Archon

Archon
(Creature)
Common Archon Celestial Holy Level Varies Alignment LG NG CG LN N CN LE NE CE Adjective Archon Images of archons Source: Monster Core, pg(s). 26–29 Type Outsider (archon, extraplanar, good, lawful) CR Varies Environment Heaven Alignment LG NG CG LN N CN LE NE CE Adjective Archon Images of archons Source: Bestiary, pg(s). 18

Zepha, a preceptor archon.

Archons are celestials who predated deities as natives of Heaven. The first archons formed from Heaven's seven-tiered mountainous form and call out to worthy mortal souls in mysterious voices to join them in Heaven's Garden atop its peak.

Appearance

Archons have no uniform shape. Some resemble winged humanoids, while others are animalistic or resemble objects. The uninitiated might have trouble recognising archons as a single group. To most mortals, their forms can be unnatural, unsettling, or frightening.

Ecology

Archons typically arise through three fashions: created by Heavenly deities, transformed from the elect, or emerging from Heaven's quintessence. The elect who answer the call of archons transform after swearing to uphold justice. They rise through the ranks of the celestial hierarchy and model their progress after the metaphysical mountain of Heaven. From the start, these souls are helped by more powerful mentors spread goodness and honesty across the multiverse, but particularly the Universe.

Most new archons manifest as ring archons and evolve into greater forms as they commit acts of goodness and purity. These evolutions are not always linear in nature; their personalities and abilities cause some archons to skip forms and others to retain a form over long spans of time.

Habitat

Archons build sturdy symmetrical fortresses on the mountain of Heaven that shine as if just constructed, but can stand for aeons. Surrounding these fortresses are cultivated farmlands and orderly settlements. Most archons are concentrated into the second and sixth levels of Heaven.

Because of their tendency to bring the fight to the enemy, archon fortresses can also be found outside of Heaven.

Society

Lazzero and Linxia battle a legion archon.

Archons understand that when chaos, evil, and corruption threaten to take over the multiverse, individual desires should be set aside for the greater good. Although sometimes denounced as authoritarian zealots, archons are usually compassionate with fellow good beings and tolerate even lawful evil creatures; they view only those who follow neither law nor good as irredeemable. In Heaven, they are committed to training shades, but also take joy in their friends and work.

Described as ideal soldiers, archons easily organise among themselves, each recognising its strength and playing its designated role without complaint. Archons prefer to motivate mortals to acts of virtue and honour, reasoning that this way, when the next threat comes, the mortals will be better prepared to combat it themselves, and know that hasty action might do more harm than good, as their foes often use mortals as bait. Archons often disguise themselves as goodly knights, of the sort found in legends, in order to inspire those around them.

Against direct incarnations of evil, like demons and devils, their actions are less subtle, charging headlong into battle, often in armies thousands strong. During these battles, the armies of Heaven act with honour, but they are not foolish, and do not sacrifice themselves unnecessarily; archon commanders never send their forces into battle without a specific goal in mind.

While archons are paragons of goodness, they have little patience for those who do not follow their strict moral guidelines. To an archon, a cruel tyrant does not justify rioting and rebellion to overthrow him; justice and the law must not be abandoned for the sake of goodness. Otherwise, without justice and the law, goodness cannot prosper. This approach sometimes draws them into conflict with azatas, even though archons dislike opposing their goodly brethren.

Archons prefer to work with their own kind, and follow the cues of the greatest archons and lawful empyreal lords when they cannot decide what to do. However, they often cooperate with axiomites and devils in crusades against demons and proteans alike, but do not trust them as they trust their fellow celestials. They similarly cooperate with aeons in defense of lost knowledge and rules that predate mortality, and their refusal to elaborate on such missions frustrates other angels.

Archons appreciate art and beauty and collect valuable objects, but do not accrue wealth. They maintain their equipment to a high standard as part of their pursuit of order in all things, including tidiness.

Language

Archons uniformly speak Empyrean, but can also converse in Diabolic, Draconic, and Utopian. Some also possess an ability called truespeech, which allows them to communicate with any intelligent creature that has a language.

Abilities

Many archons can intervene to reduce harm to nearby allies or retaliate against their foes. Some can also use translocation to coordinate their movements.

References

For additional as-yet unincorporated sources about this subject, see the Meta page.