The Ancestrals are the first species to arise on Argent D'Nur, created by the Wraithcall of the Elemental Wraiths.
Biology[]
Bones of Ancestrals
Ancestrals were massive, semi-humanoid sapient beings that towered far above the Argenta, albeit normally smaller than demonic Titans- although a few could grow to truly titanic sizes. Ancestrals possessed four monstrous curving horns, two of which came from their cheeks and two of which protruded from their lower jaw. Their fingers were clawed, and they bore large fangs, tusks, and spikes atop their heads. Additionally, they possessed colossal bat-like wings, although it is unknown if they were capable of flight. Their strength was immense, enough to reshape landscapes through fighting. Ancestrals appear to have also been somewhat more susceptible to Sentinel energy than Titans, as early Argenta weaponry could bring down the Ancestrals, but advanced Sentinel weaponry short of the Crucible and Atlan armaments could not bring down a Titan.
An Ancestral heart
Internally, Ancestral blood is charged with Wraith-derived arcane energy that can be used as a power source, and is capable of enchanting weapons with various magical properties. Most importantly, this can be channeled through their hearts, which continue to live in a dormant state long after their body is killed. Ancestral innards are also known to consist of red crystalline growths, but it is unknown if this is a mineral deposit that arose long after death, or possibly the coagulated blood of the Ancestral.
Culture and society[]
Little is known of Ancestral society, other than they were extremely territorial and indiscriminately aggressive. However, they were capable of taking on individual names, titles, and were capable of forging conventional- if gargantuan- weaponry charged with their energies.
History[]
An Ancestral skull atop the Drakhelm
The Ancestrals were the first lifeforms to arise from the Wraithcall on Argent D'Nur. The Ancestrals were feral and aggressive, battling each other for territory across Argent D'Nur, ravaging the world's surface as they spread. As time wore on, the giants developed some semblance of a society, forging weapons to better duel for dominance. At some point, an especially colossal Ancestral known as Eligas the Wise dueled the equally massive Ancestral Tharok the Mighty, who wielded an Ancestral-scale sword. Using the blade, Tharok impaled Eligas through the abdomen, bringing Eligas down with enough force to create a new mountain range, where Eligas' corpse lay embedded.
Eventually, the Wraithcall spawned the sapient Human-like Argenta, who stood against the Ancestrals. While initially unable to properly fight back, the Argenta developed weaponry capable of harming Ancestrals, forming armies to wage war against them. The Ancestrals were soon driven out of the Argenta homeland and to distant wastelands, where they presumably went extinct, as Argenta historians never mentioned them as being active again. The Ancestrals were one of the factors that shaped Argenta society into a hardened warrior culture, and may have been the inspiration for the Aggadian, a cyclopean being in Argenta legends.
The skull of an Ancestral was used to crown the Drakhelm, the Wintherin roost of the Night Sentinels. Additionally, the Argenta mined Eligas' remains to create the Ancestral Forge within the body, distilling Eligas' blood for arcane fuel. Argenta priests also modified Eligas' still-living heart to be able to channel dormant energies from both within the corpse and from Tharok's sword, often to enchant weapons.
During the war between Hell and Argent D'Nur, the daughter of King Novik, Thira, accompanied the superhuman Doom Slayer into the Ancestral Forge to enchant the Slayer's shield in the wake of a devastating demonic onslaught. The Ancestral's remains were infested with invading demons, but the Slayer slaughtered every last one of them, allowing Thira to awaken the heart just long enough to get the enchantment.
Appearances[]
- Doom Eternal (2020) (mentioned only)
- Doom: The Dark Ages (2025)