Line #44 Main/CelestialParagonsAndArchangels


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5	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/zuccaro_angels1.png]]
6	[[caption-width-right:350:"The Seven Archangels in Adoration of the Trinity" by Federico Zuccari, c1600]]
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8	They're the top [[OurAngelsAreDifferent angels]] (or angel-like beings) around, and can usually be found as the heads of a CouncilOfAngels. The one thing they have in common is that they can [[RankScalesWithAsskicking kick a whole lot of ass]] and are usually the {{Big Good}}s of the setting. They're pretty much always the officers when TheArmiesOfHeaven show up. They also frequently possess powers of [[LightEmUp light]] and/or [[HolyHandGrenade holiness]] to [[BoltOfDivineRetribution smite evil]].
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10	As to be expected from angels, they frequently act as representatives of {{God}} that the protagonists can interact with without [[BrownNote dying]] or [[JesusTaboo causing out-of-universe backlash]], with the added benefit of representing God's omnipotence better than weaker angels. How favorably these paragons and archangels are portrayed is generally a good barometer to tell if the work is saying GodIsGood or [[GodIsEvil not]]. However, there are examples that don't serve God, but rather a fantasy pantheon or [[GodOfGood a specific, generally good member of said pantheon]]; alternatively, they may just run a CouncilOfAngels absent any higher deity.
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12	Although it's best to keep in mind, as with the case of an AscendedDemon, you may have a few of the FallenAngel version of these running around, which is bad news for the heroes. They might also suffer from TheGodsMustBeLazy as well, or be JerkassGods for the really unhelpful ones.
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14	See the most famous examples in ArchangelAzrael, ArchangelMichael, ArchangelGabriel, ArchangelRaphael, ArchangelUriel, and (possibly) the FallenAngel version in ArchangelLucifer. {{Metatron}} may also be present as an archangel in some works.
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16	The TropeNamer is ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'', where paragons and archangels are thought to be the most powerful "celestials" and direct counterpart to demon lords and archdevils.
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18	See also OurAngelsAreDifferent, OurGodsAreDifferent, CouncilOfAngels, CelestialBureaucracy, DivineRanks, FantasyPantheon and its InvertedTrope, DemonLordsAndArchdevils.
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20	----
21	!!Examples:
22	[[foldercontrol]]
23
24	[[folder:Anime and Manga]]
25	* ''Literature/HighSchoolDxD'': [[ArchangelMichael Michael]], [[ArchangelGabriel Gabriel]] ([[GenderFlip a woman here]]), [[ArchangelRaphael Raphael]] ([[TheGhost has yet to fully appear]]), and [[ArchangelUriel Uriel]] are the Four Great Seraphim who rule heaven, with Michael as the overall leader of the Four and Heaven. They're considered top-tier in terms of firepower, only losing to the Gods, Heavenly Dragons, [[spoiler: Ophis, and Great Red. They rule Heaven because GodIsDead in the story.]]
26	* ''Anime/QueensBlade'': The archangel is shown to be second to God in terms of authority, with six pairs of wings in comparison to a normal angel's one. She is often found disciplining Nanael for her rather unholy acts being a rather large embarrassment to the rest of her angelic comrades.
27	* ''Anime/SevenMortalSins'' makes reference to their heavenly counterparts, the SevenHeavenlyVirtues. Lucifer was their leader prior to being cast down to Hell, and later discovers that Michael has taken over the group in her absence. Michael serves as the FinalBoss of the series, making this a subversion because [[spoiler: God has declared mankind a failed experiment and ordered the Virtues to purge them. Lucifer was cast down for arguing against discarding the universe. After taking over the Sins, she declares they will defeat God and free humanity]].
28	* The ''Franchise/{{Digimon}}'' series features a full angel hierarchy, with popular Digimon such as Angewomon and Magnaangemon being akin to archangels, and Ophanimon, Seraphimon and Cherubimon taking their namesakes from angelic ranks in the bible. Holy Digimon are also all identified by Holy Rings featuring in their design. Often the more Holy Rings the higher the Digimons ranking amongst other Holy Digimon, although this rule is played pretty loosely. Demon digimon, such as Devimon and Ladydevimon for example, are considered Fallen Angel versions of Angemon and Angewomon respectively, within lore.
