Smuggled out by Eric Alfred Burns

Preface Note:

Among the more damning of texts ascribed to the Holy Mysteries is one known only as 'The Bramswitch Folio.' It was writ by an author unknown to any - at least, any who are willing to admit to it. The text is incomplete. It was found moldering in the wreckage of an ancient keep in Bramswitch Moor, Scotland. It is written in a variety of languages, including English, but the paper dates back three thousand years or more. This is patently absurd, of course, unless one accepts that the Bramswitch Folio is the prophecy it purports to be.

The Seraphim Council has restricted access to the Bramswitch Folio, castigating the ancient work as heretical. And of course, by any reasonable definition it is heresy of the blackest sort, for the blame of all the pains the Folio details are laid at the foot of Lucifer, and that simply is not done. They have made three unsuccessful attempts to destroy the original, which is now housed at the University of Cambridge as its Faculty of Divinity continues to examine it. At this stage, it is considered unfeasible to continue its campaign against the work, especially since translated versions of the work have now been published. They instead seek to dismiss the work in toto as the delusional ranting of a madman or - far more likely - as a clear hoax. To that end, major religious and theological authorities worldwide have dismissed the Folio, pushing it more towards tabloid television than serious study outside of Cambridge's hallowed halls.

Within the Council itself, suspicion fell upon Gebbeleth and his organization - an organization which has taken a copy of the Bramswitch Folio and enshrined it within the Temple Mount, though no Angel is allowed access to it - as to the book's origins. Gebbeleth, when questioned by the Sword in open council (by the Hooded Seraph's request) answered thusly:

"I am a Seraph, and will not compromise the truth. I am no prophet, nor have ever claimed to be a prophet. If this book is prophecy - as it claims to be - I cannot have written it nor caused it to be written, for I am no prophet. If this book is a sham - as it appears to be - I cannot have written it or caused it to be written, for that would be deception."

The testimony hardly satisfied anyone, but was also clearly true, and Laurence was forced to exonerate the Hooded Seraph and his Servitors. Officially, at least. When asked why the book was being treated as a Holy Mystery, Gebbeleth only smiled slightly, and answered "the temple of Delphi was no house of God, but it remains a Holy Mystery. In foreign soil, a seed may grow." As Gebbeleth's organization was willing to help discredit the work corporeally, that was the end of the matter.

Officially, at least.

Efforts to find the copy of the Bramswitch Folio - the complete version, from before the ravages of time's editing - in the Library have proven fruitless. Beth, the Archangel of Thoroughness, has reported no progress in the search, and has been unpleasant enough about it that none have challenged her.

Among the Exile's Council, the book has received mixed reviews. Nybbas, Archangel of Communication, has pressed for the full disclosure of the work among mankind, but many of the passages and books within the Bramswitch Folio concern the Exiles. Images of Apocalypse, drawn from Hades' gates perhaps, seem to commingle with indictments of Heaven, with neither the Exiles nor the Host coming out at their best. It is the concern of many among the Exiles that the Bramswitch Folio could only confuse both Celestials and Mankind, and many do not want the book spread any further than necessary. Raphael in particular seems focused on keeping the book from spreading, which seems almost contradictory to her normal position. It seems almost ironic, given that the book could be interpreted as being anti-Nybbasian, that Raphael wishes to suppress it and Nybbas wishes to publicize it.

It is possible the book has something to do with one of the Outcast Superiors, most notably Gabriel, but that too is not clear. Gabriel has never been asked about it, and her Servitors do not pay any particular note to the Bramswitch Folio.

The Bramswitch Folio, after translation, is a series of books written in pseudo-biblical language. Poetry and poetic prose lie side by side with confusion, ramblings, first person narrative, vague warnings and occasional gibberish - all of which is compounded by the severe damage to the manuscript. There are also references to books which do not appear with the Folio (even in degraded form). Whether this means they were never written or that they have been lost, no one can say. The figures in the work are couched in metaphor, and make reference to celestial events that could not be known on Earth otherwise - including clear references to the death of Michael - and the implication that Michael may one day return. This makes the author a Celestial... or a prophet.

It is said that Lucifer, the bright Regent of Heaven itself, has taken to making the pilgrimage to Gebbeleth's Temple Mount. There, he walks up the crushed gravel path that surrounds the Temple Mount, past the chapels and churches, past the synagogues and mosques, past the temples and fey circles and all manner of places that mankind has knelt in prayer to Gods of Abraham and Gods of their own design, to the gothic keep on the leftmost side of the Mount, which extends out into the fogs of a moor. And there, he enters, and pays his respects to the Priest of Gebbeleth who keeps this chapel, and enters the devotional, and there bears up the copy of the Bramswitch Folio that Gebbeleth keeps there.

Never does Lucifer attempt to deface or change the Folio - such a thing would not work, ultimately, as the Priest knows the text by heart, and as a Cherub is attuned to the work, and would know of any attempt. But for thirty straight days, Lucifer made this trek, to sit and read the Folio, and consider what he had read, and since he has returned at least once in every week.

In the Seraphim Council, Lucifer is both dismissive and resentful of the work - so clear a Heresy, and so inflammatory a work to the Order of things cannot be permitted to spread, after all. But in the Temple Mount, he is contemplative, and perhaps mournful, and reverent, and often will spend time in meditation after he reads one or more of the passages.

The Priest does not disturb the Regent of Heaven, during these times. However, he does watch him, from the shadows of the alcove. And if asked, he would make it plain that he was ready to wait upon the Regent at a moment's notice, should he need anything. The Priest's true mission is unspoken but plain; when Lucifer is reading and contemplating the heretical Bramswitch Folio, he is a Holy Mystery incarnate, and one the Priest is drawn to like a moth to a beacon.

Here then do we reveal the whole, for the forces of Heaven did divide themselves upon a matter of monkeys. For the monkeys were attractive to the Lord their Father, and cherished by him, and yet the Angels did not like the monkeys, for they were NOT monkeys, and the Angels were jealous of those wretched beasts - and so it was that the mighty grew sore envious of the weak, the winged grew envious of the walking, the dragons in the sky grew envious of dragonflies along the muck of the swamps, and this was enough.

This was enough.

In those days upon the mighty peaks of Heavenly Glory were there those who strode like Giants among Giants. In the numbering of the Heavens there were Six, divided into Hosts, from the Most Holy to the Least, and so were they called upon the rolls Trisagionist, Hayyoth, Throne, Dynami, Hive and Intercessionist. And not all are called such now, when the rolls read eight - two cloven from the very schism of Heaven itself. But then it was known, and then it was believed, and we look upon those who are called Trisagionists, the Most Holy, Seraphim, and Princes of the Host.

