Virtues

Virtues are traits considered to be characteristic of morally righteous individuals and an ideal society. While the moral characteristics the virtues represent have always been valued in most mortal societies, it was not until the Advent of Angels in 2100 that virtues began physically manifest as angels in Aum.

## Cardinal Virtues

The Cardinal Virtues are the core four virtues, each corresponding to a different part of an individual's being and of society as a whole.

### Justice

Justice is a virtue characterized by passionate enforcement of moral codes, especially seeking to create an order in which righteous deeds are rightly rewarded whilst wicked deeds are met with equitable punishment. In the individual, this virtue is viewed as corresponding with the superego, while in society, it corresponds with executive authority represented by the military and law enforcement. The Archangel of justice is Valorian.

### Wisdom

Wisdom is a virtue characterized by the knowledge of good and evil, as well as the use that knowledge to properly conduct oneself in performing moral acts. In many ways, wisdom is the cornerstone of all virtues because it is required in guiding moral conduct. In the individual, wisdom corresponds with the ego as it guides conscious action, while in society, wisdom corresponds with the governing body and executives charged with leading society. The Archangel of wisdom is Sophia.

### Temperance

Temperance is a virtue characterized by the ability to balance one's needs and desires. There are no mortal beings that are both completely self-sustainable and immune to environmental conditions that may upset their homeostasis, so all mortals must ensure that they consume resources and experience suitable conditions to survive. Managing this consumption of resources and ensuring that no individual is in such excess or deficiency as that they may cause harm to either themselves or others is the key to Temperance. In many ways, Temperance is the virtue that is most directly opposed to Sins, which are typically characterized as being excessively indulgent towards indecent desires, but can also certainly do involve deficiencies as well, most notably in Sloth. In the individual, Temperance corresponds to the subconscious desires of the Id, whereas in society it corresponds to the masses. The Archangel of Temperance is Auster

### Fortitude

Fortitude is a virtue characterized by possessing to strength endure injustices without allowing your own sense of good to waver and the courage to act rightly; it is the resiliency of spirit that is required for the other virtues to flourish. In the individual, Fortitude is represented by the body, as without it there would be no virtuous being to being with, whereas in society, it is represented by the land itself. The Archangel of Fortitude is Moxie

## Minor Virtues

The minor virtues are more specific moral characteristics that are directly opposed to one of the cardinal sins. Calling them "Minor" can be a bit of a misnomer as they are no less important to have than the cardinal virtues; if one does align with the cardinal virtues, it would be difficult for them to not practice the minor virtues as well.

### Chastity

Chastity is a Minor Virtue opposed to Lust and characterized by maintaining bodily and spiritual purity. While this has its most obvious associations with virginity prior to marriage and fidelity after marriage, it is also associated with abstaining from the use of narcotics as well as avoiding other such vices. That is not to say that to be Chaste is to be without pleasure as while the virtue does err towards asceticism, it recognizes the holiness of transcendental bliss achieved through healthy expressions of love and traditional sources of joy.

The Archangel of Chastity is Vesta.

### Charity

Charity is a Minor Virtue opposed to Greed and characterized by sharing excess wealth with those in need. The core of Charity is in altruism and magnanimity and a recognition that the needs of others are of no less consequence than the needs of our own. While not strictly opposed to capitalism and the accumulation of individual wealth, proper adherence to the tenents of Charity does require some form of equitable distribution of resources to take place, so industrial magnates and prosperous cosmopolitans are expected to take up philanthropic pursuits lest they be deemed held within the clutches of Greed.

The Archangel of Charity is Charity.

### Humility

Humility is a Minor Virtue opposed to Pride and characterized by a rational valuation of the self. Oftentimes Humility is mistaken as a negation of the self, but to hold an irrational inferiority-complex is itself a Sin no less severe than Pride. The core of Humility is truth and the representation of one's personal truth without the embellishments of self-aggrandizement or the defacements of self-deprecation. Humility is a Virtue of the being as it is for all beings are what they are.

The Archangel of Humility is Fawn.

### Kindness

Kindness is a Minor Virtue opposed to Envy and characterized by seeking to spread joy and improve the lives of others. Similar to Charity, Kindness is an altruistic Virtue that heavily involves the interactions of its practitioner towards external beings. Kindness is at times in conflict with Justice as there are many beings who commit crimes that make them unworthy of acts of Kindness. In such cases, in order to keep in line with all Virtues, those beings should be dealt with in a manner that exacts Justice while avoiding cruelty.

The Archangel of Kindness is Grace though she possesses an assistant known as Mercy.

### Moderation

Moderation is a Minor Virtue opposed to Gluttony and characterized by control over one's desires. The distinction between Moderation and Temperance is often muddled and, in practice, the two are almost completely interchangeable.

The Archangel of Moderation is Harmony

### Diligence

Diligence is a Minor Virtue opposed to Sloth and characterized by adherence to set goals and presentness of being. Diligence combines the passion of Justice with the perseverance of Fortitude to ensure that focus is not lost and dreams are achieved.

The Archangel of Diligence is Earnest

### Patience

Patience is a Minor Virtue opposed to Wrath and characterized by the temper one's response towards irritations and misfortunes. It is a Virtue closely related to the Cardinal Virtue of Fortitude as it too involves maintaining a certain degree of stability of spirit when faced with external adversity. Patience also contends with the ability to cope with internal drives and pressures, aligning it with Temperance as well.

The Archangel of Patience is Serenity.