From owner-in_nomine-digest@lists.io.com Fri May 25 17:11:54 2001 Return-Path: Received: from lists.io.com (majordom@lists.io.com [199.170.88.15]) by pyramid.sjgames.com (8.9.3/8.9.3) with ESMTP id RAA07788 for ; Fri, 25 May 2001 17:11:54 -0500 Received: (from majordom@localhost) by lists.io.com (8.9.3/8.9.1a) id RAA17065 for in_nomine-digest-outgoing; Fri, 25 May 2001 17:10:05 -0500 Date: Fri, 25 May 2001 17:10:05 -0500 Message-Id: <200105252210.RAA17065@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 #2241 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 Friday, May 25 2001 Volume 01 : Number 2241 In this digest: RE: IN> IN CCG? Re: IN> IN CCG? IN> New Skills (and a Pseudo-Discord) Re: IN> IN CCG? Re: IN> Some questions about the afterlife IN> Re: in_nomine-digest V1 #2238 IN> Attn: Entity that came up with the phrase "Revelations and Development" Re: IN> Consider Grunts Re: IN> IN CCG? Re: IN> New Skills (and a Pseudo-Discord) IN> OW!!! IN> Welcome to Fantasy Island IN> Asian Archangel IN> Asian Archangel part 2 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Thu, 24 May 2001 08:12:35 -0500 From: "Wallis, Elizabeth A" Subject: RE: IN> IN CCG? I'd be interested in helping out however I can, though I'm not sure exactly what that would be. One area that I know I might be able to help, certainly, is in play testing, but also my little brother and a bunch of his friends have a 'dead CCGs club' where they go out and find the rejected and mocked card games of the past that have been put on the ten cent shelf and buy up boxes of them and divy them up. The result is some pretty bizarre rules systems and games to have a look at. Two in particular that come to mind immediately (though I can't say anything for the rules systems) are Heresy and Redemption. Heresy is actually about Angels and Demons in a modern setting, but I seem to recall it having a more computer like base rather than simple reality. Then Redemption is a Christian CCG where you try and control saints and all to convert the masses and get them into heaven. So it seems to me as though there's some potential there, if nothing else. Anyway, if you'd like to mail me off list feel free, or if it continues to be a discussion topic I'll keep on tossing in my cents willy nilly. :) Ely ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 24 May 2001 09:27:38 +0100 From: Jason Schneiderman Subject: Re: IN> IN CCG? >I'm actually somewhat more than mildly interested in working on an In >Nomine CCG, if there's enough of an audience to have playtesters and >such. Awhile ago I was working on an IN adaptation of VTES, since that's >my card game of choice. (Despite the fact that I have little interest in >the WoD as a roleplaying setting, I think Jyhad is probably the best CCG >ever designed. *nod* I've got a long-standing fondness for Netrunner, but Jyhad comes very close. >So, is there any real interest here? I'd be interested in such a venture. I dig system and setting translation, and will do so at the drop of a hat. :) * * * * * Jason Schneiderman, Editor, EDITORIAL HUMOR. E-mail: edhumor@tiac.net ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 24 May 2001 06:28:46 -0700 (PDT) From: Maurice Lane Subject: IN> New Skills (and a Pseudo-Discord) These skills are not necessary for all campaigns. They would be most suitable for very, very new angelic PCs, or in worlds where the differences between celestials and corporeals are emphasized. I dunno if the 'Discord's' been done already. Probably, somewhere: it seems logical enough. :) Moe "Hello, hello/is there anybody in there?/Just nod if you can hear me/is there anyone at home?" Lane Crowdwalking (Perception) Default -2* There is no crowding in Heaven. This is good for the inhabitants ... but not so good when an angel faces a rush hour subway commute for the first time. Successful use of this skill will allow the celestial to navigate his or her way through a crowd without knocking anyone down or generally causing damage. *Mercurians default to straight Perception and Kyriotates can simply let the host body or bodies run on autopilot (all humans have Crowdwalking/3 for free). Dumbing Down (Will) Default -2 It can be difficult to remember how fragile, slow and weak everything is on Earth, but practice helps. The CD of a successful Dumbing Down roll is added to any Doesn't Know His Own Strength roll (see below). Doesn't Know His Own Strength (Corporeal) This is a pseudo-Discord common to celestials on their first tour of duty. In moments of stress, a entity with DKHOS must make a Will roll at -2 or use his, her or its characteristics at full potency. This may seem harmless, but remember that it does not take Strength 6 to crack an egg, Agility 6 to throw a snowball, Intelligence 6 to read a newspaper, Precision 6 to throw a balled up piece of paper into a wastepaper basket, Will 6 to skip lunch and/or Perception 6 to swat in the general direction of a fly. Celestials with DKHOS who fail their Will Rolls will wind up using too much power for the task: the results can range from funny to tragic. This 'Discord' is never higher than 1, and may be bought off with earned experience points. Other angels react at -1 to those with DKHOS: it's a sign that somebody wasn't paying attention in class... ===== Liber Licentiae Moeticae: http://www.stormloader.com/users/moelane/innomine.html Last updated 04/29/01(this is usually way out of date) __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! Auctions - buy the things you want at great prices http://auctions.yahoo.com/ ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 24 May 2001 13:40:38 From: "Jo Hart" Subject: Re: IN> IN CCG? >From: Jason Schneiderman >Reply-To: in_nomine-l@lists.io.com >To: in_nomine-l@lists.io.com >Subject: Re: IN> IN CCG? >Date: Thu, 24 May 2001 09:27:38 +0100 > > >I'm actually somewhat more than mildly interested in working on an In > >Nomine CCG, if there's enough of an audience to have playtesters and > >such. Awhile ago I was working on an IN adaptation of VTES, since that's > >my card game of choice. (Despite the fact that I have little interest in > >the WoD as a roleplaying setting, I think Jyhad is probably the best CCG > >ever designed. > >*nod* I've got a long-standing fondness for Netrunner, but Jyhad comes very >close. I liked the IN Illuminati game that people were working on (Jyhad is too complicated for my taste.) I bet you could do a fun IN version of Nuclear War, though :-) Or History of the World. jo _________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 24 May 2001 09:45:01 -0500 From: Earl Wajenberg Subject: Re: IN> Some questions about the afterlife Janet Anderson wrote: > When humans (especially Soldiers) get to Heaven, and they choose to > hang around rather than ascending to the Higher Heavens, what do > they look like? Given that canon is pretty sketchy on this, I'd suppose they usually look like idealized versions of their Earthly selves, at about age 20. That's if they die as adults. Children, I'd think, should arrive in heaven looking like the age they died at, then grow up in Heaven at a normal rate until they reach about 20. It might be interesting if, after a little practice, a blessed soul could shift apparent age voluntarily to any age they'd ever really attained. (Maybe with more practice, they could exceed that limit, or shift to other sexes and races, etc. Human celestial forms might be more pliable than angelic ones. Then there's the whole issue of vessels.) Blessed souls are almost always depicted with haloes, so I'd keep that for the game. Earl ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 24 May 2001 10:30:47 -0400 From: "Joseph Rocchi/Toronto/IBM" Subject: IN> Re: in_nomine-digest V1 #2238 This was the last digest I recieved... Is the list down? ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 24 May 2001 08:29:46 -0700 (PDT) From: Maurice Lane Subject: IN> Attn: Entity that came up with the phrase "Revelations and Development" ... would you please indicate your identity (plus suitable angelic/blessed soul/Soldierly/nice ethereal alter ego) to me - via private email, alas - by this evening? I'm going to need to do the attribution thing for something that I'm working on. :) Moe ===== Liber Licentiae Moeticae: http://www.stormloader.com/users/moelane/innomine.html Last updated 04/29/01(this is usually way out of date) __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! Auctions - buy the things you want at great prices http://auctions.yahoo.com/ ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 24 May 2001 08:37:58 -0700 From: "Phillip Des Jardins" Subject: Re: IN> Consider Grunts Wow. The human perspective. I -like- it. Maybe someone should do 'consider sellouts' next. Phillip, Angel of Reinventing The Wheel ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 24 May 2001 10:06:41 -0700 From: Daiv Subject: Re: IN> IN CCG? Hi! Put me down on the list of people who would be willing to help with this in any way possible. -Daiv David Edelstein wrote: > So, is there any real interest here? Anyone wanting to get involved > would have to keep firmly in mind the fact that there is about a > snowball's chance in hell of it ever being commercially published -- SJG > would be the only ones with rights to such a critter, and I doubt it > would be remotely marketable enough for SJG to launch a new CCG rather > than publishing another INWO expansion. So this would be nothing more > than a labor of love, with the end result that we might have a game that > gets played by a dozen people worldwide. ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 24 May 2001 10:15:54 -0700 (PDT) From: Michael Walton Subject: Re: IN> New Skills (and a Pseudo-Discord) - --- Maurice Lane wrote: > Doesn't Know His Own Strength (Corporeal) > This is a pseudo-Discord common to celestials on their > first tour of duty. In moments of stress, a entity > with DKHOS must make a Will roll at -2 or use his, her > or its characteristics at full potency. I don't know if this needs to be a Discord. As an aspect of inexperience with the Corporeal plane, it's seems to me to be more a matter of role-play. ===== Michael Walton, #9805-068 None of your plans for success will work unless you do. __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! Auctions - buy the things you want at great prices http://auctions.yahoo.com/ ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 24 May 2001 17:15:56 From: "Janet Anderson" Subject: IN> OW!!! People get stressed while cracking eggs? You're right, it would be amusing (and appropriate) for new angel characters (maybe even for new demon characters). It could be less than amusing for more experienced angel characters. Especially since it's fairly pointless unless applied to corporeal advantages, since if it takes you sixy seconds instead of an hour to do the crossword puzzle, probably no one but you will notice, and it's easy enough to cover up if someone does. However, the flirtatious Lilim who cripples the guy she's trying to play footsie with will not be amused, nor will the Mercurian (or Impudite) who attempts to give someone a hearty backslap (for encouragement or Essence) and knocks him across the room. Or the Kyriotate inside a waiter, who suddenly brings new meaning to the term "fast service." Janet Anderson (The subject heading above was my immediate reaction when considering this Discord in connection with my current favorite PC.) _________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 24 May 2001 14:36:04 -0400 From: "Charles Phipps" Subject: IN> Welcome to Fantasy Island Roarke Elohim of Dreams Master of the Realms