Lore:Archein

Archein Elite

The Archeins are a tribe of Argonians that live in the province of Black Marsh. They are widely hated by their fellow Argonians because they are well-known kleptocrats, often embezzling money and power to themselves at the expense of their race. Some of these examples include selling other Argonians into slavery for the Dunmer or exploiting their land for foreign interest, such as the Empire. In the book, The Argonian Account written by Waughin Jarth, they are described as pompous and assimilated.

History

By the late First Era, the Archeins were an influential tribe that aided General Regulus Sardecus in his campaign during the Blackwater War. Along with the Shoss-kaleel, the Archeins formed an alliance with the Imperial Legion and the invasion force had nearly tripled. The General's decision to work with them had brought the war effort into the Second Empire's favor.

By the mid Second Era, the Archein tribes were employed by House Dres of southeast Morrowind and Thorn. Sometime in 2E 572, the Argonian slave Heita-Meen escaped with her fellow kin from Thorn to the wilderness in Thornmarsh where they were re-captured by an Archein patrol. They were taken to their village where its Hist showed Heita-Meen a vision, the Second Akaviri Invasion to the north and the death of many Dark Elves and Nords. As of 2E 582, they were known to be raiders and used pumice to sharpen their claws.

The Archeins eventually took her back to a now emptied Thorn, where she was set to be punished by her former slaver, Councilman Glathis Dres. In a turn of events, however, Heita-Meen killed the councilor and challenged the Archein Centurion for her position by right of combat. Not only was she victorious, but she now controlled the Archein Guard and advanced with them to Stormhold where she then recruited Walks-in-Ash and the Shellbacks. With this large force of Argonians, Heita-Meen led them to victory in the Second Akaviri Invasion, which later consolidated the formation of the Ebonheart Pact.

When Black Marsh was incorporated into the Third Empire, the coastal regions had Imperial governors and most of them started to use Archeins as their advisors. Meanwhile, Archeins were designated governors for rural Black Marsh, which still makes up most of the province. Archeins sometimes lived in plantations around cities such as Gideon, worked serfs to near-death, and had no qualms with selling young children from their mothers. It is currently unknown how the Archeins fared in the wake of the Oblivion Crisis, after the province seceded from the Empire or when it was taken over by the An-Xileel.

Gallery

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  Archein Guerrilla (Legends)

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  Archein Venomtongue (Legends)

See Also

• For game-specific information, see the Legends article.
• House Hlaalu, a kleptocratic clan of Dunmer

Books

• Freedom's Price — A tragic tale of forbidden love between a Dunmer slavemaster and her Argonian slave