Lore Compendium

[Volpula]

I've just finished Legacy of Blood and though not being sure, I think events in that novel occur just before our hero in diablo 2 was dealing with Andariel or on his way to Lut Gholein. It may not be healthy to take novels as cannon tho.Any thoughts?

[Brokenstorm]

I've just finished Legacy of Blood and though not being sure, I think events in that novel occur just before our hero in diablo 2 was dealing with Andariel or on his way to Lut Gholein. It may not be healthy to take novels as cannon tho.Any thoughts?

It all depends on how long it takes for the Dark Wanderer and the heores to cross the desert of Aranoch.
The only reference we have for this is Cain's Journal (not BoC), which dates many events.

So let's see if we can figure out how many days the heroes are behind the Dark Wanderer when they are in Act 1.
I gonna assume each months is 28 days because I doubt Cain could survive much longer that 10 days without food.

6th day of Esunar (day 0): Diablo dies, Aiden plunges the Soulstone in his head
18th Day of Esunar (day 12): Tristram is still celebrating, Aiden leaves for 'the East'.
20th Day of Esunar (day 14): Tristram is attacked by demons and burnt to the ground, Cain is caged. (Adria and Gillian leave shorty after Aiden)

2nd Day of Kathon (~day 24): Cain is rescued.
15th Day of Solmoneth (~days 65): The heroes arrive in Lut Gholein.

Unfortunatly we don't know when Andariel was defeated and when we leave for Lut Gholein.


The only hint we have about how many days have passed since the Dark Wanderer went through the gates at the start of Act I comes from Warriv:
"I don't know if I believe that, but a Dark Wanderer did travel this route a few weeks ago. He was headed east to the mountain pass guarded by the Rogue Monastery."

We know that the Dark Wanderer has to travel from Tristram which is farther from the rogue citadel than the rogue encampment.
As Akara says: "Tristram is too far to journey by foot... Cain would likely be dead, when you arrived."

So lets say that the Dark Wanderer has, at start of Act 1, a 12 days lead.
We know that he then goes to the Rogue Monastery and summon Andariel, then he goes through the monastery gates, in the mountains, and finds Marius. That likely takes him less time than it will takes for the heroes since he doesn't have to deal with any opposition.
On the other hand, it would make sense that it would take him more time to cross the desert than it would Warriv's caravan.

From Marius we have: "We traveled for an eternity across that arid wasteland. How long? I couldn't say."
Very vague, but we know that there is 40 days between when we rescue Cain and when we arrive in Lut Gholein.
Now we can guess at how long it takes from when we rescue Cain to when we kill Andariel but even if we suppose that takes us 3 weeks, that means it takes almost 3 weeks to cross the desert. The point is it takes so long to cross the desert that it's very likely that we are somewhere in the desert when the Dark Wanderer reaches Lut Gholein.


Finally, when you arrive in Lut Gholein I would guess, from what Jerhyn says, that we are less than a week behind the Dark Wanderer:
"For some time now, we have been under siege by an evil power that I cannot identify. Strange... It all began when a Dark Wanderer came this way"

And that makes it pretty clear to me that it's not possible that we're still in Act 1. Because, even with all the trouble we have to go through in Act 2, we still manage to catch up with the Dark Wanderer in Act 3. And that would not be possible if we were still in Act 1 when the Dark Wanderer reaches Lut Gholein, given the times it takes to cross the desert.

Granted, we don't know how Diablo and Baal crossed the Twin Seas but even if Meshif was the best captain alive and had the fastest ship, I doubt he could reach Kurast more than a week faster than whatever boat Diablo and Baal used.

[Mage Slayer]

Edit: Nevermind, I want to do a little more playing around with the dates before I put my idea forward.

[Brokenstorm]

Edit: Nevermind, I want to do a little more playing around with the dates before I put my idea forward.

I would be very interested to read your take on this.

[Volpula]

Yes Brokenstorm I agree it must be some time around 3-4 weeks. It makes sense. It might have been longer but we had finally defeated Andariel and caravans were able to travel safely again, this made us able to catch up with the Dark Wanderer otherwise it wouldn't be that short I think.

And just finished The Kingdom of Shadow and hope to see Zayl in the Ureh expansion of D3.

