In Nomine - Angelic Players Guide (Sjg3307)

I
CKRUBIM
BY DEREK PEARCY
BY DEREK PEARCY
CREATION
Early Days
Humanity
The Eden Experiment
THE FALL
Hell
First Contact
Outcasts, or The Second Fall
THE STALEMATE
A Glimpse of the Other Side
RELIGION
THE PERSECUTION OF GABRIEL
THE PURITY CRUSADE
LEGION
IN THE END
6
6
7
7
8
8
8
9
9
9
10
10
11
11
12
IRC HimiC HILID
13
BY S. JOHN Ross
ONLY ONE: RULE APPLIES
DIVINITY AND IDENTITY
14
14
Selflessness
CONNECTION TO ALL
Simplicity and Confidence
14
15
15
HOLINESS AND LOVE
16
Defining Passions
16
HARMONY EVEN IN DISSENT

ANGELS AND HUMANITY
Other Sticking Points
(MRS
FACETS OF THE DIVINE
Choirs and the Individual
On the Naming of Angels
SeRAPRIM
17
17
18
20
CONTENTS
Names
Traditional Duties
Celestial Duties
Typical Roles
Cherubim and Human Society
More Sophisticated Uses
of Resonance
On Earthly Matters
Dealing With Dissonance
Cherubim Check Digit Remits
(Special Use at -2 Penalty)
Touchy Situations
Special Discords
Cherubim Check Digit Results
Words
Cherubim and Superiors
The Cherub Perspective
0FAL1IM
28
29
29
29
29
30
30
30
30
31
31
31
32
32
33
34
BY DAVID EDELSTEIN AND MIKE NYSTUL

Names
Traditional Duties
Celestial Duties
Typical Roles
Ofanim and Human Society
of Resonance
On Earthly Matters
Touchy Situations
Special Discords
Words
Ofanim and Superiors
The Ofanite Perspective
34
35
35
35
35
36
37
37
38
38
38
39
39
21
.40
21
21
22
BY DAVID EDELSTEIN
Names
Traditional Duties
Celestial Duties
Typical Roles
Seraphim and Human Society
of Resonance
On Earthly Matters
Trisagion
Touchy Situations
Special Discords
Words
Superiors and Seraphim
The Seraph Perspective
28
22
23
23
23
24
24
25
25
26
26
26
27
27
27
Names
Traditional Duties
Celestial Duties
Typical Roles
Elohim and Human Society
of Resonance
On Earthly Matters
Touchy Situations
Special Discords
Words
Elohim and Superiors
The Elohite Perspective
HALAKIM
40
41
41
41
42
42
42
43
43
44
44
45
45
46
BY DAVID EDELSTEIN
Names
Traditional Duties
46
47
Celestial Duties
Typical Roles
Malakim and Human Society
of Resonance
On Earthly Matters
Touchy Situations
Special Discords
Words
Malakim and Superiors
The Malakite Perspective
47
47
48
48
48
49
49
50
50
50
51
BY STEVE KENSON AND JOHN KARAKASH

Names
Traditional Duties
Celestial Duties
Typical Roles
Kyriotates and Human Society
of Resonance
On Earthly Matters
Kyriotate Check Digit Results
Kyriotate Check Digit Results
Touchy Situations
Special Discords
Words
Kyriotates and Superiors
The Kyriotate Perspective
HCRCKRIAIIS
52
53
53
53
53
54
54
54
55
57
57
57
58
58
59
60
BY MATTHEW GRAU
Names
Traditional Duties
Celestial Duties
Typical Roles
Mercurians and Human Society
of Resonance
On Earthly Matters
Mercurian Check Digit Results
Mercurian Check Digit Results
Touchy Situations
Special Discords
Words
Mercurians and Superiors
The Mercurian Perspective
NEETHEM BOSS
60
60
61
61
61
61
62
62
62
63
63
63
64
64
65
66

YOUR SUPERIOR
67
Meeting an Archangel
Reasons For an Audience
Setting You Up to Fail
Seeking an Audience
68
69
71
71
ARCHANGELS IN PERSON
72
Nature of Intervention
Beneficial Coincidences
Amplification
Respite
Intercession . .
75
75
76
76
76
Divine
inTCRvenTM
^
The Hand of God
..................
76
WHEN INTERVENTION OCCURS ..... 76

Trivial Interventions
Minor Interventions
Major Interventions
Critical Interventions
................
................
................
...............
76
77
77
77
DIFFCR01T DRUMM6RS .......

INTRODUCTION
BY JAMES CAMBIAS
YOUNGER ANGELS
BY JAMES CAMBIAS
....................
79
.................
79
Creating Young Angels

..............
Roleplaying Young Angels
...........
OLDER ANGELS
BY JAMES CAMBIAS
....................
Creating an Old Angel

..............
Young Angels and Diabolicals
...........
Roleplaying
.......................
Meet the New Boss
..................
Old Friends (and Enemies)
.............
ANGEL REPRODUCTION
BY JAMES CAMBIAS
Making an Angel
Celestial Crossbreeds
The Songs of Fruition
............
...................
...............
................
RELIEVERS
.........................
BY STEVE KENSON
81
81
81
82
82
83
84
84
85
85
86
Using Relievers
....................
Reliever Player Characters
...........
Graduation Day
...................
Sample Relievers
...................
86
87
87
87
MIXED PARTIES
....................
BY JAMES CAMBIAS
MIXED CAMPAIGN TYPES ...........
88
88
Freeform
.........................
Allies of the Moment
...............
Outlaw Celestials
..................
Enemies Together
..................
88
89
90
91
MOTIVES
..........................
Threats and Menaces
CHARACTER TYPES
Player Conflict
...............
91
92
............
Angels and Organization

.............
It's Lonely at the Top
.................
Gaining a Word
...................
SWITCHING SUPERIORS
BY STEVE KENSON
Seeking Change
Being Traded
Starting Over
.............
...................
......................
.....................
OUTCASTS
.........................
BY DAVID EDELSTEIN
Broken Hearts
.....................
Tripping: Becoming Outcast
..........
On Being Outcast
.................
Outcast Motives
..................
Life as an Outcast
.................
BY MATTHEW GRAU
GOING DOWN
....................
You're Asking for It
91
.................
......................
CLIMBING THE LADDER

BY STEVE KENSON
.75
79
80
................
92
93
93
94
95
97
97
98
98
99
99
99
100
101
102
104
105
105
ABOUT IN NOMINE
Steve Jackson Games is committed to full support of the In Nomine system. Our
address is SJ Games, Box 18957, Austin, TX 78760. Please include a self-addressed,
stamped envelope (SASE) any time you write us! Resources now available include:
Pyramid, Our bimonthly magazine includes new rules and articles for In Nomine,
as well as information on GURPS, Illuminati: New World Order, Car Wars, Toon,
Ogre Miniatures and more. It also covers top releases from other companies - Castle
Falkenstein, Traveller, Call ofCthulhu, Shadmvrun and many more.
New supplements and adventures. In Nomine continues to grow, and we'll be happy
to let you know what's new. A current catalog is available for an SASE. Or check out
our Web site (below).
Errata. Everyone makes mistakes, including us - but we do our best to fix our
errors. Up-to-date errata sheets for all In Nomine releases, including this book, are
always available from SJ Games; be sure to include an SASE with your request. Or
download them from the Web see below.
Q&A. We do our best to answer any game question accompanied by an SASE.
Gamer input. We value your comments. We will consider them, not only for new
products, but also when we update this book on later printings!
Internet. Visit us on the World Wide Web at www.sjgames.com for an online catalog, errata and hundreds of pages of information. Illuminati Online supports SJ
Games with discussion areas for many games, including In Nomine. Here's where we
do a lot of our playtesting! Dial 512-485-7440 at up to 33.6K baud - or telnet to
io.com. We also have conferences on CompuServe and America Online.
Mailing List. Much of the online discussion of In Nomine happens on our e-mail list.
To join, send mail to majordomo@lists.io.com with "subscribe in_nomine-l" in the body.
THE DISSONANT MINDSET
........
Confession Is Good for the Soul .....

Overcompensation
................
Testing the Limits
.................
False Discord
....................
Careless Use of Resonance
..........
Overloyalty
......................
Disloyalty
.......................
106
106
107
107
107
107
107
107
WHEREFORE MIGHT I FALL? ...... 108

The Fall
.........................
The Fallen Elohim
................
How Do I LOOK?
................
Your Friends
.....................
The Choirs
......................
Dissonance and Your Boss
..........
THE OTHER SIDE
108
108
109
109
110
110
.................
112
Reactions to Falling
.................
What Do I Get?
..................
The Boys
........................
The Unknown
.....................
112
113
114
114
THE DEGENERATION
OF MALAKIM
....................
Scrutiny
.........................
Concealment
.....................
Removal
........................
Slipping Through the Cracks ........
HRSQIAL
Explosives
.......................
New Ranged Weapons
...............
Non-Lethal Weaponry
.............
Cars and Chases
..................
New Contact Weapons
...............
115
115
116
116
117
118
118
119
119
119
Him,
BY SAM CHUPP
I: CHARACTER CONCEPT
Choir Mechanics
II: ALLOCATE FORCES
120
120
121
III: CHARACTERISTICS
121
IV: ATTUNEMENTS
121
Superior Mechanics
Blandine
David
Dominic
Eli
Gabriel
Janus
Jean
Jordi
Laurence
Marc
Michael
Novalis
Yves
121
121
122
122
122
122
123
123
123
123
124
124
124
124
V: RESOURCES
Artifacts
Vessels
Roles
Servants
Skills
Songs
Discord
VI: BACKGROUND
VII: PIAY! .
lira
125
125
125
125
125
125
126
127
127
.. 127
128
*J
CONTENTS
"In the beginning," Yves said, "there was light."

The young angels assembled around him nodded in
unison, as if their hearts and minds were one. Despite the
brevity of their existences, they had heard that line
before.
"Remember this," Yves noted with a cough, "it will be
important later." He turned the pages of his book and
continued.
"In the beginning, there was light. The light was God,
and He - as much as He can be called a 'he' - filled up
the entirety of space, the length and breadth of the universe. He was happy, quiet and even serene . . . but curious.
"'Hey,' said God. Tm alone. I mean, I'm everything,
I'm all there is, right?'" Yves knew his youthful audience
would not question his informal paraphrasing. The
Archangel of Destiny was very familiar with the way that
languages changed over time. He spoke to them in the
colors and tones they would soon enough deal with on
Earth.
Yves continued: '"Who am I talking to?' God asked
Himself. 'Why is there a language if there is no one to
communicate with?'
"Then God began to notice that parts of Himself again, we use the term 'Him' loosely - had folded in
upon themselves, layer upon layer, until they became
complicated, intricate and beautiful. That is to say, even
more beautiful than they were before.
"The complicated parts began moving of their own
volition. Now we call them angels. 'Well, then,' said
God, 'I wonder what's going to happen next.'
"And no sooner had the thought crossed His perfect
mind than He knew what was going to happen and that,
in fact, He was willing it to happen.
"Matter was forming out of sheer nothingness, out of
the celestial purity that is God. It was tiny matter, complicated matter, the base materials that after firing
through the kilns in the hearts of stars - would eventually become the clay of life and flesh and blood.
"Out of such effort, out of such light, folded infinitely
upon itself and gathering up in places, there eventually
came a darkness. God is infinite light, but when He created new things and new beings, it was perhaps unavoidable that some of His creations would cast shadows."
4IN T H E B E G I N N I N G
Yves gently closed the book, paused and pursed his lips,
then carefully placed the volume on the ground. He considered his audience with a gaze that was kind and gentle, yet tinged with an infinite sadness. More than one of
his listeners shuddered.
"We, the angels, did not yet exist," he said. "And
though those of us who were created that day still
remember the first moments of our existence, there are
many things, things which come later, that have been
forgotten.
"Some of us can clearly recall one hundred years back;
some have memories that run a thousand years back and
the more divine of us can recall all their days in the last
ten thousand years - but none of us can remember every
moment of our existence."
He paused to let what he had said sink in, then continued: "Why is our memory shortened? To truly help die
humans. So that even the most divine of us can hold in
our thoughts some inkling of mortality, we have had the
capacity of our minds limited. For us, a loss of past
knowledge is nothing, compared to the even greater sacrifice God has made in giving up His memories of the
future.
"He blinds himself to the flood of onrushing future
events so that humans, and perhaps even angels, may
have some taste of free will, rather than feeling like actors
in a machination, performing for a higher being's entertainment."
He paused, even longer still. The young Ofanim nearly stilled by the soft sound of his voice - began to
stir as the essence of their nature once again took hold.
Others among his audience listened even more alertly
than before, realizing that they yet awaited the true
import of this lesson.
The oldest Archangel spoke again.
"The point is, in the beginning there was light, not
darkness," he said. "This is the story we tell ourselves;
this is the tale we hold to be true.
"If it were not so, how can we possibly hope to win
against an Enemy who had the upper hand even before
Creation?"
Archangel Yves ran his perfect hands through his perfect hair and sighed deeply.
"This is all I will tell you today," he said.
AH01SIH
HNQELS
God created Heaven and Earth - that much is certain.
Everything else is speculation on half-remembered
scenes across ten billion years taken one second at a time.
Some find it amazing that glorious celestials have chosen to focus their attentions on a fragile, newborn race on
just one of countless planets circling one of countless
stars. They should not. Many an angel believes the reason he exists is because humanity exists.
Regardless of what else may be out there - regardless
of what else may exist in portions of Heaven concealed
from most eyes - the angels that deal with humanity are
inextricably linked to their Earth-bound charges. Not all
of them like humans, not all of them even tolerate
mankind.
What all of them must do is deal with mankind.
Heaven and Earth - The First Angels - Humanity Adam and Eve
The universe brought forth consciousness, creating
Yves, the first being. He then named God. This was
good.
God then created many more celestial creatures, which
were called angels. Michael was the first; Lucifer the second. The other early celestials were Baal, David, Eli,
Gabriel and Uriel.
The seven of them helped God create the universe,
which some call the Symphony. Lucifer, the
Lightbringer, gathered the elements together and start-
HISTORY
ed the fire while Michael and Baal stirred everything up.

Gabriel and Uriel were charged with heating the mix and
attesting to its purity, while David was responsible for
cooling and testing the strength of the final result. Eli
gave form to the raw materials and added the final sparks
of life. Yves watched everything and reported to God.
God approved.
The first seven also helped orchestrate the creation of
many other celestials, most of them lesser than those
they served. Asmodeus, Beleth, Blandine, Dominic,
Raphael, Jean, Kobal and Malphas were among the most
famous of the era, as well as the most noteworthy participants in what would come next.
Asmodeus and Dominic codified the word of God who rarely spoke directly to any angel into comprehensible guidelines for behavior. They and those who
later served them enforced God's laws. Beleth and
Blandine explored and mapped the vast ethereal realm
between the celestial and corporeal realms, where they
built a tower and lived together. Malphas joined Gabriel
and David in the moving, heating and breaking of tectonic plates; a lesser angel named Belial played a small
part in that work. Jean and Raphael joined Yves in transcribing all knowledge and in orchestrating the will of
God. Kobal received a special assignment, which to this
day remains unknown.
EARLY DAYS
As more angels were created and their numbers
increased, they began to display several distinctive
natures. They called these Choirs. The greatest of the
Choirs were the Seraphim, Cherubim, Ofanim, Elohim,
Kyriotates and Mercurians. Each Choir had its own resonance with the Symphony and served God just as different instruments serve a conductor.
The universe continued cooling, and a greater number
of celestials found themselves focusing on the detailed
constructions of life. The corporeal process itself offered
little more challenge than maintaining the balances in
the heart of a star, but it commanded the attention of the
angels. Yves seemed particularly interested in what life
would become. His interest alone was enough to involve
the others.
In those days, angels could only manifest on Earth in
their celestial forms, and then only for brief periods. As
eons passed, they began to notice reality putting up a
greater resistance to their pressures, and their celestial
presences began disturbing the Symphony at large. They
turned to life for the answer, and developed the patience
for manifesting as naturally occurring forces and forms.
Janus, a later creation, discovered he could imbue the
great ocean waves and powerful winds with his celestial
essence, sculpting God's creation that way. For this, he

was given power and authority over the forces of change
that even today encircle the globe.
Jordi, another later creation, discovered how to create
a corporeal vessel based on patterns already existing in
the Symphony, and was the first angel to walk upon the
Earth. For this, he was given authority over all the living
creatures, whether they ran, flew or swam.
Heaven was enthralled.
HUMANITY
Even when manifesting as animals, angels felt they had
only the crudest of tools for manipulating the awesome
powers available on Earth. Then came humanity. Finally,
humans offered a natural pattern of corporeal existence
complex enough to serve as an adequate vessel for celestial consciousness. Angels took to human forms quickly,
enjoying their many advantages over animal
shapes.
God, dirough Yves, warned the
celestials: they were not to tamper with the works of humanity, nor was the young race
to be damaged in any
way. They were special
and, as God's most
complex creations, to
be given deference.
This didn't sit well
with many an angel,
who saw no real difference between the
humans and animals.
Though they saw
humans develop language, they pointed
out that animals spoke
too, after a fashion.
Monkeys used sticks to pull
insects from their mounds
long before the first human
shaped a tool. Though they had no
ready comparison to the first human
who drew on a cave wall, they countered with
the question: would God have the angels adoring spiders
for the elaborate webs they weave? They argued that though life has an undeniable beauty - there should be a
limit to what one adores.
Then humans created religion, and no angel could
deny for any longer that mankind offered something special after all. In time, the angels learned that humans possessed the capacity to think and reason - also the awe-
some powers of denial and projection, not to mention

transference. Humans appeared to love and hate, lie and
cheat, blame and disassociate. Worst of all, they seemed
to have no qualms about killing their own kind. Unlike
animals, who knew no better, humans possessed the ability to empathize with each other, but only did so when it
suited their own desires.
Jordi, master of all things that run and swim and fly,
decided to rid the world of these humans. He announced
his intentions to turn the animal kingdom against all of
humankind. Michael, urged on by God, talked him into
staying his hand. A human was not an animal, the first
Archangel argued, and it did not fall into Jordi's jurisdiction to do anything about them.
THE EDEN EXPERIMENT

Humanity was dirty, cruel and small-minded - but
some angels proposed that within them they
must possess a certain divinity, otherwise God would not protect them.
Lucifer proposed an experiment,
with which he hoped to satisfy everyone's curiosity.
The experiment would
create an idyllic setting,
where humans could
live without wants or
needs. If they could
survive in paradise,
then they deserved
the deference of the
angels; their free will
would be respected.
If not, then God's
hope was misplaced.
God agreed.
First, Lucifer proposed, two perfect specimens would be needed, one
male and one female. They
would be created from scratch,
since he didn't want the experiment
tainted by subjects who had already
experienced the harshness of ordinary life.
God created a man - whom Yves named Adam - and a
woman, Lilith. He created them with the knowledge of
speech to give them every advantage possible. Lucifer
introduced himself to the two humans and gave them a
quick primer on free will. Lilith, almost immediately, utilized her free will by asking to be excused from the experiment, causing a brief delay while God created another
female. (Lucifer would catch up with Lilith later.)
HISTORY
This second female, named Eve, worked out much

better. The two humans lived for several years in relative
peace and harmony until a young angel serving Baal
stepped into the experiment and tainted the young lovers
with knowledge of the outside world.
The Lightbringer called the experiment a failure. God
merely declared his curiosity satisfied - and called it off.
If celestials could not restrain themselves from tampering with humanity in a perfect world, they did not
deserve the right to tamper with humanity in any less
perfect world.
Lucifer disagreed, and he and God discussed the matter for a long, long time.
IRC FALL
The Great Division - The First Battles of the War The Creation of the Grigori
Eventually, Lucifer rebelled from God and took almost
a third of the angels with him. Heaven had never
endured such a conflict before, and never has since. The
ensuing chaos led to the creation of an entirely new
Choir, the Malakim, formed of the purest celestials who
chose to take up arms against their siblings to defend the
will of their Creator.
Michael - the mightiest of all the angels - forcibly
ejected Lucifer from Heaven, and the Lightbringer fell
to the furthermost edge of reality, to the place most distant from God. Yves named this place Hell. The rem-
8H I S T O R Y
nants of Lucifer's rebels set out for that place of their own
accord.
God appointed Michael as general of Heaven's armies,
making him the Archangel of War, and charged him with
defending the Symphony against the forces of Lucifer.
AFTERMATH
Relative peace marked the first few millennia of the
Fallen ones' captivity. There was no strife, but the most
powerful of God's forces, the Archangels, braced themselves for a second attack.
Until the rebels were dealt
with, God lifted the ban on
intervention in human affairs,
but warned that celestial influences should be handled with the
utmost delicacy. Without God's
omniscient direction, an angel's
actions on Earth could easily and
unwittingly end up helping the
demons more than the angels.
The angels established the
Seraphim Council, composed of
the wisest and most divine
among them. The Archangels
each began to organize the forces
beneath them into structures
they felt would best defend
Heaven and still serve the purpose originally assigned to them
by God. Many Archangels, their
previous tasks completed, reapplied their talents toward helping
humanity.
FIRST CONTACT
The angels first rediscovered their Fallen brethren in
the Marches, the ethereal lands explored by Blandine and
Beleth, which humans visit while dreaming. At the far
end of the Marches, opposite from Blandine's tower, a
similar structure was rising. Beleth laid claim to Hell's
end of the Marches. She has been slowly expanding her
territory ever since.
After making their way into the ethereal realm, the
rebels eventually discovered how to travel to and from
their dark celestial realm and Earth. Thus came the
beginning of the dark influence on the corporeal plane.
Their infernal machinations spread from the nightmares
of humans to their waking hours.
Some angels mutter darkly that this is when civilization
was truly born.
'TT Y~%
THE OTHER SIDE

The Fallen angels, later to be called demons,
held each other in their vacuum prison. Lucifer
said nothing; he just stood and studied the tattered celestial forces arrayed before him.
"There is," said Beleth, once the Archangel of
Fear, standing slowly, "a certain freedom in being
empty."
"Yes," replied Andrealphus, dark angel of Love,
later to be Demon Prince of Lust, steadying himself in the cold. "There is ... a kind of pleasure
in the darkness."
Slowly, as slowly as a child awakening on a
Saturday morning, as slowly as the first light
snow of winter falling, the demons smiled. And it
was very, very bad.
OUTCASTS, OR THE SECOND FALL

Regardless of its heritage, God had plans for civilization. The Grigori, also known as die Watchers, were a
new Choir created by God after the Fall to help protect
humanity from the threat posed by Lucifer and his growing hordes. Toward that end, they were charged with
teaching humanity how to be civilized in God's image.
The Grigori were giant beings with stout hearts,
stouter spirits and minds full of corporeal knowledge.
They were purposefully made to be the least divine celestials, me angels who most resembled humans in their
nature. And more than any other Choir of angels, they
had the ability to work within the corporeal parts of the
Symphony without creating the false notes that follow
other celestials in the mortal realm.
Some say their large hearts were their undoing; others
blame different organs. For whatever reason, the Grigori
became too sympathetic to the human condition, and
quickly fell in love with humanity. These gentle angels
advanced several civilizations, most notably those in the
Mesopotamian valley and the South Americas.
The Grigori began bearing and fathering children,
most of whom seemed normal and a few of whom were
even angelic. Additionally, there were some children
whose natures could not be identified. One in five firstgeneration Grigori children were monsters, diabolical
creatures later labeled the Nephallim. They had the
giant statures of their angelic parents, but without that
essential spark of divinity. The Nephallim killed their
parents and siblings, razed their villages and began to
form marauding bands on the perimeter of civilization.
The angels of David stepped in, slaughtering all the

Nephallim they could find and detaining all the Grigori.
For their troubles, the Grigori were banished from
Heaven. The few watchers who had survived their children were scattered across the globe, Outcast and abandoned.
No one knows what happened to the last of the
Grigori. Lucifer's increased meddling provided the cover
under which they escaped celestial scrutiny. Being undetectable by celestial means, they may even survive to this
day.
IRC STALCMATC
New Archangels - The Rise of New Demon Princes God's Ineffable Plan - Lucifer's Inscrutable Motivations
The angels and demons spent centuries fighting

bloody and brutal battles across the face of the Earth,
with few actual results beyond piling up a great many
bodies. Quickly, both sides realized that it was in no one's
interest to damage the Symphony any more than it had
already suffered.
While some, like Belial, saw no problem with burning
something down rather than letting an enemy have it,
the majority of the Superiors on both sides of the celestial realm instructed their Servitors to use great delicacy
when altering God's plan. After all, it would be a pyrrhic
victory for Heaven if they beat back Hell by destroying
humanity. Similarly, the demons wouldn't prove anything by wiping out the stakes they fought over.
Michael, the most unrepentingly militant of the
Archangels, refused to slink into the darkness of a shadow war. Dominic had Michael brought before the
Seraphim Council and tried him under charges of treason against Heaven for breaking the new limitations on
corporeal activity and for taking such pride in doing so.
The Archangel of War, Dominic argued, sought war
against the demons not for the glory of God but for the
glory of fighting. God intervened, pardoning Michael in
exchange for his valiant and selfless efforts under
Heaven's banner. Although vindicated, Michael grew disgusted with politics and stepped down as general of
Heaven's armies, letting Uriel, Archangel of Purity,
ascend to power instead. Uriel, a friend of Dominic's, was
better suited for the kind of conflict that characterizes
the war as it exists today.
That's how Heaven and Hell started the first cold war.
The celestial stalemate continues to this day, each side
making small jabs at one another, never anything large
enough to justify an escalation, though counterattacks
often occur. Of course, there have been several notable
exceptions to this pattern.
HISTORY
RELIGION
Humans had always fallen back on delusion and denial
to create die illusion of security in their lives. Yves
learned early on that religion proved a powerful tool in
persuading humanity to "be good." The demons soon
discovered that with an artful twist or two it also provided excellent excuses to "be bad," though all in all religion
has helped humanity more than it has hurt it.
Saminga was die first demon to warp religion for his
own gain, rising to power for his work among die ancient
Egyptians. Magog, a servant of David, helped accelerate
die collapse of the Egyptian empire before engaging
Saminga's demons in open warfare, which was forbidden
then as it is today. Magog Fell soon after. He and those
loyal to him were entombed beneath the sands of Egypt
by David, widi the help of Khalid, the Angel of Faidi.
Magog is to remain imprisoned until Armageddon, at
which point die angels and demons may once again fight
openly on die Earth.
Uriel had his hands full promoting and protecting
what eventually became die Roman Empire, riding herd
over die growing number of pagan gods who grew
increasingly impertinent as their power rose. The pagan
deities were beings formed from the stuff of dreams,
born in the Marches and fueled by die worship of
humanity. Some of the pagans, it was suspected, were
almost as strong as a lesser Archangel. The Seraphim
Council finally ruled diat this would not do.
Yves, in pushing humanity toward its brightest possible
future, saw that religion gave people strength in times of
weakness, and suggested that the other Archangels promote monodieism as a way to offer humanity strength
without feeding the pagan gods at the same time. Eli
made a great deal of progress with die prophet Zoroaster,
and saw his teachings spread as Persia grew. The
Archangel of Destiny watched for four decades, dien he
acted.
With the help of Gabriel and Raphael, in ways diat are
even today not all that clear, Yves grew Christianity in
the blink of an eye. It consumed die worship that had
been the source of power for many pagan gods. These
rival deities, cut off at die knees, lost a great deal of influence as their modest Tediers were rechristened as temples to God. Many of diem fled to die side of die
demons, while others fought to retain what few worshipers remained faidiful to them.
Heaven was bolstered by the success of Christianity. As
die Roman Empire accepted Christianity so, too, did
Uriel, proclaiming himself the patron Archangel of
Christianity, endorsing its values as the proper way for
humanity to live. Archangel Dominic also let it be known
diat he supported Christianity and its virtues, especially
HISTORY
as a way to reduce the power of the pagan gods while

keeping humanity in line.
THE PERSECUTION OF GABRIEL

Shortly thereafter, Islam was born. Gabriel, under
Yves' instruction, brought the Koran to Mohammed,
who united all of his countrymen under worship of Allah.
Soon, the forces of Islam and Christianity were in violent
conflict. Many angels viewed this as a disaster, particularly Uriel and Dominic, who proceeded to persecute
between Heaven and Blandine's side of the Marches. She

and her Servitors still put on disdainful and defensive airs
around angels who belong to Heavenly society proper,
and Gabriel still clearly displays her instability even on
her best days.
THE PURITY CRUSADE

To express his devotion to his Word - and as an
attempt to unite Heaven's increasingly divisive Superiors
- Uriel called for a crusade to wipe out the pagan gods
and all creatures of myth. His plan was to begin on Earth
and then harry the ethereal escapees through the
Marches.
On Earth, he and his angels slew the dragons, the
fairies, the unicorns and the giants. After that, they went
to the Marches, where they slew all the pagan gods they
could get their hands on and the remaining creatures of
myth. Many of the hunted took refuge in Beleth's end of
the Marches, near Hell, while others fled to the distant
corners of the Far Marches.
Stopping Uriel just short of totally razing the peaceful
dreamscapes of Blandine's realm, the Seraphim Council
ordered him to their presence. Before any verdict could
be rendered for or against the Archangel of Purity, God
once again intervened in celestial politics and Uriel
ascended to the higher Heavens. He has not been heard
from since.
The leadership of Heaven's armies was given to
Laurence, a young angel who had sat at Uriel's right
hand. Like Uriel, Laurence was a booster of Christianity,
and all but a few angels found him acceptable. Khalid,
who'd distinguished himself as a clever officer in David's
battles against Magog, thought himself the better candidate for promotion. Shortly afterward, Khalid declared
himself the patron of Islam, and soon grew to become
the Archangel of Faith. It was many centuries before
Khalid deigned to influence his human charges enough
to cease their onslaught against Christian territories, and
some suspect that he still regrets his forbearance just as
Jordi still regrets letting humanity survive in the first
place.
Gabriel as far as they could. The fact that Yves instigated the process did not matter - Gabriel, one of the most
ancient and trustworthy of angels, was blamed.
Dominic declared Gabriel heretical and insisted the
Seraphim Council mount a trial, just as Michael was
detained before. Loyal Gabriel cracked beneath the
questioning of the Archangel of Judgment, growing
more and more bitter and irrational as the trial went on.
Even though Yves intervened and pressured Dominic to
forgive die Archangel of Fire's "indiscretions," Gabriel
stormed away and set up camp inside an active volcano
LEGION
A Shedite named Legion developed the ability to possess multiple humans at the same time, controlling their
acts in unison. As his power grew, so did his abilities,
until he was capable of turning any human within a mile
into his mindless slave.
For the first time, the powers of light and darkness
worked together to battle a common enemy, but Legion
proved too powerful to be defeated, even by the combined strengths of many of the Superiors of the day. Only
11
HISTORY
IN THE END
the sacrifice of Raphael, the Archangel of Knowledge,

stopped the monster in the end. While Hell suffered a
great many casualties in the assault, none were as noteworthy.
Raphael's death shattered any illusion that Heaven
might still have had of ever negotiating a truce, for
Legion was a foe who could not be reasoned with and, in
the end, was only beaten back by the self-sacrifice of one
of God's most beloved.
TORY
In the last few centuries, the Archangelic host has not

grown significantly, unlike their infernal counterparts,
the Princes, who now greatly outnumber them.
While the value of human life seems to be higher than
it ever has been before - at least, in what's called Western
civilization - humanity seems less inclined than ever to
aid the angels in their struggles. Add to that the greater
difficulties involved in keeping a divine presence secret
from humanity and the angels have a daunting challenge.
Only their undying contempt for the demons and universal need for acceptance by God and each other keep
them going through the darkness, looking for the light.
Most shockingly, Eli, the Archangel of Creation, now
promotes looking for the light in different ways - ways
that remind people of the Grigori. He's abandoned his
celestial cathedral and thrown himself into earthly life,
letting the Symphony take him where it may. Perhaps
predictably, this has provoked Dominic, who has again
opened up the Heavenly Inquisition against one of the
first angels and his Servitors.
The War, like a fire, continues to smolder, flaring up at
times before dying down again. One day, enough fuel
will be added to just the right place at just the right time
and all will be consumed. This is taken as fact by most
angels - the War will end, but no one believes it will be
any time soon. Still. . . the day will come.
Gabriel, one of Heaven's most loyal and most persecuted Archangels, holds a mighty relic, a great golden
horn. One of its many names is the Trump of Doom.
Under specific conditions, she may blow this horn. If she
blows it seven times in sequence, following the instructions she was given long ago when she was the Divine
Messenger, it will usher in Armageddon, the Symphonyshattering final battle for the souls of humanity.
Gabriel has actually blown her horn more than once
before, but never has the sequence of seven blasts been
completed. Always, Armageddon has been averted.
The Archangels don't want to begin the escalation that
would lead to Armageddon . . . not when they're uncertain of the outcome. Though the average angel is
stronger than the average demon, Lucifer's strength lies
in his numbers. If the final battle were to be fought today,
the Diabolicals might just win. The Archangels do a lot
of posturing, claiming that they can't lose since God is on
their side. But as their closest confidants and favored servants know, even some Archangels question the outcome
of the final conflict.
Knowing that similar doubts keep the more militaristic Princes from razing Heaven is of little comfort. All
the angels can do is hope, and pray, and keep faith that
everything might turn out all right, in the end.
This chapter describes some of the more common

traits of angelic behavior, and the reasons behind them.
Each point covered holds true in a general sense for all
angels, but some Choirs, and the followers of some
Superiors, are notable exceptions.
DIVIilM' AI1D
TfiC H0L !'

How charming is divine philosophy!
Not harsh and crabbed, as dull fools suppose,
But musical as is Apollo's lute,
And a perpetual feast ofnectar'd sweets
Where no crude surfeit reigns.
-John Milton (1608-1674)

In Nomine offers the opportunity to get inside the
head of an angel, to explore divinity as a character trait.
In angels who walk among men, divinity (literally "godlikeness") often conflicts with humanity, as the creatures
of Heaven learn to live like the creatures of Earth.
While players know what it's like to be human - to
love, to fear, to doubt, to question - some elaboration
might help on what it's like to be a little more like God.
one RULC HPPLICS

Angels are individuals, even if they aren't the individuality that the demons are. Beyond the danger of dissonance (which an angel ignores at his peril), angels are free
to act however they please, and think about whatever
they like. Some angels spend their days floating amongst
the clouds, playing a harp and thinking placid thoughts
about recycling. Others spend a lot of time rubbing their
vessel's bruised knuckles in dark alleys, contemplating
the relative merits of a jab to the nose or hook to the ribs.
There is only one code, one absolute purpose that
binds all angels by a common thread: serve God; make
the Symphony strong. Beyond that, each angel serves his
divine purpose in ways that are unique, and some ideas of
holy service flatly contradict each other.
THE ANGELIC MIND
God can't be selfish, self-centered or self-absorbed.

God is everything the name Yves gave to the consciousness of the universe itself. Unselfishness is an important
part of divinity. At the opposite end of a long spectrum
are the demons, each a lonely symphony of their own,
existing within the larger one. And demons rarely care
about anything beyond dieir own skin.
Everything else sits in between. Humanity is the most
remarkable, capable of real identity and real empathy at
the same time. Humans at their best have a strong individual streak complemented by a strong sense of the
world around them, and of the people that are important
to them.
This is a trick that most angels have trouble with.
SELFLESSNESS
An angel is a vital engine of reality, an instrument most
fulfilled when its song blends perfectly with the
Symphony, adding to its strength without detracting
from the Big Picture. (By contrast, a demon can be seen
as the jerk in the third row shouting "FREEBIRD!" at
the conductor and laughing his head off.) Angels are
much more aware of their place in the grand scheme of
things than are humans. That makes them less occupied
with themselves.
This is a double-edged sword when dealing directly
with humanity, which is why the more divine Choirs (the
Seraphim in particular) have such trouble doing so. An
angel belonging to one of the "higher" Choirs, or one
who hasn't been among humans in a long time, will likely retain a concept of sympathy that can seem cold to
human eyes.
A comparative example: when humans see a woman
crying, they see a person in pain. When an angel sees a
woman crying, he sees a wound on the fabric of the universe, a jarring note in the Symphony. Because an angel
is truly aware of the depth and breadth of reality, he tends
to view any given human as an abstraction. Relating to a
mortal as an individual can require real concentration,
and a serious shift in viewpoint. More importantly, angels
to some extent see themselves this way . . . less as individuals, and more as one part of the greater whole that is the
divine Symphony.
Even Cherubim, who can devote themselves entirely

to a single person, often remain blind to that person's real feelings, seeing human well-being in
terms too simple and broad to really be
human.
Angels that spend a lot of time
working at the corporeal level are
more sensitive to the individual,
and more aware of their own
identity, as well, but that's
something that even a
Mercurian has to learn, first
time out. The more time
that angels spend around
humanity, the
more
human they become . . .
this is what brought the
Grigori down entirely,
and it's caused many an
incautious angel to Fall.
To succeed on Earth, an
angel must learn to walk a
careful balance between
staying too distant to
understand those he is trying
to save, and getting so close
that he becomes in need of salvation himself.
When designing an angel for
play, consider carefully just how
much of a sense of self - and a sense of
others as individuals - the character will
have. The angel's Choir and previous experience among mortals will give a rough beginning,
but the angel's own motives and personality determine
the final picture.
connecTKDn TO HLL
Angels (and the Fallen) are creatures of concept. Where

a man is content just to find meaning in the world, and
maybe mean something good to someone else, an angel
needs to embody meaning, to become the manifestation of
an idea. Humans yearn for connection with one another,
with the world . . . but angels make the songs that sing
through every heart.
SIMPLICITY AND CONFIDENCE

Angels aren't as personally complex as humans.
Perhaps more important, they don't have the need to be
complex that most humans seem to have. Angels love
simplicity, and often the older and more powerful an
angel gets,
the simpler he
becomes. Remember that the angelic idea of
social climbing boils down to "become the embodiment
of a single, abstract notion."
It's a gentle curve that begins when an angel first comes
into being - the first few years of a young angel's existence are spent in a state of ravenous curiosity that is ultimately satisfied as the angel learns that he is very much
connected to everything, and that every action he takes
sings out into the Symphony, forever. Angels tend to be
very personally secure because they learn at an early
stage of development that they're very important, that the
tiniest waves they make are never truly absorbed by the
oceans of reality. Every angel's actions are immortal.
Only when an angel performs some harmful act does his
confidence become shaken - and that can become a great
tragedy.
In their early days of exploring, each angel finds a
handful of concepts that resonate with personal importance. Throughout an angel's life, those concepts shape
15
THE ANGELIC MIND
nothing more irritating than somebody in love. The

human reaction to this will depend greatly on how dungs
are going at the time for the human. Any person who is
currently tapped into his own great passions tends to
"click" more easily with angels than someone who has a
hard time noticing the world that's beyond their own
skin.
DEFINING PASSIONS
The Cherubim are the clearest examples of how
extreme and simple an angel's love can be, and how utterly unconditional. A Cherub, once he is bound to someone, will be devoted to their safety, comfort and happiness but all of the angels, down to the most antisocial
Malakite, possess this same immense capacity for intense,
unquestioning love. In each angel, it manifests different-
iy-
his personality and outlook... Most Word-bound angels

will say that they gained their fascination with their
Word while still "earning their wings," so to speak.
When building the personality of an angel character,
take some time out to "remember" those early years . . .
What first sparked the need for discovery in the angel,
and how did he pursue it? Use that as an anchor to eliminate indecision, to simplify die character's oudook.
When a question arises that is a real poser, make it an
issue of comparison . . . David, on those rare occasions
when he doubts, sees things in terms of rocks and stones.
Every angel, to some extent, does the same dung, and it
gives them strength in simplicity.
HOLHieSS AflD L0VC
Angels act out of love: love for God, love of their

Superior, love of their Word. Some act out of love for
humans; others out of love for beauty. Some just love a
good fight - but all angels burn deeply with passions,
warm and luminous. Angels are rarely really bored
(though some work hard to experience boredom),
because they're always, always loving something.
This, again, has a strong affect on how others perceive
them. It makes it very easy for a demon to hate an angel
. . . because when all you care about is yourself, there's
THE ANGELIC MIND
Determining exactly what an angel most loves is an

important part of defining that angel as a character. It's a
good idea to make a mental checklist:
* Is the angel Word-bound, or directly serving a
Word-bound angel? Since most player-character angels
are assumed to serve an Archangel direcdy, die answer is
usually "yes" to some degree. Angels love what their
Words - and die Words diey serve - are about. Angels of
Janus, for example, don't just serve the concept of chaotic change, they love chaotic change. It excites them, it
gets diem going, and diat means more of it tends to happen when that angel comes to town. Angels, as a rule,
shouldn't treat their Word, or the Word of their
Superior, as a job - they should treat it as a driving passion. As with humans, though, some angels aren't too
vocal or expressive about their passions. With some, it
burns quietly inside, but it still burns deep.
* Who are die angel's friends among the celestials?
Some angels are loners - they keep to themselves and
their work, and team up to serve a cause, not to be chummy. (Find a Malakite of Laurence for a good example;
just don't bug him while he's busy). Other angels have lots
of friends, not just among other angels, but among the
saints and spirits and others . . . And when an angel calls
someone "friend," it has a rare, intense quality. Angels
love their friends often as much as they love their Words
. . . keep in mind also diat Word-bound angels tend to
choose friends that exemplify the concepts that they
embody. In this sense (and in many others) angels are
actually simpler than humans.
* Who are the angel's friends on Earth? Same question, different type of answer. Angels make friends
among humans for a variety of reasons . . . Sometimes,
it's a life they've saved. Sometimes, it's somebody who
helped them understand humanity a little better. Angels
tend to love these people just as fiercely as they love anything, but - depending on how open they are about their
celestial nature - that might be something they keep hidden most of the time, taking quiet joy whenever they see
a human they care about achieve something good, or get
through a rough spot in their lives.
* What places and things does the angel love? An
angel can fall in love with a city or orchard or sewer in a
way that doesn't make a lot of sense to many humans.
The perspective of the divine is sometimes so large and
abstract that angels find symbols hidden in the landscape
that have no real meaning on the human level, but that
are a source of awe and peace to a celestial - or at least,
to that particular celestial. The same can go for the simplest of ordinary objects. This is a very individual trait;
maybe your angel loves an old firehouse in Chicago;
maybe he loves snow.
* What about Choir and Superior specifics? If your
angel serves Jordi, what animals, in particular, bring him
the most happiness? Is there a city zoo that he visits regularly? Is there a nest of eagles that he's taken under his
wing? If the angel is an Ofanite, where does he most
enjoy cutting loose with speed? If he's a Mercurian, what
social group does he most enjoy hanging out with?
Even in DISSQIT
Angels seek to avoid Dissonance, not just in the

mechanical sense, but in every sense. Angels are proSymphony, and that means that every song must blend
with every other song to create one strong, powerful

force. Every instrument must work in harmony with
every other, and angels are instruments.
Angels don't always agree with one another. Some
angels are mutually hostile! But every angel with a few
centuries under his belt comes to a basic realization: God
made it all, everything, and it's all here for a reason.
When two angels disagree, and they know it, they rarely
conflict directly. Rather, the first course of action is to
avoid one another - to blend back into company where
harmony is maintained for each. Heaven has some of the
positive and negative qualities that we associate with any
powerful hierarchy - one of those is a chain of command,
through which any suggestions for change must be filtered. This can be frustrating to an angel (or a group of
them) that has a revolutionary idea that would work, but
any other approach sends discordant ripples through the
Symphony - and nobody in Heaven wants that.
The views and behavior of angels change over the centuries . . . angelic society evolves. There are genuine
philosophies among the angels, competing schools of
thought, trying to work out the meaning of it all. To really understand this would be very sobering to many of the
faithful on Earth, who take comfort in the knowledge
that Heaven has all the answers. Its inhabitants don't, and
they have argued just as fiercely over the questions as we
have.
THE ANGELIC MIND
The Importance of Humanity

Most angels love humans. The War is, after all, about
them, more than anything. It's a fight for the hearts and
souls of Man. But the love of humanity is not entirely
universal. . . While some angels see humans as the ultimate solution to the War, holding powerful keys for
Lucifer's defeat, others see them as the came of it all, a
symbolic prize that has tempted both sides into needless
conflict. Still others think of humans as nothing more
than the agreed-upon token of victory, believing that the
War is about something higher (or lower) than the fragile mortals.
The Perfection of Man
One issue that divides the heavenly schools of thought

into distinct "camps" is mankind's direct knowledge of
the Divine. Some hold that if all the Heavenly Host were
to appear before mankind, revealed in total glory,
mankind's pact with Heaven would grow so strong that
Hell would lose every foothold, and the War would
become a foregone conclusion. Others feel that such an
act would doom Heaven's cause, opening up old fears too
fast to prevent a panic, forcing people inside, cowering,
to rely on Nybbas' latest broadcast to explain it all before
Beleth welcomed them, confused, to their beds . ..
The only thing that the angels agree on is that it would
likely bring the War to a premature end, for better or for
worse, and that it's likely not worth the risk. The consensus is that some degree of secrecy is essential, at least
right now . . . And so the angels walk among man protected by a cloak of the mundane - most of the time.
OTHER STICKING POINTS
18
The role of humanity is the focal point for a number of

other philosophical debates apart from the issue of secrecy, and some of these debates drive hard wedges between
otherwise compatible angelic thinkers. Here are a few of
the major issues:
THE ANGELIC MIND
There is a school of thought that holds that mankind is

God's most perfect creation. Clearly, humans possess a
balance of qualities that blend the angelic and demonic
extremes in interesting ways, and this is pointed to as evidence. Proponents of this kind of "humanism" point out
that humans were created last. After Yves, after the
Choirs, after the spirits and beasts and plants came into
being, came Man. Therefore (or so the argument goes)
Man is God's most perfect creation, since Man was the
final entry into the race. Many quickly dismiss this by
insisting that God is perfection and always has been, and
that it is ridiculous to suggest that his creations represent
improvements over time - you can't improve on perfection. But the perfection of God, too, is a subject of some
heated debate, so that point rarely silences the argument.
Instead, it tends to just pull it away from humanity for a
while.
Another, related issue is the perfectibility of Man. If man
isn't perfect, does he have the potential to become so? Is
Divinity beyond Mankind's grasp? This is one issue that
Heaven's resident Saints, Bodhisattva and others tend to
take a very active voice in ...
People as Weapons
This is an issue of great concern to the Seraphim
Council, particularly among Archangels active in the
planning of the War, but it is argued from the highest
thrones of Heaven to the lowliest hell-holes of Earth.
Are humans to be sheltered from the War, or forged into
an active weapon? Some angels dislike the concept of
Soldiers entirely, and some are even uncomfortable with
the idea of enlisting the aid of human servants. Angels
disinclined to use humanity as a fighting force tend to see
humans as something that should be kept away from the
War entirely. They also believe (and vocally suggest) that
angels working on the corporeal level should put forth
their best efforts to keep the War away from humans, as
well . . . believing that the Fallen mingle closely with
humans because human settlements are a battlefield that

gives Hell the advantage.
Every angel stands on different sides in each of these
arguments, and your angel's opinions of humanity are an
important part of his personality. When you create your
character, consider both his positions and his reasons, and
how strongly he sticks to his guns. Some angels remain
entirely apathetic about humans; others see them as the
primary reason for angelic existence.
Can We Kill Them?

