Arch-vile

Arch-viles are ancient, powerful demons, feared by lesser demons for their great intellect and psychomancy.

Biology
Arch-viles are tall, lanky, grotesque humanoids, with a skeletal, skinless abdomen. The rest of their bodies sport peach skin. They are capable of resurrecting the corpses of slain lower-ranking demons. However, another breed of Arch-viles has no exposed skeletal abdomen, tumor-filled hands, and off-white skin, and rather than resurrect demons, these Arch-viles are summoners, capable of summoning new demons to their aid. Another breed of summoner Arch-viles sport visible spiked armor over their bodies, most notably on their torsos, head, and shoulders, giving them a more alien visage while appearing less emaciated, although their armor still bears a skeletal appearance. Armored Arch-viles are also taller than other Arch-vile breeds, able to teleport, and the demons they summon are empowered with greater strength and speed than their ordinary brethren. All Arch-viles are able to summon a powerful column of flame that they can shoot at opponents, although armored Arch-viles are also able to summon a shield in front of their bodies as they summon demons. If faltered while still in the process of summoning, the half-formed summoned demons violently combust. Armored Arch-Viles are also capable of teleporting, vanishing in a flash of orange light, with a trail of said light quickly flying to the spot they will appear in, possibly a visible manifestation of their bodies converting into energy and being transported across space. As such, their teleportation is not instantaneous. All Arch-viles are also known to be considerably durable, and very intelligent, far more intelligent than most demons, allowing them to rule over the lesser and more savage demonic hordes through both intimidation and their ability to psychically bend the minds of lesser demons to their will. They are descended from the most ancient line of demons, with at least some part of their bodies or abilities being artificially forged and cultivated through pure hellfire. This can be seen in the innards of the armored summoner Arch-viles, which appear to be made of flames or magma, like a Fireborne Baron.

History
Arch-viles, through generations of being forged from hellfire descended from the most ancient race of demons, held a place in the ruling caste of demon lords, bending the minds of the weaker demons to form legions loyal to them, holding the rank of infernal high priests. Throughout an unknown period of time, two distinct classes of Arch-viles arose: Those who could resurrect demons, and those who could summon demons. During the Icon of Sin's invasion of Earth, resurrector Arch-viles were present on Earth, and were used to guard a spaceport that held control units preventing Human escape ships from leaving the surface. The Arch-viles and other demons were killed by a lone marine, who deactivated the control units and allowed the Human ships to take off into space, escaping the demonic hordes. More Arch-viles were fought and killed by the marine as he blasted his way into Hell, eventually killing the Icon of Sin, sealing surviving Arch-viles away in Hell, although the resurrecting breed of Arch-viles was not seen again. Years later, in what appears to be a different universe, a breed of summoner Arch-viles, resembling the resurrectors but with no skeletal body parts, was part of an invasion force that assaulted a UAC Mars base, brought over by a cultist known as Dr. Betruger. An unnamed UAC marine killed them on his way to Hell, killing the commanding Cyberdemon and ending the invasion. Further in the future, in what appears to be the same universe, a race of armored summoner Arch-viles were among the demonic hordes that were fought by the Doom Slayer, who was in truth the same marine that had fought the resurrector Arch-viles all those years ago, now an immortal superhuman being who had fought demons across time and space. The armored Arch-viles began attacking him in the ruins of Taras Nabad, the former capital city of Argent D'Nur, continuing to fight the Slayer at certain points in his journey, and were later seen on Earth, coming to the aid of the resurrected Icon of Sin. However, all Arch-viles who fought the Slayer fell under his relentless offense, and after the Icon was killed again, this time by the Slayer's Crucible, all Arch-viles remaining on Earth were gradually killed or banished. Later, the Slayer utilized ARC resources to acquire the Life Sphere of the Dark Lord, killing more Arch-viles along the way. After reviving the Dark Lord, the Slayer ventured to Immora, killing Arch-viles that stood in his way. Any Arch-vile outside of Hell was destroyed when the Dark Lord was killed.

Appearances

 * Doom II (1994)
 * Doom 3 (2004)
 * Doom Eternal (2020)
 * Doom Eternal: The Ancient Gods Part 1 (2020)
 * Doom Eternal: The Ancient Gods Part 2 (2021)