Archons

Artwork by -name- Archons Area: Any Diet: Same as previous race Size: Same as previous race Temperament: Varies Tameable?: N/A Note: Players can play this creature as their own persona on the server by making a creature application.

Awoken, I have been granted power by the void through rigor and skill. Rewarding, wouldn’t you say, Errant? -Avenel Synalli

Archons are transcended voidal mages, possessing powerful magic and a spectral form. They're also occasionally referred to as Transcendents.

Creation

The creation involves the usage of an arcane trinket. This trinket is only able to be created by an elder Archon and used by one, anyone else would experience a feeling as if they are lost. For this to be used an elder Archon pours mana into it. For some strange reason, a Archon when in spectral form is able to physically lift the object, grasping it. This trinket holds a strong connection to the void, stronger than even the oldest and most powerful of Archons. Through unnatural means this object will twist and malform the soul of the victim, claiming it for the void. And then the victim falls unconscious, changes happening to their physical form. If one were to watch them during this period they would see mist falling out out of their physical frame, taking upon the color of their aura. This mist would seemingly enter and exit their physical frame, each time it does so the eyes would change tint slightly, skin paling. This process would continue for hours, the soon-to-be Archon very vulnerable.

Forms

Blessed by the Void, the Archons have the ability to turn into a spectral like form; though this has to be taught by another Transcendent. The Transcendent form warps away the body, allowing raw, direct mana to shape a humanoid body. Although the coil body is gone, the clothing remains, making the spectral frame take on the attire. With this spectral form, they become resistant to most arms, however the unnatural form allows for Aurum and Thanhic alloy to bring harm them- ‘killing’ them if struck in the area of the heart or if the arcane energy is beheaded. In their spectral state, they cannot directly interact with the world, requiring other means to do so. This form gains little boons at the start, however they acquire their power later, bolstering as they progress their unnatural form. All blessings come with curses, and by turning into the spectral form, they are subject to great pain and strain as they turn into their spectral form, having the mana leave their body and warp the flesh away. When they enter back into coil form, they feel aches and pains, similar to finishing an intensive workout regime. In addition, their magic is muted when they return back for a set amount of time, lacking any of the specialized abilities and boons, putting them on par with a normal mage.

Coil

The Transcendent’s veins would appear to be the color of their aura. Upon the condition of their blood being exposed to air, the blood would seemingly give off a slight mist of their aura. One noticeable feature is the change in their eyes; the color being that of their aura. Their skin would appear slightly more pale than what would be considered normal.

Transcendent

The spectral form can be seen as either a mass of swirling energy in a humanoid form and could have darker and lighter spots in the aura to signify eyes or even a mouth, as well as an abyss colored being with their aura color sweeping about them, visible to all other. Each appearance, however, is bound by the attire one wears and will always be humanoid. Verily, they appear like beings of pure energy. They are only resistant to mundane weaponry, not immune.

Behavior

The state of Transcendence leads to a few strange behaviors that they possess. The power they hold could make them think of others as lesser beings, not gifted to a true extent; this could lead to what we call a god complex. The being feels increased power within their spectral form, thus it is that when they move back to their coiled form they would be faced with an onslaught of depression and sadness; something which should be expected when one’s prowess suddenly falls. A creature of the void, yet was once mortal; an unnatural being. They understand that they are not the same as others, leading to them feeling as if they simply do not fit into descendent society.

Humanity

By transcending the Archon can hardly feels mortal anymore, they become shadows of their former selves. Some may try to cling on to the scraps of humanity that remain, while others may perhaps take on qualities of their former selves if not become something else entirely. When an Archon dies, they lose bits of their humanity, and with enough deaths and perhaps trauma -- they become shadows of their former selves. While this is an issue, events and living may perhaps cause one to regain their grip on the world -- to not fall to their shadow.

Clarifications

The Catalyst

An odd contraption that fumes with eldritch, unknowing power. Little is known of its origins, besides it being there when the First Archon was created; it is theorized that this catalyst is an extension of an outer being, or perhaps an anomaly of the void, but what is known is that this item is used to make Archons, disconnect Archons, and records the information of new and old Archons; however this item is only able to be activated by The Primarch, or elder Archons bound to their own pseudo Catalyst. While this eldritch item proves powerful, it can be broken with overpowering strength, but not destroyed forever - should it be shattered, the item would simply dissipate and become unreality, being able to return to the world within a few days (IRL). During the time the catalyst is gone, all Archons are subject to temporary PK, being unable to pay their characters for a week IRL, should they die while the device is remaking itself; on top of that, the Archons will feel their power weakening - and feel themselves lose their power - being unable to call upon their augmentations, and even causing their arcane form to be harmed by the mundane.