[acceleration turkey]

anybody feel like we learned anything new from the commercial?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wiNqXAgu7gY

:08 - silver spire transforming/opening/activating
:10 - imperius struggling against a foe
:12 - spherical explosion, some sort of breach of a heavenly structure

from a design perspective, as the camera pans down on diablo at :12, i can't help but feel the horns are meant to be like a dark analogy for the silver spire

http://s17.postimage.org/6llgdzi73/horns.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v8...rystalarch.jpg

:18 - tyrael seems to be weilding solarion. based on the prior frame of imperius struggling, some thing that they are fighting. whether this happens late in the game and tyrael is breaking back into heaven, or early and leads to tyrael's initial expulsion from heaven is hard to say.

[celbii]

Yes Brokenstorm I agree it must be some time around 3-4 weeks. It makes sense. It might have been longer but we had finally defeated Andariel and caravans were able to travel safely again, this made us able to catch up with the Dark Wanderer otherwise it wouldn't be that short I think.

And just finished The Kingdom of Shadow and hope to see Zayl in the Ureh expansion of D3.

I much agree, after reading all the diablo books I must say Zayl is one of my favorite characters in the diablo universe and I would love to run into him in

[Brokenstorm]

Weird I can't find the tread where I posted a novelized version of the events

Well might as well post it again:


Part I

For ages uncounted, the High Heavens and the Burnings Hells warred against each other, seeking control over the Heart of Creation, the Worldstone. Their battles most commonly occurred within the realm of Pandemonium, but when as far as deep into the Burnings Hells and up to the Diamond Gates of the High Heavens. At some point, Tyrael ordered that a fortress be built around the Worldstone. Over the eons, control of the fortress changed hands many time. As a result, the Pandemonium Fortress has taken on traits from both the High Heavens and the Burnings Hells.

Having grown disillusioned with the Eternal Conflict between the Burnings Hells and the High Heavens, Inarius sought other like minded angels and demons. Among them was Lilith daughter of Mephisto. Together they succeed in capturing the Worldstone and veiling it from Heaven and Hell. Inarius was then able to bind himself to the Worldstone and manipulate it to create a sanctuary for his fellow renegade angels and demons. Around the Worldstone, he created a huge mountain to contain and shield it, creating the rest of his new world around it.

In their sanctuary, angels and demons conjugated and out of their unions the nephalem were born. These were the first generation of human and they boasted impressive powers. Such were their powers, that Inarius feared that they might cause the High Heavens and the Burnings Hells to discover the location of their sanctuary. Knowing that there would be no redemption for them should this happen and that they, along with their world, would likely be destroyed for the abomination both Heaven and Hell would deem it as created a conflict as to what should be done about their offspring. Some wanted them destroyed, others wished to spare them. Inarius agreed to consider their fate but Lilith, who thought the nephalem should be used to put and end to the Eternal Conflict by taking over both the High Heavens and the Burnings Hells, wanted to used them as a weapon. During one night she murdered every renegade angels and demons, certain that this would force Inarius to see thing her way. Inarius was livid that his lover would betray him but having promised, long ago, that he would never slay her nor let anyone else do so, he instead banished her to the void.

Inarius then altered the resonance of the Worldstone so that each succeeding generation of nephalem would become less powerful than the last until they no longer had any ability.


Part II

Around 4000 years ago a Vizjerei mage discovered how to summon demons, causing the Prime Evils to learn of Sanctuary's existence when the demon returned to Hell. Seeing the potential of humans they set out to influence humankind and twist them to their cause, all while not attracting the attention of the High Heavens. As such they established the Triune, a religious order centered around the three guiding spirits—Bala, Dialon, and Mefis—representing creation, determination and love. To oppose them Inarius created the Cathedral on Light, a new religion based around tolerance, cooperation and unity.

Around this time Lilith was able to escape from the void and in secret she altered the Worldstone to allow for the powers of the nephalem to grow. She then wanders the world in disguise, looking for someone to suit her needs. In Uldyssian ul-Diomed, who is one of her direct descendant, she finds the perfect target. She unlock his nephalem power and teaches him how to use it, she then convinces him to teach others how to do the same.

Wanted by both the Triune and the Cathedral on Light, Uldyssian travels from town to town, showing the people that they don't need either of the religious orders. Lilith however is soon revealed to be a demon and leaves to later return under the guise of the Primus, leader of the Triune. Still under the attacks of the Triune, Uldyssian decide to confront them directly in Kehjan where their main temple is located. To his surprise many people follow him, wanting to learn more and develop their powers. With the help of Rathma, Uldyssian reaches the Worldstone where he does the impossible, physically altering it to cause their powers to grow. Along the way Uldyssian and his followers destroy every Triune temple and recruit as much people as they can. When he finally reaches Kehjan he has a small army at his back. After defeating Lilith (who manages to survive, thanks to Inarius, and is sent back to the void by him later) and laying waste to the Temple of Triune, Uldyssian turns his attention to the Cathedral on Light.

