Difference between revisions of "Diablo II: Lord of Destruction Manual"

Revision as of 12:57, 11 November 2008

The Diablo II: Lord of Destruction Manual is transcribed here. All the manuals of the Diablo games contain a lot of lore of the world of Sanctuary, and is one of our primary sources of information. They contain texts that are meant to be excerpts from books and tomes written in the actual in-world existence of characters, but as a reader you need to be aware of the fact that much of the actual years written down have been "retconed", and is no longer canon. This means that we currently don't know exactly what yearly calendar is actually canon information. However, the actual events that take place are usually somewhat correct, so if you are adding material from the manuals to an article, feel free to add years and events into the article, and we will have to update the article when more accurate information comes out from Blizzard.

Some words have been wiki-linked for easy information navigation, and in some cases the formatting has been changed to work with the wiki. No words below the introduction (this text) has been altered.

Make sure to read all of the manuals:

Diablo I Manual
Diablo I: Hellfire Manual
Diablo II Manual
Diablo II: Lord of Destruction Manual
Diablo III Manual

[edit]

The Wanderer

(Page 3)

So spoke the Wanderer, mindful of hardships and of cruel slaughters:

Each dawn, I rise alone, mired in ancient sorrows. Wretched and deprived of my

native land, I have had my mind bound with fetter. For many years, I lay hidden in

the concealment of the earth, buried deep in stone. From there, I went, abject and

winter-grieving, over the surface of the waves. I sought the prison of my noble

kinsman. Sorrow is a cruel companion to one who can afford few friends, and the

path of exile attends this mournful spirit.

And so this world, every day, is crumbling and falling. The rulers lie dead,

deprived of revelry, bands of warriors lie fallen proud by the wall. War destroyed

some, carried them away; a sorrowful man hid one deep within a grave. Thus the

creator of men laid waste this dwelling-place, until the old works of giants stood

vacant, without the noise of their inhabitants.

So said the Wanderer, set apart in secret meditations.

The kingdom of the earth is full of miseries, and the decree of the fates shall

change the course of the heavens.

Inspired by

The Wanderer (Anonymous),

from the Exeter Book, ca. 10th century.

What's New In the Expansion?

(Page 9)

Diablo II: Lord of Destruction contains a number of new features and exciting enhancements to the original Diablo II:

Two new character classes – Command the forces of nature as the Druid, or use stealth and cunning as the Assassin. Each class possesses 30 unique new skills, offering totally different game-playing tactics.

An entire new Act – Explore the mysterious Barbarian Highlands, battle new monsters, and complete six exhilarating quests as you delve further into the epic Diablo mythos. Whether you are starting anew or continuing on with an established character, defeating Diablo at the end of Act IV opens the portal to new adventures in Act V.

Increased Character Stash – The Stash chest has doubled in size! Each Expansion Character can now store twice as much loot as before.

Higher resolution – By accessing the “Video Options,” you now have the choice of playing Diablo II in either 640x480 or 800x600 mode. (Note: Playing Diablo II in 800x600 resolution can reduce system performance and is recommended only for higher-end systems.)

New treasure types:

Class-Specific Items – This class of items, new to Diablo II: Lord of Destruction, offers properties and powers specific to the seven different character classes.

Improved Item Sets – There are many fantastic new Set Items to be collected, endowing the wearer with even greater powers.

New Insertable Items – Jewels and Runes add even more magical possibilities when you insert them into items with sockets.

New Exceptional Items – Advanced players should be on the lookout for additions to the existing Exceptional Items.

Elite Items – This new class of items is similar to the Exceptional Items found in the higher difficulty levels of Diablo II...only better.

New Unique Items – More than a hundred mysterious ancient artifacts, including Exceptional and Elite Uniques, are just waiting to be discovered.

Hundreds of new magical properties – Items of all levels can now possess greater and more diverse magical powers.

Improved hirable NPC interface – Players now have the ability to heal hirable NPCs as well as equip them. Additionally, these NPCs now gain their own experience points and improve their abilities as they gain levels.

New Horadric Cube recipes – Numerous additional recipes for the Horadric Cube are just waiting to be discovered.

Item swapping – Quickly alternate between two sets of weapon/shield configurations (equipment outfitted in the left and right hands) with a click of the mouse or through a convenient keyboard shortcut.

Eight new skill hotkeys – Additional hotkeys double the number of skills you can call upon with the lightning-fast stroke of a key.

Interactive environments – Carve your own path through Act V by destroying breakable wall sections, barricades, and siege towers.

