Angels and Demons are not the totality of player choices. Let’s take a look at the Supporting Cast options 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
- 1:24 Mundanes
- 2:14 Soldiers
- 3:59 Immortals
- 8:06 Undead
- 9:11 Rogues
- 10:24 Prophets
- 10:46 Sorcerers
- 11:10 Crossbreeds
- 11:42 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
With so many options available, check with your GM for approval in his campaign.
Intro
Welcome to Eviliv3, the live media commentary show that answers the question, are there undead in In Nomine? Subscribe if you’re new to the channel, because today we are continuing our In Nomine series with this episode, Supporting Cast.
Discussion
In Nomine at its core is a game about the War between Heaven and Hell, which takes place largely on Earth. That being said, there are times when the War spills over into the Celestial and even the Ethereal Realms. Part of the War are Angels and Demons’ use of servants from the three realms, in which case all of the following information would be based. However, creative storytellers can use the In Nomine system to tell other stories, where players could play a Human, Spirit or Undead creature. They may knowingly serve an Angel or Demon like they serve their Archangels or Princes, or they may be mundane’s or spirits existing in the universe reacting to the War in different ways. The possibilities to the types of stories you can tell and roles the players can play are nearly endless. Let’s take a look at the supporting cast to In Nomine and examine the various types of characters available in this fantastic role-playing game.
Mundanes
In general, Mundane’s are what Celestials call ordinary people. They’re the human populace which is ignorant of the War unfolding around them. Much like people in the Matrix, they live their lives, have their own struggles, and are not active participants. The great thing about ordinary people which Celestials typically underestimate is their ability to evolve and manipulate nearly any situation they find themselves in. They are not bound to a resonance within the Symphony, they are manifestations of the Symphony and have free will. This can ruin a Celestials day quickly. More to the point, humanity creates those rare individuals which stand out from the pack. Which are truly exceptional and can rise to any occasion to be used by or act through awareness of the Symphony.
Soldiers
At their core, soldiers were once ordinary people who have become aware of the War and are supernaturally enhanced. In some cases they were recruited into the battle through a Celestial. Most soldiers only know what they need to as they typically serve an angel or demon. Some soldiers may learn to use Corporeal Songs, and even how to control their Essence. They are often used as servants for Celestial player characters of PC’s, but they can easily be PC’s themselves. The role of soldiers is not alway on the front lines of a battle. Sometimes they act as aids, spies or support troops.
Soldiers of God have sworn to fight for God against Diabolicals on any front. Some are part of larger organizations, and others operate alone under the watch of an Angel. Their actions do not affect the Symphony unless they use their essence. Soldiers of Hell typically sell their souls for dark currency to serve Evil. In return they gain earthly rewards in the hopes of becoming Demons in the hereafter. Most work in small gangs supervised by a Demon. There are rarely large organizations which are infernally controlled. Most Demons prefer to keep their Human soldiers at lower power lest they rise up against them. Pagan Soldiers are recruited by Ethereal Spirits covertly. They are not necessarily pagans themselves, and may not even fully be aware of who or what they are serving. They may be serving the old gods or just a random ethereal, but in either case, the Celestials do not approve. This allows Ethereals to operate on Earth, and that is their realm, hence the War. Angels will not always be antagonistic toward them, but most Demons will, seeing them as rivals.
Immortals
There are a number of different immortal types of characters. Let’s examine each a bit:
Ghosts are humans with unfinished business after they die. They have achieved their fate or destiny, but have something anchoring them to the Corporeal Realm. While they are not always Symphonically aware, if they were in life, they will also be as a ghost. If they are not aware they cannot spend Essence freely. There are four basic types: Will ‘ Wisps, vague balls of light with nothing but Will. Poltergeists, ghosts who have lost their mind. They hold only animal-like intelligence. Apparitions who can’t affect the Corporeal world, but retain their intelligence and memory. And lastly traditional Ghosts who are lost souls, able to communicate and can appear tangibly.
Dream Shades are souls that have managed to anchor themselves to the Ethereal realm rather than the Corporeal like most ghosts. Unlike ghosts, Dream shades don’t need to meet their fate or destiny to manifest. If a human dies in their sleep they may become one of these beings. They retain their forces and abilities from life, and may disband and travel to the Celestial realm whenever they like.
When a soldier of God who has served faithfully dies, they ascend to Heaven. Some hear the Symphony’s call and want to continue the fight. These are called bodhisattvas. Some live and work in heaven, and some return to Earth to help their fellow humans. These are referred to as Saints.
