Heresy: Kingdom Come
The setting is a post-cataclysmic cyber-punk world, where the cataclysm was metaphysical in origin, but with massive repercussions on the physical plane.

Players represent those powerful spiritual beings trapped on earth by events beyond their control or understanding, their aim being to gather enough spiritual energy to escape the mortal bounds of a Forsaken Earth.

A radical christian scientist named Dimeon Wu had a theory that there was only a thin boundary between the extensive virtual reality structure established; the dreaming or sub-conscious state of the human mind and the spiritual realm or concept of 'heaven' . Exploring this boundary in a trance-like state induced through the use of occult cybermystic technology and drugs, he unwittingly pierced it and brought about its unraveling. This had cataclysmic consequences, shattering the world in what came to be known as "the Ruin". The least of these effects was the boundaries between the 'real' and virtual blurred and constructs and AI's in the net became flesh. Not only this, but fictitious and historical characters have also became embodied as well. Although the mechanism for this prcess remains unclear, it is most likely through a similar blurring of boundaries as the digital realm continues to unravel. Technology and mysticism have become entwined, unleashing a new Dark Age of fear and foreboding in the midst of bright modernity.

But this is only the tip of the iceberg. Pushing from the other side of the Veil (the boundary), the Hosts of Pandemonium - those Angels that initially fell from grace in the One City- broke through from their metaphysical realm of 'Hell'. Speculation is that Wu was tricked by members of the Infernal Host into precipitating events for exactly this purpose. But with the collapse of these boundaries, divine and celestial Empyrean also fell and the Celestial Host - the Angels of Heaven - awoke disorientated and confused, trapped on Earth. Where or what has happened to Metatron (God), no one knows. The once Celestial Hosts lose faith and turn to desperate measures to seek direction, unaccustomed as they are to their new found free-will; or lash out in their confusion, acting upon old resentments against humanity and blaming them for their current predicament. The once damned Infernal Hosts are perhaps more accustomed to their new life and better able to acclimatise, understanding the nature of humankind more and perhaps seeking redemption.

Earth has become a strange and frightening place indeed, a 'Forsaken Earth'. Demons and Angels walk abroad, contesting with each other over the remains of broken nations in an attempt to control governments, corporations and crime syndicates the world over. Humans are split into fractious groups, confining themselves to their cliques and conclaves, trying to survive in a fragmented society existing in isolated arcologies, and metroplexes. And virtual reality, the 'Matrix', has taken on a grim new persona of its own. No longer a realm of mans preserve, dark things haunt the data highways and beings step forth from it into the harsh light of day that should have come to exist beyond the boundaries of a twisted and inhuman imagination.

The aim is to re-ascend. In order to accomplish this, sufficient technological resources and spiritual energy must be accumulated to open a Gateway. This is accomplished through defeating ones foes, storing the spiritual energy gained in the Matrix until such time as enough has been accumulated. Of course, such a 'commodity' is a magnet for the predations of others and must be protected at all times.

And there is another, darker way to 'win'. By bringing on the final Apocalypse and Judgment - though the nature of this may vary, depending on who gets to judge.


Heresy: Kingdom Come
A Brief Introduction to the Forsaken Earth
Although often solely blamed for the deterioration of world society, the Ruin of 2613 was but the final nail in a cross erected centuries earlier. Many point to the privatization and subsequent "fire sale" of the United States government as the beginning of the end; others refer to the proliferation of corporate terrorism in the late twenty-second century. The Gaians have cried rape since the Industrial Revolution, and the New Waldensians are quick to name technology itself, and the global computer Matrix in particular, as the culprit. Physical and moral divisiveness was the order of the day prior to the Ruin; the moment of the Ruin itself graced us with a spiritual discord so profound that many of the world's eldest religions are now casualties in its wake...
The world of 2613 presents a bleak synergy of rampant technology and twisted ecology. Continued global warming has forced cities to build ever upward, while at the same time an ongoing struggle rages in the lower reaches to hold the environment at bay. Indeed, the very face of the globe has changed.
The New York Metroplex has been largely reclaimed by the Atlantic, and survives as a demented reflection of pre-Ruin Venice. Its original streets resting several meters below the water's surface, the city has become a riot of interlinking platforms and many-tiered concrete expanses. All are connected by an unintelligible network of spidery bridges and precipitous ramps.
The Vegas Expanse now sits on the western shore of the continent, overlooking both the Pacific Ocean and the Seafloor Metroplex of Los Angeles. Resting on the archipelago known as The Rim ("Arcology Row" in the slang of the times) are the Silicon Arcologies, the major corporate zaibatsus and combines of the post-Ruin world. These islands of metal represent the single largest concentration of political and economic power in the hemisphere.
Foreign geopolitics have changed as well. The Benelux Exchange, and especially the Amsterdam Core (nicknamed "The Damnation"), continues to attract the decidedly open-minded. The Vatican Arcology has relinquished much of its former moral high ground, and has instead begun to concentrate on the development of new and better biosoft applications. The Zurich Metabank still caters to the underbelly of the nouveau riche (and also serves as a flagrant sponsor of the "Greening of America" Foundation), and the Bordeaux-Barcelona Perimeter remains the haven of the new order's literati.
The benchmarks of cultural and moral acceptance continue to evolve at a frightening rate. The Jury Duty vans, wonderful innovations supported by the Due Process Project and each carrying Twelve Good Men in Black, prowl the cityscapes meting out justice "swift and sure". Club Constitution, a subsidy of the Greening of America Foundation (a reference to dollars, not trees...), has opened its doors in Federal Core. The Club is housed in the former National Archives of the now-defunct USA, and many of that institution's original attractions remain. The U.S. Constitution, for example, rests inside a glass table in the posh Champagne Lounge. It is also rumored that a declared Pax Sanctorum exists within the Club; judging by the larger-than-normal crowd of the Fallen that can usually be found there, this seems likely.
Great polarized UV Domes (commonly referred to as "Eyes"), installed as protection against heightened radiation levels, dot the landscape. Most are only partially completed, casualties of political graft and fiscal armageddon. Anubis, the drug of choice for the "new generation", has begun to infiltrate even the most far-flung population centers. Hailed as the "New Emotive for a New Generation", it has ushered in a fresh age of hedonism, with junkies of all ages and backgrounds clamoring to score their next "stim".
Finally, a curiosity known as The Replication has been reported (and suspected) in many areas of the world. This phenomenon, which was first reported after the Ruin and is directly related to the mysterious Reality Drains that have appeared in various corners of the decaying Matrix, is causing some extremely esoteric legal problems. For example, it is widely rumored that Arthur Glaston, the high-profile CEO of the Excalibur Corporation, is actually Arthur Pendragon reborn (or rather, given a life his mythical self never had...). The eventual ramifications of such occurrences are a constant topic of speculation among the powerful, and several of the largest zaibatsus and advertising conglomerates are already moving swiftly to capitalize on these strange incarnations.
The events and repercussions surrounding the Ruin itself have thrown many of the world's most cherished belief systems into utter chaos, and a wholesale philosophical restructuring process is currently in full swing. Many faiths that would have been considered heretical before the Ruin are now openly embraced by entire nations. Belief itself has entered a state of dynamic flux, and new discoveries and esoterica continue to tip the balance daily.

