Keys of Hel
The Keys of Hel are seals placed on forbidden technologies from the Dark Age of Technology or of alien origin by Ferrus Manus. The existence of these technologies was known to few outside the Iron Hands Legion, and even within it few knew more than the names.[2] After Ferrus Manus died, some of the Iron Hands 'turned the Keys of Hel', seeking any advantage that would help them exact vengeance on the traitors.[1]
What are the Keys of Hel?
They are the fires taken from the mountain. They are what should not and must not be. Only in the last days of humanity, when law has no meaning, should any think to break the locks placed upon them.[2]
Forbidden Technologies
Cyber-Ressurection
Cyber-Resurrection was one of the possible applications of the forbidden technologies, restoring the dead to a facsimile of life.[2] The ghola, often called 'Revenants',[3a] retained their memories and were capable of speech.[1] Repeated cyber-resurrection was possible even after a Revenant was 'killed' again.[2]
Revenants were kept in a cryogenic state at sub-life support temperatures until they were awoken for battle,[1] gradually getting slower the longer they spent away from the machine. Kastigan Ulok modified the standard operating protocols of his cryo-stasis vault to protect it against a catastrophic shutdown, neuromorphic subroutines bordering on Abominable Intelligence.[3b]
Known Users
- Phidias, commander of the Thetis[1]
- Kastigan Ulok, Iron Father, commander of the Obstinate[3a]
Known Revenants
- Athanatos, killed by a Word Bearer on Isstvan V[1]
- Azoth, Iron Father killed by the World Eaters[3a]
- Crius, member of the Crusader Host, former Clan-Father of Clan Kadoran[1]
- Soter, Clan-Father of Clan Kadoran[2]