Soldekai never wanted his current rank, you know. He was where he needed to be, serving Divine Fire with all his heart and soul, and he was sure that nothing would ever, ever change that. He was sure of that, up to the very moment that Jean saved Raphael's existence … at the expense of his own. Who knew that such a cold entity had such quiet passion in him?

After that, it took a few centuries to see just how badly the aloof Archangel of Lightning was needed in Creation. A traitor Fell, taking with him precious devices from the half-abandoned Halls of Progress… and used it to win a Princedom. Soon, so terrifying soon, Vapula was ready to remake Earth to fit his insane vision. The Council needed someone who could meet this new threat with wit, determination… and inspiration. They chose Soldekai. For reasons of his own, he accepted.

Unlike Jean, Soldekai is willing to let humans use his creations: however, he recognizes that he and his should be careful about it. As negative reinforcement, Servitors of Steam suffer dissonance when one of their creations ends up harming or killing the innocent. This dissonance is automatically removed if the angel manages to repair all the damage.

Items stolen from a Servitor of Steam will only cause dissonance the first time it is misused: Soldekai doesn't want to see his Servitors Fall just because a Servitor of Theft is in town.

Soldekai has two organizations, actually. He inherited Jean's old Servitors (the ones that stubbornly stayed Orphans, at least), but found that they didn't completely mesh into his new hierarchy. He has thus more or less split them off, allowing them to pursue their own research (and maintain THE Engine). These angels (usually called Galvanists) will sometimes interact with 'mainstream' Servitors of Steam, but they are considered a little remote and standoffish. For their part, Galvanists tend to see the newer Servitors (whom they refer to as Mechanics, a phrase originally slightly derisive but now generally accepted) as somewhat… well, unrefined. It is the rare angel that has rank in both groups.

Both groups agree that their Archangel is a tough taskmaster. It's not that he's unfriendly: it's just that he constantly has half a dozen projects going at once, and sees no reason why his angels shouldn't emulate him. Life as a Servitor of Steam is known for its long hours and an endless supply of crash deadlines. Of course, many of Soldekai's Servitors enjoy the hectic schedule; the rest seek other Superiors, or seek service on the corporeal plane. Earthly duty is frankly a relief, as pushing yourself too hard, too obviously, is usually detrimental to a Role. Jobs on Earth mostly involve either subtly altering technological development, or else keeping an eye on technological development for subtle Diabolical influence. Out and out combat with Servitors of Technology in giant steam robots is firmly discouraged, but it's been known to happen.

Soldekai can, in fact, grant Jean's old Choir Attunements. Except for the Malakite and Kyriotate Attunements, he rarely does: they're outdated and too dependent on electricity to work properly (note that many of Jean's canonical Attunements assume a modern era with plenty of electronics. He will provide them to a Galvanist, if requested.

Also, all Servitors of Steam (of either faction) must buy Enchantment/3 (paid for normally). It is also assumed that they know how to create Corporeal Force-only constructs.

Soldekai's Seraphim have an eye towards seeing falsity in machinery. With a Perception roll, they can detect the exact design flaws in any prototype.

Cherubim of Steam may turn anything into a corporeal artifact. In order to do this, they must successfully resonate upon a particular device or inorganic object once per day: every week that they do this will add one level to the artifact's level. A failed resonance will either remove one level (if the level of the artifact is above 1) or destroy it completely (for artifacts/1 or below): note that this will also cause dissonance. Also, any item in continuous contact with a Cherub of Steam for one year will spontaneously turn into a corporeal artifact/1.

An Ofanite of Steam will automatically know at all times the real safety margins of any device they operate - never mind that red line on the pressure gauge. In fact, you'd probably be happier if you just close your eyes until the ride's over...

These angels are Soldekai's pure scientists. They always know when the results of a physical or chemical experiment have been influenced, shaded or sabotaged.

Identical to Jean's Choir Attunement of the same name.

Soldekai rarely lets the few that he has out of Heaven. Those who manage to do so end up as lab assistants to human inventors, where their ability to always know where to find critical ingredients or materials comes in very handy. The Archangel of Steam often gives out this Attunement as a minor reward.

Identical to Jean's Choir Attunement of the same name.

The other Choirs make the devices, but Mercurians are the ones that are tasked with integrating them into society. To aid in this, they may, with a Perception roll, determine how a given human will react to a particular invention. If the reaction is unfavorable, a check digit of 3 or above will tell them why.

Also known as Sisterhood of Science (Soldekai is notably egalitarian when it comes to gender issues). These angels always recognize those who share a passion and talent for science and the advancement of knowledge, whether they be mortal, ethereal or celestial. Note that this will not determine whether or not the subject is human, or even particularly moral.

