LeviathanTempest:RavenDumpingGround

Strains

The strains have many different aspects, so I was trying to think of the primary explanation. Here's what I came up with "What kind of god are you?", this is easiest explained by describing the kind of religion that would worship you.

Think of these as exadurations; the strain taken to it's logical conclusion. Most Leviathans will see the below as what they will become if they don't try and become something better. Not all Tanninim are moral extremists, but they do have a pathological need for stability that, if they aren't careful, could easily manifest as a huge list of rules they force everyone around them to follow. You eat pork, you get eaten.

The cults though, the Beloved normally do end up like the cults below, forced into that shape by The Wake. The mismatch between the religion the cultists think they're in and the religion the Leviathan wants is just another of the Tribe's curses.

A Bahamatuan's cult tends to look kinda like the movementarians from the Simpsons. Don't think, don't do anything, just conform and be provided for. From the Strain of Sloth's perspective they're constantly surrounded with whiny needy babies. On the plus side, they're relatively unlikely to be creating problems compared to other strains.

Meanwhile a Dagonite's cult probably looks like the actual Jonestown. Lots of backstabbing, favouritism and vicious politics all centring around the Leviathan. Who's possibly too Proud of all the flattery to see how his favourites are harming his interests; through backstabbing politics if not abusing their authority over lesser cultists.

The Lahamin probably don't resemble any real religion, but a very common fictional one. They are the secretive chessmaster gods who see all and have planned everything. Their followers are the sinister cult who's members are everywhere, hidden among rich and poor and plotting nefarious deeds. The first Robert Downey, Jr Sherlock Homes film has an example.

The Nu's cults could be said to resemble an evil modern Christianity, after everyone started asking “hang on, how do we know there even is a god?” God is a metaphor, key theological events like the resurrection are a metaphor. This leads to a lot of “interpretation” of what the Nu really means; like most strains the Nu often have to become a tyrant just to make it clear that no, it wasn't an elaborate metaphor that really means “sacrifice virgins to me”. On the other hand a Nu trying to find it's theological and practical place in the world often has a good resource, make vague complaints about what you feel unsure about and pick from the interpretations provided by your philosophical cult.

Oceaneads are religion as a mask for self promotion. An Oceaneads cultist are the sort of people who use their faith to assert moral or social superiority to others (using faith to assert that others are morally evil is more a Tanninim thing). An Oceanead is both an exemplar of this behaviour, their cult is a choir of flattery, and a living symbol of social status. An objective measure of who the religion put on top of the social pigpile this week: Who did the goddess smile at the most?

The Tanninim are the easiest to explain. They are the bronze age gods with ten plagues and an itchy trigger finger. A Tanninim's cult is often led by the kind of fundamentalists who'd call HIV god's righteous punishment against homosexuality, and a Tanninim is often the kind of god who would create HIV as a punishment. This is to say, they have that kind of moral extremism, not that they nessacarally look like right wing Americans. It is perfectly plausible to find a Tanninim Cult which accepts any kind of sexuality, but god help you if you forgot to bathe in sacred oils this morning.

The Thalassans are the kind of god you might see behind televangelists. The god who you worship for material reasons; more classically the Thalassans are probably the most common kind of religion. If you live one storm away from a bad harvest, and one bad harvest away from starvation, you bet you would pray for good whether. In short, they're the gods you worship for non-religious reasons. This means that a Thalassan has to provide to keep it's cult in any semblence of order; on the plus side they can keep their cult in order with material goods as easily as threats.

Lahmasu Strains

Leviathan started as a simple idea: "White Wolf has done all the classic monsters, except the creature from the Black Lagoon". That idea didn't last long, and when I started writing it was my intent to bring the Black Lagoon back. The Lahmasu seemed like the natural place. Each are based on a different stereotypy ranging from sea monsters, to horror films:

Gugal - Are quite simply Lovecraft's deep ones. Their unique tendency to actually have genetically stable populations makes it possible for them to actually have a functional and lasting undersea city. (Leviathan controlled or fearcly independent)

Abuu - Born cultists who see their mutations as proof of divine favour and their natural role as priests.

Mahhu - A horror classic, the creepy person who knows stuff. The swamp witch or delpadated gas station owner for example.

