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Old 02-16-2018, 09:40 PM   #1
woweed
 
Join Date: Aug 2016
Default In Nomine Elseworlds

In Nomine is fairly unique among games; Namely, it outright encourages the reader to alter the setting as they see fit, and to adjust the tone and concepts as needed, with each major character given several possible personalities. This has issues, most notably, in that it can lead to inconsistent writing, as each writer is working from a different view of the setting, but it's fascinating to me, especially given my general interest in cause-and-effect, how one little change in events or actions can alter things. Thusly, I have made this thread. An Elseworld, in comic books, is taking familiar characters, like superheroes, and dumping them into a different setting. For instance, what if Superman landed in Soviet Russia? What if Batman got the Green Lantern Ring instead of Hal Jordan? What if Batman was also Superman? That kinda thing. In this thread, you can post any ideas for such things in In Nomine as you may wish. To kick us off, here's an idea i've had brewing for a while.

In this world, the fight with Legion goes a bit better. Legion is still destroyed, but Raphael isn't. She is weakened considerably, and takes 400 years to return to full power, but she lives. Haagenti, meanwhile, dies in the battle. Both Meserach and Mariel live. Things change. Christopher is still named as Angel of Children, thanks to the Children's Crusade. Makatiel's plan to use the Black Death to kill off humanity got less far along, leaving a few hundred thousand alive. Dominic and Asmodeus don't collaborate to stop him, and, in general, have less cooperation. With a few hundred thousand people alive, and Raphael still promoting knowledge, Leonardo da Vinci manages to get many of his more esoteric ideas off the ground. Inspired by Angels, he builds many advanced devices, which are built upon to lead to a massive tech boom. The Industrial Revolution comes a few centuries early. Meserach is slayed in the 1470s, as is Andrealphus. Lawrence's sponsoring of Martin Luther still causes the Reformation, but it is rather changed. For one thing, John Calvin is killed early-on, leaving no Calvinism. For another thing, while England still falls to Oliver Cromwell, in this universe, he is better able to maintain power, and his child rules for about two extra years before the republic collapses. Meanwhile, in America, things are going odd. In this world, Columbus wasn't the one who "discovered" America. He failed to get funding, and, so, Britain sends out the first explorer to the Americas, in the early-1500s, landing on present Nova Scotia. With the tech difference even greater, as the Europeans, in the world's 1500, were just starting to figure out powered flight, they quickly take over, gaining an empire stretching all throughout our universe's Canada and East Coast America. The American Revolution kicks off a few years earlier, but the Americans still win and establish something like the American government of our universe. However, here, Canada joins them, and Manifest Destiny isn't as bloody. The Trail of Tears never happens, and the Mexican-American War is never fought. By the present, Texas and California are both independent nations. Meanwhile, there's rather less White Supremacy in this US, helped by the Cotton Gin never having come into existence. It was inspired by Vapula who, in this universe, is an Servitor of Jean, and a rather prominent one at that. The US abolished Slavery in 1836, after the brief Carolina War. Black civil rights advanced rather quicker, as did civil rights in general, with women getting the vote nationwide circa 1876. The 19th century were pretty big in the war. With radical changes in tech, including the invention of radio in the 1850s and TV in the 1870s, there was upheaval in Heaven and Hell. Nybbas, an Angel in this world, was granted his Word of Communication. Saminga and Mammon, the latter rather more powerful in this world, both died at the hands of Archangels. David was murdered by Malphas, who was then, in turn, killed by Laurence. The 1900s went even weirder. World War I was averted, Humanity landed on The Moon in 1920. The Nazis were nothing more than an obscure political sect. Video games were invented in the 1930s, The Internet in the 70s. Eli didn't go AWOL until 1969. Christopher was made Archangel the same year. Fleruity was never born, and neither was Furfur. Jordi was killed off in the late-70s, as was Marc. On the other side, Belial died in 1980. As part of the following reshuffling, Nybass was promoted to Archangel of Communication. Khalid still didn't Fall, thankfully. In the present, things are...different. The balance of The War is much more in Heaven's favor then in the regular universe. Mariel is still a prominent Superior, as is Raphael. Vapula is Angel of Progress and, though something of a loose cannon, hasn't Fallen. He's considered one of Jean's stronger Wordbound. Nybass is the Archangel of Communication, and is a minor, but rapidly-growing-in-power, Superior. Orc, Angel of Networks, is his Servitor, and a powerful one. Gluttony, as mentioned, never had a Superior. Meserach is still dead, though. Andre is dead, and, with her opposite number dead, Gabriel's madness is subsiding. David is dead. Jordi and Marc are both recent losses, and Heaven has been hit hard. There have been several promotions to make up for it. For instance, one of Marc's Servitors is now Archangel of Charity. There is also an Archangel of Cities, an Archangel of Courage, and the Angel of Music has recently been considered for Superior status. On the other side, there's a minor, but rapidly growing in power, Demon Prince of Pollution. Humanity is exploring Space and the war is expanding into new fronts. It is in this setting that, for a first time, a Demon Prince seeks Redemption...

