From owner-in_nomine-digest@lists.io.com Tue Jun 19 08:05:43 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 IAA26576 for ; Tue, 19 Jun 2001 08:05:42 -0500 Received: (from majordom@localhost) by lists.io.com (8.9.3/8.9.1a) id IAA03342 for in_nomine-digest-outgoing; Tue, 19 Jun 2001 08:05:00 -0500 Date: Tue, 19 Jun 2001 08:05:00 -0500 Message-Id: <200106191305.IAA03342@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 #2268 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 Tuesday, June 19 2001 Volume 01 : Number 2268 In this digest: Re: IN> While we're (sort of) on the subject of destiny/fate... Re: IN> Re: Stolzenik Footwear Re: IN> Iron Rev 2: Cardinal Sin Re: IN> Iron Rev 2: Cardinal Sin Re: IN> While we're (sort of) on the subject of destiny/fate... Re: IN> Iron Rev 2: Cardinal Sin Re: IN> Why Dominic hates his job IN> Iron Rev 2: Cardinal Sin IN> While we're (sort of) on the subject of destiny/fate... IN> Greetings... and a challenge IN> 'No, Really, I'm not a Habbalah...' Re: IN> 'No, Really, I'm not a Habbalah...' IN> Swiss They Ain't... Re: IN> Iron Rev: Nipping One in the Bud Re: IN> Iron Rev: Nipping One in the Bud Re: IN> MarcFest: What Next? Re: IN> While we're (sort of) on the subject of destiny/fate... IN> A Sorcerers' Tale. Re: IN> 'No, Really, I'm not a Habbalah...' Re: IN> Iron Rev 2 entry Re: IN> While we're (sort of) on the subject of destiny/fate... Re: IN> Iron Rev 2: Cardinal Sin Re: IN> Iron Rev 2: Cardinal Sin ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Mon, 18 Jun 2001 19:43:11 -0700 From: Kish Subject: Re: IN> While we're (sort of) on the subject of destiny/fate... "S.D." wrote: > Here's where I want the canon call. If a Soldier of God meets his Fate, or a Hellsworn meets his Destiny, without personally switching sides and while continuing to do his job for his Superior, which realm does he go to? And if he meets both, or neither, what happens? A Soldier of Hell will go to Hell anyway, having literally sold his (or her) soul. The Angels of Final Judgment might bail him out. A Soldier of God, on the other hand, will go to Hell. They're not guaranteed Heaven--it's just a lot more likely that they'll meet their destinies and avoid their fates as Soldiers of God. So your seed would work in canon. - -- Kish ICQ# 28085879 AIM Kish K M ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 18 Jun 2001 23:59:06 -0400 (EDT) From: "Rev. Pee Kitty" Subject: Re: IN> Re: Stolzenik Footwear Oh, I hope you didn't think I wrote up their little plot with the implication that it was a sound, well-thought-out idea! Nononono, it was most definitely a raving-mad-Gabriellite idea which was brought into realization by an incredibly-fast-talkable Windy! Problem was, I ran out of word count before I could REALLY go deep into the hooks that could spring from this. (Note to Iron Rev II Judges: Don't read the following, cuz I don't want it counting against my word count :) SHOE GO BOOM? A Technologist detects the transponder and charge within the Seg boots. Demonic revelry ensues... until it occurs to the infernal being that one good high-energy coded pulse would work wonders at the FACTORY where these things were being *assembled and boxed*. When Vapula sells the secret to Saminga, things get very dark and scary. Nybbas plays up the fear and paranoia. Marc gets midevil on his Servitor's ass, and Gabriel... well, she does whatever the GM thinks will add to the mood best. Rains of fire upon every major city, maybe... have fun with it. NOT SO CRAZY AFTER ALL Maybe Alsimadal didn't get to have his way after all. Get rid of the explosive charge. Maybe the transponder, too, but not necessarily. Now the plan is less likely to backfire and a LOT less likely to piss off Heaven, especially if the boots are used more for gathering info and less for beating up nazi scum. (Not to say there shouldn't be *some* beatings, of course. Neo-nazis were meant to be beaten with bats, after all.) JAMES SAYS... You had a good idea. But the Segs are pretty unique - hard to disguise them. The solution? REMOVE THE SOLES and attach them to new boots! Even if you can't be bothered to file down the logo on the bottom, few people will notice - especially if you stick them onto other Stolzenik boots! Then proceed from there. Dark Humor gets their hands on the secret and plays it up for sick, sick laughs. What happens if the angels head out into a nearby club and blow the heels off of a bunch of innocent teens? Nothing but nonstop belly laughs.... for Kobal. Or break into the plant and up the detonator dosage. Just replacing the explosive with a high-yield Vaputech blend oughta do the trick. If those skinheads start taking out bystanders when they blow... that oughta stop the Firebrands right in their tracks. There are a lot of ways to go... but as written, it's definitely a precariously balanced plan with plenty to go wrong. What other kind IS there in a good adventure? :) - -- 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 