Angel

primAngels are heavenly beings that act to oppose major changes and beings that threaten the universe. Those who call upon their powers are Evangelists.

Properties

They act as a counterbalance for demons, although they cannot win in a one-on-one confrontation with those of the same class (i.e. a lower angel against a lower demon).<ref>In an even match, my kind will inevitably lose to one of their kind.  - excerpt from Mala Fide</ref> If something changes or challenges the universe intentionally and causes a great disturbance, an angel may be dispatched, with the minors ones who have just enough power to handle the situation.

Angels have jobs to uphold the domains they represent which consume most of their time.<ref name=":0">Angels are self-sustaining and have duties, so that consumes their day. Faysal is described as watching one location for a long, long time, just to see how the paths are formed.

Cherubs are closer to programs than to people. There's some volition, sometimes, but not so much that they're individuals. They mostly follow their routines until diverted by another force. - Coment by Wildbow</ref>

Making any kind of deal with an angel is difficult and dangerous, as they are inflexible and alien to humans. Binding an angel is possible, but very difficult and usually not very useful for the binder, and tends to summon other angels to investigate and stop you. Evangelists get around these limitations by being on the angels' side, tying themselves into the fabric of the universe and operating by strict rules and beliefs; and by dealing only with the lowest ranks of angel.<ref name=":0">Angels are self-sustaining and have duties, so that consumes their day. Faysal is described as watching one location for a long, long time, just to see how the paths are formed.

Cherubs are closer to programs than to people. There's some volition, sometimes, but not so much that they're individuals. They mostly follow their routines until diverted by another force. - Coment by Wildbow</ref><ref name=":1">Angels can be bound, though it's hard. You need a lot of prep and they're so tied into the broader workings of the universe that every angel you mess with is going to invite two to twenty more to show up, unless the angel has detached enough from the fabric of things. Evangelists get around this by tying themselves heavily into the workings of the universe and working mostly with low-level Angels.

But once you've done that, the question is... what do you do with them?

[...]

In cases where gods or angels are in a place where they understand humans and they develop a rapport, there can

be interactions like hosting or familiar bonds, but this is a pretty 

one-sided relationship, forever one misunderstanding or godly whim from you being turned into a pillar of salt [...]

So just to outline:

Really frigging hard. Same goes for other 'high tier' Others like Primevals, Gods, and Demons.

Makes

enemies. Picture two+ angels on your tail for the rest of your life.  

Your best defense against them is demons... which as an ongoing habit makes your life expectancy very short.

There's often not a lot you can do with them, and the measurable impact on the world isn't major.

One would tend

to use Angels to try and do something large scale, since they're 

creator forces as much as anything, but you can't really get away with stuff like building a space elevator like they might've tried in 600 B.C. - too many cameras and curious eyes. - comment by Wildbow on Reddit </ref><ref name=":2">You can bind a god, which is technically on a lower tier than an Angel/Demon. You can bind a Primeval,

again, on a lesser tier.  But gods and primevals, even if bound, are 

little more than really big, really dangerous batteries to draw on, and they're a danger every time they're tapped. Usually you're just binding

them to get them to be good and to restrain their impact on the world.

Making

one a familiar (or hosting them, or forming any direct connection to 

them) is like having sex with a bear. You're not in a position of power

and you're liable to get mauled.  They don't understand your behavior 

and you really, really need to understand every last detail of theirs. When it comes to primevals there's just no reality where it's doable. They're a big fucking bear/wolf/bird/bramble, and they're always mad.

Angels and demons are worse

on that front.  They're so inevitable and permanent as forces that you 

might as well be trying to stop the world from turning or rotating around the sun. - comment by Wildbow on Reddit </ref>

Angels are among the highest "tier" of beings, above even gods and Primevals; they are comparable in power and importance only to Demons.<ref name=":2" />

Types

Choirs

Angels come in different forms, but it is known that the seventh choir exist in abstracts, and it is suggested that there are different choirs, at least seven, that handle different parts of the universe. The lower angels don't have a communication network while the higher ones do.

Constructs

The true choirs of angels create lesser beings to serve and aid them. Powerful but unintelligent, they are to angels what Imps are to Demons.<ref name=":0">Angels are self-sustaining and have duties, so that consumes their day. Faysal is described as watching one location for a long, long time, just to see how the paths are formed.

Cherubs are closer to programs than to people. There's some volition, sometimes, but not so much that they're individuals. They mostly follow their routines until diverted by another force. - Coment by Wildbow</ref><ref>Evangelism
Despite conventional wisdom, the Evangelists do not deal with Angels, exactly, but rather with the forces and powers that relate to angels; only the most powerful tap into the choirs themselves. Where angels position themselves at the doorway of creation, the Evangelist reaches through and by means of the things and powers that angels put into motion. They typically bring forth angelic constructs and cherubim that are powerful but mindless, and they stand resistant or protected from these things by operating by very strict rules and beliefs. With the lesser cherubim, akin to demonic imps, even the smallest impure thought is a chink by which the being will irrevocably alter the practitioner. - Pact Dice: The Practices - Wbow Version</ref>

Cherubim

Appearances range from geometric figures (lesser) to having specific features like a lion or baby's head, fractal wings, or a Rubik's cube pattern (greater). Each comes with a unique identity and are generally summoned to perform tasks. Cherubs are comparable to computer programs and follow their routines mindlessly, although some have small amounts of independent volition.<ref name=":0">Angels are self-sustaining and have duties, so that consumes their day. Faysal is described as watching one location for a long, long time, just to see how the paths are formed.

Cherubs are closer to programs than to people. There's some volition, sometimes, but not so much that they're individuals. They mostly follow their routines until diverted by another force. - Coment by Wildbow</ref>

Power/Swords

Appears as a shrouded or indistinct figure wielding a weapon. They are essentially mindless soldiers whose primary purpose is to defend other angelic beings.

Virtue

Appears as stereotypical winged human. They perform purely passive effects. Also forces evangelist to take on new vows every time they are summoned.

Throne

Appearances vary greatly. Each are incredibly powerful, and very good at performing the task given to them. However summoning these requires time, resources, tertiary preparations, permission from the throne's creators after it has been summoned (with punishment if permission refused), and a way to hide them and their effects from the public.

Notable Angels

• Faysal Anwar
• Harith

History

The tower of Babel may have been an attempt to build a space elevator using a bound angel.<ref name=":1" />== References ==

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