Angels

© Anato Finnstark

Introduction

Angels are not as altruistic and selfless as stories like to tell. Rather than messengers of peace and love, they are a breed of soldiers forged in the holy fires of Heaven. Comparable to sentient units of a universal hive mind, their greatest strength lies in cooperation and strict, absolute authority. If an angel questions their higher-ranking kin, they could risk losing their wings or life. Unforgiving and unrelenting, angels are fierce opponents, fearless guardians of their domain, recorders of the world's history, and guardians of the lost.

When creating an angel, consider:
Their level of independence, gender, age, unique titles/powers, and rank.

Related

• Fallen Angels
• Heaven

Birth

New angels are created blind and without wings. They have no sense of self and depend on their older kin for guidance and care. During an angel's first years, they are taught unquestionable loyalty to God, often through methods comparable to torture. Only after extensive training are they given sight and a chance to earn their wings through a series of potentially deadly trials of combat, obedience, and trust, generally taking up an angel's first twenty years of existence.

In addition to being born blind and wingless, angels are created without gender and often choose one based on their preferable human form or continue referring to themselves as genderless or non-binary. A lack of sexual identity protects them from immoral impulses and might also prevent them from creating an identity altogether. While humans have been blessed by free will, angels are expected to adhere to the flock's decisions and merely imagine themselves as singular entities of whatever group they're part of.

While the oldest angels have been initially named by God, the newest generations are left to identify themselves. Names not ending in "-el" are rare, as differing from the flock is seen as a form of rebellion and unnecessary independence. History has taught that an autonomous angel is dangerous, resulting in the older celestials keeping an extra close eye on their youngest kin and their newforming identities.

Because of minimal supervision outside of the brutal training, Heaven's strict pecking order, pack mentality, and glorification of martyrdom, bullying is common among young angels. Defiance is quickly turned into a sign of insurgency, further weakening an individual angel's sense of self-worth, thus feeding the ideology of a unit instead of an independent entity.

Appearance

Angels remind sensual maidens as little as they do chubby babies: first and foremost, they are divine soldiers, not benevolent guardians. Created well before humans, angels have very little in common with the average mortal. Viewing an angel's true form is more than enough to drive a human insane, as pure divinity isn't meant to be witnessed, making dream walking the preferable method of communicating. Should a human even glimpse at an unmasked angel, their eyes would burn into their sockets, gruesomely killing or incapacitating the unfortunate mortal.

Wings are a celestial's most significant and recognized characteristic. They can appear in any natural color except black, ranging in hue and vibrancy. They emit holy light into their surroundings, providing natural illumination for their bearer. While supernaturally immune to dirt, an angel's wings must be pruned and cared for. A flock of celestials might gather to comb out each other's feathers, strengthening their social ties within the pack. Wings are extremely sensitive, and allowing them to be touched is a sign of deep trust between friends.

An angel doesn't naturally look like a regular human. As they are created, they have no gender and appear as young humanoids wearing a translucent robe, are tall and slender in build, and have next to no unique features. Their skin is milky white, their hair platinum, and their face hidden behind a blinding veil. Only after receiving a rank above Ishim and observing regular humans on Earth are they allowed to modify their appearance and adopt a more humane form to appear in. Even still, it's not uncommon to see angels spend most of their time in their true forms when in Heaven; with the inborn ability of telepathy, using a human form seems rather limiting compared to the transfer of raw emotions and pure concepts.

An angel's last and most prominent characteristic is their halo: a self-illuminating bright circle of light above their head, blinding them from anything God doesn't want them to see.

© Katinka Thorondor

Ranks

Angels are assigned different ranks depending on their age and given purpose; that position rarely changes during their lifetime. Such events are extremely rare and mostly the doing of an Archangel promoting their kin in times of dire need. As of late, the creation of new angels has dwindled to a fraction of what it once was, causing the overall population to decrease for the first time in history.

