Date: Sun, 30 Mar 1997 17:49:49 -0500 (EST) From: "Paul F. Strack" X-Sender: pfstrack@cupid To: in_nomine-l@lists.io.com Subject: IN> The Unredeemed: A Demonic Cabal Mime-Version: 1.0 Sender: owner-in_nomine-l@lists.io.com Precedence: bulk Reply-To: in_nomine-l@lists.io.com Well, I've been lurking on this list for a few weeks, now, and I thought I'd finally offer up a contribution. Here's an idea I've been bouncing around for a couple of days: The Unredeemed One of Asmodeus's primary functions is to ensure the loyalty of Hell's legions. The Unredeemed are an infernal cabal that works toward this end, by ensuring that demons have no where else to go. The Unredeemed travel the world, posing as devils desiring to return to the light. They do their best to dig their way into angelic confidences as far as they can, and when they go no farther, they rip free, doing as much damage as possible in the process. Their operations have the happy side effect of doing a great deal of damage to Heaven's cause, especially among the more gullible angels in the Host. The underlying purpose of the Unredeemed is more insidious, however. By betraying angelic trust, these demons make it that much less likely that Heaven will trust the Renegades that truly do seek salvation. The Unredeemed are special favorites of Asmodeus. He is lavish with new Vessels for them; after all, they tend to go through a lot of vessels in their line of work. Each of these Vessels has a fully fleshed role, just like other Servitors of Asmodeus. All of the Unredeemed have both of Asmodeus's Servitor attunements: Dissonance Binding and Humanity. Most of them have some rank of Distinction as well. Asmodeus has taught these Servitors a special rite: * Betray an angelic trust (2 Essence). In this way, the Unredeemed tend to get a rush of energy when they most need it. The Unredeemed are also quite used to losing their vessels, and are barely effected by Trauma (treat them as Malakim in this respect). Just because the Unredeemed primarily target angels does not mean that they are above taking down Renegade demons, either. Kiaphas Kiaphas is Balseraph Baron of Justice, the leader the Unredeemed. He is expert with lies, even within his dishonest Band. Kiaphas specializes in the lie that the listener wants to hear, and is an excellent judge of character. He rarely uses his Resonance too early in a sting; the danger of discovery is too great. Kiaphas is a superb actor, and always puts on the face appropriate to the situation. Kiaphas is often the front man for the Unredeemed, especially when their target is a Renegade demon. Kiaphas's Role is often that of a lawyer or stockbroker, and he also manages the resources of the team. Kiaphas has led the Unredeemed for many centuries now, and he is very good at what he does. The Unredeemed are a "glory job", and Kiaphas has received a great deal of demonic renown for personally destroying many angels. In the last few decades, he has begun to tire of his work. He has made no significant advances in the demonic hierarchy for more than a century, and wants to start clawing his way up the ladder again. Kiaphas is looking for one big score, a victory on a scale impossible to ignore. Afterwards he hopes to retire from the Unredeemed and be granted a Word. Kiaphas has given no hint of his ambitions to the others, but it means he has been taking more risks lately, and this has not gone unnoticed. Idrafell Idrafell is a Calabite Knight of Judgment. Idrafell's tastes are simple and destructive. Of all the Unredeemed, she is the least subtle. As a result, she is the hammer of the team. When the deception is complete, Idrafell swoops in to deal the coup de grace. She revels in that destruction, and the freedom it gives her. Idrafell rarely needs to hold back; when she is called in, it is usually important to make as much Celestial noise as possible, so that the angelic Host will know exactly how badly it has been hurt. For all her crass power, Idrafell has a secret. Idrafell serves a second master, Saminga, and has done so for a long time. It is rare for a traitor to rise to Distinction in the ranks of Asmodeus's forces, but no one suspects a simple minded Calabite of such complicity. Everything learned by the Unredeemed she quietly passes on to Saminga as well, and on several occasions the Prince of Death has profited from mopping up after the Unredeemed. He especially delights in subverting the human servants left behind by defeated angels; those with a hint of the divine often make the best undead. Draz-Cadim Draz-Cadim is a Shedite Captain of Integrity. Draz-Cadim is the jack of all trades for the Unredeemed; it improvises to compensate for mistakes made be the other team member. Draz-Cadim uses its unrestricted powers of possession to take control of key members of angelic organizations. Due to its Band Attunement to Asmodeus, it need not corrupt its host, so it can go undetected for long periods of time. Draz-Cadim has specialized in learning as many Songs as possible. Since it never knows what host it will be using next, it prefers to rely on abilities that it knows it will always have. Draz-Cadim hides its excesses with the Celestial Song of Shields, making certain that it is well clear of an area before the Echoes of its disturbance burst free. Draz-Cadim has no feelings of compassion or ambition. It discards used hosts like wasted tissue, and pursues its goals with a cold, relentless drive. Draz-Cadim