Diablo 3 . Diablo 3 . . "Lore Transcript" . . Lore Descriptions . . Version 1.01 . . Daniel Mohid . . dmohid@alumni.iupui.edu . . Originally Submitted 05/29/2012 . _______________________________________________________________________________ Introduction ------------ The following is a copy of "lore" in Diablo 3. These have been reproduced verbatim to the best of my ability. All text included shall be considered under Copyright of Blizzard. This file may be published freely as long as it is unaltered. Any questions, concerns, or comments may be forwarded to dmohid@alumni.iupui.edu Scope ----- This document is not intended to assist player's in obtaining any lore books. This document was written to allow players and Diablo 3 fanatics a consolidated means of reading the lore from Diablo 3. This is particularly helpful as the lore files are very poorly organized in the game. Organization ------------ Items are given in order of the four categories of lore and listed in the order they are listed on the achievements page in the game. Each category of lore is subdivided by act number. In some cases, the title of a lore item is different in the journal and on the achievements page. When this occurs, I will put the title from the achievements page in parentheses next to the title from the journal. Within multi-part journals, I will denote the beginning of each part in parentheses. I will also remove the signature from each part and place it at the end. The only exceptions to this are in the Missive to Maghda, Deceiver's Orders, and Orders from Azmodan sets as it did not seem appropriate. The signature in Mira's Letter to Haedrig is left-justified as in the game. Poem's retain the line breaks that are given in the game. Version History --------------- Version 1.00 - 05/29/2012 Original game base lore (Bestiary, People, World, Quest) Version 1.01 - 05/30/2012 Added text from The Black Rock Ledger Fixed a typo on the copyright. Thank you Will! Notes ----- There are multiple typos in the files. These are present in the game, and not an error on my part. However, it is likely that I incorrectly transcribed something contained within this document. If errors are found, I greatly appreciate all feedback to improve the quality of content. Readers may search for titles using either the verbatim title or search aids listed in the table of contents. These search aids are listed in brackets. Table of Contents ----------------- Bestiary Lore Act 1 [B1] -Beast -Dark Berserker -Carrion Bat -Carrion Nest -Imp -Dark Cultist -Ghost -Ghoul -Grotesque -Hellion -Khazra Shaman -Quill Fiend -Scavenger -Skeleton -Spiderling -Spider -Treasure Goblin -Unburied -Dark Vessel -Withermoth -Wood Wraith -Wretched Mother -Risen Dead -Butcher -The Spider Queen Act 2 [B2] -Accursed (The Accursed) -Deceiver (Deceivers) -Dune Dervish -Dune Thresher -Dust Imp -Electric Eel -Fallen Grunt -Fallen Lunatic -Fallen Shaman -Lacuni -Sand Dweller -Sand Wasp -Skeletal Guardian -Stinging Swarm -Blood Hawk -Rockworm Act 3 [B3] -Blood Clan Khazra -Colossal Golgor -Demonic Hellflyer (Demon Flyer) -Demonic Hell Bearer -Demonic Tremor -Demon Trooper -Herald of Pestilence -Hulking Phasebeast -Siegebreaker Assault Beast -Soul Ripper -Succubus -Tormented Stinger -Cydaea, the Maiden of Lust -Ghom, the Lord of Gluttony Act 4 [B4] -Armored Destroyer -Bile Crawler -Enslaved Nightmare -Mallet Lord (The Mallet Lords) -Oppressor (The Oppressors) -Terror Demon -The Morlu (Morlu) -Shadow Vermin -Subjugator -Rakanoth, the Lord of Despair People Lore [P1] Act 1 -Adria's Journal -Lachdanan's Scroll, Part 1-5 -Leah's Journal, Part 1-7 -Leoric's Journal, Part 1-5 -Farmer's Journal -Scabbard of Talic the Defender -Deckard Cain's Journal, Part 1-2 -Adenah's Jottings -Hermit's Ravings -A Prisoner's Journal -Queen Asylla's Journal -Scoundrel's Journal -Kingsport Bill -Skeleton King (The Skeleton King) -Wandering Tinker's Diary -Notes of Urik the Seer, Part 1-3 -Priest's Contemplations, Part 1-2 -Mira's Letter to Haedrig -Cain's Old Journal, Part 1-2 -Gillian's Diary, Part 1-2 -Lost Journal -Old Diary -Despina's Journal Act 2 [P2] -Fuad's Journal -Zoltun Kulle -The Musings of Sardar -The Promises of Fezuul al-Kazaar -Eirena's Journal -Iron Wold Captain's Journal -The Legend of Zei the Trickster -Kala's Poem -The Last Will of Khan Dakab -Larra's Diary -Kulle's Journal, Part 1-4 -Leah's Journal, Part 8-12 -Andariel, the Maiden of Anguish -Azmodan, the Lord of Sin -Baal, the Lord of Destruction -Belial, the Lord of Lies -Diablo, the Lord of Terror -Duriel, the Lord of Pain -The Seven Lords of Hell -Mephisto, Lore of Hatred -A Love Letter -Necromancer's Log -The Imperial Guard's Orders -Crumbling Journal -Poltahr's Notes -Lyndo's Journal (The Ancient Portal Device) -Blackened Journal -A Servant's Journal Act 3 [P3] -Bloodstained Letter -Ghom's Log -Journal of Hansan Haile, Captain -Leah's Journal, Part 13-16 -Morgan's Journal, Part 1-3 Act 4 [P4] -Burial Wishes -The Angiris Council -Archangel Auriel, The Aspect of Hope -Archangel Imperius, The Aspect of Valor -Archangel Itherael, The Aspect of Fate -Archangel Malthael, Former Aspect of Wisdom (Archangel Malthael, the Aspect of Wisdom) -Archangel Tyrael, the Aspect of Justice -Izual's Descent World Lore Act 1 [W1] -The Hanging Tree -Gravedigger's Log -Tristram Fields -Khazra Heads Wanted -Researching the Khazra -The Khazra Massacre -The Highlands -Torn Letter -Torn Letter's Response -New Tristram -Traveler's Journal -Warriv's Journal -Tomb Robber's Journal -The Last Stand of the Ancients -The Drowned Temple -Warrior's Rest -Old Tristram Journal Act 2 [W2] -The Desert Aqueducts, Part 1-2 -An Abridged History of Caldeum, Part 1-6 -The Dahlgur Oasis -On the Desolate Sands, Part 1-3 -The Chamber of Faces Act 3 [W3] -Fall of the Barbarians, Part 1-5 -The History of Bastion's Keep Act 4 [W4] -The Creation of Sanctuary, Part 1-4 Quest Lore Act 1 [Q1] -Report from Wortham -Command from Cultist Grand Inquisitor -Reply from Cultist Grand Inquisitor -A Page from Lazarus's Grimoire -Orders from Maghda -Villager's Journal -A Summoner's Journal Act 2 [Q2] -Guard's Orders -Proclamation from the Imperial Guard -Missive to Maghda, Part 1-2 -Deceiver's Orders, Part 1-3 -The Feared Hero -Hunter's Journal, Part 1-6 Act 3 [Q3] -Battlefield Reports -Orders from Azmodan, Part 1-6 Act 4 [Q4] -The Destiny of the Nephalem, Part 1-3 Other The Black Rock Ledger [O1] _______________________________________________________________________________ ****************** * Bestiary Lore * ****************** *** Act 1 *** [B1] -Beast The large, sluggish beasts can thrive in any grassland or forest, provided there is enough water. Farmers will recognize these brutes as the savage cousins of the common packbeast, a tame breed that was likely domesticated nearly two thousand years ago. Once can hardly imagine the trouble that effort must have taken. Abd al-Hazir -Dark Berserker The dark berserkers are considered weaker demons, but their strength is still far greater than that of any human. I have found dark spells within the cathedral, written in Archbishop Lazarus's own hand, explaining how to summon them. I pray that no other copies exist so that this terrible knowledge will be lost forever. Deckard Cain -Carrion Bat Some foul new disease has taken hold in this land, and the carrion bats are near the heart of it. Since returning to Tristram, I have seen their numbers surge. The evil forces that linger here give them strength, and I fear that the worst is yet to come. Deckard Cain -Carrion Nest I was able to trace some carrion bats back to one of their nests. What I found shocked me! The nest itself is a living organism, a mature bat that has been mutated by the darkest of magics. I no longer doubt that demonic forces have corrupted these creatures. Deckard Cain -Imp Demons have been known to devour their own young when no other nourishment is available. Their offspring, the imps, sometimes manage to flee and band together with other demonspawn. They rove in vicious packs, ready to descend upon the unwary traveler and rip his body to shreds with their tiny, needle-sharp teeth. Deckard Cain -Dark Cultist A dark coven has formed in Tristram, and I fear that their superstitious violence may damn the whole region. I discovered very little during my eavesdropping, except that the word "Maghda" was repeated several times in their chants. Oh well, now I journey to the safety of my home, where I may put these worries behind me. Abd al-Hazir -Ghost The tragedies in these lands have left many restless spirits in their wake... and they demand retribution. These spirits will take out their vengeance on any unsuspecting individual who may pass... for they believe that the blood of the living will yet restore the lives that were ripped away from them. Deckard Cain -Ghoul Ghouls are stronger than most risen dead, but they gain their fortitude through horrific means - feasting upon human corpses. These creatures are least dangerous while eating, but do not disturb them, or it shall be your limbs between their teeth. Deckard Cain -Grotesque The grotesques may seem slow and senseless, but they hide many dangers within their hideously malformed bodies. A set of spikes lurks beneath the monsters' flesh, and foul parasites nest within them. It is said that these horrors themselves are constructed by a greater evil... a darkness that I cannot even fathom. Deckard Cain -Hellion The bestial hellions are demons that can be summoned from the Burning Hells with the aid of foul sorcery. They are given to chasing down their foes and attacking them with savage fangs. This usually allows some spare time for their masters to craft their dark spellwork and finish off the victim. Deckard Cain -Khazra Shaman Long ago, five clans of the umbaru tribe left the Teganze and ventured north. After their transformation into khazra, only a few elders were still able to use magic, and they passed it down to their cleverest children. These are the khazra shaman, and they rank among the most dangerous of their race. Abd al-Hazir -Quill Fiend Dear reader, I am Abd al-Hazir, adventurer, scholar, and researcher. I