From owner-in_nomine-digest@lists.io.com Fri Apr 18 18:31:54 1997 Return-Path: Received: from lists.io.com (root@lists.io.com [199.170.88.15]) by deliverator.io.com (8.8.5/8.8.5) with ESMTP id PAA22533; Fri, 18 Apr 1997 15:30:01 -0500 (CDT) Received: (from majordom@localhost) by lists.io.com (8.8.5/8.8.5) id OAA14098 for in_nomine-digest-outgoing; Fri, 18 Apr 1997 14:22:49 -0500 Date: Fri, 18 Apr 1997 14:22:49 -0500 Message-Id: <199704181922.OAA14098@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 #125 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, April 18 1997 Volume 01 : Number 125 In this digest: Re: IN> Why conceal? Re: IN> Kyriotate/Shedim questions Re: IN> Kyriotate/Shedim questions IN> Bodhi's Heart-Breakers Re: IN> Kyriotate/Shedim questions Re: IN> Xexistanai - origin of name??? Re: IN> Bodhi's Heart-Breakers Re: IN> Re: in_nomine-digest V1 #123 IN> Re: in_nomine-digest V1 #124 Re: IN> All of Creation finale Re: IN> Know Thy Enemy 4 Re: IN> Inspired by The Saint Re: IN> Character Sheets Re: IN> Meta-Question Re: IN> Swapping Vessels Re: IN> Adventure: Fire in the Yucatan Re: IN> All of Creation finale IN> Know Your Diabolicals #2, #5, #8, #11, #13 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Fri, 18 Apr 1997 09:31:21 -0500 From: Earl Wajenberg Subject: Re: IN> Why conceal? C. J. Hunter pointed out that demons have immediate, practical reasons for concealing the War:"Oh, by the way, we're demons and we're actively trying to drag each and every one of you down to hell to receive an eternity of torment and suffering. Anyone want to help?" For a slightly different (but compatible) slant on it, see "The Screwtape Letters," by C. S. Lewis (mentioned in the IN bibliography). This book takes the form of letters from a senior devil to his nephew, Wormwood, who is on his first tour of temptation duty on Earth. Screwtape gives all manner of advice on how to corrupt a human, which is both very funny and (taken in reverse, of course) very edifying. At one point, quoting from memory, he says something like: "You ask if you should conceal your own existence from your patient. This question has been answered for us by spirits much deeper down in the Lowerarchy, and the answer is Yes, you should allow your patient no hint of your existence. "I mean in this phase of the War, of course. We are really in a cruel dilemma. If we show ourselves to men, we can make no materialists. If we hide ourselves from men, we lose all the pleasing results of direct terrorism and we can make no magicians. But we may hope that someday we may do better, and by emotionalising and mythologising their science, we may eventually produce a man not using, but veritably worshipping spirits, which of course he does not call that, but vaguely labels "forces" or somesuch. Certain aspects of psychoanalysis and evolutionary theory are very promising in this regard. Indeed, if we ever produce our perfect work, the Materialist Magician, then the end of the War will be in sight." There is, by the way, a taped version of the "Screwtape Letters," read by John Cleese, the Monty Python veteran. It's very good. Earl Wajenberg ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 18 Apr 1997 09:53:50 -0400 From: "John Karakash - Lucent ASCC" Subject: Re: IN> Kyriotate/Shedim questions On Apr 18, 9:01am, John Karakash - Lucent ASCC wrote: > Subject: Re: IN> Kyriotate/Shedim questions > On Apr 17, 2:03pm, Michael Bowman wrote: > > Subject: IN> Kyriotate/Shedim questions > > > > I'm not sure I get possession quite right. Here's some questions: > > > > I'm possessing A and see another person I'd like to possess. I have to > > leave A to possess B (as I only have 9 Forces). From an earlier posting I > > saw that the range of the resonance was the same as for Songs (sight, > > really). > > > > 1. If I fail to possess B am I still in A, or am I in celestial form > > somewhere? > > > > 2. How much noise is made if I succeed or fail? > > > > 3. If I was possessing dog, so that I don't need to leave A to do so: > > what would happen if I failed? > > > The way I've been ruling it for Shedim is that you can > make the attempt while still possessing your old host and if > you fail, you stay put, and if you succeed, you automatically > relinquish the first in favor of the second. > I don't see any reason (unless Moriah overrules me!) > that this shouldn't apply to Kyriotates as well. So the > answers would be > 1) Nope. > 2) Success-Disturbance equal to your Total Forces > Failure-none > 3) Nothing except you can't attempt that dog for awhile Ooops. I thought you meant you were trying to possess the dog while in another host. The answer's roughly the same though: No effect for a failed attempt to possess. - -- ___________________________________________________ / \ |John Karakash - Lucent Technologies (formerly AT&T) | | (919)380-4629 | | "A fundamental principle of economics is that the | | more you tax something, the less you get of it. | | In this country we tax success most of all." | \___________________________________________________/ ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 18 Apr 1997 09:58:12 -0500 From: tom timberlake Subject: Re: IN> Kyriotate/Shedim questions hello Khalid, whose vessel goes by the role of John K., and to the list of true believers: is it just me, or do we really need to get out an ultimate guide to the Kyriotate/Shedim, with references to vessel creation and/or possession in general??? seems like you no sooner answer one question than another takes its place. get one of Blandine's Servitors to direct SJ's dreams til he gives in and does one. or you could just drop all the correspondence generated, in hardcopy format, on his desk and he'll get the hint when it collapses from the weight of the correspondence. putting a bug in his ear won't work, unless you work for Kobal, in which case, stay right where you are...i and my flaming sword are going to be right over...... clean souls and clear skies .......James, Malakim of Stone, whose role is tomtimb. ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 18 Apr 1997 08:58:06 +0000 From: "Bodhi" Subject: IN> Bodhi's Heart-Breakers Here's a pair of Lovers for you, and some suggestions for high role-play encounters.(not really full adventure seeds... more like adventure germ-plasm) ___________________________ Benon, Elohite Servitor of Sunya, Word Bound Angel of Remorse As the angel of remorse, Benon attempts to get people to look over the improper deeds that they may have been party to, and see the error of their ways. As Socrates explained, "The unexamined life is not worth living"; for Benon, this means that no mortal should ever be without reflection, introspection, and the pledge to do better next time. Thus, Remorse comes to represent the position in which an entity examines an action in their past that displeases them, and comes to both a more comprehensive understanding of their responsibilities, and a dedication to never repeating the transgression. Remorse helps us understand that all things are fundamentally inter-related, and that we cannot simply go through our lives ignorant of our effect on others. Thus, Benon works under Sunya. Originally a partner and lover of Lysania, he disagreed with Lysania's more conservative perspectives on Remorse. When the Fall came, and Lysania asked Benon to come with her, he chose instead to remain behind and stay faithful to his original purpose. While he understood Lysania's decision, and indeed shared many of her misgivings about being overly sympathetic with some mortals who always seemed to fail to learn from their mistakes, he couldn't bring himself to lose his emotional control over the issues and join the Fall. This was the beginning of millenia of strife for Benon. His one true partner, his Love, has Fallen, and he pines for her secretly. As an Elohite he would never allow his emotions to get the better of him, but at times he has secretly felt that perhaps his Love for Lysania has occasionally caused him to be particularly vigilant regarding her efforts. At times, he has been diametrically opposed to her intentions in the world, and would have gladly seen her destroyed. At other times, however, he felt that her choice may have been the correct one, and has considered following her down into Hell. His love for Lysania is the one thing that causes this Elohite Remorse. _________________________ Lysania, Habbalite Servitor of Malphas, Word Bound Demon of Regret As the demon of Regret, Lysania attempts to mire mortals down under the weight of their guilt and sorrow. Regret is the result of the weak will obsessing about past indiscretions. Thus, Lysania sees her duty as weeding out non-reflective mortals who are incapable of learning from their mistakes, and making sure that they suffer for their lack of introspection and growth. Neitsche said "That which does not kill me makes me stronger". For Lysania, this means that it is her responsibility to see that mortals either learn their lessons from their mistakes, or simply quit trying altogether! While remorse may help us to avoid future mistakes, regret simply bogs us down emotionally, hampering us from ever growing from our mistakes. The weak will quit, and only the strong will perservere. Regret keeps us isolated from all others, incapable of learning from our mistakes, and especially incapable of commiting to future actions and/or relationships. Thus, Lysania works under Malphas. Originally, she started out as a partner and lover of Benon, but she often had misgivings about Lysania's soft-heartedness, and his inability to take a stand against those who chose not to learn from their mistakes. Lysania finally saw an opportunity to change the world in a more forthright fashion when she saw the Fall coming. When the Dark Third left Heaven's Gate forever, she followed them down in order to gain the freedom she saw as necessary to furthering her cause. As she finally let go of her emotional restraint, she saw that it was only through the test of Regret that mortals could be separated into the weak, and the strong. However, she doesn't see herself as rebelling against Heaven: instead, she is simply doing what is necessary to get the job done. Remember, she thinks of herself as an Angel, simply working with a different style than the normal angels. She harbours a deep and confusing love for Benon. This love, over the centuries, has gone through many forms. At times, she and Benon have been mortal enemies. At other times, she has become so confused about her decision to Fall so long ago that she has almost approached Redemption. The love she harbours for Benon is the one big Regret that she carries. ______________________ These two are so similar in their respective Causes, yet the distinctions they place regarding Strength of Character are of extreme importance. As an Elohite, Benon dispassionately regards a mortal's lack of learning