in_nomine-digest Sunday, April 28 2002 Volume 01 : Number 2616 In this digest: IN> Seneschal Question Re: IN> Okay, a PERTINENT question now...Cherubim! Re: IN> Zapan, Demon Prince of Ice Re: IN> Okay, a PERTINENT question now...Cherubim! Re: IN> The Lanceolate Leaf, pt. I IN> The Lanceolate Leaf, pt. II IN> Laurence and Novalis Re: IN> Laurence and Novalis Re: IN> Laurence and Novalis Re: IN> Okay, a PERTINENT question now...Cherubim! IN> Re: invocation modifiers Re: IN> The Lanceolate Leaf, pt. II Re: IN> The Lanceolate Leaf, pt. II Re: IN> The Lanceolate Leaf, pt. II Re: IN> The Lanceolate Leaf, pt. II Re: IN> The Lanceolate Leaf, pt. II Re: IN> Zapan, Demon Prince of Ice IN> Dissonance IN> Warehouse 23 IN> [admin] Check for Viruses! Re: IN> Dissonance ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Sat, 27 Apr 2002 12:38:16 -0400 From: "Brian C. Petery" Subject: IN> Seneschal Question >a glimpse at >a Malakite of Light Attunement would be keen Just make sure to have your welder's mask on. 8) I can't think of a clever tagline, BC Petery http://www15.brinkster.com/ugwump/ ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 27 Apr 2002 09:45:46 -0700 (PDT) From: Michael Walton Subject: Re: IN> Okay, a PERTINENT question now...Cherubim! - --- WonderGecko wrote: > Oh! Any particular species of > Anomalocaris, or may I > choose? (I'm rather fond of A. saron...) Knock yourself out. (Malakite of Random Enthusiasm? Hardly, I'm certainly of the Cherubic persuasion. 0:>) ===== Michael Walton, #US2002023848 "In film, the director is God. In documentaries, God is the director." - -- Alfred Hitchcock __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! Health - your guide to health and wellness http://health.yahoo.com ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 27 Apr 2002 09:47:41 -0700 (PDT) From: Michael Walton Subject: Re: IN> Zapan, Demon Prince of Ice - --- Patrick None wrote: > "Yeah, cap'in, we picked the low life up around the > north side, cruising > with his 'pals.' We think they were looking to pick some > low pressure > fronts, and you know how the local women's league > complains if we let their > kids head into a temperate zone..." > -from the Wild Ones, a 1950s pamphlet regarding the > dangers of tide abuse > amongst teenage icebergs [groan] Patrick, you really need help. 0:> ===== Michael Walton, #US2002023848 "In film, the director is God. In documentaries, God is the director." - -- Alfred Hitchcock __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! Health - your guide to health and wellness http://health.yahoo.com ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 27 Apr 2002 09:51:39 -0700 (PDT) From: Michael Walton Subject: Re: IN> Okay, a PERTINENT question now...Cherubim! - --- "Brian C. Petery" wrote: > Unless your Word is for an animal that went extinct. > THe Word of Dinosaurs. (You'd need a second one, the > first would have died > out with its charges.) > The Word of Passenger Pigeons. > The Word of Dodo. (Of course the word Dodo is still in > circulation, but it's > hardly flattering. Could a change in a Word's use cause a > Fall? Jeez, no wonder Jordi's so pissed.) I seem to remember something on Jordi not giving out words tied to specific species precisely because of the extinction problem. Broader categories are fair game, though; there are definitely angels of Reptiles, Mammals, Birds, etc. Whether the Angel of Dinosaurs died with his charges or just went dormant until paleontology gave him/her a new lease on life is an open question. ===== Michael Walton, #US2002023848 "In film, the director is God. In documentaries, God is the director." - -- Alfred Hitchcock __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! Health - your guide to health and wellness http://health.yahoo.com ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 27 Apr 2002 16:58:34 +0000 From: "Janet Anderson" Subject: Re: IN> The Lanceolate Leaf, pt. I Ooo. That's all I can say -- except, of course, "Well, don't stop now; what happens next?" Janet Anderson _________________________________________________________________ Chat with friends online, try MSN Messenger: http://messenger.msn.com ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 27 Apr 2002 19:36:55 -0400 From: "William J. Keith" Subject: IN> The Lanceolate Leaf, pt. II How did one fight Nightmares? If he suddenly rose up and tried to punish the boys now, he might very well push the Tether into firmer existence and get it noticed. His weapon