Adapted by Manny Nepomuceno

One of Novalis’ closest confidantes before her exile from Heaven, Zadkiel is not what she once was. Those who knew her then mutter darkly that she should have become Malakite - one of Heaven’s dark warriors - but they speak softly, for Zadkiel has eyes and ears everywhere.

Zadkiel is Archangel of the Watch - the intelligence service of Heaven, charged with finding and uncovering the plots hatched by the rebels led by Uriel, Archangel of Purity. While her fellows may consider the rebels misguided, she holds a different opinion - they chose their Path, turning away from the guidance of the Lord, as spoken by the Archangel Regent Lucifer, and are therefore evil. She holds special animosity towards Novalis, as the Archangel of Flowers abandoned her personally in the moment of her Exile.

The Watch itself duplicates functions carried out by angels of the Sword, but while Servitors of Laurence specialize in counterintelligence and military operations, the Watch focuses on infiltration and espionage. As Watch Commander, Zadkiel is Word-bound to the defense of Heaven, and will not tolerate any attempt to breach its walls or compromise the integrity of the Host. This has not kept her from infiltrating Hades with her angels, of course, and the amount of information she is rumored to have accumulated on the various factions of Hades is truly frightening.

The Watch thrives on accurate and timely information. It is dissonant for an angel of the Watch to falsify or distort information passed to another Watcher. It is also dissonant for an angel of the Watch to fail to pass on what he or she deems as important information within three days of having learned it.

Members of the Watch nominally belong to the military organization charged with guarding the borders of Heaven. Every angel of the Watch can expect, at some point in his or her existence, to pull "guard duty", although in this they are joined by angels serving every other Word in Heaven. Angels of the Watch, however, are deferred to when it comes to this responsibility as officers and "Watch Commanders", although it is widely known that the one true Watch Commander is, in fact, Zadkiel herself. Zadkiel does not exempt herself from this duty, and spends more time on the walls than any other angel of the Watch.

However, not every angel of the Watch is relegated to guard duty. A sizeable minority of Watchers is assigned to intelligence work, which basically involves being on Earth and passing on information about the rebels in Hades. There are rumors of angels serving Zadkiel in Hades as well, although few claim to know the truth or falsehood of the matter... but Zadkiel seems to have a great deal of information on rebel activity, so it's not unlikely. Also, many Watchers are "fostered" to other Words - either placed in service to them, or outright transferred - the better to keep watch over Heaven's interests, after all.

While Zadkiel is the Watch Commander, two of her Ambassadors have the authority to act in her stead. Ahazia, Cherub Ambassador of the Watch, is nominally her second-in-command. However, the course of the War and the various responsibilities of her position have led her to delegate many of those responsibilities to Nisroc, a Mercurian formerly serving Michael, also an Ambassador of the Watch. This arrangement is ideal for both of them - Ahazia coordinates the defense of Heaven, while Nisroc conducts the Watch's espionage operations. Zadkiel is said to be very happy with this arrangement, and has put up both Ahazia and Nisroc for Words.

Cherubim of the Watch returning to the corporeal plane may choose to appear at a location close to their attuned, in either celestial form or their vessel. Furthermore, for a cost of (Forces/4, round down) Essence (spent on the celestial plane) they may enter the corporeal plane without creating Symphonic disturbance.

Non-Cherubim purchasing this Attunement only receive the "may enter the corporeal sans disturbance" benefit.

Wheels of the Watch add their appropriate Forces to their Dodge skill rolls (Corporeal Forces for physical combat, Ethereal Forces for mental combat, Celestial Forces for celestial combat).

Adept at identifying threats, Watcher Elohim are especially sensitive to anger, and will always detect it in any creature they resonate. Treat this as an automatic success, with a check digit of 2. At his discretion, the player may choose to roll for a higher check digit.

True guardians of Heaven, Malakim of the Watch will never be stunned or fall unconscious in battle until their vessels die or their Minds drop to zero.

Instead of possessing a corporeal being, Zadkiel's Kyriotates may "hitchhike", living dormant in the possessed creature. While in this state, these Dominations may not cause or will their hosts to act in ways that they choose -- instead, they are passive witnesses to everything their host experiences. They may not use Rites, Songs or Attunements, or abilities conferred on them by Distinctions, unless the Attunement or ability is passive in nature. Kyriotates hitchhiking in this fashion are limited by the sensory organs of their hosts -- those hitchhiking in dogs, for example, will see everything in black and white, but will have access to a range of scents and sounds beyond the normal range of human beings. Also, they do not have access to their hosts' thoughts and memories while in this passive state.

