| From: | Bruce <gyro@********.CO.ZA> |
|---|---|
| Subject: | SUBMIT : (NERPS- Organisations) NIMISCRIM |
| Date: | Fri, 18 Sep 1998 11:22:42 +0200 |
with a better knowledge of the language is welcome to suggest a better name.
Here we go.
Neiu Illuminatoria Magus Initiatoria Sacre Christus Roma Invoca Maria.
The New Illuminated Mages, Initiated in Sacred Christ in the name of Mary,
Mother of God.
Referred to only as "The Order", NIMISCRIM is an order of spiritualists,
thinkers and, since the awakening, true mages. The order are the successors
to the first such order (hence the New in the name) which was corrupted
during the Inquisition and destroyed by Vatican assassins. The origins of
the first order are shrouded in time, but many divergent theories exist in
the most hallowed passages of the Vatican.
Activities
The Order exists to protect the Catholic faithful from threats from the
"spirit world". Its members are expected to banish spirits and ensure that
all members of the faith remain true to the "no summoning" strictures laid
out in canon. Further, all members are fully trained priests and minister to
the faithful, hearing confessions and aiding those in adversity. The higher
orders of the Church have often used agents to deliver important messages.
The Order is sometimes required to neutralise a conjurer who is dabbling in
dangerous researches. All attempts to dissuade the offender will be made
before the termination order is given. Only those persons who directly
threaten the Church or the faithful will be marked for death.
Leadership
The Order is led by Brother Nilius, a highly respected Biblical Scholar of
French descent. He is a hermetic mage of great power, and a man of awesome
intellect. Reporting directly to Archbishop Veryn, who is in charge of
metaphysical matters for the Church, Brother Nilius has the ear of the Pope,
once removed. This places a great deal of responsibility on The Order to
solve all questions of faith in their delicate field of expertise as quickly
and quietly as possible.
Recruitment
Children in Catholic homes and Churches are secretly tested every year by
travelling mages in the employ of Rome. Those among them that show the most
promise are offered a scholarship at the best Vatican schools. They are
educated and trained to use their special talents. The best among these are
initiated into The Order. (This initiation is usually a Grade 0 magical
initiation with the ordeal of Oath)
Another way of entering the order is through service and devotion to the
Church and a strong magical talent. Many are missed in the screening process
and only a few of those ever achieve membership in The Order. Those that do
are reffered to as "Prodigals".
Headquarters
The Order is based in Vatican City. They do not keep offices of any type,
there is no Matrix system to hack into and no files to steal. All important
documentation is created in hand written manuscript form and kept in the
secret "Vault of the Scribes". Most agents roam the globe, from Church to
Church, searching for spirits and aiding the downtrodden faithful. A system
of messages from Churches to the Vatican and back is used to convey orders
and information.
Identifiers
A NIMISCRIM agent is not required to wear any special uniform or carry
identification. This aids in the Churches ability to deny their existence.
They are all male and obviously well educated. Many members are excellent
actors and disguise artists, thus concealing themselves in normal society.
The Vatican supplies agents with customised identification and travel
authorisation through channels into many friendly governments.
Friendly Organisations
Numerous Governments. Those with a high Catholic population are often open
to aiding in the destruction or capture of dangerous spirits and those that
summon them.
The Catholic Church. Both the central Church and all its outlying branches.
Unfriendly Organisations
Numerous cabals of conjurers. Those who have had their plans foiled by the
Order. Most do not know who to attack in retaliation of course.
How to use NIMISCRIM in your game.
The Order can come in very handy when the group is faced with some really
scary Free Spirit opposition. Unfortunately for the characters Order agents
are VERY rare and only intervene when the Church is directly threatened or
when the menace becomes a danger to innocents.
I guess that in most games they will be used as a "fat out of the fire" move
by a GM who has given his group more than they can chew.
In my game The Order is a major player in a plot that the characters are
uncovering to imprison powerful free spirits inside broadcast towers built
with arcane geometry. If your take on the Shadowrun world is not that
bizarre or you have not read as many batman comics as I have, use them as
you see fit.
BRUCE <gyro@********.co.za>
Yo soy un disco quebrado
Yo tengo chicle en cerebro
Get-It-Done Submission Circle
