Let’s review the official canon historical timeline of 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
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
This is heaven’s version of history. The Pagan gods disagree.
Intro
Welcome to Eviliv3, the live media commentary show that answers the question, is the universe only six thousand years old? Subscribe if you’re new to the channel, because today we are continuing our In Nomine series with this episode, In Nomine’s historical timeline.
Discussion
There are a number of factors that make an interesting intellectual property or IP a great one. For me, immersion in the lore is at the top of the list. If there is a detailed history, cultural depth and engaging personalities, then I am in! In Nomine does this very well, though it did take them until the release of the Game Master’s Guide in November of 1999 to flesh it out. In this wonderful tome is the religious history of the world and the timeline that is seen as canon for Celestials. This timeline naturally begins at the beginning and ends in 1998, just prior to publication. This is where your own home campaigns will take over. Naturally, you are free to play In Nomine and completely ignore this timeline, or accept it as the Celestials view of history, knowing that the Pagan gods in The Marches, or the Ethereal Realm disagree, but isn’t history always defined by the victors? So add to this, bastardize it or ignore it as you please, but let’s first take a look at In Nomine’s canon historical timeline.
In the beginning there was light. This is creation. In this light appeared the first soul named Yves. Yves named god. God created the first angels in order of Michael, Lucifer, Baal, David, Eli, Uriel, and Gabriel. The voice of god, Metatron speaks and directs the angels. They believe Metatron is a Seraph, and God speaks through Metatron. The angels create the universe by command and Yvez names everything. They create lesser beings, and other angels created in this time are Asmodeus, Beleth, Blandine, Dominic, Jean, Kobal, Malphas, and Raphael. Recorded time begins at 4.6 billion B.C. when the Earth was formed.
100 million B.C. The archangels Malphas, Gabriel, and David with a servitor named Belial heat and break up tectonic plates. Asmodeus and Dominic begin codifying the word of God.
Archangels Beleth and Blandine explore the Marches, and build their Tower. Yves,
With archangels Jean, and Raphael transcribe knowledge. Kobal receives his special assignment, which is yet unknown. Andrealphus is created, and becomes the Archangel of Love. Janus, Jordi, and Oannes are also created. Janus learns how to move ocean waves
and winds, and teaches Oannes. They become the Archangels of the Wind and the Waters, respectively. Jordi discovers how to create corporeal vessels, and is given authority over
all living creatures as the Archangel of Animals. 67 million B.C.: Saminga is created. He
witnesses the extinction of the dinosaurs during his first visit to the Earth.
500,000 B.C.: Lucifer teaches early humans how to use fire (with some help from Jean). 25,000 B.C.: Humans develop religion. The Marches are becoming populated with the ethereal creations of human imagination. Humans become the most selfish of all creatures. Jordi decides to wipe out humanity… but Michael (at God’s behest) talks him out of it. Jordi still regrets this. Dominic and Marc are given their Words, and assigned the task of teaching angels (and humans) how to get along. 23,000 B.C.: Yves announces that humans are to be left alone, and the corporeal plane is henceforth off limits to angels. Many (especially Lucifer) are dismayed
at this. The Eden experiment follows. Novalis, the Angel of Flowers, creates the Garden of Eden at God’s behest. Adam and Lilith are created by God, and Lilith walks away. God creates Eve to replace her. Adam and Eve live in Eden for several years, before Ophis, a Servitor of Baal, sneaks in and taints the experiment. God calls the experiment inconclusive, and forbids further celestial intervention. Dominic places the Cherub Jophiel at the gates of Eden. Lucifer has a long talk with God (through Metatron), but is not satisfied.
