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[]
King Novik manifests long after death in Exultia
Argenta are 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[]
Night Sentinels
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. No recognizable denotations of rank are visible on Night Sentinel armor, which were known to bear the Doom Slayer's sigil on their left breast, while apprentices and other members with different armor carried the sigil on their belts.
Argenta infantry soldiers
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 many were often killed, but in dying for the Argenta army, they 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.
King Novik
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.
Two Deag Priests, Deag Nilox and Deag Ranak, first meeting the Doom Slayer
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 Praetor-like armor, albeit with distinct helmets.
Argenta architecture seen in Taras Nabad
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.
A statue outside the arena of an unknown demonic creature
An unknown creature (possibly a wraith?) 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. Almost all Argenta technology is powered by either Sentinel Energy or Argent Energy.
Standard Night Sentinel armor, with a sword and shotgun
The distinctive white Night Sentinel armor, resembling 15th Century Gothic plate armor with Great Helm-like helmets, were among the most advanced Argenta models of individual soldier armor. While mostly built in a traditional medieval style, they had several visibly advanced elements denoted by glowing blue elements, including their visor, possibly indicating a sort of HUD, like that of the Doom Slayer's helmet. They appeared to be fully sealed, with the solid components colored white, while the flexible suit beneath them was colored black, and bore a communicator on their left wrists. Most of the capabilities of this armor is unknown, but they presumably provided a great defense against the raw strength of demons, and against other dangers as well, while also being very mobile.
The armor model used by the guards of the Torch of Kings
A second model of Night Sentinel armor, utilized by the guards of the Torch of Kings, had even more metal coverings, notably bulkier than that of the standard Night Sentinels, especially in the upper torso and shoulders, suggesting greater durability at the cost of mobility. These suits also bear a distinctly different helmet, with three ports on its top and a somewhat protruding faceguard branded with an unidentified winged insignia. Their helmets appear to have several slit-like eye holes, possibly camera optics, and the overall design of the suit appears more visibly tech-heavy than the standard model. Like the standard model, the exact capabilities of this model are unknown, but it remains likely that they provide a strong defense against demons.
Sentinel apprentice gear
The armor utilized by the Argenta infantry is known to often consist of full body armor, colored green with a brown undersuit as opposed to the white and black of the Night Sentinels. They do not appear airtight and have less visible technological aspects, with the only visibly advanced aspect being a single red component on their left breast. The armor bears more visible segments than standard Sentinel armor, often silver and distinctive. Their rounded helmets, bearing some Anglo-Saxon and Nordic elements, have silver linings around their eye slits running down their mouth guard, two small curving horns on their sides, protruding from silver-armored patches, and two small spikes. This armor is known to bear many similarities to that of Sentinel apprentices, although with more coverings. Sentinel apprentice armor, while bearing the same helmets and lower armor as infantrymen, does not fully cover the torso of the wearer, for an unknown reason, only bearing armor over the left breast of the wearer, extending to armor the part of their back on the opposite side and connected to their right shoulder by straps. An alternate design of the helmets are known to have a grate-like visor and a few ridges on its top, lacking horns and spikes. The arms of apprentice armor usually have the primary arm only equipped with a light shoulder pad and vambrace, while the other arm, usually the left arm, has heavier armor. Unique models of Sentinel armor, such as the one worn by Commander Valen, resembled the armor of the Doom Slayer, which was known as the Praetor Suit. These models bore leg armoring resembling apprentice/infantry gear, a rigid upper torso with an orange left shoulder joint, and some segmented plating in their torso's midsection and sides, including a spine-like segmented section on their backs, presumably to allow a fair range of movement. Like the Praetor suit, this armor model could be modified with shoulder-mounted armaments. The model used by Valen had a heavily armored, possibly cybernetic left arm, but only had a vambrace for his right arm, and lacked a helmet. During the Argenta civil war, Maykr loyalist Sentinels were known to wear Praetor-like armor with helmets that bore large, clear visors and a segmented mouth guard. When they were resurrected as Marauders, they wore standard apprentice gear once more, but with only a mouth guard in place of a helmet.
Slayer's device activates
Infantry, apprentice, and Praetor-like armor are all known to bear a very similar, red, circular technological component on their left breast, oddly not mirrored in the armor of Torch guards or Night Sentinels. Only one function of this device is known: it can be used to wirelessly activate certain technologies, glowing blue when it does so, although the only time it was seen in use was on the Slayer's Praetor Suit, with no visible interface used. If this is reflective of the device on other Argenta armor models, then it is possible that the device is actually cybernetic, supported by Marauder gear having that component visibly fused to them, or somehow linked to the user's mind. It is also possible that the other models of Night Sentinel armor do have a device like this equipped, simply not visible, possibly on their wrists like their communicators. Any other technological functions of Argenta apprentice, infantry, or Praetor-like armor is unknown, and it is unknown if any other models exist.
A Sentinel Energy halberd, as used by the guards of the Torch of Kings
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, making it somewhat resemble the armor of the Sentinels that wield them, 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.
The Doom Slayer's Crucible
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.
A Ballista, with no modifications
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. A notable Argenta weapon is the Ballista, a large, rather flat handheld weapon with some visible runs on some of its metal coverings, and two barrels. Ballistae fire twin beams of extremely precise, superheated Argent Energy, capable of instantly vaporizing most human-sized targets, although it uses up more energy than less powerful energy armaments and has a rather slow rate of fire. The Ballista, like the Argenta shotguns, can be modified with alternate firing modes. Ranged weaponry could be fitted to the shoulders of Praetor-like armor, although it is unknown if they mirrored the flamethrower and grenade launching armaments of the Doom Slayer.
Full-body side view of a deactivated Atlan with a shoulder cannon, wielding a spear
In addition to handheld weaponry and armor for individual soldiers, Argenta military technology includes various models of highly advanced war machines. One of the most powerful of these assets are Atlans, massive humanoid mechs, built to somewhat resemble the Doom Slayer's Praetor Suit. Atlans have an indistinct neck protected by an armored guard, two large horns coming from the sides of their heads, blue visors, and thrusters on their backs. Like most Night Sentinel assets, they are powered with Sentinel Energy via batteries inserted at various ports in the mechs, although they presumably have a single internal power source. The extra ports on certain limbs and armaments can enable individual parts of the Atlans to function even if the main mech is disabled, or if the part in question has been severed from the body. Standard built-in Atlan weaponry consists of powerful Sentinel Energy blasters in their palms, which can be powered by a port on their forearms, also able to release explosions of the energy from punches. Larger Sentinel Energy cannons can be built into their shoulders, like the shoulder weapons of Praetor armor models. Atlans have been seen with one shoulder gun, two shoulder guns, or no shoulder guns, powered by individual batteries inserted through their shoulders. Most Atlans use massive versions of energy spears as their main weapons, which bear either red or blue blades, with the red blades seen on deactivated Atlans in Hell possibly caused by constant exposure to Hell's energy. These spears are powered by batteries inserted near the spearhead emitters, and the flat side of the blade is stable enough for a sufficiently armored being to walk on. Atlan armaments, both built-in and handheld, are the only known Argenta armaments other than the Crucible capable of permanently killing Titans.
