This is the compendium of all the lore behind the Hellgates and a telling of the subsequent aftermath of the arrival of the demons from hell. The history of mankind's survival and fight against the demons is chronicled within these texts.

2038
18 years after the start of a war, in which London had been invaded by demons from Hell.

Freemasons
There are several references to the Freemasons within the game. One of the most obvious is the Templar class. The Masons are often grouped with the Knights Templar, from whom the Templar class gets its name. The other main reference is the in game currency, Palladium. The logo on the Palladium is the symbol for Freemasonry, the compass and square.

Hell
In Hellgate: London, the idea of 'Hell' is intentionally distanced from that most commonly known in Judeo-Christian religions. Instead, Hell is the name given to the alternate dimension from where the invading demonic horde has poured into our world.
Hellgate(HGL) Palladium(PD) and Hellgate(HGL) Powerleveing is the most valuable form of currency in Hellgate: London world.

Do not be mistaken though- Hell is still the fiery, brimstone-ravaged and tortured Hell that we know from popular culture, festooned with Demon-spawn and governed by devlish overlords with nought on their minds but the destruction of everything in their path.

It is unclear at this stage whether there is a polar opposite to Hell that assists our characters (ie. a "Heaven"), but it is unlikely, on the basis that only the Templar Faction resembles anything akin to the traditional "Holy" warriors.

A walk through Hell
It is known to date, from screenshots and trailers released by Flagship Studios, that characters will be able to extend their adventure into "pockets" of Hell, and will be able to explore the barely-liveable plains of Hell for short periods of time.