Points:

• The Catalyst is the device that helps in making Archons as well as removing them.
• Should the catalyst be destroyed, it will take three days to recreate itself and return to the Primarch; during this time, Archons will feel that they are no longer able to use their special abilities besides going into their Arcane form - even then, they will be harmed by mundane weaponry much like a normal person; should they die while the item is being recreated, they will be unable to play their character for a week due the item being what safely guides their mana into reality.

The Primarch

It goes by many names; it is the progenitor, the alpha and omega of all archons to come. This title refers to an the first born of the void’s power - the first Archon to ever be chosen by the Catalyst, or did the Primarch make the item? It is unknown. When a Primarch is dubbed, they are given the ability to make Archons, remove Archons, and are able to bind the catalyst to their person, able to bring it to and from reality; because of this intimate relation between catalyst and Primarch, the first dubbed can, if he or she so chooses, to create pseudo catalyst and bestow them upon his or her elders. With such in mind, this also means the Primarch, being so closely intimate to the catalyst they own and make, would be able to sense what was crafted from them - knowing the kin they created with general ease, lest they wish to obscure their existence via powerful illusions. This feat of scrying power only works with the catalyst in hand, and only if the Archon they seek is within city range - even then, this ability will not allow them to pinpoint the location, rather give them the knowledge of how many Archons are present, or if the Archon they seek is present.

Should the Primarch be removed, the Catalyst will seek out a new Primarch, specifically the oldest Elder.

Points:

• The Primarch is the first Archon.
• They gain no advantage besides having all knowledge of the catalyst, how to make mock versions of one, bringing it in and out of existence, making, and disconnecting Archons.
• By using their catalyst, they can scry the area about them, able to find if an Archon is within the area.

Due to the sheer power of the Primarch, it will take multiple Elder Archons with the ability to disconnect to remove them from Primarch Status, and further out of Archon status.

Pseudo Catalysts:

These are created by the Primarch by using the first Catalyst. With these, he is able to bind them to prospective elder Archons and give them the ability to make elders. Once bound, the elder can conjure them at well, but should it be destroyed, it will take five days to reforge and remanifest; the elder Archon will be unable to go into their arcane form, and will lose their augmentative abilities, should they die, the Archon will be unable to play their character for a week and a half.

Points:

• The Primarch makes lesser catalyst for his chosen elders.
• They generally function the same as the original catalyst.

Should one be destroyed, the Archon will lose the ability to use their transcendent abilities for five days IRL and should they die within the three days it takes to remanifest, the Archon will manifest within a week and a half.

Weaknesses

Please note: The following information is scarcely known. Do not metagame to know this information unless directly informed in-character.

• Affected and can be harmed by fi magic in both normal and transcendent form.
• Weak to alteration in both forms. Enchanted items hitting an Archon is akin to hitting a normal person with an object. If an echanted desk was to hit them, they'd be thrown back, if a sword was to cut them, they would be cut. Wards, should one understand what the Archon is and how they function, will stun them in their coil, and weaken their abilities/disorient the Archon in their transcendent form.
• Weak to gold (albeit minor) and thanhic alloy in Transcendent form.
• Weak to Thanhium
• Thanhic Alloy can cut through them easily, if they are in transcendent form, without armor.
• Thanhium: It takes half of what kills a mage to kill a coiled Archon.

Mechanics

Archons receive the Spectre underlying race.

Redlines

• A Transcendent is not invulnerable in spectral form, they are easily affected by gold, fi magic, and wards with normal means affecting them to a limited extent.
• Fi magic, when used against an Archon's spell casting will effect them in both forms. In Coil, it will feel more like a stinging sensation. In the Archon form, the pain will be intensified.
• They still lose all memory of events leading up to death.
• A Transcendent can only be made by an elder, and to be made an elder you must be crowned. Not all elders are aware of the way to make another an elder.
• A player must follow the behaviors of being a Transcendent.
• The effects of transforming between forms must be followed, and through no means can they be nulled.
• Although the spectral form is spectral, you can’t phase through walls.

References

• Official Lore
• Clarification Lore - Also on the Official Lore Page