Seraphiel

*"If you wish to rule fairly, you must first rule."*

## Biography

Samuel Movim’s life began as any other mortal’s might- simply. Born to farmers he expected to be a farmer. His aspirations never reached higher than those that his parents bestowed upon him. And to be fair, there was no reason to. He did not stand out, like his brother who was already an expert hunter at the age of fifteen. He did not have wisdom beyond his years like his childhood sweetheart. He was…plain. He was strong and healthy, and he was capable with his hands, but he didn’t care to try and stand out. And perhaps that was why he was overlooked by the elder Seraphim on their recruitments. While he might have had the capability, he lacked the drive that might appeal to some of the more warfaring Seraph Lords. It seemed that his life might be destined for nothing but fields of wheat and barley, but to be honest, he was alright with that.

Metatron would change that.

Whether it be because he saw something in him…or because he was looking for men who seemed like they might follow orders competently, Metatron selected Samuel and recruited him as one of his first legionnaires, gifting him his new name and making him a Ynochim under him and a member of his legion. Being the fifteenth legion, it took longer to form, and even as the earlier legions began to set out on their first campaigns, Seraphiel would find himself still in training with the forming legion. Though he was a simple man, Seraphiel understood commands, and he followed well, and with a little pushing, he was a capable instructor, often taking in newer Ynochim and helping them through the early processes of joining the legion. He would be promoted to Sergeant, and then to Captain.

As he rose through the ranks, he would find himself spending more time with Metatron, initially only in very short briefings addressing the command staff, but as he was promoted further, he would end up listening, and even conversing with his Lord Seraphim more frequently. Seraphiel felt…very insufficient before Metatron. His Lord Seraphim was a cordial, always patient individual, and an excellent leader, and he always felt that he was several steps behind his Lord. Though he understood that this was, in part, because of the natural structure of command, he couldn’t help but feel a little frustrated. He tried to drive his Company to perfection. Every drill should be flawless, every logistical effort calculated to the final granule of rice, everything perfect and in order. As he was promoted from Captain to Lieutenant Commander during one of the Fifteenth Legion’s first campaigns, he felt that the burden of leadership had only become all the more difficult. His Lord made it seem so easy, and Seraphiel would strive to follow his example. He led well, but he simply lacked the insight that Metatron did. Though his battalion would thrive and excel under his leadership, it still wasn’t…quite enough. Somehow something was still missing.

However, with time would come experience. Seraphiel served Metatron faithfully, and would have the opportunity to see that perhaps his own flaws in leadership were the byproduct of his preferred style not exactly following his Lord’s. After Asmodeus’ destructive campaign against the Beznadi, his forces were….dwindled. With the Fifteenth Legion still untested, a portion of them were sent to supplement the Tenth while they rebuilt their forces, the Third and Fourth Division, which Seraphial was a part of. Consequently however, Asmodeus’ siege tactics would lead to many deaths for the still green Fifteenth Legion. While his own Ironborn were by now battle-hardened, the Third and Fourth Divisions of the Fifteenth that had been sent to supplement Asmodeus found themselves quickly taken to the hammer and tongs by his battle command. Seraphiel would actually experience his promotion to Lord Commander of the Third Division because of the untimely death of their current Commander during a siege.

Despite Asmodeus’ brutal warfare tactics, Seraphiel would find himself admiring the Seraphim. The Fourth Division’s Lord Commander felt quite the opposite, though he would never voice the fact, and as such, Seraphiel would become the primary proxy between Asmodeus and Metatron’s supplement. He would have the great honor of serving under Asmodeus for almost a year and a half, assisting on campaign, training new Ynochim, and he would have liked to think that by the end of it, Asmodeus, in some small way, may have respected him in turn. Perhaps he did, as Asmodeus gifted Seraphiel a spear on the day he left to return to Metatron’s service. Though it may have been but a passing gift, Seraphiel values the weapon to this day as his most prized possession.

Though he would serve Lord Commander of the Third Division of his legion for some time, he would find that his competence in leadership simply did not extend as high as he would have liked, and he felt a little out of place in the role. Though he had always been striving to meet his Lord’s extremely high standards, he now felt that he had simply reached a limit in what he was capable of. However, a new, somewhat different opportunity would soon present itself. A spot as one of the Praetorians. One of the former members, Israfil, had fallen in campaign on a particularly unfortunate visit to the battlefront on campaign with Metatron’s herald, and Seraphiel decided that he would like the role. Having designated an approved replacement, and filled out all of the paperwork and personally submit a request to Metatron.

He would give up his Lord Commander rank and come under the, perhaps not quite as powerful, but in his opinion, just as important role as one of the Praetorians after a lengthy review. He would serve as one of Metatron’s guards through the Fall, and would continue his duties following. He would note a particular….change in his Lord. He became…quieter, colder. Not crueler, but….colder. More distant. He began to rely on himself even moreso than he had in the past. Seraphiel worries sometimes now for his Lord’s psyche, and what may come if he ever encounters his fallen brethren. But in the end, he will act any way necessary to protect his Lord.