Celestials whose vessels are invaded in this manner may sense this intrusion with a Perception roll, after which they may forcibly expel the Kyriotate after a Contest of Wills. Watcher Kyriotates who fail the contest of Wills are may not attempt to possess the host again for (2 times the difference between Will rolls) days, and suffer dissonance as well. Only one Kyriotate may hitchhike in a host at a time.

Zadkiel's best spies are her Mercurians. They typically take deep-cover Roles, and are expected to work with a minimum of supervision -- so when they hit the panic button, the Watch listens. Mercurians of the Watch add +1 to any attempt to invoke Zadkiel, and receive a +2 bonus to Zadkiel's reaction roll. Even when she's angry or distracted, she listens to those in the field.

For 1 Essence, the angel becomes human for 24 hours -- nothing he does causes any ripples in the Symphony, but all the limitations of human beings likewise apply to him. The angel must eat, sleep, and expel waste as a human being does. He may not use Rites, Songs, Attunements, or abilities granted by Distinctions, even those which are passive in nature. He may not pass Essence to anyone else. Kyriotates using their Choir attunement while using this Attunement become totally undetectable, but may not abandon their hosts until Humanity wears off.

This Attunement allows an angel to pass for someone he is not.

For 1 Essence, the angel takes on the celestial form of any Choir of angel, including his own. He may choose to have the Mark set on his form. This effect lasts for 24 hours. Angels choosing to take their own Choir's celestial form will appear sufficiently different that friends and acquaintances will fail to recognize them from appearance alone.

For 2 more Essence, the angel may masquerade as a specific celestial. This effect lasts 24 hours as well, but requires that the angel have a clear mental picture of the celestial he is mimicking. Discrepancies in an angel's mental image will be reflected in the angel's altered form!

Take note that this Attunement does not confer either a new resonance or dissonance conditions on the angel.

The angel may clandestinely strengthen an object using this Attunement. In terms of game mechanics, the object being strengthened receives a Protection bonus equal to the angel's Corporeal Forces. This Attunement costs 1 Essence to activate and lasts for 1 hour. Further expenditures of Essence will lengthen the effect's duration by 1 point per hour. This only affects inanimate objects -- vessels are considered animated and cannot be Strengthened in this fashion! The Attunement strengthens a maximum of one cubic foot of material -- the GM should charge more Essence for a larger volume of material. The object's appearance does not change.

Zadkiel awards this Attunement to the rare humans who distinguish themselves in her service. For a cost of 1 Essence, the human experiences a sensory boost (treat as Perception 12) for 24 hours. Also, in this period of time, the human will not need sleep, nor will he experience hunger or fatigue. He is still, however, vulnerable to the ravages of heat, cold, radiation, and vacuum. Zadkiel usually assigns such humans to work at Tethers or to guard important artifacts in situations where celestials are unavailable to do such work.

Like a Vassal, a Friend can sense malevolent intent within (Perception + Celestial Forces)*10 yards. Unlike a Vassal, a Friend can determine the source of the malevolent intent. The intensity of the sense grows stronger as the Friend nears its source.

Like a Friend, a Master can sense malevolent intent within (Perception + Celestial Forces)*10 yards, and can determine the source of the malevolent intent by the intensity of the sense. Unlike a Friend, a Master can determine the degree of the malevolent intent -- someone intending to renege on a deal will not feel the same as someone with genuine intent to kill, for example, to a Master of Vigilance.

Above Master of Vigilance are three ranks: Grand Master, Warden, and Ambassador. In theory, Grand Master and Warden are equal ranks, but because there are fewer Wardens, it is often considered the higher of the two.

Grand Masters of the Watch are Zadkiel's most trusted operatives. Grand Masters of Protection can recognize fellow members of the Watch on sight, whether or not the angel is Masquerading as another or using the Humanity Attunement to avoid detection. (Kyriotates using both their Choir Attunement and Humanity are no exception.) Typically, Grand Masters are found on the corporeal plane, checking in with operatives and ensuring the integrity of Zadkiel's intelligence network.

Zadkiel has four Wardens, nominally in charge of the four segments of the Wall surrounding Heaven. Each Warden is given full authority to act in her name, subject to her approval or that of her Ambassadors, and act as interim Watch Commander when Zadkiel is away from Heaven (and Ahazia and Nisroc are unable to take that responsibility). While they receive no special abilities from their Distinctions, they are considered part of Zadkiel's inner circle. There is currently no Warden of the East, although the positions of Warden of the North, South, and West are currently filled.