An important philosophical point for an angel is
human mortality. Specifically, can we, the angels, kill
humans who seem to need it? This is not a debate about
disturbance to the Symphony, but about the "right"
behavior for a servant of God.
Some say "you bet! Evil mortals should be destroyed
lest they harm and corrupt the good! Send them to
Hell!" Others point out that a living mortal might
repent, but a dead mortal can never get closer to his destiny, and is a gift to Hell. . .
Armageddon
The angels don't set off Armageddon
for several reasons, but the reasoning
behind the reason depends on the angel
you ask. Some angels, were it left to
them, would storm Hell tomorrow. Still,
what holds the Host back is that:
* In a slugging match, unless God
intervened, they'd lose. The demons are
more plentiful and in total, more powerful.
For the angels to assume that God would
intervene is, depending on who you ask, (a) a
necessary component of faith in God or (b)
hubris bordering on madness.
Note that most angels would sacrifice themselves without a thought to serve the higher
good that is the Symphony, but few court their
own needless destruction, and none want to trigger a battle that could lose the War. (But then, is
it faithless treason to contemplate the idea that
God's side could lose?)
* Armageddon would destroy Earth as we know
it, and most mortals. This would be (a) unimportant in the greater scheme of things, (b) the callous
sacrifice of everything the angels have fought for,
(c) the fate and destiny of Earth and the mortals,
or (d) a much-overdue housecleaning.
* God has not commanded it. This means that
(a) it shouldn't even be considered or (b) the
angels are supposed to use their free will and
decide for themselves.
Free Will
This questions holds more complexity than most, for
the celestials as well as humans. A typical discussion of it
might go like this:
Angels have free will. Don't we?
Of course we do. We can Fall.
Those who Fall were fated to do so. They played their
part. They were fated to believe they had free will, and
that they were doing as they wished.
Does that mean that the selfish demons have free will,
but we do not?
Everything they do is part of the Divine Plan, too. The
demons are the part of the Plan that opposes, so the rest
may grow stronger.
But if everything is part of the Divine Plan, what is the
point of any part of it growing stronger? If the Plan is as
it is, perfect and unchanging, what use is all the suffering
and struggle?
We don't understand. It's ineffable. You were fated to
ask that question.
(At this point, if in celestial form, one angel usually
remembers urgent business elsewhere. If corporeal,
crockery is thrown.)
19
THE ANGELIC MIND
CHOIRS
ON THE NAMING OF ANGELS
God, in His infinite goodness, has never asked anyone

else to be perfect.
Divinity - or perfection within the Symphony - shifts
with kaleidoscopic grace, yet remains true to itself in all
ways. From one perspective it takes the shape of a flaming sword; from another, it is a caress brushing away a
tear from another. Divinity encompasses compassion and
discipline, truth and tact, devotion and independence,
fury and grace. All at once.
Lesser beings can encompass only a morsel of the
divine nature. That's all that is asked. God bestows this
grace not only on those He served to create, humanity,
but on those He created to serve, his angels.
No angel is expected to encompass the divine, to even
brush die hem of that which is perfect. Each must simply
strive to reflect a single facet of divinity - their note in
the Symphony. Even the mightiest Archangel represents
no more than a droplet of rain, following gravity's course
toward the ocean that is divinity. And yet he will have fulfilled his destiny, should he make his tiny splash upon its
surface.
Choirs represent all of the angels who focus upon the
same divine facet. Divinity casts off countless reflections,
and coundess Choirs may exist, but seven represent the
major themes of divinity. Those seven - the Choirs represented in In Nomine - will be discussed in this chapter.
Regardless of which Choir claims his nature, an angel
must remember that it represents far more than the
celestial abilities bestowed upon him. It represents his
goal - the single point of perfection that he must strive
to achieve through all his trials in Heaven and on Earth.
His resonance and other celestial abilities stem from this
effort.
As for the other facets of divinity, an angel should not
tempt his fate by ignoring, much less flouting, what is
right from other perspectives while remaining true to his
own. But many do. Even those who hold themselves to
the highest standards often find that they must choose
between conflicting goods. It's not easy being celestial.
CHOIRS AND THE INDIVIDUAL

As mentioned elsewhere, Choir natures - particularly
where they apply to personality - define general trends.
Individual members of a Choir can, and should, deviate
at least a little from the average. Angels are not as individual as humans, but they're not clones, either.
Every angel has a unique true name, a name that

describes the essence of that angel. Sometimes the name
is given at the angel's creation - is, in fact, a part of that
angel's creation, describing the creator's intent.
Sometimes an angel's creator prefers to let the new angel
find his own name. This rarely takes long; a new angel,
exploring himself and Heaven with delight, will quickly
know what he is and wishes to be. Not all angels live up
to their names, but all angels try.
It is not unknown for an angel to change his name, but
it is very rare, signifying a fundamental change in that
angel's nature. Many angels took different names when
they became Malakim, for instance. And often, angels
change their names when they Fall.
Of course, the names of angels are all words or phrases in the divine tongue, which cannot be spoken outside
the celestial realm. Therefore, any angel who visits the
other realms will be addressed by a translation of his true
name, or an important word in his true name. It is understood that this is his true name, as closely as it can be
expressed outside of Heaven. Suppose, for instance, that
a Seraph's name (in the heavenly tongue), means, as
closely as we can understand it, "Adoration of the Crown
of God." That Seraph might choose "Crown" as the key
word, and a translation of "Crown" would be his true
name in the corporeal realm. He might use the Hebrew
"Atarah," the Greek "Stephen" or the Latin "Corona."
For that matter, he might use the English "Crown" - it's
uncommon, but not an impossible name. He might prefer one of these; he might answer to any of them.
Temporary "role names" for corporeal use (whether
used with actual Roles, or just as tags for vessels when
dealing with mortals) are different. Seraphim, always
compulsively truthful, will still insist on using a variant of
their real name at all times. Other angels (as described
for their particular Choirs) have different things in mind
when they pick temporary role names.
Many resources are available to those naming angels.
Most dictionaries have sections on names and their
meanings, and "baby books" usually tell what names
mean. There are also some excellent resources on the
World Wide Web. Links to some of these can be found
at the In Nomine site, www.sjgames.com/in-nomine.
Obviously, certain combinations do not work: a Seraph
who uses his Fast-Talk for more than minimal evasions of
the literal truth is well on his way to becoming a
Balseraph. But other, odd combinations can be explored:
nothing explicitly prohibits a Malakite from having a
sense of humor, for instance.
21
CHOIRS
SeRAPRIV
IRC H0ST H0U
Seraphim flew unto me, and he had in his

hand a glowing coal, which he had taken with the tongs from
off the altar; and he made it touch my mouth, and said, Behold,
this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away,
and thy sin expiated..."
Isaiah 6:6-7
In thought and deed, this most divine of Choirs stands
closest to God. Consequently, they have the most difficulty dealing with mankind. Occupying the highest stations in Heaven also means they have the farthest to Fall.
Dominic and Michael represent the Seraphim among
the Archangels. Those who say all truth is subjective
point at the vast disagreements between these two
Superiors as evidence. The Seraphim agree (amongst
themselves) that knowing what the truth is and knowing
how best to act upon it are not the same thing.
These celestial nobility demand respect, and strive to
be worthy of it, but aren't infallible. Lucifer was a Seraph.
Some Famous Seraphim

Abdiel, the first of Dominic's Seraphim to lead a Triad
to Earth; Jael, Angel of Covenants; Jehoel, the Seraph
who created the Trisagion and leads the Trisagionists
(see The Trisagion, p. 25); Nathanael, Angel of Punishment, Gabriel's greatest Seraph; Metatron, the first
Archangel that Lucifer destroyed; Seraphiel, Angel of the
Inquisition, the highest Heavenly judge next to Dominic
himself (and he is, if anything, harsher than his master).
NAMES
Seraph names often are rooted in a name of God, and
they like the cadences of Hebrew. The "-el" suffix ("of
God") is common in angelic names, but most so in this
Choir.
Seraphim cannot use an alias in human society. They
may consent to "shortening" their angelic name; Zebadiah might be persuaded to go by "Zane." But he will
never say he is Zane. Instead, he will use Seraphic evasions . . . "I go by Zane," or, "People call me Zane."
Sample Seraphim Names

^^
/ /
**
Typical true names include Amedee, Ariel, Dielle,

Elizabeth, Jahaziel, Manuel, Omparkash, Peniel,
Theodore and Zebadiah. On Earth, a Seraph named
Amedee might go by Amy, Dielle by Dillon, and so on.
SERAPHIM
TRADITIONAL DUTIES
Seraphim do much more than conduct celestial truth
tests, especially since their very presence on Earth tends
to keep other angels honest. They are respected for their
wisdom and insight, and it is their advice other angels
seek when in doubt. In a mixed group of angels,
Seraphim don't always assume overt leadership, but
rarely will a plan proceed without their approval.
Archangels send Seraphim on an assignment when they
want things done by the book. Their presence lends a
high degree of moral authority to any mission.
Seraphim tend to be highly perceptive. They're usually not oriented toward the corporeal side
of things, though there are notable
exceptions (such as Michael!). With
their resonance for the truth, keen
insight and information-gathering
attunements, Seraphim can make
excellent detectives. Their low
tolerance for pretension, falsehood and immorality, on the
other hand, make them lousy
diplomats. Seraphim are usually
poor choices for assignments
requiring finesse, but given their
usefulness when dealing with mortals, they may be assigned such tasks
anyway, with a more suave angel along to help with
social situations.
Seraphim are also the "internal affairs" officers in
every Archangel's hierarchy. How vigilantly they
monitor their fellow Servitors depends on how concerned (or paranoid) their Superior is about such
things, but all Seraphim keep an eye out for signs of
dissonant behavior. If a Superior is afraid one of his
angels may be in danger of Falling, he usually sends a
Seraph to investigate.
Seraphim also judge disputes between an Archangel's
Servitors on Earth. The ruling almost always is accepted,
since die alternative would be to bring the matter before
the Archangel. Archangels hate settling squabbles.
CELESTIAL DUTIES
In Heaven, the Seraphim are judges and mediators.
While lesser angels handle many of the mundane chores
of running Heaven, Seraphim are Heaven's nobility. Put
in a more modern context, they are management. The
lowest-ranking Seraphim are usually in charge of minor
administrative tasks, such as fielding requests from angels
who want an audience with their Superior (and trying to
deal with their problems first so an audience isn't necessary). The most important Seraphim are on the
Seraphim Council, which consists almost entirely of this

holiest of Choirs (with the addition of the Archangels
and a few ancient and wise members of other Choirs).
The Council, presided over by Dominic, tries angels
accused of capital crimes, awards Words, hears accusations against Superiors and makes decisions that are
binding even on Archangels. Most of the voting members are ancient angels who witnessed the Fall.
They are also sometimes consulted before Superiors
embark on a campaign with far-reaching consequences.
The very oldest Seraphim are considered to have the
greatest understanding of the mind of God, next to Yves
himself, and if the Archangel of Destiny has
not offered a yea or nay, then most
angels hold the opinions of these
elders next highest in regard.
It is very rare for younger
Seraphim to be invited onto the
Council nowadays; it is far easier
to get a Word than to become a
voting Council member. Every
Archangel has his own circle of
advisors, however, and most of
them are Seraphim. They, too,
are usually elder angels with much
experience, but anyone who shows
great wisdom may become so
favored. Archangels keep a special eye
on Seraphim who perform their Earthly duties
successfully, as they are on the front lines of the
War and may gain insights not available to more
ancient celestials who spend all their time in Heaven.
The Seraphim are also known as the Trisagionists,
because traditionally they are responsible for reciting the
Trisagion ("Holy, Holy, Holy!") around the throne of
God (see The Trisagion, p. 25). This is an ancient ceremonial duty, and while the Seraphim Council always
opens and closes each session with this intonation, only a
few Seraphim are chosen for the honor of reciting the
Trisagion on formal occasions, like a celestial honor
guard. Trisagionists serve for an indefinite period of
time, but it may be centuries. They are rarely Wordbound (maintaining a Word interferes with other duties),
and almost never assigned Earthly missions, except when
an Archangel (or, even more rarely, God) stages a divine
visitation of Biblical proportions (with "multitudes of
angels, singing on high"). Trisagionists are non-voting
members of the Seraphim Council.
TYPICAL ROLES
On Earth, Seraphim are often found in the legal profession, especially Seraphim of Judgment. A judge Role
obviously suits them, but those angels able to reconcile
23
SERAPHIM
their divine resonance with the need to suffer the world's

myriad deceptions and compromises make good lawyers
as well. They tend to take Roles that give them positions
of leadership, but which limit their worldly exposure.
Seraphim don't do well as politicians, but they are often
behind the scenes as advisors. In the corporate world,
they like to be executives; in the military, officers.
Although most Seraphim prefer high-Status occupations where they separate truth from falsehood on a daily
basis, some adventurous sorts prefer to go looking for the
truth. Their resonance makes them excellent investigators (if they have a partner who can handle interactions
with people) and journalists (almost always print journalists; few of them can stand to work in television).
SERAPHIM AND HUMAN SOCIETY
To the Seraphim, mass media is a barrage of lies and

deceptions, fraudulent claims and simulated emotions, all
screeching across the Symphony like nails on a chalkboard. They can't fathom humans' desire to be deceived.
To them, immersing oneself in the media-driven pop
culture is like wallowing in a cesspool and loving it.
Likewise, while they respect and value a just legal system, the current condition of law in many cultures drives
them mad. Seraphim believe that courts should be
engaged in the business of uncovering the truth, not seeing which side can sway the judge and jury by whatever
means necessary. They are staunch advocates of legal
reform, but few can stomach the battles required.
Seraphim do understand imagination, although most
don't have much themselves; they don't regard storytelling as "lying." Many of them enjoy the arts, even literature and theater. But only honest effort and sincerely
recognized talent please them. Pretentiousness, and creativity in the pursuit of profitability, is a blemish on one
of the greatest gifts God gave mankind.
SERAPHIM
MORE SOPHISTICATED USES

OF RESONANCE
Seraphim can see more than obvious lies of the spoken
variety. Their sensitive resonance can pick up disturbances in the Symphony left by other forms of deceit.
When a Seraph invokes his resonance, it will apply to
the next person to "speak" in his presence. This speech
may be non-verbal - see below. It could be someone on
television, or even someone whose e-mail pops up on his
computer screen! (If so, apply the check digit penalties
from In Nomine, p. 57.) This may not be the person the
Seraph intended to examine; good timing helps.
Everything that person says or does for the specified
number of minutes will be checked for truth. (The
Seraph may not use his resonance on another person
before then. He can only "review" a single person at a
time.) When the time expires, the check digit is applied
to all statements and actions that took place. But any significant lie will be pointed out as it occurs, if it's important - the Seraph does not have to wait until his resonance has expired to be warned of dangerous lies!
This means that if the target fakes a limp, gestures
toward the wrong door, shakes their head "no" when the
truth is "yes" or hands over a counterfeit bill knowing it
to be fake, those are "lies." A Seraph might even see right
through a master spy's disguise. Think of someone wearing a fake police uniform as always in the process of stating, "I'm an officer," or someone actively passing fake
currency as stating, "This is a $20 bill." These non-verbal lies are not enough to trigger the resonance unless
they are directed specifically at the Seraph. Passing a fake
$20 to the Seraph will direct his resonance at you, if he
has activated it. Passing it to his companion will not.
Apply the Seraph's resonance to the whole collection
of spoken/written lies and non-verbal deceits. Unless the
check digit is 4 or better, this won't pick up every lie or
deceit the target presented during the resonance's effects
- just the greatest one. Someone disguised as the President would have to tell a huge he to not have the costume
register as what "he thinks is most false," though!
On a high check digit, the resonance effectively detects
every He - verbal or otherwise - by presenting the Seraph
with one or more versions of the unvarnished Truth.
(Usually, every lie need not be cataloged, though they
could be if the Seraph thought the particulars needed
attention. The resonance simply "filters" the lies out of
his perception, unless he mentally notes each one.)
An important point is that the Symphony does not register a vessel as a deceit. A vessel is the corporeal manifestation of the celestial who owns it, as is the host for a
Kyriotate or Shedite. A disguised vessel or possessed host
would be subject to the resonance, though this rarely
THE TRISAGION
The Trisagion, or "Song of Holies," is a very special
Song. Any angel can learn it, but it's not usually taught to
anyone except a Seraph chosen to be a Trisagionist. It
cannot be sung by anyone with dissonance or Discord. It
also cannot be learned at a higher level than the angel's
Singing Skill. Diabolicals cannot learn this Song!
The Trisagion invokes the presence of the Almighty.
Of course, this does not mean a Song can summon God,
but successful performance attracts a tiny portion of
divine attention. For a number of minutes equal to the
check digit of a successful performance, there is an
increased chance that God will be watching. This is represented by treating any intervention roll (111 or 666) by
anyone in the vicinity, as a divine intervention.
The check digit of a successful singing of the Trisagion
can also be added to the chance of invocation when
attempting to summon an Archangel. This does not
mean that the Archangel will necessarily be happier
gives away the celestial nature of the person (though the
reason for the disguise is subject to discovery).
Many actions may be a lie in one context but not in
another. A woman who dyes her hair blonde to conceal
her identity is lying. One who dyes it blonde solely for a
change of pace is not lying to anyone a Seraph will not
know or care, nor will his resonance detect it.
Seraphim can't detect deceit inherent in an object
(such as a fake ID lying on the ground); their resonance
only works on people, since only people can speak lies in
their presence and trigger their resonance. On all but the
highest check digits, it will only detect a deceitful item if
the person the resonance is scanning knows it's a fraud:
someone who is unknowingly passing fake currency isn't
being deceitful himself, but the Seraph who rolls a check
digit 6 will know the Truth of the matter anyway!
This sort of ignorance on the target's part often limits
the resonance in other ways. For instance, Seraphim usually can't mine news reports for hidden truths. The medium gives them a -1 to their check digit, making it hard to
automatically detect the Truth, and the newscaster's own
"truth" is that he read what he stated off a TelePrompter.
Unwitting falsehoods often slip past this resonance.
ON EARTHLY MATTERS
Evading Seraphim
Angels and demons alike have developed several evasive responses to Seraphim, some better than others.
Only novice celestials respond to a dangerous Seraph
question with, "None of your business!" Often, it is the
about being summoned; in fact, the Trisagion should

almost never be used for this purpose, as an Archangel
will be infuriated at such a frivolous use of the Song of
Holies! Only for ceremonial invocations of the utmost
importance is this usage appropriate.
The Song of Holies is a Celestial Song, and can only
be sung in celestial form. It has an Essence requirement
of 2, and a degree of disturbance equal to the check digit.
Unlike other disturbances, anyone perceiving the
Trisagion's disturbance will know it is angelic. Although
it can be sung in Heaven or on Earth at any time, it is a
holy Song, meant only for the most sacred and solemn
occasions. Any angel who misuses it, trying to invoke
divine favor for personal endeavors or frivolous purposes, will earn at least a note of dissonance, and severe censure from the Seraphim Council if they learn of it. In at
least one instance of an angel misusing the Trisagion, the
offender was struck with the Mute Discord.
Seraph's business, and lying isn't a good way to satisfy a
Seraph's curiosity. More prudent celestials respond, "I
don't care to answer that." Anyone who says this usually
means it, so it rings beautifully true in the Seraph's resonance. It will still leave the Seraph unsatisfied as to why
the celestial doesn't care to answer, of course.
Celestials who have run afoul of Seraphim a few times
might think it's cagey to respond in line with, "It would
have been wrong for me to have done that, wouldn't it?"
Again, it's very truthful, but sacrifices ignorance as a
defense should the Seraph later divine the celestial did do
whatever it was.
Experienced celestials know the best defense is silence,
though some very confident individuals prefer the nonsequitur "My, isn't it a nice day!" line of counterattack.
Seraphim with little sense of humor - that is, most of
them - loathe this. It misdirects the conversation, makes
the response screech with tiny false notes, and often
leaves something inane registering as the target's greatest
lie. ("It's raining buckets, actually.") This tactic usually
conceals well, but almost ensures a bad reaction.
Maintaining Mystery
A competent Seraph can make a good mystery go bad
in a hurry. If he can gather all the murder suspects in the
parlor, invoke his resonance on each, and ask if they
killed Mr. Appleby, then he'll have the butler on his way
to a cell within minutes.
Fortunately, parlors are rare and set-piece circumstances rarer in the In Nomine setting. The resonance
can be kept from getting out of hand.
25
SERAP HIM
The Seraph should have to work to gain access to anyone he seeks to question. Then, with mortals for whom
the War must remain secret, how does he explain why he
wants to ask his questions? Once past this hurdle, many
people won't respond directly to a direct question. A
response akin to "Ask my lawyer!" will be common; the
even more common "Why do you want to know?" puts
the Seraph back in an uncomfortable spot with mortals.
Just as importantly, the unvarnished truth can be harder to sort out than normal, social conventions. To use an
earlier example, detecting dyed blonde hair as a lie may
not distinguish whether the intent was to disguise the
person or simply conceal their age!
Finally, Seraphim don't use their resonance casually,
since a failure might incapacitate their ability for hours.
Thus, the Detect Lies Skill is not redundant for
Seraphim.
DEALING WITH DISSONANCE
^ j.
I/
/j \
LtT^r
Seraphim resonate with the truth, and incur dissonance for violating it. The best way for them to realign
themselves with their angelic nature is to become a
paragon of truth, expunging even the slightest hint of
falsehood from their lips.
A Seraph who has lied can erase the dissonance caused
by that lie by confessing to it and revealing the whole
truth to everyone who heard the lie, and then receiving
forgiveness from all of them. This is usually not practical, since a Seraph would not lie in the first place unless
there was a dire need to do so.
Alternatively, a Seraph can erase 1 point of dissonance
incurred by a lie by spending one week engaging in
absolute, utter truthfulness. This means that not only can
the Seraph not lie, but he cannot engage in the sort of
evasion they usually use to get around difficult truths.
The Seraph must speak the truth, the whole truth and
nothing but the truth. If someone asks a question the
Seraph does not wish to answer, or cannot answer (such
as "Are you an angel?"), his only option, other than complete disclosure, is silence. The Seraph cannot use the
Fast-Talk Skill during this time. Also, he cannot stand
silently by while others lie; when subjected to falsehood,
he must either expose it or immediately leave.
This can make it very difficult for the angel to interact
normally with mortal society. One other way to erase a
point of dissonance is to uncover a very great lie, and
reveal the truth. This must be a complicated fabrication
that will require a lot of work to unravel, and it must
serve some greater good to undo it.
The GM determines whether a particular deception is
suitable. Exposing dangerous false advertising might
qualify, or freeing a prisoner who had been convicted on
false testimony.
SERAPHIM
TOUCHY SITUATIONS
Obviously, a Seraph's greatest danger is getting trapped
in a lie. Humans (and angels used to dealing with them)
can accept the polite fictions that make day-to-day life
easier. When someone asks, "How do I look?" Seraphim
have trouble understanding the speaker isn't asking for
an honest evaluation. Experienced angels usually spend
some time teaching Seraphim newly assigned to Earth
that "How are you?" and "See you later," aren't meant
to be taken literally. That is, the Truth is that those words
don't mean what they sound like. This is an explanation that
a Seraph can understand, even if it makes his head hurt.
Seraphim can learn to avoid blurting out tactless
observations, and even to endure lies in silence, but they ]
cannot say something that is even a little bit dishonest.
Thus, they could not answer, "How do I look?" with,
"You look fine," if they think the person actually looks
overdressed and tawdry. They can, however, focus on
one aspect of the truth, "I like that color," or answer indirectly, "You'll make quite an impression," or even provide the literal truth, "You've never looked lovelier."
Seraphim find Fast-Talk useful, though easily abused.
Seraphim avoid situations where they may be asked
difficult questions.They can deal with blatant attempts
by other celestials to take advantage of them; they can j
always simply refuse to answer. But diabolicals delight in
engaging Seraphim in conversation, and trying to lead
them into situations where they either give up valuable
information or lie. Wise Seraphim simply walk away.
SPECIAL DISCORDS
Forked Tongue (Celestial)
Whenever the Seraph speaks, make a reaction roll,
reduced by the level of this Discord. If the roll fails, the
listener believes the Seraph is lying. If the Seraph is lying,
add the level of his Discord to all Detect Lies rolls. If
what the Seraph is saying is obviously true, the listener
still believes the Seraph is being dishonest about something. Forked Tongue does not mislead the resonances of
other Seraphim. This Discord can afflict other Choirs.
Painful Lies (Corporeal)

The sound of a lie becomes unbearable. Any lie spoken
in the presence of the Seraph presence inflicts so much
pain that he subtracts the level of this Discord from all
target numbers until the next round ends. He must make
a Will roll minus the level of the Discord to avoid visibly
flinching. Television becomes an instrument of torture.
Truthfulness (Ethereal)
This Discord can afflict any celestial, but it most often
afflicts Seraphim. A victim of Truthfulness must make a
Will roll minus the level of his Discord whenever he
speaks; failure indicates he must say exactly what he

thinks, unedited. Subtract the level of this Discord from
Fast-Talk and Lying Skill, or from Emote when trying to
counterfeit emotions. Balseraphs must include the level
of this Discord with their dissonance rolls!
WORDS
Seraphim are especially suited to Words that serve the
truth. Dominic, Archangel of Judgment, and Litheroy,
Archangel of Revelation, have typical Seraph Words.
Michael earned his Word by defending God's truth
against Lucifer. Any Word related to communication,
divination or knowledge is suitable. Some Word-bound
Seraphim include the Angel of Astronomy (and his rival,
the Angel of Astrology), the Angel of Dictionaries, the
the Angel of Navigation and the Angel of Statistics (the
Demon of Statistics is a Balseraph, naturally).
SUPERIORS AND SERAPHIM

Blandine: Even truth twists and shifts in the Marches;
these Seraphim understand context more than most.
David: Using Chemistry Skill with their attunement
can spot mineral compounds or combinations, such as
gunpowder.
Dominic: Prudent use of their enhanced resonance
am stretch its effects, such as in detecting celestials . . .
Eli: Detecting "potential" in a Skill essentially reveals
the highest controlling characteristic (since it assumes the
maximum Skill/6). For instance, rolled on Electronics it
reveals the higher of someone's Intelligence or Precision.
Gabriel: These Servitors' job often requires that they
move in lower social circles than normal for their Choir.
Janus: The few Seraphim serving the Wind must be
very wary to remain honest in their helter-skelter ways.
Jean: Their video displays let them invoke resonance
on someone later, at their leisure, at -1 to the check digit.
Jordi: Note that vessels must breathe; living underwater requires an aquatic vessel.
Laurence: Their attunement does not specify foes are
good or evil, it says whether their motive for fighting is.
Marc: This attunement allows the Seraph to recover

use of his resonance in minutes where normally the effect
would last hours, seconds if it would last for minutes.
Michael: The Archangel of War attracts many of his
fellow Seraphim to his service. Many enjoy expressing
their distaste for the earthly in earthy fashion.
Novalis: Their aura does not require line of sight. It
automatically fails if the modified Will roll would be at
13+. Roll once per attempt at violence.
Yves: Their attunement gives no extra benefit vs.
"mundane" illusions (disguises), but will reveal a celestial's true name and Word, if any.
THE SERAPH PERSPECTIVE

Cherubim: Make sure they are not deceived, so their
loyalty is never misplaced.
Ofanim: To be true to themselves, they must remain
in motion, In their haste, they may overlook other truths.
Elohim: We admire their ability to mingle with
humans and still retain their divine perspective. Value
their counsel, but remember: the truth is not subjective.
Malakim: Their incorruptibility means they always
merit trust, but the judges must guide the executioners.
Kyriotates: Confusing and disturbed, they immerse
themselves too much in their hosts. They need a fixed
point of view to know what the truth is.
Mercurians: Keep a close eye on them. They spend
too much time enjoying themselves with mortals, and
not enough time teaching mankind the truth.
Balseraphs: No greater abomination exists in the
Symphony than our Fallen brethren. They take the truth
and twist it beyond recognition. Expose their lies, then
destroy them!
Djinn: By lying to themselves about their true feelings,
they punish themselves more than we ever could, but
they are exceedingly dangerous nonetheless.
Calabim: Reeking of Discord and living only to
destroy, truth matters not to them. Use extreme caution.
Habbalah: They have actually convinced themselves
that they still serve God! If only they could be made to
see the truth . . . but they are almost beyond redemption.
Lilim: They are honest only when forced to be. They
deceive themselves and others about the nature of their
bargains; they claim to trade for equal value, but they will
He, cheat and steal just like any other demon.
Shedim: Foul, violent monsters, sowing chaos in the
Symphony. Try to undo their damage by
revealing them for what they are.
Impudites: This is what happens when a
Mercurian loves his work too much. They lie
with pleasant smiles; they can be more harmful than a Balseraph, because no one recognizes
them for what they are.
SERAPHIM
"For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy
ways. They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot
against a stone."
-Psalms 91:11-12
Only a step below the Seraphim in divinity, the Cherubim
have always been much more active on Earth, protecting all
God's creations. No Choir works harder (only the Malakim are
their equals in relentless devotion to duty). If humans knew just
how much the Cherubim have done for them, they would occupy the most privileged station in angelic lore.
Cherubim are the guardian angels of myth, the heavenly
hosts who surround and protect God's chosen ones. Yet older
myths portrayed them more accurately - as fierce, even monstrous, beasts who would devour anyone who threatens that
which they protect. Novalis and Blandine, the two greatest
Cherub Archangels, reflect the "kinder, gender" Cherubim of
modern times, for they are die friendliest toward Man. The
relendess David is of the older breed; he was a Cherub, guarding civilization, before the Choir of Malakim was created.
Some Famous Cherubim

Anafiel, who brought the prophet Enoch to Heaven;
Christopher, Archangel of Children; Jophiel, a Servitor of
Judgment who guards die gates of Eden; Kerubiel, who died
rather than surrender to Lucifer and so was one of the first
angels killed in the Revolt; Raphael, Archangel of Knowledge;
Ridwan, who admits Archangel Khalid's Soldiers to Heaven;
Zadkiel, Archangel of Protection; Zephon, who was responsible
for keeping tabs on Lucifer when die War began.
NAMES
Like Seraphim, the Cherubim are partial to Enochian true
names, often ending in "-el." Like Mercurians, on Earth the
Cherubim use names appropriate for their duties; especially
those evocative of guardianship. Unlike Mercurians, the
Cherubim prefer names that won't stand out.
Sample Cherubim Names

Typical true names include Aluriel, Hutriel and Yrian.
Earthly names often used include Angus, Howard, Leal, Pat,
Parker, Raymond, Salik, Sergey and Ursula.
TRADITIONAL DUTIES
Unlike other Choirs, Cherubim are rarely sent to Earth as
"free agents." Other angels may simply wander around looking
CHE R U BI M
for trouble, but a Cherub would feel uncomfortable with

such an open-ended assignment. Give a Cherub something to protect, and he is content; his purpose is served.
Cherubim are seldom leaders, and because their activities are more often defensive than offensive in nature, it's
easy to take diem for granted. But they are vital to every
Archangel's plans. There are always individuals, mortal
and celestial, who are particularly important in the War
at any given time. Whenever possible, Cherubim will be
assigned to watch over an Archangel's most important
resources. This can include other
angels! These "guardian angels"
must protect their charges
from all harm, mundane
and diabolical (and sometimes even from the machinations of other angels)!
Not everyone who will play a
role in the Symphony is obvious, and not every battle is won
with weapons. For example, an
author of children's books
whose work affects thousands
of innocent mortal minds can
be very important. If that author were in danger of succumbing to her fate, she might meet a new friend, who
would talk her out of signing with the agent who wants
her to "move on" to writing true-crime novels.
The Cherubim don't like to think of themselves as
hunters - that's a Malakite's role, and Cherubim can't
stand to see the objects of their attunement harmed.
Despite this attitude, they do excel as trackers, especially
of those who harm their charges (see p. 30). The
Cherubim are known not always affectionately as
"the Hounds of Heaven."
CELESTIAL DUTIES
Cherubim are the gatekeepers and sentinels of
Heaven. Malakim are posted to cathedrals, too, but their
presence is more military than custodial. A Cherub will
contentedly watch the same spot for centuries, pleased
with his purity of purpose.
Anyone visiting an Archangel's cathedral probably will
be greeted by a Cherub, and a Cherub will escort him
into his Superior's presence. In Heaven, Cherubim make
up the largest part of an Archangel's retinue. With their
infinite patience and devotion, they will watch whatever
they're told to watch, and note everything.
If an Archangel is worried about a particular Servitor such as when an angel is unusually dissonant he may
assign a Cherub to watch tbat angel's Heart. If the angel
risks becoming Outcast, or Falling, that Cherub may be
dispatched to rescue him, or to drag him back to Heaven.
TYPICAL ROLES
Cherubim take Roles that will facilitate their protective
duties, but not all their Roles are overtly protective in
nature. Certainly, a Role as a professional bodyguard can
be awfully convenient, but it's also a bit obvious. You'll
find a lot more Cherubim working as janitors. Janitors
can go everywhere, and they're rarely noticed, allowing
them to unobtrusively stay near the object of their
attunement. And unlike some other angels, a Cherub
won't consider it beneath his dignity to mop floors.
Private investigator, bounty hunter and photographer
are also jobs that give Cherubim
the freedom to travel and loiter in
places most people shouldn't. There
are many other human occupations
that satisfy a Cherub's need to protect
and serve; police officer is an obvious
one, and some Cherubim become soldiers,
but they prefer emergency services (EMT, fireman, ambulance driver), or professions that
give them a custodial role (park ranger,
search-and-rescue worker, lifeguard or EPA
scientist). Less glamorous, but equally
important, are teachers, crossing guards,
nurses and other "care-giving" professions.
CHERUBIM AND HUMAN SOCIETY

The Cherubim like human society almost as much as
the Mercurians, but they are frustrated by the moral
decay that has subverted Western civilization. Those
who were unable to see the underlying hypocrisies (or
willing to overlook them) fit in very well in America during the notoriously staid 1950s. In their opinion, a nice
little house in the suburbs with a two-car garage, a stable
job with a big company, a loving wife, two children, a big
friendly dog and church every Sunday were about as
close to Heaven on Earth as mortals were likely to get.
The duties of the Cherubim don't leave them much
time to indulge in the countless diversions offered by
modern man. Those who do are very fond of movies
(particularly love stories), but are dismayed at the infidelity and duplicity that seem acceptable in mature relationships. Cherubim love video games. No one is sure
exactly why this is, but it is a nearly universal passion.
When they have the time, they can sit for hours playing
the same game over and over again to get it "just right."

OF RESONANCE
The Cherubim resonance allows them to attune themselves to any physical object, including people and places.
29
CHERUBIM
Experienced Cherubim can also use their resonance to

learn more about their charges than listed on the
Cherubim Check Digit Results chart (In Nomine, p. 96).
At a -2 to their target number, Cherubim can use their
resonance to determine whether anything or anyone else
has taken a special interest in the object of their attunement. For example, they can find out if a Djinn is also
attuned to their subject, or if the subject is being watched
by any celestial or mortal agency. This includes indirect
observation, such as by bugs or video cameras. A Cherub
must declare that this is the information he is looking for
before invoking his resonance. On a successful resonance
roll, consult the Special Use at -2 Penalty check digit chart:
Very perceptive Cherubim can divine a little more
information about the object to which they are attuned.
With a -4 to the target number, a Cherub can spend a
turn focusing on the object of an attunement and invoking his resonance. If successful, the check digit determines the amount of information the Cherub gains (note
that information about people, if applied to a celestial
with a Role, will only gain information about the Role).
Consult the Special Use at -4 Penalty check digit chart.
Self-Sacrifice
A Cherub who is present when his charge is attacked
in any fashion may make a Dodge roll (plus his Celestial
Forces) to interpose himself between his charge and the
threat. If this roll is successful, he becomes the target of
the attack, but still gets his own normal defense roll.
(Think of a knight jumping in front of the prince in battle, and then trying to catch the blow on his own shield.)
A Cherub adds his Celestial Forces to any skill roll that
is made in direct protection of his charge, including his
attacks on anyone immediately attacking or threatening
his charge, and his own defenses against such an attacker. Again, this is the GM's decision. A Cherub who really
does nothing except watch and defend his charge will
receive a bonus on almost everything he does, as is
appropriate for Heaven's guardians. But the bonus does
not apply to a preemptive strike, or to retribution against
someone who has already destroyed his charge.
Nemesis
Another reason that Cherubs are such effective
guardians is their ability to hunt down those who injure
their charges. This makes Hellspawn wary of attacking a
Cherub's charges just to harass him. It can backfire. It
also means that if a demon needs to kill someone the
Cherub protects, it will probably attack the Cherub first.
That's fine with the Cherub.
Should the object of a Cherub's attunement be
destroyed or severely harmed (GM's decision), he will
know something of when and how it happened, and may
attempt a Perception roll to link to the antagonist
CHERUBIM
through the Symphony. (Note that unless the check digit

is 6, he does not know exactly who he is linked to - he still
has to find them!)
If he makes this roll, or if he actually observed the
destruction, he then has the option of attuning himself to
the antagonist, then and there, without physical contact.
But the Cherub is under no requirement to protect that
person! Otherwise, this "nemesis attunement" follows all
the regular Cherub attunement rules, but is not affected
by any of the special Superior attunements (especially
that of Janus)! This attunement replaces the one to the
original charge only if the charge was actually destroyed.
The Cherub will cure his note of dissonance (and lose
the new attunement) if the malefactor is punished appropriately. If the transgressor is a demon, then destroying
it, or at least its vessel, is always appropriate. But when
dealing with a mortal, too much punishment can be as
bad as too little. A murderer deserves death; the child
who broke the relic in the museum might be better
served with a good spanking . . .
A nemesis attunement is always optional on the
Cherub's part. He may end it at any time without roll or
penalty. Note: if the Cherub has the ability to repair his
original charge, he can and should choose to do so.
Saving his charge is more important than retribution,
and will also cure his dissonance. However, this is a question of individual judgment and roleplaying.
Clever mortal players will immediately think of ruses for instance, attuning to a pop bottle and tricking a
demon into breaking it, thus acquiring a permanent line
on him. But a Cherub would never think of this, and
would react to theidea in horror. A Cherubic attunement
is not a matter of convenience; it becomes a part of the
CHERUBIM
CHECK DIGIT RESULTS
(SPECIAL USE AT -2 PENALTY)
1 .... Ifou only have a vague sense if someone else
is watching your attuned object.
2.... You know for certain if someone else is
watching it.
3 .... You have a good idea of who is watching it.
4 .... YOVL know exactly who is watching it.
5 .... You know exactly who and to what extent
someone is watching your attuned object.
(This includes the location of bugs and cameras.)
6 .... You know exactly who, to what extent and
why someone is watching it.
CHERUBIM
CHECK DIGIT RESULTS
1.... You learn the name of the object of attunement, or its basic function.
2 .... You learn basic facts about a person (age, profession, city of residence, etc.), the name of
the person who owns an object or the significance of a place.
3 .... You learn the above, plus a person's basic personality, an object's advanced functions and
the major events of the last year at a place.
4.... You learn the above, plus a person's basic
desires, the last year of an object's history and
the major events and visitors of the last five
years at a place.
5.... You learn the above, plus a person's basic
fears, die last five years of an object's history
and every detail of its operation, and the
major events and visitors of the last 10 years
at a place.
6.... You learn the above, plus every significant
event in the lifespan/history of the person,
place or thing.
Cherub, more important to him than his own life. And if

he did it, he'd get two notes of Dissonance - once just
because the bottle broke, once because he acted against
its best interests by arranging for its destruction!
Earthly Location
Heaven's hounds can't always rely on their resonance
to hunt things down - they might need to find something in order to attune themselves to it. When attuned,
though, the resonance is almost fail-safe. Even at the
lowest check digits, a Cherub can use triangulation to get
a very good idea of an attuned item's corporeal location.
This does not work in the higher realms, of course.
Similarly, a Cherub attuned to two or more locations
can use those attunements to figure out his own location,
provided the attuned locations aren't close to each other
in relationship to the Cherub's distance from all of them.

A Cherub's self-image is a direct reflection of his devotion to duty. Because of this, dissonance strikes the
Cherubim particularly hard. A dissonant Cherub may
become depressed, and a severely dissonant Cherub will

lose his self-confidence. In turn, this will lead to his being
afraid of attuning himself to new subjects, as he might let
them down. From here, it's a downward slide to apathy
and Falling. A Cherub who starts accumulating dissonance will try to convert dissonance to Discord as soon
as possible; better to admit failure and do penance than
allow themselves to sink even lower.
There are a few things Cherubim can do to erase dissonance. If they earned dissonance for letting an object
of attunement be destroyed, making the object whole
again will remove the dissonance. It's hard to do much
about a living being who's been killed, though. When a
Cherub earns dissonance for trying and failing to erase
an attunement, it's the attempted "betrayal" of the subject that causes harm. In such cases, the Cherub can erase
the dissonance by taking elaborate precautions to ensure
that he leaves the subject in a better state than when he
tried to remove the attunement, and then making a second attempt. On a second failure, he's stuck with both
notes of dissonance and the attunement, until he tries yet
again. Eventual success removes only one dissonant note.
For example, if a Cherub is attuned to a person and
unsuccessfully tries to remove that attunement, he must
improve that person's situation, whether it be by arranging for a better job, finding a love match for the lonelyhearted, remedying whatever personal problems are currently plaguing him or removing a long-term threat to
his safety. For someone living in a crime-ridden neighborhood, for instance, the Cherub might find a way to
help them move to a better area.
If a Cherub earns dissonance for betraying his
Superior, his friends or his own morals, he can shed the
dissonance only by remedying whatever harm he has
done by his betrayal and receiving forgiveness from those
he let down. It's often easier for a Cherub to receive forgiveness from his Superior than from himself.
TOUCHY SITUATIONS
The greatest danger to a Cherub is an ill-thought
attunement. Flis resonance can be very convenient for
"keeping tabs" on things, but a Cherub becomes devoted
to whatever he has attuned himself to. He becomes
honor-bound to protect it; he will suffer if it is harmed,
and earn dissonance if it's destroyed. Only a foolish
Cherub uses his resonance as a celestial locator for a foe,
or attunes himself to more objects than he can defend.
A Cherub doesn't have to be attuned to someone to
suffer dissonance. A Cherub's word is his bond, and
promising to do something and failing can inflict dissonance as well. Likewise, pledging loyalty to a cause and
then abandoning it violates a Cherub's steadfast nature.
For this reason, they choose their friends carefully, and
31
CHERUBIM
they are almost as careful as Malakim about making oaths

(though a Cherub doesn't care much about wording; it's
the spirit of the oath that matters). A Cherub must carefully consider all his obligations, and his ability to fulfill
them, in order to avoid painful conflicts of duty, or
worse, an inability to make good on his word.
SPECIAL DISCORDS
Life-Linked Attunement (Corporeal)
When an object to which a Cherub is attuned is damaged, he will feel the loss as a sharp pain in his gut, inflicting Body hits equal to the number of Forces destroyed
plus the level of this Discord. If the object is destroyed (or
a living being is killed), damage is equal to the total
Forces lost times the Discord's level!
Overzealous (Celestial)
A form of externalized Paranoia in which the Cherub
becomes convinced of imaginary threats to his charges.
He loses his perspective, and will take preemptive action
against perceived threats before they pose any real danger. The Cherub must spend a minimum of twice the
Discord's level in hours per day hovering near objects of
his attunement and looking for threats. (Tariel, in the A
Bright Dream segment of In Nomine, was definitely
Overzealous!) Word-bound angels sometimes display a
form of this Discord, spending the time seeking out and
striking at threats to their Word that only they can see.
Ritualized Responsibilities (Ethereal)
32
A Cherub with this Discord has lost confidence in his

innate sense of duty. In order to reassure himself that he
is performing his duties correctly, he must engage in ritual acts that serve no real purpose other than to make the
Cherub feel better. The complexity and inconvenience
imposed by the rituals increases with the level of the
Discord, and if the Cherub wants to forgo them, he must
make a Will roll at minus the level of Discord.
Ritualized Responsibilities/1 might entail compulsively straightening picture frames, or always making sure
that he tips waitresses exactly 15 percent - not a penny
more or less. Ritualized Responsibilities/3 will force the
Cherub to waste significant amounts of time, and probably be noticeable to others counting his steps out loud,
for instance, or breaking into cars without a handicapped
sticker to drive them out of handicapped parking spaces.
At level 6, the Ritualized Responsibilities will be a constant burden that impedes any interactions with others,
such as never facing east or traveling in an eastward
direction, or refusing to speak to anyone without first
singing the Song of Harmony. Other angels sometimes
gain this Discord, as well.
CHERUBIM
Trenchant Bond (Ethereal)

A Cherub with a Trenchant Bond is unable to stray
very far from things to which he is attuned widiout
acquiring dissonance for a perceived betrayal of his duty.
The Cherub must stay within line of sight, or within a
number of yards equal to the Cherub's Forces, of anything to which he is attuned, or else begin taking dissonance! The level of the Discord determines how quickly
dissonance accumulates when the Cherub is separated
from his subjects:
Level
Time
Level
Time
1
I/day
4
I/hour
2
1/12 hours
5
1/10 minutes
6.
. .1/1 minute
3 .
. . 1/6 hours
A Cherub with Trenchant Bond and more than one
attunement obviously has a serious problem, unless he
can keep them all within range!
WORDS
Cherubim are assigned Words that give them custodianship over some aspect of the Symphony. Few Words
are especially "Cherubic" in nature - what makes a
Cherub's Word special is the way that he serves it. The
Seraphim Council, mindful of how devastating failure is
for Cherubim, is very careful to assign Words no broader than the Cherub's ability to maintain and defend.
Dreams, Flowers and Children are examples of Words fit
only for Archangel Cherubim. Among lesser Words
defended by Cherubim are Pets, Ships, Archaeology,
Factories, Subways and Mountain Climbers.
CHERUBIM AND SUPERIORS

Blandine: These Servitors must take care to protect
someone secretly, since even a glimpse will make the person realize they've seen the angel in their dreams. Using
multiple vessels is one way to avoid this problem.
David: Stone and Cherubim resonate - David was a
Cherub before becoming one of the first Malakim.
Anyone attempting to use a weapon on the same round
that they successfully resist these Servitors' attunement
must lower its Accuracy by 6 minus the check digit of
their Strength roll.
Dominic: They are the true Hounds of Heaven; their
attunement excuses them from any duty toward a charge
who is a subject of inquiry. They can track him down,
restrain him, and bind him over for trial and potential
execution, all without incurring dissonance. However,
their protective talents still function with respect to such
a charge, and few of Dominic's Cherubim would let anyone except the Inquisition harm one of their charges.
Eli: This Choir Attunement requires a resonance roll.

The standard check digit table on In Nomine, p. 96, can
then be used on the item, or to locate its creator by substituting "creator" for "attuned object" on the table.
Gabriel: These Servitors often attune themselves to
the parties betrayed by those they hunt.
Janus: These angels must be careful not to abuse their
enthralled attunements. The Choir Attunement does not
exempt them from their normal dissonance rules.
Jean: The Archangel of
Lightning uses these servants
to maintain instant, nearly
foolproof lines of communication. Often he will precisely direct his Cherubim in
whom they will attune to.
Jordi: These angels can
use a big cat vessel to quickly
and quietly dispatch humans,
but their usual urban setting
means they'll still have to find
a quiet way to dispose of the
corpse.
Laurence: Also a favored
Superior for Cherubim, the
Archangel of the Sword
attracts them with his nononsense manner.
Marc: Their "true ownership" attunement makes
these Servitors truly excel in
real-estate transactions. They
can clear up boundary-line
disputes - or penetrate layers
of holding companies - with
a touch.
Michael: Their attunement - to know when, barring celestial intervention,
the attuned party will die
within 24 hours - doesn't
identify the nature or exact
timing of the fatal stroke.
Acting on its warning,
though, a Cherub of War can alter events to keep the
attuned person alive.
Novalis: These angels often have very powerful vessels, to better allow them to suffer others' wounds.
Yves: The Cherubim of Destiny and War share similar Choir Attunements, but those of Destiny know when
deadi is supposed to occur. They also can alter events to
protect their charges.
THE CHERUB PERSPECTIVE

Seraphim: The purity of their devotion to the truth is
admirable, but they tend to lack sympathy for those who
must live with their proclamations.
Ofanim: Their freedom of thought and action is as
frightening to us as our single-mindedness must be to
them. We are called to very different duties and play very
different roles in His plan, but it is hard not to admire
them . . . preferably from afar.
Elohim: It is enough for us to know that something must be done, but it is within their power to
know why it must be done, which must be a terrible
burden. To actually feel the struggle as acutely as
they do, without losing sight of your duty, is a conflict that we could never resolve.
Malakim: They are as devoted as we, but in an
entirely different way. When we work together,
there is no better partnership, but when our goals
conflict, the results can be tragic.
Kyriotates: We have faith that they serve a purpose in His plan, and we wait patiently for the day
when that purpose will be made clear to us.
Mercurians: Fascinating. They tend to be distracted by minutiae, but their insight into the mundanes is indispensable. Those who aren't busy
preening their vessels can make useful allies.
Balseraphs: Terrifying. They have the power to
confound the truth, which can obscure your duty
and divert you from your purpose. Without purpose
we are lost.
Djinn: Weep for the Fallen. They are tortured by
loss of purpose and pretend not to care, but we
understand their conflict better than our brethren.
Calabim: Very, very dangerous. Be wary of these
servants of chaos or they will undo all we defend.
Habbalah: Like us, they are wholly devoted to
their purpose, but that purpose is as dire as it is
insane. These foul creatures have Fallen so far that
they have forgotten the Fall. The Malakim are right;
they must all be destroyed.
Lilim: Perverse and foul. They seduce and distract, leading mortals away from the bright path of
their destiny. Close yourself to their insidious lies or
your purpose will be lost to a bad bargain.
Shedim: Even worse than the Lilim, because they
don't bother dickering for your soul. They simply take it,
blacken it and move on. Destroying them without harming their host is difficult but worthwhile.
Impudites: The Takers are very dangerous to those we are sent to protect.
Stay alert. Their taint is subtle, but vile.
33
CHERUBIM
earances, they four had one likeness, as

if a wheel had been in the midst of a wheel. When they went,
they went upon their four sides; they turned not as they went,
but to the place whither the head looked they followed it; they
turned not as they went. And their whole body, and their backs,
and their hands, and their wings, and the wheels, were full of
eyes round about, even the wheels that they four had."
-Ezekiel 10:10-12
The Ofanim, known also as Thrones, Galgillim or most commonly - the Wheels, are God's fastest creatures. They embody the dynamic, primal energy of the
universe. Try to restrain an Ofanite at your peril! Nearly
every Ofanite has at least one Song of Motion.
Some angels believe the Ofanim are heedless of their
duties, and indifferent to the work of others. They're
wrong; the Ofanim are as dedicated as every other Choir
to Heaven's cause. They just don't believe convictions
can be adequately expressed in words; actions count!
Janus and Gabriel are the greatest Ofanim in Heaven,
both of them ancient, powerful beings, and both misunderstood and often mistrusted by their peers.
Some Famous Ofanim

Ambriel, Angel of Last-Second Rescues; Galgaliel,
who has represented the Ofanim for centuries in the
Seraphim Council; lo, the Angel of Dreams of Flight;
Ofaniel, leader of the Wheels who are responsible for
conveying messages between cathedrals in Heaven;
Orifiel, Uriel's highest-ranking Ofanite, who Fell when
Uriel was recalled; Raziel, Angel of Mysteries (things
which keep mankind questing for knowledge); Rikbiel,
Angel of Ascension (who transports select mortals to
Heaven in a chariot of fire); Sandalphon, the fastest
Ofanite in Heaven; Tychagar, Angel of Heavenly
Communication, in charge of making sure all Archangels
can easily communicate with their Earthly Servitors.
NAMES
Ofanim like short names quick to say and easy to pronounce often in Heaven as well as on Earth.
Sample Ofanim Names

\m i
Typical true names include Arab, Gil, Haya, Llew and

Zaza. Earthly names often include Bess, Dean, Flo, Rick,
Tim and Wes. If forced to use surnames, they indulge
their Wheel sense of humor: East, Upp, Jett, Wheeler ...
OFANIM
TRADITIONAL DUTIES
TYPICAL ROLES
Other Choirs do things thoroughly, thoughtfully, creatively or subtly. Ofanim do things quickly. This is not to
say an Ofanite can't be thorough, thoughtful and creative
(subde is difficult), but their primary virtue is speed.
They perform their tasks with consummate speed and
skill, and they never complain about being overworked.
Ofanim are most often used as messengers. They
understand how to move things quickly and efficiently they are transportation specialists who can set up a supply line overnight, and in the information age they have
a real knack for networking. If you want an assembly line
to run efficiently, or an organization to run smoothly, let
an Ofanite draw up the flowchart - just
don't let him actually manage it!
Ofanim also make excellent navigators, and in this capacity, they
often act as guides. The best
way to learn a new territory is
to have an Ofanite show you
around; just make sure to
fasten your seat belt!
While not usually combat
monsters, the Ofanim resonance gives them a definite
edge in battle; an Ofanite
devoted to combat can be deadlier than any Malakite! The war
hosts of Heaven are made up mostly
of Malakim, but there are many, many
Ofanim among their number.
Superiors usually include Ofanim in a group when they
have a specific goal in mind that requires immediate
action. It is unwise to give Ofanim long-term assignments, or assignments which require subtlety. Patience is
not an Ofanim virtue.
In the old days, the Ofanim were most often messengers of one kind or another, though some were soldiers,
tinkers and sailors. The fast-paced modern world offers
them many other options, particularly in an urban environment. Few Ofamin enjoy maintaining Roles; they seldom have one above level 3. Any Role that lets them
travel and doesn't require much in the way of maintaining social ties is ideal: bounty hunter, private investigator,
truck driver, cycle-gang member, bush pilot, wilderness
guide, photojournalist. . . just to name a few.
A lot of earthbound Ofanim are pizza-delivery men.
Pizza men are ubiquitous and have a reason to be almost
anywhere, so it is a useful Role and gives them a reason
to keep moving. No Ofanite has ever had to discount his pizza for failing to deliver on time.
Cab driving is another ideal Role. Cabbies
are expected to know their way around the
city and get from point 'A' to point 'B' as
fast as possible. No sweat; it's in their
blood. Ofanim cabbies are just as rude and
pushy as the mundane ones. Being expected to run lights and ignore lane markings is
a sweet deal by Ofanim standards.
Soldiers and sailors still get plenty of
opportunity to travel, but Ofanim in the
military will only be content in elite, rapiddeployment forces. Ofanim with a taste for battle do better as mercenaries than regular soldiers.
CELESTIAL DUTIES
Ofanim do much the same thing in Heaven that they
do on Earth: carry messages and act as guides. Some
cathedrals are so vast that only the Ofanim assigned to it
really know where everything is. Heaven also has some
wild, unexplored places, and there are times when
Archangels need to send someone into those regions.
Nearly always, their first choice for such a task will be an
Ofanite. And because they are so fast, and can find their
way around unfamiliar territory, Ofanim also have the
unpleasant duty of bearing the occasional communication to Hell and back. (This assumes the errand involves
only carrying a message and possibly a reply; if there's
actual negotiating to be done, someone else will go.
Ofanim do not make good diplomats.)
OFANIM AND HUMAN SOCIETY

