That In Nomine For Dummies page linked in the ROTFL thread made a LOT of stuff in DW5 finally make sense for me! Who's betting that the temple is a tether based around love? I know who Jean is! And I understand why Paradox is even more testy then usual when it comes to their pantheon. That is some rather brilliant, but rather fuscked up stuff. And it also jogged my memory about a certain point people were wondering, on why the sisters are trying to hide Chris's own universe hopping escapades from him. I went back and check the story, and Urd mentions something about Chris stumbling on to his true divine nature before he's ready.
"If Chris realized the truth about the dreams he didn't remember, he might
try to access his full nature, whatever that was, before he was
ready, and only Kami-sama knew what the results of that would be."
I assume that this has means that his full manifestation is different, perhaps drastically so, from the standard inserting avatar system used by the rest of the gods. Perhaps he doesn't have a greater form or incarnations in other universes simultaneously, and has something similar to Hexe, where all of his power is sealed in one body, but he's unable to access a significant amount of it? Depending on which universe he's in, the seal will change slightly allowing him to access different power levels or forms? Hmmm... Maybe, but I don't think so, given that Bob's mentioned that Hexe has little more relevance to the story. So in what is the secret to Paradox's godhood? Does he not have a greater nature like the others? Or given his universe hopping exploits, does he have something greater? I'm dying to see how this turns out. Plus the way Paradox sort of briefly channels one of his experiences and then seems to instantly forget about it in DW5-2 says to me that we'll soon find out what the whole deal is, as he appears to be beginning to remember his jumps. Hmmm... Maybe kami-sama needed a champion or hero that he could exert a reasonable amount of control over? I mean with Doug, all the gods can really do is ask, "Please could you do this for me?" And given his general attitude to gods it's very likely he'd just say screw you and walk off. But kami-sama is in control of where Chris goes and what powers he has when he's there, and given his whole speech on how sometimes an man, not an incredibly holy champion but a least a relatively good guy is needed in the multiverse, he knows within a reason what Chris will do in a given situation. It also makes me think that he's using Chris as a kind of an agent of deniability , just so he can say hey, it wasn't me, I didn't FORCE him to do it, when Chris does whatever his task is in the other universe.
Anybody else have any thoughts along these lines?
Given that one page in particular started this particularly twisting train of thought in my head, I'd better link it. haru_in.tripod.com/INforDummies.html (Bear in mind this is just about In Nomine, and not Drunkard's Walk)

Anyway to wrap it up, most great props to both Bob and Chris on writing something that stimulates the mind and imagination so much. I apologise if I'm being in any way irritating or rude, but is there any more news on when the next chapter will be out? The series is so good and so full of ideas at just a two chapter mark that I have a serious feeling the whole thing will be simply cool as hell(or heaven).
Regards,
David Plywood Lewis

"Playing with GURPS Powers" plus "looking at Bob's website" equals "updated character sheets"... although this is the first conversion from GURPS Third Edition that I've done, so I may have goofed somewhere.
I'm still working on a conversion of Alvin Russet, but my conversion of Ogden Matthias is finished, so here it is. Bob, if this conversion is correct, it's yours to do with as you see fit.

