Archon

Archons are celestials tasked with protecting the Golden Spires. They take on many appearances, but all have a soul born from the Soul Forges.

Back to the Source

Celestials are created from a single source of energy, the Source.

Soul Forges can churn out nascent souls, which quickly take on the shape and appearance of a celestial. When a celestial, such as an archon, is destroyed, the soul returns to and merges with the Source. In rare cases the soul can be extracted again and given the same form, but in most cases their former being and existence is destroyed upon reuniting with the Source.

Created Complete

Because archons are created at a Soul Forge, they come into existence as fully formed adults. The Soul Forges bestow them with the basic knowledge and skills they need.

The Call of the Source

Archons are technically immortal, and their bodies do not age.

However, they constantly feel a slight pull toward the Source, as their soul wishes to be reunited with it. Over time the call of the Source gets stronger and stronger, until the archon is no longer able to resist it. When this happens, the archon dies and their soul returns to the Source.

Archons leave a body behind when they die, but it does not rot or decay.

Archon Names

An archon’s full name is composed of a unique name and a title. They don’t have last names, and their title is granted either at creation or upon completing a noteworthy task.

Example Names: Azriel the Angel of the Void, Melaphanta the Echoing Call, Tecton the Unyielding.

Archon Traits

You gain the following abilities as an archon.

• Ability Score Increase. You gain a +2 and +1 bonus to two different ability scores of your choice, or +1 to three different ones.
• Age. Archons are created as adults and can live for hundreds of years. The call of the Source gets stronger over time, and most archons return to it within 600 years, but some resist for longer.
• Size. Your size is Medium.
• Speed. Your base walking speed is 30 feet.
• Divine Resistance (Minor Feature). You have resistance to radiant damage.
• Dual Type. You have two creature types: humanoid and celestial. You can be affected by an effect if it works on either of your creature types.
• Voice of the Divines (Major Feature). The Source contains information on every language. You can temporarily tap into this font of knowledge to gain the ability to speak and understand all languages for 1 hour. You can’t use this ability again until you finish a short or long rest.
• Languages. You can speak, read, and write Common and Celestial.

Celestial Form

Archons take one of three common forms, each with their own unique abilities. Choose one of the following forms.

Hound

Hound archons have the body of a humanoid and the head of a dog or wolf. They can appear with any kind of dog head, from Doberman to dachshund.

• Keen Senses (Minor Feature). You gain proficiency with the Perception skill.
• Divine Weapon (Transformation; Major Feature). You gain proficiency with one weapon of your choice, tied to the deity you serve or the Soul Forge you were created from. As a bonus action, you can imbue a weapon you hold with divine energy for 1 minute, or until you end it as a bonus action. This weapon is considered magical for the duration. Once on each of your turns, you can deal extra radiant damage to one target when you deal damage to it with an attack or spell. The extra radiant damage equals your level. Once you use this trait, you can’t use it again until you finish a long rest.

Void Star Archons

In rare cases, a star archon can become a void archon.

When this happens, their resistance to radiant damage becomes resistance to necrotic damage, their solar flare sheds no light and instead deals necrotic damage, and they lose the Shine On ability, instead gaining the mage hand cantrip.

Guardian

Guardian archons have bodies shaped like armor. Their skin looks and feels like metal, but they can move freely.

• Divine Retribution (Transformation; Major Feature). As an action, you can channel divine power into your armor for 1 minute, or until you end it as a bonus action. During this time, you shed bright light in a 10-foot radius and dim light for an additional 10 feet. When you are hit by an attack or spell that deals damage, you can use your reaction to reduce the damage of the attack by half. In addition, once per turn, any creature that hits you with a melee attack while within 10 feet of you takes radiant damage equal to half of your level (rounded up). Once you use this trait, you can’t use it again until you finish a long rest.
• Natural Armor (Minor Feature). Your body is shaped like a suit of armor. When you aren’t wearing armor, your AC is 13 + your Dexterity modifier. You can use your natural armor to determine your AC if the armor you wear would leave you with a lower AC. A shield’s benefits apply as normal while you use your natural armor.

Star

Star archons have a humanoid body but no head. Instead, they have a floating orb where their head would be, which glows with bright color. They can change the brightness of their head, and the color sometimes changes with their emotions. It’s not bright enough to change the ambient light of an area.

Star archons can have heads in a variety of shapes. Some may have a multipointed star and others a series of spinning rings, though they all keep a roughly circular or spherical appearance.

• Solar Flare (Transformation; Major Feature). As an action, you can unleash the solar energy inside you and shine like a star for 1 minute, or until you end it as a bonus action. During this time, you shed bright light in a 10-foot radius and dim light for an additional 10 feet. You have a flying speed of 30 feet, and at the end of each of your turns, each creature within 10 feet of you takes radiant damage equal to half your level (rounded up). Once you use this trait, you can’t use it again until you finish a long rest.
• Shine On (Minor Feature). You know the light cantrip.