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== Lore ==
The Patrons are [[Outer Planes|extraplanar]]<ref name=":0">{{VoiceLineCite|name=Newscaster|file=newscaster_headline_80.mp3|transcription=The orders of The Amber Hand and Sapphire Flame have long provided safeguards insuring that The Patrons remain on their home plane. But have the people we trusted to be wardens of The Patrons secretly been planning a coup?}}</ref> elder gods<ref>{{VoiceLineCite|name=Vyper|file=Viper_select_01.mp3|transcription=Hahaha, how hard can summoning an elder god be?}}</ref><ref>{{VoiceLineCite|name=Dynamo|file=Dynamo ping pre game 02.mp3|transcription=Who wants to summon an elder god?}}</ref> whose followers petition heroes to participate in a ritual, in the hopes of summoning them. In order for the ritual to be completed, the enemy Patron must be destroyed.

The two Patrons in-game are the [[The Hidden King|Hidden King]] and the [[The Archmother|Archmother]]. There are more Patrons, but they haven't yet made contact with humanity.<ref>2024-09-28 - [[Yoshi]]; Deadlock Discord - ''"There are more than two Patrons, but so far only two are trying to enter our world"''</ref> The motivations of the Hidden King and Archmother are unclear, although {{HeroIcon|The Doorman}} mentions that they've been waiting to be summoned "for centuries".<ref>{{PageRef|name=The Doorman}}'s in-game [[The Doorman/Quotes#Hotel Guest Taunt - Generic|voice line]] (Hotel Guest taunt): ''"The Patrons have waited centuries to be summoned, they can wait a little longer."''</ref> {{HeroIcon|Warden}} and his family believe the Patrons will "herald the end of humanity" if they are not stopped.<ref>{{PageRef|name=Warden}}'s in-game [[Warden/Quotes#Select|voice line]] (select): ''"The Patrons will herald the end of humanity if we let them."''</ref>

Once the ritual is completed, the Patrons can grant one wish to each hero who helped summon them.<ref>[[The Binding of Oathkeeper|''The Binding of Oathkeeper'']] - [https://youtu.be/nn_C9nQ_Ri0?si=HPiD-NYhX4-d35sn&t=1269 Chapter 5B]</ref> The specifics of the Patron's powers and their limitations are unclear. What the winning Patron intends to do after the ritual is also unclear, although the Patron's herald believes they will usher in a new era.<ref>{{PageRef|name=Hidden King}}'s in-game [[Graves/Quotes#Patrons|voice line]] (ally Graves killstreak): ''"Graves will usher us into the Hidden King's new era!"''</ref><ref>{{PageRef|name=Archmother}}'s in-game [[Graves/Quotes#Patrons|voice line]] (ally Graves killstreak): ''"Graves will usher us into the Archmother's new era!"''</ref><ref>{{PageRef|name=Hidden King}}'s in-game [[Victor/Quotes#Patrons|voice line]] (Victor start): ''"You need not feel adrift in this world, Victor. Complete the ritual, and find your place alongside the Hidden King!"''</ref><ref>{{PageRef|name=Archmother}}'s in-game [[Celeste/Quotes#Patrons|voice line]] (Celeste start): ''"Summon the Archmother, and usher in a new world with you by her side!"''</ref>

