An interesting read...

Archived from groups: alt.games.diablo2 (More info?)

hi, i have found this faq and this interesting read about the diablo
universe and the stories behind it. oh and yes and all credits goes to
its author Joseph Christopher and i think that i had found it on
faq.com... happy reading... oh and it is very long...

Cheers
fx_05


1. The Great Conflict -

Since the beginning, the forces of light and darkness have
engaged
in an eternal war: The Great Conflict, whose victor will rise from the
apocalyptic ashes to hold sway over all creation. To ths end, the
angels
of the high heavens adhere to strict militaristic disciplines. Seraphim
warrioirs strike at the enemies of light with swords imbued with
righteous
wrath and justice. The angels believe that only absolute discipline can
properly restore order to the myriad realms, while the demonic denizens
of the burning hells hold that absolute chaos is the true nature of all
things.
The battles of the Great Conflict rage across both time and
space
often infringing upon the very fabric of reality itself. From the
Crystal
Arch at the very heart of the high heavens to the arcane Hellforge of
the underworld, the warriors of these eternal realms journey to
wherever
their timeless conflict carries them. The legendary deeds of the heroes
of the realms beyond elicit both veneration and insight.
The greatest of these heroes was Izual, lieutenant to the
arch-angel
Tyrael and bearer of the angelic runeblade Azurewrath. He once led a
fierce
attack upon the Hellforge as the creation of the dark demonblade
Shadowfang
was nearing completion. His quest was to destroy both wielder and
weapon---
a charge that he was destined never to complete. Izual was overcome by
the legions of chaos and, tragically, was lost to the Darkness. His
fate
stands as testament to the fact that Angels and Demons alike shall
fearlessly
enter into any domain---so long as their hated enemies dwell within.
Although the Great Conflict burned hotter and longer than any
of
the stars in the sky, neither side could gain dominion over the other
for long. Both factions sought some way to turn the tides of the war to
their favor. With the ascension of man and his mortal realm, the Great
Conflict ground to a mysterious halt. Both armies paused in a
breathless
stalemate, waiting to see to whose side man would eventually turn.
Mortals had the unique ability to choose between darkness and
light,
and it was held that this would be the deciding factor in the outcome
of the Great Conflict. Thus, the agents of the nether-realms descended
to the mortal realm to vie for the favor of man...

2. The Sin War -

The coming of the Great Conflict to the mortal realm is known
as
the Sin War. Angels and demons, disguising themselves while traveling
amongst men, attempted to secretly lure mortals to their respective
causes.
Over time, the forces of darkness discovered that mortals responded
much
more to brute force than to subtle coercion, and so began to terrorize
man into submission. The angels fought to defend humanity against this
demonic oppression, but all too often their austere methods and severe
punishments succeeded only in alienating those whom they sought to
protect.
The violent battles of the Sin War occurred often, but they
were
seldom witnessed by the prying eyes of man. Only a few "enlightened"
souls were aware of the supernatural beings that walked amongst the
huddled
masses of humanity. Powerful mortals arose and accepted the challenge
of the Sin War, allying themselves with both sides in the Great
Conflict.
The legendary deeds of these great mortal warriors served to earn both
the respect and hatred of the netherworlds. Although lesser demons
kneeled
before those possessing power and strength, they also cursed the very
existence of mortal man. Many of these fiends believed that the
deadlock
brought about by the emergence of Man was a perverse offense to their
"higher" role in the great scheme of things.
This jealousy of man led to harsh, atrocious acts of violence
by
the demons against the mortal realm. Some men learned of this deep
hatred
and used it against the denizens of the underworld. One such mortal,
Horazon the Summoner, delighted in summoning demons and then breaking
them to his will. Horazon, along with his brother Bartuc, were members
of the Eastern mage clan known as the Vizjerei. This mystic clan
studied
the ways of demons and had catalogued their lore for generations.
Empowered
by this knowledge, Horazon was able to take the work of the Vizjerei
and
pervert it for his demented purposes. The denizens of hell sought
revenge
against this bold mortal, but Horazon managed to keep himself well
protected
within his arcane sanctuary.
Bartuc, the brother of Horazon, was eventually lured to the
side
of darkness. He was granted exceptional strength and longevity, and
fought
alongside the legions of hell against the cursed Vizjerei, and
eventually
his own brother during the Sin War. Although Bartuc was renowned
amongst
the warriors of many realms, his dominance in battle came with a
terrible
price. An insatiable lust for mortal blood pervaded his every thought
and deed. Bartuc soon became as fond of bathing in the blood of his
enemies
as he did of shedding it, and in time he came to be known only as the
Warlord of Blood.

