[center][h2][color=#D1BB7F]╔[/color][color=#D1BD83]═[/color][color=#D2BF88]═[/color][color=#D2C18D]═[/color][color=#D3C392]═[/color][color=#D3C597]═[/color][color=#D4C79B]•[/color][color=#D4C9A0]═[/color][color=#D5CCA5]═[/color][color=#D5CEAA]═[/color][color=#D6D0AF]═[/color][color=#D6D2B3]═[/color][color=#D7D4B8]═[/color][color=#D7D6BD]•[/color][color=#D8D8C2]═[/color][color=#D8DBC7]═[/color][color=#D9DDCB]═[/color][color=#D9DFD0]═[/color][color=#DAE1D5]═[/color][color=#DAE3DA]•[/color][color=#DBE5DF]•[/color][color=#DBE7E3]●[/color][color=#DBE5DF]•[/color][color=#DAE3DA]•[/color][color=#DAE1D5]═[/color][color=#D9DFD0]═[/color][color=#D9DDCB]═[/color][color=#D8DBC7]═[/color][color=#D8D8C2]═[/color][color=#D7D6BD]•[/color][color=#D7D4B8]═[/color][color=#D6D2B3]═[/color][color=#D6D0AF]═[/color][color=#D5CEAA]═[/color][color=#D5CCA5]═[/color][color=#D4C9A0]═[/color][color=#D4C79B]•[/color][color=#D3C597]═[/color][color=#D3C392]═[/color][color=#D2C18D]═[/color][color=#D2BF88]═[/color][color=#D1BD83]═[/color][color=#D1BB7E]╗[/color][/h2]
[img]https://i.imgur.com/w5DpHcJ.jpeg[/img][h2][color=#D1BB7F]╚[/color][color=#D1BD83]═[/color][color=#D2BF88]═[/color][color=#D2C18D]═[/color][color=#D3C392]═[/color][color=#D3C597]═[/color][color=#D4C79B]•[/color][color=#D4C9A0]═[/color][color=#D5CCA5]═[/color][color=#D5CEAA]═[/color][color=#D6D0AF]═[/color][color=#D6D2B3]═[/color][color=#D7D4B8]═[/color][color=#D7D6BD]•[/color][color=#D8D8C2]═[/color][color=#D8DBC7]═[/color][color=#D9DDCB]═[/color][color=#D9DFD0]═[/color][color=#DAE1D5]═[/color][color=#DAE3DA]•[/color][color=#DBE5DF]•[/color][color=#DBE7E3]●[/color][color=#DBE5DF]•[/color][color=#DAE3DA]•[/color][color=#DAE1D5]═[/color][color=#D9DFD0]═[/color][color=#D9DDCB]═[/color][color=#D8DBC7]═[/color][color=#D8D8C2]═[/color][color=#D7D6BD]•[/color][color=#D7D4B8]═[/color][color=#D6D2B3]═[/color][color=#D6D0AF]═[/color][color=#D5CEAA]═[/color][color=#D5CCA5]═[/color][color=#D4C9A0]═[/color][color=#D4C79B]•[/color][color=#D3C597]═[/color][color=#D3C392]═[/color][color=#D2C18D]═[/color][color=#D2BF88]═[/color][color=#D1BD83]═[/color][color=#D1BB7E]╝[/color][/h2][sup][sup][url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbe3CQamF8k][b][h3]ᴍᴀssɪᴠᴇ ᴀᴛᴛᴀᴄᴋ — ᴀɴɢᴇʟ[/h3][/b][/url][/sup][/sup][/center][hider=★]

[SUB][COLOR=dedede]P R E S E N C E[/COLOR][/SUB][hr][color=gray]
The first thing one might notice about Cassiel is his [i]radiant aura[/i], a subtle ebbing of celestial light that follows him like a cloud of mist. It seems his every pore is ready to erupt with light, but it is constrained to his porcelain skin. To those who do not know him personally, Cassiel seems the very embodiment of virtue: disciplined, stoic, and purposeful. His movements are deliberate and elegant, forever executed with grace; his words are warm and considered, but assertive. One could be forgiven for assuming him to be the perfect gentleman.

The second thing one might notice about Cassiel is his magnetic charisma; one part natural, and one part exhaustively trained — he is a man of undeniable charm. He is quick and clever in his repartee, with an acerbic retort holstered at any given moment to draw upon an unwitting sparring partner. Depending on your station, you may well have had an absolutely [i]delightful[/i] encounter with him, in which he exhibited nothing but the most chivalrous of behaviours. This, of course, is a well-rehearsed act.