22,625 B.C.: The Fall: After recruiting 1/3 of the Host, Lucifer leads his Rebellion. In his last private talk with God, he destroys Metatron. Uriel, formerly a Seraph, becomes the first Malakite during the Rebellion; the Cherub David quickly follows. Michael kicks Lucifer out of Heaven. The
Lightbringer plummets to the farthest reaches of the universe, followed by his fellow rebels. They are trapped in Hell. The last ice age begins. Michael is made Archangel of War and appointed general of Heaven’s armies. God lifts the ban on celestial intervention, but insists on subtlety. 22,000 B.C.: The Seraphim Council is created. Dominic is elevated to Archangel, and forms the Divine Inquisition. Marc becomes the first Archangel elected to that position by the Seraphim Council; Novalis becomes the second. Archangels begin organizing their Servitors into formal hierarchies. 16,000 B.C.: With Lilith’s help, the Diabolicals escape Hell, first finding their way to the Marches, and from there to Earth. Beleth begins building her Tower, opposite Blandine’s. Lilith becomes the Princess of Freedom. The demons gradually begin acting more openly. The Grigori Choir is created to guard humanity against diabolical influences.
11,600 B.C.: The Second “Fall.” The Grigori succumb to lust, begin having children, and neglect
their jobs. David and Uriel’s angels intervene, slaughtering the Grigori’s Nephallim children, and
rounding up the Watchers. Dominic tries them and finds them guilty; the Seraphim Council votes to cast them out. The War is beginning in earnest, as angels and demons do battle across the Earth, disturbing the Symphony and slaughtering many humans. 2000 B.C.: Ethereal spirits are becoming powerful pagan deities, sometimes rivaling the power of an Archangel. The Seraphim Council declares something must be done. Yves suggests promoting monotheism as a way to cut off ethereal worship. Abram (Abraham) leaves the city of Ur. He makes a pact with God, and becomes the Patriarch of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. 1700 B.C.: Oannes traps and destroys his former Servitor, Vephar, the Demon Prince of the Oceans. 1627 B.C.: Oannes is slain by Belial. During the battle, the island of Thera explodes, leading to the collapse of the Minoan civilization. 1600 B.C.: Gebbeleth, Prince of Secrets, disappears. No one notices.
1580 B.C.: The Trial of Michael. Dominic accuses Michael of Pride, promoting pagan personality
cults, and creating too much disturbance with his actions. Michael is found guilty, but God acquits him. Michael steps down as leader of the Host, replaced by Uriel. 1550 B.C.: Saminga arrives in Egypt and begins studying their necromantic arts, becoming proficient at it (with some help from the Egyptian gods), and earns the Word of Death. 1500 B.C.: Egyptians start removing mummy brains to thwart Saminga. 1200 B.C.: Saminga becomes the Prince of Death.
Lucifer grants him Abaddon. 859 B.C.: Magog, a Kyriotate of Stone and Angel of Fortitude, has been patronizing the Hittites, Assyrians, and Sea Peoples, spurring them toward conquest so he can strike against Saminga in Egypt. Finally, David confronts his Servitor. Magog Falls, and Lucifer crowns him Prince of Cruelty. The next day David, with help from Khalid, the Angel of Faith, imprisons Magog and his followers beneath the Egyptian desert. 700 B.C.: Mammon becomes the Prince of Greed. 600 BC.: Eli works with the prophet Zoraoaster, in Persia, to promote monotheism. 500 B.C.: Zadkiel becomes the Archangel of Protection.
200 B.C.: Uriel begins patronizing the Roman Republic, to keep the pagan gods they worship under control. 146 B.C.: Demogorgon, the Demon of Destruction, is destroyed by Belial amidst speculation that Lucifer is about to crown him Prince. 50 B.C.: Laurence is created by Uriel. 6 B.C.: Gabriel announces the conception of Jesus Christ. 60 A.D.: Yves, Gabriel, and Raphael work together and somehow cause Christianity to spread so rapidly that it begins cutting off many pagan gods from their worshippers. Michael eventually supports Christianity also, but becomes hostile to Yves at this time. 325 A.D.: Council of Nicea. Constantine makes Christianity the official state religion of Rome. Uriel and Dominic declare their support for the faith. Litheroy becomes the Archangel of Revelation. 331 A.D.: Laurence becomes the Angel of the Sword. 400 A.D.: Haagenti is created, and spends the next 600 years as an abused familiar.
