Things change.

Novalis is one of the oldest Superiors, but in a way, she's also the newest. Her experiences among the Tsadayim affected her more than anyone could know. To rescue them, she had to draw on every fiber of forgiveness and love that she had within her: nothing less could have convinced them to return to the fold of a Heaven that seemed united against them. It was a magnificent feat: but it left her weakened when Leviathan made his power play and attacked on all fronts. Novalis was captured, tormented … and became a Malakite in one transcendent moment of need and anger. Leviathan was lucky to flee.

Novalis now has a favored Earthly vessel: a tall, redheaded woman in her early thirties, beautiful … except for one scar across her cheek (legacy of the incident with Leviathan that caused her to change Choirs). It is known that this doesn't represent any kind of Discord: while all of her vessels now sport the scar, she can remove it at will. Apparently, it's merely a reminder of unfinished business.

Her organization is deeply split: some support her choice, others disapprove deeply. Reconciliation of her stunned Servitors is very much on Novalis' mind. She remains cheerful, happy, forgiving and loving … but there's a shadow above her now, and it has the shape of black wings. Nobody knows at what point she'll unleash the steel within herself. They just know that she will, if necessary … and that her definition of 'necessary' is much broader these days.

Things change.

Dissonance for Servitors of Flowers remains unchanged, on paper. Unnecessary violence, or the killing of humans, is still dissonant. However, no Choir has a looser definition of 'necessary violence' than the Malakim, and their interpretation is the one that Novalis favors now. It should also be noted that she is much less likely to inflict additional punishments to Servitors that kill humans. Many of her old Servitors still keep as best they can to the old ways: she does not condemn, and does not ask them to go contrary to their natures, but the appeal of finally striking blows against evil is seductive.

Novalis' Servitors are divided into two camps: those who approve of her change and those who don't. Most of her oldest servants were in the latter group, and they were quick to make their displeasure known. Luckily for them, the switch from Cherub to Malakite did not erode Novalis' good nature or love for her servants: she continues to listen to them and heed their advice. Most of her Servitors, whatever their personal opinions on her choice, continue to love their Archangel dearly and have not sought out a new Superior.

Unfortunately, this forbearance does not extend to those in an opposing faction. The debate never becomes physically dangerous, as Novalis is always ready to consider this level of dispute "unnecessarily violent", but friendships and loves have broken because of her choice. They work together when needful, but only when needful. Tears water the Glade more often these days.

Assume that, unless noted below, that the attunement remains unchanged. Angels will have the option of requesting the old attunement, where applicable: Novalis will not forcibly try to change her Servitors' minds about her new outlook. However, a newly fledged angel who wishes to stay with the old ways will have some difficulty in ever getting out of Heaven, for their own protection. This, of course, does not apply to Choirs whose Attunements have not been "upgraded".

Like the original Attunement, Cherubim can still take on the corporeal damage of those they touch: now, however, they can pass it along to another target with a Will Roll. Doing this to a human … any human … is considered "unnecessary violence", and inflicts two additional points of dissonance. This is unaffected by the Pesticide Servitor Attunement (see below).

These Powers now serve Novalis as agents for balance, rather than as agents for nature. They have a +4 to detect any Symphonic disturbance. They also know, upon eye contact, whether a human is Hellsworn, and get a +2 to the check digit on resonance rolls to determine why.

Gifters of Novalis can always pick out the person who most Needs protection from evil. The worthiness of the person for said protection is not revealed. Cherubim may also take this Attunement: it is otherwise restricted.

Mercurians suffer no dissonance from acts of violence upon Hellsworn Soldiers. Killing them (or any other human) is still dissonant. Novalis has few Mercurians seek her service now, and more of her old Mercurians have switched Superiors than any other Choir.

These, and the old Attunements, remain technically available to both factions, with the exception of Pesticide.

The angel suffers no dissonance from any act of violence (including killing) against Hellsworn, Black Sorcerers or Demons. Novalis' Malakim have universally taken this Attunement, and it is extremely popular among all other Choirs, save the Mercurians. Possession of this Attunement is a de facto admission that one is no longer a member of the traditionalist faction.

Any combat action that takes place in a garden, woods, or the wilds receives a +1 to the check digit for angels with this Attunement (+2 if the action is to defend said area). Novalis has been known to give this to her Soldiers, as well.

Novalis has two organizations, now, and Distinctions in one usually preclude Distinctions in the other. Only those who served her before her conversion, then embraced her new way of thinking, hold ranks in both. These angels tend to be disliked by the traditionalists even more than the new crop of Servitors.