Front view of a damaged Atlan
Atlans are known to have several large internal wires linking their batteries to their powered components, and it is unknown where exactly the pilot sits, although presumably in the head, and the exact method of piloting the Atlan, such as through a mental link, conventional controls, or some other form of interface is also unknown. Strangely, Atlans are known to have the same red component on their left breasts as infantry, apprentice, and Praetor-like armor, although any functions of this larger version are unknown. Even without their added weaponry, Atlans are very strong assets, capable of fighting Titans in hand-to-hand combat and agile enough to keep up with their movements, and may even be stronger than the gargantuan demons, not to mention far better equipped. The thrusters on their backs do not appear strong enough to enable an Atlan to fly, but can presumably allow them to jump, and have been used as stabilizers to prevent Atlans from falling over after a blow from the front, even able to push back against a Titan. The materials that are used to create Atlans appear extremely resistant to erosion, as the deactivated Atlans in Hell, left for eons, appeared to have suffered little to no natural erosion, only damage caused by demons and Hellgrowth, and had several functional components that could still be powered by Sentinel batteries.
A hover-ballista
Other land-based war vehicles used by the Argenta have been seen with anti-gravity technology in place of wheels or legs. Hover-ballistae, one such vehicle, are hovering tanks with an energy-based turret, which are presumably a scaled-up form of handheld Ballistae, although they appear to be powered by Sentinel Energy rather than Argent Energy. Their hovertech is visible as large semi-spherical components protruding from their undersides, with a glowing blue ring near where they connect to the larger tank. Their armor plating and general design is rather rounded rather than angular, with some other glowing blue components and thrusters on their backside. It is unknown how many operators are needed to run the hover-ballistae, or if it needs a crew at all, but they likely require less operators than an Earth tank. In addition to their main turret, they have secondary turret on their left side that can fire far more rapidly, and a fixed turret on their front, between two jutting components.
A hover-catapult
Hover-catapults, utilized as artillery, have a similar rounded design of their armor, but have a distinctly different design. The catapult's base level has a small deck for soldiers, with two small, railing-mounted turrets for defenders, as the main "cannon" of the catapult does not appear able to aim at nearby targets. The main catapult, as a sort of upper tier, resembles a giant crossbow or a slingshot, shooting highly destructive energy orbs across great distances, also able to load and fire other projectiles as well. The operators appear to be located on the personnel deck, which has a console on its railings, rather than within the main body of the catapult, but these operators could just be aiming the shots.
The Fortress of Doom, an Argenta flagship
Argenta spacecraft are known to utilize Maykr space-folding technology, which removes the need for conventional engines and can give the ships the ability to go faster than light. This is most apparent on their capital ships, which better resemble space stations with a defined top and bottom, also bearing no visible engines, built around cores of Maykr technology. Flagships, such as the Fortress of Doom, resemble a domed structure built atop floating rocks, connected to two smaller tower-like structures suspended near the main station. The rocks of the lower station appears to only be an aesthetic, as the ship's interior is known to continue well into the "rock." While most of the technology aboard capital ships is of Argenta design and powered by Sentinel Energy, the Maykr-tech cores function as the main power plant of the ships, able to be remotely accessed by Maykrs and used to override the station's control. However, without the Maykr technology, Argenta capital ships can be powered by Argent Energy, although this will make the blue energies present on the ship become red. The ships can also be managed by AIs, although it is unknown if they are normally managed by AIs, or if this was a modification made by the Doom Slayer. Their viewports are known to be protected by forcefields, and the doors to the bridges that connect the main station to the smaller towers function as airlocks. Despite this, there appears to be gravity on the bridges, and possibly an invisible atmosphere-generating forcefield around the towers, as they lack airlocks and do not even appear fully sealed. Artificial gravity exists throughout the station, able to function for some time after the power is cut off. The command deck has several touchscreen interfaces for travel, holographic projectors, and a portal generator for personnel, able to transport them as far as other planets in the system that the station is located. The range for this teleportation is unknown, but possibly cuts off at around 245.27 million miles, as the Doom Slayer was able to use the portal to get from Earth orbit to Mars, but could not reach Argent D'Nur with it, or other dimensions such as Hell. The stations also have a few round, flat fabrication devices, capable of modifying and creating weaponry, such as equipment launchers and Ballistae, located in the command deck and in the level beneath it. There are also at least two devices which can suspend and hold an object in them, able to create an uplink to said object if the object has an interface or generates power. Behind the command deck is a large chamber going down a few levels, meant for storage, with a special cylindrical case meant for advanced weaponry such as an Unmaykr. The storage chambers can only be opened if properly powered by Sentinel batteries, while the Unmaykr's case can only be opened by specially-made keys, likely as a safety measure. Other rooms consist of living quarters, more storage rooms with retractable bridges, a massive service gantry for Atlans, a prison area in the lower levels capable of holding demons, and a sort of simulator room that can be used with live fire and living demons from the prison. Flagships have no visible external weaponry.
A Sentinel warship with Sentinel starfighters
Other Argenta capital ships appear to be entirely solid metal, without the rock-like components of the flagships, and bear a vastly different shape, loosely resembling some sort of diamond or arrowhead, still better resembling a space station than a spaceship. Some have different configurations, somewhat resembling a block with horn-like protrusions on their sides, and others resembled thin pods, all with no visible engines, presumably running on space-folding technology like the flagships. Their interior designs are unknown, and they also display no visible external weaponry. However, smaller Sentinel warships have been seen with a more conventional shape, with heavily armored fronts and visible energy guns on their undersides. Smaller Sentinel starfighters and transports have been seen as well, also armed with rapid fire energy guns. All crafts smaller than the capital ships appear to bear conventional engines, possibly due to the space-folding technology being too big for them, or too costly.
