There are two sides to the Eternal Conflict. One side is the Prime Evils and Lesser Evils in the Burning Hells, who fight with each other in an effort to become the one who rules them all.
The other side is the Angels in the High Heavens, who are presided over by the Angiris Council. These angels that make up the Angiris Council are not elected – they are born to lead.
Some of the lore about the Angiris Council can be found in the Diablo III game, in the form of journals that the player can pick up and listen to. Additional lore is in The Book of Cain.
There is an in-game journal called The Angiris Council that is read by an Angiris Scribe named Selathiel.
The Angiris Council is comprised of five archangels who hold dominion over the High Heavens. They determine the laws by which all angels must abide. Each of them embodies a pure aspect of creation: valor, justice, hope, fate and wisdom.
All angels are born in the High Heavens from the Crystal Arch, which holds the eye of Anu. Each angel is made up of a sound wave and a wave of light instead of a physical body.
That said, it seems to me that angels must have some physicality, or they wouldn’t be able to fight the demons in the Eternal Conflict. Angels are immortal. They do not age or die. If they are slain in battle, their specific sound wave and light wave go back to the Crystal Arch. It is unclear whether a particular angel is “recycled” and reborn, or if a new angel is created from those components.
In short, the Eye of Anu in the Crystal Arch came from Anu – “The One”. He eventually ripped out all of the negative or bad things about himself, which became Tathamet. The Eye of Anu ends up in the Crystal Arch after that transformation had occurred.
This is why the angels value harmony and order. They inherited that from Anu. The Book of Cain states that new angels can only be born during moments of perfect harmony in the High Heavens.
Not all angels are created equal, though. Those who become part of the Angiris Counsel are, as Angiris Scribe Selathiel says, as the embodiment of one of the five aspects of Anu. This is accepted by all of the angels.
Imperius – Archangel of Valor
Imperius is the leader of the Angiris Council. He is the embodiment of the aspect of valor. The word valor means: boldness or determination in facing great danger, especially in battle; heroic courage; bravery;
To paraphrase The Book of Cain, part of Imperius’s role is to lead the battle charge against the demons of the Burning Hells in the Eternal Conflict. To do this, he uses a weapon called Solarion – the Spear of Valor. It is technically part of Imperious, and he can call it to him at any moment.
In addition, Imperius trains other warrior angels in the Halls of Valor, which is his place in the High Heavens. When not fighting or training, Imperius strategizes about battles yet to happen.
There is an in-game journal that players can find that is about Imperius. It is read by Angiris Scribe Selathiel, who describes Imperius after the Nephalem appeared.
Imperius, the archangel of Valor, is the greatest warrior in all of creation. He revels in war and combat and has led the hosts of Heaven to innumerable victories. With Malthael’s absence, it is Imperius who now rules over the Angeris council, seeking always to defend the High Heavens from any foe.
Tyrael – Archangel of Justice
Tyrael is the embodiment of the aspect of Justice. The word justice means: the maintenance or administration of what is just especially by the impartial adjustment of conflicting claims or the assignment of merited rewards or punishments.
The Book of Cain describes Tyrael as being the most rigid of the angels, due to his adherence to laws, rules, and order. His duty was to secure victory for the High Heavens in the Eternal Conflict. To do this, Tyrael used his sword, El’druin (also called the Sword of Justice).
Tyrael was known for being calm, controlled, and meticulous in his execution of combat technique. He was a good fighter, and his style balanced that of Imperius’s.
When not fighting the Eternal Conflict, Tyrael could be found in The Courts of Justice, his place in the High Heavens. In short, angels who have a dispute bring it to Tyrael, who listens to them, helps them come to terms, and strives to reclaim lost harmony.
There is an in-game journal about Tyrael which is read by Angiris Scribe Selathiel. It describes Tyrael as he was after the Nephalem were discovered.
Tyrael, the archangel of Justice, is a being of balance and integrity. His compassion for mankind has compromised his standing with the Angiris Council. He alone recognizes the nephalem’s capacity to transcend their divided heritage and become the true champions of creation.
