Overview
This is a guide that I did after reading all the codices of the game and pieced them together to form a very clear storyline for the mythology and background of the game.
Introduction
Hello DOOM Lovers!
In the past few days, i spent some considerable time sifting through the codices found on the
DOOM game to construct a story based on the literal interpretation of what is written in them. It really felt like studying a religion.
After some time, things started to get clearer, as i ordered the events chronologically. So
today, i decided to share with you my conclusions about the story and lore, as much as i can with chronological order.
I will provide screenshots containing the lines extracted from any codex i will be referencing.
One final note, i will be interpreting the events of this game separately form the other DOOM games.
Now let’s jump right into it!
The Story of Argent D’Nur and the Battle of the First Age
From what appears from some “scriptures” that were found in the Kadingir Sanctum, the last time Argent D’Nur existed was in the First Age.
According to the Baron of Hell data collected in the year 2143, we are currently in the 4th age of Hell.
The location of argent D’Nur, to me, was debatable. The UAC studies believe that it is a realm, that was “absorbed into Hell’s dimension”, an expression which implies that it wasn’t in hell’s dimension in the first place.
However, in the Ungmar Codex where it is explained how Argent D’Nur was conquered, it is mentioned to be a “City”. Not as a “Realm” or a “World”. Also, to the Dark Lords of Hell, the people of Argent D’Nur were considered to be worshiping “false gods” as they worshiped the Elemental Wraiths. Which may imply that the Hell lords and the Wraiths existed in the same plane and that they thought it was their right to be worshiped instead.
This slightly indicates that the “City of Argent” was in the Hell dimension.
Yet again, in the Ungmar Codex, it was described that when the curse was put on the wraiths, it formed the well, which allowed the Hell forces to advance.
And in another instance, the Ungmar Codex mentioned that their “Realm” was absorbed into Hell’s.
So i think given the evidence, the city is actually not in the Hell’s realm and it was claimed by them. But it remains intriguing: why do the Hell’s Lord consider the Wraiths as rival “Gods”?
However, it is also evident that after the opening of the Well, which was formed from the Wraiths’ curse, this helped Hell forces, probably, to transport across many dimensions. That’s why this battle was very important to the Hell Lords.
Like said in the previous codices, the elemental Wraiths were very terrifying creatures that dwelt in Argent City. Everyone feared them to the point of worship and giving them sacrifices. That’s why the Night Sentinels, is a warrior order that keep them in check and protect the city from them. So apparently Hell priests knew the amount of energy that could be siphoned from them, and thus opening the Well to use it for their dominion. And that’s why this battle was fought, and also to weaken the Sentinels.
These events of how the battle ended in favor to Hell are depicted clearly in the Ungmar Codex:
So apparently this Hell priest, Deag Grav, struck a deal with some “Betrayer” so that this Betrayer could have his son, who was lost in battle, back. He showed him the way to the wraiths, a curse was put to siphon their energy to Hell, easing up the conquering of the place. The son was returned to the Betrayer in the form of the Icon of Sin, who apparently went on a rampage on the people of Argent D’Nur.
Who is the DOOM Slayer?
There have been many speculations on his identity. All we know clearly that he wore the “Crown of the Night Sentinels” and was their leader. Is he a demon? An angel? Or just an Argent D’Nur citizen? More specifically, is he the Betrayer or not? Let’s examine the scriptures and testaments closely and try to find clues.
Let’s start by examining the Slayer’s Testaments, which were clearly written after they managed to defeat him.
“In the First age, in the first battle, when the shadows first lengthened,…”
This line is clearly talking about the battle of Argent D’Nur, as it was in the First age, and it’s when the shadows, or Hell forces, prevailed “lengthened”.
“… one stood. Burned by the embers of Armageddon, his soul blistered by fires of Hell and tainted beyond ascension, he chose the path of perpetual torment. In his ravenous hatred, he found no peace; and with boiling blood, scoured the Umbral Plains seeking vengeance against the dark lords who had wronged him.”
Burned by the embers of the first battle, apparently he chose to stay for revenge.
His soul, tainted beyond ascension: I believe beyond ascension to heaven, or redemption. Thus, he will never find peace. He did something really wrong, and can’t atone for what he’s done, and won’t be forgiven and ascend to heaven any time soon.
He sought revenge against the dark lords, who had “Wronged” him. So apparently he was wronged by the dark lords somehow, and wants vengeance and redemption.
So this means that the DOOM Slayer was wrong by the dark lords, and decided to stay for revenge.
Again, the testament mentions that he sought “Retribution”.
