The #CharacterCreationChallenge for 2025 kicked off January 1st!

[thorr-kan]

Another character concept from the You Are Here supplement for In Nomine. This ethereal haunts a region called The Dry River, which often borders varying Realms in the Far Marches. Pwyll is determined to, in the immortal words of The Bard, "change his stars." Lord Nightbane, Common Fae Highwayman and leader of The Shadows.

Lord Nightbane is an ethereal character built as a 6-Force character, using the Ethereal Player’s Guide. He takes advantage of the optional free skills for ethereals noted in the EPG. He lacks any Discord, but has initiated his Moon strand in defiance of his common origins. With these caveats, Lord Nightbane is a balanced starting character.

Character sheet here:
https://thewhiteminotaur.wordpress.c...jackson-games/

[thorr-kan]

In the shadow of Beleth’s Tower lies a country. It does not lie close to it in any geographical sense, but the shadow of the Tower of the Princess of Nightmares blocks the sun forever. This country borders on the Far Marches and the Vale equally, and its inhabitants are corruptions of the fae. The Unseelie Court (or the Winter Court, or the Night Court) existed long before the Purity Crusade, and still exists, paired with the Seelie Court, independent of Beleth. This is something else, and something more purely evil. (You Are Here, p119-120.)

And pleasant is the fairy land
For those that in it dwell,
But once in every seven years
They pay a tithe to Hell . . .
– Tam Lin, Anonymous

The Ethereal Player’s Guide has a chapter on Domains in the Marches and the features they might have. While the Marches are the land of dreams and infinitely mutable, Domains are more static. They reflect something’s dreams and retain the form. But within that structure they can still be manipulated by a dreamer’s Will. The EPG offers this guideline: “As a rule of thumb, every full Domain should have at least one “weird quirk,” and no more than three positive or negative Features. Of course, the farther into the Far Marches a Domain is, the weirder the quirks, and the more numerous the Features.”

So, with that in mind, let’s build the Hellscape wherein dwells the Fae tribute to the Princess of Nightmares: The Country of the Teind!

This Domain exists on the border between Beleth’s side of the Vale and Far Marches; ethereal geography is funny like that. Its inhabitants are warped by their service to Nightmares. Their home reflects that. The Country of the Teind is cold, shadowed, and treacherous. It is very much a horrific work of art.

The list of positive Features generally benefits the inhabitants of the Domain. Beleth would not generally approve of making things easier. That leaves two useable Features: Aspected Domain and Common Tongue.

The list of negative features generally hinders the inhabitants of the Domain. This is an artwork for the Princess of Nightmares and storage for tools of fear. The Domain should not coddle them, but it should not actively degrade them. I think Incomplete Mastery and Intrusive Domain: Discord both top the list of possibilities.

The list of mixed Features are either neutral or of varying use to the inhabitants of a domain. One Quirky Feature is mandatory. The others are interesting, but not germane to this Domain.

Throw it in a blender, and lets see what we get!

The Country of the Teind
Positive Features: Common Tongue (Helltongue)
Negative Features: Incomplete Mastery, Intrusive Domain: Discord (Fear)
Mixed Features: Quirky (Always twilight)

This domain is always shadowed. Beleth created it so her Servitors could always talk to the inhabitants and her Word would always permeate their being. She does not have complete control over it. But as a Superior, no mere ethereal could match her Will if they came to her attention.

[thorr-kan]

Liber Castellorum – The Book of Tethers is In Nomine’s supplement providing more details on those portals between the Corporeal world of Earth and Heavan, Hell, or the Marches: Tethers.

It goes into a lot of detail about Tethers useful to a GM. But the properties a Tether has are of central interest to today’s character. Those properties are:
Forces: the Forces invested by the Tether’s master to stabilize the Tether.
Locus: the area covered by the upper and lower ends of the Tether.
Capacity: how many total Forces can move through the Tether at a time.
Flow: the amount of Essence gathered by the Tether and transferred to the Tether’s master.
Influence: how strongly the Tether affects its environment.
Speed of Passage: how long to transverse the Tether from one locus to another.
Power: a judgement of the Tether’s power based on its properties and Features (0-2).
Resources: what the seneschal can call up to support the Tether.

Liber Castellorum also has guidelines for creating weak, medium, and large Tethers. A lot will of decisions are left to the GM and will be campaign specific. But there are some metrics that can be used. There are really two paths to creation: decided the spawning event and building the Tether from there, or decide the stat of the Tether and building the spawning event from there.

I want a Tether based on yesterday’s Country of the Teind. That makes it an ethereal Tether, which is passing rare in the current world. Officially, celestials have no truck with ethereal Tethers. But with this particular Domain being under Beleth’s thumb, I think she would allow one small Tether. Control over it and its Essence would be an excellent tool for the Princess of Nightmares to foment chaos and dissent among the Domain’s ethereals.