The breakneck pace of the modern world suits the
Ofanim perfectly. They feel right at home on the streets
of cities that never sleep, like New York and Chicago.
Hustle and bustle are second nature to these angels, who
are wound tighter than margin traders.
The Ofanim have loved cars since the Model T. Most
angels blame Vapula for the automobile; the Ofanim
believe it to be Jean's creation and are grateful for it.
Whenever they can, they cruise with the top down at
speeds only an immortal would dare. Few Ofanim have
to rely on public transportation. Some even bond themselves to their vehicles, turning them into prized artifacts.
Prisons frighten the Ofanim. The whole concept of
incarceration chills them. They definitely favor the death
penalty over life imprisonment, seeing it as the more
merciful option. Unfortunately, they have a similar view
of relationships . . . Ofanim can be as loving, passionate
and loyal as any other angel, but what humans consider
"commitment," Ofanim consider "entrapment." Angels
aren't usually encouraged to marry humans, even to
maintain a Role, but with Ofanim it would be a disaster.
OFANIM

OF RESONANCE
Ofanim are at their most brilliant and most reckless
when in motion. To watch the Wheels spinning at maximum speed is to be awed by their grace and terrified by
their raw energy.
To better elaborate this concept, the definition of their
resonance as it applies to Agility and Agility-related rolls
has been modified. These rolls must involve the Ofanite,
himself, moving in some fashion - and movement-related rolls not linked to Agility can benefit from their resonance as well. In game terms, this means the resonance
can be used with non-Agility-based Skills such as
Driving, but won't apply to Agility-based Skills such as
Throwing. The Game Master rules in doubtful cases.
For consistency, the resonance will still be described as
relating to Agility.
A successful resonance roll allows an Ofanite to add the
check digit to the target number of an Agility-related
roll, as explained on In Nomine, p. 97. If the Ofanite
elects to make the resonance roll at a -2 penalty, he can
add the check digit to the Agility-based roll's check digit
(for success or failure), as well as the target number. In
effect, this allows Ofanim to take a far greater level of risk
than normal, even for them. (This cannot be combined
with the general risk modifier on In Nomine, p. 39.)
The results can be awesome, but failures are equally
spectacular, and much more likely to produce dissonance. Even the rashest Ofanite will only take this risk
when success is assured, or when he mtist succeed phenomenally.
Ofanim can use their resonance to move more quickly
in celestial form, but they can also move at superhuman
speed in their corporeal form. This movement is too fast
to follow, and because corporeal vessels weren't meant to
move at such speeds, it can be dangerous. By spending a
point of Essence and making a resonance roll, the
Ofanite moves a number of yards equal to his Celestial
Forces times the check digit almost instantaneously - this
does not take an action. If the resonance roll fails, the
angel takes Body hits equal to the check digit of the failed
roll, and may not try this trick again for an hour.
All Ofanim have a knack for direction, but some are so
attuned to the Symphony that they instinctively know
the shortest path to any destination - even figuratively!
Ofanim who make a resonance roll at -4 can use their
resonance to shorten the time needed to perform any
task. An Ofanite trying to research something will know
exactly what book to pluck off the shelves - and on a high
enough check digit, what page to turn to! Fixing a car,
hacking a computer system . . . the Ofanite's resonance
can find "shortcuts" for any task that can possibly be
36
OFANIM
completed more expediently. The exact game effects are

up to the GM, but as a rule of thumb, add the check digit
of the Ofanite's resonance roll to any other applicable
Skill, only for the purposes of determining how long it
takes the angel to finish the job. The check digit can also
be used as a divisor when determining how long a task
will take.
Note that some tasks have minimum times - preparing
a meal, for instance, can be done more quickly with
speedy kitchen techniques, but Ofanite resonance will
not make food cook faster!
ON EARTHLY MATTERS
On the Road
While turning passengers' hair gray and terrorizing
pedestrians of all stripes, Ofanim can perform minor
miracles behind the wheel of an automobile (see p. 119).
But as with other applications of their resonance, they
can only enjoy so much of a good thing.
A competent Ofanite often can - and will be tempted
to - cut travel times to 50 percent of normal or less. In an
automobile, a 50 percent reduction means the angel is
traversing pedestrian malls to avoid backups at red lights
and/or exceeding 150 mph on the interstate! Obviously,
slashing vehicular travel time too far will invite unwanted
attention from mortal "servitors of judgment" wearing
badges and driving black-and-white cars . . .
Fast Facts
Moving on foot or in celestial form, Ofanite speeds
lend some stealth benefits as well - but only to a certain
extent.
Any Ofanite in celestial form moving at a resonancebased miles per minute enjoys a -4 modifier on others'
chance to perceive him. He simply flits by too fast for
most to notice. Generally, the GM can rule that humans
won't perceive him, but other celestials along his path
should still get a roll.
Any Ofanite using his resonance-based "instant move"
in corporeal form is, indeed, effectively invisible along
his path of travel, and can seemingly disappear by ducking around a corner. But he can't safely open a door, window or the like while traveling at this speed - if he doesn't stop, he'll rip it from its frame and probably shatter it,
taking some small damage from fragments.
Example: Giliean the Ofanite is trying to sneak across a

parking lot. There are demons nearby; she can't spend
Essence! She has already applied her resonance to her
Move Silently Skill, but she also needs to get across the
parking lot quickly. She makes a second resonance roll at
-4 to move faster, and succeeds with a check digit of 5.
While the GM had already reduced her movement rate
for being stealthy, he rules that Giliean may add 5 yards
per round to this speed, as she doesn't have to stop and
look for the best shadows. She instinctively takes the
stealthiest route as she hurries across the lot.
Ofanim earn dissonance through inactivity, or by

stumbling. To reassert their nature, they must regain
their equilibrium and act. An Ofanite who earns dissonance for failing to act may erase it if he can immediately
- that very moment - undo what his inaction allowed to
occur. Example: An Ofanite sees an elderly woman stepping into a busy street, but doesn't stop her. He stands
idly by when he could have used his God-given speed to
avert harm to a (presumed) innocent. This is very unOfanite, and when the old lady is hit by a car, the Ofanite
takes dissonance. If she survives, the Ofanite could erase
the dissonance if he can immediately apply the Song of
Healing and heal her completely. He must also be able to
fix any collateral damage, including to the car!
An Ofanite who earns dissonance for failing a resonance-enhanced Agility-based roll can erase it with a second resonance-boosted attempt at the same action - this
37
OFANIM
must succeed with a check digit equal to or greater than

the failed roll's. A failed second roll will add more dissonance! A success that isn't spectacular enough to remove
the initial dissonance does not add more dissonance.
Repeated attempts can be made, but repeated failures
will add dissonance while a success more spectacular than
the initial failure will remove just the first point. Example:
Lia just used her resonance to give herself a +4 to the
check digit on a Skiing roll. She failed, badly, with a
check digit of 9. Besides probably taking Body hits, she
earns dissonance. If she's able to get up and try again, she
can erase the dissonance by repeating the same maneuver she just attempted, but she needs to succeed
with a check digit of 9 or higher! Less spectacular successes have no effect one way or
another, while more failures will
increase her dissonance.
an enclosed space! The level of the Discord, in yards, is

the radius of "personal space" that a Claustrophobe
requires. At level 2, an Ofanite will even have to avoid his
beloved cars, while above level 4 it becomes difficult to
stay inside buildings. Anyone can have Claustrophobia,
which is worth 1 point per level, but Ofanim get twice
the points, because it can cause them dissonance. Binding
or imprisoning a Claustrophobic Ofanite will eventually
send him screaming to Hell.
Combustible (Corporeal)
This Discord causes deterioration of an
Ofanite's corporeal vessel through
vibrations at high speeds. Any
time the Ofanite moves
quickly for an extended
period of time (a foot
chase, for example), his
vessel will actually
begin to smoke and
its physical features
will begin to melt. If
the angel doesn't
slow down, he will
take a number of
Body hits equal to
his Combustion level
each minute.
TOUCHY SITUATIONS
The most painful situation for
Ofanim is to be constrained.
They can't stand waiting in line.
They avoid any situation in
which they might have to wait on
someone else, which means they
don't work well in organizations,
especially tight, hierarchical ones.
Ofanim are not natural team players.
This is a problem when they have to
function as part of a team. When working with Ofanim, wise angels try to give
them as much leeway as possible, and never
assign them to any kind of static activity.
Ofanim are also notorious for taking risks, and it's
their ability to pull off foolhardy, death-defying stunts
that makes them what they are. But foolish risks can
result in dissonance; they must learn when it's worth
invoking their resonance and when it's not. The best way
to avoid failing is to become as skilled as possible Ofanim always try to perfect their Skills at any Agilitybased task. They also become very good at calculating
odds.
Most of all, Ofanim must recognize situations in which
they will be helpless, and avoid them. There are times
when nothing can be done about this, but an Ofanite
must try never to place himself in a no-win situation.
SPECIAL DISCORDS
38
Claustrophobia (Ethereal)
This is a variation of the Fear Discord (In Nomine, p.
87) which is particularly horrifying for Ofanim, because
it will cause them to take dissonance if they're trapped in
OFANIM
Hyperactive
(Celestial)
A Hyperactive Ofanite can't
stop moving. Ever. He cannot stand
or sit in one place, but must have an area
equal to the Discord's level in yards to move around in.
Otherwise, he becomes useless, a frantic, spastic cripple.
Given their resonance, this is more than just jitters; it
is downright unnerving. This Discord makes it very difficult for the angel to maintain a Role, because his hyperactivity is clearly unnatural. (He can make a Will roll, at
a penalty equal to Discord level, to suppress his Hyperactivity for a number of minutes equal to the check digit.)
Twitchy (Corporeal)
This Discord from In Nomine, p. 86, is a common
(and terrible) affliction among Ofanim.
WORDS
Ofanim are assigned Words that deal with action and
change. They like to keep the Symphony in motion, and
their Words reflect that. The angels of Highways, Radio,
Roller Coasters, Tornadoes and Travel are all Ofanim.
OFANIM AND SUPERIORS
THE PFANITE PERSPECTIVE
Blandine: The reason for Ofanim's ability to remain in

dreamscapes longer than other angels is that dreamscapes' constantly shifting nature means they move
around the angel. The ethereal realm, as a whole, appeals
to Ofanim for this reason; most of its components manifest their constant change in a form of motion.
David: The Ofanim who serve Stone must beware that
most interior walls have a non-mineral layer paper,
wood or paint - they must destroy to pass through.
Dominic: These servants see Discord in anyone within the angel's Celestial Forces in feet - but humans don't
suffer true Discord. Many mortal afflictions have effects
similar to those of Discord, but mortal afflictions are not
Discord, and are not detected by these angels.
Eli: These angels stay busy, giving an old man a little
more time here, a lost baby bird a better chance there.
They can't "turn back the clock" and resurrect the dead.
Gabriel: These hunters also automatically detect their
targets on sight, as do Fire's other Choirs.
Janus: These Ofanim may accept brief confinement
(up to their Forces in hours) in order to use their attunement to free others from confinement. Failure creates the
expected dissonance, of course.
Jean: Using their attunement disturbs the Symphony
in line with the damage done to the Ofanite's conductor.
Jordi: As they usually inhabit flying vessels, these
angels truly excel at traveling quickly, "as the crow flies."
With their resonance they can fly a straight line at top
speed indefinitely. Bird watchers may find this peculiar!
Laurence: The benefits of the Running skill may be
added normally to this attunement; note that it doesn't
apply when the angel is being pursued. These angels
often test the patience of the Archangel of the Sword.
Marc: This attunement requires that the angel personally escort the package. It modifies his resonance to
take into account the logistics of moving (for instance) a
tankful of dolphins when determining the best technique
and route.
Michael: These Ofanim are usually mighty fighters,
comparable to the Malakim. They favor hit and run and
hit again tactics. Running, with the intent of circling back
and striking again, does not generate dissonance for
Michael's Ofanim.
Novalis: Fewer Ofanim than might be expected serve
me Archangel of Flowers. It's not that they can't show
kindness; it's just that gardens and speed often don't combine well.
Yves: These Servitors often seem the ultimate trivia
masters. Knowledge clings to them like lint - random
and uncodified - and no one can ever really know what
fact or Skill they'll pull out next. Whatever it is, it can
usually be taken as accurate, though . . .
Seraphim: They've usually got good advice, but try to

get information from them in as few words as possible.
Let them get started on a lecture and you'll be listening
forever.
Cherubim: Single-minded, loyal, dependable, dull.
We admire their fidelity and respect their service, but
Lord, are we glad we aren't them!
Elohitn: Don't they ever get tired of being disaffected
and aloof? At least they aren't as judgmental as the
Seraphim. They really understand us, so they're easy to
get along with, and they're willing to try new things, so
they won't cramp your style. Don't expect them to act
thrilled or grateful, though.
Kyriotates: Now these are some interesting folk. Can
you imagine moving in six directions at once? That must
be an incredible sensation! In their own way, they're as
quick and versatile as us, but not as focused.
Malakim: They think we're trying to annoy them we're really trying to get them to lighten up! All work, no
play, makes Malakim obsessive and boring except when
they're killing people, and 720 fun at parties.
Mercurians: These angels know how to have fun, but
they spend too much time posturing. Style over substance doesn't get the job done. C'mon guys, humans are
important, but there are other things to see and do.
Balseraphs: They're dangerous, but only if you listen
to them. Clock 'em before they have a chance to open
their mouths, and they're just another Fallen punching
bag.
Djinn: Depressing, nasty, really unpleasant. You could
almost feel sorry for them, except they love wallowing in
self-pity. And when they aren't moping around, they're
dangerous. They're not very fast, but they're relentless,
so be careful if you have one stalking you.
Calabim: The very thought makes us shudder. All that
energy, turned inward . . . if they don't destroy things,
they tear themselves apart. They're like Ofanim with their
feet nailed to the floor. No wonder they're so vicious how can they stand resonating with entropy instead of
motion?
Habbalah: Creepy little psychos that always know
what buttons to push. They think they're angels? Run
far, run fast, before they get their hooks in your mind.
Lilim: They're cute, but don't taste the forbidden fruit.
Nothing will stop you in your tracks like a Geas. No
matter what she did for you, it won't be worth it.
Shedim: Cry for their victims. If the Malakim ever
mount a campaign to obliterate the Shedim, we'll be
right beside them.
Impudites: Cunning as Lilim and often less
noticeable, they rarely pose an overt threat, so
we don't worry about them too much.
O 39
OFANIM
ELG
IjL-iTJ
IRC POOJCRS
"Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor, and
evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice ..."
Ephesians 4:31
Often cold and seemingly aloof, the Elohim are unique
among angels in their carefully cultivated detachment.
They see the truth of the soul by freeing their reason if not their entire mind - of anything that would color
their perception, striving to transform themselves into
divine mirrors. This outlook can be very useful, but is
alien to most humans and even to celestials such as the
passion-fueled Ofanim.
In Heaven, the Elohim are represented by Jean, a
patrician technocrat whose demeanor is the Elohite ideal
- objective and rational, but not without its personal
quirks.
Some Famous Elohim

Camael, thefirstHabbalite - once the highest-ranking
non-Seraph in the Seraphim Council, he was the first
Elohite to Fall; Dokiel, Angel of Weights and Measures;
Haniel, a warrior Elohite, notable for his valor during
the Revolt; Johab, Angel of Salvation; Khalid, Archangel
of Faith; Lailah, the Angel of Conception, a Servitor of
Yves who records the destinies and fates of all mortals
before they are born; Mihr, the Angel of Mercy - a
Servitor of Dominic! - whose role is to ensure no angel
is sentenced too harshly; Sophia, who earned the Word
of Enlightenment for carrying on the work of her
destroyed Superior, Raphael.
NAMES
Elohim don't give much thought to names - a name
has only as much importance as you attach to it. To the
Elohim, they are designators, nothing more, even when
spoken in the celestial tongue.
Sample Elohim Names

. .,
i l l
L.,t I
\\J
Nearly any, whether true or earthly. The Elohim

would much rather be judged by their actions than their
names.
When dealing with mortals, they'll always pick a simple> pleasant name that fits the Role they are playing,
preferably one with no prejudicial associations attached.
ELOHIM
TRADITIONAL DUTIES
CELESTIAL DUTIES
Elohim can serve in many roles; an objective opinion is

useful in almost any situation. But their primary purpose
is to act as counselor. Every Choir recognizes the objectivity of the Elohim, which means they are trusted by
everyone. Elohim are not the flashiest angels; in fact,
they dislike disturbing the Symphony more than any
other celestial. But whenever there's a "gray area" to be
dealt with (and what earthly mission doesn't have gray
areas?), the Elohim are the ones who provide the best
and most sought-after advice. Other angels won't always
take an Elohite's advice, but they'll always listen to it.
Because of their detached reverence for the Symphony,
and dieir desire to leave it as God made it, Elohim are
most often employed where they can work subtly. If an
Archangel wants something done with a minimal
amount of disturbance, preferably with no one else
knowing celestials were involved at all, he'll put an
Elohite in charge. Elohim are also the best
angels to handle assignments that would
upset other angels; if an Elohite can see
the greater good in something unpleasant, he'll perform deeds with
equanimity that would distress other
angels to the point of dissonance.
For instance, an Elohite will not
hesitate to sacrifice one life to save a
dozen, even if that means taking the
one life himself. This is what frightens odier angels about the Elohim;
an Elohite will be cool, calm and collected as he smothers a man because his
Superior has explained how the death is
necessary in the "greater scheme of things."
The resonance of the Elohim makes them very
useful when dealing with unpredictable, inscrutable
humans. And Elohim work well paired with just about
any other Choir. An Elohite can warn a Seraph when a
subject is likely to lie, so the Seraph knows to apply his
resonance. An Elohite can warn a Cherub when someone is likely to threaten the Cherub's object of attunement. They can act as an interface between Ofanim and
those who can't keep up, and they not only know why
someone has done the deeds a Malakite detects, they
know under what circumstances he's likely to do them
again. An Elohite can find the best subjects for a
Kyriotate to possess, and an Elohite and a Mercurian
working together can learn more about a human than he
even knows about himself.
This ability means Elohim make excellent interrogators (even torturers). They also make good judges,
though they usually leave that role to the Seraphim.
Elohim serve an important role in celestial trials; a

Malakite will measure a defendant's character and a
Seraph can discern the truth of the matter, but only an
Elohite will determine the defendant's motives. If there
are any mitigating circumstances, the best testimony for
the defense will probably come from an Elohite.
There are many other tasks for Elohim in Heaven than
to help pass judgment on angels, though. They are counselors in Heaven as well as on Earth; even Archangels
(especially Archangels) need advice, and the wisest of them
have a few trusted Elohim Servitors who may always
speak their mind, even if it's to tell their Superior he's acting foolishly. Lesser angels need the advice of Elohim
too, and dissonant angels more than most.
Many Archangels appoint a cadre of Elohim to act as
"confessors" for Servitors who need guidance but fear
approaching their Superior directly. Confidentiality is not always guaranteed (and remember,
an Elohite can lie if ordered to!), but a
truly penitent angel who seeks Elohite
counseling can usually expect fair
treatment.
More important, Elohim have a
knack for figuring out what an
angel needs to do to rid himself of
dissonance. Some Elohim have
even become "missionaries," and
go looking for Outcasts in the
hopes of guiding them back to the
path of righteousness.
TYPICAL ROLES
Elohim often take similar Roles to those they
serve in Heaven. Elohim make good doctors, counselors,
psychologists, therapists and advisors of all kinds. They
perform well in environments where emotions run high,
providing the much-needed voice of reason. Elohim can
do nearly anything well, really, as long as they aren't
required to become emotionally involved. They can
work equally well in very social professions, doing anything from waitressing to diplomacy, and very technical
ones, such as accounting, engineering, and computer
programming.
The Elohim are not just good for support roles.
Because their resonance gives them the ability to see into
the hearts of mortals and read their emotions and motivations), they make excellent detectives. Michael's Elohim
are famous for their courage under fire, and those sitting
across from an Elohite who serves Marc should expect to
stay at the table until the deal is signed.
41
ELOHIM
Elohim are not chameleons, however. They rarely

make good artists, novelists or actors. Creativity and
imagination are not beyond them. They just don't come
easily. Likewise, they are rarely good journalists. Their
objectivity allows them to avoid opinionated writing, but
they don't have the desire to change society that drives
most of the best reporters. Most of them also are not very
good in combative roles while they may have the technical expertise, and they certainly have the necessary
level-headedness, they're much too meticulous.
Policemen and soldiers often have to trust their gut, and
for the objective Elohim, instincts are too fickle to be
relied upon.
ELOHIM AND HUMAN SOCIETY

Elohim like variety. There is no part of human society
that they particularly like or dislike, as a Choir, aside
from those things that are obviously harmful or diabolically inspired. Elohim accept humans as the free-willed,
complex beings they are, and regard every human invention as a product of God's greatest experiment, not to be
tampered with lightly. Their mission is to observe and
understand, and intervene only to remove celestial influences or, rarely, to change things for the better.
Elohim don't seek out things they find desirable, so
much as things they find ... interesting. Sporting events,
political rallies, religious revivals and other events where
emotions run high provide some of their best insights
into human nature. But they also appreciate humans who
seek the rational objectivity that they personify.
No one can argue philosophy like an Elohite, and they
like to explore human intellectual activities, participating
in everything from literary societies to Internet flame
wars (the Elohite will always be the one whose posts are
polite and rational, no matter what the provocation).
Some Elohim deeply admire Eastern meditation techniques. Zen and yoga masters can approach a tranquil
and ordered mental state similar to that of the Elohim.

OF RESONANCE
42
The basic use of an Elohite resonance allows him to

take a "reading" which gives him limited insight into the
thoughts, feelings, motivations and desires of a subject.
With a high check digit the resonance will even allow the
Elohite to know the subject's reaction to a given action.
(Though it won't divine the action(s) that would provoke
a given reaction.)
If the Elohite has time, he can conduct a more thorough examination that will allow him to predict far more
than how the subject will react to an action or two. By
spending a week or more observing a mortal and using
ELOHIM
his resonance at least three times each day, the Elohite

will begin to sense patterns in the subject's life that will
say a lot about where he has been and where he is going.
Once this foundation of familiarity has been established,
the Elohite needs to establish significant interaction with I
the mortal on at least three occasions to achieve a sympathetic state.
This interaction must allow the angel to question the
subject freely, so he will often have to befriend the sub- I
ject or work his way into the subject's life as a counselor
or analyst. Once a sympathetic state is achieved, the I
Elohite can spend a point of Essence to develop an
almost clairvoyant sense about the subject and how he
lives his life. By making a resonance roll he will know
where the subject is, what he is doing, how he feels about
what he is doing and what he is likely to do next. This
sense can be maintained as long as the angel doesn't use
his resonance for anything else, but will be broken if the
angel leaves the corporeal realm for any reason.
ON EARTHLY MATTERS
Elohim often find themselves at a strange crossroads.
As previously mentioned, their objective perspective
often reaches conclusions that would make other angels
blanch. In addition, their resonance makes them particularly well suited for finding subtle but terribly effective
ways to make these conclusions into fact. Yet at the same
time, their objectivity stems from a sense of God's
Symphony being perfect as is. What foolish hubris it
would be to impose the Elohite's perspective - no matter
how rational - over that of God himself!
The end result is that most Elohim, left to their own:
initiative, find the most subtle, least Symphony-disturbing way to manifest their goals on Earth. But even the
most inconspicuous Elohite can and will take extreme
measures when under orders from a superior (who, after
all, represents an aspect of God's will).
Under these conditions, an Elohite will prefer to use
his resonance to maneuver humans into accomplishing
his goals - this disturbs the Symphony less than other
methods. If a superior has ordered the angel to make sure
a porn-video store closes down for good - and make sure
the process sets an example for other peddlers of filth the Elohite could buy a gallon of gas, a Zippo and a cat
o' nine tails and do it himself. But he won't. He might
motivate some human crusader, even a murderous one.
He's even likelier to manipulate the store owner into
"seeing" the error of his ways and publicly expressing
remorse - by burning his own store down. But where
another angel might give up if he couldn't reform the
store owner, the Elohite won't hesitate to manipulate
him into a temporary, false feeling of self-sacrifice and
virtue . . . as long as it gets him to light the match.

Elohim who lose their way tend to lose their detachment, and may start to express their emotions in very
brief but intense bursts (dissonant Elohim have been
known to develop road rage). Dissonant Elohim may
work off a point per week by retreating to a state of total
calm. It is important to remember that the calm applies
to the Elohite, not necessarily his environment. While
many prefer to spend their retreat time in the wilderness,
libraries or monasteries, this isn't required. Some Elohim
find great personal peace in bustling places. An Elohite
could meditate while sitting on a Times Square park
bench, affecting nothing, just listening to the Symphony.
Subjectivity is the other major danger for Elohim. An
Elohite who earns dissonance for acting according to his
desires must restore the Symphony to the state it was in
before he imposed his will upon it. Sometimes this is possible; often it is not.
Example: James, an Elohite, has become quite fond of
a mortal named Cathy, though he's managed to keep
from showing it until now. When Cathy tells him that
she's been offered a job in another state, James subtly dissuades her from taking it, with insinuations and unintentional manipulation, rather than deliberate persuasion.
Nonetheless, he has allowed his personal feelings to
affect a mortal destiny, and he takes dissonance. To erase
it, he would have to get Cathy to reconsider her decision,
without simply talking her into taking the job after all.
Not an easy task - for an Elohite, working off dissonance
requires a great deal of finesse.
TOUCHY SITUATIONS
An Elohite requires a light touch. Trying to refrain
from taking sides is very difficult, especially when trying
to balance one's own nature at the same time as balancing one's influence on the world.
Elohim do have emotions (though many strive to strip
these away). They can express their emotions (and freely
fake them with Emote) without dissonance - but expressing emotion without letting it influence their reasoning
is very tricky.
Many risk losing their perspective if they become
overzealous in suppressing their feelings, so they hold
opinions as completely subjective as having a favorite
color. Many others fear letting their interior bias creep
into their exterior objectivity, so they attempt to cleanse
themselves of all potential for any bias.
Likewise, Elohim can form opinions, and express them
- they simply must be sure that their opinions are based
on wholly objective criteria, after gathering as many facts
as possible. Wise Elohim never trust the "obvious" conclusion.
Even when maintaining an "objective" perspective,

Elohim walk a fine line between objectivity and amorality, dispassion and heartlessness.
Some Elohim start rationalizing a little bit of subjectivity for "the greater good," allowing themselves some
private, selfish gratification when it "won't do any harm."
These Elohim, if they don't realize the slippery slope
they are on, will become increasingly emotional and
opinionated, and they may never quite realize exactly
when they transform from Elohite to Habbalite.
Some players of Elohim use the third person when
speaking in character. This will create a sense of detachment that is entirely appropriate.
ELOHIM
SPECIAL DISCORDS
Emotional Static (Ethereal)
The Elohite loses control of his resonance and will
start "picking up" information from everyone in the
immediate area, making it very difficult for the angel to
concentrate on anything but die voices in his head. An
Elohite suffering from Emotional Static receives a penalty to all rolls equal to the number of other people within
range of his resonance, up to a maximum penalty of die
Discord level.
Also, whenever he applies his resonance to someone,
he will receive information from a number of subjects
(within range) equal to the Discord's level, and be unable
to tell which data came from which person.
Empathy (Celestial)
When an Elohite with diis Discord fails a resonance

roll, he will pick up more of his subject than he intended.
Instead of reading thoughts and emotions, he experiences
them as if diey were his own, for a number of minutes
equal to 10 times the check digit. The angel doesn't actually think he is the subject, but he will have the same personality traits, which will most likely cause him to accumulate even more dissonance. A Will roll, at a penalty
ELOHIM
equal to the Discord's level, can suppress these emotions

for a number of minutes equal to the check digit.
Oversensitive (Ethereal)
Normally, the Elohim use their resonance to perceive
what others feel, and they distance themselves from it
with a practiced mask of objectivity. When an Elohite
develops this Discord, his protective barrier of reason
will fail from time to time, subjecting him to a terrifying
rush of emotions that would delight a Habbalite.
Whenever an Oversensitive Elohite fails a resonance
roll, he will be assailed by his subject's emotions. Fears
and anxieties will swell until they are overwhelming.
Even joy will seem terrible. The angel will be stunned for
a number of minutes equal to the check digit, and will be
unable to bring himself to attempt another resonance
roll for a number of hours equal to the Discord's level.
WORDS
There are many Words appropriate for the Elohim; in
fact, an Elohite can serve nearly any angelic Word, so
long as it can be served objectively and impersonally.
Major Words served by Elohim include Determination,
Teaching, Repentance and Guilt.
ELOHIM AND SUPERIORS

Blandine: If these Servitors attempt to improve their
default check digit, they use the better of the default or
the roll's result.
David: The Archangel of Stone is served by many
Elohim. A favored Role for these servitors is master or
teacher . . . whether of contemplative philosophy, barehanded combat techniques, or those schools that combine the two.
Dominic: Another favored Superior, Dominic will listen to carefully phrased dissent from an Elohite that he
would never tolerate in another servant.
Eli: Makers of relics and reliquaries, these are perhaps
the most welcome of those Servitors of Eli who are "on
loan" to other Archangels.
Gabriel: Charged with perhaps the broadest category
of cruelty to punish, these Servitors are left to their own
devices when it comes to ensuring that they don't overreact to wickedness.
Janus: Surprisingly, many Elohim serve the Wind.
Capricious acts don't generate dissonance if they are
truly done for no reason at all except to increase the
chaos that their Superior serves.
Jean: The computers they create work incredibly
quickly, and will store any amount of data between manifestations, making them the perfect storage site in
regards to security and accessibility. Veteran Elohim of
Jean can access all sorts of information wherever they go.
Jordi: These Servitors hold a - markedly deserved reputation for being even more "cold blooded" than others in their Choir. Actions that might curdle other
angels' sensibilities rarely cause an Elohite of Jordi to so
much as blink - provided his vessel even has eyelids.
Laurence: The Archangel of the Sword attracts relatively few Elohim. His passionately subjective outlook
warns many of them off. Those that do serve him find a
niche: it's not dissonant to follow orders, regardless of the
reasoning of the Superior behind those orders.
Marc: Natural merchants, made more so by the
Archangel of Trade's Choir Attunement, Elohim find a
natural home in this organization, and tend to advance
quickly to me celestial equivalent of a corner office.
Michael: Unlike Jordi's Elohim, these Servitors don't
register as cold-blooded so much as at peace with violence. They're devastating warriors, calmly walking into
a pack of demons and popping off rounds (beginning
with those they know will fight first, and leaving the gunshy ones for later, of course). A band of demons doubleteamed by the opposing styles of an Elohite and an
Ofanite of Michael could almost elicit sympathy from a
Malakite. Almost.
Novalis: Relatively few Elohim serve the Archangel of
Flowers. Many find it hard to reconcile her blanket con-
demnation of violence - particularly against demons and their objective natures. They don't endorse violence,
but they can't summarily dismiss it, either.
Yves: Many Elohim like to think that Yves represents
the archetypical Elohite, though he belongs to no Choir.
His ranks are full of Elohim, though.
THE ELOHITE PERSPECTIVE

The Elohim have no negative feelings toward any particular Choir, but they do have a general outlook on the
advantages and disadvantages of dealing with each:
Seraphim: We value their ability to see the truth; this
can be as important as knowing the reasons for that
truth. We hope they find our insights equally valuable.
Cherubim: Their dedication and goodness is beyond
reproach. It is unfortunate that they are incapable of
objectivity where the objects of their attunement are
concerned; misplaced loyalty has led many astray.
Ofanim: Act in haste, repent at leisure. They are the
most passionate of all angels, which makes them fascinating to observe. It can be difficult getting them to listen to our advice, however.
Malakim: They serve a grim but essential purpose.
Most of them respect the work we do, and believe their
own resonance tells them everything they need to know,
although they are willing to listen to us.
Kyriotates: They do not know true objectivity, but
they are uniquely gifted in their ability to hold multiple
perspectives. Truly getting to know a Kyriotate is a difficult, but rewarding task.
Mercurians: They are almost as varied as humans, and
sometimes almost as flawed. We understand that subjectivity is part of what they do, but find it hard to understand their ability for closeness to their subjects.
Balseraphs: Their lies pose no threat to those who
know the truth. . . but if you are not careful, they can
deceive even the most stalwart angel.
Djinn: We would help if we could, but their inner conflict is self-inflicted; only they can redeem themselves.
Calabim: Their violence and chaos is almost unbearable. Fortunately, they are unsubtle and easy to spot.
Habbalah: It is uncomfortable to think about them . . .
but sometimes it is valuable to contemplate the price of
passion. Without objectivity, this is what we become.
Lilim: We understand them better than most. Their
bargains are usually a bad deal; rarely are they able to
tempt us, but they should not be underestimated.
Shedim: There is little we can say about them, and
even less we can do. We usually try to undo their damage, and leave more direct measures to others.
Impudites: We spend much time foiling
their machinations. A mortal acting inconsistently may have fallen under their spell.
5
ELOHIM
HALAKIM
VIRTUCS
"Suffer not thy mouth to cause thy flesh to sin; neither say
thou before the angel, that it was an error: wherefore should
God be angry at thy voice, and destroy the ivork of thine
hands?"
Ecclesiastes 5:6
The Malakim are virtues embodied. They were not
created with the other Choirs, but came into being during Lucifer's rebellion. The noblest and purest angels,
led by Uriel, became a new kind of celestial, warrior
angels so resolute that they could not Fall. Since then,
they have been Heaven's first and last line of defense
against the diabolical hordes. In Heaven, they are represented by David and Laurence, two Archangels with very
different temperaments, but identical in their passion to
eradicate the forces of Hell.
Some Famous Malakim

Barbiel, Angel of Divine Wrath (a very ancient
Servitor of Jean); Ithuriel, the first Malakite to do battle
with Lucifer personally (and die); Orion, Angel of
Hunting, a Malakite of Purity who hunted many mythical beasts to extinction; Peliel, Angel of Righteous
Vengeance (a colonel in Laurence's ranks); Raguel,
Dominic's chief executioner; Sorush, another Servitor of
Judgment, who executes Fallen angels; Tarshish, Angel of
Wisdom, and the highest-ranking of Yves' Malakim;
Uriel, Archangel of Purity; Soldekai, Gabriel's chief lieutenant; Uzziel, another of Gabriel's lieutenants, said to
have been slain by Belial; Zuheyr, Angel of Cleanliness
(that which is next to Godliness).
NAMES
Malakim often take the names of virtues for true
names. If a Malakite 's true name doesn't fit earthly naming conventions, then on Earth he'll take the name of
someone he admires for embodying that virtue, often a
saint, king or hunter.
Sample Malakim Names

. ~
Typical true names include Annabella, Bronwen,
i /
Jochebed, Jubal, Timotheus, Tobit and Yamin.
if | Appropriate earthly names include Alexander, George,
\J
Katherine, Stephen, Ivan, Sterling and Paul.
MALAKIM
TRADITIONAL DUTIES
CELESTIAL DUTIES
Malakim are creatures of honor first, warriors second.

Malakim don't have much to do in the celestial realm.
They fight, not because they are born killers, but because
They were created to fight demons, who are scarce in
their honor demands that they oppose evil in every posHeaven and can rarely be brought to bay in Hell. Most
sible way.
Archangels' cathedrals are guarded by a few Malakim,
Every Malakite is dedicated from the moment of his
often the force used for quick strikes on Earth. They
creation to fighting evil in all its forms. Other angels may
rarely must act as police, but keep visitors on their best
investigate demonic plots, monitor the foe's activities and
behavior.
work to counter them without disturbing the Symphony
Seasoned Malakim train younger angels in the art of
too much, but when it's time to stop playing games they
divine warfare, especially in the Groves. As important as
send in the Malakim. No Choir is more feared by the
it is, few veterans can stand this duty for long. They
enemy; sometimes just the threat of facing Malakim will
would rather be down below, leading by example.
send demons scurrying for cover.
Malakim hate to be out of the action.
Every Archangel, even Novalis, has an elite cadre of
Malakim have an important role in angelic trials.
Malakim reserved for situations requiring extreme force.
While Seraphim are the judges, they always listen to the
These "rapid deployment forces" often destroy nests of
testimony of a Malakite who has applied his resonance to
diabolicals, sometimes rescue angels in trouthe accused. And when an angel is found
ble, or recover (or steal) important artifacts.
guilty of the most severe crimes, Malakim
Not every Malakite is a killing machine;
carry out the punishment.
some prefer cunning to large calibers.
But in one capacity or another, they
are always on the front lines of the
Next to the Kyriotates, Malakim
War, seeking evil to expunge.
are the angels most likely to have
Their talent for violence belies
no role. They do just fine as
the fact that die Malakite nature
drifters, wandering from town to
and resonance are not inherently
town, from one target to the
combative. Honor - the nobility
next. Despite that, they often
of souls both mortal and celestial
find positions in human society
- is what they measure; violence
that allow them to seek out and
is simply how they register their
punish sinners, mortal and celestial
disapproval.
alike. While soldiering would seem
Like sharks swimming in the pool
to be an obvious profession for
of humanity, Malakim can sniff out
Malakim, the constraints on this profesthe deceitful, depraved and psychotic in
sion are actually more limiting than a
any crowd of "upstanding citizens," and
Malakite would like. To be sure, there are many
often uncover many details related to their sins.
Malakim in the armies of the world, but they're more
They are invaluable in investigations that must unearth
secret sins. They can't automatically detect demons, but . . often MPs, military investigators or scouts than regular
V troops. They are fond of the Special Forces, though.
they can detect the signs of diabolical influence.
A much more natural role for Malakim is police offiOne use for Malakim that most would not think of cer. Especially as plainclothes detectives, they have access
especially Malakim themselves - is blackmail. When
to the dregs of society, and with skill and a few Songs
angels need to coerce information or force cooperation
from a mortal, they may call in a Malakite to confront they can do a little cleansing and get away with it. They
also use their resonance to ensure the police themselves
him with his darkest secrets. The Malakite might present
are not corrupt. Any role that allows lots of travel, and/or
a problem himself, though: their appreciation of self-disfrequent contact with people from all walks of life, suits
cipline limits their appreciation of mental persuasion.
them. While not on a specific mission, a little random
Malakim also serve a darker purpose that most angels
screening of the people he meets will inevitably reveal
don't like to think about - as Heaven's internal security.
someone needing a Malakite's divine justice. Thus,
Not only do they police themselves, but other angels,
Malakim often function as journalists, traveling salesmen
too. Most Malakim don't think of themselves as looking
for traitors among the Host; they protect their brethren and truckers, as well as bartenders, counselors and even
from corruption. The effect is the same; they deal with priests! (Some Malakim have administered their own
penance for what a worshiper didn't confess . . .)
dishonorable angels almost as ruthlessly as demons.
TYPICAL ROLES
47
MALAKIM
is important to them, not so much because

they're offended by rudeness, but because etiquette provides another framework for determining what's right. Malakim hate choosing
"the lesser of two evils," but they believe the
greater good is more important than individual
rights. Eastern philosophy is more appealing to
them in this respect.
Very few Malakim display much of a sense of
humor. They especially dislike levity at inappropriate times (of course, almost no time is
appropriate as far as they're concerned).
Malakim are also almost incapable of compromise. The need to do so to "get ahead" in
human society disgusts them. A Malakite will
stand by his opinion regardless of the consequences, and will have no respect for anyone
who won't do the same.

OF RESONANCE
MALAKIM AND HUMAN SOCIETY
, (}
J\
\_)
Malakim believe strongly in moral values. Without a

standard of behavior, how can one judge whether someone's actions are right or wrong? They hate relativistic
arguments, and are usually in favor of rules that draw
lines one should not cross. This makes them somewhat
reactionary, but they don't really care what the rules are
- if they are not diabolically inspired, are accepted by the
community as a whole and everyone knows them. They
do hate unjust laws. Civil disobedience isn't a Malakite's
style, but he understands and admires those who practice
it. They value all virtues: honesty, decency, charity,
courage, patience and everything in the Boy Scout Oath.
They approve of the Boy Scouts, too, and any other hierarchical organization that teaches moral values. Etiquette
MALAKIM
The Malakite resonance for honor provides a

great deal of information about people. Not
only does it tell a Malakite about someone's past
deeds, but it also tells him about the person's
values. They use their resonance to pick out
transgressors worthy of punishment, but also to
select potential servants, even Soldiers.
At a crime scene, a Malakite can pick the
guilty individual out of a crowd, and confront
him with details of his crime. Used in private
this ability can generate useful blackmail material, though most Malakim would rather force
cooperation the old-fashioned way. AMalakite's
resonance cannot detect another celestial
directly, but many celestials are involved in
greater deeds, for good and evil, than the average mortal. If someone's noblest deed in the past week
was killing an angel, or his most ignoble deed was
befriending a demon, then he might be a mortal, but you
can be sure the Malakite will find out quickly.
Malakim serve as Archangels' internal police for this
reason. Though most can't automatically detect dissonance, they know that (for instance) if firing a pistol was
someone's most ignoble act of late, this strongly suggests
an angel of Stone who's been dissonant.
ON EARTHLY MATTERS
Malakim don'? judge morality as part of their celestial
duty or Choir nature. They simply perceive how a person relates to the code of morality they believe in; in
other words, how selfless or selfish they have been.
This doesn't hinder them with demons - even the most

disciplined are paragons of selfishness - but can cause
great discomfort on Earth. They really advocate just societies because they really loathe working in unjust ones.
Hitler served as a prime example of the agonizing
restraint Malakim must sometime show. By an infinite
number of standards Hitler was evil - by all save the single standard that matters to a Malakite. Hitler strictly
adhered to his own grotesque sense of morality. Only in
this way did he survive with thousands of Malakim
clenching their teeth at the thought of his actions.
(Likely some Malakim would have traded a point of dissonance for der Fuhrer's head, if the diabolical schemes
that followed the Nazi initiative had not diverted them.)
On a smaller scale, Malakim often encounter "noble"
humans whose values constitute evil from other outlooks. How they react depends on circumstances, the
Superior they serve and the Malakite's own values .. .

Malakim take dissonance very seriously. A single note
will make them a pariah among their Choir - and often
is grounds for termination, depending on their Superior.
When a Malakite incurs dissonance, either by breaking
one of his oaths or by breaking his Superior's rules, there
are some ways he can get rid of it In typical Malakite
fashion, all are extreme. First, a Malakite can purge one
note of dissonance by destroying a greater source of the
evil that caused his dissonance. The most obvious way to
destroy evil is to kill a demon, but not just any demon
will do. It must be a demon serving a Word opposing the
principle the Malakite violated.
For example, a Malakite of Dreams who generates dissonance by taking celestial form on Earth can remove it
by killing a Demon of Nightmares (thus removing a
more evil celestial form from Earth). A Malakite of
Laurence who takes dissonance for disobeying one of his
Archangel's commands must slay an Outcast or Fallen
angel of Swords; they have, by falling from Laurence's
service, committed a greater act of disobedience.
Secondly, Malakim can remove dissonance by binding
themselves in even more rigid codes of honor. For every
two additional oaths a Malakite takes, he can remove one
note of dissonance. Each oath is as permanent as all the
others, so a Malakite who repeatedly transgresses, and
takes more oaths to purify himself again, will eventually
find himself in a vicious circle, so honor-bound that it's
difficult to act without violating one of his oaths.
The most extreme way for a Malakite to purge himself
of dissonance is to die in combat with diabolicals. A
Malakite engaged in mortal combat with demons loses a
note of dissonance if his corporeal form is slain in battle.
He must be killed while he is still fighting.
TOUCHY SITUATIONS
A Malakite cannot choose to suffer an evil to live. Many
firebrand Malakim interpret this oath more strictly than
their Creator perhaps intended. Some take it to mean
they must delay an attack only long enough to unsheathe
a sword. This perspective can lead to dissonance!
Reflexively destroying the evil at hand and allowing
greater evil to escape - or unwisely launching an attack
that can't succeed - amounts to a choice that allows evil
to live. The cold anger of their Malakite brethren is as
harsh a punishment as the dissonance they gain.
Wise Malakim realize the oath enforces no time limit.
They will reconnoiter, stalk and plan until they can
launch their best attack, or until their hand is forced by
circumstances. Once all leads and advantages have been
explored, all hesitation ends, for an evil escaping while
they wait also triggers dissonance.
This oath makes it hard for Malakim to ally with
demons, but not impossible. A temporary alliance that
offers an opportunity to erase greater evil is acceptable. If
a Malakite is forced to choose which of two evils will
escape, he earns no dissonance for choosing the lesser!
A superior's orders trigger the "when it's his choice"
portion of the oath and allow a Malakite to co-exist with
diabolicals, but he won't be happy and will impatiently
await opportunity to "repair" circumstances.
What a Malakite will refuse to do is "see no evil" when
other angels cultivate diabolical relationships that don't
offer the opportunity to improve their body count.
Breaking an oath would be bad enough; doing so in such
an underhanded way would violate the very concept of
honor. A Malakite can be duped in these circumstances;
he simply can't be expected to help dupe himself.
The one case where a Malakite may have to suffer a
demon is when his resonance picks up the noble act of
seeking Redemption! A Redeemed demon is a permanently destroyed evil, rather than the "temporary" death
of a slain vessel, so most Malakim feel they must not
obstruct the effort (and sending a demon back to Hell's
influences usually qualifies as bad for Redemption's
odds). Some might even aid the demon in some quick
fashion; Malakim don't have a nurturing nature.
Another danger for Malakim is getting tangled up in
conflicting oaths, or foolish ones such as "Never lose a
fight." Even older Malakim can find it hard to obey all
their vows, especially if they've added new ones to dispel
dissonance. While Malakim cannot take spurious oaths,
nor multiple versions of the same oath ("Never use a
rifle," "Never use a pistol," etc.), wise Malakim take very
specific vows, carefully considering how they mix with
their other vows, and their Superior's dissonance rules.
A Superior can remove an oath. He will usually teach
the Malakite a painful lesson before providing the ser-
49
MALA KIM
vice. (But then, the Malakite's shame would be even

greater if he didn't have to perform this penance.) A
Malakite can never petition his Superior to remove one
of his oaths, though. That vow has become integral to his
nature, no matter how unwise. Asking to have one
removed would earn the disdain of all his Choir.
When a Malakite's oath expires ("Slay all dragons" now
that all dragons are slain), he must replace the oath
immediately. He earns a point of dissonance at each sunrise in which he has failed to do so.
SPECIAL DISCORDS
Binding Oath (Celestial)
When a Malakite attempts to violate any of his oaths,
he must make a Will roll minus the level of this Discord
or he will be literally unable to act, paralyzed for a number of rounds equal to the Discord level. If the Will roll
succeeds, he may act, but he will take celestial damage
equal to the level of the Discord. This can cause the loss
of a Force. Malakim must include the level of this
Discord when making dissonance rolls!
Burning Touch (Corporeal)

Evil burns at the Malakite's touch, but so does the
angel. In any physical contact with a demon (or an
undead or a diabolical artifact), both take physical damage
equal to the Malakite's Corporeal Forces, manifesting as
bright green flames. This is in addition to any normal
damage inflicted by hand-to-hand attacks.
Evil Warning (Ethereal)

This Discord makes a Malakite hyper-sensitive to the
presence of evil, but warns demons more than it warns
him. He can actually detect diabolicals by making a
Perception roll as if sensing for a disturbance in the
Symphony, with a degree equal to the combined Forces
of all diabolicals in range. All he hears is an evil rumble
in his ears, becoming louder the more demons there are
and the closer they get. It is not directional, nor does it
give specific information. Meanwhile, he creates an equal
disturbance in the Symphony, perceptible only to diabolicals, and it provides full information according to a normal check-digit roll (In Nomine, p. 55).
WORDS
50
Malakim rarely ask for Words unless they can serve

them by eradicating evil. Such Words guard the virtues,
or relate to warfare. The Archangel of Purity was a
Malakite; so are the Angels of Charity, Courage,
Fortitude, Just Causes and Righteous Anger. As role
models, the Angel of Kings, the Angel of Police and the
Angel of Sunday School Teachers are all Malakim.
MAL A KIM
MALAKIM AND SUPERIORS

Blandine: Many a demon has thought himself safe on
the nightmare side of the Marches, shortly before meeting these stealthy experts in ethereal combat. They fear
to tread nowhere, prowling even into the Far Marches.
David: Stone's ranks are filled with Malakim, who generally favor unarmed techniques. They have been known
to grapple an opponent prior to invoking their Choir
Attunement, leaving him helpless for the duration.
Dominic: Malakim of Judgment are heavy-handed in
their work; they might be better received if they didn't
take others' dissonance so personally. Most are haughty
even by their Choir's standards. Their attunement works
on anyone within their Celestial Forces in feet.
Eli: These angels can use their Skill for any fairly similar real weapon when using an improvised one, or base
their roll on Strength or Precision with no default penalty if their weapon defies comparison (say, a lampshade).
Gabriel: Her Malakim are assigned to specific targets;
once this is done, a Malakite of Gabriel can detect it at a
glance, as do her other Choirs. Their flaming-hands
attunement uses Fighting skill.
Janus: These warriors have a lot of fun - but if they
set an explosive themselves, the disturbance to the
Symphony may resonate for miles and miles!
Jean: These fighters also lean toward weapons that
blow up, as well as lasers and such. If they could just get
their hands on a good, portable one . . .
Jordi: These Malakim enjoy the weapons of their
canine vessels, but use their oivn Fighting Skill. A few
rare Skills are inherent in an animal vessel's physique (for
instance, Tracking for bloodhounds). These can be used
by celestials in that form.
Laurence: A Malakite running a Malakite's dream
organization, this Superior attracts many of his own
Choir. They are noted for their rigidity, but also for suddenly providing the odd service for the odd human.
Their enhanced resonance detects noble potential, and
they feel compelled to foster its development if possible.
Marc: Their Choir Attunement can be used over and
over again on the same person.
Michael: The Archangel of War has more Malakim
simply roaming the Earth than do other Archangels. His
gift of "danger sense" does not identify the nature of the
threat in any but the most general terms
Novalis: She has few Malakim, but values those she
has and uses them wisely. Their ability to move through
forests allows them to team very well with servitors of
her friend Jordi, especially in animal vessels.
Yves: Serving the Archangel of Destiny can complicate
a Malakite's life. They must take care not to seal any
mortal fates while dispatching evil.
LI
THE MALAKITE PERSPECTIVE

