In Nomine Revisited: THE DEVOLVO RAY!!!!!

THE DEVOLVO RAY!!!!! – Google Docs

THE DEVOLVO RAY!!!!!

Sorry about that: Vapula, Habbalite Prince of Technology, always shouts out the name when he refers to this weapon. His researchers have gotten into the habit as well. That sort of thing is just an occupational hazard when you work for Vapula.

Physically, THE DEVOLVO RAY!!!!! screams Vaputech: the ‘handheld’ version resembles a cross between a jet pack, the hose and spout from a gas tank and a set of rapidly blinking Christmas lights. The large version looked like it came direct from the set of a bad 1950s science fiction film, down to the pipe organ that was apparently an integral part of the design. Anyone who sees either version, and knows about Vapula, will instinctively either dive for cover or lob a grenade at it: it simply looks like bad news.

It is.

When in use, THE DEVOLVO RAY!!!!! shoots out a spray of oddly colored light that does ethereal and celestial damage, of a sort. Roll two differently colored dice: one is the amount of Mind Hits “inflicted,” and the other is the amount of Soul Hits. However, this damage will not actually destroy a Force; just shift it. Every four Mind (or Soul) Hits inflicted will lower the appropriate Force by 1, and raise Corporeal Forces by the same number. This can raise the number of Corporeal Forces to over 6, incidentally. Once a particular Force is at 1, further shifting of that Force is impossible.

Physical side effects to THE DEVOLVO RAY!!!!! include a regression to what appears to be a badly-shaven, hulking brute the size of a refrigerator. Clothing and equipment will similarly regress to something more suitable for the Stone Age. The target will revert back to normal at the rate of one Force every five minutes (his or her gear will go back to normal once he or she does), but if he or she is hit again during that time, the clock gets reset back to zero. The handheld version of THE DEVOLVO RAY!!!!! also has a conventional Power of +2, Accuracy of +1, range of about 50 yards, and needs to be plugged into an electrical socket in order to function.

Malakim are affected as above, but with a special wrinkle: they must make a successful Will roll or else temporarily change to a particular Choir every time that they get hit. Malakim from the First Rebellion revert back to their original Choir: everybody else is a GM call, based on the Malakim’s personality and recent actions. This shift in Choir lasts until their Forces have completely reverted back to normal.

Despite the fact that the bloody thing actually works, very few Servitors of Science like to lug it around. First off, it’s not exactly mobile, and won’t be until Vapula gets the bugs out of the portable fission reactor, or maybe the antimatter batteries. Three guesses on how much the field testers are really looking forward to that upgrade. Second, as a purely physical weapon it leaves much to be desired: a revolver does more damage, and it’s quieter to boot (you would not believe the amount of disturbance this thing causes: at least 20). Finally, seeing as the target still retains his or her memories, and is now incredibly strong and agile, and has just been whacked several times by a big shiny beam that hurts, well. Things can end badly.

The larger version of THE DEVOLVO RAY!!!!! required a very large electrical grid to work (causing brownouts for a six-block radius). Vapula has apparently only built one (so far): it seemed to be able to instantly switch Forces and completely revert Malakim for several hours. It also made a frighteningly large noise, which is why Laurence, Malakite Archangel of the Sword and Commander of the Host, personally showed up to dispose of it.

Oddly, it’s hard to get anyone involved in the final assault to talk about what happened afterwards. What’s known that Laurence went in, there was a lot of noise, a bunch of knuckle-dragging angels came shuffling out, they stood watch for half a day, and eventually the Archangel of the Sword came out, looking very, very annoyed.

 

No one is willing to admit to passing on the rumor that one of his wings was still pure white.

 

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