3. The Dark Exile -

"Seven is the number of the powers of Hell, and Seven is the
number of the Great Evils."
Duriel, the Lord of Pain
Andariel, the Maiden of Anguish
Belial, the Lord of Lies
Azmodan, the Lord of Sin
These are the true names of the lesser of the great evils. For
ages uncounted each have ruled over their own domains within the
burning
hells, seeking absolute dominion over their infernal brethren. As the
lesser four continuously vied for the control of those forces that
dwelled
within their realms, the greater three held absolute power over the
whole
of Hell. The lesser four used dark and evil measures in their quest for
power,
and herein begins the legend of the Exile.
Mephisto, the Lord of Hatred
Baal, the Lord of Destruction
Diablo, the Lord of Terror
These are the prime evils of hell that wielded their power as
a dark, sovereign triumvirate. The three brothers ruled over the lesser
four by brutal force and malicious cunning. Being the eldest and
strongest
of the evils, the three brothers were responsible for countless
victories
against the armies of the light. Although they never held sway over the
high heavens for long, the three were justly feared by enemies and
subjects
alike.
With the ascension of man and the subsequent standstill of the
Great Conflict, the three brothers began to devote their energies to
the
perversion of mortal souls. The three realized that man was the key to
victory in the war against Heaven, and thus altered their rigid agendum
that they had propagated since the beginning. This change caused many
of the lesser evils to question the authority of the three, and so
brought
about a great rift between the prime evils and their servitors. In
their
ignorance, the lesser evils began to believe that the three were afraid
to continue the war with heaven. Frustrated by the cessation of the
war,
Azmodan and Belial saw the situation as their chance to overthrow the
prime evils and take control of hell for themselves. The two demon
lords
made a pact with their minor brethren, assuring them that the wretched
plague of humanity would not deter the ultimate victory of the Sons of
Hell. Azmodan and Belial devised a plan to end the stalemate, achieve
victory in the Sin War and ultimately ride the bloody crest of the
Great
Conflict straight into the very arms of Armageddon. Thus, a great
revolution
was set into motion as all of hell went to war against the three
brothers...
The brothers fought with all of the savagery of the underworld,
and to their credit, annihilated a third of Hell's treacherous legions.
In the end, however, they were overcome by the Horned Death led by the
traitors Azmodan and Belial. The prime evils, weakened and bodiless
were
banished to the mortal realm where Azmodan hoped that they would remain
trapped forever. Azmodan believed that with the three set loose upon
humanity, the angels would be forced to turn their focus upon on the
mortal plane---thus leaving the gates of heaven abandoned and
defenseless.
Those few demons who still pledged allegiance to the three brothers
fled
the wrath of Azmodan and Belial, escaping to the realm of man to seek
out
their lost masters.
As the warfires died out upon the battlefields of hell,
Azmodan
and Belial began to argue over which of them held the higher authority
The pact that they had made quickly fell to ashes as the two demon
lords
took up arms against each other. The legions of hell that remained were
polarized behind either warlord, launching themselves into a bloody
civil
war that has lasted to this day...

