Angel

Angels are heavenly beings that act to oppose major changes and beings that threaten the universe.<ref name=":10">When you mess with the natural order of creation or go well outside your

way to bend the rules, you can expect the universe to send something

like him after you. I should have gotten the attention of a entity of the third choir, who oversee structure, but I suppose they weren’t absolutely sure. They sent one of the little ones after me. [...] Equipped to deal with the problem if it decided it had to. - excerpt from Signature 8.7</ref> 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.<ref name=":10" />

Angels are self-sustaining.<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>

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.<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><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> 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=":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=":5" /><ref name=":6">Evangelists, typically working with Angels, are effectively harnessing the drones and soldiers of Creation, to bring about effects. Primarily working with Cherubim, they tend to be very vulnerable while practicing, and may require soldiers or pre-summoned soldiers.

Evangelists typically use vows as a means of self-protection. - EVANGELISTS, document by Wildbow. </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

Ranks

The lower angels don't have a communication network while the higher ones do.

Lesser Angels

Faysal Anwar is considered a lesser angel, according to Johannes.<ref name=":10" />

Greater Angels

Only greater Angels can produce a Throne.<ref name=":8" /> By some classifications, any Throne, Angel or Archangel is a "greater angel", compared to the lesser angels that are the Cherubim.<ref>If a Cherubim acts, they take two actions. If a greater Angel (Throne, Angel, Archangel) is within a certain distance, they will perform one action after another without pause, until the Angel is no longer within range. - Pact Dice: Evangelists</ref>

Choirs

First Choir

Saghir Sadira is associated with this choir.

Second Choir

Includes the Cherub Abd Al Sami, which creates silence and music.<ref>Abd Al Sami is of the Second Angelic Choir, and the intensity of Abd Al Sami’s power is deflected by vows that bind such. - Pact Dice: Evangelists</ref>

Third Choir

Oversee "structure", including things like demesnes.<ref name=":10" />

Fifth Choir

The Wheel of the Apex Hunter, which can create a beast to slay any enemy, is associated with this choir.<ref>Cherubim of the Fifth Choir will appear with increasing frequency and will construct the Wheel in multiple segments. - EVANGELISTS, document by Wildbow.</ref>

Seventh Choir

It is known that the seventh choir exist in abstracts, meaning they generally do not win direct confrontations; and includes Faysal Anwar among their number.<ref>“The demon would have had its way with all of you, freed of its confines, able to prey on you, until the Abyss caught it once more. A firmer, longer-lasting binding than any that man could achieve,” Faysal said. “The Seventh Choir of angels exists in abstract. We cannot and do not typically win direct confrontations. The demon gets what it desires, to undo the working that binds it to man’s word by taking the Thorburn family and associated individuals to pieces, and I achieve what

I desire, stopping it in the longer term.  Worth cooperation in the short term.” - excerpt from Sine Die 14.10</ref>

Some people divide angels into "rings", with Faysal being a Gatekeeper of the seventh ring.<ref>He bears a set of antique pipes as his implement, and has a Gatekeeper of the Seventh Ring (ref Astral Bodies: vol 3, and Prime Movers) as his familiar, named Faysal Anwar, which takes the form of a rather large Afghan Hound. - excerpt from Rose Thorburn Sr's notes, quoted in Bonds 1.6</ref> It seems likely that this is a synonym for the Choirs.

Constructs

The true choirs of angels create lesser beings to serve and aid them. Powerful but unintelligent, they are in some ways 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 name=":5">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

Geometric in appearance, with higher cherubim having more complex features - for example a lesser cherub might simply be a sphere, while a greater one might resemble a spherical baby head or a celestial body. The apparearance of one is always accompanied by a noticable sound and impact on the environment.<ref name=":3">Cherubim take the appearance of spherical or geometric objects (cubes, cones), with higher Cherubim having other features, such as a spherical baby’s head (thus the common imagining of a Cherubim in conventional media), celestial object, a lion’s head, a fractal bloom of wings, or something resembling a rubik’s cube. The arrival of even a minor Cherubim is typically joined by a noticeable sound and environmental impact. Cherubim perform tasks and each has a name and a specific effect. The tasks can range from the simple (raising or flattening terrain) to the specific (creating weapons) and supportive (healing the wounded). - EVANGELISTS, document by Wildbow.</ref>

