To begin with, ethereal spirits aren't supposed to be able to even get into Heaven. They're not supposed to simply walk through the Pearly Gates unchallenged, able to wander through the streets of the Heavenly City. They're not supposed to stop at the Cathedral of the Sword and spend a night there in vigil. They're not supposed to arrive at Jacob's Ladder and ascend to the Higher Heavens. Even if one has the Grail in his hands the entire time, guiding him every step of the way.

And they are, emphatically, not supposed to come back down as an Archangel…

Galahad is, to put it bluntly, embarrassing as Hell. There was a lot of debate after the Purity Crusades about precisely why Uriel was called back to the Higher Heavens: these days, the question is generally considered answered, and in a way that does not bring credit to the Host. This collective guilt has ensured that the newest Archangel isn't completely snubbed, but Galahad is still considered to be a great annoyance … and not solely because of what he represents. He's not precisely Mr. Congeniality.

Galahad has an advantage to setting up his Servitors: ethereals. It would seem that an undeveloped (less than 8 Forces) ethereal spirit is able to fledge as an angel after all, after suitable training and development. Who knew? They've been flocking to Galahad's banner, despite his high standards.

All things considered, the rest of Heaven finds it hard to actively oppose the practice. However, they don't like it very much. Existing angels that seek service with Virtue had better be originally from Archangels not hostile to Galahad, unless they particularly enjoy losing all of their friends and accumulated patronage. Ethereal "converts" also can expect to be not fully trusted by reactionaries. All in all, the behind the scenes politicking can get intense.

Working for Galahad can be a pain for easygoing types. He's a little distant, very intolerant of sin (including a few things not considered sins by others, like obscenities, bad table manners, and rudeness) and a bit of a prude. Creationers tend to not seek his service. There are compensations, however: Galahad will listen to his subordinates, and expects them to speak up if one of his plans hasn't taken into effect information that they have and he doesn't. He's also openhanded when it comes to rewarding and supporting faithful Servitors: they get the best materials, supplies and backup that he can provide. Lastly, Galahad doesn't hold grudges at all: if you accept your punishment with good grace after you screw up, you're OK as long as you don't make a habit of screwing up.

Galahad expects his angels to be pure in mind, heart and vessel. They must keep their word, defend the innocent, and never compromise with evil, on pain of dissonance. The Archangel of Virtue also despises adultery, cowardice and bad language: getting caught being so unchivalrous is always grounds for dissonance (and usually penance, in the form of a quest or pilgrimage).

A Cherub of Virtue may break his or her attunement without a roll if their attuned ever shows themselves to be actively evil. They also do not suffer dissonance when an evil attuned is hurt or killed.

These angels may, once per day, undergo a half-hour ritual of meditation and prayer. The next time that she enters combat, the Ofanite gets double the usual number of attacks and defenses in a round. The angel must do nothing of importance between the ritual and combat, or she loses the bonus. The angel must also have no dissonance or Discord. Malakim and Ethereals of Virtue have access to this Attunement: otherwise, it is considered restricted.

Powers of Virtue know the best way to encourage honorable or chivalric behavior in others. Galahad also gives them a +3 to resist demonic resonances.

Virtues of Virtue especially despise dishonor. If his resonance has determined someone to be dishonorable, he gets a bonus to attacks equal to (half the check digit of the resonance roll, rounded up), towards that person only (and for that combat only). Malakim of Virtue must always take the oath "Always defend the innocent".

Other Servitors of Virtue who take this Attunement receive a flat +1 bonus to attacks on demons and Hellsworn. They do not have to make an oath, but Galahad expects them to act that way, anyway.

Galahad has no Bright Lilim as of yet, but isn't opposed to acquiring a few. When he does get some, they'll have the ability to automatically detect a Need to become more an honorable individual (roll anyway for the check digit). Elohim, Malakim and Mercurians sometimes get access to this Attunement.