I don’t understand what the divide is or what is meant by it, but it seems like no demon has done what he did with it.
The seraphim bestowed upon him terrible power and speed. The seraphim is supposed to be actually an angel. So this means that when an angel found that he chose the path of redemption, he thought of giving him more power to aid him in his quest.
And apparently he broke the obsidian pillars of the Blood Temple in the Kadingir Sanctum.
Apparently he spend doing this for “eons”. Meaning for centuries, hundreds of them.
We know from this testament that a “Titan” has rose to power and challenged the DOOM Slayer.
This probably happened in the 3rd age. Meaning that this maniac spent 2 ages in hell, probably for millennia, just tearing apart demons.
In the Cyberdemon data, it is revealed that when the expeditions started to go to the Titan Realm, they found a “Baalgar Demon” remains. they collected it and Engineered it with Argent energy to give the Cyberdemon.
They also mention that the Corrax tablets found, mentioned an ancient battle in the Third age. That’s probably when the Titan fought the DOOM Slayer after “eons”.
Someone betrayed the dark lords and gave the DOOM Slayer his armor, forged by Hell. That’s why his suit has that symbol on the helmet, as it was forged in Hell, not by the people of argent D’Nur.
We know here that the DOOM Slayer fell, by collapsing the temple over him.
When we put all these together, to me, it’s very clear that the DOOM Slayer is actually the Betrayer.
The timeline is as follows:
In the 1st Age, Hell constantly wants to take over the Argent City, to harness the energy and expand their dominion.
The Slayer is the crowned leader of the Night Sentinels.
He loses his son during the back and forth battles.
He wants him back.
He betrays the Sentinels, and the city, by guiding Deag Grav to the Wraiths.
The Hell priests put a curse on the wraiths, to at last, siphon their energy.
His son is returned to him as the Icon of Sin.
The Icon of Sin tears the Argent City apart while everyone watched helplessly.
Wronged, consumed with rage, seeking vengeance, retribution, and redemption, the Slayer decides to take revenge on Hell.
An angel decides to help him by giving him immense power.
A demon decides to help him, forging an armor for him.
He spends eons battling in Hell, choosing the path of perpetual torment.
He defeats a Titan in the 3rd Age.
He is ambushed in the Kadingir Sanctum, and stays in it entrapped in the tomb for almost an age, until Samuel Hayden revives him.
Have you ever noticed right when the game starts, what happens?
You see the Slayer mark being drawn with blood slowly on the screen, then someone speaks saying the following:
“They are rage, brutal without mercy, but you, you will be worse! Rip and tear, until it is DONE!”
I have not one inch of a doubt that this is the Seraphim speaking, specifically the moment he gave him his power.
He made him way worse than Demons, till he finishes it, and destroys Hell!
Have you ever noticed what does Olivia Pierce tell you when you see her the first time in the Foundry?
She says:
“You could not have saved them anyway.”
The first time i played the game, when i had no idea or understanding of the story, the moment she said that, it instantly occurred to me that she is talking about the protagonist’s loved ones. It seemed odd if she was talking about the UAC personnel. No.
She was talking about his past. She was talking about the Night sentinels, his son, the Argent City. The way this sentence is said, the tone of voice, the words used, only signifies this meaning.
I am really convinced that this is the story and this is how it went on. My mind is very much locked on the idea that the Slayer is the Betrayer.
We also have to notice that the Ungmar Codex, where the character is called the Betrayer, was written centuries before the Slayer Testaments, where he is called the Slayer. So things change. And the tides turned, and how Hell views him now is different.
In case you were wondering…
Yep. Sure he is. Not only that, but he will probably be there in a sequel. And here is how it’s implied:
This was a motivational speech for the “advocates” of the cause of exploring Hell.
It is talking about the Necropolis, where you can worship the Icon of Sin while it sleeps, until the “Call of Ages” awakes it. And it’s evident in the photo. That’s actually the Icon of Sin, and he will probably “Wake Up” at one point after being called upon.
If you look at this scripture closely, you get some interesting clues.
This hooded figure in the top left of the photo:
I believe that’s the seraphim watching the Slayer from “up there” while he does his work.
If you look closely on the right and left, you will see Night Sentinels fighting with the demons using swords.
Also on the far right, is a wall of a castle. Don’t where that is, though.
I don’t really know to whom does the Crucible belongs to, but i think it belonged to some dark lord of Hell. Maybe it belonged to the Titan? I don’t really know. But i think it was definitely forged in Hell, given it has an Argent Blade.
Join me!
So what do you think? Do you have other interpretations, do you have other theories?
Join this guide and share your thoughts about the Doom Mythology!