The Archer Empire.
Far beyond the reaches of Relic Lore lies the land of Torbine - a peninsula which is well-guarded by both a high mountain range (often called "the Gate" or "the Wall") and a body of treacherous water - the home to a singular, large pack of white-furred and fair-pelted wolves called 'The Empire.' Though various bands of wolf gypsies, rogues, and nomads (after seeking permission) reside among the wolves of Torbine, the Empire made it very clear that they are the only one to lay claim on the land - and they have been very adamant and successful in keeping it all. Made up of a variety of members - hunters, sentries and scouts who spend more of their time wondering the lands, and the central-dwelling (within 'The Heart' of the land) medics, priestess, teachers and the Royal Court - the Empire has forged themselves to be a bloodline to reckon with. Though superstitious, vain, selfish, ambitious, and wholly traditional in their ways, for years the pack thrived and survived.
The first Archer to take and secure the throne was Romanov Archer. Together with his mate Lilith Cirillo, they constructed and birthed a dynasty that still stands to this very day. However, the Archers' reign would be as peaceful or as orderly as it had been in the dynasties before them. The day Roman Archer, a well-loved son of the Archer family, took up a near solid black-coated female - Sansa Auguste - as his mate was the very beginning of The Revolution, when old traditions were challenged and threatened to be put to rest for the sake of love.
Torbine tradition stated that prominent and outstanding males were to only take the lightest coated females for mates and breeding. Sansa, with her stark midnight coat, was said to possess a dark, immoral, or sinful soul just by the color of her fur. Though many loved Roman, not even their reasoning and faith could overrule the protocols set in place; the Elders, Shamans, and Priests even went against Roman in order to prove their loyalty and take a stand against treason towards the King. Regardless, fortune favored them as they ascended to the head of the Empire and the Old Rule of favoring aesthetics towards light-coated wolves and mate selection was abolished.
In March of 2008, Roman and Sansa welcomed their first litter of five cubs - Hextor, Hexxus, Deacon, Elettra, and Asher. However, Asher, the youngest and weakest of his litter, would not survive to see his yearling days. Blinded by his jealousy and ego, he conspired against his sister Elettra and, in an attempt to kill her, died at her jaws instead. At the age of three, Elettra set off on a journey away from Torbine, eventually finding herself recruited into Grizzly Hollow and, later, the matriarch of Willow Ridge.
Elettra's brothers, the twins Hextor and Hexxus, on the other hand, were regal and handsome, choice guardians to Roman's legacy, until their younger brother Deacon obtained the title as King of Torbine and the Empire in early 2013. With his mate, Celestial, they ruled in peace for sometime until The Rebellion struck the Empire in the winter of 2013. Now-rebellious elders, who still believed that the Old Rule should be used to cast out the sinners and bring purity back within the heart of Torbine, gathered their followers and made an attempt to turn the Empire 'right side up.' Hextor was killed; and, Hexxus, who had been directed to lead the group facing off The Rebellion, blamed himself for his twin's death, believing he had mot made it in time to save him. It was by luck, however, that Hextor was survived by his bastard children; though all four litters had been borne between three different women, all of them, even without titles among the Empire's royalty, are recognized as Archers by name. The Rebellion, a poor attempt of a white vs. black kind of battle, was crushed with the Empire prevailing over those who sought their downfall.
Today, the Archers' have made their mark within Relic Lore through one of their reigning princesses, now a self-made Queen, reigning Leader and prominent matriarch, Elettra. Joined by other members from the Archer empire within Torbine - Xetor, Adele, Nicolo, and Sorya - and flanked by her children - Asriel, Skoll, Morganna, Deacon, Castiel, and Greer - it would seem that Elettra's line is here to stay...
Notable Facts
- The family motto is "Sola bona quae honesta." which translates to "Those things only are good which are honest."
- The Archer family is known to have large litters of pups, containing mostly males which average in medium to large physiques.
- In their immediate family, coat colors range from medium to dark gray, splotches of black, and lighter shades of grays, to even a solid black. Timber wolves and solid white come as a rarity, if any at all through recessive genes or members who have 'married into' the family.
- Archers are often distinguishable by their pale eyes which come in a variety of natural tints and starkly contrast with their darker coats.
- By nature, most Archers seem to adopt a Lawful Neutral personality, though other alignment variations are common as well (Neutral, Chaotic Neutral, Lawful Good, Neutral Good).
- "Twins" - litters which have two identical/similarly colored cubs - run in the family.
- Archers, by primal definition, have strong moral values and an undeniable, innate sense of loyalty and duty to serve their family and honor their ancestors.
- The Archers, in 2014, forged bonds with another Relic Lore family - the Lyalls - through Elettra's kinship with Angier Lyall.
- Most Archers, most especially those who hail from Torbine, believe in deities called the Old Gods - those of the earth, the sea, the sun, the moon, and the like. Though Angier was brought up with a different outlook on religion and religious beliefs, he upholds and has conformed to Elettra's spirituality in believing in the Old Gods so that his own children, Archers by blood, will be blessed and guided by them.