The Architect of the Ruin
Apostate. Heretic. Messiah. These are but a few of the countless monikers attached to the quasi-mythical personage of Dimeon Wu, Cardinal-Scientist of the Vatican Arcology and undisputed architect of the Ruin. Comparisons are often drawn between Wu and the early Gnostic heretics of Earth's pre-Roman and medieval periods. Such parallels are not inappropriate, and Wu himself encouraged comparisons that likened him to a modern day Joachim of Flora (it was later discovered that Wu had engineered a Construct of Joachim in the Rome Expanse, the Vatican's little corner of the Net in which Dr. Wu enjoyed a Tier 7 clearance, presumably as an ideological companion; although evidence of the Construct was found, the Construct itself was missing and is thought to have undergone The Replication).
As a result of his interests and researches, Wu eventually found and contacted a number of groups spearheading a kind of New Gnosticism. Although many of his contacts - the Theurgicum and the Followers of the New Kingdom among them - were forbidden according to Vatican decree, Wu's associations and the ideas fostered by those associations had already become something of an obsession for him. Much of this early research served as critical groundwork for his crowning achievement - the now infamous Project Demiurge.
As the scientist's knowledge progressed deeper into several of the mystical disciplines, he began to explore the shadow regions just beyond the Shroud, the spiritual boundary between the mundane world and the mirror realms of the Dream. With the assistance of a student, he also began extensive travels into the deepest reaches of the Matrix; several of his theories suggested a possible connection between the two realms, and his travels were meant to lay the preliminary groundwork for a series of remarkable experiments.
It was on one of these early journeys into the Matrix that Wu first encountered the being called Raziel. Exactly who or what this being actually was remains a matter of some conjecture; many claim it was one of the True Fallen consciously leading Wu down his path of eventual destruction. Others say it was the Black Angel, although his motivation in this, as in all things, is carefully guarded mystery. Of course, Wu thought it was truly Raziel the angel (a number of post-Ruin investigations have since proved this to be false), and subsequently began to treat the being as a valued and trusted colleague.
Long suspecting the mystic and reflective connection between the Matrix and the Dream, Wu reasoned that if he could join certain esoteric aspects of the two, he could find a usable path or link through both realms to the Other Side, perhaps even to the Empyrean itself. His theory involved an overlapping of consciousness, a merging of his Dream-being and his Net-being into something larger. If successful, he would create a new plateau of understanding within the accepted landscape of reality.
At least, that was how it was supposed to go...

The Ruin
Perceptions of Project Demiurge are as varied as discourses on the Ruin itself. While all agree that sweeping fundamental change has encroached upon static reality, the nature of this change remains a matter of heated dispute. Terms for the Ruin are as abundant as those for Wu himself - Apocalypse, Redemption, Abandonment, Return. All are subjective truths, relevant within their own minuscule slices of reality; however, the larger objective lessons of the Ruin are only now beginning to surface, and their echoes will certainly resound throughout the cosmos for eons to come.
All first-hand accounts of the Demiurge experiment are taken from Wu's personal encoded journals. These documents were found seven years after the Ruin in a secret memory cache on the periphery of Michaelangelo, one of the Vatican's little-used information arrays. It is from these accounts, and thus by extension from the Cardinal-Scientist directly, that the world eventually learned of Wu's final moments.
His recordings indicate that he indeed entered the Matrix on the eve of the Ruin, traveling to a dark area in the little-used reaches that had been revealed to him by Raziel. Wu knew this place as the Southern Gate, and once there he ritually presented himself as a divine supplicant and made contact with Raziel. The "angel" accompanied the scientist deeper into the Net until they finally arrived at the appointed staging ground for the experiment - an empty stretch of unknown virtual space.
Once there, preparations began immediately; with Raziel's aid, Wu induced a heightened level of REM activity in himself, leading to the establishment of a deep, but semi-conscious, dream-state. Using techniques learned from his more esoteric associations, the scientist began slowly to penetrate the outer layers of his own unconscious mind (or so the recordings claim...).
After an initial exploration and orientation period, his journals indicate that he indeed approached and passed through the Shroud. He was in the process of moving even deeper into the sleep-realm when he felt a sort of "tug" from his Matrix-self; as he turned to address the new sensation, he felt what he immediately referred to as a Touch, this time from a secondary presence behind him. And at that moment Reality in a conventional sense ceased to be...
No one except Dimeon Wu knows exactly what happened at the moment of the Ruin. Opinions range from damnation to rebirth, just as appraisals of Dr. Wu run from apostate to messiah (and in fact, in several fledgling post-Ruin religions he is, literally, one or the other; after all, no one knows for certain what became of the scientist). Most knowledgeable individuals, of which there are few, assume that the being who called itself Raziel had a direct hand in the destruction. Most also believe that some type of spiritual polarization occurred, akin to a rebound charge, which had the virtual effect of two similar magnetic poles being forced to overlap. The result was an explosion of devastating negative force, changing the landscape of spiritual, virtual and mundane Reality forever; this, no one disputes.
Both spiritual and physical evolution are taking place at a frightening rate in the new world. The Matrix (now referred to by a plethora of slang, with Decay, Darkness and Cacophony being the most common terms heard) itself has been horribly damaged and has entered a state of seemingly irreversible decay.
Reality Drains, bridges between the virtual and the mundane, have begun to appear in various places within the Net. Datastorms rage through the new virtual wilderness, and pockets of toxic data pose hazards for even the most experienced hacker. Facets - small regions of deteriorating virtual space which simulate entire alternate realities - are also becoming increasingly common. While some experimental Facets were engineered prior to the Ruin, they now seem to have taken on lives of their own.
Finally, there seem to be links appearing between the shattered Matrix and the Shroud, although the latter has not yet been completely breached. Many blame this new digital fascination with the spiritual on renegade intelligences within the Matrix; the Ruin altered many things, and rogue AI's are a distinct possibility. Others whisper that these occurrences are simply the cries of an awakened digital realm experiencing its death agony.
Although the Matrix felt the destruction more deeply, the Ruin did not spare the shadow realms of the Dream. The Aware (those humans who enjoy a fundamental understanding of the Dream) were immediately able to sense the change, normally describing it as "an addition of presence". They also began to notice slight tears and inconsistencies, both in the spiritual material of the Shroud itself and beyond in the landscape of the Dream. Where possible, these individuals began actively seeking such rips and repairing them; after all, the Matrix was already lost and they were determined not to allow the Shroud to suffer a kindred fate. Many lost either life or sanity during these efforts, but their actions have thus far been successful.
Reports from these travelers tell of numerous odd sightings throughout the dreamscape. Many of the denizens beyond the Shroud have also been "changed." The Memunim (a class of the Fallen formerly in the service of the lords of the Dream) are an example of this; the Ruin seems to have made them forget both their origins and their allegiances. They now roam the Dream on mysterious business of their own, serving out of avarice or simple whim. Rumors also persist of an "underground" movement of sorts, an alliance among Forlorn and True Fallen dedicated to freeing Constructs of all sorts (many among the Aware believe this group to be at the heart of the Replication phenomenon).

