Page 177 - Chronicles of Darkness

most angels. Its incredible power makes a direct con- always simply forces it to find another way to achieve the
frontation suicidal, and the Infrastructure it is build- Output of the project.
ing has no obvious Linchpin. However, if someone Keep in mind here that “reward” doesn’t mean “freedom
were to prevent the God-Machine’s cultists making the from consequences.” Those who throw rocks at a hornet’s
sacrifices that fuel the angel’s continued presence, it nest might be rewarded with the satisfaction of knocking it
would be ripped from our world and banished to the off the tree branch, but they’d better be ready to run like
place from which it came. hell when those angry hornets boil out. Studying the God-
Machine too closely attracts its attention — thwarting it,
• If You Can’t Beat Them: The God-Machine is used even more so. As it tends to express this by silencing those
to having human worshipers, and it can always find who disturb its projects, every attack on the God-Machine’s
some use for these cultists. The cultists themselves are Infrastructure is an increasingly-dangerous proposal. This
not always very good at screening new members for isn’t because the God-Machine is vengeful. Humans are
signs that, say, a postulant intends to infiltrate the cult practically beneath its notice, such that it considers mortal
in order to investigate the God-Machine or thwart its disruption of a project a mere environmental hazard — the
designs. Part of this is the natural human desire to win way a home builder may regard an unusually rainy year an
others over to one’s ideals. Part of it is the knowledge expensive, but otherwise unavoidable, risk of the business.
that the God-Machine quite often devours cultists in However, the God-Machine doesn’t typically respond
the course of its projects, and those who bring in fresh quickly to threats. Its servants, angelic or otherwise, certainly
meat to fuel its designs are significantly less likely to can, of course, but as gods go, it seldom summons a hurricane
end up being put through the grinder themselves. where a convenient car accident will achieve the same results.
The God-Machine doesn’t reward the loyalty of its Presented with a coordinated assault on its projects from
tools, per se, but it recognizes the difference between many different angles in rapid succession, the God-Machine
a hammer and a nail. might become desperate. It might begin to make mistakes. In
Striking a Linchpin successfully should always carry some its haste to crush this unexpected rebellion it might finally
reward. Greater understanding of the God-Machine’s designs tip its hand and reveal its true purpose.
is the most likely. Investigators might even thwart one of the Unfortunately, that’s not usually the way these kinds of
God-Machine’s projects, although this sort of victory almost tales end.

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the face in the mirror Characters