Heqen - The knowledge to the Mahhu's wisdom. Strange tribes in touch with nature, the supernatural and the astral realm.

Pelopsids - Pelopsids are mermaids (tails are optional, but not rare). Ranging from pretty love interests to vicious predators who feed on humans. They can often use siren songs too.

Gibborim - The creature from the black lagoon itself. Vicious claws, vicious instincts, and often a predator's cunning.

Hemitheos - The Tribe are gods (well technically 1/3 gods), so their children are demigods (well 1/6 gods). Hemitheos take this literally, they're a demigod in the greek sense, like Hercules.

Marduk

When I wrote Marduk I used the Hunter Conspiracies as a guide, this included a selection list of charachter concepts; while I was satisfied with the results I cut it for being unsuited to an Antagonist faction. But I'm stashing them here for safekeeping.

You grew up in a remote village until one day people started to act odd. You tried to talk them to their senses but nothing worked, by the time they officially became a cult you barely recognised people you grew up with all your life. You fled, leaving your family behind, and the Marduk Society showed you that you could stop it happening to anyone else.

You were born to walk the corridors of power, a lobbyist or an “advisor” pushing others to the paths you wanted. Then one day the Marduk Society called your number. Now you’re playing in the big leagues.

You were a historian studying fringe religions and you noticed a recurring pattern of cults across centuries cantered around one family. You went to speak with their descendents and you found the cult was alive again; it really was as bad the records claimed. You’re still scared that you are capable of such violence, of committing murder, but the Marduk Society’s therapists are helping.

You’re everything a hero is supposed to be: strong, just, and not bad to look at either. You’ve been protecting humanity for most of your life, the wounds are caching up and age isn’t helping either. But you can’t stop now; you’d never live with yourself if you left decent humans to their mercy.

The blood of the Tribe runs in your family and for all your youth you dreamed of ascending to godhood. Then your brother started changing and you just couldn’t accept your role as a servant. The Marduk Society promised you could take your birthright, until then revenge isn’t bad.

You were an archaeologist and you made the find of a lifetime. Relics older than any civilisation known to man, you had so many questions but your papers never reached the journals, they reached Marduk who offered answers and a job. You don’t go hunting but you respect the people who do, and try to make sure they know what they’re facing.

The Disciples

Will we ever do more with the sky wizards? If we do I'm thinking six of them, each corrupting a different Virtue, they all share Hope - Marduk's Virtue. Each will be obtusely named after a sky deity. For example Zeus was occasionally known as Zeus Xenios after Xenios: Sacred Hospitality. So we'd have Xenios the corruption of Charity (corrupting with Lust because it's Zeus).

Primordial Icons.

Just a couple of things I made to flavour the Progenitors.

I got this idea from the Demigod opening video. The art style is supposed to be the same as the icons of the demigods seen around 1 minuet in. Obviously this is not meant to be an accurate description of the progenitors.

[Picture A carved stone wall depicting the progenitors in crude drawings.

In the centre of the carving is an icon of Nu: A slightly deformed circle with a wave symbol in the centre. From the top, anticlockwise are:

Bahamat: A fish 1.5 times the size of the other progenitors.
Dagon: An eal with a fish's head. It's body is positioned like an S, its belly is swollen in pregnancy.
Nagaraga: A huge eye, four tentacles emerge from the corners.
Isonade: A shark who's body curls to make a circle, its tail is disproportionately large.
Oceanus: A dolphin drawn vertically so it crudely approximates a man. It's tail splits at what would be half way between the ankles and knees and its flippers are held apart from the body. It's face looks almost human.
Tanin: The head of a sea serpent with a mighty jaw.

And here's a poem. In the words are hints to the close relationship between Dagon, Oceanus and Isonade (they each share three favoured Channel with eachother) and the primary Channel of each

Once there were seven.
Once three went to the surface and four the depths.
Once Eldest Nu became sea and sky.
Once Unchained Bahamut grew in deep places.
Once Watchful Nagaraja hid beneath and saw all.
Once Unbending Tanin hunted across oceans.
Once Hierarch Dagon birthed and buried multitudes.
Once Enchanting Oceanus called from the rivers.
Once Graceful Isonode broke islands with a blow.
Once there were seven.
Mother Tiamat above all.
Now there are none.