Archangels

Archangels, the oldest and most powerful of angels, descend in power and rank by their order of creation. Excluding Lucifer, the former Archangel of Humility, the Archangels are in descending order: Michael (Justice), Barachiel (Patience), Raphael (Charity), Uriel (Temperance), Gabriel (Diligence), and Haniel (Chastity). Their responsibilities are divided equally between Earth and Heaven, and thus, they are rarely seen by their kin. They are recognized by their six wings and monstrous true forms as they enter battle, in addition to unique, symbiotic weapons. These weapons cannot be handed to anyone else, defy the laws of physics, and radiate holy light.

Seraphim

Seraphim (singular "Seraph") are the second rank. They act as heavenly warlords for the armies of God, often serving under the guidance of Michael. Their devotion to serving and sacrificing their lives defines their worth; these crusaders are considered the most tenacious angels. They, too, carry signature weapons that can be summoned at will and obey the same rules as those of Archangels.

Cherubim

Cherubim (singular "Cherub") are warriors directly under Seraphim commands, protecting the heavenly realm from attacks. They act as guards in times of peace, waiting for the next call to action. Compared to the much more hostile Seraphim, Cherubim are specialized in defense and healing rather than more aggressive abilities. They rarely leave their assigned posts and are often stoic in nature, provoked into action whenever they sense a threat.

Erelim

Erelim (singular "Erel"), caretakers, are the fourth rank. In addition to caring for and guiding their younger siblings, they record the history of the world. These angels are the most humane because they are created from particularly valuable, ascended mortal souls: martyrs and saints. Erelim are highly respected because of their past life as humans and the only rank assigned directly at birth. While they retain no memories of their past selves, their personality may carry over into the afterlife, and their gender is predetermined by their previous body.

Malachim

Malachim (singular "Malach") form the majority of angels. They possess no specific skills and are often overlooked by their higher-ranking kin. Their duty is to guide children, restore faith in the lost, answer prayers, and oversee the continuous flow of souls through Heaven's gates. They are expendable to the word's full extent and serve no individual purpose or value. Ever since the creation process has slowed down, so have the admission of higher ranks—even the youngest of Cherubim are several centuries old, while the rest are left to serve as Malachim.

Ishim

Ishim (singular "Ishi"), the newborns, are the lowest and weakest rank; the "babies," or "infants." Until an angel has undergone initiation and earned their wings, their only mission is to hone their skills in combat and learn to use their innate abilities, familiarize themselves with the world, and aid their older kin. Ishim are not allowed to leave Heaven and will be severely punished for attempting it, regardless of their success.

Powers

While not all angels are created equal, they share similar primary powers. Their capabilities may vary significantly between individuals, depending on the angel's rank and Heaven's dominion over other realms. As Heaven is affected by ever-growing corruption, all angels born before the Rebellion have lost a portion of their original power.

Immortality

Angels care as little about aging, illnesses, and other human ailments as they do the general concept of mortal habits. With the Archangels reaching thousands of years in age, the middle age for angels is well beyond the first few centuries. Immortality has only one significant downside: they rarely see the blink of a mortal's life span worthy of emotional investment.

Smiting

Smiting is the most basic form of angelic offense: a concentrated blast of holy power. Angels can smite through touch, where the effect is most intense, or telekinetically from further away, losing potency relative to the distance between themselves and their target. While smiting isn't generally considered a precise form of attack, some angels have perfected their sniping abilities and can hit moving targets from several yards away.

Healing

Angels possess the most powerful healing potential of all creatures without an equal. Their power allows them to cure illnesses, undo injuries, remove scars, and restore lost senses. However, using these powers on mortals is forbidden without explicit permission; whatever is intended to happen has to happen; such is the natural order. As an angel's ability to heal is tied to their wings, some have figured a way around the ban by leaving their feathers for humans to find. Archangels possess the ultimate form of healing: resurrection from the dead.

Grace channeling

Angels can transfer grace to another one of their kin as a way to aid their recovery or to offer a temporary boost to their powers. Grace replenishes slowly over time, taking a day to restore every tenth of its full potency. Cherubim replenish their grace the fastest of all angels, cutting the recovery time in half, and can transfer more of it before becoming exhausted. As an angel recovers from the transfer, they are affected by channeling sickness and cannot deplete their grace again until it has fully replenished.