Seraphim: They are very wise, and should be respected. Sometimes it seems like they'd rather fight the War
with words than with action, though.
Cherubim: They are a virtuous Choir, and good to
have covering your back. Sometimes their devotion
makes them blind. If the object of their adoration is
flawed, it may take drastic measures to shatter their misplaced loyalty.
Ofanim: Frivolous and unreliable. Their speed is useful in battle, but everything is a game to them. They
should slow down and pay attention to what they're
doing. Why do they seek to annoy us?
Elohim: We complement each other, but it's difficult
to get over our differences. They cannot experience our
righteous anger in the face of evil, and we cannot experience the wrong point of view - we don't care why people
choose to do evil.
Kyriotates: They are very powerful, but difficult to
deal with. They probably don't understand us any better
than we understand them. Their need to protect their
hosts inhibits them in a fight.
Mercurians: They love humans too much. We both
teach lessons to mankind, but ours tend to be more permanent. They can be very helpful when we need to
understand mortal society, but they're useless in a fight.
Balseraphs: The only demons so selfish we can smell
their stink on the corporeal plane. They haven't the
slightest shred of honor; Hell is too good for them.
Djinn: Brutal thugs who have turned away from the
nobility they once possessed. We do them a favor by
killing them.
Calabim: The most physically dangerous of the
Bands. They make formidable opponents. Kill them
from a distance if possible; otherwise brace yourself,
close in and finish them off quickly.
Habbalah: Sick, twisted liars. They love emotion
unfettered by morality, and cause immense damage to
human psyches. Put them out of their misery.
Lilim: They have their own kind of honor, but they are
the spawn of a traitor, and almost all of them serve evil.
Grant them the respect that they have earned for keeping their word, but remember they are the foe . . . and
because they understand honor, they can use our own
virtue against us in a way that no other Band can.
Shedim: They have absolutely no redeeming
value. They usually leave their victims stripped
of honor and self-respect, requiring us to
destroy their mortal host along with them.
Impudites: These slimy predators take
advantage of unwitting victims. Usually
they're not worth much as opponents, but
they can be very cunning.
51
M A L A K! M
IRC D0MinATI0nS
"For rf>e Lordseeth not as man seeth;for man looketh on the
outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart."
I Samuel 16:7
Howling pack, buzzing swarm, ancient oak, modern
computer, humans young and old; Kyriotates have been
all of these things and more. The Dominations are girted with the ability to take part in the different corporeal
aspects of the Symphony; seeing the world through an
endless array of eyes. They are the most alien of all of die
Choirs, capable of experiencing life in ways other angels
can only imagine, but they are also closest to the human
experience in many ways.
Same Famous Kyriotates

Jordi, the Archangel of Animals (and many of his
Servitors, such as Arael, the Angel of Birds; Manakel, the
Angel of Aquatic Animals, and Shakziel, Angel of Water
Insects); Orc, the Angel of Networks, who oversees the
Internet; Hamonah, Angel of the South Wind; Och, the
Angel of Alchemy, whose Word has all but vanished in
modern times, and Zahun, the Angel of Scandal, whose
Word definitely has not.
NAMES
Classical Kyriotate names usually relate to their role as
Dominations. They often have names meaning "multitude," "cloud of God," "possession" or "domination."
Kyriotates also tend to refer to themselves in the plural, especially when inhabiting multiple vessels. Human
language rarely contains the right pronouns for
Kyriotates to describe their complex multi-dimensional
existence and relationship with their various hosts.
Sample Kyriotate Names

Typical true names include Abraham, Aenon,
Anastasia, Ardan, Candace, Edana, Enon, Forbes,
Jerusha, Jolene, Kenah, Quentin, Sarah, Shamus and
Zeredah. Kyriotates may use these on Earth, along with
names taken from non-human things such as animals
(Robin, Hawk, Fox), months or seasons (April, May,
Summer) and natural phenomena (Stone, Rain, River).
_, -^
Some Kyriotates refuse to translate their complex celes^' J tial names into forms that humans can pronounce. Some,
|/
especially Jordi's servants, take no name in any human
\JLJ
tongue, but only in the language of the beasts.
KYRIOTATES
TRADITIONAL DUTIES
TYPICAL ROLES
With their ability to possess and control multiple vessels, Kyriotates make the most capable spies and informants of the Heavenly Host. They provide true "inside"
intelligence about Earthly goings-on, blending into an
ocean of humanity and flitting from host to host to see
and hear things of value to the forces of Heaven in the
War.
Although Ofanim are the best messengers in Heaven,
Kyriotates are very capable coordinators of information
and activity between far-flung groups of angels and their
allies. A Kyriotate can handle multiple activities at once,
and is aware of everything going on around any of its
hosts, so it can have one host working with
a group of angels planning at the local
Tether while another host hits the
streets to gather information and
another gives instructions to some
Soldiers across town. Their resonance
handles such multitasking smoothly
and easily.
Although Heaven is officially
against interfering with the free
will of any creature, Kyriotates are
sometimes used in sticky situations
where direct control over a human
being or some other corporeal
aspect of the Symphony is necessary. Kyriotates are always
careful to be sure their possession doesn't cause more problems than it solves. Kyriotates
can often act where their human
hosts cannot, allowing them to extract a host from a difficult situation. Many unexplained cases of people manifesting extraordinary abilities under stress, then "waking
up" with no memory of what happened, are the result of
Kyriotate intervention.
Most Kyriotates don't bother with Roles overly much;

they're not usually around in one body long enough to
use them effectively.
That's not to say Kyriotates can't have Roles to assist
their work in the corporeal world, but they are generally
limited to Roles that can be performed anonymously by
a being that must change bodies every few days, like that
of a computer consultant who works via e-mail. Some
Kyriotates who specialize in possessing particular types
of hosts have Roles suited to that type. A Kyriotate of
Marc who specializes in possessing lawyers as hosts
might have a lawyer Role to better assist his earthly work.
A Kyriotate with a permanent vessel, such as a servant of
Michael, can also have a Role for that vessel; those of
Laurence must have one.
More important than a Role to a Kyriotate is their use
of "tags" to allow others to recognize them in whatever
forms they might be wearing at the time. This
might be a favorite expression ("Oh, my
stars and garters"), a symbol the Kyriotate
always wears (or can have its host
draw in some fashion), whistling a
certain tune and so forth. For
example, Joshiro the Kyriotate is
something of a fan of The
Wizard ofOz and often whistles
"If I Only Had a Heart" in his
various forms, allowing his angelic
friends to know he's in control of a person. Tags allow Kyriotates to identify themselves to
allies without alerting enemies of their presence. Of
course, a diabolical who discovers a Kyriotate's particular
tag might turn it to his advantage, especially a Shedim
who decides to confuse the opposition.
CELESTIAL DUTIES
In Heaven - though limited to their one, true form
Kyriotates remain masterful multitaskers and organizers.
This makes them useful as clerks, record-keepers,
researchers, administrators and many of the other scattered support tasks of Heaven. The Kyriotates keep all of
the various wheels of Heavenly activity turning, juggling
many different tasks at once.
The nature of their resonance draws most Kyriotates
to some kind of Earthly service sooner or later, sent to
gather information in the corporeal realm for their
Superiors. They are one of the Choirs closest to the corporeal world, and so spend a great deal of time there.
KYRIOTATES AND HUMAN SOCIETY

Kyriotates value individuality and subjectivity above all
else. This makes them dangerously close to the selfish
view of the Fallen in the eyes of some. For the
Kyriotates, however, living in a hundred different forms,
their individual nature and subjectivity is all they truly
have to call their own. Kyriotates tend to develop very
"defined" (some would say eccentric) personalities
because of this.
Although they experience much of the corporeal world
first-hand, Kyriotates are not of it. They sometimes
become caught up in all of the fascinating minutiae of the
world around them, and forget they are allowed to taste
and feel earthly experience but not to hold on to any of
it. Everything in a Kyriotate's life is transitory except for
his duty to Heaven and his Superior. They are supposed
53
KYRIOTATES
to leave things better than they found them, but

Kyriotates are not supposed to become too involved.
This leads to two extremes in Kyriotate views of the
Symphony. Some try to distance themselves from the
lives they are entwined with, doing their work and moving on, retaining their individuality. They are perhaps
the most cold and alien of the Dominations. Other
Kyriotates throw objectivity to the winds and immerse
themselves in the existences of their hosts. They see
everything from multiple perspectives at once and are
fond of the expression "on the other hand." Most
Kyriotates hover between the two extremes, working to
balance their subjective and diverse natures.

OF RESONANCE
Especially perceptive Kyriotates can use their resonance to learn more about their vessels than simple, basic
instincts and innate skill. A Kyriotate who makes a resonance roll at -2 can use the check digit to determine what
things are important to its host, the better to protect the
host's interests. Consult the Special Use at -2 Penalty table.
A Kyriotate who makes a resonance roll at -4 can gain
an even greater insight into a host, actually sharing some
of its memories and Skills. This is similar to the ability
KYRIOTATE
CHECK DIGIT RESULTS
54
1 .... You can sense the one thing most important

to your host in general terms, such as health,
money, success, family and so forth.
2 .... You can sense all of the things important to
your host in their order of importance.
3 ....You can sense the above in detail, learning
your host defines success as becoming a
Broadway actor, or a doctor or a millionaire
before age 30, for example.
4 .... You can sense the above, as well as -why each
thing is important to your host.
5 .... You learn the above, along with the one thing
that would cause the most harm to your host's
interests, which you should avoid at all costs.
6 .... You learn all of the above, plus part of your
host's destiny... the one thing the Symphony
considers most important about your host,
whether your host considers it important or
not.
KYRIOTATES
possessed by Kyriotates of Yves, except it is not automatic and the degree of access is determined by the check
digit. Consult the Special Use at -4 Penalty table.
ON EARTHLY MATTERS
Kyriotates present more than their share of challenges
and opportunities to Game Masters and players alike.
Their abilities and limitations when using hosts on Earth
require further elaboration.
The range of a Kyriotate's resonance is the same as
other resonance abilities (In Nomine, p. 57) with the limitation that recordings and reproductions of a subject
cannot be used. Live transmissions do work, so Kyriotates
can attempt to use their resonance on someone over a
telephone or a live video transmission. Kyriotates call
this trick "reaching out and touching someone" and use
it to get somewhere on Earth quickly without assuming
their time-limited celestial form and disturbing the
Symphony.
A Kyriotate gains all of the natural abilities of its host,
including senses, natural weapons, movement abilities
and the minimal base knowledge of how to use them.
Skills and information are not accessed unless the
Kyriotate is a Servitor of Yves or uses the advanced resonance technique described in this chapter. So, for
instance, a Kyriotate possessing a bird can fly, but would
not know any special aerial maneuvers that the bird has
learned. Kyriotates have no access to a host's Essence,
Songs, attunements, etc.
A Kyriotates' greatest advantage is the ability to inhabit and control multiple hosts simultaneously. Each one is
a channel for the Kyriotate's Forces and can act independently of the others. This gives Kyriotates an incredible
innate feeling for teamwork, coordinating different hosts
to accomplish complex tasks together. A Kyriotate's hosts
do not have to communicate, since they have the same
mind behind them.
A Kyriotate suffers no disorientation in switching
hosts. Masters of multitasking, the angels require only a
moment to invoke their resonance and take control of a
new vessel, then they can act normally. Using resonance
counts as a Kyriotate's action in combat, just like other
uses of resonance.
Kyriotates may not extend their stay in a host by "repossessing" it before their time expires. As long as they
don't fail a resonance roll, thought, they could switch
between two hosts indefinitely. Most Archangels frown
upon relying too heavily on this method of operation,
however; it's unfair to the hosts and contrary to true
Kyriotate nature.
Often, questions concerning Kyriotates hinge on when
to treat them as one being or many. Generally, the rules
allow multiple actions per round for purely corporeal
KYMOTATE
CHECK DIGIT RESULTS
1.... You know what your host was thinking about
when you took control.
2 .... You can access your host's memories of the last
hour and use one of its Skills (your choice).
3 .... You can access your host's memories of the
past week and use two of its Skills.
4.... You can access your host's memories of the
past month and use three of its Skills.
5.... You can access your host's memories of the
past year and use four of its Skills.
6.... You can access all your host's memories and
use any of its Skills for as long as you remain.
a
activities, but only one action for anything dealing with

the ethereal or celestial. So a Domination can solve the
New York Times crossword, duke it out with a Calabite
and take a shower simultaneously in separate hosts. He
can do any combination of those sorts of things and use
a Song, attunement or distinction in the same round
(originating from any single host or a celestial form). He
cannot use any two Songs or other options of a celestial
nature in the same round (except his resonance).
This does not prevent the Kyriotate (or any other
celestial) from passively enjoying the benefits of celestial
options simultaneously. He could have Numinous
Corpus that were cast in different rounds sprouting from
all of his hosts at the same time. Of course, this burns
Essence. Kyriotates only regenerate Essence once per
day regardless of how many hosts they inhabit - usually
at sunrise at the location of their host with the most
Forces. Kyriotates can hold back a small host to perform
Rites while other hosts do other things, but any Rite only
works once per day per Kyriotate, not per host.
Similarly, Kyriotates may not manifest in more than
one place celestially. Only Servitors of Blandine may
manifest in more than one place ethereally.
Kyriotates may manifest in two or three planes at once,
but this challenges even their talent for processing in parallel. Those co-existing on two planes may only act on
alternating turns; all corporeal hosts move on the corporeal turn. Those manifesting on all three planes alternate
action on every third turn. Combat should be avoided
under these conditions, since any hosts will be defenseless half or two-thirds of the time, but the Kyriotates may
still sense things on turns in which they can't act.
Kyriotates use their own individual stats to mark off
Soul hits, Mind hits and Essence use. They use their
hosts' Body hits, treating the host body as a vessel of level

equal to the host's Corporeal Forces plus any Toughness.
They do enjoy their own characteristics while in a host
(with the exceptions for unusual vessels on p. 56).
Corporeal damage does not carry over from one host
to another. Kyriotates only suffer Trauma if they are in a
single host when it is killed. A Kyriotate in multiple hosts
does not suffer Trauma if one is killed, although he normally gains a note of dissonance. If one of a Kyriotate's
hosts is stunned or knocked unconscious, the Forces tied
up in the stunned vessel are unavailable until the vessel
awakens or dies, or the possession term expires, but the
rest of the Kyriotate's Forces are not affected.
While under a Domination, host bodies are treated as
vessels. The body still needs to breathe, but won't require
food, water or sleep. However, any damage they take will
disturb the Symphony normally (damage to a normal
vessel does not disturb the Symphony at all).
Most hosts gain Body hits when possessed . . . so a host
may die if the Kyriotate leaves it with more damage than
it can endure normally! In the rare cases where Body hits
drop during possession, any damage which reduces the
host's new Body hits to 0 ejects the Kyriotate, leaving a
wounded mortal, and probably a dissonant Domination.
Except when a Kyriotate takes celestial form, using
their resonance does not disturb the Symphony. Taking
celestial form creates a disturbance based on their total
Forces, however, not just the 3 free Forces required to do
so. Leaving a host causes no disturbance unless it is the
angel's last host, and he does not simultaneously enter
another one; this forces him into celestial form.
Leaving a host is automatic; in the case of humans, the
host's soul immediately returns from the Marches to its
body. A Kyriotate shifting from one host to another need
not take celestial form in between, as long as the new
host is within (Kyriotate's Forces) yards and the old host
can see or touch him; the transition occurs instantly. (A
failed roll just means the Kyriotate stays in the original
host, unless his time there is up; in that case, he's in trouble!) Of course, a Domination with the Forces to spare
may possess a new host without releasing the old one.
Manifestations on the ethereal plane require 3 free
Forces per ethereal form. The angel may not enter the
Marches by going to sleep in one of its hosts, nor need
any of its hosts sleep. Instead, the Kyriotate must make a
Will roll to place the invested Forces in a dreamlike state.
The Kyriotate's appearance will be that of its current or
last host with the largest number of Forces.
A Kyriotate can possess the vessel of another celestial.
This displaces the owner into the Marches, as with
human souls. From there, the preempted celestial can
return to Earth if he has another vessel, travel to the
celestial realm or wander the Marches for the duration.
55
KYRIOTATES
If still in the Marches, the celestial returns to the vessel

when the Kyriotate leaves it. Otherwise, the vessel simply vanishes when the Domination abandons it, just as if
the rightful owner had gone celestial or switched to
another vessel (which, in fact, he has done).
If several Kyriotates and/or Shedim struggle over the
same host, roll resonance normally. Every combatant
that makes his roll (and has the target fail its roll to resist
if appropriate) carries over the struggle into the next
combat round. The successful attempts don't "take"
because of the other celestials' interference, but additional attempts may be made till only one celestial makes
its resonance roll.
The one time when Kyriotate possession will change
the physical appearance of a host is when the Kyriotate
has a Corporeal Discord. This will manifest in every
host! The effect may be as subtle as Twitchy ("Jeff seems
awfully jumpy today") to as dramatic as Obese (which
instantly alerts those who know the host that something
is very wrong). Discords like Crippled will have no permanent effect; limbs would just be paralyzed while the
possession goes on. The one fringe benefit is that the
Kyriotate could use this effect as his tag. ("Hey, that
mailman just grew horns! That must be Xaausti!")
Human Hosts
56
In general, Kyriotates prefer willing human hosts and

cultivate human friends, servants and Soldiers for this
purpose. They will possess unwilling humans, but usually only to help them in some way. Kyriotates like to know
what they are getting into with a host. The risk of harming an unwilling or unknown host is too great for most
to risk on a regular basis. Only in the most dire circumstances, or for the briefest of "visits," will a prudent
Kyriotate possess a completely unfamiliar body.
Kyriotates with permanent human vessels of their own
(servants of Michael or Laurence) "tie up" some of their
Forces in them. These Forces can't be used for possessing other hosts. For example, if a Kyriotate of Michael
has a human vessel of 5 Forces, it has only 4 Forces free
for true possessions. Servants of Michael do not have to
generate a human vessel, or even use their Choir
KYRIOTATES
Attunement at all. Once the vessel is generated, however, the Forces are tied up until the vessel is destroyed,
even when the Kyriotate "vanishes" it and assumes celestial form. (Note that a Kyriotate with a true vessel may
vanish it while possessing another host and not assume
celestial form if it so chooses.) Except for these special
rules, the vessels are treated like those of any celestial.
Animal Hosts
Animal hosts are useful to Kyriotates for many reasons:
they're common, they're easy to control, they have fairly
uncomplicated lives and many animals tend to be overlooked by humans and celestials alike, allowing the
Kyriotate to operate without being noticed. Animal vessels are also quite useful in combat, although not as much
as before the advent of modern weaponry.
An animal host allows a Kyriotate to make use of the
animal's senses and other natural abilities. Animals are
limited in their ability to operate in human society,
although a favorite pet can be very useful for keeping an
eye on a household. Or a guard animal can be possessed
to keep it from raising an alarm.
Plant Hosts
Kyriotates of Novalis can possess living plants, and can
imbue them with the ability to move branches and such,
though rooted plants must stay where they are. A house
plant or small lawn would be considered to have 1 Force,
an average tree 3; a giant oak could be as many as 5
Forces. Though a Kyriotate normally uses its own characteristics while in a host, those possessing plants use the
host's Strength, which is normally twice its total Forces.
Non-Living Hosts
Kyriotates ofjean have the ability to inhabit non-living
objects. Inhabiting an object requires 1 Force; especially
large or complex objects will require additional Forces
per GM ruling. The GM also determines what sorts of
object can be inhabited; something like an old log might
not be what this Archangel had in mind . . .
The Kyriotate retains its normal senses of sight, hearing and touch while inhabiting the object, and gains any
special senses the object might have (e.g., a radio can

"hear" radio waves). The Kyriotate's ability to communicate while inhabiting the object depends on the abilities
of the object, much like living vessels. A stone won't be
able to speak, but a radio or television could. A computer can communicate through any of its output devices.
Motors, engines and other moving parts can click, whir
or hum to provide crude communication, and lights can
flash or blink. Kyriotates of Jean often know Morse code
for situations like these.
The Kyriotate can only move the object in a way in
which it naturally moves. A table cannot walk because its
legs are not flexible, but a roundish stone can roll, a door
can open or close, a car can drive, a puppet walk and so
forth. The angel provides the motive force. Songs can
impart movement abilities to object vessels normally,
using Numinous Corpus to give an object wings or using
the Corporeal Song of Motion to allow an object to fly.
Otherwise, objects cannot be moved via "levitating."
Kyriotates of Jean do not gain dissonance for allowing
an object-host to be damaged, but do disturb the
Symphony if they inflict damage themselves.

The cardinal rule of Kyriotates is they cannot leave a
host body in worse shape than they found it. This also
includes the host's mental, emotional and spiritual wellbeing. A Kyriotate cannot possess a human vessel, proceed to ruin that person's career and family life, then disappear and expect no repercussions. This is why
Kyriotates prefer to know something of the hosts they
take, so they are better prepared to protect the host's
needs. Kyriotates must never forget the bodies they use
are not their own.
Animal vessels tend to be less complicated. So long as
they are not harmed and their survival is not threatened,
a Kyriotate will not gain dissonance upon leaving them.
Of course, taking an animal vessel and leaving it in a
Human Society shelter is certainly not improving its lot
if it is going to remain imprisoned or be put down.
If a Kyriotate makes a mistake and ends up leaving a
vessel in worse shape than it was found, it can try and
make amends and undo the damage that has been done.
If successful, the note of dissonance gained is removed.
Anything the Kyriotate does that makes the situation
worse results in another note of dissonance. Some
Kyriotates have Fallen because they were unable to
admit some situations were beyond their ability to fix.
TOUCHY SITUATIONS
This need to protect host vessels can often cause
Kyriotates' duty and nature to conflict. While other
angels might sacrifice a vessel for the greater good, a
Kyriotate cannot do so without gaining dissonance. A

Kyriotate also is far less likely to buy the argument that
an individual should be sacrificed for the good of all, especially if said individual happens to be their current host!
Kyriotates are expected to respect the lives of their
hosts, but (in general) not to get too involved with them.
They must keep the greater good and the good of their
host bodies in mind at the same time, acting locally while
thinking globally, as it were. Kyriotates who become too
distant, seeing individual humans as nothing more than
pawns in the War, a means to an end, are well on the road
to Falling and becoming Shedim. They use and discard
host bodies at will, gaining dissonance along the way for
each damaged host they leave behind.
SPECIAL DISCORDS
Fractured Forces (Celestial)
This Discord affects a Kyriotate's resonance, creating a
break in its harmony with the Symphony. It "isolates" a
number of Forces equal to its level. These Forces can still
be used to control hosts, but cannot be combined with
the rest of the angel's Forces. The Kyriotate can "underspend" in either type of Force if so desired.
For example, Abdeel, a 9-Forces Kyriotate of Jordi, has
Fractured Forces/2. Two of Abdeel's Forces are separated from the whole of his being, leaving him with 7 other
Forces. Abdeel is no longer able to control a vessel with
all 9 of his Forces. He could invest his isolated 2 Forces
in a small vessel like a bird or a swarm while his other 7
can be divided and used normally. He can also divide up
his 2 Fractured Forces to control two small 1-Force creatures, but he cannot combine any of his 2 Fractured
Forces with any of his 7 normal Forces in the same host.
This Discord can be abused. Game Masters should be
wary of PC angels beginning play with Fractured Forces.
Contrariness (Ethereal)
From time to time, some of the Forces of the Kyriotate
with this Discord will act against the Kyriotate's desires.
Any time the Kyriotate controls a host with a number of
Forces less than or equal to the level of the Discord, the
GM can call for a Will roll when the Kyriotate wishes the
host to act. If the Will roll fails and the check digit is
equal to or less than the level of the Discord, the vessel
will act in a manner opposite the Kyriotate's wishes. This
can cause the Kyriotate to earn additional dissonance.
Inner Echoes (Ethereal)

A Kyriotate with this Discord acquires some of the
worst traits of its host bodies. While inhabiting a host,
the Kyriotate suffers from another Ethereal Discord of
the same level as Inner Echoes. This Discord is based on
one of the host's own personality quirks, brought out and
57
KYRIOTATES
magnified by the angel's presence. For example, a normally timid host might cause the Kyriotate to suffer
Cowardice, a violent host would cause Anger and so
forth. A Kyriotate with this Discord inhabiting multiple
hosts can seem almost schizophrenic, suffering from
multiple, wildly different Ethereal Discords at once!
Inseparable Forces (Celestial)

Similar to Fractured Forces, Inseparable Forces can be
combined with regular Forces, but can't be split up. The
Discord makes Forces equal to 1 + its level inseparable.
For example, a Kyriotate with 9 Forces and Inseparable
Forces/5 could still use all his Forces to possess a 9-Force
subject. But whether a lesser host had 6 Forces or only
1, all 6 Forces must be invested in the same host.
WORDS
Kyriotates are most suited to wide-reaching Words
that draw on their resonance for multiplicity. Jordi's
Word of Animals is one example. Other Kyriotates are
given to overseeing Words with a similar broad scope,
such as Orc, the Angel of Networks, whose Word
includes the vast and growing Internet.
Their nature also suits them for Words alien to human
experience. Words of plants, geographic features,
machines and similar non-human things fit well.
KYRIOTATES AND SUPERIORS
58
Blandine: On leaving their last earthly host, these

angels can make a Will roll to manifest in the Marches
for up to 8 hours, suspending the normal time limit to
find a corporeal host. They must do this to invoke their
Choir Attunement.
David: These angels may have one or more stone vessels (essentially, living statues), but it's not required; a
Kyriotate of David may also possess no vessel at all. If he
has one, he may leave it, causing it to disappear like other
celestials' vessels, and freeing up the invested Forces unlike other Kyriotate vessels. The Forces invested in
their operation equal those required to possess a host of
the same form; a human statue would require 5 Forces, a
very small gargoyle as few as 2.
Dominic: Human hosts never have Discord, but this
attunement also applies to truly evil human hosts. A
human's evil is ruled on by Heaven's representative, the
Game Master. The Kyriotate doesn't instinctively detect
humans who qualify as evil, so caution is warranted.
Eli: The Kyriotate does need to know die Celestial
Song of Form to use its attunement! The Song disturbs
the Symphony aside from the waived Essence cost, so
extended use trades corporeal guile for celestial noise.
Gabriel: Her command to punish the cruel doesn't
mean her Kyriotates may simply possess their target and
KYRIOTATES
mete out damage without taking dissonance! They must I

act through other channels.
Janus: The general outline of the Kyriotate in gaseous \
form can be any shape the angel desires. Humans may
find this form disturbing, but not horrific as they would
its celestial form. The normal travel rates can be exceeded if riding along with the wind. The gas can slip through
cracks, etc. These Servitors can arrive on Earth in this
form rather than their celestial form.
Jean: See Non-Living Hosts on p. 56. Note that possessing an item does require a Will roll - per die
Kyriotates' normal resonance rules - even though most
Choir Attunements do not.
Jordi: These Kyriotates' attunement extends to arachnids, scorpions and similar "bugs." Non-swarming bugs
can be taken over as individual creatures for 1 Force (spiders, for example, are usually lone hunters). Treat a
swarm as one host for generating dissonance from damage (the swarm can be healed as a "unit," even though
damage may have meant some members were killed).
The solitary sorts of insect host will generate dissonance
if destroyed! A swarm should remain fairly cohesive
(members within easy sight of each other), but separate
swarms can travel independently.
Laurence: See Human Hosts, p. 56. Most celestials
who lose a vessel must petition their Superior for a
replacement. Kyriotates of Laurence simply spend character points. This represents the effort it takes to find the
right candidate. Theoretically, if a campaign lasted long
enough for a Kyriotate's vessel to reach retirement age, a
replacement might be provided without die normal 5point cost for the Choir Attunement.
Marc: These Kyriotates are especially adept at riding
willing hosts for extended periods, shuttling between two
or more. Marc doesn't normally frown on diis - but
ensuring diat the hosts' personal lives don't end up in tatters can be tricky and is the Servitor's own problem.
Michael: See Human Hosts, p. 56. A favorite tactic is to
use the Howl Attunement from one host while inflicting
various nastiness from another host or the Kyriotate's
vessel. These Dominations must take care in battle, as
they earn dissonance if the vessel is destroyed
Novalis: See Plant Hosts, p. 56. Note that plants are
essentially completely corporeal, so their "vessel level"
for calculating Body hits likely will be high. Some large
trees can require 10, 20, even 30 Forces to possess! Only
living plants may be possessed.
Yves: See More Sophisticated Uses of Resonance, p. 54.
Once the Kyriotate exits the host, it loses all skills and
memories immediately. However, the memory of what it
did while in the host remains. So if it used a host's memories to call a phone number (or even just brought it to
the forefront of its mind), it has a chance to remember it.
THE KYRIOTATE PERSPECTIVE

Seraphim: They know nothing of tact or subtlety.
They know the truth without recognizing truth can be
relative. Truth, like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder.
Cherubim: How they stand being tied to a single
charge is completely beyond us. They are steadfast and
devoted to their duty, but their single-mindedness bunds
them to seeing the bigger picture.
Ofanim: They understand our need for movement. If
they could experience what is like to be in many different
places at once, they would like it. They just need to learn
patience to go with their boundless energy.
Elohim: If any of the Choirs can understand the challenge we face, it's the Elohim. The Powers know how
difficult it is to avoid drowning in all of the different feelings and perspectives of humanity.
Malakim: They only understand one point of view,
honor. They are like lasers: intensely focused and burning hot. They are powerful allies when you need a job
done, but don't try reasoning with a Malakite or getting
in his way, or you'll regret it.
Mercurians: They share our interest in humanity and
the corporeal world. They are smooth. They should give
lessons on how to work a crowd.
Balseraphs: They know a little too much about subtlety. They can tell you night is day and make it seem true.
Learning to see things from different perspectives can
help expose some of their lies.
Djinn: Perversity incarnate, they take the holy guardian
role once theirs and twist it until it is unrecognizable. We
must protect humans from their gentle "care."
Calabim: They take the easy way out. They know it is
easier to destroy than to create. We help build up what
they tear down.
Habbalah: These are sad creatures. They lost their
hold on reality, and subsequently lost their place in the
Symphony. Do not become drawn into their twisted
beliefs.
Lilim: Beware their webs or you'll end up losing the
freedom they claim to spring from.
Shedim: They are our dark reflections. They use mortal lives without any concern for their well-being, trying
to draw humans down into Hell with them. They've lost
their divine multiplicity . . . it's up to us to
protect humanity from their ever-increasing
corruption.
Impudites: They may be good at taking,
but we're better at giving.
59
KYRIOTATES
"But the angel said to them, 'Do not be afraid. I bring you
good news of greatjoy that will be for all the people.''
-Luke 2:10
The Mercurians are the angels charged with relations
with mankind, and thus the least divine of all the angelic
Choirs. Although most at home on Earth, they are represented by the Archangels Eli and Marc in Heaven.
Some Famous Mercurians

Marc, the Archangel of Trade, and many of his
Servitors such as Iptriel, the Angel of Haggling; Eli, the
Archangel of Creation, and many of his Servitors such as
Elysia, the Angel of Toys; Nisroc, the Angel of Spies;
Requel, the Angel of Counsel; Lang, the Angel of
Foresight, and Etienne, the Angel of Diplomacy.
NAMES
Mercurians' true names vary widely, especially since
many younger ones choose a current Earthly translation
to better reflect their nature. When choosing an earthly
name, Mercurians make certain it is appropriate and
essentially normal - but also has a certain style or flair.
Mercurians will never choose a name that is out of date,
threatening or simply too unusual.
Sample Mercurian Names

Typical Mercurian names - used both in Heaven and
on Earth - include Gilchrist, Maximillian, Salvatore,
Valentine, Angel, Echo, Celeste, Dominique and Lacy.
Some very old Mercurians retain very Enochian-sounding names. This has become a symbol of age and experience. These angels will alter their true name (for
instance, Rumiel to Remy, Asisya to Alicia or Sahriel to
Sarah) for use in dealings on Earth.
TRADITIONAL DUTIES
Mercurians typically hold any duties that deal with
blending into, interacting with, observing or influencing
human society directly from within. They are often utilized as spies, propagandists or envoys. In more mundane
capacities, Mercurians usually choose to fulfill roles that
place themselves as patrons of the arts or preachers of
true faith.
MERCURIANS
It is interesting to note that many Mercurians do not

like the large organized churches of the corporeal realm.
With their innate sense of politics and relationships, they
see them as being instruments of control rather than true
instruments of faith. They visibly blanch upon mention
oftelevangelists.
CELESTIAL DUTIES
Within the celestial realms, Mercurian duty lies almost
solely in the realm of politics. It was the Mercurians who
attempted to stop the War, although their peaceful
accords were, in the end, futile. The Mercurians are now
mainly charged with helping and advising the human
souls, saints and the bodhisattva. They also act as the specific eyes of their Archangel, keeping tabs on other
Archangel's plans and making sure that no one group or
individual's plans are counterproductive to their own
machinations.
TYPICAL ROLES
Mercurians tend to hold Roles that
put them into contact with lots of
people. These Roles reflect their
duties, leaning toward positions
that allow them to gather information or directly influence.
Some applicable roles include
administrator, bartender, courier,
detective, doctor, entertainer, journalist, lawyer, politician, psychologist and religious figure.
MERCURIANS AND
HUMAN SOCIETY
Mercurians simply love humans, especially their capacity for intense emotion. They love all forms of artistic
expression, be it painting or drawing, music, writing,
dance or what have you - that is, as long as the emotion
and motivation behind the expression is pure.
They openly curse any artistic endeavor born of
impure emotions, such as hate or greed, and any art in
whatever form it takes that encourages evil behavior. And
more than anything else, they weep for the degeneration
of artistic culture that has taken place over the last halfcentury.
Since Mercurians are so closely connected and enamored with humans and human society, they overlook
nothing. To them, humanity and society are both much
like art; they are to be studied and experienced in their
fullest. In this capacity, they serve the War greatly.

OF RESONANCE
Under normal circumstances, the Mercurian resonance detects patterns of politics within the Symphony.
Simply by looking at people, they are able to determine
social standing, name and peripheral relationships. More
experienced and perceptive Mercurians are able to use
their natural resonance to determine other things about
the humans they so love.
By concentrating their resonance on a particular individual, a Mercurian may be able to discern other characteristics about that person. While an Elohite is able to
determine a person's emotional state and motivations, a
Mercurian may be able to discover what a person enjoys
or desires. To do this, the Mercurian must choose his target and make a successful resonance invocation. The
check digit determines the degree of precision with
which he is able to read such things. A Mercurian
must roll at -2 to his target number in order
to use this function of his resonance, consult the Special Use at -2 Penalty resonance table.
In some cases desires can be simple necessities, such as eating or
sleeping, or basic motivations such
as meeting a deadline. Furthermore, it is sometimes better not to
know someone's secret desires,
since the subconscious can be a
nasty, base place.
An even more sophisticated use of
Mercurian resonance is determining
trust. A particularly perceptive member
of the Choir may be able to utilize his resonance to determine what exactly must be done
to gain an individual's trust, either temporarily or permanently. The check digit determines the degree of precision with which he is able to read such things. A
Mercurian must roll his resonance at -4 in order to use
this function. Consult the Special Use at -4 Penalty resonance table.
Of course, it may be impossible for the Mercurian to
actually gain this trust; it depends on what has to be
done.
Essentially, a Mercurian's resonance should potentially
tell him everything he needs to know when approaching
an individual, including that person's social standing, the
respect he commands, his relationships, how he perceives
others, how others perceive him, his level of societal
acceptance, his prejudices, his desires in life and what can
be done to make him trust the angel. This date should, at
a minimum, clearly steer the angel in steering the person.
61
MERCURIANS
MERCURIAN
CHECK DIGIT RESULTS
1 ....You can sense a person's most immediate
desire; what he most obviously enjoys or needs.
2 ....You can sense a person's current motivating
desire; what would bring a smile to his face.
3 ....You can sense a person's basic desires; what
would bring him joy for a couple of days.
4 .... You can sense a person's deeper desires; what
would bring him joy for an extended period.
5 .... You can sense a person's deepest desires; what
would make him a very happy creature.
6 .... You can sense an individual's secret desires;
what would bring the greatest amount of joy
or fulfillment for a very long time.
These factors provide the Mercurian with an excellent

base point for encouragement, negotiation or even
manipulation (in the most altruistic sense). He will know
what to say, how to say it, what to offer or even how to
threaten (to coerce resistant persons into doing the right
thing). Their nature combined with their silver tongues
allows Mercurians to sway the most obstinate of targets,
even angels and demons.
MERCURIAN
CHECK DIGIT RESULTS
62
1 .... You know how to gain the person's trust for at

least the next short conversation.
2 .... You know how to gain the person's trust for
the next day.
3 .... You know how to gain the person's trust for the
next couple of weeks with intermittent contact.
4 .... You know how to gain the person's trust for a
couple of months of intermittent contact.
5 .... You know how to gain the person's trust as
long as a close relationship is maintained.
6 .... You know how to gain the person's trust permanently.
MERCURIANS
ON EARTHLY MATTERS
Though they would rather help than hinder, sometimes a Mercurian has to take an aggressive stance. In
these rare instances, their true forte is creating trouble of
the social kind for those that deserve it. An inspired and
gifted Mercurian can take a human - or another celestial
- out of action for as long as necessary with his resonance
and the right Skills and Songs.
Law enforcement serves the Mercurians as a favorite
tool, here. If someone needs to be out of the angel's way,
he can fabricate a trumped-up accusation to have them
arrested, or at least detained for questioning for the rest
of the afternoon.
For most people, this isn't simple. While some hotbutton accusations - such as child abuse - will eat up a
few hours in interviews without a shred of proof, most {
require some sort of evidence. The person fabricating
the accusation may need to plant this evidence - which
finally gives celestials a use for those hard-to-dispose-of
bodies they tend to accrue. Celestials with
Transubstantiation can always trump up drug-related
evidence. Those with excellent timing and the Ethereal '
Song of Light can make a police officer think he saw
overwhelming evidence!
Mercurians find this job much simpler, because using
their resonance on the target can tell them if he's ever
been in legal trouble before, what kind of trouble and
who in law enforcement might be waiting for anodier
shot at him.
In the same vein, their resonance can open the way to
a variety of similar distractions. A Mercurian who knows
his target has been an unfaithful husband - and whose
resonance tells him the target highly values his wife's
trust - can shuffle the human's priorities with a single
phone call to his home. If his resonance tells him his target lusts after baseball cards, he might be able to trade a
Ken Griffey rookie-season for a life.
Overall, some celestial philosophers theorize that me
Symphony prohibits Mercurians from violence as a sort
of cosmic balance, because their resonance offers so
many other ways to manipulate people. Mercurians may
combine their gambits with appropriate Skill and/or
Song use, but their resonance doesn't really improve the
odds of a given course of action. It holds the more powerful effect of pointing out the most effective courses of
action. Perhaps a given human wouldn't listen to
Heaven's needs if they were presented by any celestial
short of God himself but would readily agree to meet
those needs if asked by his 3-year-old son. Only a
Mercurian would divine this truth.
Mercurians' lives on Earth can be very interesting,
even by angelic standards, as a result of this use of their
resonance. Politics makes

strange bedfellows, and these
angels routinely end up "in bed
with" the strangest people during their assignments. A
Mercurian assigned to ensure
that a nursing home obtains its
state license might find himself
convincing a wino to show up on
a certain street corner one morning wearing nothing but happyface boxers, because his resonance indicates the inspector
greatly respects the opinion of
his co-worker in the assessor's
office, and that the co-worker
only gives great weight to her
family life, and that her husband's background included a
painful childhood period in
which his impoverished grandfather cheerfully displayed
his senility by wandering around in his undergarments.
Game Masters can mine this resonance for a huge variety of plot hooks.
TOUCHY SITUATIONS
Mercurians generate dissonance through violence,
unless the object of their rage is Hellspawn.
Unfortunately, their duties . . . or infernal plotting . . .
often put them into a position where violence seems
unavoidable.
For any variety of reasons - for instance through
greed, necessity, hate or demonic influence - a
Mercurian may be attacked by human beings. In many
cases, the angel may be able to solve or avoid these situations through non-violent means. In these cases, the
Songs of Charm, Form (Ethereal), Harmony (Corporeal
and Ethereal), Light (Ethereal), Motion (Corporeal and
Celestial) and Shields (Corporeal and Celestial) become
particularly useful.
Soldiers of Hell are still humans; Mercurians generate
dissonance if they act violently against them. They will
have to resolve the conflict non-violently, hope that one
of their associates is better suited for violence . . . or bite
the bullet and generate a dissonant note.
In some situations, a Mercurian will have no option
but to act violently. Sometimes a human will have left
them no other course, or perhaps an individual is so evil
or wicked that he needs to be destroyed right then and
there. In these situations, as long as the Mercurian is sure
that he is doing the right thing, he will simply have to
accept the dissonance and hope he can remove it later.

The best way for Mercurians to rid themselves of dissonance is to atone directly for their sins. Since they love
humanity so much, they must prove it by trying to right
the wrongs they have done to their victims. If a
Mercurian kills a human, no atonement is possible. But
non-lethal violence can be atoned for, by seeking and
receiving forgiveness, and mending any damage done.
SPECIAL DISCORDS
Unnerving Stare (Corporeal)
The angel develops an unnatural stare that unnerves
onlookers. Perhaps his eyes open too wide, perhaps he
no longer blinks or his gaze just appears murderous.
Regardless, he suffers a penalty to all die rolls for interpersonal relations equal to the level of this Discord.
Other Choirs have exhibited this Discord, as well.
Tongue Tied (Ethereal)

No matter what the angel tries to do, he has great difficulty speaking. Either his mouth is simply not cooperating with him, he's saying stupid things or he develops a
speech impediment. Regardless, this greatly hampers his
ability to communicate verbally, causing a -1 to all die
rolls per level of Discord in these situations.
Oblivious (Celestial)
The angel becomes increasingly blind to the emotional states and desires of those with whom he interacts. At
level 1, the angel might miss subtle cues he normally
would have noticed, while at level 6 he appears to be
downright callous or clueless. Sometimes angels from
63
MERCURIANS
other Choirs display a version of this Discord, tied to

their own resonance of course. For instance, a Seraph
would become Oblivious to lies or deceitful conduct.
WORDS
Mercurians are naturals for any Word that deals with
human politics, relationships or emotion. Word-bound
Mercurians include angels of Good Neighbors,
Reunions, and Consolation to the Bereaved, Truces and
Elections.
MERCURIANS AND SUPERIORS

Blandine: The theory of "six degrees of separation" which posits that any two people are linked by a chain of
acquaintances no more than six links long - applies in
dreamscapes, as well. These angels can end up in just
about any dream by exploring the network of human
relationships.
David: Many Mercurians serve Stone, bolstering
humanity's spirits through the trials that their Archangel
inflicts.
Dominic: Of all their Choir, these Servitors often love

humanity least, thanks to their ability to see its sins so
clearly. In return, many of their brethren don't fully trust
these Mercurians - especially given their limited license
to kill.
Eli: Other archangels appreciate the loan of these
makers of talismans, who often must campaign stridently to see any real "action."
Gabriel: They are the kindliest servitors of the
Archangel of Fire; they don't punish, but rather deter
humans from punishing themselves. The task fits the
Mercurian nature well, making Gabriel a favored
Superior for the Choir.
Janus: The Mercurian nature is flexible enough to
enjoy this service, particularly since it offers a host of
non-violent yet high-profile ways to gain humanity's
attention.
Jean: More and more Mercurians have joined
Lightning's ranks since technology has become more
vital to society. The Archangel of Lightning often assigns
these telepathic Servitors to espionage roles, which can
conflict with their Choir natures.
Jordi: These Servitors
often display a wry sense
of humor about human
foibles, being so familiar
with the similarities in
behavior between the
average human and chimpanzee . . .
Laurence: These artful
dodgers often specialize in
hunting demons who are
actively inflicting misery
among humanity. Many
have well-developed combat skills for this purpose.
Marc: Mercurians love
Trade, since it brings people together peacefully.
Those in Marc's ranks
tend to be active, boisterous proponents of free
markets, quality-of-living
issues and the like.
Michael: These powerful angels can boil almost
any assignment down to
its essential components
with their attunement but often must spend too
much time convincing
their own side that they're
IMGRE55
6M ELR C U R I A N S
right, especially if working with

their fellow Servitors of War.
Novalis: A very popular
Superior, the Archangel of
Flowers
boasts
more
Mercurians than any other
Choir and more than most
other Superiors. She never
keeps these angels from spreading joy in their celestial forms but Servitors of other Superiors
keep a wary eye out that things
don't get out of hand and
threaten the secrecy of the War.
These servants need to be a bit
subtle and secretive as they go
about their work.
Yves: Powerful diviners,
Mercurians of Yves can perceive
the results of celestial influence
in a person's fortunes, and
thereby pre-identify the targets
of demons or other angels.
Acting on their attunement,
these angels can change its findings.
THEMERCURIAN
PERSPECTIVE
Seraphim: When we talk
about the "straights," this is
who we mean. They just don't get it. Why can't they
learn to deal with mortals?
Cherubim: They show admirable dedication and are
pretty cool guys, but they're so darn focused. Cherubs
should look up from what they're protecting for once,
and experience the world in which their wards live.
Oranim: Whoo-hoo! Slow down, Tex! The Ofanim
are a bit frazzled, but they can be a lot of fun.
Elohim: How can they live like that? There's a place
for objectivity, but all the time? The Elohim need to let
their hair down, so they can enjoy God's creation. That's
what it's here for.
Malakim: Surprisingly enough, we get along. We do
the talking, and when the talking doesn't work they come
in and clean things up. Not to mention the fact that they
cut out the cancer within society.
Kyriotate: They know how to experience. Rock on.
They're probably our favorite teammates when a job
needs to be done.
Balseraph: As if there weren't enough problems in
society without some demon who can make his lies real.
Loathe them, for their work makes life more and more
difficult for those humans they affect.
Djinn: Yes, they understand dedication. But a Djinn's
understanding of dedication is sick.
Calabim: Life is about creation, not destruction.
Works of art that took a lifetime of inspiration and dedication to complete withstand but a thought from these
monsters.
Habbalah: Emotions are sacred, part of what make
humanity special, and not to be toyed with. People have
enough trouble keeping control of their emotions without the Habbalah to make things worse. "Oh, you're an
angel, eh? Come here, I'll show you an angel."
Lilim: They may be fun, but keep two things in mind
about the Lilim. One: wrong kind of relationships, kids.
Two: beauty is only skin deep.
Shedim: There are some things people need not experience.
Impudites: Our Fallen brethren are sick
perversions of what we are. We hate them,
and reserve our repressed violence for
them.
65
MERCURIANS
Archangels are some of the busiest beings in creation.