Given those constraints, this will be a weak Tether. Beleth would not tolerate anything more powerful under ethereal control, even ethereals serving her. The triggering even is a ritualistic, but mundane, murder carried out while reading a copy of Tam Lin. The wild Tether linked ot the Country of the Teind Domain, where Beleth slew the fae who brought her news of the Tether and used those Forces to stabilize it.

Forces: Beleth invested 3 Forces, stabilizing the Tether to the Domain. It is not large, but it is more than most Domains have.

Locus: The lower locus is the Select Reading Room of the Society for the Preservation of Celtic Culture.

Capacity: The Tether is small, with only 9 Forces capacity.

Flow: 1 Essence per hour, which is minimal. But to ethereals, it is pure manna from Heavan.

Influence: Minor. It just is not that important in the grand scheme of things.

Power: Weak, with 1d3-1 Feature…but the dice say 2!

Resources: One very, very scared attuned ethereal seneschal.

Putting it all together:
The SPCC Reading Room
Tether to the Country of the Teind
In service to Nighmares
Forces: 3 Forces
Locus: one room
Capacity: 9 Forces.
Flow: 1 Essence per hour.
Influence: slight emotional.
Speed of Passage: 1 round.
Power: weak, with the Intermittent (only active during the reading of Tam Lin) and Restricted (Servitors of Beleth, including ethereals) Features.
Resources: Attuned seneschal; a very scared, very paranoid seneschal

Blog post here:
https://thewhiteminotaur.wordpress.c...jackson-games/

[thorr-kan]

Ezekial
Elohite of Destiny

Corporeal Forces: 2 Strength 4 Agility 4
Ethereal Forces: 3 Intelligence 6 Precision 6
Celestial Forces: 4 Will 8 Perception 8

Role/6 Status/2 (Student Missionary)

Vessel/1: Caucasian Human Male, “Ezekial ‘Zeke’ Jacobs”

Attunements: Elohite of Destiny, Synchronicity

Songs: Faith (Celestial/3), Light (Celestial/3)

Skills: Computer Operation/1, Detect Lies/1, Dodge/1, Drive/1, Emote/1, Fast-Talk/1, Knowledge (Comparitive Religions/3), Language (English/3*, Italian/1), Savoir-Faire/1
*Bonus Language

Artifacts: QuikCard/1 (relic)

Background: Ezekial is an old Elohite, having been created by Uriel to oversee monotheistic religions among humanity. In 60 AD, Ezekial was created by Uriel and tasked with maintaining the purity of the monotheistic experiment being run by Yves, Rapheal, and Gabriel. For almost three centuries, Ezekial pursued his duties with zeal, uncovering diabolical and ethereal plots while organizing and overseeing humans and their worship practices.

However, in 360 AD, Ezekial was transferred to the Marches. Ethereals were increasing attacks on monotheists and their supporters. Ezekial’s experience battling ethereals on the Corporeal made him useful in locating their strongholds in the Marches.

Ezekial was just as effective in the Marches as on Earth. Again, he pursued his duties with zeal, growing in power, but losing the occasional celestial battle against diabolic or ethereal opponents. With his help, the forces of Purity located many ethereal domains and marked them for future action. Whenever possible, they took direct action themselves, even taking the battle to Hell on occasion.

The Purification Crusade came as no surprise to Ezekial, but Uriel’s recall did. Reeling in shock and dismay, the Elohite retreated to the Far Marches with the other Tsayadim. For a thousand years, Ezekial continued his lord’s work, purifying the Far Marches and praying for his lord’s return.

Time passes strangely in the Far Marches. The constant hunts and battles coupled with the lack of backup, took their toll on Ezekial. His still pursued his duties, but continual losses in celestial battle slowly whittled down his power. The subjective nature of the Marches grated on Ezekial’s objective nature.

During the events of the Fall of the Malakim, Ezekial was part of the Tsayadim who aided Blandine’s forces. When the Tsayadim withdrew to the Far Marches, Ezekial chose to remain in Heaven. The Archangel of Destiny took Ezekial in, shielding him from trial by Judgement or The Sword. After debriefing, Ezekial sought service with Yves, who immediately assigned him to Corporeal duty.

The Archangel of Destiny took the former Servitor of Purity aside, and gave him a special mission. As proof of his loyalty to Destiny, Ezekial was divested of all Rites and attunements of Purity and given a new Heart by Yves. Yves then assigned him a vessel and gave him the following orders: take your Role to Rome and report back to me. Ezekial had a second chance, and nothing was going to ruin it for him.