would have to be, then, his vulnerability. Combat fear. We must calm their fears. Calm.... Laurence's eyes widened imperceptibly. In the midst of his pain, he sent a tiny prayer of thanks to God for His remonstration and instruction, before trying to apply the methods of the Archangel of Flowers. ***** Salem ended her report. "Thank you, Cities," said Laurence. "I had a few words to say about some recent events --" he noted the subtle shifting in the room as lesser Word-bound prepared to 'sit through another one of Lord Laurence's speeches' -- "but I will save it for another time. If there is no further business before the Seraphim Council today...?" He looked about the room, and no one gave any sign of coming forward. "Very well. This session of the Seraphim Council stands in adjournment." Archangels and old Servitors began going their separate ways. Laurence called across the room quietly. "Lady Novalis. A word with you, if you have a moment?" "Of course, dear." She was still plaiting the same laurel crown she had been fiddling with for the latter half of the Council meeting. Had it been necessary, she could have woven it in an instant, so it must have been for pleasure. For the love of Heaven, did she never take a moment's work? "*Laurence*, if you must be familiar. Can you be serious for once?" She looked up as they walked marble paths. "Why should I be grim, when the Symphony is filled with so much joy? So many of my peers seem to forget that too often. It's all well and good to fight to protect the garden, but all such work is useless if no one tends the roses." "It is a worthy task. Some would say that angels are called for different tasks than that, but yours is a noble Word." A little uncomfortable with this line of discussion, he returned to his original purpose. "I admit to having had some difficulty incorporating the angels of Flowers into our strategies in the past. You seem not to mind being kept away from the front lines, of course...." He paused as a strand of laurel snapped between Novalis' fingers. She quickly repaired the strand and looked down to continue her weaving. "Mind? That the Commander of the Host thinks us useless and would leave us idle to find our own purpose? I tell many of my servants that a flower will find the sun on its own, and give the impression that you understand that we will do our best work when kept away from the Sword's regimentation. I only tell them this on Earth, of course. I cannot say it outright in Heaven." She looked up at him. "We are angels of God, Laurence. Made to serve. My angels can take missions from me, but I have no such direction. It is an uncomfortable state of existence." She was unhappy enough that it was showing. Bubbly Novalis, and it was him at which she directed one of the few frowns of hers that Laurence had seen. He sighed. He had a great deal to make up for in this. ***** Laurence examined the Elohite resonance more closely. There, in the middle lad, the one holding his right hand and arm down. Revulsion, and shame. Take advantage of it. He turned his bearded head to the side, not needing to fake the panting or sweating after having pulled much of his strength away from this body. "Help me," he whispered to the boy. "He's... killing me..." The fear intensified. The boy was torn. The stem of the music stand landed with another solid thump, dislocating another rib where Laurence's spine was turned. The pain he felt communicated itself to his eyes, locked with the boy's. "Stop it." Not Brother Laurence's voice. The boy's. The tall one paused. "What?" "I said stop it. You'll kill him. I don't want to kill anybody." "Shut up and hold him!" He lifted the stand again. "No!" The blond let go of Laurence and charged the tall one. Laurence took advantage of the respite and fell away from the other boy, onto the table. The boy still holding his left arm was watching his two chosen superiors fight, trying to figure out what to do. Laurence leapt on the crack in his obedience, grabbing him by the arm to attract his attention. "The... brothers... go get them. To your left out the door. Hurry!" In the heat of the moment, the boy who looked to superiors for direction took the order being given him in place of his two leaders now fighting. He ran out to alert the other monks. Laurence rested on the table, even as the two boys fought. His Vessel and Role would survive long enough to be replaced later, which had been his original goal, but several things far more important had