Ogden Matthias
691 points
ST 11 (10)
DX 13 (60)
IQ 16 (120)
HT 15 (50)
HP 15 (8)
Will 16 (0)
Per 16 (0)
FP 11 (-12)
Basic Lift 24
Damage 1d-1 th / 1d+1 sw
Basic Speed 4.5 (-50)
Basic Move 4 (0)
Social Background
TL: 8 (0)
Cultural Familiarities: Western (0)
Languages: English (native) (0)
Advantages
Charisma +10 (50); Patron: powerful individual, generic (+100%), appears on 15- (60); Reputation: +3, everyone, all the time (15); Status 5 (20); Voice (10); Wealth: Filthy Rich (50).
Powers
Mind Control: area effect 60yd (+300%), independant (+70%), no signature (+20%), reliable +9 (power roll is 25; +45%), suggestion (-40%), telepathic (-10%), power can be transmitted through audio signals (+40%), targets must hear his voice (-20%), only one message: "You will obey me" (-40%) (233)
Disadvantages
Fanaticism: God's Kingdom of Supers (-15); Secret: leader of a subversive revolutionary movement (-30); Sense of Duty: to supers (-10); Vow: If he can prevent it, supers will never be persecuted (-10).
Quirks
Subtle and careful -- a long-term planner for everything; Always carries a brass-handled cane; Insists on good PR, no matter what; Knows enough to trust expert opinions, if they're experts he can trust; Rationalizes evil deeds done for a good cause. (-5)
Skills
Administration-16 (IQ) (2); Area Knowledge: NYC-18 (IQ+2) (4); Bicycling-14 (DX+1) (2); Broadsword-15 (DX+2) (8); Computer Operation-16 (IQ) (1); Detect Lies-18 (Per+2) (12); Diplomacy-19 (IQ+Voice+1) (8); Economics-14 (IQ-2) (1); Intimidation-19 (Will+3) (12); Leadership-20 (IQ+4) (16); Occultism-16 (IQ) (2); Performance-21 (IQ+Voice+3) (12); Public Speaking-21 (IQ+Voice+3) (12); Psychology-17 (IQ+1) (8); Savoir-Faire: high society-20 (IQ+4) (12); Strategy: land-17 (IQ+1) (8); Swimming-15 (HT) (1); Theology: Christianity-19 (IQ+3) (16).
Non-Super Equipment
Tactical Vest (DR 12, 9 lbs.), worn only during public appearances.
Brass-handled cane (Can be used in combat as a light club, +2 to damage from the metal head: Damage sw+3 cr, Reach 1, 5 lbs.).

(Edit: Left off a couple of point costs...)
(Edit: Changed "accurate" to "reliable".)
-Rob Kelk
--
Rob Kelk
"Governments have no right to question the loyalty of those who oppose
them. Adversaries remain citizens of the same state, common subjects of
the same sovereign, servants of the same law."

- Michael Ignatieff, addressing Stanford University in 2012

Yeah, that's the way to get rid of all those dirty pirates!
Subtitled YouTube video of Swedish news:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=m6DBn0BncMk

Artist: Blessid Union of Souls
Album: Walking Off the Buzz
Song: That's the Girl I've Been Telling You About
Power: Allows Doug to create a simulacrum of any female he cares about (friendship or above)
Limitations: He must tell another person about who he wants to create a simulacrum of, tell about her even if it is a token sentence in the midst of a melee.
I dont know what I was thinking when I seen her
I just had to find a way I could meet her
Cause Ive been dying for the chance just to treat her
Like the ripe little peach she is
Wouldnt even cross my mind to deceive her
But she could lie through her teeth and Id believe her
I dont know her but I know that I need her
And I dont think shes got a notion but
Thats the girl Ive been telling you about
Aint she everything I said and a whole lot more
She got it going on and I never want to be without her
Thats the girl Ive been telling you about
Shes been spinning in my head like a revolving door
Her smile is like the sun and my whole world revovles around her
I dont even think she knows how she moves me
I cant explain it but she does something to me
If she ever looked shed see right through me
And I dont think that I could keep my cool
I could tell her that I want to get to know her
Take her the places that Id really like to show her
But I hear shes got somebody and he loves her
And I dont think hes got a notion but
Thats the girl Ive been telling you about
Aint she everything I said and a whole lot more
Shes got it going on and I never want to be without her
Thats the girl Ive been telling you about
Shes been living in y head like a recurring dream
Her smile is like the sun and my whole world revolves around her
She lives in my head from the start of my day til the night
And every word that she says Im hanging onto so tight
Thats the girl Ive been telling you about
Aint she everything I said could you need much more
Shes got it going on and I never want to be without her
Thats the girl Ive been telling you about
Shes been reigning in my head like a pouring storm
Her smile is like the sun and my whole world revovles around her
Like a soul in the wind Ive been lost since the day I found her
What Id give to be everything she needs like the air around her
Got my arms open wide wish she knew they belong around her
"Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened."
--Dr. Seuss

When darkness falls,
Leaving shadows in the night,
Don't be afraid,
Wipe that fear from your eyes.
If a desperate love
Keeps on driving you wrong,
Don't be afraid,
You're not alone.
You can run with us,
We've got everything you need.
Run with us,
We are free.
Come with us,
I see passion in your eyes,
Run with us.
When the cold wind blows,
Turn your collar to the cold.
Don't be ashamed
If you need someone to hold.
If you're sinking in quicksand,
And it's dragging you down,
And you feel you're going under,
We'll be around.
You can run with us,
We've got everything you need.
Run with us,
We are free.
Come with us,
I see passion in your eyes,
Run with us.
When you're behind closed doors,
All alone by yourself,
And you're longing inside,
To be somebody else.
You pick up the telephone,
And there's no one on the line,
Don't be afraid,
'Cause there's still time.
You can run with us,
We've got everything you need.
Run with us,
We are free.
Come with us,
I see passion in your eyes,
Run with us.
You can run with us,
We've got everything you need.
Run with us,
We are free.
Come with us,
I see passion in your eyes,
Run with us.
Oh, run with us...
-- Lisa Lougheed, Run With Us (from The Raccoons TV show)-- Bob
---------
I loot faster. -- Peggy Schroeck, D&D game, in response to a crisis situation that arises while she's searching the bodies of four recent opponents.

