PPS: If you're going to make the PCs work, there are few better ways to inspire them to follow a plot like this than to have, say, a Justicar step up and say "Excellent. I need this done, and you will do it for me".

This makes the PCs question their previous loyalties, and provides multiple incentives to go along. First, they get a powerful protector if they can jockey themselves into a full-time Archon gig, and have to prove themselves in order to get it. Second, they've got a strong incentive to KEEP the newfound respect and authority they've been handed. Third, if they fuck up, he knows where they live.

I always find that fun, myself.