from his mistakes as a sign of weakness, yet would have the mortal try again until he finally comes to understand his mistakes. As a Habbalah, Lysania passionately regards a mortal's lack of learning from his mistakes as a sign of weakness, and would have the mortal suffer for that very fact. Thus, Remorse and Regret, while similar in the extreme, are distinct enough to be problematic. It is interesting to note that the occupational focus of each of these individuals makes them particularly vulnerable to reminiscing, Doubt, and the inevitable wishful thinking about changing the past. If ANY antithetical pairing of Angel/Demon had a chance at a love affair, these two are IT! ______________________ In Spring a young Angel/Demon's fancy turns to thought of Love! Reminiscing has caused these two to begin thinking about the past again, and they've decided to do something about it. They have been meeting, secretly, in order to discuss old times, argue a little, cry a little, and generally go throught he agony or stirring up the flames of their old relationship. They've admitted their feelings for one another (or in Benon's case, admitted the undeniable connection that their two souls share), and are trying to "make a go of it" again. ______________________ Here are a couple of possible ideas regarding PC's... 1. The PC's are hired by Dominic and/or Asmodeus to investigate the Lovers. If they are found to be guilty of "fraternizing with the enemy", then the PC's may very well be given the task of destroying them. 2. The PC's are asked by Benon and/or Lysania to help cover their tracks. Both of the Lovers have decided to make a break for it, and become Outcast/Renegade. The PC's could have originally been following thread #1, and changed to thread #2. 3. Perhaps one of the lovers doesn't really want to become an Outcast/Renegade. The PC's are asked by one of the lovers to help convert the other. Thus, they could be demons trying to help Benon trip, or angels trying to redeem Lysania. Of course, such presumption, if discovered, could prove disastrous to the newfound relationship. It could even be "the straw that breaks the camel's back", and starts off a final, fatal argument. (note: this thread could be independant of the previous two, or a sub-plot of an overall scheme.) Well... you get the point. Think "Romeo and Juliet" meets "Melrose Place" (although I don't watch the show, I'm lead to understand that the schemes and sub-plots are positively Machiavellian!) Real Heart-breaking stuff (all puns and In Nomine references intended!) Walk in Beauty, Rob Wolff / Bodhi rob@v-wave.com ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 18 Apr 1997 08:32:33 -0700 (PDT) From: Michael Bowman Subject: Re: IN> Kyriotate/Shedim questions Thanks for the answers. My suspicions were confirmed. Michael Bowman bvmi@odin.cc.pdx.edu ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 18 Apr 1997 16:59:23 +0100 () From: "David.Evans" Subject: Re: IN> Xexistanai - origin of name??? John Karakesh said that:- > BTW, I have a free cookie for the first > person who tells me where I got the name Xexistanai! > Erm, from a bag of Scabble tiles? :-) Be seeing you... David. ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 18 Apr 1997 12:13:06 -0500 From: Earl Wajenberg Subject: Re: IN> Bodhi's Heart-Breakers Perhaps you might call Benon the "Angel of Repentance." Repentance leads to amendment; regret can be stagnant and only sometimes accompanies repentance. Nice dramatic situation, though. Earl Wajenberg ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 18 Apr 97 11:44 EDT From: Walter Milliken Subject: Re: IN> Re: in_nomine-digest V1 #123 [Rogue:] >Oh, and a question. I *know* this is going to sound ignorant, but I wanted >to see how everyone was handling it... > >A non-Kyrio/Shedim Celestial has two vessels, one in use and one in >'storage.' The vessel in use gets fragged. Does the Celestial get thrown >back to Heaven/Hell, or just re-appear in the reserve vessel? I believe the official answer to this is in the archives, and maybe the FAQ. If I remember right, you can switch to an alternate vessel as the one you're in is dying. You're only out of luck if you don't have an alternate vessel. However, unless the alternate vessel is in a Body Bag (as Charlie's was in the story), it will appear where you are now, which may just get *it* toasted too. (I presume you still have to pay the Essence cost for switching vessels, and make the mandated amount of noise -- I don't think this has been explicitly stated yet, though....) - ---Walter > ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 18 Apr 1997 11:43:39 -0500 (CDT) From: rogue@ez-net.com (RogueLdr) Subject: IN> Re: in_nomine-digest V1 #124 >Which book don't you have, and will you sell some of the others? And >what kind of deal would I have to cut for radio-show stuff? > I don't mean to break up a potential deal here, but you can buy all the old Saint radio shows on tape through mail-order. I can get you the address, if you want. > -Heath Reynolds (hareyn01@morehead-st.edu) > > "Not a man to mince words. People, yes. But not words." -Terry Pratchett, _Small Gods_ And here I thought I was the only guy in the world to play Tales From the Floating Vagabond. - -Rogue, whose Word is Escher Effect ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 18 Apr 1997 12:35:42 -0500 (CDT) From: Shadowcat Subject: Re: IN> All of Creation finale On Thu, 17 Apr 1997, Elizabeth McCoy wrote: > [...] > > I don't know I think it would work rather well. I had the main > >villian of a GURPS Horror campaighn as an Agent Provocateur. He was the > >company gadgeteer, who felt he was all ways over looked, which he was, > >except when the group needed some new toy to destroy the monster. So he > >started geneticly creating monsters to throw at the players. It took them > >3 years of real time to catch on, and they thought it was a scream... ;-) > > He wanted to feel needed... More like appreciated, but you get the idea. Shadowcat ()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()() "Some people say that cats are sneaky, evil, & cruel. True, and they have many other fine qualities as well." ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 18 Apr 1997 12:55:10 -0500 (CDT) From: Shadowcat Subject: Re: IN> Know Thy Enemy 4 I would like to see a thing for Yves and Eli. Shadowcat All cats may look upon a king. No comment on the Queen ;-) ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 18 Apr 1997 12:53:38 -0500 (CDT) From: Shadowcat Subject: Re: IN> Inspired by The Saint On Thu, 17 Apr 1997, tom timberlake wrote: > careful there, A.Beth, the DP of Deals may be lurking! > James, Malakim of Stone Actualy I work for neither side, I work for her celestial majesty, the queen of all cats Bast. Here is the message I sent to the Archangel - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Fri, 18 Apr 1997 12:48:13 -0500 (CDT) From: Shadowcat To: Elizabeth McCoy Subject: Re: IN> Inspired by The Saint On Thu, 17 Apr 1997, Elizabeth McCoy wrote: > Which book don't you have, and will you sell some of the others? And > what kind of deal would I have to cut for radio-show stuff? I don't remember which one I'm missing, they are all stored at my fiance's parents. Which ones do you need? the local library is having a book sale, and thats where I picked up some of mine. As for Radio shows, there are 2 companies I got a lot of mine from. Raido Spirits (1-800-723-4648), and Adventures in Cassettes (1-800-328-0108 or www.aic-radio.com) They both have a nice selection of old radio shows and memorabilia(sp?). If you like i can find some of the other old raiod web sights I have Shadowcat ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Honest as the cat when the meat is out of reach. ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 18 Apr 1997 13:12:45 -0400 (EDT) From: Cymrys@aol.com Subject: Re: IN> Character Sheets Sure, I'd love to see what you've come up with. Cymrys "History: An account, mostly false..." ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 18 Apr 1997 13:08:02 -0500 (CDT) From: Shadowcat Subject: Re: IN> Meta-Question Let's see my list goes something like this. 1 ) D&D 2 ) AD&D 3 ) Home Brewed Supers 4 ) Villans & Vigalanties 5 ) Call of Chulhu (#) 6 ) Marvel Super Heros 7 ) GURPS (*) 8 ) TOON (*) 9 ) Tales of the Floating Vagabond (#) 10) Lost Souls(#) 11) Khaotic 12) Deadlands (*) 13) Tales From The Crypt(#) 14) In-Nomine Plus Multiple other one time shots, and miscelanious gaming suppliments that looked neat at the time. (*) = Stilled Played (#) = Has since been ported over to GURPS Shadowcat P.S. add Top Secret in there some where %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% All cats may look upon a king. No comment on the Queen ;-) ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 18 Apr 1997 13:25:14 -0400 (EDT) From: Cymrys@aol.com Subject: Re: IN> Swapping Vessels If you check out the reference to Body Bags on page 71, it says that the celestial awakens in the bagged body (ie, I presume, inside the bag - what a disgusting concept... ) Better hope you don't have Discord-Claustrophobia... Cymrys "If a bare thousand of us dream, we can change the world..." ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 18 Apr 1997 14:08:10 -0400 (EDT) From: gibsonc@nku.edu Subject: Re: IN> Adventure: Fire in the Yucatan you're right, my wording was faulty. I did mean to say, no one PLAYING a priest of Nut to worship Nut. Forgive my error, please. humbly, jahon On Thu, 17 Apr 1997, Shadowcat wrote: > > > On Thu, 17 Apr 1997 gibsonc@nku.edu wrote: > > > in AD&D though, its still just a game!! no one expects a priest of Nut to > > really worship Nut. > > > I know of a preist of Bast, that does a good job of worshiping > Bast. That's like saying that noone expects a christian preist to worship > Christ, rather a paradoxical statement. Now if you ment someone PLAYING a > preist of Nut to worship Nut, that is a different story. > > Shadowcat Resident Christagan > > > > ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 18 Apr 1997 14:39:46 -0400 From: Elizabeth McCoy Subject: Re: IN> All of Creation finale At 1:07 AM -0400 4/18/97, C. J. Hunter wrote: >Here> > >Possible derailment I see for this plotline: Eli allows himself to be >summoned by his servitors on a roll of up to 6 plus modifiers. He "just happens to be passing through" -- I think that was why I gave a month or so as my initial timespan. >OTOH, *all* >of his servitors are going to start bugging him for appearances (out of >concern for his well-being, of course) and he may again become difficult >to get a hold of. Or maybe he's just stopped answering all his calls (if the GM starts rolling the summoning dice, that would be good...), for some reason, and this is why Dominic thinks he can pull the "reassign the Word" trick. >In any case, great addition, or gilding, or whatever. I may