Each has a unique name and is designed to accomplish a specific task such as raising or flattening terrain, creating weapons, healing the wounded etc.<ref name=":3" /> They will perform their single task when summoned by an Evangelist, but will also use their powers to inflict (nonlethal) punishment on an Evangelist who has become corrupted in any way.<ref name=":7">As a rule, Cherubim will do the same thing when called forth, and if the Evangelist has broken their vows or if the Evangelist is corrupted (karmically or otherwise), the Cherubim may do them some harm. A Cherubim that creates walls of salt may, if the vows were not minded, turn one part of the Evangelist’s body to salt, or turn the Evangelist as a whole to salt. If the Evangelist has negative karma or ties to negative karma, or if they have interacted with corrupt things in the recent past, they may suffer some secondary damage or effect, with minor changes or damage on top of other effects, reflecting the degree to which this imbalanced, negative force has taken hold. Interactions with Goblins, Faerie, Necromancy, Heartless and anything else that perverts natural order may lead to this corruption, but certain choirs are more likely to react to certain kinds of corruption. Such changes alter the fabric of one’s being and will not generally kill or free one’s spirit to move on. Amending these consequences, once met, is difficult. Powers are less likely to do abstract or metaphysical harm, and may simply expand explosively out into ambient reality with a flurry of sharpness, heat, or madness, with a great deal of the resulting harm or damage being directed at the Evangelist that summoned them. - EVANGELISTS, document by Wildbow. </ref><ref name=":5" /> If a cherub is summoned repeatedly in a short span of time, even by different practitioners on the opposite sides of the world, its powers will be weaker.<ref>This said, many evangelist sects will keep their selection of vows and access to certain powers secret, as many individuals calling on the same powers may diminish those powers. Should an American Evangelist sect call on a Cherubim Raiser of the Fourth that a group in the United Kingdom has used several times in the last month, the American group may find it doesn’t have the strength to achieve what they need to achieve. - EVANGELISTS, document by Wildbow.</ref>

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>

Cherubs are the single most common beings summoned by Evangelists.<ref name=":6" /> A partial recitation of their rite is enough to cause a semi-random magical effect, but this is unreliable, especially if overused.<ref>Lesser Practicing
Common lesser spells and practices at an Evangelist’s disposal [...]

Word of Prayer (Appeal) - A partial recitation of a Cherubim’s rite. Typically a practitioner learns Words of Prayer for the Angelic choirs, but ones for specific words can be learned. Each prayer has an effect within its general domain, randomized from a short list, with reliability and suitability depending heavily on relationship to greater powers, spirits, karma, and the length of time since a Word of Prayer was uttered. While more powerful than the usual beginner practice, is not necessarily consistent or for regular use. - Coment by Wildbow </ref>

Power

Also known as Swords. Appears as a shrouded or indistinct figure wielding a weapon.