As the embodiment of a fundamental concept, an
Archangel must maintain his Word across the
Symphony, and defend it against attacks. He must concentrate on every aspect of his Word, and still pay attention to the "big picture," his role in the War.
Many Archangels are preoccupied with Heavenly politics, and celestial duties fill the time of even those who
avoid die political arena. Every Archangel's cathedral is
teeming with Servitors, from anonymous relievers to
influential Word-bound ambassadors, all requiring a certain amount of direction from the top. And lastly, there
are hundreds, if not thousands, of earthly Servitors to
worry about, many of them clamoring for attention at
any given time. Although Archangels transcend time and
space, and can appear in more than one place at the same
time, they cannot divide themselves infinitely.
Considering the scope of their duties, Archangels make
themselves pretty accessible to their Servitors, but they
prefer not to be troubled unless it's really important.
Assignment to Earth is one indication that the player
characters have earned their Archangel's favor, but even
the most important Servitors rarely have much personal
contact with their Superior. Every angel has met his
Archangel at least once, and some have enjoyed a long
relationship. (Archangels always know their Servitors on
sight, and can address even the least of them by name.)
However, once an angel is sent to Earth, he is supposed
to be fairly self-sufficient. Visits by one's Superior should
be few and far between. An angel who needs close supervision will probably be assigned to a lesser Word-bound
superior, and if the Servitor doesn't benefit from such
guidance, he will likely lose his autonomy altogether and
be recalled to Heaven for less independent tasks. The
same goes for an angel who summons his Superior too
often; the whole point of placing Servitors on Earth is to
keep the Archangel from having to take care of everything himself.
While Archangels are too busy to receive daily

progress reports from all their Servitors, they don't want
anyone to be out of touch too long. Granting too much
autonomy can be worse than not granting enough, and
several Archangels have learned to their sorrow that an
angel who doesn't check in often enough may have run
afoul of a diabolical plot and been eliminated, or worse,
be in grave danger of Falling.
When it comes to directing their Earthly Servitors,
most Archangels delegate as much as possible; micromanagers like Dominic and Jean are the exceptions. This
means that most angels will not be reporting to or receiv-
ing their orders directly from an Archangel under normal circumstances. Their immediate "superior" is more
likely to be a Word-bound intermediary. Some angels are
assigned a minor superior on a semi-permanent basis;
others may be transferred from one superior to another
for each mission. And some Servitors may not know who
their Archangel has assigned to supervise them, until the
angel in charge shows up, demanding a status report!
An angel's relationship with his supervisor may be very
close, even to the point of becoming his direct Servitor
and serving his Word. Or your supervisor might just be
someone you call once a week to give a progress report,
and receive any recent directives from On High.
If an angel becomes a Servitor of his Word-bound
superior, then he takes that superior's Word, and has
access to the rites of that lesser superior as well as those of
his Archangel. For instance, if a Cherub serving Jean
becomes a permanent Servitor of Orc, the Angel of
Networks (In Nomine, p. 194), then the Cherub would
now be a "Cherub of Networks." Both of them still ultimately serve Lightning, but the Cherub would be more
directly serving the Word of Networks, and receiving his
instructions from Orc rather than Jean.
All Servitors still have the ability to invoke their
Archangel directly, of course, whereas most lesser Wordbound superiors cannot be summoned in the same manner. Archangels like to have some contact with all their
Servitors from time to time, so even if you are an
Ofanite, serving the Angel of Falcons, who serves the
Angel of Birds of Prey, who serves the Angel of Birds,
who serves the Archangel of Animals, Jordi himself may
still appear to you directly now and then.
Some angels do operate outside their Superior's normal chain of command. Every Archangel has a few
favored Servitors that are assigned special missions, and
who report only to the Archangel himself. The PCs may
be such angels. Even if they don't have a regular intermediate supervisor, however, favored Servitors still
should not expect to see their Superior on a regular basis.
There are only two times an Archangel usually wants to
see his Servitors; when he's giving them orders for their
next assignment, and when they are reporting to him at
the end of that assignment (hopefully to inform him of its
successful conclusion)! If the Archangel needs to communicate with them in the interim, he may send another
Servitor to deliver his message and receive their reply
(usually a messenger Ofanite; possibly just a reliever, if
the message is simple). Likewise, not all successful invocations result in the personal appearance of the
Archangel. If the angels are asking for something relatively minor, the Archangel is likely to send an intermediary to deal with the request (or to tell them to stop
bothering him with trifles).
67
MEETING YOUR Boss
MEETING AN ARCHANGEL
Almost every Archangel briefs his Servitors personally
before they are sent to Earth for the first time. And
almost every angel on Earth will see his Archangel again
sooner or later. For some (such as Servitors of Dominic),
this is a regular occurrence. For most, it is rare. It's possible for an angel with a well-established Role, engaged
in a long-term assignment, to go for years without hearing from his Superior. Most Archangels will make sure
that such Servitors are staying in touch with someone,
however. The situations where Archangels are likely to
appear in person are outlined below, but here is some
advice every angel should keep in mind during any audience with his Superior:
Be Discreet
68
If an Archangel assigns a mission to a group of

Servitors, he may speak to them all at once for the briefing and debriefing. But even the friendliest Archangels
prefer to keep "house business" between themselves and
the angels who serve them, and no Archangel wants to
give rewards or punishments to a Servitor in front of others. (Public praise may be part of a Servitor's reward, but
what is bestowed in private may be something that the
Archangel doesn't want known to others, even his other
Servitors. Archangels dislike it greatly when their servants start comparing their rewards.)
Thus, when invoking an Archangel, it's better to do it
in a secluded spot with no one else around. And if you
dare to question or criticize your Superior, or even worse
have bad news to give him, it's definitely better to wait
until you're alone together.
MEE TING
YOUR BOSS
Be Brief
The busy Archangels hate having their time wasted.
Even when they're happy to see a favorite Servitor, they
rarely have time for a lengthy chat. It should be obvious
that summoning a Superior unnecessarily is bound to
irritate him. When it is necessary to speak to your
Archangel, keep it brief. He'll appreciate it.
Be Reasonable
Archangels have finite resources. Every angel they
place on Earth is an investment; they expect their
Servitors to get the job done with a minimum of assistance. If you really need help, ask for it, and if you really
need a flight of Malakim armed with holy relics to storm
an enemy Tether, in order to preserve the very integrity
of your Superior's Word, then he'll probably provide
them. But anything you ask for should be something you
can't get anywhere else, and further, is vital to your mission. If you're constantly needing information, weapons,
backup or Essence, your Superior will find someone else
who can get the job done without being so demanding.
By the same token, if your Archangel grants a boon for
meritorious service, don't be greedy. A Rite, Song or
Porsche (some angels do like to get around in style) is
probably a reasonable request after successfully completing a mission of moderate importance. Don't ask for
more than you expect to get; Archangels don't haggle
with their Servitors, and they value humility over pride.
Be Polite
Some Archangels are more formal than others when
meeting with their Servitors (see p. 72), but even the
most casual Superior expects respect. Expressing dissent
may be permitted (though not by every Archangel), but

it should be done tactfully. Being rude will earn you a
frosty dismissal at best, and possibly much, much worse.
No Archangel tolerates outright insubordination. On the
other hand, while most Archangels like humility in their
Servitors, none of them like groveling.
REASONS FOR AN AUDIENCE

In general, the GM should keep audiences with an
Archangel very rare. If the PCs interact directly with
their Archangel for every mission, then meetings should
still occur only at the beginning and end of the adventure. Most angels will not see their Archangel every
adventure, or even more than once during the campaign.
Don't let player characters get away with summoning
Archangels on a regular basis. The invocation rules are to
be used to contact their Superior only under unusual and
extremely important circumstances. Archangels are not
technical-support hotlines. The average angel has direct
personal contact with his Archangel about as often as the
average Archangel has direct personal contact with God.
Even He usually uses intermediaries.
Nonetheless, Archangels don't absent themselves
entirely from Earthly affairs, or the day-to-day lives of
their Servitors. They will probably put in a personal
appearance now and then during the campaign; the situations where this might occur are described later.
Although Archangels cause quite a disturbance in the
Symphony when they descend from the celestial plane
(see Invocations, below), an appearance by a Superior need
not always cause ripples. Some Archangels have special
abilities to mask their presence, and they don't always
have to jump between the corporeal and celestial planes.
Some spend a lot of time on Earth in corporeal form, and
may visit their Servitors the same way
everyone else does, using mundane transportation. This also means your Archangel
might visit without your knowing about it!
takes place somewhere that wouldn't be conducive to the

sudden appearance of a Superior, there are a number of
other ways an Archangel can respond. First, it's trivial for
an Archangel to project an image, or simply speak mentally with the Servitor, using Superior equivalents of the
Songs of Projection and Tongues. Second, the Archangel
can send another minion to interact with his Servitors.
Third, if the Archangel already knows what the summoner wants, he may simply provide it. The angel can
thank him later.
The check digit of a successful invocation roll indicates
the mood of the Archangel (In Nomine, p. 109). This
can also be an indicator of how likely the Archangel is to
appear in person. All of the guidelines given above for
addressing a Superior are especially relevant after an
invocation; displaying foolishness or a bad attitude will
earn double the displeasure if he shows up because you
called him.
Remember that invocations can cause a lot of disturbance! The manifestation of a Superior rarely goes
unnoticed. Some Archangels have ways of cloaking their
presence, but some won't bother; they'll assume that you
will take into account the disturbance they'll cause when
you choose to summon them. If you're invoking your
Superior in an area with a high population of celestials,
it's a very good idea to use the Celestial Song of Shields
first. (Some Archangels will do this as they appear, but
again, some won't bother.)
Mission Briefings
If you're one of those Servitors who receives your
orders directly from your Archangel, then you'll probably see him before each mission. Here, the time and
place of your meeting is chosen by your Superior. He
Invocations
The most likely reason an Archangel
will appear during an adventure is because
an angel summoned him. A successful
invocation roll means you have caught the
Archangel's attention, and will receive a
response, but it doesn't always mean the
Archangel will manifest in person.
Although an Archangel doesn't automatically know why his Servitor is calling him,
he can usually figure it out with a glance
from afar.
If it's evident that a corporeal manifestation is not necessary, and the invocation
MEETING YOUR Boss
may let you know beforehand when to expect him, or tell

you to report to a Tether for your next briefing, or he
might just drop in unexpectedly to give you new orders.
Usually the Archangel will be willing to answer a question or two, but don't bother him with requests for information you can obtain on your own. It's not uncommon
for Archangels to assign tasks that don't make much
sense to their Servitors. If you really want to know how
your mission is relevant to your Superior's goals, it's better to ask after you've successfully completed it. (Even
then, you may not get an answer.) Questioning your
orders is a bad idea, while refusing a mission will earn an
immediate recall to Heaven, or possibly
Outcast status!
an explanation for questionable behavior. But remember

that Archangels have relationships, too, and many of
them are genuinely fond of their Servitors - sometimes
they just want to see how you're doing. A surprise visit by
your boss might be cause for anxiety, but it never hurts to
invite your Superior to join you for dinner when he
shows up ... every now and then, even Archangels just
want to relax and socialize. Keep in mind that Archangels
do nothing without a reason; as friendly and casual as an
Archangel might be during such a visit, he probably has
something else on his mind as well. The angel should
wonder about that.
Mission Debriefings
If your Archangel assigned your mission personally, then it's him you'll probably see when you're done. Obviously,
this audience will be more pleasant if
your mission was successful. The
Archangel may expect you to summon
him when you've completed your assignment, or he may schedule a meeting
afterward. It's also not uncommon for
Archangels to keep an eye on their
Servitors' progress, and appear at mission's end, before the Servitor has even
had time to call. Some Archangels hold
these audiences in their cathedral, and present awards
and penalties in a formal manner, while others will show
up at your apartment, receive your report and then let
you know what they think of the job you did.
If your mission was an overwhelming success, it's all
right to be proud, but don't be arrogant, or expect profuse thanks from your Superior. After all, you are just
doing what he expects you to do. On the other hand, if
you bungled it badly, it's time to walk that fine line
between abject humility and groveling. Archangels aren't
much moved by apologies, and they hate excuses. The
best thing to do, in such a situation, is to accept full
responsibility for your failure, show that you understand
why you failed and plead for another chance to prove
yourself. Suggest a way that you can do this, and you
might get off more lightly than if you leave it up to your
Archangel to devise a suitable mission of redemption.
Unexpected Visits
Busy as they are, Archangels like to drop in unexpectedly from time to time. Nothing keeps an angel on his
toes like knowing that his Superior could be watching,
and at any time might make an appearance. Often, these
visits are to check on a Servitor's progress, or to demand
MEETING YOUR Boss
Audiences in Heaven
Some Archangels prefer to meet with their Servitors in
their cathedral. Audiences in Heaven tend to be more
formal. An Archangel is rarely alone there; a host of
other Servitors are always standing by, taking notes,
relaying messages and implementing every command the
Archangel gives. A much greater degree of etiquette is
imperative. Since both Archangel and Servitor are in
their celestial forms and speaking the angelic language,
not even the slightest deception is possible.
An angel can choose to ascend to Heaven (and sometimes is forced to, such as when suffering corporeal
death, or in the case of Kyriotates who don't find a host
in time). Archangels always know when one of their
Servitors has arrived in Heaven, but usually won't see
them immediately, if at all. If it's a Kyriotate who was
forced out of the corporeal plane, an intermediary will
probably demand an explanation and then send the angel
back to Earth. (The Kyriotate will hear about it from his
Archangel later!) If it's a celestial form in Trauma, there
are divine "nurses" who tend to these poor souls until
they've recovered and are ready to return.
An angel who ascends to Heaven because he wants to
speak to his Archangel in person can expect a long wait
(see Seeking an Audience, p. 71). No one but another

Archangel can walk into a cathedral and expect to see its
master without an appointment. Of course, when the
Superior does see his Servitor, he'll want an accounting
of the time the angel wasted while waiting to see him.
SETTING You UP TO FAIL

There are times when an Archangel may assign a mission that he expects to fail. Usually he won't disclose as
much, diough there are ways of finding out. Sometimes
he'll explain afterward why he did it. Other times, the
angel may never know that success was never expected.
Archangels are juggling many schemes at any given
time. Even their most important Servitor is just another
resource in the War. Angels don't like to think of themselves as expendable, but to some Superiors, that's just
what they are. Most Archangels won't send their
Servitors off to die as readily as their diabolical counterparts, but there are times when it's necessary to sacrifice
a few angels for the greater good - or so Archangels tell
themselves during strategic planning sessions.
Some missions are just distractions, to divert the attention of die other side while the real mission takes place
elsewhere. Sometimes Archangels are even trying to mislead orner Archangels. Servitors sent on such missions
are basically being used as bait; their objectives may be
valid, and they might even succeed in their mission, but
they might just be drawing fire. And sometimes
Archangels need to know what's going on in a particular
area. The enemy may be suspected of harboring unusual
defenses, or the Archangel might just want to test their
interest in something, by seeing what kind of a reaction
he gets by sending angels after it. Feints provide valuable
information, but they're hard on the angels who are
being used as celestial guinea pigs.
Even afterward, it's rare for Archangels to inform their
Servitors mat they were on such a mission. It's bad for
morale, and even Heaven has security leaks. There is also
the danger of an angel being captured, or having his
mind read. The angels chosen for such missions may be
dissonant troublemakers that their Archangel doesn't
mind risking, or they may be proven warriors, guaranteed to cause a lot of chaos and provoke a major reaction.
In either case, should the angels make it out alive, successful or not, their Archangel will reward them. Success,
especially when it's unexpected, will be rewarded more
than usual. After an incredibly hard mission that may
have ended in disaster, an Archangel's favorable reaction
may be me only clue that something else was going on.
Another reason to set an angel up for failure is to teach
humility. Any angel getting too full of himself may be
reminded of the saying, "Pride cometh before a fall."
Archangels worry about any Servitor who's earning dis-
SEEKING AN AUDIENCE
Angels who seek a Heavenly audience with an
Archangel should make a reaction roll (In Nomine, p.
44). The target number is 4 plus the Archangel's Chance
of Invocation. (For Dominic, the target number is 4.)
Use normal celestial reaction modifiers. (Discord gives a
penalty; Status has no effect. Trying to Fast-Talk an
Archangel's secretary is not recommended.) The following modifiers also apply:
Seraphim get +1. Angels with Distinctions get a bonus
equal to the Distinction's level (i.e., Vassals get +1,
Friends get +2 and Masters get +3). Word-bound angels
get an additional +2. Outcasts (seeking redemption, presumably) get -4. If seeking an audience with an
Archangel other than your own: -2 if the Archangel is
allied to your Superior, -3 if he is associated, -4 if they are
neutral and -6 if he is hostile.
The GM may assign other modifiers, based on the
angel's current status in the eyes of his Superior.
On an unsuccessful roll, the angel is denied an audience and sent away. The check digit is the number of
days before the angel can come back and try again (trying again sooner will result in expulsion from the
Archangel's cathedral).
On a successful roll, the Archangel will see the supplicant in 6 days, minus the check digit. On a check digit of
6, the angel gets an audience that very day (but will still
probably have to wait a few hours).
Like every other meeting with an Archangel, formal
audiences should be kept brief. Archangels are usually
more accommodating when a Servitor has asked permission to see them and then waited patiently for his turn,
as opposed to summoning the Archangel to Earth, but
they still don't expect an angel to take up more than a few
minutes of their time.
sonance too often. A mission specifically designed to
teach an errant Servitor a lesson may be hard on his ego,
but it can spare him far greater suffering later.
Lastly, Archangels may just want to see how their
Servitors react to being set up. The harder an angel's trials, the higher his Superior will regard him, especially if
he endures without complaint and accepts the Superior's
wisdom in the end. This does not mean the angel will be
rewarded; sometimes surviving an impossible mission
only earns a nod and new orders. Angels who lose their
faith, or hurl recriminations at their Superior when they
find out they were being tested, become suspect. The
Archangel will keep a close eye on them, and probably
will not select them for greater responsibilities until they
have had more seasoning and gained greater wisdom.
71
MEETING YOUR B
OSS
72
Each Archangel has a different style when it comes to

manifesting on Earth. Archangels also interact with their
Servitors according to their individual personalities.
Blandiiie: Blandine rarely manifests on the corporeal
plane. If summoned, she prefers to appear in celestial
form, unless there is a need to reduce the disturbance.
Her usual vessel is described in In Nomine, p. 110, but
she uses it only for answering invocations. Blandine does
not hold formal audiences; if an angel really wants to
speak to her, he can travel to the Marches and climb her
Tower to summon her (In Nomine, p. 138). She usually
talks to her Servitors in their sleep, appearing before
them when they walk the Marches, or sometimes while
they are in the dreamscape of a sleeping mortal. For less
urgent communications, she sends her Menunim.
Blandine is polite but reserved when speaking to lesser
angels. She treats them with respect, but expects them to
humbly accept orders, just as she accepts her own duties.
She doesn't like arguments, and usually has too much on
her mind to chat. She always seems a bit distracted.
David: He meets his Heavenly Servitors in the
Catacombs beneath the Groves, on the rare occasions
when he must return there. Any request for an audience
takes twice the usual wait. . . although his Servitors will
relay the request to him, and if the requester returns to
Earth to wait, David might drop in on him there. When
appearing in a human vessel, David is always male;
mankind has always identified masculinity with strength
and power. He prefers to be invoked where he can manifest in mineral form. David spends most of his time on
Earth, supervising the testing of humanity. More than
any other Archangel, he expects his followers to be selfsufficient. Servitors should think very hard before asking
David for aid. As blunt and uncompromising as he is, he
values his Servitors' opinions. With the Archangel of
Stone, angels should feel free to speak their minds . . .
until he makes a decision. The conversation is over then.
MEETING YOUR Boss
Dominic: Heaven's chief Inquisitor is notorious for

keeping a close eye on everyone, including his own
Servitors. Although his angels are organized into a complicated hierarchy, with everyone reporting to at least
one higher-ranking supervisor, Dominic visits each and
every one of his earthly Servitors in person, about once a
week. Most of these visits are extremely brief; Dominic
appears, examines his Servitor for dissonance, listens to
anything the angel may have to say and then moves on.
If necessary, he'll stay longer, to demand a detailed explanation if he finds fault with his Servitor's report. He tolerates no dissent, no excuses and nothing that even
remotely resembles insolence but Dominic is nothing
if not just. He will give legitimate complaints a fair hearing, and he does allow for mitigating circumstances when
a Servitor errs. This won't absolve an angel for making a
mistake, but it might reduce his punishment.
The Archangel of Judgment may appear in human
form as a man or a woman; whether the Archangel manifests as Dominic or Dominique depends on which
appears more authoritative to the person she/he is visiting. In either vessel, the Archangel is usually dressed in
judge's robes, or occasionally severe, conservative formal
clothing. Dominic doesn't create a disturbance in the
Symphony with his Earthly rounds; just how he does this
is none of his angels' business.
Eli: Eli's cathedral is empty; the Archangel of Creation
has not been to Heaven in many years, and he holds no
audiences there. Eli can be summoned, but otherwise,
one doesn't find him; he finds you. Eli travels the world
in corporeal form, usually a human male vessel, but he's
been known to appear as a woman, a bird and even as a
Grecian urn. He changes his form at will, and is rarely
recognizable as an Archangel unless he chooses to be.
An angel can get away with a lot when speaking to Eli.
He's not bothered by contrariness, or even insolence.
Disobedience might annoy him (and when Eli is
annoyed, he is capable of devising very creative ways to
teach a disobedient angel a lesson), but he might forget
about it. Eli doesn't feel an obligation to explain himself
to anyone, however, nor will he stand still while someone
softly if they don't have good news to report, though, as

Janus can lose his temper very easily. He may apologize
later, but that's small comfort to a Servitor who's borne
is verbally abusing him. If a Servitor wants to vent his
the brunt of the storm.
spleen, Eli will let him, but he'll probably disappear
Jean: Jean prefers to stay in his laboratories in the
before the angel is finished.
Halls of Progress, but when he's on Earth he can be
Gabriel: Gabriel doesn't receive visitors in the Citadel
found answering summons or checking up on his
of Fire. She goes there only to retreat for a time from
Servitors' work. Unlike most Archangels, Jean's advice is,
Earth. Instead, she has Servitors who are empowered to
"When in doubt, call me." He's much more forgiving of
speak on her behalf. These same Servitors are likely to
being summoned unnecessarily than he is of an angel
answer her invocations, though Gabriel is just as likely to
who doesn't summon him and makes a mistake. Of
answer them herself. If her Servitors invoke her near a
course he doesn't have to appear in person; Jean loves the
fire, she may speak to them from the flames. She usually information age, as all his Servitors are just a phone call
wears a human vessel, and though in ancient times
or e-mail away. On Earth, his vessel is usually that of a
Gabriel most often appeared as a man, she now prefers a
middle-aged man. Some of his older Servitors say that
female body. She also appears in vessels of living flame.
Jean used to appear as a female vessel, but he hasn't done
She loves her followers, but can be capricious and unforso in centuries. On rare occasions he'll remind his
giving. Her Servitors are usually too loyal to question
Servitors that his Word is far more ancient than
her, or too frightened, which is good, because while
mankind, and descend as a bolt of lightning. Such a
Gabriel will rarely notice a lack of courtesy or tact, she
flashy appearance is probably a sign that Jean is diswill punish disobedience instantly.
pleased, since he'd never express emotion any other way.
Janus: High in the treetops of the Heavenly Groves,
He has other ways of letting his Servitors know he's disJanus holds infrequent meetings with his Servitors, but
satisfied, though, and won't hesitate to do so. Jean punusually he is traveling the world, sometimes flying a jet or
ishes incompetence harshly. He doesn't care much for
driving a fast car, but often in a vessel of wind. When
servility; he wants to hear the facts, unadorned by apoloinvoking Janus, angels may hear his voice carried on the
gies or false modesty. He doesn't tolerate back talk.
wind, or he may manifest as a whirlwind, playful and
Jordi: Jordi divides his time evenly between his
generous or temperamental and destructive, depending
Savannah and Earth. He rarely makes his Servitors wait
on his mood. If Janus shows up in person, chaos is sure
long for an audience; as a Kyriotate, he exists simultaneto follow. When he visits a Servitor, for any reason, he's
ously on even more levels than most Archangels. If an
likely to invite the angel along on a wild ride through the
Symphony, before bringing him back and dropping him
off where they started. Angels of the Wind had best walk
73
MEETING YOUR Boss
7M ELE T I N G Y O U R B o s s
angel successfully petitions

Jordi's Servitors for an audience
in Heaven (see Seeking an
Audience, p. 71), Jordi will know
about it, and arrive to speak to
the angel in 6 hours, minus the
check digit. On a check digit of
6, a manifestation of Jordi is
nearby and willing to immediately arrive. Jordi doesn't care
about social niceties at all, but t
he does demand his own kind
of courtesy. A Servitor who disobeys Jordi or fails because his 1
own animal passions got the I
better of him will be treated
mercifully, but anyone who
willfully violates Jordi's rules,
or fails to give the Archangel
proper respect, will be cast out I
and possibly devoured. The law
of the jungle can be harsh. On
Earth, Jordi usually answers
invocations personally. He may
appear in any animal vessel: a
mouse or a whale, it makes no
difference to him. He never
takes human form. Angels usually get a better reaction from
him when they are wearing animal vessels themselves.
Laurence: The Archangel of
Swords is one of the most
demanding, inflexible and
unforgiving
Superiors in
Heaven or Hell. His Servitors
are intensely loyal to him, as they must be, or they will
quickly Fall. Laurence does not tolerate disobedience, he
will not forgive insolence and he has no patience for failure. Angels stand at attention when granted an audience
with him in the Eternal City, and he expects the same
respectful bearing when he visits an angel on Earth. He
hates to delegate to others when a Servitor summons
him; he assumes he would only be invoked for a very
good reason. (And when he shows up, it had better be for
a very good reason.) Although Laurence's usual corporeal vessel is a small man with a fencer's build, he's been
known to wear a female vessel, when the sight of a
woman bearing a sword may be more inspirational (or
fearsome!) to his audience.
Marc: In Commerce Park, Marc's scribes very efficiently record appointments with their Superior. Marc
usually meets his Servitors in a relaxed atmosphere,
though the tone is like that of a performance evaluation

with your boss. It's all right to be somewhat casual, but
don't forget who you're talking to. Marc fines his
Servitors for minor errors, while more severe mistakes
can result in a demotion, probation or in extreme cases
termination (casting out; Marc doesn't believe in executing angels). On the other hand, he rewards his "employees" extremely well for good performance. Marc doesn't
mind letting intermediaries handle his calls, though he
doesn't hesitate to answer important ones himself. On
Earth, he usually wears a male vessel, but female vessels
aren't uncommon.
Michael: The Archangel of War is a no-nonsense kind
of Superior. He gets straight to the point when speaking
to his Servitors, and expects them to do the same. Be
respectful and speak plainly, and you're all right with
Michael. Start trying to equivocate, or get defensive
when he tells you something you don't want to hear, and
you're in big trouble. Michael can be very forgiving up to
a point. Unlike Laurence, he doesn't expect his angels to
be infallible, but he won't put up with incompetence or
blatant stupidity. He'll grant reasonable requests for aid,
and he'll even listen to complaints. He understands that
every soldier needs to vent now and then. When he holds
audiences in the Groves, he's a little more formal,
because he wants himself and his Servitors to set an
example for all those who are watching. He doesn't waste
time. Michael doesn't spend much time in Heaven. He's
usually on Earth, fighting one battle after another. Once
he appeared to certain individuals on Earth as a woman,
but now his vessels are always male, and he may appear
as a youth who's little more than a boy, or as a grizzled
old soldier. Sometimes he will show up to fight alongside
his Servitors without revealing his true identity.
Novalis: The kindest of all Archangels, Novalis prefers
meetings to be more like a garden tea party than an interrogation or a gripe session. Even her formal audiences in
the Glade are held in a relaxed party atmosphere. She listens to her Servitors' complaints, offers advice and consolation, and will gently admonish those who have
strayed from the path of righteousness. Novalis can forgive anything, but she's not a pushover. Angels who are
rude or lack humility are dismissed from her presence,
and extremely disobedient Servitors may be cast out,
much as she hates to do it. While celestials have no true
gender, Novalis is as female as an Archangel can be. In
human form, her vessels are always female, and are
always adorned with a flower motif. She also has some
plant vessels, and if you invoke her in a forest, it may be
the trees that speak to you.
Yves: Yves does not hold formal audiences per se; if
someone seeks him out in his Library, the time before an
audience is granted (see Seeking an Audience, p. 71) is the
amount of time the seeker must search the Library

before it (and Yves) will allow the Archangel to be found.
If the reaction roll is unsuccessful, the Library simply
expels the petitioner as if he were lost (In Nomine, p.
139). Once an angel comes across Yves, browsing in the
stacks, he will always be friendly and willing to talk. Yves
always acts as if he has all the time in the world to chat,
though if someone is really wasting his time, he will
eventually say a polite farewell and disappear. He doesn't
mind helping his Servitors, but like the teacher that
always says, "Look it up!" he prefers that they find the
answers themselves; he may hand you a book to get you
started. His earthly vessel is always the same, a kindly old
man, which is exactly how he appears in Heaven.
Divine
Divine intervention can strike at any time. There are
dramatic moments when the Hand of God will drastically alter the outcome of a scenario . . . but there are also
times when someone will roll '111' while trying to jump
over a fence. Should the Hand of God descend from
Heaven and lift him over the obstacle? The guidelines
presented below are merely to give the GM some ideas
for how to use divine intervention these are suggestions,
not rules! (If you want the Hand of God to flatten that
fence, then do it ... just remember that frequent, dramatic interventions will have increasingly less impact on
the players.)
God works in ways both mysterious and profound, but

for game purposes, most interventions can be classified
into one of the following types. It is always up to the GM
to determine what kind of intervention occurs (and nothing precludes the Holy Spirit from intervening in more
than one way simultaneously!), but some interventions
are more common in certain situations.
BENEFICIAL COINCIDENCES
This is probably the most common type of intervention; the beneficiary may not even know that an intervention has occurred! A beneficial coincidence gives
someone a bit of unexpected "luck." The car he's chasing
blows a tire, he finds a vital clue lying directly in his path
DIVINE INTERVENTION
or a noise distracts the security guard who's looking for

him. Beneficial coincidences most often occur in low-key
situations, but a dramatic coincidence can occur in the
heat of combat, too - such as when an opponent's
weapon backfires, or a damaged wall collapses on the
enemy.
and it may not even have an overwhelming effect, but

everyone who witnesses it will know they have seen the
Divine in action. This sort of intervention should usually
be reserved for climactic events, but the Hand of God is
capable of appearing at any time (whenever it suits the
GM's purpose) . . . even to lift someone over a fence.
AMPLIFICATION
men
An amplification temporarily increases someone's

power or ability - whatever he's trying to do, he'll not
only succeed, but with results far better than expected. A
mother who lifts a car to free her trapped child may be
the beneficiary of this type of divine intervention.
Amplifications won't usually be obvious as divine intervention, but they will be noticeable. A typical amplification might increase the characteristic that was being
used, or the Power of an attack. As a rule of thumb, an
amplification will effectively give the beneficiary a check
digit of at least 6 on whatever he was attempting to do.
The guidelines above suggest ways in which God may

intervene in a situation; the other consideration is the
degree of intervention. A divine intervention can occur
any time someone rolls a d666 and gets three Is, but rains
of frogs or pillars of salt should not appear on a whim of
the dice. When God intervenes in a situation, the result
should be decisive, but rarely excessive. Usually, the
intervention will be proportionate to the importance of
the roll. Examples are given below, but feel free to
improvise your own results, or change them completely.
RESPITE
TRIVIAL INTERVENTIONS
Respite gives the beneficiary divine relief. It most often

occurs when he is wounded, or badly in need of something he's lacking. (Essence, money, time, etc.) Suddenly,
he has what he needs. Wounds may be supernaturally
healed, an angel may receive an instant Essence recharge,
money will be in his wallet that wasn't there before or an
empty gas tank is suddenly full. This type of intervention
is rarely dramatic, but the beneficiary will certainly know
that God has smiled upon him.
Properly speaking, no divine intervention is "trivial,"

but when the GM calls for a routine d666 roll when
nothing of importance is as stake (a Fast-Talk roll against
a nameless NPC, a routine search of an apartment, a
Will Roll to assume celestial form during an unimportant scene), an intervention should usually be subtle.
INTERCESSION
One of the most overt forms of divine intervention is
timely aid. When an angel or Soldier is hard pressed, a
divine intercession may bring the cavalry to the rescue.
This can take the form of angels descending from
Heaven to join him in battle, but it can also be the sudden arrival of a friendly police officer (who turns out to
be a Soldier of God), or an angry bear attacking the
hunter who's chasing him. (This might also be a sort of
beneficial coincidence, of course - remember that the
different types of divine intervention are not hard and
fast categories.) Usually, aid sent by God will return from
whence it came once it is no longer needed, but some
helpers might stay longer, even joining the angel on his
mission.
THE HAND OF GOD

__ ,
\j /
/ \J
Divine miracles are rare in the modern age, but contrary to popular belief, they do still occur. The rarest and
most dramatic form of divine intervention is the proverbial "Hand of God." The miracle may not be dramatic,
DIVINE INTERVENTION
Beneficial Coincidence
Something lucky happens, but nothing out of the ordinary. Someone recognizes the angel and becomes friendly, or the angel himself finds a useful clue.
Amplification
The PC succeeds very well indeed, but nothing spectacular occurs. Usually, a check digit of '6' and perhaps
some small additional benefit is sufficient.
Respite
An angel who just spent Essence recovers it. He finds
he has a little more ammunition than he thought. A
minor wound heals.
Intercession
A friendly NPC appears to help out. A Reliever might
happen by and assist the character.
Hand of God
Something miraculous occurs, but the outcome is no
more than what the angels could have accomplished on
their own. A ray of light might illuminate an important
clue, or what the PCs seek appears before them. (Trivial
interventions rarely involve the Hand of God.)
MINOR INTERVENTIONS
A minor intervention occurs when the situation is significant, but not urgent. The angel may not need God's
help, but it will be appreciated.
The angel has an extraordinary bit of luck. He finds a
weapon he'll need later, an inconvenient device breaks
down or one that was broken suddenly works again.
Respite
The PC is restored completely in every way; all
Essence is recovered, all wounds are healed and he may,
at the GM's option, lose all dissonance as well.
Intercession
Major reinforcements will arrive on the angel's behalf;
this could be a powerful Word-bound angel, some heavily armed Malakim, or one of Archangel David's cycle
gangs.
Hand of God
The character succeeds spectacularly. The level of success should be greater than what he could normally
accomplish, but probably not supernatural. A hacker trying to break into a computer system might suddenly
bypass every security measure; an attempt to overcome
Discord might banish it for hours, or even a whole day!
The PCs will witness a major miracle, and it will be

awe-inspiring. Everyone in a fight on the side of the
Divine may be bathed in a white light that heals all
wounds; a sinking ship rises above the waves and floats to
a safe harbor; a brand new divine Tether may be established on the spot.
Respite
CRITICAL INTERVENTIONS
All wounds are healed, or the angel recovers all his

Essence.
Intercession
A critical intervention occurs during decisive events

that can impact the future of the War. An intervention
rolled during the climax of an adventure may be of this
caliber.
The friendly NPC who shows up may be another

angel, or someone with major influence.
Hand of God
Nothing is too outrageous; winning lottery numbers,

randomly typed passwords, even flash floods, volcanic
eruptions or meteor strikes.
The miracle that occurs does not have a major impact

on the Symphony, but it will be impressive. Water turns
to wine, a diabolical artifact bursts into flames or writing
appears on a wall in glowing letters.
MAJOR INTERVENTIONS
A major intervention occurs during serious encounters, such as when life is at stake. Most combat situations
fall into this category, as does any important interaction
with a major NPC. A divine intervention in these situations should be decisive!
The "coincidence" will be clearly out of the ordinary,
even astounding. Lightning takes out a generator, or an
unarmed fugitive discovers a powerful weapon while
being pursued.
rfitication
The character will surpass his usual limits, and accomplish extraordinary feats. He might receive the equivalent of double the amount of Essence he spends on an
action, or have his attacks doubled in power. This may
last for one round, or for the remainder of a fight.
Amplification
The lucky servant of God will become a living vessel of
divine power. Whatever he's trying to do will automatically succeed, at miraculous levels. Opponents may be
slain by a single blow - the mortal David rolled one of
these against Goliath.
Respite
Everyone on the divine side will receive healing and an
Essence recharge; the PC who rolled the intervention
will not only lose any dissonance, but may have some of
his Discord taken away as well.
Intercession
The situation will attract the attention of an
Archangel, who will either appear in person or send
some of his hand-picked Servitors.
Hand of God
The issue will be settled by a miracle of Biblical proportions. Seas part, fire rains from the sky, Demon
Princes are banished to Hell. Time and space can be
altered; the only limit is in how much impact the GM
wants to allow on his campaign.
77
DIVINE INTERVENTION
k 1.1 i.
DIFFERENT DRUMMERS
No two angels strike the same chord in the Symphony.

Members of the same Choir serving the same Archangel
can differ as night and day. There are kindly Malakim,
single-minded Ofanim and even a few Mercurians who
love mankind but don't really like people. There are
newly-created angels and ancients who witnessed the
Fall. There is more to an angel than just Forces and
Resources.
Angels are people, even if they aren't alive in the same
sense as humans. They have personalities, histories, likes
and dislikes - perhaps even free will. The enormous
variety among the Host makes it possible for just about
any sort of personality to manifest in an angel - but only
just about. Some personality traits (or the character concepts behind them) simply won't represent the divine.
This chapter further describes the variety of angels,
from newest to oldest, and shows how they ascend
through Heaven's hierarchy by gaining a Word. It also
discusses how an angel might change his allegiance to a
new Superior.
The chapter's purpose is to stimulate the imagination.
What challenges would a naive newborn angel face on
his first mission to Earth? Or an angel who has changed
Superiors and now has a vengeance-seeking Archangel to
worry about? What if an angel character is the child of
another angel or even of a demon? Angelic character
possibilities number as the grains of sand .. .
"Young" is a relative term. To the oldest angels, born

before the creation of the Universe, even some of the
Archangels are still a bit wet behind the ears. But some
members of the Host are young even by human standards.
The youngest angels are either those created to replace
casualties in the War, or else candidates for a Word that
didn't exist in the past. A few are the children of celestial
parents (see p. 84, for details). A few are relievers who
have worked their way up to full angelic status. The
Archangels don't whip up new Servitors as readily as the
Princes of Hell. They prefer quality to quantity.
CREATING YOUNG ANGELS

Creating a young angel player character is done using
the standard rules from p. 27 of In Nomine, with a few
minor exceptions.
Angels only a few years old have 9 Forces, just like any
other starting character. What they lack are Resources.
New angels just haven't had enough time to acquire most
Resources. Archangels tend not to give a lot of attunements to their newest Servitors, and reserve distinctions
for those who have done their jobs well. Most of the
other Resources have to be acquired by experience, or by
carefully developing a human persona.
Generally, a newborn angel spends his first few years in
Heaven before getting an assignment on Earth. This initial period gives the new being a chance to become accustomed to his powers and abilities, and lets him develop a
personality. Young angels have lived a sheltered existence
in Heaven, under careful supervision. They cannot begin
with Discord of any type, not even a Geas. (The only
possible exception is Mercy, and even that would only be
allowed for a servant of one of the pacifist Archangels like
Novalis or Yves.)
A young angel on his first assignment to Earth has only
one vessel; he's going to have enough trouble learning to
act like a human in one form to worry about juggling
multiple identities. (Kyriotates, of course, are a natural
exception to this rule.) His Role shouldn't be more than
level 2 at best, as maintaining a solidly rooted persona
takes more knowledge of humans and the world than
most rookies possess. The Status of a new angel's Role
can be any level - it isn't any harder to maintain the identity of a vastly rich human than it is to be a working stiff.
Superiors are extremely unlikely to entrust their
newest Servitors with any artifacts, and the naive youngsters probably won't realize how useful they can be anyhow. Nor are young angels likely to have any servants.
An experienced Soldier of God may be assigned to help
out a first-time angel, but the Soldier probably answers
to a different angel rather than the newbie.
Even some Skills are hard for a young angel to acquire.
A young servant of Laurence can get plenty of practice in
swordsmanship in Heaven, but there aren't too many
opportunities to develop one's Lying or Seduction Skill
in the divine realm.
Because they can't acquire many other Resources,
young angels don't have much to spend character points
on except Skills and Songs. This can create a very unbalanced character, but there are two ways for the Game
Master to prevent that. One is to reduce the character
points available to a young angel during character creation. Instead of points equal to 4 times the character's
Forces, the Game Master can reduce the multiplier to
only 2, or even 1. The disadvantage to that method is
that the character is obviously going to be weaker than
the other angels in the party.
To solve this problem, the GM may "bank" the young
angel's character points. At character creation the young
YOUNGER ANGELS
angel's points are reduced as above, but the balance of the

points are kept in reserve by the GM. Whenever experience is awarded, the young angel gets double experience,
with the extra points coming from his unspent reserve.
This continues until the reserved character points are
used up. This way the youngster is weaker than the others at the beginning, but if he learns fast, after a few
adventures will be the equal of anyone else in the party.
ROLEPLAYING YOUNG ANGFXS

One advantage to playing a newly created angel is that
the character and the player are equally ignorant of the
universe. The mortal player certainly doesn't understand
all the subtleties of power struggles among the Superiors,
or the tricks and dodges one can do with attunements
and Songs. As the character learns, the player learns also.
A corresponding disadvantage to playing young angels
is that the player is likely to know a lot more about the
way the "real world" works than his character would.
Even ancient celestials sometimes have trouble understanding human society; a newborn is likely to be entirely mystified by such baffling human practices as drive-by
shootings and confessional talk shows. The Game
Master must constantly remind the player that his character is naive and inexperienced about human behavior
and mundane realities.
Inexperienced but not ignorant - a celestial's powerful
mind can easily absorb vast amounts of facts; it's the
interpretation of those facts that requires experience. For
Yo U N G E R A N G E L S
example, a new angel performing a mission in modernday America knows that interstate buses are a method of
transportation, and that they begin and end their trips in
metropolitan bus stations. A servant of Yves might even
know all the bus schedules by heart. But the angel is
unlikely to realize that it's a bad idea to spend the night
in a bus station, or that the nice man who offers to watch
your luggage while you get a drink won't be there when
you get back (and neither will your luggage).
Young angels tend to take things at face value. Nobody
lies in Heaven (well, hardly anyone), and consequently
young angels have difficulty with the concept of falsehood or hypocrisy. Those with resonances or attunements that allow them to detect lies or deceptions are not
impaired. It's just that rookie angels have a hard time
realizing that a nation's government might not always act
in the best interests of its citizens, or that charities might
spend more money on "administrative expenses" than on
helping people. For players with a satirical bent, a young
angel character provides a great opportunity to question
some of the idiocies and stereotypes of modern life.
Young Angels in the Campaign

Superiors prefer to assign young angels to work with
an older, more experienced member of the Host, who
acts as a kind of mentor. Often these mentors are of the
same Choir as the trainee, in order to show the youngster how to get the most out of his resonance and
Servitor Attunements. The mentor can teach his trainee
useful Songs, and can keep the newbie out of trouble.

Frequently the mentor is less than overjoyed at being
ordered to baby-sit a fledgling, and the duty is sometimes
used to punish angels whose obedience is lacking.
In game play, a mentor and trainee make a great couDemons naturally like to pick on the weak, and
ple of characters. They have a good reason for hanging
young
angels freshly arrived from Heaven are a
around together, and there are plenty of opportunities
favorite
target. The cruder sorts of diabolicals simply
for character interaction and roleplaying. This kind of
try
to
get
new angels alone and give them a first-hand
relationship would be a good way to pair a new player
taste
of
what
Trauma feels like. The more sophisticatwith a more experienced In Nomine hand, so that the
ed
infernals
prefer
the joy of taking someone innocent
players' roles in the gaming group mirror their characand
idealistic
and
rubbing
his face in the gritty realities
ters in the adventuring party.
of
the
War.
Rookie celestials are seldom assigned to missions of
Fortunately, young angels are remarkably resistant to
crucial importance. A young angel may be the "only ship
corruption.
They are still idealistic and see everything
at sea" when a crisis appears, but it's rare. This doesn't
in
black
and
white. Of course, this gives them a somemean new angel characters can't handle missions of great
times
unhealthy
rigidity. Compromises and moral gray
significance - just that their missions should seem innocuareas
that
older
angels have learned to live with are
ous at first. Often their assignments are the dull but nechard
for
the
young
ones to tolerate. They frequently
essary work that older angels avoid, like watching over
wind
up
lecturing
their
elders and criticizing their laximportant mortals, or diabolicals and their allies.
ness
and
tolerance
of
evil.
Sometimes this can revive an
But what starts out as a routine assignment may wind
older
angel's
sense
of
commitment;
more often it only
up dumping a young angel into the middle of some
deepens
the
elder's
cynicism.
world-shaking diabolical plot. The inexperienced youngDiabolicals sometimes try to play on this, sowing disster will have to do some fast learning when a powerful
trust
between fledgling angels and their more experidemon shows up, bent on some horrible plan. And when
enced
comrades. If done properly, their victims can be
the youngster tries to warn his Superior, the reaction
rendered
almost completely useless in the War, spendmay be a patronizing pat on the head and "run along
ing
all
their
time bickering while the plots of Lucifer
now." The Game Master can milk the situation for all the
go
unopposed.
Hitchcockian paranoia and desperation he wants.
And sometimes a young angel has been created for a
specific task, custom-designed by his Superior to go on a
mission of great importance. In that case the young
celestial may well have a rather high opinion of himself,
creating headaches for his comrades as they must keep
the youngster from getting into trouble and put up with
his colossal ego at the same time!
Long-time veterans of the War, those angels who have
Being the only young angel in a party of wiser elders
lived for centuries without becoming Word-bound form
does have its disadvantages. Often the youngster can
the backbone of the Host. The best way to describe these
wind up being ignored or pushed aside. The GM might
celestials is as Heaven's NCOs. They lack the prestige of
want to be careful that the player of a young angel is sufthe Word-bound "officer class," but their experience is
ficiendy assertive to make sure that doesn't happen. One invaluable. Like tough old sergeants, they train new
useful technique is to make sure the young character
recruits and try to prevent their Superiors from leading
does have at least one ability that the other angels in the
them into disaster.
party lack. The other characters may all be invincible
Malakim of Michael out to destroy diabolicals, but only
the young Mercurian of Marc can do the detective work
There's a lot more room for creativity in making up an
needed to find the demon they're out to destroy.
older
angel character. When a celestial's been around for
An especially poignant situation can arise when a
a
long
time, he's had the chance to pick up all kinds of
young angel is created to replace one slain in the line of
obscure
Songs, odd Skills, rare Artifacts and spare
duty. The replacement angel may have to work with the
attunements.
Of course, this doesn't mean the player has
dead celestial's old comrades. Players who enjoy characcarte
blanche
to start trying to create an invincible rulester development and dramatic roleplaying will find plenabusing
monster
character.
ty of opportunities for both in such a case.
YOUNG ANGELS AND

DIABOLICALS
CREATING AN OLD ANGEL
81
OLDER ANGELS
MEET THE NEW Boss

Some angels are as old as their Superiors, and a few are
older. Many of Laurence's soldiers were Uriel's troops
before the Archangel of the Sword was promoted to command Heaven's army. Some of Marc's servants remember
back when he was just another Word-bound angel himself, and a few of Dominic's angels were once his equals in
the days before the Fall, These grizzled oldsters occasionally have a difficult time adjusting to the new boss.
It's not that they're disobedient or disrespectful - these
are angels, after all. But they lack the awe that some
younger celestials have for the Archangels. Some of
Laurence's new tactics and methods have been met with
mutters of "Uriel never did it that way," from the longserving veterans of the legions of Heaven.
Some of the Superiors don't mind a little familiarity
from those who knew them when. Marc has gathered
some of his most senior angels into a kind of "board of
directors" and actively solicits their advice. But Laurence
has little patience for grumbling in the ranks, and
Dominic is unusually strict when judging cases involving
older angels questioning younger Superiors.
82
Many older angels have gained extra Forces beyond

the standard 9. (Some have near-Archangel power levels,
but those won't show up as player characters.) But there
are just as many who aren't any more powerful than ordinary characters - experience doesn't always translate into
raw Forces. And several veteran warriors have lost Forces
in the course of battling the diabolicals. It's quite possible
for an angel who's been fighting the War for eons, since
Lucifer first started thinking about relocating to a
wanner climate, to have 9 Forces just like any other starting character. He's simply gained many additional
Forces, and lost them again in celestial combat, over the
course of the centuries. Age and power are not the same.
Being an older angel still provides several advantages.
Such characters have probably had the opportunity to
acquire attunements from other Archangels, and plenty
of Resources. Their Roles can be carefully anchored with
a high level of "reality" and their Skill levels may be quite
impressive. The angel purchases all of these normally
with character points.
Another perquisite of age is that senior angels may
have been granted distinctions or special Rites by their
Superiors. A sufficiently well-regarded celestial might
even have distinctions or Rites from other Archangels. As
always, none of these can be bought with character
points; the Game Master must decide if an older angel
player character should have them. In general, an older
angel with a good character concept might be allowed to
OLDER ANGELS
start play with a distinction or extra Rite. An excellent

character concept might even justify an extra Force,
especially if an experienced player who will be helping
the GM introduce the game to new players will be portraying the older angel. For a GM concerned about play
balance, Rites are the best way to give an older character
something extra without affecting the game much.
Older characters have also had more time to accumulate flaws and shortcomings - and these can be used to
balance any extra Rites, Forces or distinctions. An old
angel character may well begin with some dissonance, or
even a level or two of Discord. Of course, any Discord
should be carefully concealed from the angel's Superior,
or else he may not get any older! Older Malakim may
have to take extra oaths; an ancient Seraph might have
such an odd name that it impairs dealings on Earth (see
p. 22). Most importantly, any older angel has likely irritated many a demon, who will reserve an especially hard
place in their heart for that angel. The angel might even
have displeased an Archangel, perhaps his own!
The Old Guy, in the supplement Night Music, is a
perfect example of an old angel character. He's got a huge
list of Songs, Skills and attunements, but damage to the
Tether of which he is the Seneschal has knocked him
back down to 9 Forces.
ROLEPLAYING
Running an older angel character is best left to players
who've had some experience with In Nomine. It destroys
the image of a wise, grizzled elder if the player has to
keep asking the Game Master questions. An old character is great for the sort of player who enjoys getting totally immersed in the game world.
The most important thing for players to keep in mind
is that elder celestials have had enough time to develop a
personality. Newborn angels are much alike, at least
within their Choir. Only with time do celestials gain likes
and dislikes, personal quirks and opinions of their own.
An old angel must have an interesting personality.
The Malakite who's tired of killing, the Ofanite who
spends his time flying antique planes, the servant of
Novalis who has become fascinated by technology -
OLD FRIENDS (AND ENEMIES)

A character who's been on Earth for centuries is likely
to have lots of friends and foes, both mortal and celestial.
Sometimes personal ties can complicate assignments
from an angel's Superior. Angels form friendships, fall in
love and occasionally have long-running feuds. Just
because they're all on the same side in the War doesn't
mean all angels have to like one another. An older angel
is especially likely to have friends and enemies elsewhere
in the Heavenly hierarchy. Sometimes this is useful (an
old comrade-in-arms now tends the library of Yves and
can look up things for the character). Sometimes it is a
disadvantage (the Seneschal of an important Tether holds
a grudge against the character and won't let him take
refuge mere). And sometimes it can simply be a headache
(an old love is wanted by Dominic's Inquisition for questioning; does the angel help his lover or do his duty?).
Given enough time, celestials can form ties with mortals as well. This can sometimes cause conflicts. An angel
who's guarded the people of a logging town for decades
will have a hard time agreeing when servants of Novalis
try to preserve the forest. Some long-serving Kyriotates
have become "family angels" rotating among members of
a single human family for generations. An angel who has
become involved in the lives of humans may try to protect them even when it's not in their best interest. ("He's
not really bad - just confused! I'll have a talk with him, try
to reason with him. Maybe he's got a good reason for trying to kill all those people.")
older characters will have paradoxes and contradictions,
just like mortals. If the player isn't prepared to give his
older angel a personality, maybe he should run some
other character and not even attempt to squeeze out
some extra character points.
Older angels are also more likely than most to be independent-minded and assertive. Superiors who value individual valor (like Michael or Gabriel) may not mind a
headstrong servant, but a boss like Dominic or Jean is
likely to be constantly jerking the leash.
Many celestials who've spent a lot of time on Earth are
somewhat burned out and apathetic about the War. They
are slowly drifting down the path of Eli or the Grigori so in love with the world that they no longer really care
about celestial politics. Being an angel is now just a job.
An older angel typically has the same duties as any
other member of the Host. The difference is that they
often get handed the tougher jobs. When it looks as if a
Word-bound angel's gone rogue, and the Inquisition is
sniffing about, no Archangel (sane or insane) is going to
turn for help to some kid whose wings are still damp.
And of course an angel who spends any time on Earth

will meet diabolicals. The relationships between longserving angels and demons can range from obsessive,
deadly hatred to grudging respect and even love.
Sometimes angels and demons who work in the same
area arrange an unspoken truce. They still plot and counterplot, but there are no direct assaults; everybody "plays
by the rules." Often this kind of arrangement draws heavy
criticism when new angels are sent to the area.
Despite the ongoing War, angels and demons can fall
in love. This happens more often than the Celestial
Inquisition cares to admit. Older angels are perhaps more
vulnerable to this than their younger comrades. They've
watched generations of humans fall in love and grow old
together, and they know firsthand that the War is turning
into an endless stalemate. So it's not too surprising if
some old warriors on both sides find solace in the arms of
the enemy. Naturally, this is entirely forbidden by both
sides, but a couple working together can keep an affair
very well hidden. The conflicts of loyalty, moral qualms
and opportunities for blackmail that an angel-demon love
affair can create are endless.
GMs can use an older angel's diabolical acquaintances
in all kinds of ways. They can be recurring villains.
Sometimes they can be untrustworthy allies. Or, best of
all, a combination. Do you trust your old friend the
Balseraph? Is he really your friend? Or has he spent the
past 60 years setting you up only to betray you?
When things look bad, they call on their oldest servants.
Older celestials frequently get handed tasks that
require some finesse and discretion. Negotiations with
the Other Side, or ticklish bits of inter-Superior diplomacy require an angel of some maturity. In roleplaying
groups, the older angel character may be in charge of the
other player characters - at least in theory.
Older angels don't need to have Words to be very
competent. Not every angel is capable of becoming
Word-bound, and not every angel wants to be. Wordbound angels are specialists, tightly focused on a single
part of the Symphony. Many angels hold a wide range of
interests and prefer to remain generalists, paying attention to the overall sweep of the Symphony (and the War).
Finally, the older angel could be a fanatic. He's lowpowered because battles against the diabolicals have
stripped away some of his Forces. He doesn't have a
Word or a high position in the hierarchy because he's too
busy fighting the War (kind of a celestial Dirty Harry).
Servants of Michael or Laurence would be good for this
type, particularly Malakim or Cherubim.
83
OLDER AN GELS
As a rule, angels are made, not born. Archangels create

servants by an act of pure will, binding together the
appropriate configuration of Forces and imbuing the
new being with all the knowledge necessary for its job.
The Superiors don't create a lot of angels - most are
made to replace members of the Host slain in the War.
Archangels prefer to have fewer high-quality Servitors,
rather than the hordes the Princes of Hell command.
That's the usual way angels are created. But now and
then a pair of celestials fall in love and wish to create a
child of their own. This is most common among angels
who serve a Word related to families or children.
Servitors of Eli, Christopher and Novalis are the most
frequent "breeders" in Heaven. But no Archangel's servants have a monopoly on reproduction - even some of
Michael's angels have started families.
Forces. (It might be possible to create a new "child" with

fewer Forces - a reliever, for instance - but it isn't done.)
The newborn angel's choir depends on what his parents are. Parents of the same choir automatically have a
child of the same type. When the parents belong to different choirs, the newborn takes after whichever parent
contributed the most Forces to his creation. If both parents gave up equal Forces, then it is up to chance (or He
decides; no angel really knows).
The sex of a newborn angel is entirely up to that angel.
An angel's sex is a reflection of outlook and personality,
with no biological importance. Many angels don't bother to have one at all.
It is traditional for a newborn angel to join the service
of the Archangel who presided at his creation.
Archangels sometimes permit their "godchildren" to
serve other Superiors, if the newborn shows a particular
talent toward another's Word.
The only angels who don't need the help of an
Archangel to reproduce were (or, just perhaps, are) the
Grigori. Their vessels are part of the Symphony, just like
humans, so they can reproduce freely.
MAKING AN ANGEL
84
When a pair of humans want to have a child, the only

thing they need is some time alone together. For angels
it's a bit more complicated. Most celestials don't have the
power to bind Forces together into a new being, so
prospective angelic parents need the help of an
Archangel. (The Grigori were an exception to this rule.)
Eli always agrees, Novalis almost always; the other
Superiors will ask a lot of questions, especially Dominic,
who feels that just making the request is grounds for suspicion of some sort of irregularity! A couple who serve
different Superiors can ask either one to help; it's prudent
to seek permission from both.
Note that it isn't necessary for the Archangel to be
either parent's Superior. That's just tradition and good
Heavenly manners. Angels sufficiently desperate to have
a child can approach any Archangel. Of course, this is
highly irregular, and few Archangels want to meddle with
another's servants. They feel that defiance indicates an
angel on the verge of Falling. Eli is the exception, of
course - he would never refuse to help create new life.
Once an Archangel's cooperation has been secured, the
two angels join their celestial forms in glorious union.
Each parent contributes Forces to make up the new
being. A parent must give at least 1 Force, and can voluntarily give up to 1 of each type. The Archangel binds
the Forces from the parents and loose Forces drawn
from the Symphony to create a new celestial with 9
ANG EL R E P R O D U C T I O N
Angel Children
The process of child-raising among angels is of course
very different from that among humans. A newborn
angel is a fully functional celestial, able to survive and
serve in Heaven as well as any adult. What a celestial
child does need is training. The parents must instruct
their offspring on all the things an angel can learn only
through experience - tricks in using one's attunements,
the unwritten rules of the Host, the ins and outs of dissonance and Discord and how to get along with other
Choirs. The most important thing angelic parents must
teach their child is how to avoid the snares of diabolicals.
Most angels are made. "Natural-born" angels are a rarity among the Host, and this sometimes affects the way
other celestials react to them. The infinitely compassionate angels are of course far beyond things like prejudice
or discrimination, but still there is a certain feeling
THE SONGS OF FRUITION