share my knowledge of this incredible world and its creatures through my insightful missives, often at grave risk to myself. Why, I was recently in Khanduras, where my tents were ransacked by vicious quill fiends! I was able to beat them off with a shoe, but a less bold man would've fared far worse. Abd al-Hazir -Scavenger Scavengers are ugly, pathetic creatures who survive off of carrion and corpses too diseased to attract any other carnivores. I did once meet a raggedy fellow who claimed that he had trained one of the beasts to bring him large rats to eat, but I'm sure the story is utter nonsense. Abd al-Hazir -Skeleton During the last days of King Leoric's reign, even the skeletons of the ancient dead could not rest. They took up their broken armor and weapons once more, ready to cut down anything that yet drew breath. Though wasted and fragile, these creatures possess a twisted cleverness that makes them quite formidable. Deckard Cain -Spiderling Spiderlings alone may seem unthreatening, but their presence should be a warning for travelers. For wherever there are spiderlings, there will be matriarchs, and the fully grown arachnids are extremely protective of their young. The spiderlings themselves possess strong appetites, allowing them to do considerable harm to a cornered adventurer. Abd al-Hazir -Spider The ubiquitous spider is one of the oldest and most adaptable creatures in the world. It also seems to have acquired an unfortunate susceptibility to magic. When exposed, the arachnids will increase dramatically in size and even cast spells. Due to this hazard, I recommend staying out of dark places whenever possible. Abd al-Hazir -Treasure Goblin Some devious little goblins have been robbing our merchants! When pursued, they simply open portals and disappear with a most aggravating chuckle. The peasantry seem to believe that the goblins serve a great demon lord known as Greed and, furthermore, that their portals lead to Greed's domain! A ludicrous notion, truly. Abd al-Hazir -Unburied The unburied are formed from human corpses that were flung into mass graves without a proper burial. This hideous amalgamation of bodies decomposes together into one being, bound by some foul magic. For all my knowledge, I could only flee from it... and I would expect any other sensible person to do the same. Abd al-Hazir -Dark Vessel The cultists were performing a strange ritual when I saw them today. One of their number stood soundlessly while others thrust long spikes deep into his spine. He did not perish, and I believe that he may have even been darkly empowered from the implantation, though such terrible magic is foreign to me. Abd al-Hazir -Withermoth The withermoth is a curious phenomenon. It is tremendously large for an insect, and somehow its size allows it to expel a charging force when attacked. For this reason, few have survived to study it in great detail, including many notable academics. In fact, please do not inquire further upon this subject. Abd al-Hazir -Wood Wraith I have heard the most ridiculous tales about travelers being ambushed by vicious trees! It is too much. Despite their names, the wood wraiths are not plants but fully mobile beasts who have taken on the guise of foliage to ensnare their prey. Only a simpleton could be fooled by such a trick. Abd al-Hazir -Wretched Mother I, Deckard Cain, have spent many years traveling and writing about the strange creatures in our world, but the sight of the wretched mothers still haunts me. They are the remnants of Queen Asylla's slaughtered handmaidens, who were twisted by foul magic. Now they feast upon cadavers and regurgitate them as newly formed risen dead. Deckard Cain -Risen Dead I will never forget the first time I saw these horrors shambling out of the misty woods. Our loved ones, buried long ago, rose from their graves and began to attack the living. However, the risen dead were only the beginning... Deckard Cain -Butcher The truth about the Butcher demon was more startling than I ever anticipated. Evidently, there are many of them within the Burning Hells, though they used to be solely under Diablo's command. The butchers are stitched together from the parts of other demons to combine their strengths, then given a life through wicked magic. Deckard Cain -The Spider Queen Rumor holds that Archbishop Lazarus loosed a silent terror in the caves near Leoric's manor before he died. He labored for weeks over a group of unusually large spiders, and many of his servants quietly disappeared during this time... The largest creature led the others into the caves. None who have ventures there have returned. Deckard Cain *** Act 2 *** [B2] -Accursed (The Accursed) The accursed were created when a necrotic plague spread through Kehjistan centuries ago. The infected watched in terror as their flesh blackened and died; the strongest medicines could not stop the decay. Eventually they fell into a dormant state, and their bodies were piled up in dark and forgotten places... where they could rest undisturbed. Deckard Cain -Deceiver (Deceivers) These serpentine demons are Belial's favored servants, and he has granted them some of his skill in cunning and illusion. Deceivers will cloak themselves in the familiar forms of their enemy's companions and friends, waiting to strike when the moment is opportune. It is only then that their true forms are revealed. Deckard Cain -Dune Dervish To those who doubt my achievements in research, I present my findings on the dune dervish. It took me many years to find the truth of these strange, deadly figures, but my sources indicate that they are the cursed remains of mages who summoned a demon far beyond their power to control. Abd al-Hazir -Dune Thresher The dune thresher is an elusive being with a tremendous capacity for bloodshed. It lurks beneath the sands, rising up to seize prey in its jaws and rend the body until it is but sinew and gore. I... I once saw a thresher in the flesh, and it rather... disagreed with my constitution. Abd al-Hazir -Dust Imp Not all dangerous demons are large and imposing. The dust imps are little more than children in size, but they possess the cunning and bloodlust of far larger creatures. They take cover in the shadows, emerging only when viable prey wanders too close. Then they ambush, leaving little more than bones behind them. Deckard Cain -Electric Eel The electric eels are insidious pests that have taken root in the oases surrounding Caldeum. Known for their stinging strikes, these creatures are particularly dangerous when they attack in large numbers. It is said that raw eel has become a delicacy among Caldeum's elite, but I assure you these rumors are baseless. Abd al-Hazir -Fallen Grunt It seems that the fallen are indeed creatures of demonic origin. The old Horadric tale claims they were once powerful servants of the mythical Azmodan. They purportedly aided him in his battle against the Prime Evils, and Diablo later punished them by twisting them into the small, stupid forms they now possess. Abd al-Hazir -Fallen Lunatic The fallen lunatics are the most unstable of their kind, causing them to overproduce highly combustible fluids in their abdomens. I believe this imbalance must be inevitably fatal, leading the lunatics to puncture their stomachs and release their explosive bile in a terrible display when enemies come too near. Abd al-Hazir -Fallen Shaman Though the champions are larger and the lunatics more devastating, it is the shaman priests who lead the fallen. The shrunken, unintimidating demons can easily kill an enemy with their fire bolts, but it is their ability to resurrect their imp allies that allows them to command such high respect from their peers. Abd al-Hazir -Lacuni The lacuni - or panther-men, as they are sometimes called - have inhabited the desert wastes east of Caldeum for thousands of years. The large males are the tribes' leaders and protectors, while the agile females are expert hunters. Mostly, they are primitive and reclusive creatures, although they will attack if cornered or hungry. Abd al-Hazir -Sand Dweller During the Mage Clan Wars, the Vizjerei summoned giant demons to guard their estates. After years of patrolling the desert sands, the demons' hides became thick as stone and caked with grit. In the end, they have outlived their masters. Now only the glowing runes on their skulls belie their true origins. Deckard Cain -Sand Wasp I would rather not discuss the sand wasp. These overgrown insects wouldn't be notable whatsoever if not for their exceptionally poisonous stings... which, alas, killed my young apprentice. I thought he would be more careful when I sent him to retrieve a sample from the hive, but... his parents did not understand my perspective. Abd al-Hazir -Skeletal Guardian Only the most talented mages can summon skeletal guardians. It takes great power to form these tall, slim constructs from their unstable reagents, and even more power to sustain them. In the hands of a master, however, the guardians can become powerful weapons capable of defending their posts until the end of time. Abd al-Hazir -Stinging Swarm The deserts of Kehjistan are majestic, expansive, and... full of stinging swarms of insects. They may seem a minor nuisance, but these vermin carry numerous strains of pestilence. One of them was trapped in my boot once, and my foot swelled up to the size of a melon before the infection cleared! What horrible creatures! Abd al-Hazir -Blood Hawk It is easy to focus on the dangerous foes one may encounter on the ground, but the blood hawks rule the skies with terrible ferocity. These crimson- winged birds will wait until their prey is at a disadvantage, then swoop down to attack. Watch for their shadows on the nearby terrain, and be prepared to flee quickly. Abd al-Hazir -Rockworm The rockworm may very well be the ugliest creature ever to blight the world with its presence. Bereft of any features aside from its massive jaws, the rockworm appears to be a giant invertebrate. I should like to study it further, but its burrowing tendencies make it extraordinarily difficult to track. Abd al-Hazir *** Act 3 *** [B3] -Blood