BlizzCon-2011. Section "World History." Part I
The second day of BlizzCon. We’ve already learned what makes auctions great and why Sorcerers need powerful weapons. On the agenda is what’s new in the gaming universe and how to piece together the historical puzzle. To be honest, I was a bit skeptical, but that was a mistake. In my memory, this is the best section on [Diablo III](/games?search=Diablo III) of all four BlizzCons that I have seen! To say it's magnificent would be an understatement. So, without further ado, let me begin the narrative. Since there was so much material in the section, I split it into two parts. Before you is the first part of "The Story of the World".
Beware, there are serious spoilers! A lot, I'm not joking!
The participants of the section - Metzen, Boyarski, and Martens.
The "Story of the World" section opened the second day of BlizzCon. It took place at the so-called Round Table [Panel Stage] (though there were no tables, just a stage), where for an hour three people, not counting the microphone, discussed various plot and other nuances of the upcoming game. The section was led by:
Chris Metzen - Vice President of Creative Development
Leonard Boyarski - World Designer
Kevin Martens - Lead Content Developer
And here’s how it all was.
The narrative begins with Chris Metzen. This year, the Diablo series is celebrating its 15th anniversary, 7 BlizzCons have passed, but they have never conducted such an openly detailed story about the game’s history. Even compared to WoW. During the section, the developers plan to share information regarding historical aspects, discuss some details about [Diablo III](/games?search=Diablo III), and then, if there’s time left, answer a couple of questions.
Although Diablo has been around for a long time, it has never had a coherent story line. Each new installment introduced something new, but no one had ever attempted to consolidate all this information into a single, clear, and logical picture of existence. Add to this the novelizations of the series authored by several writers, and you’ll understand what the developers faced while crafting the story of [Diablo III](/games?search=Diablo III). All the threads needed to be tied together, all the stories united into one, clear and understandable narrative. With several ideas for [Diablo III](/games?search=Diablo III), Blizzard needed to tweak some things to make the story coherent and consistent. Thus was born the idea that later materialized in the Book of Cain [Book of Cain], the very one that will be released at the end of November. No significant changes were made to the story, all edits were minimized, so Metzen expressed genuine hope that these changes would not upset anyone.
THE BIRTH OF THE WORLD
Epic battles of the Great Conflict knew no end.
At the heart of the Diablo series is the conflict between angels and demons, called the Great Conflict [The Great Conflict]. For ages, both sides of the confrontation (The High Heavens and The Burning Hells) have fought for the right to dominate the Universe. The origins of their conflict were not known until now, and now the Book of Cain begins to slowly put everything in its place.
From the Book of Cain, the following becomes known (in brief). Initially, there was nothing in the world - no darkness, no light, absolutely nothing. There was only a tiny perfect pearl, inside which the mighty spirit of the One - Anu - slept, manifested in the form of a shining diamond. Within him was everything: both good and evil, benevolent and malevolent, honest and unjust. However, Anu, attempting to achieve purity and perfection, expelled all the evil from himself, which, having come together, took the form of the seven-headed Dragon Tathamet. This Dragon sowed death and destruction, embodying all the evil that Anu had cast out. That is from where the Prime Evils originated. And though Anu and the Dragon became separate entities, they remained bound by the original ties of the pearl and thus could not help but fight each other until the end of time.
The battle between Anu and Tathamet.
However, after numerous clashes, they ultimately fought each other to a standstill. The essences of Anu and Tathamet exploded, releasing the energies that had been swirling within each of them. Thus, the world was born, at the center of which lies Pandemonium [Pandemonium], a scar on the body of the Universe, representing the history of its emergence. Within it lay the Eye of Anu [The Eye of Anu], or the Worldstone [The Worldstone]. This great artifact possesses colossal power, and it is precisely for it that the descendants of Anu and the Dragon - [angels and demons](/games?search=ангелы и демоны) - ultimately fight. The center of the Universe, Pandemonium, with the Worldstone inside, has changed hands for a long time. In [Diablo II](/games?search=Diablo II), for example, it belongs to the angels, though it hasn't always been so, and opponents are constantly battling for the right to possess it.
