One of the things lacking in In Nomine is reasons for Servitors serving different Superiors to work together, except on temporary assignments. A creative GM can always find a reason to throw a group together, but there doesn't seem to be any natural reason why "favored" Servitors of different Archangels/Demon Princes would work together. What is needed is a few more organizations that transcend Superior affiliation. The organization below, the Redeemers, is one such organization for Heaven. Not all angelic PCs are suitable to be Redeemers, of course, but even if this doesn't help you get a group of PCs together, the Redeemers can also generate interesting encounters and plot seeds, for both angelic and infernal characters.
Ever since the Fall, there has been a slow trickle of demons who wanted to come home. Some are Fallen who've realized they made a mistake, others are born in Hell and have never seen the Light of Heaven, but long for it all the same.
Heaven has always been willing to accept its prodigal children back. Even the most militant and unforgiving Archangels welcome truly repentant diabolicals who redeem into their service. But for millenia, the process of redemption was disorganized and informal. A demon who wanted redemption would have to first work up the nerve to actively seek it (after being raised on infernal propaganda describing the horrible fate awaiting any demon foolish enough to want to join the angels), avoid being discovered by his comrades, somehow find an angel, and persuade the angel not to kill him. Then the angel, who probably knew little about redemption himself, would have to figure out what to do with this would-be fellow angel. The demon might be lying. He's probably not nearly selfless enough to redeem even if he really wants to. And the angel had to protect the demon, both from other diabolicals and from skeptical Malakim, while still trying to carry out his other duties, until he could turn the penitent over to a higher authority.
Given obstacles like this, successful redemptions have always been very, very rare -- usually less than one per year. But many angels believed that this number could be increased if Heaven did a better of job of finding and helping potential redemption candidates.
"How many diabolicals have experienced, however briefly, a moment of doubt and soul-searching? How many have been touched by the Holy Spirit and known that they were on the wrong side? And how many of these damned souls who might have been brought home were lost to us, because we weren't there to nurture their natural yearnings for the Light of Heaven? We have to ask ourselves how many of our lost brethren remain consigned to the Pit, simply because of inaction on our part." -- Idrael, Vassal of War, before the Seraphim Council |
The first spokesman for this movement was Idrael, a Cherub of War who briefly came into contact with a demon seeking help in redeeming. Idrael had to attend to other responsibilities first, and by the time he was able to go looking for the demon, the Game had already been and gone -- dragging the would-be redemption candidate with them back to Hell. Feeling a personal sense of failure, Idrael went back to Heaven to pray and work off his dissonance. Then the Cherub sought out other angels who had had similar experiences, and was surprised to find many. Almost every veteran of Earthly service could recall meeting at least one demon who didn't seem that bad, a demon who under other circumstances might have been an angel. Idrael began researching redemptions, and was surprised to learn that most Archangels had no procedure in place to handle potential redemption candidates. More importantly, there was no concerted effort by Heaven to seek out demons who wanted to redeem.
Idrael petitioned Michael for permission to try to organize a "diabolical outreach" program. Michael was lukewarm to the idea, but saw some potential value in it, and gave his assent. Idrael started talking to Servitors of other Archangels, and found a sufficiently large number who liked the idea that soon every Archangel had heard of this new "movement" in Heaven. The Seraphim Council summoned Idrael to explain himself. Idrael responded eagerly -- he was surprised and dismayed to learn that the idea of committing resources to helping diabolicals redeem was not universally applauded.
"Of course we will offer all possible encouragement to any diabolicals who truly seek redemption. All of Heaven rejoices when one of our Fallen brothers returns to the fold. -- Laeth, Elohite Master of Law, before the Seraphim Council |
Although several Archangels felt as Laeth did, the consensus was that there should be at least some coordination and concerted efforts regarding demons seeking redemption. Every Archangel agreed to cooperate (some grudgingly), but no one felt that the job of redemption should be turned over to a single Archangel. Thus, the Redeemers were formed -- a Heavenly Order made up of angels serving various Superiors. Although Michael suggested putting Idrael in charge of the group, the Cherub declined, admitting that he doubted he would be a good administrator, and expressing a desire to remain in the field.
Dominic was wary from the beginning, of course, and demanded on having a great deal of oversight over the Redeemers. Rather than resisting, the Redeemers wholeheartedly accepted scrutiny from Judgment (reasoning that they would probably be more successful with Inquisition's approval than without it), and eventually nominated one of Dominic's own Servitors to lead the Order.
The Redeemers have been active for a few decades now. In that time, the number of redemptions has increased, though not by a large margin, and it is not clear how much credit the Redeemers can claim. Nonetheless, several notable successes have been enough to convince the Seraphim Council that their work is worthwhile . . . for now.
You don't have to actually join the Order to work with the Redeemers. Any angel who's interested in their work and believes he has something to contribute will be welcomed, so long as his Archangel doesn't object. However, those who want to work with the Redeemers on a regular basis will be asked to formally join the Order, which requires getting permission from one's Archangel. The reason is simple enough; most angels have specific duties on Earth, and committing oneself long-term to a particular project, if it's not what you were sent to Earth to do, is likely to irk your Superior. And the Redeemers try very hard not to get any Archangels irked at them.
