Cherub

A cherub (pl. cherubim) is an angel of the Second Choir of the First Sphere.


Physiology

In Heaven, cherubim have a humanoid body essentially made of holy light. A cherub has four faces: one human, one lion, one ox, and one eagle. The ox face is considered their true face, and they have the feet of calves. They have four wings, each covered in eyes: two stretched upward to God's throne, two stretched down to cover themselves. No angel can display their true form to a mortal without searing the mortal's eyes from their sockets. They may take a human form, with or without a visible set of wings - when their wings are visible they are capable of flight. They may also choose to be invisible and/or intangible (though other angels are still capable of seeing and/or feeling them).

Angels in their natural form have no gender, and even the human forms they adopt are usually fairly androgynous. They can imitate human genders, but in general they don't find it necessary. Angels never age or sicken, and usually can only be harmed by the swords of other angels - however a powerful enough demon can harm an angel with less power.

Cherubim are the most physically powerful warriors of the Heavenly Host. They wield swords ablaze with holy fire.


Magical Characteristics

Cherubim are all-seeing - they know all that has happened and is happening.

Angels can sense emotions empathically. When communicating, angels usually use telepathy amongst each other. They can also speak to others in this fashion. Their true voices are harmful to mortals as well as the minions of Hell, but they can adopt a gentler human voice. All angels can teleport.

By wielding the divine love that they are intimately tapped into, angels can heal mortal sickness and injury. In the same way, angels can exorcise a demon from a human body with a single touch, as long as their power is greater than the demon's power.

Like all heavenkin, angels can sense the presence of evil or unholiness.


Society and Habitat

Cherubim are very strictly organized into a choir, serving God directly in Heaven. They are the highest ranking soldiers of the Host, and it is therefore rare to see one outside of Heaven, unless on a very important mission from God. Cherubim guard the way to the Garden of Eden, especially the Tree of Life, and God's throne.