A standard Sentinel battery
Aside from weapons and other war-related assets, there are other examples of advanced Argenta technology utilized by the Night Sentinels and other Argenta. One such technology are Sentinel batteries, which are lantern-shaped containers of Sentinel Energy used to power various devices, mostly large assets. While their frame is constructed of dark metal, their lantern-like midsection have several glowing blue rectangular components, presumably indicating their amount of charge. Sentinel batteries are commonly used on warships, where they can even function as keys to open storage rooms, and are presumably used to power other room-sized areas, like on the warships. Due to the large size of these batteries, about the size of a small bucket, it is likely that smaller devices run on far smaller versions of these batteries, and that this model of batteries is relegated to military assets. Sentinel batteries have a handle on their topside, a small protruding component on their undersides, and are inserted bottom first into their ports, where they are twisted into place to be activated. They are presumably deactivated by being turned the other way to unlock them before they can be removed. The top of the batteries appear to be like a lid, even with small connecting arms holding it in place, making it possible that they can be opened up to be recharged or have components replaced. They are known to be extremely resistant to erosion, and able to hold their energy for eons after being discarded with seemingly no energy loss.
A Sentinel Power Core
While any smaller models of Sentinel batteries are unnamed and bear unknown appearances, a larger model of Sentinel batteries are known to exist, known as Sentinel Power Cores. Sentinel Power Cores are larger than the standard batteries, appearing to be utilized exclusively for large military assets such as Atlans and their weaponry, inserted into circular ports on select components, usually near the emitters of Atlan energy weapons. They are cylindrical in shape, with a midsection made of a clear material surrounding a smaller energy-containing cylinder, which glows blue. The tops and bottom of the Cores are made of dark metal, with a large handle on the top of the battery. The bottom of the Cores have a protruding component like that of the smaller batteries, only larger. Like Sentinel batteries, Sentinel Power Cores are inserted bottom-first, and have the same twisting mechanic to be activated. None have been seen in use outside of Atlans. Like Sentinel batteries, they are incredibly resilient to erosion, able to survive erosion for eons and still hold enough charge to power Atlans after that time, possibly made of the same materials used to build Atlans.
A fully charged Celestial Locator
Another notable technology used by the Argenta are Celestial Locators. Celestial Locators appear to be highly advanced tracking devices, capable of locking onto the signals of powerful Argenta, such as the Hell Priests, and giving their exact locations across vast distances of space. It is unknown what else they can be used to track. Like Sentinel batteries, they also somewhat resemble a lantern with handles on their tops, bearing two distinct components: a metal frame with an empty midsection, the top and bottom plates connected by four thin metal arms, and a gold sphere suspended within. The inner sphere is presumably what holds most of the tracking technology, and like other Argenta technology, is powered by Sentinel Energy. When powered, several circular patterns on the surface of the inner orb glow. They can be charged by an unnamed device that takes the form of a glowing blue orb.
A personnel portal aboard the Fortress of Doom
Slipgates, a technology utilized to link the distant Argenta-controlled worlds together, are large, circular portal generators, which create blue portals when powered by Sentinel Energy. These portals are able to transport personnel and vehicles, even those as large as Atlans and warships, across vast distances of space, depending on the range of the generators. Slipgates that have a generator on both ends can remain open indefinitely, while others only function as a one-way trip. They can also be used to generate a portal in another location to retrieve personnel or items. Slipgates whose targets are relatively close can instantly transport their passenger, while slipgates aimed at transporting across planets or dimensions have a noticeable delay in their transportation.
Argenta technologies that appear meant for civilian usage vary greatly, and not many are known. Argenta civilian crafts appear very ornate, with similar designs as the architecture of large domed structures, resembling floating buildings or more conventional spacecraft. Examples of these crafts are depicted in an illustration of Taras Nabad recovered by the Doom Slayer. Argenta settlements are known to have pole-shaped light fixtures throughout their streets that can activate with blue flame, and other similar fixtures in their buildings, but it is unknown if these are based off of magic or technology. The staffs used by the Deag Priests appear able to be used to channel their magical abilities, but it is also unknown if there is any sort of technology within them. Despite the highly advanced technology in use, examples of archaic technology have also been seen in use among the Argenta populace, such as hand-written books, conventional non-energy based melee weapons, and wooden carts meant to be drawn by animals or Argenta.
History[]
At some point in the ancient past, well over 60 million years ago, the Elemental Wraiths emerged from the World Spear after arriving on Argent D'Nur, emitting their Wraithcall. The Wraithcall spawned lifeforms across the planet's surface, with the first to emerge being the monstrous Ancestrals. While the Ancestrals and other behemoths spawned by the Wraithcall ravaged the surface of Argent D'Nur, the Wraithcall spawned the Argenta. Early Argenta formed tribes to stand against the Ancestrals, quickly reaching a metal-forging stage. They created forges within caves, forging swords and other weapons that enabled them to properly fight the Ancestrals. With their weapons, they were bestowed magic by the Wraiths, and used both weapons and magic to drive out the Ancestrals. With their homeland now cleared of major threats, the Argenta started their civilization, powered by energy generated by the Wraiths and given to them, known as Wraith Energy, while some groups split off to go their own way. The early Argenta civilization created farms, domesticated animals, and began construction of their cities. One of the earliest large structures was the holy arena of Sentinel Prime, the site of sacred trial-by-combat rituals. The leader of the early civilization, known as Ormero the Father, was soon crowned king, the first king of Argent D'Nur. Temples to the Wraiths were erected, with the Order of the Deag being formed as the priests of the Wraiths, offering them tributes to avoid their wrath. While the people worshipped the Wraiths, they also feared them, often hiding when they heard the incoming Wraithcall. As time went on, tribes that had previously split off from the main Argenta civilization attempted to invade the kingdom, seeking their resources, but were beaten back by a far superior force, presumably exterminated or assimilated. Various natural disasters threatened the Argenta civilization as well, destroying early buildings, and the very Wraithcall that spawned them often drove those of weaker minds mad. All these factors molded the Argenta into a militaristic race, building a strong resolve to always rise above the threats of their world, and in this time, the order of the Night Sentinels was first formed. At an unknown point in time, the Night Sentinels domesticated both Sentinel Wolves and Wintherins. In times of desperate need, Argenta shamans would travel to the World Spear in search of the energy crystals held within, and to mark their pilgrimage, they would light the Torch of Kings, which was assigned a special regiment of Night Sentinel guards.
