Gatekeeper's Chronicles
Glossary
Arachnotron: Demon quasi-species / cybronic construct. Using advanced alien technology, the forces of Hell were able to breed artificial brains and mount them on sturdy metallic chassis, armed with plasma cannons. The brains were infused with the tormented spirits of ancient humans. Warped by Hell's chaotic power, they became fully loyal to Baphomet and joined his ranks as some of the most powerful warriors of Hell.
Arch Vile: Demon species – humans who had committed the most terrible of crimes and blasphemies, losing their souls to darkness while still alive. Warped by Baphomet's will, they have been turned into demonic entities that possess tremendous arcane powers, including the power of demonic resurrection.
Atlanteans: Ancient human civilization that had discovered and tamed the power of magic, as well as high technologies. Descendants of the last surviving Disciples that had somehow found a way into the mortal realm.
Baphomet: A fallen Deity (formerly one of the Old Gods). Embodiment of chaos and innate rebellion against imposed order. Rumored to have secretly played a role in the fall of the Elder Worlds. Stormed from the ranks of the Deities to form a realm of his own – Hell. Creator and mentor of the Gatekeepers.
Baron of Hell: Hell Knights that have consumed the blood of Gatekeepers. They underwent a metamorphosis that bestowed an insatiable lust for conquest upon them, increased their strength and stamina, as well as their magical abilities, turning them into some of the most powerful commanders of Hell.
BFG 9000: An experimental weapon, mutual project of the military and the UAC. The weapon quickly accumulates a heavy load of energy and unleashes a massive discharge of plasma and anti–matter that inflicts severe damage upon many targets at once. In its name abbreviation, the "B" stands for "big," and the "G" stands for "gun." There has been some speculation about the meaning of the "F."
Black Container: A powerful demonic artifact of unknown origins. It unleashes a powerful necromantic spell that raises dead humans as Former Humans – persistent undead warriors, possessing immense bloodlust and unholy strength.
Cacodemon: Demon species. Spawned by Baphomet manifestations of sadism and perversity. Originally bred to torture the hapless human souls in Hell, yet proved to be powerful airborne warriors. Cacodemons are enormous levitating cyclop heads that belch explosive gas orbs, also known for their chilling grins and unrelenting cruelty.
Catacombs: An area of Hell – resting place for many of the sinful souls. The Angel of Death, the former master of the Netherworld controlled the lower, sealed section of the catacombs, where he gathered an increasing army of ethereal wraiths before being slain by a mortal hero who descended into the lower catacombs, holding the Spear of Destiny. The lower catacombs are not accessible by any other means.
Cyberdemon: One of the ancient demons that inhabited the Obsidian Canyons. Their origins are unknown, though it is theorized that they were once the guardians of the small world of Quake (one of the five Original Worlds). They were not able to survive on other worlds (for unknown biological reasons) until adaptive cybernetic technology turned them into living machines, finally able to offer their full support to Baphomet's armies.
Deities (Old Gods): Immensely powerful extra–dimensional entities that came into being with the beginning of Existence and the formation of the Universes. They were the first to create five worlds from the emptiness of the Void, and ruled over their mortal creations that inhabited them through the elite sect known as the "Disciples" until a fateful great Rebellion that destroyed the existing order. Baphomet was one of the Deities.
Dimension of the Doomed (Realm of Earth Magic): One of the five Original Worlds – a nexus point for humans' magic powers that were fundamentally different from the power of the Old Gods. The world was inhabited by a small group of magi (non–Disciples) that studied and attuned the flows of arcane power.
Dis: An enormous palace that stands on a height at the northeast end of Inferno, designed to be the headquarters of the commander of Inferno (for reasons unknown Baphomet always appointed lieutenants as ruler of the continent). Contains vast treasuries, armories and vaults of dark artifacts.
Disciples: Elite sect of humans in the Elder World, chosen by the Deities themselves. They were the physical embodiment of their power over humanity, specially trained in magic and manipulation, and the mediators between the mortals and the Old Gods. Their end came with the Great Rebellion that overthrew their order and led to the fall of the Original Worlds.
Elder Runes: Ancient artifacts of unimaginable power, forged by the Old Gods. Each of those runes carried the very essence of a primal aspect of magic: Earth magic (human spellcraft), Black magic (evil force), Netherworld magic (pure chaos), and Elder magic (Old Gods' power). It is said that the one who possesses the four runes would be granted power, rivaling that of the Old Gods themselves.
Elder World: One of the five Original Worlds. Home of humanity as it was first created by an unknown force or Deity. Its center of power was the City of the Disciples – an enormous citadel that was built within a giant crater that was formed by a cataclysmic eruption of arcane energy. The Elder World was a warm but humid world, complete with forests and oceans that were known for their variety of colors (waters that ranged from light yellow, to dark purple).
Former Human: Slain human, raised by the evil force unleashed from a Black Container. The power of the Former Humans is determined by their skills while they were alive, and ranges from simple weak raised zombiemen to the vicious Former Commandos that had been skilled fighters while alive and quite lethal in their forced state of undeath.
