1. The Cosmology of Diablo
2. The Cosmology of Diablo: Worlds
3. The Cosmology of Diablo: Angels and Demons
4. The Cosmology of Diablo: The Worldstone
It's been five weeks, but the next installment in the cosmology series is here. Last time I went over how the various worlds in the universe were created, what their purpose is and how they relate to each other. Before then, I delved deeper into how the world was actually created, and how it all began.
This time, the article will be slightly different. This article focuses on the most powerful and prominent angels and demons, and seeks to describe them more than anything. The element of speculation is, I believe, considerably less in this installment. To compensate, it also seems to be much longer.
As always, spoilers from the
Sin War novels are aplenty. There are also some small spoilers from The Black Road and Kingdom of Shadow as well.(The pagenumbers currently have ?-marks after them. These numbers do not correspond to the printed pagenumbers, as I use .pdf documents when writing these. I have not yet had the time to double-check the pages in the books, so they are only approximations at current.)
Overview
Demons
Diablo
Mephisto
Baal
The Three
Angels
Inarius
Tyrael
The Angiris Council
Summary
Next Time
Overview
What are angels and demons exactly? On a basic level, they are pretty much the iconic representations of what you would think of when you hear their names: angels are pure beings who fight in shining armor, while demons are mostly ravenous beasts thirsting for blood. After that however, subtle and large differences start to appear that separates them from other games and popular culture.
One thing that is very important to note is that angels are not really a force of good. This is not clear at all if you've only played the games; Heaven in D2 is portayed more like the good guys, who watch to see if humanity is strong enough to stand for themselves. Reading the books however, another picture is painted.
Another difference that is important to note is that there is no indication or suggestion of a god who supervises the angels. In fact, the angels are even confirmed not to follow a deity. They are as autonomous as the demons are.
Because of this, Heaven is just as bad for Sanctuary if it were to win over Hell as the reverse would be, and so the humans are trapped between both. The following quote sums up very nicely what angels think of Sanctuary:
Of course, before the end of the Sin War, Tyrael has a change of heart. In a vote between the Angiris, Tyrael votes for humanity, stating the following:Quote fromTyrael — and it dismays me yet to hear you verify that it is he who is here — would see no contradiction in his role as a warrior of light by twisting his words and leading you and likely Achilios to believe him kindly and benevolent!” Rathma’s cloak fluttered almost nervously, an effect more pronounced by the fact that there was no wind. “All he has desired during his time here is to create more chaos that will keep those interested in the world’s survival at one another’s throats, the easier for them to be judged by the High Heavens and erased from existence.”
“Not possible!” Mendeln blurted. “I spoke with him. He was concerned over Inarius’s madness and the fear that demons were gaining control over humanity. He —”
“The truth can hide many lies within it.” The Ancient’s shoulders slumped. “To Tyrael, we would be monsters, things that should have never existed. Therefore, we are not worthy of trust or truth. All that matters is our annihilation, so that we do not blemish creation.
The change of heart Tyrael has here explains his heavy involvement later on in the games, when the rest of Heaven seems to be extremely passive. However, it also reveals more about Heaven than at first glance. Total domination of heaven is often seen as a grave potential, with a rigidity and order imposed on humanity that it would be terribly to live in.Quote fromBUT I WAS NOT THERE…AS WERE NONE OF YOU, Tyrael reminded his counterparts. AND SO THIS THING GREW…AND GREW…UNTIL IT BECAME WHAT NONE COULD FATHOM, WHAT NONE COULD HAVE EXPECTED! THIS PLACE CALLED SANCTUARY HAS BROUGHT FORTH SUCH AS WE HAVE NEVER WITNESSED, THINGS I MYSELF CALLED ABOMINATIONS! Before Imperius could interrupt, Tyrael pressed, BUT ABOMINATIONS DO NOT FEEL SUFFERING, THEY DO NOT STRUGGLE FOR ONE ANOTHER AGAINST GREAT ODDS AND THEY DO NOT…THEY DO NOT…OF THEIR OWN FREE WILL…CHOOSE…YES…CHOOSE TO COMMIT SUCH GREAT SACRIFICE FOR THE SAKE OF OTHERS.
Mendeln felt the hope rising among his companions, even the generally dour Rathma. Was it possible of Tyrael, of all the angels?
WE SACRIFICE, responded Imperius. OF WHAT DIFFERENCE WAS HIS?