The Maykrs arrive on Argent D'Nur
The Wraiths soon went dormant, but continued generating Wraith Energy, soon known as Sentinel Energy, as it was primarily utilized and distributed by the Night Sentinels. The Night Sentinels were also assigned to guard the dormant Wraiths, who were still worshipped by the Deag Priests and the Argenta populace. Despite the continued development of Argenta society, there came a period known as the Time of Grief, which appears to have stagnated Argenta development, or possibly even threw it into decline. The king during the Time of Grief, or at least at its end, was King Etrex. During his reign, extradimensional beings known as Maykrs arrived on Argent D'Nur. The Maykrs, on a campaign of vassalizing worlds across the multiverse, presented themselves as gods to the Argenta, who saw them as such. The Maykrs brought great prosperity to the Argenta in exchange for their service and worship, and the religion of the Argenta, including the Deag caste, was reorganized to worship the Maykrs in place of the Wraiths, as the Maykrs directly offered and assisted in peace and prosperity, even offering the questionable promise of eternal paradise after death in Urdak, unlike the Wraiths. Despite the shift in beliefs, the Night Sentinels never left their posts as guards of the Wraiths, and continued to use their energy.
The Argenta fleet
With the Maykrs bolstering their technological advancements, working directly with the king and the priests, the Argenta began to expand across the stars, utilizing a massive fleet of capital ships built around Maykr space-folding technology. They traveled across deep space with a mission to not just establish colonies, but to bring the faith of the Maykrs to other alien races. Many of the races they came across were locked in wars with each other or controlled by oppressors, and the Argenta utilized their armies to liberate such aliens, forging alliances with them and with any others willing to join them, spreading the faith of the Maykrs to all they came across. At some point in their expansion about 60 million years ago, the Argenta came across the Orion-Cygnus Arm of the Milky Way, and are presumably the ones who spread the faith of the Maykrs across the various worlds. Argenta inhabited both a primitive Earth and a habitable Mars, and on Mars, Argenta colonists created the city of Hebeth. The inhabitants of Hebeth, known as Bethians, made Mars into a prosperous interstellar port, and created slipgate technology, an ingenious invention soon adopted by the larger Argenta civilization to better bridge their worlds together, with one slipgate located in Hebeth going directly to Sentinel Prime. However, Mars soon fell into ruin as quakes and a changing environment made Hebeth sink deep into the planet, turning Mars into an uninhabitable wasteland and killing the Bethians, whose memory would be all but lost in the future.
An Argenta settlement on an ancient Earth
Deag Priests led the discovery of Earth, finding it populated with dinosaurs, along with other beasts unknown to modern science, such as the monstrous Agaddon Hunters, who were given their name due to their similarity to a mythical cyclops from Argenta myths, the Aggadian. Argenta colonists created a settlement in the Arctic, the only known location of the Agaddon Hunters. For reasons unknown, this settlement would eventually be abandoned, possibly due to losing the economic boost of Mars, soon being buried beneath the arctic ice. It is unknown if the Argenta had any influence on early Humans, although the possibility remains that they spawned early man, but it remains likely that they left behind some Maykr-related artifacts later used by Humans to build religions.
The Argenta civilization grew exponentially through their space travel, the period of expansion extending well into the reign of one of Etrex's successors, King Roan. During the reign of King Roan, Davoth, the extradimensional entity who had created the Maykrs, currently locked in Hell as a disembodied demonic being, began to poison the mind of the Khan Maykr, the leader and biological queen of the Maykrs. He implanted a thought in her mind that a Sentinel warrior would one day rise to assassinate her, and after constructing the future-viewing Divinity Machine, the Khan Maykr saw the so-called "Destroyer" as a constant across all possibilities. The Khan Maykr met with King Roan and told him of her visions. King Roan agreed to send the strongest Argenta warriors to the Divinity Machine for testing, supposedly to remove the "impurity" in the Argenta bloodline, not knowing that the "Destroyer" would be a Human. While the Argenta wrote a prophecy of the Destroyer's coming, many generations passed before the prophecy could be fulfilled. During that time, the idea died out of public knowledge, with only the Deag Priests and Khan Maykr remaining vigilant for the Destroyer. At the same time, the same way he had manipulated the Khan Maykr, Davoth manipulated her chancellor, a Maykr Seraph named Samur, making him believe that the Khan Maykr would drive them to ruin. At some point during the expansion and prosperity of the Argenta, the city of Taras Nabad was expanded into a center of Argenta society, becoming the home of the royal family and political power. It was built to be glorious, with no expense spared in creating its monuments and architecture, also becoming a religious hub where Argenta pilgrims would flock to worship at Maykr temples.
Doomguy first arrives on Argent D'Nur, being led to Sentinel Prime
The Argenta continued expanding throughout the reign of King Roan, eventually reaching the reign of King Novik. During Novik's reign, an unnamed Human man arrived on Argent D'Nur, heavily injured and covered in the blood of demons. He was a marine from Earth in the far future, who had voluntarily remained in Hell after thwarting three demonic invasions, somehow going back in time and across space. He had appeared outside the walls of Sentinel Prime itself, where two Deag Priests, Deag Ranak and Deag Nilox, were present. He was found by Night Sentinels, who noted the relatively archaic armor and weaponry he carried, and the fact that he appeared nearly insane, speaking in an unfamiliar language to them, which was English. They managed to translate at least some of what he was saying, finding that he was speaking of impending doom and demonic forces. Known as only the Outlander, the marine was taken before Deag Ranak and Deag Nilox, who inspected his helmet and noted that the marine appeared to still be able to fight despite his heavy injuries. They had him led in chains to the arena to fight for asylum, where he was pitted against Argenta fugitives. Despite appearing near-death, the marine easily defeated all of his opponents, shouting the words "Rip and tear," which the crowd and even the Sentinel guards began chanting.
The Khan Maykr orders Deag Grav to bring Doomguy to her
After emerging victorious, Deag Grav began leading the marine to be transferred to the Argenta infantry, like all others who win the arena battles. However, the Khan Maykr personally appeared in the arena, having been told about the marine and his ramblings. Interested in the demons he spoke of, she ordered Deag Grav to clean the marine's wounds and bring him to her, which Deag Grav did. The Khan Maykr had her underlings learn English, seeking to know more about Hell and the demons, knowledge which was shared with the Argenta, who saw the fiery dimension as another world to bring the faith of the Maykrs to. Afterwards, the marine was transferred to the infantry, with no title or rank, like other infantry soldiers. A short time afterwards, there was an event known as the the Black Star, which lasted several years. During the eve of the Black Star, demons, the very forces the marine spoke of, invaded Argent D'Nur through dimensional rifts, first appearing in the forests of the Argentian Overlands, where they assaulted the east mountains. The Alorum Clans, residents and defenders of the east mountains, quickly fell under the onslaught, as did the city of Telorum. The Night Sentinels and Argenta infantry quickly organized and launched a counterattack, but were unable to stop the demonic hordes, which continued pouring out of the rifts.
