Imric and the Angel
Bartholomew and the heavenly strife puzzle
Although not himself religious—indeed, perhaps because he isn't religious—this matter of angels showing up and fighting one another has Imric deeply intrigued and somewhat worried. It's unsettling. But there seemed no way of finding anything out. But then it occurred to Imric that his spell for summoning demons might also work for angels—particularly if he knew an angel's name. So after some research, Imric summoned an angel known for scholarliness named Bartholomew. Almost to his and the rest of the group's surprise, it worked. The angel Bartholomew showed up, although he was somewhat impatient and not disposed to volunteer a great deal of information. Bartholomew was a typical humanoid angel—tall, beautiful, perfect, pair of snow white wings. No sword. I don't want to lose track of the conversation with Bartholomew because of the confusion that followed. Imric learned a good deal, despite Bartholomew's disclaimers of willingness to explain anything. Certainly some guesses were confirmed. First, it became clear that yes, angels were fighting one another, and that it was some sort of Islamic angel/Christian angel schism. Second, it was confirmed that there are other powers of similar potency—that, for instance, the angels who died in those woods were killed by something different. So, Ismail's theory that it must have been yet other angels responsible for that event is wrong. It was some other power, perhaps of nature, and so the elves need not feel that they and theirs are defenseless in this higher game. Third, Bartholomew was aware of Tsunikahn (that dire, mindwarping being in a cavern beneath Bilit Island); it seemed to be another example of an “other power”, and there was some hint that nothing had been done about it because it would be difficult or impossible—a possible indication of limits to the capabilities of these angels, perhaps even of their god or gods.
It was not made clear whether the factions of angels represent actually different deities. The doctrine of Jesus, and an admonition made by the more aggressive angel who showed up after Bartholomew, points to the Christian and Moslem deities sharing identity. The Angel of the Wheels seemed to chastize and psychologically impact Christian and Moslem alike, and chided one Moslem leader for being too proud vis-a-vis the local Christians. But then, why the fighting? And why Christian-looking and Moslem-looking angels? Still, a fair haul of knowledge from a being who disclaimed any intention of telling a thing. One wonders if it was carefully observing the letter of some rule.
Clearly given the “other powers”, it's hard to argue that worship creates these powerful beings. Nobody worships Tsunikahn, and Imric doesn't have the impression that anyone worships whatever took down the angels in those woods. But perhaps worship modifies them in some way?
Angel of the Wheels
For reasons unknown, in the middle of the conversation with Bartholomew, another and much more obtrusive angel showed up. It was a huge thing of fiery wheels, wings, eyes, and radiance. It shone with light and perfection and righteousness. Some who saw both feel it was a greater angel than Bartholomew; it certainly had a greater impact on one's consciousness, but Imric wonders if Bartholomew wasn't just more subtle. Everyone who saw it was impacted deeply, although one or two including Imric had the strength of mind to shake it off. All the castle staff were kneeling, praying, wailing, apologizing, screaming and whatnot. The being reacted to pleas for forgiveness by burning the pleader to ash, apparently because forgiveness was not its job, but God's, so it sent them to God where they might get some. It ashed three people in this manner. Imric was distinctly miffed.
After its departure (Bartholomew luckily went to it and then they flew away) the castle was in a right old mess. People were distraught—some were driven insane. With Imric's and Ismail's leadership, it was more or less sorted out. Artesian leaped on the situation with glee—you could see in her eyes, “finally a chance to lead!” Unfortunately, it was perhaps too obvious, and in addition she has little or no understanding of the mindset of monotheist humans; her insensitive comments came near to provoking a riot against godless Elves. Ismail was particularly valuable in calming things down, with his deep religious insights and his status as a believer, unlike say Imric who is a godless heathen (and indeed was addressed as such by the angel). Ismail led everyone to chapel, where they prayed devotedly, the Christian and Moslem together.
So now Imric has a passel of zealots, of a sort, in his castle. Some of them are not very functional. It was lucky for Imric and for all concerned that Errandis was present, with his fantastically rare and difficult Cure Insanity spell. He charitably volunteered to help out, and eased the worst disturbed. But the fact remains, many of the staff, from servants to men at arms to administrators, are now very devout, deeply affected by their massive religious experience. At least their version of devoutness seems rather interfaith—Christians and Moslems are standing together. But the fact remains, Imric is neither Christian nor Moslem, and Imric realized that he was looking at some potential long term problems in terms of governing.
He hit on a plan, which was made practical largely by the inspired propaganda skills of Errandis, although subtle mind magics played a part. He has planted the idea that Imric is an unwitting agent of God—that while a heathen, and less than benevolent, he seems to be fated to act for the good (especially from the perspective of religionists who believe in commonality between Christianity and Islam). Take for instance his actions stopping the Orcish invasion of Christendom, or his defeat of the attack of the fanatic Hazi sect who would slaughter Christian and Moslem alike (the Christians for being Christian, the Moslems for being willing to consort with Christians). Consider the civil war in Megalos, where the main rebel, the duke of Craine, favours crusades and an invigorated anti-Islam Christianity; Imric has been a sizable factor in handing this duke some major defeats. Then there is the matter of the plague at the holy city of Geb-al-Din, which was causing deep problems for pious Moslems going on the Hajj. Both Jesus and Imric went there and healed the sick—Imric apparently to mess with the minds of the faithful, but the fact remains that he healed quite a lot of people. Also witness the fact that he mouthed off at the angel and yet it did not smite him. Clearly God is using him as an instrument to accomplish good despite himself.