Crossover Musings

Vampire

Leviathan blood is amazingly nourishing to vampires no matter their Blood Potency, in addition Every point of damage inflicted provides one + Sheol Vitae. There is a Drawback: Leviathan blood is extremely toxic, with a toxicity rating of twice Sheol + one for each additional point of damage inflicted. This poison is rather slow acting, Damage manifests over the course of around six hours.

Damage taken from consuming Leviathan blood cannot be healed while the Vitiate remains in the Vampires system. Assume this Vitae is spent first.

Werewolf

Leviathans are partly not human and so eating their flesh provides no essence. In fact because the toxic nature of Ichor is akin to cancer, growth and mutation rather than decay and death, it is more dangerous to Werewolves than most beings. Firstly the effects become visible in a matter of minutes and secondly if the Werewolf takes more damage than Stamina they succumb to a form of cancer, one where the cancer cells can Regenerate. See Blood of the Wolf for taghae: Werewolf cancer.

Changeling

The Lost Parthenon

The Ancients have a unified view of the Tribe. When meeting a Leviathan an Ancient immediately slots it into their mythology as they would do to another Ancient. Without fail a Leviathan is perceived as a relic from an age older than the Ancients themselves, though how much this matches the Tribe's ideas of it's own history can vary considerably.

Relations between the Tribe and the Ancients are openly antagonistic at best and open conflict at worst. The Ancient will boast of defeating the Tribe long ago to claim their heavenly throne and have every confidence he can do so again. For their own part Leviathans don't always recognise what the deal is. If the Leviathan's Sheol is high enough that the Ancient is vulnerable to the Wake (no easy feat!) then unless the Leviathan has somehow learned of the Lost Parthenon they will not register anything unusual about the Changeling, other than that it is probably attacking him. Should the Ancient be immune to the Wake than the Leviathan's divine nature instinctively recognises it as a rival deity and a threat to be extinguished. She is not compelled to act in any specific way, Tranquil Leviathans are often experienced in ignoring their frequently misleading instincts, but it's mere presence may trigger an Outburst.

Lacking their divine nature Typhons have absolutely no special relationship with the Lost Pathonon.

The Ancients gain the following bonuses when interacting with the Tribe:

• +2 to all rolls against the Tribe, as they do against the True Fae.
• All Ancients gain the Divine Prerogative merit but they can only use it when acting against a Leviathan. The skill involved must somehow be tied to their nature: A knowledge god may use Academics while a Trickster would use Subterfuge.
• Leviathans have a hard time poaching an Ancients followers for their own Cult. Mortals Ensorcelled by the Ancient cannot be made Beloved, if the Ancient is immune to a Leviathan's wake then so are her Ensorcelled. Even unEnsorcelled followers are exceptionally hard for a Leviathan to recruit. When trying to make one beloved deduct their Status in the Ancient;s cult from the Leviathan's successes. (If the Cult isn't organised enough for Status, a merit like Allies, Friend or Mentor applied to the Ancient or it's cult can be used)
• Sky Gods, Storm Fathers, whatever you call them they gain an additional benefit: 8again on all Intimidation rolls against a Leviathan, this bypasses any supernatural ability a Leviathan has that may reduce xagain for the Ancient. This is in addition to the considerable advantages their powers over electricity may provide.

Leviathan's gain no special benefits against the Parthenon. After all, they lost the war for heaven.

Sidebar: Cults for Ancients?

Can a Member of the Lost Pantheon take the Cult Merit? Sure why not, it's your game. However some tweaking may be required for both Zeal and Fervour.

Zeal is somewhat superfluous to an Ancient, their Cult's primary use as a source for Glamour is already covered by the Harvest Merit and the Anceint's followers don't make the move from devout to blood drenched fanatics, or at least they are no more likely than for normal religions. Instead use “Organisation”. As an Ancient becomes more beholden to their divine persona bank accounts in the church's name, clerical staff, a public relations team and more all become a useful screen to prevent a horrible misunderstanding between the Ancient and the modern world.

Instead of Fervour use Influence. Ancients get tasks just like Leviathans but as their cults don't (well don't usually, those that do may use the Fervour rules) combine organised religion with organised crime these tasks tend to be on the good side of the law. This might seem far less powerful than Fervour but Influence is not just a measure of effective members but also how well liked the group is by the community. A Leviathan's Cult with the Recognition Merit may be entitled to visit a hospital and comfort the sick, but when an Ancient with Influence does so people are actually glad to see them. In addition to providing tasks Influence can provide a bonus to applicable social rolls.

