Angel

Angels are powerful, intelligent plasma-based lifeforms born from the God-Star Sham’esh. These celestial star-born beings possess a completely different biology, morality, and philosophy than other mortal species. They usually appear as masses of metaphysical energy encased in powerful, durable material that serves as an angel’s container, fortress, and focus. Among the Q’rath, this material is called godstone. This godstone gives a concrete shape to an angel, and can come in many forms: humanoids, structures, war shrines, and many more. There are three known types of angels that have originated from Sham’esh: Y’riah, Ark’shai, and Q’rath.

Angel biology is distinctly different from mortal species. They are lifeforms that appear to function as living stars, often described as emitting large amounts of light and heat. They feed on energy, though how they obtain this energy varies depending on the type of angel. Angels are highly intelligent, powerful, and possess extremely long, but not infinite, lifespans. Angels are often depicted as having some kind of “eye”, to which looking directly upon it has been known to drive mortals mad. Angels also appear to be connected to spirituality, as demonstrated by the angels of Q’rath, whose human followers can draw upon angelic strength through faith and adherence to the religion, and even the creation of an afterlife through the Shar’u. All known angels are made up of a specific type of script known as A’shar’az.

A'shar'az, loosely translated as "Celestial" (Lit trans: "Source of The Sacred/Exalted as it is Uttered") is the unifying script among all angelic beings. While humans and angels use A'shar'az as a writing system, the truth is the Hallowed Word is a closer analogue to an angel's genetic code. When an angel is born as a mote, it is because a critical mass of angelic fire coalesces into a series of tightly bound A'shar'az script. The entire identity, personality, temperament, and (meta)physical attributes of an angel are determined by the arrangement of this script and the sacred characters found inside it. As angels mature, age, and learn, this script changes, is added on to, or diminishes. This fundamental "language" is shared by Q'rath, Y'riah, and Ark'shai, who have all originated from the same God-Star, Sham'esh. For the human servants of the Q'rathi Empire, A'shar'az is a source of great power, a direct connection between themselves and Aros, the Departed Godhead, and Progenitor of the Line of Q'rath. Learning the sacred words takes decades of study, and learning to "speak" it, draws angelic fire into and through those that invoke it.

There are currently three known lineages of angels, known as Y’riah, Ark’shai, and Q’rath. Each lineage is led by a God-Head, which are the leaders of their respective lineages. Currently, the only known God-Head is Aros of Q'rath. The God-Heads are living suns that function as the primary source of power for their offspring. It is through their massive souls that additional angels are born, and both their angelic offspring and mortal followers can draw upon the God-Head's power through the invocation of A’shar’az. God-Heads are incredibly large, and with power to match. God-Heads are not all-powerful deities, but they are powerful enough that they are often viewed, worshiped, and feared as such by mortals.

As God-Heads are intelligent beings, they each have their own goals and agendas. Aros seeks to take all all mortal life under its wings in order to prevent a repeat of the Elder War, and redeem mortal beings from their own folly. Other angelic lineages seem to have darker aims in mind towards mortals.

Each God-Head has also derived unique strategies in feeding both themselves and their lineage. Aros’ strategy is by creating a religion and recruiting mortal life into its fold, elevating them while also feeding on their faith and worship. The angels of Y’riah and Ark’shai also have their own ways of sustaining themselves, though the full details are currently unknown. Pyre is also a known source of energy for angels to use.

Angels appear to follow a strict hierarchical order, perhaps as a result of their angelic genetic code that can be “written” to determine their personalities and temperament. As a result, they come across as far more coordinated and cohesive than mortals. However, some levels of independence have been shown, such as the recent departure of Aros from the planet Shael, an act which seemed to have caught even its own angelic servants by surprise. And it is hinted that the archangels of Q’rath have their own beliefs and agendas as well.

As they are celestial beings consisting of angelfire, angels have no concept of sex or gender. However, they have been known to adopt genders when interacting with humans. This appears to be done for no other reason than to be easier for humans to relate to them.