Argenta

The Argenta are a warrior race native to Argent D'Nur, the first sapient descended from the Wraithcall of the Elemental Wraiths and the founders of the Night Sentinels.

Biology
Argenta are known to be nearly identical to Humans, at least outwardly, with the only visible distinctions being narrow facial features and somewhat angled eye placement. Their skin colors resemble Humans, known to vary between fair and somewhat darker shades. While most differences in physiology from Humans are unknown, they are known to have Human-like hearts and red blood. Argenta are mortal, visibly aging throughout an unspecified lifespan, but the use of Argent Energy is able to make them immortal. However, the three Deag Priests, takers of Argent Energy, gained visibly demonic appearances, becoming sickly thin, with grey skin, red eyes, and sharp, rotting teeth. It is unknown if these physiological alterations happened to all Argenta who took Argent Energy, or if it was caused by the priests' constant exposure to Hell. They have been described as able to use magic, granted to them by the Wraiths as possibly direct infusions of Sentinel Energy, although the full extent of these abilities are unknown. Deag Grav was seen teleporting with his staff and summoning the Gladiator, but it is very likely that his abilities at that time were the result of demonic magic, not Sentinel Energy. Notably, some Argenta have been able to manifest long after death as incorporeal spirits, keeping their sapience and memories. King Novik, manifesting eons after his death, appeared as a blue spirit, as do several fallen Sentinels, but the Sentinel souls trapped in Hell manifested as green spirits. The reason for this discrepancy is unknown, but it may be due to the Sentinels in Hell being cursed to forever linger without rest, while the others possibly manifest through their own magic. Like other mortals, Argenta souls can be harvested for conversion into Hell Essence, an essential step in producing Argent Energy, and their discarded bodies can be converted to demons.

Culture and society
Argenta, since their early days, have been a society of warriors, best exemplified through the Night Sentinels. The Order of the Night Sentinels are the highest and most honored warrior caste, the head of the greater Argenta military, formed to protect both the Argenta and the Elemental Wraiths. Night Sentinels swear lifelong loyalty to both the king and the Wraiths, continuing to guard the dormant Wraiths even after Maykr contact. The Night Sentinels were considered an exclusive order, denoted by their distinctive armor, with no one outside the high warrior castes allowed to join their ranks. Sentinel recruits appear to be chosen by officials designated as Signifiers, who are presumably tasked with observing and assessing a warrior's potential. The only exception ever made to this rule was the acceptance of the Doom Slayer, who needed a special commission from the Signifiers and direct permission from the king to join, although he initially faced criticism and condescending attitudes from the other Sentinels. The Night Sentinels have a codified and highly disciplined structure, with focus on both combat prowess and codes of brotherhood. By Sentinel codes, a Sentinel who spills the blood of any member of the clergy class, no matter their transgressions, would be excommunicated. However, this code appears to have been dissolved or disregarded by the Night Sentinels who joined the Doom Slayer. The Night Sentinels appeared to also hold an organization of inquisitors, possibly formed during the worship of the Maykrs, who were tasked to track down suspects among the warrior caste, reporting directly to the king. While a powerful force, the Night Sentinels appear to have not made up the entire Argenta military, only being its most elite force who spearheaded assaults, defended Argent D'Nur itself, and served functions as royal guards, although they took more prominence during the war with Hell. Below them are the lower infantry force, divisions of armored vehicles, aerial crafts, spacecraft, and an unknown force that utilizes distinctly different armor, known to guard the Torch of Kings. Night Sentinel apprentices, clad in notably different armor better resembling that of the lower infantry, are known to accompany full-fledged Sentinels into battle. The Sentinels domesticated, and possibly created, a lupine species known as Sentinel Wolves, who are assigned as battle beasts to Night Sentinels. The origin of these beasts is a closely guarded secret, known only to the Sentinels. In addition, the Sentinels also domesticated Wintherins, also using them as beasts of war, with at least one Wintherin being branded with the Doom Slayer's sigil, which became the standard insignia of the Night Sentinels during the war against the demons.

