Christopher

The role of this archangel, and his servitors, is to supervise and educate the children of Earth, and to guard all the things that childhood means. Children are also the visible sign of a Destiny beyond our own, a hope for tomorrow.
As holder of the Word of Children, Christopher does far more than guard babies. The essence of childhood is an important part of human nature, and children are good examples for the rest of us. Christopher works to enhance the best parts of childhood ~ innocence, cheer, energy and zest for learning ~ in all mankind. And most people will act selflessly to help children; this is another part of his Word ~ the ability to inspire parental feelings.
Christopher is relatively new on the Heavenly scene. He has had great success at improving children’s lives over the past few decades in many ways. Effective child labor laws, increased awareness (and lower tolerance) of child abuse, special programs for teen runaways, better access to childcare for single parents and many other programs are the direct result of his work. Children are more protected, more valued in many countries than ever before in history. Christopher is doing a very good job. Occasionally, some of Christopher’s plans have become twisted in ways that hurt parents more than they help children. Some of this is demonic interference; some is the remarkable human ability to foul things up.
Christopher, a cherub, began his career many centuries ago as a servitor of David, archangel of Stone. As he advanced through the ranks of Stone, he began to see that his Word, at least in the modern world, had less and less in common with David’s warlike approach to helping people primarily in a physical sense, and more to do with intellectual enlightenment ~ both for children and their caretakers. He has lately been spending a lot of time taking counsel with Yves, archangel of Destiny. Whether Christopher sought out Yves for his wisdom, or Yves sought him out because of the influence children have on the future, is a matter of much celestial gossip.
On Earth, Christopher typically appears as a short, joyful young man, sometimes carrying a giant sack from which toys and various candies continuously spill. He and his servitors are natural jokers, never missing the opportunity to take playful stabs at the politics of other archangels. Because of this, and because he doesn’t care to take a more serious role against the diabolicals, he’s mistrusted by some ~ most notably Michael, who’s generally mistrustful of any plot originating with Yves.
Christopher shares a name with a rather famous saint ~ Saint Christopher, a giant of a man (perhaps a Child of the Grigori) frequently depicted as carrying a child. However, the human soul is not the patron saint of children (that would be Saint Nicholas, ho ho ho), he is the patron saint of travelers. The image of a child comes from a story about Saint Christopher set after the giant had turned himself to the service of God. In the story he had vowed to serve whatever was strongest. When this vow turned him to the service of God he was given the task of using his great stature to help travelers ford a river. One of those travelers wore the form of a child. During the crossing the water rose, and the child grew more heavy, and Christopher feared he would be able to finish the crossing. When he made it to the other side he vowed to follow the child, who had put him in greater mortal danger than anyone else, at which point it was revealed that he already did, as the child embodied Creation and He Who Made It. The angel Christopher was that child. It’s safe to say that Christopher has access to the Songs of Harmony and Water, and probably encourages his servitors to take on Roles as children.
Christopher is also associated with palm trees. The palm tree he holds is actually his walking staff; it grew palm leaves to help him cross the river without drowning.
== Subsidiary Words ==
Joy, Kindergarten
== Dissonance ==
It’s dissonant for a servitor of Christopher to patronize a child. These angels must speak to children plainly and in a straightforward manner, only lying when it is absolutely necessary ~ such as to preserve a child’s sense of wonder and hope in the world.
Harming a child for any reason, even through negligence or poor decision-making, also creates dissonance.
== Choir Attunements ==
=== Seraph ===
Seraphim of Children are the ultimate teachers. Pedantic and truthful, they can detect falsehood in any child merely by hearing his voice. Consider the seraph’s resonance roll to be an automatic success, with a check digit equal to the angel’s Ethereal Forces.
=== Cherub ===
Christopher’s cherubim may automatically perform the Ethereal Song of Form without an Essence expenditure, while in the presence of a child to whom they’re attuned. The Song will last for a number of hours equal to the angel’s Corporeal Forces.
=== Ofan ===
These angels truly comprehend how time dilates for children, how an hour for a child can pass like a day for an adult. With the ability to make time slow about them, the ofanim of Children may add their Corporeal Forces to any resonance roll made in the presence of children.