Light manipulation

Every angel can bend light to their will, using it to form cutting blades for attacking and translucent shields for defense. The power is at its strongest in Heaven but can be used on Earth, fueled by sunlight and fire. As an angel gains more skill and experience using the ability, they learn to create various shapes and forms; some may even manage to construct complex objects that last for hours instead of mere seconds.

Body creation and/or possession

Only Cherubs and higher-ranking angels can create their own human bodies, leaving their lesser kin unable to hop between Heaven and Earth at will. Instead, the lower-ranking angels are left to find and possess a willing host, appearing in their dreams and requesting permission to take over. While able to possess a body by force, ignoring consent is severely frowned upon, something that should only be done in an emergency. When possessed by an angel, the human soul enters hibernation, gently stirring within the shared body. The possessing angel is responsible for protecting the body's original soul, even sacrificing their own life to shield it from harm.

True form

All but the youngest Ishim have access to their true form, where an angel is at their most powerful. The forms range from beautiful to terrifying, from the size of cars to the height of mountains, able to be seen across the horizon. They are as unique as animals on Earth, varying from celestial dragons to uncanny, human-like creatures. Not two forms are alike, nor are there characteristics every angel shares. Finding out one's true form is even more meaningful than settling on a name, which is why all Ishim look forward to receiving their wings and transforming for the first time.

© Gu Junyi

Innate abilities

Innate abilities are skills all angels possess from the moment of their creation and throughout their life. Unlike powers, these abilities are generally the same for every angel despite their rank, with only minor differences between individuals. Learning to use their innate abilities takes little practice compared to acquiring mastery over powers and should be prioritized as an Ishi's first responsibility.

Superhuman physiology

Even the weakest Ishi is considered superior to a mortal in all physical ways: their durability, strength, speed, and all other attributes are considered superhuman. While angels can still feel exhausted or tired, they can withstand significant pain and fatigue before losing their edge. As with their powers, some angels are naturally faster or stronger than their similarly ranking peers; however, the differences nowadays are marginal, as having above-average qualities would require a personal blessing from their absent creator.

Flying and bio-teleportation

Since angels are blessed with wings, flying is their preferred mode of transportation. Flying requires energy, but practice allows angels to cross surprisingly great distances without fatigue. Teleportation is another option for transport; however, angels can only teleport near other angels. The range of the ability increases by rank and age, with Archangels crossing the world to reach each other, while lower ranks like Erelim barely make it across a small country.

Invisibility

Angels aren't meant to be seen and, thus, are gifted with the ability to turn and remain invisible. While invisible, they take on a semi-ethereal form and can move through solid objects or other living creatures. An invisible angel can only be seen by their kin, the princes of Hell, and any primordials. If an angel passes through a mortal, they may feel the divine as a passing feeling of ease and comfort; to demons, the effect is the opposite.

Self-sustenance

Angels lack normal bodily functions and thus do not require food or sleep to function. The idea of either might seem foreign to them, especially if they have yet to experience life on Earth. As years pass and they spend time among humans, their curiosity might cause them to try either or both, usually with varying success. While angels do not sleep, they can still enjoy the peace of resting with their eyes closed and even dozing off out of exhaustion, yet spending hours sleeping every day seems more like a waste of time.

Telepathy and dream walking

Telepathy is a skill all angels possess naturally from the moment they are created. As they get more practice, they learn to better control the volume they project with, moving from simple needs to complex concepts. The ability to communicate with mortals is more complicated: angels may only appear to them within their dreams to shield humans from harmful divinity and dangerous knowledge. While angels cannot directly control a mortal's dream, they can ward off nightmares and ease the sleeper's mind, causing them to wake up well-rested and refreshed.

Localization

Once an angel has made contact with a mortal, they can locate that mortal anywhere in the world. They may even be able to track a particular human's closest kin, i.e., parents and children, or follow their old vessel's family tree down to their current generation and closest match to the original host. Erelim are particularly talented at localization, perhaps due to their duty as recorders; they have no difficulty tracking down even the most distant family line descendants.