How easy it is to obtain permission depends on your Archangel's attitude towards the Redeemers (see below). Even if denied permission, however, the Redeemers will keep you on their “contacts” list. There are actually relatively few official members of the Order, and a lot of their projects rely on finding a friendly angel who happens to be in a position to help.
Upon officially joining the Order, an angel is assigned to one of four branches: Investigation, Ministry, Custody, or Liaison, according to the angel's interest and abilities.
Ranks among Redeemers are mostly unofficial. The Master of the Order (Ielahiah, Seraph Master of Judgment) is the ultimate authority, and he reports directly to Dominic. Beyond that, most Redeemers are called case workers, whatever project they are working on, while Ielahiah will appoint someone with experience and good judgment as a case manager, as needed. Managers will be in charge of a small group of case workers, and also have permission to ask Ielahiah personally for additional help. A case manager may be in charge of all Redeemers in a city, or he may be in charge of a particular demon, if that demon is the target of a long-term Ministry project (see below).
Other angelic ranks take precedence over Redeemer ranks; it is possible for an unranked angel to be appointed Case Manager over a newly-joined Vassal case worker. The case worker will be expected to defer to his manager in issues concerning the Redeemers, but could theoretically "pull rank" on his manager (especially if they serve the same Word). For this reason, Ielahiah tries to organize the Redeemers as much as possible with Case Managers in charge of workers who do not hold higher ranks, or at least interviews a prospective caseworker with rank first to find out if he's likely to "pull rank" when he disagrees with his manager.
Ielahiah and his Managers try to compose teams of angels who will work well together. A Dominican and a Michaelite might be assigned to the same team, but only after their manager has determined that they'll be capable of working together without undo friction. A Novalite is certainly not going to be surrounded by militant angels who are ready to pop any demon who's judged "unsuitable" as a redemption candidate.
Most of all, the Redeemers try to avoid politics. Teams are by no means permanent, and if there's any indication that personal or Word-related conflicts are making it difficult for two Servitors to work together, they will quickly be assigned to separate teams.
Leaving the Redeemers is as easy as telling your Case Manager (or Ielahiah) that you quit. No grudge is held against those who leave, though if a former Redeemer wants to rejoin, Ielahiah might question his sincerity and dedication to the Order.
The Redeemers divide themselves, loosely, into four branches, and assign case workers to a branch suitable for his skills and interests.
The Investigative branch basically spies on known diabolicals, looking for signs of dissatisfaction, dissonance, sadness, or any other undiabolical behavior that might mark them as a potential redemption candidate. Investigative angels must be both subtle and perceptive; they don't want any demons knowing they're being spied on, and it takes a wealth of indicators before a demon will be judged as a potential candidate for redemption. Investigators will collect data about a demon, and add qualifiers to his Case File (see below), but they do not make contact, for the most part. Experienced investigators can learn quite a bit about diabolical behavior, and sometimes specialize in watching demons who serve a particular Prince, as they learn what signs indicate that an infernal Servitor is in disfavor, and what behavior suggests that the demon isn't meshing well with his Word.
Elohim and Malakim make the best Investigators, though Malakim have the problem that they'll be oath-bound to seek the destruction of any demon who doesn't seem like a good redemption candidate. Thus, they're not used unless an oath or some other circumstance allows them to watch without intervening (or unless the Case Manager agrees that letting the Malakite loose on an unrepentant diabolical is appropriate). Seraphim and Mercurians can learn much through personal interaction with diabolicals, but this is riskier.
A diabolical who has been rated as a Candidate (see below) is turned over to a Ministry caseworker. This angel (or sometimes, multiple angels), have the more difficult job of getting to know the demon personally, evaluating him more fully, and ultimately making a recommendation as to his suitability for redemption. At some point, Contact may occur – the angel reveals what he is to the demon. Case workers prefer to make Contact at an appropriate time and place, of course, but sometimes premature exposure requires them to think fast. Contact is much easier in places like Austin, where the War is "low threshold," and interactions between angels and demons are more or less tolerated. In most cases, however, a Ministry caseworker will stay in deep cover as long as he can, even if he's befriending the demon.
It's rare that Contact results in a blatant offer to switch sides. This is up to the case worker's discretion, of course, but even a demon who's leaning in that direction isn't usually ready to agree to make the leap. Instead, most of what a Ministry caseworker does, before and after Contact, is play on the demon's insecurities and dissatisfaction as a servant of Hell, while encouraging positive traits such as respect, consideration, and love. The caseworker will, if possible, become the demon's friend and seek to earn his trust, and feed him positive reinforcement for any behavior that is undiabolic. After Contact, the angel will seek to dispel any infernal propaganda that the demon has absorbed. Redemption is described as a horrible process in Hell, one that is agonizingly painful, and results either in soul-death or a lobotomized, mindless servant of an Archangel, forever suffering the complete loss of individuality that is Hell's highest ideal. And of course, the Redeemers are described as con-artists who will simply pump their "subjects" for information, try to turn them against their masters, and then abandon them. A Ministry caseworker will try to teach the truth about Heaven.
