Archon

Archons is a creature type describing mystical celestial beings that are heavily aligned with the principles of White, have obscured faces, and always appear on a flying steed. On some planes, rider and mount are a single being.
==Description==
Archon is a Greek word that means "ruler", "magistrate" or "lord". Fitting this, some archons warp the game by imposing a significant restriction, most famously <c>Blazing Archon</c>.
Archons symbolize White's harsher aspects like its moral rigidity and ferocious retribution, while angels have a more varied role, generally leaning towards compassion and mercy. Archons are often mirror-images of the black Specters, hooded beings that also ride flying mounts. A notable exception, Modern Horizons 2 introduced the mono-black <c>Archon of Cruelty</c>.
==Storyline==
===Arcavios===
Archons of Arcavios are similar to those from other planes, except having giant owls as their mounts.
===Eldraine===
Archons on Eldraine ride winged stags with glowing antlers and gleaming eyes. Despite this appearance, the rider and mount are a single creature that can't be separated. Though they understand speech, they are unable to speak.
The archons of Eldraine are enigmatic beings who fly over the perimeter where the realm meets the wilds.James Wyatt et al. (2023). "D&D Monstrous Compendium: Vol. 4: Eldraine Creatures". Wizards of the Coast. The sight of an archon overhead is a clear signal that one is entering the wilds. Tales say that archons are ascended spirits of paladins fused with the spirits of their steeds, returned from the celestial realms to watch over the boundary of the Wilds and protect those who dare to cross it. Occasionally, knights attempt to expand the borders of the Realm by driving archons deeper into the Wilds. Such efforts are futile; not only are archons difficult to kill, but they don’t create the boundaries, merely mark them.
During the Wildered Quest, an archon watched the Kenrith twins from the trees and protected them from redcaps. After New Phyrexia's Invasion of Eldraine, an archon guarded a rose that would heal the Redtooth elves of the Curse of the Werefox.
===Fiora===
<c>Archon of Coronation</c> comes from Fiora; its stance on the local political drama is unknown. It rides an eagle.
===Shadowmoor===
Archons manifested on Shadowmoor, among them the <c>Archon of Justice</c>, who manifested as a reaction to the darkening of the plane to defend their associated concept. They ride winged stags.
===Ravnica===
On Ravnica, Archons seem to be closely aligned to the Azorius Senate, who embody the law on the plane, as opposed to the angels that are leaders of the Boros Legion or within the Orzhov Syndicate; guildless Archons are featured in the first block, but currently they are mostly found within the Azorius. Their presence is strong enough that people willingly submit to them and cease fighting. They ride lions and felidars. Though rider and mount are metaphysically linked and bonded, they are separate beings.
After the New Phyrexia's Invasion of the Multiverse, the archon Ezrim formed a detective agency, leaving the Azorius with several followers. His mount is never out of arm's reach, and may not be capable of being so.
===Theros===
In ancient times, the archons of Theros held a massive empire, tyrannizing the world in the belief that they were imposing strict justice. This was known as the Age of Trax, beginning when the Archons marched from the north and ending with the fall of their empires. The most notable of these Archon tyrants was Agnomakhos, who used the leonin as an army. Eventually, the Archon empires fell, being instead replaced by the poleis, and the remaining Archons now lash at these, slighting the "honor" they feel was stripped from them. These archons are gendered. They stand apart from the gods of the plane, serving a force they deem higher. Theran Archons ride a large variety of mounts, including winged lions and winged oxen.
During their rule, the archons of Theros held some animosity towards the giants. Agnomakhos' actions were justified with the war against the giants, while the were the result of archons using magic to twist giants into forms that would make them more monuments.
====Archon of Falling Stars====
The text, known as The Cosmogony, details the battle of an archon and the champions of the gods. Heliod took pity on the archon and gave it a spear almost as radiant as his own in exchange for the rule of law in the world's wildest places.
====Ashen Riders====
Some of the despondent archons took refuge in the Underworld, and their minds, bodies, and spirits were subsequently twisted, turning them into especially monstrous variants who delight in culling mortals.
====Archon Steeds====
Evil creatures, typically bulls or lions, which may or may not be an extension of their rider's will.
===Zendikar===
The Archons of Zendikar are subordinated to its Archangels and act as their enforcers. Archons and their steeds are the same beings, sharing the same mind and will.Plane Shift - Zendikar Most Zendikari archons ride winged lions.
==Notable Archons==
;Ravnica
*Ezrim
;Theros
*Agnomakhos
;Uknown plane
*Krond
==Trivia==
*The black <c>Cabal Archon</c> is a Human Cleric, not an Archon, using the standard definition of the title.
==Gallery==
File:Archon of Redemption.jpg|Zendikar: <c>Archon of Redemption</c>. Art by Steven Belledin.
File:Archon of Emeria.jpg|Zendikar: <c>Archon of Emeria</c>
File:Archon of Justice.jpg|Lorwyn–Shadowmoor: <c>Archon of Justice</c>. Art by Jason Chan.
File:Archon.jpg|Kylem: <c>Archon of Valor's Reach</c>.
File:Archon of Absolution.jpg|Eldraine: <c>Archon of Absolution</c>.
File:Blazing Archon.png|Ravnica: <c>Blazing Archon</c>.
File:Archon of the Triumvirate .jpg|Ravnica: <c>Archon of the Triumvirate</c>, Azorius Senate archon.
File:Silent Sentinel Archon.jpg|Theros: <c>Silent Sentinel</c>.
File:Archon of Falling Stars.jpg|Theros: <c>Archon of Falling Stars</c>.
File:Ornitharch.jpg|Theros: <c>Ornitharch</c>.
File:Archon of Sun's Grace.jpg|Theros: <c>Archon of Sun's Grace</c>.
File:Celestial Archon.jpg|Nyxborn archon: <c>Celestial Archon</c>.
File:Archon of Coronation.jpg|Fiora: <c>Archon of Coronation</c>.
File:Archon of Cruelty.jpg|<c>Archon of Cruelty</c> a black archon from Meditation Plane.
File:ArchonConcept.jpg|Azorius Archon mount concept by Aleksi Briclot used for <c>Archon of the Triumvirate</c>.
==References==