Fortress of Mystery: An ethereal anomaly shaped as a very tall fortress, which consists of a single tower. It was there that Soul Spheres and demonic healing potions were developed. The fortress is able to shift in and out of existence, travel from place to place, and become invisible. It was used in the invasion and teleportation of Deimos.
Gate: A stabilized rupture in the fabric of time and space that folds the planar fabric in a way that connects two entirely different locations. The Gate's stability and persistence is supported by a sophisticated framework of energy flows and tachyon vectors. Their true nature is shrouded in mystery, even for Gatekeepers, though they confidently describe it as "a singular rift, framed within the Void and anchored into the physical world by a reverse electromagnetic field."
Gatekeeper: One of thirteen ancient demons, second in command to Baphomet himself in the hierarchy of Hell. Created by the fallen Deity himself during the earliest days of Hell, they possessed the power to shape reality per their wishes and open dimensional gateways. Their powers in dark sorcery were quite formidable, as well as their talents as field commanders.
Great Rebellion: An ancient and unprecedented uprising of humanity against the Disciples and their Old God masters. Led to the downfall of the Elder Worlds and their established order. It is rumored that Baphomet played a clandestine role in the events surrounding the rebellion.
Hell: A vast realm of pure chaos and a focal point of evil powers throughout the Multiverse. Dimensionally configured to siphon all human and non–human souls that carry evil within. Inhabited by exceptionally hostile and xenophobic creatures – demons, as well as their undead servitors.
Hell Keep: Entrance point for the human souls into Hell. Guards the entrance into Inferno. Contains reliquaries and the Halls of Records, where all souls trapped in Hell are listed.
Hell Knight: One of the first demonic species, spawned, according to legend, from the hairs of Baphomet's beard that he spread all over the realm. Hell Knights are excellent warriors, possessing a good balance of stamina, cunning, brute strength, and basic warlock sorcery. They often serve as Baphomet's elite guard.
House of Pain: Hellish facility built on the plains of Inferno. Its primary purpose was the production of food for demons by crushing human bodies and extracting their blood. Its high technology allowed it to emanate pure essence of pain in the form of eerie vapors through its exhausts – these vapors strengthen Hell and its overall aura of suffering.
Icon of Sin: A vast citadel in Hell, the seat of power, home of Lord Baphomet. Built by unknown technology and designs, it spreads Baphomet's dark influence over the whole realm. It is said that anyone who would enter its halls would be lost forever as there is a potent spell of confusion that protects the whole area. The name is sometimes used to reference Baphomet himself.
Imp: Demon species – one of the first creatures formed by the volatile energies that Baphomet unleashed throughout Hell. Imps are roughly the size of a human, brown in color, possessing many spikes, excellent sight, the ability to cast fireballs upon their victims (primal warlock magical abilities, mostly underdeveloped), and burning hunger for the flesh and blood of mortals. Imps have many purposes in Hell's hierarchy – from lowly menial workers and warriors to, in rare cases, commanders of demonic troop squads.
Inferno: One of Hell's continents, part of a greater landmass, separated from its western counterpart by the Mountains of Agony. The boundaries of the continent were heavily fortified and the gates of the Hell Keep were the only entrance. Significant structures, such as the Pandemonium, the House of Pain, the Unholy Cathedral, and Dis were located there.
Lost Soul: Demon species/undead manifestation. Despair and the loss of all meaning in life, turn humans into Lost Souls when their spirits are devoured by Hell. These manifestations of anguish and frustration appear as burning horned skulls that are capable of levitating and propelling themselves at high speeds when they attacked. Hungry for the flesh and souls of the living, Lost Souls were deadly when encountered in packs. Ravenous and merciless, they were able to tear a victim into pieces within a minute.
Monster Condo: A huge demonic city to the west of the Mountains of Agony. Contained the largest demonic library in Hell, and therefore served as a gathering point for demons attracted by the mystic arts.
Mt. Erebus: The highest mount on the territory of Inferno, in Hell. Built on its top was a stronghold that keeps the Hellforge where many demonic artifacts were once crafted.
Mountains of Agony: A vast mountain range that separates the largest continent of Hell into two, the eastern half being known as Inferno. Covered with numerous walls and fortifications to bar any passage between the east and west.
Netherworld: The original realm of the dead, gatherer of dead souls, one of the five Original Worlds. It is characterized by vast smoldering wastelands, seas of hot magma and chaotic fields of black crystals. Supposedly, the Netherworld was ruled by the Angel of Death, who was later found in Hell. On very rare occasions, the realm was still capable of attracting souls and projecting manifestations on the mortal plane even after being locked under the Shield.
"O" of Destruction: A name for the circular area of ruins of old buildings, which were located in the center of the primary star port of Earth. It was there that a Gatekeeper installed a machine, creating a powerful force field, sealing the star port, and cutting off humanity's escape route.
