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Archangel of Purity
"The world is corruptible, flawed and discordant. We
must scour it of its imperfections, returning it to its former state of
glory."
Once, Uriel was perhaps the mightiest angel in Heaven, second
only to Michael in force of arms, and second to none in sheer blazing
Essence. He was the first and the greatest of the Malakim, and when he
ascended to the status of Archangel, Michael stepped aside to let Uriel
assume command of Heaven's armies. Under Uriel, the War went much more
favorably than it has in recent centuries; demons cowered in fear of
Uriel's minions, and while they still often got the upper hand in the
battle for the hearts and minds of humanity, they were never able to
operate as openly as they do now.
Ultimately, it was Uriel's dedication to his job that was his
downfall. His determination to cleanse the Symphony of all diabolical
taint was a passion that went beyond fanatical; as the embodiment of
Purity, Uriel became so bound to his Word that the mere existence of
Discord in the once-perfect Symphony drove him insane. He came to see
everything that did not stem directly from God as dissonant, and
initiated a purge to eradicate it all.
His campaign for purity devastated much of Blandine's Marches,
where many pagan spirits dwelled. His angels also swept across the
Earth, and virtually wiped out all the creatures of myth, beasts that
had been spawned by angels and demons alike. Faeries, giants, unicorns,
dragons, griffins, were-creatures, undead, and anything else that hadn't
been created by God and Named by Yves before the Fall fell prey to
Uriel's purifying forces.
Most of Uriel's fellow Archangels were aghast at the destruction.
They feared that he might destroy the world in order to save it, and
they were furious that he felt empowered to run roughshod over the
domains of other Archangels, and obliterate everything that did not
please him, in his crusade.
Called before the Seraphim Council and accused of usurping God's
authority, Uriel defended his actions without remorse. Even his most
ardent supporters- Michael and Dominic- could not bring themselves to
speak in his defense, though they also refused to condemn him. There was
a very real danger of a schism that would pit Uriel and his divine army
against the rest of Heaven; even if Uriel submitted to the will of the
Seraphim Council (and it is debated to this day whether or not he would
have done so), the Servitors of Purity were so devoted to their Superior
that they might have rebelled nonetheless.
At this point, God intervened personally. Uriel was recalled to the higher planes of Heaven, and has not been heard from since.
His most powerful Servitor, Laurence, took his place as commander
of God's armies. Most of Uriel's Servitors realigned themselves to the
Archangel of Swords, though there were a few who had personal conflicts
with Laurence, or felt that another Archangel's Word was closer to the
one they had been serving; many went over to Dominic's camp, and a few
joined Michael.
There were an even smaller number who refused to serve any other
Superior, and in effect became Outcasts. Some believe they Fell, no
longer shielded from that fate by Uriel.
Those beliefs are in error. No Angel serving the Word of Purity has ever Fallen.
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