use it as part >of a larger campaign. It begs for treatment over several (many moons shall >pass...) adventures. (BTW, tell me how it works out?) - --emccoy@nh.ultranet.com // arcangel@io.com // emccoy@jade.mv.net GURPS characters, Roleplayers; Art: http://www.io.com/~arcangel/ ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 18 Apr 1997 14:00:22 -0400 From: Elizabeth McCoy Subject: IN> Know Your Diabolicals #2, #5, #8, #11, #13 Know Your Diabolicals A Young Angel's Guide to the Fallen and their Masters. [out of order; done by request] - --------------------------------------------------------------------- #2: As delivered by a Servitor of David (Stone) Bands ===== Balseraphs: Liars will try to break people up, spreading their own paranoid worldview among the humans you seek to educate. They are a slow poison, usually, but a deadly one. Djinn: With their apathy and unrelatedness, they can be dangerously "cool" loners. This does, however, make them vunerable if they have no-one to guard their backs. Calabim: Dangerous and destructive. Try to stay out of range until they are provoked enough to lash out -- many are unstable enough to make this easy -- and then take them down as quickly as possible. Habbalah: An emotional attack is an attack. Be alert. More, be alert to one attempting to manipulate you into a *misdirected* strike! Lilim: These tricky creatures can be frustrating, as they generally prefer to talk and spy than to attack. You can tell if they are serving a Superior or under Geas, however -- the "free" ones will fight like cornered rats if you try to take them prisoner in any way. Then you can deal with them as you see fit. Shedim: They don't care about attacking first -- but the body you strike is likely a victim as well. If you can, knock the host out, and deal with the Fleshless one celestially. Keep humans away during this! Impudites: Conniving little things, more inclined to run than stand and fight. Human allies are invaluable here, if you can persuade them that such a wimp is actually a leech. Servitors of... =============== Andrealphus: Sometimes hard to provoke into the first blow, but will eventually spook if frightened. Ignore their propositions; they have no sense of "fair play" or "good faith" or anything else needed to forge strong relationships. Asmodeus: Often, his demons will ignore you, and can sometimes be ignored. He hunts Renegades, who have forsaken what protection they had -- possibly even twice over. Toss his hounds a Renegade bone if you find it and it is troublesome. Baal: Bloodthirsty. Give no quarter, expect none. A wait for them to attack will be short. Beleth: Humans dream alone, and can be attacked by Nightmares. These Servitors can be problematic to deal with. Belial: They will attack first, with whatever comes to hand, but they prefer fire. This is a good reason to live within stone walls, and not wooden ones. Crude but savage. Haagenti: Disgusting. Can often be provoked into starting something, though. And then they are *your* meat. Kobal: These Servitors seek to make fools of us. Their jokes are sometimes attacks, and sometimes just short of them. If they become too much of a problem, you may have to enlist the aid of another Superior's Servitors. Just one should be enough to spook the demon into an attack, where they can be dealt with. Kronos: Sly and cunning, these will probably try to avoid a direct confrontation, unless you have interfered blatently with their plans. Interfere blantently. Malphas: Detestable breakers of bonds -- inspire them to strike at you at every opportunity. Nybbas: These Servitors move in different realms than we do; it is unlikely you will meet many of them. If they do not strike at you, merely report them to other Servitors and continue with your work. Saminga: Some have great offensive ability, some do not. Undead will likely appear near them, and you will have to be careful that their first strike does not land. Valefor: Hit and run experts. Be able to take it, then trip them up. Lilith: Do not make deals with her. Do not make deals with her Servitors -- either the temporary ones, or the Lilim serving out a Geas. One favor called in by a Demon Princess can wreak unimaginable havoc. - --------------------------------------------------------------------- #5: As delivered by a Servitor of Gabriel (Fire) Bands ===== Balseraphs: Can be spotted most often by Fire's Seraphim, Cherubim, Ofanim, Elohim, and sometimes Kyriotates -- as well as by Malakim. Chances are usually fifty-fifty whether you've spotted one of the combat-oriented ones, so take care. Djinn: Though they seek to shield themselves in perfect apathy, they can sometimes be found by the enjoyment they take in failing to help their temporarily attuned. They are also liable to flee justice, and so Ofanim may find them. Djinn are often physically formidable. Calabim: Violent destroyers, physically dangerous and with a powerful resonance. Kyriotates find these most often. Stay out of their range, bring them down from a distance! Habbalah: Most often found by Elohim, which can be difficult to deal with, as Habbalah distort the clear thinking of their unFallen opposites. Be careful, and if an Elohite asks you for assistance against a Habbalah, give it. Logically, the best ones to find Habbalah are (unfortunately) the worst ones to deal with them. Lilim: Most often spotted by Seraphim, Cherubim, and Elohim -- take care that they do not have a chance to ensnare you by sensing a need to kill them, and allowing you to do so. Dark glasses can help here, as the Tempters must make eye contact. Shedim: Most often found by Seraphim, Elohim, and Kyriotates. The problem is to wait until it is seen how damaged the host was by the possession -- a Mercurian may need to be called in, after the Shedite has been somehow exorcised. Shedim live for cruelty, and should be exterminated at every opportunity...