ANGELS
The Fallen One, Andromeda
Warning: there may be some spoilers in this section
Celestial Births
In the vastness that is the Spectrum, there are innumerable forms of existence. Angels, the most enigmatic and potent of all, are born from the very essence of celestial bodies. When a newborn star ignites, a being of pure light takes shape within its core. These celestial births have become rarer as the aeons have passed, although the reason for this is unknown. Due to the ongoing conflict on the borders of existence, their numbers have been vastly reduced. Angels have long since assumed the role of guardians, safeguarding the Spectrum, and are known to varying degrees upon different worlds where they are sometimes worshiped, other times reviled.
The worship of Angels
Within the imperial church of Threadfin Todder’s world, angels are portrayed with ivory-white wings, and as being radiant, divine. They are considered infallible and all-knowing, and most erroneously they are credited with the creation of humankind. However, these celestial beings often have wings of many colours for a start, with some being black, dark blue or dark red. White is in fact, rare. Most importantly they do not conform to human notions of divinity and can be as warlike, aggressive, selfish, or as loving, creative and kind as any human.
Therefore, the human perception of angels as divine entities who created the world is, of course, absurd. Unfortunately, this did not stop some angels basking in the worship of mortals, although many of their kin disagreed with this. At one point, the practice was outright banned resulting in a short conflict. Among those who stood against the practice of accepting mortal worshipers was Virtue, who once told Threadfin Todder, ‘We are not worthy of worship…’ Adal, considered by many as the first angel though this not correct, also disdained any worship from mortals, and was one of the proponents for helping mortals rise higher so that they might reach the dizzying heights of celestial existence. To this end, Adal spent much of his time studying mortals and living among them as one of them, often assuming a human identity and body, to better interact with and understand them.
Angelic Hierarchy
In the earliest aeons as angels became numerous, the actual first angel, Volcanus, gave them direction and structure. He took charge and no one dared question him, at least not at first. He formed an early cabal of the eldest angels known as the Al Diron. These who were the most ancient and wisest of all, went on to create the Seraphim Council, with many of the Al Diron having seats on this new governing body. It was a celestial senate so to speak, governing all angelic ranks, but with Volcanus having the final say. It was also designed to govern over other forms of life, including the first humans, though not all members agreed on this.
Unfortunately, several conflicts erupted, fought by angels who resisted the Council’s authority, and by those who became opposed to Volcanus who was later removed as First. As more angels were born, there were more ideas on how they should be governed. Not all angels looked on the eldest of their kind and thought them wise. Factions emerged within the various angelic ranks and anger simmered, while some angels began to blame mortals for the war against Tartaros, others seeing the undead as the culprits. Yet others blamed the Al Diron themselves, which was much closer to the truth. Some of these rebellions became full scale wars, sometimes spilling over on to mortal realms. In the end, each rebellion was put down hard, the rebels either vanquished or fled to join the first Fallen Ones, but the damage was far reaching.
Angelic ranks
(Note: the first two ranks listed here, the Amerae and Seraphim, make up the Al Diron)
Amerae – there were only two of these, Volcanus and his brother Wormwood, the very first angels to exist. Wormwood was born mere fractions of a second after his brother within the same star. Unfortunately the two brothers did not get along and both sought greater power. Volcanus’ actions later on, resulting in the outbreak of war with Tartaros, also led to a war between the brothers. In the end, the name Amerae was tainted, with many angels refusing to speak it.
Seraphim – these included Adal, Linuncia, Michael, Raziel and Fakir, though there are numerous other members, some whose names never become known to mortals.
Archangels – Michael, though an ancient, led the archangels who were often seen as the purest and most noble of all angelic kind, in many ways living up to the Church’s ideal. They also acted as judges upholding angelic law and were not kind to those who had broken it. They believed in honour and sacrifice, and would often impose harsh penalties on the condemned. They were also responsible for creating angelic runes such as the forging rune to create shards, and for developing angelic script that came to replace those runes in the majority of cases. It is believed that at least one archangel was responsible for writing the original White Daemoni. Another notable, if somewhat reclusive and mysterious archangel, was Gabriel.
Praecepts – responsible for law and order among angels, these were mostly responsible for putting down rebellions, leading myriads of Dominions in battle. They follow the direction of the archangels in matters relating to justice.