During the initial battles, the Order of the Deag and the Maykrs struggled to find the source of the demons' power. As more battalions of Argenta warriors fell, the Deag Priests managed to capture and experiment on demons, discovering that the demons were powered through Hell Essence, functioning in a somewhat similar manner as Sentinel Energy. On the orders of the Khan Maykr, the Deag Priests sought out more properties of Hell Essence. Working hard, the Deag Priests soon found that Hell Essence could be combined with Sentinel Energy, and then refined into a new form of energy, one far more powerful than either of its bases, capable of feats such as indefinitely extending lifespans. This new energy was known as Argent Energy, and due to its immortality-granting properties, it was soon coveted by Maykr and Argenta alike, prompting regular production of the energy at the Khan Maykr's urging. Unbeknownst to the Argenta, the Maykrs were facing extinction, as while their bodies were already immortal, they would eventually face the Transfiguration, where they would deteriorate into non-sapient monsters. They used to avoid this with a voluntary death and rebirth involving an entity known as The Father, but The Father had vanished from the Maykr's dimension of Urdak shortly before the invasion of Argent D'Nur. Turning to any means necessary to save their species, the Maykrs began to conspire with the current Dark Lord of Hell, Davoth's successor, still supported by the Deag Priests. Craving more Argent Energy, which they found could indefinitely prevent the Transfiguration, the Maykrs sent the Deag Priests to King Novik, convincing Novik to adopt widespread usage of Argent Energy and take the war to Hell itself.
Doomguy training in the usage of a sword, watched by Commander Valen
Reinvigorated by Argent Energy, the Argenta fought back against the demons, successfully driving the bulk of their forces off of Argent D'Nur's surface, although scattered pockets of demons continued to appear and attack settlements. Managing to trace the Hell rifts, the Argenta opened their own slipgates into Hell, leading assaults on the origin of the demonic forces. Among the infantry sent into Hell was the marine, who fought with a ferocity and hatred against the demons matched by only the Night Sentinels, outliving almost all other infantry soldiers sent with him. Although the Sentinel Inquisitors initially suspected him of secretly being in league with the demons, as the marine also had a far better understanding of the demons than any Argenta, King Novik himself had the Inquisitors silenced, deeming the marine worthy of joining the Night Sentinels, as any advantage was welcomed. Sentinel Signifiers brought a special commission to Novik, who approved it, making the marine the first infantryman elevated to the rank of Night Sentinel. While some Sentinels were disgusted at the marine's presence, the marine proved himself worthy of their ranks as he trained, soon being taught all Sentinel codes and traditions, presumably also taught the Argenta language. He was assigned to Commander Valen, the bearer of the keys to the Wraiths' chambers, and was soon deemed worthy of accompanying the Sentinels into battle. As a Sentinel apprentice, the marine accompanied the Night Sentinels on three campaigns into Hell, becoming more battle-hardened each time, and as the battles mounted throughout the course the campaigns, the Sentinels saw him as a true brother-in-arms. While the marine reciprocated their respect, and honored their codes, he did not care much for Argenta politics, focusing his efforts on spearheading the war against Hell. Throughout the war, demons such as Gargoyles, created in Argent D'Nur, and Prowlers, possible descendants of lowly Imps, stalked and raided Argenta cities, and at some point during the war, a squadron of Sentinel marksmen defended the city of Illkana for ten days from what was presumably an aerial demonic assault, armed with only their Ballistae.
Doomguy becomes the Doom Slayer, killing The Dreadnought
While the Night Sentinels led the war against Hell, the general Argenta population began to take doses of Argent Energy, granting them immortality, and allowing them to create even grander and more advanced technologies. Argenta spread even further and with more vigor, also constructing even more powerful war machines with direct help from the Maykrs. While widespread throughout the population, even among the Deag Priests, no Night Sentinel took Argent Energy, nor did King Novik, although their weapons and assets used the energy for power. Some Night Sentinels, not trusting Argent Energy due to its demonic origins, voiced their opinions against using the energy, but were quickly silenced, as the Sentinels believed it was not their place to dictate how society should operate, only defend it. The Black Star continued to rise, and King Novik grew more restless as the war continued. When the Black Star was near its apex, the demons launched an unexpected assault on Argent D'Nur through the rift in the east mountains, this time with a Titan known as the Dreadnought. The Dreadnought easily smashed through Argenta defenses, on a course to attack Taras Nabad. Most civilians fled north as the demons ransacked the city, slaughtering all they came across. The Night Sentinels amassed and fought back, battling throughout the city throughout the night, seeing the marine outlast other Sentinel apprentices, although none of their weapons could bring down the Dreadnought. At dawn, as the marine held his ground at the north wall of the central palace, Samur, seeing in the marine his "chosen one" to carry out his plan of eliminating the Khan Maykr, took the marine out of the battlefield and to the Divinity Machine, which was also held within Taras Nabad. Reversing the polarity of the Divinity Machine, Samur used it to grant the marine superhuman abilities, infusing him with the power source of the machine, which was in truth a piece of the entity Davoth. The marine rose from the Divinity Machine as the Doom Slayer, and took up the Crucible. In full view of the Sentinels, he activated the Crucible, a sign that he was a trueborn Sentinel warrior king. With the Crucible, the Doom Slayer stabbed The Dreadnought through the heart, killing it and ending the invasion. Immediately, the Sentinels knelt before him, and he was named heir to King Novik.
Argenta slaves are forced to construct the Argent Energy factories
As heir to Novik, the Slayer was promoted to a commanding rank, donning the Praetor Suit, armor that appeared to be made from both his Earthly marine armor and Sentinel technology, leading more assaults deeper and deeper into Hell, seeking to cut the demons off at their source, the Dark Lord. More advanced war machines were built, such as Atlans, which could fight and kill Titans, and other assets built with Maykr technology and fueled by Argent Energy. The Deag Priests opened more slipgates into Hell, allowing the Night Sentinels greater access, where they won countless victories under the command of the Doom Slayer. Unknown to the Slayer or the Sentinels, the Maykrs had managed to strike a deal with the Dark Lord, agreeing to give Hell more worlds to consume in exchange for regular supplies of Argent Energy. To fulfill Argent Energy distribution plans, the Maykrs collaborated with Hell to construct vast soul factories within the demonic dimension. As the Maykrs could not enter Hell, they had the Deag Priests and all those loyal to them construct the factories using Argenta slaves, working alongside demons such as Titans. The Slayer's very campaigns had unknowingly created open, uninhabited patches of land in Hell under Argenta control, which were utilized for the factories, something that no Sentinel had caught onto or even considered.
