The Angel motif appears in numerous instances within the game, mostly in the form of visual representations, providing a certain symbological interest.
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What we believe to be Angels and Demons are really projections of the minds of mortals, the Soulstone providing the catalyst to give them form within the world. Yes, God and Satan do exist but only as 'powers' of the Universe; God the ultimate Power of all that is good and alternately Satan as the ultimate Antonym. The Soulstone is an integral part of the make up of the Cosmos. It is the balance that keeps all things equal though some speculate as to whether it was created or simply came into being. Are then God, Satan and the Soulstone are part of a greater galactic and spiritual whole. Maybe, but for game conventions no one knows the truth of it. |
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Look Homeward, Angel[]
At the very beginning of our exploration of the Mansion, our eyes fall on a book that lays on a small side table in the entrance hall, potentially a copy of Thomas Wolfe's Look Homeward, Angel. The title itself also appears in a pastoral elegy by British poet John Milton, named Lycidas:
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Look homeward Angel now, and melt with ruth: And, O ye Dolphins, waft the hapless youth. |
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Mausoleum[]
Behind the Holy Shrine displaying the Creator's Staff and the Shrive, there is a large mural with an Angelic motif. Additionally, in the long hall where we make Aelf's acquaintance, there is another mural depicting Saint Michael, as identified by the "Quis ut Deus" inscription below. The walls of the room in which Florentine demands we hand him the Shrive are covered with various confrontational scenes between Angels and Demons.
Caverns[]
Inside the crypt which we pass through just before entering the actual Caverns, apart from the Persian incense burners, we find that some of the wall segments are covered with Angelic carvings and reliefs.
Hawk's Prison[]
After opening the Sarcophagus in the Study, we eventually come into a large chamber, characterised by the pools of lava seething underneath the narrow pathway. Stepping onto the large mosaic of a chained angel in the centre, we're once again contacted by the disembodied voice of Hawk who had already beseeched us inside the crypt preceding the Caverns. Once we've acquired the Key of Tears from Raquia, the device to free him, upon inserting the key into the peculiar lock, the mosaic will break, serving as a visual representation of Hawk's release.
Temple of the Morning Star[]
Behind the altar inside the Temple of the Morning Star, there's a large tapestry hung up on the wall, depicting a red-robed Lucifer[2] in chains.
Saint Michael[]
Apart from similarities regarding their names, there are various hints that Aelf actually is some sort of manifestation of the biblical archangel Michael. Page 3 of the above-mentioned notebook reveals that Muslim lore describes Michael the Archangel "in wondrous and magnificent form with wings the colour of emerald green". Aelf's Helm actually bears two green feathers. The Qur'an also states that Michael is one of four archangels (the others being Azrael, Israfel, and Gabriel) and resides in the seventh heaven.
As we've already touched on above, another hint presents itself in the final section of the Mausoleum as Adam and Aelf meet for the first time. At the end of the hall we find an altar behind which is the relief of an angel. At the bottom it says, "Quis ut Deus", which is a Latin inscription often to be found on the shield of St. Michael and which translates as "Who is like God". Meeting Aelf in the just vicinity of the mural could be considered a juxtaposition.
The Church of St. Michael's
Mural with green-winged Angel.
Inside the Lady Chapel of the Church of St. Michael, there is a mural showing two angel figures, one of them with green wings, which serves as a clue as to which feather we should put on the small indentation in front of the Madonna Statuette.
The finely-worked stained glass windows of the church also feature numerous depictions of angels. The large window above the altar, in particular, is worth our attention, showing the Archangel Michael as he casts the Devil out of Heaven.
Casting the Devil out of Heaven.
Reminds Adam of his mother.
![Angel with violin. Reminds Adam of his father, who was apparently very adept at plaing the violin.[3]](/wiki/File:SG-Violin.png "SG-Violin.png (20 KB)")
Reminds Adam of his father, who was apparently very adept at plaing the violin.[3]
Further Angelic Depictions[]
References[]
- ↑ official Interplay website for Realms of the Haunting, kindly mirrored by Sascha
- ↑ As referred to by the name of the texture: TEMTAP2.tapestry of lucifr(blackframe).bmp
- ↑
“ Adam: Angel and violin. That was my father's instrument.
Rebecca: Did he play?
Adam: Like an angel.”