Azael

Azael is one of the seven council members and the leader of the rangers. He was the one to begin calling the clan the Watchers, a dry acknowledgement to Raziel’s original plan to simply sit back and observe the world around him. Azael used to be strongly opposed to that observation only policy and led his rangers on missions of protection for any and all in need of aid, regardless of the number of enemies. His recklessness resulted in the death of his first charge and ever since then Azael has developed a more pessimistic outlook on the world. As a result, the rangers now primarily stick to themselves and Azael refuses to sign off on missions which don’t directly benefit him or his men. The rangers have also adopted a council approach to their affairs, with Azael providing the final say on any matter, making them the most diplomatic of the groups.
Azael lost his charge through his own rash actions. He believed he could keep the young dragon safe from every threat- he was wrong. After that incident, Azael left his old clan and began to travel aimlessly.
The Battle of the Terrace occurred shortly after Azael lost his charge and subsequently decided to split from his old clan. While engaged in the conflict, he met Raziel, Lahash, Luce, Michael, and Raphael for the first time. Though it was a while yet before he decided to join their fledgling clan, Azael had to admit that he was rather impressed by their composure during the battle. Well, everyone but Raziel. He's not sure he entered the battle intending to survive, but survive he did and despite everything, he is grateful he did so.
While participating in a multi-clan event, Azael met a spiral. Though at first uncaring and planning on merely using her to ensure his own victory, Azael ultimately fell in love, even journeying to her clan for a time. In the end though, his loyalty to his clan, in particular his rangers, led him to return. He still yearns for his mate.


Others have described Azael's personality as dark and twisted. Amaros prefers reckless; Raphael says homicidal and arrogant is a better fit. Azael is well aware that isn't like most other dragons. He cares strongly about his family, but others? Not so much. If they pose a threat to his clan in any way, he'll wipe them out without a second thought or sliver of regret. He will do what needs to be done and he isn't above dirtying his claws. Death follows him, but he doesn't consider that to necessarily be a bad thing. After all, death is an old friend.


Azael is not a fighter. In straight combat, he'll lose every time. Instead, he relies on guerilla tactics. Strike hard and strike fast. Always keep the element of surprise. He uses words to unsettle his opponents, weaving circles around them with his taunts until he spies an opening he can take advantage of. Ironically though, Azael doesn't have the patience or inclination towards social niceties necessary to excel in diplomacy. He'd much rather use his words to tear his conversational partner down with biting truths. Or things he convinces them are the truth.


Azael considers all the other members of the council to be adopted siblings. He and Raphael used to be particularly close but lately their interactions have become more hostile to the point of downright cut throat. In fact, Azael has started to withdraw and become colder to all his fellow council members, while growing closer to his rangers particularly his second-in-command, Salamiel, and the mage Amaros. He and Michael are still somewhat close as Azael maintains a soft spot for his naïve younger brother but that very same nativity has strained their relationship somewhat when confronted with Azael’s dark humor and leanings. Despite this and his general apathy towards the rest of the clan, Azael would do anything to protect his rangers and fellow council members, even kill. After all, his claws are far from clean already.

By JinxedKarma

The forest was a dark and silent presence, sitting heavily on the edge of the encampment. It was neither approving, nor disapproving, merely a non-judgmental entity regarding the night’s events. Once morning dawned, only two beings would know of what had occurred here. Salamiel certainly didn’t plan to bring it up in conversation. Why should he? Their task was almost complete. Once it was, it would be in the past.
Azael would share his view. The only mentions would be the slant of the other’s yellow eyes and the flash of his sharp teeth. A shared joke between them. Nothing more.
An arrow bounced off of his armored hide and Salamiel turned. His powerful jaws made quick work of his final foe. A moment later and the clearing fell silent.
Azael slunk into the small circle of light cast by the sputtering fire. His teeth were dark and stained when he grinned at Salamiel.
“That was all of them?” The snapper cast a glance around the clearing, blunt nails digging into the soft ground.
“It was,” Azael confirmed.
“Orchidae will be disappointed. She still believed a truce could be reached.”
Azael snorted. “She can continue to believe that. Her beliefs won’t make a difference now.”
“No, I suppose they won’t. Shall we bury them?”
The guardian’s shrug was a ripple of black in the darkness- nearly impossible to see but for the flicker of firelight against scales. “Why bother?”
Salamiel sighed. Azael had many commendable traits. His long-term planning was not one of them. “We are still in clan territory and they were known to the clan. Someone will check on them, likely sooner rather than later.”
“So?” The screech of nail against tooth made Salamiel wince.
“So, our actions may have been necessary, but they need not be known. We did what needed to be done. The clan will not approve though. Better to smooth things over by disguising our involvement.”
“I doubt anyone from the clan could observe this and determine we were the cause.” Azael continued before Salamiel could point out just why the other was wrong. “I’ll follow your lead on this matter. What shall we do?”
Salamiel considered. Despite his earlier suggestion of burial, that would be even more suspicious than simply leaving the bodies. Staging an attack by a different beastclan would be better. Or… his gaze flickered to the fire.
Link was the one to sound the alarm, calling the entire clan to action. Spell casters with water affinities douse flames with streams of water. The rest manned buckets of water, Azael and Salamiel amongst them. It was an unfortunate accident. A forest fire, perhaps sparked by the centaurs’ campfire. Sadly, none of the beastclan survived. A true tragedy.
As Orchidae spoke to the clan, Salamiel caught Azael’s gaze. The other grinned at him, sharp teeth flashing white. The dark stains lingered in Salamiel’s memory. He thought those suited Azael almost as well.
The taste of blood still lingered in his mouth and he resolved to rinse it out again once Orchidae concluded her memorial service. Necessary or not, he hoped they wouldn’t be forced to take this sort of action too often. It was unhygienic.

By kaniari