=== Eloah ===
Insightful angels of patience, elohim serving Christopher may use their resonance to discern a child’s innermost desire. With a successful resonance roll, the check digit indicates the complexity and difficulty of fulfilling that desire. A 1 might mean the child wants a favorite toy returned, while a 6 would mean the child’s innermost desire is for his divorced parents to reunite. If an eloah fulfills that desire, he regenerates Essence equal to the original check digit! Failure has no penalty.
=== Malak ===
These malakim may use their resonance to automatically discern the honor of children. Use the malak’s number of Ethereal Forces as the check digit. They make excellent school principals and youth parole officers.
=== Kuriotes ===
Kuriotates serving Christopher may add their Corporeal Forces to any Will roll made to possess the vessel of a human or ~ preferably ~ pet who genuinely loves a child but are forbidden from possessing a child. Possessing the body of a child creates dissonance.
=== Mercurian ===
The mercurians of Children have a special attunement for the lives of children. They may use their resonance to discern what mundane problems a child has, e.g., abusive parents, threatening bullies, etc. This works even if the child isn’t aware of the problem or cause, or even if the problem is caused by a demon.
=== Ohr ===
These ohrot can create a light that is visible only to children. They mostly use this to guide a lost child to safety, or to hold the fear of the dark at bay.
== Servitor Attunements ==
=== Memories of Youth ===
This attunement evokes a child’s innocence, cheer, sense of wonder and energy in an adult mortal. Angels may use it at no cost once per day, or additional times by spending 1 Essence per usage, to temporarily lift the spirits of someone who is angry or depressed. The effects last in inverse proportion to the intensity of the mortal’s emotions ~ someone in a bad mood will have his spirits lifted for the rest of the day, while someone suicidally depressed may only improve for a couple of minutes. By spending additional Essence above the base cost (if any), an angel can put the target in such a good mood that all reaction rolls made while the attunement is in effect have a +1 bonus per point of Essence spent.
=== Luck ===
If there’s one thing that can be said about children, it’s that they’re lucky. Tapping into the power of children, this attunement allows the player of an angelic character, once per game session, to withdraw a result of the d666 (unless it was an intervention) and roll it over again. The player may choose which roll sticks (unless the second roll was an intervention – that roll sticks).
== Distinctions ==
=== Vassal of Kids ===
This distinction allows an angel to gain the complete and total confidence of any child less than 11 years old.
=== Friend of Infants ===
This distinction allows an angel to comprehend babies’ babblings and talk with them in kind. Observers who are not Friends of Infants will understand nothing more than “Can go ba ma?” at best.
=== Master of Clowns ===
This distinction allows an angel to amuse any human child, and ~ by roleplaying childish innocence or silliness ~ to make adults laugh. Adults get a Will roll to resist.
== Relations ==
Aligned with Yves, Christopher holds the same associations as the archangel of Destiny, and the same enemies as well, with two exceptions: Christopher is allied with Novalis (they’re both cherubim more interested in protecting Creation than destroying it in a glorious war and have grown quite close) and associated with Jordi (what children and animals do for each other supports both their Words). Liked and respected by his fellow archangels, Christopher is a cornerstone in Heaven. Unlike Dominic, or even Michael, who are deliberately conspicuous, Christopher moves in subtle and delicate ways, always there when needed with a word of encouragement or timely advice.
On the infernal side of things, Christopher has a particular enmity for Nybbas, perverter of the media and a tremendous negative influence on children, and Kobal, who instigated the grand joke that was the Children’s Crusade (though Christopher wasn’t an archangel at the time). While these two princes are a bit out of Christopher’s league, he satisfies himself with battling the corrupting force of Fleurity, prince of Drugs ~ though it’s obvious who’s growing in power more quickly.
Allied: Novalis (Dominic and Novalis consider themselves allied to Christopher.)
Associated: Blandine, Gabriel, Jean, Jordi (Blandine, Eli, Gabriel, Janus, Jean, Jordi, and Laurence are associated with Christopher.)