Holders of this Distinction may add their Corporeal forces to any person's Dodge Roll, once per day. This effect lasts for one full combat sequence.

These angels exude an aura of trustworthiness. Any deserving innocent who sees them will instantly know that they can be trusted, and that the angel will provide defense if explicitly asked. This does not reveal the angel's nature. Not providing that defense, if asked, is dissonant, and if Novalis finds out that the angel turned his or her back, the repercussions will be severe.

Holders of this Distinction can, once per day, look at an entity and know whether Novalis would consider him, her or it unworthy of Redemption. This will exclude most demons, actually: as a general rule, the list of "unworthy of life" candidates are Hellsworn, undead, a large proportion of those who have achieved their Fate, most Shedim and all Demon Princes. Killing someone thus found wanting would never be dissonant, even for Cherubim and Mercurians. Actually Redeeming someone on the list above (or in the case of humans, enabling them to achieve their Destiny) is worth 4 Essence, and makes Novalis very happy (unlike most Superiors, she likes to be proven wrong).

For what it's worth, Novalis doesn't have any enemies in Heaven these days. The war faction grimly accepts her aid in their mission, and the peace faction weeps at what was done to her. Everyone is also pretty much in agreement that Leviathan's head would look much better separated from his body and arranged neatly on the shards of his Heart.

For her part, Novalis is determined to not lose anyone's friendship because of what happened. She blames no one for what was done to her, and tries to reconcile both factions to each other. But she cannot be what she was. Novalis' gentle teasing of her opponents will never be heard in the Council chambers again: the lack of it has hit certain Archangels hard. Dominic, in particular, had grown so used to it over the eons that he would routinely look over at the end of his speeches to hear her inevitable rebuttal: its absence is not the relief that he once imagined it would be.

Blandine: "O, my sister, what was done to you? What hurt your Dream? How can we call you back? That scar will remind me forever of our failure. My failure." "I have not lost my Dreams. I just know now what they cost. I will go back to what I was, dear one. I promise."

David: "Now she understands and approves my choice. She did not break. We work together now to finish this War. I should be happy.

"Why am I not happy?" "It's hard, isn't it? I wish that I hadn't been so difficult with you, Choir-mate once and Choir-mate again. When we have completed our work, we will take up our old natures, and I will show you how to rest as you are showing me how to be strong."

Dominic: "I remember how many times she would tease me in the Council chambers, daring to chide me for my necessary work, insisting that I relax and learn to trust. She would laugh at me. She laughs at me no more. She will never laugh at me again.

"Damn you, Leviathan." "Well, we're meeting each other halfway, at least. If I could laugh at your foibles as I once did, I would, but you would read no Truth to them. We'll get through this."

Eli: "I always knew she was tougher than she looked: with the load that got tossed on her, she'd have to be. That … that thing … tried its damnedest to break her, and she nearly broke it, instead. But doing that hurt her inside, somewhere nobody but her can reach. She was the best of all of us in trusting, caring and loving. I hope that she can find that within her again. Man, I really hope so." "This world of ours is a beautiful work of art and craft, and my people will still strive to make it beautiful. But now … now, they will also defend what they create. I don't consider what I was before a mistake. It's only that I cannot be what I was."

Gabriel: "Now she knows the taste of cruelty. She likes it no more than I do. I know how she tried to aid me in those days when I was mad, and I cannot think of anything that could aid her. Save to Burn he who took our Novalis away…" "We were companions once, and we are companions anew, taking up the common cause. That the cause has changed so terribly is a regret, but this road is a better one for the company."

Haagenti: "Oh, my God, Whom I have only glimpsed once … was this my fault? Did my coming to you set this in action? Please, please, please tell me what I can do for her." "His zest for his new life was a pleasure to behold, and he has done more to help me get back on my feet than anyone else. I wish that the self-blame I see in his eyes would go away, though. This was not his fault."

Janus: "Not all changes are good. This one certainly wasn't. She's just so calm about it. We never appreciated enough her before, and now that it's too late, I wish that I had told her how much her work made ours easier. Here I am, acting as if she was dead. She's not, but a little something within her is in a coma. I miss it." "I knew: I always knew. But change is inevitable, even for us. We will end this War, and we will make it possible for humanity to enjoy peace and love. That hasn't changed: I've just added more tools for the job."