At this time Tyrael has discovered the existence of Sanctuary and came to judge Inarius' crimes but hasn't yet informed the Angiris Council of it. Shorty after Uldyssian confronts Inarius and as Uldyssian servers the link between Inarius and the Worldstone the armies of the High Heavens, on Tyrael's orders, tear up the sky and invade Sanctuary. Then, to everyone surprise and dismay, the ground opens up and from it the armies of the Burnings Hells emerge. Seeing angels and demons fighting and destroying his world in the process. Uldyssian, trying to protect Sanctuary, unleashes all the power he can and succeeds in pushing back the armies of the High Heavens and the Burnings Hells. However his power became too much to control and began to rip Sanctuary apart. With the help of Trag’Oul, Uldyssian shortly draws back all the energy he unleashed into himself and directs into the beyond where it won't harm anything. And so it was that Uldyssian gave his life to protect Sanctuary.

After Uldyssian's sacrifice, the Angiris Council holds a vote on the fate of Sanctuary. Imperius votes for its destruction. Malthael abstains. Auriel and Itherael vote for its survival. Tyrael holding the deciding vote and deeply impressed by Uldyssian's actions votes for Sanctuary's survival and ensures humanity's future. Another pact is made between the High Heavens and the Burnings Hells such that neither side shall interfere with Sanctuary. To seal the deal Mephisto casts his mark on a point of Flux, preventing the burning hells from spreading their taint across Sanctuary and in return Inarius is turned over to Mephisto.

And thus the Sin War ended.


Part III

Or course the Prime Evils had no intention to fulfill their end of the truce, but they also wanted to make it appear as if they did so that the angels, bound by their strict adherence to rules, would not interfere with their plans.

Appears Izual, Tyrael's most trusted Lieutenant. Whether it was Tyrael's change of stance about humanity that made him reconsider his own, leaving him open to the suggestions of the Prime Evils, or that he felt betrayed by what he saw as an Arch-Angel putting human matters above their own is of little consequence, the important fact is that he went against Tyrael's orders and attacked the Hellforge. The attack was doomed to fail and Izual was captured by the Prime Evils. He then, either willingly or by force, turned over the secrets of the Soulstones and how to corrupt them to the Prime Evils and helped them plan their exile to Sanctuary. It is not known if Izual acted in this way because he was corrupted by the Prime Evils or if he wanted Sanctuary destroyed and though giving it to the Prime Evils would be the best way to ensure that.

For the truce to hold the Prime Evils couldn't directly intervene on Sanctuary, but if they were exiled to it, weakened and bodiless, then the High Heavens might be fooled into thinking that the Lesser Evils overthrew them. So the Prime Evils stopped any action against the High Heavens, only focusing their attention on how they could take over Sanctuary. This infuriated the Lesser Evils greatly and in time, they instigated a civil war against Diablo and his brothers. And so it was that a great revolution, led by Azmodan and Belial, was set into motion as all of Hell went to war against the Three Brothers. Not wanting anyone to think they were playing into their hands, the Prime Evils annihilated a third of Hell’s legions before being banished to Sanctuary.

Now the Prime Evils were free from doing what then wanted on Sanctuary without having to worry about the angels interfering, with the exception of Tyrael which they knew would. In fact, as long as the truce held, Tyrael was probably the only angel to pay any attention to Sanctuary. But the Prime Evils had planned for that, Izual had told them about the Soulstones and how it could imprison them but he also told them how to corrupt them so they could use them in their plan to take over Sanctuary.

Tyrael, seeing the ravages the Primes Evils caused on Sanctuary, recruited mages from across the land. He called them the Horadrim and tasked them with imprisoning the Prime Evils within Soulstones. The order managed to capture Mephisto in Kehjistan entrusting the Soulstone to the Zakarum who hid it under a temple they built in Kurast. They then pursued the two remaining bothers across the Twin Seas. There they cornered Baal in Lut Gholein, waiting for him to venture in the deserts. When he did so they pursued him but in the resulting battle Baal's Soulstone was shattered and the Horadrim realized that even the largest remaining shard could not contain Baal for long. So it was that Tal Rasha, leader of the Horadrim, sacrificed himself to contain Baal. He was bound in an ancient tomb deep in the desert, held by unbreakable chains, to wrestle with the demon for eternity.