Among the Seraphim strode two, above all others. And one was known as Light, for that was his Word and function, and he was bright and radiant, before all others, the oldest of all Angels but for He Who Named God, the Metatron-Who-Was-God's-Voice, and the Firstborn of Angels, best loved and named He-Who-Is-Like-God [1]. And for years upon years where the days of the year were themselves centuries and the hours of the day decades, the Illumination of Heaven, the Bringer of Light, the Morning Star, who we call Lucifer was content to stand the second child of the Lord.

Oh, faithless child! Oh, bitter, hateful child, who cut apart the best to raise himself! Might the Earth have swallowed your bitter, bileful pride! Might the Ringing Notes of the Heavens shattered your fragile hubris before ever you had considered such falsity! Oh, painful light that blinds one's self - one's self! Yours will be the tears that fill the sea, and none will absolve you of the pain you hold within!

The Lightbringer loved his elder brother, He-Who-Is-Like-God, with a fullness of heart that equaled the valleys and mountains of the whole of the world, sevenfold and seven again, and yet in the slightest of those valleys did the seed of envy take root, for Lucifer was discontent to be second after the Lord, but he could tell himself he was not. In this were the first shivers of the Songs of the Celestial Sphere heard, for the Seraphim do not lie.

And He-Who-Is-Like-God embraced Lucifer, as he embraced all his brothers and sisters, all the way to the lowest Intercessionist of the Intercessionist Eli's service, and said unto him "we are all as one, for we are all united in our love of the Earth, our Love of Spirit, our Love of Dreams and above them all our Love of the Lord."

And the one who Named God, who bent like the Yew, yet let names fly and strike like an archer, so was called unto the other Yves [2], the Archer, the Namer of God and Shepherd of Destiny, he too smiled unto the others, and in the unity of Love of Earth and Spirit, Dreams and Heaven did Name Love, and call it by its fullest name, and in so doing did the brightest beauty of Heaven give blossom - a beauty like no other, touching two who stood closest as it rose, and one of the two was called Blandine, and the other was called Beleth, and theirs would be the First Love, the Greatest Love, and theirs would been the seeds of the pain and sorrow yet to come, as inevitably as the rain drops from the boughs of the yew wood, even as a tear dropped from Yves, the Yew Archer, and did he look upon the beauty of the brightest beauty of Heaven, an Intercessionist, and let the name drop from his lips, and so was that beauty born of the unity of Love called Andrealphus.

And Lucifer loved Andrealphus, as he loved He-Who-Was-Like-God and all the others, but the seed of envy that had taken root was watered by the tears of Love. For in the Naming of Love, and the accepting of the Unity that Love brought, so too was its lack brought forth, and within Lucifer's breast did grow the seeds of that which Yves would name Hate, and that which Yves would name Solitude. And Lucifer did stand apart, to look upon the whole.

Oh, glorious day that brings Love into it! Oh bright blessings of the Lord who stands before us! Oh wondrous strange are the pathways and byways, and as Beleth and Blandine did feel the touch of Andrealphus upon their shoulder, they did smile, and yea for they did smile upon one another.

For Unity includes the whole, but Unities are not singular. There are wholenesses that encompass far more than even the love of the Lord. And-

[Indecipherable]

-came unto the silent Angel, and whispered to her of love. And Beleth let herself, ever so slowly, know the Dream of Love, and Blandine, ever so slowly, let herself know the Fear of rejection, and so the two knew one-

-want for praise! No, for the praise of the Bringer of Light was broad and deep, and in all ways did Lucifer find himself taking on the role of Chamberlain of the Lord, for his was the Illumination, and without Light there could be no World, no birds or trees or fish, and this was accepted by all and Lucifer's name was praised. And Lucifer was at his happiest then, for he could sing the Trisagion and exult in the glory of the name of the Lord without giving the envy within him room to grow in his breast.

And Gebbeleth, who served Fear before all others, child of the Greatest Love, born of Unity of Dreams and Fears, did watch Lucifer at this time, for Lucifer was at his happiest now or ever, and yet did Lucifer still keep himself apart, more than any other. And Gebbeleth did watch Lucifer's solitude, and consider it, and in the mystery of Lucifer's solitudes did Gebbeleth begin to seek those truths that were beyond truth. And when Lucifer did declare that Gebbeleth had learned all that Lucifer would teach, Gebbeleth returned to the side of those who created him, but carried mysteries within him still. And so too did Gebbeleth, in carrying mystery, find himself learning solitude from the Unity, and so Lucifer's lessons were deeper than the Lightbringer could know.

And Malphas too, having remembered the lessons of making the lands and seas discrete, and seeing the Lightbringer who himself stood apart, did also learn the lessons of solitude, and so there were three who stood apart, and the Unity grew less. And Yves, whose Yew Bow of Naming remained strong, did let fly more Names, and they struck home - but these were not Names that Yves smiled upon, and he did call them Solitude, and Loneliness, and Yearning, and Division. And the Celestial Song became less an unison and more a harmony, and there were some who said this harmony was all the more beautiful, for its depth was far greater, and Israfel did smile as she heard and sang within it, but as the harmonies deepened, so did the occasional notes of discord.

Here then are the acts of Lucifer's Reign, as recorded in the living rock under the mountain, empty since the loss of David's Unity.

Lucifer did lay forth laws of conduct, for all Angels to obey. And in this he did not restrict, for it was not the way of Light to block, but instead to illuminate. And so did Lucifer illuminate the laws of conduct that would facilitate the work placed before the Host, and was Lucifer greatly affirmed and praised for his laying forth of laws of conduct.

And in his laws of conduct, did Lucifer lay forth the Order of Things, and he did not do this to rise above his fellows, but in the name of illuminating that which the Metatron-which-was-the-voice-of-God had said already. And so did he place the Seraphim at the top, though below God and the Metatron, for they were themselves beyond the ken of even the Trisagionists. And below them, as had been known before but not said, came Cherubim, Ofanim, Elohim, Kyriotates and Mercurians. And in illuminating the distinctions of the Order of Things did Lucifer bring the Unity closer together, for all within the Order of Things knew their role and their place, and could work there in harmony without disruption.

And in his laws of conduct, did Lucifer affirm the Archangels, who are Superior, placed beyond the ken of ordinary Angels as God and the Metatron were placed beyond the ken of even the Archangels. And he did this not to rise above his fellows, but in the name of illuminating that which was already known but not said. And so the Archangels whose Choir was lower in the Order of Things could still stand above even the Angels of the Trisagion, for this too was mete. And in illuminating the role and position of the Archangels, so did Lucifer bring the Unity closer together, for all within the Host knew who was first among them, where He-Who-Is-Like-God spoke of equals before the Lord, and so the work set before the Host would be more easily accomplished, in Unity.