Zadkiel has three Ambassadors in her service -- Ahazia, a Cherub and her nominal second-in-command, Nisroc, a Mercurian in charge of the Watch's spy operations, and Jephar, a Malakite who heads Zadkiel's personal Malakim squad. The Distinction, however, confers no special abilities on its holder, but these Ambassadors have Zadkiel's full trust and may speak with her authority. Of the three Ambassadors, only Jephar does not have planning and strategic responsibilities -- he has never taken over as Watch Commander, for example. Instead, he acts as Zadkiel's personal bodyguard and assistant (and occasionally as her envoy to another Archangel's Cathedral).

Zadkiel gets along very well with Heaven's most zealous promoters. Laurence and Lucifer are her staunchest allies. She doesn't entirely trust Laurence, given their history, but God Himself, speaking through Lucifer, made him her superior, so she cooperates anyway.

The Marches are a place of special concern to Zadkiel. She doesn't have as many assets in that field as she'd like, and to this end, she constantly seeks to befriend Beleth, the Archangel of Fear.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, Zadkiel has clashed far too often with Gabriel and her minions to let them go unopposed. Also, Zadkiel is obsessed with seeing Novalis brought to justice.

Allied: Laurence, Lucifer

Associated: Beleth

Neutral: Everyone else in the Host, Fleurity

Hostile: Gabriel, Jordi, the Exiles

Enemy: Novalis

On the Host's Archangels:

Andrealphus (Love): "I understand his raw passion, but he has a tendency to be soft and self-indulgent."

Asmodeus (the Game): "I do not understand his agenda, or his Word, and how it relates to the defense of Heaven's ideals. The Lightbringer is wiser than I in this matter."

Beleth (Fear) - "We share so much -- the pain and the loss and the sorrow. I have instructed my Servitors to protect and support hers; two old friends can rely on each other in these chaotic times."

Beth (Thoroughness) - "She is a strange one, bound to the Archives and to a Word that seems so... trivial. We have little opportunity or need to interact. When the Exiles return to besiege Heaven, where will her Servitors be while mine are dying on the Wall?"

Demogorgon (Chaos) - "Something about this one unsettles me. I do not trust him, but Laurence seems to consider him useful. The Regent has more wisdom than I where Demogorgon is concerned; I will follow, and hold my peace."

Gebbeleth (the Holy Mysteries) - "The Watch exists to protect him and what he embodies. Sometimes I wonder if our sacrifices are worth it all."

Iblis (Glory) - "Often overlooked, Iblis is one of the few I consider worthy of the title of Archangel. I can only wish that the rest of the Host were as worthy as he is."

Israfel (the Symphony) - "A strange one, Israfel. She is not an active participant in the War, and yet she is, in ways that we are just beginning to discover. She bears watching."

Jean (Lightning) - "He creates useful tools, although his attitude of late worries me. I used to feel uneasy in his presence -- but that was before I truly understood the burden he carries. While I do not understand him, I empathize with him, and hope that in the future he and his will cooperate with me and mine more thoroughly."

Kobal (Laughter) - "He takes the War too lightly. Does he think that laughter will destroy Hades? Still, I must admit that he builds camaraderie, and for that I respect his viewpoint. I have heard some rumors about him, though, which I do not care to repeat here..."

Laurence (the Sword) - "Every so often, he tries to remind me of the time I enjoyed his hospitality. I have not forgotten, but for his sake, I choose not to remember. If he did not serve Heaven so well, I would destroy him."

Lucifer (Light) - "The Bright Lord, my salvation. I would give up my life to see Heaven's triumph assured - and he appreciates this. It is in his name that I fight this War."

Marc (Trade) - "His self-pity is written on his face. He is a step away from defecting to the rebels, yet I have seen him and his angels make great sacrifices to accommodate the needs of the Watch. An interesting contradiction, and one that bears watching - at least the Sword has its eye on him."

On the Exiles:

Baal (Valor) - "Vainglorious fool. How can he look upon the Lord of the Morning and not see Heaven's glory? His pride will be his downfall."

Blandine (Dreams - "Perhaps among the most truly dangerous of the lunatics in Hades. I would not mind seeing her destroyed, or returned to Heaven's fold -- the sooner, the better."

David (Stone) - "His Word and mine are related, and our methods are disturbingly similar. If only there were a way to return him to Heaven's graces."

Dominique (Justice) - "I hear she is blind now. To me, she has always been blind."

Eli (Creation) - (uncomfortable silence) "I used to like him. A lot. I wish he hadn't left, but he did. And he will pay. Along with the rest of them."

Haagenti - (Shrug)

Lilith (Liberation) - "It disturbs me that we were unable to keep her from freeing the Exiles. She will not get the drop on us a second time around."