Playing Diablo II: Lord of Destruction

(Page 10)

Diablo II: Lord of Destruction is more than just your standard expansion set. Once you have installed Diablo II: Lord of Destruction, you will have access to such a host of thrilling new features and expanded implementations of the original game’s features that it will feel like you are playing a whole new game.

This manual assumes that you have played the original Diablo II game. If you have not, we recommend that you at least read through the Diablo II manual in order to familiarize yourself with the basic terminology and concepts of the game before proceeding.

Expansion Characters: After installing Diablo II: Lord of Destruction, you will have the option to choose between two different “character types”—Standard and Expansion—when creating a new character. (Note: these are different from the two new character classes. See pages 15 and 20.) Standard Characters are just like the characters you are used to playing in Diablo II, whereas Expansion Characters are specifically created for use in Diablo II: Lord of Destruction. You should be aware of some details before deciding which character type to choose:

Expansion Characters can only create or join expansion games. They cannot create or join original Diablo II games.
Standard Characters cannot use any of the new features or modifications found in Diablo II: Lord of Destruction, nor can they create or join Expansion games. (These are games specifically designed to enjoy all of the extra benefits contained in Diablo II: Lord of Destruction.)
Standard Characters can be converted permanently to Expansion Characters simply by accessing the “Select Character” screen, left-clicking on the Standard Character you wish to convert, and then leftclicking on the “Convert” button.
Converting a Standard Character is an irreversible, one-way process. Once a character has been converted to an Expansion Character, he or she can never be changed back to a Standard Character. Similarly, once an Expansion Character has been created, he or she can never be converted into a Standard Character.

Corpse Recovery: In Nightmare and Hell difficulty settings, whenever your character dies, he or she suffers a loss of gold and experience points. In games of Diablo II: Lord of Destruction, if you recover your corpse at the location of its demise, you can regain some of the experience points you lost. If, however, you choose to ‘Save and Exit’ out of your current game in order to restart and recover your body in town, you will not regain any of your lost experience.

Item Swapping: In Diablo II: Lord of Destruction, you have the ability to swap quickly between two sets of equipped weapon selections (i.e., right- and left-hand inventory slot configurations). To do this, merely open your Inventory screen and equip your character as you normally would. Next, left-click on either of the two tabs denoted by the Roman numeral “II” (or press the W key) to toggle between the two weapon configurations. Now equip your character with an additional two-handed weapon, a weapon and a shield, or (for Barbarians and Assassins) a pair of appropriate one-handed weapons. You can switch between the two weapon configurations at any time by pressing the W key or by clicking on the inactive weapon configuration’s tab in your inventory screen (the inactive configuration is the one shaded a darker grey). Note: Your left and right mouse button skill setups are linked to your two weapon configurations. This allows you to customize your skill mouse buttons in order to complement your current weapon configuration.

Remember that your character must meet the requirements for any weapons you want to equip. Also, please keep in mind that only your currently selected weapon configuration is actively equipped. Any magical properties of items in your inactive configuration will not affect your character until you make that configuration active. For example, if you are currently using weapon configuration “I,” any magical properties of items in configuration “II” have no effect until you make it your active configuration.

(Page 11)

Hirable Non-Player Characters (“Hirelings”): Diablo II: Lord of Destruction offers some exciting modifications to hirable NPCs. These computer-controlled hirelings who fight by your side can be hired from specific NPCs in most “towns”—the safe starting points in each Act—or are given free of charge as a reward for completing certain quests. In the original Diablo II, they followed your character around and helped you slay monsters, but you did not interact with them directly. In Diablo II: Lord of Destruction, you can increase their efficiency in combat and assist their development in a number of ways. (Note: These special new features only apply to hired NPCs and retainers acquired as quest rewards. Summoned creatures are not subject to these improvements.)

Excerpt from the journal of Elder
Aust of Harrogath

3rd day of Montaht, Lauds

My dearest Elora,
It’s been ten long years since you were taken from Anya
and me. In my mind’s eye, I still see your beautiful face
and remember the happier days of our time together.
It comforts me to write and think that, somehow, you
are reading this yourself. It may not be long before I
join you in the afterlife.
Our peoples’ time here in Harrogath is drawing to an
end. Recently, our seer, Caldra, has been afflicted with
terrifying visions of our doom. Last night, the whole
village awoke to her screams. When I reached Caldra’s
cottage, our daughter, Anya, was already there,
comforting her. During the night, the seer’s raven hair
had turned stark white. She was delirious when I
entered the room, howling senselessly and tearing out
her hair in bloody clumps.
It took us some time to calm her—but even then, she
seemed only a shadow of her former self. She wouldn’t
respond to any of us directly, instead staring into some
unseen world beyond our own. The healer, Malah, came,
but her attempts to cure Caldra were futile. Our
tortured seer was not sick of body—she had quite
clearly gone mad.

