Servitor of Fire isn't all work. Zherelle proves that; she's a Lilim who has some really fun ways for people to pay off favors to her. She and I had just finished making a little heat the old-fashioned way. Zherelle fished a cigarette out of her purse and looked at me with her "do me a favor?" pout. "Got a light?" she said. "Always," I responded. I focused my gaze for a second. When the tip of her cigarette began to glow, she put it to her lips suggestively and took a deep drag. Right as she blew out the smoke ring is when the Malakite burst through the door. Zherelle and I rolled off the bed in opposite directions as a really big ax came down right where my head used to be. I winced at the headboard's Symphonic death-scream - this guy didn't care if he called down every Celestial in town! Fortunately, Zherelle is quick on the uptake. She sang a series of notes and the smoke from her cigarette became a dense Symphonic fog. Now that we didn't have to worry about Disturbances, I was free to cut loose. I dodged several more ax swings, cleverly maneuvering so that the Blackwing was between me and the window. Then I blew a third of my Essence into the biggest fireball I could manage and flung it at the Malakite. The explosion hurled him out the window. Twenty-three stories later, the pavement finished the job that the fireball had started. I grabbed my clothes and started throwing them on. "Get dressed, babe, we're outta here." Zherelle just stood there for a moment looking at me admiringly. "What?" I said. She favored me with one of her combustible smiles. "I just love watching you work." Inferna "The Torches" Shinanim burn with love for God, Gabriel and Humanity (in that order). But sometimes, God seems distant. Gabriel is often too wrapped up in her madness to have time for her Servitors. Humans frequently deserve harsh criticism. When these circumstances cause a Shin'an's passion to turn inward and consume itself, the being that rises from the ashes is an Infernus. All Inferna end up in the service of Belial. This isn't a matter of loyalty to Hell's version of Fire; it's a reaction to the love that the former angel had for Gabriel. All of that love turns to hate when the angel Falls - serving Hell is the easiest way to spite God and serving Belial is the easiest way to hurt Gabriel. The Inferna's feelings toward Humanity are best not contemplated. All Inferna are Fallen Shinanim. Belial has never figured out how to start a flame of hate that burns as brightly as the fires of spurned love. Resonance An Infernus is a living match that sees the rest of the world as kindling. With a Will roll, the demon can ignite any flammable substance within his line of sight (unenhanced by technology, but Songs and Attunements work). The Inferna Resonance only effects things that readily catch fire; flesh doesn't qualify, but hair and most forms of clothing do. The target must also be seen directly - an Infernus can't blow up a car by igniting the gas tank unless he can somehow see through the tank to the gasoline inside. Dissonance Inferna are creatures of hatred and destructive force (they get along famously with Calabim). It is Dissonant for an Infernus to build anything that's meant to last - a house, a tool, a weapon, even a relationship. Inferna have disposable tools and temporary alliances, but few of them have any favorite Artifacts or lasting friendships. Any Artifacts that an Infernus has are likely to be stolen, and the only Roles these demons can have are those that are taken over from some other Celestial. Inferna can only have material goods if someone else makes them and can only stay in relationships if other parties do all the work of maintaining them (which is extremely rare among demons). Manner and Appearance The Torches tend to be unkempt and unattractive in their Vessels; they like to appear jaded and tough. They have a strong preference for Vessels in the appearance of rugged-looking young males. The eyes of an Infernus look as if he's seen everything and been disgusted by all of it. Not surprisingly, they prefer to dress in flame-retardant fabrics. In celestial form, an Infernus looks like a tongue of flame with a disturbing suggestion of facial features. Musically, there's only one type of instrument that the Torches identify with. How they saw themselves before the invention of electric guitars is anybody's guess. Band Attunement Belial's Inferna (that is, all of them) must know the Corporeal Song of Fire at character creation. When they play this Song, they add their Corporeal Forces to the Check Digit of a successful roll. ===== Michael Walton, #9805-068 "God, protect me from my friends - -- my enemies I can handle." __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! Mail - Free email you can access from anywhere! http://mail.yahoo.com/ ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 18 Sep 2000 16:48:19 -0400 (EDT) From: "Rev. Pee Kitty" Subject: Re: IN> Servitors of Light On Mon, 18 Sep 2000, Michael Walton wrote: > It's also likely that the few un-Fallen Lighties who haven't been > assigned to other AA's are now under permanent house arrest -- Heaven > wouldn't want them to be destroyed or tempted into Falling, so it would > take a _really_ important matter to allow one to visit Earth. Waitasecond... that sounds more like a punishment than anything. I could see that in a low-contrast game, but normally Heaven isn't going to corral an angel who hasn't shown any specific proclivity towards falling. They're no more likely to fall than any other angel - in fact, they're probably MORE loyal to heaven because they were willing to abandon their Superior when he went against heaven. - -- Rev. Pee Kitty, of the order Malkavian-Dobbsian, Q4B4L! Meow! Information is not knowledge. Knowledge is not wisdom. Wisdom is not truth. Truth is not beauty. Beauty is not love. Love is not music. Music is _the best_. -- Frank Zappa, "Packard Goose" ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 18 Sep 2000 15:19:16 -0700 (PDT) From: Michael Walton Subject: Re: IN> Servitors of Light - --- "Rev. Pee Kitty" wrote: > > > On Mon, 18 Sep 2000, Michael Walton wrote: > > > It's also likely that the few un-Fallen Lighties who haven't been > > assigned to other AA's are now under permanent house arrest -- > Heaven > > wouldn't want them to be destroyed or tempted into Falling, so it > would > > take a _really_ important matter to allow one to visit Earth. > > Waitasecond... that sounds more like a punishment than anything. I > could > see that in a low-contrast game, but normally Heaven isn't going to > corral > an angel who hasn't shown any specific proclivity towards falling. > They're > no more likely to fall than any other angel - in fact, they're > probably > MORE loyal to heaven because they were willing to abandon their > Superior when he went against heaven. An eminently logical argument. The problem is that angels (in IN, at least) aren't always logical. Remember, the Grigori were cast out as a Choir for something that it's highly probably that not all of them did. Then look at the way that Judgement polices Malakim. It's easy to make a case that Heaven leans toward overprotectiveness. I agree with you that it seems like a punishment. But -- and I speak as a former teenager here -- that sort of protection often seems like punishment to those who are being protected. ===== Michael Walton, #9805-068 "God, protect me from my friends - -- my enemies I can handle." __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! Mail - Free email you can access from anywhere! http://mail.yahoo.com/ ------------------------------ End of in_nomine-digest V1 #1824 ******************************** The material here is (C) 2000 Steve Jackson Games, Incorporated. All rights reserved.