Regina is a strange place. It is a tiny city in the middle of the Canadian prairies. There have always been Fallen all over the world, but the relative solitude of decades and decades of nothing but wind and coyotes was not appealing for most. There were always humans here, and the Fallen in this often cold and bitter climate lived among them from time to time, but very seldom gathered together. It is difficult to gather together when living a nomadic life. The West was “opened” and Europeans followed with Oxen and sod houses and squawling families. The ways of the first peoples were being pushed aside, and a new era approached.
With these new settlers came more Fallen; drawn like water downstream they follow groups of humans, whether out of interest, devotion, or the opportunity to be devious and destructive. Regina, as a city, has been on these lands for only just over a century. Slowly, Fallen began to notice the burgeoning settlement, although most chose to live further north, or further west…anywhere but on this bald and dusty plain. Those who chose to stay did so often at the derision of the companions of their fellow choir, congregation, or murder, but stay they did, and settled in to life in the Saskatchewan prairie. Not much was heard from these ones, as, it was presumed, not much happened in such a small and insignificant place.
It came as little surprise then when it became apparent that they had left. After 100 years of waiting for something to happen, the Fallen must have decided to move on to bigger and better things; Regina was utterly barren of celestial beings, at least, as far as anyone knew. And really, not many questions were asked.
Five years ago, something changed. No one’s really sure how the rumour got started, although there is a certain amount of credence paid to the theory that a dove arrived from a long-lost companion. There were celestials in Regina. Their existence had been somehow hidden from detection; their natures obfuscated not from one another, but from the rest of the Fallen. Who or what could do such a thing, and why?
Five years ago, this masque disintegrated, falling away inch by inch. Some say it was because a message was sent; a messenger dove released that somehow managed to make its way through whatever strange power was keeping the city’s Fallen from being noticed. Some say a Fallen itself managed to escape; but with this newfound discovery came a more dangerous, darker one as well. After having been hidden for so long, the Fallen of Regina stood out in a place where previously nothing had been. It wasn’t long before the Host took notice, then took up residence. Those who could run from the city usually did; those who could not fell at the hands of Angels.
Strangely, there appeared to be many new Fallen in the process of Reckoning during this time. It became a race to see who would reach them first – the Fallen or the Host. More often than not, it was the terrible choirs from Heaven. Dozens were annihilated; the slaughter was wanton, endless, and relentless. The streets of this small prairie city ran dark with the blood of celestials, their souls winked out of existence with each final blow. Those left hiding and running, those living in fear still in the city, those who felt a responsibility to the ones not yet Reckoned, sent for help.
No one’s entirely sure sure how the cry for help came, or from where, but two powerful Fallen answered – Rada, an Infernal Wrath and Noriel, a Divine Justice. Together with the surviving Fallen in Regina, they rebuilt their domii, they healed their wounds, and they helped to form the Court. When the Fallen attacked the Angels as one, they were more successful.
Their losses were great, though. While Rada and Noriel helped the Fallen establish their first court, and led them in battle en masse against the Host, their victories were small at first. They were victories, however. For several years, the Fallen built up their strength and managed to contact more of the newly Reckoned. It was a constant struggle, and those who couldn’t fight became adept at hiding.
January 2008: there was only one small war choir left of the Host’s forces, which had numbered as high as twenty at one time. Three Angels, against Rada and Lockwood, the two kings; Noriel and Samson, the two Regents; their Rooks; Grey and Molior, the grey knights; and Leiliel, the Deistical Prelate. The Fallen had a handful of others who were capable of battle – Oliver, the Black Bishop among them.
The final Angel was destroyed a month ago, in a raucous and prolonged battle against Rada, Noriel, Lockwood, Molior, and Leiliel. No one noticed, in the fray, that Noriel had fallen. When the dust cleared, and they realised their loss, it was assumed he had succumbed to the Hollow Death…but three days later, when he *ought* to have reformed in his domus, they realised they had lost one of their most powerful allies…and to some, a close friend. Many in Regina say that the loss of Noriel was the greatest they have suffered; others acknowledge his death as what it is: the price of war.
This is a time of rebuilding. Even in their grief and anger, the Fallen recognise that there is strength in numbers, and that their greatest successes came when they fought together against a common foe. Their greatest losses, though, also accompanied their victory. After the final Angel was destroyed and banished, the court was decimated. The two Kings survived, as did their Bishops. Molior, the grey knight, and Leiliel, the Prelate also survived. A handful of other Fallen came out of hiding as well.
A message came from Lockwood, the newly-appointed White King:
Our losses have been great, but the war is over. At least for now. We shall gather and re-establish a new Court for the Civitas on Saturday, 28th June, in the Year of Our Lord 2008, at the school south of Zion church on Broad Street.
A new city is waiting to be born.
