Lore Summary
From Diablo Wiki
The Diablo Universe involves angels, demons, super humans, giant spiders, world-bearing dragons, an earth that should't rightly exist, necromancy, shape shifting druids, maddened kings, and warring nations: getting lost in it can be easy. This article sums up the very basics of events in chronological order, starting from the very birth of reality and ending with what is known for fact. It also aims to summarize the most important facts that we know of regarding the backstory that will set the base for Diablo III.
SPOILER ALERT: While all articles in this wiki are prone to spoilers, this page will reveal basically all plots and story elements of all games and books released to date. It is therefore probably safe to say that it is the most spoiler-intensive article in the wiki. If you do not wish to have your reading or playing experience spoiled, do not read this article.
Contents |
The Beginning of the Great Conflict
Since the birth of reality itself, the high Heavens and the pits of Hell have waged an endless war for anything of value within their realms of order and chaos. No side has gained much of anything at all for long, and, in their struggle, have often destroyed much of what they sought to claim. It is referred to as The Great Conflict, and all other wars and events, like The Sin War, fall under it.
Inarius, member of the Angiris Council, sees little point in their infinite war. Inarius gains the trust of Lilith, daughter of Mephisto, and many like-minded angels and demons. Together, they defect from Heaven and Hell and do three important things:
- Create Sanctuary, the world of men, as a paradise and refuge from the Great Conflict
- Create the Nephalem, the first humans
- Create the Worldstone
To protect this world from both Heaven and Hell, the Worldstone was created. It acted as a protective barrier, and effectively prevented angels and demons from either directly invading Sanctuary or noticing its existence at all.
The two races of Heaven and Hell tried to live peacefully with each other on Sanctuary, and even mated with each other, spawning the first generation of humans, called the Nephalem. It quickly became apparent that the Nephalem were far more powerful than their parents, and had the potential to rival both Heaven and Hell in strength. This caused struggle among the higher beings. Inarius wanted to kill the humans, as he viewed them as a threat. Lilith, on the other hand, wanted to raise the Nephalem to an army and have them fight both Heaven and Hell. The two began fighting, and Inarius cast out Lilith from Sanctuary and imprisoned her in The Void, claiming Sanctuary as his own. Many of the Nephalem were slain during this time, but some survived, like Bul-Kathos and Rathma. The latter became the servant of Trag'Oul, a mystical dragon that is somehow connected to Sanctuary, and which both Heaven and Hell are unaware of.
The Sin War
- This section deals largely with information from The Sin War Trilogy
- "All praises to Diablo - Lord of Terror and survivor of the Dark Exile. When he awakened from his long slumber, my Lord and master spoke to me of secrets that few mortals know. He told me the kingdoms of the High Heavens and the Pits of the Burning Hells engage in an eternal war. He revealed the powers that have brought this discord to the realms of man. My Lord has named the battle for this world and all who exist here the Sin War."
As time went on, the Prime Evils discovered Sanctuary, and created a religion called The Triune to lure humans to their side. Inarius had similarly set up his Cathedral of Light, and the two forces battled behind the scenes with each other on Sanctuary, while Heaven remained unknowing of Sanctuary's existence. The two religions waged a constant but seemingly petty war against each other, and the world was more or less static. That all changed when Lilith broke free of her prison. Returning to Sanctuary, she once again sought to use the humans to her own advantage and conquer both Heaven and Hell.
In these events, a man named Uldyssian got caught in her plots. Unbeknownst to him, Lilith gave him magical powers and made him, accidentally, kill servants of the Triune. Lilith disguised herself as a human named Lylia, and snared Uldyssian into doing as she wished. Uldyssian thought that these powers lay latent in all humans, and, followed by Mendeln, his younger brother, Serenthia, a childhood friend and love interest, and Achilios, also a childhood friend, set off to awaken these powers in others. The venture was a struggle at first, but with the unknown aid from Lilith, more and more people were found who could use magic, and they gathered under Uldyssian. They became known as the Edyrem, and Uldyssian became something of a prophet.
