Nocturnus Clan (Archie)


 * This article is about the tribe of echidnas in the Archie Comics. For the tribe of echidnas in Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood, see Nocturnus Clan.

The Nocturnus Clan are an ancient group of technologically orientated echidnas who were banished to the Twilight Cage.

Ancient History
During the early centuries of Mobius, a group of Echidnas left Albion to create a colony and spread Echidna culture. Settling in Soumerca, they encountered the hostile native Felidae warriors, and most of the colonists chose to leave and settle elsewhere. Two castes remained behind to fight over the land, the warrior caste would come to be known as the Knuckles Clan, while the other group who were more advanced in science, became the Nocturnus Clan. Their leaders, Pachacamac of the Knuckles and Imperator Ix of the Nocturnus Clan, initially cooperated, but Pachacamac eventually chose to wage war against the Nocturnus Clan as well as with the Felidae. A three-way war then erupted between the three groups, with the Knuckles Clan focused on warfare while Ix and his clan continued to make great strides in their technological prowess. Their power grew to such a point where they could've easily crushed the Knuckles Clan with little effort, but the Nocturnus were mysteriously transported to the Twilight Cage during the Argus Event by unknown means before they could do so.

Creating an Empire
After being sealed in the Twilight Cage, the Nocturnus Clan ran afoul of four powerful alien races who were also imprisoned, namely the Zoah, the Kron, the Voxai, and the N'rrgal. Using their technology and skilled tactics to survive, the Nocturnus Clan launched brutal raids against the other creatures, earning them the nickname "The Marauders". Over time the Nocturnus Clan conquered the entire dimension and all the planetoids within. Some time later, the Dark Legion, another group of echidnas from the Second Downunda Colony, also arrived in the Twilight Cage. The Nocturnus Clan, however, stunned the Dark Legion due to their origin and inferior technology, and considered them not worthy of being conquered by them. The Dark legion were therefore spared and were allowed to live free of the Nocturnus Clan's attacks, but they did attack the Dark Legion whenever they raided the Nocturnus Clan's teleportation technology. After the Dark Legion escaped the Twilight Cage, Imperator Ix continued to research the power of the Twilight Cage in preparation for the clan's eventual escape and conquest of Mobius.

Technology
Being a scientist caste, the Nocturnus Clan are equipped with very advanced technology, including short-ranged teleporters, energy-draining weapons, advanced armor, as well as a line of highly adaptive and versatile robots known as the Gizoids. Their technology was powerful enough to the point where it allowed the clan to conquer the entire Twilight Cage.

Trivia

 * Archie Sonic Super Special Magazine Issue 2 explains how the Nocturnus Clan were banished to the same zone that the Dark Legion was eventually banished to.
 * Originally, the Nocturnus Clan was supposed to make its canon debut in the comics in Archie Sonic the Hedgehog Issue 191's backup story. The story was to take place in Archie canon (featuring Julie-Su, Mighty and Vector along with Knuckles, Shade and two Nocturnus Clan soldiers), but Sega changed plans after it was penciled and inked, requiring the story in its entirety to be re-done in the non-canon adaption that would later be printed in #191 taking place in an alternate reality. Writer Ian Flynn has stated that there is a small possibility the original story will be completed and officially printed, but whether this will happen remains to be seen.