Attributes and Experience: Hirelings in Diablo II: Lord of Destruction come with their own set of attributes: Strength, Dexterity, Health, Damage, Defense, and Experience. As hirelings kill monsters, they gain experience points. When they gain enough experience points to reach a new level, their attributes automatically improve. You can also improve their attributes by equipping them with better equipment (see below). Keep in mind that hirelings aren’t just paid mercenaries—they are co-adventurers. They fully share experience for their kills with you and your party, and they receive a smaller share of experience for monsters that you or your party members kill.
Equipment: You can now furnish your hirelings with equipment such as armor, helms, and weapons. Your hirelings must meet all strength, dexterity, and level requirements for the item, and any weapons must be compatible with the hirelings’ weapon type, as represented by what you see them carrying. (For instance, the Rogue hirelings in Act I can be equipped with a War Bow, but not a Short Sword, whereas the Town Guard hirelings in Act II can be equipped with a Voulge, but not a Crossbow.) To equip your hireling, simply left-click on the appropriate button on your Mini-panel or press the O key to bring up the Hireling Inventory and Information screen. Then place items in the corresponding slots as you would in your own Inventory screen.
Healing: Previously in Diablo II, if you needed to heal your hireling, you had to return to town and visit the local healer. In Diablo II: Lord of Destruction, however, you can heal your hireling directly, by left-clicking on a healing or rejuvenation potion in your backpack or belt and then dragging it over the hireling’s gold-bordered portrait located in the upper left of the game screen. When the portrait is highlighted, left-clickagain to release the potion onto the portrait. You can also heal your hireling by visiting a healing Well.
Hireling Continuity: Hirelings are now willing and able to accompany you to any of the various Acts of the game. In fact, you can actually finish the entire game through all three difficulty settings using only the first hireling received in Act I. You may choose to employ a new hireling at any time, but you may not take more than one hireling into your service at a time. If you choose to replace your current hireling with a fresh one, your old hireling will retire and be unavailable for further service. Before you replace a hireling, open the Hireling Inventory and remove any items you want to keep. Otherwise, you will lose that equipment.
Death: When your hireling dies, you can return to the nearest mercenary captain and either pay to have your late comrade resurrected, or hire a new one. If you choose to resurrect your hireling, he or she will return to your employ with all of the attributes, experience, and equipment he or she had at the time of death. If, however, you decide to employ a new hireling, you give up the recently departed’s services and forfeit any equipment he or she was wearing. Note: if your character dies, your hireling dies also.

(Page 12)

Automap Options: There is now an “Automap Size” selection in the “Automap Options” menu in Diablo II: Lord of Destruction. This new option allows you to choose between viewing the map as either the traditional full-screen Automap or the new, scaled-down “Mini Map.” The Mini Map is about one quarter the size of the Automap and, when active, is displayed in one of the top corners of the game screen. This location can be switched from the left of the screen to the right by pressing the V hotkey.

Repair All: You can now repair all of your outfitted items in a single step. To do this, go to the nearest “blacksmith” NPC (whoever repairs your equipment) and select “Trade or Repair” as you normally would. Blacksmiths still have the usual buttons for buying, selling, and repairing options; in Expansion games, they also have an added “Repair All” button. This option allows you to repair all of the items that your character currently has equipped in a single operation. If you move your cursor over this button, the highlighted text shows the cost of this procedure, and pressing the button completes it. Note: The Repair All button only repairs equipped items. Any damaged items that your character is not wearing must berepaired individually.

Fill Tome: By pressing the Shift key while right-clicking on a scroll you want to buy, you automatically purchase enough scrolls to fill the first unfilled Tome of that scroll type in your character’s Inventory.

Champion-Class Monsters: You will remember Champion-Class Monsters from the original Diablo II. These appear as a slightly different-looking pack of monsters that are tougher than normal monsters of their kind. You can immediately discern a Champion-Class Monster because its name appears in purplish-blue letters when targeted. Diablo II: Lord of Destruction offers several different monsters of this type. In addition to the standard Champion, you might encounter the following monsters:

Berserker – These monsters have been driven into a homicidal frenzy by demonic corruption. They focus so much energy into slaughtering anyone they see that they do significantly more damage than normal demons. However, their frenzied rage leaves them physically weakened and therefore easier to kill.

