The Gamble Era

The Gamble Era
The Gamble Era covers Season 6 and Season 7. The former mostly deals with the aftermath of the Apocalypse, and featured a three-way power struggle between Heaven, Hell and Purgatory. Heaven and Hell, are both also embroiled in civil wars of their own. Belligerents of Heaven are the Archangel Raphael, who wants to free his elder brothers to restart the Apocalypse, and Castiel, who wants to retain the status quo and promote free will. The demons of hell are split between its new King, then only King-of-Crossroads, Crowley, and the daughter of Azazel, who led the Lucifer loyalists.

Season 6 also focused on souls, and was a major plot device for Sam Winchester's return from the cage, and for the struggles of the three planes. Eve, matriarch of Purgatory was drawn into the war and amassed an army of her own to prevent Crowley and Castiel from taking the souls in Purgatory. The stand-off resulted to the death of Eve, and with Castiel betraying Crowley, denying him of half the souls of Purgatory. Castiel killed Raphael and declared himself as the new God.

Season 7 provides more depth to Purgatory lore as it introduces its oldest natives, referenced in Season 6 as The Old Ones, the Leviathan. Predating the soul, the leviathans were God's first creations, predating angels, human and the soul. They are nigh indestructible, very intelligent, and were locked up in Purgatory for such reasons. They were absorbed by Castiel from Purgatory. The Leviathan soon overpowered Castiel and escaped his vessel. They took control of much of the economy and plotted to harvest humans as cattle, and at the same time, planned to eliminate competition from other beings, such as other monsters, and even demons. The Leviathans managed to bring the Winchesters on the run, and successfully killed Bobby Singer. Season 7 ended with the Leviathan threat neutralized, and Dean and Castiel transported to Purgatory, Crowley taking captive of Meg, and the newly ascended prophet Kevin Tran, leaving Sam Winchester alone.