Ancient

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The Altar of Heavens in the middle of the Ancients activates a speech triggering a fight when ended.

The Ancients or Ancient Ones are spirits of Barbarian ancestors. They claim to be spirits of the nephalem in Diablo II. If this is true or not is unknown. If they are, they might be specific Barbarian nephalem spirits.

Ancients on Mount Arreat

Korlic, Madawc, and Talic were located outside the Worldstone Chamber on Mount Arreat. Their purpose was to defeat any unworthy hero, preventing them from entering the chamber. While unworthy would-be heroes were killed, worthy heroes were instead augmented in their skills and let in. Besides fighting though, they speak with one voice, announcing their purpose as part of the Rite of Passage.

They seem sentient even as statues, as they mentioned Baal had already entered using The Relic of The Ancients, allowing him passage without challenge of The Ancients. Eventually the heroes arrived and defeated the Ancients to track Baal down and put an end to his wretched plan to corrupt the Worldstone which lies within the keep.

What happened to these three Ancients after the destruction of the Worldstone is unknown.

Nephalem

The "Ancient Ones", or the Ancients have been associated with the "spirits of the nephalem." Whether they really are spirits of the Nephalem, or perhaps these are Nephalem descendants (and they are spirits of them) is unknown. The powers of Madawc seem to indicate he has some sort of Nephalem connection.

Diablo II Ancients

These three NPCs must be defeated in combat to complete the Rite of Passage quest in Act Five. Individually, they are listed as SuperUnique monsters. When defeated they give the Eve of Destruction quest to characters who survive their trial.

Dialogues

The Ancients speak twice, in the middle of one quest and when they charge your character with the final quest of Act Five.

Rite of Passage

When a character clicks on the altar in the center of the dias atop the Arreat Plateau, the following speech is heard:

We are the spirits of the Nephalem, the Ancient Ones. We have been chosen to guard sacred Mount Arreat, wherein the Worldstone rests. Few are worthy to stand in its presence. Fewer still can comprehend its true purpose. Before you enter, you must defeat us.

Eve of Destruction

The ancients give this quest to characters who defeat them in the Rite of Passage, after they return to their statuesque form only now golden.

You are a worthy hero. We augment your skill and grant you entry to the interior of Mount Arreat, wherein lies the Worldstone. Beware, you will not be alone. Baal, the Lord of Destruction, is already inside. The Archangel Tyrael has always been our benefactor, but even he cannot help us now, for Baal blocks Tyrael's spiritual presence from entering the chamber of the Worldstone. Only you, mortal, have the power to defeat Baal now. Baal threatens the Worldstone, and through it, the mortal realm itself. You must stop him before he gains full control over the sacred stone. With it under his control, Baal could shatter the boundaries between this world and the Burning Hells, thus allowing the hordes of the Prime Evils to pour forth into the mortal realm like an unstoppable tide. If you are weak, the world as you know it could be lost forever. You must NOT fail.

The Sin War

The giant Bul-Kathos (one of the nephalem) was a defending Mount Arreat from Uldyssian. "Mount Arreat will remain forbidden for you and all else who would desecrate its interior!".

Clad in kilt and sandals and with a golden band around his head, Bul-Kathos resembled some barbarian deity. "We swore that the way to the mount would be forever sealed from those like Esu".