Notes - In Nomine Ottawa

robkelk · 04-15-2008, 08:22 PM

I'm putting together some notes on a possible IN game set in my home city, and though people might like to see what I've got so far. Kibitzing is encouraged... <g>

In Nomine - Ottawa

Overview

(Since this is intended for a local game, I haven't written an overview of the city's layout or politics for this draft. The Wikipedia pages for Ottawa and Gatineau are decent starting points.)

Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the first G8 nation in recent history with repeated balanced budgets (which pleases Marc). The institutions of Ottawa can exert subtle influence on the USA and NATO; certainly they did when the Cold War essentially started in Ottawa in September 1945. Yves and Kronos fight a shadow war near the halls of power, as they do in all federal capitals, keeping this in mind.

The city's institutions aren't all political; there's a large high-tech community nicknamed "Silicon Valley North" in Ottawa, currently in a decline as the multinationals move their operations to less-expensive parts of the world. Jean and Vapula are both scaling down operations here as so many of the companies' local operations change focus from centres of innovation to bureaucratic lobbying houses, but neither Superior is completely abandoning the field to his opposite number.

Ottawa and Gatineau, taken together, form the second-largest city on the border between French-speaking Canada and English-speaking Canada (after Montreal). David and Malphas are at odds trying to bring Canada's "two solitudes" closer together or farther apart, respectively, and Ottawa-Gatineau is an important battleground in this struggle.

Active Superiors

Almost all Superiors have at least some interest in Ottawa - it's a federal capital, after all - but some are more active than others.

Malphas and Lilith are currently stronger than David in federal politics, and the two Demon Princes share a stranglehold on local politics with Mammon on the Ottawa side of the river.

Novalis, with Jordi's assistance, keeps the city's Greenbelt (a large zone of agricultural and forested land around the city's older sections) and Gatineau Park safe.

Ottawa has a reputation for boredom; when it comes to entertainment, most of the city still rolls up the sidewalks at night. However, Ottawa's folk, jazz, blues, and "fringe festival" scenes have all blossomed in recent years. While Furfur has written off Ottawa, Eli has been quietly nudging a few of his Servitors toward the city.

As mentioned earlier, Yves and Kronos have an interest in the Destinies and Fates of politicians and of Canada, David and Malphas fight over the city's linguistic duality, and Jean and Vapula are both scaling down operations in the area.

Tethers

None of Ottawa's known Tethers are private areas; this can cause problems if somebody needs to Ascend quickly or work off Dissonance...

Divine

Everyone who takes the Parliament Hill tour hears about the fire of 1916 that destroyed the original Centre Block of the Parliament Buildings, and how quick thinking by Michael MacCormac kept "The Most Beautiful Room in Canada" intact and the books within it safe. Many of them believe it was the Parliamentary Library's destiny to survive, and so it has become a tether to Yves' Library. Recent renovations were undertaken with an eye to preserve the original structure, only strengthening the Tether. Sepharad, the Tether's Mercurian seneschal, has a Role as junior librarian Robyn Shephard.

While much of the city of Ottawa is rural land, the city may be unique in having two large research farms within its urban area. The Dominion Arboretum, in the heart of the Central Experimental Farm, is a microclimate that is home to a large variety of plants normally found in warmer climates. The Arboretum's ornamental gardens are a collection of spots of beautiful greenery that are open to the public; the Explorer rose collection within the gardens is a Tether to Novalis. Rosaceae, the Kyriotate seneschal of the Tether, lives within the roses on display.

Infernal

Enacting the Constitution in 1982 did more to inflame separatist attitudes and activity across the country than any other single act in Canadian history since the Battle of the Plains of Abraham. The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms (a key part of the Constitution) has been used as justification for insular and separatist actions by so many groups that the actual document signed by the Crown has become a minor Tether to Factions, much to Lilith's annoyance. The Tether is still new and isn't yet big or important enough for an actual seneschal; its Balseraph caretaker, Achzib, has a Role as Archives clerk Zeb Hatcher.

On September 5, 1945, only weeks after the end of World War II, Soviet cipher clerk Igor Gouzenko defected from the Soviet embassy in Ottawa with documents that proved the USSR was spying on one of its wartime Allies. This started the Cold War, which defined worldwide politics until 1991. Soviet agents ransacked Gouzenko's Somerset Street apartment the night that he defected; the RCMP watched them from Dundonald Park, across the street. The park is now a Tether to the Game; its seneschal is a Shedite who often inhabits random passers-by.

Other Places of Note in the War

The Justice Building, immediately to the west of Parliament Hill, is not and has never been a Tether. It is, however, a conflict zone between Destiny and Fate because of its current use as offices for over a quarter of the Members of Parliament and their staff.

The National Gallery of Canada has a reputation, only partially deserved, for purchasing some very odd artworks and being surprised when its visitors don't like them. A Kobalite Djinn known only as "Isaac" can sometimes be bothered to make an effort to strengthen that reputation; when he does, another weird piece goes into the Gallery's collection. The local Creationers don't seem to mind this.

Chelsea, a rural community straddling the edge of Gatineau Park, was one of the first municipalities in North America to ban the ornamental use of pesticides. Just outside Gatineau city limits, it's a quiet place to live. It's also the home base of Kirjath-jearim (known to his neighbours as "Kirk Jason Jerrod"), a Cherub of Flowers who does his best to watch over the neighbouring park; he's quite happy about his adopted home town's environmental stance.

Personalities

(will depend on what sort of characters the players create...)

