Let’s learn about the Superior: Dominic, Archangel of Judgement in the tabletop role-playing game In Nomine. In Nomine is a role-playing game designed by Derek Pearcy and published in 1997 by @Steve Jackson Games. You can learn more on the official website here: http://www.sjgames.com/innomine/ or the Wikipedia page here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In_Nomine_(role-playing_game). You can buy In Nomine products here: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/browse/pub/12199/Steve-Jackson-Games/subcategory/28908_30775/In-Nomine?affiliate_id=50797
Time Stamps:
- 0:00 Intro
- 0:29 About the Superior
- 1:42 Dissonance
- 2:13 Choir Attunements
- 3:31 Servitor Attunements
- 3:55 Distinctions
- 4:25 Relations
- 5:12 Basic Rites
- 5:34 Chance of Invocation
- 6:15 Outro
About In Nomine
Written by Derek Pearcy + Illustrated by Dan Smith
Edited by Jeff Koke, Steve Jackson, and Susan Pinsonneault
Cover art by John Zeleznik (first printing) and Christopher Shy (second printing)
In Nomine is a modern roleplaying game in which the players take the part of celestial beings – angels and demons – as they struggle for control of humanity and themselves. The celestials, powerful though they may be, are merely pawns in a much larger game being played by their Superiors, the Archangels and Demon Princes. Based on the best-selling French RPG by the wonderfully diabolical Croc!
In Nomine won the Origins Award for Best Graphic Presentation of a Roleplaying Game, Adventure, or Supplement of 1997.
Transcript
Cold Open
Without law, all is cacophony and madness.
Intro
Welcome to Eviliv3, the live media commentary show that answers the question, if the war is ongoing, can we say that Domionic is failing at his job? Subscribe if you’re new to the channel, because today we are continuing our In Nomine series with this episode, Superiors: Dominic, Archangel of Judgement.
Discussion
About
Dominic is a Seraph, the most divine of the angels. He moves slowly under his heavy black robes, with countless eyes peering out from his celestial head. When he manifests in the Corporeal Realm, he appears as a man as much as he appears as a woman. Dominic heads the Divine Inquisition, and has been charged with maintaining order by rooting out corruption in the Symphony, from both angels and demons alike. He is widely known as the most tyrannical of the Archangels.
The Divine Inquisition is organized in triads–groups of three angels. Each triad includes a Cherub, attuned to the subject of inquiry; a Seraph to resolve his culpability; and an angel of another choir to carry out the sentence. All judgements are based on a majority vote. In the case of a missing vote or deadlock, another triad is formed adding their votes to the first. The laws of man are less than important to Dominic when metering out his judgment. His Servitors may assist local law enforcement, or or even other Archangels or Demon Princes in locaing Outcasts or Renegades. Though the latter is never discussed.
Dissonance
Those who work for a Superior must follow their Superior’s Resonance as much as they follow their own. Failure to do this creates a note of Dissonance within them. The Servitors of Judgement condemn others with the Old Testament, Lex Talionis or Eye for an Eye form of justice. But it is Dissonance for them to inflict punishment greater than the crime deserves, or to stand by while the innocent are punished unfairly. They also must never overlook what they perceive as heresy in another angel.
Choir Attunements
Attunements are special abilities that the Archangel grants their Servitors. There are generally two types of Attunements, Choir and Servitor Attunements. Unless restricted, an angel may learn another Choir’s attunement by paying for it or being rewarded it. The following are Dominic’s Choir Attunements. The Seraphim are restricted and they are the chief inquisitors, detaining any who fail to answer their questions. They are able to tell if they are being lied to. Cherubim are restricted and do not generate dissonance if their attuned subject is hurt. Ofamin are able to hear the entropy of Discord and can tell what it is. Elohim can actually see guilty feelings dripping across a subject’s face like sweat. Malakim can hear dissonant tones in celestials. They will tell an Archangel if another Malakim has more than one note of dissonance. Kyriotates are restricted and they take no dissonance for taking poor care of their host, if it is evil. And finally Mercurians are able to tell what a human’s most deviant behavior is and how long ago it was committed. They also gain no dissonance for spilling the blood of the guilty if it fits the crime.
Servitor Attunements
Servitor Attunements are able to be bought at character creation or awarded by their Superior. Dominic offers Incarnate Law, where the angel knows the rules and regulations of the human’s location. Heavenly Judgement, where the angel can make an immediate judgment on a human by asking higher powers, if the subject is within eyesight and has committed murder or worse.
Distinctions
Distinctions are ranks a Superior grants his servitors. With the title come specific powers related to the superior. Domincs are Vassal of Conscience, which allows an angel to imbue his gaze with severe reproach, forcing the guilty to confess. Friend of Judgment, does the same but is more powerful. And finally Matter of Law automatically detects a crime within 10 yards times his Celestial Forces.
Relations
Heavenly politics are complex and the influence of an Archangel’s word on the Symphony is always a contest. This leads some archangels to align in ways that are more convoluted than just angel vs demon. For Dominic it is clear that as Judgement, he must maintain distance from his fellow Archangels. He believes Catholicism, as does Laurence, is the best belief system for humans. And he always listens to Yves. He distrusts Eli, which places him with the more warlike Archangel’s favor. Others like Michael believe him to be too narrow-minded, but he gets the job done. Dominics priority is to try and sentence Eli. He distrusts Gabriel, Janus and Novalis.
Basic Rites
Rites are ways for an angel to generate essence. Rites act to further the Superiors word in the Symphony. Dominic’s rites are to spend two hours defending the innocent in court, help deliver a guilty mortal to corporeal justice, and/or slay the vessel of a demon or fallen angel.
Chance of Invocation
Finally, Invoking your Superior is not an easy thing to do. There are certain activities an angel may perform to aid in the invocation of their Superior which relates to their Word. Dominic however, cannot be summoned by any celestial. He does appear to his Servitors approximately once a week to check in on their progress however.
As you can tell, Dominic the Archangel of Judgement is all business, all the time, with an eye on protecting the Symphony from angels and demons alike. Not even his fellow Archangels are above his judgment. This is one Superior you want to stay on the good side of, and definitely include him in your games.
Outro
Thank you for watching today’s In Nomine episode. Subscribe and ring the bell if you are new to the channel. Don’t forget to click the like button and comment to let others learn about this award winning role-playing game and this channel.
And as always, remember that evil spelled backwards is live, so get out there and Be Evil!