Mystagogue

“	Those Gatekeepers who have delved most deeply into the arcane, Mystagogues typically come from backgrounds of direct or indirect communion with other-worldly or supernatural entities. There is no single path for a Mystagogue: their ranks boast doctors, priestesses, brujos and shaman. As such, their relationship with the numinous or occult can take many forms. A common thread, however, is an unusual curiosity, even doubt about the true nature of their gods or divinities. More than one Mystagogue has come from West Africa, where magical traditions have converged with underworld existence to forge a violent, visionary recruitment pool. Others have emerged from the cohorts of so-called 'alternative' religions. Gate Keeper Assessors also seek out individuals who display early aptitude with 'mystic' objects, including curators, smugglers, and treasure hunters. In rare cases, Mystagogues have even come from the ranks of science: those who see past the veil of 'magic' to the causal forces of other realms. By the time their training is completed, the universe looks like a very different place, and few are the Mystagogues who retain their concern for something as fleeting or fragile as the individual.	”
	~ GATE Compendium

The Gatekeepers' shamans, Mystagogues are enemies found in Reactors and Shadowgate. After activating the Dusk Reactor, a lone Mystagogue may spawn in the Data Farm on the second floor in the Office Sector.

Appearances

Mystagogues are masked, hooded figures with tattered robes and extensive cybernetic implants. Mystagogues hover through the air, only ever touching the floor in defeat.

Behavior

When not in combat, Mystagogues can be found idle or wandering around, often with Neophytes in their presence. They will sometimes utter phrases to themselves, speaking in accented, augmented voices. Mystagogues are always accompanied by at least one Mystagogue Eye, and will exclaim in anger if any are destroyed. They are hostile to anything that isn't a Gatekeeper, Defense Robot, or Corrupted Robot, and will alert other Gatekeepers if possible.

Combat

Amongst the Gatekeepers, Mystagogues can be uniquely difficult to defeat due to their special mobility, defenses, and support. During combat, Mystagogues periodically deploy a wide Hardlight shield in front of them for protection, and can temporarily generate a psychic field that prevents enemies and players from getting close enough to use melee attacks. All the while, Mystagogue Eyes will harass a Mystagogue's target with laser beams.

Attacks
- Fireball: A Mystagogue lobs a fireball towards an enemy, generating a burning zone of lavender fire on the floor. The fire will damage anything in the zone, and disappears after short period.
- Telekinetic Strangle: If the player is close to it, a Mystagogue will cause a player to float in front of them. They then choke the player (akin making them drown) for a few seconds before throwing them, launching players away.

Strategy
- Unlike other Gatekeepers, a Mystagogue's Hardlight shield does not cover their body from all directions, and is not always present. This shield will always remain in front of a Mystagogue, so players will have to wait for the shield to dissipate or change combat strategies. Null Grenades will disable Hardlight shields.
- Note that if Mystagogues are killed before their Mystagogue Eyes are, any remaining Mystagogue Eyes will start firing at any present player with a highly accurate laser attack.
- The Mystagogue's levitation ability offers them some keen advantages, as they cannot be harmed by floor hazards like Shock Traps, but they cannot cross floor gaps.
- Mystagogue Eyes are fragile, so a well-placed grenade can destroy all of a Mystagogue's support.
- Electron Grenades can reliably deal additional damage due to Mystagogue's weakness to Electrical damage.
- Players cannot attack Mystagogues while being strangled. However, if a player begins to swing a Heavy Weapon (such as a Carbon Pickaxe) just before a Mystagogue picks them up, the attack will still strike the Gatekeeper.