Qlippothic Entropy
- Mage Information -W&W- Nephandi -W&W- Qlippoth
The word misspoken. The Blow struck in haste. The Insult hurled in ignorance. The thought which has wandered astray. These are the banana peels and steel-jaw traps with which we litter the path to Ascension. It all adds up, yousee, and one day Gaia Herself will cry out to the Dark Lords to come put an end to her misery. --Shalavastra, Euthanatos barabbi
The Qlippothic understanding of the Sphere of Entropy distinguishes the Nephandi's usage of this Sphere from that of the Euthantos. The Euthanatos work toward Ascension and the greater good (whatever the other Traditions may think) by maintaining a balance within reality. Entropy kees Order from crystallizing itself into dead rigidity and Chaos from tearing everything apart into undifferentiated energy. In this way, the Euthanatos keep the Great Cycles moving.
Qlippothic Entropy, on the other hand, is used to ultimately eradicate Order, Chaos, and the Balance altogether. It acts upon the world from without, shredding the fabric of reality to open the way for the Dark Lords to enter. Of course, this has never been done in a single act; otherwise, nothing would exist. The Traditions, the Technocracy, even the Marauders, as well as every man, woman, child, animal, vegetable, mineral and base element in the Tellurian, would rather exist than not exist, and their individual efforts, conscious or not, in concert with the forces of Paradox, block the Nephandus at every turn.
Thus, the Nephandus must be subtle and secret in this business of rending the Tapestry: loosen a knot here, unravel these fibers, snip a thread when possible. Eventually, the entire fabric will be so weak that Earth's rightful rulers can no longer be kept out.
Qlipothic Entropy Effects
●○○○○ Common Cause: This mode of perception basically allows a Nephandus to recognize others of its kind and to know when a magickal Effect is being done in the service of the Nephandi Lords.
●●○○○ The Long Arm of Murphy's Law: This is the only coincidental-type-Effect used extensively by the Nephandi. While it can be directed at an individual target to make that person a temporary "jinx" to those around him or her, it is more often directed at specific plan and endeavors of the Nephandi's enemies. Each success on the Effect roll means that some minor condition or even required by the plan occurs in a completely counterproductive manner. An Akashic Brother attempting to sneak past a sleeping guard dog demon might stop on a twig with one success, trip over some garbage with three, and step on the damn dog with five.
●●●○○ The Sleep of Reason: This Effect causes a sentient being's psyche to fall completely under the sway of its own dark side, or shadow. Virtues become intentions to sin, derangements surface with violent insistence and vampires and werewolves immediately go into Frenzy.
This Effect can be resisted with Willpower, much like invasive Mind Effects (victim rolls her Willpower against difficulty 8; each success subtracts one success from the Nephandus). Mental dodges (see The Book of Shadows) may also work if the target knows the attack is coming. The madness induced lasts for the Effect's normal duration. Although it resembles a Mind Effect, The Sleep of Reason merely erodes the "better half's" control. Thus, the Nephandus shows the truth behind his philosophy.
●●●●○ The Inheritance of the Flesh: This Effect not only withers life (like the normal Entropy Effect), but covers the victim with boils and pustules which, when burst, spray corrosive pus which infects all living matter it contacts with the Effect as well. Anyone within arm's reach of the victim takes on Health Level of damage for each success the Nephandus scores. This damage is aggravated, but may be soaked. If that victim takes more than four Health Levels, he too becomes infected with the withering disease.
●●●●● Obliteration: This Effect is the only known way to make matter or energy completely disapear from all known reality and usually has implosive side effects. Highly vulgar, Obliteration does its damage like a direct Entropic attack. If the subject is destroyed by that damage, it ceases to be. Forever. This damage is aggravated, but may be soaked (good thing, too!). Such a powerful Effect can only be used against one target at a time. the normal area modifiers based upon successes do not apply.
Side effects include rips in the Gauntlet, and sometimes in the Nephandus as well (Large Paradox Explosions). this magick does not work, fortunately, against the Horizon itself. In the Deep Umbra, where no Paradox exists, Masters of Qlippothic Entropy can be horrifically powerful. These powerful sorcerers remain one of the greatest perils beyond the Horizon.