Clan Khazra Though I have searched every corner of the Great Library of Caldeum, I can find no references to the true fate of the Blood Clan khazra. Some crumbling papers hint that they made a pact to serve the mythical Lesser Evils, but surely such a thing cannot be considered proper scholarship... can it? Abd al-Hazir -Colossal Golgor The colossal golgor is merely a colossal myth! In folklore, they are sons of an infamous demon who smashed half of Hell in anger after the Prime Evils were defeated during the "Dark Exile." Why, if I had a gold coin for each of these tales, I would be a wealthy man indeed! Abd al-Hazir -Demonic Hellflyer (Demon Flyer) Azmodan created the demonic hellflyers after he nearly lost to Tyrael in battle thousands of years ago. The angels made glorious use of their great luminescent wings to outmaneuver the demon host and assail its commander. Frustrated by his near defeat, Azmodan began breeding winged demons capable of tearing the angels asunder. Deckard Cain -Demonic Hell Bearer I have long hoped that the demonic hell bearer was a fiction, a nightmare from the troubled minds of my ancestors. Just imagine a demon taller than a castle tower, who can retch up endless minions from the depths of the Hells! Surely our people are doomed if such an abomination exists. Deckard Cain -Demonic Tremor One usually hears demonic tremors before seeing them. These behemoths move slowly and heavily, pounding the earth with their massive fists. Many a siege has been broken by the tremors' battering strikes, and many more enemies of the demons have been felled by their wrath. I pray that our world will never see them again. Deckard Cain -Demon Trooper Demon troopers form the meat of the armies of Hell. Their masters use them roughly, sending them into the vanguard for most battles. For their part, the troopers are easily excited by opportunities to exhibit their great talent for violence. In fact, the troopers frequently attack each other when they are left idle. Deckard Cain -Herald of Pestilence Long ago, the heralds of pestilence were lesser demons who rebelled against Azmodan. The Lord of Sin vanquished them easily, but instead of slaying them, he granted each one a long arm infested with a poison that could kill anything but Azmodan himself. The heralds have been plague-riddled menaces ever since. Deckard Cain -Hulking Phasebeast The Horadric scrolls describe hulking phasebeasts as "sin made flesh." Azmodan granted them great power, allowing the beasts to shift in and out of sight at will. It is believed that the Lord of Sin only looses the phasebeasts against uncommonly clever enemies who cannot be bested with tooth and claw. Deckard Cain -Siegebreaker Assault Beast The siegebreaker is a monster of legends, of nightmares, and thing whispers in the dark. It is the most prized champion of the demon lords because its massive size and strength could turn any battle in its favor. I wish I knew more, but alas... all who have seen it have perished. Deckard Cain -Soul Ripper Soul rippers are the bane of the living, creatures born of the endless malice churning within Hell. Agile and swift, the rippers cover ground quickly by latching onto prey with their enormous tongues and then leaping on top of their victims. From this point, the ripper cannot be deterred: it has begun to feast. Deckard Cain -Succubus I once met a raving drunk who claimed he had wrestled with a succubus - a demonic creature that possesses the form and face of a beautiful woman. He said she cursed him and tore out the heart of his friend before he made a narrow escape! Really, young men are given to such exaggeration these days. Abd al-Hazir -Tormented Stinger The tormented stingers may resemble giant scorpions, but in truth they are molded from the bodies of human sacrifices. The demons twist their victims into the stingers' distinctive forms by slicing open their chests and viciously mutilating their legs. Maddened by pain, these creatures can poison their prey with a single strike. Deckard Cain -Cydaea, the Maiden of Lust Though Azmodan is close to all of his lieutenants, Cydaea is his special favorite. The Maiden of Lust is both beautiful and grotesque in appearance, with the torso of a woman and the legs of a spider. Her voice is said to be as smooth as honey, but she only speaks words of death. Deckard Cain -Ghom, the Lord of Gluttony Ghom is the largest of Azmodan's Sin Lieutenant's, and he possesses no less than four mouths. Though his voracious appetite is certainly his greatest weapon, his bile and, well... "other" noxious excretions are equally lethal. When last seen in battle, the Lord of Gluttony swallowed half a dozen angels whole, spears and all. Deckard Cain *** Act 4 *** [B4] -Armored Destroyer No one has seen an armored destroyed since Diablo was exiled from the Burning Hells centuries ago. Before then, they were the bulk of his army, and they crawled thick as locusts over the face of their master's realm. Should the Lord of Terror ever return, I fear they would be his heralds. Deckard Cain -Bile Crawler The bile crawlers are commonly spoken of among the peasantry in Khanduras, most often invoked to scare unruly children into their beds. Fables hold that the crawlers are the half-formed demonspawn who hatched before their time. They resemble nothing more than a bloody ravening mess and possess a voracious appetite for human flesh. Abd al-Hazir -Enslaved Nightmare The enslaved nightmares stand as testament that there will never be peace between men and demons. Sorcerers who attempt to master the dark arts and summon demons with their black spells are all damned to become skeletal nightmares bound to the very power they tried to bend to their will. Deckard Cain -Mallet Lord (The Mallet Lords) The mallet lords are brutal overseers second only to the seven Evils themselves. The mallet demons rule the seething outer reaches of the Hells that surround the central realms, and have long refused to join any of the Lesser Evils' armies. Surely the destruction would be unthinkable if such a thing ever came to pass. Deckard Cain -Oppressor (The Oppressors) I have seen many warriors in my day, but only a scant few of them could face the might of an oppressor. This monster towers over the tallest barbarians and wield weapons crafted from Hellforged steel. They were last seen with Baal during his resurgence and left legions of dead men in their wake. Deckard Cain -Terror Demon The ancient texts describe the terror demons as unconquerable foes, the dreams of Diablo made flesh. They appear in shadow to torment their victims, and then... in shadow they vanish. The mere sight of one drove a Horadrim to madness, leaving him screaming and clawing at his eyes until the end of his days. Deckard Cain -The Morlu (Morlu) The morlu were once men, great warriors of old. But each of them had darkness within his soul, and Mephisto, the Lord of Hatred, used this flaw to trick them into his service. Mephisto's fury slowly burned away their mortal forms, leaving them fiery apparitions who know no pain, fear, or doubt. Deckard Cain -Shadow Vermin There has been much debate among the Horadrim regarding the shadow vermin. Some scholars believe that these wraithlike foes are formed from concentrated demonic energy, while others believe they are the souls of humans corrupted by Diablo. They glide through the darkness as easily as water, ready to smother their unwary prey. Deckard Cain -Subjugator Though the subjugators have always been powerful demon sorcerers, they constantly sought to increase their standing in the bloodthirsty realms of Hell. To this end, they imprisoned a score of massive armaddon, torturing and flaying them until the hellbeasts would bear subjugators as riders. Together, the mount and its master are nearly invincible. Deckard Cain -Rakanoth, the Lord of Despair In the beginning, Rakanoth served Andariel, the Maiden of Anguish, with efficient brutality, for his touch may open up many painful wounds. He was also the warden of Izual during many long years that the angel suffered in Rakanoth's own Plains of Despair, but he has quit his realm unexpectedly in recent times. Deckard Cain _______________________________________________________________________________ *************** * People Lore * *************** *** Act 1 *** [P1] -Adria's Journal Aidan came to me last night. I suspected what was lurking within his troubled heart. I consoled him as best I could. Regardless, wherever he's headed, Hell will surely follow in his wake. The Shadows close in on Tristram once again. Bust, like Aidan, I'll be gone before they fall. Adria -Lachdanan's Scroll, Part 1-5 (Part 1) My name is Lachdanan, and I am cursed. Once the captain of King Leoric's army, I lived only to honor my land and my king. No man has a greater love for his king than I had for mine, even as I drove my blade through his dark and corrupted heart. (Part 2) It was Lazarus - of that I am certain. He alone had the king's ear and whispered dark and evil magics into it, instilling the notion of an imminent attack by Westmarch. Afraid to speak against the archbishop, the councilors nodded their empty heads in agreement and sent us off to die. (Part 3) When we returned from our horrific defeat in Westmarch, my beloved king lost all pretense of sanity. He seethed with rage, spitting curses upon us as traitors. With great sorrow, I ran him through. (Part 4) I will forever live in anguish for my last attempt to honor my king. As we lay him to rest in his burial chamber, he manifested as a hideous skeletal demon. Gorash and my other knights were overcome at once, but I fought on. (Part 5) And now I wander, cursed by my once-beloved king. Evil gnaws at my bones, and I cannot risk putting my beloved Tristram in danger should I fail to contain that which tears at me. I must venture down into the labyrinth to die alone. Lachdanan -Leah's Journal, Part 1-7 (Part 1) We've been under siege for six days now. Uncle Deckard is still missing. Captain Rumford and the others are losing hope. I tell them not to lose faith... but if help doesn't arrive soon... (Part 2) A miracle