Angels

The Angels are a group of mysterious and powerful creatures from a higher realm found laying waste to the lands of Tannhauser during the arcs of Sky's Shadow, Soldiers of Silver and End of Oaths. Announced with the arrival of The Clock Tower, centering around it and being summoned by its toll, they come in waves, joining in battle against the Reforged Legion at the front lines of Tannhauser. 
== Origins and History ==
The Angels are creatures from a higher plane, The Heavens. In that plane, they all bleed into each other as one long continuous being. Long ago, a group of them, including The First and The Third were summoned down to the material plane in order to serve as creatures of "great justice and retribution", a concept they found quaint and novel. This summoning was in retaliation to the summoning of devils, creatures of order and evil, who had come to exist in the material realm in great numbers, bringing with them an overwhelming force of order and mundanity, resulting in a plague in Tannhauser. To counteract this, an agreement was made that the Angels would bring justice, retribution and a few other things. In addition to that, they came with the overall goal and purpose of bringing magic to the world. Just with their pressence, magic began to blossom, with alchemy flourishing in Tannhauser. In addition to that, each individual Angel summoned had their own personal goal depending on what field of chaos they embodied, with The Third seeking to brign inventions and creation, and The First seeking to bring destruction. While down there they were forced apart into individuals unlike their existence in The Heavens. The group ended up spawning the first line of Aasimar, lending the first angelic soul to their descendants. However, the material realm didn't interact well with these Angels, and they ended up exploring the world in a large ship of Alabaster, righting wrongs, bringing magic, and accomplishing their individual goals. They were eventually banished for being troublemakers. 
Though banished from the mortal realm, the Angels would maintain some influence through their Aasimar descendants and the oaths they would make. Once they reach a certain age, all Aasimar make an oath, something that effectively ties their divinity to the mortal world. This tie formed through the oath allows Angels, divine judges from a higher plane, to peer through them and judge their oaths, a functional excuse for them to interfere in mortal affairs. 
At some other time, an Angel that would eventually come to be known as Granola was called down by the Prince of Tannhauser. He sought to protect his own life, requesting guidance and alchemical knowledge from the Angel and promising to protect his nation. In time, he would fail to uphold that oath. 
Angels returned to a physical form in Tannhauser en masse, accompanied by the falling of The Clock Tower, summoned by the prince himself in order to transform the mortal realm into an extension of The Heavens. They now inhabited bodies of silver, being controlled by the commands of the bell and the prince. Similarly, a different group of Angels were created at the Tannhauser Military mountain base, including seemingly Granola. 
The Angels are made of a substance known as "Celestial Silver", a curious substance in alchemy for its ability to form and create, however lacking stability without a 'will' to guide it. Without a will it returns to one of two forms, a silvery liquid form charged with magic, or a chalky sand that also lacks magic; dirt of the physical plane that has been corrupted slightly. After the descent of the tower, the Tannhauser Military sought to utilize the material to help them hastily build their base in the mountains, employing the likes of alchemists such as Breem Velafi to help them, however they struggled due to the lack of will the material seemed to have. As a result of this research, some in the base, although it is unknown who, managed to utilize this material in a different manner, giving it the will it needed. An Aasimar's oath, a pact tied to their soul, functionally ties them to The Heavens. Thus, by using this tie in their souls, it is possible to instead bring those of the divine, higher realm down to the mortal plane while also allowing for the silver to gain the will and the energy to manifest or shape itself, functionally giving these divine judges a forged body to possess and with which to interfere with mortal issues on a greater scale. With this method, the Angels were summoned into bodies of Celestial Silver, with the higher ups in the military, the Aasimar, being effectively killed and their souls used as a sort of power source to bring these Angels into being by other Aasiamar in the base, for a purpose still unknown. By storing the souls in large vats, combined with the use of various alchemical seals, certain Angels can be called down, however as a fail safe, if the vat is in danger then it will call upon a random Angel regardless of where pulled from to attack the aggressor. 