29	* ''Manga/TheSevenDeadlySins'': The Four Archangels are the most powerful warriors of the Goddess Clan. They are the counterparts to the Ten Commandments of the Demon Clan and fought against them 3000 years ago. [[spoiler: Despite technically being the good guys, the three of them that are shown were more than willing to commit heinous atrocities during the war that [[EvenEvilHasStandards horrified even the Commandments]] if it meant destroying the demons. Like the rest of the Goddess Clan, they lost their bodies and were sealed away at the end of the war, but were eventually unsealed so they could once again oppose the remaining Commandments now led by [[FaceHeelTurn Meliodas]]. While they're still called the Four Archangels, there are actually only three of them by the time they return. The fourth Archangel, [[PosthumousCharacter Mael]], was killed by Estarossa during the first war against the demons... or rather, that's what everyone thinks due to a mass hypnotic spell. In reality, Mael ''is'' Estarossa, whose own memories were altered as part of a massive gambit to put an end to the first war]].
30	* ''Literature/ThatTimeIGotReincarnatedAsASlime'', the highest ranked angels known as the Seraphim, many of whom were personal agents and warriors of [[DragonsAreDivine Veldanava]], serve as this. Dino and his two angel companions used to be among their number before they became {{Fallen Angel}}s. [[spoiler:They're also the major and final antagonists of the series, as they're trying to [[WellIntentionedExtremist bring Veldanava back]]...while also trying to completely wipe out the mortals due to their role in Veldanava's death, and the few not on board with the second part [[TrappedInVillainy don't have much choice in the matter]].]]
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33	[[folder:Card Games]]
34	* ''TabletopGame/MagicTheGathering'' has a couple of examples.
35	** The leader of the [[BadassArmy Boros Legion]] of Ravinica, and especially of the numerous angels within it, has always been an angel. For most of the guild's history, this spot was filled by the archangel [[https://scryfall.com/card/hop/92/razia-boros-archangel Razia]], although after her death it was taken over by [[https://scryfall.com/card/war/197/feather-the-redeemed Feather]], who was then ousted by the much more warlike [[https://scryfall.com/card/gtc/143/aurelia-the-warleader Aurelia]].
36	** In Innistrad, there is [[https://scryfall.com/card/ima/11/avacyn-angel-of-hope Avacyn, the Angel of Hope]], ruler of the angels, master of all of the plane's {{White\|Magic}} mana, and central figure of the local humans' CrystalDragonJesus religion, as well as her three lieutenants, who each guide one of the plane's three flights of angels -- [[https://scryfall.com/card/cm2/9/gisela-blade-of-goldnight Gisela]], overseeing the warrior angels of the Flight of Goldnight; [[https://scryfall.com/card/c18/170/bruna-light-of-alabaster Bruna]], overseeing the Flight of Alabaster that watches over the spirits of the dead, and [[https://scryfall.com/card/uma/206/sigarda-host-of-herons Sigarda]], guiding the monster-hunters of the Flight of Herons. There was also a fourth lesser archangel, who believed in learning from monsters in order to fight them and was destroyed and {{Unperson}}ed for allying with a demon lord. This lasted until Avacyn was corrupted and driven mad by [[EldritchAbomination Emrakul]], dragging Bruna, Gisella and most of their flights down with her; the fallen angels ultimately had to be wiped out, leaving Sigarda as the last archangel in Innistrad. In the ''Innistrad: Midnight Hunt'' storyline, [[spoiler:a botched summoning ritual for the demon lord allows the return of the forgotten archangel, [[https://scryfall.com/card/cmr/286/liesa-shroud-of-dusk Liesa, Shroud of Dusk]], to the living world]].
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39	[[folder:Comic Books]]
40	* ''ComicBook/ShadeTheChangingMan'': The angels are smug, brute-force manipulators who don't even bother attempting to appeal to morality or necessity. They brought Shade back to life but also made him crazier by taking a piece of his mind to control him with. They resurrected Kathy and withheld the MindRape memories so intense they ''killed'' her, then extorted her with them to make her keep Shade under control. They're such JerkassGods that they make [[DealWithTheDevil a bargain with an]] FauxAffablyEvil Devil seem sane by comparison.