04-15-2008, 08:22 PM	#1
robkelk Untitled Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: between keyboard and chair	Notes - In Nomine Ottawa I'm putting together some notes on a possible IN game set in my home city, and though people might like to see what I've got so far. Kibitzing is encouraged... <g> In Nomine - Ottawa Overview (Since this is intended for a local game, I haven't written an overview of the city's layout or politics for this draft. The Wikipedia pages for Ottawa and Gatineau are decent starting points.) Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the first G8 nation in recent history with repeated balanced budgets (which pleases Marc). The institutions of Ottawa can exert subtle influence on the USA and NATO; certainly they did when the Cold War essentially started in Ottawa in September 1945. Yves and Kronos fight a shadow war near the halls of power, as they do in all federal capitals, keeping this in mind. The city's institutions aren't all political; there's a large high-tech community nicknamed "Silicon Valley North" in Ottawa, currently in a decline as the multinationals move their operations to less-expensive parts of the world. Jean and Vapula are both scaling down operations here as so many of the companies' local operations change focus from centres of innovation to bureaucratic lobbying houses, but neither Superior is completely abandoning the field to his opposite number. Ottawa and Gatineau, taken together, form the second-largest city on the border between French-speaking Canada and English-speaking Canada (after Montreal). David and Malphas are at odds trying to bring Canada's "two solitudes" closer together or farther apart, respectively, and Ottawa-Gatineau is an important battleground in this struggle. Active Superiors Almost all Superiors have at least some interest in Ottawa - it's a federal capital, after all - but some are more active than others. Malphas and Lilith are currently stronger than David in federal politics, and the two Demon Princes share a stranglehold on local politics with Mammon on the Ottawa side of the river. Novalis, with Jordi's assistance, keeps the city's Greenbelt (a large zone of agricultural and forested land around the city's older sections) and Gatineau Park safe. Ottawa has a reputation for boredom; when it comes to entertainment, most of the city still rolls up the sidewalks at night. However, Ottawa's folk, jazz, blues, and "fringe festival" scenes have all blossomed in recent years. While Furfur has written off Ottawa, Eli has been quietly nudging a few of his Servitors toward the city. As mentioned earlier, Yves and Kronos have an interest in the Destinies and Fates of politicians and of Canada, David and Malphas fight over the city's linguistic duality, and Jean and Vapula are both scaling down operations in the area. Tethers None of Ottawa's known Tethers are private areas; this can cause problems if somebody needs to Ascend quickly or work off Dissonance... Divine Everyone who takes the Parliament Hill tour hears about the fire of 1916 that destroyed the original Centre Block of the Parliament Buildings, and how quick thinking by Michael MacCormac kept "The Most Beautiful Room in Canada" intact and the books within it safe. Many of them believe it was the Parliamentary Library's destiny to survive, and so it has become a tether to Yves' Library. Recent renovations were undertaken with an eye to preserve the original structure, only strengthening the Tether. Sepharad, the Tether's Mercurian seneschal, has a Role as junior librarian Robyn Shephard. While much of the city of Ottawa is rural land, the city may be unique in having two large research farms within its urban area. The Dominion Arboretum, in the heart of the Central Experimental Farm, is a microclimate that is home to a large variety of plants normally found in warmer climates. The Arboretum's ornamental gardens are a collection of spots of beautiful greenery that are open to the public; the Explorer rose collection within the gardens is a Tether to Novalis. Rosaceae, the Kyriotate seneschal of the Tether, lives within the roses on display. Infernal Enacting the Constitution in 1982 did more to inflame separatist attitudes and activity across the country than any other single act in Canadian history since the Battle of the Plains of Abraham. The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms (a key part of the Constitution) has been used as justification for insular and separatist actions by so many groups that the actual document signed by the Crown has become a minor Tether to Factions, much to Lilith's annoyance. The Tether is still new and isn't yet big or important enough for an actual seneschal; its Balseraph caretaker, Achzib, has a Role as Archives clerk Zeb Hatcher. On September 5, 1945, only weeks after the end of World War II, Soviet cipher clerk Igor Gouzenko defected from the Soviet embassy in Ottawa with documents that proved the USSR was spying on one of its wartime Allies. This started the Cold War, which defined worldwide politics until 1991. Soviet agents ransacked Gouzenko's Somerset Street apartment the night that he defected; the RCMP watched them from Dundonald Park, across the street. The park is now a Tether to the Game; its seneschal is a Shedite who often inhabits random passers-by. Other Places of Note in the War The Justice Building, immediately to the west of Parliament Hill, is not and has never been a Tether. It is, however, a conflict zone between Destiny and Fate because of its current use as offices for over a quarter of the Members of Parliament and their staff. The National Gallery of Canada has a reputation, only partially deserved, for purchasing some very odd artworks and being surprised when its visitors don't like them. A Kobalite Djinn known only as "Isaac" can sometimes be bothered to make an effort to strengthen that reputation; when he does, another weird piece goes into the Gallery's collection. The local Creationers don't seem to mind this. Chelsea, a rural community straddling the edge of Gatineau Park, was one of the first municipalities in North America to ban the ornamental use of pesticides. Just outside Gatineau city limits, it's a quiet place to live. It's also the home base of Kirjath-jearim (known to his neighbours as "Kirk Jason Jerrod"), a Cherub of Flowers who does his best to watch over the neighbouring park; he's quite happy about his adopted home town's environmental stance. Personalities (will depend on what sort of characters the players create...) __________________ Rob Kelk “Every man has a right to his own opinion, but no man has a right to be wrong in his facts.” – Bernard Baruch, Deming (New Mexico) Headlight, 6 January 1950 No longer reading these forums regularly.