And in his laws of conduct, did Lucifer name the Archangels, naming Lucifer, and He-Who-Is-Like-God. And also did he speak the names of others, including Uriel and Gabriel, and Eli and Raphael, and Baal and Oannes, and Janus and Jordi, and Blandine and Jean. And so did he illuminate their Unity and their Diversity, for there were Seraphim and Cherubim, Elohim and Kyriotates, Ofanim and even Eli, who was Mercurian and therefore the Least of Heaven, but he was also given Creation as we have seen, the greatest burden of all, and as Archangel he stood among the rest. And he did this not to set himself apart or above, but to make clear to all the Host who the Archangels were. And yet, he did not speak the name of Yves, who bore the Yew Bow.

And in his laws of conduct, did Lucifer name the distinctions, from Reliever and Servitor, through Vassal, Friend and Master, and set within these ranks the chance for Archangels to name their own distinctions above those laid forth. And yet, would Vassal, Friend and Master mean the same to each Archangel and Angel, and Servitors would know which of their brethren were set over them in honor and responsibility, and act in accordance. And he did not do this to set Angel above Angel, but instead to make all plain in authority and responsibility, and prevent discord and argument from disrupting the Unity. And this was done, and praise was given unto Lucifer, for illuminating what had been dark, where He-Who-Is-Like-God had spoke of equals before the Lord.

And in his laws of conduct, did Lucifer speak of the Word-Bound, setting them into a place of high honor, for theirs was the regency of the Celestial Chorus. Each holder of a Word would be recognized and respected, for theirs was a burden and a glory alike. And Lucifer did not do this to rise above his fellows, but to illuminate the burdens and responsibilities of the Word-Bound. And it was noted that some few of the Archangels were not Bound to Words, and that they included Baal of the burning eyes, and they included He-Who-Is-Like-God, who had never sought to be above his fellows. And so as Archangels they were lifted above the Host, and yet they did not stand with Lucifer, or Uriel, Gabriel or Eli, Raphael or Oannes, and Janus or Jordi.

And in his laws of conduct, did Lucifer set down the place of those lower beings, below the Heavenly Host, who lived upon the green Earth brought into being by Eli and Unity by David. And Lucifer did not do this to rise above others, but because even as the Most Holy were closer to God than the Intercessionists, so it followed that the beasts of the field, the birds, the insects and the fish must be below the Intercessionists, and no doubt could be allowed to fester in the minds of the Host, who might otherwise set aside the work placed before them out of fear of acting out of place.

And in his laws of conduct, did Lucifer speak of the teaching and learning of songs, giving unto the [Archangels?]-

[Indecipherable]

-did Lucifer speak of the times and ways to give thanks and praise to the Lord, and to the Metatron who was his Voice, and to the Archangels, and to the Word-Bound, and to the Masters, and to the Friends, and to the Vassals, and to the Servitors, and to the Relievers, and to the creatures of the Earth, and speak of the ways in which work and play, praise and joy and effort would be performed, and the Unity would accomplish the work that had been set before it. And he did not do this to force his will upon the others, but to ensure that the work set before the Host came before other considerations, and yet those considerations would still have their day, that joy and love and praise and the giving of thanks would not be forgotten in the efforts of performing the work that had been set before the Host.

And the Metatron did not speak of the laws of conduct that Lucifer did lay upon his fellows, but remained mute, the Voice silent.

And the spark of Solitude, of loss of Unity, did grow in Lucifer - for while he did not seek to rise above his fellows, he had in fact risen above them. And while he did not seek to make himself more than He-Who-Is-Like-God, in having his Word he had been set before him. And so it could be said that the Lightbringer was now first upon all the Host in all ways, Regent in fact if not name, for he would not truly be Regent until the black times came and the sorrows descended upon Host and Earth.

And in Lucifer's acts and laws of conduct there was great strength, as the Host knew its role and place, and therefore was able to perform the work set before it with great speed and skill.

And yet, the seeds of Solitude grew, having come from Lucifer and spread throughout the whole of the Host now. For Seraphim felt the loneliness of being set above their fellows, and Cherubim felt the loneliness of being set below Seraphim in all things, yet above their other fellows, and Ofanim felt the loneliness of being set below Seraphim and Cherubim in all things, yet above their other fellows, and Elohim felt - but discounted - the loneliness of being set in the middle, and instead found themselves distances as they sought to avoid subjectivity, and Kyriotates, the bright angels of ultimate diversity, did not feel the joys of diversity as they had been set below all but Mercurians, and therefore felt lonely, and the Mercurians had been set below all their fellows and felt the desolation of those who could not rise above their station, now and forevermore, condemned to be least among Angels.

And all still performed their duty and sang praises and knew joy and love, and yet all began to feel the seeds of Solitude, sown by the acts and laws of conduct of Lucifer the Lightbringer. And so Unity began to suffer.

And He-Who-Is-Like-God was concerned, for he had treated the Servitors of Heaven, whether Reliever or Archangel, as equals when he was first among equals, and now he could see the discontent and loneliness that had begun to be bred among the Host. And yet, he knew that Yves had given Lucifer his support when he had ascended to his position, and he knew that the Metatron - he who was the voice of God - had not spoken against the laws of conduct as set down by Lucifer and handed down to the Heavenly Host, and so He-Who-Is-Like-God accepted the Metatron's silence as God's acceptance, and submitted.

And He-Who-Is-Like-God set his Servitors into the Order of Things, with his Seraphim on the top and his Mercurians at the bottom, and accepted that all were his Servitors, and that he was not their equal. And he raised his Word-Bound to a place of glory, and gave Distinctions to those who he set into place as the leaders of his Angels. But in the change from the ways of equality, He-Who-Is-Like-God felt the touch of Solitude, and Loneliness.

And Baal, too, felt the sting of Loneliness and Solitude. Being unbound to a Word, Baal found himself the least of the Archangels, for he would not put himself before He-Who-Is-Like-God, and this rankled his fiery spirit. However, though he now felt the pains of envy and pride perhaps as strongly as Lucifer, he too accepted the Order of Things, with his Seraphim on the top and his Mercurians at the bottom, and raised his Word-Bound to a place of glory, and gave Distinctions to those who he set into place as the leaders of his Angels. But this did not quiet the affront he felt to his honor.

But of all those who felt concern, the deepest was Yves, who held the Yew Bow, the Namer of God and the Shepherd of Destiny. For Yves remained unnamed in the Order of Things set down by Lucifer and given to all the Heavenly Host. For Yves was not Seraph, nor Cherub, not Ofanite nor Elohite, not Kyriotate nor Mercurian. Yves was himself something other. And neither was Yves the Metatron, who was the Voice of God, and therefore set above even the Archangels. And Yves made his way to Lucifer, who he had himself anointed Lucifer as the Chamberlain of Heaven, and spoke unto him, saying that he had been made separate from the Host.

And Lucifer considered, for Yves was not Angel, neither was he above the Angels, but was set apart. And so, did Lucifer set Yves apart from the others, distinct and unto himself, yet did he also name him Archangel and Word-Bound, declaring that Yves would be bound to the Word of Destiny, and in this did Lucifer that which already was, for it could be said that the Yew Archer, Namer of God was already Bound

to Destiny. And so Yves was brought into the Order of Things, and yet remain distinct from it, for Yves was Archangel [3] and yet not Angel.

