Celestials

"**Celestials**", according to various mythologies and religions, are any heavenly beings who are less powerful than the Gods. They are also simply known as "angels".

## Characteristics

In many cultures, celestials tend to appear as radiant humanoids.

### Eimares Celestials

See also: Celestial Age

A certain race of "celestials", known as the Eimares, was the earliest known civilisation in the history of the main universe. It later split into the Hjokkunzar and the Thamunzar factions that competed for galactic dominance and were nearly exterminated by the Anevondir Empire, the first of a series of galaxy-spanning empires ruled by mortals.

These "celestials" were also radiant humanoids as they were depicted in many mythologies, and they were capable of blasting beams of light and heat from their hands. They were also able to absorb light and fire into their bodies, and shoot them at a later time. In later aeons, the remaining Celestials began to resemble humans as their skin and hair developed colours.

Thamunzar Celestials were skilled in creating and using machinery and engines from any substance, and Hjokkunzar Celestials were better-known for manipulating the laws of physics to their will. The Thamunzars sought to rule over all lower lifeforms in the Galaxy or improve their technologies, depending on their leaders; while the Hjokkunzars sought to help them cultivate their arts before subjugating them into their fickle control. Their conflict is commemorated in a Vozonid festival known as "Uorimon Faire".

The Celestials were henceforth feared in many cultures across the Galaxy, including parts of Jerde, where they became known as the Star-demons. Stars are sometimes seen as frightening and deathly, eternal reminders of long-gone threats that might return from the darkness of night to destroy the world, as the apocalypses of some mythologies and legends.

### In different cultures

In Rinnarit art, celestials (or angels) and the saints are depicted wearing Byzantine clothing.

In Norse and Nordic religion, the einherjar are the souls of warriors selected by the war god Odin as his army. They are trained at the hall of Valhalla for a battle in the far future against another army of demons, the jotnar giants.

In the alien Novantirna and Kuelgon mythologies, a race of star-people known as "imvar" ruled over the newborn universe as tyrants, before they were annihilated, massacred, and scattered out of the universe. The Novantirna believe that some imvar rebelled and protected the inhabitants of certain planets from their rulers, and they only opened these worlds after their rulers destroyed each other. This group of imvar cultivated the ancestors of the Novantirna to build their own civilisation, before ascending as their patron gods.

The Ontemazei conflate the demonic Eimares with their Konjor creators, resulting in a fear of stars and the night. Later, that fear passed on into legend as the cult of Mithura emerged, allowing them to consider themselves as a new race of star demons who will exterminate the old star devils, in their war to exterminate the Galaxy to punish it for its sins.

## List of Celestial nations and cultures

### Sixty-Four Realms (Old Celestials)

* Eimares
	+ This was the first civilisation in the universe's history. The natural form of these Celestials is humanoid, with a body of pure light and energy.
* Naimares
	+ Known for their intricate mantras and incantations.

### Eimarin Civil War nations

#### Thamunzar

* Thosornau (thunderbolt)
* Thamyldo (jade clam)
* Arezthar (triangle of bolts)
* Valisaria (veil of stars)
* Olinthar (disk-flint)
	+ A race of Celestials that live at the northeastern fringe of the Galaxy. These aided the ancient Novantirnas and their Druharzan ancestors' civilisations by teaching them their machinery and magic.
	+ Some of the Olinthar Celestials were transformed into gods, and they ended up being worshipped by the Novantirnas as their pantheon.

#### Hjokkunzar

* Baritai (wailing joy)
	+ Thanewira emperors
	+ The Baritai wandered away from the Galaxy in an eternal garden party, tormenting interdimensional travellers.
* Thunaiska (the skull of crystal)
* Sulivaro (the magic breath)
* Glissagalira (the glittering swords)
* Ramanore (winking sunrise)

### Newer Celestials

* Tuxavin
	+ This community was where Raunonto, Sharada, and Losoi came from. The natural form of these Celestials is humanoid, with brown skin and white hair.
	+ These Celestials have a custom where they give their friends green and yellow food. The yellow food extends the eater's life by a hundred years, but the green pill turns the eater into an immortal. At some point, the Celestial also gives their immortal friend a white pill that transforms them into another Celestial so they can follow the Celestial back to Heaven.
* Milavon, Milavoi
	+ Another race of Celestials that live at the northeastern fringe of the Galaxy, near the ruins of Novantirna.
	+ The natural form of these Celestials is humanoid, with peach skin and white or green hair.
	+ They are allies to the Tuxavins.

## Notable Celestials

### Second Age

* Sarasvas, Ævāri, Surime, Vūrasa, Axarka, and Zrūnda - the high gods of order, chaos, life, heat, cold, and death, according to the Eimares' religion.
	+ Surime was the most revered by mortals during the Eimaranda Empire, as he protected planets and their inhabitants from being enslaved or tortured by the Celestials. He also tended to inspire artists and seers in their dreams, usually by comforting or warning them.
* Some of the deities worshipped by the Novantirna were formerly Celestials who trained them to build their own civilisation as their protection from being enslaved by other empires.
	+ Lumbariz
	+ Rirana
	+ Narsenře
	+ Vaisotře
* Rathāras - a Hjokkunzar Celestial who went on hunts against various space monsters.
* Bariwas - a Thamunzar Celestial who was banished to Jerde and who became the first of the Nine Sages.
* Zōraltari - a Hjokkunzar Celestial who led an invasion to conquer Jerde. She is (mockingly with a pompously arrogant performance) "commemorated" as a fictional character who competes in Uorimon Faire. She is depicted as a burning skull wearing a dress and wielding a scythe as her weapon.