## Relationships

Seraphiel is a senior member of Metatron’s legion, one of the first chosen, and his is a wisdom that comes with experience. He is considered by many to be lucky to have survived so long, and he is well respected within the legion. When not directly protecting Metatron, he will often take the time to survey the divisions and battalions, helping newer Ynochim acclimate to their new duties and occasionally assisting in training exercises. Though he no longer holds the rank, the majority of the Commanders appreciate his assistance, and respect his advice.

## Powers

Seraphiel has studied numerous Dominions during his millennia and change of service under Metatron. Unlike many who choose to specialize in one or two Dominions, Seraphiel learned what he needed, when he needed it, and rarely ever more. He can be considered most powerful in the Dominion of Thought, and secondly perhaps in the Dominion of Sky.

Seraphiel is….proficient in the use of Dominion of Order. Being a Ynochim, he naturally gained and exploited his affinity for the Dominion. Having trained for a fair amount of time in the Dominion, he is actually…not as powerful as one might expect. Because it was a Dominion whose proficiency was gifted rather than learnt, and one that Seraphiel had a difficult time understanding, he only really understands the first two concepts- Chaos and Dominion Negation. He briefly attempted to attempt Personal Stasis, and is still in the process of studying it, but has yet to display any worthwhile attempts. (4)

Seraphiel’s mastery over the Dominion of Sky is second only to his expertise in the Dominion of Thought. He is capable of Weathersense and has Lightning Resistance. He can Control Wind and Clouds and Lightning. He is even capable of generating Storms, though he finds it tiring and prefers to control the individual archetypal elements. The Dominion of Storm is somewhat Seraphiel’s only directly offensive Dominion, and he has placed a great deal of training into this. (7)

Seraphiel is an expert in the use of the Dominion of Thought. Being a proficiency granted to him under Metatron, Seraphiel found great use in the Dominion of Thought in the management and leadership of the Ynochim under him and in communication. He is capable of both telepathy and probing to a fairly advanced degree, to the point that he can occasionally remain undetected if he enters another’s mind. He has studied the art of Occlusion and has a solid grasp on the power and at one point even attempted to understand Obfuscation, though he did not succeed. Seraphiel understands the basic concepts of Shaping, and has, under careful guidance and strict oversight, begun to temporarily alter memories in training. He is, however, capable of Compulsion to a potent degree. He cannot deliver complicated commands yet, but he can deliver simple ones with a very high amount of mental force. Seraphiel hopes to become a master of the Dominion of Thought in time and perhaps even manifest a Thoughtform, though he feels that he is yet still a ways to go. He is pushing on the brink of Mastery, but there is still a clear gap. (8)

Seraphiel learned telekinesis early on in his career from one of the very few Ynochim who came before him. Once he became a Commander, took up further study of the Dominion of Realms in order to employ Realmsense and Farsight in order to better command the larger number of operations he would be overseeing. Ever since his change in occupation to Praetorian, he has honed his telekinetic capabilities and is even capable of creating Kine Shields. His mastery of this ability is not full, but he is practicing as he views it an essential skill if he is to properly guard Metatron in the event of danger. (4)

As a Ynochim Commander, Seraphiel took study under the Dominion of Aura under the advice of a superior. Because of its relationship with the Dominion of Thought, Seraphiel had some success in this. He is capable in Aura Reading and Bond Sensing, and often uses it in order to assist new Ynochim legionnaires. He did, however, never really learn anything further. (2)

Seraphiel took up study of the Dominion of the Forge moreso out of curiosity than necessity, and out of admiration for the Seraphim Asmodeus. He is only capable of the most novice level of Fabricator Sight, and it doesn’t seem that he will make a lot of progress unless it becomes necessary. (1)

## Skills

Academia: Were it not for his position under Metatron, Seraphiel might be closer to a 4 or 5. However, out of a desire to, at the very least, keep up with his Lord, Seraphiel has devoted himself to study at times, and is somewhat proficient in the academia of the world. (6)

Artistry: Seraphiel can draw battle maps and readable lines, but artistry has never been a priority for him, and if asked to expand upon the subject, he would have trouble. He is, however, extremely precise, which makes up for his lack of imagination. (5)

Brawl: A farmer’s son from birth and a warrior throughout his life, Seraphiel has had his fair share of fistfights, from playful scuffles with siblings and friends, to drunken brawls before his choosing, to even desperate struggles for life. He is a capable fistfighter and it would be difficult to surpass him without greater experience or raw talent. (8)

Charm: Seraphiel is perhaps not immediately charming. But he isn’t unfriendly, and he is always willing to lend a helping hand to those who might need it, endearing him slowly to individuals. While he may not be someone you would immediately fall in love with, his reliability and his years of experience of acclimating newer recruits have given him a bit of talent in making people like him. (6)

