From owner-in_nomine-digest@lists.io.com Tue Apr 3 09:19:24 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 JAA29070 for ; Tue, 3 Apr 2001 09:19:24 -0500 Received: (from majordom@localhost) by lists.io.com (8.9.3/8.9.1a) id JAA19630 for in_nomine-digest-outgoing; Tue, 3 Apr 2001 09:24:14 -0500 Date: Tue, 3 Apr 2001 09:24:14 -0500 Message-Id: <200104031424.JAA19630@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 #2135 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, April 3 2001 Volume 01 : Number 2135 In this digest: IN> Oops Re: IN> Sometimes, you just wish the Angels really could set things right... Re: IN> March 31, 2001 (PK) Re: IN> No, no reason. No reason at all(OT) IN> April 2, 2001: Vengers' Night IN> Angel in prison Re: IN> April 2, 2001: Vengers' Night IN> Query Re: IN> Angel in prison Re: IN> Angel in prison Re: IN> Query Re: IN> Some Destiny and Fate Questions Re: IN> Another Novalis and Blandine thought Re: IN> The Terrifying Three Re: IN> Tether question Re: IN> No Sweat...? (Re: March 27, 2001 (ML)) Re: IN> No, no reason. No reason at all. IN> Hello? Re: IN> The Terrifying Three IN> Superior Word Victory Re: IN> Superior Word Victory Re: IN> Superior Word Victory Re: IN> Superior Word Victory ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Mon, 02 Apr 2001 13:54:19 From: "Janet Anderson" Subject: IN> Oops >It's Scandinavian (Norse, Icelandic, Danish) alliterative verse. Actually, that should have read "Anglo-Saxon alliterative verse," since I was using *Beowulf* as the prototype, although the others are fairly similar. Janet Anderson (shouldn't post while exhausted) _________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 2 Apr 2001 10:59:37 -0400 From: "Charles Phipps" Subject: Re: IN> Sometimes, you just wish the Angels really could set things right... It's truly sad the abuse though it reminds me of a fact of why I'm becomming a minister. In the end it's people who suffer like this that turn into the people like the reverend... and thus need prayers and compassion most of all. - -Charlemagne Servant of Novalis ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 2 Apr 2001 10:28:52 -0700 (PDT) From: Michael Walton Subject: Re: IN> March 31, 2001 (PK) - --- "Rev. Pee Kitty" wrote: > Maybe, but most demons are still not gonna be especially > scared of a Human. I dunno... it's a matter of "Last time we tangled, you did your worst and I still won." That's gotta count for something. > Besides, they probably won't know about this > Distinction anyways; > when are they ever gonna see the Saint in celestial form to > verify it? Hmmm. Good point. ===== Michael Walton, #9805-068 "Holding a grudge is like being stung to death by one bee." -- William Walton (no relation) __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Get email at your own domain with Yahoo! Mail. http://personal.mail.yahoo.com/?.refer=text ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 02 Apr 2001 14:10:05 -0400 From: Marc Bowden Subject: Re: IN> No, no reason. No reason at all(OT) - --On Friday, March 30, 2001 9:55 PM +0000 cassandra benner wrote: > Would Christopher have a word bound of =coloring books= who > previously belonged to eli? > > No, it cant be that simple can it? > Nah. And then there are Andre's childrens' books. *shudder* Marc. Just Marc. Elohite Angel of Salvation ("Oh, look, it's a pop-up book!") ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 02 Apr 2001 16:23:53 -0400 From: Jonathan Walton Subject: IN> April 2, 2001: Vengers' Night Well, I never really bought into the idea of doing write-ups based on the In Nomine Calendar, but with All Fool's Day being yesterday, I just couldn't resist the yearly dose of Kobal. Everyone remember to mark today on your calendars :) - ---- Vengers' Night: A Kobalite Holiday April 2, 2001 If Kobal didn't actually invent All Fools' Day in the first place, he wasn't very far behind. Even the name itself is a mockery (of the church's own All Saints' Day) and Kobalites throughout history have taken advantage of the holiday to pull some massive stunts. Usually, of course, when demons are involved, the joke is only funny to them, but that's never been a hinderance. However, most recently, Kobal has decided that April Fools really isn't all that funny anymore. I mean, hell, the Jesters are becoming _predictable_. They're always there on April 1st with the arsenic creampies and the prank calls to NATO's nuclear submarines. Year after year, angelic forces sit around expecting Dark Humor to jump out there and try anything and, frankly, if there's one thing Kobal hates it's being expected. Sure, you can get some irony if the victim suspects what's coming, but surprise is half the fun, so to speak. To that end, as of 2001, Kobal has sworn off