Jun 2001 23:13:39 -0400 From: "William J. Keith" Subject: Re: IN> Iron Rev 2: Cardinal Sin >Nice seed, definitely. An assassination attempt on the Pope is always a >good excuse for a night of fun... :) > >But... where's the footwear? I saw the other two ingredients... > >-- >Rev. Pee Kitty, of the order Malkavian-Dobbsian, Q4B4L! Shoes of the Fisherman. Pope. William ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 19 Jun 2001 00:39:46 -0400 (EDT) From: "Rev. Pee Kitty" Subject: Re: IN> Iron Rev 2: Cardinal Sin On Mon, 18 Jun 2001, William J. Keith wrote: > >Nice seed, definitely. An assassination attempt on the Pope is always a > >good excuse for a night of fun... :) > > > >But... where's the footwear? I saw the other two ingredients... > > Shoes of the Fisherman. Pope. Oh... so, footwear as a metaphor for becoming the Pope? - -- Rev. Pee Kitty, of the order Malkavian-Dobbsian, Q4B4L! Meow! Q. What's the best thing that humans do for the planet? A. Die. (Dr. DynaSoar Iridium) ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 18 Jun 2001 23:35:44 -0400 From: "William J. Keith" Subject: Re: IN> While we're (sort of) on the subject of destiny/fate... >*** > >Here's where I want the canon call. If a Soldier of God meets his Fate, or >a Hellsworn meets his Destiny, without personally switching sides and >while continuing to do his job for his Superior, which realm does he go >to? And if he meets both, or neither, what happens? > >*** If the Soldier of Hell has accepted a Force or Attunement from a Demon Prince, he goes to Hell if he dies still bearing them, regardless of Destiny. Therefore, Soldiers of Hell who wish to avoid this should get them removed. Then, devoting themselves to a life of selflessness, and forswearing all their demonic Rites by never using them again, they may get a shot at reincarnation (or disbandment); a rare few meet their Destiny. Use the rules as usual, and bear in mind that having made a pact with Hell was going a long way towards your Fate. If a Soldier of Hell does not get the Forces/Attunements removed before dying, he goes to Hell regardless of other factors; if he achieved his Destiny, and *possibly* if he was due for reincarnation (or disbandment, perhaps), he is picked out by the Angels of Final Judgment at the gates of Hell. Canon is unclear on what happens next. Sorcerors have similar problems if they were initiated through an Infernal Pact. They need to stop using sorcery altogether, and even if they're not going to use a new path it could be a good idea to "re-initiate" themselves into another tradition which is at least neutral, or even possibly white; I'm fairly sure this wipes out the original damning Sorcery attunement. From this point, use the rules as normal, and bear in mind that sorcerors usually did a lot of nasty stuff before they quit their original path. A Soldier of God will generally do enough good, or meet his Destiny, to get into Heaven. It's explicitly possible to meet your Fate while nominally working for Heaven, though, and Heavenly Forces or Attunements won't help so far as I know. Use the usual rules. William ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 18 Jun 2001 23:43:20 -0400 From: "William J. Keith" Subject: Re: IN> Iron Rev 2: Cardinal Sin >> Shoes of the Fisherman. Pope. > >Oh... so, footwear as a metaphor for becoming the Pope? > >-- >Rev. Pee Kitty, of the order Malkavian-Dobbsian, Q4B4L! *shrug* I dunno, wasn't my seed. I've heard of The Fisherman's Ring as one of the pieces of regalia the Pope (wears? uses? has stored in a vault in the Vatican? Again, I dunno...). All I can say is that I think it was the title of a movie about the Pope, so if so it's a known image associated with that office, and was hence used to qualify for the "footwear" requirement of Iron Rev 2. William ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 18 Jun 2001 23:41:57 -0400 From: "Charles Phipps" Subject: Re: IN> Why Dominic hates his job > This is the sort of thing that makes the idea of Purgatory so > appealing to many minds. Well in my personal opinion I think of Hell filling this litte niche and Heaven sort of a 'if you can get in, your fixed for life' type deal but I thought it would be very interesting to see what would happen if Destiny reared it's ugly head again and everyone in Heaven saw someone.... Whose crimes GROSSLY outstripped their destiny. It might fit God's way of reminding humanity that Heaven is HIS turf and he gives it out to whoever he likes not whoever they judge is righteous - -Charlie ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 18 Jun 2001 23:45:18 -0400 From: "Charles Phipps" Subject: IN> Iron Rev 2: Cardinal Sin Good stuff. I like demons who reallly ARE demons and in this case do demoney things. Such as A:) Kill the pope B:) Try to turn Catholicism to evil C:) Damn people just because. It's why I love Magog, the man is evil because it's what he does. No pretensions he's fighting a "Lost Cause" ala the