41	* ''ComicBook/AfterlifeInc'': There are billions of angels of varying power levels. The seven archangels, however, are a different breed, and are seven immensely powerful beings that once ruled the afterlife. The archangels were wiped out by a mysterious event known only as the Calamity, leaving Anahel as the last surviving member of his brethren. Thankfully, despite being the most powerful being in the afterlife, he's happier just to be left alone.
42	* Creator/MarvelComics:
43	** ''Comicbook/GhostRider'': The Black Hosts and the Archangels they work for are good guys. They rarely show up and even more rarely do they do anything, [[DeusExMachina unless there is no other way to stop]] a DownerEnding or if they have {{Fallen\| Angel}}, but those who fall are considered "former". Some of the arch angels get away with a lot of JerkAss activity without losing their rank but most of them seem to be pretty nice. Archangels are also responsible for appointing the angels of death.
44	** Marvel's traditional angel of death Azrael (from Venus comics and later Wolverine's) is a red devil looking guy who can only spend limited time on Earth and is known mostly for getting beat up by people who are not ready to die yet or by people who find him blocking the way to a fountain of youth. [[AndIMustScream He spitefully leaves the souls of those who beat him in their rotting corpses]] [[GoodThingYouCanHeal but to his frustration, Wolverine's heals]]. The Dark Angel Of Death (from the Hell's Angel/Dark Angel comics), is a shadowy {{reality warper}} who comes off as a {{manipulative bastard}} [[ApocalypseHow whose games might destroy the universe]] but is truly [[DarkIsNotEvil a generous guy]] [[GuileHero sabotaging]] one of [[DemonLordsAndArchdevils Mephisto's]] schemes. The third was a form taken on by Nobel Kale while in the [[{{hell}} splinter realms]], [[SatanIsGood where he ruled benevolently]] until the demons rose up and banished him to Earth.
45	** Angels are also affiliated with the Asuras, embodiments of goodness which stand guard at the gates of heaven and the spirits of vengeance, the ones most likely to appear and act on panel.
46	* ''Creator/DCComics'':
47	** ''Comicbook/TheSandman1989'' stoyline "Season of Mist" introduces the archangels Remiel, He Who is Set Over Those to Rise, and Duma, Angel of Silence, who are (unwillingly) made the rulers of Hell when Morpheus is asked to choose a replacement for the retiring Lucifer, and who go on to appear in ''Comicbook/{{Lucifer}}''.
48	** ''Comicbook/JLA1997'': Each of the four Hosts of the Pax Dei (Lion, Eagle, Human and Bull) have "King-Angels" who appear to come just below Archangels in the heavenly heirarchy. The only one named has been Asmodel, King-Angel of the Bull Host, who almost immediately becomes a FallenAngel.
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51	[[folder:Literature]]
52	* ''Literature/AstralDawn'': The Aash Ra have served in this role on numerous worlds throughout the multiverse. They once openly ruled Averya until they left when they noticed the spirits evolving during a period they called the Astral Dawn.
53	* ''Literature/{{Deryni}}'': Raphael, Gabriel, Michael, and Uriel are invoked by name during rituals. They variously manifest as pillars of light, or elements (earth, air, fire and water), or luminous beings that seem to have wings. They are identified with compass points or the Four Winds as well as the Four Elements (Earth, Air, Fire and Water):
54	** Raphael is associated with Air, the east, and the colour gold. When Deryni conjure a ritual circle, they start and end with his position. He's also associated with healing, so he gets particular mention when Rhys and Evaine dedicate their newborn Healer son Tieg in the short story "Healer's Song".
55	** Gabriel is associated with Water, the west and the colour blue. His patron is the Virgin Mary, because he delivered the news that she would bear the Son of God. Kelson takes Gabriel's position in Liam's ''killijálay'' in ''King Kelson's Bride''.
56	** Michael is associated with Fire, the south and the colour red. He is the patron and namesake of the Michaelines, a [[TheOrder militant religious order]] that functioned like a cross between the Jesuits and the Templars. Kelson summons Michael by name to destroy Sidana's ring in ''King Kelson's Bride''.
57	** Uriel is associated with Earth, the north, and the colour green. When [[spoiler: King Cinhil]] dies during a ritual, Uriel is seen escorting his soul from the circle to join the souls of his deceased wife and son.