While Cassiel is indeed sharp of wit, he does not pursue good etiquette for his own benefit. In truth, he is a deeply arrogant man, who, having been idolised since childhood, has been groomed into [i]demigodhood[/i]; told by many that he is an exemplar of all that is good and pure; tainted into something of an egomaniac. He thrives on the adoration that chases him, but never has it sated his appetite — for in his twenty-two years of living, he has never, in his own eyes, at least, had a relationship that hasn’t been somehow beneficial to the other party. Never had he a loving mother, or an unconditional friend; it was sycophants that swarmed him, snatched away his innocence, and bled into him a permanent distrust for his fellow man. He maintains his public image of goodness not from true kindness, but from calculated faux-empathy borne of a desire to be adored.

Any sense of hopefulness is absent in the young man, who is a nihilist at heart. Cynical, and jaded by his obligations, he has grown to care about very little. In private, he lives laissez-faire, unbothered by the consequences of his often chaotic lifestyle. Despite remaining in eternal pursuit of fulfillment, he remains hollow, detached from any sense of purpose. Indeed, he will do his duty; indeed, he will fight for the [i]greater good[/i] — but not because he dreams of saving the world, but because it is [i]his destiny[/i]; [i]his birthright[/i].[/color]

[SUB][COLOR=dedede]C H R O N I C L E[/COLOR][/SUB][hr][color=gray]
Little is known of the early childhood of [b][i]Amon Calathes[/i][/b], who would come to be known by the bestowed regnal mononym of [b][i]Cassiel[/i][/b]. His parentage is a topic of media speculation; some claim he was raised in a monastic orphanage, or that he was born to migrants who made pilgrimage to Cetra — or even that he was taken by Cetrites from another nation during infancy. During childhood, he was identified as the Regalia of Ultima by [b][i]'eme'[/i][/b], the figurehead of the church of Ultima. He received a comprehensive, non-secular education; schooled by the most scholarly academics amongst the clergy, tutored in martial skills by knight-penitents, and rigorously media-trained by executives. 'eme', all the while, acted as a motherly mentor-figure, granting him his name, as well as a princely role within her inner circle. In the eyes of the Cetrites, Cassiel was marked by Ultima; a living embodiment of her ideals; the avatar of her divine providence. Being rapidly elevated to near-messianic status is a dangerous thing for anyone, and even more-so a child — but the extent of the damage would not be evident for years to come.

[center][color=d0bb7d]"I give them light."[/color][/center]
The world first met Cassiel when he was but eleven years old, and within days he was a household name. Charismatic, blond-haired, and angelic, he was doted on as a symbol of both national [i]and[/i] global affection. His boyish charm and divine heroism was received well by the masses, and as the years passed, his celebrity became near-unparalleled. Teenage girls plastered posters of him on their walls, world leaders broke bread with him, and every talk-show worth their salt had him in attendance as their star guest. His rise was meteoric; but controlled. His handlers marshaled his every move, embellishing his angelic looks, training his soft-spoken humility. As he matured, they nurtured his image of ‘child saviour’ into a fully-fledged symbol of idealised goodness. Every smile, every appearance, every act of bravery seemed effortless, but in reality, each was the cynical creation of an executive. By the time he reached adulthood, the public saw him less as a regalia, and more as a living saint.

[center][color=d0bb7d]"Fame is a handsome leash. Envied; but it tightens around your throat all the same."[/color][/center]
But within the gilded cage there was isolation. Surrounded by admirers, followers and sycophants, Cassiel learned quickly that trust is a dangerous thing. In his teen years he was often manipulated by others; exploited by political figures and corporations to benefit their agendas. He became distrustful of [i]everyone[/i], and deeply paranoid — anyone who had every claimed to love him, in his eyes, was playing a role within a PR master-plan. This seclusion, along with the pressures of perfection, the flatterers and fawners, turned the once hopeful boy into a deeply jaded young man. He had once genuinely strove to be the symbol of hope that others saw in him, but the pressure and praise warped his self-image. With authentic connections with others being few and far between, Cassiel found comfort in embracing the power that had been forced upon him. He became arrogant, callous, and egocentric. In public, he maintained the image of a “golden boy”, but in private, he was a dejected nihilist, and a temperamental control-freak. As his innocence left him, he reclaimed much of the leverage held over him by his once-superiors; if he was to continue to be their poster-boy, he would do so [i]on his terms[/i]. He became a royal brat who went unchecked; surrounded by enablers. 

