WillowsInfernal/Manses

Infernal Manses

Infernals gain access to Manses and Demesnes in Malfeas through the Fief Background.

Each level of Fief grants you 2 points to distribute among Manses and Demesnes; a Manse is worth the level of the points spent on it, while a Demesne is points+1, and the maximum level of a particular Manse or Demesne is equal to the rank of the Background, just as the Dragon-Blooded Manse Background. All Infernals are considered to have at least Fief 0, a single level-1 Demesne.

An unusual effect of Infernal Charm usage is that it can cause Malfeas-tainted Demesnes to appear; where at least 50 Infernal motes and half that amount of Celestial motes are spent, a level 1 Demesne manifests. The expenditure of such energy tears 'holes' in the Tapestry through which Essence leaks from the Yozis' prison. For each additional 50+25, the Demesne level increases by one. These Demesnes 'recede' by one level a year, unless a Manse is built almost immediately to stabilize them. Note that with mortal labor, it takes more than a year to design and build a Manse, so it is rare that they are stabilized in time. It is rare to create Demesnes deliberately in this manner, because the process requires Yozi-aspected Essence to interact with Celestial Essence.

Dragon-Bloods and Abyssals can actually inhibit this process. Abyssal Essence scrambles the otherworldly connections that create the effect with its own link to the Underworld, while Dragon-Blooded Essence acts radically differently from Celestial, actually stabilizing the Essence patterns of Creation. Mechanically, each Abyssal mote spent counts as -1 Infernal mote, and each Dragon-Blooded mote counts as -1 Celestial mote.

Finally, Sidereal fate-crafting can repair these rifts; I'll have mechanics for this as soon as I've looked up the rules in Sids.

Comments

Can we expect any work on Infernal Manses here, where Yozi energies have bled into Creation and tainted the wellsprings of Essence? - Quendalon

Hm. I'm not sure that that particular idea fits into my cosmology, but I'll definitely think about it. I'm not so much the Manse guy, but I'll toss out some ideas for those who might find it useful. - FourWillowsWeeping

Just an idea, but Infernal Manses would probably occur the most at the places of really crazy Charm usage. The reason as I'm thinking is because tangles in fate (which is usually caused by Essence users messing it up) allow demons in. If you had a place where there were already mystical energies and that sort of major snarls... it might become tainted. As a side effect, I think it would definately be hard if not really possible to look into them for Sidereals because of how it needs fate to break down to let the energies in to taint a Manse. - haren

Thought on Infernal Manses:\\ These come from the Infernal Background called Fief, which parallels Abyssal Liege and Manse... it describes your duties to a Third-Circle lord, and your consequent perks, in terms of the Manses that your lands control. They generally have effects in line with Celestial Manses of similar rank.

You can also buy the Manse BG, Solar-style, for Manses in Creation. I have some faint ideasfor Infernal-tainted Manses in Creation, but it'll take a lot of space to write those out. Things that are common: places that deny facts of Creation (stuff only falls once you look at it, plants slowly get greener and then it rains and they wilt, and so on), perversions of traditional Manses (ziggurat-shaped pits with Essence fountains suspended over them, networks of wire describing the edges of a building, but with no walls or floors), staggeringly impractical designs (a mandala of wildflowers, binding a Demesne with the patterns of an endless dance).

Reply to haren:\\ Hm, Charm usage... I tend to think that 'tangles' are caused by creatures in Fate that cause things they weren't supposed to, while Infernals and demons actually make holes in the Tapestry. It takes really severe tangling (raising the local Fate thread density) to open up a hole right there (when things snap) or one nearby (displacement of strands). - FourWillowsWeeping

Actually, I missed your reply, but yeah, I was thinking something like what you have here... one question though, does Abyssal Essence work? It's dead Essence, not living Essence. I don't know if it would work... honestly, think it would inhibit the process for other reasons. It's already implied that Abyssals and Infernals don't play well. Their masters goals and methods do not fit together, but just a thought. On the other hand, I would say Infernal Fiefs can not be tainted into Abyssal with Necromancy. They are both tainted energies, but not in compatible ways. Again, just a simple opinion. - haren

That's exactly parallel with my thinking; I completely agree. What do you think of the changes I made above? - FourWillowsWeeping

Honestly, really great stuff. I'm ok at coming up with a sort of idea, but the system, while a bit more complicated than normal manse stuff... it's perfectly appropriate. I think it's the best system really. :) One more thought I forgot to add. While Abyssal should normally cancel out, there is one special case, the Necromancy spell "Poisoning the Well". You're creating two holes to bring in conflicting energies... They might fizzle out, but I'm thinking it's more fun and cinematic to have them clash. The effect should be unpredictable. It might let Demons and Ghosts both come to fight for the Manse. Maybe it starts a Wyldstorm or becomes just taken by the Wyld. If done by PCs, you probably should give them a chance to get out. ;) - haren