Soul reading

A mortal's actions are inscribed into their soul, revealing their most significant shortcomings and greatest accomplishments. Angels can tap into any human's soul to see if they are virtuous; while they can't directly see the past, they can decipher if a human has committed sin or devoted their life to good causes. Depending on the reading, an angel can then aid that mortal to change their life's course… Or declare them as a lost cause with no hope for salvation.

Enochian language

When Heaven was first created, using words was forbidden, as it was considered God's privilege. As time passed and humans were born, the concept of language normalized and became part of Heaven's socializing. Still, it is more common for angels to communicate through telepathy, telling their kin precisely what they want or need instead of relying on the spoken language known as Enochian. Nowadays, only a few angels—mainly the Erelim—know how to write it, as written words can cast spells both for and against the divine. Using Enochian to communicate with mortals is strictly forbidden as it could easily kill them, a single word resembling 77 jets taking off simultaneously.

Omnilingualism

Angels can understand and speak all human languages, including sign language. By utilizing telepathy, they can deduce any mortal's native language without hearing or seeing a single word being uttered. They may even pick up invented languages, like Elvish or Klingon, as long as the language has been documented and constructed. Technological languages like binary, however, are completely foreign to the celestials and thus beyond their understanding.

Weaknesses

Enochian sigils

Empowered by the Words of God, Enochian sigils can trap and weaken angels, hide something from them, and even momentarily strip them of their supernatural abilities. Nowadays, knowledge of these sigils is forbidden, making information hard to find. While legends speak of Words that could bring even an Archangel to their knees, these tales are unconfirmed and considered forever forgotten, as mentioning them might mean the death of any angel who brought the topic up.

Curses and magic

Less feared but equally dangerous, curses can be used to affect an angel's powers and psyche. A cursed angel might forget who and what they are, commit unforgivable sin against their will, or work as an undetectable agent of Hell. Curses are a demonic specialty but also craftable by mortals capable of magic, which is another tool to evade the attention and actions of celestials.

Vessel resistance

Since angels require permission to possess a human host, their chosen vessel retains some control over the angel wearing their flesh and can, in rare cases, eject their heavenly passenger. While the original soul can be destroyed, doing so will be a grave sin and most likely lead to the angel's fall. Children are especially resistant and can expel a foreign entity from their bodies with minimal effort, as their souls are still pure and empowered by Heaven's grace.

Heaven's dominion

Since Heaven started losing its reign as the dominating realm, angels have gradually lost their strength. The decline has been gradual and mostly unnoticed, but some angels have expressed concern over the accelerating trend. In the last millennium, humans have turned further away from virtues and embraced sin, resulting in fewer ascending souls and weakening Heaven. Unless the flow of souls is somehow redirected, Hell's upper hand will continue and spell disaster to the fragile balance between realms.

Mind control

Angels are particularly vulnerable to any mind control. As they struggle with independence, forcing them to act independently disorients them and causes their natural defenses to crumble. Be it a battle of quick wit or forceful inception, angels without an adequately developed personality are especially weak against manipulation.

Iron

Iron and steel can be used to ground an angel and momentarily cut off their connection with Heaven. Any cuffs, collars, or otherwise closed circuits will prevent an angel from using their powers and most of their innate abilities until they are freed, broken free, or the circuit is broken. The higher the concentration and purity of the used metal, the longer-lasting and more intense the effects.

Damage to true form

While angels can heal and maintain their humanoid forms in pristine shape, any damage to their true form can be lethal. Healing an angel's true form takes time or the efforts of higher-ranking kin, making it paramount to avoid it at all costs. Unlike their human looks, a true form bears all the scars of past battles and can never be mended completely.

Primordials

Not so much a weakness but a direct threat, primordials have the upper hand against any angel. Even if all the Archangels combined their powers, they would barely stand a chance against a single, weakened primordial. The archaic principles are powerful enough to directly damage an angel's true form, crippling and incapacitating their opponent without much effort. It is better to stay clear of primordials or, at the very least, avoid provoking them.

© Adam Burn