*celestially*. Impudites: Most often found by Seraphim and Cherubim. They are clever, if not often very corporeally dangerous. Servitors of... =============== Andrealphus: Most often found by Cherubs, Elohim, and Seraphim. Explain that not all burning passions are sexual; use props and demonstrations. A Mercurian may be needed to deal with the demon's victims. Asmodeus: He allies himself with Dominic at times, hunting Renegades and Outcasts. Show no mercy. Can be spotted by all Choirs save Mercurians. Baal: Violent and bloodthirsty. Kyriotates usually find them first. They will give no quarter, and deserve none themselves. Beleth: Found most frequently by Elohim, or harassing someone a Mercurian has discovered. A difficult target, but well worth taking out. Belial: *BURN*BURN*BURN*BURN*BURN ON SIGHT!!! Show these foul corrupters what the Word of Fire *truly* means! Most often spotted by Kyriotates. Haagenti: Due to the requirements of their disgusting Prince, these Servitors are most often found by Seraphim. Kobal: Most often discovered by Elohim. Annoying creatures, who seem almost unaware of the cruelty that they do. Kronos: Discovered by Elohim, Seraphim and sometimes Ofanim. They are always seeking to ruin the lives of mortals, and should have a decided taste of their own bitter poison. Malphas: Somtimes difficult to spot -- Seraphim and Elohim have the best chances. If the Servitor of Factions is working on other demons, let him (if he has not been spotted via attunement), then take out the others while they argue. Nybbas: Seraphim find these Servitors most often. If not spotted via attunment, they are a relatively low priority -- though they may try to get some news-person to follow you around, and make a big thing of "vigilantism". Saminga: Sometimes difficult to discover, as they enjoy killing more than the inflicting of pain. Kyriotates have the best chance. Spare them not. Valefor: Found by Ofanim most, but also Seraphim. Bring them to justice... Returning what they have stolen is a plus. Lilith: Some of her temporary Servitors will be picked up. Some will not, especially the Geas-bound "Free" Lilim. The ones that can be detected are, of course, targets. The ones that are not attunement-discovered may not be worth pursuing, though you should of course take care that they not learn anything tactically useful from you. - --------------------------------------------------------------------- #8: As delivered by a Servitor of Jordi Bands ===== Balseraphs: They feed on their lies, and need humans around to believe them. Animals are usually beneath their notice. Djinn: They will kick dogs, throw rocks at cats, and poison birds, all in the name of not caring. They are nasty. Dispose of them as they become obvious; take care to use a strong vessel, as they are often in strong vessels. Calabim: Their resonance is so uncontrolled, they may lash out at innocent animals, just because the animal is there. Attack from a distance. Habbalah: Animals are usually beneath their notice, though sometimes they can make one vicious, or cause a human to act counter to the animal's interests. Distance attacks are best. Lilim: They have not figured out how to get Geasa out of animals, and usually ignore them -- except when they acquire one to fulfill a mortal's desires. That, however, is often not in the animal's best interests. Watch for this and be ready to rescue an ill-considered "pet" from an incompetant "owner." Shedim: They do not possess animals, but will happily inspire their hosts to cause animals harm. Stop them before they get that far. Impudites: Generally don't care about animals. Servitors of... =============== Andrealphus: Only care about animals they can train to "assist" them. Vile, but not usually cruel, save by ignoring their "pets." It is worth getting them on cruelty-to-animals charges, though, and removing their "living props" from their care. Asmodeus: Will hunt down Renegades, and only rarely have relevance. Baal: Will attack any angels they find, no matter what the form. Deal with them and go on. Beleth: Is more concerned with humans than animals -- though the nightmares she sends can make humans fear or hate snakes, insects, and other "less pretty" creatures. Belial: Will burn anything for fun, especialy angels. Deal with them and go on. Haagenti: Vile creatures, who waste the flesh of animals raised for food, waste the sacrifice of animals raised for fur, waste the energy of those animals that provide milk and eggs. Waste them; it's only fair. Kobal: These will be happy to use an animal in a joke, and are perfectly willing to bring harm to the animal. Discourage this. Forcibly. Kronos: Rarely concerned with the Fates of animals. Malphas: Rarely concerned with animals. Nybbas: Stunt animals are only so many props to these demons; attempt to prevent the Servitors of the Media from obtaining and abusing animals. Saminga: Though more concerned with humans, Death-demons will happily kill animals as well. Remove them when you find them. Valefor: Are not prone