Auriel – Archangel of Hope
Auriel is the embodiment of hope. The word hope is defined as: the feeling that what is wanted can be had or that events will turn out for the best. The Book of Cain says that Auriel is the most lighthearted of the Angiris Council. She believes in the potential for good in all things, including the hearts of all sentient beings.
This doesn’t mean that Auriel avoids battle. She is not a pacifist, and has been part of many battles along with the rest of the Angeris Council. Auriel sees conflict as the nature of this broken universe.
As the embodiment of hope, she is able to see harmony in the midst of conflict. She believes that victory for one side does not always mean defeat for the other. Instead, her view is that beyond each conflict lies the promise of healing.
Auriel’s weapon is called Al’maiesh (or The Cord of Hope). She can use it in battle as a whip to hit enemies and burn them with righteous fire. Her weapon also heals, in its own way. She sometimes drapes it over other members of the Angiris Council to grant them clarity of thought and emotion – especially when they are arguing with each other.
There is an in-game journal about Auriel that is also read by Angiris Scribe Selathiel. It describes Auriel after Malthael left.
It is through the archangel Auriel that the power of hope flows into the fabric of creation. Her eternal light illuminates even the darkest souls. With Malthael’s departure, it falls to Auriel to hold the Angiris Council together. Should her light ever fade, all Heaven would fall to despair.
Itherael – Archangel of Fate
Itherael is the embodiment of Fate. The word fate is defined as: the will or principle or determining cause by which things in general are believed to come to be as they are or events to happen as they do.
The Book of Cain includes what amounts to Deckard Cain’s speculations about Itherael. He does not seem sure about what to believe out of the written material he as found regarding this Archangel.
Itherael has been described as “aloof”. It has been said that Itherael can predict the actions of armies and even single opponents before those actions can take place. Some say he can slow time itself, but Deckard Cain doesn’t seem entirely convinced of that.
Itherael has the unique ability read the esoteric and arcane writings of fate. He holds a balanced view of all things, and has not shared his view about the ultimate fate of the never-ending Eternal Conflict.
Itherael doesn’t have a special weapon. Instead, he has Talus’ar, (the Scroll of Fate). Itherael is the only one who can consult it, and it is said that what is written there changes based on the answers Itherael seeks.
The reason it can change, Deckard Cain speculates, is because of the crystals that are in The Library of Fate – Itherael’s place in the High Heavens. The gems are reportedly part of the Crystal Arch, which was made of the spine of Anu. In short, it is suggested that the crystals may hold the parts of Anu that was all-knowing.
There is an in-game journal about Ithereal, which is read to the player by Angiris Scribe Selathiel.
Knowledge of the future grants power over the present. For this reason, Itherael, the archangel of Fate, is a vital member of the Council. He alone possesses the ability to decipher the threads of destiny woven into the celestial Scroll of Fate. His boundless sight grants him perspective others cannot fully comprehend.
Malthael – Archangel of Wisdom
Malthael is the embodiment of wisdom. The word wisdom is defined as: the ability to discern inner qualities and relationships.
The Book of Cain says that Maltheal has been known as “the silent angel”. He rarely speaks, is contemplative, and slow to anger. That said, Malthael is also a “peerless combatant” in the Eternal Conflict. According to The Book of Cain, Malthael is so in tune with the nature of all things that he can deflect enemy attacks with only the slightest use of force.
In Diablo III, players can fight Malthael. It becomes obvious that his weapons of choice are two sickles. He kind of has a “grim reaper” aesthetic going on.
Malthael’s wisdom comes from Chalad’ar, the Chalice of Wisdom. It contains living light that can never be depleted. Malthael peers into the depths of the Chalice, and can see the web of connectivity that binds all things at once.
There is an in-game journal about Malthael, which is read to the player by Angiris Scribe Selathiel.
Much uncertainty surrounds the archangel Malthael. Once the calm guiding hand of wisdom, he was lost to us the moment the Worldstone disappeared. Unable to fathom that catastrophic event he abandoned Heaven. his departure created a colossal fracture within the Council – one that, to this day, remains unrepaired.
Lore of the Angiris Council is a post written by Jen Thorpe on Book of Jen and is not allowed to be copied to other sites.
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