has happened! A hero like one out of Uncle Deckard's tales appeared and saved us! I know in my heart that my uncle still lives, and I pray that the hero will bring him home safely. (Part 3) Uncle Deckard is home - rescued from the clutches of the Skeleton King! I'm so glad. But the Skeleton King? I thought he was a folktale. The idea of Mad King Leoric returning to torture this place... Hasn't Tristram suffered enough? (Part 4) I can hardly believe it, but the falling star... is a man! When Uncle Deckard realized this, he was crushed. I know he was hoping for something more... miraculous. (Part 5) Uncle Deckard believes the key to unlocking the Stranger's memory is reassembling his sword. I wish I could say this was another of Uncle's crazy theories, but I can't deny that these ominous events are starting to really scare me. (Part 6) When we retrieve the Stranger's second sword piece, Maghda found us. She's always on our heels. Who is she? She claims to know my mother, but how could that be? Regardless, we must beat her to Wortham and the final piece of the sword. (Part 7) Uncle Deckard is gone forever. I remember the wonderful times we had together, always off on another crazy quest. What will I do without him? He believed the Stranger was an angel, but he is only a man. I always knew they were just stories. Uncle Deckard died for those stories. Leah -Leoric's Journal, Part 1-5 (Part 1) We have just arrived in Tristram, and I must say I'm a bit dismayed. This place is a backwater filled with serfs and an ancient, broken-down monastery, hardly fit for the king of Khanduras! I cannot fathom why Lazarus was so intent on this becoming our new seat of power. (Part 2) A fetid, pallid malaise has fallen over the manor we now call home. Young Albrecht seems to be enjoying himself in our new home, however. Perhaps I am simply suffering from an imbalance of humors brought on by the recent change of clime. (Part 3) I am convinced that some malevolent being is attempting to wrest control of my thoughts away from me. Voices direct me to horrendous acts, and there are times when I seem unable to control my body. Lazarus knows; this is certain. He looks at me strangely when he thinks me otherwise disposed. (Part 4) Though my council begs me to reconsider, I will continue with the executions of those I find guilty of plotting against the kingdom. Perhaps they fear my eye will fall on them and discover their heinous, treasonous plans as well. Lazarus is the only one I can still trust. (Part 5) I have finally rid myself of the dark influence seeking to subdue me, and now I see things as they truly are. This conspiracy among the insolent townsfolk to weaken me by stealing Albrecht away will not stand! Perhaps the heads of their women and children on pikes will bring them clarity... His Majesty, King Leoric -Farmer's Journal I'm not quite sure what all the fuss is about. Few farmers turn up dead, and everyone goes running for the hills. I've lived off these lands for twenty years, and I have not seen any bloodthirsty monsters running about. No reason I should leave a perfectly good harvest. Misguided Farmer -Scabbard of Talic the Defender This scabbard is a rare treasure. Its inscription reads, "Talic the Defender," in archaic lettering. He was one of the ancients who guarded Mount Arreat until the shattering of the Worldstone, a true warrior who gave his life to spare the world from the dark fate it has fallen to now. Vendel the Armorsmith -Deckard Cain's Journal, Part 1-2 (Part 1) We have come at last to Tristram's old cathedral. This is where Diablo, Lord of Terror, first corrupted mankind. This is where I may finally find the answers I seek. Leah worries after my safety, but I believe information vital to defeating the last Lords of the Burning Hells can be found here. (Part 2) I wish that Leah could live a different life - a more normal life - but, alas, such is not her fate. When I pass, there is none but her to continue my work, and the future of this world hangs in the balance. Deckard Cain -Adenah's Jottings These cowardly farmers have been leaving the fields for days now, but I'm not about to follow them. My home is here, and a few angry goatmen won't change that. Adenah the Curio Vendor -Hermit's Ravings I used to be one of them. Ordinary. Untouched. Until her voice came to me. Then I knew how I must serve. I must kill the one who threatens my mistress and the dark power that created her. I have been chosen! The Hermit -A Prisoner's Journal 13th day of Lunasadh, 1236 Anno Kehjistani The jailers burned runes into my flesh. They say all the torture and dark magic will turn us into demonic slaves for King Leoric. What foolish lies! 17th day of Lunasadh Pain is terrible... I can't think... I'm so hungrrry. 20th day of Lunasadh MMMmmMMMASTter I HunnGEr MASTER FeEEED ME A Wretched Prisoner -Queen Asylla's Journal Starved of the sun, I no longer know what day it is. I can hear the Warden, my husband, and that dog Lazarus discussing my fate. My life will be over soon, yet I fear more for my poor Albrecht's future in the wake of his father's madness. If only Aidan were here. Queen Asylla -Scoundrel's Journal After much searching, I have found a promising lead. A family near New Tristram has obtained a valuable relic, and poor fools that they are, they haven't the slightest idea what to do with it! I have some idea of what to do with their daughter, though... and through her, I'll get my prize. Lyndon -Kingsport Bill Wanted: one relic, scarlet, roughly the size of a man's fist. It was stolen two months past during a deplorable theft from the Merchant's Guild Bank. Those apprehended were not in possession of the item. The relic is greatly missed by its rightful owner, who offers a reward for its safe return. Lyndon -Skeleton King (The Skeleton King) The Zakarum high priests in Kurast proclaimed Leoric king of Khanduras many years ago. He ruled well until Diablo's influence drove him mad, and the loyal knight Lachdanan was forced to slay him. Afterward, Diablo himself raised Leoric from the dead as the Skeleton King until the monarch's son Aidan vanquished him. Deckard Cain -Wandering Tinker's Diary We should have known. The farmers left over a fortnight ago, and yet we stayed. Last night, we heard the beasts creeping closer. My husband left to investigate, and I haven't seen him since... All I have left are the things we made together. Hopefully they are more use to someone else. Rina the Tinker -Notes of Urik the Seer, Part 1-3 (Part 1) Long I have labored to master the dark arts. Now I finally reap the rewards, for Maghda has acknowledged me! She promised me a special task that will bring endless glory to the Great One. I can hardly rest until she reveals it on the morrow! (Part 2) Goatmen! All of my labors were for a bunch of rotten, stinking goatmen! Maghda claims that they will become our most valuable allies and that the task is one that she can entrust to no one but me, but I know my place. I am most bruisingly humbled. (Part 3) Enslaving the goatmen was easier than I anticipated. My magic seemed to reignite the savagery deep within them, and they flocked to me in hordes. A few escaped - those who understood the fate of their people - but they are too weak to counter my spells. The Moon clan attacks at my command! Urik the Seer -Priest's Contemplations, Part 1-2 (Part 1) One of the men retrieved a strange artifact in his nets. It looked like a hilt of an ancient blade, but I know it must be more. The fisherman argued with me, but I convinced him to leave it in the safety of the chapel. A holy place for a holy relic. (Part 2) When the church of the Zakarum sent me here, I assumed that my village would be simple and untroubled. To be honest, I was relieved. Corruption has struck down many a greater man than I, and such a quiet place could've been my salvation. But everything changed when disaster struck the Tristram Cathedral. Verrall, Priest of Wortham -Mira's Letter to Haedrig My Dearest Haedrig, Do not feel despair, my love. You did everything you could. Our time together meant more than words can say, but in the end, fate is a cruel mistress. Your strength is needed to end the horrors that beset this world. My final wish is that you find your path. Love always, Mira -Cain's Old Journal, Part 1-2 (Part 1) I can no longer deny the true nature of the evil that rises from the depths of the cathedral. It is almost too horrible to admit the truth of it. It is the dark Lord of Terror, Diablo himself, who plagues us. (Part 2) The vile staff of Lazarus was brought to me today, confirming my suspicions. There is no longer any doubt that Lazarus kidnapped Albrecht and perhaps even freed Diablo from his ancient prison. Who knows what further treachery he has planned? Deckard Cain -Gillian's Diary, Part 1-2 (Part 1) Ogden and his wife have offered to let me and Grandmother continue to stay with them. I think we will now that the troubles are over. I am still tormented by horrific nightmares. I keep hoping they will fade, but they seem to be getting stronger. (Part 2) To think I was once afraid of Adria. She is going to take me to Caldeum with her soon. Caldeum! I never thought to see it with my own eyes... Though it saddens me to leave Ogden and his wife, Adria assures me that she will find a cure for my nightmares. Gillian -Lost Journal I had heard the rumors, but I thought them just fancies of bored women... until I saw them dragging people through the streets today. Our own citizens! Has the world gone mad?! Old Tristram Villager -Old Diary There is chaos everywhere, and word in town is that Lachdanan killed the king! If only this is true, perhaps our days and nights of living in terror are behind us now. Old Tristram Villager -Despina's Journal Praise the powers that be! Griswold, bless his dead heart, risked everything to bring that dear boy home from the cathedral. Though he is troubled and moody now, I am certain it will pass and he will once again be the sweet Wirt we all love. Villager Despina *** Act 2 *** [P2] -Fuad's Journal Day four: We were crazed with starvation from three days with no food, but