They are nameless soldiers whose primary purpose is to defend other angelic beings. Their abilities reflect the choir they are associated with.<ref name=":4">Another common set of summonings are the Powers (often termed ‘Swords’ to minimize confusion), which are effectively mindless, but grow more powerful as more Evangelical activity is conducted. Powers are soldiers and warriors, tasked with defending other angelic forces, and have no names or identities. They do have capabilities, depending on their choir and the weapon they embody, typically appearing as a shrouded or indistinct figure with a not-shrouded, very distinct weapon. By and large, Powers have no autonomy. They will only act if and when another non-Power Angel (Cherubim, etc) acts, or if the Evangelist is chanting a verse appropriate to that Power. - EVANGELISTS, document by Wildbow.</ref> They tend to have simple and direct powers rather than abstract ones. Like Cherubs, they will use their powers to harm a summoner if they are at all corrupted.<ref name=":7">As a rule, Cherubim will do the same thing when called forth, and if the Evangelist has broken their vows or if the Evangelist is corrupted (karmically or otherwise), the Cherubim may do them some harm. A Cherubim that creates walls of salt may, if the vows were not minded, turn one part of the Evangelist’s body to salt, or turn the Evangelist as a whole to salt. If the Evangelist has negative karma or ties to negative karma, or if they have interacted with corrupt things in the recent past, they may suffer some secondary damage or effect, with minor changes or damage on top of other effects, reflecting the degree to which this imbalanced, negative force has taken hold. Interactions with Goblins, Faerie, Necromancy, Heartless and anything else that perverts natural order may lead to this corruption, but certain choirs are more likely to react to certain kinds of corruption. Such changes alter the fabric of one’s being and will not generally kill or free one’s spirit to move on. Amending these consequences, once met, is difficult. Powers are less likely to do abstract or metaphysical harm, and may simply expand explosively out into ambient reality with a flurry of sharpness, heat, or madness, with a great deal of the resulting harm or damage being directed at the Evangelist that summoned them. - EVANGELISTS, document by Wildbow. </ref>

Powers are utterly mindless and lacking in autonomy, and only act in reaction to the movements of other angelic beings or specific chants.<ref name=":4" />

Powers are common for Evangelists to summon.<ref name=":4" />

Virtue

Appears as stereotypical winged human. Speculated by some to be transfigured Evangelists.

They usually perform purely passive effects, and tend to be unpredictable in what effect they create (not the same each time). They also act as messengers to humans. Virtues require a new, permanent vow of their choosing each time they are called by a human.<ref>Virtues are the most commonly ‘angel-like’ of the summonings, but are purely supportive and not always very substantial in how they affect reality. They are messengers to mankind, sometimes theorized to be older Evangelists who were consumed by their practice or the weight of their vows, and act to heal, support, protect, and deflect. They may produce an ongoing passive benefit, like making enemy weapons jam or resist being drawn, or making wind always blow favorably for the summoner, and produce a greater effect when they finish their duties (after a duration or when the practitioner requests it). The effects are not always the same or necessarily predictable. Virtues impose a new, permanent vow each time they are called. Some are more predictable in what kind of impositions they set than others. - EVANGELISTS, document by Wildbow.</ref>

Throne

Similar to Cherubim, but much more potent and harder to create or summon.<ref name=":8">Thrones are greater forces, akin to Cherubim, but created and set forth by distant powers or greater Angels. They are typically assigned a task, and are very good at accomplishing that task, and they are very powerful. An example might be a Throne of Light that appears as a scouring beam, ten feet across, traveling half a mile in one direction over a short period of time. Practices do not typically protect against Thrones. - EVANGELISTS, document by Wildbow.</ref><ref name=":9">Such a summoning typically requires some time, resources, and tertiary preparations.

The first difficulty in employing Thrones is that Thrones typically require permission to use and permission is requested as the Throne is summoned - if permission is refused, it typically means the Evangelist is unable to use the Throne and punished for their impertinence. One should be prepared with arguments in favor of the Throne’s use in case they are asked, keeping in mind that they may be challenged by members of a specific choir, and not always the one most closely or intuitively linked to the Throne or situation at hand. Arguments should be tailored in kind, and one should be mindful that repeated use of Thrones, especially as shortcuts, may be met with retribution or rebuke.
The secondary issue of using a Throne is that they tend to involve major and inexplicable events that reach the public. If practitioners cannot keep these events out of the public eye, limiting activity to arenas and specialized attention-evading barriers, or to combat in other realms and foreign demesnes, they are far more likely to be refused and also very likely to suffer a steep karmic penalty. - EVANGELISTS, document by Wildbow. </ref>

Each are incredibly powerful, and very good at performing the task given to them. For example, a Throne of Light might create a scouring beam that reaches for half a mile and is ten feet wide. Magic generally is unable to defend against thrones.<ref name=":8" />

Thrones are tightly controlled by the higher angels, with any attempt to summon one requiring pursuading an angel to grant their permission during the summoning.<ref name=":9" />

Notable Angels

History

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