Let’s learn about the celestial realm of Heaven 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
- 1:17 God
- 2:01 Angel’s Hearts
- 2:49 Cathedrals
- 6:01 Empty Cathedrals
- 6:35 Blandine’s Marches
- 7:08 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
It exists in the realm of the celestial, at the edge of human comprehension.
Intro
Welcome to Eviliv3, the live media commentary show that answers the question, is there ice cream in Heaven? Subscribe if you’re new to the channel, because today we are continuing our In Nomine series with this episode, Heaven.
Discussion
Known by many names to humans from Elysium, Nirvana, Asgard and even Utopia, for the beings who dwell within its vast halls, it is simply known as Heaven. Point in fact, there are infinitely more than seven heavens which contain even greater celestial powers than the Archangels themselves. Only the lowest plane of paradise is accessible to the player character’s or PC’s. Once an entity has ascended to the higher levels of Heaven, they do not return to the lower planes. There is a rumor that if the angels ever win the war and bring the Symphony back into harmony by defeating the demons, the rest of paradise will once again be opened up to all angels. But again, it is a rumor.
Any celestial being with Celestial Force may ascend to Heaven, almost at will. You obviously cannot be an Outcast or Fallen.
God
God is not accessible in the modern age. Once the universe expanded with his creation, he became understandably distracted. God doesn’t involve himself in human or angel lives, especially after the Fall–when a third of the host of heaven rebelled against God and was cast out of Heaven to Hell. There is a suggestion that the Archangel Yves has his ear, but that is also speculation. God will never call on the PC’s angels personally, but he may manifest with a d666 roll of three one’s. This will be through abstract circumstances based on the Game Master or GM ’s will. Serving God means to be in Harmony with your nature, the Symphony and to follow the orders of your Superior.
Angel’s Hearts
Angels do have heart’s. When the angel manifests itself in the Corporeal Realm, it is it’s heart which acts as a beacon, guiding them back home. When you ascend to heaven, it is right by your heart, which glows like a small star. If an angel’s Forces are ever disbanded, his heart shatters. Because of this, many angels will leave their hearts at home. Some of the more suspicious may attempt to hide or lock away their hearts, keeping them safe from prying eyes, but they are bound to their Superior’s Realm. Removing their heart from that realm earns them a note of Dissonance. Angel’s Hearts can never be removed from Heaven. Some will give their hearts to a friend or loved one, so they may easily reconnect while in Heaven.
Cathedrals
Cathedrals are holy structures of near infinite space under the command of an Archangel. Each cathedral is linked to a Tether, a place of refuge and communion for a Superior’s Word, in the Corporeal Realm. Traveling between Cathedrals, and even Heaven is not like traveling through the Corporeal Realm. It is infinite and requires a guide, though most PC’s will never travel out of their Superior’s Cathedral or even spend much time in Heaven.
The Seraphim Council of Spires are where Dominic and his servitors make their headquarters. Most of the older Seraphim and all of the Archangels who live in Heaven are voting members of the council. They assign Words to worthy angels and arbitrate disagreements among Celestials. They assist Laurence in coordinating the activities of the bodhisattvas, human souls who choose to remain in the lowest level of heaven.
The Citadel of Fire is Gabriel’s fortress, which sits near the edge of heaven in the caldera of a volcano the size of Everest. It acts as a front line of defense if any demons make it past Blandine’s Tower. Commerce Park is a near-infinite stretch of a bustling marketplace. It is the home of the Archangel Marc and his Servitors. Many Relics and Reliquaries are sold here, and the angels of Trade have tents herein.
The Eternal City is the center of Heaven. It is ruled by Laurence, Archangel of the Sword and home to his Servitors. It contains the Halls of Worship, the meeting place for the angels and saints who deal with Earth’s religions. The Halls are glorious in their diversity but united in
love of God. The Halls of Progress are just outside the Eternal city. It is the base of experimentation for the Archangel Jean. There is a rumor that there are secret passageways to Yves’ Library within.
The Glade is Novalis’ corner of Heaven and stretches along the edge of the Groves. Home to the angels of peace, at its center is a never ending party where Novalis holds court. Heaven’s finest musicians are found here sending messages of peace and love to the Symphony. The Groves are the homes for the servitors of David, Janus and Michael. It contains enormous trees where much of Heaven’s human population lives, up in the treetops. Michaels troops train endlessly among the mighty trunks, and David’s servitors live underground in the Catacombs carved among the roots of the grove.
Jordi’s Savannah is a low rolling plain stretching along the far side of Heaven. It is home to all animal spirits who have achieved consciousness. Jordi and his angels live here. As there are no buildings, they exist in small campsites that pop up along the plains. Yves’ Library is a wonder, even in Heaven. It is located beneath the Eternal City, and it connects to every repository of knowledge in the Symphony. Its gateways only open for Yves and the innocent at heart. The library itself will expel unwanted visitors after turning them around for hours. As it is a collection of all knowledge, it includes created and dreamed of knowledge. Servitors of Yves have access to study in the library as well.
Empty Cathedrals
Empty Cathedrals are an unfortunate repercussion of the War. As Archangels become lost, wounded or die, their cathedrals stand empty and deserted. Eli’s Halls of Creation, once the greatest gallery and concert Hall in Heaven, now stands in disarray. The Castle of Uriel also stands empty, its banners dimmed. When Lawrence took over for Uriel it left this Castle of Purity in disarray. Every fallen Archangel’s cathedral also stands empty, an eternal monument to the War.
Blandine’s Marches
Blandine’s Tower in the Marches straddles the border between the dream world and Heaven. When her Servitors ascend to the tower, they may ascend to the highest point on the angels side of the Marches. On one horizon is Gabriel’s volcano, and on the other is a dark reflection of Blandine’s tower, silhouetted against a backdrop of orange. Beleth, the Princess of Nightmares’ tower. Her servitors may request to be transported anywhere in the Symphony, and Blandine will likely do so.
That is all the time I have to talk about Heaven in the In Nomine Role-Playing Game.
Outro
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