The Hierarchy of Mount Celestia:
(The following is adapted from Alex Robert's
Crown Archons article, from Li Po, from Children
of Fire, from In Nomine, and from the
Nephilim game, among other more traditional sources, by Lane Ripley of Worms)
Inhabitants of Rempha,
City of the Sands of Time
Angels of the Seasons
Spring
Governing archon: Spugliguel (head of the sign of spring)
Serving archons: Amatiel, Caracasa, Core, Commissoros
Summer
Governing archon: Tubiel (head of the sign of summer)
Serving archons: Gargatel, Gaviel, Tariel
Autumn
Governing archon: Torquaret (head of the sign of autumn)
Serving archons: Tarquam, Guabarel
Winter
Governing archon: Attarib (head of the sign of winter)
Serving archons: Amabael, Cetarari (Ctarari)
Angels of
the Months
Cambiel,
Barchiel, Malahidael, Asmodel, Ambriel, Muriel, Verchiel, Hamaliel, Zuriel,
Barbiel, Advachiel, Hanael
Angels of
the Hours
Lunia: Gabriel
Mercuria: Raphael
Venya: Anael
(Anahel)
Solaria: Michael
Mertion: Sammael or Sandalphon
Jovar: Sachiel (Zebul in the day and Sabath at night)
Chronia: Cassiel
First Order:
Being Closest to the Powers
Solars, called Seraphim, "the fiery spirits" usually
pictured with six wings and flames; they constantly sing the Powers' praises
and regulate the Seven Heavens. Their powers are grand, their duties
overwhelming. They seldom interfere with mankind, only venturing to the
material world under the direst of circumstances. While on Earth their presence
can easily be felt by all celestials in the vicinity. For these celestials,
lesser angels and minor abominations can be dispatched at a whim.
The Seraphim have the broadest of duties. They
govern the most important aspects of existence. It is said that an individual
solar looks after each planetary system on the Material Plane. Under them, a
myriad of lesser angels, illuminated by these four, carry out their orders.
Examples include Brachiel, Nathaniel, Uriel,
Misrael, Donathiel, Brahmi, Uzziel, Xerona, Arithiel, and Bitternut.
Eternals
are Seraphim who seldom leave the thrones of the Powers, although a ring of
them is said to sing in the city of Yetsirah. They are brought into combat in
only the gravest of missions.
Planetars, called
Cherubim, depicted with multi-eyed peacock's feathers to symbolize
their all-knowing character; they include Esoliel, Jerowan, and Nikolai. These
creatures constitute the second rank of angels in the celestial hierarchy. Those
of this choir are revered by the archons as both the greatest of Heaven’s
guards and the bearers of knowledge and wisdom.
Their trips to the material realm, while more common than the Seraphim, are
meager as compared to the lesser ranks of angels. They are very aware of how
their presence on Earth effects the children of clay. Most humans would cower
or run if they caught sight of one these holy monstrosities. So they keep to
the seven heavens except on missions of great import. Each planet in a
cosmology has a planetar to look after it, however.
Lunars:
The Lunars are similar to planetars, but they minister over the discipline
of psionics. Lunars are recruited from members of the order of Virtues known as
Contemplative Devas.
Throne Archons are the administrators, judges, and ministers of Mount
Celestia, ruling cities and nations there; includes Camael, Jophiel, Abdiel,
Metatron, Penemue, and Japhkiel.
Tomes: The order of Thrones is ruled by the Tome Archons or
Libramar, who each rule an entire layer. Zaphkiel, the tome archon of mysteries
whose symbol is the Ass, rules Chronia. Sealtiel, whose symbol is the dog,
rules Jovar. Raziel, the tome archon of battles whose symbol is the Bear, rules
Mertion. Pistis Sophia, the archon of wisdom whose symbol is the Eagle, rules
Solania. Erathaol, whose symbol is the Dragon, rules Venya; Domiel, whose
symbol is the Ox, rules Mercuria; and Barachiel, whose symbol is the Lion,
rules Lunia.
Second Order:
Being Composed of the Priest-Princes of
the Courts of the Heavens
Sword
Archons or dominations are the
greatest of the archonic messengers and warriors; includes Zadkiel (Angel of
Mercy), Zachriel, Mupiel, Ithuriel, and Zephon. The sword archons regulate the
lower orders in the name of the gods. These archons are the most
powerful choir of the second triad. They have only two wings and are humanoid
in appearance. To look upon one in its true form, however, is still a
frightening experience. They are dreadful and mighty creatures.