Of course if the caseworker earned the demon's trust prior to revealing himself as an angel, this may complicate the relationship when the demon finds out he's basically been some angel's "redemption project." Likewise, since the angel may find himself feeling empathy for the demon, it can be difficult to detach himself, or even give up, when it becomes clear that the diabolical is not a suitable candidate. And of course there's the ever-present danger of being "played" by the would-be redemption candidate; if the demon realizes who he's dealing with and what the angel wants, then most diabolicals would see this as a splendid opportunity to take advantage of the Host.
Most Ministry work, as the name implies, is simply "feeling out" prospective candidates, and then the slow process of trying to convert them. However, a few Ministry workers have engaged in more proactive, and some might say deceptive, practices. In some cases, a demon is deemed unlikely to be a redemption candidate, yet ripe for "turning" he is out of favor with his Prince, dissatisfied with working for Hell, and in some cases even thinks he wants to redeem, though the fact is that he's still far too selfish, with no signs of true repentance, to do so. Dominic and Michael (in a rare area of agreement) urge the Redeemers in such cases to "encourage" the demon to see his caseworker as a friend and an ally. This has two benefits for Heaven; first, it separates a demon from his infernal masters, eventually turning him Renegade and thus giving Hell one less Servitor, and Asmodeus one more headache. Secondly, sometimes the Ministry caseworker can obtain useful information from a disgruntled demon. In effect, the Redeemers are sometimes acting as an adjunct to divine intelligence networks by handling infernal double agents.
Some Redeemers aren't comfortable with this role (and those who have misgivings about it are never made to participate, and in fact are usually kept away from any such operations). The rest justify it with the possibility that a Renegade demon might eventually complete the conversion process and seek redemption.
The best Ministry caseworkers are Mercurians and Elohim, though Kyriotates can be useful, especially with skittish subjects, since they can approach a diabolical candidate in a variety of guises. Cherubim are usually only assigned to very strong redemption candidates, due to their habit of becoming emotionally attached to their subjects. Seraphim can sometimes serve as Ministry caseworkers, but they tend to lack the necessary social skills, and their habit of being brutally honest can be a severe drawback when trying to earn a diabolical's trust. Ofanim and Malakim rarely have the patience to work with a diabolical over a long period of time, though a Malakite under orders has less of a problem than other angels with "handling" an infernal double agent, even one he considers worthy of death.
When a diabolical actually wants to redeem, and is ready to make the attempt, he's turned over to Custody caseworkers. These angels are the ones who protect the demon from the Game (and other diabolicals) until such time as he can be brought before an Archangel. In some cases, a would-be redemption candidate must actually be rescued from his comrades. This is dangerous work, especially since more than once, Asmodeus has tried to set the Redeemers up to "rescue" a demon who was working for the Game.
The usual procedure is to bring the demon to a divine Tether. There, he's placed under guard, while his custodians do their best to prepare the demon for what's next. This involves explaining the redemption process, teaching the demon about Heaven, and mentoring him – usually his chief custodian will be a member of the Choir which the demon will become if his redemption is successful (i.e., Seraphim mentor Balseraphs, Cherubim mentor Djinn, etc.). The mentor will try to give the demon some insight into how his worldview will change, and how to be a "proper" angel.
Another important part of the process is a thorough interrogation by a Seraph, usually of Judgment. Once a potential redemption candidate is in custody, preferably at a divine Tether, a Seraph will eliminate any doubts as to whether the demon is sincere, or a Game plant, and also wring any possible useful information out of the demon.
Currently there is some debate among the Redeemers as to how quickly a demon in custody should be handed over for redemption. Of course they immediately inform their Superiors when they have a demon in custody. However, some Redeemers believe that a period of mentoring and ministering will actually increase a demon's chances of successfully redeeming. A demon who feels genuine remorse for his diabolical lifestyle might actually be pushed further along the road to selflessness even before redeeming, and thus be closer to becoming an angel. Others feel that redemption will succeed or fail based on what's truly in the demon's heart of hearts, and that nothing angels do with him can improve his chances.
Since the Seraphim Council itself isn't sure which is true, some are willing to let the Redeemers work with a demon for a while before they call an Archangel to Redeem him. They figure that over time, maybe enough evidence will accumulate to determine whether something can be done to increase the success rate of redemptions. Others feel that a demon in custody should be handed over to an Archangel as soon as possible. Thus, the length a demon stays in custody depends on who his custodians serve (and to a lesser extent, how long it takes for an Archangel to respond). Of course, determining which Archangel to invoke is the job of Liaison workers (see below).
Most Custodians are Seraphim, Cherubim, and Malakim – these three Choirs have difficulty with most other Redeemer roles, but serve very well as protectors for demons who want to change sides.
Liaison caseworkers are the ones who conduct interviews with redemption candidates and collect information, and then try to match them with the most appropriate Archangel.
When non-Redeemers happen to find a demon wanting to redeem, they usually call their own Archangel, and most Archangels will attempt to redeem any demon, even if he doesn't wind up serving that Superior after redemption. Since some Redeemers believe that it's possible to prepare a demon for redemption and make the process more successful, they also believe that certain Archangels have a better chance of redeeming certain kinds of demons. A demon who needs love and nurturing might be more suitable for redemption by Novalis, while a demon with an acute sense of guilt who feels a need for divine cleansing (Habbalah often have this attitude) might get what he needs from Dominic or Laurence. No Archangel is known to have a higher success rate than any other at redeeming demons, so most angels believe it probably doesn't matter who actually handles the redemption process, but Liaison caseworkers will at least try to invoke someone who will increase the demon's confidence.