Kyriotates of Virtue specialize in gallant last stands. If they encounter a human who faces impossible odds in combat, they may automatically possess the human (roll anyway for Interventions: duration is frankly irrelevant). The human remains conscious and in full control of both his actions and the Kyriotate's Songs and Skills (in other words, the GM retains the right to overrule a player who acts in a manner inconsistent with the possessed mortal). The Kyriotate does not suffer dissonance if the human is killed, and both gain one Essence if the human manages to prevail. These angels can also possess humans normally.

This is also a good way to determine if a human has the potential to be a Soldier: mortals capable of a sixth Force manifest it, if they survive.

Mercurians of Virtue are Galahad's bards. They all have Artistry/3 (Singing or Storytelling) (paid for normally), and counter demonic influences on a crowd via a successful skill roll at -2, once per day. For the next hour, any human that has listened to a successful performance gets a plus to all attempts to resist a demonic resonance, equal to the check digit of the Mercurian's original skill roll.

This is the controversial one. Apparently, Galahad's sojourn in the Higher Heavens has quite cured him of his old intolerance towards non-Christian religions, and he has openly accepted pagan spirits into his service. They have the ability to move freely to and from the ethereal plane, and can detect fellow ethereal spirits with a Perception roll. Ethereals of Virtue also purchase an unrestricted Choir Attunement (usually either the Ofanim or Mercurian Attunements), paid for normally.

Those angels of Virtue that have fully fledged from ethereals may also take this Attunement.

The angel must choose an acceptable type of violent enemy upon purchase ("All demons" or "all evildoers" is not acceptable. "All Impudites", or "All Servitors of Hardcore", or "all serial killers" is). When facing such an enemy, the angel receives a +2 to all attacks and defenses.

Angels with this Distinction instinctively understand weaponry. They do not specialize in combat skills: for example, a Squire with Ranged Weapons/3 can use a pistol, shotgun or assault rifle without penalty. They also receive a +1 to any default roll on a combat skill.

Galahad is very sparing with this Distinction. Knights of the Grail can, once per day, call every virtuous or honorable entity within 100 yards to fight by his side. Those called will instinctively recognize the Knight as a just and righteous individual, and will feel drawn to support him to the best of their abilities.

Any angel (even one that serves another Superior) that ever places the Grail in Galahad's hands again will get this Distinction on the spot. Any demon that does this is effectively announcing his desire to Redeem to the universe, and the Archangel will comply, also on the spot. Galahad will do his best to make sure the petitioner survives the experience.

Luckily for everyone considered, the two major patrons of Christianity have more or less accepted Galahad's right to sit on the Council. Laurence had some real problems at first, but the Matter of Britain was always a wonderful legend for sponsoring the ideals of the Sword, and the two Archangels have very much in common. Dominic merely accepts that God has made the call, and that's the end of the matter. Michael pretty much has the same attitude.

This is not to say that all is sweetness and light, of course. Many Archangels found one Perfect Knight on the Council quite enough, thank you very much: two is an embarrassment of riches. Only David and Janus make an issue of it, though Jean and Jordi likewise find their newest peer distasteful (for, ironically, completely different reasons).

Allied: Laurence, Yves (Galahad is Allied with these two, as well)

Associated: Blandine, Dominic, Michael (Galahad is Associated with Blandine, Gabriel, Khalid, Michael, Novalis)

Neutral: Eli, Gabriel, Khalid, Marc, Novalis (Galahad is Neutral to Dominic, Jean, Jordi, Marc)

Hostile: David, Janus, Jean, Jordi, (Galahad is Hostile to David, Eli, and Janus)

Blandine: "I've known Galahad for a while: yes, I'm admitting it now. Some good Dreams went into making him, and I'm glad that Heaven is finally being sensible about not making enemies without good reason. We'll work well together." "The gentle protector of all those that deserve it. She was many an innocent spirit's salvation, back in our time of oppression, and me and mine will never forget. Laurence has chosen well."

