Short description of gifts/handicaps
Empowered Mystery Cult
The Illuminati. A massive secret organization with members in several countries. These devotees have studied deeply into the mysteries of Fnord and, while not really coming any closer to understanding something which cannot be understood, they have developed closer ties with the spirit world. A number of high ranking members of the cult are respectable magicians. Moreover, due to this understanding, the Nobles of Fnord can store miracles in any initiated cultist set to trigger under certain circumstances. The cultists are fanatically loyal and will willingly sacrifice their own lives in the name of Fnord, as well as Fnord's avatars. The cult has its fingers in a number of mortal companies and governments, although not enough to overtly control events. (More importantly, not enough for the Cammorae to view the Illuminati as a threat.) For this reason, the higher echelons of the cult often have access to information useful to Fnord's Nobles. Moreover, the cult has fairly extensive finances which are at the disposal of Fnord's Nobles. While the cult generally lacks the subtlety and precision to affect world (or Noble or Excrucian) events on their own with any reasonable degree of success, they can be directed to accomplish simple tasks (attacking a stronghold, mustering political support or opposition to a cause, adding or hindering the financing of some project) which can be beneficial to the Nobles overseeing these events. Of course, such uses will slightly weaken the cult and, while one or two such operations within a couple months can be undertaken without significant harm, excessive use of the cult in this capacity will whittle away at their finances, influence, and personnel.
Unfathomable
Fnord cannot be comprehended. By anyone. He (she..? it...? Fnord.) is beyond even the incredible minds of other Imperators to understand. There is never a sense of a plan in any of Fnord's actions - plans can be anticipated. At times, it seems that there is no reason at all for a given action. Fnord's orders can, and often do, seem random, trivial, unnecessarily convoluted, or even contradictory. Fnord never clarifies them. While the experience is maddening for those who serve Fnord, Fnord's Nobles do get some advantages out of this. Due to the presence of Fnord's soul shard in them, they too become an enigma on many levels. The Nobles of Fnord are invisible to the Sight - they simply do not appear at all. The can still be detected as Nobles (by someone cycling back and forth between normal vision and Sight and noticing the people who appear with one but not the other) but other Powers are robbed of the additional information that can be gleaned using Sight. Secondly, any statement made by a Noble is virtually proof against any magical or miraculous attempt to detect its veracity. If a Noble tells a lie freely and willingly, there is still a bit of moral taint which can be detected by those who are looking for it (and know how to do so). However, any untruth told under duress will be undetectable. Finally, so undefinable is Fnord's soul shard, that it is impossible to provide a physical description of Fnord's Nobles. There is simply something about them that cannot be described, which is dramatic enough to throw off all attempts at description, but subtle enough that it doesn't draw attention in its own right. Any attempted description of a Noble of Fnord will simply be woefully incomplete by any observer's standard.
Cold
Fnord is singly devoted to... whatever it is Fnord is devoted to. It consumes every aspect of Fnord's work on Earth and permeates every part of the Chancel. Fnord's Nobles are expected to burn with this passion just as strongly. Since this is expected, Fnord does not reward this behavior, but severely punishes those who fail to follow Fnord's code, usually by removing miracle points, but sometimes by other means as well. Fnord never lets the Nobles know when they have done a good job (after all, a good job is the least that Fnord expects of them) but Nobles who fail to uphold Fnord's ideals will be punished for their disobedience.
Unknown Code
Fnord is an enigma. It is not clear what Fnord views as the highest principles. Some of the previous Nobles theorized that Fnord's ideals actually change with time. Some have theorized that Fnord has no particular principles at all but simply reacts. Fnord's current Nobles may have their own theories. However, for whatever reason, Fnord has never given any indication of what principles should guide the action of Fnord's Nobles. This doesn't excuse Fnord's Nobles from any failure in regard to these invisible principles. Every one of the PCs has experienced punishment in some form or other for failing to live up to Fnord's Code. More often, Fnord may specify that an action be performed in a particular way that makes little sense to those receiving the orders. Nobles know to follow these (usually somewhat vague) instructions as closely as possible since failure to do so, even if it would appear beneficial, will sometimes draw Fnord's wrath for failure to follow Fnord's Code. Because of the ease with which Fnord's Nobles can trespass against Fnord's Code, they will almost always be short a few miracle points.