These Songs are the only way for most celestials and
ethereal spirits to reproduce with human beings. Only
the Grigori could interbreed with mortals without the
help of the Songs. Since the fall of the Grigori, the
Celestial and Ethereal Songs of Fruition have been kept
secret, and knowing them is now a serious crime for
angels. Only the Corporeal Song is safe to know.
* Corporeal This Song allows mortals to be fruitful
and multiply. Any coupling between male and female
humans (or animals) within a number of yards equal to
die Essence expended by the singer automatically results
in conception. This is true even if one of the couple is
normally infertile, or if contraceptives have been used.
among the Host that angelic offspring are somehow . . .
different. They have a reputation for independence,
which sometimes verges on rebelliousness. Many older
angels claim that angel children act more like humans
than other celestials.
CELESTIALCROSSBREEDS
The above procedure is the norm when two angels
have a child together. But angels have been known to fall
in love with other celestials, even with mortals. Such
loves are strictly forbidden, and offspring extremely rare.
Momma Was an Angel,

Daddy Was a Devil
Since angels and demons are both celestials, the
process for a "mixed marriage" creating an offspring is
fundamentally the same as that for two angels. The difficulty is finding a Superior willing to assist.
Of the Archangels, only Eli would even consider assisting in such a union, and even he would be reluctant. The
demon must be at least a Renegade, and must show signs
of being sincerely on the road to redemption. Princes of
Hell aren't so picky. They'll gladly help a demon-angel
couple have a child. It gives Hell a hostage, and is a good
step toward corrupting another one of the Host. Only
Saminga would never help create new life.
The newborn is automatically an angel, since he hasn't
had a chance to Fall yet. His Choir is that of whichever
parent contributed the most Forces. If the newborn takes
after the diabolical parent, then he belongs to the angelic Choir corresponding to the demon's Band. Lilim are
an exception: a child born of an angel and a Lilim always
takes after the angelic parent. The newborn half-breed
has no Heart, and belongs to neither the Host nor the
Diabolicals. He is an Outcast or a Renegade at birth.
* Ethereal - This allows ethereal beings to interbreed

with mortals. This Song was once used frequently by the
Pagan divinities to sire human children, but nowadays is
seldom employed. If the check digit of the singer's performance roll comes up 5 or 6, the resulting child is a
monster, one of the Gorgons of myth.
* Celestial ~ This allows celestials to interbreed with
mortals. If the check digit of the performance roll is 5 or
6, the child is one of the monstrous Nephallim.
Essence Requirement: 1 per hour of effect
Degree of Disturbance: 10, at the moment of conception
(the Corporeal Song creates no disturbance).
Newborn half-breeds won't survive long without help.
They have all the problems of Outcasts and Renegades,
with no experience and only their parents for help. A
half-breed needs to choose a side and get a Superior, fast.
Usually they choose Hell; often the Prince who presided
at the creation insists on that as the price of his aid. A few
choose Heaven, appealing to the mercy of one of the
more charitable Archangels. A very few remain unattached, surviving with the help of mortal allies and
friendly celestials.
Half-breeds who live in Hell generally become
demons fairly quickly. Those who dwell in Heaven naturally remain angels, but must endure extra scrutiny. The
Celestial Inquisition constantly watches them for signs of
backsliding, just as it monitors Redeemed Diabolicals.
Touched by an Angel (or a Demon)

Celestials in corporeal form can mate with humans, in
the usual way. Normally such unions are not fruitful; a
celestial's vessel is sterile. (Kyriotates are a special case,
described below.) There are two ways for celestials to
interbreed with mortals. The first method is the one of
the Grigori - they are as "alive" as normal humans and
can interbreed with them in the usual manner. The second way is more difficult, and is the only way nonGrigori celestials can have children with mortals. They
must use the Song of Fruition, which will temporarily
make a celestial fertile (see The Songs of Fruition, above).
Angels, of course, are absolutely forbidden to interbreed with mortals. Even knowing the Song of Fruition
in any of its forms is grounds for trial by the Celestial
Inquisition. If the angel somehow manages to avoid punishment, he is still liable to be monitored as a suspected
Grigori sympathizer or a demon's dupe.
The Princes of Hell aren't quite so strict about their
Servitors interbreeding with humans, but there still
85
ANGEL REPRODUCTION
86
aren't very many demon children out there. There are

good practical reasons for a demon not to have mortal
children. First of all, the child (and the human parent)
become a big vulnerable target for anyone who wants to
hurt the demon or compel him to do something. Second,
wanting to have a child with someone requires a level of
affection and commitment few demons can even understand. And third, angels really don't like demons breeding with mortals, and do their best to see that all children
of demons grow up orphans.
Human children take
nine months to gestate.
An angel in a female
vessel who has
gotten pregnant
via the Song of
Fruition must
somehow
conceal her
"delicate
condition"
until the child
is born. A servant of Eli or
Gabriel might
be able to pull it
off, but avoiding
Dominic's scrutiny
during his weekly visit
would take some doing. A
pregnant angel cannot enter her
celestial form until the baby is born. This is why most
angel-human matings involve human women and male
vessels.
The offspring of a celestial and a human is itself
human. Mostly. Human-celestial children are mortal;
they must grow up and grow old. They are confined to a
physical body like all humans. But the children of celestials aren't entirely normal. They have the potential to
gain extra Forces, making them ideal Soldier of God candidates. With a little training they can expend Essence
with the same control as a celestial.
Kyriotates are a special case of angel-human mating.
Their vessels are living mortal humans, and can reproduce in the standard way. No special Songs are required.
A child conceived by a Domination is simply the offspring of the angel's host body. While most Kyriotates
try not to leave their hosts pregnant or the unsuspecting
father of a child-to-be, they don't create dissonance by
doing so (servants of Eli are especially lax about this). It
is interesting to note that humans conceived by
Kyriotates often turn out to be exceptional individuals,
and frequendy get involved in the War themselves.
RELIEVERS
Kori watched the little boy wander off from his family in the
park and into the woods. She followed along discreetly to make
sure nothing happened to him. As the sun dropped toward the
horizon and the shadows of the forest darkened, it was obvious
the boy was lost. He wandered around in circles for a while
before throwing himself down at the base of a towering tree and
starting to cry. It was time for Kori to take a hand.
The boy looked up when he felt the warm, golden
light. The beautiful winged figure hovering in the air
in front of him smiled at him and hisfear and sadness were replaced with wonder. "Don't worry,"
she said. 'Til get you home. Just follow me."
Angels and Archangels are by no means

the only servants of God. Many greater and
lesser heavenly spirits carry out various
duties in the celestial and corporeal realms.
The lesser ones are called relievers. They
are not a Choir, but rather a classification for
heavenly celestials of 3 to 8 Forces who
befriend humanity and serve angels.
Relievers are only sent to Earth with a specific, small goal. A reliever might watch over a
particular person, place or thing important to his
Superior, but not significant enough to require an
angel. Relievers also aid angels on Earth. Once the task
ends, a reliever is drawn back to Heaven.
Relievers generally do not have corporeal vessels,
though some do if their mission calls for one. Most
relievers with a vessel become Familiars (In Nomine, p.
192), but some (such as player characters) get a human
vessel for use on Earth, using them just like angels.
USING RELIEVERS
Relievers will show up most often as servants of angels.
They can go unseen into places where human servants
might not be able, and have their own Songs and celestial abilities. Human servants, on the other hand, do not
disturb the Symphony and are generally not vulnerable
to celestial combat, which destroys a reliever fairly easily.
Celestials can also encounter a reliever performing a
duty for another Superior. Relievers usually watch over
particular people, places or things, performing small,
helpful deeds to help ease the lot of humanity. While
watching over a household, soup kitchen or kindergarten
might not carry the prestige of guarding an important
human or Seneschal of a Tether, every task is important
in the eyes of Heaven. A reliever knows his assignment
very well and can be a valuable source of information.
RELIEVER PLAYER CHARACTERS

Reliever player characters can be built on anywhere
from 3 to 8 Forces. The player chooses how powerful
and experienced the reliever should be, with the permission of the GM. They can learn any Song of which their
Superior approves; typical reliever Songs include Songs
of Dreams, Harmony, Healing, Light and Motion.
Relievers can also purchase any attunements of their
Superior, although they do not earn distinctions.
Although they are weaker than starting angels, many
relievers are at least as capable as normal humans (more
so widi their ability to control their Essence and use
Songs) and some relievers are a match for a fledgling
demon (7 Forces). Most of the demonic enemies of
relievers are their opposite numbers, Gremlins and Imps
(In Nomine, p. 192) who are no more powerful than
they, aldiough they are usually more numerous.
A reliever player character could start out as the servant of an angel player character if both players and the
Game Master are in agreement. This gives the players an
interesting opportunity to play out the Servitor/Superior
relationship and may provide a reflection of the angel's
relationship with his own Superior. For instance, a reliever could be involved with a group of angels as a "local
expert" on their charge, which has now become more
important in the overall scheme of things. Relievers
might also be assigned to work with groups of Soldiers of
God, allowing Game Masters
to run a "low-power" In
Nomine campaign with PCs
of 6 or fewer Forces.
GRADUATION DAY
Eventually, relievers can
gather additional power and
additional Forces through
faithful service. A reliever
with 9 Forces becomes an
angel of whatever Choir the
player and GM feel is appropriate. Usually the choice of
Choir is determined by the
reliever's personality, the
attunements he has acquired
and the types of assignments
he has performed. The occasion of a reliever "earning his
halo" is a joyous one for
Heaven because it means
another celestial spirit has
entered God's service in the
cause of Heaven.
An interesting campaign could start the players out as

relievers who must earn their angelic status. This will
eventually yield 9-Force angels with more experience
and background than most starting player characters,
and who have truly earned their heavenly status. It allows
inexperienced players to learn about the Symphony
before becoming angels, providing a better opportunity
to choose the Choir they wish to play and some idea
about their character's role in the War. PCs might value
the power and status of full-fledged angels more.
SAMPLE RELIEVERS
KORI, RELIEVER OF DESTINY
Corporeal Forces - 1 Strength 1
Agility 3
Ethereal Forces - 1
Intelligence 2 Precision 2
Celestial Forces - 1
Will 2
Perception 2
Vessel: None
Skills: Emote/2, Singing/1, Tracking/2
Songs: Attraction (Celestial/2), Healing (Corporeal/2),
Light (Corporeal/2), Motion (Ethereal/1)
Kori is a very new celestial in the service of an angel of
Destiny. Her duty is to watch over a young boy named
Colin Galeba and his family, ensuring Colin does not
come to harm. She handles most of the day-to-day stuff
herself and alerts her superior immediately if anything
more important happens. Kori has no idea why Colin is
important, but she has grown fond of the boy and will
do what she can to keep him safe to follow his destiny.
TAMAR, RELIEVER OF FIRE

Corporeal Forces - 2 Strength 3
Agility 5
Ethereal Forces - 3 Intelligence 6 Precision 6
Celestial Forces - 2 Will 3
Perception 5
Vessel: Human/2
Role: Social Worker/2 (Status 3)
Skills: Detect Lies/2, Emote/2, Fast-Talk/1,
Language/2 (Spanish)
Songs:
Attraction
(Celestial/3),
Harmony
(Ethereal/2), Healing (Ethereal/2)
Attunements: Mercurian of Fire
Tamar has been a reliever for some time. He is in the
service of Gabriel and works as a social worker at a suicide-prevention clinic in his human vessel. He is
attuned to the suffering people inflict on themselves
and does his best to help alleviate it. At 7 Forces, he is
close to becoming a full-fledged angel - most likely a
Mercurian - if he continues to serve his Superior well.
Tamar has encountered two cases of suicidal depression caused by servants of Tania, Demoness of Suicide,
but he has not encountered any demons personally.
Those tasks are left up to others serving his Superior.
R ELI EV ERS
PARTKS
Inevitably, players of In Nomine will want to try a

campaign in which some of the player characters are
angels and some are demons. A mixed party provides
plenty of opportunities for roleplaying and character
interaction, but it also presents a lot of new challenges for
the Game Master.
Exactly how difficult it is depends on the tone of the
campaign. A humorous, satirical campaign will usually be
less trouble than one intended to produce intense stories
of the conflict of Good and Evil. But even in a completely goofy campaign there are some hurdles to overcome. The two most important things to consider when
setting up a mixed group of player characters are who and
why.
"Who" means that the members of the group should
be selected with an eye toward compatibility. This is
mostly the responsibility of the players, who must decide
(with help from the GM) on characters that can work
well in a mixed group. "Why" means there must be a
good reason for these particular celestials to be working
together. That is the responsibility of the Game Master.
Most campaigns that include both angel and demon

characters are likely to fall into one of four basic types:
Freeform, Allies of the Moment, Oudaw Celestials and
Enemies Together.
In each type, the angelic and demonic player characters will relate in different ways (and those relationships
almost certainly will shift as die campaign progresses).
FREEFORM
/ waited in the corner booth at Burger Hut. Raggai came in
at a quarter to twelve, right on schedule. He ordered six
Gutbusters and sat down to shovel them in, making as much
noise as possible. One guess which Prince he serves.
When he left, picking his teeth and belching, I followed. On
the corner, a small dog sat watching traffic. As I passed it, I
nodded. The dog winked back and ran off. Fersaith is a nice
ED PARTIES
guy for a Kyriotate, even if he does work for that fascist

Dominic.
Raggai waddled back to his foul little apartment and
unlocked the door. I stayed as close behind him as I dared. He
stepped inside and stopped. His prisoner was gone; in her place
stood Clariel, Blanche and Fersaith (in a big Rottweiler host).
"Hi, Rag," / said from the door. "Long time no see. This is
probably going to hurt a little."
Then we jumped him. He fought like, well, a demon, but
there's only so much a single overweight Djinn can do against
a Malakite, a Seraph, a possessed Rottweiler and an Ofanite
with a gun. We sent Raggai back to Hell in short order.
"Score another one for the home team," I said cheerily when
it was done.
"He'll be back," growled Clariel. "He always comes back."
In a "freeform" situation, the angels and demons aren't

working together at all, at least not most of the time.
Instead, they are doing their best to cany on the War like
good little celestials. The player characters are adversaries rather than comrades in arms. They come up with
various plots and counterplots, striving to advance their
own cause and foil the opposition. The campaign is simply the story of the interactions among one small group
of celestials trying to do their jobs.
A freeform campaign works best if the characters are
all assigned to the same setting. The GM can develop the
background in some detail as the stage for the shenanigans of the player characters. The easiest kind of common setting is a geographical location; the angels and
demons have the same "territory" and fight for control.
The setting could also be a human subculture - motorcycle gangs or science-fiction fans or a large organization, such as a giant corporation or a government.
In this sort of campaign, the initiative lies with the
players rather than the Game Master. Angel and demon
characters devise their own plans, and react to the activities of other characters. The GM acts more like a referee than a storyteller. Now and then he may decide to stir
things up a bit by tossing in a party of visiting Malakim,
or a fugitive Renegade with an important secret.
The intriguing and subtle battles don't all have to be
straight angels vs. demons fights. Servants of rival
Superiors can wind up plotting against each other, and
even seeking allies from the Other Side. An angel of
Gabriel would certainly help some of Kobal's demons
harass the minions of Belial, for example. And Lilim will
help any celestial - if the price is right.
It may be redundant to point out that a freeform campaign requires players with a certain level of experience
and subtlety; otherwise it can become nothing but a
series of battles between player characters. A great deal of
gaming in a campaign of this type can take place between
play sessions, as players outline their plans to the Game
Master via phone or e-mail.
A big potential problem in any angels vs. demons campaign is that one side may be able to outmaneuver the
enemy and gain a substantial advantage in the local theater of operations in the endless War. The characters on
the losing side may find themselves on the run, their
plans in ruins and unable to seriously threaten the enemy.
That's the time for the Game Master to throw in an
unexpected development. If the angels have been having
things all their way, then maybe two Archangels have a
serious falling-out, and their player-character Servitors
find themselves on opposite sides of an internal battle.
The diabolicals might be able to make a deal with the
weaker faction, or at least take advantage of the confusion to regain lost territory.
ALLIES OF THE MOMENT

When Blandine finished briefing us, I was shivering with
fear and anticipation. This was more thanjust big - it was terrifying. What could even angels do against something that was
dissolving the very fabric of the Marches?
But the boss wasn't done yet. "You will have help on thisjob.
Other. . . entities are aware of this threat and have offered to
pool information and resources in order to stop it. Salac will be
your liaison to these allies."
The chamberfell silent as a Habbalite came strolling in, cool
as you please. His flawless Elohite skin was all scarred and cut
in a pattern of inverted pentagrams. He grinned, showing
teeth filed to points. "Howdy."
Blandine continued speaking. "Naturally, you must keep
this demon under constant watch. Do not permit him to bother any mortal dreamers, and be alert for treachery."
The demon only grinned wider.
From time to time, angels and demons wind up working together because they're ordered to by their
Superiors. Nobody likes to talk about it, but it happens
more often than most Archangels admit. Orders from
above make a very simple way for a Game Master to
bring together the Host and the Fallen.
Of all the Superiors on opposite sides, Asmodeus and
Dominic have the best working relationship. Both have a
strong interest in tracking down Outcasts and
Renegades, and in finding out if any of the other
Archangels and Princes are working together. But they
aren't the only ones who sometimes cooperate.
Andrealphus has forged a tentative, very secret alliance
with Novalis in the interests of holding back the war
hawks on both sides (she knows he's trying to dupe her,
but for now it's convenient for her to pretend he's succeeding). And Marc and Lilith have occasionally found it
profitable to do a little business together.
In an allies campaign, the celestials don't have to like
each other much, but they are under strict orders to
cooperate, at least until the mission objective is achieved.
Often there are secret orders and hidden objectives on
both sides. There are plenty of opportunities for treachery, double-crosses and spying.
From the Game Master's perspective, the difficulty is
that eventually the objective will be achieved, and then
the characters have no further reason to remain together. If he's running a one-shot adventure or a "miniseries," that's not a problem. But if the players want to
keep adventuring together, then he must keep coming up
with increasingly improbable reasons to make the
demons and angels work together. If the characters have
somehow managed to strike up friendships, the campaign might become more like an "Enemies Together"
scenario, p. 91.
89
MIXED PARTIES
OUTLAW CELESTIALS
/ brought the package of greasy chicken back to the van.
"A couple of guys in the chicken place were watching me," /
said. "More than just the usual once-overfor strangers."
"Malakim?" asked Nagor, nibbling his skinless drumstick.
Later he'd insist on going jogging to burn off the extra fat.
Even though Andrealphus wants him dead, Nagor still follows
his Prince's rule and keeps himself looking gorgeous.
"No, they looked like local folks. Kyrios, maybe."
"Or Shedim. "Alashae reached past me to snag a drumstick.
"I find it hard to believe Asmodeus would give up so easily after
his goons almost got us last time."
"Whoever they were, we can't stay here long. Where to?" I
climbed into the driver's seat and started the van.
"There's a Lilim in Vegas who still owes me a little favor,"
said Nagor. "Vegas is Mammon's town; he wouldn't like a
bunch of Asmodeus' boys muscling in there."
"Fine for you," said Alashae, "but what about us? Vegas is a
dangerous enough placefor angels who haven't been kicked out.
Daraul and I wouldn't last a minute there."
"I'm not so sure," I said. "We would be relatively safe from
the Inquisition in Las Vegas. As long as Nagor's friend can
keep us safe from other diabolicals, we shouldn't have anything
to worry about." I started the engine.
Alashae leaned forward to whisper. "And what do we do if
Nagor's leading us into a trap?"
"It's a gamble. But isn't that why everyone goes to Vegas?"
wrath of the Celestial Inquisition. The angels will almost

certainly have to face an investigation by Dominic's
agents. Another problem is that the Renegade is, well,
still a demon. It's his nature to be selfish. He may not be
ready for redemption yet - indeed, his private rebellion
against Hell might stem more from pure selfishness than
a desire to reform. The angels can risk dissonance by
standing by and doing nothing while the demon misbehaves, but if they force the Renegade to stay on the
straight and narrow he's going to pile up Discord in a
hurry (Shedim are especially vulnerable to this).
Nor is the Renegade's former Prince likely to let him
go with a smile and a wave. The party will certainly have
to worry about diabolical hit squads, and infiltrators from
Asmodeus' secret police. Between righteous Malakim on
one side and bloodthirsty Calabim on the other, a
Renegade in a party of angels will have an interesting life.
There's one other peril to consider - just how
Renegade is the demon, really. Sure, he says he's broken
with his Prince, but is he telling the truth? Or are those
Calabim hit men and Shedim assassins just fakes, intended to convince the demon's angel pals that he really is on
the run from Hell? Pretending to be a Renegade would
be a great way for a demon to associate with angels, learn
some of Heaven's plots, and make contacts among the
servants of the Host. Only the Renegade's player and the
GM can know for sure.
A fairly simple way to combine demons and angels is

for some members of the parry to be Outcast angels or
Renegades from Hell. There are a number of possible
permutations - an Outcast angel working with demons,
a Renegade demon hanging around with angels, or
Outcasts and Renegades banding together.
Renegades Among Angels

A Renegade demon in a party of angels is perhaps the
easiest to justify. He's no longer welcome in Hell, but
that isn't nearly the same thing as being good enough for
Heaven.
The Renegade might actually be trying to reform.
That makes the angels' task easy. A demon trying to
become an angel may have a lot of reforming to do, but
redemption is certainly a worthy goal, and it's a fine thing
for angels to help with (especially Malakim; see p. 49).
Besides the sheer moral goodness of the project, helping
one of the Fallen rejoin the Host has some tremendous
practical benefits, in the form of inside knowledge of
Hell's plots, and contacts among the minions of Lucifer.
Of course, there are dangers involved when angels take
a Renegade under their wings (so to speak). Unless the
angels themselves are absolutely untainted and free of
dissonance, having a demon friend can bring down the
XED PARTIES
Outcasts Among Demons

It's much harder for an Outcast angel to be part of a
group of demon characters. Demons aren't as nice as
angels. They're more likely to stomp an Outcast's face
into the ground than to help protect him. And if they do
have some good reason for not wanting him dead, making sure he Falls all the way to demonhood is an obvious
precondition for his continued survival. So an Outcast
among demons has to worry about vengeful angels, killer
demons and the plots of his friends. Rival Princes will be
trying to woo or destroy him, and if Dominic learns he's
preparing to go over, he'll have the Inquisition to worry
about.
There is always the possibility that an Outcast could be
a double agent, just like a Renegade. His Discord was
deliberately gained as a cover, and his Archangel is in on
the plot (as probably is Dominic as well). Such an assignment is insanely dangerous, but an angel who could pull
it off is likely to be rewarded by his Archangel with
greater power and responsibilities. Naturally, no angel
would be asked to take such an incredible risk unless the
situation was particularly dire.
All Outlaws
If all the player characters are Outcasts or Renegades,
the group has all the problems listed above, plus a few
extras. They're going to be on the run from both the host
and the diabolicals, with nobody to help them at all.
An interesting campaign could be built around a
"Dirty Dozen" group of Outcasts and Renegades who do
the dirty work for an angelic patron. Even grittier is the
idea of a band of celestial mercenaries, who undertake
jobs for both sides!
A party of Outcasts and Renegades would be the perfect group to discover the secret of the Grigori, and the
characters might be able to strike up some kind of
alliance with the Watchers and their human descendants.
Or die outlaw celestials could league themselves with the
old pagan gods of the Marches.
Again, there is always the possibility for duplicity in
such a group. What if one of the angels is actually a secret
operative for the Inquisition, under deep cover as an
Outcast in order to penetrate the party and learn what no
member of the Host could ever see? Or perhaps one of
the Renegades is a servant of Kobal, setting everybody up
for a deadly joke?
ENEMIES TOGETHER
He was sitting by the Picasso statue in Daley Plaza, feeding
the pigeons. I sat down next to him. "Nice day," I said.
"Nice enough. How'veyou been?"
"Tired. I'm working double shifts trying to catch that crazy
Sbedite who's been causing all the gangsta shootings lately."
He tore off a bit of crust and tossed it to an old bird with one
eye. "Isaw him this morning down at the Point. He's living in
a big kid named Raheem."
"Thanks. Oh - I almost forgot. Someone's been careless.
David knows about the Tether to Tartarus in Hyde Park. He's
got a bunch ofKyrios disguised as gargoyles watching the place.

Anybody who tries to use it will get jumped."
'Tilpass it on. Had lunch yet?"
"No, thanks. I've got to go find Mr. Raheem. Maybe next
week."
I got up and hurried to my car. Behind me the demon tossed
more bread to the pigeons.
Finally, the characters may be angels and demons in

good standing who nevertheless have formed friendships
with those on the other side. An alliance of this sort is
possible only if some or all of the characters have become
a little disillusioned with their side in the War. Perhaps
they have turned pacifist, and are cooperating in the
hope of someday ending the fight. Or perhaps they are
all warriors, tired of the stalemate. Or just old friends
who nowadays have more in common with each other
than with the folks back in Heaven or Hell. The Austin
celestials described in Night Music are a good example of
this kind of group.
Naturally, the friends will have to work hard to keep
their fraternization a secret. Big problems can develop if
the Inquisition learns about an angel's little devil pal.
Seraphim and Elohim in particular must worry about
gaining dissonance by trying to keep secrets from their
Superiors. Demons can lie all they like, but the Princes
of Hell aren't going to be any happier to learn their
underlings are keeping company with the Host.
In an Enemies Together campaign, the celestials must
constantly juggle their own duties with helping their
friends, and there is always the need for secrecy. This sort
of campaign can occasionally resemble a Freeform, as
even good friends may wind up plotting against each
other if the War requires it. In an Enemies Together
campaign, loyalties are always being tested.
When angels and demons work together, they need a

very good reason. "Nothing on TV that night" isn't
enough. They must have a common enemy, or face some
menace that threatens both Heaven and Hell. If friendship or love is the reason, then it can't be any mild affection, but a bond so strong the partners are willing to defy
Heaven and Hell because of it. Or maybe, just maybe,
angels and demons might come together to do something because it's right.
THREATS AND MENACES

At first we thought the War was starting to turn hot. Angels
were dropping left and right on Earth; whole cities were completely cleared of the Host. It seemed the Fallen were gearing
up for the Final Battle.
91
MIXED PARTIES
PLAYER CONFLICT
In almost any mixed party of celestials, diere's a good chance
somebody has a hidden agenda. Demons betray angels, angels
outwit demons and sometimes people get hurt. In most roleplaying games, the player characters are assumed to be on die
same side. Treachery can come as a shocking surprise.
It can also be a shock to die players. Most gamers identify
strongly with their characters, and a fictional act of betrayal
can cause some very real hurt feelings. Game Masters should
make sure die players understand that character conflict cannot spill over into die real world.
In particular, the Game Master should avoid seeming like a
"co-conspirator." Often simply because of his position, he
knows about an impending betrayal in advance. At die very
least, he will not have moved to make the treachery impossible
- some players won't understand why he didn't.
The GM must stay rigorously impartial. Congratulating a
sneaky player on a well-executed bit of treachery should be
done in private. Sympadiy and sincere regrets for die victim
will help keep diings from getting too hostile.
But then the reports started coming in about diabolical

Tethers blown to bits, our human agents finding piles of bodies
that were known to be demonic vessels.
So when the demon appeared in the Marches, waving a
white flag, asking to speak with Michael, we didn't blast him
where he stood. It was definitely time to talk.
92
Common enemies are always a good reason to work

together. The ancient saying "the enemy of my enemy is
my friend" applies to celestials as well as mortals.
Seeking out or stopping a rogue Archangel or Prince
would be serious enough to involve bodi angels and diabolicals. The Superior can't simply be about to Fall or be
Redeemed - die other side wouldn't try to prevent that.
Rather, the rogue being must threaten the entire
Symphony. Imagine Gabriel deciding to wash all sin
from the Earth in a bath of fire, or Jordi trying to get rid
of humans to protect his beloved animals. Or think of
Saminga plotting the ultimate triumph of Death, or
Kobal devising die final punchline. There is a precedent
for such an alliance of convenience - Heaven and Hell
joined forces to defeat die rogue demon Legion during
the Middle Ages. GMs who want to crank the moral
ambiguity up to a fever pitch might select the Superior of
one or more player characters as the rogue to be stopped.
There are more things out there than angels and
demons, after all. The old pagan gods still lurk in the
outer edges of die Marches; they may have discovered a
way to regain their lost dominion. Or there may be
Mix ED PARTIES
strange beings with unknown powers lurking in the ethereal realm.

And don't forget humans. They can sometimes achieve
remarkable things, without any celestial meddling at all.
A group of humans could somehow pose a threat to bodi
sides - a madman widi a deadly plague, or a scientist
about to discover die truth about the Symphony. Perhaps
the Grigori and their children are poised to rise and turn
humanity away from both Heaven and Hell. How do you
fight against people you're sworn to protect?
wes
When creating a mixed party, it's important to choose

angels and demons diat can work together. Some Choirs
and Bands are just not "team players" when the Other
Side is involved.
As a rule, all celestials reserve their strongest hatred for
die Choir or Band that corresponds to their own.
Seraphim hate Balseraphs most of all, and Shedim particularly despise Kyriotates. Naturally, some are better at
restraining their dislike dian odiers, but GMs should
probably try to keep from having celestial opposites in an
adventuring party. Unless one of the characters has
unique knowledge for the mission, no sensible Archangel
or Prince would assign someone to a group if his presence makes the mission impossible (unless, of course, die
Superior wants the mission to fail).
Similarly, angels and demons whose Superiors are

directly opposed have a hard time getting along - servants of Gabriel and Belial, or Jean and Vapula are not
going to be pals, and it's unlikely that their bosses would
agree on anything. All of Gabriel's servants have difficulty working with demons, since most of the Fallen are
cruel enough to spark the wrath of Fire. Dominic keeps
a tight enough rein on his servants to ensure that they
would follow orders, but angels of Judgment who haven't
been specifically told to work with demons are very likely to deal out summary justice to diabolicals.
Certain Choirs and Bands are more suitable for a
mked party than others. Cherubim can get along with
demons provided their object of attunement isn't threatened, and could even be commanded to protect a diabolical if necessary. Elohim are excellent angels to work with
demons, as their clear objectivity lets them ignore their
natural dislike for the Fallen. Mercurians are another
good choice, as they prefer cooperation and diplomacy to
conflict anyway.
On the demonic side, Impudites are probably the best
to deal with angels. They don't gratuitously harm
humans, and if they can resist the urge to siphon off
Essence, their conduct won't arouse the ire of the Host.
Lilim are another good choice - they have no opposed
Choir to be automatically hostile, and they tend to have
very good social skills. A Free Lilim who doesn't owe any
allegiance to a Prince of Hell might not even count as a
demon to some angels. After all, Lilim aren't fallen
angels, so they aren't automatically traitors to the Host.
Some Bands and Choirs are extremely poor choices for
a mixed group. Malakim are difficult to run in a group
that includes demons - unless the Malakite has received
orders to leave them alone, or the diabolicals have some
means of concealing their nature. A Balseraph might
simply convince the Malakite that he isn't a demon, and
a servant of Asmodeus could mask himself with the
attunement of Humanity. Otherwise, a Malakite's vows
make it hard for him to refrain from bashing a demon
even if the mission is very short. . . unless, of course, he

has received direct and careful orders from his Superior.
Shedim also have big problems in a mixed group.
Their need to make their hosts commit more and more
evil makes them utterly abhorrent to most angels. For
much the same reason, servants of Haagenti, Kobal and
Malphas have difficulty coexisting with the Host for very
long, since they must constantly cause harm to humans.
Of course, the diabolicals could slip away from the rest of
the party for a little moonlight mayhem, but the angels
are liable to be watching out for that sort of thing.
"And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth,

and the top of it reached to heaven; and behold the angels of
God ascending and descending on it."
-Genesis 28:12
ANGELS AND ORGANIZATION

The Heavenly Host is a vast and complex hierarchy.
Except for divine intervention, which is rare, the
Archangels are the highest authorities in Heaven. Below
them are their various Servitors, arranged in ranks
according to each Archangel's particular nature.
What lies above the Archangels is unknown, perhaps
even to them. Certainly there are many, many levels of
Heaven beyond the lowest where the angels serve, and
perhaps the Heavenly hierarchy stretches up for a very
great distance before finally reaching the throne of God.
Heaven's organization is hierarchical; lesser angels
serve Superiors, lesser Words serve greater Words and so
93
CLIMBING THE LADDER
IT'S LONELY AT THE TOP

Generally speaking, it isn't a lot of fun for an angel to
end up with a desk job in Heaven as a reward for all of his
hard work for his Superior. Although angels might aspire
to become commanders themselves, the GM should carefully consider how this will affect the campaign if one of
the player characters is placed in charge of other angels,
or even the other player characters! The highest ranked
superiors spend very little time on Earth, so involved are
they in the politics and day-to-day activities of Heaven.
Promoting an angel to a higher position in his Archangel's
hierarchy can shift the focus of the campaign, but it is a
good way to provide a needed change or to retire a player character who has become too powerful or needs to
leave the campaign.
on up to the ranks of the Archangels. Some Archangels
prefer to have many different ranks for their Servitors,
arranged in structured levels. Others have a more
freeform attitude about the arrangement of their personal Servitors. In all cases, there is a clear system of
advancement and rank among angels. Ideally, the hierarchy of Heaven rewards hard work and loyalty with
advancement in the ranks, punishing incompetence and
disloyalty with lack of advancement or even demotion. In
practice, things don't always work out that way.
As agents on the front-lines of the War, player-character angels quickly become involved in the heavenly climb
up the ladder of rank and distinction in service to their
Archangels and immediate superiors. Angels who serve
well and succeed in the tasks given to them can get on the
fast track to success and promotion in the ranks of
Heaven, while angels who regularly disappoint their
superior can slide to the bottom of the heavenly food
chain. Even if things are going well, it's a good idea to be
polite to other celestials on the way up; you might be
meeting them again on the way down.
Superiors
94
The basic building block of the heavenly hierarchy is

the Superior/Servitor relationship. Each angel is
assigned a superior they report to; that superior has his
own superior and so on up to the Archangels, the only
true Superiors. Some truly favored Servitors are allowed
to bypass this structure and report directly to an
Archangel, but this is the exception rather than the rule.
Archangels are busy, and cannot oversee the activities of
all angels under them personally. They delegate most of
this work to other Word-bound angels serving them.
Most Superiors entrusted with command over other
angels will have at least a distinction or two and will most
C L I MB ING
THE LADDER
likely be Word-bound to a lesser Word in service to their

Archangel's own Word. This may constitute a divine
chain-of-command. For example, Calliel, a Kyriotate,
reports to Morrigen, the Angel of Ravens, who reports to
Arael, the Angel of Birds, who in turn reports to Jordi,
the Archangel of Animals. Calliel may have no contact at
all with Jordi directly, receiving all of her orders through
her immediate superior, Morrigen.
Although they are expected to follow the chain of command, each angel has the right to invoke his Archangel
directly to hear a request or to offer some information
the angel feels is important. The Archangel's reaction
will vary depending on the results of the invocation and
the reasons for it.
Distinctions and Rank

When an angel first enters an Archangel's service
(either from creation or, more rarely, coming from the
service of another Archangel) he starts at the bottom of
the ladder. Through loyal and diligent service, the angel
proves his worth to his Superior and is granted distinctions, attunements and other rewards. These advance the
angel's standing in the eyes of his Archangel, allowing
him to take on more important duties, gaining further
distinctions and so forth.
Although angels are expected to follow an established
chain of command, Archangels feel free to move things
around when they choose. Player characters are usually
favored servants of their respective Archangels, on the
heavenly fast track. Their successes tend to reap great
rewards, but their failures earn equal punishments. Great
things are expected of them and failure to deliver can
mean a loss of status in the eyes of a Superior.
It is expected for angels to defer to other angels who
have achieved great distinction and for angels of lesser
rank to defer to those with greater rank. This is not a
hard and fast rule, and a lesser-ranked angel of Judgment
is not going to defer to even a Master of the Realms of
Night or a Friend of War if there is justice to be served,
but generally angels are taught to respect and obey their
superiors.
The commands of an angel's direct supervisor always
take precedence over those of another angel of equal, or
sometimes even greater, rank. Archangels are expected
not to interfere with each others' Servitors and their
hierarchies, and generally they respect this. The prime
exception is the Divine Inquisitors of Dominic, who have
the authority to bring other angels before the Seraphim
Council for judgment if they feel it necessary. Angels are
also expected to defer to any of the Archangels. Even if
Laurence isn't an angel's own Superior, he is Master of
the Armies of God, and if he gives an angel an order, it
had better be obeyed.
Promotion
Chosen for a Word
As angels gain distinctions and rise in the ranks of the

Host, they are given command over servants of their own
by their commander. At first, these will be typical
Servants (In Nomine, p. 45) like Soldiers, relievers and
other non-angels. As the angel gains experience as a
leader, he will be placed in command of other angels,
given greater responsibility commensurate with greater
rank and experience.
Not every angel who gains favor in the eyes of his commander is given command duties. Some experienced angels best serve their Superior as
"field agents" who need a great deal of
autonomy to operate effectively.
These angels are not given command duties, but their rank and
experience is such that they can
usually expect cooperation
from any of their Superior's
other Servitors when they
require it.
With new Words appearing in the Symphony all the

time, many Archangels will have lesser Words filled by
their Servitors.
The Archangel will consider the ranks of his Servitors
first to see if there is someone suited to taking on the
Word. If so, the Archangel will begin grooming the angel
for the Word. Many Archangels do this without the
knowledge of their Servitors, to avoid showing too much
favoritism and to curb the candidate's pride. When the
Archangel feels the candidate is ready, he
is approached and offered the opportunity to apply for the Word with
the Archangel's blessing. The
Seraphim Council usually
approves such applications.
If the Archangel does
not have a clear choice
among his Servitors
who is best for the
Word, then the potential pool of candidates
will be narrowed
through careful observation and testing to
weed out the unworthy
and choose a few possible
candidates to compete for the
Word (see The Testing, p. 96).
Some Archangels prefer this method,
since it relies on merit, ability and the judgment of the Council, while others like to have a single
candidate to present for a Word, and weed out all of the
competitors before presenting the petition.
Occasionally an Archangel will have a Word to fill and
no suitable Servitor to take it up. In these cases the
Archangel may actually create an angel to take on the
Word. Such cases are quite rare, but they do happen.
The Archangel will usually keep from the new celestial
that he is being groomed for a Word, giving him assignments to test his suitability for the Word and provide the
instruction the angel will need to fulfill his role. Then, at
the proper time, the Archangel approaches the Servitor
and offers the opportunity to apply for the Word.
GAINING A WORD
The ultimate goal of many
an angel is gaining a Word,
becoming a living embodiment
of an aspect of the Symphony, a
soloist in God's great opus. As the
saying goes, some angels are born to a
Word while others have a Word thrust upon
them.
A Word is the embodiment of a concept, a strain of the
Symphony. It can be anything, from the great to the
seemingly insignificant. There are Words for things,
people, places, philosophies, ideas and abstract concepts.
New Words are appearing all the time as the Symphony
continues to become more and more complex and God
adds new parts for angels to play. Every part of the
Symphony is important in some way, or at least that's
what die angels tell themselves. If a Word seems insignificant, it simply means the angel has a tough job ahead.
Certainly no one expected Words like Internet or
Animation to take off like they did!
An angel who is Word-bound becomes the embodiment of his Word. As the power and influence of the
Word grows, so does that of the angel. But if the power
of an angel's Word begins to wane, so does he. This
means angels aggressively promote the cause of their
own Word in the Symphony, which is just what they are
supposed to do. Many celestials see gaining a Word as
the ultimate means of rising in the ranks, and every truly
influential celestial in Heaven has a Word to call his own.
Applying for a Word

Any angel may apply for any vacant Word by petitioning the Seraphim Council. If the Word falls under his
Superior's Word, that Archangel's support is needed. If it
falls under another Superior's Word, then that
Archangel's support is needed - not just for the Word but
for the petitioning angel to switch Superiors (see p. 97)
95
CLIMBING THE LADDER
as well. The angel can't gain the Word without transferring to serve the Archangel it falls under. If the vacant
word doesn't readily fall under any
Superior's word, then the angel is free
to apply for it. If he gets it, his Word
becomes a facet of his Superior's
Word. This can result in some seemingly strange combinations . . .
The applicant petitions publicly.
Any other angel may speak for or
against him. Multiple applicants offer
their petitions in turn. The Seraphim
Council considers the petitions and
chooses whether or not to grant the
Word.
Not all Words are granted. The
Seraphim Council must first consider
whether or not there is a need for the
Word to be directly overseen by an
angel or whether it is best to allow that
part of die Symphony to play on without accompaniment. Every possible
Word does not have an angel - only
diose most important to the overall
cause of the War. The Seraphim
Council has no desire to see the
resources of Heaven wasted on trivial
or needless Words, so the applicant
must clearly demonstrate how granting them the Word will further the
cause of Heaven.
A desired Word may also run
counter to the policies and plans of the
Heavenly Host and the Archangels, in
which case the Council may prefer to
leave the Word vacant. For example,
the Seraphim Council has declined to
grant the Word of Purity to any other
angel since Uriel's Purification
Crusade resulted in the Archangel of
Purity being called to the higher levels
of Heaven.
The Testing
Provided the Word is vacant, and
granting it will further the cause of
Heaven in some way, the Seraphim
Council will then determine if die
applicant is worthy of the honor
through a Testing.
The Test helps determine if the
applicant possesses the ability to serve the Word that he
desires in the best manner possible. It is also used to sin-
MB ING THE L A D D E R
gles out an angel in those cases where more than one

heavenly celestial applies for a particular Word.
The specifics of the Test are entirely
up to the Seraphim Council. It usually
involves the applicants' ability to serve
their chosen Word in the manner they
have described in their petition. The
Test may require each applicant to
undertake a separate quest or task to
prove their worth, or it might involve
a single task which can be accomplished in different ways; the angel
who comes up with the approach most
appropriate to the contested Word
succeeds. Very important and hotly
contested Words may require multiple
Tests to determine the most worthy
applicant. Every effort is taken to
ensure the Test is as fair and impartial
as possible, but Tests are very difficult
and some even prove fatal to angels
attempting them. There is no room
for the incompetent among the Wordbound.
When the testing is complete, the
surviving applicants appear before the
Seraphim Council again and present
their story of the Test and the final
arguments for their case. Once again,
any angel is allowed to comment or
speak before the Council on the matter. After all of the testimony and testing is complete, the Council makes its
decision regarding the disposition of
the Word.
Becoming the Word

If the Seraphim Council chooses to
grant the Word, the chosen applicant
comes forward and sings the portion
of the Symphony representing die
Word, bringing his Forces in resonance with it. The heavenly chorus of
Seraphim joins in the Song and binds
the Word to the angel's Forces, making him the living embodiment of that
aspect of the Symphony. The angel is
now Word-bound and gains the resonance and a special Rite associated
with his Word. The player and GM
should jointly design these based on
examples such as Orc, the Angel of Networks (In
Nomine, p. 194), and other Word-bound angels.
Gladriel was terrified. Talking to Yves had never frightened

her before, but she did not know how her Superior mould react
to what she had to say. Was it hubris on her pan? She held the
rare-edition Bible tightly to her chest as she completed her invocation, breathing deeply of the musty scent of the library stacks.
"Can I help you find something?'" a kindly voice said from
behind her. Glad spun to see Yves standing there, holding an
open book in his hand. She hoped she hadn't interrupted him
reading something important. She bowed her head at once,
unable to meet the timeless wisdom and compassion she saw
reflected in those eyes. The words seemed to stick in her throat.
"What is it, child?" Yves asked, his voice soft and tender.
"I... you know I have been working a great deal with the
angels of Michael." It was a stupid thing to say. Of course her
Superior knew about her working with Michael's Malakim.
He was the one who assigned her, wasn't he?
Yves just smiled and nodded, indicating she should continue.
"I've been most. . . impressed with their work, master. The
song of the Malakim of Michael is most. . . compelling. I've
given it a great deal of thought..."
"Andyou wish to serve Michael," Yves said softly. It was not
an accusation, merely a statement of fact. Gladriel felt her face
grow hot and she looked away again.
"Yes, master. Can you forgive me?"
Yves gave a quiet sigh. "Have you been unhappy in my service, Gladriel?"
Her head mapped up to look him in the face. "No, master!
Not at all! I have learned so much . . . it's just that. . . I feel I
can do so much more . . . " She trailed off and Yves smiled.
"Are you sure this is what you want?" he asked. Gladriel
pressed her lips into a hard line and nodded.
"And Michael is amenable to the idea?"
Again the angel nodded.
"Well, then, I will speak to him and we 'II see what we can do.
You have served me well, Gladriel; I will be sorry to lose you."
"I am sorry to go, but I feel it is something I have to do.
Thank you so much for understanding..."
"Tut, tut," Yves said with a smile and a wave of his hand.
"Go about your business. You can return to Heaven soon and
speak with Michael."
As Gladriel withdrew, Yves glanced down at the book he held
and turned the page on the last chapter ofGladriel's time with
him to see again what her destiny with Michael might be.
There was a trace of sadness in his smile.
If there is one thing the War provides, it's job security.