Aside from what's listed below, any angel with one of Soldekai's Distinctions will be taught improved methods of making constructs. This also applies to Galvanists (although Jean's old Servitors have a somewhat jaundiced attitude about the creation of constructs).

Angels with this Attunement get the equivalent of the Malakite Choir Attunement of Steam (Malakite Vassals get the Seraphic Attunement instead). Also, a Vassal of Devices will be able to half the time it normally takes to make a construct made solely of Corporeal Forces.

The angel has a +3 reaction among inventors, scientists, gadgeteers, etc. They also know how to create constructs with Ethereal Forces, and can create them at the rate of 1 Force per week.

This is really mostly a social advantage: Masters/Mistresses of Engines have a set of THE Engine's dedicated terminals available to them for their research, plus a staff of angels who do nothing but answer their information requests. This means that, under normal circumstances, a Master can automatically make any mundane item that they can conceive, provided that they have (or can make) the materials they need to create it. They also receive a plus equal to their Ethereal Forces to all rolls to create relics (this is cumulative with any other bonuses). Lastly, they may create constructs with Celestial Forces, at the rate of 1 Force per day.

Soldekai is halfway between being a loyal Servitor of Divine Fire and being an independent agent when it comes to dealing with his new peers. While he remembers Gabriel's friends well - and her enemies even better - he has begun to consider alliances that would benefit his Word as well. Of course, open enemies of the Archangel of Divine Fire are not going to get too much cooperation any time soon.

Soldekai is actually an important factor in Council politics: not only is he considered a Major Superior, and a reasonable member of the war faction, but Gabriel's trust in him is so absolute that she has given him carte blanche to vote in her stead. Thus, he effectively has two votes.

Allied: Gabriel, Janus (Both of these Archangels are Allied to Soldekai)

Associated: Blandine, David, Eli, Raphael, Yves (These Archangels are Associated with to Soldekai as well)

Hostile: Dominic (Jordi is Hostile to Soldekai)

Blandine: "He Dreams are all steel and gears and wires. There is a beauty there, but it's not for everyone to see." "At the heart of any Engine is a person's Dream. I fuel their workings, but she fuels their creation."

David: "Comparing Jean with Soldekai insults both of them. My fellow Virtue understands honor, and understands how to be strong. I may not use what he creates, but others do, and he refuses to let his creations become crutches." "David may not share my visions, but he does not hold them in contempt. Our joint missions have been most enjoyably successful."

Dominic: "I am aware that he does not like me. I find that irrelevant, as long as he and his prove loyal. So far, they have." "He should find more useful things to do than cruelly persecuting those who do not deserve it. I would suggest cleaning out gutters, for a start."

Eli: "I like Soldekai. He's wound up tighter than one of his springs, but he has an eye for beauty in the oddest places. He creates the most interesting things, sometimes." "He was invaluable to me while I struggled to comprehend my new duties, and his Servitors are often of use to mine. I try to return the favor by exploring new realms in which to expand both our Words."

Gabriel: "No matter where he goes, and what Fire he has embraced, he is still my Soldekai. I whisper his name on the wind, and he comes to me. I look about in sudden alarm, and he is there to lend me his strength. He will never desert me. He will never lose faith. He may never know just how I have come to rely upon that faith, that constancy." "She is Gabriel. Nothing more needs to be said."

Janus: "He's shaken things up more in the last half century than others have done in millennia. Better, he likes doing it, just as long as things get changed for the better. It's refreshing." "His Word represents what I strive for: change, progress, the opportunity to create something new and wonderful. We understand each other quite well."

Jordi: "Worse than Jean, and that's saying something. At least Jean didn't enjoy the perversions of Nature that he made…" "I regret that he dislikes me, but he will have to accept the will of God before he can get past his hate. I cannot make him do that. I try not to needlessly offend him."

Khalid: "I see not why I should be interested in whom the Council chooses to elevate. It is unlikely to have any positive effect on my struggle." "Would someone kindly explain to me precisely why such a devoted servant of God, and the holder of such a potent and honorable Word, has been snubbed over a shortsighted squabble over which faith should be encouraged among humanity? Please feel free to take your time in formulating the answer: I'll be putting the time to good use in trying to give Khalid at least a little aid and assistance."

Laurence: "Considering his Choir, his apparent inability to follow orders without creative embellishments is amazing. His other virtues make up for this character flaw, but I do wish that he wouldn't be so flamboyant." "Laurence runs the War. He's very good at that. Unfortunately, he doesn't always see that what I do can be just as useful as a hundred staff sessions."

