Angel

Angels, also known as the aasimon, are celestial immortals of varying humanoid form that hail from any of the celestial planes or the Astral Sea. In the Dawn War, angels served deities as soldiers, though they are not necessarily in the service of the gods anymore. Angels are ancient enemies of elemental archons as well as all manner of fiends.

Physical characteristics
Angels, who range from human-like to ogre-like in size, are not so much physical beings as energy given form. Made both from the essence of the Astral Sea and that of the celestial planes angels are basically the energy of both given form. This form is vaguely humanoid, with varying degrees of similarity to mortals. Most angels have only the most basic masculine or feminine features, with lower bodies trails off into floating energy. Others, however appear much more human, possessing comely looks and what appear to be wholly physical bodies, though this is an illusion. Angels all exhibit wings of some form, which they can use to fly or otherwise.

Abilities
Angels have a number of unique abilities granted to them by their nature. All angels are capable of at least limited flight, often being capable of much more, flying more speedily even than they walk. Many are also capable of magically warding themselves against attack, making it more difficult for enemy strikes to successfully hit them. Angels also wholly lack the capacity to fear, or at least to such an extent that fear magic is ineffective against them, and all are resistant to radiant damage.

Although not all angels are capable of seeing through the darkness unhindered, many are. Several are also immune to the effects of acid, cold, petrification, or somewhat resistant to electricity, fire, or poison. Angels generally are also capable of speaking the language of any creature they come across, even if they do not know it inherently.

Culture
Angels are usually, though not always, good creatures. Similarly, many are in the service of the gods whom they fought for in the Dawn War though quite a few have taken up the life of a planewalking mercenary, serving any whom they wish, be it for wealth, power, or a cause.

Psychology
Although not all angels are good, all exhibit qualities that might be considered good. For instance, all angels are honest beings, who find lying or cheating abhorrent. Likewise, it is against the nature of angels to steal from others and angels are typically honorable and trustworthy in all their dealings.

History
It is unknown precisely how angels were first created. Some claim that the gods created the angels. Although, if they did this, it was not intentional and angels are themselves nearly as old as the first gods, having originated in the very first moments of the Astral Sea’s existence. However, whether or not the gods created the angels the latter soon served the former’s purpose, offering themselves as soldiers during the Dawn War. As a result, most today still serve gods, though not all do.

Compared with gods and exarchs, angels are far more interested in the affairs of the Prime Material Plane and other planes, acting both openly and secretly as agents in the mortal world.

Angelic races
There are a wide varieties of angels throughout the planes, each of which has its own qualities and cultural distinctions. Many angelic types represent a particular ideal or quality.


 * Agathions
 * Warrior angels sometimes sent on missions to the Material Plane.


 * Angel of battle
 * Valiant angels who served in the Dawn War as battle commanders.


 * Angel of protection
 * Guardian angels who protect important individuals or places.


 * Angel of valor
 * Among the weakest and most numerous angels, angels of valor most commonly serve gods as warriors.


 * Angel of vengeance
 * Agents of divine wrath, angels of vengeance serve deities in order to punish those who transgress the will of the divine.


 * Astral devas
 * Celestial agents that undertake good causes.


 * Devas
 * Angels who have taken mortal form for any number of reasons and who are reincarnated upon death into a new body.


 * Light angels
 * Misty rainbows of light that serve high-level worshipers of good deities and provide good beings aid on quests.


 * Planetars
 * Mighty generals of celestial armies that also help powerful mortals on missions of good, particularly those that involve battles with fiends.


 * Solars
 * The greatest of the angels, usually close attendants to a deity or champions of some cosmically beneficent task.