High Heavens

The High Heavens (or simply "Heaven") is the realm of the Elder Angels. Presided over by the Angiris Council, it is a bastion of light and harmony, one of the first realms of pure good and order to be formed since time immemorial. The capital of the High Heavens is the Silver City, where all Elder Angels reside and, at one time, God himself.



Lore
The concept of the High Heavens has been romanticized by humanity over the ages, as, no mortal had ever set foot in the realm. But through observation, both direct and indirect, Heaven is a realm of clouds and light that seems to enjoy a perpetual dawn, stretching into infinity. However, despite these clouds, it never rains.

Heaven is a hostile environment for humans, Devils, and Fallen Angels—the air is cold and devoid of moisture, which rapidly leads to dehydration. The amount of light can cause irritation to the eyes.

It is stated by the Church that the souls of the virtuous dwell in Heaven, but Deckard Kain noted that there appeared to be little hard evidence for this belief. In fact, all mortal souls are drawn to the Lower Heavens and not the High Heavens.

Early History
As the Burning Hells were spawned from the corpse Tathamet, Heaven came from the great god Anu. After the final battle between the two deities and the birth of Creation, Anu realized that he could not battle the Demons alone. Thus, in an act that seemed confusing, Anu tore out his spine and casted it out into the primordial darkness, where it slowed and cooled. Over countless ages it formed into the Crystal Arch, around which the Heavens took shape and form. And thus, as the Hells gave rise to demonkind, so too did the Arch give birth to angels. Anu soon took command over the High Heavens and began the inevitable war that is the Eternal Conflict.

Two races who would war against one another for eons in the Great Conflict over the Worldstone. Heaven was besieged many times, yet over the conflict's history, no force ever succeeded in breaching the Diamond Gates and gaining access to the Silver City.

Locations
While Hell is divided into several realms whose borders constantly shift, the locations of Heaven remain static. Much of Heaven is concentrated within the Silver City, including its five notable domains (one for each member of the Angiris Council). Otherwise, the land outside the city is quite empty. The land itself is composed of light and sound. Every one of the domains can induce adverse psychological effects on humans, corresponding to the nature of the domain in question. These effects can be both positive and negative.

At the borders of Heaven are portals that lead to other realms, including but limited to the Lower Heavens, the Underworld, Asgard, and various other mythological realms.

Domains

 * Courts of Justice (domain of Tyrael)
 * Gardens of Hope (domain of Auriel)
 * Halls of Valor (domain of Imperius)
 * Pools of Wisdom (domain of Malthael)
 * Library of Fate (domain of Itherael)

Other Silver City Locations

 * Angiris Council Chamber
 * Blessed Chancel
 * Column of Tears
 * Diamond Gates (entrance to the city, destroyed)
 * Fist
 * Girth's Ascent
 * Holy Sanctum
 * Radiant Chapel
 * Ring of Judgment
 * Silver Spire
 * Crystal Arch (the center of Heaven)
 * Tabernacle of Light
 * The Crystal Colonnade
 * Vestibule of Light
 * Wall of Edicts