to stealing animals, usually, but have no compunctions about speeding up to run one over. Slash their tires, then use a wolverine vessel to explain some more things about slashing. Lilith: Rarely concerned with animals. - --------------------------------------------------------------------- #11: As delivered by a Servitor of Michael (War) Bands ===== Balseraphs: Split between "behind the scenes" saboteurs or propagandizers, and highly combat-capable front (or mid-)liners. Fortunately, though clever, their underlings have learned not to entirely trust them. If they talk, don't listen. Djinn: They seem to exist for physical combat -- they and the Calabim are what demons use instead of Malakim, when they need muscle. Djinn also make dangerous spies -- if they grab you (or your car, or some other possession) with their resonance, they can track your movements. Watch for this. It can be useful if you know they did it and they don't know you know... Calabim: Vicious beasts -- watch out for their resonance, but watch out for more mundane attacks, too! Between their resonance and the strong vessels they favor, they are primary targets. Nearly all of them have some kind of Discord, which can sometimes help you spot them. Habbalah: If you have Elohim in your team, these are second priority to take down, right behind Calabim. Likely to be most vicious celestially. Lilim: Rarely front-line types, but can be vicious in celestial form. They are more often found as spies and troublemakers. Their resonance can be a threat to any undercover work, and they are generally more perceptive than the average demon. If you can get one officially in your debt (make her swear Geas on herself!) without betraying your side, do it. It's tactically sound. Shedim: Tricky to deal with, since they're always in some poor mortal's body. Knocking the host out and creaming the Shedite celestially sometimes works, though. Knocking the host out in a Tether is a good trick if you can manage it, but most are a little too canny to get into that situation. Impudites: Vicious little rats, best dealt with by human servants or soldiers, as they cannot kill humans without dissonance. Servitors of... =============== Andrealphus: They will try to seduce you at the drop of any item of clothing you care to mention. This can be disconcerting, but fear not, as they intend to stab you in the back even as they inhale deeply and say they'll do "just anything" to be spared. Do not spare them unless tactically useful; do *not* allow yourself to think you can change them by showing real affection. It only rarely works. Asmodeus: They are generally more concerned with demonic affairs than angelic ones; if necessary, they can be de-prioritized, but never turn your back on one. Do *not* allow yourself to be dissonant or discordant if you meet one, lest it have the attunement to chain you in your own sins. Baal: Vicious and bloodthirsty. Expect a bloodbath when you meet these Servitors. Bring home trophies, as you will have earned them. Top priority targets. Beleth: Sneaky, sly, and liable to creep around to stab you in the back, or terrorize any human companions or associates. Hellishly hard to target, but don't make the mistake of assuming they're not worth it. They're just not a top priority. Belial: Nearly as aggressive as Servitors of the War, and liable to ten times as much collatoral damage. Priority targets, second to Baal. Haagenti: Don't eat anything when Servitors of Haagenti are around. Other than that, these are fairly minor nuisances as demons go. Kobal: They may try to play tricks on you, but are rarely especially combat-capable. Kronos: Fate works against Destiny. See what they're trying for, then take them out. Malphas: Watch out for attempts to sway *your* loyalties, but otherwise these are not front-line fighters. Nybbas: Though otherwise nothing particularly special, combat-wise, these demons always have a human or two around to protect them or help them out. They are also often the sort of people who will be able to call upon mortal law enforcement, so take them out quickly and quietly, and don't leave fingerprints. Saminga: Some of the Servitors of Death are more combat capable than others -- and the ones who are, are nasty. They are particularly able to deal with any human allies you have, without noise. Some have undead servants, who can be troublesome. Valefor: Their higher distinctions can spot spies automatically -- be wary around these demons, for they may lead you into a trap. If you can foil them for a few days, though, they will have to move on. They are more likely to sneak around, feint, and try to get you from behind than to engage in a real fight. Some are quite clever. Lilith: A strange one. She usually uses her Lilim (she's got the Geasa on them anyway), and they're more likely to be celestial fighters than corporeal ones. Sometimes she has temporary servitors from another Band -- it can be hard to tell her Servitors from Baal's, as their dissonances have certain similarities. A Servitor of Lilith will be able to run away, but not surrender -- unless you can negotiate something agreeable with them. This is sometimes worthwhile - -- if you corner one of these, speak quickly; a would-be Free Lilim would usually rather make a deal than lose a vessel. - --------------------------------------------------------------------- #13: As delivered by a Servitor of Yves Bands ===== Balseraphs: They lie. Use Seraphim of Destiny