Cruel
Fnord is not a kind... whatever it is that Fnord is. Fnord's actions never take into account the misery and suffering that they often cause, and sometimes this suffering seems to be an end in itself. Some of Fnord's previous Nobles have claimed that this is just because only Fnord can see the ends to Fnord's actions, while others claim that the desire for suffering is simply part of Fnord's ineffable personality. For whatever the reason, Fnord's missions are often direct and, by many accounts, brutal. If Fnord were a surgeon, Fnord would not use anesthetic. Fnord's Nobles do not have an easy time with this ethic. Fnord is demanding, often requiring services of Fnord's Nobles that stretch their divine abilities to their limits and beyond. Success is simply expected. Failure meets with harsh punishment. Fnord's Nobles seldom have only one task on their plate. Fnord doesn't appear to care that Fnord's Nobles are worked to the breaking point.
Corrupted Cult
The Illuminati. A massive secret organization with members in several countries. These devotees have studied deeply into the mysteries of Fnord and, while not really coming any closer to understanding something which cannot be understood, they have developed closer ties with the spirit world. A number of high ranking members of the cult are respectable magicians. However, long ago (before any of the current Nobles assumed their stations) a schism took place in the leadership of the cult, and the Excrucians took advantage of it. The Illuminati (as opposed to the Illuminati, which continues to serve Fnord) now serves the Excrucians whole heartedly. While the cult is not a significant threat to Fnord directly, the cultist's relationship with Fnord makes them dangerous in other ways. When performed in the presence of an initiate of the Illuminati, miracles performed by any of Fnord's Nobles, while still doing as intended, will produce secondary effects that are beneficial to the Excrucians. This may be in the form of increased or reduced damage or influence, a weakness or loophole that an Excrucian could work around, or something even more subtle. These secondary effects are not always obvious. Moreover, all initiates of the Illuminati are immune to any divination miracles by Fnord's Nobles. Divinations will simply pass over them without noticing anything. The cultists are fanatically loyal and will willingly sacrifice their own lives in the name of the Excrucians. The cult has its fingers in a number of mortal companies and governments, although not enough to overtly control events. (More importantly, not enough for the Cammorae to view the Illuminati as a threat.) For this reason, the higher echelons of the cult often have access to information useful to the Excrucians. Moreover, the cult has fairly extensive finances which are at the disposal of the Excrucians. While the cult generally lacks the subtlety and precision to affect world (or Noble) events on their own with any reasonable degree of success, they can be directed to accomplish simple tasks (attacking a stronghold, mustering political support or opposition to a cause, adding or hindering the financing of some project) which can be beneficial to the Excrucians overseeing these events. Of course, such uses will slightly weaken the cult and, while one or two such operations within a couple months can be undertaken without significant harm, excessive use of the cult in this capacity will whittle away at their finances, influence, and personnel. The two Illuminati are implacable adversaries.
Fnord in general:
Fnord the Unseen is unsettling and effectively invisible force. None of Fnord's Nobles have every seen or heard Fnord, but none of them can doubt that they have received orders from Fnord. Usually, these orders take the form of subconscious "pushes". On occasion, Nobles of Fnord will find themselves in the middle of some task without any memory of deciding to undertake it. This can be quite maddening for Fnord's Nobles. To make things worse, there are always unspoken rules that Fnord expects to be enforced. Failure to succeed is met by stiff punishment. Sometimes the punishment doesn't even seem to be preceded by a known failure. Fnord gives nothing solid to work from - no Code, no plans, no presence. Fnord's Nobles are simply left to fend for themselves. The previous Power of Futility once described it as like being a blind rat caught in an ever-changing maze with electrified walls.
Politically, Fnord is just as enigmatic as ever. Fnord's known allies run the gamut from Angels to Fallen Angels, Lightlords to Darklords and everything in between. Fnords enemies are no less numerous or varied. While Fnord does not have any particular influence in any one camp, Fnord's fairly unique ability to cross between factions is a trait valued by many. (Distrusted by many as well.) However, the fact that the other Imperators have no inkling of Fnord's motivations generally means that Fnord is seldom a central player in other Imperator's plans.
As for Fnord's Nobles, they may be respected and liked by other Nobles, but this is usually on an individual basis - the Family is too varied for most Nobles to get along with the group as a whole. As with Fnord, the Family's ability to move within virtually any of the Factions is seen as an asset, but one that also implies some risks. As a result, Nobles have a much more difficult time gaining the trust of others individually, and it is unlikely the Family would ever be entrusted with some secret as a whole. Finally, and probably most cogently, no one envies Fnord's Nobles. When Powers get together to gossip, Fnord is usually mentioned by those Powers in the know as one of the most difficult Imperators to work for. Fnord is just too unpredictable, too demanding, and goes through Nobles faster than is considered polite. Whether this belief translates to scorn, sympathy, or respect will depend on the individual Power, but among those who have heard of Fnord's nature, it is a fact that will color their interactions with Fnord's Powers.