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"You would do well to remember, we will outlive you. And we do not forget."

- A purifier to a Templar(src)

The Purifiers are an ancient robotic race created by the protoss.

Overview

"I have been analyzing the Purifier bodies en masse. Their systems functions more effectively when in proximity to each other. Outlying protocols can be off-loaded to unoccupied cores."
"What does any of that mean, Karax?"
"Their data web was designed to replicate the sense of the Khala. They are connected to each other."

The original Purifiers bear the same general protoss form, if not biology.[1] They operate more efficiently when in close proximity to each other, and a Purifier's personality can be uploaded into an empty shell. They possess a data web that is similar to the Khala, though it does not possess the same emotional connectivity.[2][3] Purifiers connected through this link can speak through different vessels (e.g. one Purifier can speak through another Purifier's body provided that the link is shared).

Talandar, the only Purifier of the revived program, bore similar, if not identical synthetic properties of the original Purifiers,[1] though with a quadrapedal form.[4]

History

Origins

"Do you know of the Purifier program, Fenix?"
"Of course. The greatest Templar minds replicated. Dangerous machines that had to be shut down."

- Artanis and Fenix(src)

ZealotSentinel LotV Portrait

A Purifier of the original program

The purifiers were built under direct order of the Conclave to be an ultimate fighting force at a time when protoss scientists were making technological advancements in intelligent robotics and artificial intelligence.[5] This force would consist of replications of the greatest warriors in protoss history.[6] The program was originally kept in shadow and unified by the belief that consciousness could be turned into data, thereby used to preserve the thought-process and decision-making ability of a formerly living being. Studies proved that the replications were often 99.3% accurate to the protoss subject the replication was patterned after. The Conclave moved to use this technology to build a force replicated from the greatest warriors in the universe.[5] A data web was designed to give the Purifiers a synthetic equivalent of the Khala; Hierarch Artanis would later speculate that the engineers who designed the Purifiers did this in the belief that the Purifiers could never be seen as protoss without the light of the Khala.[2][3]

The Conclave did not, however, treat the Purifiers with the same respect afforded to regular Templar. Instead, the Purifiers were little more than slaves in the Conclave's eyes. Eventually, the purifiers chose to rebel, killing their masters. In return, the Conclave determined that the purifiers were too dangerous and banned them. They were powered down and launched away in a command vessel, Cybros, to be reactivated only in the direst of circumstances.[5]

The Second Program

"The Khalai on Glacius have prototyped the technology with successful results. It is said that these experimentations are no different than the templar they are replications of. A byproduct of quantum predictive analytics."

- Karax(src)

Glacius Purifier SC2-LotV Cncpt

The new Purifier program on Glacius

Sometime prior to the Great War, a new Purifier Program was designed, inspired by the technology of the original attempt.[2][7] This was carried out at a facility on Glacius. The personality of Praetor Fenix, who fell at Antioch during the zerg invasion of Aiur, was used as the template for the prototype of these new Purifiers.[4] It was estimated that the replication was accurate of the original template to within the ninety-ninth percentile.[2][8]

Reactivation

"Why do you seek the Purifiers?"
"Brothers, you were created to protect the empire, yet we did not treat you as you deserved, as true Templar. I implore you to forgive our ancestors' mistakes, to take up your ancient charge once more, and join us as equals."

- Executor Clolarion and Artanis(src)

Cybros SC2-LotV Cine3

The Purifier warship Cybros

During the war between Amon and the Daelaam, Hierarch Artanis came to Cybros to reactivate them, though also had to deal with the presence of the zerg. After activating the Purifiers in Cybros, the Purifiers set to purify Endion through the vessel's weaponry, purging it due to massive zerg infestation. They then agreed to fight for the Daelaam after given reassurance by Hierarch Artanis that they will be treated as equals, as long as the Purifier with Fenix's consciousness became their representative.[1]

AlliedCommanders SC2-LotV Art1
This article or section contains information derived from Co-op Missions, and should not be considered part of the official StarCraft storyline.

During the End War, as the Purifiers were being reactivated a Purifier facility came under the control of a Tal'darim personality. One of the base's AI, a construct named Aurana, called upon two allied commanders to aid her in purging the personality from the base, having them protect her transport. The commanders were successful in purging the facility.