South and North which he thinks will give him honor (Baal), he's in it for the sex (Andre), or that he's somehow good and God is bad (Lilith)....he's well aware he's horrible and doesn't consider people suckers for being good.... He just really enjoys being evil with a capital E. Now that I've tuned this EXCELLENT plan for offing old JPII (great guy, live long bro) into a Magog worship I'd like to say once again how much I love it - -Charlie ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 18 Jun 2001 23:50:24 -0400 From: "Charles Phipps" Subject: IN> While we're (sort of) on the subject of destiny/fate... Yeah this is a good seed. It's why I did "Colonel Klink" in why Dominic hates his job. Basically a Evil human being gets into Heaven who is ignorant of his own maliciousness but somehow passed the bar somewhere along the line and everyone is irritated about it. FYI many hellsworn whether repentant or working for causes that aren't necessarily purely monstrous BUT ARE selfless (The Media, Freedom, The War, and even Lust can work this way) achieve their destinies but because they've accepted a force from Hell, rite, or attunement are destined down for fiery skies... That's where the Angels of Final judgement come in. Of course in my game I also give them the "Cleansing" Attunement which allows those truly remorseful and horrofied a chance to be purified (with the Malakim) and reincarnated/ressurected (with the Human) with one last chance for redemption. They're workload is one of the reasons Dominic visits so frequently. Dominic: Righhtttt now why exactly did you give Elvis time back in the world AGAIN to make amends? AoFJ1#: Well his music inspired so many people.... Dominic: This is the 80th time you've done it and all he does is pig out and visit women in trailer parks!!!! AoFJ2#: He'll do right next time I swear...anyman who can come up with such a symphonic ballad as "Hunka Hunka burning love can't be all bad" - -Charlemagne ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 18 Jun 2001 22:02:00 -0600 From: "Peter Player" Subject: IN> Greetings... and a challenge Hello everyone. I'm a longtime lurker of the list, but this is the first time I've posted anything. So hello, and hello again. I hope Hotmail won't crash the list. But then, with Microsoft, one never knows. ;) I'm posting now because I've noticed an interesting trend on the list, and (being the subversive I am), I'd like to issue a challenge about it. I've noticed, particularly recently, that there seem to be a number of posts and topics dealing with Novalis' triumphs and viewpoint, and that these are occasionally presented at the expense of some of the other more militant Archangels, such as Michael or Dominic. It sometimes seems as if Novalis puts a lot of effort into "showing up" some of her more violent peers (noncanonically, of course), and even when she loses (such as she did in "The Trials of Michael"), it seems that the more violent party involved (in this case, Michael) ends up learning a valuable lesson that his is not the only viewpoint, that peace should be given a chance, and so on and so forth. Now, assuming that each Archangel possess one particular view on the Symphony, and assuming that no single one of those views can necessarily be more "right" than any of the others, I have to wonder: is there *nothing* that Novalis can learn from those of her peers who choose more direct methods? Just because Michael is the Archangel of War doesn't necessarily mean he solves all his problems with his axe. I'm sure he's as delighted as the next person to engage in diplomacy -- it's just another battleground, after all, and a converted opponent is still one less to worry about, right? Is it not fair to say that the War faction of Heaven's political hierarchy can embrace peaceful solutions, at least some of the time? The way I see it, sometimes giving peace a chance before anything else is the way to go. But sometimes, as Michael might put it, "peace is just another word for surrender." (Bonus Points redeemable for Valuable Prizes to whomever can place the quote.) And sometimes peace might be a ploy by the other side to gain an advantage. Demons would hardly be above this type of thing, after all. How many stories involve the villain pretending to sue for peace, and then attacking the good guys when they put their weapons down? What if it worked? So finally we get to my challenge, which I'm also going to try to take up (I have my own idea here): to write something (a story, or plot seed, or anything else) in which Novalis is *wrong*. Badly wrong. Something in which her interpretation of her Word gets in the way, or in which her adherence to peace is taken advantage of, or anything else you can imagine. True, she will resort to violence if absolutely nothing else is possible (says so in her dissonance conditions), but maybe that's too late. Maybe she might find herself in a situation where Laurence or David or Dominic might've had a better chance to make things turn out all right. Well, that's the challenge. Any takers? - -Peter Player - -ioghost@hotmail.com _________________________________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com. ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 19 Jun 2001 00:05:16 -0400 From: "Charles Phipps" Subject: IN> 'No, Really, I'm not a Habbalah...' I like this angel but someone brought this up... [What if the _magnitude_ of the Fate/Destiny remain the same, when the murdered character reincarnates and gets another go on Earth? What if Zeriel isn't solving the problem, every time he kills someone -- he's just postponing it for a few years.] Actually this is a very interesting querry, especially if Destiny is a actually a quite quantifiable acts of God to try and improve the lives of humanity for the better. The same is said for fate which either Lucifer or God's evil side (if such exists) makes the absolute worst potential of a human life.....but death only excalibrates a situation rather than avoids it. For instance let's use hitler because the man really has carved himself a niche as the human example of evil. It gives the Charlie chaplin looking punk probably exactly what he wanted however so I'll use Stalin instead...actually it would give the shoemaker what he w...Oh heck we'll stick with Hitler. They have thier own problems where they are and I don't feel the need to add to their weight. (nominates the above paragraph for most pointless part of a post this year) Hitler came at a time of joblessness, chaos, and political tyranny amidst military regime which allowed him to come to power and feed the nationalistic fervor to the time that he was able to rise to put his mad dream into effect and abuse the resources of germany for his purely selfish and vile enterprise NOW let's go to alternate In Nomine Setting B. Pikachu the wandering Malakim of Destiny comes across baby hitler whose waving a swatizca rattle when he does his little divine destiny and scoring a six helps in a case of SID, which Yves is RIGHTEOUSLY cheesed off at (Yves...utterly completely....you can not get Yves mad it is said but harming kids makes him so) and baby Adolf goes off to his next life existence where hopefully he'll be a carpenter not warped by failure, secret societies, and the horror of WW1. New effects. 1# Germany is left without a nationalist nazi party member which results in continued wallowing in debt as the country is quickly overun by Stalin. 2# Nazis are recruited instead by the evil organization of the Soveit Union which proceeds to do the exact same horrofic things but develops the Atomic bomb faster than the US without Hitler's racism to step on it. 3. Boom. The intertwining chess game of fate and destiny are very curious things indeed and I wonder what sort of chessmatch is going on in In nomine, in a dark In Nomine game you could have God willing to sacrafice pieces for the greater good that result in souls and mortals suffering greatly so to cut off Lucy from hurting others. Seeming insignificance might also be able to overwhelm Kronos's best laid plans.... In our above situation Hitler becomes a "common" painter instead of the dictator of the Nazis as his students are inspired by the man's "plight of the German man" and they're own work becomes the banner posters of social and economic reform with requests to their fellow nations to end their plight as strength and unity lead to the complete aversion of World War 2 as the United State's economic policies and a civil war in Japan lead to the military regime's overthrow. Unembittered by the Second Great War Stalin is arrested and executed by the communists as they grow progressively more democratic...Mao is of course defeated by the Nationalists. - -Charlemagne ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 19 Jun 2001 01:10:02 -0700 From: Anthony Damiani Subject: Re: IN> 'No, Really, I'm not a Habbalah...' "And here's a passing thought... What if the _magnitude_ of the Fate/Destiny remain the same, when the murdered character reincarnates and gets another go on Earth? What if Zeriel isn't solving the problem, every time he kills someone -- he's just postponing it for a few years. Why, maybe his constant interference is causing the potential scale of the Fate/Destiny to _grow_ each time a child gets dispatched before it even has a chance to achieve either." Hmm... you know, in order to be truly nasty, you wouldn't even have to say that the magnitude of the destiny or fate grows at all-- if the magnitude stays the same across reincarnation, someone like Zeriel wouldn't be saving the world, he'd be setting the seeds for a disaster-- over time, if he causes enough potential monsters to be reincarnated and sent back through the system instead of saved or damned, you'd reach a point where, instead of one potential Hitler in a generation, eventually you'd hit ten or a hundred, because you'd be dealing with the reincarnated souls of people who /could/ have been terrible in the previous umpteen generations-- helping Destiny in the short-run, but almost guaranteeing colossal gains for Fate in the long term, because you'd have to work on stopping all of them, all at once. I suppose this would have the advantage of explaining both why Yves is personally concerned with the destinies of all mankind (if they don't achieve them, they just come back to haunt him), and why Kronos has all the time in the world... -ALD 'So lemme get this straight... I've reincarnated through eight-hundred lifetimes, and I've never been anything but a pig-farmer in /any/ of them?' ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 19 Jun 2001 01:54:16 -0400 From: "William J. Keith" Subject: IN> Swiss They Ain't... Was pondering an attempt to assassinate the Pope. And frankly, I don't think it'd work, by reason of about 20 or so of these guys: Papal Guard Reliever In Nomine Stats: Corporeal Forces - 3 Strength: 6 Agility: 6 Ethereal Forces - 2 Intelligence: 4 Precision: 4 Celestial Forces - 3 Will: 6 Perception: 6 (can vary withing these ranges) Vessel: Human/1 Role: None -- the Papal Guards stay celestial permanently unless needed. Different guards have different groups of skills and Songs, most of which can be used while Celestial. Each has a little of the other types' skill groups, but focus on their own. The Attunements listed are rare but possible (most of the Papal Guards actually work for Laurence). Detectors: these Relievers primarily focus on identifying a demonic or Hellsworn assailant before they can get close enough to do harm. They generally favor Perception and Intelligence. Skills: Detect Lies/3, Languages (Latin/2, Helltongue/4, Italian/4, English/4, Polish/3 -- the latter two vary with the current Pope and world situation) Songs: Tongues (Corporeal/1, Ethereal/2), Empathy (Ethereal/2), Sight (Corporeal/1), Truth (Ethereal/2) Attunements: Malakite of War Preventors: these Relievers attempt to prevent an attack once a possible assailant has been identified, without obvious supernatural intervention. They have permission to corporealize (out of sight or somewhere inconscpicuous if possible) if mundane methods may work. There are a lot of Songs listed which can stop an attack before it ever starts without an obvious outward effect; select from among them or distribute among the guards. Skills: Knowledge (Diplomacy/3), Savoir-Faire/3, Languages (Latin/1, Helltongue/1, Italian/4, English/4, Polish/3 -- the latter two vary with the current Pope and world situation) Songs: Charm(Corporeal/3, Ethereal/1, Celestial/3), Darkness (Celestial/2), Entropy (Celestial/2), Forbidding (Ethereal/2), Harmony(Corporeal/4, Ethereal/4), Possession/3 (mostly useful against Hellsworn), Sleep (Ethereal/4) Attunements: Remote Control Defenders: the obvious. If an attack starts, some work from the Celestial plane and others corporealize (out of sight or in an inconspicuous corner, if possible) to defend their charge. They focus on Corporeal Forces and tend to have higher Vessel levels -- and larger *bodies*, period, the better to shelter a person with their own bodies. Skills: Fighting/4 (Frequently Judo to subdue an opponent), Small Weapon/4 (Pistol) (Swords are too obvious in the modern day), Language (English/3) Songs: Shields (Corporeal/6), Light (Celestial/5 -- to be used at close range only unless the attack is openly supernatural), Banishing(Corporeal/4), Forbidding(Corporeal/3) Attunements: Scabbard, Mercurian of the Sword, Vassal of War -- yes, a Distincted Reliever! Their English is mainly for communication among themselves, and in times when a Pope is in frequent danger, these guards both need and *earn* their rank... Artifacts: Holy Pistol, Holy Bullets Support: the support personnel heal the charge if necessary, try to get them away, and communicate with Malakite reinforcements and their Superiors. They can have quite a bit of Strength, the better to carry a wounded or elderly charge. Skills: Medicine/4, Running/3, Language (English/3, Polish/4 -- they both can change with the current Pope and world situation) Songs: Healing (Corporeal/6), Calling (Celestial/5), Tongues (Celestial/6) Attunements: Holy Fortitude Standing orders for these Relievers are not to make Disturbance or otherwise reveal their presence(the Detectors get more lenience if their suspicions are aroused). The Detectors carefully examine people who get close to the Pope, and listen to their Attunement. The Preventors either use their own judgment, or are alerted by the Detectors; they identify assailants and can disable an attacker in seconds flat without a Mundane nearby noticing a thing. If the Preventors fail, the Defenders start forming an invisible wall, and if necessary shoving people around or bashing heads. At this point, the Support personnel have long since called in the cavalry, but if something gets through, they'll instantly use Holy Fortitude if necessary, and Healing immediately, to save their charge. (No, they're *not* starting characters.... Why Relievers? Because even the Pope only has so many human guards around him 24/7.) In addition to these Relievers are probably, say, 3 Cherubim attuned to His Holiness, only one of which is in the vicinity for redundancy purposes (all can get there quickly); and, of course, the requisite Malakim up in Heaven, although they are probably on standby for multiple duties. They could pick up a whole army of companions if necessary (generally overkill; an assassin will probably work alone), but probably won't for the same reason Hell wouldn't be likely to take on the Relievers in the first place -- too much chance of the Cold War getting hot. Doubtless both Sides have preplanned procedures for covering up just such events, but when one Side gives this much protection to someone, they're declaring that they are *willing* to risk blowing the cover of the War for the subject of protection. Hell probably has something similar, only they're 6-force demonlings and probably evenly divided among imps and gremlins. Their purpose is much the same: protect well-known humans important to their Side's agenda. Heaven is, on the whole, less likely to try outright assassination than Hell (in a moderate-to-bright campaign, at least), but it could happen, especially if subtle. Replace the Cherubim by Djinn, Malakim by Calabim, etc. The Attunements are going to have to change, of course. This protection scheme would work for anyone considered sufficiently important by either side. In general, these characters could serve as models for celestial guards who wish to be subtle; even mundane characters could take skills which have effects as similar as possible. William ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 19 Jun 2001 02:25:05 -0400 From: "Matthew Gerber" Subject: Re: IN> Iron Rev: Nipping One in the Bud - ----- Original Message ----- From: "Rev. Pee Kitty" Subject: Re: IN> Iron Rev: Nipping One in the Bud > Okay, someone want to clue me in? Moe "gets it" and Beth "gets it"... I > feel ungotten. As the perpetrator, I suppose it's my job... The seed is full of Bloom County references and horrible puns involving them. I'm sorry. I'm so, *so* sorry. Matt ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 19 Jun 2001 07:56:17 -0400 From: Marc Bowden Subject: Re: IN> Iron Rev: Nipping One in the Bud - --On Tuesday, June 19, 2001 2:25 AM -0400 Matthew Gerber wrote: > The seed is full of Bloom County references and horrible puns > involving them. > > I'm sorry. I'm so, *so* sorry. Oh, you are not. Don't make me drag my Seraph friends in here. Marc. Just Marc. Elohite Angel of Salvation ("The Banana Junior 6000... Buy one before it's too late. Gene's mother wishes she had.") *As a personal note, there is nothing - and I mean NOTHING - worse than a Seraph who thinks she's witty. The Destiny thread got me thinking about her. Soranaphiel, Seraphim of Destiny. Her favorite vessel? Goes by her "middle name" of Polly. The full name? Why, she explains with irritating glee, Anna Graf. I would rather be dragged over carpet tacks and dipped in rubbing alcohol than watch her introduce herself as "A. Polly Graf" for the umpteenth time. What do you mean this is still on? Er...sorry. Didn't mean to rant. ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 19 Jun 2001 08:06:28 -0400 From: Marc Bowden Subject: Re: IN> MarcFest: What Next? - --On Monday, June 18, 2001 5:44 PM -0700 Phillip Des Jardins wrote: >> Dare I suggest -- Lilith Fair? >> >> [hides] >> > > *Pulls out the Holy Spatula of Ucchan and proceeds to smite* I > don't think even the Leafsmother could hold -this- one against me. > > Other than the pun, not a bad idea, though. > But a little late. We could do a late Mothers' Day I guess... Marc. Just Marc. Elohiote Angel of Salvation ("What do you ghet for the ghirl who ghas everything?") ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 19 Jun 2001 07:20:47 -0500 From: David Edelstein Subject: Re: IN> While we're (sort of) on the subject of destiny/fate... "S.D." wrote: > IIRC, Soldiers automatically go to whichever side they served in life after they die. A Hellsworn goes to Hell, a Soldier of God goes to Heaven. Nope, not automatically. They just have a fairly good chance of meeting their Destiny/Fate, respectively, while in the service of Heaven or Hell. > Here's where I want the canon call. If a Soldier of God meets his Fate, or a Hellsworn meets his Destiny, without personally switching sides and while continuing to do his job for his Superior, which realm does he go to? SoG goes to Hell, Hellsworn goes to Heaven. > And if he meets both, or neither, what happens? Same as other humans -- reincarnation or disintegration. - -David ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 19 Jun 2001 22:25:17 +1100 From: "james walker" Subject: IN> A Sorcerers' Tale. Now that I've finished my last Uni essay for the semester, I can start contributing stuff again. Here's the start of something