Dominions – angelic warriors largely responsible for the defense of the Spectrum, their leader being, Raziel. Fighters, they were also often directly involved in the rebellions. These are the main warriors among angelic kind and the backbone of the angelic frontline in the war against Tartaros.
Sentinels – also known as Watchers. For aeons, these angels stood on the edge of existence, guarding against the Darkness. Many fell during the first wave of attacks, consumed by the enemy to be regurgitated as dragons, hunted by their former kin. They were often, thereafter, known as Watchers.
The Fallen Ones
It was often understood that fallen angels were inherently evil, but this wasn’t always the case. While many had fallen to the shraeds of Tartaros, others fell by choice. These latter were often rebels who’d fought the Seraphim Council, or others who had become disillusioned as the Spectrum contracted and the Darkness inexorably advanced.
Volcanus led these latter ones to a paradisiac world known as Elysium where they built a eutopia for any angel wishing to escape the Council’s notice. It was a warded world, difficult to find, and Volcanus took it upon himself personally to ensure it remained a secret. They existed there for thousands of millennia until things took a darker turn.
Some of those on Elysium could not find solace, their misery and anger overwhelming them. Angelic emotions are far more powerful than a mortal’s and divisions quickly emerged. Some saw the conquest by Tartaros as inevitable, and advocated joining with the Darkness instead of fighting it, or worse hiding from it. Civil war erupted among the fallen because of these intractable divisions, and eventually their paradise was destroyed. Rogue angels wandered the Spectrum, with some notables such as Drayl and Andromeda willingly giving themselves over to Tartaros to become its foot soldiers.
Drayl and Andromeda
Drayl fled Elysium and joined with Tartaros by choice. Once infected with the essence of Tartaros, he underwent a profound change, becoming a chimera. In his mortal guise, he had another name, and became the leader of an ardent military faction devoted to eradicating the undead. Despite the dark chains binding his soul, Drayl yearned for liberation. Ultimately, it came when he realised he could choose not to serve the Darkness, as easily as he’d chosen to serve it in the first place. As long as he was willing to pay a price.
Andromeda, having led a rebellion on Elysium while dragging Drayl with her, had become so far fallen as to become the leader of a Rift known as the Harpies. She later possessed a soul fragment of Astra Dar’s in order to get a hold of the Shathra Stone. This sparked a war between the imperium and the Nephilim who were the Stone’s guardians. Of course, Andromeda ensured this would happen as the Darkness she served sought to destroy the imperium and the undead, which it saw as an obstacle. However, Andromeda’s personal quest for power would eventually be her undoing, hampering the plans of Tartaros, as would Drayl’s redemption.
The Angel Dead (Wights)
Yet another tragic fate awaited some of the angels who fell in battle—their wounds, sustained in combat and exacerbated by viralic infection often led to their demise. These angelic casualties, however, did not find peace. Instead, they reemerged as wights, the angel dead in the form of ethereal entities with wings of shadow, in much the same way that sentinels became dragons. These spectral menaces preyed upon mortal and angel alike. Their malevolence knew no bounds, and their eradication posed a serious challenge.
The angelic dead, once revered protectors of existence in life, now wrought havoc as these wights. Their eradication proved difficult until angels began crafting more soul shards. These shards proved equally effective against wights as well as shraeds. Once struck with a souls shard, the magically imbued metal would suck in the wight’s soul, trapping it for eternity. This also had the effect of strenghtening the shard, although not as much as the soul of a living angel might do.
Rifts of the Fallen
(These are all the known Rifts or factions of the Fallen Ones. There may be others that have not been discovered as yet)
Eternals – considered the most ancient of the Fallen, there is little known about Eternals except for what Rasnal Nalrost wrote about them. Though they often appeared in human form with wings, like Angelborn, their true appearance was said to be far more frightening. One unnamed Eternal was said to have had a face filled with eyes, unblinking and burning red, a gaze that devoured souls. Others were said to have yawning mouths that emitted chilling screams with faces twisted in rage. All were described as being covered in shifting swirling patterns of darkness. Some Eternals would at times display monstrous visages, wreathed in darkness, and at other times, they could be beautiful and mortal in appearance. They were most active during Nalrost’s time, and he suggests that this rift may have ruled the Fallen Ones, before they vanished. A handful of imperial scholars maintain that they were destroyed, but most agree that this was unlikely and that they may one day return. The most notable and terrible Eternal was Hecate, and there is reason to believe that she led the Rift. Nalrost claims in his writings to have battled Hecate and destroyed her, but there is no other source to back up his claims.
