Divine Herald

It is unclear what traits make a Divine Herald, as the role can only be assigned by the divines themselves, and the last herald was only seen briefly immediately after the fall of the great empire, when the previous Herald of War appeared to lead the survivors away from the disaster.

The Divine Heralds are known to possess floating halos related to their liege above their heads, as a badge of office so that all may know them on sight. Each divine’s crown is different:
 

• Life’s halo is a ring of live fire that does not burn to the touch.
• Death’s halo is a wreath of stars and fog.
• War’s is a crown of swords that circle slowly with their points outward.
• Dream has never had a known herald, so no one knows their halo design.

Though none have witnessed a Herald be stripped of their title, it can be assumed that failed expectations and duties placed on them would be grounds for removal. To go against the ethics of their divine patron, or break from their following entirely, would cause them to return to the state they were before their ascension; no more, no less.

The Divine Heralds are the high rulers of their deity’s temples and armies, and answer to no one except their patron. They are seen as the true chosen, and though there has not been a Divine Herald seen in hundreds of years, they hold great reverence as their presence always pertains to a great change in the world, an upheaval that will alter many lives.
  Many a ruler claims to be the chosen of gods, or the spokes person for the divine. However, though many have attempted in the past to fool the common people with magics to appear to have a halo of office, they are swiftly discovered to be false by the priests, who do not receive visions from their god to announce the new herald.

“Herald of War” is the only known name for the previous herald witnessed on the mortal plane. They appeared to lead refugees of the fallen Azlaryn Empire to safety, kept them safe for a time, then disappeared. Many believe he was not a mortal, but a celestial sent to act as War’s messenger.