The Nephilim Incident

The Nephilim Incident was a turn of events brought about by the Seraphim Azazel siring a halfborn offspring with a mortal woman. This act directly violated Ynoch's decree that his sons would not father mortal offspring, and when he learned of it, a brief conflict ensued, ending with the child being taken away, never to be seen again. The boy, named Nephilim, was the source for the event's name.

## Description

### Buildup

Following Azazel's humiliating failure during his first campaign, against the El'sharah, he and his legion returned to Eden in disgrace. Wishing for a reprieve from his shame, Azazel busied himself from the affairs of his legion by dallying with mortal lovers. Despite long having known how to forestall pregnancies, Azazel took no such precautions this time, trusting in his own luck to spare him fatherhood. Unfortunately, chance was not on his side, and one of his brief dalliances fell pregnant. This fact was discovered by his brother Gadreel, after his own return from campaign against the El'sharah, following their successful subjugation. By the time he learned of the fact, however, the woman was almost ready to give birth.

Upon being informed by Gadreel that he was to become a father, Azazel rushed to the first brother he could find, seeking further aid: Samael. Upon learning of what was to occur, Samael suggested that they seek out Gabriel and Lucifer, both recently returned from the battlefield. They did so, and together, the five brothers gathered to witness the birth of Azazel's son. After he was born, the child was named Nephilim. Following Nephilim's birth, the gathered brothers discussed what was to be done. Nephilim's birth violated their father's edict that they were not to sire halfborn children. Lucifer reasoned, however, that should they manage to gather their brothers in support of protecting their new nephew, that they could convince their father to be lenient and allow Azazel to keep the child. The brothers agreed, each vowing to seek out their other siblings and gain support, while Azazel remained with Nephilim.

### The Incident

Each of the brothers set out to seek aid. Gadreel sought out Azrael, whilst Gabriel found audience with Asmodeus. Lucifer made entreaty to Uriel, whilst Samael sought out Abaddon. The disaster began there. Abaddon, upon hearing Samael's recounting of events, told his brother to confess what had happened to Ynoch. If he did so, he would have a chance of persuading their father to be forbearing. Samael, trusting in Abaddon's wisdom, and eager to earn the favor and respect of his brothers by solving the crisis himself, assented to Abaddon's suggestion, allowing Abaddon to escort him to their father.

As the pair entered Ynoch's presence, Samael briefly balked, but Abaddon's loud declaration that Samael had something to tell him forced his hand. Upon hearing that Azazel had fathered a halfborn child, Ynoch's fury was tremendous, and the entire Imperial Citadel shook with the force of his rage. Samael and Abaddon were both taken aback by their father's anger. Samael, to his credit, maintained enough composure to attempt to argue his brother's case, to explain to his father how wondrous the child had been, and that Azazel would not be a neglectful parent like the heretic gods had been. But words had never been something he could wield skillfully, and they failed to reach his father in the midst of his fury.

Ynoch commanded that Samael and Abaddon go at once to bring both Azazel and his offspring before him at once. Frightened as he was by his father's anger, however, Samael stubbornly refused, unwilling to betray his brothers. Furious, Ynoch bypassed Samael's mental shield, stripped the information from his mind, and gave it to Abaddon, stripping Samael down to his most feeble form and ordering him confined to a tower cell for the duration of the event. When Abaddon inquired what he should do if there was any resistance, Ynoch said that he was to take Azazel and the child by force if necessary. To assist him in his task, Ynoch summoned Uriel, who was in the midst of conversing with Lucifer.

Uriel heeded the summons, but Lucifer, realizing what they likely meant, rushed to Azazel's side, warning him that their father had likely received word of what had happened. He urged Azazel to flee with Nephilim, and give him time to calm their father down, and reason with him.

They did not have any such opportunity, as Abaddon and Uriel arrived, demanding both Azazel and Nephilim come with them. Fearing that his father meant to kill the child, Azazel refused, barring the new arrivals from entering the hut where Nephilim was with his mother. Lucifer attempted to calm the situation and convince Uriel and Abaddon to relent. He did not get the chance.

As Abaddon attempted to force his way past Azazel, he was suddenly allowed to move by. The reason for that became clear, as Azazel summoned his sword and struck at Abaddon from behind, splitting him in half in a single stroke. Enraged at the treacherous attack on his brother, Uriel called his own weapon to his hand and launched himself at Azazel. The duel that followed devastated the village that they were in, forcing its inhabitants to flee as Lucifer tried to placate Uriel while preventing him from cutting Azazel down, as well as trying to protect the nearby civilians.

The combined might of Lucifer and Azazel eventually proved too much to Uriel, especially with the ferocious motivation the latter was driven by. He was disarmed, literally, by a strike from Lucifer. The situation was once more prevented from resolving by the arrival of Michael, who commanded that Lucifer and Azazel both cease their resistance, and submit themselves to their father's judgement. Michael was utterly unmoved by his brothers' pleas for him to stop, and help them dissuade their father from whatever punishment he had planned.

Michael replied that Azazel had knowingly violated one of Ynoch's edicts, and that the consequences he brought were on his own head. When Lucifer asked what Nephilim's fate was to be, Michael did not answer. Outraged, Azazel accused Michael of plotting to murder his child. Michael merely inquired as to whether Azazel and the child would come willingly.

Lucifer gave answer by leveling his sword at Michael, and a second duel began. The pair drove Michael back, engaging in a ferocious team onslaught, but not one of their weapons ever touched him. Strangely, neither did Michael make any attempt to strike at them, as he had countless times as they trained together, instead merely fending them off, utterly stonewalling their attacks.

And so their stalemate continued, until the arrival of their father.

Ynoch appeared in a blaze of golden light which knocked both Lucifer and Azazel onto their backs, before chains of light constricted about them both. The two rebellious Seraphim were both silenced by their father, who furiously lambasted the two of them. He had given them so few rules to abide by he said. Had taught them why halfborn were a blight upon Creation, and how to prevent their birth whenever they felt the need for companionship. And yet still, Azazel had sired one, out of laziness, stupidity, and negligence.

Taking Nephilim in his arms, he told his sons that he would see to it that the child caused no trouble, and made it clear that such an event was never to happen again. Both of them had gravely disappointed him, and would soon face the consequences of their defiance. He departed without ever letting them speak a word.

### Aftermath

Azazel and Lucifer were both confined in cells for several weeks thereafter, unable to speak with one another. Both Michael and Ynoch visited Lucifer, who each felt had not been overly in the wrong for defending his brother, despite his defiance. Azazel, however, had brought the consequences of his actions on himself.

Azazel brooded on how their plan had failed, and contemplated what might have become of his son. When he was visited by Uriel and Abaddon, he turned them both away. When Samael came to him, he quickly realized that he must have been how word reached their father, punching him in the face and shouting at him to leave. Samael tried desperately to explain himself, but once more, words failed him, and he retreated away to places unknown.

Lucifer , though still angry with Abaddon and Uriel, was willing to forgive them both, hearing out both of their apologies and accepting them. When he asked what had become of Nephilim, they informed him that they didn't know. Lucifer, however, quickly concluded that their father would not have done him harm, and believed that the boy had probably been sent somewhere hidden to be raised.

Finally, both Lucifer and Azazel received a visit from Michael, who informed them that their father had decided on their punishment. They and their legions would be sent to battle and subjugate the Tuatha De Dannan, a pantheon whose strength would make them a major challenge to defeat. The new conquest and crusade would be their penitence.