I forgot to mention yesterday that I made a minor update to the DW FAQ page. Nothing big -- I fixed an image link, and expanded the list of known students at the Warriors Academy with the latest info.-- Bob
---------
I loot faster. -- Peggy Schroeck, D&D game, in response to a crisis situation that arises while she's searching the bodies of four recent opponents.

On a bench in a Heliopolis park, a strange tableau was laid out. Looming over the trees, an advanced looking mobile suit knelt on the ground. On one of the benches lay a woman wearing orange coveralls - Lieutenant Maria Ramius of the Earth Alliance, wounded earlier in the day by one of the ZAFT commandos who had successfully seized four of the five Mobile Suit prototypes developed jointly by the Atlantic Federation and the Orb Union.
Watching over the Lieutenant was a young woman, Mirialla Haw, who was providing little more than nervous chaperonage to the man tending the lieutenant's wounds. "She's waking," she cried as Maria groaned and rolled her head.
"Ayup," the man replied, knoting off a bandage he'd wrapped around Maria's shoulder. "I'll rely on your testimony as to my conduct then."
Maria's brown eyes flickered and then she reflexively jerked away from the man, recoiling almost off the bench before he caught hold of her with a firm grip. "Don't move yet," he ordered absently.
"Kira!" called the girl, summoning one of the young men who had been attending to the giant robot only a few metres away.
Maria's eyes hardened as she remembered the earlier events of the day - the sudden attack and the loss of the mobiles suits, being shot by one of the raiders and then the desperate fight as first she and then the young man she saw approaching had fought off a ZAFT Jinn in the towering Strike Gundam, only to be stunned when the damaged mobile suit self-destructed almost on top of them.
"I'm so sorry," Kira began, looking ashamed of himself. "It was my fault."
"Keh," the man said dismissively. "Those commando types all running around, shooting guns, and then those giants fighting - the lad's probably the only reason you got off so lightly, and all he does is apologise."
"Have some water," the girl offered and Maria accepted the offered bottle, glad for a moment to think before having to respond to Kira. She was puzzled at why the boy wasn't looking straight at her, then realised that her jumpsuit was open to the waist and had been tugged off her right side. Her reflexive attempt to cover herself didn't do much more than lose the water bottle (Kira caught it before it reached the ground) and elict a yelp as she put pressure on her shoulder.
"I had to open your shirt to get to the shoulder," the man told her calmly after she had steadied herself. "Strictly professional - the lass can vouch for my behavior."
Maria was trying to regain her composure when a snatch of conversation came from the three boys still entranced by the war machine.
"This is a great Gundam. Can you move it or not?"
"You guys, don't mess with it!" called the oldest of them, who remained on the ground. As a wonder, the boy in the cockpit emerged without trying to move it.
"Why is it gray again?" asked the third boy.
"Because the main battery is off," replied the second boy.
"Stay away from it!" Maria shouted, her pistol in her hand almost before she realised it. A warning shot glanced off the armor plate between the pair on the machine and they cringed reflexively. An instant later, the gun was out of her hand and she whirled, eyes tracking it, to see the man who claimed to have treated her wound holding the pistol by the barrel.
"What are you doing?" Kira protested. "They're the ones who brought you out of the machine when you were unconcious!"
Maria ignored him glaring up at the only adult in the group. He returned her stare with an air of amusement, then examined the pistol and tentatively tapped one of the levers, causing the clip to fall to the ground. "Tsk," he said, working the action in a professional manner quite unlike the awkward grip he'd used earlier, and letting the live round eject into the air. "I'm so clumsy today. This is yours, I believe," he added innocently and passed the empty gun to her.
"Who are you?" Maria asked, cautiously accepting the weapon.
"A roll of the dice that went your way," the man replied. Now that she looked at him, he was out of place amongst the little group. Not just in age - although he certainly looked closer to her age than any of the teenagers - but in everything! He was almost painfully thin, his tall frame topped with a ragged beard and shaggy locks of corn-blond hair that was obviously the result of neglect rather than deliberate styling. His clothes were odd - a red leather jacket, tough pants and a shirt that looked like it belonged in a video of the pre-Cosmic Era times - and his eyes... Maria shivered as she looked into those grey-blue eyes. She had never realised how dark that shade could be when the eyes were shadowed by more than just the light. "The name is Thomas Finn."
It was almost a relief as the kids introduced themselves. If nothing else, it gaver her an opportunity to palm a spare clip of ammunition from her belt and slip it discreetly into her pistol.
"I thank you for saving me. My name is Maria Ramius. I am a Second Lieutenant of the Allied Military," Maria told them. "I'm sorry, but that is the military's top secret. It's not something people should touch."
"What? Kira-chan was the one who was operating the machine," protested Toru.
"I cannot let you go," Maria added, raising the gun again, this time keeping the gun pointed squarely at Thomas, who was evidently the major threat.
"WHAT!?"
"Whatever the reason, since you guys saw the secret, you have to stay with me until I have contacted the offical board of directors and receive their orders."
The babble that exploded was almost louder than the sound of a gunfight and Maria was about to fire off another round (into the air this time) to get their attention when there was a sharp crack from the back of the group as Thomas clapped his hands together. "Lieutenant Ramius is correct," he said firmly.
"We're Heliopolis citizens!" Sai protested. "We are neutral! We have nothing to do with the military and those sort of things."
Thomas pointed up at the Gundam. "That was built here wasn't it? For the Allied Military? That doesn't sound neutral to me. I don't think that those commando boys believed it either. They came in shooting - that puts all of us in the middle of a war whether we like it or not. And in any war there are only two sorts of people - those who act and those who are acted upon. The latter are called victims and I don't recommend it."
"But why can't we just go to one of the shelters!" protested Mirialla.
"Because the other side would hunt you down to find out what you know about the Gundam," Thomas said bleakly. "And the lieutenant's side would hunt you down to keep you from telling it. Unless you think you can take them both on, your best shot is to co-operate with one group or another - and she's here and has a gun."
"What about you?" Kira asked.
"She smells trustworthy," Thomas answered. "So I guess I'll trust her. For now, anyway." Then he brightened. "Besides, someone has to look after than gunshot wound of hers. I'm sure that that leaves me with some sort of moral obligation to take off her shirt again..."
Maria almost shot him.
=========================================
Feedback please
D for Drakensis