The remaining Horadrim pursued Diablo west into the distant lands of Khanduras where they finally were able to imprison him in his Soulstone which they hid in a deep system of caves. They then built catacombs and a small monastery on top of them.

And so with the Prime Evils trapped away peace came back to Sanctuary.


Part IV

After the Dark Exile, Zoltun Kulle returned to Kehjistan where he became obsessed with creating a Soulstone of his own. He succeeded in creating a black Soulstone and in somehow achieving immortality before the other Horadrim were able to stop him. In a vain attempt to prevent him from going through with what he had planned they decapitated him, hiding his head deep in the eastern deserts and sending his body in a pocket dimension (similar to Horazon's Arcane Sanctuary). It's unknown how he created his Soulstone, but since those Tyrael gave to the Horadrim were shards from the Worldstone it's possible the black Soulstone was made the same way (But since Zoltun never went to mount Arreat and even if he did it's he would have to defeat the Ancient to gain entrance to the mountain making this is unlikely). More likely though is that he formed it from the fragment of the Kiss of Mephisto left under the remains of the Temple of the Triune, it's also possible that he created it on his own perhaps using the smaller fragments of Baal's Soulstone.

Then with no other evil to hunt and no directive from Tyrael, the Horadrim order slowly vanished.

While the Horadrim Order was dwindling away, the Zakarum religion rose to prominence. Before long it became the most powerful organization in all of Kehjistan. The church then sought to colonize the western continent and spread the faith to it. Rakkis was chosen to accomplish this task, he successfully crossed the entire continent finally settling in what is now called Westmarch. Following his success, many other lords were sent west to govern over those new lands.

One of these Lord was Leoric who travelled to Khanduras and, in the name of Zakarum, declared himself King. On the suggestion of his trusted adviser, Archbishop Lazarus, he made Tristram his new seat of power and converted the abandoned Horadric monastery to a Zakarum cathedral. What nobody knew at the time is that Lazarus, once the custodian of Mephisto's Soulstone, had been throughly corrupted by it. Mephisto had directed Lazarus to head to Tristram and free his brother Diablo. In secret, Lazarus reached the deepest depth of the caves where Diablo's Soulstone rested and dispelled the wardings on it awaking Diablo in the process.

Mephisto, his Soulstone having been closely guarded by the Zakarum, had been able corrupt his guardians and in time took over the whole order, even possessing Sankekur who was the holy Que-Hegan and ultimate authority of the church. Although released from his prison, Mephisto couldn't leave the temple of Travincal without being exposed. Thus he set up a plan to have his brothers come to him instead. After being freed by Lazarus, his younger brother would travel east where he would release Baal from his prison, they then would travel together to him.

Once awakened Diablo attempted to take over Leoric, but the King's will proved too much for Diablo in his weakened state. For many months fought Diablo's possession which ultimately left him maddened and paranoid. In this state Lazarus was able to convince the king that the neighbouring Kingdom of Westmarch was secretly planning to dethrone him and annex Khanduras to its own lands. Angered, Leoric declared war on Westmarch. Riding Tristram of anyone who could oppose Diablo, Lazarus sent Khanduras' meager army, as well as any ‘troublesome’ individual, west to fight a hopeless war. Among them was Leoric eldest son, Prince Aiden.

Lazarus then secretly kidnapped Prince Albrecht, the youngest of Leoric's sons, and brought him down into the cathedral so Diablo could possess him. Leoric was furious over the disappearance of his son and accused the townsfolk of kidnapping Albrecht and ordered many of them to be executed. Then the remnants of Khanduras army, retreating after having been defeated, returned home to find the town of Tristram in shambles. Lachdanan disconcerted by what he saw confronted the king who accused him of treason and ordered his guards to kill Lachdanan and his men. Having no other choice Lachdanan killed his king, but as his sword pierced the heart of Leoric the once noble king brought down a curse upon those who had betrayed him, vowing that they would serve him even in death. In their last attempt to honor their king the knights brought Leoric body in his burial chamber to be entombed. However, as they did so Diablo raised Leoric as the Skeleton King and the knights were overwhelmed by the curse with only Lachdanan able to escape it by venturing further down the cathedral.
Lazarus, after having been missing since kidnapping Albrecht, returned and lured many of the remaining villagers down the cathedral under the guise of rescuing Prince Albrecht, most of them never make it back up to the surface.