They are the supervisors of the second and third triads. It is their job to
oversee all lesser angels, to assign them duties and tasks. For this reason,
they are usually the highest choir lesser angels deal with on a regular basis. It
is they who often illuminate the lower ranks.
Their time is balanced between the children of fire and the children of clay. What
dealings they have on the Material Plane, though, are usually of great
importance and magnitude. Trifling with the lesser affairs of men is left to
their underlings.
Every country in the worlds has a Domination set to watch over it. These angels
greatly influence their country’s demeanor and culture. Some of these angels,
however, have fallen, being corrupted by the frailties of men. They set their
lands on dark and misguided paths. Others, though, remain true to the goodness
of the Almighty, striving to keep their charges on a noble course.
Dominations are not perfect beings by any stretch of the imagination. They are
by no means as incorruptible as the choirs of the first triad. Quite the
opposite actually. Given a great deal of power, they sometimes begin to grow
dangerously inflated egos and believe themselves to be more important than they
should. This taste of power is mingled with the knowledge that they, according
to the current system, can never progress to a higher rank, no matter how lofty
their ambitions might be.
The prince of the choir of Dominations is Zadkiel. He keeps a watchful eye over
them, knowing that some of his brethren teeter on the verge of corruption.
Arimrawthi
also belong to the choir of Dominations. They are wingless and tremendous in
size; they are considered to be righteous wrath incarnate. They are used but
seldom.
Hallowed
Penitents are the mightiest of the Hallowed. They embody both forgiveness
and just punishment - they are summoned by the lower orders to bring wayward
mortals and celestials back to the true path of Good. They are also reckoned
among the Dominations.
Virtues are also known as devas. The power within them has become so
great that it emanates from their being as a virtually blinding aura. This can
be attributed to the fact that, unlike Seraphim, Cherubim, Thrones, and even
Dominations, they have not been able to come to terms with their vast abilities.
They are unable to mask their powers or curtail their presence.
These great angels are often heroes to
mortals, for they perform miracles like no others. They are sent to the
Material Plane to complete the most daunting of tasks and to demonstrate
without subtlety the power of the Almighty. Many of mankind’s greatest miracles
have been performed by these children of fire, who can sometimes get a bit
caught up in the extravagance of such deeds.
Astral Devas prevent the fiends from taking over the world and keep
the universe in balance; command the celestial armies in the constant battle
with the "Sons of Darkness"; includes Raphael and Michael.
Monadic Devas carry scepter
and sword to symbolize the divine power over all creation; they are warriors of
the Inner Planes and the Temporal Plane. Each carries a single Word which is
forged and purified in the primal energy of the elements.
Movanic Devas: The "brilliant"
or "shining ones" are associated with acts of heroism on the Prime,
leaders of trumpet archons. They represent humanity in its claims against the
deities of good, and also sometimes act as accusers who test promising mortals
from behind the scenes. This choir includes Haniel, Satanael and Mastema.
Elemental Angels are Movanic or Monadic Devas set over one particular
element, which they oversee on the Material or appropriate Inner Plane. They
report to other Movanic or Monadic devas, as appropriate. Occasionally an
Astral Deva will be transformed into an Elemental Angel to better operate in an
element-dominant lower plane of existence.
Contemplative Devas oversee the discipline of psionics, and its many
manifestations throughout the planes. They report to Serosh, Prince of Crystal
Understanding.
Arcane Angels: This sub-choir was founded at the same time as the
Contemplative Devas. They watch over magic throughout the planes. They, too,
report to the crown archon Serosh.
Warden
Archons, also known as the powers
or hafaza are greater guardians and watchers, watching the portals to
the plane and keeping an eye from afar on the activities of the fiends and
other dangerous spirits. One rules each of the 196 provinces of Celestia.
Third Order:
Being Constituted by the Ministering
Angels
Trumpet
Archons, or principalities, are
messengers to the Prime and guides of souls. Archons of resurrection of song,
heralds of the Mount. Celestial beings closest to humans, they are the
intermediaries between mortals and the Powers of Mount Celestia. They include
Israfel, Nisroc, and Dumah. Principalities are the highest choir in the third
triad. While their powers are slightly greater and their duties a bit broader,
they are generally considered to be fairly equal to Bene Elohim. They do not
command their lesser brethren. When not on mission, they normally dwell in
Lunia.
The Principalities spend most of their time in the material world. They are the
ones who deal with the day to day conflicts that mankind faces in its ultimate
struggle between good and evil. Principalities find themselves constantly
battling between purity and corruption. Only the most obedient, persistent, and
faithful among them can ascend to the second triad, though this does not
guarantee their later loyalty. Most, however, fall far short of attaining this
ascension.
