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setting:demon_miracles [2025/Apr/08 14:26]
zechstein [Prior Knowledge] 		setting:demon_miracles [2025/Sep/25 15:54] (current)
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   * Subverted Miracles of Knowledge are **Blasphemies of Occultation.** There are two subtypes: On one hand, a Blasphemy of Occultation can hide something or someone under the purview of the respective lore. For example, it could make the heat and the light of a fire undetectable (with the Lore of Flame). Alternatively such a Blasphemy might hide something or something from phenomena under the lore’s purview, like e.g. making someone invisible to ghosts (with the Lore of the Spirit). A Fallen working a Blasphemy of Occultation gains one point of temporary Torment.   * Subverted Miracles of Knowledge are **Blasphemies of Occultation.** There are two subtypes: On one hand, a Blasphemy of Occultation can hide something or someone under the purview of the respective lore. For example, it could make the heat and the light of a fire undetectable (with the Lore of Flame). Alternatively such a Blasphemy might hide something or something from phenomena under the lore’s purview, like e.g. making someone invisible to ghosts (with the Lore of the Spirit). A Fallen working a Blasphemy of Occultation gains one point of temporary Torment.
   * Subverted Miracles of Exaltation become **Blasphemies of Degradation.** Such a Blasphemy takes something under the purview of the lore, and turns it into a worse version of itself. Such a Blasphemy might reduce the protection offered by armor (with Lore of the Forge), or weaken the Shroud (with Lore of the Realms). Direct attacks through a Blasphemy of Degradation inflict bashing damage. A demon working a Blasphemy of Degradation gains three points of temporary Torment.   * Subverted Miracles of Exaltation become **Blasphemies of Degradation.** Such a Blasphemy takes something under the purview of the lore, and turns it into a worse version of itself. Such a Blasphemy might reduce the protection offered by armor (with Lore of the Forge), or weaken the Shroud (with Lore of the Realms). Direct attacks through a Blasphemy of Degradation inflict bashing damage. A demon working a Blasphemy of Degradation gains three points of temporary Torment.
-  * Subverted Miracles of Patterning become **Blasphemies of Unraveling.** Such a Blasphemy significantly impairs or damages the phenomena under the lore’s purview. The demon might give someone a heart attack (with the Lore of Awakening) or turn true love into a fleeting infatuation (with Lore of Longing). Direct attacks using Blasphemies of Unraveling cause legal damage. A demon working a Blasphemy of Unraveling gains four points of temporary Torment.+  * Subverted Miracles of Patterning become **Blasphemies of Unraveling.** Such a Blasphemy significantly impairs or damages the phenomena under the lore’s purview. The demon might give someone a heart attack (with the Lore of Awakening) or turn true love into a fleeting infatuation (with Lore of Longing). Direct attacks using Blasphemies of Unraveling cause lethal damage. A demon working a Blasphemy of Unraveling gains four points of temporary Torment.
   * Finally, a subverted Miracle of Creation is a **Blasphemy of Obliteration.** Just like a Miracle of Creation makes something from nothing, such a Blasphemy turns something into nothing. A ray of light might be snuffed out (with Lore of Light), and even souls might be unraveled (with Lore of the Spirit). Direct attacks using Blasphemies of Obliteration cause aggravated damage. A demon working a Blasphemy of Obliteration gains five points of temporary Torment.   * Finally, a subverted Miracle of Creation is a **Blasphemy of Obliteration.** Just like a Miracle of Creation makes something from nothing, such a Blasphemy turns something into nothing. A ray of light might be snuffed out (with Lore of Light), and even souls might be unraveled (with Lore of the Spirit). Direct attacks using Blasphemies of Obliteration cause aggravated damage. A demon working a Blasphemy of Obliteration gains five points of temporary Torment.
  
  
-Note that this only affects the direct effects of a miracle, and only relative to its primary purpose. A fire created next to a person will burn them, because that is the nature of fire. The Lore of Death will create death and end lives, because such is its purpose. Neither of these things will incur Torment.+Note that this only affects the direct effects of a miracle, and only relative to its primary purpose. A fire created next to a person will burn them, because that is the nature of fire. The Lore of Death will create death and end lives, because such is its purpose. Neither of these things will in itself incur Torment.
  