WE SACRIFICE BECAUSE WE MUST…BECAUSE IT IS PART OF OUR CALLING! WE DO IT BECAUSE IT IS OUR DUTY AND NO MORE! THE MORTAL, ULDYSSIAN UL-DIOMED…HE CHOSE TO SELFLESSLY GIVE HIMSELF BECAUSE HE CARED FOR HIS COMPANIONS! IT WAS NOT HIS DUTY…BUT HIS DESIRE. Tyrael looked at each of the other judges, ending with Imperius. I DID CALL THEM ABOMINATIONS…AND I WAS WRONG! MY VOTE IS FOR THEM…FOR I WOULD SEE WHAT THEY MIGHT BECOME…AND MARVEL IN IT.
Astrogha further comments on this point:
Of course, a demon would probably feel that any amount of piousness is sickening. But Tyrael's speech remains. He spaks of selflessness and comassion prominent in humans, and views it as good. Perhaps Heaven is not as bad after all. It's probably no good for Sanctuary if Heaven were to beat Hell and the angels invade, but that does not mean that an equal 50-50 balance between Heaven and Hell is preferable either. While both must exist, a greater tendency towards Heaven is probably preferable for humanity and Sanctuary as a whole.Quote fromHumans could become the weapon the demons needed to at last seize total victory from the sanctimonious angels, yet the tendency toward good in them might make them ally themselves with the High Heavens…until the piousness and rigidity of the winged warriors sickened their stomachs as much as it did the demons’.
Demons
If we start at the easiest and most straightforward end, we have the demons. Since both Diablo 1 and Diablo 2 have focused on us as players killing demons by the scores, the games have given us a pretty good grasp of what they are. In large part, many of them would hardly be more than what the games show us had they been dropped down in our world. Most would have run around and killed everything in sight.
The more powerful demons however are not very accurately portrayed in the games, and so knowledge of them must be gathered from the books.Quote fromThe demons were not like the angels. They had no uniformity save their savageness. They did not come in rank upon rank but spilled out like water, quickly covering vast ground, then rising up into the sky.
Diablo
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In the Sin War however, Diablo takes on another shape. He is encountered many times throughout the books by different characters, and throughout all of them Diablo constantly changes appearance in accordance with the fears of the watcher.
Fiery red shape, huge fists with black talons, curled horns, thick-browed and scaled head. Excepting the rotting skull, the description fits very well with the appearance Diablo has in D2. In other instances however, this is not the case.Quote fromAs the hideous specter neared, Astrogha then caught glimpses of a fiery red shape, huge fists with black talons, and a horrific countenance that was in part a rotting skull with blazing eyes that burned into the arachnid’s own. Monstrous, curled horns—like those of a ram’s gone amok—topped the thick-browed, scaled head.
Clearly here then, we see that Diablo resembles that which his onlookers fear. The question though is, does he do this purposefully, i.e. is it a power he can choose to control, or is it an innate quality of his very being, his natural form?Quote fromFrom below came a wild roar. Out of the water burst the monstrous shadow, and as it rushed up at Uldyssian, it transformed a hundred times. Each incarnation was more horrific than the last, and nearly all the son of Diomedes could trace to his own innate terrors.
First, an encounter between Inarius and Diablo.
It should be noted here that Inarius quite probably does fear Tyrael, he's obsessed with the angel throughout the latter parts of the books. Diablo's response would indicate that his own shape merely changes to what Inarius fears.Quote fromInarius showed no sign of anxiety when that figure became another winged warrior he knew so well. “You are not Tyrael, and I am not afraid of him.”
Are you not? Then why do I resemble him?
On the other hand, during an encounter between Uldyssian and Diablo, something else happens.
Of course, Uldyssian cannot know for sure what Diablo can or cannot do. But the idea that simply holding up a mirror is enough to stop him at all times seems ludicrous. Diablo must be able to exercise active control this power of his for it to make any sense. He's not medusa.Quote fromAnd so Diablo looked upon himself.
Under any other circumstances, Uldyssian doubted that the demon would have been affected. Prepared for such a trick, the Lord of Terror would have adjusted. Here, though, Uldyssian’s spell happened so quickly, and with so much instinct as opposed to preparation, that the demon could not have known what to expect.
Thus, Diablo inflicted upon himself that which he did unto others. The fears he had been thrusting upon the human altered to his own.
The shadowy figure let out a shriek that nearly made Uldyssian flee in mindless panic.
This of course does not say whether or not Diablo does in fact his true for is the one we see in Diablo. Thus I fall back on the fourht cinematic in D2. At about 2:10, Mephisto says:
Which is his dino form with tail and all.Quote fromNow my young brother, the time has come for you to assume your true form.
All in all, Diablo probably looks something akin to how he appears in Diablo 2.