The Metatron Enigma
No consequence of the Ruin has changed the face of the world more than the newly felt influence and presence of the Fallen. Although their existence in many quarters is certainly no secret, most unenlightened mortals still do not realize that the Fallen walk among them. For both Forlorn and True Fallen alike, the hinge concept of the Ruin is something they call the Metatron Enigma (the Forlorn say this with reverence, the True Fallen with glee).
The Metatron Enigma is the source of most immortal conjecture surrounding the circumstances of the Ruin. At the moment of destruction, all activity in the One City ceased in a blinding flash. Those among the Fallen who experienced this recount that their next sensation was, literally, one of falling.
Those who would call themselves Forlorn awakened in the Wilds (their name for the mundane world) and immediately felt a disturbing lack of presence - the chief among them, Metatron, was not present. This being was often equated with the Light itself, and also served as an integral facet of the Word. His absence did not bode well for their new situation, and rampant speculation began immediately.
Had Metatron and/or the Light itself been destroyed in the Ruin? This seemed unlikely, since several of the more far-seeing among the Forlorn had caught glimpses of the One City lying in ruins (but it was never destroyed in these visions). Could their chief be hiding among them, then? Most thought not. Were they being tested in some manner? This seemed a distinct possibility. Had the time of reckoning arrived at last, and had they been cast out as punishment for long-forgotten sin? Had they been banished for an unknown transgression? Perhaps they had been sent into the Wilds to prepare the way for something (the Return, perhaps?). Should they be seeking answers or awaiting instructions?
The nature of their fall had engendered a crippling factionalism from the moment of their awakening, and most quickly went their separate ways. Unlike their demonic counterparts, who had been interacting with men for millennia, the Forlorn began to experience severe adaption pains. Unschooled in the intricacies of emotion and Free Will, the Fallen were helpless in the face of a bleak and unforgiving world. Many reacted with violence toward their former human charges, forgetting or dismissing promises made in the One City so long ago...
Others became new Ethnarchs, claiming vast territories as their own. Some attempted to restore and hold the sacred Traditions on earth, maintaining that the Hierarchies must remain strong and unified if any were to survive. Some entered leagues of mutual assistance with their demonic brethren, thinking the experiences of the latter could only benefit them in the new world (after all, who better to learn from than those who have already embraced experience for millennia). And finally, some retreated to the farthest corners of the earth or the Dream in a desperate attempt to disavow that which they could not accept (these are called "Hermits" by the True Fallen). The sundering was complete.
As the Forlorn awakened in the Wilds, the True Fallen, the demons, watched as the seals between the Pandemonium and earth weakened even further. Many among them had been preparing their return for aeons, nudging humanity along desired paths but rarely becoming directly involved in the affairs of men. They had long roamed the growing expanse of the Matrix, using it as one of their principal vehicles of influence because it had been easier to enter than the Wilds. However, they were prevented from passing beyond the Shroud (which they call the Mirror, since they can only perceive their own reflection), and could not enter the Dream at all.
All this has changed. Now, with the seals melting away and nearly gone, they may travel freely where once they were forbidden. Not organized in the strictest sense of the word (which could eventually be their undoing...), their society has definitely assumed a degree of ordered purpose during its difficult evolution in Pandemonium. They spill wholly into the Wilds, for those gates have long since disappeared, and assiduously work at breaching the Shroud. As yet causing only small rips and tears in the spirit, they can feel the barriers weakening. They know persistence will eventually be rewarded with a breach. They can see the Mirror growing hazy.

Aftermath: A New World Order
The Ruin has become the impetus for more than the obvious philosophical revolution; a cultural revolution is taking place as well. New attitudes toward computers and information systems are sweeping through the global community. Many distrust their hard ware, often with good reason. This includes both external systems and internal enhancements. As a result, paper is enjoying something of a renaissance and antique books have become the rage.
Accompanying this new aversion to technology is an anachronistic Victorianism among the wealthy and the powerful. Sleek crepe frock coats and a fondness for anything hand-crafted are the order of the day, and many individuals have even begun hiring human servants once again. Who can tell where such quirks of interest will eventually lead?
A heightened awareness of the spiritual is another consequence of the Ruin, and more mortals are becoming enlightened every day. Accompanying this new awareness are numerous young belief systems, most of which have grown up over the past few decades in an attempt to explain and comprehend the tremendous changes in reality and perception caused by the Ruin. It is fast becoming a time of new philosophies, new ways of thinking, and fresh methods for approaching ancient truths and problems.
Most of all, the stance and positions of the Fallen should be viewed in this new light. A dramatic role reversal seems to be occurring, with many of the True Fallen aiding humankind and many of the Forlorn hiding from them. After all, the demons have been common visitors in the Matrix since its inception, and they have embraced experience and Free Will since their conscious (they always stress the "choice" in this...) fall from grace millennia ago.
The newly Fallen are not happy in the least with their newfound station in the universe. Only yesterday reveling in the presence of the Light, many now dwell in the dark alleyways and lower tiers of the Sprawl. Most cannot handle the strain imposed by Free Will and are caught between succumbing completely to desire and attempting to eschew both emotion and experience forever. Few have yet had the strength of will to simply accept; and accepting, to lead their fellows out into the Forsaken Earth...