The Argenta civil war
In order for Argent Energy to be produced, souls were needed to create Hell Essence, and bodies were needed to be transformed into more demons, which were provided by Argenta who were slain by the demons, meaning that the Argenta population was taking energy made from the essence of their fallen comrades, and that many of the demons they fought were also made from discarded Argenta bodies. Eventually, the Slayer and the Sentinels discovered the collusion during a campaign in Hell, finding the Argent Energy factories and the direct link between them and the Maykrs. The Slayer and all Sentinels loyal to him, including King Novik, began organizing a resistance, shifting their worship back to the Elemental Wraiths and discarding Argent Energy-powered weaponry. They began spreading the idea of dissent to any Argenta that would listen, although the majority of the population, blinded by the prosperity brought to them by Argent Energy, did not listen, and had the messengers executed. The Sentinels, knowing what they had to do, rallied behind the Slayer in the north for a war against the Maykrs. However, some Sentinels remained loyal to the Maykrs, becoming known as Marauders, and a civil war began between the two factions, a very bloody war that lasted many years. During the war, the Deag Priests, led by Deag Grav, Deag Ranak, and Deag Nilox, still loyal to the Maykrs but not openly showing it, secretly returned to Earth, finding the Agaddon Hunters, and modified them into demonic mutants used by the Maykr loyalists, although the Slayer and his forces managed to exterminate the Agaddons, their mangled corpses being returned to the ruins of the Argenta settlement on Earth in large coffins. The Sentinels loyal to the Slayer planned to destroy the Argent Energy-producing facilities, while also awakening the Wraiths once more, knowing that seeing the Wraiths active for the first time in generations would cause the population to sway towards them again. The Order of the Deag, whose true allegiance was still unknown to the Sentinels, still pretended to be on the side of the Sentinels. Learning of their plan, they told the Sentinels of the Nekroval, the central Argent Energy production plant, making them desire a hasty execution of the plan, enough to prevent them from suspecting the priests of treachery.
The son of Commander Valen, whose heart was used to create the Icon of Sin
Commander Valen, still bearing the keys to the Wraiths, remained an ally of the Slayer during the war against Hell and the Argenta Civil War. He bore a single son, who also joined the ranks of the Argenta army. However, Valen's son was killed in battle, most likely during the campaigns in Hell. During the Argenta Civil War, Valen was tormented with visions of his son's soul in torment in Hell, which, unknown to Valen, were being generated by Deag Grav. Deag Grav, driving Valen nearly mad, soon revealed himself as a Maykr loyalist, just before the plan to free the Wraiths and destroy Nekroval could be put into action. Rather than arrest or execute him, Valen begged him to resurrect his son. Deag Grav agreed to do so in exchange for the keys to the Wraiths, and in his desperation, Valen handed over the keys. With the keys to the Wraiths, Deag Grav took the Wraiths into Hell, fusing them to the Well of Hell Essence, creating an even greater producer of Argent Energy and robbing the Sentinels of their main power source. Deag Grav then resurrected only the heart of Valne's son, making it immortal, using the rest of his essence to create the largest and most powerful Titan yet, the Icon of Sin, able to be controlled by the heart.
The final stand of the Night Sentinels scattered in Hell
While the Wraiths were taken, the other Deag Priests told the other Sentinels that they had created slipgates directly to the Nekroval. The Doom Slayer led the best Night Sentinels under his command through the slipgates, armed with Atlans and other heavy weapons, but the priests then revealed their true allegiance, as the gates did not take them to the Nekroval. Instead, the slipgate separated the Sentinels from each other, isolating each Sentinel in various parts of Hell, where they were assaulted by massive hordes of demons, the slipgates closed behind them. With no choice, the Sentinels fought to the last breath, slaying several Titans with their Atlans, which eventually ran out of power, sometimes just as the Titans they were fighting died, creating scenes resembling battles frozen in time. Without their Atlans, the Sentinels were forced to fight on the ground, but accepted their inevitable deaths, wanting only to take as many demons as they could with them. All but the Slayer eventually fell, their bodies later found by other Argenta, and their souls trapped within the dimension. Commander Valen, whose treachery was now known, became known as the Betrayer, and exiled himself to Hell after seeing the loss of the Slayer's forces. The remaining Wraith loyalists fled northward, presumably to Exultia, as Argent D'Nur fell to Maykr rule, several chunks of the world being dragged into Hell. Wraith loyalists eventually split off into disparate tribes around the mountains, and King Novik eventually died, ending the presence of a king. Rumors spread between Argenta that the Doom Slayer was still active in Hell, as his body was never found, but the rumors were quickly deemed heretical. The Doom Slayer did indeed persist in Hell as an immortal, superhuman killing machine, but his survival was unknown to the Argenta for a very long time. In Hell, Valen resigned himself to his grief and shame, and appears to have been cursed to be immortal like the heart of his son, likely to torment him further, and in Exultia, the spirit of King Novik lingered, also resigning himself to the loss of his world, believing that there was no more chance of salvation.
Under Maykr rule, the majority of the Argenta population remained loyal to the Maykrs, their judgement clouded by Argent Energy. The Deag Priests, now known as the Hell Priests, had their souls guarded, preventing them from being killed by anything that did not bear a holy medallion tied to each priest, which they hid either out in space or with guardians. Sentinels who stood with the Maykrs but fell in the Argenta Civil War were resurrected as demonic beings known as Marauders, while still-living Sentinels willing to serve the Maykrs were allowed to continue their order, now under a new rule. The Maykr loyalists soon entered a so-called "Golden Age," but when the age came to an end, political factions within the Argenta turned on each other, corrupting many traditions, including trial by combat in Sentinel Prime. The arena, now under control of Deag Grav, was used to hold a demon known only as the Gladiator, and was used as little more than a place for blood sport, with the Hell Priests sending Argenta to the arena to be executed by the Gladiator. Usage of the Torch of Kings was banned under the Hell Priests, and the World Spear was thus left untouched. Most of the Sentinel fleet was lost through unknown means, possibly depleted during the civil war, or scuttled by the Hell Priests to keep the Argenta on worlds under their control. A few ships, including the flagship of the entire armada, known of the Fortress of Doom, survived in unknown locations, still operational.