Mephisto
Mephisto is the eldest of the Three (which of Baal or Diablo is the youngest has never been made clear anywhere thus far). He is also the master of the undead. Indicated by his skeletal appearance in D2, it is made clear in the Kingdom of Shadow, spoken by a mage of the Vizjerei.
What this means exactly is unclear, but it is an interesting tidbit of knowledge.Quote fromThe Prime Evils. Whatever land one had been born in, whether in the jungles of Kehjistan or the cooler, rockier realms of the Western Kingdoms, all knew of the Prime Evils, the three brothers who ruled Hell.
Mephisto, Lord of Hatred, master of undead. Baal, Lord of Destruction, bringer of chaos
Still, what does Mephisto look like? Contrary to Diablo, his appearance in The Sin War does not agree well with how he appeared in D2.
Quote fromThe shadow coalesced somewhat into a tall, macabre shape that instantly brought to Mendeln’s mind the monstrous morlu or, worse yet, their heinous master, Lucion, who, like Lilith, was also offspring of this sudden and dread visitor.
Quote fromA green, scaly hand thrust forth from the shadow to condemn Inarius.
Quote fromA hint of great, sharp teeth momentarily flashed into sight where the demon’s head should have been.
To fully understand this description, we must also have a description of Lucion and Lilith, Mephisto's two children.Quote fromA black substance oozed from the bite, and this the demon let drip onto the spot the angels had chosen.
Lilith
LucionQuote fromRather, it was taller and hideously scaled, with a mass of fiery quills for hair, quills that ran down the spine to…to a reptilian tail ending in savage barbs. Where the delicate hands had been were now clawed fingers—four, not five. Worse, the feet were like hooves, yet splayed, too.
The body was unclad and, although monstrous, still very, very female. The lush curves enticed, drawing his eyes despite his dismay. But most horrific of all was that, when he looked up into the face -the face with its burning orbs that had no pupils and teeth designed for shredding—he could still see the features that he recognized as that of the woman he loved.
Clearly then it would seem that Mephisto would share some traits with his brother Diablo. He is no undead himself, even though he may be the master of them.Quote fromAnd as he spoke, the facade of humanity fell away. Lucion’s aspect grew terrible to behold, even more so to Uldyssian because there was resemblance to Lilith after all. Lucion stood half again taller than the demoness and much broader, but he, too, had the thorns that acted as mane all the way down his scaled back. Yet, where she had only had one tail, her cursed brother had three, all spiked from top to tip with daggerlike projects longer than Uldyssian’s hand.
Lucion took a step toward him again and, in doing so, revealed that he also had the hooved legs his sister did. His hands were different, though, for the fingers on each numbered more than five and the claws were like those of a badger, but dripping with what surely had to be poison.
And of the face, only the eyes were identical. Lucion, who played at being the handsome, schooled cleric, was a beast whose head more resembled a toad. His mouth was wider than the top of his skull, and row upon row of teeth greeted Uldyssian. The brother of Lilith had no nose, not even nostrils, and his chin was hooked so sharply in the middle that Uldyssian could almost imagine it being used as a weapon.
We cannot be certain of Mephisto's finer features though. Lilith and Lucion have similar shapes, but differ in their faces. Likewise, Mephisto probably looks like them in body, but has a different face. It is not impossible he share some features with Diablo as well. They are, after all, brothers.
Why then does Mephisto not look like this in D2? Why is he a hovering skeleton? The answer to that question is simply that, in D2, Mephisto possesses the body of Sankekur, the leader of the Zakarum. Like Tal Rasha for Baal and the Wanderer for Diablo, they are all much more human while still in their bodies. Diablo, shedding his human form, is the only one of them who truly returns to his demonic form in the games.
Baal
Unfortunately, there's is little to be said about Baal. He plays such a minor role in the books, never appearing and only being mentioned here and there in passing that there's little new to say. I did however find one interesting thing: Baal appears to be more stupid than his brothers, or at least he has more stupid demons serving him.
Quote from“Stupid is Gulag,” came Astrogha’s monstrous voice from above. “Like his master he is…”
Quote from“And you, Gulag, do you have any reservations about accepting what I offer even before hearing the price?”
“Dessssstrucctionnnnnn?”
He smiled at the simple question. “Yes, there could very well be some.”
“Hhhheadddd…”
It was as close to an acquiescence as Lucion would get from one of Baal’s minions.
Both of these indicate that demons of Destruction think little, and it clearly shows that Astrogha is more cunning because he is a demon of Terror.Quote fromSatisfied that it was not Gulag, Lucion sought then for Astrogha. The spider was a more cunning creature, being of Diablo’s calling.
