The Host are heroes, angels operating with an ineffable agenda and a humanitarian agenda.
|
|
The Host
It's an international outlaw organization, unconnected with any government and acting with impunity, striking where they will, sometimes with the silence of a shadow, sometimes with the decimating force of a hurricane. Its members have infiltrated the governments, intelligence agencies, corporations and militaries of the world. It has thousands of individuals in funky costumes to act as shock troops and support staff, with secret headquarters scattered across the globe. What makes them different from any of the other agencies is this: The Host are heroes, angels operating with an ineffable agenda and a humanitarian agenda.
No matter how much they are hated by the world government, and specifically the current US administration, the Host are heroes to the common man. Specifically, their Archangels, variants of terrifying power and ability whose full potential and origins are unknown (technology, magic and variance have all been theorized, and all may be correct). These individuals, whom the public generally assumes to be the whole of the Host, first appeared in Los Angeles in January of 1980, and came to public attention as part of the resurgence of variant teams in the US.
The Host is inscrutable to those who would track them; they are virtually silent in public, speaking aloud only when necessary and apparently capable of silent communication amongst themselves. When they do speak, their voices can be cold and aloof, layered with multiple voices speaking simultaneously, or the most touching and tender of tones that would make even the most reticent witness speak or pundit applaud. The only one who has made any contact with them has been the investigative photographer Carl Nyberg, who produced photos of several of their actions in the early part of the decade.
Despite their powerful government enemies they have excellent press coverage, and are regarded as heroes for their advance, almost precognitive, warning to the world's scientists and militaries concerning the Plovian invasion, predicting the threat three years before the first ships were spotted. They are seldom seen, arising instantly to stop threats or striking various villainous organizations or abusive governments suddenly and vanishing equally quickly. They have been presumed dead multiple times, but the Archangels always return, for the war of heaven never ends.
Apollyon
The angel below the earth, Apollyon is a commanding figure. He can move with superhuman speed, passing through physical objects as if they did not exist. He can eliminate matter with a wave of his hand, causing molecular shock in living targets. He needs no light to see, can hear a pin drop in hush hour, commands technology, speaks every language, give commands that must be obeyed, comfort any lost soul and cannot be lied to.
Enoch
The angel closest to the infinite, Enoch's base form is barely human, an amalgamation of chrome and wires built from unfathomable technology. He, or it, can possess and animate other technology, taking other mechanical forms and wearing them as its own. It cannot be permanently destroyed, and can trans-locate if need be. Its base form is superhumanly strong, acts in any environment, and can fly on a stream of fire and thunder.
Rashiel
The angel of the winds, Rashiel is perhaps the most human of the Host. Her voice is whatever she chooses to make it, and her shout can shatter stone or upend a car. She can calm tensions, defuse conflict with a moment's communication or a word that steals the breath from her opponents. She is phenomenally fast and agile, and an unparalleled hand to hand combatant. Her footsteps and blows make no sound, and the wind follows her path.
Uriel
The vengeance of the infinite, Uriel is the strongest warrior of the Host. Her strength is unimaginable, and she is skilled with its use. Wreathed in flames, she can fly, fire blasts of fire or use a blade of flame on her opponents. She can survive in space and generate ice and cold with a gesture. Uriel is a creature of extremes, passionate emotion and cold plotting, fire and ice. When she speaks, it is a tribunal of voices, passing judgement.
Zachriel
The angel of the waves, he is as mercurial as his namesake, as wise and as unpredictable. He is the only angel to ever display a human face, and it is the face of humanity, changing at a whim. He is invulnerable to physical harm, and in his hands anything is a weapon. Fog and ice appear at his command, and those fogs can cause sleep or disorientation in his foes. Within the sea he can swim at unguessed-at speeds, and survive at any depth.
| Top |
Copyright © 1998 Brian Rogers
|
|