Titans – said to be the leading Rift of the Fallen Ones after the disappearance of the Eternals, these were once Seraphim, among the oldest and strongest of angels. Many such ancients had led myriads in the fight against Tartaros across the aeons. Some fell, and some of those were transformed. Titans usually manifested themselves as gigantic beings with nothing of their former angelic personalities remaining. They are essentially automatons with no will. One description of them suggested they were fifteen feet tall, or even taller, and had dark filaments oozing from their bodies like black lava. They also possessed dark aura-like wings and bony ridges jutted from their faces. Their eyes were said to be white orbs ribboned with black veins; nothing like the Seraphim they had once been.
Vanths – are usually ranked second after the Titans, and are perhaps the most terrible of the Fallen Ones. With four eyes, like Titans they have lost all sense of their former identity. They also have thick feathered and taloned wings that they wrap about themselves like a cloak. They have the ability to blend in with the mortal population, even so far as to possess a mortal, hiding deep within the soul until the time to strike. Once sent to hunt down a victim, vanths never cease until they kill or they are themselves destroyed. They were also used by Tartaros as battle commanders at a later point in the conflict.
Harpies – these are often depicted as women with wings, though they are not always in female form. They are often seen astride one type of beast or another as they ride into battle. These creatures show little of their former angelic selves, although perhaps a little more so than titans or vanths. They certainly have little if any feminine characteristics. Though they serve the Darkness, harpies are often self-serving and will betray anything and anyone for power. They are unpredictable and even difficult for Tartaros to control. One notable leader of the harpies was Andromeda.
Chimeras – considered the lowest of the Fallen, next to dragons, chimeras have retained more of their former angelic selves. Drayl managed to fool humans for years as he hid among them, restraining the worst of his dark urges. In the end, he even managed to overcome his dark nature and turn on Tartaros.
Often taking the form of animals, for these are easier to imitate, they can also shapeshift as humans when necessary. Whether Drayl took the form of a human, possessed one, or shapeshifted into his human form, is unknown.
Dragons – unable to sustain themselves fully in the mortal realm, these celestial nightmares are often found residing within the souls of virals. Thus they are seen as the manifestations of viralic magic by mages such as Threadfin Todder. These dragons often escaped judgement by the Seraphim Council, who led by Adal, attempted to vanquish them. The dragons as ethereal powers were difficult to find and destroy. While they are fugitives from the Seraphim Council, it is believed the Council at some point became aware of their deception, but Adal fought to preserve the status quo. He believed the undead would be vital in the fight to come, and that destroying the dragons would do more harm than good. His arguments prevailed in the end.
Taking advantage of Rasnal Nalrost’s spell, many dragons ended up hiding within the souls of the undead, granting them viralic magic, though this was never Nalrost’s plan. The dragons saw it as a means to escape angelic notice, and as a way to gain new freedom, while wreaking havoc. The most noteworthy of these was the Watcher within Threadfin Todder’s soul, who continuously tried to devour its host to gain its freedom.
Other dragons were discovered on another world called Xanthyra, which in time became an angelic penal colony for dissenters and traitors, such as Fallen Ones who were not killed outright. The dragons had destroyed that world, but continued to hide in the massive labyrinth of tunnels beneath its surface. They existed there for a long time, until the angelic council decided they should be destroyed. They came up with a unique solution, forcing the prisoners to do it for them.
Wights – while not technically a Rift of the Fallen, they should likely be included. These are angel dead, who have been usurped by the Darkness and turned on their own kind, and at times, on mortals. Ethereal winged menaces, they are quite deadly, and their touch can kill instantly. The only known method of destroying them is with a soul shard.
Angelic magic
Spectralic magic is the power of all angels, and is the very essence that binds angels to the cosmic tapestry—a symphony of light and ethereal power.
When angels noticed mortals for the first time, they also began to interact with them, some out of curiosity, others for more malevolent reasons. It was inevitable that at some point spectralic knowledge would be granted to mortals, or stolen, with variable results. Thus, the first spectral mages were born.
Soul Shards
Forged by angelic hands, these weapons were designed to pierce the heart of Tartaros, to wound and even devour shraeds by consuming them, often turning the shards black as a result. However, a chance discovery by Adal, found that they could also be used against wights or the angel dead. Absorbing these ethereal winged beings gave the shards more power when fighting shraeds. When the shards fed on these ethereal remnants, they grew more potent and deadly.