that's been mulling around in my head for a couple of days. It'll be two letters plus a short story. Here's the first letter: ===================================== Your Grace, this is a copy of a letter found during a routine security check on the exorcist Sandra Bethany. The original has been left untouched, and another copy sent to Judgement. Excellis. **************************************************** My dearest Makrathumia, I am both delighted and concerned by your considerable progress. Delighted with your success, concerned by your desire to finish your studies early. Do you truly believe that I suggested that you serve with the Purifiers on a whim? I am fully aware of how boring the training you have received under The Sword must have seemed. Boring, repetitive, pedantic and overly cautious. And that, my dearest child, is one of the reasons why I chose the Purifiers for your training. Sorcery is not an art for the impatient, nor for the merely 'gifted'. Your gifts are considerable, but so were those of your great-grandmother: have you forgotten that I was called on to destroy the zombi that was raised from his broken remains? Perhaps your mother did not tell you. If so, know this now - no matter how skilled, or brilliant, or dedicated, or insightful you are, a single error can destroy you utterly, snuffing you out, crushed in the mindless paws of a soulless demon, as your foolish great-grandmother was. And yes, I am trying to frighten you. Why must you be so impatient? When you were born, so were many other creatures. When you were held in your mothers arms, the insects born on your birthday had already matured. Do you envy them that? Or the dogs which roamed as adults while you were a child - do you envy them the freedom they had? Then why do you envy the pitiful mundanes who have already reached the high point of their lives? Yes, they are pleased with their jobs and their families - but what have they left save a slow wasting away, while you continue to wax strong. You are acting like a mundane. Were you mundane, your impatience would be understandable, the need to act swiftly before passing into oblivion commendable. But you are not mundane, not mere breeding stock. You are the ultimate goal of their fevered, otherwise pointless lives. The scant score of years you have lived is a blink in the eye compared to the long ages you may rightfully expect to live, strong in the Art and secure in your power. The single decade you had planned to spend learning from the Purifiers (and, I might add, helping to protect the cattle whom we must reluctantly acknowledge as fellow humans) will, looking back, seem all too short an introduction to our Noblest of Arts. Besides, the resources available to you as a Purifier are not to be scorned. The angels have a broad and detailed understanding of the demons they battle; their only flaw is to refuse to acknowledge that those who were once their brother no longer exist, and that a demon is as unlike an angel as an undead is as unlike a human. The angels can describe in detail the numerous abilities of the Fallen, and suggest countermeasures. But, no doubt you believe that you have learned all they have to teach, merely because you have memorised the books they have provided. So I must use other arguments. Can you memorise a Malakim escort? Much easier to exorcise a Shedite if the demons' host is restrained by a pair of angels, yes? It will be many long years before you can control demons as powerful as the angels you will be routinely assigned as guards. Without them, who will guard your back while you perform your newly learnt rituals? A handful of feeble gremlins? Or do you trust your own, newly learnt skills with your life & soul? Foolishness. Exorcism in a Sorcerers' last defence, when all else has failed - to use it as your only shield is insane. How do you hope to replace an angelic rescue party? The angels of The Sword are renowned for rescuing their human allies should it be necessary. No gaggle of bound demonlings and ethereals can be expected to perform the elegant rescues which Heaven delights in. More foolishness. You are proud - quite rightly given your lineage and calling - so no doubt you are furious at my calling you a fool. So? All your life, you have been surrounded by mundanes and their impatient, mindless beliefs. So it is not surprising that you have yet to dismiss their foolishness. What is surprising is that you show no desire to do so. As a child you showed the intelligence an determination to puzzle through a problem while your siblings wandered away, their feeble brains seeking simpler pleasures. You still possess the determination to succeed - that has been shown by your swift mastery of the tasks set before you by Heaven. You are bored. Very well. Spend your excess time and mind power cleansing yourself of the habits leaned in mortal schooling. Surely the angels have told you that The Media twist the press, encouraging humans to seek simple