April Fools' Day and has encouraged all his servitors to do the same. Angels sitting around in anticipation of something big may be a little worried to find everything go by so smoothly. Sure, unsuspecting mortals (and even some less-serious angels) will still carry out their pranks as normal, but the real Comedians are nowhere to be found. Until tomorrow night, that is. One of the up and coming servitors of Dark Humor is Adri, the Impudite Demon of Payback, and Payback is definately what they say she is. A rather interesting choice for that specific Word, Adri was originally one of the few Mercurians who served the Angel of Vengeance when "Vengeance" was still a Word that fell under Dominic's jurisdiction (currently, Gabriel herself embodies most of the Word and there is no actual "Angel of Vengeance"). Not being a good Word for a Mercurian, Adri fell rather quickly and was swiped up by Kobal for reasons that remain unclear. That she would eventually become the Demon of Payback and _still_ continue under Kobal's service was an additional surprise that came later. In any case, Kobal has pulled Adri from encouraging "fitting" methods of revenge and put her in charge of the new holiday that he means to create. On the surface, "Venger's Night," to be inaugurated this April 2nd, is nothing more than the flip side of April Fools' Day. It will be first proposed April 1st, 2001, by a "college student" who claims to have been the victim of a particularly nasty April Fools prank (the exact nature of which can be determined by all you Habbalite GMs out there). Kobal's servitors will ensure that the concept will be instantly distributed over the Internet in a chain letter style, so that millions of people will know of the event by the time Monday Night (that's be tonight) rolls around. Basically, April 2nd, "Vengers' Night" is a chance for every victim of an April Fools joke to turn the tables on the ones who made a fool of them. It's a chance for everyone who feels slighted to get a little bit of payback ... in spades. Did someone steal your car keys and move your car, so you thought it was stolen? No problem. With a few household chemicals, you can make sure that their Lexus is a big black stain on their driveway. Or you could steal their keys and drive their car through their bedroom. Or, best of all, you could hang their car precariously over their bed, so that if they hit the snooze button on their alarm clock ... well, they'd be in for a good long snooze. And everywhere, of course, Kobal's servitors, organized by the essence-gorging Demon of Payback are helping humanity come up with funnier and more creative ways to get back at each other. Furthermore, one of the greatest parts about this whole mess, the angels, with their attention rivetted on the day before, probably won't see what's coming until it's too late. And while the angels are busy playing catch-up, sorting out all the craziness that will be going on ... ... the demons will remind everyone to mark their calendars for next year. After all, revenge is a chain reaction and the victims of Vengers' Night have a bone to pick. Later. Jonathan ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 02 Apr 2001 21:51:40 -0000 From: "cassandra benner" Subject: IN> Angel in prison Nehnehaeil {Formerly known as: Aletemo} Kyriotate, IST Dominic & David {former servitor of _Rapine_ and Baal and Lilith. Whilst The Deamon Prince of rapine was about, Aletemo was one of those whose nameis whispered and feared in a number of places in hell and earth. All was good, or rather, all was nasty and this was better. Then rapine was no more and Aletemo had some large amount of dissonance and dischord and no superior to get rid of it for him. Some how, he managed to find service with lilith, and a large number of deals was struck. One of those favours led him in to the service of Ball for long time. Eventually though One of Dominics triads caught up with him, at about the same time as a Troupe of Asmodeans, he managed to survive the cross fire, but was bound in to the body of the host he presently possesed, a rather nasty young man who with out the assistance of the shedite killed a lot of people and maimed many more. The host was within a few days caught and incarcerated, and faced the earthly judicary system. Several life sentances later Horace Wheeler (the host) went to prison, with years apon years of time ahead of him, the shedite done all he could to get the host to commit suicide, but Horace had a remarkable willpower and resisted each and every attempt made by Aletemo. By the time Horace had spent 30 years in prison, he noticed something was missing from his life. The he found it. GOD Horace repented of al the sins he had ever done. He wrote reams apon reams of divinely