Jean: "These things happen, and to dwell on negative emotions because of unfortunate incidents is unwise. The fact that I have independently decided that the Host should benefit significantly more from my research into improved weapon designs has absolutely no bearing on her recent distress. Absolutely none." "Jean's ability to deal with me as I am, rather than as I was, would be refreshing if it was truthful. I will take what he gives me for my battles, while showing him the courtesy of never seeing the pain in his eyes. When I strike blows for my cause, I also strike blows at those who would dare cause our aloof brother such distress…"

Jordi (snarling): "WHERE IS HE? Claws shall tear him. Fangs shall rip him. He will be taken into the sky and dashed upon the rocks. Jackals will gnaw his bones and worms will consume his flesh. WHERE IS HE?" "I always believed that he should take more interest in the world outside his Word, but I would have spared him this particular method of getting his attention. However, if my change of heart did this and nothing else, I would consider that enough. We need his strength too badly in the years ahead."

Khalid: "Her Faith in Allah remains, and I know that it will turn out for the best, somehow. But I can not yet see how. There will be a reckoning for this." "There is a time for the House of Peace, and a time for the House of War. I have made my choice in this, and I need Khalid and what he represents to sustain me. We will work closely, and I hope that my submission to the will of God shall be a balm to my brother. All my brothers and sisters."

Laurence: "What she must have gone through, what she must have felt, to take that step. She has borne it well, but that is no cause for gladness. My entire Order of the Eternal Sword has petitioned me to let them go after he who savaged my new Choir-Sister. I have refused them.

"I'll let them pick up the pieces when I'm done with him, though." "Choir-mate, you know me better now than most. I know your soul cries out to erase this stain on Heaven's honor, and it will be erased. But this is my battle, and it will be my duty to do what must be done."

Malphas: "It was a Choice no one should ever be forced to make. I knew her for such a little time, before. Hell has created a tool that will cause them more grief than they could ever imagine.

"But then, it was their decision. Let them reap the whirlwind that they have sown." "He knows the value of change, and the acceptance of responsibility implicit in making a decision. I wished that I did not have to make the Choice I did, either, but it was the right Choice. He can see that better than most."

Marc: "When they brought her in … I've never seen any of us look so hurt. I didn't recognize her, what with the change in Choir and the injuries. They healed, except for that damned scar. But that look in her eye, and the change in her voice … that won't heal. Innocence is so precious, so valuable: and it slipped away from her like sand. No: it was ripped from her, and that will be repaid with blood." "I have never needed him as much as I do now. My new self is an improvement, overall, but I am quicker to abandon the balanced solution. He acts as my touchstone for effective compromise, and his example of how to win fights without killing helps me remember gentler ways."

Michael: "War. To the knife, and the gun, and the sword, and anything else I need to get past any damned thing that stands between his Heart and me. You picked the wrong person to torment, Leviathan.

"And, Baal? Stay out of my way." "Another one whom I understand better, now. My earlier advice still holds: he should let go more often and enjoy the wonders of creation. My change should not become another encouragement for him to lose himself in pain and blood.

Saminga: "She was happy to see me, when I came up here. It was a proof of her belief that violence wasn't the best answer to every problem. Now, Novalis has partially rejected that belief. It's understandable, based on what happened to her, but incredibly sad. Hell might have just eliminated their best chance to end this War peacefully. At least she can still smile. Things would get … messier … for Hell, if she had lost her ability to smile." "I really understand his Word, now. I'm reminded of it whenever I look in a mirror. It is a good Word, and I'm happy to aid it when I support my own."

Yves: "She has given up something precious, in order to become something precious. If I could have prevented it, I would have, but she remains Novalis all the same." "Poor, poor Yves. If he had told my old self what was in store for me, I would have been terrified and anguished… and I might have never taken up this duty. But I see now that I had to, lest the work we have done come to naught. He has the heaviest burden of us all."

Novalis is torn. The work that she was doing before was necessary, useful, and even vital … and it's important that it be continued. However, her new nature calls out for direct action. Very direct action. There was so much that Novalis could have done to confound evil, if only she had applied a certain amount of force at just the right time. The fact that she didn't bothers her. Still, her reasons seemed good then, so the intelligent thing to do is to admit that she made a mistake in application and move on.

Novalis has two, seemingly contradictory goals: to promote peace and love among humanity, and to annihilate every enemy to peace and love that gets within range. It used to be that being unworthy of Novalis' forgiveness was merely an indication that you were an utterly degenerate entity: now, getting that distinction can be fatal for anyone on the corporeal plane.