  
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 ==== Common Lores ==== ==== Common Lores ====
  
-  * **Lore of the Fundament:** Gravity, Electromagnetism. Movement, The Gauntlet +  * **Lore of the Fundament:** This lore governs the most fundamental building blocks of the universe, on which the work of all houses is based. It controls the fundamental forces (gravity, electromagnetism, strong and weak interactions), kinetic energy, but also the Gauntlet separating earth from its neighboring realms. \\ //Keywords: Gravity, Electromagnetism. Movement, The Gauntlet// 
-  * **Lore of Humanity:** Language, Thought, Memory +  * **Lore of Humanity:** The Lore of Humanity came into being as a result of the first interactions between the rebels and the first humans. Humanity owes its sapience to the demons, and they can rescind their gifts if they so choose. As such human thought and memory fall under the purview of this lore, along with language, the primary way in which humans represent their thoughts. \\ //Keywords: Language, Thought, Memory 
 +//
 ==== Namaru Lores ==== ==== Namaru Lores ====
  
-  * **Lore of the Celestials:** Faith, Lores, Angels, Demons +  * **Lore of the Celestials:** With this lore, the first house was given control over Faith itself, the source of power for all celestials. It allows them to locate, enhance, redirect, but also inhibit the invocations, miracles, and rituals of other angels and demons. In modern times the Namaru have learned that they are also able to influence the supernatural powers of other beings, albeit with greater difficulty. \\ //Keywords: Faith, Lores, Angels, Demons// 
-  * **Lore of Flame:** Fire, Heat, Thermal Energy +  * **Lore of Flame:** While fire always had a great depth of symbolic meaning, the purview of this lore is easy to state in prosaic terms: The Lore of Flames governs fire, heat, and thermal energy more generally. In theory this includes control of the sun, but in their current state no demon has the power to meaningfully affect even the smallest star. \\ //Keywords: Fire, Heat, Thermal Energy// 
-  * **Lore of Radiance:** Courage, Sovereignty, Supremacy+  * **Lore of Radiance:** Before the War, the authority of the first house came from God, as they were the messengers of the divine word. Later the rebels codified the secrets of leadership into the Lore of Radiance, which governs both the concepts of authority and sovereignty, and the power to inspire and motivate. \\ //Keywords: Courage, Sovereignty, Supremacy//
  
 ==== Asharu Lores ==== ==== Asharu Lores ====
  
-  * **Lore of Awakening:** Blessings, Healing, Vigor, Life +  * **Lore of Awakening:** Once upon a time one of the Dagan was present at the birth of every single living being, in order to impart the Breath of Life. These days are over, but their lore is still able to impart life where none was before, as well as strengthen, protect, and heal existing life. \\ //Keywords: Blessings, Healing, Vigor, Life// 
-  * **Lore of the Firmament:** Sympathy, Scrying, Connections +  * **Lore of the Firmament:** The Anshar were the angels tasked with establishing the net of connections that exist between all things. The connection between predator and prey, lock and key, mother and child. Their lore allows them to manipulate, extend, and change these connections. This includes symbolic connections and sympathies. \\ //Keywords: Sympathy, Scrying, Connections// 
-  * **Lore of the Winds:** Air, Gases+  * **Lore of the Winds:** Breathing requires air, so without it there can be no breath of life. So to discharge their duty the second house was given stewardship of the earth’s atmosphere, and gases more generally. \\ //Keywords: Air, Gases//
  
 ==== Annunaki Lores ==== ==== Annunaki Lores ====
  
-  * **Lore of the Earth:** The Earth, Solid Matter +  * **Lore of the Earth:** It was the duty of the third house to create the body of the earth itself, from its burning core to the top of the highest mountain. This lore allows control of this creation, letting the user command both the ground beneath their feet and the minerals that comprise the earth’s body. \\ //Keywords: The Earth, Solid Matter// 
-  * **Lore of Paths:** Paths, Distance, Separation +  * **Lore of Paths:** The Antu were tasked with ensuring that objects and creatures would be able to move through creation. The lore they developed for this purpose gives them control of the trajectories of objects, as well as the spatial relationship between points in space, allowing them to set up paths that connect places and creatures - or separate them. \\ //Keywords: Paths, Distance, Separation// 
-  * **Lore of the Forge:** Crafting, Machines, Processed Materials+  * **Lore of the Forge:** This lore was born in the moment Adam received the first tool from the hands of Nemere the Iron Crafter. It allows for the creation of relics, and more generally it governs the spheres of tools, machines, and processed materials. \\ //Keywords: Crafting, Machines, Processed Materials//
  