4. The Binding of the Three -

In the ancient days, before the rise of the western empires,
the dark and terrible entities known as the three evils were exiled to
the world of man. These eternal entities wandered throughout the waking
world and fed upon the lusts of men, leaving chaos and attrition in
their
wake. The evils turned father against son and prompted many great
nation
into brutal and petty wars. Their exile from hell left them with an
insatiable
hunger to bring suffering and pain to all those who would not kneel
before
them, and so the three brothers ravaged the lands of the far east for
countless centuries.
Eventually, a secretive order of mortal magi was gathered
together
by the enigmatic arch-angel Tyrael. These sorcerers were to hunt the
three
evils and put an end to their vicious rampage. The order, known as the
Horadrim, consisted of wizards from the diverse and numerous mage-clans
of the east. Employing disparate magical practices and disciplines,
this
unlikely brotherhood succeeded in capturing two of the brothers within
powerful artifacts called Soulstones. Mephisto and Baal, trapped within
the swirling, spiritual constraints of the Soulstones, were then buried
beneath the dunes of the desolate eastern sands.
The powers of hatred and wanton destruction seemed to diminish
in the east as a nervous peace began to settle over the land. Yet, for
many decades the Horadrim continued their grim search for the third
brother,
Diablo. They knew that if the Lord of Terror was left untamed, there
could
never be any lasting peace within the realm of humanity.
The Horadrim followed in the wake of terror and anarchy that
spread
throughout the western lands. After a great battle which claimed the
lives
of many brave souls, the Lord of Terror was captured and imprisoned
within
the last of the Soulstones by a group of Horadrim monks led by the
initiate
Jered Cain. These monks carried the cursed stone to the land of
Khanduras
and buried it within a secluded cave near the river Talsande. Above
this
cave the Horadrim constructed a great monastery from which they could
continue to safeguard the Soulstone. As ages passed, the Horadrim
constructed
a network of catacombs beneath the monastery to house the earthly
remains
of the martyrs of their order.
Generations passed in Khanduras, and the numbers of the
Horadrim
slowly dwindled. With no quests left to undertake, and too few sons to
sustain their guardianship, the once powerful order faded into
obscurity.
Eventually, the great monastery that they had built fell to ruins as
well.
Although villages grew and thrived around the shell of the old
monastery,
no one knew of the dark, secret passageways that stretched into the
cold
earth beneath it. None could have dreamed of the burning red gem that
pulsed within the labyrinth's heart...


5. The Lands of Khanduras -

Years after the last of the Horadrim had died, a great and
prosperous
society grew in the lands of the west. As time wore on, many eastern
pilgrims
settled in the lands surrounding Khanduras and soon establish small,
self contained kingdoms. A few of these kingdoms bickered with
Khanduras
over holdings of property or routes of trade. These squabbles did
little
to upset the lasting peace of the west, and the great northern kingdom
of Westmarch proved to be a strong ally of Khanduras as the two lands
steadily engaged in ventures of barter and commerce.
During this time, a bold, new religion of the light known as
Zakarum
began to spread throughout the kingdom of Westmarch and into many of
its
northern principalities. Zakarum, founded in the far east, implored
followers
to enter into the light and forsake the darkness that lurked within
their
souls. The people of Westmarch adopted the statues of Zakarum as their
sacred mission in the world. Westmarch began to turn towards its
neighbors,
expecting them to embrace this "new beginning" as well. Tensions rose
between the kingdoms of Westmarch and Khanduras as the priests of
Zakarum
began to preach their foreign dogma whether they were welcomed or not.
It was then that the great northern lord Leoric came unto the
lands of Khanduras and, in the name of Zakarum, declared himself king.
Leoric was a deeply religious man and had brought many knights and
priests
with him that comprised his Order of the Light. Leoric and his trusted
advisor, the Arch Bishop Lazarus, made their way to the city of
Tristram.
Leoric appropriated the ancient, decrepit monastery on the outskirts
of the town for his seat of power and renovated it to match its
time-lost
glory. Although the free people of Khanduras were not pleased with
being
placed under the sudden rule of a foreign king, Leoric served them with
justice and might. Eventually, the people of Khanduras grew to respect
the kind Leoric, sensing that he sought only to guide and protect them
against the oppression of darkness.