David: "Possibly - possibly - our actions in the Purity Crusade were not quite in the best interests of the War, but just because God chose to elevate an ethereal does not mean that all of our actions were wrong. Remember the Aztec pantheon? You can't tell me that suppressing them was ill advised. I'm also concerned that Laurence's less sensible impulses may be encouraged by his new boon companion. We were just beginning to make progress along those lines…" "Hard headed, hard hearted, eternal as the mountains and just as unyielding. He should save his ire for our foes, and not direct it towards those who would fight by his side."

Dominic: "I did not see the need for an Ethereal to sit with us, but I have been overruled in the past, and I at least can accept that with good grace. His Servitors do not make much trouble, though I will be watching his former compatriots for quite some time. They have been given a great boon, and they will act accordingly." "His task is an unfortunate necessity in this Fallen world. I expect that I shall not need to add to his burden: any of my army that proves craven or corrupt will be fortunate indeed to suffer his chastisement, rather than mine."

Eli: "He doesn't like me very much. Well, what can you do? A shame, though: I remember nights in taverns and feast halls when the minstrels would sing of him and the Grail. Those were good nights, good songs. Where did I put that lute, anyway?" "Eli's past deeds are worthy of praise, but his current behavior is dishonorable. He must return to his obligations, no matter how onerous he might find them. We are not here to lose ourselves in diversion and idle amusement, no matter how strong the temptation."

Gabriel: "There is Fire in him, certainly enough, but is he able to contain it without it consuming him? We shall see." "Where is the Crusade to save Gabriel? Where are the shining armies ready to bring the war to her enemies? Where are the angels that have sworn to destroy that varlet, that posturing poltroon, that traitor who stabs her with the knife of cruelty every second of Gabriel's existence? Do you all fear him, or were you all simply more interested in easier targets?

Janus: "And he thinks David is rigid. That's a laugh. He's even more of a prig than Laurence is, and now that he's here, we can just forget about ever getting this War on a more sensible footing. I know I should just go get him drunk a time or twenty, but I can't make myself do it. Maybe I can convince Michael to knock off some of his rough edges, though." "He wastes his zeal. Change is a weapon, not an excuse."

Jean: "A good Word, but Galahad allows his archaic mindset to affect his support of it. Not a very efficient way to go about things." "There is Virtue in using technology to better people's lives. There is no Virtue in replacing faith in the Lord with faith in machines. Jean is a little too tolerant about letting humans go down the latter path."

Jordi: "Knights hunted for sport, turning the cycle of predator and prey into an excuse to feed ever more and more humans. Muscle-bound idiots covered in steel, killing creatures for the unforgivable crime of eating a sheep or a chicken. And shall I even bring up the traditional quest animals of knights?" "Jordi seems to have forgotten that I was never mortal. I never knew dragon nor unicorn nor griffin, and mourn their loss almost as much as she. I have no personal quarrel with her, but I cannot honorably allow Jordi to hamper my Servitors' deeds with her misdirected anger."

Khalid: "He has sat at the foot of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful, but still cleaves to the way of the Prophet Jesus. I find this unfortunate, but the virtues he hopes to inspire towards humanity are universal. I do not hold Galahad's origins against him: he is not the first ethereal to submit to Allah and serve Him." "There is much honor in Islam, and some of my greatest companions of old were faithful Muslims. I do not believe that it is the best way to God, but one who truly journeys along it will arrive at the proper destination. Khalid's recent triumph over temptation is proof of that. I am proud to be worthy of his company."

Laurence: "We were not wrong to Crusade. I was there, and I can tell you that without the slightest doubt in my mind. There were monsters in those days that needed to be pushed back or destroyed, lest they batten on humanity. Where we were wrong was in not recognizing when the danger had passed. The worst examples were removed, and the rest could have been usefully recruited to our ranks. Galahad, of course, manifested centuries afterwards, and he is the way he is because humanity yearned towards the ideals of Heaven. Galahad may very well be God's Latest Lesson to me. Hopefully, I won't need many more.

