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Warframe Lore Database; No Cats In The Future


G3rman
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So I see that we have so much talk about lore and how we want more if it, but nowhere storing our existing knowledge on the Warframe universe. How can we know more about the game if we don't collect and store the data?

Well, we can start by posting here. Any data you come across in-game whether it be from Lotus, enemies, or the environment themselves that confirms any kind of lore, put it here. Whatever faction you find information on should be put here. Preferably, list who or what gave you the information (ie Lotus or the name of a boss).

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Faction Lore:

Tenno Lore:

Tenno descend from an ancient civilization that lived on earth in the Orokin era, known as great warriors that utilized warframe technology. They are the last remnants of their race, awakened from cryosleep for an unknown purpose. - Official Site

Due to the effects of extended cryosleep, the awakened Tenno are suffering from a form of amnesia. - Lotus

Many Tenno are still inside of their cryopods, either captured by the enemy or out of the Lotus's reach. Other Tenno must come to their aid before they can be released. - Warframe

The current force of Tenno are survivors of a past conflict. - Official Site

Tenno are so far the only faction known to understand and use warframe technology. - Official Site


Tenno are often referred to as one in the same with their warframes, which shows how important the exo-armors are in Tenno society. - Lotus

They are well known warriors: masters of the gun, blade, and exo-armor. These form the integral parts of the Tenno fighting system. - Official Site, Tutorial

In the past, Tenno were well known for their discipline and adhering to a code of honor. Chivalry was a cornerstone of society. - Official Site

Tenno have the potential to be mercenaries rather than warriors, exploiting their warframes to gain wealth. - Official Site

The Lotus, a female of unknown origins, has close links to the Tenno and their technology. She was able to not only deactivate the cryostasis on the Tenno but has great knowledge of the warframes and their unique powers. - Official Site

There are no friendly races that support the Tenno, they only have each other. - Official site


Tenno must scavenge for all their equipment and have access to Orokin foundries that can be used to build useful items. These are often improvised creations built around the salvage Tenno collect on their missions. - Warframe

Tenno operate in small groups called cells, generally made of four warframes. - Lotus

The vast majority of the remaining Tenno can be found around Mercury, where the last remaining Orokin Tower relics remain almost untouched by time. Grineer patrols remain active there in order to prevent organized Tenno resistance. - Planet descriptions


Orokin Towers are used by the Tenno as a base of operations and areas in which to train. The White Tower, for example, is where Tenno complete skill tests in order to advance their rank in society. - Warframe, DESteve

Tenno are a society based around merit and ascend through a series of ranks by proving their skills. - Warframe

Tenno have organized themselves into clans, liken to their Orokin ancestors. - Warframe

Tenno use small snub fighters to infiltrate enemy ships; they can fit one to four warframes inside. - Warframe

There is a dark presence hunting down Tenno whom have brought death to our enemies. It has a mis-guided sense of justice and sympathizes with those who seek to destroy our society. It's powers are those of our own and the armor it wears is cloaked in shadow - it must be destroyed. - Warframe

 

Tenno have, in the past, been forced to cleanse their allies afflicted by infestation. For this task, they employ sharp weaponry such as the Ether swords.



Tenno Tech:

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Grineer Lore:

Grineer are an interplanetary civilization that hold the most territory in the Sol system. Their government is that of an empire with a council of advisers designed to help run it. - Official Site, Councillor Van Dek

The ruling sisters have some sort of influence over the Grineer empire. - Captain Vor

Councillors of the Grineer empire vie for power between one another; killing one may gain favor with another. - Lotus

Tyl Regar is considered the father of future Grineer and is of major importance in the cloning field. - Lotus

Grineer at one point had cloning technology but either lost or were robbed of it. Upon re-acquiring the technology, they used it to overwhelm the past government of the Earth with sheer numbers. - Official Site

The Grineer Empire is at the height of its power. - Official Site


The Grineer navy is the primary force encountered by the Tenno, and their ships are defended by Grineer marines. Marines are organized into platoons with varying numbers, generally including 4 to 6 grineer. - Warframe, Lotus

Grineer soldiers have different specializations that make each platoon's composition unique. These can range from lightly armored skirmishers to genetically modified heavy troopers. The forces deployed are selected depending on the threat level Grineer commanders deem the enemy to be. - Warframe

