Watcher, Azrael

AZRAEL

Fallen Angel of Death and Retribution

RANK. E
AGE. Ageless
DOB. Dawn of the First Day
ETHNICITY. N/A
OCCUPATION. Mortician & Gravekeeper
RESIDENCE. House Behind the Graveyard

Azrael was not born. Nor created. Nor awakened, nor anything else. Azrael was simply there. The first there. No memories to have, no past to remember, he knew only two things, and had but one purpose to pursue. His name was Azrael, and he was one of the Watchers; his job was to record the lives and deaths of all mortals, and to help the dead reach their destinations. Sometimes, even help the living reach their death. He knew nothing else. And he didn't mind. He liked it, in fact. It kept him busy. And for as long as he can remember, he's done his job. Through the ages, and the empires, the era's of man, as they clawed their way to power, among animals, among each other, and among nature itself. Through war and peace, Azrael watched, ferrying dead, recording names in his ancient ledger. And even more so, learning. Languages, histories, cultures, and skills of the things he spent his existence watching.

Quickly, though, he became bored. He grew weary of watching from above. He wanted to be closer. And early on in man's history, he learned how to. See, though he was a Watcher, he could manifest in human form. Which is how he liked to spend most of his time. It was far more interesting. To interact with the creatures he had so long considered below him. He was not malevolent, no, but he was unconcerned, now, with the struggles of mortals. In the beginning he had cared deeply for all. But that changed after he saw the evil they wrought upon themselves and each other. Men and magical creatures alike. They were all selfish. Azrael decided to become more proactive in his work. His scythe found use, then, becoming more than a symbol of death, but a harbinger of it. He discovered that fate was a reality. At least, the fate of mortality. All lives and deaths were predetermined. He discovered, also, that he was the one who determined this fact. For example, he could choose someone who was "scheduled" to die of old age in thirty years, and decide they would die tomorrow, of crippling illness. With this, he unleashed famines, and plagues, to try to wipe the evil from the planet. Not all of these creatures, but just the malevolence they possessed, hoping to rally them, so they would be divided no longer. And at the time, (most of) the other Watchers supported him, wishing as well, to rid the Earth from of this obscenity. Of course, this failed. And quickly the other Watchers pushed to give up. That mortals, and especially man, would go extinct before they let go of their hate. So he gave up endeavors of such grandeur. But he did not let go of his bitterness about being abandoned in his efforts.

Shortly after the Edwardian Era (1911ish), Azrael spent his days immersed in the English culture. Through the recent eras he had favored them. The art, literature and style. He lived peacefully, as any person would, in these days. Slowly letting go of his idea that man was only evil. He started to believe otherwise, in fact. Growing closer to them. And it was in doing this, he met a woman. A woman whom he felt differently for than any before her. Victoria. He knew love was forbidden between Watchers and mortals. But he did not care. He needed her. They were married, and lived happily. She didn't know what he was. He couldn't decide if he should tell her. For surely she would notice when she grew old, and wrinkled, while he stayed looking youthful. He would have to tell her then. But he never got the chance.

The Great War took his love from him, cruelly, suddenly. At that moment, he gave up on mortals learning. He knew nothing would change. Heartbroken, and crazed, Azrael used his powers to try to bring Victoria's soul back, and force it back into her body. Only the prior of these goals succeeded. In his attempt, Victoria's body was decimated, leaving nothing recognizable. Now, with the soul of his love on hand, he tried the only thing he could think of. He stored her soul in his scythe. His success surprised him. And though he could not interact with his love, he felt reassured, now that she was safe with him, until a time when he could truly bring her back. With that new goal in mind, he began to practice.

The other Watchers knew what had happened. That Azrael had gone against his purpose, against natural order, to bring the dead back to life. He was banished, fallen, and abandoned. But this did not concern him. He had something better now. He still did his job. He had no choice but to. Ferrying, and recording. But he did more. He studied the art of death and reanimation, becoming a necromancer of notable power. Now, in this era of technology and secrecy, he has settled in Upper East Side Manhattan, starting a business as a mortician, with his own prestigious, private graveyard. With enough money, anybody could be buried here, but it was mostly limited to the famous, and the powerful. A perfect place to practice his craft, and a perfect place to live until he and Victoria could be reunited, and be together, forever. Alone. Nobody could exist to ruin this. He would end all other life besides his and Victoria's. It was his purpose, after all, to be the last, and record the lives and deaths of all...

Played by Diedrich