6. The Awakening -

Not long after Leoric took possession of Khanduras, a power
long
asleep awakened within the dark recesses beneath the Monastery. Sensing
that freedom was within his grasp, Diablo entered the nightmares of the
arch-bishop and lured him into the dark, subterranean labyrinth. In his
terror, Lazarus raced throughout the abandoned hallways until he at
last
came to the chamber of the burning soulstone. No longer in command of
his
body or spirit, he raised the stone above his head and uttered words
long
forgotten in the realms of mortals. His will destroyed, Lazarus
shattered
the soulstone upon the ground. Diablo once again came into the world of
man. Although he was released from his imprisonment within the
soulstone,
the Lord of Terror was still greatly weakened from his long sleep and
required an anchor to the world. Once he had found a mortal form to
wear,
he could begin to reclaim his vastly depleted power. The great demon
weighed
the souls residing in the town above, and chose to take the strongest
of them---that of King Leoric.
For many months King Leoric secretly fought the evil presence
that twisted his thoughts and emotions. Sensing that he had been
possessed
by some unknown evil, Leoric hid his dark secret from his priests,
hoping
that somehow his own devout righteousness would be enough to exorcise
that corruption growing inside him---he was sorely mistaken. Diablo
stripped
away the core of Leoric's being, burning away all honor and virtue from
his soul. Lazarus too, had fallen under the sway of the demon, keeping
close to Leoric at all times. Lazarus worked to conceal the plans of
his
new master from the Order of Light, hoping that the demon's power would
grow, well concealed amongst the servants of Zakarum.
The priests of Zakarum and the citizenry of Khanduras
recognized
the disturbing change within their liege. His once proud and rugged
form
became distorted and deformed. King Leoric became increasingly deranged
and ordered immediate executions of any who dared to question his
methods
or authority. Leoric began to send his knights to other villages to
bully
their townspeople into submission. The people of Khanduras who had once
grown to see great honor in their ruler began to call Leoric the Black
King.
Driven to the brink of madness by the Lord of Terror, King
Leoric
slowly alienated his closest friends and advisors. Lachdanan, captain
of
the Knights of the Order of Light and honored champion of Zakarum,
tried
to discern the nature of his King's deteriorating spirit. Yet at every
turn the arch-bishop Lazarus would waylay Lachdanan and admonish him
from
questioning the actions of the King. As tensions grew between the two,
Lazarus charged Lachdanan with treason against the kingdom. To the
priests
and knights of Leoric's court, the prospect of Lachdanan committing
treason
was ridiculous. Lachdanan's motives were honorable and just, and soon
many began question the reason of their once beloved King.
Leoric's madness was growing more obvious with each passing
day.
Sensing that the advisors of the court were becoming increasingly
suspicious
of foul treachery, Lazarus desperately sought to contain the eroding
situation. The arch-bishop masterfully convinced the delusional Leoric
that the kingdom of Westmarch was plotting against him, secretly
planning
to dethrone him and annex Khanduras into its own lands. Leoric flew
into
a rage and summoned his advisors to his side. Manipulated by the
arch-bishop,
the paranoid king declared a state of war between the kingdoms of
Khanduras
and Westmarch.
Leoric ignored the warnings and admonishments of his advisors
and the royal army of Khanduras was ordered to the north to engage in
a war that they did not believe in. Lachdanan was appointed by Lazarus
to lead the armies of Khanduras into Westmarch. Although Lachdanan
argued
against the necessity of the coming conflict, he was honor-bound to
uphold
the will of his king. Many of the high priests and officials were
forced
to travel to the north as emissaries on errands of diplomatic urgency,
as well. The desperate ploy of Lazarus had succeeded in sending many of
the King's more "troublesome" advisors to their certain deaths...