Grineer make extensive use of asteroids for mining purposes. Once hollowed out to an extent, Grineer often convert them into military strongholds. - Warframe

From the degeneration of DNA over each generation of clones, Grineer bodies are beginning to decay and resemble their past selves less and less. In order to function properly, they use technology to make up for their biological weaknesses. - Official Site


During the birthing/rearing process of Grineer, there are those called mothers that care for the young. Whether it is a specific entity or group of entities, or a figment of the Grineer memory cloning process is unknown. - Grineer Chatter

Grineer hate the Tenno for unknown reasons; the hatred unites them and makes them push forward with war, regardless of their civilization's inevitable fall. - Official Site


Grineer have not celebrated Halloween in over a millennia. - Tyl Regar

Grineer are still in the process of taking over the solar system with some planets or moons only recently being taken over by Grineer forces. Some areas have been lost to the infestation. - Official Site, Planet descriptions

Grineer patrol Mercury and have set up outposts there in order to prevent Tenno from gaining a foothold in the solar system again. - Planet descriptions

Saturn acts as an important stronghold in the empire, facilitating trade between planets of the inner and outer rim. It also contains orbital training stations for the elite soldiers. - Planet descriptions

Uranus has Grineer research outposts where the empire attempts to research bio-modification and gene repair. - Planet descriptions

Earth is considered the seat of the empire. - Official Site, Planet descriptions

Ceres is a recent conquest for the Grineer. - Planet descriptions



Grineer Tech:

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Corpus Lore:

The Corpus are a proto-corporation made of humans that continue to maintain and operate the trade routes of the Solar Rails, the remnants of some sort of ancient transportation network that spanned the solar system. - Official Site

They are well known for being reclusive and prefer to use automatons to represent themselves. - Official Site

Their culture resembles that of old mercantile guilds of Earth. - Official Site

The Corpus continue to produce technology in their manufacturing plants on Venus and Neptune. Their process combines technology and rituals because they do not fully understand the Orokin technology they use as material. - Official Site

Neptune is the home of the Corpus. It is here that they have created indoctrination temples for interrogation and conversion purposes, as well as Research and Development facilities focused on Warframes and Robotics. - Planet descriptions

Within their conversion temples, Corpus make use of mind scrubbing techniques. -Planet description? (Need specific source)

Corpus actively hunt down Orokin ruins in order to scavenge materials for use in their production facilities. Their salvage operations extend as far as Mars, where their ships comb over Orokin derelicts. - Planet descriptions

Corpus control all trade supplies that flow throughout the solar system. They have some sort of relationship set up with the Grineer because of this. - Official Site

Orokin artifacts, as well as the Tenno, are resources to be exploited for a profit as far as the Corpus are concerned. - Offcial Site


Sergeant Nef Anyo sells Tenno cryopods to the highest bidders, who seek to understand the secrets behind warframe technology. - Lotus

Pluto is where the Corpus work to restore the Solar Rail Network's outer terminus. It was destroyed in an unknown conflict. - Planet descriptions



Corpus Tech:

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Infestation Lore:

The plague has so far been shown to affect both the Grineer and the Corpus. - Warframe

Automatons are not directly affected by the plague. - Warframe

The infection has spread throughout the solar system with Jupiter and Eris being overrun, as well as incursions around other planets. Countless ships have been successfully taken over. - Warframe, Planet descriptions

It is known as the Technocyte plague, or simply as the "infestation". - Warframe, Planet descriptions

The plague has spread to Orokin derelicts in the outer rim, Eris. - Planet descriptions

Multiple types or strains of the plague have been seen to make up the faction. - Warframe

The Technocyte plague was created by the Orokin to battle an unknown group of sentients in an ancient conflict. - Lotus



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Orokin Lore/Tech:

Orokin society was divided among clans that specialized in certain combat or technology disciplines. These are reflected in the artifacts they have left behind that Tenno can use to upgrade their warframes and weaponry. -DE_Steve

Orokin obtained a level of technology not yet surpassed by the current factions. It ranged from experience in bio-chemical warfare to interplanetary travel. - Warframe

The Orokin created the Technocyte plague as a weapon in an ancient conflict against another sentient species. - Warframe