Heresy: Kingdom Come
An Earth Forsaken
"And in the dark days after the Fall, the banner of the Lightbringer
shall be raised again. And he shall have a new visage and a new form,
and the faithful shall come to him on bended knee..."
-- from the Crimson Vision of Michael the archangel

The Forsaken Earth is a dark future reflection of our own world, a place forever changed by a massive spiritual cataclysm known as the Ruin. It is a world of passion and menace, where angels prey upon their former heathen charges and demons dream in their digital paradises. It is a world where things are rarely what they seem.
At the moment of the Ruin, the angels were cast from their heavenly city and scattered among the heathen. Now, they walk among us in search of a way to reclaim their celestial stations. Whether they have been abandoned by the Light or betrayed, or whether their fall is merely part of a greater test, all are seeking answers and redemption in the world below.
Many have assumed leading roles in the new human factions and heresies; philosophical groups with attitudes that have sprung up in the wake of the Ruin. Their presence has ushered in a new era of struggle and begun an earthbound war among the former celestials for ultimate supremacy. The price? Perhaps their salvation. The reward? Reality itself.
The angels' roles in the world of flesh are as diverse as they were in the heavens. As the saying goes, the angels keep to their ancient places. Some have risen to positions of great power as ethnarchs, ruling vast regions and heathen populations. Others have retreated to the far corners of the earth, living as hermits and removing themselves from the struggle entirely.
Still others serve as patrons for the new heresies, moving their human followers as pieces in a great chess game played from the shadows. However, no matter what role they have chosen for themselves in this new world, each of the fallen is connected by one common thread: secrecy. Although they themselves now wear mortal guises, their existence is known only to a few among the heathen. And they intend to keep it that way. By remaining hidden, the subjugation of man is made that much simpler.
But the fallen have their own fears in this realm of flesh. The continuing decay of the global computer Matrix is a source of ongoing worry for both host and heathen alike. Where once the digital realm served as the most secure avenue of information storage and communication, it has become a phantom region of death and insanity. Only the bravest or most foolhardy travel its neon highways now. It has in many ways become a kind of digital old west, a frontier that many believe holds the key to the eventual fate of the Forsaken Earth.
And what of the Ruin itself? Any examination of the events surrounding this disaster would be incomplete without looking at the man whose arrogance and consummate pride brought all of the necessary vectors into alignment...
Dimeon Wu; spiritualist, matrix theorist and undisputed architect of the Ruin. Apostate. Heretic. Messiah. Dr. Wu's legend continues to grow, and in the years since the Ruin he has become an almost mythic figure. What no one disputes, however, is his infamous place in history. His Project Demiurge experiment, in which he sought to bridge the spiritual gap between the physical world and the heavens, was the firing pin for a spiritual cataclysm so vast that its consequences are just beginning to be understood.
The post-Ruin world presents a twisted reflection of what was, a study in radical extremes. The democratic concepts of twentieth century government have become casualties of corporate greed. The zaibatsus and combines, the so-called Great Houses, now reign supreme, wielding unimaginable power and consolidating their gains daily. Most average citizens owe their livelihood to one of these vast organizations.
In a quest for answers in the face of shattered faith, many heathen turn increasingly to one of the new heresies for guidance. These organizations are founded on all manner of outrageous speculation on the true nature of the Ruin, its causes and its consequences. Most claim to be philosophies for a new era of mankind. While some may indeed deliver on these lofty promises, others are simply pawns in a greater struggle among the fallen.
Many of the heresies claim ancient roots, while others are simply spiritual offshoots of dissident organizations that have been around for centuries. The Gaians have cried rape, in one guise or another, since the Industrial Revolution and the Outmodes are quick to name technology itself, and the global computer matrix in particular, as the cause of man's ultimate downfall. If physical and moral divisiveness were the order of the day prior to the Ruin, the moment of the Ruin itself graced the world with a spiritual discord so profound that many of the world's eldest belief systems are now casualties in its wake.
It is a time of difficult choices and new alliances. The angels yearn for a return to their ancient city, the demons fight to keep the decaying matrix at bay, and the heathen search for direction amidst the chaos. Few among the fallen yet have the strength of will to accept their new existence, and accepting, to lead their brethren out of the ashes and into the Forsaken Earth.

The Apology of Raziel
"Every angel brings terror..."
-- Rilke
Remembrances...
I am haunted by the familiar visions. Images of silver minarets and spidery bridges, endless columns and mist-shrouded halls. These are the visions I carry with me, the visions I cannot escape. They are recollections of the time before, of our sacred haven beyond time and experience. Our days in the One City are not easily forgotten.
Such memories serve to make our newest folly all the more bitter. It is the knowledge of what was - and what will never be again - that drives the final mocking nail into the cross of our current damnable state. A state not of aethyr but not entirely of flesh - a state on the far side of Hell but on the near side of Heaven. A state of yearning and of poignant loss.
As I watch the sun rise over the vast arcologies of the Rim, its healing rays never penetrating their depths, I marvel at the sad reality spread before me. As I watch the disaffected Heathen of this age scrap in the hellish Cores of the Sprawl, I wonder at the demented playground this world has become. And as I ponder the harsh lessons learned through our new mortal frailty, I know that our Fall is complete.
And deep within my breast, the memories of our sacred City haunt me. The knowledge of Covenants broken, of Purposes scorned, of duty and loyalty unfulfilled. For your kind was our paramount charge, the preservation of your world our greatest task. We were the shepherds, the teachers; we were supposed to be your guides and your protectors. And with our folly - with our consummate pride - came your Ruin.
The appearance and actions of the one you call Dimeon Wu were as inevitable as the sunrise itself. We did not create him. We certainly did not aid him. But our duplicity is etched on every fragment of the Ruined world as surely as if he were our most glorious son. For his actions - as had the actions of humanity from time immemorial - went unnoticed and unheralded. We did not see because our attentions and our ambitions were focused elsewhere. We did not act because our arrogance and pride prevented it.
And in not seeing lies our shame. And in not acting lies our complicity. And in your Ruin lay our own...

