Granola Guillotine

Granola Guillotine, better known as just Granola, is an Angel that was found within the battlefield of Tannhauser after the fall of The Clock Tower, first introduced in "Sky's Shadow Part 13". They played a pivotal role in the development of the conflict, working against the forces of the tower before joining the team of the Nine Shrines Adventure Agency.
== History ==
Like all Angels, Granola came from the realm of chaos, The Heavens, a realm where all things bleed into one another, a realm of beauty and completeness for those that lived there. Their role in the heavens was that of the scientist, the engineer, the one responsible for problem solving and analysis. They were once in the past pulled down to the mortal realm and lived there, as one one of the Angels who explored the world in an airship, forging some form of connection to one of the original Angels. However, it is unclear if they are that same person anymore, with these memories bringing an air of confusion and darkness.
They were called down a second time to the mortal realm, stretched between there and the realm above, within an alchemy vat in a dungeon, the first successful summoning that the people there had managed to achieve, surrounded by beakers, vials and protective runic circles in case the Angel tried to do anything. This summoning was ordered by the Prince of Tannhauser, seeking guidance in securing his succession for he had fallen ill. He swore an oath both to protect himself and his kingdom. They promised him knowledge, to save him and make Tannhauser more of a paradise. They shared the knowledge that would create The Clock Tower. That was the last thing the Angel remembered, though it was a memory that would stick with them just as the memories of the realm of chaos would. The oath that was made would be broken so utterly, that the Angel became half mad, and was cast to Earth with no way back. 
Granola was called forth a third time in the form predominantly seen in Thrilling Intent. They were brought forth through alchemical experiments performed by the Tannhauser Military, known as Granola to them. In this form, Granola was later found by the team of Markus, Gregor, Harlock and Mercedes guarding the outskirts of the ruins of Bosch, having scrawled the phrase "Oathbreaker" in the walls of the ruins. On sight they attacked them, resulting in a fierce battle ending in Granola being exploded and the group escaping. 
After being exploded and surviving, they began hunting down the group of Harlock, Markus, Gregor and Mercedes, tracking them through the deceased Angel body they were carrying with them. This one is the one who wrote the word "Oathbreaker" with their massive sword. In Soldiers of Silver Part 1, they are seen again attacking a Tannhauser Military encampment only a day later, seemingly entirely reformed, although their sword was not fully reformed, being made of a loose liquid metal. After death, the sword stopped reforming.
As discovered in Soldiers of Silver Part 1, they seems to be fundamentally different to the Clock Tower and the infantry that they summon. Found through the combined efforts of Gregor and Harlock's interactions with the True World, while drawing their power from the same plane of existence as the tower, they are connected to a different exact location. Gregor sees this as a thin thread, connecting the being to somewhere higher, although where is uncertain. It seems to be connected to the Tannhauser Military however, with an Aasimar in the military referring to the severed head as "Granola", which, combined with the other Angels that they have been seen with, implies that they are the ones behind this angel's creation. After cutting this thread, severing its power source, the angel screamed and collapsed, although not melting like the others, writhing once before lying, finally defeated. The detached arm from the battle disintegrated into goop like last time, although unlike the previous time it seemed to 'lack a will', and instead of receding into the ground just sat there. The team would proceed to carry around its severed head for a while
The Angel would later reappear later in the arc, during "Soldiers of Silver Part 21", however seemingly without any aggression towards the party members. They appeared relatively annoyed at seeing the party again. However, as opposed to attacking the group, perhaps having learned their lesson, they instead attacked the other Angels present in the lab, skewering one with their sword, ripping another of its legs, before moving out to deal with others. Later on they were seen in direct conflict with The Goliath, swinging their blade at it while the Goliath fired upon them. The reason for this conflict is yet unknown. Notably, its connection to the Heavens remains severed, with its body at times randomly shutting off, with only incomplete thoughts and emotions, perhaps as a result of being cut off from its power source and the rest of its greater being. As would be analyzed by Gregor later on, it had been completely severed from the realm above, now with a free will and a portion of angelic power pooled within it, similar to Mercedes after Gregor cut her thread as well. However, they remembered, and moved with the memory that the prince had broken his oath, fighting off the other Angels that the prince, and Granola through their knowledge and guidance, seem to have been responsible for creating, fighting off any who stood in their path as well. 
Sometime after the fight with the Goliath, Granola would rest in the woods, returning back to the skys to approach the tower once again. In the subsequent battle in the Clock Tower's Hallway, the Angel would prove instrumental in its defeat, slashing open the body of the Goliath. After the fight, they would convene with the team of Nine Shrines, now as a somewhat confused ally. They expressed gratitude to the team for carrying around its head for some reason, recognizing them as likeminded hunters. They would retrieve the faceplate of the Goliath and all 4 of its cannons as gifts. After some discussion as to who they would like to be henceforth with the group, they took the name Granola, inspired by Gregor's enjoyment of Granola bars. 