[center][color=d0bb7d]"They do not love you — they love the idea of you. And once you realise that, you’re free to do as you please."[/color][/center]
Cassiel remains an international treasure, but he has sought to test the limits of his freedom in private. Rumour has it that his relationship with 'eme' is strained as he distances himself from her influence; though she has never said an ill word about him publicly. Now well into his twenties, Cassiel has entered a strange paradox; he has become disillusioned with the shallow adoration following him, and yet he is hooked on it. Behind closed doors, he pursues indulgent, destructive behavior, in hopes of sating his emptiness, seeking thrills to feel alive — secret affairs, extravagant parties, dangerous vices. While, for now, his spotless public image perseveres, it threatens to crumble should his debauchery see the light of day. With some media outlets reporting on an alleged addictions and outbursts, the cracks may already be forming.
[/color]

[SUB][COLOR=dedede]H O M E[/COLOR][/SUB][hr][color=gray]
[Sub]Naming and language conventions take inspiration from hitorical demonology, particularly [url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_angels_in_theology#List]Judaist angels[/url], and Johann Weyer's [url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pseudomonarchia_Daemonum#The_69_demons][i]Pseudomarchia Daemonium[/i][/url].[/sub]
[b]Nation:[/b] Cetra
[b]Religion:[/b] The Resplendency (Ultima)
[b]Capital:[/b] Malkuth, "The City of Light"
[b]Ruler:[/b] 'eme', "Our Mother"

Cassiel hails from Cetra; a technotheocratic nation that is entirely governed by a powerful church known as the Resplendency. The Resplendency recognises all Dominants as sacred; akin to holy angels; but places exlusive divine worship upon Ultima, who they consider to be [i]Etro[/i]; the God of Gods. To adhere to the doctrines of the Resplendency, it is important that you pursue purity, balance, and devotion. As Cetra is the centre of Ultima's worship across the world, it is considered something of a holy-land to her followers. Many make pilgrimage to visit the [i]City of Light[/i], though not all are granted passage. Sectioned off from its mainland border by a fortified bulwark, and surrounded by treacherous seas, it is no simple task gaining entry to Cetra. 

If you want to cross the border at all, in or out, you must have a C:Visa, which is only granted to those who are considered true followers of Ultima (and, perhaps hypocritically, the vastly wealthy and powerful). In Cetra, to reject Ultima’s teachings is to commit blasphemy, and nonbelievers are considered dangerous heretics who are unwelcome. Thus, accentuated by its proximity to some of the more liberal nations, Cetra is a monument of intimidation to all. Its military is second to none, and it's wealth is vast. Given its extremely defensible location, it is considered by many to be the most dominant nation in the world.

The megacity of Malkuth, though widely adorned in gold, appears bleak and smoggy across most of its vicinity. Poverty runs rife, and wealth inequality breeds poverty. Surveillance is stringent and overbearing, religious and cultural freedoms are restrictive, and the Net is heavily regulated — or, as much is it can be in such an interconnected world. To the general populace of the world, Cetra's image is mixed. Many resent it as an iron-fisted tyrant-nation, while others continue to view it euphemistically as a holy land.

Within the city, a great golden ziggurat rests; it acts as both cathedral and palace, housing the most important individuals in the Resplendency; the most focal among them being Cassiel and 'eme'. The entity known as 'eme' is mysterious, considered by many to be a living fragment of Ultima herself. Thus, she is a pope-like figure who governs the nation in what is said to be Ultima's image. Her legion of templars, known as Knight-Penitents, roam the lands as fearsome wardens of force and control, extinguishing any sign of dissent without hesitation.

In terms of climate, Cetra is extremely humid and warm, but suffers from a lack of sunlight due to its thick smog. Caustic rain and lightning storms are frequent. The sea that immediately surrounds it is notorious for its boiling temperatures, making it incredibly unsafe for travel.[/color]