Dreams

It's pretty important that Leviathans don't knock Changelings from their spot as the Dream Splat. But at the same time Leviathans are changing reality with their Dreams that's pretty big. So here's how it goes down.

A Leviathan can't use Channels inside a dream like a Changeling couldn't use, say Eternal Summer 5 (but might fake it with dream combat), but when in their own dream all Skill and Attribute boosting Channels (if they cost no Ichor) are considered to be at their Depth 6 level. This includes the Depth 2 Iteration of Peircing the Veil of slumber. When projecting into another's mind with Veil of Slumber or any other method the Lev does benefit from these Channels, but only up to the current Depth of their physical body.

A Lev's dreams are really easy to find, all their Beloved are considered to be intimately linked and anyone Wake Vulnerable in who spent a non-insignificant amount of time in the wake within the last half-Sheol days is considered to be half-sheol steps closer. Round down minimum of one. People sleeping in the Wake are considered to be Sheol steps closer. Of course Lev dreams are dangerous.

If a Leviathan wants to get into another's dreams it might be possible with a ritual. Without that all they have is Veil of Slumbers which actually replaces existing dreams. It's powerful but you can't, for example, study existing dreams with it. Basically Veil of Slumbers is mechanically considered to be to Dream Poisoning (but it is technically different after all, letting a Lev into the mind requires different things than a True Fae). Changelings can undo it like Dream Poison.

If a Lev does somehow end up in another dream they have a disadvantage: They can't lower their dicepool to avoid waking people up.

Dream combat works as in Changeling. Levs are way more "bull-in-a-china-shop" lings when it comes to dreams. Maybe give a bonus to personal attacks but an equal penalty to environmental. Maybe not that's technically an advantage.

Veil of Slumbers cannot affect a Dream Bastion.

A plot hook where a cunning Changeling keeps sneeking into a Lev that's been sleeping for years. The ling is good enough to remain unnoticed despite the enormous Veil of Slumbers penalty. Said Ling hijacks its use of Veil of Slumbers 6 to manipulate reality for it's own ends.

Promethian

The Divine Fire is a force of change, mutation and growth. Primordial Water is a force of change mutation and growth. The two do not mix.

Firstly Prometheans are immune to the Wake, as are Leviathan's immune to Disquiet. The Created's Azoth burns away the touch of Primordial Water while the Leviathan's connection to Primordial Water smothers the touch of Pyros. Neither sensation is comfortable: The Promethian feels as though her Azoth is being extinguished and the Leviathan feels a burning from the direction of the Promethian. There is no actual risk but prolonged exposure may cause Torment and Outbursts respectively.

Spending Ichor and Pyros while physically near to eachother causes the two to react horribly. While not technically a firestorm the rules for Pandora's book can be used. Try to mix up both fire and water as well as plenty of mutation.

Genius

Not many special rules for Genius. It might be worth noting that the Inspired are the most dangerous threat to a Leviathan: They can build as big as a Levithan can grow (and it's easier for them to build big than a Lev to grow big), they have really really easy access to Electric weapons. Basically Levs are weak against Science, Geniuses have better Science than Marduk.

Prostasia Mental Defences don't increase a Geniuses Wake Vulnerability, but they do increase effective willpower as per the Prostasia rules. Mortals and Beholden gain an effective Inspiration equal to the lower of the creators Inspiration and the Wonder's rank.

Geniuses can use Leviathans as components in their Wonders. Use the Larvae (or possibly finding Ingredients rules). One special rule here, Calculus Vampire works fine on a Leviathan's corpse for Ichor. Dead but Dreaming levs can loose Mental Skills too.

Chapter One section headings

I always knew what the three section headings in chapter one meant (In the Begining, Noah (the name) and Go!) , but I only just realised they were named for the beginnings of the Weekly Torah portion http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weekly_Torah_portion

Next on the list is "and he appeared" it covers Sodom and Gormiah. The destruction of a city full of wickedness. *Gasp* What does this imply? Could it be hints of a oWoD metaplot about the end of the Tribe? Am I just jesting with you dear reader? We will never know.