Original Worlds: Five worlds – the first to be ever created since the begging of Existence. Shaped by the Old Gods, there were five such worlds, and humanity was to inhabit the largest of them. Those realms were: The Realm of Earth Magic (Dimension of the Doomed), The Realm of Black Magic, The Netherworld, The Elder World, and Quake. The last was a small dark planet with mysterious purposes and properties.
Pain Elemental: Demon species/bio–energy anomaly. After consuming a specific number of pure human souls, a Lost Soul enters a state of metamorphosis, in which it is encased in a shell of scintillating energy. After a period of time that ranges from several hours to a few days, the Lost Soul is transformed into a Pain Elemental – brown colored, levitating cyclop head that possess underdeveloped limbs and the ability to spawn an unlimited number of Lost Souls – clones of the original specimen that formed the Elemental. The mechanism of the spawning, as well as the creature's habits, remain unknown.
Pandemonium: A mighty fortress in Inferno. Base of operations for warrior demons that assaulted and pillaged numerous distant worlds. Contained the greatest armory of Hell as well as chambers where the loot from eons of demonic plunder was stored. The fortress has served other purposes as well, but they have yet to be discovered.
Quake: A small planet, one of the five original worlds. A seemingly undeveloped and dark world, it concealed a vast underground structure that, as it is theorized, was constructed by the Deities for their meetings and control over the other four worlds. The four great Runes of power were supposedly forged here as well. When the Shield was raised, one of the Old Gods (name uncertain) was left there to watch over the sealed worlds.
Realm of Black Magic: One of the five Original Worlds – a focal world of evil, chaos, and darkness. The uncontrollable side of magic (black magic) was concentrated on that world by the Old Gods so that they would be able to keep watch over it. Secretly chosen humans were sent there and allowed to study black magic and build their own shadowy civilization. Ruled by a council of five chosen magi, they existed until a civil war that erupted among them just prior to the Great Rebellion.
Revenant: Undead cybronic hybrid. One of Hell's most sophisticated creations; essentially a cybernetically modified human skeleton that has been brought to life by the spirit of a slain demon (an ethereal image of the undead host can sometimes be seen around the bones). It attacks its victims with heat–seeking missiles or with its bare fists that strike with surprising strength and accuracy.
Spear of Destiny: An artifact of great, yet unknown power, brought from the one of the Elder Worlds. Used for the creation of a specific type of undead. It is also theorized that it could allow its wielder entry into the lower catacombs, inaccessible by any other means. A mortal hero entered that area, with the Spear in hand, and confronted the Angel of Death who resided there.
Spider Mastermind: Cybernetic/demonic quasi-species. Using the alien technology utilized for the creation of Arachnotrons to build larger and stronger hydraulic chassis that carry hideous chainguns, as well as enormous genetically modified brains. These brains were infused with the spirits of the necromancers that were once the most trusted advisors of the Gatekeeper who ruled over the assembled human tribes in Earth's distant past. The Masterminds became Hell's most loyal and mighty generals that lead the demonic legions into battle.
Temple of Darkness: The largest seat of Hell's power ever on Earth. Built by a young Gatekeeper who had assumed control over the local groups of primitive humans and ruled over them for centuries. The Temple was used to store dark knowledge and many infernal artifacts, including Void Spheres.
The Shield: Excessively powerful protective spell cast by the Old Gods around the original Elder Worlds, severing them from time and space, and isolating them for an unlimited period of time. Everything sealed under the Shield is locked in stasis and does not age.
Tower of Babel: A demonic tower/temple built on Deimos after it was teleported to Hell. The warlord of the Cyberdemons used it to channel a potent ritual that opened Gateways to Earth and enabled the demonic invasion upon it.
Unholy Cathedral: An enormous temple on the northern hills of the continent of Inferno in Hell. Built to serve as a focal point for dark powers, and resting place of the so–called Unholy Bible – Baphomet's prime token of power.
Union Aerospace Corporation (UAC): A powerful, unscrupulous human conglomerate on Earth that claimed an undisputed monopolist position with the discovery of a unique waste–processing technology. It built colonies on Mars and its moons, Phobos and Deimos, where secret experiments were performed.
Void Sphere: Powerful demonic artifact with enormous destructive potential. Creates a void of time and space causing a cataclysmic implosive effect. Nothing in the known Universe can resist the power of a Void Sphere.
Warlock: Secretive demon species that did not participate in the invasion of Earth. Primal users of demonic magic, they have the authority to set the rules of its usage throughout Hell and conduct research that leads to new discoveries in the field. Reclusive and mysterious, they seldom leave their temples and networks of crypts. Unconfirmed information describes Warlocks as very tall, Centaur–like, demons, the color of freshly spilled blood. All other information about them is speculative at best.
Warrens: A stronghold in Hell, resting place for the souls of the insane. The chaotic powers of the maddened spirits have warped the original structure into a close resemblance of the Hell Keep, yet parts of the genuine building remains, hidden in the Warrens' darkest corners.
Gatekeeper's Chronicles, written roughly in the period February 2005 – June 2005. Thank you for reading all the way to the end :)