"Did you really think that snide commentary doesn't eventually get back to me?" "Some would expect he and I to be in opposition to each other. They do not realize that true knights do not compete out of rancor, or out of envy. True knights strive for glory to God, glory to their true loves and glory to their cause, and know that their brother (and sister) knights give them a touchstone for virtue. Laurence is my touchstone. I choose to not remember his father's ways."

Marc: "A bit archaic, not to mention slightly redundant, but he and his keep their promises. Not much else to say, really." "He is obsessed with money, but he hates those who break their oaths as much as I. He also knows that noblesse oblige is not an empty phrase, but a moral necessity."

Michael: "I can understand why David and Janus aren't too pleased that Laurence isn't likely to change any time soon, now, but that really isn't the point. The point is that God's reinforcing His decision about how to go about fighting the War. I don't disagree with God, and Galahad's presence is going to be very useful in dealing with ethereals. It might even end that interminable war in the Marches, once and for all. I really should get the kid to relax a little, though." "Michael, when leader of the Host, never sought to burn out the Marches with fire and sword. Michael, when leader of the Host, never allowed his Word to serve as an excuse for genocide. Michael understands integrity. True, he does things that I never would, but he serves the Lord with all his might and all his soul. He is one of the three I will want at my side when we storm the ramparts of Hell, once and for all."

Novalis: "Such a contradiction in terms: dedicated to violence, resolute and unyielding in the destruction of evil, but ready to extol the virtues of beauty and love at the drop of a hat. He should learn to temper his justice with mercy. At least Galahad seems willing to listen occasionally to me when I try to tell him all this. He seems to like the Glades, too, though getting a straight answer (any answer, really) out of him can be a chore. I suspect that he doesn't really approve of me too much." "How to properly describe the fairest Flower of Heaven? How to do justice to her smile, her beauty, her eyes? How can one hope to best acclaim her boundless love and respect for her charges? Alas, these poor hands have spent too many years wielding sword and shield to write words that could glorify her, and my lips are better for issuing commands of war than for mellifluous songs. My ways are too rough to capture her gentle heart, but the memory of Novalis keeps me from doing evil as I fight it."

Yves: "Galahad reminds us that our perspective of what is good, and what is evil, can be skewed by preconceived notions. It's a good lesson, and one that Heaven should take to heart." "The perfect seneschal of his Lord: one who never has forgotten his duty and his charge. I can only hope to do half as well as him."

Archangel Galahad of Heaven is going to the War, and he doesn't care how many demons he kills on his way there. He's also not particularly interested in salvaging Hellsworn. His methodology is simple: if you permanently eliminate every diabolical influence you come across, eventually they'll get the point and retreat. All those innocents make the task difficult, but that's why God has more than one Archangel. Galahad is well aware of the fact that because he's a hammer, he sees all problems as nails, and does his best to stay in arenas where all the problems are nails.

There are a couple of areas where Galahad takes a special interest. The first is, of course, the Marches. Galahad does not like Beleth at all, and quite looks forward (slightly guiltily, to be sure) to the look on her face as either he or Laurence spits her. He hasn't decided whether or not to let the Archangel of the Sword have first cut: after all, they both have good claim, and it happens to be personal for both of them. The Archangel of Virtue, until that wonderful day, is doing his best to use his new status as a wedge between the Princess of Nightmares and her enslaved ethereals. It's starting to work. Galahad does show a bit more sympathy towards ethereals than celestials, but this translates to "usually gives a chance to surrender before he has them slain".

His other burning interest is in opposing the Media. Nybbas has done some nasty things to Galahad's image, mostly out of personal spite (Galahad has always been a thorn in Hell's side, along with most ethereal spirits that draw from Arthurian legend), and the Archangel is more than willing to demonstrate why it doesn't matter how hot or warm revenge is, just as long as it gets served. Doing it subtly is the problem: while Galahad doesn't care about starting open warfare on the streets of Hollywood, the rest of the Host would disagree. The Archangel just sighs and hopes that his new kin will see things from his perspective.