However, at some point, the rebellious angel Inarius grew tired of this endless war. Joining forces with the demoness Lilith and other angels and demons, he stole the Worldstone from Pandemonium. The angel hid the artifact in another dimension, in a new world called Sanctuary [Sanctuary], although others believed that the Worldstone was still in place in Pandemonium. After centuries of battles, the world of Sanctuary became a paradise for the rebels. They remained there and gave birth to the Nephalem, who inherited the best traits of angels and demons, so much so that their incredible power even scared their “parents.” However, over time their might dwindled, and they turned into ordinary humans. By this time, [angels and demons](/games?search=ангелы и демоны) had discovered the disappearance of the Worldstone and Sanctuary, and the battles of the Great Conflict briefly ceased. [Angels and demons](/games?search=Ангелы и демоны) decided to see which side humanity would take.
And here, in essence, are how the sides of the Great Conflict look.
ANGELS
The High Heavens.
These entities of light are described by Chris Metzen. In the game, they are known much less than the demons, and the Book of Cain fills this gap. After Anu was destroyed, he not only created angels but also the heavens: his spine soared high, and centuries later, an abode of angels, known as the Crystal Arch [The Crystal Arch], arose there. The Arch is the center of the High Heavens, where the so-called Angiris Council [The Angiris Council] rules, which consists of five of the most powerful angels. Like the Prime Evils, each of them has their roles and tasks within the Council.
• TYRAEL, THE ANGEL OF JUSTICE [TYRAEL, THE ANGEL OF JUSTICE]
Tyrael, our old acquaintance.
His domain is order and justice. This angel is a very vivid personality and follows a strict moral code, often demonstrating intolerance and rigidity. He was one of those who voted for the destruction of Sanctuary when [angels and demons](/games?search=ангелы и демоны) discovered the world and the Nephalem. However, when Uldyssian, the great Nephalem, nearly omnipotent, sacrificed himself to save Sanctuary, Tyrael realized that he might be mistaken about mortals. He was so impressed by the honor and heroism of Uldyssian that he even changed some of his beliefs, ultimately becoming the defender of humanity.
• AURIEL, THE ANGEL OF HOPE [AURIEL, THE ANGEL OF HOPE]
Auriel, the angelic maiden.
She is the most cheerful and optimistic of the entire Council, but at the same time wise, serious, and full of hope. Auriel is a sort of angel that heals souls. She wields the Cord of Hope [Cord of Hope] and can bless others. Auriel is the heart of the Council and holds the others together, which is very important since other angels, being strong personalities, often disagree with one another.
• MALTHAEL, THE ANGEL OF WISDOM [MALTHAEL, THE ANGEL OF WISDOM]
Malthael, wisdom with a scythe.
This character is still in development. In the Angiris Council, he is assigned the role of the voice of reason, to which all other angels listen during various discussions. When he speaks, they listen. However, Inarius' betrayal and the theft of the Worldstone have severely affected Malthael’s faith, and he is gradually becoming a darker figure. His weapon emphasizes his new image: the gloomy Malthael now holds a scythe in each hand.
• IMPERIUS, THE ANGEL OF VALOR [IMPERIUS, THE ANGEL OF VALOR]
Imperius, the heavenly commando.
He has more victories against the forces of darkness than any other character. By nature, Imperius is a commanding leader, preferring to dictate terms rather than be dictated to. In battle, it is better not to confront him: he has destroyed myriads of demonic spawn. Essentially, his entire life since his emergence has been about killing as many denizens of the Abyss as possible, and nothing can deter him from this path. However, sometimes Imperius’ valor turns into pride and blinds him, provoking conflicts and disputes between him and Tyrael. Their views on the fate of Sanctuary and humanity differ significantly.
• ITHERAEL, THE ANGEL OF FATE [ITHERAEL, THE ANGEL OF FATE]
Itherael, the seer.
He cannot be considered a seer in the classical sense of the word, however, he is capable of seeing possibilities and options for the development of events. His knowledge is very extensive, but Itherael speaks rarely, preferring to listen rather than talk. Nevertheless, his words and guidance are all the more valuable when he does respond in the Council. When the Worldstone was stolen and the rebels created Sanctuary, Itherael could no longer see mortals in his predictions. He can only access the destinies and thoughts of angels and demons, but not humans. Humanity has become a kind of Gordian knot: angels cannot understand or predict their actions, which frustrates and frightens them simultaneously.
DEMONS
Welcome to Hell!
Now that we know who lives up there in the high tower, it’s time to descend from the heavens to the ground, and even lower, into the depths of darkness. The floor is taken by Leonard Boyarski: he will discuss the demons.
