Heavenly Hosts

The Guardian Angels

**The Heavenly Hosts** is an organization of magi that exists to defend humanity from the "evils" of the world. A religious organization based on the Abrahamic faith made up of elements of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam but distinct from all. The group generally participates in hunting of that, that goes against God. Vampires, Demons, evil sorcerers of the like and more. They also have no qualms against magi that partake in human trafficking and sacrifices. They collect money from donations as well as jobs that involve dealing with the supernatural. They were originally based in the Holy land until around the 1700s they transitioned to the New World.

Their main base is located in Orlando Florida with sub bases in New York City, Los Angeles, and still in Israel. As an international organization that has been contracted by other religious groups when they align on what they call "righteous crusades", with the Martyrdom being an exemption as said organization publically denounces the Heavenly Hosts as a heretical group. There have been covered up cases of cooperation between the two, but they have been vehemently denied to keep up the Martyrdom's reputation.

## History

This Heavenly Host dates its origins back to Biblical times, during the age of Moses and when he led the Israelites from Egypt. While Moses climbed Mount Sinai to receive the Ten Commandments and some of the Israelites asked Aaron to create an idol a golden calf for them to worship, the Host originated from the Levites, wo were appalled by how the Israelites worshipped a golden calf as if it was God. The small faction of Levites murdered 3,000 Israelites for the atrocities they committed. Not for the false worship but for the blatant disrespect to God, who just freed them from Egypt and into the promised land. When the Levites arrived in Canaan with Moses, however, they realized that this was not the promised land and was indeed the punishment for the atrocities that the majority committed.

They would later become the organization known as the Heavenly Hosts that broke off from the orthodoxy of Judaism as they saw what they deemed corruption taking place in the Abrahamic religion. They despised how the original scrolls where changed and interpreted to suit theneeds and desires of religious authorities. They were staunch opponents of the rise of the political power of the rabbis, the spread of Christianity and centralization of power in Rome, as well as the rise of the new movement of Islam at the time, who they viewed as a blatant change of the holy scriptures to fit the desires of a warlord. The very people who were to preach the good word of God were committing the very same sins, they declared, claiming contradicting information and falsehoods. This put them at odds with the rising Martyrdom, along with the orthodoxy of Abrahamic religions. But perhaps the belief that made the Heavenly Host as different and even heretical in the eyes of the orthodoxy is their belief in Lucifer. The Hosts states that the other groups claimed Lucifer was the source of all evil yet in the original texts had no mention of that. They claimed he seduces others to commit acts they would normally find deplorable. The Hosts see this as the longest running form of fearmongering done, and it how the others would fail to own up to their own shortcomings and using a figure to instill fear.

The Hosts overtime would become a group focused more in the elimination of supernatural threats to humanity, and by the time of the Collapse and the Rise of Decay, they acted as the vigilant guardians of humanity when most magi would choose to remain hidden from Sleeper Society. The Hosts remained anonymous to the public but has a certain level of fame or infamy depending on who is asked in the world of the supernatural.

By the 1700s, the Hosts chose to relocate to the New World after centuries of heated conflict with other organizations in Europe, and to re-establish a new powerbase in a region where groups such as the Martyrdom do not have a large influence at the time. This resulted in the Hosts creating their own sphere of influence that continues to the present day.

## Angelic Concepts

### Angelic Hosts

The key to the Heavenly Host's power lies with their Angelic Hosts. Members are bounded to avatars of angels of the Abrahamic faith. These Angels are spiritual bodies sorted to each member who partake in the ritual becoming partners, mentors, and confidants to the agent. These Angels are in actuality a group of Sabragash who have chosen to fill the role of Abrahamic Angels as symbiosis with the Heavenly Hosts. Other Sabragash look down on the ones who formed this relationship with the Hosts, primarily due to them rewriting their once proud identities into the entities of a religion that they are older than. Other Sabragash view them with indifference, and simply view it as another way of survival in the ever dying world of Decay.

### Tree of Life/Sefirot tree

The magical lifeform that connects with their Sabragash Angel. The tree can be considered a Divine yet living lifeform that serves as an anchor to the modern realm. It is in a hidden location only accessible to those it considers worthy. A fruit is produced for each Angel currently inhabiting the tree. The fruit serves as a contract allowing a portion of the Angel to bound to a host who consumes it. No one knows what Angel will be pulled when the selection takes place. The Angel chooses the person to inhabit based on a form of potential compatibility with the ideal being a form of symbiosis. And when the human it inhabits dies the Angel returns to the tree.

