Archon
The Archons are the result of an experiment conducted in The Kingdom of Guardia under the directive of Archbishop Meres. Under the auspices of Project R-CON, common robots were infused with priestly magics by high-ranking Spekkian priests. This process imbued each individual Archon with a celestial spark, which enabled the robot to cast spells and retain other semi-divine powers.
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Celestial Spark and Tokens
Each Archon type carries a token, typically made from Dreamstone. This token is the Archon's physical link to the divine spark that is the source of its power. The different types of Archon are usually designated by their token.
Helm Archons
Created from B-Series droids, the Helm Archons had horned great helms as their tokens. These helmets provide the Archon with defensive powers and limited offensive capability (such as ramming/goring attacks with the helmet's horns).
Warden Archons
Created from C-Series droids, Wardens carry enormous dreamstone keys as their tokens. The keys are highly effective melee weapons, and also have the ability to lock/seal any door (including dimensional gates).
Bell Archons
Created from P-Series droids, Bell Archons carry small bells. These bells emit sonic vibrations that enable the Bell Archon to effect limited enchantments and charm effects.
Noble Archons
Created from the R-Series, there are four types of Noble: Wand, Chalice, Lantern and Trumpet. The Wand Archons wield a Dreamstone Wand which grants them Ice elemental magics; Chalice Archons wield a large bejeweled cup that empowers them with Water elemental magics; Lantern Archons carry a shuttered hand-lantern that grants them Fire elemental magics; and Trumpet archons carry a shimmering herald's trumpet that allows them to cast Lightning magic.
Throne Archons
A special caste created for rulers of the Archon race. Originally there were only believed to have been two Throne Archons created: Prometheus R66-Y, and Atropos R6-XR. However, it is now known that there was an additional Throne Archon created: Cronus-Delta, the Medinan P-Series droid who had been Mariscul Mervin's aide during the First Republic. Prometheus and Atropos were also able to eventually create an offspring, a child who was born an Archon, Primus.
Prometheus
As an Archon, Prometheus' token was his imbued left fist, the Terra Arm. The Arm gave Prometheus his spellcasting ability, and his connection to Spekkio. The Terra Arm was inherited by the fallen Archon, Zalatian the Trumpet. Prometheus was also constructed with a high-yield explosive within his core -- the only known instance of Guardian manufacture of weapons of mass destruction. To date, Prometheus is the only known Archon to possess such capability. Prometheus detonated his explosive core to destroy the Tomb of Zeal at the end of the Cleansing Wars.
Atropos
Atropos' Archon token is her enchanted ribbon, the XR Band. The XR Band is the source of Atropos' spellcasting. Though she has fallen, the Band has not lost its radiance. It is not known if Atropos also possesses the explosive core that Prometheus did.
Cronus
Cronus-Delta's Archon token was a ridiculously long and sharp lance that glowed with holy radiance. The extent of his powers are not widely known, since his existence as an Archon was hidden as he carried out his mission of protecting Medina's capital during the reign of the Shadow Barons, and he was slain by Janus Cage while discharging that mission.
Primus
Primus, the only Archon who was born into the race, is the offspring of Prometheus and Atropos. He was born without a token; his celestial spark is a part of him. It is believed that, as more pure Archon children are born, the gift of divine magic will become an innate part of the race, and no more shall Fall again. He was given an enchanted hammer, which was forged by Zalatian per Prometheus' instructions and intended to be used by Primus to lead the Archons.
Dominion of the Archons
Archons patrol throughout Gatespace, their role being primarily defensive. They do not answer to the Kingdom of Guardia, though they claim to be its custodians. They seem to respect Madrigal, though how they would fit into Church hierarchy is unclear.
The central point of Archon population is on the fourth world of Gatespace, the planet Atreus, where they have built the Roost of the Archons out of the old Atreus domes. The Roost is the only location on the planet that is friendly to offworld life; the Archons have expanded their population to cities built out on the red surface of the world, but these cities (cave dwellings mostly, though a few clay structures also exist) are generally not inhabitable by humans because of Atreus' lack of atmosphere.