Whether Baal is more stupid isn't necessarily true, Astrogha will likely not give much credit to a Prime other than his master Diablo. But Lucion has the same thought of Gulag, while at the same time acknowledging that Astrogha is not dumb. If this were simply a matter of hate between servants of different Primes, Lucion should not have upheld Astrogha so.
It seems strange that Baal should be noticeable dumber. But why would he surround himself with stupid demons then?
The Three
Now, how do the Three interact with each other? There is much mystery regarding this, and I have in the past tried to figure out how their relationship works. It is well known that demons constantly plot against each other:
Astrogha against Lucion:
And Kabraxis against the Three:Quote fromIf Lucion was no longer fit to command, then someone would rightly have to step in and take his place…but that would prove difficult, considering Mephisto’s role in this. The other Prime Evil would not take kindly to his offspring’s role being usurped…unless the results of that proved most promising.
And so Astrogha was debating plots of his own.
There are others, but the thing I have always remarked about is that the Three do not seem to plot against one another. Even when they were all shattered and imprisoned, they reunited in Kurast. And Baal, like most of you have heard, screams "My brothers will not have died in vain!" when you enter the Worldstone Chamber at the end of D2. Is it in fact so that the Three do not plot to overthrow one another?Quote fromIf we grow too quickly, we will attract the attention of the Prime Evils, and I’m unwilling to deal with them at the moment. For now, though, you have a service to give.
There is much on this topic. First, Malic summons a demon:
Clearly Malic is here using some sort of agreement between demons. If a servant of another Prime if specific terms are met (in this case a human sacrifice), then the summoned demon is forced to obey the summoner. This is important, for it shows a matter of trust between the Three. They are allowing demons not of their own to command their servants... provided they belong to another Prime.Quote from“My master is Mephisto, brother to your master…Diablo….”
Again, the demon bubbled. By this point, there was hardly anything left of the dead mage save a few bone fragments, including the skull.
“By the pact of the Three, you must bow to my power. You must obey my will! Understand?”
However, when Diablo and Inarius meet, Diablo is of another mind:
This could mean much. On the one hand, it could mean that the Three are as treacherous against each other as against other demons and servants. At first glance, it certainly seems that way.Quote fromI deal with a traitor, a liar, and a murderer, said a voice that, despite Inarius’s claim, sent a slight chill through him. It’s almost like dealing with one of my brothers.
On the other, if one ponders this for a bit, this makes little sense. By all accounts, the Three have reigned in Hell forever. If they backstabbed each other constantly, there must have been fluctuations in power, either in favor of themselves or for other demons (such as Kabraxis or Azmodan and Belial).
And if we consider the Three, they are most certainly traitors, liars and murderers in their own right (though it's hard to use that last term on them when they are obviously not bound by any law). That does not mean they commit any of these acts against one another however. In the Veiled Prophet, Diablo betrays Inarius, lies to Uldyssian and probably murders somebody along the way as well, which would make him all three things.
Now there may be scheming between them, but there are different levels of betrayal. Are any of them willing, or in fact even able, to overthrow the others?
On the same topic is an interesting exchange between the Auriel and Mephisto when he appears.
It is obvious that Auriel would expect Diablo to handle this exchange. In fact, up until this point, only Diablo of the Three has appeared on Sanctuary during the entirety of the series. Only after Uldyssian "scares" Diablo away does another Prime Evil enter the picture.Quote fromYOU OFFER PARLEY…LORD MEPHISTO? Auriel asked the shadow. YOU…NOT YOUR BROTHER?
...
“My dear brother is beside himself. Therefore, I, who am also supreme, do indeed offer parley — and more! I offer…a truce.”
What's more is that Mephisto is not at all surprised by Auriel's reaction, or angered that he is not viewed as Diablo in this matter. (This may be entirely unintentional and simply a detail Knaak did not consier however).
Tyrael lends another piece into the puzzle:
What Tyrael expresses here seems to confirm what was suggested earlier: Diablo is the foremost of the Three.Quote fromThe angel dipped his head ever so slightly. AND PERHAPS THE WORST OF THE THREE…HE WHO IS THE ESSENCE OF TERROR…THE LORD DIABLO.
It is not entirely clear though, for Mephisto is apparently able to seal a truce between Heaven and Hell, which includes Diablo, and Tyrael only says that Diablo is perhaps the worst. Not very clear at all.
Still, two times in favor of Diablo, as well as a lot of appearances from him. If nothing else, Diablo is probably a first among equals.