These actions brought with them turmoil. Lucion, leader of the Triune and son of Mephisto, sent formidable enemies to hunt down Uldyssian, among them Malic, Gulag and Astrogha (the latter of who also appears in other novels, most notably Moon of the Spider.
Mendeln, during this time, was viewed by Rathma. Rathma was the son of Inarius and Lilith, and the first servant of Trag'Oul, a great dragon connected to Sanctuary but aligned with neither Heaven nor Hell. Rathma trained Mendeln as an apprentice, and they are the first two Necromancers.
Lilith in the meantime understood that her plans could not be achieved unless something was done with the Worldstone. The crystal had been created by Inarius to both shield the world and to limit the powers of humans. So long as it still stood, no human army of hers would ever wage war with Heaven or Hell. Uldyssian however was brought there, and he altered the structure of the crystal, something only Inarius had been able to do before then. This change had monumental consequences, and led to the conflict ending as it did.
Eventually Inarius was dragged into the conflict. The unquestionable ruler of Sanctuary, he had not paid much attention to Uldyssian at first. But the human's powers had grown immensely, and a confrontation was imminent. At the same time, Tyrael found Sanctuary, and soon thereafter Heaven was notified of the existence of this world.
Heaven, not choosing to subtly try to convert the world like Hell, immediately launched an invasion, to which Hell responded. Uldyssian and Inarius also clashed, and that battle is without a doubt the fiercest battle that has ever taken place, and likely ever will. Both wielded the strength of gods, and no one, not even Diablo or Tyrael could have stood up to them. The battle ended in Inarius' defeat, however Uldyssian was the one who perished. His very being threatened to tear Sanctuary apart, and so he sacrificed himself so that the world may still exist.
The Reset
After the battle, a gathering was held between the Angiris Council and Mephisto. Sanctuary was all but destroyed, but all hope was not lost for Sanctuary. Some, like Rathma, pleaded with Heaven to spare Sanctuary. A vote was held between the Arch Angels. Imperius voted against Sanctuary's existence and argued strongly for it. He is likely thought to be an antagonist in Diablo III because of this. The felling vote was laid by Tyrael, who initially seemed to show little love for humanity, something which has evidently developed over the years since this event. Together with Mephisto, a deal was made between Heaven and Hell. Sanctuary was to live on it's own, with no war brought there by Heaven or Hell. Humanity would choose for themselves what to do. In return for agreeing to this, Mephisto received Inarius, whom he took with him to Hell.
This was followed by a reset of the world. Time was reverted right to the point where Uldyssian left his home village, and events were unmade. Some things changed however.
- Uldyssian was never born. Serenthia and Achilios were reborn, but without memory of him or Mendeln.
- Mendeln was not reborn, since he never died. He also remembered everything, and continued to be a servant of Trag'Oul.
- The Cathedral and Triune were no more.
This, the reset world, is the past from which the games take place. The first 'version', with Uldyssian, isn't recorded in any history but is known by a few humans, as well as angels and demons naturally.
The Dark Exile
- "So it came to be that there was a great revolution within the Burning Hells known as the Dark Exile. The Lesser Evils overthrew the three Prime Evils and banished their spirit forms to the mortal realm. The Demons Belial (the Lord of Lies) and Azmodan (the Lord of Sin) fought to claim rulership of Hell during the abscence of the Three Brothers. All of Hell polarized between the factions of Belial and Azmodan while the forces of the High Heavens continually battered upon the very gates of Hell."
Azmodan, Belial, Andariel, and Duriel are the four Lesser Evils of Hell. Whether Diablo and his brothers intended for it or not, the Four Lesser Evils plotted and ultimately exiled the Three Primes into Sanctuary. In their absence, Belial, the lord of Lies, and Azmodan, the Lord of Sin, engaged in civil war between themselves. Their war rages in the deepest pits of Hell to this day.