Zeke Jacobs is a small, pale American from rural Wisconsin. He stands about 5’ 7” and weighs about 150 lbs. Zeke is taking several years off of college to study religion and travel. Currently, he has been crossing southern Europe and northern Africa, preaching, and studying Christianity in those areas. Zeke is very eager to learn about the beliefs of others, but still seems secure in his own faith.

Blog post here:
https://thewhiteminotaur.wordpress.c...ckson-games-2/

[thorr-kan]

Background: Duncan Bern was a brilliant law student; everybody agreed on that. He was also a genuinely good person. No one was surprised when Duncan graduated law school with honors. The career choice of public defender surprised some, but the zeal and dedication Duncan brought to his duties were only to be expected. It was more of shock when, after a few years, Duncan made a surprise move and won an election for district attorney. He served several terms, setting an example of fairness and work ethic. There was talk of a political career, perhaps even a run for governor. That all changed in a single moment.

Duncan won the lottery.

It was not a solitary jackpot, but his share of the earnings were enough to set Duncan up for life. After some soul searching, Duncan established charitable trust and retired from public service. He familiarized himself with new areas of law, then hung out his shingle as a private attorney. Duncan’s reputation assured him no end of clients. He continued his good works and likely would have become a modern day icon when fortune intervened again.

An undetected brain aneurysm caused a stroke, and Duncan died of the resulting complications.

So it was a complete surprise to everyone when perfunctory heroic revival measures actually *worked*. Duncan survived albeit with significant brain damage. Everybody agreed, despite the personality changes, it was a genuine miracle. Duncan was no longer himself but was coherent enough to pass competency hearing and resume his practice, however limited.

You could be forgiven for thinking Duncan would have been an excellent Soldier of Judgement. You would be mistaken; Duncan was a devout atheist.

But this was no miracle. Someone performed a foul necromantic ritual on Ducan, raising his corpse as zombie. Face with decisive proof of the supernatural, Duncan began searching for his mysterious “benefactor” while struggling to maintain the tattered remnants of himself. He is aware he is no longer human, but does not realize he is undead.

Unknown to Duncan, the “zombie with a conscience” quickly gained notoriety in local celestial circles. Eventually, no less a personage than Michael, Archangel of War, came to see what the fuss was about. After some far ranging and fascinating discussions, the Archangel came away saddened by Duncan’s loss and without the heart to tell him he was no longer alive. Fortunately, Duncan’s soul had departed before his conversion to undeath, though Duncan would never believe that. Michael surreptitiously granted Duncan a Rite and promised to visit again. Meanwhile, Duncan continues his legal crusades.

Duncan Bern
Blessed Zombie

Corporeal Forces: 2 Strength 4 Agility 4
Ethereal Forces: 3 Intelligence 7 Precision 5
Celestial Forces: 0 Will 2 Perception 1

Vessel/2: Slightly worn corpse, Caucasian male, Duncan Bern

Advantages: Blessed, Rite (Michael), Toughness/1

Discord: Need (Mercury/3), Negative Charisma/2

Songs: Healing (Corporeal/1), Numinous Corpus (Plate/2)

Free Skills: Area Knowledge/3 (Minneapolis), Knowledge/3 (law), Knowledge/1 (calligraphy), Driving/1, Swimming/1

Skills: Knowledge (The War/2), Pistol/3, Fast-Talk/1

Blog post here:
https://thewhiteminotaur.wordpress.c...jackson-games/

[thorr-kan]

Background: Duncan Bern was a brilliant law student; everybody agreed on that. He was also a genuinely good person. No one was surprised when Duncan graduated law school with honors. The career choice of public defender surprised some, but the zeal and dedication Duncan brought to his duties were only to be expected. It was more of shock when, after a few years, Duncan made a surprise move and won an election for district attorney. He served several terms, setting an example of fairness and work ethic. There was talk of a political career, perhaps even a run for governor. That all changed in a single moment.

Duncan won the lottery.

It was not a solitary jackpot, but his share of the earnings were enough to set Duncan up for life. After some soul searching, Duncan established charitable trust and retired from public service. He familiarized himself with new areas of law, then hung out his shingle as a private attorney. Duncan’s reputation assured him no end of clients. He continued his good works and likely would have become a modern day icon when fortune intervened again.

An undetected brain aneurysm caused a stroke, and Duncan died of the resulting complications.

You could be forgiven for thinking Duncan would have been an excellent Soldier of Judgement. You would be mistaken; Duncan was a devout atheist.

Sometime later, Duncan was amazed to find himself in Heavan. He had no expectation of an immortal afterlife nor of an eternal reward. Nonetheless, here Duncan was. It took him some time to overcome his shock and begin coming to terms with the situation.

Then Archangel Micheal summoned Duncan. The Archangel of War informed the newly dead spirit that he had a proposition for him. Would Duncan be willing to return to Earth as a deep cover agent, investigating infernal interference? His human view would serve as an excellent counterpoint to War’s celestial operatives.