The Patrons have heralds who speak on their behalf.<ref>{{VoiceLineCite|name=Hidden King|quotes=The Hidden King/Quotes|context=(Unused tutorial line)|transcription=I speak for the Hidden King, and today I shall be your guide.}}</ref><ref>{{VoiceLineCite|name=The Archmother|quotes=The Archmother/Quotes#Match Start|context=(Viscous match start)|transcription=Everyone looks at you and discounts your value. But not me. And not The Archmother. Complete the ritual, and let her help you.}}</ref><ref>{{VoiceLineCite|name=The Archmother|quotes=The Archmother/Quotes|context=(Ally Drifter killstreak)|transcription=Archmother: Accept the gift that The Drifter has laid before us.}}</ref><ref>{{VoiceLineCite|name=The Hidden King|quotes=The Hidden King/Quotes|context=(Street Brawl victory)|transcription=Their broken husks make fitting tribute to our king.}}</ref> The heralds have knowledge on the thoughts and desires of the [[heroes]], and can communicate with them telepathically during the ritual. If a hero openly dislikes the Patrons, the herald tells them to direct their anger towards the enemy Patron, as is the case with Warden and {{HeroIcon|Venator}}.<ref>{{VoiceLineCite|name=The Archmother|quotes=The Archmother/Quotes#Match Start|transcription=I know you hate the Archmother, Warden, but today she is not your enemy… she is the path that will lead you to destroying The Hidden King once and for all.}}</ref><ref>{{VoiceLineCite|name=The Hidden King|quotes=The Hidden King/Quotes#Match Start|transcription=Venator, I know you have no love for the Hidden King, but the Archmother is a tyrant, and together, we can usurp her.}}</ref> While the heralds can read Warden's emotions, they cannot see his desires.<ref>{{PageRef|name=Hidden King}}'s in-game [[Warden/Quotes#Patrons|voice line]] (Warden start): ''"I can't tell what you're after, Warden. But I know you're afraid of failure. Fear not! The Hidden King will be your guide to victory."''</ref>

This is the first time in known history that humanity has been able to make contact with the Patrons.<ref>{{VoiceLineCite|name=Newscaster|file=newscaster_headline_18.mp3|transcription=Could today be the day where humanity makes contact with.. The Patron? Only time will tell.}}</ref> Such rituals used to be impossible, as well as forbidden, before the [[Maelstrom|Second Maelstrom]].<ref>{{VoiceLineCite|name=Newscaster|file=newscaster_headline_79.mp3|transcription=For decades, contact with The Patrons has not only been impossible, but forbidden. But with the Maelstrom upon us that may change!}}</ref> The orders of the Amber Hand and the Sapphire Flame were supposed to safeguard humanity from the Patrons, but recently are suspected to have changed their objectives.<ref name=":0" />[[File:Patron_VisualNovel_Art.png|thumb|A Patron looming over humans]]The Patrons are familiar with The Doorman, another extraplanar being. They are happy to see Doorman fighting on their behalf.<ref>{{VoiceLineCite|name=The Hidden King|quotes=The Hidden King/Quotes#Match Start|transcription=The King will be so happy to see you again, Doorman.}}</ref><ref>{{VoiceLineCite|name=The Archmother|quotes=The Archmother/Quotes#Match Start|transcription=My, my. Well, isn't this a pleasant surprise? The Archmother will be pleased to see you.}}</ref> The Doorman calls the Patrons "old friends"<ref>{{VoiceLineCite|name=The Doorman|file=Doorman happy 08.mp3|transcription=It was so nice getting a chance to summon old friends.}}</ref> and refers to them as [[Sapphire Flame|City Mother]] and [[Amber Hand|Amber King]].<ref>{{VoiceLineCite|name=The Doorman|file=Doorman ping pre game 03.mp3|transcription=How exciting to see City Mother and the Amber King once more!}}</ref>

[[The Binding of Oathkeeper|''The Binding of Oathkeeper's'']] multiple endings shows potential wishes granted by the Patrons:

* An answer to one of {{HeroIcon|Abrams}}' questions regarding the Tome;
* Binding [[Oathkeeper]] back to the Tome and allowing {{HeroIcon|Lady Geist}} to stay young;
* The sacrifice of [[Minor characters|Johann Jr.]] in exchange for 200 years of Oathkeeper's complete obedience to Lady Geist;
* The self-sacrifice of Lady Geist in exchange for banishing Oathkeeper from Earth;
* Safely removing Oathkeeper from Geist, but making her return to the natural age she had before their pact.
In addition to the ritual, the Patrons lead skirmishes between their teams in the form of [[Street Brawl]] matches.<ref>{{VoiceLineCite|name=The Hidden King|quotes=The Hidden King/Quotes|context=(Street Brawl loss)|transcription=The Archmother won today, but we still have another chance to stop her!}}</ref>