7. The Darkening of Tristram -

The absence of prying advisors and inquisitive priests left
Diablo
free to assume total control over the king's battered soul. As the Lord
of Terror attempted to strengthen his hold upon the maddened king, he
found that the lingering spirit of Leoric fought with him still.
Although
the control over Leoric that Diablo held was formidable, the demon knew
that in his weakened state he could never take complete possession of
his soul as long as a glimmer of his will remained. The demonlord
sought
a fresh and innocent host upon which to build his terror.
The demon relinquished his control over Leoric, but the king's
soul was left corrupted and his mind crazed. Diablo began to search
throughout Khanduras for the perfect vessel to act as his focus, and
found
such a soul easily within his reach. Enjoined by his dark master,
Lazarus
kidnapped Albrecht---the only son of Leoric---and dragged the terrified
youth down into the blackness of the labyrinth. Flooding the boy's
defenseless
mind with the essence of pure terror, Diablo easily took possession of
the young Albrecht.
Pain and fire raced through the child's soul. Hideous laughter
filled his head and clouded his thoughts. Paralyzed with fear, Albrecht
felt the presence of Diablo within his mind as it seemed to push him
down,
deeper and deeper into darkness and oblivion. Diablo gazed upon his
surroundings
through the eyes of the young prince. A lustful hunger still tortured
the demon after his frustrating bout for control over Leoric, but the
nightmares of the boy provided ample substance to sate him. Reaching
deep
into Albrecht's subconscious, Diablo ripped the greatest fears of the
child from their hiding places and gave them breath.
Albrecht watched, as if out of a dream, twisted and disfigured
forms appeared all around him. Unholy, writhing visages of terror
danced
about him chanting choruses of obscenities. All of the "monsters" that
he had ever imagined or believed that he had seen in his life became
flesh
and were given life before him. Large bodies comprised of living rock
erupted from the walls and bowed to their dark master. The ancient,
skeletal
corpses of the Horadrim arose from archaic crypts and lumbered off into
the red washed corridors beyond. As the cacophony of madness and
nightmares
hammered its final blow against Albrecht's spirit, the blood-lusted
ghouls
and demons of his mind scattered and scrambled maniacally into the
lengthening
passageways of his waking nightmare.
The ancient catacombs of the Horadrim had become a twisted
labyrinth
of raw, focused terror. Empowered by Diablo's possession of young
Albrecht,
the creatures of the boy's own imagination had gained corporeal form.
So strong was the terror that grew inside of Albrecht, that the borders
of the mortal realm began to warp and tear. The burning hell began to
seep into the world of man and take root within the labyrinth. Beings
and occurrences displaced by time and space, and long lost to the
history
of man were pulled screaming into the ever-expanding domain.
The body of Albrecht, fully possessed by Diablo, began to
distort
and change. The small boy grew and his eyes blazed as tendril-like
spines
ripped through his flesh. Great, arched horns erupted from Albrecht's
skull as Diablo altered the form of the child to match that of his
demonic
body. Deep within the recesses of the labyrinth, a growing power was
being
harnessed. When the moment was right, Diablo would venture once more
into
the mortal world and free his captive brothers Mephisto and Baal. The
prime evils would be reunited, and together they would reclaim their
rightful
place in hell.

8. The Fall of the Black King -

The war against the zealous armies of Westmarch ended with a
horrible
slaughter. With the army of Khanduras ripped to shreds by the superior
numbers and defensive positions of Westmarch, Lachdanan quickly
gathered
together those who were not captured or killed and ordered a retreat
back
to the safety of Khanduras. They returned to find the town of Tristram
in shambles.
King Leoric, deep within the thrones of madness, went into a
rage
when he learned that his son was missing. After scouring the village
with
the few guards that remained within at the monastery, Leoric had
decided
that the townsfolk had abducted his son and hidden him somewhere.
Although
the townsfolk denied any knowledge of Prince Albrecht's whereabouts,
Leoric insisted that they had crafted a conspiracy against him, and
that
they would pay the price for such treachery.
The mysterious disappearance of the arch-bishop Lazarus left no
one in Tristram with whom the king would take council. Overcome by
grief
and dementia, Leoric had many of the townsfolk executed for the crime
of high treason.
As Lachdanan and his fellow survivors returned to confront
their
king, Leoric sent his few remaining guards against them. Believing that
Lachdanan was somehow part of the townsfolk's conspiracy, Leoric
decreed
that he and his party were to die. Lachdanan, finally realizing that
Leoric
was beyond salvation, ordered his men to defend themselves. The ensuing
battle carried them down into the very halls of the darkened monastery,
bringing a final desecration to the once holy sanctum of the Horadrim.
Lachdanan won a bittersweet victory as his men were forced to kill all
of Leoric's deceived protectors. They cornered the ravenous king within
his own sanctuary and begged him to explain the atrocities he had
committed.
Leoric only spat at them and cursed them for traitors against both his
crown and the light.
Lachdanan walked slowly towards his king and sorrowfully drew
his sword. Full of grief and rage, all honor having been cast to the
winds,
Lachdanan ran his blade through Leoric's shriveled, blackened heart.
The
once noble king screamed an unearthly death-cry, and as his madness
finally
overtook him, he brought down a curse upon those who had so betrayed
him.
Calling upon the forces of darkness that he had spent his entire life
combating, Leoric condemned Lachdanan and the others to eternal
damnation.
In that last, fleeting moment within the heart of the monastery, all
that
was ever virtuous or honorable about the stewards of Khanduras was
shattered
forever.

