“Yes, brother, it is true that I am less than you. I am meek, and you are mighty. It is true, brother, that I will never rise to as great a power as you command, with your fire, your brimstone, and your magic and deals. And it is too true, brother, that I am wingless, while your great flight blackens the sky and your wings swallow light as a night on the full moon. And yet, brother, it too is true that I am tremendous, for I am far more than just myself. It too is true that I am far stronger than you can ever know, for my power lies not within my breast, or within my flesh, but in the thousands of others who share in my ideals. And too, brother, it is true that though I am wingless, I fly, for I am borne to the heavens on the voices of dear companions and the back of a dearer friend. Many would meet you with rage, brother, and while I too would do my utmost to strike you down and show you the bitter taste of my lance should you force my hand, you are my brother, and so first I offer you a moment of peace. I offer you a choice, brother - we may do battle, as your kind and mine have done so may times since the dawn of time, or you may take my hand, and I will show you a better, brighter path for the kind we both share. So come, brother - won’t you take this poor sinner’s hand?”

- Zazzyphryx Lightheart, Plea to the Devils

So, not long ago I was talking with an acquaintance on Tumblr about the idea of risen fiends in contrast to fallen angels, and I was inspired to create an imp who has taken up the mantle of paladin. So, I came up with Zazzyphryx Lightheart the Wingless and his noble steed Apterax, the giant bee. The story behind Zazzyphryx is that he was originally summoned and bound as familiar to a wizard much as any other imp would - the primary difference is that the wizard whose service he was bound to was a genuinely good person with a genuinely grim sense of humor. At first, Zazzyphryx railed against his captivity as would any imp bound to a wizard where they do not have the upper hand in the bargain, but over the years, his master’s kind treatment and relatable sense of humor caused the imp to grow fond of the man, and after 150 years of service as the wizard’s familiar - of helping in the study, of tutoring slow apprentices, of helping an old man navigate the school he had built - the two of them had become fast friends. Eventurally, Zazzyphryx’s master (who I really should name) attracted the ire of a host of devils greater than the meager imp - when they attacked the school, however, Zazzyphryx - much to his own surprise - found himself desperately fighting against devils much stronger than himself in an attempt to save his master and his students. While he failed to save the wizard who taught him compassion, Zazzyphryx succeeded in rescuing many of the apprentices, sacrificing his wings in the process. In that moment, he ceased to be a fiend and rose, since no true devil could willingly sacrifice a piece of themselves for no reason other than to save a dear friend. As of now, Zazzyphryx is a particularly diminutive paladin who serves both as a lance of justice and a beacon of light in the dark, equally ready to pierce the hearts of the wicked as he is to offer a small, helping hand towards the light.