General Lore:

Orokin technology and ruins are widespread throughout the solar system, implying the civilization(s) of the era were capable of interplanetary travel. - Planet descriptions

Since the Orokin era, many millennia have passed. Warframe is set thousands of years after the conflict that created the Technocyte plague, spawned as an Orokin bio-weapon. - The Golem

The Lotus, as sometimes referred to by the female known as 'Lotus', may be a separate organization that has some sort of relationship with the Tenno. They have great understanding of Orokin relics and are able to manipulate the Tenno warriors to fight for their cause. - Lotus



General Tech:

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LexiconBanner.png

Tenno Language:

Grineer Language:

GrineerAlphabet.png
The Grineer use an alphabet based around rectangular figures of varying sizes, each with certain "notches" on the left side to further differentiate them. These characters are often found painted haphazardly on the walls of Grineer asteroid bases and equipment.

GrineerLogo.png

This symbol appears everywhere in Grineer writing, generally preceding the words or phrases. It appears to have something similar to a Grineer character being enveloped by a larger, angled shape. Its significance is unknown, though it is most likely the Grineer 'Logo' or political symbol; its common occurrence within Grineer military bases shows that they are very patriotic or authoritarian in displaying the symbol for obedience and loyalty.



Corpus Language:

CorpusAlphabet.png
The Corpus language resembles the ancient earth "roman numerals" number system, as well as ancient Greek symbols. Bronze plaques adorn the hallways and are atop doors throughout Corpus ships, and they are used as the primary platform in order to display the written language.




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I will edit as more information comes in. Any suggestions or corrections just post here as well. Hopefully this is a good start!

Edited by G3rman
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I don't think so. The exo-suits are specifically called exo-armor, which would imply (in straightforward thinking) we actually wear them instead of exo-constructs or some other automaton term. Lotus' dialogue seems to suggest we, the Tenno, are awoken from cryopods and would seem pointless to put our exo-armor into separate pods when they could just as easily be stored in an armory of sorts; this implies we are wearing our exo-armor for most of our lives and as we slept in the pods.

Most of your argument is more of a by-product of game mechanics (like the revives, it doesn't mean its a part of the story).

Another telling moment is that we can die due to a hull breach which would not affect a synthetic body.

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And yet, when we exit a mission we see that we are basically clinging to the bottom of a small ship. I've found the whole Vacuum thing to be confusing.

And most games try to work the way their game mechanics work into the story.

And do enemies take damage from the vacuum as well, or just us?

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And yet, when we exit a mission we see that we are basically clinging to the bottom of a small ship. I've found the whole Vacuum thing to be confusing.

And most games try to work the way their game mechanics work into the story.

And do enemies take damage from the vacuum as well, or just us?

I disagree with the fact that "most" games work their mechanics around the lore. All do so to a degree, but generally there is always something that defeats the suspension of belief. Considering Warframe is in Beta and wants practicality over aesthetics, what they have now may very well not have anything to do with the lore.

Not to mention that the revive system could be just as explainable by taking the stance the Tenno are organic rather than synthetic. Bio-stimulants or something other could get you back on your feet, but your suit only has so much.

Each Warframe is piloted by a different Tenno. That is why they are different sizes and genders.

Edited by G3rman
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I think that we should understand "exo-suit" in a broader sense. Let's remember how we capture targets - we disintegrate their bodies and store their minds, so that means mind transferring is possible. It makes sense to think that warframes are bio-cybernetic constructs that hold only our minds, and Tenno probably don't often use their biologic bodies. This explains different warframe genders, statures and even flat heads (I'm looking at you, Loki without alternate helmet).

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Although mind uploading may be a possibility there are other possiblities for what we actually do with the VIPs (and the reason for his absolute horror) in capture missions such as storing their entire body digitally, teleporting, etc. Remotely or directly controlling Tenno is a very interesting concept though.

In regards to the Infestation, I find it interesting that the ancients are much larger in comparison to their Corpus variants. Although they could have just grown due to absorbing more bio-mass, their non-organic parts (clothing) remain the same size. It also seems that the clothing is very similar to Corpus designs.

This is just for discussion purposes.

