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This writeup is a part of A Night on Glastonbury, which is an Arthurian style In Nomine setting. This version of Raphael was written by me, based on the cursory descriptions given of her in the Angelic Player's Guide in absense of an official version. The description is appropriate for any game set before the Legion incident in In Nomine continuity and will be superceded by any official writeup of Raphael which may follow.
One of the oldest of all Angels, Raphael is the bright shephard of knowledge, leading mankind along the path of learning, towards civilization and understanding. Patient and understanding, Raphael is a gentle teacher, who is forever waiting for a student to learn rather than pushing a student too fast. Raphael is responsible for letting knowledge flow to mankind. She is a Seraph, able to seperate truth from chaff with a glance, and therefore she is careful only to teach true things, carefully spread out and phrased in ways that will not overwhelm mankind too early. Raphael is all too aware that a culture must be prepared to adapt to knowledge as they receive it. Raphael takes a dim view to superstition, of course. However, she recognizes the need for the human mind to explain that which it does not understand. Her role is to slowly spread understanding and displace these muddled, superstitious myths with knowledge of the universe. This puts her in conflict with Ethereal Sprits and Pagan Gods, naturally -- by being born out of those same Myths, the Ethereals have a vested interest in retarding the spread of knowledge. The Infernal powers also seek to retard Raphael's work -- with knowledge comes philosophy and enlightenment and the higher forms of intellectualism. With each passing year, society becomes better armed against selfishness as knowledge becomes more prevalent. Raphael usually appears in female form, but not always. Her vessels are usually lovely in an unapproachable way, often garbed in Roman or Greek attire, those being her favorite Western lands. She also appreicates the Far East and its intellectual and philosophical traditions, and may appear in approriate clothing for China. Her voice is soft but somehow it can always be heard over any din. Raphael has no significant dislike of any of her fellow Archangels. She understands the needs of the War, and therefore supports Michael, Uriel and David. Knowledge is the antithesis of secrecy, so Dominic and Raphael also get along well. As one who works in stories and philosophy as well as invention and science, Novalis, Blandine, Eli and Raphael all work well together. Trade flourishes in civilization, so Marc and Raphael seem to get along splendidly. Of course, the divine spark of inspiration, the divine flash of insight and the divine understanding all walk together, so Gabriel, Jean and Raphael are allied -- even following Gabriel's leaving of Heavenly society. And Yves and Raphael can often be seen in his library, quietly discussing or debating or laughing together. It would be hard to find an Archangel more beloved than Raphael -- she brings together the different factions of Archangels under the common banner of understanding, with an almost Elohite skill at understanding different points of view. Even Jordi seems to like Raphael. However, Raphael and Janus are not close, and some say the Wind and Knowledge conflict with each other more than is admitted. Raphael's Servitors are also her students, carrying the Knowledge she teaches them to the world, so they might benefit from it and grow as people. They are deeply loyal to her -- and rabidly hate any Fallen Servitors of Raphael. Mariel, the Princess of Oblivion and former Angel of Memory, is particularly despised by Raphaelites -- even more than Gebbeleth, the Prince of Secrets is. It's one thing to hoard Knowledge, after all, and quite another to destroy it. DISSONANCE Raphael's angels are devoted to the spreading of Knowledge. Disinformation, mythology and other forms of incorrect infomation are anathema to them. Therefore, Servitors of Knowledge take dissonance whenever they repeat myths or false information passed off as education. This does not mean Raphaelites can't teach fiction or mythology -- however, it must be clear that they are teaching stories that might hold a higher truth (or be a part of the cultural heritage of humanity), not factual in and of themselves. It's one thing to tell the myths of Loki struggling against his bonds being the cause of Earthquakes, and quite another to imply that's really how Earthquakes happen. Raphaelites can lie when not dealing in educational matters. For example, a Raphaelite could have a Role and claim to be a native of Rome. He could not claim that the Roman Emperor really was divine, however. Seraphim, of course, can't lie without taking dissonace. CHOIR ATTUNMENTS Raphael's Servitors are typically Teachers or Researchers, or else function as minstrals and bards -- the spreading of Knowledge being the key to protecting it from Oblivion. They are focused on understanding and enlightening those around them. SERAPHIM Seraphim of Knowledge are strongly attuned to true knowledge versus disinformation or falsification. The phrase 'history is written by the winners' is anathema to Raphael's Seraphim. They can tell at a glance if written texts of any sort are factual or in error. They can also hear disinformation when someone is reporting it aloud. The knowledge that a given text is wrong on a matter will not give the Seraph the accurate information, however. (They can CHERUBIM Cherubim OFANIM Always ELOHIM The MALAKIM Beings KYRIOTATES They MERCURIANS Mercurians SERVITOR ATTUNEMENTS <Attunement> Desc <Attunement> Desc RELATIONS Knowledge
DISTINCTIONS Vassal of With a word or two (and a cost of one essence), the Angel can remind a broken or humiliated person of their heritage or other source of personal pride, and return them to a state of dignity in travail. Friend of With this distinction, the Angel can strengthen ties between an appropriate group of people (defined under the Kyriotate attunement above). With a successful Will roll and two essence spent, the Angel can smooth relations and calm intergroup bickering for a number of days equal to the Check Digit. This attunement does not work on Celestials. Master of With this attunement, an Angel automatically succeeds at any Will or other roll where the angel's pride or self-esteem could be under attack. Attacks designed to humiliate or break the spirit of the Angel will fail.
BASIC RITES
CHANCE OF INVOCATION: 4
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