The Angels created within the tower form in an almost 'womb' like construct found in the deeper layers of the Towwer. The Angels grow out from the walls of the tunnels within the tower, forming from the outside in, being visibly hollow inside. They form in clusters as they emerge from the wall, being fundamentally incomplete and seemingly dormant while forming. 
However, of course, these puppets are not the true forms of the Angels. They are instead like a puppet, a vessel for them to engage in the mortal realm, tied by a 'thread' to a higher plane as seen by Gregor with his Pandimensional sight. These 'threads' can come from different spots in the higher realm, drawing from the same method and domain but from a different precise spot in it. A notable example is how the Tower and its Infantry seem to originate from a different source from the Sword Wielder. If the vessel is damaged enough, or if this string is cut, the Angel stops, either simply sitting there as a motionless corpse, such as when the string is cut, or melting into celestial silver once again, quickly sinking into the ground as seen with The Infantry. As seen by the return of the sword wielding angel, another vessel can be created for these Angels in order for them to return to the mortal realm. Additionally seen through Gregor's Pandimensional sight, is that these Angels, unlike the Celestial Silver they are made from which appears to be in perfect alignment with the 'true world' Gregor sees, are quite 'flawed', very clearly not belonging in the mortal realm. It is also worth noting that the Tower itself appears to be made from Celestial Silver, possibly also having a 'string' connecting it to the higher plane. 
== Nature ==
The Angels, much like the realm they come from, are largely creatures of chaos. While with some seperation, while in their native realm they all exist bleeding into each other, being effective parts of one larger whole. They are said to be quite content there, as one can be anything in the chaos. However, when pulled down to the material realm they are forced to be individuals, and regard each other as such. They are divided in the material realm by what area of chaos they each represent, and in the material realm through their mere presence bring about magic. They are, in short, creatures of fantasy. 
In addition to chaos, the Angels seem to be arbitrators of justice and retribution, having been summoned to the material realm in the first place to do such things, and continuing to do so indirectly through the Aasimar after their departure. This concept still seems to be considered rather trivial, or simply novel to the Angels. They continue to oversee the Aasimar through oaths, the ties they bear to the world above, and can arbitrate based on how well they believe the Aasimar has upheld their oath. 
These traits of chaos and justice, traits they tend to share with their Aasimar descendants, paints them in direct opposition with devils and their tieflings; creatures of order and evil. The Angels were first summoned down to the mortal realm to counteract the evil of these devils, and they appear to be somewhat at ends with each other.
When communicating with Mercedes, the Angels are revealed to have a 'deeper voice' beyond the people words they may use to communicate with others in their realm. This 'deeper voice' takes the form of a resonance, like windchimes, or a bell tower, with the form it takes depending on the specific Angel. This deeper voice is the true way the Angels and the Heavens communicate, and although what is said aloud may clash and not make sense, it still communicates through this deeper voice. In Thrilling Intent, this communication takes the form of Mercedes and The Third communiating through narration. Simmilarly, while in the material realm, the Angels associated with the Clock Tower are controlled by the subtle orders commanded by the tower's bell, with its intentions and directions only being understandable to those associated with it. 
As all Angels effectively bleed together as one, a great angel exists woven together from the fabric of the Heavens. However, even then the Angels are but a step in a massive cosmic ladder, and before those above them, the true Gods of the universe, they are terrified and alone. 
== Physical Factors ==
Whilst in The Heavens, where all bleed into one another, the Angels appear to take the form of a glowing cloud of golden lights, that can vary in brightness depending on their mood.
Their forms in the material realm depends on the vessel they possess, with Granola recalling once being summoned down into the material realm as simply a basic nervous system in a vat. However, in their current forms, they tend to share some basic traits. Made of bodies of celestial silver, they all tend to be made of a mostly white marble-like material, ocassionaly with marble heads carved throughout the vessel, along with golden markings, plating and armor. Most of them bear bird-like wings, and multiple sets of eyes. Each individual type of angelic vessel seen bears some unique traits, such as golden seemingly magical rings floating around them, or large weapons accompanying them. 