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In regards to the Infestation, I find it interesting that the ancients are much larger in comparison to their Corpus variants. Although they could have just grown due to absorbing more bio-mass, their non-organic parts (clothing) remain the same size. It also seems that the clothing is very similar to Corpus designs.

This is just for discussion purposes.

Uncontrolled technocyte plague leads to increasing body mass over time?

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Sraight from intro and tutorial:

They were called TENNO. Warriors of blade and gun - masters of the WARFRAME armor. Those that survived Old War were left drifting among the ruins.

Now they are needed once more. The GRINEER, with their vast armies, are spreading throughout the solar system.

A call echoes acros the stars - summoning the Tenno to an ancient place...

This place is Orokin Tower on Mercury (Terminus) therefore it may be considered main operation base of Tenno.

I will show you the Tenno fighting system. It has three forms: first is your pistol.[...] The second form is your long gun.[...] Your tird and final form is the blade.

Tenno fighting system consist of three forms (quite a no-brainer but should be mentioned in terms of lore).

You must earn your rank among the Tenno. You will complite missions and destroy our enemies. When you are ready to increase your rank I will summon you here again. I will test you.

Prove your worth to join us - detroy the targets before time runs out.

[...]

Excellent. You have attaint your rank of Initiate.

The Tenno are divided into ranks. Every member of Tenno community must prove its worth by contributing to common cause. When ready, Tenno will undergo a trial by combat at Orokin Tower in order to obtain higher rank.

The ranks are: Initiate (Normal, Silver, Gold), Novice (Normal, Silver, Gold), Disciple (Normal, Silver, Gold), Hunter (Normal, Silver, Gold).

Also I think that it should be mentioned that Tenno gain affinity with their weapons.

Edited by xGryphus
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Update:

Tenno Lore;

Slight addition to existing information on Tenno fighting system.

Addition of rank system in Tenno society.

Expansion on the Orokin towers with new information thanks to DESteve. (White Tower eh? Sounds interesting..)

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I think you guys should look into Dark Sector, the game preceding WarFrame, Hayden Tenno and his Tri-pronged glaive and suit, and the technocyte virus that was unleashed in Lasria. I just found out about Dark Sector today through the game news. The game looks amazing just like WarFrame(obviously).

Already mentioned multiple times in the thread. They aren't linked in a time line until the developers say so.

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Already mentioned multiple times in the thread. They aren't linked in a time line until the developers say so.

to hell with that.

Behold all of Tennos I Say its link so go forth....and make connection (JK)

DE when will we have our very own Bio Weapon ripping out of our body?

:)

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get ready for yet another summary

Once there was the Orokin empire (maybe human, maybe humanoid alien) that sprung from earth and engulfed the Sol system (perhaps even further)

The Tenno were the warrior class (knights, samurai) of the Orokin empire and acted as the elite special forces.

S#&$ goes down, perhaps from outside the Sol system

as a last ditch effort the orokin created the technocyte (infected)

for whatever combination of reasons orokin empire gets wiped out

later

humans split into two branches:

One adopts trade and profit as it's culture's main focus. Over time the society becomes more and more corporate, reaching an extreme were an individual prefers to be viewed as a machine. They become known as the Corpus and they control most if not all trade in the system. They hunt down Orokin artifacts and reverse engineer them.

The other are a warring people known as the Grineer. Through military conquest, they now control most of the system. Only male, they reproduce through cloning with eatch new generation weaker than the last.

Two possible explantions for why they are forced to clone themselves are still up in the air.

-Humans we're in danger of dying out, so cloning was a last ditch effort. (might not correlate with the corpus synopsis)

-The Grineer were originally bred to be a disposable military asset but were able to stage a coup and take over their own cloning production. (explains their warring antics and culture) (If we assume the Orokin were humans, perhaps the Grineer were the empire's "clone army" that suddenly found itself without a master)

So time goes by and the Corpus find the remnants of a "solar rail" on pluto (implide to be a wormhole machine that goes into deep space) and decide to try to rebuild it. A mysterious individual who apperintly knows everthing about the Orokin, "the Lotus", flips the F*** out and reserects the Tenno to try to stop the corpus and/or whatever is on the other side of the said solar rail.