inspired poetry, and painted many many inspired paintings and sketchings. When horace died, at the age of 83, Aletemo was finally free, but instead of head streight to his heart in hell, he ascended, and landed with a thump infront of Dominic who was in the Great Library at the time reading a book. Dominic look at the fresh kyriotate infront of him, bound in chains ending in hooks, like those of a lilim. The kyriotate spoke a word, Nehnehnaeil, which translated as =repentance in the eyes of my lord= No one is really sure what Dominic said to Nehnehnaeil, but after some lengthy chats Nehn sought out David, and spoke also with him, once more in secrecy. David pondered for a while, a very short while and sent Nehn in to the cavernous realm of Stone whilst he went to speak to Dominic. Whilst in the Caves Nehn met Gabriel, and she kissed him on the forehead muttering =deus volt=. After a number of meetings, all of which were clandestine, David sent Nehn back to earth, and there Nehn dwelled in prisons, doing as David asked. His task was to make prisons better places, but from the inside, inhabiting inmates and correcting some of the wrongs they have done. Lilith however was bemused and outraged at the former servitor/slave. She visited him, never once starting any fights or the like, but offering him the freedom from the chains that boundhim. It wasnt so much as an offer more of a gift. She left him with a token (level 4 geasa) that she and she alone could call in at any time. Also as a parting gift she gave him back the shedite resonance, causing him to gain massive diddonance, he struck out at her and actually landed a blow, gaining even more dissonance, but when he went to strike once more he was yanked into heaven, all but broken and shattered his heart called him back, and it called out to Dominic and David, both arrived as the Kyriotate awoke from the trauma. Dominic and David both consumed with anger, unwove what Lilith and done. Unfortunately, it worked a little to well. Gone was the dissonance, gone was all the chains bar one small one, and there before them stood a whole Nehn. More vibrant than ever before. Corp: 3, Eth: 5, Cel: 4 (decide the attributes as you wish) Skills Poetry 2, History 3, Beuracracy 5, Tactics 3, Wood Craft 3, Brawl 5. Various languages all at 4, Theology 6, Emote 3, Art (draw & painting) 4 Songs Corporeal Healing 2, Corporeal&Celestial Entropy 3, Sheild 4, NC Claws 4, Numina Weapons Hammer (treat as axe) Attunements Kyriotate of david, Kyriotate of dominic and Kyriotate of Gabriel. Notes Where it is dissonant for Shedim to go a day with out making the host worse, it now dissonant for Nehn to go a day with out making the host do a nicer thing or a relegious thing. When Nehn possesses a host, the spirit doesnt go to the marches if Nehn suceeds in a willpower + celestial forces check. If the host stays in his own body Nehn may ride in him like a shedite could for check digit days. Cass - -There is no such thing as an atheist in a foxhole- Murphy's Law, Combatants Edition. _________________________________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com. ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 02 Apr 2001 21:55:42 From: "Charles Glasgow" Subject: Re: IN> April 2, 2001: Vengers' Night >One of the up and coming servitors of Dark Humor is Adri, the Impudite >Demon of Payback, and Payback is definately what they say she is. A rather >interesting choice for that specific Word, Adri was originally one of the >few Mercurians who served the Angel of Vengeance when "Vengeance" was still >a Word that fell under Dominic's >jurisdiction (currently, Gabriel herself >embodies most of the Word and there is no actual "Angel of Vengeance"). Peliel, Malakite Colonel of the Sword and Angel of Righteous Vengeance. Superiors 1, p. 74. (Also mentioned in APG and Revelations 1). - -- Chuckg _________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 02 Apr 2001 18:21:06 -0400 From: Amanda Kilgore Subject: IN> Query Has anyone here done a write-up of the (to my knowledge) unnamed Angel of Recruiters? I've got one itching to be done, but I don't want to step on anyone's toes. ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 2 Apr 2001 18:43:24 -0400 From: "Rolland Therrien" Subject: Re: IN> Angel in prison - -----Original Message----- From: cassandra benner To: in_nomine-l@lists.io.com Date: Monday, April 02, 2001 5:55 PM Subject: IN> Angel in prison You're welcome for my small contribution. I've read your character's write-up, and it's much better then my old "Angel of Prisons" I once made. Keep up the good work. ^^ - -Exit the LoneWolf ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 02 Apr 2001 22:54:07 -0000 From: "cassandra benner" Subject: Re: IN> Angel in prison *blushes, courtsies, blushes some more* This guy would be a good -side kick- to the angel of prisons. He isnt meant to replace him atall. >You're welcome for my small contribution. I've read your character's >write-up, and it's much better then my old "Angel of Prisons" I once made. >Keep up the good work. ^^ > >-Exit the LoneWolf Cass - -There is no such thing as an atheist in a foxhole- Murphy's Law, Combatants Edition. _________________________________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com. ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 2 Apr 2001 20:25:47 -0400 From: Elizabeth McCoy Subject: Re: IN> Query At 6:21 PM -0400 4/2/01, Amanda Kilgore wrote: >Has anyone here done a write-up of the (to my knowledge) unnamed Angel >of Recruiters? I've got one itching to be done, but I don't want to >step on anyone's toes. I don't recall any... (And previously existing ones don't mean you can't do yours. The Symphony is vast, it contains multitudes...) (Or something like that.) - --emccoy@nh.ultranet.com // arcangel@io.com In Nomine Line Editor RPG links; Random name list, Art: http://www.io.com/~arcangel/ ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 2 Apr 2001 21:01:20 -0400 From: Elizabeth McCoy Subject: Re: IN> Some Destiny and Fate Questions At 7:31 PM -0800 3/31/01, Kelly Pedersen wrote: >These are just some things I've been wondering about >the general topic... You want to pick up, someday, the Liber Servitorum. (Watch ebay, I'd advise.) There's a short but useful chunk in the back of the book about destinies and fates. The GMG also has much useful data, upon this as well as everything else. >1) Can someone have a binary Destiny/Fate, ie, their >Destiny is to succeed in doing something, and their >Fate to fail? Sorta. See, a really in-tune-with-canon-underpinnings destiny/fate has an element of _choice_ in it. A turning point where the human _decides_ to do something, either selfishly or selflessly. (And then there are some where the element of selfishness/selfless are really strained and contorted specifically to torment the Servitors of Destiny and Fate. O:>) So the better phrasing is usually, "His destiny is to _do_ something," and "His fate is to choose not to do it." Mind, reincarnation is what "bad luck with the dice" leads to, so you don't have to be really strict here. >2) Can someone have a negative Destiny? Like, "Fail to >assassinate the poltical leader who will save >millions". Sure. This will probably be a pretty pathetic excuse for a human (and if not, why not? plots, plots...), if that's the _best_ that he can manage. (Though it will probably work out more like, "His destiny is to choose not to pull the trigger, at that last crucial moment.") >3) How specific can a Destiny/Fate be? Could a >person's Destiny be "Kill Hitler", or would it have to >be "Kill a tyrant"? It can be as specific as the GM wishes, but the canonical form would be "Kill a tyrant." (Among other reasons, this allows destinies and fates to be recycled between reincarnations if the GM so desires. O:> ) (Whether destinies and fates are kept by a soul between incarnations or not is... everyone sing along here... Up To The GM.) >3a) As a subset of the above, if you can have specific >Destiny/Fates, what happens if you fail to perform >them? Would you automaticly disband, seeing as how >there would then be no possible way for you to >fullfill Destiny or Fate? Could this be a reason some >souls disband rather than reincarnate? Answers: Whatever the GM wishes; that's logical; entirely possible. >4) Can a Destiny involve doing something bad? Like the >aforementioned "Kill Hitler". Or does it have to be >expressed in more acceptable terms, like "Stop >Hitler"? It's up to the GM to decide how "nice" a destiny should be. I think that "Kill a tyrant" is a perfectly acceptable In Nomine destiny; Michael would be happy, for instance. (So would Lilith, but we won't go there.) >5) Can a Destiny/Fate depend on another Destiny/Fate >being fullfilled to be possible? Again, on the "Kill >Hitler" riff: what if he had not fallen to his Fate, >and thus never become a world tyrant. Or even achieved >his Destiny? "Kill Hitler" would then be a much less >obviously good thing for the Symphony, and if he >achieved his Destiny, would be downright bad. A very good reason not to have overly-specific destinies or fates. However, someone's destiny/fate might (if you do use specific ones like "Kill Hitler") be in flux, depending on the situation. So if Hitler didn't heed the siren song of his fate, our little Tyrant's-Bane would wind up having the destiny of "Kill [the tyrant]." >6) A reincarnation tangent: are souls always >reincarnated as the same species? Fnord. (Another way of saying: GM's choice.) >Do humans always >return as humans, or could they come back as something >else with five Forces? If they come back as anything else, I wouldn't put a Force restriction on them. Just so long as the creature could be said to have a "soul" in In Nomine. >So, those are my questions. > >__________________________________________________ >Do You Yahoo!? >Get email at your own domain with Yahoo! Mail. >http://personal.mail.yahoo.com/?.refer=text - --emccoy@nh.ultranet.com // arcangel@io.com In Nomine Line Editor RPG links; Random name list, Art: http://www.io.com/~arcangel/ ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 2 Apr 2001 21:01:24 -0400 From: Elizabeth McCoy Subject: Re: IN> Another Novalis and Blandine thought At 10:08 AM +0100 3/30/01, John Dallman wrote: >Can Cherub Archangels still have Attuned? Yup. >If so, do they? Probably. >And who? Well, if you're a demon trying to harass someone, and you roll a 111, you just may have found one... (More helpfully, perhaps, is an adventure seed over in the INC. www.sjgames.com/in-nomine/articles . It's one of mine, and concerns a Seraph of Flowers, the Archangel of Flowers, and a demonic group of PCs who have been press-ganged into busting the Seraph out of Stygia...) - --emccoy@nh.ultranet.com // arcangel@io.com In Nomine Line Editor RPG links; Random name list, Art: http://www.io.com/~arcangel/ ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 2 Apr 2001 21:01:27 -0400 From: Elizabeth McCoy Subject: Re: IN> The Terrifying Three At 2:27 AM -0800 3/30/01, Maurice Lane wrote: >Frank >Ethereal Forces: 2 Intelligence: 4 Precision: 4 >Skills: Dodge/3, Emote/2, Fighting/3, Knowledge > >Frank's going to make a wonderful Ofanite or Malakite >someday. He usually does what little corporeal stuff >there is to do (although that involves borrowing a >vessel, of course). He's also the best at ethereal >combat. Actually, Lonnie (with Intelligence 7, Fighting/1) has the highest target number for Mind Combat... Just so you know. (And thanks; I needed the Essence.) - --Beth, typing w/a uncoopertive baby (iolanthe) causing typos. arcangel is nursing a trout with ARMS! ARMS that reach out and try to pound the keyboard! You say "And teeth. Ow." ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 2 Apr 2001 21:01:31 -0400 From: Elizabeth McCoy Subject: Re: IN> Tether question At 10:55 AM -0800 3/30/01, Maurice Lane wrote: >Hmmm. That raises an interesting point: what happens >to a Seneschal that Falls/Redeems? S/He's a >specialized Word-bound, so the normal rules would >apply to that, but what happens to the Tether from the >unexpected jolt of energy? Nothing? Does it realign >itself? Does it explode? It's up to the GM. I would suspect that it becomes un-Seneschalled, since both the Word-bound Seneschal and the Attuned Seneschal would lose those links. (If the Tether _could_ have gone to the other side, as some Tethers can, then there's a chance it might flip, sure. That'd be a cool plot.) Basically, it's not something that happens often, and I'm perfectly cheerful with the notion that the results depend on the circumstances and the Tether. More fun that way if people don't know what's going to happen... IOW: GM's Option. - --emccoy@nh.ultranet.com // arcangel@io.com In Nomine Line Editor RPG links; Random name list, Art: http://www.io.com/~arcangel/ ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 2 Apr 2001 21:01:55 -0400 From: Elizabeth McCoy Subject: Re: IN> No Sweat...? (Re: March 27, 2001 (ML)) At 1:58 PM -0800 3/30/01, Maurice Lane wrote: [Whether or not celestials sweat] >I think that this is probably going to be a difference >of style kind of thing: I just can't see celestials >sweating. It's so... _corporeal_. What, you don't think that Servitors of Lust engage in hot, sweaty, bodies-gleaming orgies? (And I can see Michael sweating, sure. Or that certain lean and wiry Malakite... *ahem*) (And then there's David; I suspect that Stone forgets to do the sweat thing.) - --Beth, typing w/a uncoopertive baby (iolanthe) causing typos. arcangel is nursing a trout with ARMS! ARMS that reach out and try to pound the keyboard! You say "And teeth. Ow." ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 2 Apr 2001 21:01:34 -0400 From: Elizabeth McCoy Subject: Re: IN> No, no reason. No reason at all. At 1:38 PM -0800 3/30/01, Maurice Lane wrote: >Out of idle curiousity, would a hypothetical IN >Fiction license include children's books? > >I normally would have just assumed so, but I remember >a hint earlier that an IN coloring book was vaguely >being bandied about, or something, and the two >concepts seem vaguely related. I am not the licensing person, a lawyer, etc... But I would assume that it would include anything with a plot. A coloring book, however, need not have a plot. (My old D&D coloring book excepted. Or maybe not. That's not much of a plot, come to think of it... O;> ) - --Beth, typing w/a uncoopertive baby (iolanthe) causing typos. arcangel is nursing a trout with ARMS! ARMS that reach out and try to pound the keyboard! You say "And teeth. Ow." ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 02 Apr 2001 20:15:05 -0400 From: Daniel Sauve Subject: IN> Hello? Not getting anything from the list... :( - -- Your GM Daniel Sauve (in nomine, shadowrun, earthdawn, hero unlimited) ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 2 Apr 2001 21:51:43 -0400 From: "Eric Bertish" Subject: Re: IN> The Terrifying Three > Frank Why not Boris? - -- Casca "...I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted, and the train of His robe filled the temple. Above Him were seraphs, each with six wings: with two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying...At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook, and the temple was filled with smoke." -- Isaiah 6:2,4 ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 2 Apr 2001 23:49:26 -0700 (PDT) From: Maurice Lane Subject: IN> Superior Word Victory Hey, remember that thing Charlemagne (I think) suggested about what the world would look like if one Superior won, more or less? Well, this is what I came up with in that line. More or less. :) Anyway, it's blindingly Bright, and incorporates God knows how many people's suggestions for Redemption hooks for various DPs: the only one that I can put my finger on is Eric Burn's AA Belial. Feel free to let me know if you were the one that first came up with a particular Redemption angle. Moe PS: I _mean_ it about the Blindingly Bright part. I felt like going whole hog on this one. :) Flower Power This is the way the world ends. This is the way the world ends. This is the way the world ends. Not with a bang, but a whimper. At least, that's how it felt in Hell during the last days of the Reunion. It was all the fault of the younger generation, honestly. They never really cared about the ideals that sparked the Rebellion in the first place. Sure, they parroted all the right phrases at the right times, but in retrospect one could tell that their Hearts weren't in it. They simply couldn't understand the pride and sense of mission that anchored the beliefs of the old guard, and the so message got lost in the noise. All that was left to the younger demons was, at best, self-serving arrogance and at worst, nihilism - and that eventually got old. Eventually, somebody asked himself, "Just why am I putting myself through torture to prove the point of a bunch of old geezers who never gave a flying leap for me, anyway?" - and from there, it just went downhill fast. At first, the only indication that the War was going terribly wrong was that the Renegade rate was steadily increasing. Asmodeus doubled and redoubled his efforts to keep a lid on things - but when he started to realize that his own agents weren't immune, well, it disquieted him mightily. Hell could have maintained, certainly: there were still lots and lots of demons that remembered the old days. They probably could have maintained. Maybe. It was the high level defections that floored them, though. First, there was Haagenti. That was a shock and a half: he just stopped eating one day, burped, looked around with eyes that suddenly looked a lot more intelligent than before - and vanished. The next thing anybody knew, he was up in Heaven and living the life of the blessed. Novalis herself sponsored him - and she looked just a little smug. It was unprecedented, to be sure - but inevitable, probably. Only a matter of time before somebody big on Either Side went over to the enemy. Surprising that it hadn't happened, before. In fact, Nybbas was apparently on the verge of arranging the Fall of Eli. Trading Creation for Gluttony seemed a good deal. Hell stayed smug about this upcoming coup to the very second that the Prince of the Media blew up Perdition in lieu of two week's notice. Eli always had a silver tongue - and it would seem that Nybbas, not being used to sincerity, had no real immunities to it. Whoops: possibly Dominic wasn't really trying to put Eli on trial, after all. And there was Novalis, again. She looked even smugger this time. Hell didn't really understand how much they were leaning on the Prince of the Media until he became the Archangel of Communication: the old guard tried to pick up the slack, certainly, but they simply didn't know the moves. Between the Archangels of Creation and Communication, Hell's image took a nosedive. Still, this was only a temporary setback, right? Possibly the forces of Evil should have given up when Vapula suddenly stopped sporting ritual scars - then again, nobody really