58	* ''Literature/{{Domina}}'': The angels have Names based on some of the traditional Archangels (including Lucifer, though it's mentioned that they should have used Samael instead). The Arch-Saints, the leaders of the angels, are named after the ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'' Celestial Paragons, with Zaphkiel the Watcher at the top in Chronias.
59	* ''Literature/TheDresdenFiles'': The Archangels and the ever-elusive Almighty, who prefer to work InMysteriousWays so far. Non-religious Harry identifies them as "powerful beings of Nevernever", on par with the Faerie Queens and beyond, but they're if anything ''stronger''. Uriel is powerful enough to destroy entire galaxies, though it's not not clear if the other Archangels are at his level of power. It is suggested by Mab, the Winter Queen, that he is the most dangerous of all the Archangels, primarily because he's the craftiest. Possibly worth noting is that even among the Archangels, there is a hierarchy, or at least defined roles. Uriel is the protector of Freewill and will do anything in his power and limits to complete this duty. It has led him to be their wetworks guy.
60	%%* ''Literature/GoodOmens'': These are Aziraphale's bosses.
61	* ''Literature/HisDarkMaterials'': Played with -- there are good angels and bad angels. The "lead" angel has [[spoiler: usurped God]] and rides around in his floating fortress.
62	* ''Literature/TheMortalInstruments'' features Raziel, who created the Shadowhunters. Also, [[ArchangelMichael Michael]], [[ArchangelGabriel Gabriel]] and many others are mentioned but do not appear. Raziel explicitly states that {{God}} exists, but what degree of direct interest He takes in earthly affairs is ambiguous.
63	* ''Literature/ProsperosDaughter'': Miranda is quite shocked to learn that one of the beings that {{Mephisto}} can summon is Uriel. At the end, [[spoiler:he gives instructions to Astreus, who had been rather high-ranking himself]].
64	* ''Literature/TheSilmarillion'': The Valar, the most powerful beings in existence behind [[{{God}} Eru]], straddle the line between these and little-g gods. Thematically and visually they're based more on polytheistic deities than anything else, but they're also imperfect, created beings who were called into existence by Eru and watch over the physical world on His behalf, and need to consult with Him before making any drastic decisions. Additionally, the setting's SatanicArchetype Morgoth ([[Literature/TheLordOfTheRings Sauron's]] boss) happened to be [[TheParagonAlwaysRebels the most powerful of them]] until he [[FallenAngel rebelled against his maker]].
65	* In ''Literature/WarsOfTheRealm'', the angels of [[{{God}} Elohim]] are subdivided into orders (Ministers, Messengers, Carriers, Guardians, and Warriors) which are each overseen by one or more archangels and various other officers (generals, commanders, and captains) under them. [[ArchangelMichael Michael]], [[ArchangelGabriel Gabriel]], [[ArchangelRaphael Raphael]], and [[ArchangelUriel Uriel]] all appear or are mentioned as archangels in one of the orders.
66	* ''Literature/YoungWizards'': There's the Winged Defender, a.k.a. the [[{{God}} One's]] Champion ([[AllMythsAreTrue a.k.a. Thor, a.k.a. Athena, a.k.a. the archangel Michael]]). S/He only rarely intervenes directly, since fully manifesting strains the fabric of reality almost to the breaking point, but when s/he ''does'', s/he has no problem kicking the ass of the [[{{Satan}} Lone Power]]. In addition to occasionally kicking the ass of the BigBad, his/her responsibilities include granting the titular wizards their power ([[AllMythsAreTrue which was the inspiration for the legend of Prometheus]]), and also keeping the TrueName of {{God}} in several separate pieces, since the sheer power radiated by God's whole name would [[ApocalypseHow destroy entire universes]].