The Night Sentinels are dedicated to guarding the peace and prosperity of their people, but by their codes, do not attempt to change the views of the public, even if they disagree with what the people are doing, such as taking Argent Energy, although this code was broken by the Sentinels loyal to the Slayer during the rebellion against the Maykrs. While almost all Night Sentinels wore the same model of armor, save the Doom Slayer, certain commanding officers, and the Torch guards, they have used a variety of different weapons throughout their order, from energy-based firearms to melee weapons. Swords and shotguns appear most common throughout their ranks, although commanders such as Valen appeared to have utilized unique armor and weapons, such as Sentinel Energy hammers and shoulder-mounted grenade launchers. Sentinel guards in Sentinel Prime were assigned energy spears, and Sentinel marksmen assigned to guard city walls were equipped with Ballistae. Most Sentinel ranks are unknown and unnamed, save for general (possibly interchangeable with commander), but the rank of "Banner Sergeant" is known to be one of them, and presumably a very high rank, as the only known bearer of this rank also held the title of lord. Sentinels assigned ballistae also carried the title of "archers" for an unknown reason. Crimes are considered a dishonor to Argenta, but instead of being jailed, criminals are sent to the holy arena of Sentinel Prime to fight for their freedom and honor. Members of other species who arrive on Argent D'Nur, such as Humans, are also sent to battle in the arena, being granted asylum among the Argenta if they survive. Criminals and refugees who make it out of the arena are immediately assigned to the lower ranks of the Argenta military, where they are granted no titles and no individual ranks. This force, functioning as general infantry, was known to be present at the front lines of the Argenta army, where they were often killed, but in dying for the Argenta army, are believed to have died with honor, their only true reward. No member of this force, with the exception of the Doom Slayer, was eligible to enter the ranks of the Night Sentinels. The equipment used by this force appears to consist of green armor and either conventional firearms or Sentinel Energy-based melee weapons. As seen in Immora, their armor appears to have some variations, but this may have been due to the lack of resources the Wraith loyalist tribes had.

The Argenta are ruled in a patriarchal monarchy, with the king being chosen from the ranks of the Night Sentinels, as the Argenta believe that only a warrior is fit to rule them, the result of a history defined by war. In times of war, the king is expected to lead from the battlefield rather than from the throne, and by Argenta law, a king who is deemed unfit for battle is unfit to rule. The Crucible, a powerful and incredibly revered weapon, was said to only activate in the hands of a true Sentinel warrior king, with only the Doom Slayer ever wielding one, which presumably made him heir to the throne. Due to their role as both a warrior and a monarch, Argenta kings were known to wear battle armor at all times, forsaking ornate crowns or robes, and at least one king, King Novik, was known to not wear a proper shirt. The rank of king was dissolved when Argent D'Nur fell, with the Night Sentinels presumably being reassigned to the Hell Priests and Maykr Angels, although it is extremely likely that the monarchy was re-established after the battle of Immora. The original home of the royal family, and a center of prosperity for the Argenta civilization, was Taras Nabad. After the city was severely damaged by a Titan, the king's residence was moved to Sentinel Prime, and then presumably to Exultia, which may have been a sort of backup palace. While Exultia bore its own throne and elaborate throne room, Taras Nabad had an even grander throne room, with a throne made from the skull of an unknown behemoth, possibly an Argenta Ancestral or some sort of demon.