expected him to actually find God in his ruthless analysis of the universe. How dreadfully embarrassing. It simply wasn't Hell's eon, apparently - but at least they had run out of younger Princes - except for Furfur, Alaemon and Fleurity, of course. Those three weren't any loss, either, although it was a bit odd to see the former Prince of Hardcore running the Order of the Eternal Sword (who could have imagined that Furfur would have chosen surrender over death when Laurence trounced him?). True, it wasn't too comforting to come to the realization that the Prince of Secrets really was working for Michael all these years, or that the Prince of Drugs had always secretly respected David's resolution, but things weren't bleak quite yet. It wasn't until Beleth finally came to her senses that Hell collectively knew that it was, in point of fact, screwed. Later researchers would find the entire belief that Beleth was a Princess to be laughable. A _Djinn_? With _feelings_? This was clearly a case of the most successful use of the Balseraphic resonance ever recorded - but then, Lucifer was the biggest, baddest Balseraph of them all. He, unfortunately, couldn't keep it going forever - and the Archangel of Holy Fear, when she finally came to her senses (during a dramatic intervention, spearheaded by Blandine but orchestrated by Novalis) was not pleased. Being Hellsworn stopped being fun, real fast - and who was running the reclamation squads but the Archangel of Flowers (and what a busy bee she seemed to be, all of a sudden)? OK, to recap: at this point, Hell was pretty much locked out of the Marches, losing ground fast in the corporeal plane and dealing with defecting demons left and right. This wasn't good. Worse, the internecine fighting among the Princes was getting intense. At times like these, those with weaker political positions start meditating on the merits of an early retirement. Lilith, of course, was the first to run like Hell (Valefor didn't count: yeah, he was Janus all along). No blame: when all was said and done, demons don't like humans, and Marc even offered a dental plan. Surprisingly, Malphas was next. The Prince of Factions apparently was fighting with _himself_ by this point, and the version that eventually won decided that the rest of these losers were screwed. It was cold comfort to Hell that he nearly didn't survive the Redemption attempt. Right, by now there was Andrealphus, Asmodeus, Baal, Belial, Kobal, Kronos, Lucifer, Mammon and Saminga sitting around and asking themselves how things could have gone so wrong, so quickly - and they came up with a name. Novalis. It was all the Archangel of Flowers' fault - if it wasn't for her insane belief that everybody could be Redeemed, given the right motivation, none of this would have happened. Heaven would have continued to fight, rather than work to bring the errant sheep back into the fold. Instead, half the Princes were up enjoying the Light of Heaven. So, they decided to kill her. Even if it didn't work, it'd at least assuage their pride. The first Prince to try to make the hit was Belial: unfortunately, he ran into Gabriel (who was feeling much better these days, thank you very much), who took the opportunity to demonstrate how it felt to be on the receiving end of Word-friction. The poor bugger snapped under the strain (he wasn't feeling well at all) - well, that was from Hell's point of view. From Heaven's, he just became the Archangel of Cleansing. So, they sent Saminga next. Word of advice: sending the embodiment of Death against the embodiment of Life, while theoretically a clever idea, doesn't work in practice. When asked later, Saminga indicated that he was much happier as a reliever, anyway. Baal was their last hope for a violent resolution. Violence against Peace would have worked, probably, but nobody asked him whether his Heart was in this War anymore. This wasn't what Baal wanted. Instead of proving the justice of his position against the only worthy combatant in the universe - Michael - he had to go out and kill someone who couldn't hurt a flea. Even if he did manage to prevail over Michael afterwards, what was the point? It wouldn't move God to reconsider. Baal wanted God to admit that He was wrong, but it was becoming clear to the Prince of the War that if anyone was wrong, it wasn't God. Technically, he did duel with Michael, but duels where one combatant breaks down in helpless, bitter tears halfway through (and where the other throws away his axe, the better to comfort his opponent) aren't exactly common. Well, if overt violence didn't work, maybe covert would. Sending out Andre was a desperation ploy, true, and nobody expected him to withstand Novalis (whose Word-strength was hideously pumped by now), but it should've