455 A.D.: Beelzebub, first Prince of Corruption, is slain by Uriel. 610 A.D.: At Yves’ behest, Gabriel visits the Prophet Muhammad. Muhammad receives divine revelations (which become the Quran) for the next 23 years. 632 A.D.: Muhammad dies. Dominic summons Gabriel to
Heaven, to try him for heresy. The Archangel of Fire angrily storms out of the Seraphim Council,
and begins his self-imposed exile from Heaven. Soon thereafter, Gabriel begins assuming female form more often.
715 A.D.: Purification Crusade begins. Beleth offers the ethereals sanctuary in her realm, for a price. Some pagan gods flee to the Far Marches instead. 732 A.D.: Laurence and Khalid, Servitors of Purity, are present on opposite sides at Poitiers, France. 745 A.D.: As Uriel’s forces raze the Marches, he is called before the Seraphim Council, but is unrepentant. God abruptly orders Uriel to the Higher Heavens (some claim it was the voice of the slain Metatron who called him); Laurence is elevated to Archangel and made General of the Host in Uriel’s place. Khalid begins promoting Islam. 750 A.D.: Khalid becomes the Archangel of Faith. He begins withdrawing from the Seraphim Council, spending more time on Earth. 793 A.D.: Valefor appears for the first time, stealing the Word of Genubath, Prince of Rapine; Genubath disappears, and Lucifer makes Valefor the Prince of Theft. 900 A.D.: Kronos first appears, as the Prince of Fate. (Legend speculates that Lucifer actually found him centuries before this.)
1008 A.D.: Legion, a Shedite Servitor of Saminga, learns how to possess multiple hosts. Lucifer is pleased, and names him Prince of Corruption. Legion soon goes mad, and as he begins possessing humans by the dozens, then by the hundreds, Heaven and Hell team up for the first time to destroy him. In the end, Raphael, Archangel of Knowledge, sacrifices herself to destroy Legion. During this battle, the young demon Haagenti distinguishes himself. Kobal takes a liking to him, and adopts the creature as his “brother.” 1009 A.D.: Haagenti becomes the Demon of Gluttony. He increases rapidly in power, gathers an army, and sweeps through Hell, devouring Meserach, Prince of Sloth, before Lucifer makes him a Prince. Following his ascension to Prince, he devours Mariel, Princess of Oblivion. 1212 A.D.: The Children’s Crusade prompts the naming of an Angel of Children: Christopher, a Servitor of Stone. 1348 A.D.: Makatiel, the Renegade Demon Prince of Disease, accelerates the spread of the Black Death, trying to destroy mankind. Servitors of Asmodeus and Dominic collaborate openly for the first time, to
hunt down and destroy the mad Prince.
1517 A.D.: Laurence’s Last Lesson. By using his agent Martin Luther to instigate change in the Catholic Church, Laurence inadvertently sparks the Protestant Reformation. 1771 A.D.: As factories spread across England, Vapula, the Demon of Technology, is quietly elevated to Prince; Richard Arkwright, is believed to have assisted as Vapula’s servant. 1800 A.D.: Alaemon, once a Mercurian of Revelation, becomes the second Prince of Secrets. 1864 A.D.: Fleurity, a Servitor of Gluttony, becomes the Demon of Drugs. 1884 A.D.: Nybbas and several
human allies invent television. He is given the Word of the Media and simultaneously crowned Prince. He quickly takes over Perdition. 1900 A.D.: Kobal, growing jaded, begins spending less time on Earth. Meanwhile, Eli starts assigning his Servitors to other Archangels. 1957 A.D.: Eli goes AWOL, abandoning his Heavenly Cathedral. 1978 A.D.: Christopher becomes an Archangel. 1986 A.D.: Crack cocaine gets Fleurity named Prince. 1997 A.D.: Furfur, Renegade Calabite of Fire and Demon of Hardcore, is made Prince. 1998 A.D.: Khalid is brought back from the brink of a Fall, but remains somewhat isolated from the rest of the Host.
And that brings us up to speed at the time of printing. Modules and supplements have further detailed out the history, and of course your own game tables. So what was your favorite aspect of the timeline?
Outro
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