By CeIestiaI7@aol.com
I'm currently working on a series of NPC celestials (angels), each
of whom holds a particular Sacrament as their Word. I'm not familiar with
any such series to date, so I thought I'd give it a try. For those not familiar
with the Seven Holy Sacraments, they are: Baptism, Confirmation, Holy Eucharist,
Penance, Anointing the Sick, Holy Orders, and Matrimony. I have a few ideas
for each of them and will post each as I finish it. If you have any *must
see* ideas, send them to my private email address. Otherwise, I'd
rather just have public discussion on what I've already posted. So here's
part one...
Corporeal Forces - 5 Strength 12 Agility 8 Ethereal Forces - 3 Intelligence 6 Precision 6 Celestial Forces - 6 Will 12 Perception 12
Human/4 (Middle aged male); Human/4 (Young-adult female)
Role: Marriage Counselor/3
Detect Lies/3, Driving/2, Fighting/3, Knowledge: Marriage Laws & Customs/6, Knowledge: Church Doctrine/6, Large Weapon/2, Ranged Weapon/1,
Attraction (Ethereal/4, Celestial/2), Harmony (Ethereal/5), Tongues (Corporeal/3)
Malakite of the Sword, Scabbard, Purity of Purpose, Hunt, Divine Contract (Marc)
The middle aged Jamaican woman with four-inch, glitter-gold nails looked up through her purple framed glasses. Manny was still there. She sighed.
"8C," she said. The cigarette in her mouth clung to her lip for dear life.
"Thanks," Manny said, offering a polite smile to the motel attendant. He brushed up his suit and lugged the deceptively heavy attache' case up the stairs.
He reached the room and set his case down. A "Do not disturb" sign was hanging off the knob. Manny slipped it off the handle and put it in his pocket. His hand came out with a stick of cinnamon chewing gum. The Malakite stripped it of the silver foil and popped it in his mouth. He checked his watch and chewed for exactly one minute. Once the gum had reached the desired consistency, Manny stuck the red wad over the door's peephole. He rapped three times on the door.
Once the sounds of hurried dressing had ended, a man in his forties peeked his face through the opened door. Manny produced a picture and showed it to the man.
"You know him?" Manny asked. A look of puzzlement and disgust was his only reply. "Maybe your, um, friend will know," Manny craned his neck over the guy's head.
"No. I don't think she will. Now go the hell away!"
Manny pushed the door open, snapping the chain and shoving the man directly into the closet. "Thanks. I think I will come in," he said and strode directly over to the half-dressed woman by the bed. Again, he flashed the picture.
The woman slid the left strap of her bra over her shoulder. She eyed the picture and glanced up at the malakite. "Oh Lord," she whispered. "That's Tom."
"So you know him then" Manny spat. She nodded in reply. "And what were you doing on the 18th of June, 1973?"
She sat on the edge of the bed, and thought. "My God. That was our wedding day. Do you work for Tom? Did he send you?"
Manny met her eyes with a cold, hard gaze "You lacked commitment then, you lack it still. Your husband is free. 'Til Death do you part..."
Hymaneus is a bitter angel. The twentieth century has seen his Word become more of a pastime than a lifelong commitment. Marriages are no longer about couples, their love for each other, and their love for God, but about personal satisfaction, convenience, financial stability, and regular sex. Other celestials have questioned the wisdom of assigning a Malakite to the Word of Marriage. Former angels of that Word have been Cherubs, Mercurians, and Kyriotates; Malakim are not generally known for their sentiment. Laurence looked beyond the sentiment of matrimony when he selected a candidate for this Sacrament. He thought it tactically sound to place an honorable and faithful angel in charge of a Word that includes such ideals. Who better than one of his own brethren?
Manny once served Marc, making sure that people bound by legal contracts honored them. He was dissatisfied with his work, and felt his talents leaned elsewhere. Soon he had impressed Laurence enough, that the Archangel petitioned Manny's Superior for release into his own service. Marc agreed.
Hymaneus once enjoyed his work. He made sure that couples were committed to the idea of marriage and family before they went to profess their intentions before God. He counseled them and watched love, trust, and partnership bloom before his eyes. Lately, his calling has been to protect the institution of Marriage against adulterers and divorces. He is running out of patience. Several incidents have led him to harsh action. Action which may be construed as inappropriate considering the situation. Dominic's servitors are keeping a close eye on him, as is Laurence himself.
Hymaneus has also been troubled as of late, regarding the number of same-sex "marriages" occurring. On the one hand, they fulfill his Word. Many lasting and loving partnerships have been such unions. His problem is that Laurence whole-heartedly disapproves. Marriages promote the growth of The Church through children and families. No children equals no growth. After all, Laurence has his own Word to think about.