Azrael The Angel of Death
(a.k.a. Thanatos, Hel, Izanagi)
Azrael is one of the darker lesser worshipped gods in the world. However, all do have faith in him for death is unavoidable. He resides on the plane of Hades, a realm of death and peace. Azrael leads souls into his fields of lilies where they await judgement from his small following of angels. Azrael is feared but above all respected, praying to him in times of need is commonly a taboo fearing the reaper shall come to claim your soul early. Azrael is simply divine judgement he sees no lines between good and evil only the days ticking by for each mortal, and as some scholars speculate Immortals alike.
Divine Domains
Death
Azrael is a deity who watches over the line between life and death, and shepherds souls during this time of transference. To Azrael death is the foundation of the multiverse. Azrael views disturbances of the grave as an abomination while resurrecting is rare Azrael will allow for souls to be returned to the mortal coil, however, they will return one day to Hades. Azrael's followers seek to put wandering spirits to rest, destroy the undead and ease the suffering of the dying. These followers have an uncommon affinity with magics of death even able to stave off death for those who still have great works left to do on their plane. Azrael despises those who would unnaturally extend their life, such as liches.Holy Books & Codes
"All life must end for new life to sprout in the universe this is the fact of living"
Divine Symbols & Sigils
The Skull
A bone-white skull with a crack in the centre, with a small flame on the forehead. The Skull represents the dead, cracked as it is fragile just like life is fragile and fleeting. The flame is the rebirth that all souls go through once they have passed through Hades. This symbol is worn by his followers and adorned upon his churches, it usually instils a grimace in those who see it but often forgotten by the people, reminds them of hope in the rebirth of life.Tenets of Faith
Harmony. Harmony of the Universe must be preserved, only kill those whose time has come, and never slay those whose light has not yet ended.
Balance. Never resurrect the undeserving, the souls of the dead should never be toyed with and never be taken from their place of rest.
Cycle of Life. Never intervene with death in action, life must end in order for life to continue.
Holidays
Day of Rest – this holiday is not widely celebrated, but it occurs when the moon reaches its zenith and the Shadowfell’ barrier is weakened meaning the death magic that inhabits the realm bleeds into the material plane and animates the dead in unsanctified graves.
Divine Goals & Aspirations
Azrael is the incarnation of death. He aims to keep balance and ensure that souls pass through to the positive plane after their time has come. Azrael has a strong distaste for necromancers, he is the only authority on death and life. And while he holds no major goal, he does aspire to fore fill his duty with the aid of his legion of angels.
Physical Description
Body Features
Azrael is a large ancient being. He has a slender humanoid form with two long thin wings. His left eye shines golden with life and the right eye seems to absorb light making it black as the void. Long white hair flows off his scalp flowing down to his feet. Noticeable are blue glowing runes that pulsate with power, on his wings and his face.
Facial Features
Azrael has a kind gentle face, with a golden rune that switches colours over time from gold to black to blue. He typically has a small kept goatee of white and thick eyebrows which usually furrow into a concerned look.
Apparel & Accessories
Azrael typically wears a long flowing blue robe with a central Celestium apron sown into the robe. It depicts the story of his beloved wife Zariel who fell from grace in the age of the gods. This intricate design is said to bare all of his malice and rage and sorrow. Floating behind his head is a large bronze circle thick and heavy with runes engraved into it flowing and moving all around. Two large vertical wings are depicted atop this circle, and from these two very old and barely holding together ribbons hang from this ornament, it is said that this is Azrael’s and Zariels own life ribbon and when severed they will finally return to the nothing from which all life came from.
Specialized Equipment
The Harvester – a large scythe that can kill anything it touches, the weapon does take on the form that the wielder finds most appropriate, it is known that Azrael wields the weapon as a sickle, or sometimes a Scythe.
The Feathers of Azrael - these are his feathers which are known to have incredible power and any who can harness their powers will become an angel in his service whether they choose to in life or are forced to in death. The feathers have other properties such as allowing for the passage between planes without the need for Ratatoskr, who open the bridges between planes.
Mental characteristics
Personal history
Azrael is the god of death in the mortal world, while not the only god that fills this role, he is the most prominent and most powerful. He resides in his plane of Hades with his legion of Angels who aid in bringing in souls to the correct place and ensuring that any souls that leave the mortal form in death go to the claimant of the soul be it hell for an innocent child or heaven for the evil lich. Azrael attracts followers who have a special connection with death, usually very compassionate people who only wish to aid those in times of grief.
It is known that Azrael once loved his bride of death Zariel. She was an angel who he loved above all others, they would take time in mortal form to live life time’s together to truly experience the love that their celestial forms could not understand. Zariel being so strong-willed would always undertake the most dangerous missions to please her lover and lord. One such mission lead to her demise when Asmodeus corrupted her as she attempted to reclaim a soul for the Nine Hells. She resides in that brimstone filled plane, known as Zariel the flayer.
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