But wait a minute some of you will say. What about the 4th cinematic in D2, the one where Mephisto seems to be commanding Diablo into Hell?
It has been argued that this scene, where Mephisto says "Send forth your Terror into Hell." implies that Mephisto is the foremost of them. The problem though is that Diablo is well on his way through the gate before Mephisto says anything. It seems less of a command, and more of a... encouragement, for lack of a better word.
Angels
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The key features of the angels are illustrated here though: a hood or helmet with no face but only a silhouette inside it, only black, a body covered in armor, and the iconic shining wings that are not really wings with feathers, but tendrils made of light. The description is solidified in the Sin War however when the Heavenly Host arrives to Sanctuary and are described by Uldyssian:
Quote fromThey were angels, as humans portrayed them at least. The Prophet, more the wiser, acknowledged the artisan’s exceptional attempt, but an attempt was all it truly was. A mere mortal could not have grasped the true essence of such beings. A mere mortal could not conceive of creatures who were not exactly physical in nature, but instead harmonic resonances.
Quote fromAnd through that tear flowed an astounding, breathtaking swarm of magnificent beings whose armor gleamed brighter than the sun and whose many wings created a dazzling display of colors unmatched upon the mortal plane.
In terms of angels, there's is little to be had, and next to nothing about any of them before the last few chapters of the Veiled Prophet, save regarding Inarius and Tyrael.Quote fromThe celestial host dove in perfect order, row upon row spreading out in every direction over Sanctuary. All held ready fiery weapons — from swords to lances to scythes and more — which somehow Uldyssian understood were actually manifestations of their individual powers.
Inarius
This description is of course akin to the one I made above, and it's not really how Hadriel looks. It is close, but Inarius' hood is evidently not black inside, and whether Hadriel's wings can be called fiery is debatable. Regardless however, while there may be small differences, both are evidently angels.Quote fromIn his place stood a looming, hooded figure with vast wings of flame. Within the hood there was no face, instead a radiance—formed from the blending of both light and sound—so wondrous that it would have been almost blinding to most humans. What appeared to be long, silver hair draping around it was also no more than pure light and sound mixing together.
He was clad in breastplate and robes, the former a shimmering copper, the latter as if sewn from the very rays of the sun. In mortal terms, what had been the prophet seemed now some divine warrior, and in truth, he had faced many a harsh battle against the demons of the Burning Hells.
Who was Inarius though? For those of you who don't know, I advise you check the first article in this series, as I go in heavily on his part. In short however, he can be called the (main) creator, or shaper, of Sanctuary.
He is also a rebel however, a rebel who left the High Heavens. Before then, it is often claimed by fans that he was a member of the Angiris Council, the highest ruling body in Heaven. While it is certain that he had some position there, it is unclear just how high his rank was.
Quote fromAnd in announcing it to himself, he felt a rush of jubilation. He was again Inarius, once of the Angiris Council, once a commander of the Heavenly Hosts!
This does not make any sense. How can he both be a member and an advisor to the Council? It seems as if one of the statements must be false, but both thoughts come from Inarius himself.Quote fromMaking contact with such—either those of his own kind or, especially, the demons—proved a tricky situation, but Inarius had not been an advisor to the Council for nothing.
There are several possible ways to solve this apparent problem.
- All members are advisors, even Tyrael, Imperius etc.
- The Council employs advisors to aid in their decisions. By this line of thought, Inarius would not have had any executive power in the Council similar to what Tyrael displays.
- The term advisor is simply a mistake that slipped by the editors.
The second option is more probable. The Angiris are only five, and they cannot possibly handle all decisions that must be made. For all their vaunted power,neither Angiris nor Prime seem to be all that much more intelligent than humans, and their mental capabilites are not so vast as to be able to handle all decisions. Thus, work must be relegated to other angels. In this sense, we can imagine that an advisor such as Inarius would have similar duties to a member of the Cabinet in the US; he very much has real power, but the five councilors of the Angiris are his superiors.
The last option is that this is just a typo on Blizzard's behalf. While it is possible (the term advisor is only used once in the entire series), drawing this conclusion seems weird. "Blizzad only mentioned it once, and I don't like the idea, so they probably didn't mean it."
Lastly though, a point against Inarius having been a fully-fledged member: who in their right mind creates a council, which makes it's decisions based on voting, with an even numbr of members? Why create a council with six members, when five or seven is much preferable? This I believe speak in favor of the second point. This of course means that there would be other advisors to the Council, and why not? Reasonably they must have councilors, no rules can know everything, and Inarius having such a position seems very reasonable.
