The Elemental Wraiths, also known as the Firstborn and simply the Wraiths, are ancient beings that spawned early life on Argent D'Nur.
Biology[]
The Elemental Wraiths are large beings, standing at almost three times the height of a Human. While they bear a semi-humanoid torso and head, they have tentacles in place of legs, similar to Maykrs, and bat-like wings in place of arms, with each wing having its patagium held between three crab-like limbs that connect to their upper torso, in a similar position as humanoid arms. They are known to have an endoskeleton, and their heads, while appearing somewhat human-like, only have a large mouth as a visible feature, in addition to ram-like horns on their heads, giving them an overall demonic appearance. Elemental Wraiths are able to fly, and generate supplies of energy referred to as Wraith Essence or Wraith Energy, better known as Sentinel Energy, which can be used for seemingly endless purposes, such as a power source for various forms of technology. This energy can be siphoned out of them and combined with Hell Essence to create Argent Energy. Most notably, Elemental Wraiths are capable of creating a "Wraithcall," an ability described as magic, which is able to either spawn or evolve lifeforms into complex organisms, described to be aggressive behemoths, eventually spawning a hostile planetary biosphere. However, the Wraithcall is also capable of eventually giving birth to smaller, less aggressive, and potentially sapient species, such as the Argenta and other animals that the Argenta domesticated, along with a hospitable biosphere. However, the Wraithcall's prolonged use threatened to drive weak-minded Argenta mad the longer they listened to it. The Wraithcall was only said to be used once over a given period of time, and it is possible that the Elemental Wraiths are only capable of using it once. It is highly unlikely that they have any method of reproduction, and appear to be immortal. They also appear to have an ability to go dormant for extended periods of time, while still generating more Sentinel Energy, and could survive being fused to the Well of Hell Essence for eons with their chests mutilated to expose a spherical energy ball within their bodies, despite being in constant torment. Their level of intelligence and sapience is unknown, although it is known that the Wraiths gifted abilities such as magic to the Argenta and relied on them for protection.
History[]
The Elemental Wraiths emerge from the World Spear
The Elemental Wraiths resided within a massive ship known as the World Spear, and three Wraiths were released onto Argent D'Nur when it was pierced by the World Spear. The Wraiths flew over the surface of Argent D'Nur, emitting their Wraithcall, which caused other forms of life to spring forth from the ground. These lifeforms, known as Ancestrals, were hostile behemoths who waged wars against each other, ravaging the surface. Eventually, the Argenta came to be, and were gifted with magic from the Wraiths, using it to fight back and drive out the Ancestrals. As thanks for their gifts, the Night Sentinels were formed to protect both the Wraiths and the Argenta populace, empowered by their energy, with the people worshipping the Wraiths as gods, forming the Deag Priests to be their prophets. While the people worshipped the Wraiths, the Wraiths were also feared, with Argenta texts describing worship of the Wraiths as necessary to avoid their wrath. Their Wraithcall continued for some time, combined with times of strife due to earthquakes and attacks from barbaric tribes. The Wraiths eventually appeared to go dormant, ceasing their Wraithcall and being held within a Sentinel facility. During the Time of Grief, the Argenta were contacted by the Maykrs, who helped them once again become prosperous. As a result, the Argenta shifted their worship to the Maykrs, with the Deags being reorganized to be the prophets of the Maykrs, although the Wraiths remained guarded by the Sentinels throughout the duration of the Maykr's stay and the start of the war against the demons. As the war between the Night Sentinels and demons raged on, the Wraiths continued to supply energy that powered Sentinel weaponry, which was soon discovered to be able to create Argent Energy. In secret, some of their energy was siphoned away by the Maykrs to create Argent Energy, striking a deal with Hell for a supply of Argent Energy in exchange of giving Hell more worlds to corrupt. Near the end of the war, when the Maykr's deal with Hell was revealed, the Night Sentinels shifted their worship back to the Wraiths. At the time, the Wraiths were being guarded by an Argenta known as Valen, whose son had fallen in battle against the demons. Valen was getting visions of his son's soul in torment, and out of desperation, made a deal with Deag Grav, a member of the now-corrupted Deag Priests, to resurrect his son. To fulfill his end of the deal, he gave access to the Wraiths to Deag Grav, who kidnapped the Wraiths and took them into Hell, fusing them to the Well of Hell Essence, where their bodies were mutilated to have their energy constantly drained and fed into the Well to produce Argent Energy, leaving the Wraiths in eternal torment. Valen's son was then resurrected as a Titan known as Icon of Sin, and Valen, now known as The Betrayer, exiled himself into Hell as Argent D'Nur fell. The Wraiths remained in Hell for eons, until the Doom Slayer came across them in the 22nd Century. They were being guarded by hordes of demons, but the Slayer tore his way through them and freed the Wraiths with a Crucible that he recovered, ending the Well's production of Argent Energy. While the Wraiths were described as being freed, their bodies remained, described as being put to rest, meaning that only the spirits of the Wraiths were now free. When the Doom Slayer traveled to the World Spear on his quest to kill the Dark Lord, he saw that the World Spear held an unknown number of Wraiths in apparent stasis. What became of these Wraiths is unknown.
Notes[]
- In Doom 3, a demon also known as a Wraith existed. However, this Wraith was quite different from the Elemental Wraiths, and has no known relation. In addition, Nightmare Imps in Doom 64 were sometimes referred to as Wraiths as well, although it is not their true name.
- Their tentacled lower half is reminiscent of Maykrs, but any relation between the two species is unknown. Their overall demonic appearance also appears to bear no direct relation to Hell and its denizens. It is likely that they have some sort of direct connection to the Maykrs, given the presence of ghostly Seraphs within the World Spear, although the World Spear holds energy unlike that of Urdak or any known realm, possibly of Jekkad prior to its corruption.
- It is unknown if the Argenta are truly an alien species created by the Wraiths, or a race of Humans transplanted through time onto Argent D'Nur by the Wraiths, as the Argenta described themselves as Man and Mankind, even as Human on one occasion, and appear completely indiscernible from Humans, aside from an ability to use magic, although this could be referring to technology powered by Sentinel Energy, or be a direct result of Sentinel Energy fusing with their bodies. In addition, King Novik and the Night Sentinels who fought alongside The Slayer are capable of manifesting their spirits long after death in the form of ghosts, still retaining all the faculties they had in life, although this could also be the result of using Sentinel Energy, or a curse put on their souls. The Betrayer was also known to still live eons after Argent D'Nur fell, although he was likely cursed to live as long as the cursed immortal heart of his son, as Argenta not taking Argent Energy are known to be mortal. At the same time, King Novik and The Betrayer referred to Humanity as "your people" when addressing The Slayer. It could be possible that the Argenta are the ancestors of Humanity (which is backed by the fact that Argenta once lived on Earth) or otherwise related to them, but not truly Humans themselves. Alternatively, King Novik and The Betrayer referring to Humanity as "your people" could simply be referring to the society that The Slayer used to belong to, as he had become a Night Sentinel and joined Argenta society.
- The origin of the wolf-like Sentinel beasts used by Night Sentinels were never revealed, and it remains ambiguous if they were created by the Wraithcall.