The Horadrim
Tyrael learns of the Three's exile into Sanctuary and mobilizes to stop them. He creates the Horadrim, a collection of the most powerful human Magi, including Jered Cain, Deckard Cain, and Tal Rasha as its leader. Tyrael charges the Horadrim with the capture of the Three Prime Evils, giving them Soulstones to imprison the soul of Diablo and his brothers. One by one they find and imprison the Primes. Unable to permanently destroy the demons, the Horadrim are forced to instead hide the Soulstones. Their locations are as follows...
- Baal’s Soulstone was imprisoned inside a huge tomb constructed with a single purpose: keep him in and others out. Tal Rasha, knowing that the final shard of Baal's broken Soulstone was not great enough to contain the Prime Evil, chose to use his own body as a prison for the Prime. Lodging it into his chest and binding himself to a pillar, Tal Rasha remained in the tomb for centuries, containing the Evil within.
- Mephisto’s Soulstone was sealed inside a temple in Kurast. The Zakarum monks were tasked with its protection (ultimately, however, the Soulstone corrupted the monks and Mephisto took a host).
- Diablo’s Soulstone was hidden beneath a deserted Cathedral.
Now the Soulstones wait, silently calling to those who might venture near...
Diablo 1
- "Hail and sacrifice to Diablo - Lord of Terror and destroyer of souls. When I awoke my master from his sleep, he attempted to possess a mortal's form. Diablo attempted to claim the body of King Leoric, but my master was too weak from his imprisonment. My Lord required a simple and innocent anchor to this world, and so found the boy Albrecht to be perfect for the task. While the good King Leoric was left maddened by Diablo's unsuccessful possession, I kidnapped his son Albrecht and brought him before my master. I now await be rewarded when he at last emerges as the lord of this world."
King Leoric
A conquering hero known as Leoric established himself as the king of Khanduras, a kingdom on the Western continent of Sanctuary. He appointed Tristram as the capital of this kingdom and used the abandoned cathedral there as his throne and central point of governance. Not soon after, King Leoric's most trusted advisor Archbishop Lazarus was drawn deeper into the cathedral by the Lord of Terror's Soulstone. The Archbishop, whether out of fear or temptation, shattered the Soulstone, releasing Diablo's trapped spirit. Unable to take King Leoric himself as a physical host, Diablo had the Archbishop Lazarus kidnap the king's son, Prince Albrecht, and brought him down into the Cathedral for Diablo to corrupt and use as his host to fully manifest as the Lord of Terror.
The King went mad in his search for his lost son, sending many to their death out of suspicion of guilt. Ultimately Lazarus led the town's warriors into the cathedral as a trap for The Butcher, a minion wielding a bloody cleaver. King Leoric's physical form had withered away, but his soul found no peace and returned as a giant Skeleton, wearing still his golden crown.
Tristram's Hero
Several heroes travel to Tristram, hearing rumors of a corrupting evil, vast riches, and arcane magic. The Horadrim member Deckard Cain assists the heroes in their journeys. Canonically, however, it was the playable Warrior character who seeks and ultimately vanquishes Diablo. Thought able to contend with its evil, the Warrior forces Diablo’s Soulstone into his own forehead. After returning to Tristram, the town's inhabitants celebrates their champion's victory, but the Hero returns a much changed man, haunted by Diablo's essence.
The Hero departs Tristram and travels to the East for answers to his nightmares.
Diablo II
Prologue
The vanquisher of Diablo finds himself taking refuge in a tavern from the blizzard. Perhaps stirred by the other drunk men, or perhaps simply unable to contain the Lord of Terror within himself any longer, the tormented champion suddenly erupts into chaos. Demons and skeletons spawn and slay all within the tavern, bar one: Marius, a human bystander whom the Wanderer urges him to follow for unknown reasons.
Act I - The Rogue Encampment
The champion becomes The Dark Wanderer, and begins to journey onwards towards the Rogue Monastery. Once there, he drives the Sisters of the Sightless Eye out of their monastery, and tasks Andariel with the guarding of the pass from anyone who might follow.
As did heroes arrive in Tristram to find adventure, glory, or riches, more arrive in the Rogue Encampment for similar reasons. A band of adventurers form and seek the Monastery and the evils that lie within. On their way, they rescue Deckard Cain from an overrun Tristram. Cain guides them on their way to the Monastery, where they defeat Andariel and find clear passage to Lut Gholein.