And Yves knew solitude and loneliness, and yet Yves was set within the Order of Things, and acted as one who was Archangel, though he was not, and took up Servitors, and set his Word-Bound into a place of Glory, and named and gave Distinctions to those he set into place as the leaders of his Angels.

And so it was for all of the Archangels, for of all the Archangels, all felt the touch of Solitude and Loneliness now, and yet none would break away from the Order of Things, for while they felt Solitude, they also could feel the strength of the Order of Things, a strength that centered upon the Unity.

But Eli, who was Intercessionist and therefore the furthest from God, yet Archangel, and therefore set above the Heavenly Host - Eli, who was the least of the Archangels, and yet bore the burden of Creation, the deepest and most pervasive of all the Words among the Word-Bound, which placed him first among all the Word-Bound. Eli received the Order of Things, and looked upon the laws of conduct.

And Eli looked upon those Servitors and Word-Bound who had grown to be with him, and accepted his leadership as first among equals, as He-Who-Is-Like-God had shown before, and knew that each knew their place in Creation, and each performed the work set before them.

And Eli, the least of Archangels, looked upon Lucifer, the greatest of Archangels, and said unto him "I shall not set my Servitors into the Order of Things, where the Seraphim are at the top, followed by Cherubim, Ofanim, Elohim, Kyriotates and Mercurians. I shall not place the Word-Bound into a position of Glory, and I shall not give Distinctions, setting some of my Servitors as Leaders for others. I shall accept that they are my Servitors, for I have been named Archangel and mine is the responsibility for them, but I shall not set myself above them, for we all stand as Servitors of Creation, and the work set before us is more important than our places in the scheme of things.

And Lucifer reared up, for he had been made the Chamberlain of Heaven, and yet Eli had not placed his Servitors into the Order of Things as all the others had. And he considered for seven days and seven nights, and during this time the bitterness of Envy, of Loneliness, and of Solitude again ate at his insides, for he had been set above all the others, and yet Eli did not perform as Lucifer had dictated. And yet, Lucifer had not handed down the laws of conduct to place himself above others, but instead to illuminate the whole, for Lucifer was himself striving for the best for all the Unity.

And so did Lucifer declare that so long as Eli did act within the Order of Things, and his Servitors respected the Order of Things and did not act to interfere with the laws of conduct, that Eli could be responsible for his Servitors without separating them as all others had done. And in this way Eli and his Servitors remained as He-Who-Is-Like-God had set them forth, and the Servitors of Creation did not know Loneliness. But Eli, the Archangel of Creation, knew he had been set apart, and he knew Loneliness and Solitude even as his Servitors had not, and recognized that it was not good.

And Lucifer, who illuminated the whole, felt the bitterness of Solitude and Envy, and felt as Baal of the strong arm did, that honor had not been met, yet had acted as Illumination demanded, felt that there must be a way that the rulings of the Chamberlain of Heaven would be placed into their perspective, and that the laws of conduct would be more than his word, set above those around him. And he spoke unto Yves of this need.

And Yves, the strong archer, drew forth his yew bow, and fitting the arrow to it, did let fly the Name of Judgement, of Justice, of the Rule of Law beyond simply the words of even the Chamberlain, and did name that rule Dominique.

And Dominique was an Angel and a Seraph, below the Archangels in the scheme of things, yet was set into the place of Judgement, and could be trusted to render the truth of rightness, and Lucifer's word would no longer be the authority.

And so did Lucifer's Order of Things and laws of conduct become greater than Lucifer's own authority, and so did Lucifer place himself into that Order of Things, and place the Order of Things above even himself. And had he stayed within his own laws of conduct, and within the Order of Things, then all would have been well, now and forever. But it was the curse of Lucifer that pride, solitude, envy and loneliness would shatter the Unity of Angels and Host forevermore, and would he had been destroyed before.

And still, the Metatron said nothing.

To Jordi was given the beasts of the field, the fish of the sea, the birds of the air and the insects that bridge the three. That which burrowed and crawled and ran and swam and flew were given to his responsibility, and in those days was Jordi the greatest of all Hives, for his was the mind that saw through many eyes, and his was the thought of the world as a whole.

And Jordi watched and learned the ways of the foxes and wolves, the ways of pipers and herons, the ways of trout and swordfish, the ways of dragonfly and wasp. He learned the language of the animals, which no man can learn, and watched and lived among them.

And Jordi's Servitors too watched and learned the ways of the beasts of the field, the fish of the sea, the birds of the air and the insects that bridge the three. And to his Trisagionists did Jordi give dominion over and responsibility for the fish of the sea, the deep fish and lungfish, and pond and brook fish, minnows and whales alike, and the frogs and lizards who live in water and on the land alike, that the Trisagionists would know their language and customs, and be able to see their place among the whole.

And to his Hayyoths did Jordi give dominion over and responsibility for the cats and felines - the quick cats of the Nile, and mysterious black cats of the night, the lions and tigers and large cats of prey, and all those who follow the silent paths of the feline, black or golden, striped or spotted or smooth furred, that the Hayyoths would know their language and customs, and be able to see their place among the whole.

And to his Thrones did Jordi give dominion over those that flew through the air - the birds, raptors and songbirds of the fields, the twisting, mysterious bats, the silent gliders and wise owls, and all whose plumage was born of feather instead of fur, that the Thrones would know their language and customs, and be able to see their place among the whole.

And to his Dynamis did Jordi give dominion over the lizards and snakes, who crawled upon their bellies and changed colors with the sun, who tasted the air and saw many things, lying within the deserts and in the tall grasses, waiting, that the Dynamis would know their language and customs, and be able to see their place among the whole.

And to his Hives did Jordi give dominion over the insects, those who buzzed and darted, ladybugs and bees and hornets and wasps, and to the eight legged spiders that consumed them and wove their webs, and to the beetles and scarabs and creatures hard of shell and six legged, ants and termites alike, that the Hives would know their language and customs, and be able to see their place among the whole.

And to his Intercessionists did Jordi give dominion over the monkeys and apes, orangutans and lemurs, those whose paws were hands, silver backed and broad pated, with eyes that were knowing and whose bodies resembled those of Intercessionists, but for fur, that the Intercessionists would know their language and customs, and be able to see their place among the whole.

And Jordi looked, and saw the canines and wolves, the foxes and hyenas and dogs and coyotes, and knew that they too needed to be seen and understood, and so did he select one each of his Masters, one of his Trisagionists, and his Hayyoths, one of his Thrones and one of his Dynamis, one of his Hives and one of his Intercessionists, and did he take from them their separate dominions, and of these six Masters and the Servitors who served them directly did he give dominion over the wolves, dogs and canines, that they would know their language and customs, and be able to see their place among the whole.