Of the Cacophony
"They have discovered secrets, and they are those who have been judged..."
-- Forbidden Mysteries of Enoch
The Ruin did not leave the Matrix unscathed. Indeed, the scope of what happened on that day in 2613 is only now beginning to be fully understood. Accounts of the adversaries range from the minimal (a slight deviation from the norm in the Oubliettes) to the extreme (entire Oubliettes being swept into digital vortices). As ever, the truth of these accounts must be tempered by their sources.
It is no secret, however, that the Ruin marked the beginning of the current destabilization which appears to be occurring throughout the Matrix. Facet Oubliettes are present one day, gone the next. Strange pockets of toxic data have been reported in regions thought otherwise to be secure. Tales of alien 'presences' abound, as do stories of the Sybils, artificial intelligences gone mad.
A strange phenomenon known as the Replication has also been reported with increasing regularity in the years since the Ruin. This curiosity was first encountered in the years immediately following the Eschaton and appears to be related to the mysterious reality drains that have been found in far-flung corners of the decaying Matrix.
It seems that certain information-based constructs from the Matrix are 'bleeding' into mundane reality. Characters from fiction and myth, famous individuals long dead - all have been sighted roaming the wilds in recent years. These constructs, as they are called, appear to act and function just as normal humans, the principal difference being that they retain the data or information from which they sprung as 'memories' or 'experience'. There have also been reports of multiple constructs of the same individual.
The adversaries see desperate times on the horizon. After the Enosis, Pandemonium and its oubliettes became an indistinguishable facet of the datascape, and its denizens are engaged in an ongoing struggle to keep the encroaching darkness at bay. It is apparent that the disease, the decay, continues to spread at a frightening rate. New expanses and datacaches begin to fester every day, and nothing seems capable of halting the process. Although many believe the adversaries were indirectly responsible for the Ruin, this theory grows more implausible with each new encroachment of the decay. After all, they have the most to lose from its consequences.
The demons have a name for what the Matrix has become - the Cacophony. As the decay spreads and Oubliettes are destroyed or tainted or swept away, an underlying din has arisen. A wild, chaotic tempest of sound and color and light. Some whisper that this maddening noise will continue to gain in strength until the last days, when the whole of the Matrix has succumbed to the decay.
None can say what the results of such a widespread breakdown would be. There are many among the adversaries who suspect that the links established between the Matrix and areas of spiritual or mundane reality are deeper and more sinister than most would ever dare to believe. They whisper that a complete breakdown in the Matrix could have dire ramifications far beyond the digital pale. Indeed, all of reality could be at stake.
The demons are determined to prevent such wholesale destruction from coming to pass. Their existence has become a single-minded quest, much like alchemists searching for the Elixir. Age-old rivalries and animosities have been set aside, and the adversaries have instead begun seeking aid from whatever quarters might best provide it. It is for this reason that new associations of mutual aid have recently sprung up between demon, host and heathen alike. If the Matrix falls, so too will its keepers.

Of the Freedom born of Mortality
"Man is the highest being in creation, because he aspires to freedom."
-- Paramahansa Yogananda
Of all the things gifted us by our fall, perhaps the most profound is the ability to feel and experience as the Heathen do. We are no longer beholden to the devic world alone; we have become slaves of our new flesh, trapped in the realm of the physical, the world of the mundane. As a result, our needs and our desires have degenerated toward a decidedly 'mortal' state, although perhaps not to the point of becoming truly Heathen.
We have become something in between, something no longer immortal but just short of mortal. And we have a new struggle to contend with - free will. You see, in the City we simply followed the dictates of our various purposes. Each knew his place in the hierarchy and understood the implications of that station. None ever questioned the truth of this order. None would ever have thought to ask that most basic of human questions - "Is this moral?"
The old rules have changed in the Wilds. Perhaps we saw the beginnings of this change during the Schism, when the Watchers began to return with wondrous tales of the lesser worlds. Perhaps it began after the destruction of the first land, when the earliest hints of uncertainty started to creep into our thoughts and our designs. Whatever its ultimate source or ancestry, nothing could have prepared us for our fall. No wonder you heathen always seemed so confusing, so passionate, to us. Now, at the end, we finally understand.
As I mentioned earlier in this tale our Archaea, our essences, were shattered by our fall. We became beings of our component elements, our Iliastri, and thus we also became vulnerable to the vast tableau of elemental experience. And in its simple way, it was wondrous! The sweetness of rich chocolate, the soft nap of brushed leather - we had never known such base pleasures and sensations as these. And many became lost in the exploration of such newly awakened feelings.
But our new awareness did not come without a price. Our embrace of elemental experience led us down paths we had not yet trodden, and many among my brethren were overcome by unforeseen dangers. You see, as we stray further from our purpose and embrace the freedom of being found in the lesser worlds, the more difficult it becomes to sense the essence (called Akasha) which flows through all things in the universe. Put another way, as we allow ourselves to experience our newfound freedom, the more wholly mortal we become.
In allowing free will to govern our lives, we face other dangers as well. If one is entirely consumed by it, he will no longer feel a longing for the City. He will no longer be able to sense the power which flows through all things, from which we once drew strength and nourishment. We are also at risk of a state known as the Rapture, caused by an overload of sensory and elemental experience. Hosts caught in the throes of the rapture are often reduced to the most primal elements of their new 'mortal' psyches.
Our susceptibility to free will is not without avenues for redemption. Many follow one of the Paths of Assiah, which represent both philosophical approaches to our existence in the wilds and methods by which we may hope to achieve Eidolon. These ways are more than simple codes of behavior; they are ways of thinking, of being, that guide us on our own individual paths toward enlightenment. And they are the closest thing to human morality that we have ever known.
The struggle to live and experience as the heathen do has not been an easy one. The strangeness of our flesh, of emotion, of desire - these things wage a constant war within each of us. It is only by controlling them that we may hope to survive. It is only by subduing them that we may hope to reclaim our station and re-form our Archaea. So we follow the Paths of Assiah because they are the only road to salvation that we know. And always there is the knowledge, deep and unyielding, that our long penance has only just begun.