that is no excuse for what we have done... Day seven: I cannot face what I have become... Day ten: I hunger, but I am patient. Someone will come for me. And then I will feed again. Fuad -Zoltun Kulle Murderer. Torturer. Monster. These were the titles bestowed upon Zoltun Kulle by the Horadrim. Though it cost them dearly, they killed the wizard for his crimes against nature and sealed his broken corpse within a shadow realm. It seems they were afraid he might return. Adria -The Musings of Sardar Those fools of the Trade Consortium are clueless that I siphon the public funds from their coffers. I will continue to hide my plunder here, where none can find it. One day soon I will claim my treasure and flee this desert hell for the greener pastures of the west. Caliphate Sardar -The Promises of Fezuul al-Kazaar Fezuul al-Kazaar promised that he would lead his followers from sinful Caldeum to a lily-strewn paradise at the heart of the desert, and that the journey would transform them beyond all recognition. Judging by the conditions of the gnawed corpses found weeks later, Fezuul kept at least one of his promises. Abd al-Hazir -Eirena's Journal I felt no fear when they sealed the tomb before me, only a sense of peace as my mind drifted away into the darkness. It seems I opened my eyes only seconds later and beheld the chamber in ruins, half buried in sand. I have left everything behind... Only hope guides me now. Eirena -Iron Wold Captain's Journal Another sunset, and Alcarnus is still safe from the sudden madness that plagues Caldeum. Though we are seeing an influx of hooded pilgrims for some Zakarum holy day, the... demons out there are keeping their distance. I will double the guard at the gate. We must not be unprepared if our luck turns. Iron Wolf Captain -The Legend of Zei the Trickster The people of Xiansai worship fifty-nine gods, but few are more revered than Zei, the exiled trickster god who travels the face of the world, disguised as a humble merchant. Tales of his adventures range from ingenious thefts and practical jokes to more... lurid exploits, none of which I am comfortable recording here. Abd al-Hazir -Kala's Poem When the desert sands silence their whispers in the night, and the thousand lights of the stars bleed into the darkness, I will find you in the void. My love will pour from me as words pour from my pen. Kala -The Last Will of Khan Dakab My life has been long. I have gathered much wealth around me. But gold has brought me nothing but pain, and I will not let the curse of my wealth fall on my family. This room shall hold my treasure for all eternity; none shall divine its secrets... Khan Dakab -Larra's Diary About a week has passed since the cultists found us. Mama told me to hide; I was always good at hiding. No one could ever find me because I would choose the places where no one wanted to look. Then they dragged my parents away... I can still hear them screaming. Larra -Kulle's Journal, Part 1-4 (Part 1) Finally, I have unlocked the secret of the soulstones once given to the Horadrim by Tyrael. An impressive creation, to be sure, but one that I am certain can be duplicated. No, not just duplicated - improved upon. My soulstone will be made to contain the souls of many demons, or even angels! (Part 2) I believe with this soulstone I will finally be able to unlock the true power of man. In ancient times, our kind possessed power unmatched in this dreary age. With the soulstone, I will be able to elevate myself to the strength of my ancestors. (Part 3) The Black Soulstone will be my greatest work, my legacy, and my gift to humanity. There will be wars to come between man and the creatures of Heaven and Hell. The power housed within my stone is the very thing needed to set mankind free from demons and angels forever. (Part 4) The wards have been triggered. It seems my brothers have finally come looking for me. Damn them! I am not ready. Too much of my power is invested in the stone's creation. I must finish it. The future of mankind depends on it... Zoltun Kulle -Leah's Journal, Part 8-12 (Part 8) Caldeum - everything Uncle Deckard left me leads to this place. It's strange; I first met him here when I was only a child... and now his loss feels heavier than ever. He was right about everything all along... We have to stop Belial before it's too late. (Part 9) The city has many secrets, and I still remember most of them. I can get into Caldeum through the sewers if I avoid the Imperial Guard. While I'm out, my friend has sworn to take down Maghda. It won't bring Uncle Deckard back, but we'll all be relieved when she's gone. (Part 10) After all this time, my mother is alive! I couldn't be happier, and yet it's still hard to accept that she never sent word to me or Uncle Deckard. She said that she wanted to keep me safe, but I just wish I'd known... Well, at least I have her now. (Part 11) My mother has been teaching me magic and how to control my power, but I feel like I'm constantly disappointing her. She says that I have a gift, but it doesn't feel that way. Maybe it will improve if I keep practicing. For now, we are getting closer to the Black Soulstone, and that's what really matters. (Part 12) We have the Black Soulstone at last, despite Zoltun Kulle's betrayal. I always knew he couldn't be trusted. Fortunately, we were able to defeat him an retrieve the stone. I learned that my mother had secretly bound the fallen Lords of Hell to it... I just wonder why she didn't tell me. Leah -Andariel, the Maiden of Anguish Andariel was the only female Evil. She aided the Lesser Evils for many years, but eventually she lost faith in their plots. Two decades ago, she chose to help Diablo during his resurgence and seized the Citadel of the Sightless Eye. Ultimately, she perished at the hands of brave heroes. Deckard Cain -Azmodan, the Lord of Sin The Valrous manuscript lists Azmodan as the best battlefield commander of all demons, having defeated the angels many times in the Eternal Conflict across Pandemonium and the Prime Evils in the demonic civil war. If the Lord of Sin ever assaults our realm, we truly have much to fear. Deckard Cain -Baal, the Lord of Destruction Baal was the most brash and reckless of the Prime Evils. After the Dark Exile, he was contained within the Horadrim Tal Rasha and entombed. Centuries later, Diablo freed Baal, who then corrupted the Worldstone to devastating effect for the barbarians who lived near Mount Arreat. The heroes killed Baal shortly afterward. Deckard Cain -Belial, the Lord of Lies Belial, Lord of Lies, is the most elusive of the seven Evils and is a master of deceit. It is said that he manipulated Azmodan into revolt against the Prime Evils. This began the Burning Hells' civil war, which ended with the Dark Exile of the Prime Evils to our mortal realm. Deckard Cain -Diablo, the Lord of Terror Diablo was the youngest of the Prime Evils, but I found him the most dangerous, for his power over terror left him incapable of feeling fear. Though he had easily possessed and corrupted many humans, Diablo's essence was finally trapped in a soulstone and banished to the unfathomable Abyss twenty years ago. Deckard Cain -Duriel, the Lord of Pain Duriel is the twin of Andariel. I believe that they conspired together to assist Diablo in releasing Mephisto and Baal, though they had both supported the Lesser Evils in the past. The Lord of Pain was found guarding Baal's prison - the tomb of Tal Rasha - when he was slain by heroes. Deckard Cain -The Seven Lords of Hell It is with some reluctance that I write on the seven Lords of Hell, for they are the greatest of the demons, and even whispering their names seems to poison the air around me. They are divided into the Lesser Evils (Belial, Azmodan, Duriel, and Andarial) and the Prime Evils (Mephisto, Baal, and Diablo). Deckard Cain -Mephisto, Lore of Hatred The evil of Mephisto, Lord of Hatred, was so pervasive that even after he had been defeated and entombed in a soulstone, his demonic essence oozed upwards into Travincal and corrupted the Zakarum priests. Though he fell to the same heroes who killed his brothers, I fear for us should he ever return. Deckard Cain -A Love Letter From the pages of Solan, exalted poet of Kehjistan: My love rises out of the oasis like a willow. Let me nourish her like a pool of cool water. Let me wind myself up her curves and hollows like fingers of ivy, and climb her shaded branches to taste of her fruit. Solan -Necromancer's Log Two decades ago, my mentor faced the forces of evil and emerged victorious. I cannot hope to surpass his achievements, but I will try to bring balance to the raging forces that threaten to tear the world asunder in these days. The spirits are restless near Caldeum. I must quiet them. Mehtan the Necromancer -The Imperial Guard's Orders The enemy has destroyed Alcarnus and most of the cultists. The master commands us to capture more slaves immediately. Go to the oasis and abduct the villagers. Kill any who resist. That way, we shall both gain allies and destroy enemies. Captain of the Imperial Guard -Crumbling Journal My mother told me not to join the mages' army. I should have listened. In the morning they're sending the infantry against the Vizjerei. I don't know how we're supposed to survive. Maybe we're not. It's so beautiful here. Maybe if I hid in the trees, they wouldn't notice I was gone. Mage Clan Soldier -Poltahr's Notes I never thought I'd become a treasure hunter, but I also never thought my family's fortunes would sink so low. Yesterday I heard a nobleman asking about the Rygnar idol - an artifact that belonged to the great mage Zoltun Kulle. If I can retrieve it, my family will never go hungry again. Poltahr -Lyndo's Journal (The Ancient Portal Device) We have found the key to the ancient device, but I fear that these treasures will cost us our lives. At least my brother and I have made it this far, and we are still alive. Dare we use this machine? Lyndo -Blackened Journal Asheara is a good woman. She has to know that the emperor isn't the same sweet child she brought to Caldeum falls, so do the trade routes, and people will start starving all