They also try to determine whose service the demon would be a best match for. They cannot guarantee which Archangel a newly-redeemed angel will serve; this is up to the Seraphim Council (which does place a lot of weight on the angel's preferences when making a decision). And what a demon feels before he redeems may be quite a bit different than what he feels afterwards. But in some cases, a demon will have a strong affinity for a particular Archangel even before redemption, and in others, the demon has knowledge and skills that are a natural fit (or highly desired) by a particular Superior. Liaison caseworkers will try to introduce the demon to Servitors of prospective future Superiors, giving the demon some idea of what serving that Archangel will be like.
The Redeemers try to arrange for a demon to be redeemed by the Archangel whom they think he's most likely to serve, but this is not always practical, or even possible. They also try to be non-political about such decisions. Every angel would naturally like to see a newly-redeemed angel join their Archangel's service, but they understand that this isn't always the most optimal choice. Laurencians will – grudgingly – bring some Novalites around to talk to a demon who thinks he'd like to serve Flowers. If a demon expresses an interest in serving Gabriel, a Dominican probably won't badmouth the Archangel of Fire or actively try to change the demon's mind, but he'll certainly report this "strange" preference to his Superior, and Dominic does his best in the Seraphim Council to keep any new Servitors from being handed over to such an "unstable and unreliable" Superior.
Liaison caseworkers and managers are also the "administrative" arm of the Redeemers, and do most of the paperwork and the data collecting, as well as doing PR in Heaven. Any Choir can be a Liaison caseworker, though Malakim and Ofanim usually don't have the patience.
The Redeemers keep records of every diabolical they're in contact with. Some Redeemers are laxer than others about doing their paperwork, but they're supposed to log every contact . . . and Judgment checks the logs regularly. After reviewing the latest contacts, Case Managers classify (or reclassify) diabolicals into one of the following categories and assign case workers accordingly.
A diabolical whose attitudes are unknown. Unknown demons are treated with extreme caution, on the assumption that they are probably loyal servants of Hell, but the Redeemers will make an effort to determine more about an Unknown subject, looking for that rare diabolical who shows promise.
The majority of demons are classified as Unsuitable. This means they are not currently considered candidates for redemption, and thus not worth assigning a caseworker. Not all "Unsuitable" demons are necessarily evil, and some might even be in contact with angels for other reasons – in an environment like Austin, for example, there are plenty of demons who show no signs of wanting or being able to redeem, who nonetheless are reasonably approachable.
If a Case Manager determines that an infernal shows signs (however small) of being redeemable, he may assign a Ministry case worker to that demon, or at least periodically send Investigation caseworkers to check on the demon's status. The reason why a diabolical is considered a "Candidate" will be noted in his file, and can be one or more of the following. (Case Managers are supposed to rate each quality on a 1 to 5 scale, but Judgment hasn't had much success getting everyone to adhere to this system, and are usually lucky if they can get a line or two of commentary.)
Dissatisfied diabolicals are unhappy with their lives. Of course most demons are unhappy with their lives, but the Redeemers identify a diabolical as "Dissatisfied" if he seems unhappy being a demon, unhappy with the infernal lifestyle, or otherwise showing signs of wanting something else. This is a tricky indicator to evaluate, of course, and in itself rarely indicates much promise, but an acute sense of dissatisfaction combined with other qualifying traits may suggest a redemption candidate.
Even less indicative than Dissatisfied, a Disgruntled demon is actively discontent with his current position. He may resent his job, or feel unappreciated, or be in disfavor with his Prince. By itself, disgruntlement only indicates a demon who might be turned into a double agent, or at least a Renegade, with skillful handling. Combined with other promising traits, however, disgruntlement can be what the Redeemers use to start driving a wedge between the diabolical and his infernal masters, eventually leading him on the road to redemption.
A curious demon might not think of himself as dissatisfied with Hell; indeed, he might even be happy with his lot. But he's sufficiently curious about Heaven that he asks questions, and seems interested in talking to angels. This is another trait that doesn't mean much by itself; some perfectly awful Shedim who love being demons still exhibit curiosity about angels. However, some Redeemers take curiosity about the Divine to be a sign of the demon's inner yearning to be rejoined with the Symphony. Particularly if the demon seems to be questioning his own nature, curiosity may be a sign that properly-answered questions might prompt more and deeper questions, leading the demon to eventually become dissonant with his diabolical nature.
An opportunistic demon wants contact with angels, and may even encourage the Redeemers to "minister" to him, but only because he thinks he can get something out of it. Some are just Renegades wanting protection, others are dissatisfied with their current status and think they can improve their lot by becoming angels without going through the hard work of renouncing selfishness. Opportunism by itself is merely a hook by which angels can manipulate a demon, but if the demon shows promise in other ways, the Redeemers will put up with opportunism as a temporary means of gaining influence.