== Known Angels ==
=== The First ===
See page. Also see The Prince of Tannhauser.
=== The Third ===
See page.
===Granola===
See page.
=== The Infantry ===
The main type of Angel, called the Infantry, have 6 eyes and long monstrous heads. They also notably are in possession of large spears, being able to reform them seemingly at will. They are described as having a spongy consistency, as is the same with their spears. They are also hollow on the inside, with no notable organs of any sort. There seem to be an infinite amount of them, with their numbers gradually increasing. However, of interest, is that usually their spears dissipate upon their death, however closer to the capital of Tannhauser, a sword a few days old was found in a cracked chunk of land. Their bodies do not decay, staying around after death. Their specific nature is also uncertain, as they at times exhibit clear differenes in behavioral pattern, such as one choosing to attack a percieved enemy while the other watched, stated to perhaps be from the creatures they were made from. Overall however, they seem to be relatively unintelligent, more dedicated to simply acting as brutal soldiers, though with some deeper. perception of things. They also seem more "flawed" than the others, as when one is summoned in the Tannhauser Military base, Gregor uses his Pandimensional Sight to try and find a weak point and destroy it however, instead of a few weak points, the entire Angel seemed unstable, and with a single touch it dissapated. They all additionally appear to be fundamentally "the same", though what that means is not entirely understood. They tend to carry out the general labor required of the tower, whether it be attacking the opposing forces on the frontlines or patrolling a protected area. 
=== Cherubs ===
The third type of angel briefly appeared at the end of "Soldiers of Silver Part 6". Unlike the others, it is not humanoid in shape beyond the distorted heads that encompass it's enormous jaw. They move quickly with four pairs of wings, as well as having a fleshy humanoid figure within each's jaw, which is capable of unhinging at will. Beyond that they have similar characteristics to the rest of the angels; a golden and white color scheme, wings, and the familiar golden spiked ring, although overall it is significantly more distorted than the others. It appears to be somewhat affiliated with the Tannhauser military, appearing on the same side as them shortly after they appeared in the same episode.
After a brief encounter with the group of Markus, Gregor, Mercedes and Mia, one grabbed Gregor, and fled the mines, apparently dropping him off somewhere deeper in the military base, and an Aasimar placing Gregor in some sort of magic circle along with Breem Velafi. Others were later seen, chained up in a room deeper in the military, implying their servitude to and creation at the hands of the Tannhauser Military. They are also seen patrolling the halls of the lab in the inner parts of the military base.
Once the group had infiltrated the lab where these Angels are made, they appeared in mass, swarming the group after they were alerted to their presence by the defeat of another of them. While dangerous, they proved to be relatively less dangerous then the other Angels despite their speed, with the whole group being defeated by the combined work of Mercedes, Gregor, and the imp Jumbalaya Jacobs.
=== The Spectacular Arson Horses ===
The fourth angel type seen was also found in the Tannhauser Military base, appearing in "Soldiers of Silver Part 8" being a large humanoid horse-faced creature with four arms and wings of blue fire. It appeared and fought with the group after they were inclosed in the courtyard with it. Beyond that they share various similar features with the other Angels, such as golden plated armor, pale skin, although notably turning grey near the hands and snout, and multiple eyes like those of the Infantry. It also bears two large axes. Much like the previous two, it has a connection to the Tannhauser Military and was possibly created by them, with various members of the military watching the Man Horse fight the group of Markus, Harlock and Mercedes, as it fell to its wounds and was engulfed in the flames. It was dubbed the Spectacular Arson Horse by Markus. Another few were summoned during the fight in the military base's lab however went down with less fight due to the confined corners and their knowledge of how to defeat them from the previous encounter, with use of Gregor's pandimensional sight.