The prince of this choir is Israfel. He rules
his subjects with a light hand, preferring to go about his own business and not
mettle in the affairs of other Principalities. For this he is a well liked, if
not well revered, leader. Israfel reports to the Lion of Lunia, Barachiel.
The
Choralia are also archons of song, and as such belong to the choir of
Principalities. They are the greatest bards in the Heavens, the exalted incarnations
of music itself.
The
Hallowed are judges of mortals and guides along the path of redemption. The
hallowed judges are members of the choir of Principalities sent to
pronounce the guilt or innocence of evildoers, and pronounce their sentences - including,
in some cases, other celestials.
Bene Elohim or agathinon are the elite warriors of the
Heavens, promoted from einheriar and Hounds. An agathinon is always ready for
battle. Warriors often face each other in endless cycles of "holy" wars.
Bene Elohim also carry out solo missions to the material plane to aid mortals
in their confrontations with evil. These instructions come down from the sword
archons or, in the case of mortals of extreme courage and importance, from one
of the gods themselves. This choir is led by Barbiel, an angel of the months.
The
bene ishim are specialized agathinon who use their shapeshifting powers
to act as spies among the fiendish races.
The
hallowed witnesses, who exist to show creatures the evil in their souls,
are also members of the choir of bene elohim.
Hound Archons, or Ischim, know the paths both up and down the
Mountain, though their preferred homes are Lunia and Mercuria. This, the lowest
choir in the celestial hierarchy, is also the largest. At 215 million members,
this choir contains more archons then all other choirs combined. Their duties,
though small in comparison to the greater celestials, keep them constantly busy
in the material world. Their powers are miniscule when compared with the
highest choirs, but considerable when compared to the abilities of mortal men.
These are faltering beings that have not and may never comprehend the nature of
grace. They are individualistic and often egocentric. Only a small fraction of
them will ever rise to a higher rank. Many more will lose all grace and walk
the earth eternally separated from God.
Their leader is Pheleg, who is, in fact, not a Hound but an agathinon. It was
felt that the burden of ruling so many needed to be placed on one who was more
powerful than his subjects. For this reason Pheleg, who is often overbearing
and sometimes downright ruthless, was a perfect choice for the position. Though
he is generally liked by his equals and elders, his subjects do nothing less
than despise him.
The
hallowed accusers are the least powerful of the Hallowed. They are the
first step on the road to redemption.
Other groups
Noctrals are sentient owls of wisdom. They were created by the Tome Archons (at
the suggestion of Pista Sophia) to aid them and the entire choir of Thrones in
their deliberations. If they go too long without giving advice, they begin to
weaken and wither; as a result, they often seek out unlikely companions to
enlighten. The owl archons are lesser versions of noctrals used as
messengers and watchmen throughout the Heavens.
Zoveri
are the guardians of the Silver Sea, and the protectors of travelers who lose
themselves in its expanse. They worship the Zehrapushu, golden squidlike
creatures with a communal god-brain who they believe to be fragments of the
fallen celestial from whose substance they were all made. Tied as they are to
the waters of Lunia, Zoveri petitioners do not rise to higher layers of the
Mount; instead, their glowing souls are escorted by the zehrapushu to
depths unknown - or some say, to the stars themselves, or the reflections of
stars. Perhaps the stars in Lunia's sky are only reflections of the true stars,
the souls of the zoveri in Lunia's sea.
Shedu
are protectors. They are led by the greatest of their kind, and rule the city
of Heart's Faith in Lunia.
Lammasu
look like lions. They are led in the Seven Heavens by the Celestial Lammasu,
who are as mighty as cherubim. Shedu and Lammasu may have been part of the
celestial hierarchy at one point, but are now independent.
Phoenixes, seven in number, dwell in holy Yetsirah.
Einherjar are warrior-petitioners,
promoted from Lantern archons. They either ascend through the Einheriar ranks
and become Agathina or are retired from active duty and become hound archons. They
include the ranks of paladriel, or spirit-paladins, and the ascendent saints,
who generally outrank common martyrs.
Contemplatives are
petitioners. Instead of acting as rulers
and guardians of the Mount as the Archons do, they spend their time in communities like those mortals
have meditating on the laws and virtues of the plane.
Lantern Archons are souls new to the Mount. They are promoted to hounds,
einheriar, or the Contemplative, or sent to the Material Plane as fylgars
and aryths.
Aryths
and fylgars are familiars granted to worthy mortal users of magic. On
the Mount, they are made from lantern archons. Aryths are also created on other
planes of good, while fylgars are created on other planes of law.