I know I am not the first to try to take on Christian lore in the form of a pantheon composed of the archangels. That said, the setup for the setting of Scion 2E bothers me a bit because of how hand-wavy it is towards modern day faiths -- particularly the multitude and dominance of the Abrahamic faiths. So, I wanted to do some headcanon retcons to explain how you can have Scions out in front of the setting in areas of the world dominated by Christianity. I want the Bodiless Powers to be deeply integrated into the Scion setting rather than developed on its own and dropped into the setting.
What I want to do with this pantheon is explain how the Archangels operate alongside the other pantheons, but in such a way that Scions and their pantheons still get top billing. I didnt want to make the Bodiless Powers outright antagonists (thats too easy), but I did want to show that they operate fundamentally differently than other Pantheons. I tried to select a core set of archangels that applied to Catholicism and Orthodoxy... with the acknowledgement that I cant cover ALL the relevant angels for each branch of the faith.
So... this is my quick workup to see how it looks. I am very open to suggestions and critiques. I am hoping I can use this thread to broaden the writeup and eventually get it up on STV.
Bodiless Powers
The Bodiless Powers are gods but aggressively refuse to accept the nomenclature. Instead, they demand that their followers refer to them as ‘archangels.’ The archangels consistently say that they serve a higher power, one whose power is so transcendent that human physiology is incapable of pronouncing the name. Instead, human followers have given the Archangels’ lord the name “YHWH.”
YHWH has never been seen active in the way other gods have been. Likewise, despite many attempts, no scion has ever been visited by YHWH. Instead, the Archangels and Angels say they speak (and act) on His behalf.
The Bodiless Powers are the most powerful pantheon currently active. The number of the Heavenly Host, which includes the archangels and lesser angels, numbers close to one hundred. They have followers across the globe. Some regions and faiths place special emphasis on different angels, though the archangels are generally respected and followed across the world.
The angels’ refusal to accept direct worship sets them apart from the other pantheons. Instead of direct worship, they ask their followers to place their faith in YHWH which metaphysically then redirects and redistributes the faith towards the Host. In this way, the Bodiless Powers have created a system that reduces the types of squabbling and rivalries that are common in other pantheons. The communitarian aspect of how faith and worship work, ensures the Host are focused on things other than petty arguments or competition within the faith for the same followers.
As a pantheon, the Bodiless Powers were generally hostile to the other pantheons. For much of its history, the Host was actively aggressive against the other gods, seeking to either forcibly convert the followers of other pantheons or destroy those who refused to convert to worship of YHWH or the angels themselves. Since the ascension of the Bodiless Powers to a place of security and prominence, they have backed off from wide scale hostilities and aggression.
There are still elements within the Host who seek confrontation with the other pantheons. These elements are led by the Archangel Uriel, who coordinates warlike angles from around the world. Though the others rarely participate in any of Uriel’s “marches,” Uriel’s actions have never been denounced by the other Archangels (perhaps because the Host as a whole benefit from new followers).
Archangels:
Gabriel – the messenger
Michael – destroyer, warrior
Raphael - healer
Ramiel (jeremeel) – protector
Uriel – repentance, redemption – lambs blood in egypt
Azrrael – death
Titan-equivalents:
Abaddon
Lucifer
What I want to do with this pantheon is explain how the Archangels operate alongside the other pantheons, but in such a way that Scions and their pantheons still get top billing. I didnt want to make the Bodiless Powers outright antagonists (thats too easy), but I did want to show that they operate fundamentally differently than other Pantheons. I tried to select a core set of archangels that applied to Catholicism and Orthodoxy... with the acknowledgement that I cant cover ALL the relevant angels for each branch of the faith.
So... this is my quick workup to see how it looks. I am very open to suggestions and critiques. I am hoping I can use this thread to broaden the writeup and eventually get it up on STV.
Bodiless Powers
The Bodiless Powers are gods but aggressively refuse to accept the nomenclature. Instead, they demand that their followers refer to them as ‘archangels.’ The archangels consistently say that they serve a higher power, one whose power is so transcendent that human physiology is incapable of pronouncing the name. Instead, human followers have given the Archangels’ lord the name “YHWH.”
YHWH has never been seen active in the way other gods have been. Likewise, despite many attempts, no scion has ever been visited by YHWH. Instead, the Archangels and Angels say they speak (and act) on His behalf.
The Bodiless Powers are the most powerful pantheon currently active. The number of the Heavenly Host, which includes the archangels and lesser angels, numbers close to one hundred. They have followers across the globe. Some regions and faiths place special emphasis on different angels, though the archangels are generally respected and followed across the world.
The angels’ refusal to accept direct worship sets them apart from the other pantheons. Instead of direct worship, they ask their followers to place their faith in YHWH which metaphysically then redirects and redistributes the faith towards the Host. In this way, the Bodiless Powers have created a system that reduces the types of squabbling and rivalries that are common in other pantheons. The communitarian aspect of how faith and worship work, ensures the Host are focused on things other than petty arguments or competition within the faith for the same followers.
As a pantheon, the Bodiless Powers were generally hostile to the other pantheons. For much of its history, the Host was actively aggressive against the other gods, seeking to either forcibly convert the followers of other pantheons or destroy those who refused to convert to worship of YHWH or the angels themselves. Since the ascension of the Bodiless Powers to a place of security and prominence, they have backed off from wide scale hostilities and aggression.
There are still elements within the Host who seek confrontation with the other pantheons. These elements are led by the Archangel Uriel, who coordinates warlike angles from around the world. Though the others rarely participate in any of Uriel’s “marches,” Uriel’s actions have never been denounced by the other Archangels (perhaps because the Host as a whole benefit from new followers).
Archangels:
Gabriel – the messenger
Michael – destroyer, warrior
Raphael - healer
Ramiel (jeremeel) – protector
Uriel – repentance, redemption – lambs blood in egypt
Azrrael – death
Titan-equivalents:
Abaddon
Lucifer
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