Iealo

Malakite Friend of the Lord's Troops

Role: Iffat Oyekanmi

Iealo is the de facto commander of Laurence's troops in Dallas when Paulinus is absent. As the highest-ranking Malakite of the Sword, he is technically subordinate to the equally-ranked Palaliel, but the Seraph usually defers to the Malakite on military decisions, lending his input only on matters of faith, celestial diplomacy, and dealing with mortals.

Iealo is the angel most Soldiers in Dallas are familiar with, as he is in charge of all of them and expects to be made aware of any Soldier of God in the city. He also expects obedience when he calls on a mortal to perform a task in the name of Heaven, even if they serve another Archangel. This has caused friction more than once, as some Soldiers consider themselves to be working for the angel and/or Archangel they are familiar with, not Iealo. Iealo has threatened and intimidated mortals into doing as he says, and then chewed out their angelic superiors for not ensuring "their human servant" was aware of the chain of command. Palaliel has sometimes had to step in to smooth things over.

Before coming to Dallas, Iealo served for several centuries in Africa, and has several friends who serve Khalid, the Archangel of Faith. He also made several enemies who serve the same Archangel. He is a member of Laurence's Order of the Holy Cross, and has been a staunch Catholic since his creation. In his Role as Iffat Oyekanmi, Iealo is a member of the Dallas chapter of the National Black Catholic Congress. He spends what little time he has to maintain his Role evangelizing for the Roman Catholic Church within Dallas's black community.

Almost every demon in the metroplex knows who Iealo is, and they are on strict orders to avoid him. Iealo knows who Thane is, and has been pushing for his "removal," with extreme prejudice, for years. Paulinus has continually vetoed any such plan. Many angels suspect that Iealo does not like Paulinus and resents having a Protestant Ofanite placed above him in the chain of command. Whether this is true or not is unknown; Iealo has never openly challenged Paulinus, and does not tolerate anyone else expressing disrespect for him.