over the world. We must tear Hakan from his throne! Iron Wolf Swordsman -A Servant's Journal My little Hakan has become so cruel... so paranoid in the last few weeks. I hear that he has ordered all of his staff to leave the city, or he will have them thrown from the walls. He cannot possibly mean me. I have cared for him since he was an infant! Servant Kohin *** Act 3 *** [P3] -Bloodstained Letter My dearest Jonathan, I hope this letter finds you well and that life at Bastion's Keep is not too difficult. Arthur is growing up to be just like his father. I'm happy to hear you'll be back in time for his birthday, and I'll be praying every night for your safe return. Brielle -Ghom's Log The human prisoners are panicking now? They must have noticed that fresh meat only comes after one of their number is dragged away, screaming... This will not hold. Slaughter the ones who starve themselves and feed them to their hungry friends. When those ones are fully stuff... I will be ready to dine. Ghom, the Lord of Gluttony -Journal of Hansan Haile, Captain Day 9: Young commander Calderos believes that the demonic scourge will flee before a bloody show of righteous force. He intends to lead a charge from our fortifications tomorrow. Calderos can commit suicide by stupidity if he wants, but I'll be damned if I send my lads with him. Hansan Haile, Captain -Leah's Journal, Part 13-16 (Part 13) We've reached Bastion's Keep, but holding the Black Soulstone together takes up all of my time now. Sometimes I think of the wounded soldiers and their families outside... but then my concentration fails and the spells weaken. I must stay focused and trust my friend to save the keep and its people. (Part 14) The days are hard. If it weren't for my mother standing beside me, I don't know what I'd do. She even watches the stone for a few hours each night so I can rest. Sometimes I dream I'm in New Tristram with Uncle Deckard again, and... it's hard to wake up after that. (Part 15) Adria tells me that our friend has beaten back Azmodan's armies and the keep is safe now. I... I almost can't believe it. The essence within the soulstone grow angrier - fiercer. They're fighting against me every moment now, and their darkness creeps around the edges of my mind... I must remain strong. (Part 16) I thought I was going to die when I saw the demons' rage escape from the soulstone. Tyrael and my friend fought them, but I couldn't help. It was like I was watching them through a haze. What is the soulstone doing to me? Azmodan must die soon... Then I will be myself again. Leah -Morgan's Journal, Part 1-3 (Part 1) Transferring to Bastion's Keep is as dull as I imagined. The soldiers spend most of their time gambling. I guess this is what I should expect from this hollowed-out rock, a shadow of its former glory. Still, I am here to provide for Anna. I hope she is well. (Part 2) The captain looked grim today. A messenger came in the middle of the night. They know something they aren't telling us. Maybe coming here was a bigger mistake than I thought... (Part 3) The demons came at night, silent as death; the night watch was overrun in moments. Since then it's been an endless massacre. Those creatures... they're straight out of a nightmare. I don't think I'll be going home after all. I'm sorry, Anna... Guard Morgan *** Act 4 *** [P4] -Burial Wishes If you are reading this, my husband and I are both gone. We would like to be buried side by side, preferably in a sunny spot. Oh, and please don't bury my husband's sword with us. He won't need it anymore. Marta -The Angiris Council The Angiris Council is comprised of the five archangels who hold dominion over the High Heavens. They determine the laws by which all angels must abide. Each of them embodies a pure aspect of creation: valor, justice, hope, fate, and wisdom. Selathiel, Angiris Scribe -Archangel Auriel, The Aspect of Hope It is through the archangel Auriel that the power of hope flows into the fabric of creation. Her eternal light illuminates even the darkest souls. With Malthael's departure, it falls to Auriel to hold the Angiris Council together. Should her light ever fade, all Heaven would fall to despair. Selathiel, Angiris Scribe -Archangel Imperius, The Aspect of Valor Imperius, the archangel of Valor, is the greatest warrior in all of creation. He revels in war and combat and has led the hosts of Heaven to innumerable victories. With Malthael's absence, it is Imperius who now rules over the Angiris Council, seeking always to defend the High Heavens from any foe. Selathiel, Angiris Scribe -Archangel Itherael, The Aspect of Fate Knowledge of the future grants power over the present. For this reason, Itherael, the archangel of Fate, is a vital member of the Council. He alone possesses the ability to decipher the threads of destiny woven in the celestial Scroll of Fate. His boundless sight grants him perspective others cannot fully comprehend. Selathiel, Angiris Scribe -Archangel Malthael, Former Aspect of Wisdom (Archangel Malthael, the Aspect of Wisdom) Much uncertainty surrounds the archangel Malthael. Once the calm guiding hand of wisdom, he was lost to us the moment the Worldstone disappeared. Unable to fathom that catastrophic event, he abandoned Heaven. His departure created a colossal fracture within the Council - one that, to this day, remains unrepaired. Selathiel, Angiris Scribe -Archangel Tyrael, the Aspect of Justice Tyrael, the archangel of Justice, is a being of balance and integrity. His compassion for mankind has compromised his standing within the Angiris Council. He alone recognized the nephalem's capacity to transcend their divided heritage and become the true champions of creation. Selathiel, Angiris Scribe -Izual's Descent The angel Izual was once Tyrael's lieutenant, but he was captured by the enemy after an ill-advised assault upon the Hellforge. Izual surrendered to demonic corruption and revealed the secrets of the soulstones to the Prime Evils. Tyrael claimed that Izual was slain years ago, but his replacement has never emerged from the Crystal Arch... Archangel Itherael _______________________________________________________________________________ ************** * World Lore * ************** *** Act 1 *** [W1] -The Hanging Tree The cold ground welcomes the foul bodies of these cruel men. They sought to prolong their lives through forbidden magic at great and cruel cost to others. Their evil fed on itself until it consumed them all and they found themselves at the end of a hangman's rope. Tristram Magistrate -Gravedigger's Log When King Leoric came to court, he brought many nobles with him. And nobles, oddly enough, want noble crypts. So I showed up with my shovel, thinking to make an easy profit by digging a few holes. Ha! There's no stopping their demands around here! Now I eat, sleep, and breathe dirt, it seems... Darris the Gravedigger -Tristram Fields The Tristram fields are fair lands, fertile and temperate. Superstitious farmers kept away from them for quite a while after the fall of Old Tristram, but time has persuaded them to abandon these ridiculous notions and take up the hoe and plow once more. Now they supply crops to both New Tristram and Wortham. Abd al-Hazir -Khazra Heads Wanted The local khazra tribes have become a serious threat. They attack caravans and are moving into areas where they haven't been seen before. We need you to take care of this problem for us. We'll pay twenty-five gold pieces for every khazra head you bring back. New Tristram Official -Researching the Khazra My loutish companions have no curiosity about the khazra; they are only interested in the bounty on their heads. But I am convinced the khazra can be communicated with. It is dangerous, to be sure, but it is a risk I am willing to take. Belard the Scholar -The Khazra Massacre Everyone is dead. Belard, that damned fool, was killed, trying to communicate with the khazra. And then the cultists showed up. As soon as I saw them, I ran. I wanted no part of their dark magic. I heard screams of my companions, but there was nothing I could do to help. Osman the Hunter -The Highlands Though New Tristram and the fields surrounding it have been resettled over the years, the Highlands remain empty save for the crumbling ruins of Leoric's old outposts. The king built more than one watchtower in his paranoia, but now they cannot even ward away goatmen and wild beasts. A tragedy, really. Abd al-Hazir -Torn Letter Chancellor Eamon, It is of the utmost importance that we secure my manor from the traitorous rabble in Tristram. The caves to the easy are too close to my land! They must be blocked - completely obstructed. I believe the archbishop Lazarus has magically bound some arachnids of late. They may serve us well... His Majesty, King Leoric -Torn Letter's Response Royal Guard, With great pain, I must admit that our king is no longer able to separate reason from madness. He orders the caverns to be filled with the archbishop's monstrous creations and will hear nothing else. Perhaps the legendary ancients themselves once dwelled there... but now we must desecrate their ruins. Chancellor Eamon -New Tristram For many years, villagers were too afraid to settle near the ruins of the cursed town Tristram. But as time went by, adventurers arrived to loot the old cathedral, and their business was profitable enough that New Tristram sprang up to accommodate them. Fewer travelers visit now, though, and the town is mostly populated by craftsmen and farmers. Deckard Cain -Traveler's Journal While exploring a cave with hopes of finding hidden treasure, I came upon a most grisly sight - a heap of dead bodies. Unbelievably, as I was searching them for any items of value, they began to rise! I must tell them of this in New Tristram before it's too late. Theren the Traveler -Warriv's Journal I return to Khanduras after twenty years, the burden of countless failures and tragedies heaped upon my shoulders. Am I being punished for helping that stranger hunt the Dark Wanderer? I always though Deckard Cain half a madman, but perhaps... he was right. Perhaps he can banish the shadow hanging over my