Command: Seraphiel was not an immediately adept commander. He had no military background prior to his joining the Fifteenth Legion, and he was not immediately well versed in the stratagems of warfare. However, experience has led to growth, and Seraphiel has served in almost every command capacity, from the lowest commanding rank of Sergeant, all the way to Lord Commander. (8)

Craft: Seraphiel is an adequate craftsman, having taken up study in order to supplement his troop movements and better understand what he is dealing with. However, he is a far cry from mastery or even expertise. (5)

Deception: Seraphiel is an innately honest individual, and has little talent for deception. He likes everything to be clearly laid out. (4)

Empathy: Seraphiel is a fairly empathetic individual. He cares for his comrades and worries for his Lord. However, he does realize that in many cases, empathy must take a backseat to logic, and understands that in many cases, in war, there is no place for empathy if one wishes to survive. (5)

Intimidation: Seraphiel is an intimidating individual to many people. His reputation precedes him and, through the use of his Dominions, he is capable of inflicting artificial fear and magical presence, allowing him to raise his score even further. (7)

Leadership: Seraphiel is an excellent leader, having displayed traits of leadership as early as his younger days as a Sergeant of just 9 other men. While his preferred style of leadership lays less in the careful management of troops and resources as his Lord, he excels nonetheless, and even as a Praetorian he is looked up to within the Fifteenth Legion as a paragon of excellent leadership. (10)

Marksmanship: Seraphiel has been trained in marksmanship, and can be considered a veteran with considerable skill. However his preferences have always lay in melee, and he often doesn’t even carry a ranged weapon with him. (6)

Medicine: Admittedly, Seraphiel knows very little of Medicine. He can wrap a gash or bind a broken leg, but the actual art of poultices and healing and remedies far eludes him. (3)

Melee: In the art of weaponized combat, there are few individuals, even amongst the gods, who can match Seraphiel in raw melee prowess. He is a master swordsman and his skill with a spear is venerated even outside of his own legion, and he is one of the longest surviving lesser Ynochim for a reason. While those with superior might within their Dominions might overpower Seraphiel, in terms of raw combative ability, he is second to precious few. (11)

Occult: Seraphiel has made little study of the occult beyond the Dominions and the gods that his legion has set out to conquer. He simply…didn’t have the time, and honestly it didn’t interest him. (4)

Performance: Seraphiel lacks skill in the performing arts. He finds it awkward, and sort of unnecessary. He doesn’t really enjoy the performing arts either. (3)

Seduction: Seraphiel has never really….made an attempt at Seduction. He had a childhood sweetheart, but beyond that…nothing. (2)

Stealth: Seraphiel understands the concepts, the practicality, and the importance of stealth. But it is simply not his forte. With his preferred style of fighting and interacting, he just lacks talent, and experience and training can only take him so far. (5)

Stewardship: Seraphiel has had a lot of time to learn and develop stewardship capabilities, both as a leader of Ynochim and occasionally as an occupying Commander under his Lord. He is well versed in the task, and without a doubt could easily run and build up an area under his control, but he is still a long ways away from his Lord. He lacks the creativity to truly maximize efficiency and lacks the drive to micromanage everything to perfection. (8)

Survival: Seraphiel has decent survival skills. If dropped in the middle of nowhere he would probably be ok as long as the area wasn’t specifically designed to kill him or something. (6)

Torture: Years of combat have left Seraphiel with the knowledge of how to hurt people. He has the knowledge, and the capability to inflict torture. However he doesn’t want to, and he hopes he will never need to. (6)

## Notable Equipment

As a Praetorian, Seraphiel has some fairly high end armor. Designed specifically for him to be able to carry out his duties, it offers the most protection and the most comfort possible. He carries a standard Ynochim Legionnaire's sword. While he did have many opportunities to receive another, the blade was a gift from one of his former comrades who unfortunately fell on the field of battle. He has worn it since, and has had several enchantments so that it will retain its edge and durability.

Seraphiel also possesses a spear forged by Asmodeus. He received it following a year and a half of service as a supplement to Asmodeus’ devastated legion, and the weapon is his most prized possession. A simple weapon with a haft, a spiked cap butt, and a long, leaf-edged blade, the spear is extremely simple in design. It has no markings or engravings. It is, for all intents and purposes, a simple, fundamental spear. However it is supernaturally durable and sharp, and will always return to Seraphiel’s hand if he throws or loses it. Seraphiel is capable of channeling power through the spear, using it as a foci to concentrate his power. When he does so, the blade will store any excess magic that he can then release as a concentrated beam of heat. Asmodeus gave the spear the name Rupaal. If the spear’s name is spoken aloud, it will undergo a fiery transformation, gaining etchings along the shaft and having its blade be replaced by an incandescent flame that acts almost as a solid blade.

## Trivia

Seraphiel likes waffles.

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