=== The Dreadnought ===
The Dreadnought, also referred to as The Goliath and The Juggernaut, that had emerged from the tower relatively recently, its shadow first being seen in "Soldiers of Silver Part 23", and the full creature first being seen in "Soldiers of Silver Part 27". It is an Angel so large and powerful that it effortlessly destroyed the Reforged Legion's fortifications, and the only action that could be taken against it was for the Reforged Legion members at the front to flee, retreating into the woods and sending out scouts, one running to the mountain military base in search of refuge and reinforcements. 
True to its name, the Dreadnought is massive, easily the largest creature so far seen in the Thrilling Intent universe. With two massive arms at the front, a bulking ship-like frontside with 3 heads at the bottom and 2 dual-barrel turrets on its shoulders, a massive centipede-like body and legs, and a long segmented tail. And, most horrifyingly of all, 13 whole abs. It is made with the same marble white and decorated with intricate gold patterns, as the rest of the Angels are, however notably with large seemingly mechanical inner arm segments, accompanied by mechanical noises, and a much more inhuman form than the others. It fires its cannons by consuming some of its own sand-like material, firing them off like bullets. Harlock and Mercedes can, in fact, directly interface with the cannons.
As noted by Breem Velafi, the fact that it is only now appearing implies it as a more recent development, having to require vast amounts of Celestial Silver while also suggesting that the forces of the Tower have grown stronger, being able to create more complex creatures with more souls. Thankfully, due to the sheer scale, it is likely the only one. Additionally, it was seen fighting with the Sword Wielder Angel, firing upon it with turrets as the Sword Wielder darted in and out, attacking it with its sword. It is seemingly patrolling the area around The Tower, roaming around and crushing encampments in its wake.
Following the The Prince of Tannhauser's order to all Aasimar to protect the tower, and Mercedes' subsequent rejection of that oath, the Dreadnought began a path directly towards Mercedes and Faria's house. Why is uncertain, however seeing as the house is home to powerful alchemical resources, with the two owners being of the biggest threats to the Tower, it can be assumed as to why. After the gang arrived at, raided, and subsequently left the house for The Clock Tower, the Dreadnought altered its course towards the tower, ramming into the side of it in order to halt the progress of the team. After an intense and chaotic battle, featuring donkey riding, skateboarding angels, and more, the Goliath was finally taken out by a combination of Granola returning and hacking up its back, and Harlock putting her pack of explosives in its belly, giving it a baby, and detonating the Goliath in an explosion of pure chaos. It creaked up the steps at the end of the hallway in its last moments, before collapsing into a pile.
=== The Boss Angel ===
The Boss Angel is a large Angel seemingly affiliated with the Tower. First seen in "End of Oaths Part 19" leading a small group of Infantry and Aasimar, it possess a form of light based abilities, using them both for offensive purposes and in order to run the hell away. It is capable of shooting eye beams, and running away. 
The Boss Angel is similar in power to Granola, possessing seemingly unique one of a kind abilities and design. It bares 4 large white wings on its back, as well as six smaller ones along the crown of its head. Like all angels, it has a smooth marble-like body, alongside a still face, 3 blank eyes and some silvery-blue hair. Its entire body is covered in gold plated armor.
The Angel was later seen inside of the Clock Tower, seemingly guarding the central supporting pillar and guarding the area from any potential trespassers, though thankfully Markus, who spotted the Angel, had been transported behind the boss arena and was able to avoid it. After the whole gang managed to evade its boss fight, ascending up the tower, the Boss Angel got pissed off that its boss fight got skipped, flying up to the scene before skateboarding down the Goliath's tail, briefly skirmishing with the group before Gregor split it in two.
== Trivia ==
* The artist of the series, Jackson, began work on designing the final design for The First King's angelic form over 2 years before its apperance
* Jay has stated that he created the Goliath believing it would be an unbeatable boss. In spite of this, it was of course, killed via baby of explosions.
* The Boss Angel was the first one designed by Jackson.
== References ==