Possessed – Some demons have been instilled with especially diabolical spirits. These spirits grant the Possessed increased vigor at the cost of the demons’ free will. Because their minds are no longer their own, the Possessed cannot be affected by Necromancer curses. Fanatic – Fanatics are monsters who responded to their own corruption with such zeal that they are now willing to do anything to win the favor of their dark masters. They rush into any battle, fervently attacking with blinding speed any and all foes. Their recklessness does leave them open defensively, and if you can avoid their cascade of blows, you should be able to strike them with greater ease.

Ghostly – Once, a powerful faction of mages developed a spell to banish a group of monsters from this world. The use of this spell created a spiritual conduit through the Planes, allowing those monsters to return to the material world by projecting themselves back through the conduit. Their translucent bodies and sluggish gait make these specters easily recognizable. Due to their incorporeal nature, Ghostly Champions are harder to hit with physical blows.

The Coming of the Lord of Destruction

(Page 13)

"And a child will cradle Terror in his breast as the heart of man falls under the shadow.

A Wanderer will pass through the ancient lands trailing chaos in his wake.

The Three Brothers will be reunited as the mortal world trembles before their might.

And so it was foretold that the Three, once reunited, would be shattered again—

And the last of them would set his sights on the holy mount. The warnings held that

Their defeat would be illusory—that the final gambit had yet to be played..."

+ + +

And now at last the storm surges forth from the southlands, and the hand of Destruction

Reaches out to undo the workings of the Ancients. The tides of Hell surge—ready to smash

Down upon the shores of the mortal world—to drown the guilty and the innocent alike.

-Excerpt from The Prophecies of the Final Day

The Last Testament of Ord Rekar

I once believed.

Others looked to me for strength, for my faith was a pillar in the house of the Elders. I once believed in something greater than myself; I believed that the faithful would be rewarded and the evil would be punished.

I believed the Prophecies of the Final Day to be mere superstitions—and that even if they had any credence at all, as our ancestors believed, the events they spoke of would never come to fruition in our time.

I was a fool.

The gods have not revealed their divine plan to me, nor have they blessed me with their countenance. But I am certain of one terrible fact—At long last, the prophecies have begun to fulfill themselves.

First, there was Tristram...

Diablo, the Lord of Terror, cast his shadow over the quiet hamlet and set his demonic minions loose across the countryside. A number of valiant heroes rose up to challenge Diablo’s wrath and hunted the demonlord into the bowels of the earth itself. Only by the grace of the Light did they vanquish Diablo’s mortal host and put an end to his nefarious schemes.

It seemed that the Lord of Terror had been defeated, and my heart took solace in this affirmation of my faith…but alas, the nightmare was only just beginning.

Somehow, Diablo’s terrible spirit survived and took root within the very hero who struck him down. Wearing the guise of the mysterious Wanderer, Diablo set out to free his brothers, Baal and Mephisto, from their imprisonment in the East.

(Page 14)

Just as before, a new band of heroes arose to put a halt to Diablo’s dark quest. Though the Lord of Terror succeeded in freeing his brothers from bondage, their reunion would be short-lived. The mortal heroes managed to vanquish Mephisto and even hunted Diablo into the depths of hell. Only Baal, the Lord of Destruction, was left unaccounted for...

Once again, it seemed that justice had been served. Blind as I was, I clung to the path of the righteous—believing that perhaps, finally, all was well...that the nightmare had given way to a dream of peace.

But the plague of evil persists, and I...grow weary.

For now, the nightmare has started once again.

Excerpt from the journal of Elder
Aust of Harrogath

4th day of Montaht, Sext

This morning, as the dawn came, the other
Elders and I held a vigil over Caldra’s
comatose form, praying to the Ancients for
guidance. Then, just as suddenly as it began,
her madness broke, or so it seemed. She sat
straight up in bed, thin strands of her once
beautiful hair draping over her nightgown—her
eyes seemed to glow with a feverish inner light.
By the Ancients, she looked older than any
Elder there.
She gazed slowly around the room, looking at
each of us in turn. With a slight, almost
mocking smirk, she whispered in a ragged voice,
"Baal comes…and destruction follows him like
a storm." She then sank back into the bed and
with a shudder, breathed her last. By the gods,
Elora, as long as I draw breath, I will never
forget her terrible portent.