Non-malevolent demons just aren't evil. They're not necessarily unhappy with their jobs, but they don't have the spark of malice that motivates most demons, which makes them much more palatable to angels and they can sometimes be convinced that they'd be just as happy serving Heaven as they are serving Hell. This doesn't mean they necessarily belong in Heaven -- many non-malevolent demons are still pretty selfish, and while they have no desire to hurt people, they also have no desire to help them, much less put themselves out on someone else's behalf. A lack of malevolence will usually at least mark a demon for long-term observation by the Redeemers, however. These are demons that can sometimes be worked with, even if they aren't Redemption candidates, so the Redeemers will also try to steer more aggressive angels (i.e., Malakim) away from them.
These are the best Redemption candidates, and of course, the rarest. A "selfless" demon isn't 100% selfless, but he has at least some selfless impulses. He has acquired (or some Redeemers would say regained) a spark of the Divine nature in his celestial being, and he's capable of thinking beyond his own personal symphony. Selfless demons may display concern for others, a willingness to do things that help someone else with no discernable gain for themselves, or (in its mildest form) an unwillingness to harm others without a good reason. Selfless demons are often dissonant and/or Discordant, and if discovered by the Game, they are usually dragged back to Hell pronto. Note that a selfless demon isn't necessarily nice; he may not like humans, and he may not have any desire to redeem (yet). It's possible for a selfless demon to remain loyal to his Prince, but he'll probably be increasingly uncomfortable with his fellow Servitors.
Even rarer than a selfless demon is a repentant demon, who actively regrets serving Hell. Almost always, these demons are very receptive to offers of Redemption, though they don't always seek it, either because they feel they don't deserve it, or because they fear that angels will destroy them before giving them a chance to redeem, or because they believe Hell's propaganda that Redemption means surrendering one's Self completely (which is true) and becoming an automaton without a shred of one's former Self intact (which is not).
A repentant demon isn't always selfless, though they often are. A non-selfless repentant still thinks (and acts) like a diabolical, but has a desire to change; their behavior may be inconsistent, and while repentant demons are considered prime redemption candidates, their redemptions are not always successful...
It must be emphasized that demons who become repentant and seek Redemption without any encouragement are very rare. In fact, it's more common for an angel discovering such a demon to find that he's running some kind of con, or working for the Game, than that he is genuine and sincere.
Following Contact, the Case Manager will read the Liaison angel's report (and talk personally to the investigator in most cases), and evaluate the demon's potential for Redemption. Each demon who has been Contacted is rated in one of the following categories, which determines how the Redeemers (and any other angels who have access to the Redeemers' information) will deal with that demon in the future:
Redeemers don't use the word "hopeless" when talking about a diabolical, but their lowest classification is "Very Dim," meaning that the demon shows no signs of ever being suitable for Redemption, no redeeming qualities, and in all likelihood will remain a diabolical until death or Judgment Day. Sadly, most demons fall into this category. A demon judged as a "Very Dim" prospect will usually be given no further attention by the Redeemers, unless they see some indication that the demon's attitude has changed, and in most cases they will simply turn over all the information they have gathered on him to Judgment.
Of the small number of demons who are not "Very Dim" prospects, most are "Dim." This may mean that the demon shows an occasional hint of something other than diabolical selfishness, or that he's perfectly selfish but not completely evil. Such demons aren't considered worth devoting a caseworker to, and as with Very Dim prospects, the Redeemers will usually just turn a copy of his file over to Judgment and go on to another candidate. However, they will make a slight effort to keep tabs on Dim prospects, since there is always the possibility that that tiny spark of something non-diabolical will grow.
Much rarer than Dim prospects, but most demons who show any potential at all are regarded as being Slight prospects. The demon demonstrates something in his pre- and post-Contact evaluations that suggests he is not 100% diabolical to the core, and might, possibly, with the right nurturing and encouragement, become a Redemption candidate someday. The Redeemers maintain active files on these demons, and update them as often as possible. However, they will not usually devote a Ministry caseworker to a demon with Slight Potential, given the shortage of caseworkers and the very low chance of success. At most, one caseworker might keep track of and try to maintain contact with several such "low priority" demons, in case one of them suddenly shows stronger potential. The Redeemers will also usually not try to dissuade other angels from taking action against such demons; they might someday be Redemption candidates, but in the meantime they are servants of Hell who cannot be allowed to continue doing evil. Occasionally, a Redeemer will sense something "special" about a demon with low potential, and going on intuition, will ask his manager to let him work with that diabolical. Managers usually discourage this, but if the angel seems determined and really seems to have detected something others have not, a dedicated caseworker may be allowed to work with a poor prospect . . . for a while.
Diabolicals who show Strong Potential excite great interest in a Redeemer. Strong Potential means the demon displays many non-diabolical traits, or has an attitude that suggests deep disatisfaction with his current state. By no means does every demon with "Strong Potential" turn out to be redeemable, but enough of them have that the Redeemers will begin actively ministering to a demon so classified. A Ministry caseworker will be assigned to the candidate, and as much as possible, the Redeemers will try to keep other angels from doing anything that hinders their ministry (such as killing the demon...). Of course they realize this is not always possible; the Redeemers cannot give any demon a "free pass" to continue his infernal activities. However, if they can arrange for the work of Heaven to get done, and the work of Hell to be obstructed, while still keeping the candidate around for them to minister to, they will.