In most cases when an Angel returns to the tree it’s memories with it’s past human partner is blurred as the sense of time is skewed as well as that information being deemed unnecessary to recount but some can remember one’s who’s bound has reached the highest levels to the point the difference between the Angel and human being blurred. Angels that inhabit a person are given the minimum information required to allow them to fit into any era thanks to the tree of life. A concept similar to a certain magical ritual that involved summoning entities such as heroes from the Mythic Age.

### Resonance

Resonance is a concept of compatibility shared between the Angels and humans they inhabit. It is required for the two to form and raise their Resonance to gain more access to the Angel’s power and benefits. It is explained as the bare minimum required to be able able to hear the Angel’s name and understanding the nature of the Angel they are partnered with. The extent of Resonance depends on the Angel and Mortal and the type of relationship formed. Relationships vary between each pair ranging from a mentor, a friend, a professional work partner, a concerned parent, a rival or in some rare cases a human have described them as their true love. The relationship in question from the pair depends on what the Angel requires necessary to get to know their partner as well as other arbitrary tasks. Such as requiring them to pray every morning noon and night, or perhaps fishing and other activities, it has even been stated they would like them to play video games or being a good lover to their significant other.

Even though the Angel inhabits the body of the human the two do not share their inner thoughts. Instead the Angel takes up resonance in the human’s inner world or mind palace much like renting a property to an owner. In the inner world the two can converse at any time it’s as simple as directing one’s inner thoughts from the mind to one’s soul. The inner world represents one’s psyche and it’s a mental cognition of where they feel secure. In some cases it’s a fort or can be an embellished version of one’s childhood home or an imaginary castle or a farm or even based on one’s favorite book or video game setting.

### Angelic abilities

Angels grant the Hosts numerous abilities. They range from supplemental abilities to exorcism to the rarest being flight.

#### Angel vision

Is an extrasensory perception, or “sixth sense”. Those who use this ability are able to instinctively see how people and objects relate to them, which manifests as a colored glow, much like an aura. This even relates to the normally unseen such as spirits and can even allow them to see through basic illusions. Or even being able to see if one is possessed or being controlled by a magical entity.

#### Angel Sense

When an individual masters the vision and achieve an advanced level of resonance, the ability can evolve to the more advanced Angel Sense. No longer requiring just the eyes. This stage is a true sixth sense even if their five senses were effected by illusions or control the sixth sense will show them the truth. It can allow a user to foresee a target’s path. Some individuals also developed exotic variations of the gift; one application allowing its wielder to peer into the memories of their target upon killing them, while another one allowed a gifted individual to become a kind of lie detector, knowing when someone was lying or telling the truth to them. It is a rare gift.

#### Angel step

A high speed movement technique. It involves using magical energy around the feet and creating a path to a desired location in eyesight. It looks like an invisible stream and once initiated the user rides it at high speed to a desired location. It appears to look like teleportation to the unaware but it is just a high speed movement technique. Though to one aware of how the ability works as well as advanced senses they can predict or even interrupt the movement.

#### Exorcism

It is a simple technique of use against basic possession. Instead of using magical energy the energy of the soul temporarily floods the target usually by physical touch to force out and purify the target. Considered a miracle exorcist by traditional priest the end result isn’t extraordinary but rather the speed and efficiency is. As traditional exorcism takes hours and has a huge risk. However against advanced demonic possessed targets or other advanced possessions this is not effective and in many cases attempting it on an advanced case can be detrimental to the user. Some advanced users can even perform this from a distance.

#### Clairaudience

An extrasensory form of hearing. The ability to hear dangerous intentions or even passed events in an area. It has to be extreme emotions to hear generally horrid acts such as murder or assault. In the case of the former it helps one hear the killing intent in the forms of a murderous whisper of one near them. The louder and more ominous generally being the closer one is to them.

#### Angel Pulse

A variation of the exorcism technique. It is a short range attack of the soul itself. Resembling something from Eastern martial arts the user strikes with a point and the soul of the user temporarily shoots out in a single direct wave to attack internally. It bypasses most conventional defenses even magical attacking the soul internally of a target. It causes massive pain and disorienting effects as it’s soul to soul combat average humans fall instantly to this. Demons and other spiritual entities that cannot be harmed physically are the main targets to this as it’s an effective way to interact with them though the stronger the entity the less effective this is and in extreme cases puts the user at risk.