And these Masters, and those servitors who served them, who followed the wolves, did rise up when black, spiteful Lucifer, full of fear and hate and solitude and loneliness, did make rebellion upon his brothers and slay the Metatron who was the voice of God, and in the image of Uriel did the Wolves of Jordi grow dark and terrible, and become Jordi's black winged Barons upon that day.

And nor did Jordi forget the rats, the raccoons, the otters, and other creatures who were not cat nor dog, bird nor snake, ape nor lizard, but set one or more of his Servitors to watch and learn and have dominion over them, that they would know their languages and customs, and where their place was among the whole.

And so it was that Jordi, who had been named Animals by Yves of the Yew Bow, the Archer and Namer of God, called Archangel of Destiny, had been given dominion and responsibility for all animals of the world, had divided his Servitors to see to them, to learn their languages and customs, and see where their places were among the whole. And so was it that Jordi first watched the rise of an animal called Man.

And did he see that Man was tall and strong, not bent, and did he walk upon two feet and not four.

And did he see that Man was clever, using the club and bow and spear to hunt for his food, yet gathering of the fruits of the trees, and planting food for the harvest, and using fire to cook his food. [4]

And did he see that Man was an animal like no other, for he did speak as an Angel might, when upon the Corporeal world, and Angels beyond Jordi's Intercessionists could understand Man's language and customs.

And not easily did he see what place Man did have in the World.

And Jordi was concerned, for Man lived on the land, and sailed on the sea, and hurled his weapons through the air, and man killed the beasts of the land, and the fish of the sea, and the birds of the air, and the insects that bridged them, yet Jordi did not see what killed Man.

But he was not so concerned as to destroy Man. For Man was young, and not as numerous as he would become, and in those days Man was not violent, nor was man wanton, but lived within the world, respecting the other animals and the trees and plants.

But he did not know what place was Man's in the world, and this did Jordi speak of to Lucifer and the Archangels.

And it came to pass that the man called Jacob, who was a good man, did watch from without his home during a storm. And lightnings and thunders flashed all about. And did the man called Jacob watch as lightning flared from the Heavens, and strike a tree near to Jacob's home. And as is fire's wont, it was born in the flash of lightning, even as the tree was split.

And the man Jacob understood in that flash that fire could be made, for even as the lightning struck, so it had made fire, and he went into the storm with a stout branch, and brought fire back to his home, and hoarded it and used it, and made it serve his need. He warmed himself, and cooked with it, and gave it to all his fellows, and Man had fire.

And did Jacob, who saw lightning strike a tree, and from it learn to harness fire also create a link to Heaven itself, to Jean of the Lightnings. And Jean did recognize that the mind of Man did ascend to Heaven and carry a long rope of prayer, and through that rope did the Light of Heaven flow, and so did Jean learn that the Minds of Man could reach for Heaven, and leave a path that Angels might follow, though Man could not rise to Heaven in this way. And this did Jean speak of to Lucifer and the Archangels.

And in seeing Man's customs, Jordi's Intercessionists - who looked after Man as they would the apes or the chimpanzees - learned that Man did give reverence for the world, for their food, and for the hunt, and dreamed of spirits who explained the world, for Man did not know of Heaven or the Angels, nor of God. And in their reverence did Gabriel hear their prayers, and descended into the Vessel of a man to walk among them, and learned that they had fire and inspiration. And this did Gabriel speak of to Lucifer and the Archangels.

And Man's dreams began to form and grow, and take on the seeming of life. And this was seen by Blandine and Beleth, who in the Greatest Love did administer the lands of Dreaming together. And did Blandine and Beleth speak of this to Lucifer and the Archangels.

And David learned that Man would come together into villages and communities, pooling their strengths and balancing their weaknesses, and move with a Unity that could rival Heaven's in a corporeal way. And did David descend into the Vessel of a man to walk among them, and learned that they used stone and grew strong. And this did David speak of to Lucifer and the Archangels.

And Andrealphus felt the Word of Love grow and swell, for Man did know and have Love, and came together in Love and as Love, and join together into families, and love one another and love their children, conceived in Love, and in this rising of Andrealphus' Word did it become plain that Andrealphus was as an Archangel, and so Lucifer did bespeak Yves, who fired an arrow from his bow that struck Andrealphus, and did in striking release the Archangel from the Angel's shell. And the Archangel Andrealphus did descend into the Vessel of a man to walk among them, and learn of their love for one another. And this did Andrealphus speak of to Lucifer and the Archangels.

And Eli felt the Word of Creation swell and grow, for Man told stories and tales and built homes and offerings, working with hands and the inspiration that Fire brought. And did Eli descend into the Vessel of a man to walk among them, and learned the stories and legends of Man, and watched them build for protection and for joy, and saw the art of Man. And this did Eli speak of to Lucifer and the Archangels.

And in this way did the others among the Archangels and the Word-Bound Angels recognize the strengths of Man.

And did Yves, of the Yew Bow, emerge from the books and writings of the Library - and this was a Library of the ages, for within are all books to be read, all maps to be seen, and all that which has been imagined but not writ, now, in the distant past and forever more. He did step forth, and speak to the Archangels, of which he was one yet apart, saying that within each Man was Destiny, and should Man reach Destiny, then that Man would be able to walk among Heaven and the Angels, and ascend to realms beyond even the Angels. And in so naming did Yves draw an arrow to his Bow, and fire that arrow, and did it strike upon a tree which grew, and stretched, and formed a ladder, up into the Heavens themselves, spake of by the Prophet Jacob [5], much as the rope of inspired prayer stretched from the lightning tree to Heaven, so this did stretch from Heaven to a Higher Heaven, and there did God lie, whose Voice was the Metatron.

And this did cause Lucifer to frown, and ask of Yves "why is there a Ladder to the Higher Heaven for Man to climb, when we the Angels and Archangels are set above Man in the Order of Things? Would we not climb this Ladder and behold the naked Glory of God, named by you and creator of us all?"

And did Yves smile and bade Lucifer rest his cares, saying "yours is the Glory of Service to the Lord. In Him do you have both duty and comfort, and do you have from him the Metatron, which is his Voice, to guide and speak unto you, and reveal the Glories of the Lord. So that it is so, you would not climb the Ladder, for he who climbs up the Ladder does not return, for one cannot unmake a thing made."

And Lucifer frowned, and felt the envy and jealousy gnaw at his insides once more, but did not speak again of this.

But instead did he speak unto the Archangels, saying "let us watch Man carefully, for he is below us in the Order of Things, and to him we have the responsibility for and dominion over."

And this the Archangels agreed, and watched Man carefully. And to these ends they sent their Servitors down, to see them and understand them, and in this the Intercessionists, bright Mercurians, did excel, for even as they resembled Man in face and feature, so too did they understand Man more readily than their brethren that were closer to God. And so did the wisdom of God become evident.