Prior to Maykr contact, Argenta religion was centered around the Elemental Wraiths, who were both worshipped for their gifts and feared for their wrath and Wraithcall. The Order of the Deag was formed to serve as the priests of the Wraiths, offering tributes to the Wraiths to avoid their wrath and forming the basis of the deeply-rooted religious beliefs of the Argenta. Like Night Sentinels, Deag Priests were greatly honored, serving as advisors to the king, and dressed in ornate robes with varying headgear and staffs matching their headgear. Any reason for their varying clothing and headgear, which could consist of a headband, crown-like helmet, or helmet with several presumably robotic optics, is unknown. They also appear to have been trained in the use of magic. Lower ranks of priests were known to exist, as were individual tribal priests, known as shamans, who were known to exist at some point in time prior to the fall of Argent D'Nur. The World Spear, the ship that brought the Wraiths to Argent D'Nur, is a very sacred site, especially to priests. When the need was desperate, Argenta shamans who sought passage to the World Spear for the powerful crystals held within would light the Torch of Kings, a beacon that would tell all who could see it that they sought passage. They would then make the treacherous journey alone, and would be judged by the Guardians before the gates of the World Spear. After the Maykrs made contact, the Argenta religion shifted its worship to the Maykrs, although most of its structure does not appear to have changed. As the Maykrs provided the Argenta with far more prosperity than the Wraiths did, most were easily swayed, and the Night Sentinels were known to quickly silence any form of dissent, even as it became more clear that the Maykrs had betrayed Argent D'Nur. Despite their devoutness, when the deal between the Maykrs and Hell was discovered, Night Sentinels loyal to the Doom Slayer shifted their worship back to the Wraiths and attempted to overthrow the Maykrs, even being supported by King Novik and any Argenta who would listen to them, as most Argenta were made loyal to the Maykrs. However, some Night Sentinels remained loyal to the Maykrs despite their clear malevolent intentions, starting a destructive civil war. For reasons unknown, these Night Sentinels, later known as Marauders, donned the green armor of Sentinel apprentices, albeit with distinct helmets.

The general aesthetic of Argenta clothing, architecture, and technology holds great similarities to many societies across medieval Europe and Earth's early modern history, with elements resembling those of Celtic, Gaelic, Norse, and Anglo-Saxon design. Argenta architecture in large cities was known to be grand, with towering, ornate buildings appearing to be made of stone, lined with statues and other images of the king, Wraiths, and Night Sentinels, with images of Wraiths also present aboard Sentinel warships in various forms, such as raised designs on the doors to different rooms. An unknown creature was depicted in several statues across Argent D'Nur, appearing to be a demonic humanoid with wings and four arms, with an unknown significance. Due to its demonic appearance, it is likely that this figure was added after Argent D'Nur fell, likely at the orders of the Hell Priests. Notably, Argenta society is highly traditionalist, with many forms of technologies, especially weaponry, still bearing a medieval aesthetic, such as axes, swords, shields, and medieval-styled plate armor, despite being upgraded into technologically advanced forms utilizing Sentinel or Argent Energy. Their language, often written with ink on paper, utilizes many rune-like symbols and other more ornate symbols, which are possibly signatures or other forms of branding. Earth-like symbols to denote holiness have been seen in Argenta works, such as halos, present around the Doom Slayer's head in certain images. After the arrival of the Maykrs, the Argenta became a civilization of expansion, seeking to spread the "enlightenment" of the Maykrs across all worlds, where they liberated alien species from oppressors and forged great alliances, imprinting faith in the Maykrs to all they liberated or allied with. Aside from the king and his family, other nobles are known to exist, presumably exclusively made up of Night Sentinels, with titles such as lord, although their exact status and power is unknown. While their monarchy and military appears patriarchal, both male and female Argenta have been described as becoming either soldiers or alchemists. However, female Argenta are rarely seen in Argenta historical texts, and their armies, at least the members seen by Humans, have been entirely male. It is ultimately left unknown what the treatment of females in Argenta society is, but it appears they at least have equal opportunities when it comes to roles in the military or pursuing magic, which are both said to appease the Wraiths. In both times of war and peace, the Argenta remain vigilant for threats, never disbanding their armies and always continuing their development of weaponry.

During the war against the demons, usage of Argent Energy made the majority of the Argenta population completely subservient to the Maykrs. It is unknown what became of their society after Argent D'Nur fell, but it is known that Argent D'Nur fell into ruin as competing factions of the so-called "Golden Age" of Argent usage turned on each other, corrupting many sacred traditions. The corrupted Deag Priests, now known as Hell Priests, took control of the world, aided by at least one Maykr Angel, and remaining loyalists to the Wraiths and the Doom Slayer fled the major cities. The holy arena was converted into a site for blood sport, used as essentially an execution ground. Those who displeased the priests would be sent to the arena to battle the Gladiator, a Hell Knight-like demon which could easily overpower an Argenta. Usage of the Torch of Kings was banned during the rule of the Hell Priests, and its lighting signified to remaining free tribes that their oppressors had fallen. Despite the Maykrs and Hell Priests commanding the Argenta, Night Sentinels still present in Sentinel Prime, presumably Maykr loyalists, were known to still hold the Doom Slayer in an honored position, chanting his name, standing at attention for him, and even using Sentinel Energy-powered spears. However, other Night Sentinels were quick to turn on the Slayer after he killed Deag Grav, and used Argent Energy-powered spears. The unknown Sentinel organization guarding the Torch of Kings also used Sentinel Energy, allowed the Doom Slayer to light the beacon, and were present in the final battle of Immora.

