<< This is where I came up with the idea of physical and personal, "man-like" but divine angels in Glorantha. So, is there any "truth" in Simon Phipp's stories or has he just modified his Glorantha to his own liking? It think Simon Phipp's pages are an excellent source for ideas but it would be nice to know which tales are "real" and which are just his own stories and don't fit in the "official" Glorantha.>>
I believe that the story is is his own, and the specific character in it his own invention. However, it isn't inconsistent - which is probably good news to you. The 'angel' in the story could well be some sort of high-ranking luxite - there's no reason to assume all of them are like the mindless elementals that priests normally summon. Or, in so far as there's a difference, she could be a minor deity of light. A parallel here would be with the Dehori, entities that are certainly a lot more than your typical shade darkness-elemental, but fall a good deal short of being actual deities. The Luatha might be another parallel, since they too are somewhere between mortal and divinity.
Stats and details have never been published on luxites AFAIK, although I would assume that the priests of deities such as Arraz and Polaris ought to be able to summon the low-ranking relatively mindless sort. Summoning the big ones would be a much more impressive feat, but one could also meet them on the Hero Plane. But I don't see why they couldn't take on humanoid form if they felt like it, or any other form for that matter.
Here's a quote about Luxites, taken from GRoY and pretty much supporting your view (and Simon's!):
"The ordinary affairs of the Sky World were overseen by Arraz. He was the king of the Luxites, who are denizens of the heavenly realm. They are sometimes called Angels, or Heavenly Host. They are the Sky People and servants of Heaven."
A later passage has the Luxites becoming upset when Dayzaytar leaves, and having to be placated with a speech, which certainly indicates that these ones at least, are not mindless like typical summoned elementals.
Forward the radiant Sky Army!
Trotsky
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