Issue 4

 As stated in my last issue, it seems that the citizens, certainly, and likely the majority of leadership in the Night Churches, truly believe that they are following an angelic deity. While this name is never spoken, as it is considered anathema, my research indicates that it is an angel by the name of Iconolath. I base this conclusion on several factors. First, depictions of an angel with the form of a human, dark black wings, and wielding 2 blades, 1 in each hand are common in descriptions of Iconolath, except that his wings are usually described as being a stark white. This could be due to informational decay, artistic depiction, or some other factor. The primary defining trait of Iconolath is his twin swords, one capable of defending the weak, the other for damning an enemy to torment. This is depicted in all visual representations of His Holy Darkness. Next is his seeming disappearance from history after the year 1892, and the subsequent adoption of the Night Church in St. George, Utah 2 years later. The founder, a man by the name of Gregory Blackstone, previously a follower of the then prominent angelic faith, had a “prophetic vision” where he saw the entire earth swallowed into darkness, in which a group of faithful in black cloth reveled in anonymity, and hunted those who refused to accept the darkness. This caused a radical shift in Blackstone’s philosophy, causing him to found the Night Church to bring about the “Blessed Night.” This is the goal of the Angelic Union to this day.

 There are some theories as to what may have happened to Iconolath outside of the Angelic Union. The Church of the Sleeping Soldier, headquartered in Nacogdoches, Texas, in the United Texan States, proclaims that their patron deity is Iconolath, although there is little proof of this claim, as the only individual who claims to hear his voice is the Cardinal, head of the church and the Angelic Liaison to the executive branch of the United Texan government. The followers of the Church of the Sleeping Soldier are able to manifest angelic power, but this is likely through deals and connections with other angels, as is often stated by members themselves. The Church serves more as a general angelic faith, rather than having a specific patron angel. Another theory is that he was slain in battle, seen as his swords, the Sword of Damnation and the Sword of Justice, have seemingly disappeared. These swords, often wielded by the chosen Saint of Iconolath during times of great strife, have not been spotted in centuries, although there have been whispers that the commander of the Angelic Union’s army in the Magical Wastes wields the Sword of Damnation, these rumors have yet to be confirmed, and I have seen no compelling evidence that this is the case. The most likely answer to this riddle is that he has either passed on in some way, or retired to the Angelic Plane, which has only been accessed by humans given special tasks, sworn to secrecy by their patron angel upon their return.