been accomplished tonight. ***** Novalis glanced at the quiet Laurence. "You seem distracted." "It's nothing." Novalis reached up a hand toward Laurence's face. He turned his head and shielded, but she only brushed him with the edge of an Attunement, too gentle to push away. Her eyes widened. "You've been harmed." "Only a Role." "Let me help." He understood the tone of her voice -- the naked impulse of an angel to protect someone who needed it. This, they shared. "I cannot." The urgency in her expression added overtones of frustration. "You don't think I'm competent?" "A simple old monk does not have Archangels to call on for help. I could deal with the situation myself in an instant if I allowed myself the privilege." "Is the Role worth it?" "The discpline is -- and there is more, anyway. Let it be -- this was not why I called you." "Then why?" "Nightmares." "Beleth? I don't understand." "I am bound to choose the best weapon for the job, Novalis. Blandine works best against Beleth. But she is hard-pressed, and Beleth is taking the fight to the corporeal realm, promoting fear on Earth. Blandine stays in the Marches and tries to gain ground there, and this is a respectable strategic choice. Still, it leaves an opening that we should address, and if the most obvious weapon is unavailable, I have come to believe that another lies ready to hand. Indeed, it may even be better in some respects. Where fear is abundant, what better remedy than peace and tranquillity? Or again: violence and strife bring fear and can actually strengthen Nightmares. But your methods, Lady, avoid this pitfall." "Ah..." said Novalis, and it was understanding and acceptance and relief all in a single sound. "Perhaps a flower does grow best when given space. But a garden can be designed and planted. Novalis, Archangel of Flowers, I direct you and your angels thus: strike at the Tethers and strongholds of Nightmares, not with violence, but with contentment and security and joy. I will give you free rein within this objective, giving you Servitors with whom your angels can coordinate, and ordering only that you recognize their expertise and make efforts to accept their counsel as to when it is in fact necessary to employ more direct tactics. In this way you can be tied closer to the plans of the War without altering your accustomed ways." Novalis bowed, almost a dance move. "As the General of the Host commands, so shall we do with a glad heart." She rose. "If I may be excused; I have to organize some Servitors." Laurence nodded, and watched her go. He had erased the unhappiness he had seen earlier, and that as much as anything helped him believe he had done the right thing. ***** An alarm echoed in the hall outside. The young one had roused Laurence's colleagues. The tall one looked out the open door and cursed, but it was too late. The boy returned, pointing to his two fighting friends, and the priests quickly separated them while a few tended to Laurence. He signaled his wish to be helped over to the blond and the young one. In front of everyone, he said, "Thank you. If it weren't for you two, he might have killed me. I owe both of you my life. You did the right thing." The gentle gratitude was not what they had been expecting; he could see them realizing that they were going to let off more leniently than their leader. More importantly, he could see them realizing that the most important decisions they had made tonight had been the ones that had been to try righting a dreadful wrong. Laurence would see to it that they were sent through the justice system under the best of care, and his own testimony would influence their disposition. He would surely be able to pull these two lives out of shadow. And the third? He looked over at the tall boy, still struggling. No sense of remorse, of dishonor, only frustration at his interruption and anger at the betrayals he had been handed, with some slight fear of punishment. Perhaps this boy was lost. But Laurence still had some control over his future, and his Role still had a few years of usefulness left to it. He would try. Laurence realized that the forming Tether had dissipated without a trace. He nodded to his supporting brethren, and made his way slowly to the infirmary to await an ambulance. He would fight this evil with the weapons most appropriate. ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 27 Apr 2002 19:37:22 -0400 From: "William J. Keith" Subject: IN> Laurence and Novalis "The Lanceolate Leaf" is in the same spirit as other mails I have sent to the list; it provides a story wherein two Archangels known not to get along well reach a little bit of mutual understanding, and seeks to provide a plausible campaign scenario for PC Servitors or Soldiers of those Archangels to work together. In this case, the hostility being effaced is Laurence's difficulty including Novalis in his strategies. I'd like to thank Moe for the Role/6 he created for Laurence, of which I made extensive use in this story. Also, a note on the artifact mentioned in the story: Hymnal Talisman(Singing)/1 Reliquary/1 This otherwise simple artifact is somewhat unique in several ways related to humans. First, it was created by humans, through a long series of focused efforts buoyed by sincere faith, and a perhaps a touch of Divine Intervention. Second, the Talisman is not bound to a particular owner, but will serve any soloist or conductor using it to aid a performance, or choose randomly a single performer if a group is using it. Finally, the Reliquary is limited in its expenditures; the Essence it contains (which regenerates at *noon*) can be used only in a focused effort to perform one of the songs therein. In fact, if it has the Essence it will automatically aid such an effort, meaning that mundane humans can frequently benefit significantly from the Hymnal's powers. William ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 27 Apr 2002 19:59:06 -0400 From: "Josh Moger" Subject: Re: IN> Laurence and Novalis >"The Lanceolate Leaf" is in the same spirit as other mails I have sent to >the list; it provides a story wherein two Archangels known not to get along >well reach a little bit of mutual understanding, and seeks to provide a >plausible campaign scenario for PC Servitors or Soldiers of those >Archangels to work together. In this case, the hostility being effaced is >Laurence's difficulty including Novalis in his strategies. And bravo to that. Excellent set up with a nicely woven conclusion. Course, the other bit of Moeticiae continuum (Novalis as being a very literal mother to Laurence) was a nice backdrop for their relationship. How can you say no to mom? Josh ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 27 Apr 2002 17:12:45 -0700 From: Cameron McCurry Subject: Re: IN> Laurence and Novalis Nice bit of work William. I liked the way Laurence ended up solving the problem. ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 28 Apr 2002 10:29:08 +1000 From: "james walker" Subject: Re: IN> Okay, a PERTINENT question now...Cherubim! > > An ichthyosaur Cherub would be neat. Probably a Cherub that's been around > since ivhthyosaurs, in fact. Of which there would be - lots. Cherub & Djinn Celestial forms are fun - you can add all sorts of character assumptions to NPC's using the assumptions that go with each animal. (Think Wind in the Willows). Xole (who occasionally runs IN down here) once had a Cherub called Quantas whose form was a kangaroo; while my players have normally twigged to what the chances of Redeeming a Djinn are, if his Celestial form is that of a boar... Cheers, James. ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 28 Apr 2002 10:53:51 +1000 From: "james walker" Subject: IN> Re: invocation modifiers >>An invocation modifier doesn't necessarily have to be easy to find. > > Indeed, a +6 invocation modifier should be pretty rare. Valefor's > is "The Lost Monet!", after all... Hmm - I've usually thought that the +6 Invocation modifiers were too easy, all though that may be a reflection of the Superiors my players choose. A few invocations that I've figured deserved the +8 modifier: Gabriel - throwing a demon of Fire into a volcano. Haagenti: hosing down down the congregation of a church with brandy and sugar water; drugging the students at a boarding school, and piling them up, each layer of students separated by a liberal dusting of raisins, candies and fizz-whiz. Laurence: Julian II's Sword. *Asmodeus*'s executioners sword (to be fair, I gave them that, to see what they'd do to get rid of it). A ceremony knighting humans for years of performing charitable works. (Vessel) killing a Belialite with his own sword. Lilith: destroying a slave trade route. Novalis - arranging for the flowers planted at Floriade to form a giant peace symbol. Yves - Persuading a church to hire a rabbi to lecture weekly on the Old Testament. Cheers, James. ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 27 Apr 2002 18:39:02 -0700 (PDT) From: Michael Walton Subject: Re: IN> The Lanceolate Leaf, pt. II [applause] ===== Michael Walton, #US2002023848 "In film, the director is God. In documentaries, God is the director." - -- Alfred Hitchcock __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! Health - your guide to health and wellness http://health.yahoo.com ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 27 Apr 2002 20:47:26 -0500 From: "Charles Glasgow" Subject: Re: IN> The Lanceolate Leaf, pt. II Very, very well done. Can we call this "Laurence's Next Lesson"? - -- Chuckg ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 28 Apr 2002 03:15:49 +0000 From: "Janet Anderson" Subject: Re: IN> The Lanceolate Leaf, pt. II *resounding applause, foot stomping, whistling, table pounding, and other indications of approval* Janet Anderson _________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp. ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 27 Apr 2002 22:26:31 -0500 From: "Prodigal" Subject: Re: IN> The Lanceolate Leaf, pt. II Very impressive, William. ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 28 Apr 2002 00:10:31 -0400 From: Daniel Sauve Subject: Re: IN> The Lanceolate Leaf, pt. II On Sat, 27 Apr 2002 19:36:55 -0400, "William J. Keith" wrote: >He would fight this evil with the >weapons most appropriate. Bravo. Effective use of Superior Multi-tasking, and a portrayl that's true to the spirit of Larry and Nova. Also shaws one of the things I try to convey in my Laurence-- It would be DISHONORABLE for him to allow parts of heaven's armies to wallow without perpose just because he disagrees with them. Very well done, Mr. Kieth. ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 28 Apr 2002 02:23:18 -0400 From: "Patrick None" Subject: Re: IN> Zapan, Demon Prince of Ice Be thankful you're not in my Email game:) Patrick > [groan] Patrick, you really need help. 0:> > > ===== > Michael Walton, #US2002023848 > "In film, the director is God. In documentaries, God is the director." > -- Alfred Hitchcock > ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 28 Apr 2002 03:19:45 -0400 From: "Patrick None" Subject: IN> Dissonance I'm sure this is dumb, but is Nybass' dissonance condition kinda...wussy? I mean, not the condition itself so much as the absolute lack of a time limit on working off the dissonance? Thanks, Patrick ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 28 Apr 2002 10:51:01 -0400 From: "Brian C. Petery" Subject: IN> Warehouse 23 - - --- Josh Moger wrote: >You haven't done much hunting through >Warehouse 23, have you? Sure I have. I just bought "In Nomine Anime." :) Warehouse 23 is chock full of VapuTech. THe Weldon Pharmacy alone is worth the price of the book. (Out of Print!) Of course, the place is run by Jean. Remember, it is dissonant for Servitors of Lightning to allow celestial tech to fall into human hands. This is where they store all the corporeal artifacts. It can't be a tether. The Light Of Heaven would wreck all the VapuTech they were trying to analyze. Cheribum as MIBs you can never out run. [Running for 36 hours straight, the target stopped in the deep woods to rest. Seven feet away a cellphone that wasn't there a second ago starts ringing.] The Vermin can be relievers. The staff can be Hellsworn seeking redemption. No wonder they never try to use the Warehouse contents to escape; Asmodeus is looking for them. I've run out of things to say, BC Petery http://www15.brinkster.com/ugwump/ ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 28 Apr 2002 10:51:01 -0400 From: "Brian C. Petery" Subject: IN> [admin] Check for Viruses! Is it a Windows virus or an Apple virus? Wee! I'm a Rules Lawyer! Pete, Demon of Bald Faced Lying http://www15.brinkster.com/ugwump/IN/pete.html ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 28 Apr 2002 10:13:22 -0700 (PDT) From: Kelly Pedersen Subject: Re: IN> Dissonance - --- Patrick None wrote: > I'm sure this is dumb, but is Nybass' dissonance > condition kinda...wussy? I > mean, not the condition itself so much as the > absolute lack of a time limit > on working off the dissonance? Well, there's an effective time limit of 24 days. There aren't any more hours in a day than that, after all. Of course, a demon who's accumlated 24 points of dissonance is in serious trouble anyway... __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! Health - your guide to health and wellness http://health.yahoo.com ------------------------------ End of in_nomine-digest V1 #2616 ********************************