of Night Master of Divine Knowledge The Seneschal of Fantasy Island Cor- 3 Str-6 Agi-6 Eth- 6 Int-12 Pre-12 Cel-5 Will-8 Per-12 Vessel: Foreboding Aged Man 6/ (formerly Pleasant Middle Aged man 4/+3 Charisma) Role: Charismatic Host 6/ Skills: Artistry (Painting 3/), Detect Lies 6/, Driving 2/, Emote 6/, Area Knowledge (Fantasy Island) 6/, Psychology 6/, Survival 6/, Tracking 4/ Songs: Song of Attraction (Corporeal 3/, Ethereal 6/, Celestial 6/), Song of Dreams (Ethereal 6/Celestial 6/), Song of Entropy (Corporeal 3/, Ethereal 3/, Celestial 2/), Song of Harmony (Celestial 6/), Song of Light (Corporeal 3/, Ethereal 6/, Celestial 2/,), Song of Motion (Celestial 6/), Song of Tongues (Corporeal 4/ Attunements: Elohim of Blandine, Malakim of Blandine, Kyriotate of Blandine, Divine Destiny, Dream Walking, Healing Dream, Divine Logic, Master of Divine Knowledge (Seraphim), Master of the Realms of Night Special Attunements: Divine Fantasy: This ability which Mr. Roarke routinely passes out to his servitors and even some collegues allows an angel to divine the most secret desire of a person whether it is to live a different life than he wants to or find love with an old college roommate or achieve complete domination over the planet Earth and all that live there. This ability does not always correspond with what the person PERCIEVES that he wants of course. Link Dreamscapes: This functions exactly the same as Join Dreamscapes as listed in Blandine's section of the Marches sourcebook. Bestow Lucidity: This functions exactly the same as Lucidity as listed in Blandine's section of the Marches sourcebook. Waking Dream: This imensley powerful attunement allows the Marches and Corporeal world to overlap for a brief time as a human interacts with reality and the ethereal realms as if they were both real as long as they are on fantasy island. This ability can only be used on willing humans but those that allow it to occur are completely at the mercy of Mr. Roarke from this point on. Word Forces: 20 Rites: * Bring a couple together in the bounds of true love * Fufill a man's fantasy and improve him for it. * Aid a soul in achieving it's destiny through service * Cure a human of his illusions about life Fantasy Island is not only one of Blandine's most important tethers but it is actually one of her first with the Island being the first place a human being settled down and dreamed of a better life after a great trial. The tether was thus sollidfied by not just Blandine but also Beleth and was a tether to both. Roarke and his companion Rowan were set as dual seneschals over the tether with their duties to maintain and promote the tether as volcanic reaction seperated the island from the mainland and set it adrift through both the ethereal lands and mortal realms; much like the continent of Atlantis in one of the most peculiar actions of cosmic force. The reason for this was perhaps the fall as Roarke and Rowan turned against each other even as their mistresses did and Rowan was driven from Fantasy Island to Hell while Roarke became it's master. Centuries pass and always Roarke has found ways for mortals to emerge on fantasy island whether it was through magical teleportation after imbiding strange drugs given by his servitors, crashing boats full of explorers against the shores, or as the wonderful modern era has provided-the luxury of a Hotel and Resort service. Roarke was among Blandine's closet and greatest companions who led hundreds of thousands of souls to their destiny and brighter futures even as he even dealt with Hellsworn and demonic attempts to destroy the island. Rowan never gave up his attempts to regain control over Fantasy Island from it's Seraphim master and the Habbalah was repulsed repeatidly. At the height of Fantasy Island's popularity when Roarke was running several tethers to bring mortals to the place; the Devil himself made attempts to destroy the tether and the man in charge and though each time even Lucifer failed to corrupt the man ready to ascend to the status; he did finally arrange for his soul-death which occured in exchange for the soul of a human child who had made a terrible bargain to save another's life. Lucifer made one of the few miscalculations of his life however in the destruction of his long time rival caused Rowan to mourn and instead of seeking to corrupt the island as was his intention the Devil watched him redeem before Blandine and take up the name Roarke. Now the harsh master of the Island the former Angel of Fear and Nightmares seeks to fufill the shoes of his friend which Blandine fufilled the dying wish of. Dominic as one can imagine dislikes intensley the idea of a newly redeemed angel being given such an immense position of power and worries greatly that Blandine's plan to push forward for an Archangel of Fantasy will lead to a greater fall.... Which is perhaps what Lucifer intended all along. - -Charlemagne ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 24 May 2001 14:40:56 -0400 From: "Charles Phipps" Subject: IN> Asian Archangel Okay I've COMPLETELY redone Zedikiah for my campaign thanks to all your suggestions and I hope you don't mind my posting the revised version here. I think it's definately a excellent edition to the Heavengly force and truly an Oreintal flavored Archangel....I think he's going to be an excellent gift to my campaign as well. Shang-Ti Archangel of Bureaucracy "The Enlightment of the State shall enlighten the Individual" The Archangel of Bureaucracy is a relatively minor Archangel who for centuries has languished out of view in a specific region of the world struggling to maintain his word but has recently come into great prominence and prosperity with the advent of industrialized and urbanized society. Shang-Ti himself is somewhat amazed by his sudden change of good fortune