Notable Archons
- Prometheus - The First Throne, Prometheus was the leader of the Archons from their first ascension until the end of the Cleansing Wars. He had served Doan Pendouris prior to becoming an Archon, and saw his rise to lead the Archons as continuing in his pledge to Doan to watch over and protect Guardia. Prometheus went with King Derik to battle Rajaat, but the Warbringer grievously wounded Prometheus during that fight. To ensure Rajaat remained dead, and that the evils of King Zeal's Tomb never again were stirred, Prometheus detonated his core and destroyed the asteroid. Prometheus' remains were later recovered by his son, Primus, and together with Zalatian they were melted down into the Anvil of Prometheus. Prometheus' divine presence lingers to watch over his son and the Archons, though whether the First Throne has ascended to divine status is not entirely clear.
- Atropos - The Second Throne, Atropos was the Queen of the Archons, and ruled them at Prometheus' side. She assumed full leadership after Prometheus' sacrifice at the end of the Cleansing Wars. When Primus returned from the End of Time as a full grown Archon, he revealed that his mother had been corrupted by Fate and was no longer a servant of Spekkio. She fled the Roost and has not been seen since.
- Cronus-Delta - Longtime servant of the Republic of Medina, Cronus was a P-Series droid who served as Skull's lieutenant during the native rebellion against Ozzie XI during the KMT War. He would later run in a three-way race for Prime Minister, against Tyurin Cage and Gorgon Wells; in this race he enjoyed Guardia's endorsement, but ended up losing out to Cage. In the ensuing years Cronus supported the lingering shreds of Medina's democracy, first as a member of Tyurin Cage's cabinet (briefly), then as a member of the internal resistance that ousted Cage from power. At some point he was approached by Prometheus, with whom Cronus had been associated in the past, about undergoing the R-CON upgrade, and Cronus gladly accepted, believing that as an Archon he would be able to better protect Medina's foundering Republic. For a time, Cronus' faction held the Shadow Barons out of Medina City, but eventually Cronus's lance of light was shattered, and his life taken, by Janus Cage.
- Primus - Sometimes called the Third Throne (but only because Cronus' existence as a Throne Archon was not widely known), but otherwise known as the First Son of the Archons, Primus is thus far the only Archon who was born, rather than upgraded from a common robot. His biological and mechanical components are more seamlessly integrated than his parents' generation of Archons, and his external features are much more organic in appearance. He was born without a token, but wields a ridiculously large enchanted hammer just to keep up appearances. He is currently the leader of the Archons.
- Zalatian the Trumpet - One of the Scribes of the Archons, Zalatian and the Three Gurus conspired together to oust Atropos in favor of installing Primus as the Archons' leader. To further this scheme, Zalatian willingly Fell, in order to escape Atropos' influence. A glamer cast by the Gurus concealed Zalatian's nature as a Fallen Archon, and Zalatian retained his post until Primus' return. Zalatian ensured that Primus acquired both the Hammer of Primus and the slagged remnants of his father, Prometheus, though when Atropos discovered the scheme she tortured Zalatian, removing his wings and one of his arms. Primus briefly fought, and then banished his mother from the Roost, rescuing Zalatian. Together, Zalatian and Primus turned Prometheus' remains into a holy anvil, and upon it Primus forged for Zalatian a new pair of wings. He also gave Zalatian Prometheus' arm, the Terra Arm, as a reward for his faith.
- Danarael the Chalice - Commander of the Archons who fought in Esper with Marshal T.O. Halberg. He eventually fell and became Rajaat the Warbringer.
- Maskamael the Trumpet - A fallen Archon. He rescued Naraya Pandora from Truce during the Cleansing Wars. Maskamael was a commander of a great Host of Archons, one of the greatest warriors of the early model R-CON upgrades, and had been a strong advocate for intervention during the Cleansing Wars. Prometheus refused Maskamael's repeated requests to take his host down to fight the Defilers. The shame Maskamael felt at not being allowed to fight and fulfill his duty caused him to fall. During his exile from the Roost, Maskamael lost one of his wings and is now a very weak flier. He currently serves Dregoth, as a bodyguard and manservant, and wields the Black Mace, a demonic artifact that Maskamael stole from the Paladins-Templar on Dregoth's orders (because Dregoth had seen the mace in one of his uncannily common prophetic dreams).