#### Angel Flight

The ability to project wings of pure energy allowing the user to fly and maneuver at high speeds. The wings do not flap as the projection is more so an assertion of the right of the user to fly rather than the physical mechanics. Considered the most difficult technique to achieve it’s mere display showing one has achieved an extremely high Resonance rate with their Angel as well as a display of power and to the enemies of the HH an act of intimidation.

#### Malak Instruments

A Malak Instrument is the physical manifestation of the true abilities of each Angel, manifesting in two stages for the users. They embody the concept of the Angels authority or power they possess. It can manifest as an ability or weapon or both. This comes in two stages, Advent and Testament.

#### Advent

An Advent is the First Stage, and requires knowledge of the Angel’s name and compatibility of each other. The base ability or release is always the same but certain variations can be manifested depending on the human. For example, an angel who’s Advent would ordinarily be a sword variations of sword can differ on preference of the user like a two handed great sword or a single grip scimitar. If the user in question isn’t a close combat type the weapon may even present itself as a bow and arrow combo. The Angel Michael's Advent would be the sword that they symbolize and used to cast out Lucifer. Due to the nature of their ability and symbolism, Michael's manifests as a flaming sword. Even after achieving an Advent, additional training and utilization can further strengthen and hone the ability.

#### Testament

The Testament is second and supposed final stage. It is a heightened and significantly more powerful variation of the Malak Instruments. One must have fully mastered their Advent before attaining this. All Angel hosts have potential to reach this stage but only the top 3 ranks achieve it and even then only the Cherubim and Seraphim can master it to the highest level. The abilities and capabilities vary but on average the destructive force of the full release can be a threat to a city if used recklessly. Michael’s being the most well known being the Divine flames and Holy sword of Heaven which is said to be able to cut through practically anything and the flames being able to overwhelm an entire horde of demons of Hell.

## Organizational Structure

The Heavenly Host's hierarchy consists of the following ranks: **Seraphim**, **Cherubim**, **Thrones**, **Dominions**, **Virtues**, **Powers**, and **Principalities**.

### Seraphim

The highest rank in the organization. It’s always held by the three members holding the ranks of Metatron, Michael and Lucifer. They hold the highest power and decision making. Advised by a council of elders each one is capable of fighting a Demon lord or Sanguine in combat. They have not only achieved Advent and Testament but have fully mastered it as well as achieved such high Resonance rate between themselves and their angels they often prefer to themselves as “we” when in regards to themselves and their Angel. The Seraphim reserve the right to take any lower rank members as a team member for missions.

* Metatron
* Michael
* Lucifer

### Cherubim

Second highest rank. The rank of members who have not only achieved Advent and Testament but mastered their abilities. They have high level in all angelic abilities related to the host as well as exceptional leadership skills and instincts.

* Ariel

### Thrones

The third highest rank. One is required to not only have achieved their Testament but proven to have raised a successful team as a Dominion. Operating still as a team leader they are often used on special assignments organized by other Thrones, Cherubim and Seraphim.

* Samael

### Dominions

The middle rank, serving as squad leaders for Principalities they mentor and oversee them. One has not only mastered their Advent but being adept in several Angelic abilities. A squad is made up of at least three Principalities and one Dominion leader.

* Azazel
* Haniel

### Virtues

The third lowest rank. One has shown and grown from Principality and Powers. Virtues take on more responsibilities and would be acting squad leader under advisory of their Dominion developing leadership as well as further gaining cooperation with their Angel and mastering their Advent. Once enough successful missions are completed by the Virtue as an acting leader they are recommended to take the promotion exam to become a Dominion.

* Barachiel

### Powers

The second lowest rank. It requires a member to not only learn the name of the Angel that they are bound with as well as achieving an Advent.

* Araqiel

### Principalities

The lowest rank. Members who recently joined the organization still learning to communicate and resonate with their Angel partner. Forming a group of three they are lead and mentor by a Dominion.

Members are taught the form of combat known as Jacob’s limbs. A secret art not meant to be shown unless necessary. The original Levites learned from Moses as they never lost faith in God. It is the same form of combat Jacob used to allegedly fight with an Angel. Members are also armed with Blessed Bayonets (enchanted to have anti-spirit or anti-undead properties), modern weapons such as their Anti-Undead Hand Canons, and even special Artifacts given to members.