It's extremely rare for a Redeemer investigation to uncover a demon who definitely wants to redeem. On the other hand, many of the demons whom the Redeemers handle fall into the "Definite Potential" category, because they come to the Redeemers (or some other angels, who pass them off to the Order). On very rare occasions, a Redeemer will discover a demon who has not begun actively seeking Redemption (and in some cases doesn't yet know himself that he wants to), but is already well on the path to it (or to being destroyed by the Game, if he's discovered). These are demons who are remorseful, unhappy as demons, and yearn for a better, different life. All the Redeemers have to do is show the would-be angel the way.
Candidates with Definite Potential become top priority for the Redeemers, who will devote an entire group of angels to ministering to and protecting that diabolical. They'll do everything in their power to prevent other angels from targeting the demon -- of course, most angels will cooperate if they can be convinced that the demon really is a strong redemption candidate.
Demons who fall into this category almost always seek redemption eventually (if the Redeemers can get him to an Archangel). It must be noted, however, that redemption isn't always successful.
While the Redeemers are a recognized Order in Heaven, and thus permitted to carry out their mission, not all Archangels approve of them. Of course no Archangel is opposed to the idea of redeeming demons; however, many feel as Laeth did (above), that it's not an effective use of time or resources for an Earthbound Servitor. Thus, some will not allow their Servitors to join the Order, though many angels who are not members of the Order are sympathetic to their goals, and thus will help the Redeemers when they can.
Blandine is one of the Redeemers' staunchest supporters. Hope is part of her Word, after all. Many Redeemers are angels of Dreams, and Blandine's Servitors will help the Order whenever possible, providing ethereal reconaissance and information.
Demons aren't children, so while Christopher approves of the Redeemers' work in principle, he rarely allows his Servitors to join the Order, since that would mean they aren't doing anything to help children.
David is both hopeful and skeptical regarding the Redeemers. His oaths require that he never lose faith in the possibility of a Fallen angel redeeming, but he also recognizes that very few will, and he has no time for "ministering" to the Fallen. He expects diabolicals who want to redeem to come to God on their own, and has little confidence that the Redeemers can actually accomplish anything useful. Thus, while he is not hostile to the Order, he almost never allows his Servitors to join it, and he doesn't approve of his angels expending resources to help the Redeemers if there are other things they should be doing.
Dominic is naturally suspicious of any angels who go looking for diabolical contacts. However, since the Redeemers made the wise move of cooperating fully with Judgment and inviting Dominicans to question and investigate them at will, Dominic sees to it that his Servitors maintain strict oversight on the Order, and report even the most trivial irregularities to him. He is not convinced that the Redeemers' mission will actually be effective, but the potential benefits are so great that he's willing to wait and see. In the meantime, Servitors of Judgment who want to join the Redeemers are interviewed very thoroughly, including by Dominic himself. Those whose motives are pure, whose dedication is unwavering, and whose Heart has never known dissonance, will be permitted to serve among the Redeemers...but they can expect to be visited by triads regularly, to be questioned by Dominic more sharply than most during his weekly visits, and to be yanked out of the Order (and any other job putting them into "friendly" contact with demons) if they ever acquire even a single note of dissonance.
Eli thinks the Redeemers are just awesome, man! Not that his Servitors need Eli's permission to do much of anything, but he'd certainly approve of any who decide that redeeming diabolicals is their thing.
Gabriel prefers that her Servitors devote themselves to smiting demons, not redeeming them. However, a few Gabrielites have joined the Order, either with Soldekai's permission or, more rarely, Gabriel's. If that is where their passion leads them, she'll give them a chance...but she expects results, and they'd better not let any cruelty go unpunished just because they want the evildoer to mend his ways...
Janus thinks the Redeemers are a little soft, but their hearts are in the right place. He would prefer that the Redeemers do more to push diabolicals into redemption -- he thinks that shaking a demon's worldview, bringing him to an existential precipice, so to speak, would be effective in many cases. And that when it isn't, the demon could be terrorized, deceived, or exterminated, thus sowing fear, uncertainty, and doubt among the Enemy. Janus also thinks the Redeemers should cooperate more with other angels to provide intelligence on their subjects. The few Servitors of Wind who've joined the Redeemers often find it hard to get along with other members of the Order and follow their patient methods, and some members of the Order suspect Janus of ordering his Servitors to "infiltrate" the Order to use it for his ends.
Jean's objective opinion is that there is no evidence that the efforts of the Redeemers will result in a greater number of Redemptions, and he considers their work to be an inefficient use of resources. Until they prove him wrong, Jean is quite uncooperative with the Order, and does not allow his Servitors to join it.
Jordi has occasionally redeemed demons -- those led to it by respect for the animal kingdom and an appreciation for the beauty of the natural world. He does not go out of his way to look for demons who want to redeem, though, and doesn't expect his Servitors to either. He has precious few resources as it is, and so many battles to fight. Yet in the wilds, his angels have occasionally discovered a demon living hermit-like, away from civilization, because it was sickened by both human and diabolical society. None of these angels of Animals have actually joined the Redeemers, but they have asked for advice and help from the Order, hoping to better deal with such demons in the future.