and more than a little overwhelmed by what has happened to him. However, he intends to make the most of it and make sure that his word shapes the world in a very positive way though Heaven may be surprised by the way he handles things given the Kyriotate Archangel's decidedly non-Western way of handling things. Orginally a servitor of the Archangel Yves, Shang Ti was awarded his word by God well before humanity was created and worked diligently with Dominic and Asmodeus to put the law of God in effect throughout the Heavens. When the Fall came Shang-Ti lamented the destruction and corruption of so many angels but took it far less personally than most of the Host, doing his best merely to try and replace the lost's positions and he was a founding force in the Seraphim Council though his word was quickly drowned out by the more aggressive and expansive angels. Indeed Shang-Ti was not formally recognized as an Archangel until the Zhou Dynasty of China (c 470 B.C.) when Shang Ti ironically support of the Confucian ideals of government managed to establish a much less autocratic and more benevolent government system in place. Shang-Ti was relatively ignored along with a great portion of the East until the Purity crusade in which Shang-Ti made the difficult decision to stand by the Commander of the Host and watch with great sorrow the eradication of the majority of many allies and spirits he had managed to bring under control in the Asian realms. To this day Blandine has not fully forgiven Shang-Ti for believing it was more important for Heaven to stand united than to obstruct the divinely appointed commander of the Host's crusade. Uriel himself paid little attention and had always been suspicious of the being who shared the name with the powerful leader of the Celestial Bureaucracy ethereals. After this period Shang-Ti spent the majority of the remaining centuries attempting to restore ordered government to Asia and continue to propugate the ideals of Confuscianism of which he is the patron of. Unlike Khalid who was drawn out by the disasterous plot of Kobal and Malphas to destroy humanity with Armageddon, Shang Ti emerged from his near isolation because a great number of tethers to his word were beginning to spotaneously emerge in a realm that he had traditionally known as inferior and barbaric in terms of government. Currently Shang Ti is involved in spreading the ideals of enlightened government to the Western World while a remaining two thirds of his forces are attempting to return Confucian ideals and their respectful order to power in China and other realms. With his intimate understanding of the ways of Bureaucracy he is also discovering that he is far better suited to the emerging world than many other Archangels save Marc of whom he traditionally had little more than contempt for. Shang-Ti appears normally as a extremely old man of Chinese descent with a Phoneix and dragon accompanying him with tattered robes but he has taken to possesing more pedestrian enlightened bureaucrats as time passed and while there is a certain gereoism in his choices as he prefers the elderly and traditional he has even been known to possess some young and virile reformers who ironically speak of a return to better ways that he endorses for Heaven. Dissonance Servitors of Shang Ti are forbidden for violating "the proper way of things" which means roughly that they are forbidden from adultery, gambling, murder, theft, arson, drug use, and other crimminal and merely reprehensible acts unless they are given a special dispensation by their superior for this case and such usually comes under extensive review afterward. Shang Ti is not forgiving of dissonance and servitors who accumulate the tiniest bit of it are likely to spend a great many hours in Heaven or in his tethers working it off and then much longer to show their commitment to his word. Servitor Attunements Servitors of Shang-Ti are for the most part Asians of every age, ethnic group, sex, and social class which is surprising given the traditional views of the Archangel but in fact stem from his Kyriotate perspective that humanity is composed of multiple peoples and a bureaucracy must be maintained on all fronts. A Cherub of bureaucracy is just as likely to be assigned to be a tax collector's mistress as they are to be his secretary. Seraphim Shang Ti's Seraphim have been somewhat unfairly observed by servitors of Janus to have all fallen to become Balseraphs with their self righteousness "guidence" if not for the fact that they prefer cutting other people's arguments down as opposed to imposing their own views. To be somewhat fair the Most Holy of Bureaucracy tend to view the younger Angels and even older members of other choirs as children needing to be guided rather than adult servants of God let alone most humans. Seraphim of Bureaucracy can hear the flaws in any argument with their resonance. Cherubim Cherubim of Bureaucracy are assigned to be the servants, muses, and patrons of government and now this new concept of "corporate". As long as they are visited by their "secret gaurdians" at least once a day, the attuned will do three times his normal ammount of work well or it three times better. Ofanim Ofanim are the messangers of Shang-Ti and often bring mortals good and bad tidings regarding their service to the greater good. The Ofanim of course are usually the parties responsible for this good and bad tidings but it is not in their nature to gloat. Ofanim can sense where the greatest source of order and chaos in a given institution is and follow it with their resonance. Elohim Elohim of Bureaucracy are advisors of leaders to the health and propserity of their constituants and thus can add their ethereal forces to any roll of their resonance. Malakim Malakim are unrepentadly the assaisins and killers