 ==== Neberu Lores ==== ==== Neberu Lores ====
  
-  * **Lore of Patterns:** Prophecy, Fate, Time +  * **Lore of Patterns:** Creation is a complex system of interlocking mechanisms, and the third house was tasked with ensuring that it would keep on running. The Lore of Patterns was the key to discharging this duty, as it allows the user to manipulate the strands of fate, letting them see both past and future and even influence time itself. \\ //Keywords: Prophecy, Fate, Time// 
-  * **Lore of Portals:** Doors, Thresholds, Warding, Conjuration +  * **Lore of Portals:** Their duties required the members of the third house to travel quickly to all corners of creation. This lore was an answer to that need, allowing them to create gates that connected faraway places. However, the angels of portals expanded this framework, developing concepts like warding and conjuration, thresholds, and locks. \\ //Keywords: Doors, Thresholds, Warding, Conjuration// 
-  * **Lore of Light:** Radiation, Light, Illusions+  * **Lore of Light:** While most natural sources of light fall under the Lore of Flame or the Lore of Fundament, the Lore of Light gives control of the light itself. It allows the creation and manipulation of all types of electromagnetic radiation, from radio signals to gamma radiation. By bending light to their will the user is also capable of creating sophisticated mirages and illusions. \\ //Keywords: Radiation, Light, Illusions//
  
 ==== Lammasu Lores ==== ==== Lammasu Lores ====
  
-  * **Lore of Longing:** Emotions, Desire, Sensations +  * **Lore of Longing:** The fifth house is the house of muses, their purpose was to inspire humanity to reach its full potential. In order to entice humans into thinking ever-deeper thought they were given control of emotions and desires, to grant sensations never felt before. \\ //Keywords: Emotions, Desire, Sensations// 
-  * **Lore of Storms:** Weather, Water, Liquids +  * **Lore of Storms:** Like the Lore of Flame, or Air, and of Earth, the Lore of Storms is one of the elemental lores. It allows control of water and liquid substances more generally, but it also gives dominion over naturally-occurring water, from oceans to rivers to clouds and rain. \\ //Keywords: Weather, Water, Liquids// 
-  * **Lore of Transfiguration:** Metamorphosis, Change+  * **Lore of Transfiguration:** The universe is not a static place. Things are always changing. People age, the larva will turn into a butterfly in time. This concept isn’t limited to the physical realm, either. Society changes. Languages change. The Lore of Transfiguration governs all of these aspects, allowing the user to both control the rate of natural change, and to create entirely new change. \\ //Keywords: Metamorphosis, Change//
  
 ==== Rabisu Lores ==== ==== Rabisu Lores ====
  
-  * **Lore of the Beast:** Animals, Bacteria +  * **Lore of the Beast:** The Zaltu were the angels tasked with designing all the animals and bacteria inhabiting the world. Their lore lets the user create new species, modify existing ones. It also grants control of the behavior of all living animals, and the properties of the materials they leave behind when they die. \\ //Keywords: Animals, Bacteria// 
-  * **Lore of the Wild:** Plants, Funghi, Wood +  * **Lore of the Wild:** What the Zaltu were to the animal kingdom, the Ninurtu were to the kingdoms of plants and fungi. Subsequently the Lore of the Wild works analogous to the Lore of the Beast. \\ //Keywords: Plants, Funghi, Wood// 
-  * **Lore of the Flesh:** Human Bodies, Evolution, Biochemistry+  * **Lore of the Flesh:** The task of the Aruru was to create the fundamental principles all life is based on, like the basic structure of a cell, or the laws of biochemistry. They were also the ones called upon to design the human body. New the lore that they developed allows them to revise their creations at will, among other things allowing them to reshape humans. \\ //Keywords: Human Bodies, Evolution, Biochemistry//
  