As long as an angel does a good job, remaining both loyal
and fairly free of dissonance, he can continue to serve his
Superior for a very long time. There is always a need for
capable and experienced celestials on Earth, and the
Archangels carefully manage their most capable servants.
There are two occasions when an angel mayfindhimself faced with the possibility of working for a different
Superior. In one case the angel has no choice; his original Superior may have suffered some difficulty or elected
to trade him to another Archangel for a different reason.
In the second case, the angel might want to change
Superiors, due to some problem with his present
Superior or because he is Outcast and seeking shelter and
succor from another Archangel. Either way, changing
Superiors is not an easy task, nor is it something that is
done lightly. It is a major change in the angel's life, and
should be treated accordingly.
SEEKING CHANGE
An angel who is dissatisfied with his Archangel can
seek to leave that Superior's service and become the
Servitor of another. This is a very serious decision.
Usually - though circumstances often vary - the first
step requires the angel to petition the Superior he desires
for the privilege of serving him. Then he must ask his
current Archangel for permission to leave his service. In
most cases, an angel's Superior will want to know exactly
whom he expects to serve.
The reaction of an Archangel to a servant's petition
varies greatly depending on the standing of the Servitor,
the views of his Archangel and, finally, whom the petitioner wants to serve. If it is an Archangel who has little
rapport with the current Archangel, the reaction is likely
to be negative. If the two Archangels get along well,
things may go more smoothly. No Archangel likes to lose
a Servitor, especially a valuable one. The petitioner will
be thoroughly questioned and asked to provide all his
reasons for wanting to serve another Archangel. If the
Archangel finds the petitioner's reasons to be flawed or
selfish (and Archangels are very perceptive about such
things) the petition will be denied.
In all cases, a frustrated angel seeking to serve another
Superior has one other option: to bring his petition
directly before the Seraphim Council and request their
judgment on the matter. This is considered a last resort.
The Council will hear the angel's case and their judgment on the matter is final. The angel must have the
backing of the Archangel he wishes to serve if he is to
have any chance of gaining a judgment in his favor, and
such cases often result in bad blood between the angel
and his former Superior, and between the Archangels
involved in the case.
97
SWITCHING SUPERIORS
98
BEING TRADED
STARTING OVER
On rare occasions, an Archangel will loan a Servitor to

another Archangel. This is usually a temporary matter.
The angel still serves his original Archangel; he is simply
serving another for a while. The servants of Eli are currently in this position. Although they are technically
angels of Creation, they are in the service of other
Archangels and required to obey them.
It is very rare for an Archangel to make such an
arrangement permanent. In rare cases, an Archangel
might trade a Servitor because of a favor owed to another Archangel, or out of a desire to be rid of a particular
Servitor. Some Archangels are more likely to declare a
troublesome Servitor an Outcast than to give him away
and lose all chance of redeeming him personally. In all
cases, any exchange is only likely between Archangels
who are allied or at least on speaking terms.
An angel will be forced to seek another Superior to
serve if his current one is no longer available. When
Uriel, the Archangel of Purity, was called by God to the
higher levels of Heaven, his former Servitors became the
Servitors of Laurence. Although a few chose to become
Outcasts or to serve another Archangel, most swore loyalty to Laurence as the Master of God's Armies.
In any of these cases, an angel can appeal to the
Seraphim Council for judgment if he feels he is being
treated unfairly. The angel must have the support of some
Superior if he wants his case to be successful. The
Seraphim Council is not likely to rule in favor of an angel
if both Archangels are in agreement about the trade and
no other Archangel speaks out in support of the petitioner, nor is willing to take him into their service.
An angel who changes Archangels will find his personal resonances with the Symphony altered by the experience. The angel loses all of the attunements of his former
master, although he may be allowed to retain distinctions
or Rites - perhaps even a Servitor Attunement - if the
parting was cordial. Any character points invested in the
lost attunements are lost. Depending on the circumstances, the GMmay "pool" the lost points for rapid
replacement, as with young angels (p. 79).
The angel's new Archangel grants him the appropriate
Choir Attunement. The angel must purchase any other
attunements for himself or have them granted by the
new Archangel over time. The new Servitor usually starts
out with no distinctions and a fairly low standing in the
new Archangel's hierarchy until he has proven himself
through service and loyalty. The new Archangel may
require some difficult and dangerous assignments from a
new servant in order for him to prove his worth. Other
angels will tend to look on the newcomer with some
amount of suspicion for a while, depending on how he
happened to leave the service of his former Archangel.
Archangels know that servants may sometimes want to
switch their allegiance, and each one feels somewhat differently about it. An angel who tries to change Superiors
more than once is almost certain to become Outcast for
his presumptive and rebellious attitude, and the angel
will suffer many trials to gain his former Archangel's forgiveness and trust. Not being able to work within the
hierarchy of Heaven was what led the forces of Lucifer to
Fall in the first place, and Superiors are very careful
about angels who seem to have the same qualities.
SWIT CHING
SUPERIORS
OUTCASTS
"Peradventure thou wouldest say unto me, I never went

down into the deep, nor as yet into hell, neither did I ever climb
up into heaven."
Second Book of Esdras, 4:8
BROKEN HEARTS
It isn't easy being an angel. Embodiments of Heavenly
Essence, angels can only stay in tune with the Symphony
by remaining true to their divine nature. But every angel
experiences the same temptations that led their diabolical brethren to Fall: conflicting loyalties, the unyielding
demands of a Superior or one's own selfishness can drive
an angel to act against his God-given nature. When an
angel's personal melody is no longer in tune with that of
his Choir, or his Superior, dissonance occurs. When this
dissonance becomes too great, the angel experiences a
painful fracture in his soul. The dissonant angel has
become Outcast, not yet Fallen, but no longer completely divine.
This fracture manifests physically in his angelic Heart.
An Outcast's Heart does not shatter, but cracks appear on
its surface, spreading and growing deeper as the angel
accumulates more dissonance. The bond between an
outcast and his Heart has been broken; it no longer acts
as a beacon for his celestial form. Thus, the angel can no
longer ascend to Heaven, nor can anyone use it to locate
him on the corporeal plane. Though ridding oneself of
dissonance will partially mend a broken Heart, only an
Archangel can make it whole again. The Outcast can
ascend to Heaven, but it's up to his Superior to let him
back in.
Archangels always know when one of their Servitors
has become Outcast, but it is forbidden even to them to
deliberately shatter an angel's Heart. Some Archangels
leave the fractured Hearts of their Outcasts lying where
they are, hoping the lost ones will return to die fold,
while others consider disfavored Servitors to be traitors,
litde better than one of the Fallen, and hide their Hearts
so as not to be reminded of their flawed creations. Only
the angel's own actions can cause the final destruction of
his Heart. Until an Outcast Falls, his Heart is sacred and
inviolable, even to his Superior.
TRIPPING: BECOMING OUTCAST

The mechanics of becoming an Outcast are described
in In Nomine, pp. 57-58. An angel who fails a dissonance
roll suffers the consequences of his own actions. It's
important to remember that an angel doesn't become an

Outcast just because of an "unlucky roll." An angel has to
accumulate at hast three notes of dissonance before it's
possible to fail a dissonance roll and suffer a fall from
grace. This requires repeated unangelic behavior. And an
angel with this much dissonance always has the option of
converting it into Discord. Some angels may risk Falling
in the hopes that they can rid themselves of their dissonance first, rather than turning it into Discord, which is
much harder to lose and far more damaging. But no one
ever said it's easy having free will.
The exception to the above, of course, is a dissonance
roll of 666, which can cause an angel to become an
Outcast with just a single note of dissonance. This possibility should keep PCs from being too complacent about
committing acts that will go against their angelic natures.
An angel who reasons, "I don't have enough dissonance to be in danger yet; I can get away with bending
the rules a little," risks infernal scrutiny. The GM should
consider just how this act brought the angel to the attention of the infernal powers. Perhaps he has been singled
out to be tested, or perhaps with a seemingly minor act
he inadvertently advanced Hell's cause more than he
could ever have imagined.
Sometimes, an angel becomes so rebellious and dissonant that his Superior can no longer stand the sight of
him, even though he hasn't yet tripped on his own. Or a
single mistake may be so grievous that an Archangel
expels his flawed Servitor as punishment. It's very rarely
done, but an Archangel can cast a Servitor out of
Heaven, as a sign of extreme displeasure. Sometimes an
Archangel does this as a severe lesson in humility, expecting the angel to work to be redeemed. Breaking an
angel's Heart is the second-greatest punishment a
Superior can inflict, next to destroying the angel outright. By striking his Servitor's Heart, an Archangel
inflicts Discord and turns the angel into an Outcast at the
same time. Once this is done, the fractured Heart can no
longer be used to track the Outcast angel, and the
Superior cannot use it to inflict further Discord.
Players whose angelic PCs begin the game as Outcasts
should consider carefully how they fell from grace. Were
they faithful Servitors who just had trouble following the
rules? Did one note of dissonance too many fracture
their Heart? Or did they commit some crime that so
enraged their Superior that they were cast out as punishment? Remember that it's important to note who your
Archangel was. If you are a former Servitor of Dominic,
it's not likely that you became an Outcast as punishment:
Dominic doesn't turn his disobedient Servitors into
Outcasts, he destroys them! And the dissonance rules for
some Superiors are harsher than others. A Servitor of
Novalis may have become an Outcast because she kept
99
OUTCASTS
resorting to violence, possibly after extreme provocation.

Anyone who has trouble with unquestioning obedience
is likely to become an Outcast in Laurence's service. And
an angel of the Wind may have fallen in love with a particular locale (or something/someone in that
locale . . .) and lingered there a little too
long.
You should consider how your
PC feels about his status.
Since an Outcast begins the
game with three levels of
Discord, but no dissonance, theoretically he
can try to summon his
Superior and beg forgiveness. This might
be how you wish to
begin the game for
your PC, with his
first mission being
one of redemption.
Alternatively, there
may be some reason
why he cannot, or will
not, seek redemption yet.
Perhaps he likes being an
Outcast (see Outcast Motives,
p. 101).
ON BEING OUTCAST
Outcasts still regenerate Essence at sunrise, but they do not have access to any Rites, either
those of their own Superior or those they may have been
granted by some other Superior. There are two exceptions to this rule: first, a Word-bound Outcast may still
use his own Rites. Secondly, Word-bound Outcasts, and
diabolical Superiors, may grant Rites to an Outcast!
However, an Outcast greatly diminishes his chances of
redemption by using the Rites of another Outcast; most
Archangels will be tempted to write their former Servitor
off as a lost cause. And using diabolical Rites virtually
guarantees permanent exile from Heaven, and a short
Fall to Hell; every time an Outcast uses a diabolical Rite,
he gains another note of dissonance. Princes are usually
only too willing to grant Rites to Outcasts whom they
think will use them, for exactly this reason.
Outcasts still have all their Songs, and keep their Choir
and Servitor attunements, but they lose any distinctions
they may have had when they become Outcasts. A
Superior may or may not restore these when the Outcast
is restored to grace, depending on the circumstances of
his fall. An Outcast can try to invoke his Superior only if
he has no current dissonance.
OUTCASTS
Outcasts do have one advantage; while they're still subject to the dissonance rules of their Choir, they are no
longer bound by the dissonance restrictions of their former Superior. Despite that, Archangels have a way of
knowing when one of their former Servitors is
violating their Word. An Outcast who
hopes to regain favor would be wise
not to flaunt the fact that the
rules no longer apply to him.
Possibly the most crippling disadvantage for an
Outcast is the inability
to ascend to the celestial plane. (Exception:
an Outcast can follow
another celestial to
Hell! But he'll probably regret it...) An
Outcast will not be
readmitted
to
Heaven until he is
free of dissonance,
and even then, his
Heart will not call to
him until his Superior
W mends it. Thus, dissonant
or not, the celestial forms of
Outcasts in Trauma don't
return to Heaven to recuperate;
they go to a different place.
Limbo and Trauma

Outcasts have no Hearts. Therefore, death of a vessel,
which would return a normal angel to his Heart, will
send an Outcast to Limbo (Heaven and Hell, pp. 79-80).
This effectively takes an Outcast out of play for an indefinite period of time. Although it's a desperate measure,
some Outcasts have been known to put themselves into
Limbo, to escape Servitors of Judgment who were on the
verge of capturing them.The best way to stay out of
Limbo is to have an extra vessel ready for instant use ekewhere, through a Body Bag or similar artifact.
The Kyriotate Dilemma

Because they cannot remain on Earth without a borrowed vessel, Kyriotate Outcasts have special problems.
A Kyriotate Outcast who exceeds his time limit (10 times
Celestial Forces, in minutes) without a host can't be
forced back to Heaven. Instead, he remains on the corporeal plane, suffering damage as the Symphony tries to
expel the aberration.
When an Outcast Kyriotate goes too long without a
host, he must make a Will roll. If the roll is successful, he
suffers one note of dissonance. If he fails the Will roll, he

gets a note of dissonance and takes Soul hits equal to the
check digit plus his Celestial Forces. (More powerful
Kyriotates are causing a greater disturbance in the
Symphony, and the Symphony reacts with equal force).
Either way, he must roll again after a number of minutes equal to his Celestial Forces, until he finds a host,
loses all his Forces or, laden with dissonance and
Discord, finally Falls.
Kyriotates do not go to Limbo - except for Kyriotates
of Stone and War, who are able to form their own vessels
and can attempt to do so while in Limbo. Other outcast
Kyriotates whose last vessel is killed are simply lost. They
have no Heart to go to; Limbo is closed to them; their
Forces disband and return to the Symphony.
OUTCAST MOTIVES
There are many of reasons why angels become
Outcasts. Some are paying a heavy price for a few minor
errors in judgment; others are willfully disobeying the
mandates of Heaven. Some may think they know better
than their Superior how to fight the War; some just don't
care anymore. When playing an Outcast, you may wish
to consider which of the attitudes below most closely
reflects his own nature.
The Repentant
"Oh, how I have learned my lesson! Give me one more
chance, my Lord, and I will never stray again!"
The repentant Outcast regrets whatever he did that

made him Outcast. He now acknowledges that he was
wrong, although he may not completely understand why.
The repentant wants nothing more than to get back in

his Superior's good graces and be readmitted to Heaven.
He will probably be struggling to behave in a scrupulously angelic manner, to prove himself worthy of forgiveness, and he will avoid anything that might lead to
dissonance; a repentant Outcast is terrified of Falling.
It's said that no one is more intolerant of sin than a
reformed sinner. This is often true of the repentant, after
having experienced first-hand the price of dissonance.
This remains true even after they are restored, and for
this reason alone, Dominic will sometimes forgive a passionately repentant Outcast.
The Self-Pitying
"Yeah, I made a mistake. So has every other angel on Earth,
at one time or another! I was just unlucky enough to get slapped
down for it. Here, but for the grace of God, go you!"
The self-pitier regrets becoming an Outcast, but

blames it on his Superior, Heaven's inflexibility or fate.
He will argue that he is no more dissonant than many
angels who haven't tripped, and may believe that he's
been unfairly singled out. He may crave forgiveness and
may work to be restored, but until he accepts responsibility for his own failings, most Superiors are unlikely to help him. If the Outcast gets over his self-pity and
becomes a true penitent, he stands a good chance of
being restored; otherwise, this attitude usually leads to
resentment and bitterness, and from there to Falling.
Angels who are friends of the self-pitier may counsel
him to reform. Demons, of course, encourage self-pity
in Outcasts (it's how many of them became demons, after
all), and some Princes assign their minions to "befriend"
Outcasts, to foster this attitude and push
the angel yet closer to Falling.
The Defiant (but Still Angelic)

"Damnit, they don't play by the rules! How
can we possibly win the War by tying our own
hands behind our backs?"
The defiant Outcast knows he broke the

rules, but believes he was in the right
nonetheless. He still considers himself on
the side of the angels, but he's fighting the
War on his own terms.
Some defiants are would-be reformers,
trying to make Heaven see the light, while
others are arrogant and self-centered,
believing their judgment superior to the
Seraphim Council's. A few brave and foolhardy members of the Host may choose to
become Outcasts, believing they can fight
the War more effectively without being
0 U T CA S T S
want to be demons,
either. Such Outcasts
try to maintain their
precarious status as long
as they can, and rather
than opposing either side,
may succumb to apathy,
and try to retire from the
War completely.
LIFE AS AN
OUTCAST
"Take counsel, execute judgment;
make thy shadow as the night in the
midst of noonday; hide the outcasts,
discover not the fugitive."
Isaiah, 16:3
constrained by an inflexible Superior. They are Heavenly
vigilantes, and while some angels may (quietly) sympathize with them, the defiant Outcast's methods are
inevitably destructive and dissonant. Sooner or later, a
defiant usually goes too far, and Falls to the side he was
fighting.
The arguments of a defiant Outcast may be very alluring to frustrated angels who are experiencing doubts
about their own effectiveness, and the course of the War.
For this reason, Dominic considers these sorts of
Outcasts to be the most dangerous. Conversely, they are
also the sort of Outcast some of the more militant
Archangels recruit for special missions (see Outcast
Missions, p. 102).
The Defiant
(Hellhound)
"This is my reward for centuries of faithful service? Cast

out, damned, shunned by all my former friends? Well, ifPm
sliding towards the Pit, I won't go alone . . . "
Some Outcasts are neither sorry nor sympathetic.

They know they're just a step away from Falling, and
they don't care. Or perhaps they've just given up all hope.
A self-pitying Outcast may eventually sink to this level,
and so may a defiant Outcast who once fought for righteousness, but now believes it's a lost cause. How long an
Outcast can remain in this state without Falling depends
on how determined he is to avoid it. An Outcast who
truly doesn't care will probably Fall quickly; it's not hard
for someone who wants it to become a demon. But many
defiants are rebellious toward Heaven and resentful of
their fellow angels while still dreading the final plummet
to Hell. They no longer want to be angels, but they don't
fuz
OUTCASTS
101
Some Outcasts go into hiding and

avoid other celestials. Others are still active participants
in the War, whether they are fighting for their own
redemption or waging a personal crusade that is dragging
them ever closer to the Abyss. What all Outcasts have in
common is that they are targets for both sides, and they
have very few friends. They have been thrown out of
Heaven, and angels who consort with them risk their
own divinity. Dominic considers Outcasts to be fugitives
from justice, who must be destroyed before they Fall.
Even an Outcast who is trying to redeem himself faces
prosecution by the Archangel of Justice and his Servitors,
and Dominic's judgments are rarely merciful.
Not all Archangels persecute Outcasts. Some have a
hands-off policy, believing a wayward angel should be
left alone, to redeem himself or Fall on his own. Others
actually try to help Outcasts achieve redemption, though
they do so quietly, to avoid Dominic's wrath. And some
Archangels actually employ Outcasts at times, when they
need something done their own Servitors can't touch.
Outcast Missions: Celestial "Black Ops"

There are times when an Archangel finds his interests
are in conflict with those of one of his allies. Janus may
need something belonging to a Servitor of David which
will not be given willingly, but to send one of his own
angels to steal it risks turning David hostile to him.
There are also acts of espionage, sabotage and even assassination that certain Superiors will engage in to further
their Word, or to harm a rival. It isn't always Archangels
who employ Outcasts; a lesser Word-bound angel may
also need to have something covert done, perhaps to
cover up a mistake before his own Superior finds out!
Archangels rarely approach an Outcast directly.

Usually they recruit these celestial freelancers through
intermediaries, and often they try to keep the Outcast
from even knowing who is behind the mission. It goes
without saying that should the Outcast fail in his mission,
the Superior who employed him will deny any knowledge of his actions (as will most intermediaries who
aren't Seraphim). Usually the Superior will deny any
connection even should the mission succeed.
The rewards offered vary. Often, an Archangel will
recruit an Outcast who is trying to redeem himself, and
offer to put in a good word for the angel, either with his
Superior, or with the Seraphim Council. The support of
an influential Archangel can be helpful when seeking
redemption. Sometimes, the reward is covert protection
from Dominic. Rarely, an Archangel will offer a Song or
even an attunement as payment, but only for Outcasts
that aren't likely to ever work against the Superior. And
often the reward is simply Essence, or perhaps an artifact.
Needless to say, Dominic despises the practice of
employing Outcasts, and even an Archangel who is
caught doing this may face a divine Inquisition. For this
reason, an Outcast who screws up badly may find himself
targeted by the Superior who employed him!
Of course, Hell also has an interest in Outcasts.
Usually, the "Tripped" are just victims for demons to terrorize, while they try to lead the angel further down the
path to damnation. But Princes will employ Outcasts for
special missions also. They are eager to employ expendable agents to strike at their rivals, and especially to strike
at angels, if an Outcast can be persuaded (or tricked) into
doing so. There is hardly a
demon who wouldn't take advantage of an Outcast for hire, if
given the opportunity, but
obviously, any Outcast who
works for diabolicals is just a
step away from joining
them. Princes will always
offer their Rites as a reward
to any Outcast foolish
enough to accept them.
They may also pay off
Outcasts with the usual
material rewards of
artifacts, favors or
Essence. But any payment a diabolical
offers will be calculated to cause dissonance, and tempt
the Outcast into a
Fall. An angel has virtually no way to come out ahead in

dealings with diabolicals, unless he is already determined
to Fall and is just trying to secure a better place in Hell
when he gets there.
Word-Bound Outcasts
It's rare for a Word-bound angel to stray so far as to
become an Outcast, but it happens. Word-bound
Outcasts do keep their Word; the Seraphim Council cannot take away a Word by decree. They can award the
Word to another angel, but it creates severe conflict in
the Symphony for two celestials to resonate with the
same Word. Thus, the Council will usually only award an
Outcast's Word to another angel who is capable of seeking out and destroying his rival. Since the Word-bound
Outcast's former Superior may object to this, given any
hope of the Outcast redeeming himself, usually Outcasts
are allowed to retain sole custody of their Word until
they die, redeem themselves or Fall.
Word-bound Outcasts are persecuted by Dominic's
Inquisition just like any other. They may display any of
the attitudes described under Outcast Motives, but most
often, one of the Word-bound who trips has become the
defiant sort of Outcast, who chooses to wield his Word
on his own terms, instead of obeying an Archangel.
Word-bound Outcasts can grant their Rites to other
Outcasts. (They can also grant them to non-Outcasts, but
few angels would accept.) Thus, a few disfavored Wordbound angels have formed networks in the Outcast subculture. Associating with them may endanger an Outcast's
chances to ever be restored to favor, but it could be an
Outcast's only chance of survival.
OUTCASTS
FALLING
ine qRAss is q
Yes, it really is like falling. The term came from the creation
of Hell, when Lucifer and his Renegades were thrown "down"
from the walls of Heaven. And falling is only the beginning.
Originally, I was workingfor the Archangel Michael. Being
a Mercurian, I belonged to the only Choir of angels who could
not lash out against humans, even when it was necessary. Even
with my temper, even if I didn 't think I should, I was directed
to keep the peace.
At first, I always did what I was told and I kept my temper
in check. After spending many centuries working in the celestial realm, I was finally chosen to go to Earth. I guess my
mindless devotion paid off.
So there I was, among the race I was born to protect. Like
any good soldier, I immersed myself in studying the enemy. It
took quite a few years, but I came to a conclusion that I still hold
to this day - humans are their own worst enemy. True, they
have a great capacity for good, but most are basically selfish and
therefore evil. Regardless of what we do, they are destined to
destroy themselves.
I took it upon myself to begin removing the cancer, so that the
race might be saved. I followed orders when they made sense,
but when any of the humans I dealt with showed their true colors as selfish (and a surprisingly large number did), I killed
them. This didn't go over too well On High, so I was told to
spend some time tending Tethers and listening to lectures. That
kept me from thinking for a while, I guess, but sooner or later
I went back to doing what made sense.
During all of this, I was generating dissonance like nobody's
business. A Mercurian is not supposed to take violent action
against humans, but again I could see that they needed it. My
vessel started warping as Discord set in and I had to go on the
run from Michael. Eventually, the boys upstairs stopped talking to me altogether. I continued my work, convinced that I was
right and they were wrong.
Not long after that, it happened. I was pulling my sword out
of a serial rapist I had cornered. Instead of the usual dissonant
note I had become so accustomed to, I was struck with pain so
profound that no description can really do it justice. Humans
describe instances where their nerves feel like they're on fire,
but that's nothing compared to this. Imagine the very core of

your being suddenly stopping and doing a 180. Everything
changed - my perceptions, my thought patterns, my form. I felt
I was rapidly descending into darkness, and the divine music of
the Symphony was fading from my ears. It didn't take a giant
leap in logic to guess that I had Fallen. I was absolutely incensed
that Heaven would turn its back on me while I was working so
hard to fight the good fight.
Eventually, after I wandered in a daze for months trying to
reorient my existence, Baal approached me. I was still convinced that Heaven would open its doors to me, but Baal said
that he would make me an offer I couldn 't refuse. That, and he
threatened to destroy me himself if I didn't listen. So I listened.
During our long talk, I finally realized that it was pointless
of me to try to save humanity. It was a completely futile fight,
so I would let them self-destruct. In fact, since this was most
assuredly their collective destiny, I'd help them along. I joined
up with Baal and got a new purpose in life.
Nowadays, I get to kill any human I want, as long as I give
them a fighting chance. They still lose, and I don't generate dissonance. I happen to enjoy my work a great deal.
It's not like you wake up one day and decide that you 're going
to Fall. As an angel, you would never consider going over to the
other side. But then you find that you have a closely held idea
or attitude that doesn't work with your "holy" nature. And
you're willing to break the rules. Arrogance is the key. You
have to believe that you 're right and that you can get away
with whatever you're doing, and that everyone else, even the
Archangels, are wrong. And remember, God's unavailable for
comment. Maybe you are right.
Heaven isn't any better than Hell. They backstab just as
much up there, they just do it in different ways and call it part
of the Divine Plan. They're just a bunch of pretentious mobs
working for an absent deity.
YOU'RE ASKING FOR IT

Falling isn't as easy as it might sound. For starters, an
angel must be acting against his very nature. Sometimes
this is unavoidable, but the odds of any serious repercussions happening after generating only a few points of dissonance are slim - especially if he doesn't hold onto these
points and immediately tries to work diem off or convert
them to Discord.
The first step toward Falling involves a drastic failure
or Infernal Intervention when an angel acts against his
nature. If he's been holding on to more than a couple of
points of dissonance, the odds of this happening increase
dramatically. Even at this point he won't Fall, but he will
become an Outcast.
If he continues acting against his nature even as an
Outcast, he's asking for trouble. Another episode of drastic failure or Infernal Intervention and he will Fall. If he
hasn't tried to repair the breach with Heaven and hasn't
FALL ING
tried to work off his dissonance as an Outcast, he was asking to Fall.

If an angel finds himself in several situations in which
he cannot avoid generating dissonance, then he might
wish to consider Discord. It may be a more permanent
and inconvenient way of removing dissonance, but at
least it lessens the chance of Heaven closing its doors on
him. On the other hand, he might be willing to take his
chances or he might be absolutely convinced that he's
right regardless of what the powers of Heaven say.
IRC DISS0M11T
Dissonance, by definition, is very stressful. It almost

always comes from an angel's conscious decision to
ignore either his own inner nature or his Superior's most
sacred rules. As "sin" is to a religious mortal, so are such
decisions to an angel - and dissonance is the punishment.
An angel suffering from dissonance will probably feel
guilty and ashamed - and frightened! He's likely to
undergo changes in personality and behavior . . . but
then, he may do his best to hide these changes from those
around him. And a behavior change doesn't have to indicate dissonance. The angel might be worried about a
friend, or bearing up under the weight of new responsibilities . . . or just having a bad week.
Of course, some angels (like Ofanim and Malakim of
Judgment) have attunements that let them detect the
exact level of dissonance or Discord lingering on another celestial . . . and a Seraph can just use his resonance
and ask, "How much dissonance are you carrying?"
Those without such attunements should be careful of
judging, lest they someday be judged.
Angels react to dissonance in different ways, governed
as much by personality and circumstance as by Choir or
LING
Superior. The dissonance makes it hard for them to hear

the Symphony of God, and they start filling in the music
in their heads (taking the first step on that road to a personal symphony). How they fill in the music can vary
immensely. This is very much a roleplaying issue: how
does your character deal with a contradiction at the very
core of his being, a contradiction that represents a risk,
however remote, of Falling?
The greater the dissonance, the stronger its effects. An
angel with a single note of dissonance will rarely show
any outward effect at all. Most angels understand that
single bits of dissonance can happen to anyone from time
to time, and won't torture themselves (though they
should do their best to cure the problem, all the same).
Malakim are an exception; even a single note of dissonance makes a Malakite feel like a pariah (see p. 115).
With two or three notes of dissonance, the effects are
subtle but visible. If you are playing an angel with this
level of dissonance, his personality should be clearly "off
key" in some way. He's under stress; he should show it.
An angel who gets four or more notes of dissonance,
but manages not to Fall, will really show it. He is in constant danger of losing his divine nature. Not only will the
core of his personality be twisted; he will probably feel
live in fear of both Dominic's Servitors and the Pit.
CONFESSION is GOOD
FOR THE SOUL
Some angels, especially Seraphim, simply come clean
to their friends every time they get any dissonance. They
may be matter-of-fact about it, or emotional. (This can
be stressful to others ... which, of course, makes it fun to
roleplay.) The group then must decide: help out its troubled member or go on about their business? Remember:
not all your fellow angels are your friends. If you admit
dissonance to the wrong person, you may get a visit from
Dominic's inquisition, or your own divine boss.
OVERCOMPENSATION
OVERLOYALTY
The wise angel, once dissonant, will do his best to

avoid further dissonant behavior . . . but many go overboard. They become not just good examples, but caricatures, of their Choir. For instance, a subtly dissonant
Ofanite may pace constantly, while an extremely dissonant one may literally never stop moving at all ... not
even to eat or sleep within a Role. An Elohite may react
to dissonance by refusing to make any decisions at all;
even agreeing that the weather is nice might be considered subjective by that deadly inner censor. A Kyriotate
may spend as much time as possible divided between the
maximum number of vessels he can control, whether he
gets anything done that way or not. ("But I like being
nine rats!")
An angel who acquired his dissonance by breaking one

of his Superior's strictures, rather than his Choir rules,
may fixate himself on that Superior's rules and Word. He
may become overenthusiastic, exaggerating his
Superior's wishes and personality. Angels of Jordi may
look for excuses to attack humans; angels of Laurence
may act as though they had lost all self-will, living only
for orders. Dissonant angels of Michael pick fights, while
Novalis' dissonant servitors may be saying, "Can't we
talk?" even as the talons rip their throats.
This provides a sense of stability for the emotionally
flailing celestial and - more pragmatically may be done
to entice the Superior to remove the dissonance.
TESTING THE LIMITS

Some angels, on the other hand, respond to dissonance
in exactly the opposite way. They push the limits, as
though they want to defy their own natures. They seem
to be testing how close they can come to further dissonance without actually going over the edge. For some
angels, this limit-testing serves a valuable purpose, teaching them about themselves. For others, it becomes a
feedback spiral that pulls them straight to Hell.
For instance, a slightly dissonant Seraph might seem to
become more reasonable and grounded, when actually
he's mentally testing the concept of the "social lie." He
may learn ... or he may Fall. A dissonant Mercurian may
become grouchy; if he is very dissonant, he may even
offer violence to an annoying human. An Ofanite might
take the scenic route.
FALSE DISCORD
The angel has a neurotic response to his guilt and
worry, which manifests itself in a way that would be considered a "mental problem" in a human. This is pure
roleplaying. Pick an appropriate personality-related
Discord and act as though you had it already! This may
be a Discord that you would choose if you had to trade
off dissonance for it ... or one you hope not to get.
Should you ever actually acquire Discord, the GM can
keep in mind how good, or bad, a job you did with its
neurotic imitation.
CARELESS USE OF RESONANCE

A dissonant angel may react to his anxiety by overusing his Choir abilities. A Seraph may truth-read everyone he meets, even though he risks bunding his abilities.
A Cherub may attune himself to more and more targets,
spreading himself impossibly thin.
DISLOYALTY
The other side of the coin is the angel who earned dissonance by breaking a Superior's rule . . . and resents
that. He may neurotically flirt with the borders of the
rule . . . or he may just lose his faith in his Superior's wisdom or importance. Servants of Marc fast-talk mortals
into questionable deals to get a bit of extra Essence;
angels of Gabriel make excuses for the cruel.
The best thing that can happen to such an angel, if he
doesn't come to his senses, is to manage a transfer to
serve another Superior - see p. 97. The worst thing that
can happen is for their Superior to notice his attitude!
FALLING
leaves the daily operations of things to his Archangels,

and he rarely, if ever, checks in on them. Heaven guesses
that the Archangel Yves talks to God, but there is no confirmation of that rumor. If an angel assumes that he is
right and the Archangels assume that they are right,
who's there to definitely say who is really wrong?
If an angel believes that he has the answer, and the only
being who can say for certain whether or not that answer
is right won't listen, the angel may hold that belief
strongly enough to act upon it. This, routinely, is a simple way to become an Outcast, if not to generate a significant quantity of dissonance. It is primarily in this way
that angels Fall from grace.
THE FALL
HKfif I FALL/
The key to Falling is arrogance. People have always

called pride a sin, but pride in and of itself is not a sin.
Pride can simply mean integrity in some closely held
ideal, or dignity and self-respect. Arrogance, on the other
hand, is what people mean when they discuss sinful
pride. Arrogance is unerring self-righteousness. Selfrighteousness, when dealing with the origin of righteousness, is very dangerous.
An un-Fallen angel would never truly wish to act
against the divine. It is simply not within his capacity as
a creature. But (and this is an important but), he may
believe that what he feels is in the best interests of the
divine is what is right, regardless of what he is told or
what other angels and Archangels might say or do.
The question remains, how can an angel believe that
he alone is right when many of the holiest among creatures, the Archangels, are guiding the War and making
the decisions? The answer is simple. What if an angel
thinks he might have the answer, and that the Archangels
might have overlooked something in their excessive
capacity or that they might simply be wrong? God isn't
available to ask. The holiest of the holy, the one being
who knows all, doesn't take an active role in Creation. He
FALLING
It's a long way - metaphorically as well as in other senses - from Heaven to Hell. And it takes an angel in good
standing a goodly amount of time to make that plummet.
Before an angel can Fall, he is cut off from Heaven and
dubbed an Outcast. At this point, the angel has a warped
view of the cosmos. The dissonance he carries causes him
to think and act contrary to his nature by Choir; it may
also cause him to overcompensate in his assigned duties
according to the Word he serves. Indeed, he is a
wretched thing to behold.
As an Outcast, he no longer has direction, but hopefully has the presence of mind to attempt to rid himself
of the offending dissonance and redeem himself.
If the Outcast continues to accumulate dissonance, he
is likely to Fall from Grace. When he finally does Fall,
the sensation is disorienting and painful. First, the angel
often feels as if he is falling from a great height, feeling
himself diminishing as the divine music of the Symphony
slowly fades, although he never physically moves.
Second, the pain strikes. Imagine white fire coursing
through every cell of your being mind, body and spirit. This is the closest approximation that can be made in
human terms, but it pales in comparison to the celestial
reality. The very core of what makes an angel an angel is
being twisted into its polar opposite. This pain truly lasts
but a minute, even though it seems like an eternity.
As the pain subsides, the former angel wakes to a completely different outlook. The saddest part is, most of
them don't realize how twisted it has become.
THE FALLEN ELOHIM

No angel falls in more bizarre fashion than the
Elohim. While the fact that Hellspawned Habbalah
believe themselves to be angels is hard enough to believe,
it is even more difficult to understand how the Fallen
Elohim, who once served the forces of Light and basked
in the divine glow of Heaven, could persist in this folly.
The answer lies in their "repressed" nature. Even

though the Elohim are expected and need to be wholly
objective at all times, they are still emotional beings.
They fully feel emotions and passions, but can never
express or act on any of them. Even as angels, it is difficult to always keep these things in complete check, therefore sowing the first seeds that can lead to damnation.
As an Elohite first begins to accumulate dissonance, his
objective resolve begins to weaken. He will slip and show
his feelings on rare occasions. Finally being able to personally express oneself can be addictive, and it takes the
utmost application of will to control this addiction.
As dissonance accumulates, the Elohite finds it difficult
to maintain his necessary objectivity. He no longer
appears as a "cold fish," but as a being desperately trying
to keep the raging emotions within him in check. A very
dissonant Elohite is a bomb waiting to explode.
By the time an Elohite becomes an Outcast, his emotions are dangerous. They will be uncontrollable. He
won't simply like something, he will love it. He won't
simply desire something, he will lust after it. Unless he
can regain clarity and - with great effort - force everything back down, he will surely Fall.
Once the Elohite has Fallen, it is like a breath of fresh
air after all he has suffered through in his dissonant
decline. He is finally able to act on and experience all of
his emotions and passions to their fullest. So, how does
he still believe himself to be an angel, even though he is
now, by all definitions, a demon?
Strangely enough, the Elohite believes he has received
Heaven's blessing. He believes that Heaven has placed its
stamp of approval on his emotions, passions and opinions, and that he has been charged with a new duty. The
example of his existence will teach others what is right
and how to live. His life is therefore right in the cosmic
sense. He is to simply lead by example. The Fallen
Elohite is still an angel, but is now an angel who has been
planted within the other side.
They are, of course, quite insane.
As the angel becomes subtly dissonant, he will receive

some sideways glances as his personality slips against his
nature. As with any friend who's acting completely out of
character, they'll start to watch him more closely to find
out what's up. At this point, they are not worried about
the possibility of Falling; it is simply friendly care and
concern.
If an angel becomes very dissonant, his friends, if they
are indeed divine, will take direct action. Their first step
will be to confront him. If he does not take direct action
to rectify his behavior and dissonance, his friends will
most likely begin treating him like a junkie. Some may
even keep him under virtual lock and key, and force him
to "clean up." But, like any junkie, he may become very
clever about fooling those who love him.
If he ultimately becomes an Outcast, his friends will
almost certainly abandon him. They may have done
everything within their power to help him, but now he is
too far gone. In fact, he is downright bad news. The
powers of heaven, particularly Dominic, frown heavily
upon association with angels that close to Falling.
HOW D0 I
As an angel begins to behave differently because of his

accumulated dissonance, other beings may notice the
angel's warping personality. Those who do will act differently toward him, especially those from Hell.
YOUR FRIENDS
Since an angel's friends know him better than anyone
else, they are going to be the first to notice his decline
into dissonance. Of course, each angel is an individual,
but there are a few basic consistencies we can examine.
FALLING
THE CHOIRS
Each Choir reacts to a dissonant angel in typical ways,
though the reacting angel's Superior and his own personality will modify the Choir-standard reaction greatly.
Seraphim
Seraphim will help a comrade who is trying to help
himself. But if they don't feel that the dissonant angel is
being completely honest with himself and others about
the problem, and working to fix it, they will lecture him
mercilessly, and may report him to "higher authority."
Cherubim
Cherubim are very caring and do their utmost to assist
a dissonant friend in any way they can. They favor a
"tough love" approach. They are the ones guarding the
locked door while the junkie rages through withdrawal.
Ofanim
The manic Ofanim are lucky if they even notice that
another angel has become dissonant. If they do, they usually look puzzled, say something ineffectual like, "Hey
man, get straight," then forget about it as they travel on.
Elohim
Elohim don't like dissonance anywhere in the
Symphony. It makes them nervous. Elohim are not judgmental, but they will go to great lengths to help a dissonant angel back onto the right path.
Malakim
The Malakim are in no way caring or understanding
toward those with accumulated dissonance. They have a
very simple position - get rid of it or die.
Kyriotate
A Kyriotate will simply venture his opinion as to the
situation and what he would do to fix it, and then leave
the angel to do what he feels is right.
Mercurian
Mercurians are much like the Cherubim, caring and
understanding. They will listen for however long it takes
as an angel discusses his problems, and then do their best
to help them remove their dissonance.
DISSONANCE AND YOUR Boss

Each Archangel reacts to the dissonant in his own fashion. Some Archangels might be too busy at first to notice
the angel's decline, some will assume he will work it out
on his own and some will be decidedly less tolerant.
Blandine
The Archangel of Dreams pays little attention to dissonant Servitors, unless their dissonance is corrupting
LING
her orders and goals. Since her angels work largely in the
Ethereal realm, many forms of dissonance may not
become readily apparent. If a dissonant Servitor's dissonance becomes a noticeable problem, she will most likely give him a chance to redeem himself and to remove his
dissonant notes. If this fails, she will alert Dominic.
David
The Archangel of Stone does not tolerate corrupt
Servitors. He gives his less dissonant Servitors the opportunity to work things out for themselves. If they do not
remove their dissonance, or if they become very dissonant, he will have them destroyed.
Dominic
The Archangel of Judgment treats dissonance among
his Servitors with less tolerance than any other. Subtly
dissonant Servitors are given the opportunity to redeem
themselves, but are under constant watch. If they stray
from their redemption, they are destroyed. The moment
one becomes very dissonant, he is marked for doom.
ing to let diem work. If he talks to the dissonant angel or

the angel's behavior becomes troublesome, he'll tell him
exactly what he needs to do to remove his dissonance. As
long as the angel obeys, his dissonance is removed along
with most of Jean's ire.
Jordi
The Archangel of Animals is primal; if a Servitor
becomes so dissonant that he ceases to be useful, he is
destroyed. Otherwise, he assumes they will fend for
themselves.
Laurence
Working for the Archangel of the Sword, an angel is
expected to do as told. Acting against his nature is not
following expectations. Laurence will let dissonance slide
for a short time if a Servitor is trying to remove it, but
will have him destroyed if it goes too far.
Marc
The Archangel of Trade has a simple rule when dealing with dissonant Servitors - if one starts acting stupidly, he is obviously bad for profits. He will counsel his dissonant Servitor in an attempt to rehabilitate and rededicate him. He will work closely with the angel, for Marc
hates wasting valuable resources. Sometimes a Servitor is
too far gone or thoroughly resistant to counseling, and
must be "let go."
Michael
Eli
The Archangel of Creation figures his Servitors will
work everything out for themselves. Besides, he isn't
often around to deal with it, anyway.
Gabriel
The Archangel of Fire is under too much mental strain
to notice her highly dissonant Servitors. If one of them
were to attract the unwanted attention of Dominic, she
would eliminate the problem rather than rehabilitate it.
Janus
The Archangel of the Wind is difficult to predict.
Depending upon his mood, he might simply remove dissonance from a Servitor, if they ask nicely, or he might
destroy them utterly.
Jean
The Archangel of Lightning may be a micromanager,
but as long as his Servitors are doing their job, he's will-
Michael, surprisingly enough, is among the most forgiving Archangels. This is not to say that he takes dissonance lightly, but when one of his Servitors trips,
Michael sometimes displays unusual compassion. If the
Outcast gets rid of his dissonance and asks for forgiveness, Michael will be firm but fair. The mission to regain
favor will probably be difficult and dangerous, but if the
angel succeeds, all will be forgiven. Michael very rarely
employs Outcasts, but there have been times when he
needed to put a hurt on somebody, and politics prevented him from being able to act directly.
Novalis
The Archangel of Flowers always has compassion for
her Servitors. She takes dangerously dissonant Servitors
in, and does what she can. The angel may or may not
survive the experience.
Yves
Strangely enough, the Archangel of Destiny does
nothing in regard to his dissonant Servitors. Some take
this as a sign of his divine wisdom and knowledge of the
future, while Michael sees this as an ill omen.
111
FALLING
REACTIONS TO FALLING
Different angels have different reactions to dieir Fall.
Some relish their new-found freedom, while others are
deathly afraid of their new existence, while others mourn
their fate. Some common reactions:
I am free! Heaven will be sorry they didn't listen to
me. (Common.)
* I am free, and the Earth is now my playground.
(Common, with a low survival rate.)
* The Almighty has finally freed me to serve him as I
know best. (Typical Habbalite reaction.)
What will I do now? I have no true purpose.
(Uncommon; Fallen angels usually find their purpose in
either self-protection or self-aggrandizement.)
* What will I do now? I must protect myself by finding
allies. (Fairly common.)
* What will I do now? I must hide. (No one knows how
common this is.)
* I'm damned! I must seek forgiveness. (Rare.)
* I'm damned and an abomination. I must destroy
myself. (Rare.)
A few recently Fallen angels still hold some of what they
once were and mourn their fate, but in the end, their selfpity is impractical. If diey truly cared, they would have
taken steps to prevent this from happening. Now they
must either come to grips with dieir new existence and
survive, or die at the hands of other demons who mock
the newly Fallen angel's pitiable existence.
IRC (DTRCR SIDC
112
As an angel's dissonance builds, he becomes undeniably attractive to the hosts of Hell. Many demons lack
the vision to fully understand the opportunity that a
highly dissonant angel presents; they simply revel as their
enemies are smitten from within. On the other hand,
there are demons, particularly those higher up the chain,
who understand die angel's position in one simple term.
Recrui table.
Most demons are small-minded. They won't understand the symptoms of dissonance in an angel, and won't
take any action until an angel has become an Outcast.
Woe betide die Outcast angel who falls into die clutches
of demons. The Outcast angel has no friends and waning
power, and demons enjoy nothing more than spending a
Friday night torturing an angel who has lost his focus.
Their deatii will neither be pleasant nor quick.
Those demons who truly understand approach things
from a different angle. They learn to recognize the
symptoms of dissonance. Demons who are indeed true
FALLING
Fallen angels are singularly useful in this capacity. When

a highly dissonant angel comes to dieir attention, they
will most assuredly watch more closely.
If possible, demons will attempt to subtiy manipulate
situations to cause die dissonant angel further turmoil
and lead him to further dissonance. Their goal is to make
the angel exceedingly frustrated, so that he becomes
more approachable and suggestible. They want to
encourage the angel's warped perspective in any way diey
can. They want Heaven's doors to close to the dissonant
angel, so he will become an Outcast. While a highly dissonant angel represents a possible recruit, an Outcast
angel represents a probable recruit.
Once the target angel becomes an Outcast, efforts are
doubled. The attending demons do everything in their
power to further the decline. They reinforce the angel's
beliefs, and prey upon his insecurities. After all, it's clear
that Heaven doesn't want him anymore, but Hell is
always open. They may go so far as to fully present themselves and attempt to "befriend" him, providing him with
the aid and protection he so sorely lacks. Since no other
angels will associate with the Outcast, and he is on the
run from both Dominic's Inquisition and all other
demons, this will present an attractive proposal. Even if
the Outcast is attempting to regain favor, he understands
that it will never happen if he is dead.
Here's an example of how this might work. Quaiel, a
very dissonant Elohite, has been targeted by a small
group of demons. They recognized his dissonance when
he made die mistake of letting his feelings be known.
Since he's still a full-fledged angel, die demons won't
come out in die open and compromise their position.
Instead, diey will make sure everyone around Quaiel
reinforces him every time he makes a personal observation. Quaiel finds that expressing himself is addictive,
and is having great difficulty holding back. The demons
keep up dieir work, but never reveal themselves openly.
Quaiel might gain resolve if he discovers infernal influence, and his companions would certainly hunt diem
down. Quaiel continues to decline into dissonance.
If die angel continues to work toward redemption and
shows progress, he is not spared. Hell would rather lose
a potential recruit dian let one more angel fly again.
Conversely, if the Outcast does finally Fall, mayhem
ensues. No matter how arrogant any one of Hell's royalty may be, all understand the benefit a Fallen angel will
provide. They gain a new troop widi insight into enemy
plans and machinations. They gain a turncoat. It isn't just
a moral victory, it is a practical one. As a result, die newly
Fallen angel will be up for grabs. The demons attending
him will fight among diemselves to claim him. The winner will bring die Fallen angel to his Prince, and the
angel will be indoctrinated as a new demon.
If the newly Fallen angel does not consent to being

presented by any of his attendants, or the angel Fell all
by himself, then the Demon Princes work very hard to
recruit the new demon. The Princes, in an amazing show
of civility, attempt to cajole, coerce or bribe the Fallen
into their service. The formerly divine free-agent finds
himself caught up in an infernal bidding war.
Regardless, a newly Fallen angel creates chaos in Hell.
Everyone wants to get their hands on him. A newly
Fallen angel can provide any Demon Prince with a much
desired edge. Depending upon the favor the Fallen angel
once had in Heaven, the Princes of Hell may pull out all
the stops trying to induce him to their side or making
sure that none of the other Princes get their hands on
him.
There are normally two ways in which Fallen angels
are treated: first, with suspicion. They won't have had
time to prove their loyalties, and will be watched. They
will probably be powerless for a time. Their brains will
be picked mercilessly for knowledge.
Second, they can be treated with preference. If they
are an attractive find and they are useful, they will be
treated with great care and given much freedom and
power. A newly Fallen angel's treatment depends upon
the Prince who claims him. While Baal understands the
value they present, and treats them with care, Saminga
invariably treats them with suspicion and threats.
Quaiel eventually Falls and is brought to Hell. He is
presented to Baal, for the majority of QuaiePs attending
demons serve Baal. Baal is very pleased to have him
among his Servitors, and wants him to join under the
most positive light a Prince of Hell can muster. Quaiel is
treated very well and provided with more attunements
than he had as an angel! This acts as a sort of "signing
bonus." Quaiel is very pleased with this treatment,
although he still feels disdain for the demons since he, of
course, knows he is still an angel.
WHAT Do I GET?
When angels Fall, they immediately become the infernal analog of their former Heavenly Choir. They lose all
their attunements save their newfound Band attunement, cannot descend into Hell and only regenerate
Essence at nightfall. Many things change once Hell
courts the angels into service.
While an angel cannot initially descend into Hell on
his own, he can follow another demon down to it. He
may also enter Hell through the Marches, but must pass
through Beleth's Tower. This may not be the best idea,
unless he wishes to serve Beleth or be destroyed. If the
angel has been courted by demons during his Fall, it will
not be difficult for him to descend. Otherwise, he must
wait for the courting process to begin.
113
FALLING
Once a newly Fallen has chosen his new Superior, he is

given that Prince's Band attunement as well as access to
his Rites. He also gains a Heart, which now allows him
to personally descend to Hell at his whim. There are several factors that determine any other levels of power or
favor the newly Fallen demon may receive.
During the courting process, a newly Fallen demon
can use his unique position as bargaining power, working
to gain the most power and favor from his potential new
Prince. However, it is dangerous to try the patience of a
Demon Prince just as it is dangerous to overestimate
one's station.
The level of divine favor an angel held widiin his former Archangel's forces is very important. The more favor
he was held in, the more privy he was to divine plans and
schemes. In essence, he knows more and has more to
offer. If the angel held distinctions from his former
Superior, his new Demon Prince may offer him approximately equal distinctions within his Word. If the angel
held bonus attunements from his former Archangel, his
new Demon Prince may offer to match them in quantity
and scope and may present an extra as a bribe. If the
angel was Word-bound, the Demon Prince may offer to
endorse the infernal analog of that Word outright. Of
course, the newly Fallen angel must still work through
the petitioning process for Words in Hell and must still
impress Lucifer himself, but at the very least he is immediately given the opportunity. Lucifer has been known to
grant Words more freely in these circumstances, since he
enjoys the irony. Furthermore, the newly Fallen angel is
more qualified than anyone else to support his own infernal analog Word.
THE UNKNOWN
Some of the newly Fallen become a strange sort of
Renegade demon - one of the Unknown. The Unknown
are Fallen angels who choose to remain on the fringes of
Hell, having never had a master and never desiring one.
They can remain unknown to the forces of Hell and stay
thus for a long time. The Unknown are rare, but they do
exist, hiding and living on their own terms.
11L
Another important factor involves Heavenly opposed

analogs. If a newly Fallen angel formerly served Michael,
the Archangel of War, or Laurence, the Archangel of the
Sword, then Baal, the Demon Prince of the War, will be
especially interested in attaining him. This angel presents specific knowledge that will help him in support
and the advancement of his Word. The same holds true
with former Servitors of Gabriel, the Archangel of Fire,
and Belial, the Demon Prince of Fire, and so on. Not
FALLING
only is it in the best interests of these analog Demon

Princes to acquire the newly Fallen angel, it is also easier for the angel to acclimate since his service would be
very similar to his former divine duty (in some ways).
All in all, a newly Fallen angel should be able to gain at
least some extra measure of favor, and not have to begin
his days of service to Hell as a completely green recruit.
THE BOYS
The newly Fallen angel will have a rough time among
his new comrades. At the very least, they'll treat him as
an object of ridicule, and at the most, they'll fully and
outwardly resent him.
If the new demon didn't receive any special favor or
power during the courting process, he'll have to tolerate
much ridicule. He will be hearing jokes about "tripping,"
"clipped wings" and "tarnished halos" for a long time.
This doesn't necessarily mean that all the other demons
won't welcome him as a new comrade, but, as with the
new guy in any group, he'll be the brunt of some degree
of their cruelty for a while. They are demons, after all.
Depending upon how much extra favor or power the
newly Fallen angel received through the courting
process, he may be outright resented by other demons.
He may find jealous demons allying against him, and he
may have to work twice as hard to get anything done
because of this extra resistance.
This resentment is especially acute if the newly Fallen
angel is endorsed for a Word. He will have to overcome
much resistance as other demons who may have been
questing for that Word come out of the woodwork with
many of their friends in tow. Of course, in the end it really doesn't matter unless they kill him. Only Lucifer's
judgment counts, and if Lucifer wants to give the newly
Fallen angel the Word, no one's going to argue.
After time, all this ridicule and resentment will fade as
the newly Fallen angel proves himself useful to others or
establishes his personal strength. Depending upon how
the new demon carries himself, this might take months
or centuries.
14LAKB
The Malakim are a very special case among the Choirs
of angels. Never in the entire history of Creation has a
Malakite been damned. They don't Fall. Ever.
This does not mean that they don't generate dissonance like other Choirs of angels. In fact, the Malakim
have many opportunities in which to gain dissonance,
most of those based upon their own personal code of
honor. But three important factors keep die vast majority of Malakim free of dissonance, much less free from a
level of taint that would make other angels Fall.
First, the Malakim love their work. This is inherent in
them all. They not only have complete and utter faith in
their duty, their Superior and their God, they simply
enjoy what they do. They are able to walk among men,
purifying the impure and cutting out the cancer of the
hopelessly unredeemable. Created to correct or kill, the
Malakim are, more so than any other Choir, perfectly
suited for their work. And they wouldn't have it any other
way.
Second, Malakim will not accumulate dissonance
unless they simply cannot avoid it. At the first opportunity, they will work to remove any dissonant notes. It is
utterly important for a Malakite, for reasons of both
pride and survival, to be clean of dissonance. If, for some
reason, they are not able to remove their dissonance,
because of a given assignment or situation, and they
accumulate more than 2 points, most Malakim will
immediately convert the dissonance into Discord. As
horrible as a badge of shame is to a Malakite, it's preferable to running the risk of perverting their very existence.
Third, and perhaps most important, is that the
Malakim police themselves very seriously. A Malakite
with even one note of dissonance is a virtual loner among
his own Choir. They keep an eye on each other, and
those who serve Dominic are bound to report any
Malakite with more than a single dissonant note to an
Archangel. In this way, they assure that no Malakite
degenerates too far. If a Malakite shows too much
Discord or gains what others of his kind might feel is too
much dissonance to be safe, he is destroyed. If a Malakite
is ever Outcast, he is hunted relentlessly by each and
every Malakite who can be spared. They would rather

slaughter a few of their less cautious numbers than run
the risk of sullying their ranks.
Even if a wayward Malakite were to slip by all these
factors, he still simply cannot Fall. Any Outcast Malakite
who fails a dissonance roll gains a level of Discord instead
of Falling (In Nomine, p. 58).
SCRUTINY
As mentioned before, when a Malakite has accumulated more than one dissonant note, he is in danger of being
reported. Any Servitor of Dominic is bound to report
him, usually to the Archangel whom the dissonant
Malakite serves. Each Archangel will react in a different
way, as described on pp. 110-111, but this does not usually represent the full peril facing a dissonant Malakite.
A dissonant Malakite has one option to spare himself
the threat of discovery - turn himself in. He can present
himself to his Archangel, admit to his dilemma and outline what steps he will be taking to rectify the situation.
Unfortunately, he'll have to swallow his pride, confess to
115
FALLING
his wrongdoings and let everybody know. Then he'll

probably be under observation for a while.
Malakim are a proud and holy lot, so some see this as
a last resort. Most choose more difficult options:
CONCEALMENT
116
The greatest peril facing any dissonant

