Demalakim (The Vindictive)

By Harukami

**Flaming
Feather**

Baal and Michael fought, the screams of the dying and the living echoing around them in the Last Battle. They were evenly matched, straining back and forth, neither yielding. A smile was plastered on the face of each - tense, excited, merciless.

Baal saw Furfur come up behind Michael, but didn't register him; all his being was focussed between this one last honourable combat which would prove, at long last, who was the real victor.

Baal didn't, however, see Beelzebub's sword in Furfur's hand until it was already emerging from Michael's chest; the Archangel having assumed, as Baal had, that no one would have the gall to interrupt them - but someone had, a Superior's sword in a Superior's hand, and Michael fell, body unravelling into the already-wailing Symphony.

Furfur had time enough to brandish his sword triumphantly before Baal cut him down; he then stood, black wings flexing thoughtfully, oath-chains rattling, as he decided who was next.


Demalakim embody a twisted honour of selfish suffering; they are, however, such a small Band that they have not been acknowledged by either Heaven or Hell. Either the Archangels are covering up the fact that the Malakim can Fall, for whatever reason the GM decides is appropriate to his or her campaign, or they simply are not aware - after all, a Malakite's Celestial appearance looks no different when they Fall, and most would be simply mistaken for Discordant Malakim - who are then quickly slain by the other Malakim, 'just in case'.

But people wonder. They wonder if the Malakim only 'don't Fall' because they police themselves so intently - and some may wonder if Malakim can Fall, and if the 'bad Malakim' that are hunted down are, in fact, Fallen.

Of course, they are.

A secret which is hidden even better is the fact that demons can 'change into' Malakim, just as angels can. This is, of course, FAR rarer than the already-rare angelic change - to begin with, the demon has to have a firm sense of honour, and that honour has to be directly violated. (Much as the original Malakim appeared with the violation of certain angels' sense of honour during the First Fall.). This is, of course, covered up by the Game; he and Fate are the only demons who know. The first time a demon shifted into a Demalakite, Asmodeus himself had to appear to take care of him; all witnesses were wiped out and Asmodeus has since been policing 'potential renegades' much more closely for signs of 'too much honour'. However, very few demons have the sense of honour that would allow this change to occur.

Resonance

The Demalakim's resonance is for personal honour. As with all demons, their resonance is based on their own selfish symphony; when they resonate, they can sense the same things that the Malakite can (with the exception of CD:6) - however, instead of the result of whether it is "most or least honourable" being based on the target's moral standards, it is based on the Demalakite's. The Demalakite will not take situation or extenuating circumstances into effect; if it violates their own sense of honour, the offending target must be wiped out.

This of course explains what happens when Malakim 'go bad' - they have such a strong sense of honour that when they resonate and weigh other people's actions by their own standards, very few people are shown to be 'honourable'.

The exception to CD: 6 is this: "You know the height or depth of spirit the person aspires to as based on your own sense of height and depth of spirit. A CD: 6 will automatically detect a Malakite."

Demalakim are coldly insane; nearly everyone around them is dishonourable to their resonance, and must therefore die.

Of the other Bands... oh, let's face it, nobody believes in them, and the Demalakim hate them all anyway.

Dissonance

As with the Malakite, the Demalakite's dissonance is dishonour - he would never dream of violating his own moral standards -- though his Superior's moral standards is another thing. As with Malakim, they take four to six Oaths which appear as Oath-chains upon them: Two are constant. ("I will not suffer the dishonourable to live when it is my choice." and "I will not die without a fight.")

Supposedly, Demalakim can Redeem; most are killed before it becomes an issue, and few can believe enough honour exists in Heaven for them to make it worthwhile. Unlike the other demons and unlike the Punishers, a Demalakite does not consider himself either an angel or a demon - He consider himself Demalakite. They don't serve Hell - too dishonourable - and they don't serve Heaven - ditto. Now you see why Asmodeus has his panties in a bunch?

Oh, and, as with Malakim, Demalakim do not suffer Trauma.

Manner and Appearance

In their celestial forms, Demalakim appear as shadowy human figures, bound by Oath-chains, large black wings glinting with purple in the light. Unlike the Balseraphs and Seraphs, there is no visible difference between a Malakite and a Demalakite. Their Vessels are usually the one they started with; if some Prince or Archangel actually gives them a new one, it's usually large and capable of taking a lot of damage - they need it. As with Malakim, they prefer to dress in animal skin, which frequently includes human, demon, or angel, as long as it was dishonourable when it died.

Game Mechanics

The Demalakite's resonance is based on their own set of values. With a successful resonance roll (Yes - Will, not Perception), a Demalakite can size someone up and make a biased judgment about his integrity. Adjust the Malakite resonance table to suit.

**Flaming
Feather**

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