answers, wrapped in a sound bite, and to expect instant gratification of all pleasures? BY perfecting your self-discipline, you will free yourself of demonic influence - - an important first step if you intend to become a proficient summoner. I hope I have persuaded you to complete your studies. And I would like to finish on a note of praise; when I began reading your letter I feared that your complaints would include (if only implicitly) a loathing of the discipline and moral strictness of The Sword. For a budding sorcerer, morality is a powerful shield, as essential as an eggshell is to a newly laid bird. While you may eventually discard the shattered shell and fly free, ethics currently protects you from causal knocking by the world - particularly from the temptations of the Corrupters. But enough of my concerns. I trust you will keep in contact, as I do like hearing from you. I have passed on your regards to the White Witch - although I would recommend that you never again, even in jest, even in private, refer to her as my 'Canadian girlfriend'! She did not acquire her position or power by tolerating such banter! I know you will not understand, having grown up in this strange age, but trust me in this. I remain, as always, your loving G.G.G.G.G.G.G.G.G.G.G.G.G.G.G.G.G.G. Grandfather, The Gray-Eyed Lord of Noon, VIIth of the XII. James. ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 19 Jun 2001 05:47:00 -0700 (PDT) From: Michael Walton Subject: Re: IN> 'No, Really, I'm not a Habbalah...' - --- Genevieve Cogman wrote: > Why, maybe his constant interference is causing the > potential scale of the > Fate/Destiny to _grow_ each time a child gets dispatched > before it even has > a chance to achieve either. Oooo... you are an _evil_ woman. My admiration grows. ===== Michael Walton, #9805-068 The Aztecs had chocolate and human sacrifice. That's got to balance out on the karmic scale. __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Spot the hottest trends in music, movies, and more. http://buzz.yahoo.com/ ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 19 Jun 2001 05:50:51 -0700 (PDT) From: Michael Walton Subject: Re: IN> Iron Rev 2 entry - --- Maurice Lane wrote: > Iron Rev 2: "I'm sorry, but they just don't go with > that robe." Moe, whatever is in your water that engenders (for once, no pun intended) these wierd ideas is truly potent stuff. ===== Michael Walton, #9805-068 The Aztecs had chocolate and human sacrifice. That's got to balance out on the karmic scale. __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Spot the hottest trends in music, movies, and more. http://buzz.yahoo.com/ ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 19 Jun 2001 05:55:47 -0700 (PDT) From: Michael Walton Subject: Re: IN> While we're (sort of) on the subject of destiny/fate... Egads, that's an interesting wrinkle. Must contemplate this further. ===== Michael Walton, #9805-068 The Aztecs had chocolate and human sacrifice. That's got to balance out on the karmic scale. __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Spot the hottest trends in music, movies, and more. http://buzz.yahoo.com/ ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 19 Jun 2001 06:01:40 -0700 (PDT) From: Michael Walton Subject: Re: IN> Iron Rev 2: Cardinal Sin - --- "William J. Keith" wrote: > All I can say is that I think it was > the title of a movie about the Pope, so if so it's a > known image associated > with that office, and was hence used to qualify for the > "footwear" requirement of Iron Rev 2. Quite correct. The Catholic Church recognizes the Apostle Peter as the first Pope, thus, the Pope is said to be in the shoes of the Fisherman. The movie The Shoes of the Fisherman (circa 1970) starred Anthony Quinn as a brand new Pope. Great source of info on internecine Church politics, BTW -- assuming that theme and mood are more important than factual accuracy (and when isn't that true in Hollywood?). ===== Michael Walton, #9805-068 The Aztecs had chocolate and human sacrifice. That's got to balance out on the karmic scale. __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Spot the hottest trends in music, movies, and more. http://buzz.yahoo.com/ ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 19 Jun 2001 06:03:04 -0700 (PDT) From: Michael Walton Subject: Re: IN> Iron Rev 2: Cardinal Sin - --- Charles Phipps wrote: > Now that I've tuned this EXCELLENT plan for offing old > JPII (great guy, live > long bro) into a Magog worship I'd like to say once again > how much I love it [blushes] ===== Michael Walton, #9805-068 The Aztecs had chocolate and human sacrifice. That's got to balance out on the karmic scale. __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Spot the hottest trends in music, movies, and more. http://buzz.yahoo.com/ ------------------------------ End of in_nomine-digest V1 #2268 ******************************** The material here is (C) 2001 Steve Jackson Games, Incorporated. All rights reserved.