It's interesting (if not particularly surprising) that
Jean is absolutely indifferent about actually naming
his creations. If it's a gun, he calls it a gun. If
it's a particle accelerator, he calls it a particle
accelerator. If it's a computerized mechanical tool
designed to resemble a corporeal life form, he calls
it a computerized mechanical tool designed to resemble
a corporeal life form. Jean prefers things to be
clear. However, the Archangel does recognize that his
non-Elohim servants tend to favor more 'colorful'
names, so he lets them indulge themselves. It may not
add anything to a particular device's utility, but it
doesn't take anything away, either, and the boost to
morale is slight but measurable.
Thus, the Archangel of Lightning did not object when
one of his Saints (Robert, 'leader' of The Cadre) took
one look at Jean's new database and renamed it. In
fact, Jean was slightly impressed: puns may be odious,
but St. Robert had actually managed to create one that
was accurate. Indeed, this new database was a Book of
the Names of the Dead...
Well, Undead, and it wasn't a book, and there were
more than just names in there, but it was still
faintly relevant.
The Necronomicon (currently on version 2.3) is
essentially a combination of online field manual,
discussion board and portable library. It's avowed
purpose is to provide Divine servants with as much
information on the Undead as possible: both Soldiers
and angels are encouraged to relate even the smallest
details of a relevant encounter. Needless to say, the
entire archives of the Lazarines (a society of
Zadkiel's dedicated to the elimination of the Undead)
were the first items to be transcribed into the
Necronomicon, and their continuing research is
routinely posted there.
The Necronomicon has three goals: identification,
research and elimination. Identification is fairly
straightforward: text and multimedia files provide the
appearance, methodologies, weaknesses and variations
of the three major forms of Undead. These files tend
to be fairly stable, as most of the major work has
already been done: they're also required reading for
most new Soldiers or angels. Also found here are the
names, pictures and descriptions of every Undead that
Heaven has personally identified.
Research is a bit more involved, and can be broken
down to formal (Lazarine laboratory research, among
other things) and informal (massive freewheeling
discussion boards and forums where brainstorming is
the custom). Getting access to this section requires
a certain amount of peer recognition: posting, more
so. It's worth it, though: the work done at the
highest levels is truly astounding.
Elimination is technically part of the Research
section, but in practice is its own distinct area of
expertise. The emphasis here is pretty much on how to
efficiently, quickly and silently destroy Undead: this
can range from hybrid research/combat electronic
conferences to gruesomely explicit discussion boards.
The moderators routinely glean through the entries,
distilling the best pearls of wisdom for inclusion in
a 'how-to' file that gets larger every year. Sardonic
servants of the Host tend to call this file The
Revelations of Glock-E, in honor of both a favored
zombie-killing gun and the average clearance of the
field agents who face the Undead.
The regular contributors to the Necronomicon tend to
be a fairly hard-boiled lot: constant exposure to
zombies and mummies and vampires and whatnot has had
an effect on their personalities, and it's reflected
in their humor (fairly inappropriate, at times) and
lack of squeamishness (truly impressive). The more
esoteric parts of the boards could cause acute nausea
in an unprepared human - or even angel. Naturally,
most hardcore Investigators (their informal name for
themselves) have less than zero sympathy for any
philosophical position that lets a single zombified
finger survive the inevitable cleansing.
Needless to say, such a resource as the Necronomicon
is carefully guarded. The first line of defense is
that the servers with the basic information are all in
Heaven: regular firewalls pale in comparison.
Furthermore, actual access to the database is
regulated. Most servants of the Host are issued basic
user privileges as a matter of course, should they
request it: they are issued silvery electronic random
password generators that allow them to access the
common areas. Such generators are actual corporeal
artifacts, and will not generate the necessary keys
when parted from their owners.
However, such access only lets the user to read the
declassified materials and study up on the more common
forms of Undead. There are five clearances: F grants
declassified information, E through C provides access
to some of the more engaging speculations, B allows
the user to participate in the expert discussion
boards and cutting edge research and A is reserved for
Superiors 'and their designates'. Furthermore, the
ability to request that research be done on a specific
target is subject to another set of clearances, based
on the visible electromagnetic spectrum (visible to
regular humans, at least): the higher the level, the
more likely that someone will actually respond within
a useful amount of time. PCs with access to the
Necronomicon databases (and with a need for its
information) should hold clearances somewhere in the
middle of the scale. A clearance of D or so will
allow them to see some of the interesting stuff, and a
central color rating will get their questions answered
fairly promptly, but the GM will still be able to
throw surprises at them.
Occasionally, however, a demon or Hellsworn will slip
through somehow. What happens next depends on their
intentions: those hoping to spread dissension (or even
spy) are at constant risk of exposure and attack:
suitably trained angels routinely resonate on every
post on the Necronomicon database. However, a demon
that sincerely wants to just learn how to kill Undead
better may very well be quietly ignored, as long as he
or she stays out of the classified sections and keeps
his or her mouth firmly shut.
Note that only demons or Hellsworn are in a position
to even try to sneak on. Those Undead that manage to
steal or capture a key and try to bypass its security
system always seem to succeed - until they actually
log on. If they do, the key will immediately flash
bright silver and attach itself to the Undead. Once
this happens, the key will cause 1d6 Body hits per
turn, which cannot be reduced, blocked or deflected:
even the Corporeal Song of Shields won't dislodge it
once it attaches (only delay the damage). This damage
will last until the Undead makes a Strength roll (in
other words, rips out the key - for another 2d6 Body
Hits) or dies.
Hey, if you're eternally lying, you should be dead.
That's why they call it 'death' in the first place,
rather than, say, 'hanging out'...
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