life. Warriv -Tomb Robber's Journal We were so sure we could beat whatever traps the ancients had laid for tomb robbers, but the dead bodies of my friends testify to the folly of our arrogance. I will be dead soon as well. Our greed was our downfall... Tomb Robber -The Last Stand of the Ancients Our enemies are legion, but they will not take us without a fight. We must hold them here while the keys to the holy temple are hidden away from their leader, the fiend Nereza. Resolve must not falter, though we will surely die to the last man! Edric -The Drowned Temple The Worldstone has been changed. Our children are born weak and suffer short lives. The demon Nereza promised to restore their power but instead turned them into misshapen creatures and sent them to war against us. We may die, but not before she is sent back to the Burning Hells. Alaric -Warrior's Rest Alaric says that our people can survive the coming battle, but I saw the truth in his eyes. Why did he order me to guard the Beacon of Honor? Those shambling things are slaughtering my people in the forest above, and there is nothing I can do to stop it! Edric -Old Tristram Journal The rumors of torture and worse grow every day. What has happened to Tristram and its king? I once thought Leoric a great man, but it seems I was deceived. We all were. He sends our meager army against Westmarch on the morrow. What will become of us? Villager Despina *** Act 2 *** [W2] -The Desert Aqueducts, Part 1-2 (Part 1) The Caldeum aqueducts were created by order of the trade consortium council after the Dahlgur Oasis was discovered three centuries ago. Though Caldeum had been prosperous for many years, a reliable source of water allowed the city to grow even further. Luxurious public fountains were built to provide safe drinking water for everyone. (Part 2) In recent days, the aqueducts have become dilapidated and infested with vermin. The Imperial Guard has done nothing, proclaiming that the aqueducts were in tolerable condition. But I have seen them with my own eyes, and I know the truth. Many wealthy families, including myself, now prefer well water for our homes. Abd al-Hazir -An Abridged History of Caldeum, Part 1-6 (Part 1) Most commoners know Caldeum by reputation if not direct experience. The trade city has existed for thousands of years, predating even the Mage Clan Wars. Its neutral stance throughout the following centuries saved it from the destruction that visited the nearby city of Viz-jun and life - along with trade - carried on. (Part 2) The trade consortium council has always been the ruling body of Caldeum, but it gained additional strength after the fall of the Vizjerei. The councilmen saw opportunity in the rapidly growing Zakarum faith, and they allowed the fanatics to build their enormous cathedral, Saldencal, within the center of the city. (Part 3) Not content to reign supreme in commerce and religion, the trade consortium council aspired to make Caldeum a nexus of learning as well. It proposed to unite the mage academics in a massive new structure - the Yshari Sanctum - which has remained a beacon of knowledge and advancement ever since. (Part 4) Caldeum changed drastically in recent years when the Kurast nobles all but invaded the city. Soon after, their emperor, Hakan I, joined them and made Caldeum his capital. Though his actions seemed audacious, he managed to bring further peace and prosperity to the city for the duration of his reign. (Part 5) All was well under the new emperor until his untimely death forced the Zakarum priests to find a new heir for Kehjistan's throne. Through a series of elaborate rituals (undoubtedly a spectacle for their superstitious followers), they determined an impoverished infant in the north was Hakan I's spiritual successor. (Part 6) After the Zakarum priestsÂ’' rituals were complete, they employed a group of reckless mercenaries, the Iron Wolves, to retrieve the child. They dubbed him Hakan II and installed him on the throne despite his scant years. Caldeum has been in decline ever since, and I can see no reprieve in sight. Abd al-Hazir -The Dahlgur Oasis Three centuries ago, a much smaller Caldeum depended upon small wells for its water. Then came the mysterious Dahlgur, offering Caldeum an oasis of unparalleled splendor located in an area previously thought to be desert, asking only that his name be permanently affixed to the land. Then, he vanished into the wastes. Abd al-Hazir -On the Desolate Sands, Part 1-3 (Part 1) We, the Zakarum, have endeavored to make Caldeum a city of mercy and salvation, but we have not yet been able to convince the emperors to change the ancient policy of exile. Prisoners convicted of treason are still sent to the Desolate Sands to die with nothing but the clothes on their backs. (Part 2) In thousands of years of records, I cannot find a single account of a prisoner surviving exile to the Desolate Sands. The wastes are littered with bones that have been picked dry by the endlessly circling blood hawks or desperate lacuni. Those who die there meet their end without the sanctity of the Light. (Part 3) The Zakarum scholar Brast wrote that the Desolate Sands were created after a mage-clan battle sent out explosive energies that devastated the entire area. But he doesn't account for the enormous skeletons... No one has ever identified them. Were they a lost race of giant beasts? Demons? Mythical dragons? we may never know. Lysra the Zakarum Archivist -The Chamber of Faces The vault door is sealed by magic means. The stone faces upon the ground seem to have some reaction to our presence. We would investigate further, but our intrusion has woken something in these halls. We should not linger. Iron Wolf Jarulf *** Act 3 *** [W3] -Fall of the Barbarians, Part 1-5 (Part 1) I have been fortunate enough to learn much of the barbarians' complicated history in my time. Yet the origins of these large, might warriors are hazy at best. Legend holds that they are the offspring of Bul-Kathos, an ancient who embodied their ideals of strength, bravery, and courage. (Part 2) The Children of Bul-Kathos settled in the Northern Steppes, an area that is now known as the Dreadlands. Theirs was primarily a nomadic and tribal culture, though they had a few permanent settlements such as Sescheron and Harrogath. A group of revered former warriors known as the elder council ruled the barbarians. (Part 3) The barbarians have always defended their lands in the north from trespassers. They believe that it is their sacred charge to guard Mount Arreat and the Worldstone within it from the outside world. Unfortunately, their battle prowess and tenacity have been misinterpreted as bloodthirst and territorial savagery by soldiers in Westmarch. (Part 4) Twenty years ago, Baal was loosed upon the world. He besieged the barbarian capital of Sescheron and used treachery to access the Worldstone Chamber, circumnavigating the three ancient guardians Talic, Madawc, and Korlic. In the end, he succeeded in corrupting the great artifact. Though Baal was slain by heroes, his damage was irreversible. (Part 5) The archangel Tyrael shattered the corrupted Worldstone to prevent the demons from using it. But the impact of the explosion destroyed Mount Arreat, leaving a massive crater in its wake. With nothing to protect, the barbarians grew aimless and divided. Now they are scattered through the north among the ruins of their long history. Deckard Cain -The History of Bastion's Keep Many centuries ago, King Korsikk built Bastion's Keep to "pen the barbarian threat" in the north. After years of military disasters, the frustrated king led a large army out of the fortress and into the north to conquer the barbarians once and for all. Not one of them came back. Deckard Cain *** Act 4 *** [W4] -The Creation of Sanctuary, Part 1-4 (Part 1) I knew Inarius long ago - when he was still among the angels. But he grew weary of battling the demons after a time, and he began to secretly conspire with demons in order to forge a peace. The demoness Lilith became his greatest ally in the Hells, and many other demons and angels joined his cause. (Part 2) After he gained a following, Inarius stole the sacred Worldstone and used it to create and conceal a world he called Sanctuary. Demons and angels alike fled there, and some of them - including Inarius and Lilith - fell in love. Many of these unions resulted in children. They were called the nephalem. (Part 3) Inarius was alarmed when he realized that the nephalem had the potential to surpass both angels and demons in power. He wished to limit their abilities, but Lilith demanded that they become her army. Their escalating conflict led to Sanctuary's discovery by the demon lords and the Angiris Council. (Part 4) In the end, Lilith was banished and Inarius was given over to the demons, who have tortured him in the Hells ever since. Most of Inarius's followers were killed; those who remained shared an even darker fate. Despite the tragedy, I believe the nephalem may yet play a part in resolving the Eternal Conflict. Archangel Auriel _______________________________________________________________________________ ************** * Quest Lore * ************** *** Act 1 *** [Q1] -Report from Wortham Mistress, It is my pleasure to report that I have broken the prisoners from Wortham. Words have flowed from their mouths like blood from a wound! Our summoners can retrieve the weapon at your command, and the enemy shall be non the wiser. Dark Cultist -Command from Cultist Grand Inquisitor I need more bodies! You think my summoners can just conjure up a demon whenever it pleases them? We must have blood - fresh blood, mind you - and human flesh to bolster our magic. I will be expecting a reply from you shortly. Grand Inquisitor -Reply from Cultist Grand Inquisitor Of all the abominable stalling! In case it was not clear, I need the sacrifices now. I have heard enough of your idle complaints that the villagers have fled from the Highlands, leaving no one left to sacrifice. You'd best come up with something, or it's your hide we'll be flaying. Grand Inquisitor -A Page from Lazarus's Grimoire The time