Celestials

Lightborn

Celestials are good-aligned spirits originating in the higher planes. In their natural state most look like sentient masses of light. When a physical presence is required, they possess and animate artificial bodies forged from otherworldly materials. Powerful constructs require equally powerful spirits to animate them. Celestial constructs take different shapes and appearances, but most are extremely beautiful, commonly resembling suits of armor, animals, or geometric patterns made of metal, crystal, jade, or living wood.

Elusive

The rulers of the higher planes disapprove of celestials appearing openly to mortals. While the edict is not absolute, most celestials are under orders to hide their true nature unless absolutely necessary. Unlike fiends, celestials believe that directly intervening in mortal affairs diminishes free will. When a celestial needs to communicate it will typically use telepathy from hiding, send a dream vision, or briefly possess a priest. Fiends are the one exception — celestials never hesitate to attack fiends that reach the mortal realm.

Humility

Celestials are genuinely good beings. They do not grandstand or belittle, because narcissistic behavior harms the cause of good by spreading feelings of inadequacy and resentment. They understand that because they are powerful and reside in the higher planes they do not face morally difficult choices as often as mortals do. They are wise enough to view sins in context, valuing intentions over results, and they spread the ethos of good by example rather than chastisement.

Benefactors

When dealing with the mortal world, entities from the higher planes maintain a culture of patronage and espionage. Mortal heroes serve as exemplars to the cultures they represent, acting as force multipliers in the cosmic struggle between good and evil. A celestial that "adopts" a party of good-aligned adventurers will commonly offer its patronage in the form of blessings, healing, and information — but it expects those mortals to remain strong enough to protect themselves.

Divinity

All celestials possess an innate knowledge of divine magic, and most are capable of casting low level divine spells. Some also practice arcane magic, becoming wizards or sorcerers. Very old celestials have had centuries or millennia to perfect their powers. While fiends outnumber celestials badly, the latter are usually better trained and have spent more time developing their arcane resources. Because they are less violent, more cooperative, and enjoy longer life expectancy, celestials are typically better at magic than their lower-planar counterparts.

Seraphs resemble floating masses of light not bound into a construct body, and they are the most common type of celestial. Some are vaguely humanoid, while others resemble drifting stars or geometric shapes covered in glowing eyes and multiple sets of wings. Though rarely encountered outside the higher planes, good-aligned clerics occasionally summon them for aid.

Seraph

A free-floating spirit of pure radiance. Seraphs require no construct shell and can take any number of geometric or vaguely humanoid silhouettes. In their unbound state they are difficult to harm by mundane means, and they are the celestials most often answered when a cleric of good calls for aid from the higher planes.

Cherubs are celestial spirits bound into constructs resembling animals. Those with bodies shaped like ornate quadrupeds — lion, lizard, wolf, horse, elk, certain dinosaurs — are referred to as Komainu. Those with bodies shaped like birds are known as Garuda. Cherubs vary in size, but most are medium or large.

Komainu

A cherub bound into a quadruped construct: lion, wolf, horse, elk, lizard, or similar noble beast. The shell is built of polished metal, jade, or living wood, and burns with the radiant essence of the spirit inside. Komainu often serve as messengers, mounts, or guardians for greater celestials.

Garuda

A cherub bound into the shape of a bird — eagle, crane, peacock, or stranger silhouettes. Garuda are aerial scouts and couriers of the higher planes, capable of crossing great distances quickly and bearing visions or warnings to good-aligned mortals.

Devas are celestial spirits bound into humanoid bodies of polished jade or ornate suits of armor. Deva constructs are built with holes to allow strands of bright essence to emerge and act as wings, whips, or tentacles. Every deva can wield a weapon one size category larger than its body without penalty. These weapons seethe with radiant energy and are soul-bound to the creature, vanishing when it is destroyed. When mortals imagine angels as radiant humanoids with wings and shining weapons, they are picturing devas.

Deva

A jade or armored humanoid shell animated by a celestial spirit. Beams of radiant essence pour from openings in the construct, manifesting as wings, banners, or weapons. Their soul-bound arms strike with both physical and radiant force, and they are tireless duelists against fiends.

Thrones are celestials bound into constructs resembling geometric shapes. They are typically quite powerful, but concern themselves with administration and academics. A throne celestial is best thought of as a benevolent computer AI. Their frighteningly well-ordered minds make them naturally suited to tasks like engineering and mathematics, and they continuously process large amounts of data — including the arrival and disposition of souls. A throne’s mind operates so quickly that it can usually offer a carefully considered reply the instant another creature finishes speaking. They rarely interact with humanoids because their alien mannerisms and appearances can be alarming, and because they are always working on important tasks.

Throne

A drifting lattice of interlocking rings, prisms, and spinning sigils, lit from within. Thrones speak in measured, perfectly considered sentences and can hold entire libraries of cosmic record in active memory. They are administrators of souls more than warriors, but a roused throne is among the most dangerous celestials a mortal can face.

Bastions are the juggernauts of the higher planes — powerful celestials bound into huge construct bodies built explicitly for war or guardianship. They spend much of their time in torpor, waking only when summoned to do battle. They tend to be creatures of few words, though many are actually very old and wise. These celestials offer more blessings and warlock pacts to good-aligned adventurers than any other type, regarding such people as investments in the war against supernatural evil.

Bastion

A towering war-construct of metal, crystal, and living wood, slumbering between cosmic emergencies. When summoned, a bastion descends like a moving cathedral, soul-forged weapons in hand. They speak rarely, prefer pacts to lectures, and judge mortal heroes by what they do under pressure.