[SUB][COLOR=dedede]T R I V I A[/COLOR][/SUB][hr][color=gray]
[list][*]As a [color=d0bb7d]thrill seeker[/color], Cassiel is known to chase the kick of an adrenaline rush, craving what others might fear; fast driving, unrestrained duels, and even the occasional brush with death.
[*]He is somewhat of a neat freak, with an [color=d0bb7d]obsession for cleanliness[/color], always ensuring everything is organised and spotless. He is meticulous with his hygiene and personal appearance, which had once been a part of his celebrity obligation, but is now ingrained in him.
[*]Whether it’s learning a new skill or mastering an existing one, Cassiel is always in pursuit of [color=d0bb7d]challenge[/color]. He also admires genuine [color=d0bb7d]competition[/color], gaining respect for those that rival his talents.
[*]Cassiel is an avid star-gazer, finding solace in the distant beauty of [color=d0bb7d]astronomy[/color]. Likewise, he finds great pleasure in observing sunrises and sunsets, and many other grand marvels of nature.
[*]Cassiel enjoys [color=d0bb7d]strategy and puzzle games[/color], always striving to challenge his own mind. He particularly enjoys strategic games that also hold a competitive element, such as chess. 
[*]He is an avid reader of [color=d0bb7d]foreign literature[/color]. He privately enjoys reading philosophy and poetry from other cultures, even if he refuses to admit how much he relates to their themes and critiques.
[*]Suffering from [color=d0bb7d]insomnia[/color], Cassiel's times of rest are few and far between. During periods of prolonged sleep-deprivation, he may tend towards being especially erratic.
[*]Cassiel enjoys [color=d0bb7d]gardening[/color], maintaining a greenhouse of exotic plants in his home, tending to it assiduously. It is incredibly neat and well-organised. The plants are purely ornamental, serving no function, and he forbids others from touching them.[/list][/color]
[SUB][COLOR=dedede]S O C I A L[/COLOR][/SUB][hr][color=gray][sub][b]Beth[/b][/sub]
[color=f2e7c9][sup](Complicated kinship)[/sup][/color]
[indent][indent]Cassiel and Beth have a strained relationship. Having been in the same household for the past decade, the two have carried similar burdens and pressures, but have never truly been able to offer eachother solace. Cassiel had always hoped for more in the way of kinship from Beth; desiring comfort and affection from her when he was at his most vulnerable during adolescence, but she was ever cold-shouldered. Their fleeting moments of connection, though few and far between, left Cassiel even more the hungry for her approval, and though his outlook on the world has grown darker, he still longs for Beth's validation. A mutual resentment hangs between them both, and has led to Cassiel being increasingly cruel and barbed with Beth. His bitterness, of course, stems from a longing for what could've been, but never was: family.[/indent][/indent]
[sub][b]Aethalos[/b][/sub]
[color=f2e7c9][sup](Admired mentorship)[/sup][/color]
[indent][indent]During his years of training, Cassiel had many mentors; one of his favourites was Aethalos, who helped hone his martial skills through his teenage years. Though she was a ruthless teacher in many respects, she was thoughtful and seemed to take a genuine interest in Cassiel's development. They had a playful, competitive dynamic as Cassiel grew older; with Cassiel even developing an adolescent crush on her — though he was swiftly rejected due to both their age gap and her lack of interest in men. There was always a sense of respect from Cassiel, which was unusual, as he very rarely displayed deference to [i]anyone[/i]; but Aethalos had earned it. She remains one of only a very small group of people that Cassiel is willing to take criticism from. However, there is an added complexity to their relationship since she left Cetra, as Cassiel's retinue has painted a negative picture of her, labelling her a traitor. In truth, Cassiel doesn't care all that much about the political affairs of Cetra, so he misses Aethalos' company. They have not crossed paths since her brush with death, and it can be assumed their next meeting might be a little more icy given her antagonism towards his nation.[/indent][/indent]
[sub][b]Cécile[/b][/sub]
[color=f2e7c9][sup](Estranged friendship)[/sup][/color]
[indent][indent]Cassiel and Cécile met by chance during a astronomical festival during Cassiel’s first PR tour, when both were overwhelmed by their respective destinies. Cassiel, burdened by his newfound fame, found normalcy in Cécile’s company. They maintained a long-distance friendship for a few years, but Cassiel’s growing cynicism and detachment caused a rift. Once confidants in adolescence, they are like strangers again in adulthood.[/indent][/indent]
[sub][b]Laura[/b][/sub]
[color=f2e7c9][sup](Neutral)[/sup][/color]
[indent][indent]While Cassiel and Laura have met in passing on a handful of occasions, they have never had a private conversation. As two of the most observed people in the world, they have much in common; but their fame is vastly different. Cassiel holds no significant thoughts on Laura, but considers her lifestyle to be rather vapid and ignoble.[/indent][/indent]
[sub][b]Akamu[/b][/sub]
[color=f2e7c9][sup](Neutral)[/sup][/color]
[indent][indent]As with Laura, Cassiel has crossed paths with Akamu, but only ever in 'red carpet' situations, having no private relationship. They likely have been amicable and polite with one another, but only at a surface level. Cassiel holds no strong opinion on Akamu but, given his need for control, and Akamu's desire to 'go with the flow', they are fairly contrasting; whether their differences are complimentary or incompatible, it remains to be seen.[/indent][/indent]
[sub][b]Nia, Liza & Mathias[/b][/sub]
[color=f2e7c9][sup](Unfamilair)[/sup][/color]
[indent][indent]Cassiel is yet to meet or form an opinion on some of the lesser-known Regalia.[/indent][/indent][/color][img]https://i.imgur.com/h7VYyaB.png[/img][/hider]