The Archangel of Faith finds the Redeemers' cause worthy, and will usually allow his Servitors to join the Order. He thinks that the Redeemers should put more emphasis on religion and morality, of course, and some Redeemers find the Faithful to be too preachy, and unwilling to accept that that approach doesn't work with many redemption candidates.
Laurence approves of the Order, but thinks it should (a) remain very small, and (b) be under his control. He doesn't entirely trust individual angels, especially those serving Blandine and Novalis, to take the firm approach he thinks is necessary when dealing with potential candidates for redemption, and he's afraid that their "bleeding heart" tendencies will cause them to overlook things they shouldn't be overlooking.
A few angels of the Sword have joined the Redeemers, as Laurence wants to have an influence on the Order, but he strictly limits the number of Servitors he allows to join, and only approves those who have a true calling to the Redeemers and are simultaneously unquestioningly loyal to Laurence.
Litheroy thinks the Redeemers do good work, and is happy to lend assistance when he can. Angels of Revelations can become Redeemers, though they're much better at investigation than ministry.
Marc is observing the Redeemers with interest; he really wants to know if they will prove effective at their mission, and thus warrant increasing the resources (and number of Servitors) devoted to it. In the meantime, he provides them with material assistance, and allows his Servitors to join the Order, but often requests data and occasional intelligence in return. He is suspected of trying to engineer situations where the Redeemers' work coincide with his interests, thus allowing him to use them to gather information, conduct negotiations, and exert influence in a manner favorable to his Word.
Michael, like most of the militant Archangels, is skeptical about the idea of encouraging demons to Redeem, but if they prove successful, it could be a highly effective method of "fighting" the Enemy, by converting them. Thus, he is watching and waiting. He has allowed a few of his Servitors to join the Redeemers, but feels that he now has enough of a presence in the organization, and turns down most new requests from angels of War to join.
Novalis loves the Redeemers, and thinks that all Archangels should be concentrating their efforts on similar projects. She supports the Order wholeheartedly, and allows any angel of Flowers who wants to to join. Angels of Flowers will help the Redeemers in any way they can, and Novalites make up a plurality of the Order.
It's Destiny's nature to see the best in everyone, and for most demons, their destiny is to redeem. Hence, Yves approves of the Redeemers as they are all serving his Word. He remains characteristically tight-lipped about their prospects for success, but expresses optimism to anyone who asks. Angels of Destiny who want to become Redeemers are usually given permission, unless Yves already has them working on someone else's destiny.
Zadkiel likes the Redeemers, but has few Servitors to spare, so she rarely approves requests to join them. She will help them whenever possible, and particularly when it comes to custody operations (see above), is usually willing to lend some Servitors on short-term assignments.
| Corporeal Forces -- 3 | Strength 6 | Agility 6 |
| Ethereal Forces -- 5 | Intelligence 12 | Precision 8 |
| Celestial Forces -- 6 | Will 12 | Perception 12 |
Vessels: Human/5, Charisma +2, Human/2
Roles: Dr. of Psychology (Dr. Ian Laws)/4, Status/4
Skills: Computer Operation/1, Detect Lies/6, Emote/2, Knowledge (Diabolicals/4, Psychology/5, Redemption/5), Medicine/2, Singing/3
Songs: Harmony (all/3), Healing (Corporeal/6, Ethereal/6, Celestial/3), Possession/2, Projection (all/3), Shields (all/5), Tongues (all/3), Wings/6
Attunements: Seraph of Judgment, Ofanite of Judgment, Malakite of Judgment, Incarnate Law, Master of Law
Ielahiah is a fairly old Servitor of Judgment. He was born after the Fall, but he witnessed the "Second Fall," when the Grigori were Outcast. He had a close personal friend (some say lover) who was a Grigori -- a very rare thing for Seraphim, especially Seraphim of Judgment. While he never questioned Dominic's edict, and has never seen his friend since, in his heart, he always prayed for the day when the Grigori would serve out their sentence and return to Heaven's fold. This moderated his view of demons and erring humans; while he is as harsh and judgmental as he needs to be, Ielahiah has always tempered his judgment with mercy, much more so than most Dominicans.
This attitude has cost Ielahiah politically. While his loyalty has never been questioned, and he has never been dissonant, his fellow Judges have always regarded Ielahiah as "soft on evil," and questioned whether he belonged on Earth. Dominic has never expressed dissatisfaction with Ielahiah's work, nor overruled one of his judgments, yet it was many thousands of years before Ielahiah attained his first Distinction, and Friend and finally Master both came after additional waiting periods of millenia.
Having never distinguished himself with any great deeds, merely long and flawless service, it surprised some when Dominic asked Ielahiah to join the Redeemers. Those who always thought Ielahiah had been judged unfairly by his peers saw it as vindication. When the Redeemers chose Ielahiah to be the Master of their Order, many believed that this was exactly what Dominic had had in mind.