of the Archangel of Bureaucracy with their mission to hunt down and destroy all evil spirits whether Ethereal, Demonic, or Undead influencing bureaucratic decisions. To this they can resonate DECISIONS and discover how they were achieved whether honorably or not. This does not always lead to evil influence for humanity is quite capable of much corruption on it's own but Shang-Ti is fairly liberal in giving permission for eliminating mortal evils, or at the very least exposing them, when it comes to decision makers. Kyriotates Shang Ti's ranks are incredibly slanted toward the Dominations and more than half his ranks are composed of them. A reason for this may have something to do with the fact that Shang Ti has a great number of them on "permanent" assignment or at least until a mortal grows up and dies. Kyriotates of Bureaucracy can possess mortals and allow them to keep their free will and conciousness with the ability to remain in the "background" and give suggestions that most mortals will regard merely as functions of their own conscience. Some of the greatest of thinkers and leaders in the world have had such "better halves" tied to their spirits. Mercurian Mercurians are given the task of "shaping" human leaders and serve primarily as teachers, philosophers, and "consultants" for the emerging leaders of tommorow and the receptive of today. They are fairly turt and to the point for their choir as they're resonance exposing them to a great deal about humanity most would rather not know. A Mercurian can resonante a person's character flaws just by looking at them and often spend a great of time trying to eliminate them. Special permission to use them to guide a permission requires several forms through proper channels in triplicate, subject to the appraisal of Shang-Ti himself. Attunements Bureaucratic Navigation This ability allows a person to instantly be able to understand the layers of bureaucracy that compose the whole of the being that is an institution. The information includes everything from whether or not a memo will be deliberately lost, who to talk to about what issues to acomplish what, what will be required to acomplish what, whether certain issues will be labelled high or low priority, and whether or not a person will react better to a certain piece of legislation than another. The information only pertains to a specific regions bureaucracy and different usages must be made for different departments such as a memo traveling from the IRS to the FBI down to the local police but it still is immensely useful. Instant Role This ability is a rather distinctive one that has made it a great headache to servitors of Asmodeus to track down individual angels operating in the government despite occasionally dramatic displays of power that confirm their nature. With the expenditure of a point of essence per level a role can instantly be created in the Symphony for the user of the attunement. While no one will remember the person who didn't meet him, all the appropriate forms and records will be present at the main office to confirm the angel as a member of a specific office with his identity. Thus a angel of Bureaucracy could one day be working for the Central Intelligence Agency as a sniper while another day working as a Police officer for internal affairs. The effect only lasts one day but a side-effect makes memories of low will humans (4 or less) cloud regarding the matter. Red Tape This is a hex attunement that is more frustrating than dangerous though to servitors of such highly rule bound Princes as Asmodeus and Mamnon it can be incredibly destructive. Red tape with the cost of three points of essence roughly places a special mark upon a celestial or mortal that only a Superior can recognize that attracts effectively the "ire" of the bureaucratic nature of the Symphony. The being's paperwork and requests will get lost in transit, officers will check their cars at just the moment that their meter runs out, everyone will pay attention to the tiniest of irregularities in their forms and be unable to operate without making sure anything is in order, and if a 6 is rolled; such wonderful effects as a Tax audit or full blown investigation by the authorities will begin. The effect only lasts one day but it's consequences can last for lifetimes as many demons and evil spirits have discovered. Vassel of Efficency Servitors of Shang-Ti with this distinction can determine with an appropriate resonance roll what the best method for increasing productivity in an office will be whether it is increasing morale, lowering lights, or banishing the evil spirit which has been haunting the boss's nightmares. This ability with exceptionally high checks occasionally gives rather bizzare amounts of information such as flower arrangments and reorganization of chairs but the precise servitor of Shang-Ti is glib enough to make sure that they are implemented somehow. Friend of Stewards This ability allows a Bureaucrat to know the general mood of all those under his care toward him and the institution he serves. Master of Dictation A Master of Dictation is able to determine when and where a system will break down and the reasons why within a year of knowledge. Rites * Improve efficency in an office by 10% * Aid in the elimination of an unjust law or the passing of a rightful one * Spend three hours doing paperwork Relations Shang-Ti has a traditional and highly intimate friendship with Dominic that stems from countless years of confidence and the general similarity of their words and goals. While Dominic as of late has been distant from his old friend and has even reprimanded the Archangel of Bureaucracy on occasion for some of his alliances Shang-Ti has always supported his endeavors and will continue to do so. Shang-Ti has a great deal of similar respect