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69	[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
70	* ''Series/{{Supernatural}}'': Archangels have showed up, particularly in seasons 5-6 and 11 onwards. There are only four of them[[note]]God has stated he could make more, but he never gets around to it, since the process is very complex, takes aeons, and requires siphoning off some of his own primordial power[[/note]], and they were originally made by {{God}} to help him in his fight against TheAntiGod. The later angels are much weaker than the archangels as a result of this, to the point where an archangel can effortlessly wipe out an entire angel garrison with a BadassFingersnap. The only Archangels remaining in heaven are [[ArchangelMichael Michael]] and [[ArchangelRaphael Raphael]]. Lucifer retained his celestial nature after [[FallenAngel his fall]], but is obviously no longer part of the Heavenly Host. [[ArchangelGabriel Gabriel]] went missing too because he couldn't stand the in-fighting between Lucifer and Michael. Interestingly, [[ArchangelUriel Uriel]] is present, but is not an Archangel. It's implied that they have a full celestial hierarchy, theoretically reaching to God himself, but [[HaveYouSeenMyGod he's actually been missing for eons]] and Michael took up the slab in his absence. Castiel works for Zachariah and Anna refers to having been his superior, while Zachariah works for the Archangels, Michael in particular.
71	* ''Series/EternalLaw'' has angels in disguise -- mostly -- as lawyers.
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74	[[folder:Religion and Mythology]]
75	* Judaic/Christianic lore found in [[Literature/TheBible the Old and New Testaments]] was both the TropeCodifier and half the TropeNamer. Traditional Christian theology recognises nine ranks of angels. The names and purposes of these ranks are viewed as the following:
76	** The Seraphs, who have the greatest perception of God's [[ThePowerOfLove love]] and light the love for God in people's hearts.
77	** The Cherubs, who have the greatest perception of God's wisdom and bring wisdom to people.
78	** The Thrones, who have the greatest perception of God as Lord and inspire people to glorify Him.
79	** The Dominions, who have the greatest perception of God's Providence, teach people avoid temptation, and regulate the duties of the lower angelic ranks.
80	** The Virtues, who have the greatest perception of God's miracles and assist holy wonderworkers.
81	** The Powers, who have the greatest perception of God's might and drive evil spirits away from people.
82	** The Principalities, who oversee the works of nature and are the guardian angels of communities, cities and countries.
83	** The Archangels are the messengers of God's greatest mysteries and revelations. Many theologians believe ArchangelMichael, ArchangelGabriel, ArchangelRaphael and several other named archangels are actually from the rank of the Seraphs and are only called "archangels" in the literal sense of the word, as in, "chief angels". The confusion arises from the fact that "angel", too, is the name both of all the bodiless powers of Heaven and of their lowest rank.
84	** The Angels are the ones closest to people and most involved in their lives. Every person's GuardianAngel comes from this rank.
85	* Specific archangels -- meaning, in this case, "chief angels" presiding over the rest of the Host -- are often assigned names and specific areas of guardianship and duty in Abrahamic faiths:
86	** [[ArchangelMichael Michael]] is usually considered the chiefest and highest of all angels, the leader of [[TheArmiesOfHeaven God's armies]], and the foe of Satan. He is considered to be a patron of warriors and the protector of God's people -- in practice, many major faiths and denominations thereof view his as their personal patron.
87	** [[ArchangelGabriel Gabriel]] is often depicted as God's main messenger, sent to give prophecies, commands and revelations to His followers -- for instance, Christianity credits him with foretelling the births of John the Baptist and Jesus, and Islam with dictating Literature/TheQuran to Mohammad. As such, he's often considered the patron of communications, messengers and diplomats.
88	** [[ArchangelRaphael Raphael]] is mainly associated with healing and medical workers; Islam views him as the angel who will sound a trumpet to announce the the Day of Resurrection.
89	** [[ArchangelUriel Uriel]] is associated with knowledge, wisdom, science, poetry, man-made beauty, and art. He is also sometimes identified with the angel that guards the gates of Eden with a flaming sword.
90	** [[ArchangelAzrael Azrael]], the angel of death, is said to be the one who comes to the dead and takes their souls to by judged by God.
91	** Selaphiel is considered -- mainly by Christian denominations from Eastern Europe and the Middle East -- to be the angel who relays the prayers of humans to God, and as such as the patron of prayer and worship.
92	** Raguel, recognized primarily in Jewish tradition and some African churches, is described as the archangel of justice, retribution, and fairness. His duties are essentially those of a cosmic sheriff of sorts, and more so than interacting with mortals he is charged with punishing fallen angels and other wicked beings.
