Archons

Name	Archon
Classification	Mortal
Age Expectancy	???
Average Height	Any
Average Weight	Any
Body	Varies (See Below)
Spirit	Varies (See Below)
Soul	Varies (See Below)
Preferred Weapons	Any
Owner	Isabel (Formerly David)

Overview

Archons are among the most unusual races in Epic, because they can neither be created naturally nor does reproducing pass on their traits.

The most important factor in the definition of an archon is simply the presence of more than one soul in a single body. Complications arise from the conflicting influence of both, leading to psychological instability. In a newly created archon, although one soul is always more dominant than the other, there is a near constant struggle over control of the body. Such archons are considered "Imperfect", and can only achieve a semblance of stability when one soul pacifies the other, or both souls essentially merge together to make a single consciousness. Achieving either of these is extremely difficult, and can only be accomplished through time, struggle, and patience.

Infernal archons are usually the result of someone making a pact with a devil, either as an attempt to gain power, or as payment for a debt the involved devil feels they owe. Whether the pact-maker is willing or not, the resulting archon is usually highly violent and cruel in nature, and the original soul of the body's owner is often corrupted by the devil soul's influence. There are a few rare cases of infernal archons fighting off said corruption, but it almost always comes with a hefty price.

Divine archons are the angelic equivalent to infernal archons. Unlike their dark counterparts, however, divine archons can only be the result of an intentional contract with an angel, either gained by attracting one's attention through heroic acts, or desire to repent. Divine archons tend to be righteous and kind, but may come off as detached, unnatural, and all around inhuman. Also, the presence of a foreign soul still causes psychological and physical damage, just as it would for any other archon type.

Most non-infernal/-divine archons are unwilling victims to extremely dangerous magical experiments, as the act of trying to make one frequently ends in the death of one or more of the subjects involved. Due to the complicated nature of the rituals involved, making one takes creativity and, most importantly, a very large number of resources. Additionally, archon creation is highly illegal in most societies, and anyone found guilty is subject to the same punishments that apply to other forbidden enchantments.

When an archon is created through any means, some of the spirit from the transferred soul's body needs to be carried to the host body to allow it to graft. This is the primary reason for the mutations that happen to the completed archon.

Appearance

Archons are a very diverse "race." The host body forms the base of their appearance, but it frequently takes on features of the grafted soul in the form of mutations, for better or for worse. Archons created through enchantment will also frequently possess runic scars left over from the ritual that created them. Otherwise, there's little else that separate them from their natural base race, and can only be identified magically or through their unusual behavior.

Archons can be detected with either Enchantment II or Arcane II knowledge or higher.

Racial Passives

Imperfect Archon (Racial Passive): You're a bastardization of life. High five, bro!
Positives: Having the Awakening Kickback Berserk gives an extra two points when used. Varies with Mutation.
Negatives: You have a 10% chance of being inflicted with berserk at the start of every battle until you've achieved your evolution. You are affected by Racial Modifiers that target your original and second soul's races. Varies with Mutation.
Neutral: As a result of the knowledge accrued by the second soul, archons have +10 in one skill of their choice, but -10 in another. All archons must take an additional Mutation Passive.

Mutation Passives

All archons must choose one Mutation Passive, which comes with both RP and system effects. These passives are listed below:

Gruesome Mutation (Mutation Passive): Becoming an archon has left you with some kind of horrific looking mutation, whether it be in the form of a terrible skin condition, skeletal deformity, or even an entirely new limb. Needless to say, whatever mutation you have, you're a bit creepy looking, and can't do all that much to hide it. Fortunately, such dramatic mutations are usually the result of an abundance of magical energy, and frequently come with power to back them up.
Positives: You have a 25% chance of starting a battle with one charge. +10 to a Magic skill (If they're added).
Negatives: -20 Charisma. Status Augments have a 5% lower chance of succeeding on you.

Badass Mutation (Mutation Passive): You got lucky, in a way. Adding an extra soul to your body only made you look more badass, in some way or another. You could have wound up with a cool looking set of pointy teeth, maybe you glow a bit in the dark, or maybe your body just got a little more attractive. Whatever it is, now that you have it, you're considered more interesting for it. Unfortunately, chances are, you only look so good because your mind took a worse hit from it's second soul instead. Attractive archons are unstable archons, even compared to the race's usual standards.
Positives: +10 Charisma. +10 to a random battle stat at start of battle (Lasts only for the duration of the battle).
Negatives: +10% to the base archon berserk chance. You're 5% more susceptible to the Confuse, Delay, Soul Crush, Pansy, Berserk, and Charm ailments. At 2, 3, and 4 Overload, roll an extra die when selecting the tier. For 2, 1 is Tier 1 and 2 to 3 is Tier 2. For 3, 1 is Tier 1, 2 is Tier 2, and 3 to 4 is Tier 3. For 4, 1 is Tier 2 and 2 to 3 is Tier 3.