Of the Aftermath
Both spiritual and physical evolution are taking place at a frightening rate in the new world. The Matrix itself has been horribly damaged and has entered a state of seemingly irreversible decay. Reality drains, bridges between the virtual and the mundane, have begun to appear in far-flung corners of the net. These sites are apparently the sources of the strange replication phenomenon I spoke of earlier in this account.
Datastorms rage through the new virtual wilderness, and pockets of toxic data pose hazards for even the most experienced jackers. Facets - small regions of deteriorating virtual space which simulate entire alternate realities - are also becoming increasingly common. While some facets were engineered prior to the Ruin, with the Oubliettes of the demons being created even earlier, many now seem to have taken on lives of their own.
Finally, there seem to be links appearing between the shattered Matrix and the lands beyond the Shroud, although the latter has yet to be completely breached. Many blame this new digital fascination with the spiritual on renegade intelligences within the Matrix; the Ruin altered many things, and rogue AIs have been reported in increasing numbers. Others maintain that these occurrences are simply the cries of an awakened digital realm experiencing its death agony.
Although the Matrix felt the destruction more deeply, the Ruin did not spare the shadow realms of the Dream. Travelers beyond the Shroud were immediately able to sense a change, normally describing it as something like "an addition of presence." They also began to notice slight tears and inconsistencies, both in the spiritual material of the shroud itself and beyond in the greater landscape of the dream.
Where possible, these wayfarers began actively seeking such scars and repairing them. There were many of my brethren roaming the shadow realms during this time; they had already seen the Matrix lost to the Ruin, and they were not about to allow the dream to suffer a kindred fate. Many have lost life, essence and sanity during these efforts, but their actions have thus far been successful.
Reports from these travelers have also begun to describe numerous odd sightings throughout the dreamscape. Accounts say that many of the denizens beyond the shroud have been "changed" as well. The Memunim, who formerly served the enigmatic lords of the dream, are an extreme example; the Ruin seems to have made them forget both their origins and their allegiances. They now roam the dream on mysterious business of their own, serving out of avarice or simple whim.
Some travelers speak of encounters with the Wailing Ones, members of the Host who were trapped beyond the shroud at the moment of the Eschaton. Their souls ripped from their essences, these poor beings roam the shimmering fabric of the dream questing after broken pieces of themselves to once again become whole.
But all of these changes pale in the face of our own tale of woe. For while these lesser realms of spirit and technology have been stricken, hope for their salvation still remains. But our City lies entirely beyond our reach, ruined and broken. We can no longer travel there, for the old ways are now closed to us. We cannot even find it in visions. For us, hope is a guttering flame. Small triumphs may grant it life for a moment, but it remains a fleeting and elusive thing.

A Light in the Dark
"Miracles do not happen in contradiction to nature,
but only in contradiction to that which is known to us of nature."
-- Saint Augustine
All of this is not to say that we are powerless in this forsaken realm of yours. On the contrary, many among us retain a considerable vestige of the sacred Canons that were practiced in the service of the Light. We have also kept a degree of what was once called the Marking, the ability to instantly recognize others of our kind. Although somewhat diluted by our fall, it remains a useful trick amidst the treachery and distrust that pervade your world.
Our connection to the Canons remains strong. For us, the Canons were the tools of our trade and the powers that enabled our servitude. They were the 'miracles' spoken of in your myths, your histories, and your religious texts. Perhaps they are even akin to the 'magic' studied and practiced by enlightened mortals through the ages.
Whatever their ultimate connection to the esoteric disciplines of the mortal world, the Canons enabled us to do wondrous things. Granted by the Light and drawing on the essence of the universe for their power, each Canon represented a specific discipline or area of ability. These, in turn, often corresponded to certain purposes or offices in the City. For example, the Watchers and others charged with roaming the lesser worlds normally practiced the Canons of Visage or Idolum, allowing them to change their appearance and bend the wills of the heathen.
One of the most acute mysteries of the Ruin is the continued power of the Canons in the mortal world. Most among the fallen assumed that the disappearances of both Metatron and the Light would have signaled the death of the Canons' power. This has not been the case. Although our powers have been significantly diluted in the wake of our fall, they have not disappeared entirely. We may still draw on them.
Obviously, this fact has been the cause of much consternation and conjecture (not to mention a healthy amount of relief, as well...) among my brethren. Most now think that the power itself never came directly from the Light; that perhaps the Light acted merely as a facilitator for its true source, a primal well beyond even our immortal imaginations. If this is indeed true, our very outlook on the universe may once again need to be re-thought. But in the face of everything else we have suffered, is that really so surprising anymore?
For now, it is only important that we can still access the Akasha needed to perform the miracles of the Canons. We draw this power from your world, from its wild places and its inhabitants. Perhaps we draw it from your faith. In some mystic spots, wells and reservoirs of the power remain, some say as remnants of Metatron's disappearance.
No matter what its source, the power and tradition of the Canons has not yet deserted us. And we will use this power in an attempt to solve the Enigma which haunts us all. Some among my brethren whisper that only a finite amount of Akasha exists, that the power itself is the dissipated body of Metatron. Most choose to ignore these doomsayers, for you see, it really doesn't matter in the end. If they are correct, the Canons are probably only delaying the inevitable. And if they are wrong, well... the Enigma and our ruined City still loom in the forefront of our thoughts and desires. The Canons will aid our progress along our chosen paths...

Finis
"The power of ancient love was strong within me..."
-- Dante
Well, I suppose my quaint apologia has reached its end. The web has been spun, the tale told. Perhaps now you understand the events of your recent history a little better, a little more clearly. Perhaps certain mysteries have now been illumined.
I pray that you use this knowledge well, that from it a sprig of hope may one day spring. For I have placed myself in the gravest danger by its telling, and I must believe that my words will not be forgotten. That they will endure for a purpose other than fleeting entertainment or curiosity. That they may, one day, lead us all - Host and Heathen alike - out of this abominable state in which we find ourselves. Out of this Forsaken Earth...
Farewell, my innocenti.
Pax,
Raziel

A Letter from Raphael to Michael
13 April, in the one hundred thirty-fifth year of Our Ruin
Greetings dear brother,
I have seen the path you have chosen in this world of flesh and it troubles me. Your actions, and those of your Heathen followers, defile the memory of our blessed City and stand as a testament to your mockery of the Covenants. I know that our ways have diverged, and that your road to salvation is not mine, but I ask you to examine the path you have chosen. And I ask you to show these Heathen, who were once given into our keeping so long ago, that we are not the monsters some believe us to be; that we are not the horrors of their legends and their dreams.
As for your challenge, I do not accept your terms. You invoke the Covenant of Revocation, and yet you laugh in the face of these same laws. You speak of the Accords, yet you are deaf to their words. I shall keep my sacred office, for that is my right. I am guilty of no violation, and although such loyalty may indeed be worthless in this realm of darkness and passion, I remain true to the burden entrusted to me by the Light. None shall ever claim that Raphael was forsworn.
It saddens me that your schemes and your plots have reduced you to this, you who once outshone all others in the eyes of the Light. You who once brooked no transgression against the Covenants, and who cast our fallen brethren into the deepest recesses of Pandemonium. This will be my final communication until next we meet, so I will close with a plea. Remember the oaths we swore, side by side, so many aeons ago. Remember the wondrous towers and halls of our City, now ruined and beyond our grasp. And remember the laws that are broken, the Covenants you have defiled.
Know that you are not forgotten in the prayers of your brethren. Know that succor and mercy are within your reach. And know that I bear the shame which you cannot. I beg you to honor my loyalty with a response; if your newfound mortal sensibilities prevent such basic courtesy, I will know that my brother is truly dead.
Pax,
Raphael
Electi of the
Virtues and
Regent of the
Sun

