Verrain
02-20-2004, 01:34 PM
True Names
From the lowliest Imp to the grandest Seraph, what makes them unique is that they are Named and to know that True Name is to have power over them. Not surprisingly, these names are jealously guarded given out only in cases of absolute trust or to stave off iminent destruction. Indeed, the obtaining of a True Name is usually a great quest in and of itself, but the power it affords draws many a summoner to explore best forgotten ruins or make pacts better left unmade.
Obtaining a True Name: Great Demons and Seraphs do know the True Names of many of their underlings and a Summoner may ask for such knowledge as a Revelation. Thus one must be prepared to offer up the soul for such knowledge.
Uses of a True Name in Summoning: Passive Effects
Making the Offering
Use of the True Name in the opening of the Gate and the call for the Named in question attunes the summoning to that Named creature. The Named will find the call near irresistable and other Named will find the call unappealing or even be barred from passing through the gate should they try. When rolling the six sider to determine the number of steps removed from the summoning goal, the number is halved, rounding up.
Thus if the summoning obstacle is met there is 1-3 steps variance, if it is exceeded there is 0-4 steps, and if double, 0-5 steps variance.
Prison Circle:
Similarly a Prison Circle drawn with glyphs of the True Name worked into it will make the prison more effective at holding that being only. Should another being be summoned within the circle, the circle will be much weaker. A True Name Prison Circle has a +3 to the exponent against the creature so named. Against any other creature the Circle has a -3 to its exponent.
For example, a B7 Prison Circle is drawn with the True Name of the Seraph, Uriel. Against Uriel, the Prison Circle is treated as B10 when determining Uriel's capacity to escape from it. Against any other being, it counts as a B4 prison circle. For all other purposes, time to scribe, etc., it is treated as B7.
Bargaining:
Being summoned by one that holds their True Name puts a Named being at a disadvantage when Bargaining since the threat of having the True Name used against it is always present. Apply a +1DN to the Bargaining rolls.
Uses of a True Name in Summoning: Active effects
It is within a Summoner's power to use a being's True Name to force them to accede to the Summoner's demands. For any that would choose such a path be warned of three things. One: such power can be used only once. Thereafter, that Summoner can never use the power of the True Name against that being. Two: Doing this will forever gain you the emnity of this being, and the Named will do all in its power to extract its revenged for being so cruelly used. Three: News of such uses will find its way back to the ranks of the heavens and hells. Summoners may find beings unwilling to answer their calls. Indeed, many who take this path find themselves unable to Summon except by the use of True Names thereafter as no one will willingly treat with a known Torturer of Named.
By use of the True Name and the spell Dositrin's Wrack (to be written up later), the Summoner can inflict such pain upon the Named that they will agree to almost anything to make the pain stop. Apply a further +1DN to the Named's Bargaining rolls (i.e. +2DN total).
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So what do you all think?
From the lowliest Imp to the grandest Seraph, what makes them unique is that they are Named and to know that True Name is to have power over them. Not surprisingly, these names are jealously guarded given out only in cases of absolute trust or to stave off iminent destruction. Indeed, the obtaining of a True Name is usually a great quest in and of itself, but the power it affords draws many a summoner to explore best forgotten ruins or make pacts better left unmade.
Obtaining a True Name: Great Demons and Seraphs do know the True Names of many of their underlings and a Summoner may ask for such knowledge as a Revelation. Thus one must be prepared to offer up the soul for such knowledge.
Uses of a True Name in Summoning: Passive Effects
Making the Offering
Use of the True Name in the opening of the Gate and the call for the Named in question attunes the summoning to that Named creature. The Named will find the call near irresistable and other Named will find the call unappealing or even be barred from passing through the gate should they try. When rolling the six sider to determine the number of steps removed from the summoning goal, the number is halved, rounding up.
Thus if the summoning obstacle is met there is 1-3 steps variance, if it is exceeded there is 0-4 steps, and if double, 0-5 steps variance.
Prison Circle:
Similarly a Prison Circle drawn with glyphs of the True Name worked into it will make the prison more effective at holding that being only. Should another being be summoned within the circle, the circle will be much weaker. A True Name Prison Circle has a +3 to the exponent against the creature so named. Against any other creature the Circle has a -3 to its exponent.
For example, a B7 Prison Circle is drawn with the True Name of the Seraph, Uriel. Against Uriel, the Prison Circle is treated as B10 when determining Uriel's capacity to escape from it. Against any other being, it counts as a B4 prison circle. For all other purposes, time to scribe, etc., it is treated as B7.
Bargaining:
Being summoned by one that holds their True Name puts a Named being at a disadvantage when Bargaining since the threat of having the True Name used against it is always present. Apply a +1DN to the Bargaining rolls.
Uses of a True Name in Summoning: Active effects
It is within a Summoner's power to use a being's True Name to force them to accede to the Summoner's demands. For any that would choose such a path be warned of three things. One: such power can be used only once. Thereafter, that Summoner can never use the power of the True Name against that being. Two: Doing this will forever gain you the emnity of this being, and the Named will do all in its power to extract its revenged for being so cruelly used. Three: News of such uses will find its way back to the ranks of the heavens and hells. Summoners may find beings unwilling to answer their calls. Indeed, many who take this path find themselves unable to Summon except by the use of True Names thereafter as no one will willingly treat with a known Torturer of Named.
By use of the True Name and the spell Dositrin's Wrack (to be written up later), the Summoner can inflict such pain upon the Named that they will agree to almost anything to make the pain stop. Apply a further +1DN to the Named's Bargaining rolls (i.e. +2DN total).
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So what do you all think?