Tyrael
Notice the difference in description here between Inarius and Tyrael. Not wings of fire, but of energy. It could be that they mean the same thing, but at the same time we have up-to-date artwork that clearly shows different wings for different angels. Tyrael, whom we can see at www.diablo3.com, clearly does not have wings of fire, while much artwork of what must be other angels show wings that are dazzling in color and could very well be described as fiery.Quote fromA brilliant light blossomed from there, one that made Serenthia immediately tighten her grip on her spear. In the midst of that light, she saw the tall figure emerge. Vast wings composed of tendrils of energy rose up behind him.
This also brings stark contrast to how Inarius looks. Tyrael has a completely black inside of his cowl, while Inarius was described to have a combination of bright light and sound inside. But enough of that, mots of you know how Tyrael looks simply by having visited Blizzard's site.
Interestingly, Uldyssian judges Tyrael to not only be stronger than Inarius, but far stronger. This, should be noted, is right after Uldysssian severs Inarius' link to the Worldstone, so this does not take into account the added power Inarius received from there during most of the books.Quote fromUldyssian could not see the other angel, but he felt his power. Tyrael was naturally far stronger than Inarius. Uldyssian might have still defeated him easily, but the second angel had wisely used the Prophet’s fury to hide his own efforts until it was too late for the human to notice.
The Angiris Council
Another point I wish to raise here though is the epithetof angels. We all know the Three and their domains: Destruction, Hatred and Terror, as well as the lesser demons: Anguish, Lies, Pain and Sin. But what of the angels, do they not have similar domains?
It has long been theorized that they do, and there is some support for it.
Notice the capital J, this is most certainly a title of Tyrael. At it seems reasonable that Justice is his domain, for there are other passages in the books that continually speak of his as bringing justice.Quote from“Yes. Tyrael. I believe that the Angel of Justice has come on his own to judge his brother’s crimes…and, in the process, Sanctuary.”
If Tyrael has an epithet like the demons however, it seems vey reasonable that all high-ranking angels do as well. So let's break down the Council and see what we can figure out
Imperius
Quote fromTHERE IS NO NEED FOR THIS DEBATE TO CONTINUE…. OR TO HAVE EVEN BEGUN, declared a majestic angel with robes of royal red and a shining breastplate upon which the image of an upturned sword blazed.
Quote fromImperius did not reply, but if he had had a face, Mendeln felt certain that it would have glowered.
Commonly, Imperius has been thought of as the Angel of War, at least here on DFans. His demeanor supports a war-like nature, but I do not think it is as simple as that. War seems not quite fit as an epithet. Terror is not a domain of Heaven, and Justice is no cause of Hell, but both sides deal avidly in war. It seems weird that an angel should be specifically linked to war, while a demon is not. And even so, the two sides should be opposite one another.Quote fromImperius summoned a sword of fire.
What could Imperius be then instead? I have a few suggestions:
Devotion
Order
Courage
Strenght
Imperius very name (Imperial, Empire) speaks of of order and power, and he is certainly has Heaven's best wishes in mind when he votes. He's strong of character, but if I had to pick one, I'd guess he was the Angel of Order. Sanctuary is, for all intents and purposes, a disruption to the order that Heaven represents.
Auriel
Auriel, like Imperius, also has a common attribute given to her, and that is Love. I am inclined to agree here somewhat, though Benevolence might also be her domain, as she is sympathetic of Sanctuary from the start and argues most fervently for it.Quote fromSHOULD WE NOT DEAL WITH THE RENEGADE FIRST, IMPERIUS? asked one whose robes were a softer blue and who seemed, as angels appeared, a female.
Itherael
This one is tought. There is very little to go by, but when Itherael makes his final decision (he votes in support of Sanctuary) he calmly considers all the facts and the situation. I propose that he is the Angel of Reason. Demons think, true, but they are also very impulsive and sudden. Itherael's entire being speaks of calm and contemplation. The gray robes also indicate this; he arrives at logical conclusions, regardless of what results that might yield.Quote fromLET IT BE SO, interjected a gray-clad angel who seemed neither male nor female in aspect.
Malthael
Quote fromThe female angel looked to a fourth member of their council, a very gaunt figure whose robes were black and whose breastplate was likewise colored.
It seems probably this is the angel of death, the colors and descriptions fit. Still, this is also in contrast to Hell; they dabble in death just as much if not more so, yet the epithet of death would belong to Heaven? It doesn't seem right, but I can't think of what else to give to him.Quote fromA visible shiver ran through not only Mendeln but also the rest when the angel Malthael spoke. His voice brought nightmares of death to Mendeln — a permanent, empty death.
