Editing Archon (section)

==Celestial Archons==
[[File:Celestial Archons.jpg|300px|thumb|right|Three Celestial Archons, clockwise from top left: a Lantern Archon, a Hound Archon and a Trumpet Archon.]]
The most commonly known type of Archon, the Celestial Archons live mostly in the [[Celestia|Seven Mounting Heavens of Celestia]]. They form a hierarchy of virtue: the less enlightened stand under the guidance of the more enlightened. This goes all the way from the simple Lantern archons (glowing balls of light about a foot across who try to inspire others to live in virtue and do good) all the way to the Celestial Hebdomad, the council of seven archangels who lord over the people of Celestia. While the hierarchy mirrors the ranks of the [[Baatezu]] in [[Baator|hell]], the Archons have no rivalry between themselves: an archon strives to promote Law, Good, and justice rather than their own advancement; if an act would further these goals but result in someone else being promoted rather than oneself, so be it (although this will be noted when a superior analyzes that archon's evaluation).

While the [[Guardinal]]s are infamously known as the "furry celestials", it bears noting that a good number of archons are (or were) also humanoid animals .

In [[Advanced Dungeons & Dragons]], the list of Celestial Archons consisted of the following:
* Lantern: Floating balls of light who represent the lowest of the Archon ranks, driven by the need to do good and ultimately earn promotion to the next stage.
* Hound: Humanoid canines who are the primary guardians and warriors of the lowest layers of Celestia.
* Warden: Humanoid bears who guard the portals that lead between the different layers of Celestia, preventing their abuse by others.
* Sword: Originally winged humanoid cats, later redesigned in Planescape as humans with wings ''instead'' of arms, then redesigned again in 3e as angels with swords for hands. These archons are the messengers of Celestia, carrying missives between the different realms of that plane.
* Trumpet: Resembling [[avariel]]s or [[Aasimon|planetar]]s carrying enchanted trumpets, these archons not only serve alongside Sword Archons, but are also responsible for escorting the souls of the dead who have been subjected to Raise Dead or Resurrection back to their bodies.
* Throne: Resembling armor-clad humans, these are the rulers of most of the cities scattered across Celestia.
* Tome: These are the [[archangel]]s of Celestia; there are only seven Tome Archons, with each responsible for one of Celestia's seven layers. Originally having the heads of vultures, since 3e each of the seven has since been fleshed out further and now has a unique appearance.

In [[Dungeons & Dragons 3rd Edition]], the [[Monster Manual]] initially brought back only the Lantern, Hound and Trumpet archons. The Lantern was perhaps the most noteworthy, as it could be summoned or used as a familiar or companion more readily than the others and had quite overpowered spell-likes when it was.  The [[Book of Exalted Deeds]] would bring back the Sword, Warden and Throne Archon, as well as replacing the original Tome Archons with the '''[[Celestial Hebdomand]]''', made up of Barachiel, the Messenger, Domiel, the Mercy-Bringer, Erathaol, the Seer, Pistis Sophia, the Ascetic, Raziel, the Crusader, Sealtiel, the Defender, and Zaphkiel, the Watcher. It also added the first of several new archons in the form of the Owl Archon. Later additions to the family would consist of the Hammer Archon ([[Races of Stone]]), Word Archon ([[Tome of Magic]]), Sibyllic Guardian (Complete Psionic) and Justice Archon ([[Monster Manual]] IV).
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<gallery>
Hammer Archon.jpg |Hammer Archon
hound archon B1.png|Hound Archon
Justice Archon.jpg |Justice Archon
lantern archon B1.png|Lantern Archon
Owl Archon.jpg |Owl Archon
Sword Archon.jpg |Sword Archon
Throne Archon.jpg |Throne Archon
trumpet archon B1.png|Trumpet Archon
Warden Archon.jpg |Warden Archon
Word Archon.jpg |Word Archon
</gallery></center>