Let’s learn about the Superior: Lilith, Human Princess of Freedom 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
- 1:28 The Eden Experiment
- 2:11 Lilith’s Perspective
- 3:43 What Are Geases?
- 4:37 Dissonance
- 5:18 Attunements & Distinctions
- 6:17 Relations
- 6:47 Rites
- 7:28 Invocation
- 8:32 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
The world is what you make of it.
Intro
Welcome to Eviliv3, the live media commentary show that answers the question, did Lilith and Adam ever get past first base? Subscribe if you’re new to the channel, because today we are continuing our In Nomine series with this episode, Superiors: Lilith, Human Princess of Freedom.
Discussion
Lilith is separate from all other demons, firstly because she is not a demon. And it may surprise some viewers, but neither she nor Adam were the first humans either! In the In Nomine universe, humans evolved from animals, much like in our own. What truly separated humans from animals was their ability to believe. This belief actually began to change the Symphony, and as Ethereal entities began to appear in The Marches and Tethers began connecting the Corporeal Realm with the Celestial, Angels became concerned that this animal had such an impact and could actually generate and use Essence! It was at this point that God placed a strict non-intervention policy on Angels with humans. Not every angel agreed and Jordi, sensing that humans were simply too dangerous, cruel and detrimental to the rest of God’s creations they simply could not be allowed to live. Michael stepped in and talked him out of it, but Lucifer had other plans.
The Eden Experiment
Before humans could be granted control of the Corporeal Realm as god desired, Lucifer suggested a microcosm experiment. He wanted humans to demonstrate that they could achieve their Destinies without celestial intervention, and God agreed. God then formed Adam and Lilith out of loose F orces in the Symphony. And the first snag in this experiment was Lilith walking away. We all know how the experiment ended when God took one of Adam’s Forces and mixed it with the batch that became Eve. Lucifer just couldn’t stay out of it, and the experiment failed, proving humans simply couldn’t be responsible for the Corporeal Realm on their own.
Lilith’s Perspective
Lilith was created as Adam’s equal by God himself. She was the original 15-Force woman, and is a completely complex and unique human. In fact, she is the only word-bound human. Adam however did not want an equal, and instead wanted a servant and entertainment. Because God made humans with Free Will, he could not force Adam to respect Lilith, so Lilith exercised hers, and walked away. It was at this time Lucifer stepped in. He shared his experience in Heaven, how he was treated as a second class celestial as she was a second class mortal. Lilith knew trouble was brewing for celestials and that they didn’t have free-will like mortals, and heaven was infuriated by the Ethereal gods created by man. A war was brewing on multiple fronts.
Lucifer offered Lilith power and relative safety from Heaven. To prove this was a lasting deal, he granted her a word. Lucifer offered so much more than Adam, and needed me even more! Now, after having been treated as a slave by celestial hands, Lilith refuses to be a slave to anyone. She won’t even keep permanent Servitors, as it’s too close to slavery! She makes temporary deals with celestials, and binds them with Geas. Many demons hate her, and want her removed as she can do what they cannot, create Lilim.
What are Geases?
Lilith and her Daughters are at the center of the web of favors, throughout the three realms. At its most simple, a Geas is a supernaturally enforced, return favor. Lilith knows exactly what you need, even if you don’t! And more, she is willing to give it to you, but then, you will have to pay the piper as it were. But Lilith, like her Daughters, doesn’t always call the favor in, more often than not, she trades your Geas to another Demon Prince for something she wants more, and then you owe the Geas to the new holder. This is at the heart of Lilith’s power. She holds favors from Celestials, Ethereals, and Mortals alike. She doesn’t want your soul like Lucifer. She doesn’t even want to stand in the way of your Destiny, or to encourage you to meet your Fate, she just wants to give you what you want, and get something in return for the effort.
Dissonance
Dissonance is the damage a celestial does to themselves by working against their own resonance, or nature, or their superior’s resonance. Too much dissonance and you may fall, or generate a Discord, or a permanent fracture to a being’s soul. Thus, it should come as no surprise, as Lilith is the Princess of Freedom, that any celestial actively in Lilith’s service, no matter how temporarily, will gain dissonance if they accept restraints or orders, unless they are part of a freely negotiated agreement. The caveat would be actual imprisonment, however, failure to attempt an escape would bring dissonance.
Attunements & Distinctions
Traditionally Demon Princes grant their Servitors attunements and distinctions, but since Lilith has no permanent Servitors, she has no band attunements to offer. And while Lilith does not commonly grant Distinctions, or special abilities, to especially favored underlings, There are some that can be earned by furthering her Word of Freedom or other schemes she may be engaging in. A Servitor is not required to accept a Distinction, but what celestial in their right mind would deny a Princess? The Knight Errant’s can look into others’ eyes and automatically know how strongly they desire power over others, and what they’d do to get it. Captains of the Third Choice may roll to find out if there is any better course of action in a ‘no-win’ situation, and finally a Baron of Freedom is shrouded in mystery, as none are known to exist. But it is speculated that they may be able to trade Geases as Lilith does.
Relations
While Lilith is a human, and not a celestial, she is technically weaker than the major powers in Hell. That doesn’t stop her from stretching her influence and preventing those who would like to see her gone from acting. Even Asmodeus and Baal find it more trouble than it’s worth to be on her bad side. She regards every Prince’s Servitor as Associated unless they cross her. However Andrealphus and Vaelfor, including their Servitor’s are allies.
Rites
Once you are attuned to the Word of your dark Princess, there are certain acts you may perform once per day which grant one point of Essence. These acts are called Rites. Lilith has common rites which include spending an hour encouraging others to resist authority, freeing a human from physical bondage, or destroying an enemy of freedom. She also may grant additional rites in specific locations. You may meditate for two hours at the Berlin Wall, walk the Freedom Trail in Boston, Massachusetts, Free any being from bondage, or lead a revolution into the headquarters of a Despot. Naturally these are hyper specific, so not everyone has access to them.
Invocation
There are many reasons to want to summon Lilith from requesting a favor or service, or to trade one. While any celestial may attempt to summon Lilith, she is highly unlikely to answer that call from anyone save her Daughters, or a great celestial power. There are some acts one might engage in which may assist in getting her to answer your call. They are if you create a Geas when calling, possess a pair of broken handcuffs, hold a piece of the Berlin Wall, set a caged creature free, stand in a battlefield where a tyrant fell, set a human prisoner free, or overthrow a government. Each of these has varying cumulative modifiers for successfully calling Lilith, but make sure you have a good reason. No Prince or Princess likes being bothered for nothing.
As with every Archangel or Demon Prince, there is much more to discover about them, and as much is hidden. I will explore more about Lilith and other Superiors in future episodes.
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!