Act II - Lut Gholein
With Marius, The Wanderer travels East to Lut Gholein to search for the Tomb of Tal Rasha. He finds the tomb with Tal Rasha imprisoned in the final chamber. Tyrael however, who apparently discovered The Wanderer's escape from Tristram, is there waiting for him. Tyrael and a now empowered Wanderer lock into combat. Baal however, trapped in Tal Rasha's body, notices that Marius is also present. Though Baal has deformed his host greatly in the years of imprisonment, the Prime Evil is powerful enough to trick Marius into seeing him as nothing but a chained human. He lures Marius into pulling the soulstone from Tal Rasha's chest. This destroys Baal's prison, and together with his brother they overwhelm Tyrael and trap him in the tomb by summoning Duriel to prevent the Archangel from following. Tyrael, with no chance of pursuing, tasks Marius with taking Baal's Soulstone and traveling to the Eastern kingdom of Kurast. There, the Archangel commands, Marius must enter the portal into Hell and destroy the Soulstone at the Hellforge.
The band of heroes who had slain Andariel at the Monastery now seek the Tomb of Tal Rasha, where Baal, the Lord of Destruction, is said to be kept imprisoned. With the help of Cain, the Horadric Cube, and Lut Gholein's inhabitants, the adventurers ultimately find their way to the Arcane Sanctuary. There in that twisted reality they find The Summoner and the entrance to the Canyon of the Magi, the entrance to Tal Rasha's Tomb. The party finds the true tomb and defeats Duriel, who kept Tyrael at bay.
Now forced to pursue The Dark Wanderer and Baal, the heroes sail East to Kurast, city of the Zakarum.
Act III - Kurast
The Dark Wanderer, whose growing corruption by Diablo's spirit continues to perverse his form, and Baal proceed to free their eldest brother Mephisto in Kurast. The still imprisoned Prime Evil was once given to the care of the Zakarum church. Mephisto however, corrupted the entire faith from within his soulstone, and all but their highest leader, Khalim, the Que-Haegan, fell to his influence. The High Council, which had previously led the order of the Paladins, became the arm of Mephisto in Sanctuary. Thus the two evils have little trouble reaching their brother once they reach Kurast. Once again united, The Dark Wanderer takes a new form as the Lord of Terror, Diablo, and the Three open up a portal to Hell. Diablo is tasked with reclaiming Hell for their use, presumably from the warring Azmodan and Belial. Diablo steps through to the portal and into Hell.
Oblivious to the Three, Marius has witnessed their meeting and his companion's transformation. Although charged by Tyrael to venture into Hell, he does not find the courage to do as the Archangel instructed. Instead, he retreats and finds bastion in a mental asylum.
Baal likely follows Diablo shortly afterwards, for when the player reaches the lowest level of Mephisto's Durance, Baal is not there. The Three must be aware of the heroes pursuing them by now, for Mephisto has stayed behind to stop them. He is, however, defeated by the venturing band of heroes. His Soulstone remains intact, and it is taken through to the portal to Hell.
Act IV - The Pandemonium Fortress
In Hell, the heroes find themselves operating out of the Pandemonium Fortress, which is the foremost bastion of Heaven in their war against Hell. From here, the heroes are instructed to carry out three important missions:
- Seek Izual, the fallen angel, and slay him for his betrayal.
- Seek the Hellforge and shatter Mephisto's Soulstone.
- Seek Diablo in his sanctuary and vanquish him from the mortal realm.
Izual was at one point one of Tyrael's lieutenants, and he led an unsuccessful assault on the Hellforge. Why is unknown, but in the attack he was captured and imprisoned in a demon's body, similar to that of a megademon, and he is both shunned by Heaven and Hell after this. Tyrael gives this quest, and asks that Izual be put out of his misery. Originally then he appears to be a miserable character, but upon his death, Izual claims that he helped the Prime Evils "mastermind their own exile" into Sanctuary, and that he also told them of how to corrupt the soulstones. In truth then, Izual appears to have played a crucial part in the plot, as without him it is unlikely the Dark Exile would ever have taken place.