Technology
Argenta technology is highly advanced, the result of Sentinel Energy usage, Maykr collaboration, and Argent Energy usage, along with constant work to keep upgrading, with the most emphasis put on their war assets. Handheld weaponry consisted of both ranged and melee weaponry, with heavier emphasis appearing to be put onto melee weapons, which came in various forms. The standard swords used by the Night Sentinels appeared to be solid metal, mostly white with some black elements, such as on the blade, with an oddly rectangular lower section of the blade, which protrudes sideways further than the rest of the blade. While first appearing to be merely the metallic component to an energy blade, these swords, presumably made from alien materials, can pierce demonic flesh, likely made from the same material as the Doom Slayer's Doomblade. Another variant of swords, seen in use in the Argenta infantry, have a blade made entirely of Sentinel Energy, bearing loose resemblance to a Crucible, but smaller, with a more conventionally-shaped blade, and far weaker. At least three variations of energy axes have been seen: a double-headed variant with both blades of equal size, another double-headed variant with a larger front blade, longer handle, and circular emitter, branded with the Doom Slayer's insignia, and one resembling a halberd, with the ax blade, pick, and pike tip all energy, the full weapon standing larger than a Human. Energy spears have only a small tip coming from a somewhat bulky emitter. Argenta shields have been seen made of entirely energy, and other unidentified forms of weaponry all bore energy blades in various configurations. Sentinel Hammers are energy-based sledgehammer-like war hammers, with blocky energy heads coming from a blocky emitter. In action, Sentinel Hammers can create large shockwaves when struck against the ground, capable of stunning demons in the shockwave radius, even large and powerful demons such as Cyberdemons and Barons of Hell. Argenta melee weapons have been seen with both red and blue energy blades, with the blue energy definitely being Sentinel Energy, while the red energy is either more intense Sentinel Energy or Argent Energy, or possibly some form of artificial coloration. It is unknown what differences the energies have from each other. The Crucible, the most powerful handheld weapon in the Argenta arsenal, is shaped like a sword, with a rather bulky handle meant to be held with two hands. The handle has two components on either side that can fold up, shutting off the main blade. The blade is a large, red energy blade, said to be made of supercharged Sentinel Energy, strong enough to cut clean through powerful demons in one swing, and is the only handheld Argenta weapon capable of killing Titans. The blade somewhat resembles the African Ikakalaka, with a flaring blade tip, and the blade appears to be covered in white runes when active. The Crucible is known to only activate in the hands of a true Sentinel warrior king, but this appears to truly refer to one with great supernatural power, as the Doom Slayer was able to wield it after exiting the Divinity Machine. Despite being energy, the Crucible blade can be broken off of the handle, leaving it embedded in its target, a feature used to prevent Titans killed by the blade from rising again. Without a blade, the Crucible can no longer activate, and must be recharged by a two step process: a special disc is fused with the handle, allowing the Crucible to hold a blade again, and the blade itself must be formed by dipping the hilt into a pool of concentrated Sentinel Energy. Ranged Argenta weaponry is known to consist of both energy and kinetic firearms, some of which resemble Earth models. Their kinetic weapons consist of shotguns, whose sheer kinetic power and versatility allows it to keep a place among the other advanced weaponry. At least two models of shotguns have been seen: a single-barrel model, and a double-barreled model with far more firepower, able to be modified with a grappling hook. Both shotgun models may have been directly inspired by the Doom Slayer, and not of Sentinel design, but bear some alien elements, such as alien metals present in the grappling hooks or the distinctive design of the single-barrel model. Other firearms have been seen, but it is unknown if these models are energy-based or kinetic.

Appearances

 * Doom (2016)
 * Doom Eternal (2020)
 * Doom Eternal: The Ancient Gods Part 1 (2020)
 * Doom Eternal: The Ancient Gods Part 2 (2021)