Angels came to realise that their own souls – the very essence that fuelled their celestial existence – could empower the shards further. Some angels hesitated, offering only a fraction of their essence, but others sacrificed themselves entirely. These latter became among the most formidable weapons known.
The Crystal Sword
However, none were greater than the Crystal Sword, created by Volcanus. The first angel did not intend it for mere combat against shraeds. Instead, he imbued it with the Aura, a fragment of the cosmic Spectrum. When wielded, the Crystal Sword could unravel reality or stitch together fractured destinies. It could conquer entire worlds. However, Volcanus and his brother Wormwood soon came to blows over the weapon, with Wormwood seeking it for his own ambition.
Angels assuming mortal form
Stories of angels assuming mortal form has intrigued paytors and imperial scholars for centuries. There were three distinct methods angels used to blend in with mortal humans as described by these scholars. Synthetic Mortal Facades, Angelborn Incarnation, and the controversial practice of Possession.
- Synthetic Mortal Facades
When angels first resolved to walk among humans, they faced the challenge of adapting to corporeal existence. The precise mechanics behind this transformation remain shrouded in mystery. However, historical accounts reveal that certain angels possessed the ability to synthesize a mortal façade—an imitation of the human body. Notably, the angel Adal frequently employed this method, often changing bodies as he needed to. Yet, the use of spectralic magic required was extensive in maintaining a form like this in the mortal realm; it was therefore difficult to sustain over prolonged periods. This may be why Adal often chose to ‘visit’ for brief periods as different personas, while maintaining the illusion he was always around. Also, likely due to his rank, he would have possessed more power and ability in this area.
- Angelborn Incarnation
An alternative approach was to be reborn as a human. To become Angelborn. In this process, an angel consciously merged its celestial essence with that of a human foetus, being born as an infant. Angelborn, however, often grappled with memory gaps concerning their angelic selves and history. Those who did eventually recover their recollections underwent an event known as an Awakening, characterized by the emergence of their wings.
- Possession
The final and most controversial of methods was Possession, which was outlawed by the Seraphim Council. Angels who resorted to this practice forcibly inhabited human bodies, shoving aside the mortal consciousness. While some angels targeted the mentally afflicted, it’s easy to see why this method was condemned by the Al Diron, as any mortal could be attacked and possessed against their will.
The Fall of Volcanus
From the birth of the first star, Volcanus emerged, insatiable in his hunger for knowledge and power. He fancied himself invincible, omniscient, yet ironically yearned for more. Guided by his brother, Wormwood, wielding lightning and fire, they forged the inaugural soul shard—a weapon capable of extraordinary feats, which would later become known as the Crystal Sword. Volcanus would always take credit for its forging, and Wormwood would always claim it as his own.
Ambition bred betrayal, and Volcanus seized the Sword, denying it to Wormwood forever. With its blade, he sundered the Spectrum, slicing through reality until he encountered unreality—the abyss beyond existence, which he then named Tartaros, or The Darkness. As a result, he ignited a cosmic war with one inevitable outcome.
The Seraphim Council, where Volcanus once held the highest seat, later denounced him. Branded as “Fallen,” he faced exile. His name, once revered, was erased from memory and lost to eternity, so much so that on many worlds, Adal was considered the first angel.
Yet, in the year 926YC, on Threadfin Todder’s world, whispers of Volcanus resurfaced. Wormwood, who had also been banished, sought to reclaim the Crystal Sword, which he saw as his right and his means to ruling the Spectrum. And so, both angelic brothers converged, their destinies entwined.
Across a myriad of worlds, angels walked among mortals. Some observed silently, while others—like one named Saltron—had turned against humanity. Adal, the son of Volcanus, although he abandoned that title after his father’s betrayal, was prolific in his study of humans both living and undead. He went so far as to live several lifetimes among them, in various guises. Always, he sought to guide and teach humans, and despite numerous setbacks, he persevered.
But as Adal championed humanity before the Seraphim Council, a reckoning was coming, for even angels bear the weight of their choices. Within the vast Spectrum of Existence, angels persist as mysterious and distant entities. Whether worthy of worship or not, it is clear that without them, the very fabric of reality would have unravelled aeons ago.