Marc: "Soldekai uses up a lot of resources, but he gets results often enough, I suppose. These Babbage Engines also show some real promise in my work, too." "Without his economic and intelligence analysts, I'd be operating half-blind. This makes up for the occasional episode where I have to drag needed resources out of his clenched fingers. All in all, we're on reasonably good terms."

Michael: "Useful, honorable, wants to personally eviscerate two Demon Princes. I can work with this one." "Whenever a new way of scientific or technological thinking finally makes it onto the battlefield, a brief window is opened for the bold, smart and lucky to seize the situation and drive it to a conclusion of his own choice. Michael understands this implicitly. However, he's got the opposite problem from Laurence: he's spent so much time on how to fight that he doesn't always remember why to fight. Heaven has a goal, and it isn't endless stalemate."

Novalis: "I like the fact that he tries hard to make sure that what he Inspires is of ultimate help for humanity. I don't like the fact that his Engines and devices can do incredible damage to the countryside if they aren't watched carefully … or even if they are. He will clean up after himself, though, if you remind him." "I respect Novalis greatly for her dedication to healing, but other than that we do not have much to do with each other."

Raphael: "He is not Jean. Everyone must remember this, lest they attempt to judge Soldekai by the parameters set down by his predecessor. He does things differently: sometimes less effectively, but sometimes more. I have handed off certain of my duties to an Archangel capable of handling them, and I will provide him with whatever vestigial support he needs to do his duties. He is a quick learner." "I look at Raphael, and I understand Jean's decision and sacrifice all too well. I would that it had never come to that choice, but I will honor his memory by supporting his … colleague … whenever she requires it."

Yves: "All things pass. What we can only hope for is that our successors take on our dropped burdens as well, and as nobly, as Soldekai has taken on his." "Yves has always been the one note of certainty in an ever-changing universe. Without him, we'd have already lost. With him, how can we do anything else except win?"

Zadkiel: "The things he creates protect the faithful, as well as chastising the faithless. I wish that he would take a more active role in the War, however. Gadgetry, however interesting, are means to an end, not the end itself." "Zadkiel may not care about anything outside of her narrowly defined interests, but she is highly effective when it comes to things she cares about. She just needs to care about more things."

Just because Soldekai doesn't want his Servitors to do nothing else all day but Smite Diabolicals doesn't mean that he personally likes Hellspawn…

Andrealphus: "A shame that Jean still isn’t around: I saw some notes of his that Vapula brought with him, and electricity promised to have so many uses. Soldekai's too straight-laced to come up with substitutes, but I hope that he doesn't think that his Choir will be sufficient protection from me…" "Frankly, he could be more of a threat to me, but he doesn't seem to be too interested in anything other than physical pleasure. The others can deal with him."

Asmodeus: "He thinks that he can change things. He's wrong. I've already incorporated him into the Game, and every invention he promotes will become just another piece. Really, he's already lost." "If Dominic had an ounce of sense, he'd be doing something useful with his time and opposing this annoying little ball of smug corruption. Of course, if Dominic had an ounce of sense, he wouldn't be Dominic. Even so, Asmodeus isn't nearly as untouchable as he thinks he is. It's hard to affect society in Earth when all your tools are constantly contemplating their Hearts..."

Baal: "It's a shame that Malakim don't Fall: Soldekai would get a better deal from us. The idiot we're currently stuck with isn't really working out. I should speak to Kronos about that." "Twisted honor may be less offensive than no honor at all, but it's still not acceptable. Michael has him well in hand, however."

Beleth: "I know what he Fears. Someday, I'll make it true for him." "I regret that many of my devices don't work properly in the Marches: otherwise, I'd be taking the War right to her. Research continues on that front, though, and when it does, we'll see just how much Beleth likes the taste of fear when it's in her mouth."

Belial: "So, the cute widdle moppet wants to challenge his betters? Fine. He'll just be the first course." "He is Belial. Nothing more needs to be said on this matter, either."

Haagenti: "He fought well. I'll eat him, someday, but I think that I'll make sure that Soldekai's dead first." "Haagenti is crude, rude, full of truly horrendous humor and a cat's-paw for one of the slimiest of our enemies. But he can fight."

