CryptoAngels: Azrael

The thirteenth in a series of posts about the Archangels of the CryptoAngels project and their inspirations.

Owned by Basileus, Azrael is the Angel of Death. In this he cleaves closely to his description in Islamic scripture and tradition, in which Azrael has responsibility for transporting mortal souls from their bodies to the first stage of the afterlife. Though a frightening and implacable figure, the CryptoAngels Azrael is entirely of the Light. The death he brings is described as a gift and a blessing. It is a part of the natural order of the Multiverse, and only the creatures of the Dark would seek immortality.

The Wastes of Blood have been mentioned a few times in previous Archangels’ descriptions, and here we visit them. The Wastes are the home of Azrael and will be the battle site of the Eschaton, the final conflict between the Light and the Dark.

With Azrael we learn that the Archangels are not bound to their physical forms but can move around the Multiverse in spirit. Azrael’s body stands immobile in the red desert, but his spirit moves throughout creation bringing his gift of death to all that is mortal. The description of Azrael’s spirit bringing death to all from the lowest to the highest, is reminiscent of the medieval Danse Macabre, an artistic depiction in paintings, murals and woodcuts of a skeletal death figure visiting people from all walks of life and social strata.