 ==== Halaku Lores ==== ==== Halaku Lores ====
  
-  * **Lore of Death:** Death, Decay, Absence, Endings +  * **Lore of Death:** Everything that lives has to die eventually. The Lore of Death exists to govern the physical aspects of the cessation of life, the breakdown of biological processes, and the eventual decay of the body. \\ //Keywords: Death, Decay, Absence, Endings// 
-  * **Lore of the Spirit:** Spirits, Ghosts, Souls +  * **Lore of the Spirit:** The Lore of the Spirit represents the flipside of the coin of the Lore of Death. While the Lore of Death controls the physical aspects of death, the Lore of the Spirit deals with the spiritual remains of living beings, controlling and regulating spirits and ghosts. \\ //Keywords: Spirits, Ghosts, Souls// 
-  * **Lore of the Realms:** The Shroud, The Underworld+  * **Lore of the Realms:** Project Haven was the greatest project of the Alabaster Legion. An entire hidden realm that should shelter the souls of the dead. To control this new realm the Halaku developed the Lore of the Realms, which also allows you to manipulate the Shroud, the barrier that separates the uppermost layer of the Underworld from the world of the living. \\ //Keywords: The Shroud, The Underworld//
  
 ===== Using Multiple Lores ===== ===== Using Multiple Lores =====
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 ==== Magnitude ==== ==== Magnitude ====
  
-The magnitude of a miracle determines how powerful it is. This factor mainly matters to miracles that create a numerical or otherwise graded effect. If the miracle alters a numerical trait, then it needs to have a Magnitude equal to the number of dots added or subtracted. So a Miracle of Exaltation meant to increase a character’s Strength by three points would need magnitude three. miracles that add or remove merits or flaws need to have a magnitude equal to the point value of the merit or flaw. miracles that heal or directly inflict damage can heal or inflict up to one level of lethal or aggravated damage (Note: directly inflicting aggravated damage requires a High-Torment Miracle of Patterning). The final decision which magnitude is necessary for a given effect lies with the ST.+The magnitude of a miracle determines how powerful it is. This factor mainly matters to miracles that create a numerical or otherwise graded effect. Miracles that add or remove merits or flaws need to have a magnitude equal to the point value of the merit or flaw. Miracles that heal or directly inflict damage can heal or inflict up to one level of lethal or aggravated damage (Note: directly inflicting aggravated damage usually requires a Blasphemy of Obliteration). Also compare the section [[setting:demon_miracles#miracles_that_modify_dice_rolls|Miracles that modify Dice Rolls]] further down. The final decision which magnitude is necessary for a given effect lies with the ST.
  
 At base difficulty a miracle has a magnitude of one. Each level of magnitude beyond the first increases the difficulty of the miracle by one. At base difficulty a miracle has a magnitude of one. Each level of magnitude beyond the first increases the difficulty of the miracle by one.
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 Changing the world comes with a price tag. In the beginning, when Faith seemed unlimited and God was footing the bill, the elohim were able to make sweeping changes to the new universe. But these days are long gone. In the modern age the Fallen find themselves much diminished, and have to fight for every iota of Faith from the apathetic masses of humanity. So the cost of creating miracles is now felt much more keenly. Changing the world comes with a price tag. In the beginning, when Faith seemed unlimited and God was footing the bill, the elohim were able to make sweeping changes to the new universe. But these days are long gone. In the modern age the Fallen find themselves much diminished, and have to fight for every iota of Faith from the apathetic masses of humanity. So the cost of creating miracles is now felt much more keenly.
  
-Since miracles of Knowledge don’t change the state of the universe, they have a base cost of zero (However, in order to cast a ritual the Fallen needs to have at least one point of temporary Faith). All other types of miracles always require the expenditure of at least one point of Faith.+Since miracles of Knowledge don’t change the state of the universe, they have a base cost of zero (However, in order to cast a miracle the Fallen always needs to hold at least one point of temporary Faith). All other types of miracles always require the expenditure of at least one point of Faith.
  
  
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 ===== Further Considerations ===== ===== Further Considerations =====
 +
 +==== Concurrent Effects ====
 +A demon can support a number of ongoing miracles equal to his permanent Faith score. An ongoing miracle is an effect with a duration aspect that is not permanent. Instantaneous effects don't count against this limit, and neither do effects that have been made permanent by expending additional Faith. Ongoing rituals (see section Rituals in these house rules) do count against this limit, as do delayed miracles and rituals (see below).
 +
 +Should a demon who has reached his limit of concurrent effects wish to cast another miracle or ritual with a finite duration, then he needs to end one of his ongoing effects prematurely. The demon can decide which effect he wishes to end.
  