For even as the Trisagionists were close to God, still they could not understand the tongues and ways of Man. And so too were the constant Hayyoths close to the Divine that is the source of all life, and yet their constancy was alien to Man, who could not follow. And so too was this true of the quick Thrones, and the cold Dynamis. And while the Hives sought to understand all they bespake, only the Intercessionists truly understood Man's character, and so the wisdom of God was evident to all, and those who had felt least now could see their role in the work that had been set before them.

And He-Who-Is-Like-God saw that in this, the least of the Angels, for they were the furthest from God's grace, were the greatest, and the Most Holy of Angels were laid low, for of all of those within the Order of Things, the blessed Seraphim did understand Man least well. And though He-Who-Is-Like-God was himself a Seraph, he could recognize that, as he had believed, the Least Holy and the Most Holy were as equals in the wisdom of God, for God's plan included them both, and both had a role in the work that had been set before them.

And so He-Who-Is-Like-God did descend into the Vessel of a man to walk among Man, and see what he could, and learn the ways of Man. And did He-Who-Is-Like-God bring also Nisroc, the first among his Mercurians, and did He-Who-Is-Like-God stay silent, and let Nisroc speak for them both, that He-Who-Is-Like-God could learn to understand Man through the eyes of a Mercurian, who was closest to them, and not through his Seraph's eyes.

And did He-Who-Is-Like-God learn that Man was possessed of many virtues no animal had possessed, for they did love, and worship, and understand honor. Man could be valiant and brave when needed, driving predators from the village even when they were stronger and faster than the men who fought them. And He-Who-Is-Like-God learned to respect Man, as individuals and in total, and did he learn many things.

And Lucifer did set Man into the Order of Things, above the animals, which distressed Jordi, of whom Animals were beloved for Jordi did have the dominion of them with his Word, but below the Angels - yea, and even below the Intercessionists who were the least of Heaven. And Lucifer did not descend to Earth and did not wear the Vessel of a man, but sent instead his Mercurians to watch them, and to bring them Enlightenment. For Lucifer was the Lightbringer, and to his Mercurians said he "Man must learn the glory of God and the Angels, and must he learn of who he reveres, and must he give thanks unto us, who are between he and the Lord in the Order of Things."

And did the Mercurians of Lucifer descend into the Vessels of men to walk among Man, and see what they could, and learn the ways of Man. And did they join into the society of Man as men, and did they work alongside men in the fields, and join with men in the hunts for food, and did they act in all ways as men among Man.

And did they see that among Man did a man take a woman to wife, and so did the Mercurians of the Light take one another as man and wife, for an Angel is not man, nor is an Angel woman, but instead wear they the Vessels of men, and so too could they wear the Vessels of women, and so could take one another as man and wife in the eyes of Man, and thereby act as Man.

And did they learn that in acting the parts of Man did make them as men, and that the deeds done as men were as men in the eyes of the Celestial Spheres, but the deeds done as Angels did raise forth a clamor among the Celestial Tones, and could be heard. And so did they cherish that which made them as men among Man, and did they perform as men and women in all ways [6].

And did the number of the Mercurians of Lucifer be twenty and one, and did eleven of those wear the Vessels of men, and ten of those the Vessels of women, and did ten of those who wore the Vessels of men take the ten of those who wore the Vessels of women to be wives, and did they make homes among Man, and there begin to instruct Man in giving reverence to the Lord, and to the Angels who were between Man and the Lord in the Order of Things.

But among the Mercurians of Lucifer was one called Confre, and Confre was among the eleven Mercurians who did wear the Vessels of men, but as there were but ten Mercurians who wore the Vessels of women, then was Confre without a wife, and did his place among Man seem insecure, and did he yearn to have a woman to take for wife.

And so did Confre look not upon the Mercurians of Lucifer who wore the Vessels of women, but instead upon the Daughters of Man, and did he consider most carefully, before entering the house of Jacob, who had seen the Lighting come upon the tree and there did open a path to Heaven, and did Confre, who wore the Vessel of a man, make suit upon the third daughter of Jacob, and her name was Amare. And in this did Confre act in all ways as a man among Man would, and thereby did secure his place among Man, and did Jacob assent to this marriage, and did Amare leave her father's house and enter Confre's, and become his wife.

And so was Confre the first of the Sons of Heaven to take one of the Daughters of Man to wife, and did he live with her in all ways, and did they become as man and wife in all things, and still did Amare not know that her husband was of the Heavenly Host, but instead did she know him as a man among Man.

And was Amare a dutiful wife in all ways.

And Confre and Amare did grow close, and did Amare feel love for Confre, as his husband, and in time did Confre feel love for Amare.

But Amare was discontent, for she did not bear Confre sons.

And this is as it should be, for the Vessels of men that the Host might wear to walk among Man are not men, but merely the Vessels, in form and function, and so the Vessels of men might not sire children upon the Daughters of Man, and nor might the Sons of Man sire children upon the Vessels of women that too an Angel might wear. And so Amare did her duty by her husband, and yet could not bear him sons. And this did make her discontent.

And Confre, who did love Amare and wish to see her content, did step away from his role as husband and man, and did bespeak Andrealphus, who was Archangel of Love, and speak to the Archangel of Amare and her discontent.

And did Andrealphus listen and grow sore concerned, for Andrealphus was the Archangel of Love, and took strength from the Word of Love, and embraced Love in all its ways, and in becoming discontent, Amare did not act within the Word of Love as it should be.

Would that Andrealphus had spoke unto Confre, and cast him from his role as husband and send him away forever more. Would that Lucifer had watched and known the deeds of his Mercurians, who he had made his Servitors and set himself before in the Order of Things. Would Solitude not have begun to grow within the hearts of the Host. For Confre did love Amare, but also did he fear the Solitude without her to wife, and this too did drive him to bespeak Andrealphus' assistance.

And did Andrealphus smile upon Confre, and taught the Mercurian of Light a Song most special and secret, that when sung unto Amare would take root, and then as Confre did take Amare as husband took wife, then would he sire a child upon her, as Amare sore desired.

And Confre did smile, and sing praises to Andrealphus and to Love, and did Confre bear this Song to his wife, Amare, and told her none of this.

And did Confre call a feast, and did he and his wife celebrate, and did he tell his wife that upon that very night would she conceive a child, for an Angel of the Lord had told him so. And did Amare grow in joy and impatience, for she did believe Confre. And did Amare call to the Heavens and offer praise to the Lord and to the Angels.

And better would she to have not believed, and to have left her husband's house and returned to the house of her father, Jacob. Better would she to have left, but this she did not do, and instead did she take her husband to their bed, and there did be as a wife to her husband.

And did Confre sing the Song that Andrealphus had taught, and Sing it well, and did he indeed sire a child upon Amare, and upon the morning did both know that Amare would bear Confre a son.