In the following days after the resolution of the Tannhauser conflict, Granola would begin to grow closer and closer relationships with the Nine Shrines team as they spent time together. Having expressed their own interest in a new body, the crew got together and began to brainstorm new ideas based on their own ideas. Following a lengthy debate, the conclusion was a god-like being that is ripped, short and cute, a chaotic dynamo, an imp body inside of a statue like husk, and hermit crab like. Also, with hands. 
== Appearance ==
Their true form from the higher realm is unknown, though likely similar to The Third's in being a mass of lights.
Like all Angels called down to Tannhauser following the fall of the Tower, Granola possesses a body made of Celestial Silver. They possess a marble-like pale white body, with golden markings and streaks throughout, along with an elbow brace bearing red feathers. On their back are a pair of large white wings. Their head bears no eyes, and long light-golden hair and a golden headpiece sprouting into two sets of red feathers. Almost always at their side was a massive golden accented silver sword that they control, with seemingly magical golden rings surrounding both the sword and Granola's arm when controlling it. 
Granola uniquely possess the ability to transform between two forms, one large and one small depending on preference. 
In their new smaller form, which emerges from their larger one at will, they are still made of celestial silver, with similar features as before however with many notable differences. They are substantially smaller, roughly that of a normal human now. Many of their features, such as the winged elbows and face wings are still present but also smaller, with golden accents covering most of the arms and extending onto the face, chest and legs. Their wings seem to protrude from the middle of their back, and their hair now shines turquoise, with a crowning halo surrounding the head. They additionally now wear clothing, with a white top flowing down their torso while still exposing their abs, with black strips of fabric holding it, and similar black pants that expose the legs. They can conjure a golden glaive, similar to their old sword. 
== Personality ==
While little is precisely known about them, Granola is a violent and aggressive angel, attacking most in its path indiscriminately, showing particular aggression to other Angels, with Gregor noticing a sort of 'mindless rage' within it. However, they have respect for what would be 'fellow hunters' to it, offering portions of the spoils from its shared victory over the Goliath Angel with the Nine Shrines crew an alliance of blood. They especially show respect to Gregor for being able to sever their connection to The Heavens, despite this event causing numerous problems for the angel. They also showed gratitude to the team carrying around. 
A portion of its rage is rooted in its tie to The Heavens, where it was once full of righteous fury. However, once that connection was severed by Gregor, and in the absence of that connection, to higher purpose and instructions, the angel feels lost, following the same purpose of hunting down the alchemically made Angels due to duty, but are unsure if this is even their duty. They don't know who they are or what they want, simply repeating the last instructions they were given. 
They further do not seem to understand the concept of 'favors', or who is helping who, only that an exchange of some kind is being made and it must be reciprocated. While they do feel some desire for a new and different body, they were only willing to take Mercedes up on that offer if they could do something for her.
Following the destruction of the tower and the defeat of the oath breaker, Granola has begun a journey of discovery and gradually forming their identity based on the identities other regard them as. As a being of the heavens, the thoughts and feelings of those around them bleed into their own. When not regarded, they float aloofly, observing the world, and while being observed, their identity structures further and further, reciprocating what is around them. When stressed, they fluff up like a studio Ghibli character.
They also want to be short and don't like being tall. Beyond this though, they wish to be able to communicate with others. These are all wishes they obtained in their new form, being able to communicate using gestures and forming pictures. 
== Abilities ==
Granola is notably much stronger than many of the other Angels seen, possessing a massive sword and some form of wind-based abilities. When attacked, they release a maelstrom of wind, creating countless cuts on the bodies of those near them, as well as being able to simply levitate above the ground alongside their sword. They are also more cunning than other Angels, having separated the team of Nine Shrines Adventure Agency during their first encounter, and releasing fear-inducing howls when in battle. They are also much more resilient to damage, having suffered a large explosion and still emerging, healing in a very short time.
While neither are in the Heavens, Granola and Mercedes are capable of communicating similarly to how one would communicate while in there, with the intention behind actions being read. However, it is noticeably muddled by some presence in the tower. Markus moving away from the two improved the connection slightly. They seem to largely gather emotion and thoughts from the thoughts of those around them. When asked what it wanted, for any desire or intention, thanks to the fairly straightforward and strange desires of those around them, they simply displayed their desire to be short because they're tired of being too tall and constantly bumping into stuff.
== Relationships ==
=== The Prince of Tannhauser ===
Having been responsible for calling down Granola for the second time, Granola appears to bear a grudge against the prine. During their first encounter, the prince had made an oath to protect his people, an oath that it seems he had failed to uphold, resulting in these ill feelings and perhaps the entire conflict of Tannhauser as well.
=== General Gold ===
While the reason why is unclear, Granola expresses extreme dislike of General Gold.
== Trivia ==
* When trying to drink tea they splash it onto their face, since they cant open their mouth.
** They also cannot smell.
* They relate greatly to Biff the Imp due to their mutual height problems.
* As an Angel, they communicate through intentions and thus are able to interpret idioms perfectly.
== Gallery ==