As the rumors of demons grew more common most of the townspeople fled Tristram. One exception was the witch Adria who had just traveled to Tristram and had a small hut constructed at the edge of town. Cain spent many nights with her studding the ancient texts of the Horadrim, looking for the meaning of the recent events.


Part V

Aiden then returned to Tristram while the rumors of demons and treasure started attracting adventurers. Hearing the terrible things that had happened he pledged to venture in the Cathedral and rescue his younger brother.

The rest is pretty well known and I don't feel like typing it all out. Suffice to say that Aiden ventures down the cathedral defeating the Butcher and the Skeleton King on the way. He also helps to free Lachdanan from his curse and kills the Archbishop Lazarus. He then faces Diablo and after an arduous battle defeats him. With a knife he removes Diablo's Soulstone causing the body to revert back to the dying form of prince Albrecht. Convinced that he can contain the essence of Diablo, Aiden plunge the Soulstone in his forehead.

When he emerges from the Cathedral Aiden remains distant, a secret burden weighing upon him. Troubled, he frequently visit Adria at night. One night he leaves Tristram, heading east. Shortly after Adria and Gillian leave for Westmarch where they will take a boat to reach Caldeum, Adria is pregnant with Leah at the time. She will later leave her daughter in the care of Gillian then take her leave, never to be heard from again.

Demons then attack Tristram and burn it to the ground. Nobody is spared but Cain, who is caged and has to witness the townspeople being reanimated in grisly undeath and Griswold being corrupted into a demonic beast. Aiden, then referred as the Dark Wandered goes through the gates of the Rogue Monastery, always corruption spreading in his wake, and in the mountains past the Eastern Gate he meets Marius. The two travel east together toward to tomb of Tal Rasha. Behind them Andariel, eager to regain the favor of Diablo, was left to block any pursuers.

Shortly after a group of heroes set out after the Dark Wanderer. They rescue Cain from his cage in Tristram then head to the Rogue Monastery where they defeat Andariel. They then travel to Lut Gholein with Warriv's caravan. After reaching the town they begin to search for Tal Rasha's tomb, hoping to find it before the Dark Wanderer can release Baal, but when they do they're already too late and they find Duriel waiting for them. After defeating the Lesser Evil they enter the chamber and find Tyrael imprisoned within it. Tyrael had tried to stop the Dark Wanderer from freeing Baal, but the bound demon had tricked Marius into release him. The two Prime Evils then imprisoned Tyrael in the tomb and set out for Kurast where they would reunite with Mephisto.

The heroes arrived to Kurast hot on the heels of Diablo and Baal, but were to late to stop the 3 Prime Evils from opening a portal to Pandemonium. When they reached the deepest level of the Zakarum temple Baal had already left and Diablo had gone through the portal planing to take control of the Burnings Hells back. Mephisto was left to guard the way but the heroes managed the defeat him and, with his Soulstone, stepped through the portal.

The heroes found themselves in the Pandemonium Fortress and from there reached the Burnings Hells, soon finding Diablo and defeating him. They then took the 2 Soulstones and destroyed them at the Hellforge.

By that time Baal had already found Marius. Tyrael had ordered him to go trough the portal the Prime Evils had opened to then destroy the Soulstone but Marius was left half insane when he saw the Dark Wandered take the form of Diablo and ended in a sanitarium in Westmarch. From Marius, Baal got his Soulstone back and after burning the place down he headed north toward Mount Arreat.

When the heroes left the Pandemonium Fortress and with the help of Tyrael traveled to Harrogath, Baal and his army had already began to march up the mountain. The heroes raced after him, on their way besting the ancient to gain access inside the mountain, but when they caught up with him, Baal had already fused his Soulstone with the Worldstone and began the process of corrupting it. They still defeated the Prime Evil then Tyrael appeared opening for them a portal to safety. Then Tyrael seeing that the taint that had begun flow through the Worldstone could not be undone and fearing that this change would corrupt humanity and turn them over to the Burnings Hells hurled his sword at the Soulstone, shattering it and causing and enormous explosion that destroyed Baal's Soulstone as well as his own physical form along with most of Mount Arreat.

20 years later a fallen star crashes on the Tristram cathedral and is at the basis of the events of the game.

[celbii]

Thanks Brokenstorm, I saw that thread two days ago, went to look yesterday to brush up a bit see if there was anything I didn't know and couldn't find it either.

[DecayOfSouls]

I just want to say thank you for all the work you put into this. It's very well written and formatted and easy to follow.