Angels

As an angel gives up more of themselves, their physical forms change to reflect less of their original mortal selves. They instead grow to reflect their ideals and heroism, and take on some traits of those who they save. An angel who protects light in the dark may gain glowing eyes, luminescent blood, and wings of light or glass. Angels who ascend far enough may have hardly a sign of their mortal forms left.  

All angels were once mortals. When a mortal rescues other mortals from certain death, they may begin ascension to an immortal state of being. Each time they save another life, they can physically and spiritually change, giving up a mortal part of themselves in exchange for divine strength. This manifests in changing their bodies and souls, granting them protection and a greater strength of soul.   

Divine Oaths

Some mortals swear divine oaths. This is another, swifter means of ascension, which requires for the aspiring angel to uphold an oath they swear to refine them into disciplined heroes. These oaths differ between the individual. Mortals who ascend through an oath are known as Paladins.   A divine oath is not the same thing as swearing not to drink or to keep a secret. It is the decision to put the well-being of others above oneself, and to devote oneself to a good and heroic aim. For example, a mortal who swears not to commit crimes does not qualify. Should that mortal swear themselves into poverty by doing so and devote themselves to providing a balm to the poor and destitute, however, they do. That oath was originally sworn by a nameless angel who foreswore pride and possessions to save the isolated city of Vorrsilv from a slaver plague.   Divine oaths are old magicks cast by ancient great angels, in which the angel shares a part of their divine ascension with mortals who swear to follow in the trail they blazed. The oath doesn't need to be exactly the same as the original angel, and similar oaths usually borrow from the same magick.

The angelic parts of an angel's body may be salvaged upon their death to create divine constructs possessing some of the original angel's personality and power, and their blood can cure most ailments.    Angels do not defecate or urinate anymore.  

Common sense is a mortal trapping that many angels give up.  

Older angels favor white clothing and armor with golden trim, supposedly the style of their forebears. Ever since the Grand Splat younger angels have developed a new countercultural style which incorporates bright colors that often follows a chromatic spectrum.  

Physical gender and sex is a mortal trapping almost entirely unseen in angels of a higher ascension. To an angelic hero, the ideal gender and sex is none. It is a distraction from their oaths and heroic journey that may take everything from them.  

Angels naturally gain the ability to speak the Celestial tongue as they ascend. They do not naturally gain the ability to read. The celestial tongue is a grandiose language which naturally brings all of the bearer's force of will to bear, even when they are asking for the salt shaker.  

An angel must always announce in some way that strangers should not fear them unless they are facing an enemy.  

Ascension to angelic forms is the original aim of many a knightly or monastic order. These orders train their members and guide them towards understanding of the great angel whose oath they follow in the legacy of. The growth of a Paladin's abilities are directly tied to this ascension.  

Should an angel ever accept demonic power, their divine power will fight it from the inside out, leaving them gravely weakened and struck with Spirit Autumn. This is a grave illness which, if it doesn't instantly kill them in a devastating explosion, swiftly tears their soul asunder and expels all life from their bodies. Surviving a spirit autumn is both rare and difficult, and leaves the angel crippled forevermore.   Should an oathbound angel knowingly break their oath, their divine power is struck from them and they fall from grace until they have atoned for the wrongdoing. Atonement always requires true sacrifice, and leaves the angel more angelic than before.   An angel must never be seen in a bathroom.  

Angels are an ancient remnant of an older time. It is said that they predate most gods, and that they are the eternal army of Good that safeguards the world, replenished from heroes who ascend past mortal limits. It is said that the first angel still roams the world, ever advancing on their eternal quest.