Kobal: "Let's see: we have a Elohite dying for love, a Malakite with a mad Romantic Object, and a Habbalite who spends most of his time in front of a mirror twirling his mustache and perfecting his sneer. Oh, yes, and now humanity is starting to get seriously confused about what, precisely, the laws of the universe actually are, what with all the steam helicopters and lunatic robots wandering around. Legion's saga just gets funnier and funnier and funnier…" "Grinning jackanapes, who likes to mock but never seems to be around when the fighting starts. Personally, I think he's an abject coward, and would be more than happy to tell him that to his face, just before my fist flattens it…"

Kronos: "He has his Fate, and it's a particularly dismal one. It will become clear, in time." "Foul, foul, foul, this one is. Burn his works, Burn his Servitors, drive him back to Hell where he belongs. In the end, it will be only him down there, and the pain he feels as the rest of Creation is transfigured will be barely punishment enough for his crimes."

Lilith: "I know what he Needs. He's hardly secret about it. I could even get it for him. I simply choose not to, that's all." "I know she loathes me, and I know why she loathes me. I'm sure that it's a perpetual annoyance for Lilith to know that getting a hold on me would be more than it is worth. Isn't that a shame?"

Malphas: "One would think that the Lesson of Jean would have taught Heaven the folly of caring about any one else. Apparently they haven't grasped this self-evident truth yet, if the ascension of Soldekai is any indication. The lesson will have to be repeated." "I know that all Princes have a flawed grasp of reality, but Malphas is a particularly sad case. For all his posturing and schemes, he's really never understood us. I doubt that he ever will."

Nybbas: "Locked in the same pathetic vision as Vapula, but with all sorts of archaic idiocies added on. Still, his Servitors aren't averse to helping mine pummel Servitors of Technology in dark alleys, so bless me if he doesn't have his uses. Plenty of time to put him down once I've come into my own." "A crude little whelp, but luckily his petty treachery can be used. It won’t save him, in the end, but it can be used."

Saminga: "Machines kill things. I like that. Soldekai wants to kill Belial and Vapula. I like that, too." "A nasty little Prince, what with his delusions of grandeur, petty posturing and weakness for gaudy uniforms, but I have more important enemies to worry about."

Valefor: "Lots of fun toys, and the look on his Servitors' faces when you use them more appropriately is priceless. Long may he live and design poor security systems." "Sophisticated, even if he wasn't a Calabite: hard to pin down, too. That's why they invented area-effect weaponry, and I have a special one on hand for our next encounter, designed just for him. I suspect that he won't be nearly as smug after that."

Vapula: "So Noble. So Forthright. So Honorable. So Incredibly Naïve, At Times. I am really quite fond of Soldekai: he's the only other one on either side that really understands my Word, and what it means. If it weren't for him, I'd be ruling Earth outright by now, as none of the others could even hope to match my genius. But how boring such a victory would have been. With the Archangel of Steam to oppose me, my inevitable success will mean something." "Traitor."

His Choir and old Superior notwithstanding, Soldekai does not encourage his Servitors to concentrate on Smiting the Foe with bizarrely named weapons. That sort of thing is what Vapula does, and the Demon Prince of Technology is, of course, insane. It's much more sensible for Servitors of Steam to insinuate themselves into human scientific and mechanical organizations: not only can they keep track of mortal research there, but they can also get leads on possible Diabolical influences. Also, having a Servitor with the "famous savant" Role is very useful whenever Soldekai has an invention he wants released among humanity.

Needless to say, there will be times when Smiting the Foe will become necessary (and, knowing the Princes of Technology and Infernal Fire, such incidents are sure to be quite noticeable to the general population). Due to the nature of this timeline, celestials can be slightly less discreet, provided that everything they do in public can be explained away as 'technological'. However, Soldekai is adamant that his angels are to show discretion in how they show off their Resources. In general, the rule is to never demonstrate an ability or Song that could completely warp future mortal scientific research: the last thing humanity needs is to go down more dead-ends. Soldekai has no sense of humor about this: the Archangel of Steam is still trying to clean up after two decades of over-enthusiastic celestial exploitation of the 'luminferous ether' theory.

Use of giant steam mecha is also strongly discouraged, unless Vapula has already unleashed one or more for one of his Nefarious Schemes. Unfortunately, he does this so often that Soldekai has prudently stockpiled a few, to be brought out as needed.

(Soldekai supports Jean's old "spend an hour in a thunderstorm, on a cliff" Rite for his Galvanists. He's also found that certain of his regular Servitors quite appreciate this Rite as a reward for service…)

: Spend six hours in a workshop creating a new device or mechanism.

: Inspire a person to take an interest in science or technology.

Modifiers:

(Note that Galvanists may instead use Jean's old modifiers.)

+1 A steam engine.

+2 A set of blueprints for a new device.

+3 A schoolroom of children learning about Science.

+4 A Redeemed Demon of Technology.

