Chapter Five
61
Angels of Note This chapter covers the eight greatest angels of classical mythology, often called the archangels, as well as other well-known or important angels.You can use these characters as the foundation for an angelic or mentors campaign, as high-level opponents in an adversaries campaign, or as a source of names and legends in a standard campaign. hese archangels are some of the best-known angels in classical theology. You can use them as-is in any fantasy campaign. They might serve the same deity, different deities, or function as free archangels helping all the powers of good.
T
The Eight Archangels Many of the eight archangels have multiple dominion feats (see Chapter Seven: Feats). These do not necessarily represent feats the angels selected as part of normal advancement, as deities have been known to temporarily grant a dominion feat to an angel (as a bonus feat) so it may perform a certain service, then remove it when the service ends. Archangels with an extended reputation involving a dominion normally have that dominion as a normal feat. Gabriel, for example, is cited as bearing great messages in several religions at different times in history, so it is certain that he has the Angel of Announcement† feat on a permanent basis. One of the main reasons why archangels can handle so many duties and dominions is because of their exceedingly long lives. For example, an archangel may spend a century as an Angel of War† while he helps a tribe of mortals free themselves from oppression and slavery, another century as an Angel of Announcement† bearing divine messages to the leaders of that tribe as they relocate to a promised land and govern their people, and the next century as an Angel of Knowledge† educating the people so they may prosper as a nation. Listed after each archangel’s history and description is his favored weapon and (for campaigns where archangels take the place of deities) the domains he grants.
Gabriel LG ophanite Rgr10/Clr13/Angel of Death5 Archangel Gabriel (“God is my strength”) is second only to Michael in faiths that speak of angels. He is the greatest Angel of Announcement†, having announced the conception of the Messiah to Mary and dictated the Koran to Mohammed. Gabriel rules First Heaven. He is an Angel of Aquarius (see Angel of the Zodiac†), Fire†, Light†, and War†, and also the angel of mercy, resurrection, and vengeance. Some call him the prince of justice, for it was he who smote the wicked cities of Sodom and Gomorrah (which also marks him as an angel of death). Gabriel completed Mohammed’s training as a prophet (after Israfel initiated this teaching) and wrestled with Jacob before blessing the man. In some legends, Gabriel will sound his trumpet at Armageddon.
As an ophanite, Gabriel is completely dissociated from identifying with one gender or the other. When in humanoid form he prefers an androgynous shape, but traditionally he has appeared as male in order to better relate to ancient patriarchs who would have had difficulty accepting the divine word from a female. Art usually depicts him as a stern-looking man with long curly hair and a halo (usually of fire, reflecting his ophanite nature) who sometimes bears a trumpet. Favored Weapon: Longsword; Domains: Fire, Good, Heaven†, Law, Travel
Metatron LG hashmalite Clr25/Angel of Death5 Archangel Metatron is an enigma. Though he has played an important role in many historical religious events and may be the most powerful angel of all, in most sources he is overshadowed by Gabriel, Michael, and Raphael. (Some believe he is actually an avatar of a deity rather than an angel.) This does not bother him, though, for he seems content to work behind the scenes and interact closely with deities rather than taking direct action in the mortal world. He is an Angel of Sanctification† and called the king of angels, voice of god, and chancellor of Heaven. Metatron is considered the tallest angel in Heaven, but this may be because of some unusual perception-confusing ability he possesses, for mortals who have seen him have perceived him as miles tall or even as tall as the breadth of the whole world. Metatron was given many gifts, including 36 pairs of wings so he may travel fast, innumerable eyes so he may watch many things at once, and 72 names of power so that supplicants can reach him and enemies cannot bind him. Every day his superior gives him a list of people whose souls must be taken to Heaven that day. He authored parts of several holy books, and he alone of the archangels was able to eject two mortal wizards of power who had transported themselves to Heaven. It was by his command that an angel announced to the world the coming of the great Flood. Metatron prefers the form of a tall, older bearded man in late middle age. He appears very wise, and rarely speaks on his own behalf (though his superior can communicate with him at any time and speak through him). Favored Weapon: Staff; Domains: Good, Heaven†, Knowledge, Law, Prophecy†