have given Asmodeus a chance to get the knife in. Of course, nobody really considered the fact that Dominic was going to take the opportunity to run interference. For what it's worth, Asmodeus hasn't Redeemed, yet, but he's cracking under the strain of everyone being unreservedly nice to him for centuries on end. And then there were four - whoops, three: Mammon had taken the opportunity to clean out the till and run (Marc eventually caught up with him). By now, Hell was wide open for an assault. No Armageddon, no Final War, nothing but a slaughter. And the Host assembled... And walked in. They went through the ways of Hell, almost empty of demons, and gave what comfort they could to the poor damned souls that they found there. With them came music, and laughter, and - worst, worst, worst of all - life. By the time that the carnival that was once a grim host of angels arrived at the last stronghold held by Lucifer, Hell was covered in ivy and trees and flowers. As the assembled angels surrounded Lucifer, the Lightbringer looked at his two allies. Kronos looked positively unwell, but Kobal seemed resolute. Lucifer took comfort in that. He should have known better. Kobal leaned over, whispered "God says, 'Gotcha!'" into Lucifer's ear, and sauntered over to the other side, whistling as he went. His wings were bright white before he had taken three steps. And, as the assembled angels watched, Lucifer screamed. At first, it was pure noise, pure rage and anger and frustration and hideous anguish. Eventually, though, he seemed to gain enough control of himself to howl at the Heavens, "WHAT DO YOU WANT FROM ME? DO YOU WANT ME TO ADMIT THAT I WAS WRONG?!? "FINE! I WAS WRONG! "ARE YOU HAPPY, NOW?" Novalis peeked over the barricade, her face impish. "Actually, He probably is. "Now, was that so hard?" Lucifer looked at her, pop-eyed - and then started to laugh. And Kronos gasped, collapsed to the ground, and vanished. Behind Novalis, Yves suddenly straightened, as the sundered part of his soul returned to him. What's the world like, now? Come on. The War's over. Peace has broken out. Everybody's happy, back where they belong, the Higher Heavens are accessible again. Lots of entities thought dead and gone forever are - well, back. Uriel is in the process of apologizing to every unicorn and dragon that he ever slaughtered. Blandine and Beleth rebuilt their Tower, then promptly locked the door behind them and took the phone off the hook for several hundred years. Michael has been asleep with a huge grin on his face for nearly that long. The Malakim all reverted back. The Grigori have returned, none the worse for their exile. In short, it's no place that anyone would want to run a game in, but nobody involved is complaining. It's all good. ===== Liber Licentiae Moeticae: http://www.stormloader.com/users/moelane/innomine.html Last updated 04/01/01(this is usually way out of date) __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Get email at your own domain with Yahoo! Mail. http://personal.mail.yahoo.com/ ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 03 Apr 2001 07:04:50 -0400 From: Marc Bowden Subject: Re: IN> Superior Word Victory - --On Monday, April 2, 2001 11:49 PM -0700 Maurice Lane wrote: > Kobal leaned over, > whispered "God says, 'Gotcha!'" into Lucifer's ear, > and sauntered over to the other side, whistling as he > went. His wings were bright white before he had taken > three steps. *SNORK* Marc. Just Marc. Elohite Angel of Salvation ("If anyone needs me, I'll be doubled over laughing for about a decade, and then I am on VACATION.") ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 3 Apr 2001 08:11:09 -0500 From: "Charles Glasgow" Subject: Re: IN> Superior Word Victory - ----- Original Message ----- From: "Maurice Lane" To: Sent: Tuesday, April 03, 2001 1:49 AM Subject: IN> Superior Word Victory [snip] > [...] For what it's worth, Asmodeus > hasn't Redeemed, yet, but he's cracking under the > strain of everyone being unreservedly nice to him for > centuries on end. Damn, so Asmodeus outlasted even Lucifer. Heck, if he's still even halfway going strong, he's outlasted the Fate Of The Symphony Itself. He's still a total bastard, of course, but you *have* to respect that kind of determination and willpower... - -- Chuckg ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 03 Apr 2001 10:16:14 -0400 From: "Eric Bertish" Subject: Re: IN> Superior Word Victory >Malakim all reverted back. What about those who fledged as Malakim, like Laurence? - -- Casca _________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com ------------------------------ End of in_nomine-digest V1 #2135 ******************************** The material here is (C) 2001 Steve Jackson Games, Incorporated. All rights reserved.