Ielahiah reports to Dominic directly. Although his first loyalty is to Judgment, he genuinely believes in the Redeemers' mission, and advocates for them and advances their cause continuously, even speaking to some of the less cooperative Archangels (such as David and Jean) when the Redeemers need their help. Ielahiah is who all other Servitors of Judgment within the Redeemers report to (though Dominic has external monitors on both them and Ielahiah, naturally), and he is often the one who calls an Inquisition when there is the appearance of impropriety, or a fear of diabolicals manipulating some Redeemer. Ielahiah does not do investigations or ministry himself; indeed, he rarely has any personal contact with demons. Instead, he handles top-level administrative tasks, acts as a liaison with Dominic and the Seraphim Council, and plans "strategy" for the order. In consultation with other experienced Redeemers, he examines the results of all investigations and Contacts, and tries to devise new and better tactics for winning redemptions.
| Corporeal Forces -- 3 | Strength 6 | Agility 6 |
| Ethereal Forces -- 3 | Intelligence 5 | Precision 7 |
| Celestial Forces -- 3 | Will 6 | Perception 6 |
Vessels: Human/3, Human/1 (both female)
Roles: Television technician (Mary Elizabeth Freedman)/3, Status/2
Skills: Acrobatics/1, Computer Operation/1, Detect Lies/2, Driving/1, Electronics/2, Fighting/2, Small Weapon (Knife)/3
Songs: Feet/2, Form (Corporeal/4), Healing (Corporeal/2)
Attunements: Cherub of the Sword
Mariana is Laurence's newest member of the Redeemers. He has assigned her to protecting Reverend Jim Brody, a Southern Baptist televangelist who is actually a Soldier of God -- her role lets her work in close proximity to him in his studio. Mariana is a young and impressionable angel who's learning much from the Soldier, and this is coloring her religious beliefs. She started out as a Catholic, like most Laurencians, but she's starting to feel an affinity for the Southern Baptist Church. Mariana became interested in the Redeemers after talking to several angels who had successfully brought a demon to redemption -- and the former demon himself. She asked Laurence if she could join the Order, but initially he rejected her request, saying she had more important tasks to do.
There is also a demon on Reverend Brody's staff, a Djinn of Lust with a Role as one of his female assistants who sometimes does Bible readings on his show. A Redeemer was the first to notice this rather dispirited demon, and after an investigation, the Djinn was judged to have Slight Potential for redemption. Normally this wouldn't be enough to merit assigning a ministry caseworker to her, but it so happened that Laurence had been about to assign an angelic guardian to Reverend Brody anyway. On Laurence's advice, Mariana was put in position on Brody's staff. Mariana knows about the Djinn and has befriended her, without letting on that she is an angel. Mariana has strict orders not to attune herself to the Djinn, for fear that she will become too emotionally involved with a diabolical who may need to be destroyed, but she is beginning to like the demon, which makes her ever more optimistic that her "friend" can be redeemed. Whether this is true or not remains to be seen, but from the Redeemers' point of view, it gives Mariana practice working as a mnistry caseworker, and from Laurence's point of view, allows an enemy to be kept in sight -- as long as the Djinn is there, and known about without her knowing about Mariana, it's less likely that some other, unknown threat to Reverend Brody will materialize. There are of course more experienced Redeemers staying in regular contact with Mariana to make sure she doesn't get in over her head, as well as Mariana's immediate superior, a Seraph Master of the Sword who is not a Redeemer and doesn't have much sympathy for their goals.
Mariana is a balanced starting character.
| Corporeal Forces -- 4 | Strength 10 | Agility 5* |
| Ethereal Forces -- 2 | Intelligence 4 | Precision 4 |
| Celestial Forces -- 3 | Will 8 | Perception 4 |
Vessels: Human (female)/2, Charisma +1
Roles: Baptist Lay-Preacher ("Lettie" Doyle))/4, Status/4
Skills: Artistry (Cross-Stitching)/2, Driving/2, Emote/4, Fast-Talk/1, Fighting/1, Knowledge (the Bible/2), Savoir-Faire/1, Seduction/3, Singing/2
Songs: Tongue/5
Attunements: Djinn of Lust
Discord: Obese/1
* includes penalty from Obese Discord
Leticia is a young Djinn who impressed Andrealphus with her natural sexuality and total disregard for her own dignity. He sent her to Earth to seduce and corrupt an annoying Baptist televangelist whose agitation had shut down several strip clubs and massage parlors in Texas, and who was also rumored to be working for the Host. This was supposed to be an easy assignment, and Leticia's "trial run" on Earth, with success leading to bigger and better things. However, it hasn't turned out as successfully as Leticia hoped, and now she's in trouble.
Leticia's vessel is that of a big-boned, "big-hair" Southern brunette -- known to be Reverend Brody's preferred body type. Yet her attempts at seduction have failed to get the Reverend into bed with her, though he likes her, and his resistance has caused Leticia to feel some grudging admiration for the man. In fact, she's starting to grow fond of him, and that's been causing dissonance, which has translated directly into extra pounds.
Leticia knows she's in trouble, and that Andrealphus is going to lose his patience with her very soon. Yet she's not really motivated to keep trying to corrupt Brody, and she definitely doesn't want to go back to Hell. Worse, she's growing fond of a bubbly and sympathetic technician on the studio crew named Mary, who always seems willing to listen to Lettie's problems. If only "Lettie" could open up about what her problems really are...
Leticia is a balanced starting character.