Her organization is split between those who keep to the old and those who embrace the new. The traditionalist Servitors of Flowers mostly carry on as if Novalis had just stepped out for a minute, leaving control to a sympathetic twin sister who doesn't really understand them but lets them continue their old tasks mostly unopposed. The new breed of Flowers' servants acts more proactively; they seek out enemies of Life and Peace and arrange for said enemies' removal. They also tend to guard the traditionalists, on direct orders from Novalis. This split of resources makes for flexibility, but tends to also add to confusion.

Demons (and Demon Princes), naturally, are not pleased by any of this. Novalis still believes in offering Redemption and forgiveness to Rebels, but her tolerance for games and ploys is much lower, and inversely proportional to the urgency of the situation. Any demon actively hurting people in her or her new Servitors' presence is pretty much marked for obliteration right then and there. Renegades are usually in the same boat. Novalis understands that leaving a demon in place for the moment might reap better rewards later, but she frankly doesn't care very much. She may adjust her attitudes later, but right now the Archangel of Flowers is someone you don't want to annoy.

Oddly enough, the only Demon Prince that has even a limited immunity to the above is Andreaphlus. Before her change of Choirs, Novalis and Andre had worked out an understanding that, no matter what else they disagreed upon, it was absolutely vital that humanity survived. This understanding has been battered a bit, but it still holds. Andreaphlus will pass along information of overly-destructive plans made by Leviathan (now one of the Demon Princes most likely to wage Earthly campaigns), in exchange for the healing services of Novalis' traditionalists… and for Novalis' silence about the fact that Andre's back-stabbing Leviathan.

It's hard to work out exactly why this secret arrangement continues. Admittedly, Lust and Storms have proven to despise each other, and Leviathan's plans will put humanity at great risk: still, Novalis is a Malakite now. The justification for this kind of cooperation is hard to see.

There's a story, though, that gets whispered nowhere where either Andreaphlus or Novalis could hear. Novalis never speaks of how she managed to get from Sheol to the Washington Monument, seeing as she arrived in Heaven half-dead and too weak to get there on her own. Nobody's attempted to ask her, either. But, later that same day, a minor, hidden Tether to Lust in Georgetown blew up. Several of Andre's Servitors later became quite successful Renegades: at least, no trace of them has been found by the Game. Andreaphlus himself will not discuss these recent setbacks, and his manner concerning them has been … odd. Nobody has dared to ask him questions, either.

(Note: these are new rites, specifically for her post-conversion Servitors. The old ones still work, but only for a traditionalist.)

: Stopping someone from carrying out an act of unnecessary violence against the helpless.

: Making sure that a rapist is publicly punished for his/her crime.

: Helping a person stand up against hate crimes or oppression.

+1: A song or book that celebrates resistance to evil.

+2: The severed head of a rapist. Please note that acquiring one is still often dissonant for her Servitors!

+3: The HQ of a group dedicated to combating hate, prejudice or oppression.

+4: A speech or demonstration against the above, attended by at least 1,000 normal people. It does not have to be nonviolent, but the violence must be directed only towards the deserving (GM call).

+5: The public execution of a unrepentant, violent criminal, after a scrupulously fair trial.

+6: A Tether of Leviathan's, at the moment of its destruction.

"Never suffer an evil to live, if it is my choice."

Novalis, like most Malakim, understands full well the concepts of greater and lesser evils. She is more flexible about these things than most of her Choir, but is hardly as broadminded as she was before. Her continuing "understanding" with Andreaphlus is a tricky balancing act: the long-term stability of the arrangement is yet to be seen

"Never surrender or allow myself to be captured by the armies of Lucifer."

Even if this were not a standard oath, Novalis would have sworn it. She knows what it means to be captured, and will not suffer through it again.

"Always accept the sincere repentance of an enemy, and allow them a fair chance to do so."

Novalis still believes in forgiveness, and a Repentant demon is more of a gain than a dead one would be. She will allow those opposing her an honest chance to admit their errors and seek absolution. She's just not a damned fool about it.

"Always remember that there can be more than one way to solve a problem. My way is not the only way."

Understanding that direct action is sometimes counterproductive is a hard lesson for Malakim to learn. This oath forces her to keep perspective, and not scorn those who disagree with her. It is this oath that has permitted her Servitors to not follow her path, if they so choose.

The day that changed Novalis forever started like any other: she had business on Earth, checking up on one of her Tethers in southern China. There had been rumblings of possible trouble on the horizon, and she wished to be certain that her Servitors were properly prepared for any eventuality. This particular Tether (an experimental agricultural station) was weak, and the Seneschal was inexperienced. The personal attention of the Archangel of Flowers would serve as a morale boost, if nothing else.