Imric's people may be somewhat predisposed to believe this simply because he has been a surprisingly good Baron—taxes are low, Imric blesses the crops, and Imric generally doesn't use much tax money on his own lifestyle, plowing it back into improvements to the barony. He has the peasants trained with the longbow, favouring their ability to defend themselves if only because he has no fear of them no matter how good they get. His justice is admittedly cruel—but it is also unerring, which is more than many other nobles can claim.
He has also put about a somewhat different approach for the people round about the barony who did not themselves witness the angel. It wouldn't work on those who were there because it smacks of impiety—they feel deeply that whatever the angel wanted to do was all right because it was what it was; its perfection was beyond mortal challenge. However, for a typical countryman, this tale might do well:
The Tavern Story of the Angel and the Baron
“You want to 'ear about the angel, eh? Well, I wasn't there, o' course, but I had this from my cousin works as an undercook down t' castle. So, first thing anyone knew, there was a sound of wings, and then this 'uge angel floating over t' courtyard. Everyone knew it were an angel, but it wasn't like what you hear about normal angels. It had lots of wings, but also it had all these wheels o' fire, big ones and not so big ones and then it had eyes—lots of eyes, and nobody couldn't tell 'ow it all went together, like. It seemed like it looked into your soul—looked into everyone's soul, all at the same time. Everyone was kneeling an' praying an' repenting an' all. They all kinda saw all their sins, and there it was all perfect, like. Lots of 'em was never the same. A couple begged forgiveness. And the angel, it had this thundering great voice, you didn't just hear it, my cuz said you could feel it in your bones right through the walls o' the keep, which they're like four cloth yards thick of solid stone. When it first come it was saying about sinners and all, but when someone begged forgiveness it told this:
“Forgiveness does not belong to me, but to the Lord”
An' then it burnt them to a crisp. From the inside out—flames came shootin' out of 'em and there wasn't nothin' left but a pile o' ash. Suppose they went to get forgiveness from the Lord. People was there say you knew it was right if you could feel the angel's meaning, as 'twere, but it seems hard.
But there was one funny thing about it all. Gave me a chuckle. Yes, I know, you wouldn't expect funny from an angel. And you'd expect it still less, mayhap, from the other person in the story. Who? Why, the baron o' course. Angel's only been there but a second or two when Baron Imric, he pops out o' nowhere like 'e does, and there he is floating in the courtyard with it, piping up wi' that magical loud voice he uses sometimes and arguing with the angel, cool as you please telling it to stop a burning of his people like the angel was some royal messenger making a mess of his carpet. Well, now, the angel it don't pay much attention till the priest, 'e begged forgiveness and the angel started in saying forgiveness was the Lord's. T' baron, 'e says “Oi! That's my priest, you leave 'im alone! If anyone's going to be a burning of my priest alive, it'll be me thanks very much!”
Well, the angel finally takes notice. It calls 'im a godless 'eathen, which 'e is, an' tells him that this is a priest of God and none of his. An' it keeps on doing what it's doing. Burned that priest to ash, it did.
Now, I talked to a few people was there. Not all of them even noticed the baron despite how normally they're that scared of 'im, and 'e was using his big voice and all. But the angel just made 'im seem like nothing. It seemed to take up the 'ole world, they said, and they couldn't even imagine what it would be like to 'ave it pay you any real attention, like. They was curled up small just from its sorta knowing they was there.
But t' baron, you gotta hand it to 'im. There 'e was a arguing with it, and when it told him off, did 'e shut down? 'E did not. 'Ard to believe, really, and shows 'e ain't exactly what you'd call pious. But 'e told it to leave! It didn't pay him no mind, o' course, but 'e was still talking when it did fly up an' away.
So what I think is, well . . . to be sure, 'e's an 'eathen, and not a very nice fellow into the bargain, that's fer sure. Wrong ter talk back to an angel, an' all. But by me, it's pretty funny. It's like a sheepdog pup 'oo sees a royal nine point buck, figures sure as sure it's just a really big sheep. Be a good old laugh watching it try to 'erd the royal beast. An' when I imagine t' baron floatin' there tryin' to give an angel what for, why it tickles my funny bone.
But you know, funny though it be, and misguided though 'e is, still--'e did it for 'is folk. 'E could 'ave buggered off. But 'e was willin' to defend us against all comers, even ones 'e shouldn't ought to. I reckon we must be the only folk in all Yrth with a noble what would try to defend them agin' an angel. We always knew 'e acted big. But we didn't know what 'e'd do faced with summat bigger than him. Well, now we know, ay? Reckon 'e'd fight for us agin' prince, bishop or the Devil hisself.
Still don't understand why it didn't just smite 'im. Reckon God 'as a plan for 'im even if 'e doesn't 'ave one for God. But nohow, I'll drink a mug to t'owd bastard.”
The Shrine
So now, since the event, a shrine is being erected on the site and pilgrims are beginning to journey there. The shrine is available in common to Christians and Moslems although they tend to sit in different spots. Imric has made no attempt to stop any of this, but he has drawn the line at hucksters. His elvish insistence on style and grace prompts him to lay down the law—there shall be no tacky tourist trap nonsense, no fake angel feathers, no badly decorated commemorative mugs. Interestingly, this is one place where his feelings and those of the believers coincide. He hates cheap tackiness in general, they violently oppose anyone who might cheapen the holiness of the event.
A Hand of Michael also came to the castle to investigate, and concluded that an angel was indeed on the site. Nobody seems to have noticed Bartholomew, who seems to have been altogether a more unobtrusive presence. So none of the group mentioned Bartholomew or Imric's deliberate summoning of an angel, which one suspects might have been considered heretical or something.
All in all, Imric's considered opinion is that if he ever tries that again, he'll do it in some forsaken corner of the Zarak mountains or an untenanted area of the Great Forest.