Remnants are not human. They are Celestials who lost all of their Celestial Forces. They lost the majority of their memories and have no dreamscapes. They retain the vessel and role they had in life, and are as hollow shells, fulfilling their mundane duty.
Ethereal spirits manifest in a myriad of ways. One form they take are Elementals. The oldest predate humanity, and are manifest as the element of their creation. They may be of the elements but also may be composed of one or two humanocentric strands like lust, mothers, automobiles, etc. They define themselves by their strands and rarely appear in disguises. Primal Spirits are made up of a single element. While some are elementals not all of them are. Dream spirits are born in a dream. Their form is granted by their creator. They become figments of an imagination and take life from it. Some beings spring from collective consciousness and arise independently in the Marches. While some creatures of myth and legend existed before humanity, many interbreed with corporeal beings. They are not wholly unlike Dream Spirits save they do not require belief in order to grow stronger. Finally the Pagan Gods are beings of old who have been hunted and shunned by the world. The survivors dwell in the Marches. However an Ethereal spirit may become a god with enough forces. They need to embody an element itself and either take another deity’s godhood through Assumption, or through transfiguration with a lot of essence.
Celestial Spirits are created by divine or infernal forces, and may grow in power to become angels or demons. They are not bound by corporeal vessels generally. Familiars are spirits with corporeal vessels, generally that of a small animal. They are traditionally a servant of someone. Disobedience to their servitor generates dissonance. Gremlins are sent to earth to spoil the works of mankind. They are able to use songs to personify that destruction. Imps make humans’ lives miserable in petty and annoying ways. They also know songs and can be a true pain to deal with. They are capable of graduating to demonhood. Relievers are minor angelic spirits that help and heal humanity. They appear as fairies and use their songs to aid mankind. They can even grow to become angels.
Undead
The undead are the least human of all the so-called humans. Most are Hellsworn who voluntarily gave up their mortality, the rest are victims of sorcery. Mummies souls are permanently bound to the once living body with an added force. This grants immortality in life at the expense of an afterlife. They are granted power in return for their sacrifice. Vampires are a half-step to being a mummy. The soul is bound to the vessel without the extra force. Thus they adopt discord. It retains the Forces it had in life and may earn Rites later in life. Without the extra force, they are required to adopt a need, traditionally for blood, and a vulnerability to sunlight. Zombis are created by a necromantic ritual or Saminga’s attunement. They do not have a soul attachment. They retain their memories and instincts from life while their brain deteriorates. They require a constant supply of essence to avoid rotting away. They do not heal either.
Rogues
Not every human who is aware of the Symphony picks a side in the War. For those soldiers who play a role, but pick no sides, they are known as Rogues. The most common of these are Gray Soldiers. These are former soldiers of Hell who have abandoned their Demonic masters, though most aren’t seeking salvation. Some who are, simply don’t know how to find it. Demons treat them like Renegades, and hunt them to kill. Rarely a Soldier of God will follow this path, and if they stay out of the War, they can try to live a normal life again. Secret Soldiers are an even more rogue element. They are much like soldiers for hire, working for independent contractors. At times these may be Angelic Outcasts or Demonic Renegades. Sorcerers have plenty of needs for bodyguards or assistants. Some even become Sorcerers themselves, though Outcasts, Renegades and Sorcerers are equally likely to hire Grey Soldiers. Rarely Mundane’s may research Paranormal Activities and discover a soldier inadvertently. Even more rare are The Uninitiated, rogues who discover the Symphony all on their own. Some will even learn songs believing them to be psychic gifts or spells.
Prophets
Mortals who are able to receive visions directly from the Divine are known as Prophets. How they triggered the gift is unknown, and some believe they are actually children of the Grigori. They are often not Symphonically aware, and many simply go mad. With no understanding of what they are seeing. They are seen as rare treasures to Celestials and can become soldiers.
Sorcerers
Sorcerers are humans who have learned the art, and make excellent adversaries for either side of the War. They may even stay out of the war and plague Celestials with their actions equally. They keep to themselves and are very secretive. While they are Symphonically aware, they are ignorant to the true Symphony. There are two ways to become a Sorcerer, sell your soul to Hell or become initiated.
Crossbreeds
Though it is not discussed, Celestials and Ethereals can sire children with mortals. These are called Crossbreeds. While they are mortal, they often manifest unusual abilities. The Children of the Grigori fall into this category, known as Nephilim. Angels will watch them closely, and demons will try to use them. Ethereal crossbreeds tend to be natural lucid dreamers and even learn songs and often become dream soldiers. One-Third of these are the Gorgons of Myth.
And that is the entirety of the Supporting cast and player options for In Nomine. I will delve into many of these options even further 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.
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