You're only young once, but immaturity is forever.

Just as a heads-up, Richard Lawson has just posted another new fic in the "Thy Outward Part" continuity to the FFML, called "Half A Kiss". I don't know if it's available on his website at www.sterman.org/ , as I just found out a few minutes ago that my workplace blocks that address for some reason.-- Bob
---------
I loot faster. -- Peggy Schroeck, D&D game, in response to a crisis situation that arises while she's searching the bodies of four recent opponents.

"The Invisible Man", by Helloween from Keeper Of The Seven Keys - The Legacy
7:17
[Music & Lyrics: Gerstner]
I am the one who wants to show
You a secret of your cheating world
Wherever I will go - No one can see me
'Cause I'm the invisible man
I'm a creature with one goal
Rise up to heaven when the time has come
I have no body but a soul
Gods law is written on my way, forever
Time by time I think it's over
The malediction I have got
When the world was young
I've been captured in the name of god
To save people, but who cares?
Since a thousand years
Until the holy land will come
Here I am the invisible man
A lost fallen angel helping mankind where I can
My memories are there to save your world
For you I'm just the invisible man
[Solo: Both]
There's the destiny you don't know
I'm a guardian angel and whatever you'll go
You fight through your life not alone
You can't hear me, nor see me
But trust the holy flow
[Solo: Sascha]
Here I am the invisible man
A lost fallen angel helping mankind where I can
My memories are there to save your world
For you I'm just the invisible man
Effect: Effectively removes Doug's body in order to make him invisible; he's just a soul floating around. Handy, since it means other means of visual ID (thermal, x-ray, what-have-you) can't be used either. Unless they have some sort of soul-vision or something. Also makes him utterly soundless.*********
Touched By His Noodly Appendage
www.venganza.org

Well, see, I've been reading a lot of IN fic the last couple days, and...