Edited by WindShieldWiperFluid
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You'll find a lot more focused discussion on this topic in the fan zone, I assure you. I ask in the opening post to please post actual factoids from the game here to help avoid clutter and speculation. It's an information collection thread and is not meant for speculation discussion.

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Getting ready for a small/big update! Start looking for Tech tidbit lore if you want to help contribute! If we get enough I'll be sure to add the thank you/contribution area even sooner!

Update:

Thread Banner added

Lexicon Banner added

Grineer Alphabet and Symbol added

Corpus Alphabet added

Edited by G3rman
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Heroes or Villains

By what we have, Orokin was something that lived on earth and waged a war with a sappient race using the tenno as warriors, and as a last effort launched a bioweapon know as "Technocyte" to try to end this said war. So here is something that came to my mind one day, what if the sappients were actually the mankind and the Orokin some kind of space invaders that opresed then? That kinda would explain why the Grineer naturally hate the Tenno, as they would be like the right hand of their ancient opressors and a possible threat to their freedom.

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There is nothing that says Tenno were warriors for the Orokin. There was the Orokin era, then the Tenno came to be as descendants of the Orokin civilization, but they are not the same people. Orokin era, "Tenno" era, cryostasis, now.

Edited by G3rman
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"I am the Lotus, friend and guide. I see that the cryosleep has taken your memory; it does not matter, you are Tenno. I will prepare you."

I'll keep an eye out for the other one.

Let me tell you... I hate that line. What do you mean it does not matter? Who the F*** am i? Why should i listen to you, strangely convenient voice that seems to know me? What's all this white around me, where am i? What's a Tenno?... Really, every Warframe player is like Lotus's tool. C'mon, i need motivation here, why the hell am i sucking this guy's soul trough my hand? What's this thing i'm defending? Why should i get this goddamn artifact, if i don't even know what it is? Why am i rescuing this guy and leaving him in the vaccum? Who is he and what does he do? What's this pottentially dangerous discovery i'm stopping? Could it be useful for us somehow, whoever we are? Where am i taking all those ships i'm inserting suitcases into? What is there inside all those data masses, is it like some really hardcore forbidden porn and we're just taking it away from our enemies? Why am i breaking this ship's reactor? How are you detecting life-forms on the ships? I could use this detections on other missions too, not only when you want me to go genocide! Assasination contract? For who, who the hell is paying me to kill those guys? Oh, wait a minute, i don't think i'm even seeing the money from it!

I could really make a bigass post filling every MINUTE in Warframe with questions after question. And i think i will, here comes a post!

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This isn't really a place for questions though; its for collecting confirmed answers.

Its definitely happening that they will expand the lore and try and give the player direction, but its also important for the player to make their own path and decide why they are doing the things they do. You are shoehorned into being part of the Tenno and fighting, but why you are fighting and what you want to accomplish can be a very unique thing.

Perhaps you really want to be wealthy and do whatever you want to, so gaining power as a mercenary might be your choice. You may want to bring the glory of the old Tenno civilization back and unite everyone under one banner against the Grineer and Corpus. Maybe you just want to slaughter everything that isn't in an exo-armor; its for you to decide.

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Technology lore is coming along slowly..could use contributors to find content in the market and in-game. Confirmed facts only, thanks. Lexicon is good for now.

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Choices?... I either play Lotus's order or i don't play the game at all! There is no "Unique", no consequences, no reason, just the mission. That ain't storytelling, that's just mowing down a bunch of dudes because it's awesome. It's satisfying, but not exactly accomplishing anything at all! In the big picture we're just increasing mission counter! I want motivation, that's all!

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You can give yourself motivation though as to why you are doing the missions. Yes, Lotus has a manner of control over your actions, but the meta can go deeper than that.

Edited by G3rman
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Choices?... I either play Lotus's order or i don't play the game at all! There is no "Unique", no consequences, no reason, just the mission. That ain't storytelling, that's just mowing down a bunch of dudes because it's awesome. It's satisfying, but not exactly accomplishing anything at all! In the big picture we're just increasing mission counter! I want motivation, that's all!

All boss missions have storylines if you actually listen to the dialogue in mission and what you get after.

And these three factions are all fighting over resources like people have done forever. So they stealing it from each other, capturing people who have info on it and rescuing people who want to help your cause.

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