The Messengers

Messengers are the most capable Incarnation at dealing with humans. They are adept at fitting into social situations: charming, seductive, commanding, friendly, aloof — whatever the person talking to them needs. Humans getting close to a Messenger, though, quickly realize how cynical the Trumpet is. Although some Fell because they became emotionally attached, many Messengers still see communication and social interaction in terms of mechanistic causality. Human beings are machines, black boxes they can manipulate by saying the right thing.

Messengers no longer have access to either their Numina or the vast computing power of the God Machine to tell them what to say. The principle of communication remains valid, however, and through Embeds, Exploits, and long careful practice, most excel at it. Many Messengers are also well-practiced at reading the intentions of others, especially finding hidden meanings. The Incarnation is stereotypically suspicious and prone to critically reading any information they receive. In rare cases, this can get so severe that it interferes with all communication, including visual and kinesthetic. Others become so wrapped up in looking for the causes and effects of phenomena that they become unable to function.

As they find their way through the Descent, Messengers must learn to experience the world without seeing every interaction as purposeful manipulation. Antinomian Messengers isolate themselves, limiting contact with others in order to manage their exposure to communication. Less extreme Messengers learn to make use of their skills on behalf of others, whether negotiating, manipulating, information collecting, or analysis. A few attempt to influence their still-angelic cousins, trying to alter the God Machine itself by injecting their memes into angels’ minds.

As angels, Messengers were sent on assignments where they had to earn humans’ trust. Trumpets are the method actors of angels, fooling themselves — at least a little — so they could fool the humans they dealt with. As demons, Messengers are the most likely to prize their human relationships. Cover is essential to maintaining those relationships. Demons are slow to trust humans with the truth of their natures, and even then, a good Cover is important. A human who knows that her best friend is really a pillar of magnesium-white fire with four arms, six wings, and eight voices speaking with unearthly harmony probably doesn’t want to look at that when she comes over for coffee.

All of these factors combine to lead most Messengers to identify strongly with their Covers. Messengers are the most likely to view their Covers as real on some level, even when they are made from stolen human lives. Messengers are likely to treat their Covers with care and respect, not just because a strong Cover is a necessity, but also because they are genuinely attached to that life and the human relationships it facilitates.

A Trumpet’s method acting also tends to lead to a great deal of sympathy for humans. Whatever they feel about their own place in the universe — angel turned human or demon condescending to live among humans — Messengers frequently just like people. They move through human cultures like fish through water — or like wolves through the wood — and it’s hard for them not to admire a species that started as filthy, uncomplicated apes and rose to create so much beauty and complexity.

Even antinomian Messengers, who usually turn their backs on the lies and manipulation that came with being an agent of the God-Machine in favor of brutal honesty, rarely turn their backs on people. In fact, antinomian Messengers are often among the most compassionate demons.