Among the Archangels were those who were not bound to Words, and one was He-Who-Is-Like-God, who was Firstborn and but for the Order of Things as named by Lucifer would be thought the first of all Angels.

And He-Who-Is-Like-God did not consider his lack, for he served the Lord in all ways, and did not worry of glory or the Order of Things, but instead did he devote himself to the work that was set before him.

But Baal, whose eyes burned and whose soul was lightning, too was Bound not to any Word, and he as well was set below those Archangels Bound to Words. And Baal, who was of the Seraphim, was among the Most Holy, and yet were Mercurians and Kyriotates and Elohim set over him, as were Cherubim and Ofanim and Lucifer, himself a Seraph and Bound to the Word of Light. And so did Baal feel the least of Archangels, for he would not set himself over He-Who-Is-Like-God.

And so did Baal of the fiery eyes descend into the Vessel of a man to walk among Man, in hopes that he might find a Word to call his own, and to learn the ways of Man. And though He-Who-Is-Like-God had taken faithful Nisroc with him, to see the world through Mercurian eyes instead of Seraph's eyes, Baal did not bring a Mercurian, for in his pride and solitude did he wish to prove that he, and he alone, could learn the ways of Man without the help of the least of Angels.

And in this did Baal take a lesson from Lucifer, who had set the Angels into the Order of Things, and did set the Trisagionists at the top of the Angels and the closest to God, and the Mercurians at the bottom of the Angels and the furthest from God. And yet he did not follow Lucifer, who did send his Mercurians to learn the ways of man.

And so, having followed the paths of both He-Who-Is-Like-God and Lucifer, yet not followed the paths of either, Baal made his way into the world, and did discover many things.

And the men and women did behold Baal, and did ask of him his past, and Baal, who was a Seraph and clove to truth, did tell the men and woman that he was a Son of Heaven, and more of the Trisagionists, who sing the name of the Lord. And he did call himself Archangel, and did reveal of his glory. And in this did he cause great clamor through the Celestial Spheres, but he did not pay heed to this.

And did the men and women of the valley [7] revere Baal, for his glory and quality were plain to see, and did believe him to be both Archangel and Seraph, and did they raise up towers and altars to his glory.

And did Baal speak unto the men and women of the valley, saying "Your towers and altars do please me, but remember - I am not the Lord, but of his Archangels. And though I am Trisagionist, the Most Holy are not God." And so he did not deceive the men and women of the valley. And yet still did the men and women of the valley raise altars and towers to his glory.

And the men and women of the valley did say "Yours is the might of the Lord, for you are his child and blessed. And in your blessings might you bless us also, and so we will give reverence to the name of Baal, and praise you and the Lord." And this did please Baal greatly, for of all the Archangels, only his name was praised by the men and women of the valley, and only he did have towers and altars raised to his glory. And so he did not chide them, but instead allowed their worship.

And did Baal then feel their worship as a flower did feel the sun and rain, and under their praise and reverence did he grow and flourish. And so did Baal learn that in the hearts and minds of Man could strength be yielded to one's own name, in the same way as one's Word could grow within them. And so Baal did grow and flourish under the praise and worship of Man, and did he accept their reverence as his due.

And did Amare, wife of Confre, who bore within her the son of Heaven and Man alike, give thanks for the getting of her child. For she was a faithful wife, and did wish to be as a wife in all ways to her husband, whom she did not know was an Angel of the Lightbringer, but instead did think was a man among Man.

And so did Amare prepare for the birth of her son.

She did prepare rooms and bring forth maids to see after the child. And too did she care for herself as a mother should when great with child. And she did keep her voice sweet and her demeanor pleasant, and did she strive to make her gravidity as healthful as one could.

And did Amare offer thanks and praise to the Lord and to the Angels, and call upon them to bless her child. For Amare was a righteous woman.

And yet, did Amare bear the terrible fruits of sin within her, and so her prayers were as for naught, and her hopes would be as dust.

For did Confre, an Intercessionist and Servitor of Lucifer, bespeak Andrealphus, the Archangel of Love, and receive a Song that he and the Daughter of Man taken as wife by he conceive a child, which no Vessel worn by an Angel could do. And did Confre use and sing this Song, and did Amare conceive the child within.

And in this did Confre transgress, for the Angels are the Children of Heaven, and Amare was a Daughter of Man, and it was not mete that Heaven and Man lie down with one another, and conceive, and bring forth children.

But Amare did not know of the sin which she and her husband Confre had done, and did not know of their transgression. And so with peace within her brow did she enter into her father's house, and did the maids and midwifes of Jacob, the father of Amare attend Amare against the day of birth.

Gabriel, bright fiery spirit of the sky! Wheel within wheels, Throne of Heaven, Archangel and messenger, whose burning lips do let slip the Holy words! Gabriel, whose face is smooth and whose wings are as fire, do hear us and accept our thanks for the divine godhead carried within your messenger's form!

Gabriel, who is Archangel of Fire, spread the wheels of your Servitors before you, awaken your horn and do sound the cries of the morning!

For Fire is the consumer and the inspirer. Fire awakens and Fire lulls. Fire is stories and sparks and warmth and hearth. And so in these things may God be found.

And so did Gabriel, the bright star of the night sky, did speak the words, and these words did come down as prophecy.

And spoke Gabriel, saying thus.

"For when Man and Angel combine, shall there be suffering unimagined.

"Man and Angel are not meant to bring forth that which did not exist, for between Man and Angel are the seeds of madness and pain, horror and darkness. Creatures that would not exist in Heaven or among Man.

"Praise be to God, who would not punish the innocent without cause! And thus, would two in three of such Creatures be fine and sleek, composed of lines most wondrous and well made! And yet, would such men be Man, and no child of Heaven, for though they may be grand of sinew and thought, no Child of Man created in this way may aspire to Heaven.

"Only through the unhooking of one's mortal coil, after striving to achieve the tools of Destiny and joy, might Man see the gates and cities of Heaven, there to climb the Ladder to the Higher Heaven, and behold the naked glory of God!

"But as there is terrible Sin in the crafting of children betwixt Heaven and Man, so one part of three would not be fine and sleek, composed of lines most wondrous and well made. For of the third not yet mentioned, there would be named Abomination, and horror and pain would follow in his wake.

"For his would be the strength of Heaven, but without place or duty, for he would not be a part of the work, and would not have the work set before him, nor would do it if it were so. And one who bears the form of Heaven but not the soul of Heaven's duty is a twisted, foul thing, and corrupts that which it touches, bearing Selfishness and Hate within it.

"And some Abominations would be small and mean, in body and spirit, and these would be dispatched when they are found.

"But some few would be mighty and terrible, and wreak havoc before all that come, and Heaven's Children would be sorely tested to dispatch such terrible beasts.