As we remember, the Dragon Tathamet became the embodiment of Prime Evil, and its seven heads gave birth to the seven Overlords of the Abyss. After the death of Anu, Tathamet soared upwards, while his vile flesh gave birth to the Burning Hells. The Triad rules within it:
• Mephisto, the Lord of Hatred [Mephisto, the Lord of Hatred]
• Baal, the Lord of Destruction [Baal, the Lord of Destruction]
• Diablo, the Lord of Terror [Diablo, the Lord of Terror].
They were called the Prime Evils and formed the supreme triumvirate, under which were four Lesser Evils [Lesser Evils]:
• Andariel, the Maiden of Anguish [Andariel, the Maiden of Anguish]
• Duriel, the Lord of Pain [Duriel, the Lord of Pain]
• Azmodan, the Lord of Sin [Azmodan, the Lord of Sin]
• Belial, the Lord of Lies [Belial, the Lord of Lies].
Diablo, a favorite among players.
Each of the demons ruled over their domain of the Abyss. When the wars of the Great Conflict briefly ceased with the discovery of Sanctuary, not all demons were happy about it. And while the Triad waited for humanity to step into darkness itself, Azmodan and Belial persuaded the other Lesser Evils to begin a coup. They united and rebelled against the Triad, which was defeated and, in a bodiless form, was sent to the realm of mortals. There they were first captured by the Horadrim [Horadrim], and later destroyed by heroes. The other two rebels (Andariel and Duriel) faced the same fate. After winning the civil war against the Triad, the Lesser Evils fought for the throne of the Lord of the Abyss, so one can assume that Andariel and Duriel did not succeed in the decisive clash. Ultimately, only two supreme demons survived.
• BELIAL, THE LORD OF LIES [BELIAL, THE LORD OF LIES]
Belial, the deceitful nature.
This demon embodies lies, distrust, and deceit. He is not one to dirty his hands and prefers to achieve his goals by manipulating enemies and allies, playing on their fears and distrust. Even his minions emphasize the deceitful nature of the demon. Belial is served by Magda [Magda], a powerful witch and mistress of the dark cultists. We will encounter these devilish henchmen long before we see Belial himself. His followers also include nagas, demons in snake form. They can disguise themselves as humans, and you will never know who they truly are until they transform into monsters and reveal their true faces.
Belial, along with his minions, set his sights on Caldeum [Caldeum], the largest trading city in the world. He sent cultists and nagas into the Borderlands [Borderlands], and streams of refugees fled towards the city, escaping from terror. However, the gates of Caldeum were shut to them, leaving the residents in hunger and death. Your hero will need to find out what Belial is plotting and how he intends to carry out his plans.
• AZMODAN, THE LORD OF SIN [AZMODAN, THE LORD OF SIN]
Azmodan, the chief of sins.
As the embodiment of sin, power, and destruction, this demon represents the complete opposite of Belial. He is a force in demonic form. Azmodan wears the crown of the Lord of Hell and ruled the Abyss for three hundred years after the Triad was dethroned. He is obsessed with power, greedy, and boastful, which is accentuated by his golden trinkets and other symbols of wealth.
Azmodan is served by seven lieutenants, who are embodiments of the deadly sins. One of them is Sedea, the Maiden of Lust [Sedea, the Maiden of Lust]. This monster has its own story: originally Sedea was called Mistress of Pain [Mistress of Pain], but the developers didn’t know how to include her in the story and cut her from the game. However, after Lorraine Torres' fantastic victory in the costume contest in 2009 (she was cosplaying the Mistress), Blizzard decided to bring the monster back to the game. Sedea resembles Belial a lot: she enjoys toying with her victim before killing them. Thus, she is a trusted servant of the Prince of Hell.
Mistress of Pain, now the Maiden of Lust.
But let’s return to Azmodan. A fresh trailer shows this monster in all its glory. He does not hide or conceal himself, immediately demonstrating his intentions. He is responsible for the demonic invasion that Cain has been warning about for two decades. Azmodan knows full well that heroes are coming after him, but this doesn't frighten him. He is searching for the mysterious Black Soulstone [The Black Soulstone], an artifact of unprecedented power, which, when in his hands, will make him the most powerful lord of Hell that has ever been or will be. You need to stop this from happening.
Azmodan is the last of the Greater Evils and the original horrors: by the time you reach him, you will have already had a "conversation" with Belial. The Abyss has emptied, and there is no one left to invade Sanctuary and sow death in the lands of men. By defeating Azmodan, you will end evil once and for all. At least, in theory...
End of the first part. To be continued.
Comments, thoughts, and discussions are welcome.
The author of the text - me.
In writing the material, I partially relied on these articles:
P.S. For assistance with images, a huge thank you to kapxapot!