Every adventurer has at least heard of the Hell Syndicate and its infernal bosses, but fewer are aware that the agents of Heaven are also active in the world. Worldwide, they’re a varied lot--more variable even than the differing versions of the Supreme Being espoused by world religions and encountered by planar travelers--but they have similar aims: They make sure the multiverse functions as it should and they motivate humans to confront the forces of evil.
The followers of the Good Book call these beings “angels.” In the Astral and beyond they can be powerful and frightening, bigger and stronger than many earthly eikones. Their forms are too big and strange for the Material Plane, but in the higher realms they're composed of a tumult of wings and heads of animals or geometric solids and fire. Always fire.
On earth, they're are smaller and more mundane. A string of soup kitchens and homeless shelters across the Strange New World are operated by angels in human guise or their agents. From the down-and-outs, addicts, and alcoholics that take advantage of their services, the angels recruit soldiers. The most trusted of these they grant minor miraculous powers, making them essentially members of the Gifted. Others are recruited via traveling revivals or mysteriously short-lived radio evangelist shows. These folk drawn from among the working poor, the elderly, and the outcasts of society become secret members of the Army of Salvation.They wait quietly for the time when they will be called upon to perform some task for the agents of God.
Some angels on Earth are sent on missions by their superiors to right various mundane wrongs they encounter--not by direct action as much as by encouraging humans to do so. These angels seldom appear in any way angelic: They mostly look like traveling salesmen, regular clerks or the like. They rarely manifest any supernatural powers--though they are able to travel from place to place instantaneously and have the uncanny knack of avoiding serious physical harm. Other powers are available to them, but these must be cleared with their superiors and are only sanctioned in the direst need.
8 comments:
This information will come in handy if we ever have to deal with the Hell Syndicate again.
Very nice counterbalance to the Hell Syndicate. I like the way you evoke (in so many of your creations) certain institutions from real life, like the "Army of Salvation." It gives a nice touch of realism.
@Jim - Use it wisely. :)
@Bard - Thanks!
The radio televangelism spellcraft angle is quite interesting,and makes me want to know more.
I get the impression that some of those reached by the Angels could be excellent sleeper agents/ Manchurian candidates.
For Good, of course.
@John - Of course. :)
Very nice. I always like the hidden war aspects settings have, and would love to see more stuff on old school Occultism in your world.
@Canageek - I may have some more stuff coming up pretty soon that you'll appreciate, then.
Film blanc, baby!
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