In eternal war with Hell is Heaven, a place devoted to goodwill and law and order. There is definitely nothing wrong with it at all\! In reality, Heaven is just as complicated as Hell, but presents itself as being more organized, cleaner, and morally just. For the most part, many of the angels and ascended humans who reside in Heaven *are* morally just and good of heart. However, there are complicated Seraphim and other eldritch angels with their own difficult-to-understand perceptions of morality and justness. Copious amounts of bureaucracy and rule systems exist and lead to hidden problems in Heaven’s infrastructure. ## Heaven’s Lore ### Angels vs. Fiends While there are surface-level differences between the heavenly and the hellish, such as appearance (bright and feathery vs. more monstrous) and common personality traits (orderly and prissy vs. chaotic or driven towards selfish acts), two core aspects of the two groups are realm-traveling abilities and internal magic batteries. Most demons and devils cannot enter Earth or remain in it for too long. Thus, they make deals with human occultists that let them travel and remain, and in return, they might trade something or have to exist under certain agreed-upon laws. However, demons and devils hold on to much of their power (unless the contract negates their power). Hell’s corruption moves through their veins, whether or not they care about it. Even when separated from their Circle or home in hell, and after breaking away from any masters, many fiends will find themselves still alive and powerful. Many **devils,** in particular, are powered by a strict hierarchy of unfair contracts with other devils in Inner Hell, making it hard for them to easily break away from masters in the first place. On the other hand, angels have much more ease traveling between Heaven and Earth, but lack a strong, independent source of magic. They must draw power from God and the divine heavenly structures, or they will cease to exist. To do so, they follow heaven’s mandates and set binding heavenly vows to strengthen the connection. Fallen angels who have rejected heaven will rapidly deteriorate unless they are bound to a new power source: powerful occultists, archdevils, sacred places, or sometimes concepts. In summary: **Typical Angels** * GOOD realm-traveling abilities * WEAK internal batteries **Typical Devils or Demons** * WEAK realm-traveling abilities * GOOD internal batteries ### Heaven’s Hierarchy #### God The creator of the universe, hard to get in contact with. Does not usually directly interfere with human affairs, instead trickling down messages and blessings through Seraphim and Archangels. #### Seraphim The most powerful angels. Eldritch, kaleidoscopic, alien-like beings who can shape reality itself. #### Thrones, Dominions, Principalities There is a dizzying array of “Biblically-accurate” non-humanoid angels who act in esoteric and indecipherable ways, working to make sure the universe is working properly, and that the laws of Heaven are enacted. #### Archangel The most powerful angels that can still relate to humans and take on humanoid forms. Guardians of holy passageways, enactors of judgement, and rulers of the different Virtuous Steppes. Particularly blessed humans can become archangels. #### Angels Beings of goodness, law, and order are born in heaven. #### Ascended Humans Humans who have lived lives according to virtue and goodwill can ascend to heaven and live their afterlife in peace. ### Parts of Heaven #### The Seven Virtuous Steppes Similar to the Seven Circles of Hell, Heaven has several layers devoted to the Seven Virtues. In each of these subsections, ascended humans and angels live peacefully and delight in the bountiful blessings of living according to angelic law. The Steppes are home to utopian (or possibly dystopian) cities and townships where all is good. In this part of Heaven, angels and humans can still cling to a bit of individuality, consciousness, and human resemblance. #### The Glorious Mechanica Above the Virtuous Steppes is a dizzying divine machine that stretches across eternity. This is only a small visible piece of the clockwork that operates reality. The angels that reside here are much less humanlike and much more esoteric and indecipherable. Those who enter the Glorious Mechanica will find their individuality and human interests whittled away as they become part of the universe’s operating system. #### The Blinding Above Beyond even that is… Light. Endless light. The domain of the highest angelic entities and God. Angels who deal with Earth directly cannot comprehend the Blinding Above, but simply follow orders that are passed down to them. When souls finally choose to rest, they often ascend to the Blinding Above, never to be seen again.