Baal has resurfaced, and behind him marches the vast Army of Destruction. He has gathered a legion of demons that revel in mayhem and wanton chaos—and they are headed right towards us...right towards the holy mountain our ancestors swore to protect. It is obvious that Baal comes to assail Arreat, seeking the Heart of the World. And my faith, once unwavering, is now shaken to the very core.

The prophecies that spoke of this day have at last come true. Doom has come to our world.

As I have said, my brothers, I grow weary. I have no doubt that Evil exists. I have seen it with my own eyes; I have seen its cruelty. But is it not cruel for the gods to give hope, only to dash that hope again and again?

In my youth, I tried as best I could to prepare for such an event. It was, at one time, the very reason for my existence. But now that the moment is at hand, I feel old. I feel afraid. I feel that I have lost my strength.

I confess that my faith no longer guides my path. It is with a heavy heart that I take my leave of you, my brothers. I would say that I will pray for you, but I fear my prayers would fall on deaf ears.

May you someday find the truth, and may that truth finally give you freedom.

Yours in sorrow,
[Signature]
Ord Rekar
Elder of Harrogath

@@ Line 4: / Line 4: @@
 ==The Wanderer==
 <div style="float:right; text-align: right; background-color: #1A0303; padding:2px 4px 4px 4px; color:white;">(Page 3)</div>
-<center>So spoke the [[Wanderer]], mindful of hardships and of cruel slaughters:
+<center>''So spoke the [[Wanderer]], mindful of hardships and of cruel slaughters:''
-Each dawn, I rise alone, mired in ancient sorrows. Wretched and deprived of my
+''Each dawn, I rise alone, mired in ancient sorrows. Wretched and deprived of my''
-native land, I have had my mind bound with fetter. For many years, I lay hidden in
+''native land, I have had my mind bound with fetter. For many years, I lay hidden in''
-the concealment of the earth, buried deep in stone. From there, I went, abject and
+''the concealment of the earth, buried deep in stone. From there, I went, abject and''
-winter-grieving, over the surface of the waves. I sought the prison of my noble
+''winter-grieving, over the surface of the waves. I sought the prison of my noble''
-kinsman. Sorrow is a cruel companion to one who can afford few friends, and the
+''kinsman. Sorrow is a cruel companion to one who can afford few friends, and the''
-path of exile attends this mournful spirit.
+''path of exile attends this mournful spirit.''
-And so this world, every day, is crumbling and falling. The rulers lie dead,
+''And so this world, every day, is crumbling and falling. The rulers lie dead,''
-deprived of revelry, bands of warriors lie fallen proud by the wall. War destroyed
+''deprived of revelry, bands of warriors lie fallen proud by the wall. War destroyed''
-some, carried them away; a sorrowful man hid one deep within a grave. Thus the
+''some, carried them away; a sorrowful man hid one deep within a grave. Thus the''
-creator of men laid waste this dwelling-place, until the old works of giants stood
+''creator of men laid waste this dwelling-place, until the old works of giants stood''
-vacant, without the noise of their inhabitants.
+''vacant, without the noise of their inhabitants.''
-So said the Wanderer, set apart in secret meditations.
+''So said the Wanderer, set apart in secret meditations.''
-The kingdom of the earth is full of miseries, and the decree of the fates shall
+''The kingdom of the earth is full of miseries, and the decree of the fates shall''
-change the course of the [[heavens]].</center>
+''change the course of the [[heavens]].''</center>
 <div style="float:right; text-align:center; padding:2px 4px 4px 4px; color:white;">Inspired by<br>
@@ Line 106: / Line 106: @@
 <div style="float:right; text-align: right; background-color: #1A0303; padding:2px 4px 4px 4px; color:white;">(Page 11)</div>'''Hirable Non-Player Characters (“Hirelings”):''' Diablo II: Lord of Destruction offers some exciting modifications to hirable NPCs. These computer-controlled hirelings who fight by your side can be hired from specific NPCs in most “towns”—the safe starting points in each Act—or are given free of charge as a reward for completing certain quests. In the original Diablo II, they followed your character around and helped you slay monsters, but you did not interact with them directly. In Diablo II: Lord of Destruction, you can increase their efficiency in combat and assist their development in a number of ways. (Note: These special new features only apply to hired NPCs and retainers acquired as quest rewards. Summoned creatures are not subject to these improvements.)
