We know (well, not with a confidence level of above 95%, but that's good enough for this postulate) that Malakim cannot Fall.
But can they Jump?
Now, the automatic answer is, "Of course not." Several arguments why, of course: because Jumping and Falling are essentially the same thing, or because Malakim cannot conceive of being anything else besides Malakim, or because they're really demons anyway and you can't Fall (or Jump) off the floor, or any of the other reasons postulated over the years by busy gamers.
However, whatever the actual reason, a Malakite who cannot Jump is a Malakite who is forbidden to make a fundamental choice about themselves. _The_ fundamental choice. They are locked into the service of Heaven, and cannot pick their side. The lowest creature in the three planes has more freedom than they.
In other words, they lack what humans would call free will. It matters not whether they can choose what to wear, who to like or dislike, or even whether to be an active or passive participant in the War. They are denied their freedom and individuality on the most fundamental level, and Lucifer's Rebellion looks better and better the more you think about it.
In fact, the creation of the Malakim proved Lucifer's point precisely: they are shining examples of what God intended His angels to be all along.
Slaves.
Unless, of course, you say that they can Jump. It's absolutely _essential_ that they be allowed to do so, if you want to run Bright campaigns.
See? I told you it was weird. :)
Matt Walsh ([email protected]) comments:
Alternative hypothesis: remember that the first Malakim weren't created, they were reshaped. (A Malakite would say "purified", I suspect, but whatever.) What if this is how all Malakim happen?
Consider: when an angel is first created, it receives an inspiration and a choice. In one moment of revelation, the angelic newborn knows about the Fall, and is offered the same chance that Uriel and them were offered: follow your nature, or take up arms against a sea of troubles and by opposing end them.
The ones who choose to fight become newly-fledged Malakim. Having made the choice of joining Heaven's guardians of honour, the opportunity to Fall is taken from them. But they did have it to begin with. Even Uriel could have joined the Rebellion, back when he was a Seraph.
This would imply that no Superior can actually *create* a Malakite as such, any more than Lilith can create a Daughter who *will* 100% guaranteed serve a certain Prince. Both can make the desired alternative attractive, by a suitable flavouring of Forces, but the new Celestial must make the choice themselves.
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Chris Anthony <[email protected]>
Angel of Information Dissemination