93	** Notably, few Abrahamic traditions recognize the same archangels or give them the same roles and attributes, although a few remain fairly stable.
94	*** Catholicism only recognizes Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael as canonical, although Uriel is also mentioned in many not-strictly-canon texts and consequently is also fairly important. The Church used to recognize more, but decanonized most archangels when public reverence for them became uncomfortably close to angel-worship.
95	*** The Eastern Orthodox Church venerates eight archangels by name -- Michael, Gabriel, Raphael, Uriel, Selaphiel, Jegudiel, Barachiel, and Jerahmeel. Each angel is traditionally assigned a specific symbolic depiction in art[[note]]Michael – holding a spear or a sword, sometimes he is shown crushing the devil beneath his feet; Gabriel – holding a heavenly tree branch or a jasper mirror; Raphael – holding a jug of medicines, he is sometimes shown leading Tobias by the hand; Uriel – with a risen sword in his right hand and a [[TheFlameOfLife flame]] in his left; Selaphiel – praying with his eyes downcast and his hands crossed on his breast; Jegudiel – with a [[GoldAndWhiteAreDivine golden]] crown in his right hand and a whip of three ropes in his left; Barachiel – holding [[SomethingAboutARose roses]] or an embroidery of roses, or with roses embroidered on his clothes; Jerahmeel – holding scales[[/note]] and Mondays are dedicated to them in the liturgical calendar.
96	*** The Seventh-day Adventist church notably equates Michael with Jesus, viewing the latter as an archangel in the sense that He is literally the supreme leader of the angels.
97	*** Islam typically names and mentions four archangels -- Michael (Mikail, the angel of mercy and bringer of rain), Gabriel (Jibrail or Jibril, who brings God's revelations to prophets), Raphael (Israfil or Rafail), and Azrael (Azra'il).
98	* There's [[http://www.miaminewtimes.com/news/myths-over-miami-6393117 an article about the folktales shared by homeless children in Miami]] (and presumably in some other places) in which this type of angels are frequently mentioned.
99	* The Zoroastrian Amesha Spenta are seven divine entities shaped by Ahura Mazda, the creator, from aspects of himself. Each is associated with a specific virtue of the creator and an aspect of the created world (humans, animals, fire and light, metals and minerals, earth, water, and plants). In modern scholarship, this concept is believed to have played an important formative role in the development of belief in angels and their relationship with God and the world in Judaism and its descendant faiths.
100	* Yazidism, an enthnoreligion descended from pre-Zoroastrian Iranian polytheism, is in the modern day a monotheistic faith that shares a non-inconsiderable amount of concepts and terminology with the Abrahamic religions, including a belief in angels. The Seven Angels are viewed as having been created by God from his own light and charged with overseeing the world. Melek Taûs, the Peacock Angel, is their leader; the others are named Cibrayîl, Ezrayîl, Mîkayîl, Şifqayîl, Derdayîl, Ezafîl, and Ezazîl.
101	[[/folder]]
102
103	[[folder:Tabletop Games]]
104	* ''Tabletopgame/DungeonsAndDragons'' is the TropeNamer. Specifically, we have:
105	** The Celestial Hebdomad for the LawfulGood archons. These seven, one for each of the Seven Heavens of Celestia, most closely resemble the traditional Christian concept of archangels.
106	** Talisid and the Five Companions, paragons of the NeutralGood guardinals. Their beast-like forms seem inspired by totemic or shamanistic "spirit guides".
107	** The Court of Stars, leaders of the ChaoticGood eladrins. They're more like fairy lords than angels, but embody ChaoticGood all the same.
108	* ''TabletopGame/InNomine'': The Archangels. They are much more powerful than regular angels, but are Word-bound (forced to operate in accordance with their descriptive Word) and thus limited in thought and action.
109	* ''TabletopGame/{{Exalted}}'': The Solars take a very similar role in their cosmology, being incredibly powerful agents charged with ruling over Creation in the name of the [[GodOfGood Unconquered Sun]] and enacting his will upon the world, complete with "fallen" Solars in the form of the Abyssals and Infernals who fulfill the [[DemonLordsAndArchdevils same role]] for the more malicious powers of the world. Alas, unlike most examples of this trope, the Solars are far from [[LightIsNotGood impeccable and infallible]]...
