In the wake of the King of All Angels' seduction by the Queen of Serpents, a war broke out in the heavens. Many angels took the side of the King, and for that, they fell. Any who even sympathized with him fell, in fact, except for one: Iscariel. Iscariel was the only angel who tricked the Mother of Swans. He was so convincing of his faith and devotion to her that she did not realize he was working against her.

He fought for her in the war, but he never did enough to fully harm those he was truly loyal to. Eventually, after a long wait, he found the proper moment to betray the Light: just as the Swanmother was about to seal the Hells forever, he stabbed her in the back. He fell, instantly, but his betrayal stopped Her long enough to let the Serpentmother create a new gate.

The war continued, and Iscariel became the most notorious traitor ever to be born.

Ages passed. He became a harbinger of treasons and betrayals and treacheries. His shadow over a castle or government hall meant a turncoat would soon cripple the kingdom or nation or city, etc. He watched Jaroad betray the Guardians. He saw Abraham Jericho sell out Tara'hin. He prompted Emmanuel to betray the Orb-Breakers. He smiled as the Webweaver strangled the Bloodmother. He presented the thirteen traitors to Michael Vane when he fashioned the Queen of Traitors. He helped the Champions of Terror turn on each other in the Garden. He was present when Grayson was betrayed. He showed Runner 2000 how to turn on Runner One. He cackled while Trenton Reis and Jedidiah Thrace plotted against their own, and when they both fell to betrayals. He aided the Twelve Traitors of the Eschatonic Wars. He showed the demons of the Hells how to bend faith to their own ends during the Godless Times, and he helped to create Caraddona Thrace. He saw Rex Cuniaid trap his own mother, and he witnessed Thurqus's moment of Rogue.

He is the patron of the Court of Sable Knives, and he is the harbinger of betrayal.