Hostile: No one (Michael is hostile to Christopher)
=== Archangelic Opinions ===
Khalid: It is good to look after the children, but they should also be taught faith, and obedience to God. Christopher is generous and kind, but perhaps a bit too lax for my liking. (Children need faith, and Khalid's ways are subtle and entirely appropriate for dealing with children. He needs to be less narrow-minded, though ~ they need faith, not religion.)
Litheroy: Children want to know things. Satisfy their curiosity, don't stifle it. Christopher understands that. (Litheroy doesn't talk down to children. If a child asks a question, he wants a serious answer, and Litheroy doesn't hide the truth from them.)
Zadkiel: Christopher takes care of the most vulnerable souls of all, and I'm happy to lend a hand when he needs help protecting them. (I like Zadkiel. She makes me feel safe. I'm glad her angels are around.)
=== Princely Opinions ===
Alaemon: A child's mind is fertile ground for destructive little secrets. Plant something vile there, make the child promise not to tell, and watch the poisonous fruit grow. (Always tell the truth, know who to trust, and don't hide things from those you love. If we teach children these things, Alaemon will lose his sway.)
Fleurity: Christopher is wrong; I love children. I just want to make them happy. Happy children make good customers. (One of the most loathsome of all the demon princes! Fleurity specifically targets the young, hoping to turn them into lifelong addicts. Why doesn't Heaven treat him as the deadly threat he is?)
Furfur: Spoiled, whiny, little brats playing with toys . . . booooring! Spoiled, whiny, little brats playing with guns . . . now that's hardcore fun for all ages! (Your basic schoolyard bully, made into a demon prince. He's a bad influence; keep him away from children.)
Magog: Children are meat to be slaughtered, like everyone else. They are particularly satisfying because they're such easy prey. (Magog is just plain evil. He scares me, frankly.)
Mammon: "I want one!" "Mommy, buy me that!" Ah, the sweet sound of greedy children is music to my ears. All too often, their pure, desperate selfishness is spoiled by tawdry morality, but some of them never grow up, and never stop wanting. (If children don't learn early how to share, they become easy prey for Mammon later in life. He often teaches them their first lesson in selfishness.)
== Basic Rites ==
* Spend 4 hours resting in a toy store
* Spend 2 hours playing games with children
== Invocation ==
Base Chance of Invocation: 2
=== Invocation Modifiers ===
+1 The smile of a genuinely happy child
+2 A safe electronic experiment kit
+3 An entire collection of one line of action figures, being played with
+4 A math workbook, completely filled out
+5 Introducing a child to toy building blocks
+6 A playground full of happy children
== Know Your Diabolicals ==
=== Bands ===
==== Balseraphim ====
"Lying is bad: we know that anyway, but a balseraph just proves it. Kids are really observant, of course, so Liars have some problems keeping all their lies straight around them. Show up these demons, make them look ridiculous, and they won't be nearly as dangerous to your kids."
==== Djinn ====
"They can be pretty easy to handle: they don't want to bother with anything, so having a strong defense right from the start will usually warn them off. Keep them away from the playgrounds, though ~ or, if nothing else works, try to get them to break an attunement ahead of the time. They can actually be useful then, if they fail."
==== Calabim ====
"The only nice thing about facing a calab is that, when they show up, the gloves come off anyway. Go head-to-head with a clear conscience: either they aren't going for a specific target, in which case they can be 'persuaded' to go bother somebody else, or else it was a battle to the death anyway. Just try to keep them from taking it personally."
==== Habbalot ====
"Test to destruction? Sure. Let's start with you."
==== Lilim ====
"The only time we see these demons is when one wants to do a little long-term planning. Remember to make sure that your kids never take candy from strangers, and then 'convince' the Tempters to go play with adults. Just never look into their eyes."
==== Shedim ====
"If they're in an adult, shoot them with the largest weapon that you have and finish the job when they go celestial. If they're in a kid, get a servitor of Dreams, Animals, or the Sword that knows the Song of Banishing, have them kick the Corrupter out, then finish them off. Make it hurt before you kill it, though: make it scream and beg for mercy before you rip it into little pieces and dance on them. Make sure that you've taped the whole thing so that you can send it to his friends. After a while, they'll get the point."