### Modern era

* Losoi Losarta/"Sarol Jashvant" - a Thamunzar Celestial who hunted for the sorcerer Kakadu. He disguised himself as the fictional Ruotanese god Kalshoroi out of his interest for that character. Although he is willing to help at any mechanical craft, he liked folding, making works of art, and throwing enemies into the air in circles.
* Sharada Losarta/"Lirash Jashvant" - a Thamunzar Celestial who hunted for the sorcerer Kakadu. She disguised herself as the fictional Ruotanese goddess Lurisha. In spite of her ability to reshape metal into tools, she preferred to use her skills to make artistic works.
* Raunonto Liparkos - a mischievous Hjokkunzar Celestial who hunted for the sorcerer Kakadu. He disguised himself as the fictional Ruotanese god Lashvansh and as a priest in a lonely temple somewhere in southern Siangwaan. His sword can purify ghosts, weakening them and banishing them to the afterlife/reincarnation.

### Popular culture

* Klōdiraz - a green Celestial whose star appears at Emerald Week to mock and curse at sailors. She is extremely rude, and she appears alongside the pumpkin wight Dubokhon and Queen Purulli as festive characters.
* "Caelon" - a woman who became an immortal after she was affected by an explosion. She either burns wicked people in splendid infernos, or intervenes in random people's lives.

### Gauvajut mythology

* saituzar, Nibetuzar - celestial warrior, soldier of Heaven
* saituzzi, Nibetuzzi - star angels, armies of Heaven
* krelidai - gryphon spirits of Heaven
* aiwazar - fire angels
* kaimaizar - fire angels with great swords, guards stationed at Heaven's gates

#### Constellation gods

* Arawanis
* The Plough
* The Net of Fishes
* The Burning Banner
* The Trident
* King Ahkanawirewis
* The Feared Dream
* The Two Dragons
* The Golden Lion

### Vozonid mythology

Most star celestials in Vozonid mythology are malevolent, sadistic beings.

* Jauporoz - gryphon-like celestials sent by the god Zomjonor to protect sleepers from demons.
* Wisatri - celestials that are believed to look after treasures and sacred relics.
* Scorching Heart - a red star from the north that heralds the start of summer.

### Other religions and mythologies

* Tishtar - the Yazata (archangel) of rain in Zoroastrianism, and the ruler of the southern star Seirios/Sirius. In Kalambour, he is depicted as a man riding a white horse, and is accompanied by a retinue of water-winged maidens.
* Anahita - the Yazata of water in Zoroastrianism, honoured in the festival of Abanagan in which people thank God with hymns and offerings of flowers and sweet milk to the rivers. As Kalambour is a desert country fed by a great river, Anahita has become a symbol of its rivers and the patron angel of the country.
* Sorush - the Yazata of good deeds in Zoroastrianism.
* Rashnu - the Yazata of justice in Zoroastrianism.
* Mithra - the Yazata of friendship in Zoroastrianism.
* Apam Napat - the Yazata who brings rain in Zoroastrianism.
* Verethragna - the Yazata of war and strength in Zoroastrianism. He is a companion of Mithra. He is associated with the planet Mars.
* Gabriel - an archangel in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. He is often shown blowing a trumpet, and he is known for sending God's messages to the priest Zechariah about the birth of John the Baptist. One of the main characters is named after him.
* Michael - an archangel in Christianity and Judaism. He is said to be the captain of the armies of Heaven.
* Einherjar - the souls of warriors chosen by the war god Odin as his army of champions in the upcoming battle of Ragnarok. They are trained every day to fight at the golden hall of Valhalla, and whenever they are killed, they are revived at the next morning. Some einherjar ride with Odin in the Wild Hunt, in pursuit of some beast or demons to slay.
* Valkyries - warrior women who serve as Odin's knights. They bring the warriors chosen by Odin who die in battle into Valhalla where they are trained, but to the living they enjoy murdering those in battle or manipulating chosen warriors to die in horrific deaths.
* Faravahars/Fravashis/Farohars - guardian angels in Zoroastrianism who guide souls into righteousness.

## Trivia

* The "celestials" of the Rabydosverse were inspired by the Maiar of Tolkien's works, the Celestials of Marvel Comics, and the 19th-century epithet "Celestials" (as the author wanted to play with its meaning).
	+ The Thamunzar and Hjokkunzar Celestials were inspired by the ongoing Transformers (machines/science) vs. My Little Pony (magic) rivalry within Hasbro, a toy company.
	+ The "star demons" and the fear of Celestials may have been inspired by the Chaos daemons of Warhammer and the tzitzimimeh of Aztec mythology. The tzitzimimeh are star demons who descend to eat people if the New Fire ceremony failed.
* "Celestials" in some religions (such as Christianity and Islam: e.g. "angeloi" and "malaikat") are known instead as "angels". Zoroastrian/Mazdajasni celestials are known as "jazatas"/"yazatas" or "fraeshtas"/"fereshteh".

## See also

* Wights, their equivalents and allies on the surfaces of planets
* Demons, their chaotic enemies
* Heaven, or Imbar, their residence