The world is weary of battle. Let it rest.
In the aftermath of Armageddon, Heaven found itself
leaderless. The loss of the Archangels would've crippled
the Host if the remains of the Seraphim Council had not
acted quickly to rebuild. The new Archangel of Light
received her Word directly from God, of course; others were
appointed from among the high ranking Servitors of the
deceased Superiors. Calliel is one of these successors.
Even before Armageddon, there were many battles in the War.
Some were mere border skirmishes, while others were major
engagements. Many lesser angels gave their Vessels in such
battles, and some even suffered soul death. Among the
survivors was Calliel, Malakite Master of War. As he
viewed the carnage in the aftermath of these fights -- many
of which he thought were pointless -- his heart broke to
see his fellow angels and their Human charges suffering.
As one who was prepared to die in battle, Calliel had never
before considered the cost of war to noncombatants. After
millennia of witnessing battle after battle, Calliel asked
Michael for permission to study the cost of war. Michael
wisely gave his blessing, and the Malakite went out into
the Earth to the worst trouble spots that he could find
seeking the answers that he hoped would make sense of what
he felt.
The compassionate Virtue had been on his quest for well
over a century when the demons stormed Heaven's gates.
True to his honor, Calliel returned to fight the Horde --
but this time, there was a difference. Where before he
would've shown no mercy to any demon or Hellsworn, now he
fought to subdue rather than kill and accepted any
surrender which his Resonance told him was genuine.
Calliel personally captured more than 20 demons that day,
most of whom survived Redemption after Heaven's victory.
When Heaven was done licking its collective wounds, Calliel
reported to the Seraphim Council with a bold request.
"Novalis is gone," he said, "But there is yet need for the
work that she did. This I have learned; there is no honor
in pointless killing, but power restrained is to be
commended. I ask you to grant me the Word of Peace. If
you find me unworthy, tell me what you require and I shall
make myself worthy." The Seraphim present recognized the
Truth of Calliel's words, so the Council made him the
second of the new Archangels.
Calliel is primarily a diplomat and healer. Novalis'
former protectorate of plant life is something that he
leaves to the new Archangel of Nature. Unlike Novalis,
even the most warlike angels have no cause to see Calliel
as weak or lacking the will to fight. His record as a
Servitor of War speaks for itself. Also, his experience
under Michael has taught him that being prepared for war is
sometimes the best way to keep the peace. Calliel never
raises his fist in anger, but those who start fights find
that his fist is as powerful as ever. Like Novalis,
Calliel will always try kindness first. But when kindness
fails, he will protect the innocent by any means necessary.
Dissonance
Angels of Peace are not allowed to initiate or escalate
violence; they may not start fights, nor may they employ
greater force than is used against them. They must also
render whatever aid they can to any wounded person (demons
and Hellsworn excluded) whom they encounter. "Wounded" in
this case includes mental and emotional wounds!
Choir Attunements
Seraphim: Calliel's Seraphim know the Ethereal Song of Succor for
free at a level equal to their Ethereal Forces, and can
play it at no Essence cost.
Cherubim (Restricted): The love of a Guardian of Peace is gentle armor. Damage
inflicted on her attuned is reduced by the CD of the
angel's Resonance roll. This protection applies to all
damage done in a single round rather than to individual
attacks. Most of Calliel's Cherubim prefer female Vessels.
Ofanim (Restricted): Ofanim of Peace automatically succeed on their Resonance
when evacuating noncombatants or wounded from the
battlefield. The CD is equal to the angel's Corporeal
Forces, and the player may roll to try for a higher CD.
Elohim: Calliel's Elohim know what to say to defuse a tense
situation. They add their Celestial Forces to either the
TN or the CD (decide before rolling) of any attempt to talk
their way out of a fight.
Malakim: Virtues in the service of Peace -- and there are more than
Novalis ever had -- can create a "circle of honor" in which
anyone (including the angel) must succeed on a Will roll in
order to use greater force than is used against them. This
prevents a demon from drawing a gun on an unarmed angel, or
stops an attacker from following through against a target
who doesn't fight back. The circle has a radius in yards
equal to the angel's total Forces, and the roll is made at
a penalty equal to the angel's Celestial Forces.
Celestials and Ethereals add their Celestial Forces to
their Will rolls. Erecting a circle of honor costs 1
Essence.
As a Malakite, Calliel well understands the First Oath.
He makes it very clear to his Virtues that Redemption is
one way of not suffering an evil to live.
Kyriotates (Restricted): Calliel's Dominations heal their Hosts with their mere
presence. When the Kyriotate takes possession, a wounded
Host instantly regains Body Hits equal to the angel's total
Forces (up to the maximum for that body). This effect also
cures most diseases and purges the body of toxins, though
supernatural or especially virulent maladies may persist.
Kyriotates of Peace also add their Corporeal Forces to any
attempt to possess someone who is within (angel's Celestial
Forces) Body Hits of dying.
Mercurians: No weapon formed against these Friends of Man will
prosper. With a successful Will roll, a Mercurian of Peace
can cause a weapon within his line of sight to malfunction
in some way. A gun jams, a bowstring breaks, a sword is
dropped, a Relic fails its Song, etc. On a Divine
Intervention, the weapon is destroyed and can never be
repaired.
Bright Lilim: Gifters of Peace need not make eye contact to detect Needs
for physical, psychological or spiritual healing; they only
require line of sight to the subject. If they use
supernatural powers to fulfill such Needs, they do not
disturb the Symphony.
Servitor Attunements
Cost of War: The angel gains a limited prescience that tells him what
effect an impending conflict will have on a given entity
(an individual, a family, a community, etc.). The angel
must concentrate on the subject and make a Perception roll.
Because this Attunement is a limited form of prophecy,
answers tend to be cryptic. The angel will generally get
the most likely outcome, and even that will usually be
wrapped in metaphor.
Flag of Truce: By displaying a traditional symbol of non-aggression, the
angel can prevent violence. Anyone capable of perceiving
the Flag must succeed on a Will roll or be unable to
attack. This roll is at a penalty equal to the amount of
Essence that the angel spends to power the Attunement. The
effect immediately ends if the angel leaves the area or
initiates an attack of any kind (including verbal).
Merciful Stroke: At the cost of 3 Essence, the angel can land a single blow
that renders her opponent unconscious for (angel's
Perception x 5) minutes. The target gets a Strength roll
to resist, and Celestials and Ethereals add their Corporeal
Forces. This Attunement does not work if the angel intends
to kill the target later or if she knows (or even suspects)
that any of her companions do.
Distinctions
Vassal of Peace: As the Seraph of Flowers Attunement, except that the base
range is doubled.
Friend of Solace: The holder of this Distinction does not create Disturbance
and need not spend Essence when playing any Song of
Healing.
Master of Sacrifice: Every wound inflicted upon the angel heals others. Each
Hit of any type that the Master suffers heals two Hits of
the appropriate type to every innocent or anyone serving
the cause of Heaven within (total Forces x 3) yards. This
power stops working if the angel fights back (but healing
oneself is not considered fighting back).
Rites
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