Among the 18 heroes from the Diablo franchise that populate the Nexus, four occupy a special place. They are—or used to be—archangels, the mighty enemies of Prime Evils. Tyrael, Auriel, Malthael and Imperius once belonged to the ruling body of the High Heavens: the Angiris Council.
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“Wrath,” an animated video by Blizzard to illuminate the Diablo lore.
The Angiris Council was formed by five archangels, the mightiest and wisest among their people. That odd number allowed them to not tie when voting. Or, at least, that’s what they thought when they formed the Council. Each one of its members represented the embodiment of one of the aspects of Anu, the first existing being in the whole Diablo universe. Imperius stood for Valor, Auriel for Hope, Tyrael for Justice, Malthael for Wisdom and Itherael—the only one absent in Heroes of the Storm—for Fate.
These archangels led the Heavenly Host, that’s the army of the High Heavens. Each of them had its own unique weapon: Imperius wields the spear Solarion, Tyrael the sword El’druin, Auriel the cord Al’maiesh, Itherael the magical scroll Talus’ar and, before his fall, Malthael used to wield the chalice Chalad’ar. Each one of the archangels also had their own district in the Silver City, the place from where they ruled, which you may know from its ARAM version. These domains were the Courts of Justice, the Gardens of Hope, the Halls of Valor, the Library of Fate and the Pools of Wisdom.
Falling from Grace
Inarius was another archangel who acted as an advisor for the Angiris Council. He served under Tyrael’s command in the Eternal Conflict, being close to the Archangel of Justice. However, he fell in love with the demon Lilith, daughter of the Prime Evil Mephisto. Inarius and Lilith created together a secret world where they, alongside other angel-demon couples, could hide from their kins: Sanctuary. There their offspring, the nephalem, were born and raised. But their peace and happiness couldn’t last forever, and finally the two antagonist races started to quarrel in this new world. Due to this disruption in the delicate truce, the High Heavens and the Burning Hells heard of Sanctuary and prepared to destroy it and exterminate the nephalem, the new race that could surpass both their angelic and demonic ancestors.
Imperius wanted to obliterate Sanctuary, but Auriel, who had grown fond of the nephalem, opposed him and called for a vote. Tyrael and Itherael joined the Archangel of Hope, while Malthael abstained. Thus, Inarius and Lilith’s world was spared, not without consequences for the rebellious couple. This vote meant the beginning of the end for the Angiris Council. Afterwards, Malthael’s personality slowly became darker and gloomier until he suddenly vanished from the High Heavens. He later became the Aspect of Death.
Tyrael believed the nephalem to be potential allies for the angels in their fight. That’s why, when the demons threatened the High Heavens, he tried to convince Imperius to call for the people of Sanctuary, but he failed. Both archangels, once brothers in arms, fought over the issue. In a desperate move, Tyrael renounced his immortality and fell down to Inarius’ world to lead the nephalem against the Burning Hells himself. After the events of Diablo III, Tyrael—as a mortal—was admitted back to the Angiris Council, though this time he embodied the Aspect of Wisdom.
Tyrael fights Imperius to ask the nephalem for help.
Which is your favorite angel in Heroes of the Storm? Would you like Itherael to make it into the Nexus? Which role would he have?
