From back to front: a solar, a planetar and a deva, by Jeremy Jarvis from Monster Manual v.3.5, p. 12.[art 1]
Angels are celestials of varying humanoid-like forms that originate from any of the celestial planes. They are traditionally of good alignment and serve some kind of deity.[1]
Appearance[]
Most angels have white or gold wings.[2] Solars were known to use 12-foot-long bows made of pure celestial gold.[3]
Angels serving specific deities can manifest physical traits similar to them. Examples of this are the blue skin and/or silver hair of the angels serving the Moonweaver,[4][5] or the raven-like black wings of the angels serving the Matron of Death.[6]
History[]
It is said that, when he arrived to Exandria, Asmodeus was an angel of light who, through his creations and his contact with the Nine Hells, was changed to become a deity and an archdevil.[7][8] He got other angels involved to fight in the war against the demons of the Abyss, transforming those celestials into devils and archdevils; among those angels were Zariel and the first of the erinyes.[9][10][11]
In the Age of Arcanum, the city-state of Aeor engineered Aeorian hunters and a disease called frigid woe to fight, among other creatures, angels.[12]
In the Calamity, many angels were slain, and those who weren't were often wounded.[13] The black-winged angels of the Raven Queen were devoured by Tharizdun, and though they were freed at the mad god's banishment, they returned as mortal kenku.[6] Several celestial followers of the Moonweaver martyred themselves to seal away the temple near Bazzoxan that served as prison for the Laughing Hand, a mad champion of Torog; they did so knowing they weren't able to permanently kill the monster once known as Ganix, so their only option was to lock him away.[14]
Depiction of Perigee corrupted with ruidium, by Nikki Dawes from Critical Role: Call of the Netherdeep, p. 169.[art 2]
Another of Sehanine's angels, a deva called Perigee, fought alongside Alyxian, but she was destroyed during Gruumsh's attack on Cael Morrow. After being re-formed at the Moonweaver's side she looked for Alyxian for centuries, until she found her way to the Netherdeep, where she was trapped by its corrupting influence and fell into despair. In this state she will attack those who she considers to be bothering the Apotheon's dreams and those who think they can take him on, but if she is defeated, she is cleansed of her corruption and returns to the Moonweaver's side.[15] If that happens, and Alyxian later threatens the world, Sehanine may send Perigee to help the adventurers who freed her.[16]
Related races[]
Many devils and archdevils were originally angels.[10]
The kenku, as mentioned above, are descended from what used to be angels.[6]
Aasimar have angelic ancestors and are guided by angels.[17]
Types of angels[]
There are three known types of angels that can be found on different planes and serving different deities:
Moreover, there are specific types of angels that serve certain deities, although it is unknown if they are created for those purposes or if any angel serving a specific god can become one of these:
- Angels of death, serving the Raven Queen[18]
- Dawnborn Angels, serving Pelor[19]
Known angels[]
- Eclipse, a deva hiding in Bronbog, Tal'Dorei.[20]
- Perigee, a deva allied with the Apotheon during the Calamity.[21]
- Samliel, Reani's angelic guide.[22]
- Symphior, a corrupted planetar.[23][24]
- Xalicas, a solar who served as Corellon's right hand in the Calamity but was grievously wounded and left behind in the Greying Wildlands.
Trivia[]
- After Vax'ildan became the Champion of Ravens, his creature type changed to Celestial. He's sometimes called an angel, but he's not part of the classical hierarchy, being an ascended champion of his goddess.[25]
- Even though her first angels were cursed by Tharizdun, since then the Raven Queen has created new angels of death that serve her, among other things, chasing fleeing souls and summoning creatures to aid them in that duty.[18]
- If an angel is destroyed, their deity can re-form them at their side.[5]
References[]
- ↑ See D&D: Monster Manual, 5th ed., p. 15.
- ↑ See "Where the Cards Fall" (1x75) at 3:02:59.
- ↑ See "Excelsior" (E3x01) at 3:19:04.
- ↑ See "Traveler Con" (2x108) at 2:18:37.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 See Call of the Netherdeep, pp. 168–169.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 See Explorer's Guide to Wildemount, p. 176.
- ↑ See Explorer's Guide to Wildemount, p. 12.
- ↑ See "Bitterness and Dread" (E3x02) at 4:13:44.
- ↑ See D&D: Baldur's Gate: Descent into Avernus, 5th ed., p. 243.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 See Explorer's Guide to Wildemount, pp. 11–12.
- ↑ See D&D: Monster Manual, 5th ed., p. 73.
- ↑ See Explorer's Guide to Wildemount, p. 125. See also p. 282.
- ↑ See Explorer's Guide to Wildemount, p. 33.
- ↑ See "Beneath Bazzoxan" (2x66) from 4:09:25 through 4:10:37.
- ↑ See Call of the Netherdeep, pp. 168–169. See also p. 7.
- ↑ See Call of the Netherdeep, p. 186.
- ↑ See Explorer's Guide to Wildemount, p. 167.
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 See Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting Reborn, p. 214.
- ↑ See "Crisis of Faith" (3x61) at 1:44:14.
- ↑ See Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting Reborn, p. 110.
- ↑ See Call of the Netherdeep, p. 168.
- ↑ See "Manifold Morals" (2x74) at 24:38.
- ↑ See "The Mines of the Many" (1x98) at 3:16:45. Matt describes Symphior as appearing like a "cherub" with "angel-like wings".
- ↑ See "The Mines of the Many" (1x98) at 4:22:43. Matt notes that Symphior was a twisted version of a planetar, a type of celestial.
- ↑ See Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting Reborn, pp. 274–275.
Images:
- ↑ From back to front: a solar, a planetar and a deva, by Jeremy Jarvis from Monster Manual v.3.5, p. 12. This page contains unofficial Fan Content permitted under the Wizards of the Coast Fan Content Policy. Not approved/endorsed by Wizards. Portions of the materials used are property of Wizards of the Coast. ©Wizards of the Coast LLC.
- ↑ Depiction of Perigee corrupted with ruidium, by Nikki Dawes from Critical Role: Call of the Netherdeep, p. 169. Used with permission. This page contains unofficial Fan Content permitted under the Wizards of the Coast Fan Content Policy. Not approved/endorsed by Wizards. Portions of the materials used are property of Wizards of the Coast. ©Wizards of the Coast LLC.