Malphas (Factions) - "Evil, plain and simple. He destroys what perfect unity we create in our long vigil."

Novalis (Flowers) - "Mother, can you see me now? Can you see what you're making me do? Can you?"

Nybbas (Communications) - "Elusive little bastard. With every network we put up, we strengthen his Word. I want his head on a platter."

Ogiel (Resistance) - "He thinks he's clever for having outwitted us in the Marches. The Watch will succeed where the Sword failed."

Raphael (Knowledge) - "I have never understood how Knowledge could choose to serve a side that is so blatantly and clearly evil. Perhaps she may be redeemed yet, but one way or another, I will see the threat she presents to Heaven dealt with."

Uriel (Purity) - "He had his day. Why does he keep on fighting? I know enough about him to keep him from our gates. All this dealing with ethereals must have him questioning his purpose by now."

Vapula (SCIENCE!) - "This young fool deludes himself if he thinks he has the genius of Archangel Jean. Still, I must acknowledge that the advances mortals have made in espionage-related technologies in the past forty years have been mostly due to his interference in mortal affairs. If only there were a way to return him to Heaven's fold..."

On those who are neither:

Beelzebub (War) - "Is this creature even worth worrying about? I have my assets firmly in place to deal with him. He will crash and break against Heaven's Wall."

Fleurity (Succor) - "I do not understand how he can not serve Heaven. Still, he is less of a threat than most of the others who shun Heaven's light."

Gabriel (Fire) - "Fire is nothing when it serves the darkness. I will see her brought to Heaven's justice."

Jordi (Animism) - "A crazed abomination that ought to be put down. I would see to it personally, were I not so concerned with the Exiles. It is disturbing to see that evil is not restricted to Hades alone."

Mariel (Memory) - "This one frightens me. I care not to associate with her. Still, she has an extensive network, and I am loath to leave it unattended, especially when Heaven itself is at stake."

Zadkiel is both spymistress and Watch Commander, completely dedicated to Heaven's defense against those who would threaten its sovereignty. To this end, besides taking charge of the Wall surrounding Heaven, she has also taken it upon herself to gather intelligence on the other side. In fulfilling both these functions she answers to both Lucifer and Laurence, although she is more deferential to Lucifer, treating Laurence as more of an equal than a superior.

Unlike the Sword, the Watch keeps its assets in the field firmly set against the Exiles. Zadkiel sees no need to place angels serving Heaven under surveillance - after all, that's what the Sword is for. Also, her dissonance conditions ensure that the information that reaches the Watch's headquarters is timely, relevant, and reliable, although she is known to constantly double-check the reliability of the information. After all, sometimes the information passes through angels who are not of the Watch...

- Cause any kind of death to a Servitor of Novalis (+2 Essence).

- Establish an intelligence network of no less than eight people.

- Instruct a deserving mortal in the martial arts for an hour.

Zadkiel has been known to award these to particularly deserving Servitors.

- Hold off a determined assault on a fortified position for an hour.

- Prevent a crime.

- Uncover the Role of an angel working against Heaven.

- Plant a bug or some other form of electronic surveillance in an enemy installation.

Modifiers:

Add +2 if the summoner is in dire need or immediate, life-threatening danger.

+1 An alarm, such as a burglar or smoke alarm

+2 An active security camera with a live feed

+3 A suit of armor

+4 A sentry post or watch tower

+5 A fortification or castle

+6 The Great Wall of China

There are still those who remember the bright Cherub who served under Novalis, who gloried in flowers and gardens and fields, and who understood, as so few do, the pure and simple joy of being.

That Cherub is gone now. In her place is a cold-hearted, distant angel, fiery and passionate only when it comes to hunting down the Exiles. Most of her Servitors fear rather than love her - but they trust her enough to know that she'd never let them down. Time after time, Zadkiel has managed to come through for her Servitors, pulling their fats out of the fire at critical times - and often with little more than a stern reprimand before sending them back to work. Those who have been on the receiving end of this treatment see something underneath the hard, cold exterior: a warm and genuinely loving creature, horribly scarred by an indescribable loss, with a deep and abiding presence.

The Exiles, of course, know a different Zadkiel. Implacable and deadly, Zadkiel uses every resource at her disposal to eliminate the threat against Heaven. She is content to wait years for plots and schemes to play themselves out, watching quietly with Cherubic patience. But when Zadkiel strikes, she strikes quickly, with devastating effect.