Heresy: Kingdom Come
The Ruin itself was precipitated by the forbidden experiments of one man, Cardinal-Scientist Dimeon Wu, in his attempts to touch heaven itself.
In the post-Ruin world, the former distinctions between the Celestial and Infernal Hosts mean little. Old loyalties have been forgotten in the Fall, and new alliances have been forged. The Hosts, and the mortals they now ally with, are now divided into seven groups:
Acquisition
The original "conspicuous consumers." There's nothing money can't buy, and although they've already bought a sizable chunk of everything, they need more. Control is the key to power. Power is the key to the universe.

Devotion
Faith and belief in higher powers will allow us to transcend our earthly selves.Those who have seen the way will lead us out of the Ruin and into a glorious new age. We have only to follow them...

Evolution
Equates scientific achievement with ecstatic experience, embraces technology, and believes that technological progress is the key to enlightenment. "Building a better tomorrow," sums up the Evolution mind set.

Preservation
From the earth we have been born, and to the earth we will return. Follow the gaian principle, and place defense of ecosystems above all other concerns. "Green peace, not green pieces," would be a good motto.

Rebellion
Why be a follower when you can be a leader? Despise authority, renounce allegiances, and break as many oaths and laws as possible. "Only dead fish go with the flow" is an appropriate motto for Rebellion.

Stagnation
The world is doomed, so why try? The most nihilistic of all convictions, Stagnation includes consumers of the designer drugs Stim and Anubis. "Got a date with Death," is popular Anubis drug culture slang.

Tradition
Believes respect for the past is the one true way to enlightenment. The laws and rituals must be upheld to prevent the world from slipping even further into decay than it already has. Why must we live this way? Because we always have...

Among the battlefields of the Fallen is the Matrix, the computer-generated digiplane that is home to the world's information. A shifting landscape of software and data, confused even more by the aftermath of the Ruin, as it begins to merge and meld with our world in strange unpredictable ways....


Acquisition

In dealing with things monetary and material, it is no surprise that the foremost virtue, and foremost sin, found in the followers of Acquisition are Charity and Avarice. Whether their concern is the wealth and indulgence of themselves or others, whether they see wealth as a tool, or an end unto itself, they are inextricably bound to the material.

Lilith
The first wife of Adam, Lilith is now wed to Sammael, the Great Adversary. Ever since the creation of Eve and her expulsion from Eden, she has been seeking to seduce and ensnare mankind.
"I endure this mortal wasteland for the sake of Sammael, my love. I partake in the dance of the Heathen politics because it amuses me. Soon I will own them all..."

Ashmedai
Of the Infernal Host, Ashmedai is perhaps the least interested in the downfall of mankind. Rather he is a philosopher and occultist who roams the steppes of Asia and ancient, forgotten libraries of Europe in search of hermetic and alchemical lore. In all likelihood, expelled from the One City for seeking too much knowledge.

Balberith
Once one of the Celestial Cherubim, Balberith became known as the "scriptor" after his Fall, and was the Infernal agent assigned the task of countersigning or notarizing the signatures on pacts made between mortals and the Infernal Host.
"I was called the scriptor in the One City, but my greatest task is at hand. The Judgment has come, and I am to be its chronicler." -Balberith, from his introduction to After the Ruin

Namaah
One of the four wives of Sammael, and an angel of seduction and prostitution, Namaah (whose name, ironically, means "pleasing") has been called the mother of demons and the Great Seducer even of the Host, both Celestial and Infernal. After the Ruin, she became a powerful Ethnarch in her own right and a founder of the Chain.

Zaphkiel, Chief of Thrones
Chief of the order of Thrones, and one of the 9 angels that ruled the One City, Zaphkiel ("knowledge of God") has become something of a slave to his expensive and exotic tastes since the Ruin. He has been known to aid the Theurgicum from time to time as his whim dictates.


Devotion

The Devotion faction is ruled by Faith and Pride, and thus is represented by one of the strongest and strangest alliances of the Seraphim and the Dukes of Hell in the post-Ruin world. In some sense, all of these Hosts have lost their Purpose with the Ruin. Without the One City, those who were defined by their service there are lost, and even the greatest of the True Fallen must feel incomplete without the eternal struggle they waged against The One.

Sammael
This red-headed rogue, whose name means "poison angel" is the undisputed leader of the Devotion faction. Before the Ruin, he was the ha-satan, the Great Adversary, leader of the Infernal Host. It was Sammael that tempted Eve in Eden, then later wed Adam's first wife, Lilith.
"I am the greatest of the Fallen, and my Purpose has remained true. Michael has become a violent fool; he knows not what he does. Only by teaching the Heathen and honoring the Traditions can we hope to achieve re-ascension..."

Uriel
One of the greatest of the Seraphs of the One City, Uriel ("fire of God") was the angel charged with watching over Pandemonium. He is also said to have been the angel set at the gates of Eden with a sword of fire. Now, however, these duties have been made meaningless by the Ruin, and he sets his considerable abilities to the task of gaining reascension.

Hadraniel
The Cherub assigned to to the task of guarding the second gate into Heaven, Hadraniel ("majesty of God") has also lost his Purpose in the wake of the Ruin and destruction of the One City. Now he leads his band of followers on a world-spanning pilgrimage, obsessed with finding the spiritual source of the Ruin.

Astaroth
Another of the greatest of the True Fallen, Astaroth was once a Seraph, and Chief of the Thrones (a title now held by Zaphkiel). Even now, he will talk at great length about the Fall, but will seem to hold himself above it. He uses his tremendous influence to control the comings and goings of the Fallen in the service of his master Sammael, and reascension.

Iblis
Once of the order of Cherubs, and a treasurer of the One City, Iblis was cast out and given her name ("despair") when she refused to reverence the first Man upon his creation. Now she has been given the perfect opportunity to destroy these "creatures made of dust."
"The soldiers of the Black Cartel are my army in the war against the Heathen. Although some call me the devil; I say I am merely the facilitator. The glassy stare of the lone Anubis addict is my ultimate reward."


