Making a Disturbance in Dallas

Disturbance is what happens when celestials interfere on the corporeal plane. Anything an angel or demon does on Earth is interfering with the way things should be, and creates supernatural "echoes" that other celestials (or highly sensitive humans) can hear. The greater the interference, the greater the disturbance, and disturbance lingers for seconds or minutes after the event. Additional disturbances within a short time result in a building cacaphony that becomes even louder.

Perceptive individuals who hear a disturbance can also sometimes get a sense of what caused it.

Besides the fact that causing a disturbance will blow a celestial's "cover" and potentially reveal information to the Enemy, disturbances also disrupt any proto-Tethers that may be forming. Since Heaven and Hell both want and need Tethers in Dallas, every disturbance threatens to erase any results that the angels and demons in the city have been working towards.

Asmodeus and Dominic both frown on excessive disturbances anywhere, but in Dallas, they're particularly strict. Any angel or demon who disturbs the Symphony too much or too often will eventually receive a visit from The Game or Judgment.

How much will get you in trouble?

• 1-4 points: Routine Essence expenditures are not considered too dangerous, and most celestials will have to make occasional small disturbances. (But this won't prevent an Asmodean who's on the spot to lecture a demon who makes even a tiny disturbance, and remember the "infraction.") However, even a 1-point disturbance will get a celestial in trouble if done where there is even a suspicion that a Tether might be forming. Likewise, celestials who generate tiny disturbances every day will eventually earn a more serious reprimand. Judgment and the Game both say that diligent Servitors should strive for a "zero-disturbance" policy (but since even they can't avoid making disturbances occasionally, they don't enforce it absolutely, unless they are trying to screw someone).
• 5-10 points: This much disturbance will earn a reprimand, if noticed by or reported to Judgment or the Game. Repeated violations will result in more serious action, up to a trial or eviction from Dallas. This means that celestials cannot assume celestial form casually.
• 11-20 points: Any celestial who makes a disturbance this loud will definitely be in trouble if Judgment or the Game finds out about it. If the angel or demon can't offer a good reason for making so much noise, he might be punished, or a formal complaint may be sent to his Superior. This keeps most high-ranking celestials from assuming celestial form in Dallas, except at a Tether, and also makes celestials very wary of killing humans.
• 21+: This much disturbance is sure to disrupt any nascent proto-Tethers in range. Unless the offender's rank makes it impossible, Judgment or the Game will definitely haul him back to Heaven or Hell (and even highly-ranked Servitors will have a formal complaint lodged with their Superior). Since any celestial battle involving multiple deaths and/or lots of destruction will accumulate this much disturbance, celestials avoid direct conflict in Dallas for this reason.

Or, if you think of Servitors of Dominic and Asmodeus as cops, you can think of disturbances as follows:

• <5 points: "let you off with a warning (this time)"
• 5-10 points: "Traffic violation."
• 11-20 points: "Misdemeanor."
• >20 points: "Felony."