Merihim
Legacy Name: Merihim

When the Morningstar lead his ill-fated rebellion, he marched on the gates of Heaven with a full third of the heavenly host. Amongst these was Merihim, an Angel of the Thrones and well-beloved by God.

Merihim held dominion over the powers of air, tempering their destructive force with resolute faith and wisdom. While other angels of his nature were as howling gales dispensing divine justice with speed and fury, Merihim was the soothing breeze calmly following God's will.

Yet when Lucifer made clear his intentions, Merihim was one of the first to kneel and swear his sword and service.

Despite his perceived clemency he was amongst the most devastating of his kind, hefting a sword that crackled with lightning and cut through the air with the speed of the same, and this he turned upon his former comrades without mercy.

His blade was only slowed when he met the Archangel Raphael upon the field, ruler of Air and the power to whom Merihim answered. Twice Raphael beseeched him to lay down his blade and submit peacefully to God's judgement, and twice Merihim refused. Raphael demanded surrender a third time, and when Merihim's response was to strike at him again, he did not turn aside Merihim's blade.

Although Merihim laid a glancing blow upon him, he knew in that moment he was bested. Raphael struck him a terrible blow, and as he did he placed his palm over Merihim's eyes and set a mark upon him, cursing him for his abandoned oaths and fealty.

God cast down the Morningstar, and the legions that had followed fell with him.

Although He was a forgiving God, His wrath was a terrible thing to witness, and a worse thing to bear.

Following His divine will, Raphael ensured Merihim suffered for his betrayal.

His body was ravaged with every disease that had cursed mankind. His flesh cracked and wept with pustules and pox and his every breath cast a terrible miasma.

But plague and pestilence alone could not kill him, he who had been so favoured by God.

He retreated to the furthest corners of the Earth, hiding his ravaged form in the deepest, darkest cave he could find, and so far from the eyes of the remaining Host and the fallen angels alike was it that none were able to follow.

For centuries, Merihim suffered. For more, he endured. Until, at last, he recovered. His strength returned, Merihim learned, and as his power grew, Raphael's hold over him waned.

The Morningstar established himself in Hell, and its foundations were rocked when a masked figure presented itself at the gates claiming to be the fallen angel Merihim, long since assumed destroyed at Raphael's hand.

They were rocked further when Lucifer - half-curious, half-amused - granted the visitor's request for an audience. When the visitor knelt, offering once more his sword and service, Lucifer knew that he was indeed who he claimed to be.

When the Morningstar told Merihim to rise, it was as a Prince of Hell, chief of the aerial powers and lord of thunder and lightning.

This was not a declaration met agreeably by much of the Morningstar's court. There were those among his kin who welcomed the appointment, but also many who sided with the demons and were outraged at his undeserved lofty status.

Smiling, the Morningstar informed them that any who could remove Merihim from his perch were welcome to make the attempt, stating that if he was not able to hold his position, then he was not deserving of it.

Some struck as soon as this approval was received, others bided their time and waited.

All were struck down in their attempts.

In this age he is known as Merihim the Plague-Bringer, Prince of spirits and demons of pestilence, and Lord of thunder and lightning in Hell.

There are those who think the Prince of Pestilence weak, and mistake his manner for submission born of impotence. Just as there are those who believe the title of ‘Prince’ has been bestowed upon him purely for his former rank and status.

There are many who have found their poor judgement to be their own undoing.

He is not the savage, violent monster that some may expect a Prince of Hell to be, though while his words remain calm and pleasant there is sometimes an undercurrent of something new – a bitterness, or gentle mockery – subtle, for this has ever been his strength.

Such is Merihim's affable charisma – or perhaps simply his undeniable continued use in dispensing punishment, divine or otherwise, upon the sinful – that it is even whispered that at Lucifer's forbearance Merihim has been open to dealings with angels.

As with any denizen of Hell, however, one must remember the cardinal rule that the devil will have his due. For although there are those in Heaven and Hell alike who consider Merihim nothing more than an appeaser, only a fool forgets that disease rots beneath the surface, and the signs of its corruption are not always immediately obvious...

[x] by Mole (with unfinished wings aha)
[x] by Spirited

Mask Ref + explanation