Zadkiel often manifests as a somewhat attractive middle-aged woman, although on occasion she prefers a male vessel. As Heaven's spymistress, it is generally supposed that she also uses other vessels as well, but no one's ever caught her doing so. In celestial form, she is a giant dire wolf, with white fur and golden eyes. The years of her work and her anger have taken their toll on her, and in any form she appears tired and somewhat run-down.

She is anything but exhausted, though, when it comes to opposing Novalis. No one completely understands the vendetta Zadkiel has set against the Archangel of Flowers, or why she hates her so personally and so completely. No one except the Lightbringer, and he won't comment on it. Some have commented that she has made it impossible for Novalis to ever return to Heaven's graces, but again, on this matter there is no comment from Heaven's royalty.

In Heaven, Zadkiel can often be found on the Wall, taking extra shifts. This is an opportunity for her to interact with her troops -- while Ahazia and Nisroc take care of the minutiae of the Watch (which she carefully double-checks later on), she is left free to get to know her Servitors. This has tremendous impact on morale, and every Watchman who has served with her on the Wall remembers the time spent with great fondness.

Privately, the degradation of the Symphony has worried Zadkiel for some time now. She'd really like to speak to someone about it, but Laurence and Lucifer have both been busy with the business of the War, and Ahazia and Nisroc have their own concerns. She can feel the wrongness of it, but can't really understand it - on the other hand, it's not her business to understand it, and she patiently awaits Jean's final word on the matter. There is a War to pursue, after all.

In the beginning, Zadkiel was one of Novalis' most able and trustworthy lieutenants, charged with learning and understanding the natural world. Like Novalis, Zadkiel saw and understood the beauty and the joy that comes from living in harmony with nature. Unlike Novalis, Zadkiel was also aware of nature's darker side -- of the thorns underneath the rose, as it were. She perceived the world as being harsh and wild, with many threats and hidden dangers. And she was afraid.

Novalis assuaged her fears and helped her to understand the necessity of such harsh measures of protection. The bond between the two Cherubim grew, and over time Zadkiel began to call Novalis "mother". Andrealphus, it is said, smiled on this, and it was good.

In due time, though, came the Rebellion. Zadkiel was too confused to be a part of it - she knew and respected both the Archangels Lucifer and Michael, and didn't really understand what was going on. Her lack of comprehension ended with Michael's death, when she saw Lucifer prove his Truth upon Michael's body. Laurence's defection to Lucifer's side settled the matter for her - clearly, Michael was wrong, and Lucifer was right.

But she was thrown once more into confusion when Archangels she knew and liked - Yves, Eli, Blandine, and Novalis among them - refused to accept the new order. She saw their departure from Heaven as personal betrayals, allowing her heart to harden a little more with each defection from Heaven's ranks. Novalis' was especially painful, and to this day she bears a grudge against the Archangel she once called mother.

After the Exiles were gone she wandered the Earth, despondent and sorrowing. For all intents and purposes, she was an Outcast, although her Heart remained clear and unbroken in the Glade. The few angels of Flowers who remained in Heaven's service kept her informed of goings-on in Heaven in the few times she made contact with them. Over time, she came to know of Ogiel and his resistance in the Marches, and she became furious at his audacity. The war was over - Ogiel was just making it worse for everyone.

Filled with righteousness and fury, Zadkiel slipped into the Marches. The angel of Flowers quickly made friends with several dream shades and ethereal spirits, and organized them into an informal network, dedicated to gathering and analyzing information about Ogiel and his rebels. When she was done, she took her findings back to Heaven and presented them to Laurence, Archangel of the Sword. He promptly threw her into a prison cell and charged her with collaboration with the enemy. The Inquisition was convened and Zadkiel ruthlessly interrogated.

In the end it was the Lightbringer himself who ordered her release. Thinking it would please him, Laurence invited Lucifer to view her interrogation. The Archangel of Light heard the Truth in her words, and understood, as Laurence did not, how dedicated this Cherub was to Heaven and its integrity. He saw the anger and the potential in Zadkiel and decided then and there to give her command of a new organization that would mirror the Sword, which was having trouble keeping Ogiel's rebels at bay and responding to the threat presented by the Exiles. Laurence, of course, objected, but to no avail. After being freed from captivity, Zadkiel was made Archangel of the Watch and charged with Heaven's defense.

Today, she serves as Watch Commander, and answers to Laurence and Lucifer both. Laurence has come to accept her as an equal, and the Watch and the Sword often work together in rooting out rebel activity. Those who set themselves against Heaven know Zadkiel as an implacable foe, and they have cause to fear -- the Watch, after all, is ever vigilant, and Zadkiel, it is said, has eyes and ears everywhere.