Angel of Irons cult

Unofficial symbol of the cult.

The **Angel of Irons cult** appears on the surface to be a group of worshipers of a mysterious "angel," though in reality they are worshiping Tharizdun. It is unclear how many (or even if any) of the cultists actually know that the so-called "Angel of Irons" is in fact the infamous "Chained Oblivion," particularly as only the maddest of creatures would so readily embrace the sort of mindless destruction it represents.

## **Organizational Structure**

### **Known Members**

* Obann
	+ Yasha Nydoorin *(via domination)*
	+ The Laughing Hand *(via domination)*
	+ Jourrael *(via domination)*
* Adeen Tasithar *(presumably via domination)*
* Vence Nuthaleus
* Cardinal Respa

## **Locations**

* King's Cage: Where Obann retrieved the Laughing Hand. (Also a fane instrumental in banishing another Betrayer God, Torog.)
* Chantry of the Dawn: Target of the cult because there was a shackle fane hidden beneath the cathedral.

## **Activities**

Though they didn't know it at the time, the Mighty Nein began discovering the Angel of Irons cult after a separate investigation into demonic rifts opening within Xhorhas. After discovering the second device (called an Abyssal Anchor) creating the rifts, they used a piece of torn fabric found within it to trace it via Jester Lavorre's *Scrying* to a blonde man in the Empire. The man gave a report to an unknown agent via a magical stone, and ended his report by saying "Angel's Eye", though the group didn't know the context or relevance at the time.

While researching in the Cobalt Soul's Valley Archive, Beauregard Lionett discovered that the cult worshiping the Angel of Irons began no more than 40 years ago. Though information was scarce (since even members were kept in the dark about their patron), the Angel itself involved celestial iconography wrapped in chains and was said to come to its followers in visions. The Angel spoke to these followers of being "bound in shadow", and asked its worshipers to "release the fanes that hold the shackles". Beau pointed out similarities between the Angel of Irons and Tharizdun, as both had strong chain motifs.

The only first-hand account of the Angel of Irons cult come from Yasha Nydoorin's recovered memories. While under Obann's control once again, Yasha remembered Obann finding her in the wastes and coercing her into following "an angel just like yourself". From then on, Obann, Yasha and several others seemed to wander and cause chaos, killing those who strayed too far from their villages. Yasha defected some time after, and it's unknown what Obann did between that time and meeting her once again.

The cult had an unknown "link in Xhorhas" informing them of an impending Kryn Dynasty attack on Rexxentrum, which they used as cover for their attempt to destroy the shackle fane beneath the Chantry of the Dawn. The attempt of Obann and the cult to destroy the shackle were stopped by the Mighty Nein, killing both Cardinal Respa and The Laughing Hand in the cathedral, as well as retrieving Yasha from Obann's domination. Obann later met his demise in the basement of the cathedral with Yasha delivering the killing blow on him. Unhappy, Tharizdun himself condemned Obann for his failure by transforming him into a monstrosity called Obann the Punished, which was killed by the recently mind-freed Caedogeist. Six days later, Vence Nuthaleus was captured by the Dwendalian Empire and later exchanged for Adeen Tasithar during the peace negotiations which ended the War of Ash and Light.

## **Trivia**

* "Angel's Eye" seemed to be a common greeting between members of the cult.
* In Crit Recap Animated Obann referred to the Angel of Irons as "she".

## **References**

1. ↑ See "Between the Lines" (2x78) at 2:52:48.
2. ↑ See "The Threads Converge" (2x85) at 4:24:43.
3. ↑ See "The Cathedral" (2x86).
4. ↑ See "Punishment and Politics" (2x87) at 1:18:09.
5. ↑ See "The Threads Converge" (2x85) at 4:24:00.

**Art:**