110	* ''TabletopGame/{{Kult}}'' has the Archons, incredibly powerful heavenly principles that [[{{God}} the Demiurge]] created to govern the angels and organise his creation. This being [[CrapsackWorld KULT]], they're naturally [[GodIsEvil complete and total bastards]].
111	* ''TabletopGame/{{Nobilis}}'': The Angels are the Imperators of Heaven, though in a case of [[LightIsNotGood Light Is Not (Exactly) Good]] -- rather, they are ''just'' above all else. The schism that resulted in the {{Fallen Angel}}s existing (at least in third edition) was that some of the angels loved everyone, even the corrupt... and for this, they were cast into Hell.
112	* ''TabletopGame/{{Pathfinder}}'':
113	** The Empyreal Lords are demigods representing the good outsider races (archons, angels, agathions, and azatas). Unlike the various [[DemonLordsAndArchdevils archfiends]], which are strictly divided among the devils, daemons and demons, demigod-level celestials are largely considered the same sort of beings and cooperate in a loose shared structure, rather than only concerning themselves with their specific race and plane.
114	** More broadly, other Good-aligned races of celestials have their own associated demigods, such as the Seven Kumaras of the manasaputras.
115	* ''TabletopGame/PrometheanTheCreated'' features ''qashmallim'', who are [[OurAngelsAreDifferent not-quite-but-maybe angels]] serving [[InMysteriousWays a cosmic Principle]]. There are arch-''qashmal'' as well, and when they show up, something big happens... although not necessarily something nice. The book lists an example of an entire city convening to build an edifice before leaping off of it, and one adventure features [[spoiler:an arch-''qashmal'' about to irradiate all of Detroit unless the Prometheans make a sacrifice]].
116	* ''TabletopGame/Warhammer40000'':
117	** As the SpaceMarines are often considered to be the GodEmperor's Angels of Death, his twenty sons that were the genetic templates for the SpaceMarine Legions would be his [[CelestialParagonsAndArchangels Archangels]] (and it's especially evident with Sanguinius, Primarch of the Blood Angels, who happens to be a WingedHumanoid). Of course, once Chaos had come about in the Literature/HorusHeresy, half of them went the other [[DemonLordsAndArchdevils route]]...
118	** The Living Saints can be considered to be the Emperor's actual Archangels. This is especially blatant with Celestine, whose PowerArmor includes a large set of mechanical angelic wings.
119	[[/folder]]
120
121	[[folder:Video Games]]
122	* ''VideoGame/{{Bayonetta}}'' has the angels acting as the antagonists. Those who bear the title of "Archangel" are merely {{Elite Mook}}s; closer to the spirit of this trope are four Audito, who claim ties to cardinal virtues ([[{{Hypocrite}} that they rarely demonstrate]]), wield ElementalPowers, are at the least the size of buildings, have appearances more befitting {{Angelic Abomination}}s, and [[YouTalkTooMuch never shut up]].
123	%%* ''VideoGame/{{Darksiders}}'': Abbadon and Azrael.
124	* ''Franchise/ShinMegamiTensei'': A staple. Invariably they are on the side of Law and oppose Chaos, but [[OurAngelsAreDifferent whether they mean well for humans varies between games]].
125	** Most notably, the ArchangelGabriel and Remiel are often presented as the [[OnlySaneMan only sane guys]] in the Law faction. Most other angels are utterly subsumed to [[{{God}} YHVH's]] will, and either are demented {{Knight Templar}}s of the worst kind, outright despise every living being with free will, or both.
126	** Interestingly, there are two types of Archangels: The named archangels (Michael, Uriel, Gabriel, Raphael) and the generic demon Archangel. The named archangels are usually endgame or near-endgame in terms of power, while the Archangel is one of the lower-leveled demons.