Malakite is his own kind, so any subtle solution to dissonance
involves concealing it from his
Choir. This is tricky,
because the Malakite can't
act as if something's
wrong. The more dissonant a Malakite is, the
more nonchalant he
needs to be. The
whole point, for both
pride and survival, is
not to attract attention. The problem
here is that Malakim
have been hiding dissonance for millennia; no
technique remains particularly clever.
If he is subtly dissonant, he
needs to be nonchalant but not
obscure. He should avoid other
Malakim if he can, but if he does have
to interact with diem he may be cold and
distant. He must avoid Servitors of Dominic at all
costs.
His actions might tip his hand - if he starts hunting for
a particular type of demon for no reason known to his
comrades, for instance - but usually only after he's taken
care of the problem. At that point, none of his fellow
Malakim can be sure of why he went on his personal crusade.
If he is more dissonant, the Malakite should conduct
himself as if he is an infernal himself. He will want to
avoid all Malakim. If he can't avoid them, he should cut
any confrontations very short. To remove his dissonance,
he will have to be more than nonchalant; he'll have to be
invisible.
Malakim who attempt to conceal their dissonance are
usually in trouble if their efforts fail. If a Malakite is just
a little dissonant, other Malakim are likely to give him a
stern lecture if he is not obviously working to remove the
accumulated dissonance. After that, they will not give
him a second chance. If very dissonant, all it takes is for
one of his comrades to discover what is going on, and he
will either be hunted or sent running for a Tether.
FALLING
Malakim rarely have to provide explanations to anyone

for killing another Malakite at this point.
The Malakite also will be exposed if he has to talk to
his Superior while dissonant. Perhaps a preoccupied Eli
or Gabriel might not notice his condition, but most
Archangels will. The advantage here - as compared to others of his Choir making the
discovery - is that most Archangels
will at least give the dissonant
Malakite a chance, with die
usual exception of Dominic.
REMOVAL
If successful in concealing his plight and intent on surviving it - a dissonant
Malakite must quickly get rid of that dissonance. The Choirspecific methods are
detailed on p. 49.
The prideful reasons
that many Malakim
avoid the universal technique - working at a
Tether - mirror those reasons they avoid turning themselves in to their Archangel (see p.
115). Note that a Malakite may be able
to avoid the shame and scrutiny if the
Seneschal is a friend who is willing to cover for him, but
this is more rare than one might think.
A Dissonant Malakite
Helmrich, a young Malakite of the Sword, has imperiled himself with a radical lapse of judgment. Assigned by
Laurence himself to watch for and intervene in any
breach of security at a New Orleans hotel, he left his post
for a few minutes to chase a demon he recognized.
This bagged an infernal but gained a point of dissonance for disobeying Laurence. Then, compounding his
error, Helmrich fudged his account of what happened to
his immediate superior, the Angel of Sentries, after a
purse snatcher scampered away with a valuable reliquary
right in front of where Helmrich was supposed to be stationed. Despite his oath to "always speak the truth plainly," Helmrich decided in this case he was better off with
the dissonance.
Helmrich now has the option of confessing his condition to Laurence or working it out on his own. Since
confessing would tear at his Malakite pride, usher in a
long period of suspicious observation by his fellow

Malakim and summon the cold fury of his Archangel,
Helmrich decides to fix things himself. Given his track
record of late this might not be wise, but it is in keeping
with his Malakite nature.
He now has several options - but only for as long as
he can avoid discovery by the other two Malakim in his
"long-range patrol," any other randomly encountered
Malakim or Servants of Judgment, or Laurence himself.
(The GM might determine that the Angel of Sentries is
hanging on to some suspicions, as well, and have him
keep a close eye on Helmrich.) Obviously, the dissonant
Malakite should work fast to avoid assuredly getting into
even more trouble.
If Helmrich knew a friendly Seneschal and could find
the time, he could quietly work the dissonance off at a
Tether. Helmrich has that sort of a relationship - just
down the road in Houston - but Laurence doesn't leave
any of his Servitors unoccupied for anywhere near the
amount of time it would take. Asking for "leave" would
raise too many (more) suspicions, so other methods must
be pursued.
If he can locate an Outcast or Fallen angel of Swords
and slay them, Helmrich's prowess would remove 1 point
of dissonance (the one gained by disobedience;
see p. 49). Perhaps even a Servitor of
Malphas or any Lilim would do, since
Helmrich's free will was factionalized by his Choir and Servitor
agendas. Rilling just about
any sort of Balseraph
should take care of the
other point, as well.
Unfortunately,
Helmrich's inexperience means it takes
him time to hunt
down any demon; he
certainly doesn't have
the luxury of being
picky. Still, if he
encounters any other
sort of demon - preferably, several of them he could strain to die in
combat with them.
That would remove one
note of his dissonance (provided
the Game Master does not rule that
he made it too easy for the internals to
slay him), but send his immortal soul back to
Heaven with that remaining note of dissonance still
staining i t . . .
Lastly, he can take on more oaths, two for every point

of dissonance he intends to dispel using this method.
Given that speed is crucial, Helmrich decides to make
two more oaths ("never place my own needs above those
of my Superior" and "never suffer a lie to go unchallenged"), then seek out a pack of tough demons. If all
goes well, his purified (but more honor-bound) celestial
form will be in Heaven before daybreak.
SLIPPING THROUGH THE CRACKS

At some point, there will be a clever Malakite who has
continued on through great dissonance. That Malakite
might even get to the point of being Outcast and somehow still stay alive. It will be cold down in the Pit when
that day comes, but it bears exploration anyway.
An Outcast Malakite should be prepared to be completely alone. He will have it harder than any other Choir
of Outcast angel. Every force that Heaven can muster
will be hunting him to put him down like a rabid dog.
He will have no friends. Other Outcast angels won't
associate with him, for they know the forces allied against
him. Renegade demons might want to work with the
Malakite, but being who he is, he would never do that.
Other demons will take one of two courses of action
when presented with this rare case. They
might do what they normally do to
Outcasts - hunt him and either
torment or destroy him. If this
is the case, he has both sides
working against him. On
the other hand, if the
demons are smart and
resourceful, they might
try to steer him further astray. Hell is
absolutely dying to
get a Malakite to
Fall. They would try
convincing him that
they aren't as bad as
he's been told. They
would silently manipulate him
toward
damning himself. They
would do whatever it
takes.
While no Malakite has ever
allowed himself to fall into the
clutches of Hell, one can never predict the future. Any who have been
Outcast have either been redeemed or
destroyed by their own or other hands. No Malakite has
ever Fallen. At least, not yet.
117
FALLING
1.
JK. m.
Some angels - such as Malakim of Janus - have a taste

for explosive weapons. Some prefer to use non-lethal
techniques when they do have to enter combat. And
some place the highest value on a quick getaway.
These rules offer new weapons and flesh out the In
Nomine mechanics of combat.
NEW RANGI:D WEAPONS

Thrown rock
Bow
Crossbow
9mm Pistol
.45 Pistol
Pump Shotgun
Light Machinegun
Grenade
Launcher
Power
Ace
-2
-2
_j
+1
_
+2
+1
+1
_
+2
+4
+5 (+9) -
-2
* Per grenade, see Explosives.
Range
4
10
12
12
12
10
100
Shots
1
1
1
13
7
5
100 (16)
50
EXPLOSIVES
118
Celestials in general hesitate to use heavy weapons,

since all collateral damage disturbs the Symphony
regardless of the nature of the target. Sometimes,
though, a little plastique or a well-timed grenade is just
the thing to narrow the odds.
Most grenades are used with Thrown Weapons Skill.
Treat a grenade as a thrown rock - and, if it really matters, hitting a target will inflict thrown-rock damage as
well as the grenade's effects. Usually, though, a grenade
is thrown at a spot, not a person. A spot can't Dodge.
Though the grenade goes off in the combat round it's
thrown in, most varieties don't detonate exactly when
they land. For this reason, those aware of the grenade
may make a special Dodge roll. On a success, they move
(check digit) in yards farther from the grenade. They
may do this even if they've already moved; call it a sideeffect of the adrenaline that grenades tend to stimulate.
A grenade does 2d6 damage within 2 yards, subtracting 1 point of damage for every additional 2 yards distance. Most of this is fragmentation damage. Anyone
behind cover subtracts its Protection; often this absorbs
THE A N G E L I C ARSENAL
all damage. Those who throw themselves prone (which

can be done at the end of a Dodge) take half damage.
Other grenades deliver gas; see p. 119.
Use the Thrown Weapon mechanics for using a
grenade launcher, but substitute Ranged Weapon
(Grenade Launcher) and the Grenade Launcher statistics for Thrown Weapon and the thrown rock statistics.
The same types of grenades are available, but launched
grenades can't be thrown and vice versa. Launched
grenades do explode on contact, so the special Dodge
doesn't apply.
Other explosives don't come in set quantities, so damage can vary. Each pound of black powder, 1/4 pound of
C4, 1/2 gallon of gasoline or stick of dynamite does Id of
damage. (Real-life gasoline is a more powerful explosive
than in a cinematic setting such as In Nomine. It is also
very difficult to detonate and rarely explodes accidentally. The listed power represents cinematic reality, with the
accompanying hair-trigger nature.)
Every 2 yards, the damage decreases by 1 point for
every 2 dice rolled; i.e., a lOd explosion loses 5 points
every 2 yards. (This makes all explosions fairly shortranged, another cinematic concession.) With all explosives not designed as armor-piercing, living creatures and
fragile items (paintings, crystal sculptures, etc.) take full
damage, while most objects of hard build (including cars)
take half damage. Things inside other things don't take
damage until the exterior item is destroyed.
Example: Hasha, a Malakite of Lightning, botches a
Driving roll and sails her car off an overpass. The GM
rules the fuel tank holds 8 gallons of gas that explode.
Since the explosion is inside the car, the vehicle doesn't
protect Hasha, but the portions of the car body between
Hasha and the tank give her the car's full Protection (2).
The explosion does 16 dice of damage; a 54 is rolled.
The car takes half damage (54-2/2 = 26), going from 16
hits to -10; it falls back to earth in pieces. Hasha subtracts
the car's Protection, takes 52 points of damage and finds
herself in Heaven. At least she won't have to listen to the
awesome disturbance she caused in the Symphony . . .
A successful Knowledge (Demolitions) roll will
increase the half damage that a hard object takes, up to
100%
on a high check digit. A failed roll will merely
cause the charge to fail to ignite on low check digits, and
likely indicate a premature detonation on a 6!
NON-LETHAL WEAPONRY
CARS AND CHASES
A favorite accessory for the modern angel is tear gas.

Any pocket sprayer is a contact weapon (holding 2 to 5
shots depending on size) that requires a roll vs. Agility +2
to hit (no Skill applies). Any full-face Protection renders
it useless. If it hits, the check digit both subtracts from all
of the target's Skill or sense rolls and gives the number of
minutes that the effect lasts. The target may Dodge normally, subtracting a successful Dodge check digit from
the sprayer's check digit. Celestials may also subtract
their Corporeal Forces. Any subsequent attack will not
add to a previous attack's effect. If the results if a later
attack are better, just use those results instead.
A tear-gas grenade works similarly, though more slowly. An average gas grenade will produce a cloud 4 yards
wide by 15 to 20 yards long (8 yards by 8 yards indoors)
in die round after it ignites. It can be picked up and
thrown between landing and discharging, but inflicts 3
points of burn damage to the thrower. This requires any
person wanting to throw a burning gas grenade to make
a Will +3 roll to actually muster the courage to do it.
On top of the cloud's -2 to vision for anyone looking
through, into or out of it, the gas inflicts a -1 to the Skill
and sense rolls of anyone in it (to a maximum of -6) for
every combat round they stay. The effects last 1 minute
for every -1 suffered. No Dodge is possible, but not
breathing the fumes will protect against some gases and
a full-body covering protects against all. Some military
gases inflict -2 per turn, to a maximum of -12, with
effects lasting 15 minutes per -1 suffered! In all cases,
celestials subtract Corporeal Forces from gas effects. Gas
lingers about 20 combat rounds, much less in high winds.
Many celestials enjoy using flash-bangs. Something
about a weapon so unsubtle, yet so invisible to the
Symphony, appeals to many an angelic soul. These
devices, usually grenades, produce a rapid series of explosions that mostly emit bright light and loud reports.
Those in the area must roll vs. Corporeal Forces + vessel
level or Toughness, at +1 per yard away from the
grenade. The check digit of a failed roll indicates how
many rounds the victim is stunned (In Nomine, p. 62).
Driving can be handled in the abstract in In Nomine.

To determine how quickly a person can get somewhere
in a car, first calculate the base time:
NEW CONTACT WEAPONS

Hammer, Mace
Spear**
Katana
Halberd**
Power Accuracy
+2
-1
+3
+3
+1
+6
-2
Skill Required
Small Weapon
Large Weapon
Large Weapon
Large Weapon
Power +1 if used with two hands or thrown.

Requires two hands.
Per mile of:

Interstate
State highway
Rural road
Small town
Suburbia
Urban core
Driving time:
5/6 of a minute
1 minute
1 1/2 minutes
2 minutes
11/2 minutes
2 minutes
If new to area:
5/6 of a minute
11/4 minutes
2 minutes
2 1/2 minutes
3 minutes
41/2 minutes
Multiply the driving times for suburbia and urban

cores by 2 or more during rush hours. The "if new to
area" times apply if the driver doesn't know the roads or
have precise instructions on getting to his destination. It
factors in the occasional wrong turn, failure to recognize
a good alternate route, etc. Ofanim may use their Area
Knowledge-based resonance to avoid using this column.
Law-abiding, careful drivers will use this calculated
base time; others may attempt a Driving roll to get there
quicker. Drivers of really quick cars may opt for a +1 to
their check digit before the Driving roll is made. On a successful roll, shave 5% x the check digit off the base time.
On a failed roll, add 5% x the check digit. A check digit
of 6 also indicates a speeding ticket (explaining the delay
. . .), while a check digit of 7+ or opposing intervention
means an accident instead; the destination won't be
reached in anywhere near the basic time!
Ofanim may apply their Agility-based resonance to
Driving (per the elaboration on p. 36) to improve the
skill roll. They may also apply the check digit of a successful resonance roll to determine the shortest path (see
p. 36) to farther shave the drive time! Apply the same
mechanics as if a successful Driving roll had been made;
the two can be combined.
For a more elaborate method, see the Austin map and
driving rules in Night Music, p. 74.
In a car chase, establish how far apart the vehicles start
out. Once per minute, the drivers should make Driving
rolls; if one has a faster and/or more nimble vehicle he
should get a bonus to his target number in this case. The
pursuer subtracts 10 yards X the check digit from the
"gap" on a successful roll, or adds the same amount on a
failure. The pursued driver applies the opposite results. If
either driver rolls a check digit of 6 on a failed roll, he
suffers a wreck.
If the pursued driver can open the gap to 2,000 yards
on an interstate, 1,000 yards on another open road or 200
yards on city streets, he gets away. If the pursuer can
close the gap to 0 he can attempt to run his target off the
road (another Driving vs. Driving contest, modified by
vehicle size, road conditions and other factors).
119
THE ANGELIC ARSENAL
VI '
.1
This step-by-step guide is for those players who are
familiar with the rules and tired of flipping through big
sections of In Nomine to create an angel character. It has
all of the character-generation information listed in a
succinct format. Note that this guide is not intended to
replace the main rulebook for information, just to give
informed players enough information to make appropriate character decisions.
L CRHRACTCR
Come up with a character concept. Decide which

Choir the angel belongs to, and which Superior he
serves. Discuss your decisions with the Game Master and
make sure they mesh with his campaign.
Following is a list of the Choirs, giving their resonance
and dissonance. Make a note of these for your character's
Choir; neither resonance nor dissonance costs character
points. Information on Superiors appears in Step Four.
CHOIR MECHANICS
Ofanim
(In Nomine, p. 96)
Resonance: the resonance of Ofanim is motion and their
divine perception of the Symphony will instantly reveal
the quickest path.
Game Mechanics: Perception d666 roll. Check digit can
be added to any roll against Agility or an associated Skill,
to any Area Knowledge Skill roll to get a "feel" for the
quickest/closest way, or to travel quickly in celestial form.
Details on In Nomine, p. 97. Advanced uses on p. 36.
Dissonance: inaction.
Elohim
(In Nomine, p. 98)
Resonance: stripped clean of any personal prejudice,
they are able to objectively understand the emotions and
psyche of another and predict the reactions of the person
to any given action.
Game Mechanic: Perception d666. Check digit chart on
p. 99. Advanced uses on p. 42.
Dissonance: acting on emotions rather than fact, subjectivity.
Seraphim
(In Nomine, p. 93)
Resonance: if the Seraphim are paying attention at all,
no one - human or celestial - can lie to them without it
ringing false.
Game Mechanics: Perception d666 roll, duration: 10check digit minutes. Check digit chart on In Nomine, p.
94. Advanced uses on p. 24.
Dissonance: lying.
Cherubim
(In Nomine, p. 94)
Resonance: with just a touch they can attune themselves
to something (or someone). If on the corporeal plane
they will have a feel for its location and condition.
Game Mechanics: Perception d666 roll. They can
attune themselves to as many different items/people as
they have Forces. If an object is destroyed, the pieces can
only be detected with a 6 check digit. Will roll needed to
negate an attunement. Check digit chart on In Nomine,
p. 96. Advanced uses on p. 29.
Dissonance: Betrayal of devotion to their attuned, superior, friends, ideals or self.
ANG EL CREATION GUIDE
Malakim
(In Nomine, p. 99)
Resonance: they can see in a human the purity of his
nature and the virtue of his principle. Their resonance is
honor more sacred than their own lives.
Game Mechanic: Perception d666. Check digit chart on
In Nomine, p. 101. Advanced uses on p. 48.
Dissonance: Dishonoring themselves or others - they
cannot Fall. They take four oaths; two are constant:
never suffer an evil to live when it's your choice, and
never surrender in a fight or allow yourself to be captured by Lucifer.
Kyriotates
(In Nomine, p. 101)
Resonance: diey can control multiple vessels, and must
use these bodies to make their mark on reality.
Game Mechanics: Will d666. Unwilling subject can
make a Will roll to reject for a number of hours equal to
subject's Will check digit. Can control/possess creatures
up to his Forces. They cannot spend more than 10 x
Celestial Forces minutes in celestial form widiout any
host vessels. Details on In Nomine, p. 102. Advanced
uses on p. 54.
Dissonance: leave a host in worse shape than when you
found it.
Listed below are summaries of the attunements and

dissonance each Superior offers. Note down the attunements your character has, and the dissonance mechanics.
SUPERIOR MECHANICS
BLANDINE
In Nomine, pp. 110-111.
Dissonance: an angel of Blandine may not take his celestial form in die mundane world, nor use Celestial Songs
on Earth.
Mercurians
(In Nomine, p. 103)
Resonance: they comprehend the relationships and
responsibilities of a person at a glance, and the importance of them to the person.
Game Mechanic: the effects last for 10 minutes minus
the check digit. Check digit chart on In Nomine, p. 104.
Advanced uses on p. 61.
Dissonance: violence generates dissonance, except
against demons.
II: HLUDCATe FQRCCS
Allocate Forces (Corporeal, Ethereal, Celestial).

Angels get 9 Forces, and must have at least 1 of each type.
m:
Assign characteristic levels, at 4 levels per Force:

Corporeal Forces control Strength and Agility
Ethereal Forces control Intelligence and Precision
Celestial Forces control Will and Perception
IV:
Note attunements. The Choir Attunement your

Superior offers your Choir is free. You may buy additional attunements that your Superior offers other
Choirs by spending 5 character points, if the attunement
could logically be held by your character. You cannot buy
a Choir Attunement that requires you to have the resonance of another Choir; an angel cannot have a resonance outside of his Choir.
To purchase Servitor Attunements, a player must
spend 10 character points each. He can only buy Servitor
Attunements of his Superior.
Choir Attunements
Seraphim: recognize intruders in a dream. Add
Ethereal Forces to Perception in the Marches.
Cherubim: automatically enter dreamscape of a person to whom they are attuned.
Ofanim: while Dream Walking they can stay in a
dreamscape for a number of minutes equal to the check
digit of their successful Perception roll times dieir
Ethereal Forces.
Elohim: dieir resonance is constantly active in the
Marches - "check digit" equal to their Ethereal Forces.
Malakim: they are not noticed in the Marches unless
they wish to be (Perception penalty of minus Ethereal
Forces of Malakite).
Kyriotates: while asleep, can be in more than one
place in the Marches at a time - up to their Ethereal
Forces.
Mercurians: can move between dreamscapes of people who are close and are on the same side of the
Marches.
Servitor Attunements
Dream Walking: enter Marches through a dreaming
human.
Healing Dream: allows modification of a person's
memory.
121
ANGEL CREATION GUIDE
DAVID
Dissonance: Being provoked into attacking first, using
distance weapons.
Choir Attunements
Seraphim: detect presence and quality of all minerals
within 1 yard of their vessels for every
Corporeal Force they possess.
Cherubim: create a pseudo-magnetic field
that can pull into their hands any object made
mostly from minerals.
Ofanim: move slowly through mineral
matter taking along what they wear.
Elohim: absolute direction, always know
where they are and what time it is.
Malakim: can become immovable and indestructible
once per day.
Kyriotates: may create their own stone vessels.
Mercurians: can sense the way a building is made and
put together, and its floorplan.
Deep Gaze: see through minerals.
Cold Touch: turn a foe to stone.
DOMINIC
Dissonance: inflicting a punishment greater than the
crime, standing by while the innocent are punished
unfairly, overlooking what they feel to be heresy in an
angel.
Choir Attunements
Seraphim: bonus of die angel's Celestial Forces to any
Resonance roll.
Cherubim: generates no dissonance due to a subject
of inquiry being hurt.
Ofanim: can sense and understand another's Discord.
Elohim: can see guilt like bloody sweat on another's
face.
Malakim: can hear dissonance in others.
Kyriotates: generates no dissonance for the poor care
of a host who has Discord.
Mercurians: natural resonance also tells what most
deviant act the target has done and die last time he committed it, and they don't generate dissonance by punishing the guilty as long as the punishment fits the crime.
Incarnate Law: innate knowledge of rules.
Heavenly Judgment: summon a luminous sword that
flies to die attack.
ELI
In Nomine, pp. 116-117
Dissonance: None generated from serving Eli's Word.
Choir Attunements
Seraphim: recognize gifted individuals.
Cherubim: know who created an item and when it was
made, and if it was celestial (angel or
demon) or human in origin.
Ofanim: adjust something or someone's age by a number of years equal to
Precision, and dieir vessels heal fast.
Elohim: create relics and reliquaries
by binding Songs into physical objects.
Malakim: anything picked up can be
used as a weapon with a Power equal to the check digit
of a successful Perception roll, for a single combat.
Kyriotates: may perform the Celestial Song of Form
on their hosts at no Essence cost.
Mercurians: can make talismans.
Abracadabra: Create base matter from nothingness.
Transubstantiation: Imbue inorganic elements with life.
GABRIEL
Dissonance: allow die cruel to go unpunished.
Choir Attunements
Most of Gabriel's angels detect various kinds of cruelty at a glance. Each choir detects:
Seraphim: those who profit knowingly from die suffering of others or lie to themselves about what monsters
they really are.
Cherubim: those who within the last year have horribly betrayed someone devoted to them.
Ofanim: those who flee justice, whom they also pursue. Also, they are immune to damage from corporeal
heat, radiation and electricity.
Elohim: those who delight in the pain of odiers.
Malakim: those whom Gabriel decides to target
specifically. They also have die ability to encircle their
hands with green celestial flames, burning everything
they touch.
Kyriotates: those who enjoy inflicting physical pain
upon others.
Mercurians: those who delight in being cruel to
themselves.
Dance of the Atoms: change ambient temperature.
Smite: a fiery ranged attack.
JANUS
Dissonance: may not stay in one location for more than
three days.
Choir Attunements
Seraphim: add the number of their Celestial Forces to
their Fast-Talk rolls.
Cherubim: can only attune to one person at a time,
but the subject of the attunement becomes enthralled
with the Cherub.
Ofanim: add their Ethereal Forces to any roll involving breaking locks, opening doors or otherwise freeing
themselves or others from corporeal restraint.
Elohitn: can predict the weather.
Malakim: are good at demolitions, adding their
Ethereal Forces to any rolls involving them.
Kyriotates: may assume a gaseous form.
Mercurians: crowds part for them, and they can tell
whether something was stolen or not.
JORDI
Dissonance: valuing human life over animal life.
Choir Attunements
They are attuned to animals - they can communicate
to their attuned animal and they must purchase at least
one animal vessel (except for Kyriotates).
Seraphim: attuned to amphibious and marine life.
Cherubim: attuned to cats.
Ofanim: attuned to flying animals.
Elohim: attuned to reptiles.
Malakim: attuned to dogs, wolves and pack creatures.
Kyriotates: serve as Jordi's eyes and ears, and able to
control more animal hosts than human hosts.
Mercurians: attuned to apes.
Passage: open any lock.
Swipe: make an object vanish for a while.
JEAN

Dissonance: let a technological secret or celestial technology fall into the hands of a human before Jean decides
it is time, or to allow an infernally inspired innovation to
go unopposed.
Call of the Wild: summon a small group of local animals, costs 2 Essence.
Animal Magnetism: charm any single animal within
eyesight, costs 1 Essence.
Choir Attunements
LAURENCE
Seraphim: have photographic memory and can summon a video screen to show anything they have seen or
heard. Costs 1 Essence.
Cherubim: can connect a phone call from any phone
to any phone nearest the person to whom they are
attuned. Spend 1 Essence for an instant cell-phone.
Ofanim: with a conductor may convert into electricity.
Elohim: may conjure a pocket-sized computer. Costs
1 Essence.
Malakim: add Ethereal Forces to any Chemistry,
Electronics or Engineering roll, or to repair a technological object.
Kyriotates: can possess corporeal objects as vessels.
Mercurians: always succeed at the Ethereal Song of
Tongues.

Dissonance: disobeying word or spirit of his orders.
Choir Attunements
Seraphim: knows if foes are on the side of good or evil.
Cherubim: can use resonance on anything they see.
Ofanim: gain movement bonus in combat or pursuit.
Elohim: can feel emotions from people in the past as
well as in the general vicinity.
Malakim: add their Ethereal Forces to the check digit
of any successful resonance roll.
Kyriotates: are bound into a warrior who died a
meaningless death, now renewed and living again.
Mercurians: may add their Corporeal Forces to their
Dodge Skill roll or check digit.
Generator: create a lot of electricity through whatever you touch. Costs variable essence.
Remote Control: mentally control devices.
The Blade Blessing of Laurence: make a blade very

sharp (+5 Power) for a time.
Hunt: track any being you've fought.
123
MARC
Dissonance: breaking your word when it was given
freely.
Choir Attunements
Seraphim: can tell how much a person will pay for
something by looking them in the eye.
Cherubim: know any object's true owner.
Ofanim: know how to get anything anywhere, the
fastest.
Elohim: can tell the fair market value of item they
touch.
Malakim: after looking someone in the eye, can tell
what something means to him.
Kyriotates: automatically enter hosts, although they
can be resisted with Will.
Mercurians: can tell how much money a person has
received and what they did to earn it.
Seraphim: have an aura of peace that requires others

make modified Will roll to commit violence.
Cherubim: can take upon themselves the corporeal
damage of those they touch.
Ofanim: may travel via plant life, moving from any
plant touched to any plant within (total Forces) miles.
Elohim: sense the feelings of plants, reading emotions
of those around the plants for the past week.
Malakim: plants part for them, and entangle enemies.
Kyriotates: may take more than usual Forces in a plant
or plants as hosts.
Mercurians: fill humans with great joy in their celestial forms giving inspiration to excel.
Divine Contract: write a contract that causes corporeal damage if broken.

Head of a PIN: withdraw free money from an ATM
machine.
Nothing But Flowers: angel hiding behind or within

plants cannot be spotted. If among flowers, he is completely invisible.
Crown of Joy: Creates a crown of flowers that, when
shaken, causes a cloud of joy that makes people kind and
peaceful, dancing about joyously.
MICHAEL
Dissonance: retreating from any conflict without a
direct order.
Choir Attunements
Seraphim: their targets Dodge at a penalty of the
Seraph's Corporeal Forces.
Cherubim: know when an object of their attunement
may die within 24 hours.
Ofanim: always go first in combat.
Elohim: can tell how serious someone is how willing
to risk their life.
Malakim: can sense danger coming.
Kyriotates: can generate their own vessels.
Mercurians: know the price of peace what will
resolve conflict.
Proficiency: gives expertise with one type of weapon.
Howl: stuns others with a war cry.
NOVALIS
T / .,
1 ** I
Choir Attunements

Dissonance: allowing violence that is not necessary,
especially from killing a human.
YVES
Dissonance: taking any action to move a person toward
their fate.
Choir Attunements
Seraphim: know the true name of everyone they contact and every item they see clearly or handle.
Cherubim: know if and when a person will die within
the next year of "natural" causes.
Ofanim: add their Celestial Forces to any Intelligenceor knowledge-based Skill roll.
Elohim: automatically succeed in their resonance
when touching their targets.
Malakim: can tell divine disturbances of the
Symphony from infernal ones.
Kyriotates: have access to the memories of their hosts,
including any of their Skills while in possession.
Mercurians: can intuit a person's fortune.
Divine Destiny: the angel can see the fate and destiny
of a mortal in his face.
Divine Logic: the angel can make practically anyone
concede practically anything that he believes himself.
V:
Select Resources. You have (4 x
total Forces) in character points to
purchase artifacts, vessels, Roles,
Servants, Skills and Songs. You may
take Discord, if you like and the GM
allows, to get extra points.
ARTIFACTS
In Nomine, p. 41.
Corporeal artifacts cost 1 character point per level as a Resource.
Talismans cost 2 points per level.
Relics cost 3 points per level.
Reliquaries cost 3 points per level.
A celestial artifact that is both relic
and reliquary, but with Essence only
usable for Songs in the relic, costs 5
points per level.
A celestial artifact that is both, but
with its Essence unrestricted in use,
costs 6 points per level.
VESSELS
In Nomine, p. 48.
Vessels cost 3 points per level.
Charisma costs another 2 points per
level. Up to two levels of negative
Charisma can subtract 2 points per
level from vessel or Role cost.
ROLES
In Nomine, p. 43, p. 72.
Roles cost Status x level divided
by 2, round up. Roles can only be
bought at character creation. Some
samples with requirements:
Archeologist (Survival, Status 3-4)
Bartender (Fighting, Status 2-4)
Doctor (Medicine, Status 4-6, Precisian above 5)
Entertainer (Performance Skills, Status
3-6, Charisma useful)
Hacker (Computer Operation, Status
2-4)
Hunter (Combat Skills, any Status)
Journalist (Fast-Talk; also useful: Move
Silently, Lockpicking, Computer Operation, Dodge, Escape; Status 3-6)
Lawyer (Fast-Talk, Status 3-6)
Policeman (Need 2 of following: Detect
Lies, Area Knowledge, Ranged
Weapon (Pistol), Small Weapon

(Baton) or Tracking; Status 3-4;
Charisma can be useful).
Politician (Lying, Status 4-6, Charisma)
Private Detective (No Skill required,
useful are: Fighting, Escape, Lockpicking, Move Silently, Fast-Talk;
Status 3-4)
Religious Figure (Emote, Status 3-6,
Charisma is useful)
Scientist (One Skill in character's field,
Status 3-4)
Sports Hero (One athletic Skill,
Status for a successful pro is 4+)
SERVANTS
In Nomine, p. 45.
Servants cost Class x level as a
Resource, divided by 2 (round up).
SKILLS
In Nomine, p. 46, pp. 73-78.
Each level of a Skill costs 1 point.
Acrobatics (Agility), Default -3
Artistry (Perception), Default -2
Chemistry (Intelligence), Default -5
Climbing (Agility), Default -2
Computer Operation (Intelligence), Default -4
Detect Lies (Perception), Default -2
Dodge (Agility), Default -1
Driving (Precision), Default -2

Electronics (higher of Intelligence
or Precision), Default -5
Emote (Perception), Default -1
Engineering (Precision), Default -4
Escape (higher of Agility or Precision), Default -3
Fast-Talk (Will), Default -1
Fighting (varies), Default -1
Knowledge (Intelligence), Default -4
Languages (Intelligence), Default -4
Large Weapon (Strength), Default -3
Lockpicking (Precision), Default -3
Lying (higher of Intelligence or
Perception), Default -2
Medicine (Precision), Default -4
Move Silently (Agility), Default -1
Ranged Weapon (Precision), Default -2
Running (higher of Strength or
Agility), Default -1
Savoir-Faire (higher of Intelligence
or Precision), Default -4
Seduction (Will), Default -1
Singing (Perception), Default -2
Small Weapon (Precision), Default -2
Survival (higher of Will or Perception), Default -4
Swimming (Agility), Default -2
Tactics (Intelligence), Default -2
Throwing (higher of Agility or Precision), Default -3
Tracking (Perception), Default -2
125
SONGS
Songs cost 1 point per level. Most
Songs have three versions - one for
each realm of existence. These must
be purchased separately.
Attraction
Corporeal: Causes two items to
"tug" toward each other, useful for
making a "homing device."
Ethereal: Makes the victim passionately attracted to a person or
object of the singer's choosing.
Celestial: "Attunes" singer to
something; gives a general feel for
location and condition.
Essence Requirement: 1
Degree of Disturbance: check digit.
Charm
Each Song reduces one of two
characteristics of victim by its check
digit. Characteristics affected are:
Corporeal: Strength or Agility.
Ethereal: Intelligence or Precision.
Celestial: Will or Perception.
Dreams
Corporeal: per Dream Walking
attunement (In Nomine, p. 110), the
singer enters the Marches through
the mind of a dreamer.
Ethereal: adds to or subtracts
from Skill rolls within a dream.
Celestial: controls style and
direction of subject's dream. Singer
must be within subject's dreamscape.
Degree of Disturbance: number of
people affected.
Entropy
./
Corporeal: makes objects or people age or grow young.

Ethereal: a mental attack that
inflicts terror on a single victim.
Celestial: causes breakdown of
target's psyche, with hallucinations.
Essence Requirement: 1 for Corporeal/Ethereal, 2 for Celestial
GEL CREATION GUIDE
Degree of Disturbance: check digit

plus singer's Forces.
Form
These work on singer only.
Corporeal: adds Protection.
Ethereal: makes semi-invisible.
Celestial: alters appearance.
Degree of Disturbance: check digit,
but only after the Song's effects end.
Harmony
Corporeal: all in area become
weak and sluggish, unable to attack.
Ethereal: renders people incapable of mental conflict.
Celestial: temporarily negates the
effects of Discord.
Degree of Disturbance: number of
people affected (including performer).
Healing
Corporeal: heals Body hits.
Ethereal: heals Mind hits, insanity.
Celestial: heals Soul hits, Will.
Light
Corporeal: produces a glowing
aura of light around the performer.
Ethereal: creates illusions.
Celestial: dazzling light attack.
Essence Requirement: 1, maximum 3
Degree of Disturbance: none.
Motion
Corporeal: lets performer fly.
Ethereal: lets performer move
matter with his mind.
Celestial: lets performer teleport
items.
Numinous Corpus
These corporeal songs create one
of the following natural weapons:
Acid
Claws
Fangs
Feet (hooves or spurs)
Horns
Tail
Tongue (long and barbed)
Wings (non-weapon; allow flight).
Possession (Celestial only)

Performer wrests control of a vessel from its rightful owner.
Projection
Corporeal: projects singer to any
place on Earth previously visited.
Ethereal: projects singer to any
place in Marches previously visited.
Celestial: projects singer to a
celestial level, and if in Heaven or
Hell to any place previously visited.
Degree of Disturbance: Celestial
Forces x 2.
Shields
Corporeal: protects from all
physical attacks.
Ethereal: protects against any
Essence-based attacks, including
resonances and attunements.
Celestial: creates barrier to observation for celestial senses, and delays
disturbances to the Symphony.
Thunder (Corporeal only)

Creates sonic explosion in the corporeal, ethereal and celestial realms.
Degree of Disturbance: check digit
plus user's Forces.
Tongues
Corporeal: subject can speak any
human language.
Ethereal: subject can communicate telepathically.
Celestial: binds brief message to a
bit of Essence that can be sent to
anyone singer has previously met.
Celestial Discord
DISCORD
Discord provides 3 character points
per level. Unlike demons - some of
whom must begin play with Discord
- angels rarely may begin play with
it (only with the Game Master's
approval).
Corporeal Discord
Burning Touch (Malakim):
touching demon damages both
angel and demon (p. 50).
Combustible (Ofanim): quick
movement causes burning (p. 38).
Damaged Sense: Perception
rolls get more difficult.
Crippled: portion of anatomy lost.
Discolored: strange pigmentation.
Life-Linked Attunement (Cherubim): damage taken when attuned
object damaged (p. 32).
Obese: unnatural girth.
Painful Lies (Seraphim): lies
become painfully unbearable (p. 26).
Pallid: deathly appearance and odor.
Stigmata: open, bleeding wounds.
Twitchy: lower Precision, Agility.
Ugly: very ugly vessel.
Unnerving Stare (Mercurian)*:
gaze causes others to avoid (p. 63).
Vestigium: supernatural growths
that are useless and pathetic looking.
Vulnerable: specific physical
weakness that causes damage.
Ethereal Discord
Angry: Will roll needed to avoid

violence.
Aura: celestials sense more easily.
Berserk: Will roll to stop fighting.
Bound: Will roll to assume celestial form.
Claustrophobia (Ofanim): enclosed
spaces generate dissonance (p. 38).
Contrariness (Kyriotate): own
Forces rebel while in hosts (p. 57).
Cowardly: Will roll to seek danger.
Emotional Static (Elohim):
emotional noise from vicinity disrupts concentration (p. 44).
Evil Warning (Malakim): evil
makes noise in the Symphony that is
audible to both Malakite and
demons (p. 50).
Fear: modified Will roll to avoid
fleeing object of fear.
Geas: a forced oath or promise.
Inner Echoes (Kyriotate):
inflicts worst aspects of host (p. 57).
Oversensitive (Elohim): impairs
control of perceived emotions (p. 44).
Paranoia: Will roll to believe anyone.
Ritualized Responsibilities (Cherubim)*: compulsive behavior (p. 32).
Tongue Tied (Mercurian):
speaking becomes difficult (p. 63).
Trenchant Bond (Cherubim):
cannot leave the sight of attunement
without dissonance (p. 32).
Truthfulness (Seraphim)*: speaks
truth bluntly and without tact (p. 26).
Binding Oath (Malakim): paralyzes when breaking oath (p. 50).

Celestial Blindness: weakens
sensing of celestial beings and effects.
Empathy (Elohim): cannot distinguish between own and others'
emotions (p. 44).
Forked Tongue (Seraphim)*:
others always perceive lying (p. 26).
Fractured Forces (Kyriotate):
Forces are separated and cannot be
freely allocated (p. 57).
Gluttonous: morbid desire to eat.
Greedy: Will roll to resist
expanding material holdings.
Hyperactive (Ofanim): requires
constant movement (p. 38).
Inseparable Forces (Kyriotate):
Forces combine with regular Forces,
but cannot be split up (p. 58).
Lustful: Will roll to avoid seducing object of desire.
Merciful: morals impede killing.
Murderous: requires going for
the kill, regardless of consequences.
Need: prevents regenerating
Essence naturally.
Oblivious (Mercurian)*: obscures
emotional status of others (p. 63).
Overzealous (Cherubim)*: duty
performed to extremes (p. 32).
Slothful: Will roll to begin a new
task or do any hard work.
* Although most common in the listed
Choir, these Discords can at times affect
others, perhaps with minor modifications.
VL BACMDUffl)
Develop the character's background. Think about his appearance, the kind of food and music he
likes, the hobbies he's picked up,
how he gets along with others, etc.
Show the character to the GM for
approval.
VIL FLAW!
Adam and Eve, 7-8.

Allies of the Moment campaign, 89.
Angel creation guide, 120127.
Angelic minds, 13-19.
Angelic reproduction, 84-86.
Archangels, 66-75; Cherubim
and, 32; dissonance and,
107; Elohim and, 45;
Falling and, 110-111; in
the early days, 6-8;
Kyriotates and, 58;
Malakim and, 50;
Mercurians and, 64-65;
Ofanim and, 39; old
Servitors and, 82; organizations of, 94; relations with
Servitors, 72-75; Seraphim
and, 27; succinct guide to
serving, 121-124; switching
service of, 97-98.
Armageddon, 12, 19.
Arsenal, 118-119.
Artifacts, 125.
Attunements, 121-124.
Audience with Archangel, 71.
Blandine, see Archangels.
Car chases, 119.
Character of angels, 13-19.
Characteristics, allocation of,
121.
Cherubim, 28-33, 120.
Children of angels, 84-86.
Choirs, 20-65; Falling and,
110; mechanics, 120-121.
Climbing the ladder, 93-96.
Confession to avoid Falling,
106.
Creation checklist, 120-127.
Creation, 6.
David, see Archangels.
Degeneration of Malakim,
115-117.
Demons, see Diabolicals.
Diabolicals; and angels in
same campaign, 88-93;
Falling angels and, 112114; older angels and, 83;
reproducing with angels, 85;
young angels and, 81.
Discord, 127; forCherubim,

32; for Elohim, 44; for
Kyriotates, 57'-58; for Malakim, 50; for Mercurians,
63-64; for Ofanim, 38; for
Seraphim, 26-27.
Dissonance, for Cherubim,
31; for Elohim, 43; for
Kyriotates, 57'; for Malakim,
49,115-117;/or
Mercurians, 63; for Ofanim,
37'-38; for Seraphim, 26.
Distinctions, 94.
Divine intervention, 75-77.
Divinity, 14,21.
Dominic, see Archangels.
Driving, 119; and Ofanim,
37.
Early days, 6-8.
Eden, 7-8.
Eli, see Archangels.
Elohim, 40-45, 120; Falling
and, 108-109.
Enemies Together campaign,
91.
Eve, and Adam, 7-8.
Explosives, 118.
Fall, the, 8-12.
Falling, IM-U7; Malakim
and, 115-117; reactions to,
112; rewards in Hell, 113114.
Firearms, 118.
Forces, allocation of, 121.
Free Will, 19.
Freeform campaign, 88-89.
Fruition, Songs of, 85.
Gabriel, 10-11, 13; also see
Archangels.
Gabriel's Horn, 12.
Gas, 119.
Grenades, 118-119.
Grigori, 9.
Hearts, Outcasts and, 99.
Hell, see Diabolicals.
History, 5-12.
Humanity, origins of and
early development, 7-12.
Janus, see Archangels.
Jean, see Archangels.
Jordi, see Archangels.
Kori, Reliever of Destiny, 87.

Kyriotates, 52-59, 121; effects
of being Outcast, 100-101.
Laurence, see Archangels.
Legion, 11-12.
Lilith, 7.
Lucifer, 6-12, 22.
Malakim, 46-51, 120-121;
dissonance and, 115-117.
Marc, see Archangels.
Melee weapons, 119.
Mercurians, 60-65, 121.
Michael, see Archangels.
Minor divine spirits, 86-87.
Mixed parties, 88-93; character combinations for, 92-93.
Names; of angels, 21; of
Cherubim, 28; of Elohim,
40; of Kyriotates, 52; of
Malakim, 46; of
Mercurians, 60; of Ofanim,
34; of Seraphim, 22.
Non-lethal weapons, 119.
Novalis, see Archangels.
Ofanim, 34-39, 120.
Older angels, 81-83.
Organization of Archangels
hierarchies, 93-94.
Outcasts, 90, 99-103; Grigori,
9.
Outlaw Celestials campaign,
90.
Player conflicts, 92.
Promotions, 95.
Purity Crusade, 11.
Rank, 94.
Raphael, Archangel of
Knowledge, 12.
Relievers, 86-87.
Religion, 10.
Renegades, 90; Fallen angels
as, 114.
Reproduction, 84-86; Songs

for, 85.
Resonance; Falling and, 107;
of Cherubim, 29; of Elohim,
42; of Kyriotates, 54-57; of
Malakim, 48; of Mercurians,
61-62; of Ofanim, 36-37; of
Seraphim, 24-25; summary
of, 120-121.
Roles, 125.
Selflessness, 14-15.
Seraphim, 22-27, 120.
Seraphim Council, 23; creation of, 8; granting Words,
95-96.
Servants, 125.
Skills, 125.
Songs of Fruition, 85.
Songs, 126.
Superiors, see Archangels.
Switching Superiors, 97-98.
Tamar, Reliever of Fire, 87.
Tear gas, 119.
Trades in service to
Archangels, 97-98.
Trauma, Outcasts and, 100.
Tripping, see Outcasts.
Trisagion, 25.
Uriel, 11.
Vessels, 12 5; Kyriotates and,
54-57.
Weapons, 118-119.
Words, 93-96; applying for,
95-96; for Cherubim, 32;
for Elohim, 44; for Kyriotates,
58; for Malakim, 50; for
Mercurians, 64; for Ofanim,
38; for Seraphim, 27; in
organizations, 94; Outcasts
and, 103; testing for, 96.
Young angels, 79-81.
Yves, 4; also see Archangels.
IRC Q00D
Evil, beware! The Heavenly Host is here, terrifying and
beautiful, and ready to play.
The Angelic Player's Guide contains
everything you ever wanted to know
about angels - their history, their laws,
the Choirs they belong to and the
Superiors they serve ... even the
dark paths that can lead them to a
Fall from Grace, In addition to
expanded angel descriptions, it
provides the players with four
new campaign concepts and
several ways to run them.
Also included are special
rules for playing Outcasts and
relievers, and a chapter on
angelic reproduction. The
Angelic Player's Guide even has a
step-by-step "Angel Creation
Guide" for quickly and easily
generating unique angel characters.
The Angelic Player's Guide is a
companion to the In Nomine
roleplaying game.
Watch your step and don't Fall,
By James Cambias, Sam Chupp,

David Edelstein, Matthew Grau,
Steve Kenson, Mike Nystul,
Derek Pearcy and S.John Ross
Edited by Nettie Hartsock
f*H
f-yr
-^
<T * 1
Tk.
WARNING:
This book is intended for
mature readers. It contains
interpretations of religious
themes which some readers may
find unsettling.
First Edition Published November 1997.

You ill need the In Nomine
basic rulebook to play.
Cover by Rowena
p^.by Heather Bruton, Steve Bryant,
David Fooden, April Lee,
Craig Maher, Ramon Perez,
Dan Smith and Ray Snyder
ISBN l - S 5 b 3 M - 3 H D - X
zr
STEVE JACKSON GAMES
9 "781556"343407"
SJGO1995 3307
Printed in the
U.S.A.

In Nomine - Angelic Players Guide (Sjg3307)

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

In Nomine - Angelic Players Guide (Sjg3307)

Uploaded by

Document Information

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

In Nomine - Angelic Players Guide (Sjg3307)

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

I

IRC HimiC HILID

HOLINESS AND LOVE

HARMONY EVEN IN DISSENT

BY DAVID EDELSTEIN AND MIKE NYSTUL

BY DAVID EDELSTEIN AND MIKE NYSTUL

BY DAVID EDELSTEIN AND MIKE NYSTUL

BY STEVE KENSON AND JOHN KARAKASH

BY DAVID EDELSTEIN AND MIKE NYSTUL

The Hand of God

WHEN INTERVENTION OCCURS ..... 76

DIFFCR01T DRUMM6RS .......

Creating Young Angels

Creating an Old Angel

Threats and Menaces

Angels and Organization

CLIMBING THE LADDER

Confession Is Good for the Soul .....

WHEREFORE MIGHT I FALL? ...... 108

THE OTHER SIDE

II: ALLOCATE FORCES

"In the beginning," Yves said, "there was light."

ed the fire while Michael and Baal stirred everything up.

essence, sculpting God's creation that way. For this, he

some powers of denial and projection, not to mention

THE EDEN EXPERIMENT

This second female, named Eve, worked out much

THE OTHER SIDE

OUTCASTS, OR THE SECOND FALL

The angels of David stepped in, slaughtering all the

The angels and demons spent centuries fighting

as a way to reduce the power of the pagan gods while

THE PERSECUTION OF GABRIEL

between Heaven and Blandine's side of the Marches. She

THE PURITY CRUSADE

the sacrifice of Raphael, the Archangel of Knowledge,

In the last few centuries, the Archangelic host has not

This chapter describes some of the more common

TfiC H0L !'

-John Milton (1608-1674)

one RULC HPPLICS

THE ANGELIC MIND

God can't be selfish, self-centered or self-absorbed.

Even Cherubim, who can devote themselves entirely

Angels (and the Fallen) are creatures of concept. Where

SIMPLICITY AND CONFIDENCE

THE ANGELIC MIND

nothing more irritating than somebody in love. The

his personality and outlook... Most Word-bound angels

HOLHieSS AflD L0VC

Angels act out of love: love for God, love of their

THE ANGELIC MIND

Determining exactly what an angel most loves is an

Angels seek to avoid Dissonance, not just in the

with every other song to create one strong, powerful

THE ANGELIC MIND

The Importance of Humanity

The Perfection of Man

One issue that divides the heavenly schools of thought

OTHER STICKING POINTS