06-17-2015, 06:50 AM
Quote:Once, Uriel was perhaps the mightiest angel in Heaven, second only to Michael in force of arms, and second to none in sheer blazing Essence. He was the first and the greatest of the Malakim, and when he ascended to the status of Archangel, Michael stepped aside to let Uriel assume command of Heaven's armies. Under Uriel, the War went much more favorably than it has in recent centuries; demons cowered in fear of Uriel's minions, and while they still often got the upper hand in the battle for the hearts and minds of humanity, they were never able to operate as openly as they do now.
Ultimately, it was Uriel's dedication to his job that was his downfall. His determination to cleanse the Symphony of all diabolical taint was a passion that went beyond fanatical; as the embodiment of Purity, Uriel became so bound to his Word that the mere existence of Discord in the once-perfect Symphony drove him insane. He came to see everything that did not stem directly from God as dissonant, and initiated a purge to eradicate it all.
His campaign for purity devastated much of Blandine's Marches, where many pagan spirits dwelled. His angels also swept across the Earth, and virtually wiped out all the creatures of myth, beasts that had been spawned by angels and demons alike. Faeries, giants, unicorns, dragons, griffins, were-creatures, undead, and anything else that hadn't been created by God and Named by Yves before the Fall fell prey to Uriel's purifying forces.
Most of Uriel's fellow Archangels were aghast at the destruction. They feared that he might destroy the world in order to save it, and they were furious that he felt empowered to run roughshod over the domains of other Archangels, and obliterate everything that did not please him, in his crusade.
Called before the Seraphim Council and accused of usurping God's authority, Uriel defended his actions without remorse. Even his most ardent supporters- Michael and Dominic- could not bring themselves to speak in his defense, though they also refused to condemn him. There was a very real danger of a schism that would pit Uriel and his divine army against the rest of Heaven; even if Uriel submitted to the will of the Seraphim Council (and it is debated to this day whether or not he would have done so), the Servitors of Purity were so devoted to their Superior that they might have rebelled nonetheless.
At this point, God intervened personally. Uriel was recalled to the higher planes of Heaven, and has not been heard from since.