Gragrafel is one of the more elusive characters of the trilogy. His appearances are sporadic due to the station he occupies in Zion. As a principality, he is expected to be within the walls of the king’s household. Most principalities serve as guardians of Zion. Rarely, they are assigned outside the city, and even more rarely do they work with souls outside of Otzar. They may be found in the reaches of Akash or the orders in Arcadia, if assigned outside the city. The reason for their assignment to the household of the king is their proven ability as guardians.
Principality Gragrafel lives away from his family within the king’s household. He is the father of Zacharius, Maiel and Joel. His wife, Alder Alexandrael, has stagnated as a svarg in order to take care of their children, which she has done since they were the equivalent of teens. Gragrafel rose while the children were quite small, but quickly made his way to adulthood and was able to care for them while his wife also became a svarg. By the time she had become of enough age the pair were reunited, but Gragrafel gained his next rising quickly. To say he is gifted is an understatement. He is one of he few atman who transitions with little friction. The only thing that holds him back is his lingering attachment to family. It is believed this too will come to an end, as it must, due to growth.
As a principality, Gragrafel resembles a statue. His hue is that of alabaster. His eyes are black as obsidian. Upon this startling form, he wears the white robes of his vocation. When on duty, they wear their gray armor atop the robes. Their physical appearance is much like the statues of ancient Rome and Greece. It may be that those cultures were channeling memories of the remarkable principalities, as they have done with so many other things.
Principalities are unique among the duta, having few lost in the conflict, and none since the inquisition that weeded out the others lingering behind. Reaching this rising is peerless, although one may eventually burn as a seraphim or other rising above it. At this point, though, they are quite solvent. Some suggest that it is the duty they serve that makes things so.
A snippet from The Trailokya Trilogy, Book One: The Shadow Soul:
The door they entered through opened again, stirring the griffins and making them complain. Gragrafel led the way and the griffins backed down. The principality was an intimidating figure despite his lack of armor and weapons, like a storybook rendition of Zeus: curled white hair, rolled white beard, and the required white robes. His expression was hard as stone while his penetrating black gaze swept over his family, lingering most disapprovingly on the soul.
Principalities like Gragrafel
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