of my lord's true awakening is at hand. That fool Leoric was only able to resist him because he did not yet possess his full power. With the queen dispatched as a traitor, I may now devote myself fully to preparing the boy for the presence of my master... Archbishop Lazarus -Orders from Maghda There is a new piece to the game, a girl named Leah. My spies tell me she is the child of the witch Adria, who is hiding in the deserts of Caldeum. Bring this news to the master at once. Maghda -Villager's Journal [NOTE: as of the release of Diablo 3, this lore item is unattainable] -A Summoner's Journal Maghda is a fool. I will raise an army of souls from these primitive and chain them to my invincible will. Yes, with these heathens at my command, the kingdoms of the world shall bow to the might of... the Lord of Goats! I may have to work on the title a bit more. Dark Cultist *** Act 2 *** [Q2] -Guard's Orders Captain of the Guard, You are hereby ordered to send a band of your most loyal men to secure the Khasim Outpost. Control of the city hangs by a thread. The commoners are becoming restless, and it is imperative that we subdue them. Remain vigilant, for there may already be an outsider within our borders, looking to stir up trouble. (Illegible Signature) -Proclamation from the Imperial Guard Attention, Subjects of Emperor Hakan II: A trespasser has been sighted in the city sewers. Witnesses describe the suspect as a young woman in a crimson tunic. Reports indicate that she arrived in Caldeum recently along with a party of suspicious travelers. Any information leading to her immediate capture will be handsomely rewarded by His Eminence. Imperial Guard -Missive to Maghda, Part 1-2 (Part 1) Maghda, This "hero" means to attack you in Alcarnus. If I were you, I would set a trap at the Khasim Outpost, but I am not you. For all I know, you wish to fail me again and force me to kill you. That would grieve me, though somehow... I think I could manage it. Belial (Part 2) Maghda, Such sad, sad tales have reached me of your truly abysmal failure to stop the enemy at the Khasim Outpost. But at least the enemy's spy has been found. Once we eliminate her and her allies, this obnoxious little world will fall to me... and perhaps you. If you survive. Belial -Deceiver's Orders, Part 1-3 (Part 1) My exemplary servants, Keep the witch alive until she talks. Pain will loose her tongue, but only to a point. Remember what happened with the vizier's assistant...? It was a pleasurable time, I admit, but the man had only incoherent babble and bloody strands of puss spilling from his lips by the end. Belial (Part 2) Overwhelm the enemy and seize his companions. There is a witch among them and... another... a girl. Bring them to me along with the Black Soulstone. They will be searching for the head of Zoltun Kulle. Scour the oasis for it. Some old sorcery lingers on the skull, and it must be mine. Belial (Part 3) Miserable wretches, I have no time for your excuses. Caldeum is on the brink of rebellion, and the enemy is closing in on the archives of Zoltun Kulle. Slaughter him and bring me the mad wizard's head and the Black Soulstone, or I shall inflict incomprehensible agony upon the lot of you. Belial -The Feared Hero We camp, lying in wait for a hero of incredible prowess. My gut churns with the suspicion that we are simply fodder. I have heard tales of this hero wading through our ranks, slaughtering us as if we were children. I will not sleep again tonight, I fear. Dark Cultist -Hunter's Journal, Part 1-6 (Part 1) We are in agreement. Kulle the renegade must be stopped. He seeks to duplicate the power of the stones and wield it for his own ends. He is obsessed with the powers of Heaven and Hell. Drawing their attention will only bring doom to us all. (Part 2) We set out in one week's time into the Desolate Sands to search for Kulle's hidden archives. None of us have any idea what to expect. How far has Kulle's madness driven him? How much power has he accumulated in his mad quest? I can only hope we are not too late... (Part 3) We found Kulle's archives. They were strangely empty... at first. But Kulle laid traps everywhere. Each step harder than the next. It was foolish to expect otherwise. Kulle has prepared for many years for someone to come for him. Perhaps we are fools, and yet we must push on. (Part 4) Try as me might, Kulle simply cannot be killed. His cursed blood sustains him. He bleeds sand, and his laughter mocks us. There is only one course of action left to us. We will separate his body and his head, and hide the body within the shadow realm. (Part 5) We will seal the shadow locks with vials of his blood, and we will hide the blood in the desert under eternal guard. I can only hope that the world does not forget of Kulle's evil, and his blood remains undisturbed beneath the shifting sands. (Part 6) Kulle mocks my every step. I try to shut him out, but his chattering is ceaseless. He takes joy in taunting me. I will not rise to the bait. I will not give in to him. I long for the silence that will come once I secure his head away. Iben Fahd *** Act 3 *** [Q3] -Battlefield Reports The men are losing hope. The demons' numbers seem endless. They come at all times, day or night, and no amount of casualties we inflict slows their advance. We need reinforcements. We need help. Guard of the Keep -Orders from Azmodan, Part 1-6 (Part 1) Minions, Bastion's Keep has nearly fallen. Many of you have already gorged yourselves on blood and manflesh, but do not let your feasting delay you. I would have the keep and its commander in my possession before the next dawn. The rest of this world will fall soon after. Azmodan (Part 2) Minions, The imbecile who slew my brother, Belial, now means to aid the keep's beleaguered soldiers. He brings a girl with him... She could undo us all. But I am not Belial; we was weak and cowered behind his disguises. Of course they failed him! We will seize our victory through bloodshed. Azmodan (Part 3) Minions, The men actually think that they can hide behind their paltry little walls! But they have only had a glimpse of the full host of Hell. We will see them drown in our tide of sin! The girl is still weak, and their "hero" will not expect us to attack from below. Send in the ravening beast... Azmodan (Part 4) Minions, My brothers grow impatient within the soulstone. Yes, I can hear them even down here. Their voices are so pitiful and small that they almost amuse me. Yet they are my prize, not the nephalem's... or the girl's, for that matter. This is not her time. This... is the Age of Sin. Azmodan (Part 5) Minions, There is nothing I loathe more than failure. You know this well, but if any of you need a further lesson, I will have you delivered into the Circle of Wrath with great haste. Then enemy is strong, but he cannot pass the demon gate. Secure it, or your lives will be forfeit. Azmodan (Part 6) Maiden of Lust, I have need of your... ample service. Drag yourself out of whatever carnal corner of the Burning Hells you lounge in, and bring your daughters with you. Be wary - the enemy has proven to be both cunning and strong. But the mortals have always been easy prey for you, have they not? Azmodan *** Act 4 *** [Q4] -The Destiny of the Nephalem, Part 1-3 (Part 1) My scroll has shown me many things: beginnings, ends, and the endless chains of circumstance that bind them. I see no sunrise without seeing its sunset, no budding flower without its wilted ruin, no event without its appropriate and inevitable consequence. But there is one thing I cannot see: the nephalem. (Part 2) Angels and demons are bound to their natures. Demons are given to chaos and deceit; angels to truth and order. That much is known. Some angels, like Inarius and Izual, have fallen, but the seed of goodness remains within them like a fading star in the lonely night. The nephalem alone have choice. (Part 3) I know nothing of nephalem. My duties leave me no time to watch them, and I have no desire to follow Tyrael on his troubled path. But if the threads of fate should bring them here, how enlightened it would be! These creatures dwell outside the order... They cannot fathom the freedom they possess. Archangel Itherael _______________________________________________________________________________ ************** * Other Lore * ************** -The Black Rock Ledger, Page 4, 8, 15, 16, 23, 42 (Page 4) Damn, I always thought that being a first mate would be more exciting. I guess I shouldn't expect much from a mining expedition. Ever since we set off from Kingsport, all I've done is sit out on the deck and watch the deckhands argue. (Page 8) Haven't been able to get much sleep these past few days. Apparently my sea legs aren't as sturdy as I thought they'd be. I've vomited more times than I can count, and every time Captain Hanso offers me some ale, I have to come up with some excuse to decline. (Page 15) After three straight days of this storm, I'm almost convinced that this ship has some sort of curse on it. Each week brings some new trouble that I have to deal with. I'm not sure what will give out first, the ship... or me. (Page 16) Reyes tells me that it was some colossal wave that did the ship in. I was down below when it all happened. Several of us survived the wreck. The rest of them have gone off to try and figure out where the hell we are, as if any of that matters. (Page 23) Madness, complete bloody madness. The captain has disappeared into the desert somewhere, and the rest of the survivors are convinced there's some sort of monster after us. I'm starting to think the crewmen that died in the wreck got the easy way out, lucky bastards. (Page 42) All the rest of them are dead now... I'm the only one left. Strange deformed creatures attacked the wreck, where most of us were sleeping. I managed to get away safely... but I don't imagine it will be that way for long. I can hear them... giggling in the shadows, like this is some kind of game. _______________________________________________________________________________ Conclusion ---------- This document is Copyright Daniel Mohid. Content within is Copyright Blizzard.