Re: Celetial User's Guide (How mechanics work)
Invocations (with special thanks to Hellcat)
Someday, you will really need to talk to your boss, or pass on that vital piece of information that will either save, or damn, a soul. To do so, a given celestial has to succeed at an ‘Invocation’, a special ‘ceremony’ designed to get the attention of the big guns.
The difficulty of a summoning a given Superior varies and, needless to say, there is generally a small chance of success. However, there are ways to improve your chances, both generic and personalised for each Superior. The personalised invocation modifiers are not a strict rule, they are more a suggestion of something that would be appropriate for that level of bonus for that superior. Something of equivalent level and relevance to the listed one will confer the same benefit.
Invoking a Superior (and that can be any Superior, not just your boss) takes roughly 10 seconds, with a failed attempt having no effect – except to reduce the chances of another invocation working any time soon.
For example, Rana, a Lilim of Beleth, needs to get in touch with Lilith to pass on a few secrets she’s picked up ‘here and there’ for her – her final payment of a previous Geas. As it is, she only has a slight chance to call the Princess of Freedom – but there are things she can do to increase that chance. She made sure to bring along a canary she’d bought just that morning, the creature fluttering helplessly inside its cage, and it has been well over a year since her previous attempt at such a call.
So, making her way to a quiet garden where she shouldn’t be disturbed, the Lilim sent forth a quiet plea, opening the cage as she whispered into the shadows. There was barely a pause before a beautiful, voluptuous woman stepped into view before her, one eyebrow arched questioningly even as the canary began to sing in a nearby tree...
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In mechanics terms, Lilith’s Chance of Invocation is 3 – this is the number you need to roll on 2d6 to succeed in calling her. A unique third die is used to gauge what mood a given Superior is in, with 1 being a bad day and 6 being strangely cheerful/helpful. Certain artifacts and situations can modify this digit, although, unless stated, only one modifier may be used per attempt. (Listed below.)
The Superior does not need to appear in their Celestial form - in fact they won't if any mortals are in the area. That doesn't stop them using other forms, however.
Lilith's personal Invocation Modifiers are as follows:
-6 – anyone but a Lilim or a Superior
+ Geas Level – if you promise her a favour, Geasing yourself, as you summon her
+1 – A broken pair of handcuffs
+2 – A piece of the Berlin Wall
+3 – A caged creature set free
+4 – A battlefield where a tyrant fell
+5 – A human prisoner set free
+6 – Overthrowing a government – any government
Universal Invocation Modifiers are:
-4 – The Celestial is making futile demands
+2 – Celestial’s corporeal vessel at risk of death
+3 – Celestial at a Tether (Heavenly for Angels, their Master’s for Demons)
+3 – If the celestial is in the presence of any enemy celestials (Diabolicals for the Host, and the Host for Diabolicals. This increases to a +4 if the celestial is in the presence of an enemy Superior!)
-10 – If the Superior being Summoned is not the celestial’s own, unless the celestial is currently on a mission for that other Superior or has an attunement belonging to that Word.
Time since last invocation: -3 if less than a day, or -2 if more than a day but less than a week, or -1 if more than a week but less than a month, or +1 if over a year!
Therefore, Rana has Lilith’s base of 3, +3 for the canary and +1 for the time since her last Invocation, bringing her target up to 7 - much more manageable!
