Page 182 - Chronicles of Darkness

For a God-Machine Chronicle, a local tier means local Local Organization:
consequences. The backstory of the game can be as in-depth
as you like, including speculations about the cosmic possibili- The Cult of the Wheel
ties of the God-Machine, but keep the end closer to home. Words have power. Words can echo through the world
This can be accomplished in a number of different ways. and come to the ears of people that can only dimly recognize
One method to keep the scale local is to only include the power of the words spoken. Such is the case with the Cult
the repercussions of the God-Machine. Strip mining ex- of the Wheel. They heard the words of the Pain Prophet echo-
poses a previously unknown cave to the light of day. Work ing along the vaults of the sky, trembling down the frame of
is halted as baffled geologists investigate. Dark, winged the God-Machine, but they heard it in the same way children
horrors rise up from the depths of the cave and proceed to might receive a message at the tail end of the telephone game.
butcher anyone they can catch. They gnaw on machinery, Some parts of the Marco Singe’s message were garbled,
they demolish equipment. It’s up to the survivors of the others came through in terrible clarity, but the one phrase
initial attack to flee or fight. Whether they live or die, the that vibrated with meaning for the Cult was simple enough.
problem doesn’t extend beyond the local. What has fallen may rise again. The few that heard the message
In this case, for whatever reason, the God-Machine has deciphered it as a metaphor for the Great Wheel, the Perfect
decided the strip mine must be shut down. By opening Circle. They registered the meaning as one of the great axioms
the cave mouth, the chance to stop the attack has already of this world: What goes around comes around.
passed and people must deal with the repercussions. This The Cult of the Wheel exists to bring change, to push the
leaves the God-Machine in the background and uses its Great Wheel. They understand that all great things have small
minions as the obvious threat. At most, the bottom of the beginnings and devoutly believe in the power of the Perfect
cave might reveal some connection to the God-Machine, Circle, the force others might ignorantly refer to as karma.
like an ancient, rusting portal of unknown origin or a pool The members of the Cult smile tolerantly at the notion the
of absolute darkness that occasionally shimmers with static Perfect Circle can be defined as simply as the balance between
like a TV on the fritz. actions that are subjectively good and actions that are subjec-
Another method to keep it local is to use a single agent tively evil. Who can declare any act is ultimately good or evil
of the God-Machine as the basis for the story. This could when they can’t see the invisible hand of the God-Machine at
be an angelic visitation, a group of cultists or a child that work? Humans understand as little about what truly motivates
suddenly manifests the ability to read minds. For those with them as an ant might comprehend the foot that crushes it
a more literary bent, the book Needful Things by Stephen from above.
King is one example of how a single agent of chaos can cause Good and evil are impossible. Order, however, is possible.
serious damage to a town. H.P. Lovecraft’s The Colour Out Order and chaos circle each other on the Great Wheel and
of Space is another solid example of a story within the local it is humanity’s ability to impose order upon chaos that has
tier with connections to a broader theme. lifted it above the other animals of the world. The Cult of the
This method gives the characters a chance to oppose Wheel believes the God-Machine strives toward order above
or support the will of the God-Machine as they see fit. It all things and that humans are its misguided tools. Each time
presents a problem with potential solutions. The results man imposes order on his surroundings, the God-Machine
of their decision should have a lasting effect on the local blesses his efforts. The blessings of the God-Machine are
scene. A group of doomsday cultists sets up shop in town. what bring happiness, comfort and all else humans ignorantly
They begin slowly converting everyone to their cause, with define as good.
the goal of a mass suicide to appease the God-Machine (not The true number of members (or Wrights) of the Cult
that the God-Machine needs or wants appeasement). This of the Wheel is unknown, even by the Cult. Wrights leave
is a local problem that can be fought, and results in local active Spokes and form new ones on a regular basis. Each
consequences. Spoke puts down roots in a location where chaos has begun
One last possible method for keeping a story local draws to overwhelm order. This includes areas suffering from urban
on the sort of circumstances typical of the aforementioned blight, severe economic depression, ecological disaster, and
ghost story. The characters are trapped someplace by the violent conflict.
workings of the God-Machine. Maybe the God-Machine Communication between Spokes is common, but only
twists reality to draw the characters into a house of doors. to share news, rather than acting as part of a coordinating
It tests them like a scientist tests a mouse in a maze, look- effort. Capable Wrights travel the world, acting as explorer-
ing for the one that can open the doors in just the right missionaries, seeking out the workings of the God-Machine
sequence to escape. that exist wholly in this reality. They pass on the locations
In this case the characters are highly likely to learn at they’ve discovered where the God-Machine can been seen
least a little about the God-Machine during their efforts to and touched. New Spokes settle at these locations and begin
escape or survive. This method generally works best for a the work of bringing order.
one-shot game or as the kickoff for a chronicle. In the ex- Members of the Cult of the Wheel are generally well
ample above, the God-Machine will likely have future plans educated and frequently have some sort of background in
for whichever character figures out the doors. charitable work. Many are religious as well. These Wrights
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Local