Israphel

This article, **Israphel**, contains information that is far beyond the reach of any mortal in Esria. Most characters simply do not know these truths.

## Israphel*Archangel of War*

Israphel's true form, contrary to the Old Tome, resembled a young human in humble cloth attire.

## Game Information

### Played by

NPC

**The Archangel Israphel** was the divine Lord of War, who guarded the Kingdom of Heaven against outside threats.

In Adenist teachings, he was depicted within the Old Tome as a beautiful, handsome figure in ornate silver armour, riding a white warhorse named Ambrael and wielding a long, golden spear. He was also the primary deity within the Pantheon of Eren, named after the alias by which the elves of the Alvyri Vandryl knew him.

Israphel was destroyed in 1604 I.E, along with Heaven and its kin. In the time after the world's final recreation, his role would be taken up by the Archangel Ariel.

## History

### Influence on the Mortal World

While the years passed for Esria, the Archangels within the Kingdom of Heaven became more and more distant. They grew cold towards their creations, and far more arrogant as a result. They began to believe themselves to be truly superior beings, too ennobled to walk among mortals or be burdened with their comparatively petty problems. Eventually, by the time of the Blessed Era, they had lost the majority of their interest in the mortal plane, no longer cared for ensuring that they would be worshipped as gods, and did not care for protecting the world from outside sources save for those dwelling in the Underplanes. Israphel, however, did not subscribe to the same attitudes.

As guardian of both the Heavens and the mortal plane of Esria, Israphel witnessed events and observed daily life far closer than any other Archangel. He had always retained his curiosity and love for the mortal world that he had in part created, and sought to ensure the continued survival of Esria no matter what. To that end, throughout history, he took actions such as sending seraphs in secret to watch closely over the world and directly influencing events as far as centuries ahead with his will.

In the time of the Alvyri Vandryl, he spoke to the Wayseer Order in an attempt to communicate his wishes, and while his orders were carried out such grand plans were not always fully comprehended by the Elves.

Furthermore, he nominated a single mortal on Esria, the Everchosen, who would become a divine champion able to directly influence events and carry out his will, although such orders were neither strict nor explicit. Rather, he was able to discern a pure heart and understand which individual the world truly needed. In the case of the Heartstone Crisis, he identified multiple divine champions, though he was unable to reach them directly due to the sealing of Heaven by the fallen Archangel Netheriel. It was the world of Esria itself that chose six fateful heroes to rise up and drive back the darkness of the Long Night, with the exception of the Everchosen Emryn Ashbury.

This marked the first time that the mortal world proved itself capable of such a feat, provoking a reaction from the other Archangels who took notice. Cethell was not fully convinced of the fact, ordered the Angel Epheriel to test its limits even further, while Aethidus and Demelea simply took the events as proof that they no longer needed to concern themselves with mortal matters.

## Information

### Personality

Despite his many depictions as a stoic sentinel or as a violent warrior with an army of lesser angels serving beneath him as soldiers, Israphel was a benevolent and kind hearted deity whose nature was greatly different to the other Archangels and their servants.

He held a deep love for his creations, both mortal and celestial, and was deeply saddened by any tragedy that befell them. After his divine servants were reborn after falling in battle, he was known to watch over them and raise them personally, rather than delegating the task to another angel. When ordered to destroy the seraph Juriel for disobeying orders to remain in Heaven during the final years of the Heartstone Crisis, forever preventing her from being reborn, he retreated into solitude to mourn and was not seen for a considerable time.

### Appearances

Despite his immense power, which was impressive even by the standards of the Archangels, and his role as Heaven's guardian, Israphel was fond of manifesting himself in mortal form. He appeared most often as a young human male of shorter stature, with pure, pale skin lacking even a single blemish. His eyes were a radiant, shining silver, with unkempt, medium length white hair that rode carelessly on any passing breeze. His form was clad in humble cloth garments, consisting of a long white tunic and white slacks, though he did not adorn his feet and simply wandered through the grassy fields of Heaven barefoot.