 ==== Pre- and Postcognition ==== ==== Pre- and Postcognition ====
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 Please note that triggers can only be conditions that can be determined with normal human senses. So “the miracle should trigger when someone walks over this patch of ground” is acceptable, “the miracle should trigger when someone hostile to me walks over this patch of ground” isn’t, since the trigger can’t determine a person’s mental state.  Please note that triggers can only be conditions that can be determined with normal human senses. So “the miracle should trigger when someone walks over this patch of ground” is acceptable, “the miracle should trigger when someone hostile to me walks over this patch of ground” isn’t, since the trigger can’t determine a person’s mental state. 
  
-If you want to define a trigger that is not within line of sight of the miracle’s target, the miracle needs to include the Lore of the Firmament. A demon is able to maintain a number of delayed miracles or rituals (see below) equal to their permanent Faith.+If you want to define a trigger that is not within line of sight of the miracle’s target, the miracle needs to include the Lore of the Firmament. A delayed miracle counts as an ongoing effect for the purpose of determining the number of concurrent effects the demon is maintaining. 
 + 
 +==== Miracles that modify Dice Rolls ==== 
 + 
 +When a miracle has the effect of directly modifying a type of dice pool, then the following guidelines shall apply: 
 +  * If the effect is to **increase** the size of the pools in question, then the miracle creates pool of bonus dice equal to twice the miracle's magnitude. Whenever the benefactor of the miracle has to make a roll matching the affected type he might declare that he is using dice from the bonus pool before rolling. He then may add as many dice to the roll as he wishes, up to the number of dice remaining in the pool. However, the bonus dice pool does not replenish. Once all dice from the bonus pool have been used up the miracle ends. Any dice remaining in the bonus pool at the end of the miracle's duration expire. \\ //Example: Beispieliel the Lammasu enacts a miracle of the Lore of the Storms that makes the water currents support him when he swims. The miracle has magnitude three, so he receives a pool of six bonus dice. The next time Beispieliel's player has to make a swimming check he can add six dice to it. Or he can decide to add two dice now save four dice for future checks. Or any other possible distribution of the six dice.// 
 +  * If the effect is designed to **decrese** the size of the pool instead then the procedure is similar in priciple. The miracle will create a pool of "negative" dice equal to twice its magnitude, which will be subtracted from the target's pools. However, in this case the use of the pool is not controlled by the target. Instead the caster needs to declare a rule for the use of the dice. This rule can be as easy or complex as the caster wishes, and can include any circumstances that could serve as a trigger for a delayed miracle. So "The next three times the target makes the roll in question he will receive -2 dice" would be an acceptable rule, but also things like "all rolls while the full moon is in the sky" or "rolls while the target is in mortal peril." \\ Example: //Now Beispieliel is trying to sabotage the love life of his rivals. He uses the Lore of Longing to make it so that whenever his rival tries to flirt, the target of his affection will start to feel a bout of disgust towards him. Beispieliel's player once again chooses magnitude 3, and he decides that the next two seduction rolls of Beispieliel's rival will be made with -3 dice each.// 
 +  * If the goal of the miracle is to modify the difficulty of a type of roll instead of the number of dice then the situation is simpler. In this case the change in the difficulty is equal to the magnitude of the miracles, but it is impossible for these miracle to have a duration that is longer than one scene. However, the caster is of course free to use the rules for hanging miracles to have the effect trigger at a later time. 
 + 
 +These rules also apply to miracles that aim to alter attributes, unless the target chooses to pay for the increased attributes with XP.
  
 +Please note that these rules only apply if the dice pool or the difficulty of a roll is directly affected. For example, if Beispieliel used a Miracle of Knowledge of the Lore of the Storms to give himself detailed knowledge of the ocean currents in an area then that will make future checks to handle a boat in that area easier, but because that advantage is not based on an ongoing effect it is not subject to the limitations above.
 ==== The Gauntlet and the Shroud ==== ==== The Gauntlet and the Shroud ====
  
setting/demon_miracles.1744122384.txt.gz · Last modified: 2025/Apr/08 14:26 by zechstein

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