The Hell Priests, adopting demonic rituals and hellish magic, grew sickly thin, with sharp teeth, red eyes, and grey skin, the constant exposure to Hell and usage of Argent Energy corrupting their features, and they led rituals to capture the souls of the inhabitants of worlds invaded by demons. However, after many eons, they were threatened by the Doom Slayer once more, who was still slaughtering hordes of demons in Hell throughout that time, even destroying a Titan specifically designed to kill him. The Hell Priests managed to lure the Slayer to the Blood Temples with the promise of more demons to kill, and when he entered, the Hell Priests brought the structure down on him, and used their magic to form the collapsing structure into a sarcophagus around the Slayer, encasing him with all their energy, putting the Slayer into stasis and stripping him of his armor. While the Slayer was held in stasis, effectively ending his rampage, the spell appears to have worked as a double-edged sword, as the very Argent Energy field that held him down prevented the demons from finally killing him. Unable to destroy the Slayer or the Praetor Suit, which was invulnerable to their attacks, the Hell Priests had them both sealed in a tomb in the Kardingir Sanctum, guarded by both protective spells and hordes of demons.
A Night Sentinel's soul trapped in Hell
The Slayer remained entombed for millenniums, until a fissure of Argent Energy opened on Mars in 2095, getting the attention of the Union Aerospace Corporation (UAC). Samur, who had been exiled from Urdak, took refuge on Earth in the form of a Human cyborg by the name of Samuel Hayden, becoming the head of the UAC. The Father, the entity which originally allowed the Maykrs to be reborn, was reconstructed into an AI known as VEGA by Samur, taken with him to Earth in order to prevent Hell from absorbing his power. Samur led Humanity through the discovery of Argent Energy, also retrieving the Slayer from Hell. Expeditions into Hell found and recorded the ruins of Argenta structures dragged into Hell, learning of the Unholy Wars. The current Dark Lord of Hell, a Spiderdemon known as the Spider Mastermind, had Deag Ranak assist him in corrupting Olivia Pierce, a UAC scientist, making her a demonic cultist. With her help, the Spider Mastermind launched an invasion of Mars, and the Slayer was awoken. After fighting his way through the Mars base, the Slayer went into Hell, cutting off the base's Argent collection devices, downloading VEGA into a drive he took with him, and retrieved a demonic replica of a Crucible, which was capable of generating Argent Energy. With the Demonic Crucible, the Slayer found the tormented Wraiths and freed their spirits, stopping The Well's production of Argent Energy, and was then met with the ghosts of his fallen comrades, who salute him. After killing the Spider Mastermind, Samur teleports the Doom Slayer to an unknown region of space, taking possession of the Demonic Crucible to rebuilt Earth's Argent Energy grids. It is unknown what became of the souls of the Sentinels still trapped in Hell, possibly freed with the Wraiths.
Shortly after the Doom Slayer was banished to deep space, the Maykrs, deprived of The Well, ordered the Hell Priests to launch an invasion of Earth, being forced to rely on soul-consuming factories such as the Nekroval for Argent Energy. After overrunning most of Earth's surface with a demonic assault, Deag Grav, Deag Ranak, and Deag Nilox erected a massive demonic citadel in the midst of San Andreas, beginning a demonic ritual that would send the souls of all Humans killed by the demons directly to Hell, a ritual that would continue unless all three priests were killed. They were known to utilize Hell Barges, large structures carried on the backs of Titans, to serve as their mode of transportation on Earth. Deag Nilox preferred to work closest to the frontlines of the assault, not always in the citadel, capturing civilians alive to use their blood for the most optimal rituals. Deag Ranak, mostly working from the ruins of the ancient Argenta arctic settlement, constructing a large fortress there as he worked to cybernetically revive the Agaddon Hunters. At the same time, Deag Ranak took command of Olivia Pierce's faction of UAC cultists with the promise of wealth, power, and Argent Energy, splitting the corporation between those loyal to Samur and those loyal to Olivia Pierce, utilizing UAC resources to build his fortress. Deag Grav, as the strongest among them, appeared to mostly reside in the San Andreas citadel, often returning to Sentinel Prime to oversee executions.
Deag Nilox corrupted by Hell, shortly before being killed
In unknown regions of space, the Doom Slayer did not remain inactive. He located the Fortress of Doom, taking command of it, and plugged VEGA into its computers. Most of the Fortress lacked power, and but its engines were still functional. Stripped of his weapons during the teleportation, the Slayer was forced to make do with only a Sentinel shotgun, but he also modified his Praetor Suit to be even stronger, having VEGA create a shoulder cannon for him while he also grafted a retractable blade to his left vambrace. In space, the Doom Slayer somehow got ahold of Deag Nilox's holy medallion, which would enable him to kill the priest. Arriving on Earth, the Slayer immediately attacked the demonic forces in San Andreas, teleporting directly into Deag Nilox's Hell Barge, fighting his way to Deag Nilox. While Deag Nilox initially believed he could not be harmed, the Slayer used the holy medallion to remove Nilox's protection, disintegrating the medallion, and proceeded to squeeze Deag Nilox's neck hard enough to decapitate him, taking his head with him. After reaching the central citadel, the Slayer was able to enter due to having Deag Nilox's head, tricking the structure into letting him in. Deag Grav and Deag Ranak were present in the citadel, surprised by the Slayer's arrival and the severed head of their comrade, although they stood their ground, declaring that Earth would fall to demonic consumption. They were then teleported away by the Khan Maykr before the Slayer could attack them, with Deag Ranak fleeing to his arctic base, while Deag Grav fled elsewhere.
The Slayer meets with Commander Valen to recharge a Celestial Locator
Both the remaining priests were no longer visible on the Fortress of Doom's scanners, and so the Slayer decided to venture back to Argent D'Nur, traveling to the city of Exultia. Reaching the throne room, the Slayer retrieved a deactivated Celestial Locator, and was confronted by the ghost of King Novik. Still resigned to his grief, Novik told the Slayer to stand down, citing Argenta laws that forbid them from killing any Deag Priest, also stating that the Doom Slayer, as a single soldier, could not hope to stand against the full might of the Maykrs and Hell, vanishing when the Slayer did not answer. The Slayer then ventured to Hell, seeking Valen. Valen, who remained resigned to his shame, did not want to see the Slayer, saying that he should be left alone in his exile. While he recharged the Celestial Locator, he questioned the Slayer's goals, believing that Earth's time had come. However, before the Slayer left, he tossed the Slayer a small knife, asking him to use it to put the heart of his son to rest, and remained in Hell throughout the Slayer's journey.