fully expect to replace Kiaphas as the leader of the Unredeemed when the Balseraph either moves up or falls down. Mikheus Mikheus is an Impudite, and the most recent addition to the team. He has yet to earn any Distinction in the service of Asmodeus. Mikheus is amazing well behaved for a demon. He takes pains to avoid personally engaging in evil acts. Mikheus is usually the team's infernal deserter and the fact that he rarely does evil makes it that much easier to pull off his role. When the final sting is in, Mikheus never participates in finishing off the angels; that would leave a taint the next group of suckers might pick up on. Mikheus's companions admire this sacrifice he makes for the infernal cause. The truth is more complex. In fact, Mikheus really is tired of evil. He has grown to feel that the demonic cause is futile, and he would dearly love to escape. Given his position, however, he is under constant scrutiny of some of the most effective Renegade hunters in Hell. He will never have a chance to flee, and he knows it. What drives Mikheus mad is that he suspects Asmodeus knows it as well. The shred of true remorse makes Mikheus all that more effective at what he does, and drives the Impudite ever deeper into despair. Tactics Generally speaking, the Unredeemed slip into town and begin to scope out the opposition. They usually chose their targets based on the reports of local demons, but the team rarely make direct contact with locals. The danger of being seen consorting with other demons is too great, and the Unredeemed lies are more convincing if other demons can be provoked into hunting them. Once the angels have been thoroughly studied, the Unredeemed chose a front man, based on what they think the angels will be most tempted by. If the angels are sympathetic, Mikheus fronts for the team. If the angels are obsessed with great victories, the more prestigious Kiaphas will go instead. The front man will be the only demon to interact directly with the angels; the rest will watch from the background. The front man will do his best to win the angels' confidence. He will always be given a new Vessel for the job, making it unlikely his form will be known to the angels. The attack the demon makes for winning trust always uses two fronts. First, the demon does his best to prove to the angels that he has repented evil and wishes to be redeemed. Second, the demon always offers some bonus for the angels should they take him in, some secret or artifact that Hell can ill afford to lose. When Mikheus is the front man, the emphasis tends to be on redemption; with the higher ranked Kiaphas, the emphasis is on the prize. While the front man works with angels, the rest of the Unredeemed watch from a discreet distance, poising themselves to strike. Draz-Cadiz uses the Celestial song of Attraction to keep tabs on his teammate. When the front man has learned all he can and has wormed his way as far as he can into the angels structure, he calls in the rest of the team. The Unredeemed strike swiftly and brutally, and then fade into the night. They take what they have learned back to Asmodeus and move on to their next victims. If something goes wrong, the Unredeemed still do what damage they can. First and foremost, they must ensure that they are never captured. To this end, each of their Vessels is given a swift acting poison capsule to propel their spirits back to Hell at a moments notice. Asmodeus is surprisingly forgiving of these "failures". Even a failure is a victory for the Unredeemed, for their true goal is to make angels distrust any repentant demon. Story Ideas The Sting: The simplest way of using the Unredeemed is have them do what they do best. They move into town and one of them poses as a Renegade seeking redemption. If the player characters are angels, then they will be the target of the deception. If the player characters are demons, then they will know only that a traitor to Hell is in their midst. A spirited pursuit of the "Renegade" will be rewarded. After all, it makes it that much easier to convince to angels of the turncoat's sincerity. If the local demons are too effective, however, and screw up the sting, then Asmodeus will be most displeased. The Big One: Kiaphas eventually gets greedy, and decided to take down a big angelic target. He aims the Unredeemed at betraying and destroying the Seneschal of a divine Tether, a major feat indeed. The Seneschal is no fool, so Kiaphas plans on offering a big carrot: nothing less than the key to destroying a powerful infernal Tether instead. The key is genuine; even as simple a lie as this would unravel Kiaphas's plans. The stakes are high and the fireworks, when they come, will be loud indeed. True Turning: Mikheus finally snaps. He decides that he must finally and truly break free of Hell. Unfortunately, rumors of the existence of the Unredeemed have spread. The targets for the next sting have already heard of the Unredeemed and its tactics, and should be predisposed to disbelieve him. Even if they can be convinced, the rest of the team will come after Mikheus with blood in their eyes. Nothing less than the mercy of an Archangel can save Mikheus from Asmodeus's wrath. Paul Strack | Madness takes its toll. pfstrack@math.unc.edu | Please have exact change. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~|~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Web Page - http://www.math.unc.edu/Grads/pfstrack/wod.html