Angiris Council

The Angiris Council is composed of five Archangels. The Angiris Council is the ruling government of the High Heavens and its Heavenly Host of Angels. Ever vigilant, and ready to do what must be done in the Eternal Conflict against the Burning Hells. In extraordinary cases, the Angiris Council will call for a vote of each of its five members to reach a consensus.

It was these five Archangels that decided the fate of Sanctuary after the hidden world was discovered. Their original plan was to destroy it, mostly with Imperius' aggressive backing, however they were forced to take a vote due to extended circumstances. The main point against its existence was also the reason for it to be preserved - the humans having the blood of both Angels and Demons in them had the potential to be stronger than both, serving as powerful allies in the eternal Sin War. The result was in favour of letting Sanctuary live on. Imperius and Malthael vouched for Sanctuary's destruction seeing humans as an abomination containing foul demon blood while Auriel and Itherael saw its potential as a powerful ally. It was Tyrael who had the final and most impacting vote which saved Sanctuary from imminent destruction.

The Council made a pact with the oldest of the Prime Evils, Mephisto, that he would leave Sanctuary untouched in exchange for the traitor Inarius, who created Sanctuary, an act forbidden by the Council. Sanctuary was then left in the hands of the humans, with their memories wiped, allowing them to grow from the beginning and ultimately to their own end. Each individual is left to decide either to live by the light or the dark.

Concept art for the Angiris Council as seen during Blizzcon 2011.

References

• Diablo: The Sin War Trilogy, The Veiled Prophet - page 326 (more here