The A.R.C.H.E.R.S. Association

Advanced Reconnaissance Concerning High-Evaluated-Risk Syndicates

A.R.C.H.E.R.S. is an independently initiated government subgroup under the Department of Defense founded for the purpose of researching, recovering, and responding to abnormal persons and collectives. Their main objective as an association is to monitor and manage supernatural and superhuman activity, especially regarding the public’s perception of subject phenomena.

First pitched by Jonathan Smoke to Congress under the moniker Project Arc, the association’s initial purpose was to study and take action against niche illegal groups such as sects, cults, and micro-terrorist units. Remnants of these responsibilities can still be seen in how the A.R.C.H.E.R.S. organization directly deals with fringe groups such as S.K.U.L.L., Nitro, and the Black Cross. Congress never greenlit Project Arc, however, for various reasons, leaving the concept shelved for several years.

A.R.C.H.E.R.S. Headquarters

When Jonathan Smoke met an talented amnesiac by the nickname Archer, his idea of establishing the association returned to him. Archer, the victim of an apparent mugging, had lost all memory due to a gunshot wound; his muscle memory remained intact, however, and he demonstrated incredible agility, weapons handling, and critical thinking abilities. With Archer as a bipartisan blank slate primed for the government’s molding, Smoke re-pitched the idea to Congress, getting his colleague Congressman Stephen Brown to help him greenlight the project. The events of the Battle of Wolfeboro helped strengthen Smoke’s case, and Congress granted the A.R.C.H.E.R.S. Association provisional rights soon after. The association’s early operation was contingent upon several terms, one being that an executive enforcement officer must remain by the director’s side throughout active duty. Army veteran Dustin Evo took on the role of first executive enforcement officer and was later succeeded by Special Forces veteran John Smoke Junior, codename Crossbow.

It didn’t take long for A.R.C.H.E.R.S. to earn its merit as Archer quickly repressed the S.K.U.L.L. and Nitro syndicates and grew the association into a modest but flourishing presence. The government increased funding after the continued Wolfeboro Incidents, and soon Archer was able to round out his personal team while maintaining a firm grip on the safety of the communities under his watch.

Prominent Members

The Archer

Director of the association since its inception, Archer has proved himself to be a resourceful and invaluable asset to the organization. While his free-spiritedness and aggressive tactics often put off other government groups and superiors, his cleverness and dedication to the cause has made him impossible to replace. His constantly masked appearance and primary use of the bow and arrow as weapons help him stand out, a mark of fear for villains, but an inspiration to his teammates.

Archer is singlehandedly responsible for the recruitment of Agent Anya Sylva, Operator “Psycho,” and Blind.

Crossbow

John Smoke Jr. served two tours in Iraq and one in Afghanistan. His father’s friend, Archer served as his biggest inspiration. When he returned home he joined A.R.C.H.E.R.S., fulfilling his father’s greatest wish. He swore to give everything to the association, and do his father proud by keeping the organization alive and thriving. He replaced Army veteran Dustin Evo as executive enforcement officer for the association. Archer personally trained John in advanced combat and how to deal with supernatural threats. He adopted the codename Crossbow.

Psycho

A discarded experimental failure from S.K.U.L.L., Eli began as nothing more than a promising lead for Archer to take down the criminal organization. Eli soon showed his true colors, though, as evidence of his prior enhancements revealed itself in the form of combat expertise and exemplary select memory. Eli was brought onto the team by Archer at the urging of Agent Anya Sylva, and has since undergone treatment for his seemingly incurable psychopathy (a leftover scar from S.K.U.L.L.’s tampering). Now a full-fledged member of the A.R.C.H.E.R.S. recovery group, Eli (under the guise of Psycho) does his best to help other heroes and maintain order while working alongside Archer to follow up on his personal vendetta against those who wounded him.

Agent Anya Sylva

Anya Margret Sylva started life in the throes of a radicalized alt-Right wing family of narcissists. Hated by every member of her ilk, she struggled through daily life until one of her brothers permanently injured her right eye in a chemical “accident.” She subsequently ran away from home, living on the streets of the City of Portsmouth until Archer took notice of her. Once she became a helpful pair of eyes on the street, Archer began gifting her more and more elaborate privileges, right up until he adopted her into the A.R.C.H.E.R.S. Association. Sylva’s experience with high-stress situation and surprisingly deep weapons knowledge suited her well as she embarked on the path to becoming Archer’s personal third-in-command.

Related Page: Archer / Crossbow / Psycho / Agent Sylva / S.K.U.L.L. / The Nitro Syndicate / The Black Cross / The Timeline