With the Celestial Locator, the Slayer found Deag Ranak, attacking his arctic base and clearing it of demons, but Ranak fled to his secondary base, the site of Agaddon reconstruction. The Agaddon Hunters were given cybernetic lower bodies attached to hover sleds, and enough weapons to match a tank division. Ranak taunted the Slayer as he went through the base, and hid his medallion within the body of a reconstructed Agaddon Hunter, now known as Doom Hunters. However, the Slayer chased him into the snow outside the facility, killing the Doom Hunters and taking the medallion. With the medallion, Ranak's defenses were nullified, and he attempted to beg for his life with the Slayer, who promptly decapitates him. With Ranak dead, Deag Grav fled to Sentinel Prime, knowing that no slipgate the Slayer could easily access would be able to reach Argent D'Nur in time to save Earth. Unknown to Deag Grav, the slipgate in Hebeth, sealed within the core of Mars, remained active. Samur knew of this, but as head of the Armored Response Coalition (ARC), Earth's last resistance force, had suffered heavy damage in battle, and needed to be retrieved.
Night Sentinels in Sentinel Prime stand at attention for the Slayer
After the Slayer fought his way through the collapsing ARC complex and retrieved Samur, a Marauder appeared and faced the Slayer. Recognizing the Slayer, the Marauder declared that the Slayer was the true traitor, and claimed to have had his eyes opened, seeing the "enlightenment" of the Maykrs. Rather than return to the Fortress of Doom immediately, the Slayer stood and fought the Marauder, killing him. After being told of Hebeth's location, the Slayer commandeered the BFG-10000 on Phobos to shoot a hole into the surface of Mars, allowing him to access the slipgate. As demons were deployed to stop the Slayer, the Maykrs knew that the Slayer was about to reach Sentinel Prime, and assembled a squad of Night Sentinels to meet him when he arrived. The Sentinels, bearing Sentinel Energy spears, stood at attention for the Slayer when he arrived, with one Sentinel informing Deag Grav of his arrival. The Slayer took an elevator to the arena, where he confronted Deag Grav, although Deag Grav merely mocked him on the grounds that by Sentinel law, killing him would excommunicate the Slayer from the order of the Night Sentinels. Grav then summoned the Gladiator, which had his medallion hidden within its body. After a fierce battle, the Slayer slew the Gladiator and retrieved the medallion, turning his Super Shotgun on Deag Grav and shooting his head off. Immediately, the Maykr loyalist Sentinels turned on the Slayer, now armed with Argent Energy spears, but the Slayer simply walked into a portal generated by VEGA, leaving Sentinel Prime.
Wraith loyalists see the lit Torch of Kings
With the loss of the priests, the Maykrs retrieved both the body of the Icon of Sin, killed by the Doom Slayer when he was just a marine, and the heart of Valen's son, bringing both to Urdak, where they modified the Icon with Maykr technology, performing a ritual to revive the Titan with the heart as their controller. The Slayer fought his way through Taras Nabad to retrieve his Crucible, killing other Marauders that stood in his way, reaching the Nekroval and using its Argent Transmitter to get to Urdak, where he interrupted the ritual, stabbing the heart with the knife Valen gave him, killing it and putting the soul of Valen's son to rest. With the death of the heart, Valen's curse was lifted, and he sensed his son at peace. The Slayer soon permanently killed the Icon of Sin, and King Novik, seeing the Slayer's victory, once again took up hope, and presumably passed on. With the Icon dead, the Slayer utilized ARC resources to retrieve the Life Sphere of Davoth, killing more Marauders and fighting his way through a series of trials to awaken a Titan named Maligog, retrieving the halves of a giant medallion from two ghostly Sentinels. After retrieving Davoth's Life Sphere, the Slayer revived Davoth on Urdak, as trapping his essence in a physical body and then killing him would end Hell's threat forever. Davoth quickly returned to the Hell city of Immora, and the Slayer returned to Argent D'Nur to retrieve a crystal from the World Spear, seeking to power his own portal to Immora. Valen, having exited Hell, holographically appeared to the Slayer, giving him his Sentinel Hammer. With the hammer, the Slayer then fought his way to the Torch of Kings, which remained functional despite the ban on its usage, being saluted by the guards. The Slayer lit the Torch, whose beacon was seen by all remaining free tribes, signifying that the Hell Priests had fallen and a king had returned to Argent D'Nur.
Commander Valen, redeemed, leads the Night Sentinels against the armies of Immora
As the Doom Slayer traveled to Immora, Valen, re-accepted into the ranks of the Night Sentinels, rallied all free tribes of Argent D'Nur under the Sentinel banner, amassing any military asset they could find. Armed with Wintherins, hover-ballistae, hover-catapults, warships, and even Atlans, the Night Sentinels tracked the Doom Slayer's signal to Immora, managing to open up their own slipgates to the Hell city, possibly using the Gate of Divum as a sort of slingshot. As the Slayer stood on a rock formation before the walls of Immora and faced down Davoth's army of demons and Jekkadian Demonic Troopers, Valen, armed with a new Sentinel Hammer of blue Sentinel Energy, walked out of a portal on another rock formation on the Slayer's right. Soon, Argenta infantry and Night Sentinels followed, charging behind Valen and the Slayer against the demonic forces. The Argenta battled the demons across the twisted rocks, and although many fell, they fought relentlessly, their Atlans bringing down Titans. The Slayer reached a hover-catapult at a strategic firing point on the ground, and after clearing some demons around it, loaded himself into the catapult's launcher. The operators fired the Slayer like a projectile clean through the walls of Immora as more Sentinel forces breached the city, warships deploying hover-ballistae and hover-catapults within the city itself. The Slayer soon reached Davoth, battling him in a duel that had them both teleported across several worlds. Finally, the Slayer killed Davoth, and Hell was rendered powerless, every demon outside of Hell being destroyed, even those held in the arena on Argent D'Nur, witnessed by Sentinel guards. It is unknown if Commander Valen survived the assault on Immora. After the battle, the surviving Argenta forces presumably returned to Argent D'Nur to rebuild its society, now free of demonic subjugation.
Appearances[]
- Doom (2016)
- Doom Eternal (2020)
- Doom Eternal: The Ancient Gods Part 1 (2020)
- Doom Eternal: The Ancient Gods Part 2 (2021)
Notes[]
- For reasons unknown, Argenta have been referred to as "humans" in the codex. This is possibly the result of the translation of the Argenta language to English, although "Argenta" has also been used in the codex.