And there was this little issue of someone having animated Duncan’s corpse for reasons unknown…

Now Duncan servers as an impromptu inspector general for the Host, with possibility of encountering whomever decided desecrating this corpse was a good idea.

Duncan Bern
Saint of War

Corporeal Forces: 2 Strength 4 Agility 4
Ethereal Forces: 3 Intelligence 7 Precision 5
Celestial Forces: 2 Will 6 Perception 5

Advantages: Blessed*, Rite (Michael)

Songs: Healing (Corporeal/1), Motion (Celestial/1), Thunder/3

Free Skills: Area Knowledge/3 (Minneapolis), Knowledge/3 (law), Knowledge/1 (calligraphy), Driving/1, Swimming/1

Skills: Knowledge (The War/2), Pistol/3, Fast-Talk/1, Savoir-Faire/1, Emote/1, Detect Lies/1, Lying/1, Artistry (Storytelling/1)

Blog post here:
https://thewhiteminotaur.wordpress.c...jackson-games/

[thorr-kan]

Background: A lot of the Host has a hard time understanding the friendship between Trade and the Wind. But the two Archangels have continually been allies for centuries.

It behooves their Servitors to follow their example.

Bertiel is NOT a fence; he is very adamant about that. Bertiel is scrupulously fair as being otherwise courts dissonance. But the Friend of Man’s Role has him deeply embedded in the local grey economy. The Mercurian often can provide the fast getaway vehicles Servitors of The Wind crave, Janus got Marc’s permission to grant his Mercurian to Bertiel. Marc has some misgivings about the rough and tumble skills Bertiel has picked up associating with said Servitor, but so far has allowed Bertiel to continue his Role.

Unofficially, Bertiel’s Role has come under scrutiny from Judgement. He takes this in good stride, understanding the need for Internal Affairs. Enmeshed in the local network of celestials, Bertiel often serves as gobeween fort the Host’s disparate factions. He is always willing to help with the odd Corporeal Job and even moonlights for a spot of work in the Marches on occasion.

Bertiel
Mercurian of Trade

Corporeal Forces: 2 Strength 4 Agility 4
Ethereal Forces: 3 Intelligence 5 Precision 7
Celestial Forces: 4 Will 8 Perception 8

Role/4 Status/2 (Used Motorcycle Dealer)

Vessel/1: Caucasian Human Male, “Burt Anderson”

Attunements: Mercurian of Trade, Mercurian of the Wind

Songs: Healing (Corporeal/2), Thunder/2

Skills: Pistol/6, Dodge/2, Fighting/1, Knowledge (Business/2, Earth/1), Fast-Talk/2, Savoir-Faire/2, Lying/1, Detect Lies/1, Drive/1, Lucid Dreaming/1

Blog post here:
https://thewhiteminotaur.wordpress.c...jackson-games/

[thorr-kan]

Beleth was overseeing reception of the Teind when a spirit brought word of the wild Tether formed from the SPCC Reading Room. After rending the spirit to its component Forces, the Princess of Nightmares looked about herself. Scath Ceo was the spirit who did not flee fast enough.

Beleth used the component Forces to stabilize the Tether. She added Force to Scath, but tellingly, she did not grant him any attunements. Then she attuned Scath to the newly stabilized Tether, without ever saying a word.

Scath has been trying to figure out what that meant ever since. He is in the enviable position of seneschal of a Tether in an environment where everyone wants to take it from him. He has no friends, no power base, and no ability to flee. Everyone wants what he has, but is too envious to help.

Paranoia is a survival trait.

Scath spends his time split between the upper and lower loci of his Tether. He schedules open readings of Tam Lin when he can, to boost the Tether. But he also dares not be to active or risk discovery by the Host. Scath is a miserable, frightened, vicious spirit, ready to snap at any moment.

Character sheet here:
https://thewhiteminotaur.wordpress.c...jackson-games/

[Whitelaughter]

Overly
Familiar of Lust

Corporeal Forces: 1 Strength 2 Agility 2
Ethereal Forces: 1 Intelligence 1 Precision 3
Celestial Forces: 2 Will 7 Perception 1

Vessel/1: Sheep +3 Charisma(very cuddly)


Skills: Emote/1, Savoire-faire(party-goer)/1, Seduction/1

Overly is available at the local Tether of Lust, always willing to introduce himself...and grin hopefully. He likes people, and hopes to make...friends.

He has no combat skills, but as he probably won't realise he's in combat, that doesn't matter. Assuming an angel kills him, on returning from Limbo he will complain that the angel was the 3rd roughest playmate he's ever had.
Seraphim will be able to confirm that this is true.