Debilitating Mutation (Mutation Passive): Becoming an archon really sucked. Not only are you constantly fighting for control over your own body, but said body is also now taking a pretty major strain from whatever mutation you got. Your physical changes probably aren't all that noticable to onlookers, but they make you feel sick or weak for some reason or another. Mentally, however, you seem to have more of a grip on yourself than most archons, making you more stable and giving you a chance to ascend into Perfect archon status sooner.
Positives: -5% to base archon berserk chance. Can upgrade archon passive at level 15 at the cost of 10 extra paragraphs. At 2, 3, and 4 Overload, roll an extra die when selecting the tier. For 2, 1 to 2 is Tier 1 and 3 is Tier 2. For 3, 1 to 2 is Tier 1, 3 is Tier 2, and 4 is Tier 3. For 4, 1 to 2 is Tier 2 and 3 is Tier 3.
Negatives: Your mutation may act up occasionally, giving you a 20% chance of a tier 1 status ailment at the start of battle.

Cursed Mutation (Mutation Passive): Congratulations, your body never took much of a hit from becoming an archon! Instead, you got hit with severe magical backlash. As a cursed archon, you look relatively normal compared to your other archon counterparts, but suffer from some kind supernatural problem as a side effect of your creation ritual. Perhaps you now have an unshakable thirst for blood, can't make eye contact with people, or just have a desperate need to collect creepy porcelain dolls. Whatever it may be, it gets in the way of functioning well in society, and tends to be rather noticeable for anyone who spends a significant amount of time around you. Fortunately, the constant magical energy flowing through your body can also be directed toward others, particularly other supernatural races.
Positives: Deal 5 extra damage PLM to supernatural races (Undead, Forsaken, Angels, Devils, and other Archons). Have a 5% bonus to Tier 1 and 2 status effect chances.
Negatives: Must take an impulse on their awakening, and get 1 less point from whatever impulse taken.

Infernal Mutation (Mutation Passive): Your second soul is that of a devil, and it shows. You've picked up one or more physical traits easily associated with infernal creatures, and people will quickly judge you accordingly. Due to the destructive nature of your second soul, you're more violent and less friendly toward others, even if you like them.
Positives: +Language: Devil. Can use Infernal Runes. +5% to affinity advantages.
Negatives: You don't receive positive affection bonuses. You don't receive synergy bonuses.

Divine Mutation (Mutation Passive): Your second soul is that of an angel, and it shows. You've picked up one or more physical traits easily associated with divine creatures, and people will quickly judge you accordingly. Due to the creative, but supernatural nature of your second soul, you're generally more generous and peaceful around others, but also have an unsettling detached, if not even borderline emotionless nature when your two souls are stable.
Positives: +Language: Angelic. Can use Angelic Runes. +5% to all affinity synergy.
Negatives: Automatically start with the Distant trait with no point bonus. May not take an impulse on your awakening.

Racial Evolution

At level 20, you may go on a 50 paragraph quest to gain the Perfect Archon evolution passive. This stacks with all of your other passives, keeping all of their positives and negatives, with the exception of the Imperfect Archon berserk chance, which is removed.

Perfect Archon (Racial Evolution Passive): By some means or another, you've finally managed to get a semblance of control over your opposing souls. Not only do you have less severely debilitating psychological issues to deal with now that you've managed to do so, but you're also able to tap into more of the power your second soul and enchanted body contain. All and all, you're pretty much just awesome.
Positives: Berserk chance removed. All tech elements related to AoE and range cost 1 less (Cost cannot go below 1). +1 Awakening point if you have an impulse.

Body, Spirit, and Soul

The Body, Spirit, and Soul of an Archon varies depending on its mutation:

• Archons (Gruesome):
  • Body - Corrupt
  • Spirit - Enhanced
  • Soul - Normal (Multiple)

• Archons (Badass):
  • Body - Enhanced
  • Spirit - Corrupt
  • Soul - Corrupt (Multiple)

• Archons (Debilitating):
  • Body - Corrupt
  • Spirit - Normal
  • Soul - Normal (Multiple)

• Archons (Cursed):
  • Body - Normal
  • Spirit - Corrupt
  • Soul - Normal (Multiple)

• Archons (Divine):
  • Body - Enhanced
  • Spirit - Normal
  • Soul - Enhanced (Multiple)

• Archons (Infernal):
  • Body - Corrupt
  • Spirit - Normal
  • Soul - Corrupt (Multiple)