Have at it, people!

Last edited by woweed; 02-18-2018 at 07:43 AM.
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Old 02-21-2018, 10:22 AM   #2
Jason
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Boston, MA
Default Re: In Nomine Elseworlds

My most well-received In Nomine campaign was set in a world in which angels disappeared from Earth completely hundreds of years ago, immediately after the Purity Crusade. The PCs didn't know why (and the players weren't familiar enough with In Nomine lore to really care, so I didn't bother sharing), but in that setting, not only was Uriel recalled to the higher Heavens, ALL angels were recalled to Heaven, and all passages into the Marches were sealed. Human souls went in, but nobody came out.

I still wanted the PCs to be "the good guys," so PC options were limited to renegade demons, ethereals, and six-force humans. The PCs were all associated with an NPC patron who, for reasons unknown to them, kept The Game at a distance. (We didn't play long enough to establish this, but Hell was convinced that this patron was the only angel left on Earth, and an extremely powerful and unpredictable one.)

Demons still stayed under the radar on Earth out of fear that Heaven knew something they didn't know, concern that humans could feasibly rise against Hell if they knew the truth, and general in-fighting between demonic factions.

The first campaign saw "Lefty" (a.k.a. "Val Leffe IV," a.k.a. any number of other thinly veiled pseudonyms for the Prince of Theft) hire them to steal The Sword of Purity, a relic left behind by Lawrence for a bunch of Soldiers trying to carry on Uriel's work to this day. The team guessed that Lefty was well aware that having a demon steal this relic would taint it, turning it into a Sword of Oblivion, which in turn led to the return of Mariel, Princess of Oblivion – not destroyed, but in Limbo all this time! – who referred to Lucifer as "My love...?" moments before he destroyed her.

The second campaign was meant to be about how the PCs unwittingly helped Valefor to expose the truth about Lucifer, who had been killed years ago, while Gebbeleth, first Prince of Secrets, took his place.
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Old 02-21-2018, 10:32 AM   #3
Jason
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Boston, MA
Default Re: In Nomine Elseworlds

My most recent In Nomine campaign led the players through The Revelations Cycle, and ended with the Archangel of Faith and the Grigori Archangel of Death (and many Grigori servitors thereof) storming Hell to save an imprisoned Malakite and discredit the claims that Malakim could Fall after all. The campaign ended with the Outcasting of the Grigori proclaimed to be over, and the faithful among them on Earth welcomed back into Heaven.

We haven't picked up from there yet, but my plan is to say that not a heck of a lot of Grigori are going to trust that invitation back after so many years away. It will be the PCs' job to make outreach efforts and protect them from rival teams that may be more aggressive about recruitment.
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Old 02-21-2018, 05:26 PM   #4
woweed
 
Join Date: Aug 2016
Default Re: In Nomine Elseworlds

Quote:
Originally Posted by Jason View Post
My most well-received In Nomine campaign was set in a world in which angels disappeared from Earth completely hundreds of years ago, immediately after the Purity Crusade. The PCs didn't know why (and the players weren't familiar enough with In Nomine lore to really care, so I didn't bother sharing), but in that setting, not only was Uriel recalled to the higher Heavens, ALL angels were recalled to Heaven, and all passages into the Marches were sealed. Human souls went in, but nobody came out.

I still wanted the PCs to be "the good guys," so PC options were limited to renegade demons, ethereals, and six-force humans. The PCs were all associated with an NPC patron who, for reasons unknown to them, kept The Game at a distance. (We didn't play long enough to establish this, but Hell was convinced that this patron was the only angel left on Earth, and an extremely powerful and unpredictable one.)

Demons still stayed under the radar on Earth out of fear that Heaven knew something they didn't know, concern that humans could feasibly rise against Hell if they knew the truth, and general in-fighting between demonic factions.

The first campaign saw "Lefty" (a.k.a. "Val Leffe IV," a.k.a. any number of other thinly veiled pseudonyms for the Prince of Theft) hire them to steal The Sword of Purity, a relic left behind by Lawrence for a bunch of Soldiers trying to carry on Uriel's work to this day. The team guessed that Lefty was well aware that having a demon steal this relic would taint it, turning it into a Sword of Oblivion, which in turn led to the return of Mariel, Princess of Oblivion – not destroyed, but in Limbo all this time! – who referred to Lucifer as "My love...?" moments before he destroyed her.

