Book of Uriel

Released from the form and limitations of his mortal seeming, Uriel the Angel of Freedom stretched his wings and prepared to attack the Warden, who rushed at him with her sword.

Yet before he could act, there was another delicate song in the air, and lo! The Angel of Justice Tyrael appeared beside Terri, sweeping her along as he soared towards Uriel.

Mightily the two angels strove, for each was fueled by his sense of righteousness: Uriel by the conviction that every creature must be made free, and Tyrael by the belief that every wrong must be punished and every evildoer imprisoned.

The theological import of their struggle overwhelmed the Warden; she could not decide which was on the side of the Lord; and because she was not convinced of her righteousness, her sword shattered when she raised it against Uriel.

For a long time, the two angels were evenly matched; but then Uriel was brought low by a Paradox backlash, and Tyrael shackled him even to the Ninth Circle of Hell and dragged him down the stairs.

There they came upon Kira and Judith, each still attempting to convince the other of the righteousness of her own path, as they slipped and skidded across the frozen lake.

The Warden Terri hurried to join them, and together with Judith attempted to overpower Kira and seize the Nullstone.

But the ice was slippery and treacherous, and all three mortals weakened by their long trek through Hell and the injuries they had sustained, and though they grappled mightily even at the feet of Beelzebub, none could get the upper hand.

Then Uriel rushed to Kira's aid and in his determination countered Judith's magic; he and Tyrael both attacked Terri with arguments for whether freedom was the highest good, so that she should release Beelzebub, or justice, so that she should seize the Nullstone and free Tyrael instead.

The Angel of Justice spake thus: "Free me, and I shall right all wrongs and make everything right on earth."

Then the Warden fell to her knees upon the ice and beseeched the Lord for guidance, for she knew not what was his Will.

Seeing her hesitation, Tyrael strove to Smite Kira before she could reach Beelzebub; but his sword passed through her harmlessly for she had not committed any sins yet.

"Verily," he cried unto her, "I shall Smite thee if thou release the fallen angel from his just punishment!"

But the words of Uriel rang sweetly in Kira's heart, and she judged freedom to be worth her life; but Judith disagreed.

Kira was just touching the Nullstone to the bonds of Beelzebub when Judith spake the Words of God a third and final time, even giving her life to speak them; then time shattered and reality swirled about them, and when the world had settled again, Beelzebub howled in rage: for he was still chained with Kira unconscious at his feet, and beside them Judith lay dead upon the ice.

The Nullstone, too, lay upon the ice beside Kira's outstretched hand.

Terri stared at them in horror and anguish, and she chastised herself mightily for Judith's death, for she blamed herself for all that had occurred; and in her moment of agony, the two angels each tried to bend her to his will; but Tyrael said unto Terri: "If you free me, I shall bring Judith back to life," and this promise swayed her.

While Uriel raged over the failure of his plan and simultaneously rejoiced for Tyrael's freedom, Terri took up the Nullstone and touched its tip to Tyrael's bonds; the stone burst into tiny fragments on contact.

With a triumphant song dancing in the air, Tyrael stretched out his wings, and they grew to several times their original size, for now his true nature had been freed.

Yet though he cared little for mortal details, he summoned Judith's soul and bound it back into her body; for he had made a promise to Terri and he believed her a useful ally.

Now the angel Tyrael seized control of Hell and even the Church and labored to impose his views on the world. Though Terri and Judith attempted to mitigate his harshness, by his very nature he generated resistance; and the Hellenites in New Delphi prepared themselves for the coming war.

And the angel Uriel, shackled even to the Ninth Circle of Hell, bided his time.

For he knew he had spoken true to Kira and Judith and Terri: All creatures on Earth and in the Umbra, all things that the Lord created, yearn to be free; Uriel is the embodiment of them all, and one day all bonds shall be broken and all set free.