Summary
This article hasn't been aimed at a specific target, but has instead simple explained various features about demons and angels. I cannot really summarize what s written here.
Next Time
I am not really sure what will come next time. This article created some additional aspects I wish to explore, but I do not know if they warrant an article of their own. You will just have to wait and see what comes next.
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Posted May 8, 2010-
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Posted May 8, 2010As for Imperius' title, I would think that putting together the pictures of him being resembled by items of fire, and the colour red - I would think the proper title for him would be the Angel of Passion. Think of it, every decision he makes, he does with an aura of conviction about him, a sort of angelic ignorance that could likely be fueled by passion itself. The passion to protect the power and order within the High Heavens?
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Posted May 9, 2010Passion is actually a pretty good idea, and would certainly be unexpected by the fan-base I think. Along the same lines it could also be something like Fervor or Fury.
Angel of Spirits sounds a little out of place though: a spirit is a thing, an object. All the other like destruction and justice are more concepts or sensations.
Angel of Darkness? Oblivion? I don't know.
That's actually a really good point. Why didn't any of the other do that?
Who knows? :whistling:
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Posted May 10, 2010Whilst Demons do deal in death, they also are against the natural order. That order includes death. That's why demons occasionally employ necromancy. I sincerely doubt that Malthael would ever touch Necromancy. He probably likes death to be final (similar to Kelemvor). He probably wouldn't think much of the balance oriented necromancers either. He's the lawful representation of death: inevitable and final.
Good article. I very much enjoyed it.
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Posted May 10, 2010Who says all death is killing? Death covers a broad spectrum beyond murder and malice. I imagine angels would want to uphold the natural order, and that order includes death.
Also, you forget that these Angels aren't necessarily benevolent (although some of them are). It seems they prize order. They're closer to Lawful or Lawful Good and not so much Neutral good (with the exceptions of maybe Auriel and Itherael). Therefore, I don't think they have any problems with death and people dying. They were actively contemplating wiping out a whole world, and Malthael didn't oppose it.
Anyway, as I said earlier, death being personified as lawful is nothing new. Blizzard certainly wouldn't be original in making death an angel.
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Posted May 10, 2010Again you forget that, as this article has outlined, these angels aren't necessarily good, at least not by our standards. Also, you, like many, mis-characterize death as bad. Death is death. It can be good, it can be bad, but in the end, it takes both. Whether you be religious or atheist, or of any creed, death is a fact of life, not necessarily an enemy. In many cases, Death is only as bad as the lives of those it takes, or the inverse thereof.
And again, the concept of an "Angel of Death" is ancient and prevalent. It can be found in Judaism, Islam, and Christianity, in good, evil and neutral forms. It can be found in fantasy in Lawful to Good forms.
Angel of Death really isn't a stretch at all, and considering that the book in which we meet this character is the first time we see Angels with specific domains, we really don't have any precedence that says what domains they can and can't have.
For what it's worth, "Destroying Angels" have been around for a while as well.
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Posted May 10, 2010Even without torture involved, death can be welcomed. For the old Widow/Widower, Death can be a reunification with lost loved ones. For a devoutly religious person, Death can be the opportunity to meet one's God and be relieved of a world of sin. It can be relief from a long hard life. It can be the next great adventure. Death can take many forms. In the end, Death is something that everyone deals with in their own way. Whilst I am in no hurry to die, I hope to face death without fear, but rather looking forward to what is to come.
At any rate, Angels of Death are not at all uncommon. For Blizzard to have one would be neither a stretch or a leap.
In Malthael's case, Death is characterized as the law that all must fallow. It is inevitable, dispationate, takes the rich, the poor, the bond, the free, the good and the bad, and takes them when it is their time. It's an enemy to some, an old friend to others. Sounds like an Angel in the Diablo Franchise to me. I'm not saying Angels like death, but as law they respect and honor it.
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Posted May 10, 2010The chief difference between all of these examples and the universe of Diablo is that this universe is, for lack of a better word, equally dualistic. There are two forces of roughly equal strength (not necessarily brute force, but neither has been able to deafeat the other side through any means since creation), and with both sides having very distinct domains. Hell has "bad" titles, Heaven good. Or so I assume, after all only Justice is confirmed for Heaven.
The equality in power is important. Since both sides deal in death, it doesn't make any sense to have one side "lord" over that domain, as it shifts power and affinity for death away from one side. Wait a minute you might say, this works well for all hellish domains but two: lies and destruction. Heaven obviously destroys a lot of stuff, and Tyrael lies a lot in the books. How does that work out? (Obivously, taking it further still, Heaven indirectly uses Terror, Pain and the rest as well in their work).