+5 A pound of an incredibly rare mineral, compound or element (Soldekai will take it with him, mind).

+6 The prototype of a device that will change the world.

+100 Belial's severed head (also good for a heavyweight Word, a Master-level distinction, and just about anything else that the PC wants).

There are two things that one must remember about Soldekai, if one wishes to understand him at all. The first is his Choir; the second is his former Superior. These two facts are central to his behavior and way of looking at the world.

First, Soldekai is a Malakite: a very old, very experienced Malakite. Like David and Uriel, he embraced his nature as a response to the First Rebellion, and thus can be safely counted upon to have a special hatred of Hell and its entire works that younger generations of Virtues cannot hope to duplicate. Unlike Jean, who considered himself a guardian and regulator of knowledge, Soldekai treats knowledge as a weapon to be used, rather than to be hidden away. This is not to say that he doesn't have things kept in reserve for just the right moment, of course: the element of surprise is also a weapon, and a potent one. But the Archangel of Steam is much more active in the War than his predecessor ever was, and that means that the weapons he invents rarely have time to gather dust on the shelves.

Second, Soldekai is a former Servitor of Divine Fire. This has many ramifications. Jean, because of his essential nature, was never really comfortable about allowing his discoveries to become available to humanity until he was sure that they would be used responsibly. Soldekai, however, was a force for Inspiration, and cannot violate his essential nature by ignoring those seeking it. Also, Soldekai spent too much time fighting Cruelty to stop, simply because he is in a different arena now. This resolve is no doubt bolstered by the actions of his opponent Vapula, whose mad dreams of a world choked in smoke and fettered with steel must be prevented, no matter what.

But the most important aspect of his former service is his former mistress. Soldekai is unique among Superiors in that he had to be persuaded to become one of the Powers that Be: he only agreed to become an Archangel when it was proven to him that it would be of benefit to Gabriel. Soldekai, through his Word, now shoulders a part of Gabriel's burdens, relieving her of some of her inner pain. Plus, he is in a unique position to directly attack her tormentor, if so he chooses to. He so chooses to.

Oh, does he so choose to. No matter what else the Archangel of Steam does, he always remembers Belial. The Prince of Infernal Fire's alliance with Soldekai's nemesis only makes it easier for him to strike at both. He will destroy Belial, or at least aid in his destruction: he now has the power, the tools, and the allies to complement his will. He will bring his old Superior back to her senses.

And, when she is… better… Gabriel can go back to her true role as the keeper of the Divine Spark that rejuvenates Man's heart and soul. She will walk among men, sane and strong, and give them the gift that will help them transform their world. What machines and Engines will be made then! Soldekai will be there, helping them make their dreams real.

And possibly, just possibly, when Gabriel looks at Soldekai as they go about their tasks, she will see him as a equal servant of God.

She will see an angel worthy of her love.

Soldekai could never bear to be separated from Gabriel, even after he became an Archangel. Couple that with the fact that he needed a reliable source of energy for his work, and his choice of location for his new Cathedral becomes obvious.

Soldekai has built his Cathedral around the slope of Gabriel's Volcano itself. It usually appears as a series of interconnected buildings, factories and workshops, with many chimneys that belch steam (but never smoke). There's always at least some construction going on.

Inside, it's … well, loud, for a start. There are all sorts of arcane machinery and gears constantly in motion, clicking and whirring and clanging and banging. It's also very chaotic: assembly lines and chemical laboratories and classrooms are jumbled together with a cheerful disregard for central planning. The Cathedral is also very busy, what with all the Servitors of Steam, other bemused celestials trying to find a map, and various blessed souls (some of whom made a beeline for here when the Cathedral opened up, and now couldn’t be pried out of the place with a crowbar) constantly moving hither and yon. It's also fairly hot, except for places where the temperature needs to be controlled. Certain types will find the whole place Heavenly, while others might not be blamed for suspecting that they took a wrong turn and are now in Hell. The Cathedral of Steam, by the way, is squeaky clean and remarkably free of any smell.

In the middle of this crazy quilt of industrial might is Soldekai's main hall/laboratory/classroom. Visitors actually have little trouble finding it. It's the loudest, busiest and hottest place in the whole Cathedral. Fair warning, however: any angel that visits Soldekai should note that he's very, very busy, and doesn’t always recognize his own Servitors. More than one official envoy has found him or herself somehow holding a flashlight while Soldekai works at an especially tricky modification. There's even a legend that more than one of the Archangel of Steam's Servitors got their start as involuntary lab assistants who liked the work so much that they never got around to their original reason for seeking an audience…