for Yves in all his endeavors but in truth his instructions to aid Yves's servitors in all things stems more from the extension of the relationship he had with Raphael before her death. Marc, Jean, and Litheroy have found Shang-Ti exceptionally useful in gaining government and similarly complex instititions in aiding their endeavors and Shang-Ti supports them equally as they help him understand the new bureaucracies the of World's Market, Sciences, and Academia. Curiously Shang-Ti has an extremely unfavorable opinion and outright anger towards the Archangel Eli for his abandoning his traditional post and their once comfortable relationship has become openly hostile, Janus is viewed by Shang as a spoiled nearly omnipotent child who needs to be reigned in, and Jordi and Shang share emotional hostility due to their different interpretations of being a Kyriotate that both approach hatred for the other. Shang does not approve of Novalis either but it is more a cold disdain and attempt to educate her than any real anger. Allied: Dominic, Yves (Marc is allied with Shang) Associated: Marc, Jean, Litheroy (Dominic, Jean, Yves, and Litheroy are associated with Shang) Neutral: Everyone else except Hostile: Eli, Janus, Jordi, Novalis (Jordi and Janus are Hostile to Shang) Invocation Base: 3 +1 A stack of memos and paperwork +2 A honest man involved in government +3 The writings of Confuscius in it's orginal Chinese +4 An office or workplace working diligently and efficently with high morale +5 One thousand or more people gathered for reform +6 A holy contract with Heaven where a man volentarily chooses to submit himself to it for the greater good for the rest of his life - -Charlemagne ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 24 May 2001 14:41:45 -0400 From: "Charles Phipps" Subject: IN> Asian Archangel part 2 Superior Opinions: Archangels Blandine: Long ago Shang-Ti was very close and dear to me and we together were great shapers of dreams and servitors of a better tommorow but when he should have acted he did not and for that he failed to serve all of those he claims that is his goal to do so of. "Blandine is the gaurdian of humanity's dreams and fufills a important role in the true bureaucracy. Since the elimination of the spirits of the false bureaucracy she and my association has been eliminated since I no longer function in such an area." Christopher: He is a kindly elder but ignores too often the voice of children in order to listen to those who have aged but never grown up. "Experience not innocence is the root of strong government. Protect the foundations but trouble me not with your prattle." David: Shang-Ti rules diligently over his charges and encourages other mortals to do so but I dislike the seperation he encourages from the backbreaking labor of the common man. "David is a strong voice for the average worker but does not fully understand the virtues of intellectual labor." Dominic: I remember the days when we would hold meetings in the Library where God's laws were held and we discussed why they were good with shaking clarity yet our companion Asmodeus fell and Shang-Ti's association with spirits and their culture is troubling to the core. "Recovery is often slow and painful but that is the nature of being wounded. I await the time when Dominic will do so and encourage it every chance I get." Eli: Oh me and Shang go way back. The whole Ming dynasty thing was a blast and the dynasties before and after...whew he was good. "Heathen dog! How dare you destroy the carefully oiled machine that is your organization to debase yourself in the pleasures of the flesh! Your servitors cry out for leadership and you turn your back! What we have shared is over!" Gabriel: Some fires burn hot, brief, and for moments while other embers merely glow lightly and for days. "She is mad and should be treated while her Chamberlain rewarded greatly." Janus: Oh God this guy gives me a headache. I swear to you he actually had me fill out a form once for when one of my servitors got a little rough with his. Worse of course is his propagation of outmoded, anachronistic, and frequently ineffective systems of rule when they should be swept away but the thing was THIS big. "Why God chose to make this reckless youth a Archangel I do not know but he has yet to become the son who returns to resume the duties proper to him and the same can be said of his servitors. They worse endanger the systems that are proven effective by causing doubt and uncertainty where none existed before. Truly cruel are the children who respect not their elders, even children a hundred million years old." Jean: Our paths were one of mutual respect but literal interaction until the creation of electronics has necessitated our increased cooperation. I think he will prove a valuable aid to the industrialized west as I prove a valuable aid to the less so East. "I am bewildered by the ammount of changes that he has fostered in such a short span of time much and wonder continually at the alchemist's mad dash for progress. However he says he needs my aid in gaining better control of the situation and I am not one to turn down a brother's reasonable request." Jordi: He has forgotten our choirs animal heritage for the appearence of a man and fosters mortal instituations that will mow down my kind for his beloved humanity. His word is as useless to me as mine is to his and I would prefer that he not exist at this time. "We are not beasts and have always been above beasts. Mankind has emerged from beasts thanks to divine favor and shall not nor should not return to them. I view him as a dangerous radical who perverts the minds of my choir and those they affect to endangering humanity." Khalid: I mistrust his former ties to the Chinese pantheon of jinn but he is not an Archangel who I believe will