However, not everything that Virtue does involves spitting demons or burning Sorcerers at the stake. Galahad's Servitors are also tasked to help the helpless, raise up the downtrodden, and generally ride through the countryside righting wrongs. Most importantly, they are to try to inspire humans towards honorable and chivalric behavior: the younger, the better. The days may be long gone when a child could aspire to become a knight, but there's no reason why the ideals represented by the armor, shield and lance can't be fostered.

: Attend a formal worship service (this does not include Black Masses or other such perversions, unless you're there to make sure that no one gets out alive).

: Tell a story about chivalry or honor to a group of children.

+2 A sword with fresh demon's blood on it

+3 A Renaissance festival, SCA event or other medieval recreation

+4 A site where a great honorable feat was performed

+5 A legitimate damsel in distress, personally rescued by the angel

+6 A demonic Tether, at the exact moment of its destruction

+10 The Grail.

Galahad is in a transition period. When merely an ethereal, he was the Perfect Knight, yes, but his mindset was shaped by human perceptions. Even at his best, he was fairly intolerant of non-Catholics, egotistical in that odd way only seen in the humblest, supremely confident and slightly disdainful of all other, lesser knights. He was Arthur's despair, as it was difficult to get Galahad to work with the rest of the Arthurian ethereals. Galahad spent most of his time as a solo, lonely agent for good, always on the move.

Ironically, the ascension of Nybbas to Princedom was the event that changed all this. The Prince of the Media has been trying to erode the principles that Arthurian spirits exemplify since day one, and Galahad was an easy target. Nybbas began a subtle campaign to emphasize Galahad's bad points (while downplaying his honor and piety), coupled with not-so-subtle mockery. It worked. As Galahad's perceived image began to change, he found himself faced with the choice of changing with it, and becoming a caricature, or fading away from loss of belief. Neither was acceptable. Galahad needed a third option.

He found one. It was called the Grail.

The Grail is one of those artifacts that nobody understands, and certainly nobody controls. It goes where it goes, does what it does, and never gives explanations or reasons for its actions. In this case, the Grail practically threw itself into Galahad's arms and led him on a tour of the corporeal plane. The lessons were most instructive: Galahad was shown acts of honor and chivalry, done by those he would have discounted because of their religion or race or sex or social standing. He was the narrowness of his perspective, and how this narrowness kept him from progressing further in the service of God. The Grail was the finest teacher Galahad ever knew.

And when Galahad was ready, the Grail led him to Heaven. Protected, the questing spirit walked the streets of the Eternal City, unseen and undetected. As he watched the endless labor of the angels, on behalf of humanity, the last vestiges of resentment towards the Host left Galahad's heart. Heaven wasn't hypocritical or callous in their blanket suppression of the Marches: Heaven was simply acting from sincerely held, but incorrect, beliefs. If they could be shown the flaw in their reasoning, they would stop their cruelties. It was time for Galahad to scale the Ladder and petition God Himself to rectify matters.

And God apparently did: when Galahad descended the Ladder again, the Grail in his hands, he was an ethereal that had been not so much transformed, as exalted. He was an Archangel, and the Grail was his token that permitted him entry into the Seraphim Council itself to sit among the highest of the Host. It took a while for the other Archangels to accept the situation, but circumstances were such that none had any real choice in the matter. Galahad has been accepted by most, and his actions have reflected his new links with the Almighty. The Archangel is still a model of rectitude and piety: it's just that his definitions of both have been expanded past narrow sectarianism.

At some point during the first days of his new duties, the Grail slipped away in the busy chaos. Galahad regrets that, and would be very pleased with anyone who gives him the chance to see and hold it again.

He never got the chance to properly thank it.