The term "Dredgen" started out from Dredgen Yor, who was a guardian corrupted by the hive. He wasn't specifically evil and there is an element within his character after being corrupted that could be seen as him appealing for his death so that his corruption could be cleansed. However, he performed a series of dark/questionable actions. The Vanguard not wanting his history to be replicated have tried to keep knowledge of Yor classified. A small group of individuals discovered the truth about Yor and wanted to follow in his steps, forming " The Shadows of Yor". The Drifter at that time joined their ranks in an effort to acquire further skills and abilities suiting his survivalist attitude. Eventually becoming disenfranchised with the group, he broke away and stopped referring to himself as "Dredgen Hope". Some time later The Drifter started using Gambit as a means to collect dark taken energies. Because the term 'Dredgen' reflects those who are users of darkness Drifter started gifting the title of Dredgen to those who greatly contributed to his Gambit games. In part, he used the gifting of this title as a way of mocking his former "Shadows of Yor" companions.