"And in their-"

-accept the spirit, for the spirit will move you! And shall Innocence turn, bend and crack, and then -- THEN! Then shall a Child of Heaven fulfill the curse of Gog, and make Selfishness manifest, in obsessed horror and clarity! Only then shall there be weeping in the lightning's flash As horror made plain awakens, and Chaos laughs-

-though the blow had made it weep?

But stone will not cry out, nor stoic David,

And in their praise do they praise not I

But God in his Heaven, on tall and high.

So in this do I feel my worth confirm'd

And know not why thy face has turned."

And did then Yves of the unbent bow

Did close his eyes to the Seraph's gaze

And spoke not again of mankind's praise

Nor of the crop that Baal did sow.

But instead did nod, and speak no more

Of what the Lord might have in store

For hubris come from strength unearned

And prayers redirected, the Lord spurned.

But did Baal himself to Earth then go

And sit among his worshippers proud-

Not e'en slightly bent or cowed

By words that sprang from Yves's Bow.

He sat instead and called for song

And reveled through the night so long

Embracing those who dared come near

Approaching the mighty without fear.

And Yves in Heaven did look upon

The lion of Heaven in sleek repose

Among those faithful that he chose

To enjoy in company during song.

And Yves did close his eyes again

Praying for his long time friend.

"May you return to Heaven's grace

Before you lose the Lord's embrace."

And so it was that Confre did go to the house of Jacob, who was the father of Amare, taken by Confre as wife who bore his child of Heaven and Man. And did the thunders sound above, as had they upon the day that Jacob did look upon the world and see the lightnings strike the tree, and there did learn the secrets of fire, and tie his thoughts to Heaven through Lightning's Word.

And Amare did cry out, for her child's birth was sore upon her, and in anguish did she cry for pain. Attendants and midwifes alike did wince, for never had they seen so difficult a birth. And then at last did they send word to Confre that his wife would not survive the birth.

And Confre did cry out in anguish true, for in fear of solitude had he sought to beget a child of Heaven and Earth, to please his wife and live with her as a man among Man. And did Confre call out to Heaven, saying "in cherishing and keeping Amare for mine, do you now take her from me?" And hurried he to his wife's side, in hopes that music most Divine could succor her wounds.

But in this Confre was not allowed, for Amare had death take her before Confre did see her, and did Confre reach the room where the birthing had taken place, to see the midwifes and attendants flee. And force he past them, into the room where his wife dead lay, and looked upon the visage of his son.

A twisted thing was he, full grown and twice again of a normal man, so that he was as a giant among men, his flesh red and black and unnatural green, and did his sinews make ropes of metal and his low sloped forehead be blunt like a club. Not so much teeth as knives had he, his jaws a rending trap to tear apart the flesh he craved. From his back there rose a mat of thick black hair, and did Confre look upon him, and know him to be Gog.

And there upon the bed lay Amare, torn apart by so great a birth, and lying dead did she still seem to look upon her son, and in her dead eyes reflected horrors untold.

And did Confre approach Gog his son, and speak to him with soothing voice. For Confre was yet Intercessionist and not man, and the Mercurians' blessing was society, and the Mercurians' curse was that no hand raise they in violence. And so the Angel did speak unto his son, and seek to sooth the monstrous will.

But Gog rose up, terrible and strong, speaking in a voice full now adult, and spake as thus: "Yours is not my house, nor your ways mine," he cried. "For this the world you have delivered me, and the world shall be as toys within my crib. I shall strive with Man as a babe does strive with rings and foolery, and where a babe might throw his block, so I shall hurl boulders and make these wretches as mine own."

And in so crying out did Gog hurl his black, twisted fist. And did it strike Confre like a maul upon a log, and did Confre's Vessel which he wore break upon the assault, its sinews and bone splintering like straw in too great a wind. And Confre was hurled from his Vessel with the shock of mortal death - and though immortal could not withstand such a blow unmark'd, and so did Confre reel through the Celestial Spheres, his mind made as shattered glass, until settle he in the courts of Heaven, nestl'd round a crystal globe - thrice again the size of a man's head, shining gold and starlight - and this was Confre's own foundation, that part of him in Heaven forevermore. It rang its clamor with the horrible pain of Confre's mortal blow, and call the broken Angel back to home.

And did the Servitors of Lucifer come, all aflutter, for never had an Angel come to harm. And did they look upon the broken Mercurian, wrapped 'round the globe that was as a Heart to a man, and did they cry out with fear, and call for Lucifer to see.

And did the Archangel, Lucifer, the Chamberlain of Heaven come to where the Hearts of all his Servitors lay, and did he look upon the broken face of Confre, seeing there the horror of death and solitude. And spoke he to Confre in a soothing voice, and Sing unto him the healing Songs of Heaven.

But neither word nor Song nor touch would rouse the broken Angel from stupor's grip. And Lucifer did feel the clutch of fear, for never had a Servitor of Heaven so ape death.

Knew they all that Angels could die - struck by another, torn apart like a tapestry unwoven. But never had such a thing been done, and never would it be they prayed. And so Confre in his trauma's fugue did frighten those who saw, in such pain as not to be relieved.

[2] The name "Yves" derives from the French, where it is associated with the Yew tree and with Archery. Yew wood is particularly good for bows, given its naturally supple nature and considerable tensile strength. A significant portion of the Book of Sorrow is written in French, it is worth noting. There is no archer or bow imagery normally associated with Yves, which makes the bow as metaphor for Yves's role as Namer all the more likely.

[3] The word is unclear. Archangel is an approximation.

[4] The man Jacob is recorded as discovering fire, below Jordi's insights into Man. Events cannot easily be reconciled. Perhaps this was metaphoric, or perhaps Jean's later insight came before Jordi's, but the chronicle listed them separately and out of order.

[5] It is difficult to know if the Bramswitch Folio is referring to the Jacob who discovered fire and created the first Tether to Heaven, above, or if this is a reference to Genesis 28:12-17:

This Jacob was ultimately called Israel, and it is for this Jacob that Jacob's Ladder is named. However, one could also see this Biblical passage as referring to a Tether, which this Jacob created with his inspiration in Sorrows 10:11.

[6] The text is somewhat unclear, but seems to be referring mostly to sex. This might inform the continuing lessons even among more prudish Archangels of having their Servitors act sexually if appropriate within their Roles. It could also mean the prophet/celestial/madman who wrote the Book of Sorrows was indulging in fantasy.

Of more interest is the implication that it was the Mercurians of Lucifer - who was apparently the first of the Superiors to exclusively use Servitors to interact on Earth - who discovered the making of Roles. This would be appropriate to the metaphoric elements of Light, naturally, but would seem more the natural role of Jean or Raphael - in their capacity of Knowledge and scientific experimentation - or Eli or Andrealphus, as the Mercurian Superiors acting among humanity.

[7] It is never explained what valley is spoken of here.