The second campaign was meant to be about how the PCs unwittingly helped Valefor to expose the truth about Lucifer, who had been killed years ago, while Gebbeleth, first Prince of Secrets, took his place.
Hmmm..You know, in the original French, Valefor is actually just Janus, doing a deep-cover operation, and there are hints things might be the same in the American version, though possibly the other way around. If so, this premise is even more interesting. Also, no offense to Humanity, but with no Angels around, Earth's probably not in the best shape.
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Old 02-22-2018, 07:04 AM   #5
Jason
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
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Default Re: In Nomine Elseworlds

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Originally Posted by woweed View Post
Hmmm..You know, in the original French, Valefor is actually just Janus, doing a deep-cover operation, and there are hints things might be the same in the American version, though possibly the other way around. If so, this premise is even more interesting.
Strongly implied!

Quote:
Also, no offense to Humanity, but with no Angels around, Earth's probably not in the best shape.
Oh, I totally agree. In fact, it was indistinguishable from the world we live in now. :)
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Old 02-25-2018, 11:58 AM   #6
woweed
 
Join Date: Aug 2016
Default Re: In Nomine Elseworlds

Here's another idea: Someone other then Lucifer Falls first. Can you imagine Jordi as the ruler of Hell? Humanity might not survive! Or, say, Malphas? Evenmore backstabbing than usual.
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Old 02-26-2018, 02:15 PM   #7
woweed
 
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Default Re: In Nomine Elseworlds

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Originally Posted by woweed View Post
Here's another idea: Someone other then Lucifer Falls first. Can you imagine Jordi as the ruler of Hell? Humanity might not survive! Or, say, Malphas? Evenmore backstabbing than usual.
Let's expand on that first one:

In this universe, there was no Eden experiment. The Rebellion started 3000 years ahead of time. Jordi was the first to rebel. Many of the same people joined him who would have joined Lucifer, including Baal, Belial, Asmodeus, and Kobal. However, Jordi wasn't anywhere near as persuasive as The Father of Lies. He persuaded both Eli and Novalis to his side, where they became the Demon Prince of Mutation, and the Demon Princess of Thorns, respectively. However, he could not persuade Andre, Beleth, Malphas, or Lucifer. This universe's Heaven is far different. Oannes stillives, Magog never fell, Saminga and David are both dead, Michael's trial for Pride never happened, Demogorgon became a full Prince, and Beelzebub is still alive, as are Legion and Makatial. Mariel and Meserach are not. Raphael and Uriel are both still alive, and Heaven is in general far stronger and far more unified, thanks to the work of Andre. There's no bad blood between Yves and Micheal, and Dominic, whose word is Justice and not Judgement, is a lot less harsh. However, overall, this Heaven is a bit harsher on Demons, with less voices for peace around.
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Old 03-05-2018, 02:58 PM   #8
woweed
 
Join Date: Aug 2016
Default Re: In Nomine Elseworlds

Another idea, this one taken from the books: Kobal plays his Ultimate Joke: he Redemnes, and drags Haagenti along with him, leaving Hell in total chaos. They submitted themselves to Heaven, showing perfect remorse. The Host, while understandably suspicious, weren't going to reject the first ever Demon Prince to Redeem, especially suicide every means they had of determined such showed they were sincere. After much debate, they were brought into alignment with the Symphony. Haagenti as a Servitor, Angel of Enthusiasm. Kobal...He came out not a Servitor but, by some Divine Providence, an Archangel. Archangel of Laughter. There was an immediate shake-up in both Heaven and Hell. Shal-Mari now had only one Prince remaining, although some of Kobal and Haagenti's former territory is instead taken by Nybass, and added into Perdition. While some of Kobal and Haagenti's Servitors Redeem along with them, most go to Andre, Nybass, or Mammon for new work. Asmodeus becomes, if possible, even more paranoid than he already was. Malphas just keeps on grinning, and slots very neatly into the new power dynamics, so much so that one might think he saw it coming...Anyway. Mammon finally gets promoted to Major Prince, as he takes a large chunk of the Tethers and Servitors that used to be Haagneti's. Some new Minor Princes emerge, including the 2nd Demon Prince, or, in this case, Princess, to hold the Word of Sloth, and the Demon Prince of Pollution, both of them former Servitors of Haggnetti. Up in Heaven, the Peace Faction gets a big boost from the new hires. Dominic is increasingly busy with the slow trickle of Redeemed Servitors. Haagenti is employed by Kobal. A few years later, The Redeemed prove their usefulness: Due to a plan, masterminded by the two, Saminga, Prince Of Death, is killed. He goes down fighting, and even manages to deal David a near-fatal blow, weakening him considerably. Still, he is dead. Without Kobal or Hagnetti, he had no supporters left. Within the next decade, Kobal and Hagnetti prove invaluable to the Heavenly cause and the tide of The War starts turning. Thing are going odd indeed, and everyone's waiting for the other shoe to drop. It is in this atmosphere that Eli returns to Heaven, and he has something. Something big which could kill a very particular Demon Prince, and end The War, for better or for worse...
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