127	* ''VideoGame/TouhouHisoutenScarletWeatherRhapsody'': Tenshi Hinanawi, the BigBad, is a Celestial Paragon who threatened to cause a cataclysmic earthquake [[ItAmusedMe out of boredom.]] Of course, Tenshi is [[OurAngelsAreDifferent kinda different,]] even by Celestials' standards... speaking of which, according to [[UniverseCompendium supplementary material]], the Celestials in general are basically the {{Upper Class Twit}}s of the universe; elitistic [[TheHedonist hedonists]] who were granted a place in [[FluffyCloudHeaven Bhava-Agra,]] a paradise of instant gratifications and endless parties, either because of their own virtues, through attaining enlightenment, or through a BargainWithHeaven. It's also thanks to the Celestial Paragons that the CelestialBureaucracy is such a mess: No more people are getting into Heaven. The official reason is that they're out of space, but the truth is that there's plenty of it, the Celestials just like hogging enormous areas for themselves.
128	* ''VideoGame/{{Diablo}}'': The Angiris Council rules the High Heavens.
129	** Imperius is the Archangel of Valor, who believes in "blood for blood" when it comes to demons, and is probably the biggest jerk on the council, especially when it comes to humans.
130	** Tyrael is the Archangel of Justice, and one of the only angels who actually gives a damn about humanity, to the point that [[spoiler:he becomes one in ''III'' to aid humanity directly against Hell]].
131	** Auriel is the Archangel of Hope, and the other main proponent for humanity. Without Malthael, she's the one tasked with keeping the Angiris Council together.
132	** Itherael is the Archangel of Fate, who is in charge of angelic records and divining the future of Sanctuary.
133	** Malthael, the Archangel of Wisdom and once the leader of the Angiris Council. He disappeared soon after the Worldstone did, and his whereabouts were unknown until [[spoiler:he resurfaced as the Angel of Death in ''Reaper of Souls'', having gone evil and seeking to destroy humanity and the Nephalem]].
134	* Lineage 2 has angels as a monsters. They are God's servants, but they look down on lesser races (including all [=PCs=]) and will attack them for insolence when approached. Epic Boss [[RageAgainstTheHeaven Baium]] spawns with several angels attacking him. They are almost invincible and need to be controlled. If they are not dealt with, Baium attacks more randomly and loot from him can be severely decreased.
135	* In ''VideoGame/DwarfFortress'', most players will never encounter an archangel. [[LightIsNotGood Fortunately]]. They serve as {{Optional Boss}}es for those brave or foolhardy enough to seek out such a challenge, are the strongest things in the game and are powerful enough to survive the might of the lesser angels that, in of themselves, far eclipse all but the greatest of mortals. Their appearances are randomized, as variable as the ineffable natures of the gods that create them. [[spoiler: They [[FromBadToWorse respawn after every visit too!]]]]
136	* ''VideoGame/GranblueFantasy'' introduced a variety of angels from different religions, the first generation of whom exist at the top of the primal beast power tier list and are the BigGood's of the setting:
137	** Of the first wave of introduced archangels, there's [[SatanIsGood Lucifer]], the Supreme Primarch, and the boss of every other angel introduced, Michael, his second in command, Raphael, Gabriel, and Uriel. Sandalphon is the fifth primarch who was formerly sealed away in Pandemonium for his crimes before he escaped. With the exception of Sandalphon, they're the strongest primal beasts around with Lucifer being the most powerful of their ranks.
138	** The sequel event brought in Halluel and Malluel (Called "Harut and Marut" in Japanese). While not as powerful as the above-listed primarchs, they're keepers of vast knowledge of the world as messenger angels, though they have limiters on their intelligence that make them uninterested in the knowledge they hold. It also makes them a bit air-headed and easily distracted.
139	[[/folder]]
140
141	[[folder:Webcomics]]
142	* In ''Webcomic/HolyBibble'', the top angels: Michael, Gabriel, Phanuel, Cassiel, Uriel and Sariel, have superpowers. Jophiel and Raphael might also be included in this list.
143	[[/folder]]
144
145	[[folder:Web Original]]
146	* ''Website/SCPFoundation'': Dr. Clef's SCP-001 Proposal is very likely to be Archangel [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uriel Uriel]], an archangel who is tasked with keeping humanity out of the Garden of Eden. His sword could cut anything including people, drones and even an ICBM. [[spoiler:Incidentally, WordOfGod is that Clef was the one that cast humanity out of Eden, which means if he ''isn't'' the serpent that tempted them to sin, then ''he's'' Jophiel, which mean Clef proposed ''himself'' as SCP-001.]]
147	[[/folder]]

Context Main / CelestialParagonsAndArchangels