The first known example of Linking transpired by accident. During a particularly hairy situation, two Servitors of Laurence (a Malakite and a rare Bright Lilim) were forced to use the Ethereal Song of Tongues on each other, in order to coordinate a last-ditch attack on a Tether. It worked: fighting like one mind in two bodies, the pair was able to cut through the defenders like a hot knife through butter. After the day was eventually saved, the two sat down and waited for their rapport to end.

They're still waiting.

Apparently, the two had blundered into a permanent linkage that allowed them to stay in constant mental contract with each other. It was a million to one chance … but once the Seraphim Council saw that such a thing was possible, the Host was able to duplicate the effect. Depending on the campaign world, this was either a miracle, or very, very unfortunate.

Linking requires the direct intervention of an Archangel (needless to say, Laurence now wants even more to have every Bright Lilim in existence: equally needless to say, all the other Archangels resist this idea strenuously). For some reason, only Malakim and Lilim can Link. The two celestials are brought together, "superimposed" for a brief moment, and emerge with several useful - and permanent - abilities.

First and foremost, the Linked pair, if close enough, can silently communicate with each other undetected. The range is normally (the average of the two's total Forces, rounded down, then squared) yards: thus, an 11Force Malakite and a 9 Force Lilim would have an effective range of 100 yards. Emotions are also transmitted. Linked pairs can no more lie to each other than your eye can lie to your spleen. One Linked may use the other's sensorium, at the cost of 1 Essence per ten minutes of use.

Secondly, as long as the Linked are within the above range, they always know precisely the other's location. Even if out of range, one can determine the general direction of the other with a Perception Roll.

Thirdly, it was discovered that Linking also permits Malakim to use the Lilim resonance (and vice versa), at -2. This ability only works as long as both Linked are alive and conscious. Alternatively, one Linked may access the other's sensorium (at the cost mentioned above) and attempt to make a normal resonance roll.

Lastly, linking a Bright Lilim to a Malakite makes it impossible for her to Fall, as long as her partner has not suffered soul-death.

There are several problems with the Link: first off, the soul-death of one will cause the immediate Trauma of the other (yes, this means that the Malakite will suffer from Trauma as if he or she was a normal angel), with the duration time multiplied by ten. Second, pain and suffering (but not actual hits) will also transmit themselves over the Link: this can easily translate to a -2 or more on rolls. Lastly, if one Linked is successfully resonated by another celestial, the other must make a Will Roll or suffer equally.

It is recommended that only Bright Lilim be allowed to link with Malakim, unless one is running a dark campaign (where such a perversion is not only acceptable, but also encouraged). Such antics may also be acceptable in a bright, low-contrast setting.

In a bright campaign, both Malakim and Bright Lilim eagerly seek Linking. The benefits are obvious: the Malakite is able to rack up Geas in exchange for fulfilling many "Please don't kill me" Needs, the Bright is kept from Falling (and can determine honorable individuals, to boot), and both have an utterly reliable entity guarding their backs. A Linked pair can breeze through merely human opponents as if they weren't even there, with a minimum of disturbance and bloodshed.

However, the Linking process in a bright setting is not inevitable. All that the Archangel can do is to make such a deep rapport possible: the rest is up to the angels in question. This can take quite some time (and good roleplaying): a GM is perfectly justified in imposing penalties to rolls until the two personalities mesh, either by long association or by a climatic moment. Two PCs who wish to undergo this procedure should be expected to work at it. They should also expect to pay at least 10 points each for the privilege.

The GM may want to consider permitting Linked pairs to share Essence and dissonance. Allowing the later is potentially abusive, in many senses of the word, and should be carefully regulated (it works best when two PCs play a Linked couple, and can freely choose to shoulder one another's dissonance). Adding a further 10 points for this option sounds about right.

Bright Linked pairs are effectively mated for the rest of their existence: regular pairings or physical relationships pale in comparison. This is not seen as a particular problem, unless the GM decides to allow spontaneous Links (which can seriously deform existing relationships). Also, nothing and no one can break a Link, once it is complete, short of a direct intervention by God.

Dark campaigns, however, have darker consequences. First off, the Link stops being a voluntary union between equals and becomes a domination of the strong by the weak. Depending on circumstances or the type of campaign, either the Malakite or the Lilim (who does not have to be Redeemed) has the whip hand. In either case, the dominant entity has full control over resonance use, Essence control and dissonance allocation (and pays 15 points for the privilege): he or she cannot control the submissive entity's every action, but forcing specific Discords or Geas that encourage obedience is unfortunately common. The dominant entity is also immune to the Trauma problem, although the submissive one is not.

If the Malakite controls the situation, he or she tends to run through many, many Lilim. Some of the more powerful Malakim may even have more than one: Superiors have a whole 'harem'. The situation is precisely like the propaganda written by Hell (in happier campaigns) to discourage potential Redemption candidates. Lilim in this type of campaign are constantly in danger of being captured by roving gangs of Malakim, eager to subdue, kidnap and drag their prey to the nearest Tether, in the hopes of being rewarded with a Tempter of their very own some day. Needless to say, Lilith fights such a literal rape of Freedom with full force and bitterness.

On the other hand, a Malakite in a submissive role is scarcely better off. The very first action of a dominant Lilim is to force the Malakite to vow "Never allow my Linked partner to come to harm": any dissonance that follows merely reinforces the slavery, as it can be translated into more vows and Geas. The Lilim attempts to keep this control secret for as long as possible, grinding every bit of use out of her unfortunate 'partner' until the Malakite is begging for soul death. The only hope the angel has is that their Superior eventually discovers the enslavement, and breaks the Link (only possible in dark campaigns). Going into Limbo accomplishes the same thing, which is the major reason why Malakim are never ordered to simply break their Hearts and go Outcast. Lilith would be the only reliable source of this type of Link, and doesn't even bother to charge a Geas to the Lilim. The Malakite, on the other hand…

PCs are not encouraged to Link to each other in this sort of campaign world, unless they happen to enjoy roleplaying sadomasochistic behavior (and the other PCs can suppress their gag reflexes). One exception to this might be if neither Linked can be dominant: in this case, the full Trauma rules are in effect, neither can foist off dissonance or steal Essence from the other, and all Linkings are accidental. It would also be recommended that either Linked take Mind or Soul hits from harming or betraying the other, or allowing the other to come to harm. Roleplaying this constant conflict (especially if the two can reluctantly see each other's viewpoint) might prove interesting. This option is also available in a bright, low-contrast campaign, but is less likely to be as bitter.