After having slain Izual and shattering Mephisto's Soulstone, the heroes move towards Diablo. The Lord of Terror fortifies himself in the Chaos Sanctuary. Its architecture is towering and gothic, but its purpose is unknown. The band of heroes defeat Diablo and his soulstone is smashed at Hellforge.
Epilogue
Diablo now defeated, Baal seeks out Marius and finds him in the asylum. Disguised as Tyrael, Baal requests Marius cede the Soulstone to him. He does, only to realize his grievous mistake moments later. Baal kills Marius. The failure of Marius does not bode well for Sanctuary.
Diablo II: Lord of Destruction
Act V - Harrogath
In the expansion pack, Baal, the last living Prime Evil, returns. Fortunately for Baal, he was imprisoned in Tal Rasha, and the great Horadrim mage was one of the few who knew the exact location of the Worldstone, the barrier hiding Sanctuary from other worlds. When Baal took over Tal Rasha however, that knowledge was revealed to him, and he launches an all-out assault on Mt. Arreat, the location where it lies.
His assault on Mt. Arreat and the Barbarians living there is a success. The human forces are overwhelmed by Hell, and in the end only one city, Harrogath, still stands. The elders of the town all sacrificed themselves to raise a ward to block out all demons. All elder but one, Nihlathak. Still, Baal is not impeded by this last town, and moves on toward Mt. Arreat. It is to this town that the heroes arrive, and from there they fight their way forward in Baal's tracks.
Atop Mt. Arreat lies the last protection of the Worldstone. Three barbarian heroes: Korlic, Madawc and Talic, who were once selected by some Nephalem (most likely Bul-Kathos with some others) to stand guard over Mt. Arreat and protect it from all who would enter. Except those carrying the Relic of the Ancients. This relic was in the possession of the elders of Harrogath, and since they all died, it was left to Nihlathak. Knowing this, Baal traded Nihlathak for this relic in exchange for Harrogath's safety. Once in possession of the relic, he was able to freely pass the Ancients.
The heroes, not having the relic themselves, were therefore required to face the Ancients as they followed Baal. Even though the Ancients should likely aid humanity, and even speak against Baal and his actions, they still fight with the heroes. The Ancients are defeated however, and allow the humans to pass into the Worldstone Keep. In there, Baal is found and killed, however not before he reaches the Worldstone and taints it. Tyrael appears next to the Worldstone and grants the heroes safe passage back to Harrogath. Tyrael is now forced to contend with the predicament of the corrupted Worldstone. Without any other option to save humanity, he hurls his flaming sword into the Worldstone and shatters it into an infinite number of pieces, its destruction appearing as if Tyrael had thrown a boulder into a lake of water but the splashes and ripples were manifested as shards of crystal.
This is the end of Diablo 2: Lord of Destruction, and the destruction of the Worldstone occurs twenty years prior to the events in Diablo III.
Sources
Knowledge of the Diablo world is accessed from the following sources:
- Diablo I, the first game released in 1997
- Diablo II, the second game released in 2000
- Diablo II: Lord of Destruction, the expansion to the second game, released in 2001
- Demonsbane, an e-book written by Robert B. Marks, the first set in the Diablo Universe.
- Legacy of Blood, a book written by Richard A. Knaak
- The Black Road, a book written by Mel Odom
- The Kingdom of Shadow, a book written by Richard A. Knaak
- Moon of the Spider, a book written by Richard A. Knaak
- The Sin War Trilogy, written by Richard A. Knaak, consisting of:
All of these works are considered canon, and if any works contradict each other, then the newest work takes precedence. For example, much of what is outlined in the Sin War trilogy contradicts what we know of from the games, however the books have been written in collaboration with Blizzard and are considered official, and since they are of a later date, they are to be considered correct.[1]
Important to note is that
is not official canon. It was developed by Sierra, a sister company to Blizzard Entertainment under Vivendi, and while Blizzard may draw inspiration from it, none of it is to be considered official canon.