The importance here I believe lies in what intrinsic value the sides see in these aspects. Diablo doesn't just see Terror as a tool to use, but as something nice, at least from his perpective. Likewise Baal must have a similar relation to Destruction, while Heaven only destroys stuff because it's needed.
With the previous line of thought in mind, I would have to say that Hell, in fact any demon, likes death for itself and not because of the purpose killing might serve. Thus it seems unlikely that Malthael is the Angel of Death because of this.
I knew I should have played that game. Or at least bought it.
The focus in these examples though is on humans. Angels in the Diablo universe predate humans and have no necessary to connection to them: barring an inevitable spawning of humanity and the prior planning for it by whomever created angels and demons, the death title of Malthael could not realistically be related to human affairs. Since angels and demons are immortal, it would have to be forceful death, killing, that he would be guardian over. Which once again stands into sharp contrast with Hell.
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Posted May 10, 2010Oh, and a religious fellow wanting to be reunited with his God has less to do with pain and more to do with hope.
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Posted May 11, 2010-
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Posted May 11, 2010Still, Tyrael willingly utilizes Achilios in the books. True, he did not actually raise the archer, but he did nevertheless benefit from his undead existence.
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Posted May 11, 2010Aah, but Tyrael is the Angel of Justice, not Death. Just because they are part of the same organization, doesn't mean they necessarily agree on things (as has been referenced before). Undeath can actually serve justice sometimes. That and Tyrael has been shown to be somewhat more tolerant in some cases than his brethren.
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Posted May 11, 2010-
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Posted May 12, 2010Perhaps, but as I said earlier, it stands to reason that any Angel would probably be very willing to die for a cause, whilst most Demons would probably rather not (there are two exceptions that I can think of: the demons that explode, and demons that, whilst they don't particularly want to die, they'd rather that then face the wrath of their masters; the two need not be mutually exclusive). There's a lot more to death than killing, even for Angels and Demons. There's dying, and resting in peace(hopefully), both of which can easily be associated with Angels.
EDIT: Let me put it for you this way. Which side is likely to do what with their dead (or even their enemies in certain circumstances)?
Angels are more likely to perform last rites for the dead (assuming such a thing exists), as well as give them a proper burial, including some sort of monument, be it anywhere from a tombstone to a statue, protect the remains from defilement, and at the very least, remember their own dead and honor them.
Demons are likely to defile the remains of either theirs or their enemies, raise them as zombies, raise them for the sport of torturing them, eat the corpse, and/or forget about those whom have died who are of no use to them.
Whilst we don't necessarily have examples of all of these things taking place (although their are some), I'm merely referencing character. You tell me, based off of this, which one is more likey to respect Death and the Dead.
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Posted May 12, 2010-
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Posted May 12, 2010I never said Angels only focused on that aspect of Death. I was pointing out an aspect of death that Angels value more than Demons. The others still apply.
Killing: Angels have done plenty of killing, and will continue to do such. Whether they like it or not, it's part of what they've been doing for eternity. Don't forget they were actively contemplating Genocide. Intentions mean nothing compared to actions.
Dying: As I've pointed out before, Angels are probaby more willing to die for a cause than demons (with the exceptions of those who do so under duress and those who are simply designed to die, which need not be mutually exclusive).
The Dead: Angels have more respect for them, where as Demons only value them so much as they can use them (both for fodder, be it cannon fodder or just plain fodder, or fun).
By your logic, Angels have more to do with Death than Demons if you take all three aspects into account. The only aspect of Death that Demons really go into more than Angels is Undeath, which is more of a perversion and defiance of Death rather than an Aspect thereof.
Also, while you may not give the title of Death to an Angel, plenty of others have, as I've pointed out before. Tolkien gave it to Mandos, the Vala (for those who aren't schooled in the Lore of Tolkien, the Valar are somewhere between Demi-Gods and Arch-Angels), and the Valar seem to be somewhat more benevolent than Diablos Angels. The writers of Forgotten Realms gave it to the god Kelemvor, who was LN (closer to Angels than to Demons). Islamic, Jewish, and Christian culture all have Angels of Death, some Good some Evil. Does this prove that the Diablo Franchise has done it? No, nor does it need to. It has done it already by the rule of a duck (If it looks like an Angel of Death and sounds like an Angel of Death, and feels like an Angel of Death, it probably is one, and if you disagree, find a shoe that fits better). These just prove that it's really not all that strange.
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Posted May 13, 2010