Novalis was, at the time, a very tired Archangel. Recent events, while satisfying, were draining. In the course of a few years, the Host had gained three new major Superiors, agreed to a truce with the more benign ethereal pantheons, stepped up the War and reclaimed the Tsadayim … all events that Novalis featured heavily in, especially the latter. The Tsadayim matter especially: she had gone alone among them, when it had seemed that Heaven had no choice but to shatter their presence in the Marches, and brought them back into the fold through sheer force of will. Now the core of the former Outcast group served her, and she frankly didn't know what to do with them.

She would soon work that out.

Novalis was still at the Tether when Leviathan began his long-planned attack on Heaven's forces on Earth. The next two weeks were bad, bad days for both Heaven and Hell: hordes of demons, force-grown into mindless killing machines, swept through Infernal Tethers and assaulted the forces of good all over the globe. For a while, every Archangel had his, her or its hands full, trying to both resist the assaults and to keep the carnage out of the eyes of humanity. Ironically, it was only through the full aid of Nybbas that the latter goal was accomplished (the Prince of the Media, when asked why, irritably pointed out that "demonic invasions on the big screen? Primo box office. Demonic invasions on the boob tube just sends people to the church, temple or mosque of their choice in droves, baby" and then obliterated the unlucky questioner). The defense of Notre Dame alone required the activation of deep cover assets accumulated over years. In this chaos, the disappearance of Novalis went unnoticed until the situation stabilized.

What had happened was that, in the very beginning of the assault, Leviathan had personally led a force of his best troops to overwhelm the Archangel of Flowers. He knew that destroying or capturing an Archangel would be a stunning coup, and Novalis was the weakest in combat. Leviathan had acquired information on her itinerary, and carefully amassed a force that could batter her into submission.

Her Servitors died to the angel to protect her, of course. She had few Malakim protecting her, and they all suffered soul death rather than flee. The Tether was destroyed, and her Soldiers were battered into unconsciousness. Leviathan easily weathered her clumsy attacks, then offered a trade: her surrender, in exchange for her Soldiers' lives … and the lives of every person within a twenty mile radius.

It was a cruel gambit, but an effective one. Permitting that kind of destruction would have been contrary to everything that Novalis' Word stood for. Helpless, she agreed. She voluntarily allowed herself to be bound by special artifacts and brought to Sheol. For a wonder, Leviathan held up to his part of the bargain: possibly he wanted witnesses to pass on his victory to the Host.

Novalis' "interrogation" by Leviathan was … too disgusting to write down here, too disgusting for the Library, possibly even too disgusting for the Archives. Imagine the worst degradation, the hottest and coldest pain, the slimiest perversion that one person can do to another, and you would still not touch the depths of evil that a Demon Prince could do to a helpless Archangel. For three days, Leviathan tormented her, drinking her pain like the finest wine. He would leave from time to time, to direct his attacks, and return to ratchet the humiliation to a higher level. He thought he was breaking her. He thought that up to the very second that her celestial form wavered, dimmed … and the shadow of black wings shrouded her chained form.

Leviathan, if he had been more thoughtful, might have wondered why his peers had never tried his ploy before with one of the less combative Superiors. If he had bothered to ask, someone might have deigned to describe that long-ago day when David changed from Cherub to Malakite. Celestials are very static beings, for the most part: it takes transcendent rage and anguish to fuel such a fundamental transformation of Choir. Angels that underwent it, during the First War, were almost unstoppable until their reserves of righteous wrath were exhausted: Superiors were even worse. No foe survived David's transformation. The mere thought of this process ever happening again is one of the few things that can frighten a Demon Prince… wisely, as it turns out.

The new Malakite broke her chains like they were string. She then proceeded to try to the same to Leviathan. The combat raged up and down the Castle of Rust, fragmenting much of it in the process … and it was Leviathan who retreated. Objectively, he was stronger, but he cared about his existence too much. Novalis didn't: her universe had narrowed until the only things in it were her hands and his throat, and there was literally nothing she would not do to have them meet. Leviathan eventually managed to flee, much the worse for his encounter.

No one has been able to confirm how Novalis managed to reach the corporeal plane in her weakened condition. She staggered, alone, into the Washington Monument Tether, moving only through sheer willpower. It was earthly months before Novalis would be seen again in the Seraphim Council. Indeed, some would say that she never entered it again. Novalis now embodies the greatest shame that Heaven has suffered in a century … and an ominous harbinger of the War's future.

Things change.