be swept away by the dangerous ideas of the West. Let us hope he does not bring the worst of the East however. "Behavior not belief achieves destinies in my view though I see his. His simple views require more guidence not less and more understanding not unquestioning obediance. I dislike him but question not his ability to run his servitors." Laurence: I must admit I know very little about the Archangel of Bureaucracy save from what I can glean from his rather monotenous regular reports to my office. I believed him when he assured me after I was promoted that he was loyal to the Commander of the Host and Heaven's way and I have had no reason to distrust him since. "My direct superior between myself and God he is the divinely chosen leader of us like Uriel and Michael before him. I here and obey whatever he requires of me and my servitors." Litheroy: It's good to have such an educated and intelligent fellow in my corner. The views on tradition and knowledge we share make our joint efforts to ressurecting the past lost to humanity quite fruitful. "The lessons forgotten are useless thus Litheroy has a valuable place in heaven, doubly so with departed Raphael." Marc: We need someone who understands the layers of...well bureaucracy in the world today and dusting off Shang-Ti is about the best secret weapon I think we can pull on Hell in this modern age. I think with alittle push he can become as modern as Jean and twice as potent. "The irritating little man and his pep talks are truly starting to annoy me. Still I must confess that he is superior in understanding these strange fusions of bureaucracy and trade that have emerged between our words and I am eager to explore this new connection between us. Perhaps there is hope for his word yet." Michael: Not exactly what I would term the most militant of Archangels in our employ, he has his uses. "My former superior who resigned in disgrace over a routine investigation is still possesed of great ability. I think however he should model his organization more after Laurences's." Novalis: What a stuffy, dreary, boring old man...oh did I say that? "What a freckless, guidencless, and guiless butterfly. Wonderful for a housewife or legal concubine, terrible for an Archangel." Yves: One of my most avid researchers. A good man who understands humanity's needs depend on tradition and a great deal of respect, etiquette, and education though his brightest future is still far far ahead of him and possesed of many traits he has not yet acquired. "The knowledge keeper in place of Raphael and the Master of the Future of Mankind's better part" Demon Princes Alameon: Bureaucracy breed secrets, veiled truths, and lies. His word is the biggest joke in Heaven "A open, honest, and forthright government and business weakens his word in more ways than he could imagine." Andrealphus: Bureacracy...zzzz......oh sorry what was that? Interns? Concubines? I'm there. "Vile debauched entity who leads workers away from their cause." Asmodeus: Shang-Ti I remember well from my days in Heaven and he remains ever more the dodering old relic of a more "civilized" age. I have taken great pleasure in destroying his favorite philosophy with Legalism and later Maoism. Bureaucracy is really just the game mortals play you know. "The Cherub attuned to Dominic was a devoted follower and companion who while less talented than his brother was still impressive. What he has promoted since then...is considerably less so." Baal: How frightening, a Congressman. "Sun Tzu could run circles around his forces. He understands nothing but his own vainglory and thus will never lead an effective army." Beleth: The terror mortals fear at governments breaking down their door, taking away their homes, and arresting them before throwing away the key in his area of concern is enough to make me perfectly cheery when facing him. Belial: Ah I love China, they invented gunpowder you know. "Gabriel's rebellious employee's sabotage of his office is deeply offensive to me and the many many many many things his soldiers have done to my chosen people." Fleurity: Shang-ti! Old chum, how are you doing? I understand your getting in charge in of the West! Excellent! Maybe you could give some of the governments some tips for fighting drugs. "BRING ME HIS HEAD!" Haagenti: Bureaucracy? That's a Superior word? Bleah cafeteria food...mmm cafeteria employees. "It offends me a prince can get a word for the mass consumption of something that was and still is very precacious a commidity in my land. Then again everything about princes offends so I am not terribly more concerned about him than others." Kobal: Snore....oh what? He's awake again! Excellent! Say Shang did you hear the one about the Emperor who became a gardener whose wife was a lesbian? "We'll see how you laugh when your entrails are on a plate and I am very serious." Kronos: I rather enjoy bureaucracy and a study shows it leads more to their fates than saves. "A vile creature who knows the benifits of organized evil as we know organized good. Where has this thing come from and how can we destroy it?" Lilith: Cretineous fool. You are everything I despise. "Whore of Lucifer, know you are banished from Eden and God's grace and will be haunted with wings of angels nipping at your heals like all your descendants until you are devoured by dragons." Malphas: Bureaucracy I recognize as a relatively strong threat to my word, which is why it's such a wonderful acomplishment to use them to divide the populous and destroy them one by one before turning them on each other. "The antithesis of my word." Nybbas: Prime footage! Heaven in a bizzare act of diplomacy has made contact with the patron of known human rights violator organizations to aid them in their new push forward this milleneium? Is this a sign of increased repression to