Campaign idea: one flame plus one flame equals ?

naraht · 04-14-2011, 03:30 PM

There had been an assumption that the direct combat between Gabriel and Belial would herald Armageddon and perhaps it would have if they that combat had occured either on the Corporeal or Celestial planes. However their combat on the Ethereal plane changed both Heaven and Hell forever.

The party is informed of the following.
1) There is now a large growing flame set on the line between Beleth's and Blandine's side of the Vale. While distance is largely metaphorical in the Marches, it can be seen from both towers, the Volcano as well as the entire Far Marches. Immediately before the flame blossomed, Gabriel was seen heading in that direction.

2) The following information may be obtained from appropriate sources/investigation:
a) Belial hasn't been seen recently
b) The level of the Lava in the Volcano is dropping as the Flame in the marches grow.
c) The Volcano in Sheol is suffering from the same situation and the fires in Sheol are starting to go out.
d) The line between the halves of the vale is shifting near the fire, with areas which are closer to the fire than Beleth's tower no longer being the province of Nightmares.
e) Gabriel's firemen are currently unavailable.
f) Fire Angels and Infernal Fire Demons are starting to disappear

What is actually happening:

Belial and Vapula have managed to make a Celestial-Ethereal tether from Sheol to the Marches somewhat similar (subject to the standard Vaputech disclaimers) to the one that Gabriel has at her Volcano. This has increased his power to support his word in the Ethereal Plane and he went there to evaluate his options. However Gabriel showed up at the same time. Their conflict, while certainly *not* pleasant to the dreamers anywhere near was not quite as destructive as one might expect.

Belial and Gabriel have *merged* inside a large Flame. Each is drawing the essence of their cathedrals through the tethers and as that comes into the marches, the flame grows. Servitors of either Superior are finding themselves dumped at the Flame when they attempt to use a tether back to Sheol or Gabriel's Volcano. It doesn't affect use of other tethers or other servitors...

The Flame has the following characteristics. At the equivalent of 32 corporeal miles from the Flame, every entity (Celestial, Ethereal, Dreamer) gets a +1 to any attack they make, they however have to make a will roll +3 once a day to keep from attacking someone who they see. For every halving of the distance to the Flame, the bonus goes up by one, the will roll has to be made twice as often and the will roll goes down by 1.

(For example by the time they get to 4 corporeal miles, they have +4 to any attack, have to roll against straight will and have to roll 8 times a day) (Note this is an advantage to Heaven, since bonuses for the will roll for attacking friends can be added by the GM)

Gabriel's Firemen were caught in the initial conflict and got a huge number of mind hits, even a superior needs time to get rid of *that* many ethereal discords.

While in small quantities, having Dreamers be more willing to fight things in their dreams probably works *against* nightmares, neither Blandine not Beleth woudl be able to do their work in a situation where everyone spends their entire dream night fighting.

So, how to stop it?
Possible ideas include getting Yves or Novalis to see if the can settle down the combined entity, but better is probably shutting down the celestial-ethereal tether from Sheol to the Marches. If Gabriel can still draw on her resources in Heaven and Belial is unable to draw on his, Gabriel can get the upper hand. Whether she destroys him, greatly reduces him or redeems him will of course change the campaign greatly.

Jason · 04-14-2011, 04:15 PM

I have long wondered what would happen if Gabriel ever got the upper hand on Belial (to the point of making a few versions of "no longer quite so crazy destructive" attunement sets for her). Any thoughts on this?

naraht · 04-15-2011, 08:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jason

I have long wondered what would happen if Gabriel ever got the upper hand on Belial (to the point of making a few versions of "no longer quite so crazy destructive" attunement sets for her). Any thoughts on this?

See http://www.annotations.com/innomine/...elgabriel.html for ideas. In this case, she redeems Belial who takes over some of her duties as the "Archangel of Cleansing".

04-14-2011, 03:30 PM	#1
naraht Join Date: Sep 2007	Campaign idea: one flame plus one flame equals ? There had been an assumption that the direct combat between Gabriel and Belial would herald Armageddon and perhaps it would have if they that combat had occured either on the Corporeal or Celestial planes. However their combat on the Ethereal plane changed both Heaven and Hell forever. The party is informed of the following. 1) There is now a large growing flame set on the line between Beleth's and Blandine's side of the Vale. While distance is largely metaphorical in the Marches, it can be seen from both towers, the Volcano as well as the entire Far Marches. Immediately before the flame blossomed, Gabriel was seen heading in that direction. 2) The following information may be obtained from appropriate sources/investigation: a) Belial hasn't been seen recently b) The level of the Lava in the Volcano is dropping as the Flame in the marches grow. c) The Volcano in Sheol is suffering from the same situation and the fires in Sheol are starting to go out. d) The line between the halves of the vale is shifting near the fire, with areas which are closer to the fire than Beleth's tower no longer being the province of Nightmares. e) Gabriel's firemen are currently unavailable. f) Fire Angels and Infernal Fire Demons are starting to disappear What is actually happening: Belial and Vapula have managed to make a Celestial-Ethereal tether from Sheol to the Marches somewhat similar (subject to the standard Vaputech disclaimers) to the one that Gabriel has at her Volcano. This has increased his power to support his word in the Ethereal Plane and he went there to evaluate his options. However Gabriel showed up at the same time. Their conflict, while certainly not pleasant to the dreamers anywhere near was not quite as destructive as one might expect. Belial and Gabriel have merged inside a large Flame. Each is drawing the essence of their cathedrals through the tethers and as that comes into the marches, the flame grows. Servitors of either Superior are finding themselves dumped at the Flame when they attempt to use a tether back to Sheol or Gabriel's Volcano. It doesn't affect use of other tethers or other servitors... The Flame has the following characteristics. At the equivalent of 32 corporeal miles from the Flame, every entity (Celestial, Ethereal, Dreamer) gets a +1 to any attack they make, they however have to make a will roll +3 once a day to keep from attacking someone who they see. For every halving of the distance to the Flame, the bonus goes up by one, the will roll has to be made twice as often and the will roll goes down by 1. (For example by the time they get to 4 corporeal miles, they have +4 to any attack, have to roll against straight will and have to roll 8 times a day) (Note this is an advantage to Heaven, since bonuses for the will roll for attacking friends can be added by the GM) Gabriel's Firemen were caught in the initial conflict and got a huge number of mind hits, even a superior needs time to get rid of that many ethereal discords. While in small quantities, having Dreamers be more willing to fight things in their dreams probably works against nightmares, neither Blandine not Beleth woudl be able to do their work in a situation where everyone spends their entire dream night fighting. So, how to stop it? Possible ideas include getting Yves or Novalis to see if the can settle down the combined entity, but better is probably shutting down the celestial-ethereal tether from Sheol to the Marches. If Gabriel can still draw on her resources in Heaven and Belial is unable to draw on his, Gabriel can get the upper hand. Whether she destroys him, greatly reduces him or redeems him will of course change the campaign greatly.

04-14-2011, 04:15 PM	#2
Jason Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Boston, MA	Re: Campaign idea: one flame plus one flame equals ? I have long wondered what would happen if Gabriel ever got the upper hand on Belial (to the point of making a few versions of "no longer quite so crazy destructive" attunement sets for her). Any thoughts on this?