9. The Reign of Diablo -

The Black King lay dead, slain at the hands of his own priests
and knights. The young Prince Albrecht was still missing, and the proud
defenders of Khanduras were no more. The people of Tristram looked
about
their lifeless town and were greatly dismayed. Awash in feelings of
both
relief and remorse, they soon realized that their troubles had merely
begun. Strange, eerie lights appeared in the darkened windows of the
monastery.
Misshapen, leathery-skinned creatures were seen venturing forth from
the
shadows of the church. Horrible, wounded cries seemed to linger in the
wind, emanating from deep underground. It became apparent that
something
quite unnatural had infested the once holy sight...
Travelers on the roads surrounding Tristram were accosted by
cloaked
riders that seemed to now constantly roam the deserted countryside.
Many
villagers fled Tristram, making their way to other towns or kingdoms,
fearing some unnamed evil that seemed to wait in the shadows all around
them. Those few chose to remain seldom ventured out at night, and never
tread foot upon the grounds of the cursed monastery. Whispered rumors
of poor, innocent people being abducted in the night by wicked,
nightmarish
creatures filled the halls of the local inn. With no king, no law, and
no army left to defend them, many of the townsfolk began to fear an
attack
from the things that now dwelt beneath their town.
The arch-bishop Lazarus, frayed and disheveled, returned from
his absence and assured the townsfolk that he too had been ravaged by
the growing evil of the monastery. With their desperate need for
reassurance
clouding their good judgement, Lazarus whipped the townspeople into a
frenzied mob. Reminding them that Prince Albrecht was still unaccounted
for, he persuaded many of the men to follow him into the depths of the
monastery to search for the boy. They gathered torches and soon the
night
air glowed with the flickering light of hope. They armed themselves
with
shovels, picks and scythes and so prepared, they boldly followed the
treacherous
arch-bishop straight into the fiery maw of hell itself...
The few who survived the horrible fate that awaited them
returned
to Tristram and recounted what they could of the ordeal. Their wounds
were terrible, and even the skills of the healer could not save some of
them. As the stories of demons and devils spread, a stifling, primal
terror
began to consume the hearts of all the town's inhabitants. It was a
terror
that none of them had ever known...
Deep beneath the foundations of the ruined monastery, Diablo
gorged
himself upon the fears of the mortals above him. He slowly sank back
into
the welcoming shadows and began to harness his depleted power.
He smiled to himself in the sheltering darkness, for he knew
that
the time of his final victory was fast approaching...


* now, these books are found on the respective levels of the quests
they
activate, read on...

1. Book of Blood (activates the quest, "Valor" )


...and so, locked beyond the Gateway of Blood and past the Hall
of Fire, Valor awaits for the hero of light to awaken...


2. Mythical Book (activates the quest, "Chamber of Bone" )


Beyond the Hall of Heroes lies the Chamber of Bone. Eternal
death
awaits any who would seek to steal the treasures secured within this
room.
So speaks the Lord of Terror, and so it is written.


3. Book of the Blind (activates the quest, "Halls of the Blind" )


I can see what you see not,
Vision milky then eyes rot.
When you turn they will be gone,
Whispering their hidden song.
Then you see what cannot be,
Shadows move where light should be.
Out of darkness, out of mind,
Cast down into the halls of the blind


4. Steel Tome (activates the quest, "Warlord of Blood" )


The armories of hell are home to the Warlord of Blood. In his
wake lay the mutilated bodies of thousands. Angels and man alike have
been cut down to fulfill his endless sacrifices to the dark ones who
scream for one thing---blood.