come? We'll fill you in as news breaks. "I have thankfully been spared until recently the gobbledegook this man has been printing but do not think I do not see his hand behind more serious treatise like the Red Book, deflamation of all things righteous, not to mentioning the poisoning of minds against their elders even as they exalt the decadent. Yes Nybbas is not unknown to me in his works but he does not understand that such propaganda I have fought before and his reign as a Prince I will tell you now will be a short one." Saminga: Bah I'll kill him eventually. "Ineffectual fool. A low threat who gets more attention than he deserves due to grossness." Valefor: Oh now this is scary. Ooooooooo an old Chinese Domination is comming to get me! "In the district Confucious controlled a purse went three months on the ground before being picked up, filled with wealth. This will be my solution to Valefor." Vapula: Bureaucracy, laws, red tape, and society's rules have never stood in the way of progress! He will be mowed down like the ineffectual weaking that he is. "Why disordered science and superstition where fought against. He is just like the alchemists of old experimenting with disproven and dangerous ideas when rationality would produce the results he seeks or at least should. Jean and my cooperation will phase out his way." Humanity: Our charges who give us power to guide them and the right because they send their essence to our words, asking for our intervention. We must rule over them well and lead them away from those who would do them harm with their false and dangerous ideas. Soldiers and Saints: Mortals who have been brought into low levels of the true Bureaucracy and who have proven their competance. While they are not nearly as talented as us, many I have noticed posess vision even I would be envious of on occasion and they should be listened to carefully. A link to the greater whole that is humanity. Sorcerors: UGH! Idiots! Fools! Charlatans! These self proclaimed intellectualists possess less knowledge than the average man walking down the street with their idiotic theories about Heaven and Hell that any man with half a brain in his head can see through...yet they DARE to put on pretensions of genius? All copies of their texts should be burned and the sorcerors put to work in a field long enough to work out whatever unused energy leads them down such a demented path. Ethereals: I do not hate them or consider them unnatural. They are a part of God's symphony and should be controlled just like humanity. The fact the Commander of the Host deemed it necessary to destroy the majority of them I do not argue with and simply note that the group under my stewardship was among the last to perish. I miss some but I do indeed trust his judgement. The Jade Palace of Bureaucracy This cathedral is a beutiful Imperial style palace which functions as the home of many of the souls of bureaucrats and government officials who have achieved their destinies, a larger number than you might think. The palace is constantly flooded with paperwork from the other Archangels for the establishment of roles on the Earth and also the handling of prayers from the Earth of which all appear in the Jade palace as letters of various scripts. The cathedral uses these massive letters in part to help influence where Archangels will send their servitors next and numerous saints and relievers serve as Surveyors from the Celestial "home office" to determine where Heaven's influence is needed upon the Earth. The Angel of Prayer is an odd sight in the distinctly eastern flavored domain but he routinely visits to gaze at the flood of requests to the Lord God Almighty (among others though this is not routinely talked about and go usually unless very urgent to the Celestial equivalent of the Dead letter office). While the dreamshades who feed on ancestor veneration are loathed here as well it should be noted the "dead letter office" does not apply to prayers toward dead relatives and the bureaucrats present take special note to see if a saint in question might be willing to visit his descendant with a song or even vessel in some cases whenever possible. The palace is also home to a great number of philosophies on Eastern government and quite a few recent Western government innovators whose loyalty to their positions led to their destinies; it is not uncommon to see Confuscious debating with Thomas Jefferson regarding the rights of man and the recordings of THAT particular conversation is still a favorite audio-book among servitors of the Elohim here. The palace itself is a very pleasurable and staid place but those who visit it must be very mindful of the rather extreme number of rules regarding behavior and requesting a favor from servitors here will take a considerable while as approval goes directly up to no one less than the Archangel himself regarding most matters of import. Because of the importance of roles and prayer in the increasingly urbanized world Jean has been attempting with more success than any Archangel save a fellow Kyriotate could possibly have to influence the Archangel of Bureaucracy toward modernizing his office with artifact computers and sorting machinery but the master of the cathedral isn't so much afraid with the new world of being overwhelmed with too many prayers so much as he is actually afraid people will stop praying altogether. The palace celestially speaking is located at the edge of the Eternal City directly down the road from the Halls of Worship and Progress with a direct line to the Library and Litheroy's abbey, somehow in Heaven it all works out. - -Charlemagne ------------------------------ End of in_nomine-digest V1 #2241 ******************************** The material here is (C) 2001 Steve Jackson Games, Incorporated. All rights reserved.