Angels

A soul does not become an Angel merely by reaching a Realm of Accord. Most souls may never need or desire such a transformation. Angelic existence carries purpose, responsibility, and a degree of divine investiture beyond ordinary postmortal life. Some Angels began as mortal followers who, after death, chose to continue serving a God or divine household in a deeper way. Devoted priests, paladins, servants, scholars, healers, guardians, or other souls may undergo spiritual rites through which that relationship changes what they are.

The transformation is neither a reward automatically granted for devotion nor a simple promotion for accumulated virtue. An Angel must be capable of carrying what is entrusted to them. Divine power is therefore only part of the equation. Relationship matters as well. Two Angels serving the same God may be given radically different responsibilities because one has cultivated centuries of trust while another has only recently entered celestial service.

Likewise, two equally ancient Angels serving different Gods need not possess equivalent abilities. Their patrons embody different principles, maintain different relationships, and invest power according to different purposes. Angelic service can therefore take countless forms.

Some protect souls traveling through dangerous portions of the Spiritual World. Some teach those attempting difficult postmortal transformation. Some act as messengers between divine realms. Some maintain sacred places, accompany Champions, defend spiritual borders, preserve knowledge, or carry out tasks understood only within the household of the God they serve.

An Angel's existence is nevertheless their own. Celestial communion does not require the destruction of personhood. Former mortal souls may retain memory, character, affection, loyalty, and the history that made their relationship with the divine meaningful in the first place. What changes is the scale at which that relationship can now be lived.