Itherael

"Knowledge of the future grants power over the present. For this reason, Itherael, the archangel of Fate, is a vital member of the Council. He alone possesses the ability to decipher the threads of destiny woven in the celestial Scroll of Fate. His boundless sight grants him perspective others cannot fully comprehend."

- Selathiel, writing on Itherael

Itherael, Archangel of Fate, is an angel of the High Heavens and lorekeeper of the Angiris Council. Wielding the Talus'ar, the Scroll of Fate, he is clad in grey and appears neither male nor female, though is often referred to as a male in conversation.

Origins
Like all angels, Itherael had his origins in the Crystal Arch, and as with all members of the Angiris Council, embodied one of the virtues of Anu (in Itherael's case, fate).

The Great Conflict
As angels were of Anu and Heaven, so too were demons of Hell and Tathamet. And as such, the result was the Great Conflict. Throughout the endless war, Itherael maintained a steadfast dedication to victory. However, he never shared his views on the ultimate fate of the war with his fellow archangel Imperius, but it was recorded that the war would end with Hell's victory.

In one battle against the forces of Hell, Itherael was present when the Council succeeded in capturing Diablo after slaying many demons they faced. Though Auriel and Tyrael advised taking the Lord of Terror hostage, a hot-headed Imperius ignored them and slew the Prime Evil outright, allowing him to return later. Itherael remained silent the entire time.

The Sin War
"They are the get of angels and demons, with the taint and promise inherent...Left to grow, they might become more monstrous than anything rising from the Burning Hells." "And so they must be destroyed!" "But they also have the greatest potential to serve the Light...A potential that could surpass our own roles...And so I vote that they be given their chance.""

- Itherael and Imperius discussing humanity's fate

The Great Conflict ground to a halt with the disappearance of the Worldstone. It was later discovered that it had been stolen by renegade angels and demons who had used it to create the world of Sanctuary. It was also discovered that some of these angels and demons had interbred, giving rise to the nephalem and in turn, humanity. At the end of the Sin War, the Angiris Council was left with a choice, as to whether Sanctuary and its inhabitants could be allowed to exist.

Itherael cast his vote for humanity, knowing that they could eclipse either angels or demons, depending on the path it took. His vote was shared by Auriel and Tyrael, while Imperius voted for humanity's end, and Malthael abstained. As such, Sanctuary was spared, and humanity allowed to start over. Where their end might be, Itherael did not know, for their fate was unwritten.

Fate Fulfilled
"I am Itherael, Archangel of Fate. It is my duty to record what is, and what will be within the Scroll of Fate. But you, nephalem — you are not in the Scroll, your fate is unwritten."

- Itherael greets The Nephalem

3000 years after the events of the Sin War, the Great Conflict reached its end, as Itherael knew it would. Diablo, having absorbed the essences of the Great Evils into himself to become a singular Prime Evil, led an invasion of Heaven. The tides of war were in Hell's favor, with Imperius wounded and Auriel captured. However, the arrival of a group of The Nephalem turned the tide in Heaven's favor. Itherael helped them save Auriel.

At some point during the battle, Itherael helped Eirena translate a document that had been given to her by an angel within the Silver City. They confirmed that the writings came from an angel who called himself The Prophet, but they did not know if the fallen angel was the Prophet himself. Itherael knew nothing of the writings prior to this point.

The Nephalem went on to defeat Diablo, saving the Heavens. Itherael arrived alongside Auriel in the aftermath of The Nephalem's victory. Afterwards, Itherael watched on as a recently banished and now-mortal Tyrael retook his place in the Angiris Council, now embodying wisdom.

Fate Unclear
Itherael was present a short time later when Imperius and the other council members discovered the Black Soulstone from the Heavens. When deciding over its fate, Ithereal was inconclusive as to whether the stone should be destroyed by Imperius' demand or whether it should be sealed in a chamber of light and sound by Auriel's suggestion. Itherael remained silent through most of the debates, before asking Tyrael what should be done. After all, Tyrael had taken Malthael's place as the Aspect of Wisdom. Tyrael remained silent, and Imperius repeated his suggestion that they destroy the stone at the Hellforge. Itharael objected; the stone was forged by human hands, and the Scroll of Fate did not say what might result from such an attempt. Tyrael suggested hiding it on Sanctuary, but the other members objected.

Tyrael ended up departing Heaven before returning with a group of Horadrim, successfully stealing the stone from Heaven. Itherael accompanied Auriel as the pair confronted Imperius, who was in the midst of berating his erstwire brother. Auriel called for an emergency vote on Tyrael's fate, as to whether he be put on trial for his actions, or be allowed to remain as the Aspect of Wisdom and act as an ambassador between angels and Man. She voted for the latter, Imperius the former. After a long silence, Itherael declared that Tyrael was no longer an archangel, but as he had acted with good intentions, would remain a member of the Angiris Council. Tyrael's fate was unknown to him. But he wished him well.

The Realms of Fate
After Malthael's defeat by the Nephalem, the High Heavens were still recovering from Diablo's assault. During this time, Itherael discovered that tomes within the Library of Fate were changing Heaven itself, transforming into small pockets reflecting the past, present, and potential futures. Though none could make sense of why this has occurred, it still posed a threat to Sanctuary. Tyrael bid the Nephalem to investigate.

Diablo III
Itherael appears as an NPC in Act IV of Diablo III. He initiates The Light of Hope quest.

Quotes
See Itherael/Dialogue

Diablo Chess
Itherael appears in Diablo Chess. He represents Heaven's bishop piece.

Personality and Traits
"How can you look into the future?" "I see the myriad streams of possibility, all intertwining and weaving into one another. I can hear them echoing forward into eternity." "But you cannot choose the paths?" "I am not called to be a champion as you are. My role is simply to observe."

- The Nephalem and Itherael

Itherael has the unique ability to read the esoteric and arcane writings of fate. By all accounts, his prophecies are not always dark, and he holds a balanced view of all things. It is also written that Itherael is capable of predicting the actions of his enemies, and even slow time itself. It is important to note that he cannot see the future outright though, but rather has the ability to see various possibilities played out as the result of actions in the present. He cannot apply this ability to human actions though, for humans are not part of the natural order of things&mdash;a source of frustration for him.

Itherael is not particularly vocal and rarely speaks and has been described as inscrutable or aloof, at least in part due to his adversarial relationship with Imperius. It has also been observed that of all of Heaven's archangels, Itherael is closest to Auriel.

Itherael's corresponding domain in Heaven is the Library of Fate. It is here that angel ascetics peer into crystals reputed to be shards of the Crystal Arch, recording their visions for Itherael to interpret.

Itherael is also capable of doing battle with his enemy directly. He is capable of wielding a sword and has demonstrated the ability to teleport.

Trivia

 * While Itherael is described as seemingly neither male nor female in appearance, at least to the Edyrem humans who observe him. However, the Book of Cain consistently describes him as a male, and is referred to by male pronounds (he/him) in Diablo III. As such, the article has followed suit.


 * Itherael is visually unusual among angels in that his pauldrons (from which his wings emanate) float above his shoulders, instead of being attached to the rest of his armor.


 * In the final line of the Prophecy of the End of Days, it is implied that his aspect will be "shattered forever".