* And lastly, these messages, courtesy of Anapan
(aspenth@pokemonfactory.com)
are found in the different tomes in the game. Their titles, however,
are courtesy of Patrick (GalahadPC@aol.com). Here's what the latter's
got to say bout these books:


"There are three story "cycles," as I call them, one of which will be
given to the player, randomly decided when the labyrinth is
generated.
On the 4th, 8th, and 12th levels you get an installment of the
chosen
cycle, which unfolds the story of Diablo from one of three
perspectives."


Well, here goes (grouped in threes, of course):




1. The Great Conflict -

Take heed and bear witness to the truths that lie herein, for
they
are the last legacy of the Horadrim. There is a war that rages on even
now, beyond the fields that we know - between the utopian kingdoms of
the
High Heavens and the chaotic pits of the Burning Hells. This war is
known
as the Great Conflict, and it has raged and burned longer than any of
the
stars in the sky. Neither side ever gains sway for long as the forces
of
Light and Darkness constantly vie for control over all creation.


2. The Wages of the Sin War -


Take heed and bear witness to the truths that lie herein, for
they
are the last legacy of the Horadrim. When the Eternal Conflict between
the High Heavens and the Burning Hells falls upon mortal soil, it is
called
the Sin War. Angels and Demons walk amongst humanity in disguise,
fighting
in secret, away from the prying eyes of mortals. Some daring, powerful
mortals have even allied themselves with either side, and helped to
dictate
the course of the Sin War.


3. The Tale of the Horadrim -


Take heed and bear witness to the truths that lie herein, for
they
are the last legacy of the Horadrim. Nearly three hundred years ago, it
came to be known that the Three Prime Evils of the Burning Hells had
mysteriously
come to our world. The Three Brothers ravaged the lands of the east for
decades, while humanity was left trembling in their wake. Our
Order---the
Horadrim---was founded by a group of secretive magi to hunt down and
capture
the Three Evils once and for all.
The original Horadrim captured two of the Three within powerful
artifacts known as Soulstones and buried them deep beneath the desolate
eastern sands. The third Evil escaped capture and fled to the west with
many of the Horadrim in pursuit. The Third Evil - known as Diablo, the
Lord of Terror - was eventually captured, his essence set in a
Soulstone
and buried within this Labyrinth.
Be warned that the soulstone must be kept from discovery by
those
not of the faith. If Diablo were to be released, he would seek a body
that
is easily controlled as he would be very weak - perhaps that of an old
man
or a child.


--------
4. 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 absence 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.


5. The Sin War -


Many demons traveled to the mortal realm in search of the Three
Brothers. These demons were followed to the mortal plane by Angels who
hunted them throughout the vast cities of the East. The Angels allied
themselves with a secretive Order of mortal magi named the Horadrim,
who
quickly became adept at hunting demons. They also made many dark
enemies
in the underworlds.


6. The Binding of the Three -


So it came to be that the Three Prime Evils were banished in
spirit
form to the mortal realm and after sewing chaos across the East for
decades,
they were hunted down by the cursed Order of the mortal Horadrim. The
Horadrim
used artifacts called Soulstones to contain the essence of Mephisto,
the
Lord of Hatred and his brother Baal, the Lord of Destruction. The
youngest
brother - Diablo, the Lord of Terror - escaped to the west.
Eventually the Horadrim captured Diablo within a Soulstone as
well,
and buried him under an ancient, forgotten Cathedral. There, the Lord
of
Terror sleeps and awaits the time of his rebirth. Know ye that he will
seek
a body of youth and power to possess - one that is innocent and easily
controlled. He will then arise to free his Brothers and once more fan
the
flames of the Sin War...


--------
7. The Realms Beyond -


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.


8. Tale of the Three -


Glory and Approbation to Diablo - Lord of Terror and Leader of
the Three. My Lord spoke to me of his two Brothers, Mephisto and Baal,
who were banished to this world long ago. My Lord wishes to bide his
time
and harness his awesome power so that he may free his captive brothers
from their tombs beneath the sands of the east. Once my Lord releases
his
Brothers, the Sin War will once again know the fury of the Three.


9. The Black King -


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 Diablo's call and pray that I will be
rewarded
when he at last emerges as the Lord of this world.