==== Impudites ====
"Leeches, but ones that usually like to go for adults. If you find one around your kids, well, most Takers are scared of hitting humans. Threatening to have a tide of twelve year olds swarm over them can be funny - but make sure that they aren't working for Death or the War first! Threats usually cause them to move on: you won't always have to kill them."
=== Superiors ===
==== Andrealphus ====
"Go for the face, then for the throat. In most civilized countries, the police will be very understanding about someone 'accidentally' killing a child molester when he's been caught in the act. If there's no evidence, manufacture some, silly!"
==== Asmodeus ====
"They like to keep quiet, and don't want to attract attention ~ besides, sometimes you and they will have the same targets. By all means, let them have first shot at a mutual annoyance. If you have to kill one, try and make it look like a renegade did it."
==== Ba'al ====
"Usually, hurting kids is beneath them ~ they're too busy trying to look good by attacking Michael's forces. The exceptions will have to be stamped on thoroughly, though: Trauma just isn't good enough."
==== Beleth ====
"Hard to fight: this is one time where getting in servitors of Dreams is necessary. Luckily, there usually isn't any evidence to cover up afterwards."
==== Belial ====
"To them, kids are just part of the scenery that they're trying to burn down. First priority is to get your charges out of the line of fire. Once that's taken care of, well, Gabriel's people just love to meet up with a servitor of infernal Fire . . . ."
==== Haagenti ====
"There are two types: the ones that like to turn children into gluttons, and the ones that like to turn children into lunch. The first can be safely vessel-killed; soul-death is too good for the second type, but be generous and obliterate them anyway, with Extreme Messiness."
==== Kobal ====
"His servitors are ~ usually ~ more bad examples than anything else. The best way to deal with them is to show exactly how pitiful they really are. Those that want to hurt kids as part of one of their jokes can be killed with near impunity, thankfully: apparently, their prince finds it wonderfully ironic."
==== Kronos ====
"Dour, always looking over their shoulders, and addicted to long-term thinking: they're dangerous to have around. Get a servitor of Destiny to advise you on the best way to keep everything nice and unsubtle. Remember, though, that everything is personal to a servitor of Fate: they have to succeed, no matter what. They're more afraid of their boss than you, so keep your kids far away from the battlefield."
==== Lilith ====
"She's had a . . . mixed . . . impact on the lives of children. Sometimes a servant of Freedom is actually doing us a favor with whatever she's doing. Evaluate them carefully, but don't ever assume that they'll be consistently helpful."
==== Malphas ====
"Best to get them early, before they do too much damage. NEVER LISTEN TO A WORD THAT THEY SAY! They love to try to confuse us about our duties. If you do listen and end up thinking that they may have a point about something, immediately go to Christopher for reassignment. He'll understand."
==== Nybbas ====
"God, these guys make our lives more difficult than anyone else in Hell. The best defense against them is the off switch, really. Those showing up in person usually have too many corporeal connections to kill safely, but keep in mind that their prince will betray them in a second for better ratings. If one has to be killed, call in War or Stone or the Sword ~ servitors of Laurence especially enjoy smacking these demons around."
==== Saminga ====
"They hate children. We hate them, so it's even. Don't even bother trying to scare them off first before you kill them."
==== Valefor ====
"A bad example to trump all other bad examples. Luckily, they don't stick around, so you're better off just minimizing the damage that they do and picking off the weaker members of the pack. Cops tend to be understanding about corpses with violent criminal records, especially if it looks like they got that way thanks to a botched kidnapping attempt."
==== Vapula ====
"We only see them when they need test subjects. Run them through their own experiment, take lots of notes, and send them and the results back (send anything useful along to Jean's people, of course). Oddly enough, Vapula seems to think that it's usually a fair trade."
== Servitors ==
=== Unknown Rank ===
* Aniel, the malak angel of Joy
=== Vassals of Children ===
==== 11 Forces ====
* Coenobita, the kuriotes angel of Kindergarten
=== Undistincted ===
==== 8 Forces ====
* Verdin, a mercurian
Category:Archangels
Category:Cherubim
Category:Children (Word)
Category:Wordbound