Let’s learn about the Superior: Valefor, Prince of Theft 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
- 0:28 About the Superior
- 1:33 Dissonance
- 2:02 Band Attunements
- 3:24 Servitor Attunements
- 3:56 Distinctions
- 4:33 Relations
- 4:54 Basic Rites
- 5:08 Chance of Invocation
- 5:43 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 there for the taking, so take whatever you can.
Intro
Welcome to Eviliv3 Play, a celebration of my favorite tabletop role-playing games. This is a sister channel to Eviliv3. Subscribe if you’re new to the channel, because today we are continuing our In Nomine series with this episode, Superiors: Valefor, Prince of Theft.
Discussion
About
Valefor is a Calabite, thin and suave, with an unusual sense of style for his Band. Valefor delights in the conflicts between those who have and those who want. He personally liberated the true prophecies of Nostradamus from Yves’ Library. In fact, he has personally stolen everything from the sealant for the Spanish Armada’s gunpowder barrels to Tesla’s electrotherapy cure for cancer! But better than the personal slight of theft is what it does to humanity–a little theft is often the door to far greater sins. And since Nybbass has been promoting thieves through the media as heroes like Robin Hood and Dillinger, well, it’s a great time to be a Prince of Theft!
While Lucifer promoted Valefor to Prince, it doesn’t sit quite well for the more austere Princes in Hell. His servitors and Janus’ are a bit ‘too pat’ for them, resembling each other a little too closely. Though this doesn’t stop them from coming to Valefor whenever any one of them needs something stolen!
Dissonance
Dissonance is what you earn by acting against your Resonance or nature. You can also earn Dissonance by acting against your Prince’s Word as well. For Servitors of Valefor, it is dissonant to stay in the same locale for more than three days. This is to keep you from being recognized. It is also dissonant to recognize Society’s rules of ownership and personal space. It is important to note that a locale can be interpreted as districts of a city rather than the city itself.
Band Attunements
Attunements are supernatural powers granted by your Superior. There are Band attunements granted free or at a cost, though some are restricted. Valefor’s demons are attuned for motion, nearly all of them preferring speed, dexterity and cleverness over raw power. Balseraphs attunement is restricted. They add the number of Celestial Forces to the target number of their resonance rolls. Djinn’s attunement is also restricted. They can only attune themselves to one person at a time, but the subject becomes enthralled with the demon, acting as their servant. Calabim may add the number of Ethereal Forces to any roll involving breaking locks, opening doors or freeing themselves from Corporeal Restraint. Habbalah may accurately predict the weather for a number of days equal to their Ethereal Forces–down to the minute. Lilim’s attunement is restricted. They may add their Ethereal Forces to the penalty for resisting when attempting to geas someone to theft. Shedim may assume gaseous form, manifesting in the Corporeal Realm without the need of a host vessel. They may be spotted with a Perception roll plus the demon’s notes of dissonance. And finally Impudites may move through crowds like eels through coral. Humanity parts for them and they can tell if an object was acquired honestly or not.
Servitor Attunements
You may also purchase Servitor attunements or be rewarded them through play. The first is Passage. With a successful Agility roll, they may open any lock with a difficulty based on the type of mechanism ranging from 0 for simple to -3 for complex electronics. The second is Swipe. For 2 Essence, the demon may touch a corporeal object no heavier than their total Forces in pounds and make it vanish for a number of minutes equal to their Corporeal Forces. It will reappear with the demon wherever they are.
Distinctions
There are also Distinctions that may be bestowed upon Valefor’s Servitors for good service. The first is Knight of Kleptos. They can communicate among themselves clearly and quickly in human speech, but through silent gestures. The next is Captain of Corsairs. They always know if they’re watched, listened to, or spied upon. And the last is Baron of Buccaneers. These demons move silently at great speed, double their flying speed as if they had wings. They add 4 to the Running skill before a roll, or to the Check Digit of a successful running roll.
Relations
As mentioned before, the more austere demons are a bit curious about Valefor, but that doesn’t stop them from using his services. Valefor is allied with Andrealphus, he is associated with Kobal, Malphas, Nybbas, and Vapula. He is hostile to Baal, and Haagenti, and the enemy of Asmodeus and Kronos.
Basic Rites
There are a couple rites that Valefor offers his Servitors in order to gain Essence. The first is to spend an hour in 80+ miles per hour winds. The second is to Steal more than $200 worth of material goods.
Chance of Invocation
Servitors of Valefor have a fair base chance of invoking him of 3. But there are modifiers which may be leveraged in order to increase their success. They can steal a newspaper, fan out ten $20 bills, have a valuable painting, have a Ming vase, Hold an ancient relic, or even possess a lost Monet!
As you can see, Valefor is the perfect Superior for a heist style game, or if you want to incorporate elements of Theft in different portions of your campaign. I would highly recommend including him in your next In Nomine game!
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!