Evolution

As eternal tinkerers, wanderers, and technophiles, those of the Evolution faction are exemplified by both Temperance and Gluttony. Many of these Hosts have lost their sense of Purpose in the wake of the Ruin, and are left to themselves for the first time since Creation. Some become hermits, wanderers, searching for larger truths; others wallow in their own whim and vice.

Gabriel, Chief of Angels
Of all the angels, probably the most famous, and one of the most tragic after the Ruin. Gabriel ("God is my strength") was the angel of annunciation, and one of the foremost messengers of the One. With that light gone, her Purpose is lost, and she wanders the Matrix alone, using technology to fill the void in her new existence.

Usiel
Of the ten pre-eminent True Fallen, on a par with Golab and Gamaliel, Usiel ("strength of God") is a wanderer in the Matrix, and is wont to descend on some traveler of the data streams for no reason other than delight in his own chaos, madness shining in his eyes.

Zophiel
Once serving with Zadkiel as Michael's standard bearer in battle, Zophiel ("God's spy") now serves as his spymaster, ever true to his Purpose. As before, he will be at the forefront of any advance, preparing the way for his master's arrival with information and blood.


Preservation

The followers of Preservation are caught between Prudence and Lust. Much like the adherents of Evolution, they seek a Purpose. Many find that Purpose in the simple gratification of their own desires, be it for flesh or blood. Others see their cause in the problem itself: helping to maintain the balance of things, of the Earth itself, when many cannot see beyond themselves.

Sithriel
Despite having lost touch with reality almost completely, Sithriel (whose name is sometimes used to refer to Metatron) clings to one thing in her wanderings through the Matrix and its Facets: her role as protector, shielding the "children of the world" from "the angels of destruction."

Thausael
One of the leaders of the True Fallen, who travels the world, seeking employ as a free-lance assassin and mercenary of the first order.
"If you want it done right, ask for the one they call the Assassin. No trail, no blood, and lots of pain..."

Bael
Once a great leader in Pandemonium, attended by legions of the True Fallen, Bael is now an equally great Ethnarch on earth, and rules Osaka with an iron hand. He also protects and teaches the Infernus, showing them the way down the dark path. He also harbors a great hatred for Raphael, though the reasons have been lost to the ages.

Rimmon
Once a minor figure in the lesser ranks of the Infernal Host, Rimmon ("roarer") has returned to Assyria, where he rules, and is worshiped once again, as in antiquity, as a ruler of storms and thunder. Doubtless he prefers this to his former post as the Infernal ambassador to Russia.


Rebellion

Rebellion and its followers balance precariously between Justice and Hate. As angels of vengeance and punishment, many of these Hosts served valuable and necessary positions. After the Ruin, however, with no overriding force to stay their hands, many of them have fallen prey to a lust for shear destruction, no matter the consequence.

Michael, Chief of Archangels
One of the foremost among all the Heavenly Host, Michael ("who is as God") was one of the greatest servants of The One. It was Michael who lead the Host against the Fallen, who held the keys to the One City, and who shepherded the faithful to heaven. How the "Sustainer of Man" could have become the vengeful destroyer that Michael is today no one quite knows.
"I am the Successor of the Light that is lost. The Heathen and their world are convenient tools, nothing more..."

Abdiel
Abdiel ("servant of God") is the Seraph responsible for routing many of the True Fallen during the initial fighting that broke out at the First Fall, among them his sworn enemy Arioch. Sammael himself is said to have felt the bite of Abdiel's sword. In Michael's service he can be found wherever there is most dire need of his terrible might.

Golab
Golab, whose name means "incendiaries," is one of the chief adversaries, or satans. He has always been a Fallen Angel of wrath and sedition, a bringer of death, so it is no surprise that Michael won him over to his cause after the Ruin. He continues to pursue his Purpose with zeal, serving Michael unconditionally for the joy of death and destruction.

Nathanael
An Angel of fire and vengeance, Nathanael ("gift of God") was the 6th angel to be created. Now he carries his rage and mission of punishment across a new battlefield.
"Attend me, my faithful. I have heard the call to the final battle, and the world itself is its theatre. For I am the Redeemer, and those who would desecrate the Lost Eden shall taste my wrath..."


Stagnation

Stagnation, as a faction, is torn between Fortitude and Sloth, and united by a common point of view: the world is well on its way down the slippery declining slope (the Ruin being ample proof and example). The difference is in attitude: some say that the path can be reversed, given time and perseverance, while others scoff, and wait for the end, indulging themselves as much as possible before it comes.

Beelzebul
The "Lord of the Flies" was the ruler of the domains of Pandemonium prior to the Ruin, subject only to the commands of Sammael himself. Now he works behind the scenes, slowly working to rebuild the armies he once commanded.
"My followers are legion, and they are among you...."

Appolyon
Once the keeper of the key to the Abyss, Appolyon ("destroyer") was himself cast into it when he sided with Sammael in his rebellion and Fall. Now he rules the subterranean realms.
"I am called the 'Black Sun,' and my domain is the underground of this forsaken earth. In the tunnels beneath the teeming cities, I sow dissent and gather my faithful."


Tradition

The chief attributes of the remaining followers of the old Traditions are Hope and Envy. They have never given up the dream of one day regaining the Empyrean and rebuilding the One City, and stubbornly adhere to their ways. But sometimes, when the dream isn't quite as bright, they are jealous of the new Purposes which many others of the Fallen seem to have found.

Sandalphon, Chief of Seraphim
Twin brother of the lost Metatron, and tallest of the Hosts, he now wanders the Cores as a street preacher, clinging to the Traditions, and waging an unceasing war on Sammael, as of old. Though it may seem that little remains of one of the mightiest of all the Host, his influence is still strong, and when he chooses to exert his will, few can stand in his way.

Ophaniel, Chief of Cherubim
The angel given dominion over the moon, and sometimes referred to as "the angel of the wheel of the moon." While once the chief of the order of ofanim (thrones), we was later made Chief of the Cherubim.
If we remain true to them, the Nine Traditions will guide us into a glorious new age. Follow me, my brethren, and we will restructure the Hierarchy on earth.

Abbadona
Once the chosen companion of Abdiel, Abbadona was for a while unsure of the wisdom of joining Sammael in rebellion against The One. Now wholly committed to the cause, she lives only to destroy the denizens of the earth she detests.
We are the gluttons and the Heathen are our feast. If we cannot break them, we will destroy them. The Cartels are our valuable tool.