"Many have predicted that the apocalypse will begin in the 2000th year of His son. Who are we to prove them wrong?" Kazelica - Archduke of the Abyss
As the maelstrom struck the gates of the Abyss in the year 2000 the fallen imprisoned within it's walls once again became aware of the world outside and of the damage being caused to their eternal prison. Those loyal to the Morningstar rallied to each other convinced that their leader, long absent from the Abyss, had found a way to release them from their prison. While the Luciferians as they would come to be known dreamt of salvation by the Morningstar, the Faustians and the Cryptics who had foreseen this day with sadness prepared for the rapture that would come.
As the cracks began to form and those of lesser strength escaped from the Abyss they found the world changed. Devoid of the angelic touch from the former enemies the fallen saw a world strewn in darkness and despair, and the Reconcilers wept. As the pull from the Abyss tore at their spiritual form many found themselves dragged back into their prison as they hovered above the earth. Those that resisted the urge fell upon the large centres of population, each one brimming with life, with souls in pain or anguish, and souls on the brink of destruction.
In their search for hosts the fallen descended upon the cities of the world, searching for those individuals so broken and diminished, or on the point of death, that they could barely class as human at all. Some, especially the Halaku, who found these individuals chose to release them from their torment and sever the bonds of the soul before possession. Others, such as the Neberu and Rabisu, would force the soul down and subjugate it, taking over the human host as the soul watches in torment.
With their dense populations and their spiralling crime rates, the cities of North America shone like beacons to the fallen, with cities such as Los Angeles, Baltimore and Seattle radiating that which the fallen needed. The first fallen to descend upon The Emerald City found it a traumatic experience, the lack of faith from the populous coupled with the rush of human emotion which resulted from their possession causing them greater pain and torment then they expected. Soon though those original fallen were joined by others, some of low rank such as themselves, but eventually nobles such as dreadknights and lords would break through as well.
As residents of the Abyss fell upon the cities of the world their arrivals were heralded by a series of natural disasters. In America huge columns of wind spread across the central states, with near to 80 wreaking havoc in the space of two days, killing few but destroying thousands of homes in a swathe of devastation. As the winds tore through central America the north western states suffered the full force of hell's infernos as a wall of fire thirty-miles long roared through the state of Washington, though originally attributed to a out of control picnic fire the true causes are far more sinister. The neighbouring state of Idaho suffered similarly with a raging inferno engulfing the Bitterfoot National Park. For Seattle the heralds culminated with the Niqually Earthquake, the ripples of force spreading out from the impact site of a group of powerful Fallen.
In the past eleven years many of the rebel Elohim whom inhabit Seattle have fallen into their old patterns and rivalries, each seeking to regain a portion of their lost glory and power. Unlike the last time they walked the earth the Fallen here are faced with many dangers ranging from the malevolent cruelty of their own kin to the zealous hunters of the world.
Rumours run rife amongst the fallen of the city that a group of powerful Overlords from the Abyss have taken up residence. Calling themselves 'The Circle of Armageddon' it is believed that these demons work with the sole aim of shattering the walls of the abyss completely and bringing forth every Fallen that they can, even the Archdukes. Some even speculate that the Circle have already succeeded in opening a portal to the Abyss, albeit an unstable one.
Amongst these rumours there are whispers of a group of men, mortals imbued with preternatural powers in order to hunt the fallen and return them to the abyss. Supposedly led by Reverend Ezekial Sharpe the 'Enlightened Brethren of His most pure Flame' have cut across the states of Montana, Idaho and Washington vanquishing as many of the fallen as they could on their 'crusade'.
Amongst all the threats that encroach upon the fallen a bastion of safety has arisen in the most unlikely of places. Hidden within the catacombs of the ruined cathedral of St. Anastasia the Pious the Annunaki Saleos has fashioned herself a Demonic Court and seated herself upon the throne as Tyrant of Seattle.
Saleos' court lies deep beneath the charred and ruined remains of the old cathedral, with access for all fallen provided via a steep stone staircase in the south transept. A safe haven for all demons regardless of house or faction the court spans several large chambers and dozens of tunnels over an area of 1 square mile. She consolidated her power in the city swiftly, calling the five most senior demons of the time other than herself to a council in the main chamber of the court rooms.
The first to arrive was the Slayer Elitaz who ruled before the fall as an angel of the realms. Lady Violet Wilde, as she is known in the mortal realm stands out in the crowd, a gothic beauty of voluptuous proportions. A Faustian and the owner of two popular gothic nightclubs in the city she was keen to swear loyalty to the court and take up the mantle of Venerable Guide to the Blind of the Ministry of Dust.
Next came the Defiler Tatlihhuriel, angel of storms. Tatlihhuriel awoke to his first moments on earth with a scream of torment so loud that it was said that those in the abyss could still hear it. Painful memories from his host overwhelmed him, remembering loves lost due to his passion for art and how that in turn betrayed him. Appointed as The Lidless Eye of the Ministry of Eagles he has become a recluse as far as the mortal world is concerned, and many whisper that he was driven mad by the past sufferings of his host.
The Devil Eldinis the Celestial was the third to take up the call to attend the council. Fiercely loyal to the Morningstar and to his calling as a leader Eldinis was pleased to find that his new host, a lawyer by the name of Maxwell Clines, shared many of his own passions. Given the knowledge that his host could bring to the fiery tempered devil he was appointed Lord Honoured Warder of the Ministry of Aurochs, the keeper of the Laws.
A Reconciler sits at the head of the Ministry of Lions. The Devourer Pohnosca, a fleshcrafter, awoke inside the body of a gay right's activist named Andrew Freeman and found his once cruel nature tempered by Freeman's passion to change the world. Using Andrew's extensive knowledge of revolutionary tactics
Pohnosca is ideally suited for the Ministry of Lions and is quick to muster his forces when the Tyrant commands.
For Selos the appointment of Lord Inquisitor of the Ministry of Dragons was the most important position, but also the easiest to fill. The Scourge Isatexon, an angel of firment, had risen inside the body of an FBI Surveillance Analyst. Only the Tyrant knows his mortal name and he is rarely seen at court but all know he is watching their every move.
Like their Father who created them Saleos has two laws for the court:
- The first law states that no member of the fallen may call upon their evocations inside the boundaries of the court without the Tyrant's permission.
- Second, and most important, no member of the court may attempt to harm another.
Punishment for breaking either law can be severe, with the possibility of banishment back to the abyss.