Against Amon

The Purifiers were present during the Daelaam's second attempt to reclaim Aiur, alongside the Tal'darim and Nerazim. When Amon's host body was exposed, Cybros, the Death Fleet, the Spear of Adun and all other Daelaam warships unleashed open bombardment and destroyed his physical form. [9] The Purifiers held the southern entrance of the temple during the final defense of the Keystone, and were commanded by Phase-smith Karax. The Purifiers and their Daelaam allies were successful in activating the Keystone and driving Amon back into the Void.[10]

When Artanis lead the protoss into the Void for a final strike against Amon, Purifier sentinels, colossi[11] and energizers accompanied his forces.[12]

Among the Daelaam

"We are all protoss."
"So are the Khalai and the Nerazim, and that does not make them all of one mind."

After the End War, Purifiers continued to research and develop new technologies and improve their old shells and armaments while repurposing many abandoned protoss technologies. Much of this research was done out of Cybros.[13]

On Aiur, Purifiers largely kept self-isolated to their network, separate from the rest of Daelaam beyond when they were needed to aid in reconstruction. Those times they did stray out and observe their brethren, they were met with distrust by many of their biological protoss kin, with many conspiracy theories on the state of the Purifiers and their adgenda spreading through the civilian protoss. Purifier technology was used in a failed attempt by Phase-smith Lantharis to recreate a facsimile of the Khala.[14]

Known Purifiers

Talandar SC2-LotV Art1

Various Purifiers

Types

Individuals

Purifier SC2-LotV Cncpt1

A Purifier sentinel

AlliedCommanders SC2-LotV Art1
This article or section contains information derived from Co-op Missions, and should not be considered part of the official StarCraft storyline.

Notes

Purifier SC2 Rend1

Purifier skin set

  • The idea of robotic protoss goes as far back as the original StarCraft. During development, the protoss were conceived as a robotic race, where their different units would mimic various animals.[15]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 Blizzard Entertainment. StarCraft II: Legacy of the Void. (Activision Blizzard). PC. Mission: Purification. (in English). November 10, 2015
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Blizzard Entertainment. StarCraft II: Legacy of the Void. (Activision Blizzard). PC. Karax (In English). 2015.
  3. 3.0 3.1 Blizzard Entertainment. StarCraft II: Legacy of the Void. (Activision Blizzard). PC. Conversations after: Purification (in English). 2015-11-10.
  4. 4.0 4.1 Blizzard Entertainment. StarCraft II: Legacy of the Void. (Activision Blizzard). PC. Mission: Forbidden Weapon (in English). 2015-11-10.
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 2015-09-13, Protoss Faction Lore. Blizzard Press Center, accessed on 2015-10-10
  6. 2012-12-05, Community Lore Discussion BlizzCon 2015. StarCraft Legacy, accessed on 2015-12-28
  7. Blizzard Entertainment. StarCraft II: Legacy of the Void. (Activision Blizzard). PC. Conversations before: Forbidden Weapon (in English). 2015-11-10.
  8. Blizzard Entertainment. StarCraft II: Legacy of the Void. (Activision Blizzard). PC. Conversations after: Brothers in Arms (in English). 2015-11-10.
  9. Blizzard Entertainment. StarCraft II: Legacy of the Void. (Activision Blizzard). PC. Mission: The Host (in English). 2015-11-10.
  10. Blizzard Entertainment. StarCraft II: Legacy of the Void. (Activision Blizzard). PC. Mission: Salvation (in English). 2015-11-10.
  11. Blizzard Entertainment. StarCraft II: Legacy of the Void. (Activision Blizzard). PC. Mission: Into the Void. (in English). November 10, 2015
  12. Blizzard Entertainment. StarCraft II: Legacy of the Void. (Activision Blizzard). PC. Mission: The Essence of Eternity. (in English). November 10, 2015
  13. Blizzard Entertainment. StarCraft II: Legacy of the Void. Collections Tab: Skins. October 17, 2016
  14. Acks, Alex. "One People, One Purpose." (July 28, 2020). Blizzard Entertainment. One People, One Purpose Accessed 2020-07-28.
  15. 2018-12-02, 20 YEARS OF STARCRAFT: AN IGN RETROSPECTIVE. IGN, accessed on 2018-12-03
  16. Starcraft II: Legacy of the Void - Collector's Edition, Amazon.com. Accessed on 2015-03-13
  17. 2015-10-02, This is your StarCraft 2: Legacy of the Void Collector's Edition unboxed. Polygon, accessed on 2015-10-03
  18. 2015-08-05, Gamescom Info - Infernal Shrines, Kharazim, Rexxar, Artanis, - Ability and Video Previews!. Heroes Nexus, accessed on 2015-08-21
  19. StarCraft. 2017-11-03. The Future of StarCraft II. Battle.net Accessed 2017-11-03.
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