and those with Divine Logic to confound them. Djinn: They pretend not to care. But keep them away from those with bright Destinys -- a Djinn can prey upon some people's weaknesses. Calabim: Destroyers, violent and dangerous. Call in help if necessary, or find some clever way to dispose of them without getting close. Habbalah: Dangerous to mortals, very dangerous. Cut them loose from the Destinied as quickly as possible. Lilim: Their resonance is a two-edged sword -- if they fulfill a need, there is no telling whether the need was a selfish, Fated need, or one that will reach towards Destiny. The Geasa imposed afterwards, however, are almost always a step towards Fate. These demons are the most fascinating, however, as they have never known what it is to *not* be Fallen. Very rarely, they are curious; prize those, especially the ones seeking Freedom for themselves. They can be useful. Do not get ensnared in their Geasa, but acquiring small favors from *them* can be most useful. A Bright Lilim of Destiny is a powerful entity. Shedim: These are poison in a mortal's heart, working for Fate whether they serve Kronos or not. They are not a trial to make a mortal stronger, they are a rot at the mortal's heart, that can only weaken. But they are hard, dreadfully hard, to pry out of their chosen host. Still, if you have seen Destiny in the eyes of that host at some point, you must make the attempt. Impudites: Generally the least dangerous, in some ways, though they steal the luck that may be crucial to a mortal's achievement of Destiny. Prying them clear is difficult -- they are very ingratiating - -- but nececssary. At least they cannot kill humans trivially, for the most part, that Fate become inescapable. Servitors of... =============== Andrealphus: Bad relationships, such as these Servitors specilize in, are nearly always paths to Fate. It can take a great deal of work to salvage the emotional wreckage they leave behind, but if you get the Servitor of Lust away quickly enough, the event can be turned towards a strengthening of the mortal's soul. Still, they leave scars. Asmodeus: If you can find who they are pursuing, it might be worth it to see if that Renegade has a Destiny -- some do. Otherwise, merely try to keep them away from your charges. Baal: These Servitors will attack any angel, and must be dealt with in kind. Use whatever means necessary that do not cause you dissonance. Beleth: Effective in destroying hope and promoting fear and faulty judgment in humans. It is hard to truly rid yourself or your charges of these Servitors, though, as they may take up an Ethereal existance. You may require assistance from a Servitor of Blandine. Belial: Brutal and destructive, but their activities are usually merely murderous, rather than cunning -- they will threaten the existance of your charges, but not necessarily their Destinies. Haagenti: These Servitors can amplify desires within mortals, potentially causing debt-related Fates to come about. Remove them as soon as you may. Kobal: By deadening mortals to tragedy, they make Fate less fearsome. And they would glory in the ironies of a mortal dying to Fate at the last moment, when Destiny was within reach. They are more dangerous than even they know, and must be dealt with quickly. Kronos: These are, of course, our bitterest enemies. Where Servitors of Kronos are, there you should be too, thwarting them, removing their foul influence from the mortals they attack. Malphas: Factionalization and paranoia are what these Servitors specialize in. If your charges are particularly vunerable to this, the Servitors of Malphas can be very dangerous; if you are lucky, these will be only minor threats. Still, they *are* threats. Nybbas: Distressingly aligned with Fate, though the Servitors of the Media do not always realize this. In particular, their human servants are at extreme risk of meeting their Fates before we can do anythig about it. Sometimes our efforts are best bent towards freeing those indirectly captivated. Sometimes, Destiny can even work *through* movies or television, in which case you must only be subtle enough that they don't notice that you have done good -- until it is too late for them. Saminga: More interested in killing humans than in bringing them to their Fates. Half are capable of silent kills, formidible in corporeal combat. Many have vicious undead around them. Valefor: To those who believe in Robin Hood, these hoodlums can be very dangerous, leading mortals to "fun" and abandoning them just as they discover crime is more often a path to Fate than not... Fortunately, you usually only have to deal with them for a few days at a time. Lilith: Servitors of Lilith are enigmatic creatures -- "Freedom" is a Word that can be read selfishly or unselfishly, and it is not always clear which way Lilith herself intreprets it at any given moment. Watch carefully and interfere if they are promoting human Fates, but don't assume that the actions are automatically unconducive to Destiny. They *probably* are, but... Sometimes we wonder what Lilith's Destiny was -- or is. - --------------------------------------------------------------------- - --emccoy@nh.ultranet.com // arcangel@io.com // emccoy@jade.mv.net GURPS characters, Roleplayers; Art: http://www.io.com/~arcangel/ ------------------------------ End of in_nomine-digest V1 #125 ******************************* The material here is (C) 1996 Steve Jackson Games, Incorporated. All rights reserved.