 {|align="right" style="clear:right; margin: 0 0 5px 10px;"
-|<center>Excerpt from the journal of Elder<br>Aust of Harrogath</center>
+|<center>Excerpt from the [[Journal of Elder Aust of Harrogath|journal]] of Elder<br>Aust of Harrogath</center>
 rd day of Montaht, Lauds<br>
 <br>
@@ Line 157: / Line 157: @@
 ==The Coming of the Lord of Destruction==
+<div style="float:right; text-align: right; background-color: #1A0303; padding:2px 4px 4px 4px; color:white;">(Page 13)</div>
 <center>''"And a child will cradle Terror in his breast as the heart of man falls under the shadow.''
@@ Line 177: / Line 177: @@
 ''Reaches out to undo the workings of the Ancients. The tides of Hell surge—ready to smash''
-''Down upon the shores of the mortal world—to drown the guilty and the innocent alike.''<center>
+''Down upon the shores of the mortal world—to drown the guilty and the innocent alike.''</center>
 <p style="text-align: right;">''-Excerpt from The [[Prophecies of the Final Day]]''</p>
+<br>
+<br>
+===The Last Testament of Ord Rekar===
+I once believed.
+Others looked to me for strength, for my faith was a pillar in the house of the Elders. I once believed in something greater than myself; I believed that the faithful would be rewarded and the evil would be punished.
+I believed the Prophecies of the Final Day to be mere superstitions—and that even if they had any credence at all, as our ancestors believed, the events they spoke of would never come to fruition in our time.
+I was a fool.
+The gods have not revealed their divine plan to me, nor have they blessed me with their countenance. But I am certain of one terrible fact—At long last, the prophecies have begun to fulfill themselves.
+First, there was Tristram...
+Diablo, the Lord of Terror, cast his shadow over the quiet hamlet and set his demonic minions loose across the countryside. A number of valiant heroes rose up to challenge Diablo’s wrath and hunted the demonlord into the bowels of the earth itself. Only by the grace of the Light did they vanquish Diablo’s mortal host and put an end to his nefarious schemes.
+It seemed that the Lord of Terror had been defeated, and my heart took solace in this affirmation of my faith…but alas, the nightmare was only just beginning.
+Somehow, Diablo’s terrible spirit survived and took root within the very hero who struck him down. Wearing the guise of the mysterious Wanderer, Diablo set out to free his brothers, Baal and Mephisto, from their imprisonment in the East.
+<div style="float:right; text-align: right; background-color: #1A0303; padding:2px 4px 4px 4px; color:white;">(Page 14)</div>
+Just as before, a new band of heroes arose to put a halt to Diablo’s dark quest. Though the Lord of Terror succeeded in freeing his brothers from bondage, their reunion would be short-lived. The mortal heroes managed to vanquish Mephisto and even hunted Diablo into the depths of hell. Only Baal, the Lord of Destruction, was left unaccounted for...
+Once again, it seemed that justice had been served. Blind as I was, I clung to the path of the righteous—believing that perhaps, finally, all was well...that the nightmare had given way to a dream of peace.
+But the plague of evil persists, and I...grow weary.
+For now, the nightmare has started once again.
+{|align="right" style="clear:right; margin: 0 0 5px 10px;"
+|<center>Excerpt from the [[Journal of Elder Aust of Harrogath|journal]] of Elder<br>Aust of Harrogath</center>
+th day of Montaht, Sext<br>
+<br>
+This morning, as the dawn came, the other<br>
+Elders and I held a vigil over Caldra’s<br>
+comatose form, praying to the Ancients for<br>
+guidance. Then, just as suddenly as it began,<br>
+her madness broke, or so it seemed. She sat<br>
+straight up in bed, thin strands of her once<br>
+beautiful hair draping over her nightgown—her<br>
+eyes seemed to glow with a feverish inner light.<br>
+By the Ancients, she looked older than any<br>
+Elder there.<br>
+She gazed slowly around the room, looking at<br>
+each of us in turn. With a slight, almost<br>
+mocking smirk, she whispered in a ragged voice,<br>
+"Baal comes…and destruction follows him like<br>
+a storm." She then sank back into the bed and<br>
+with a shudder, breathed her last. By the gods,<br>
+Elora, as long as I draw breath, I will never<br>
+forget her terrible portent.
+|}Baal has resurfaced, and behind him marches the vast Army of Destruction. He has gathered a legion of demons that revel in mayhem and wanton chaos—and they are headed right towards us...right towards the holy mountain our ancestors swore to protect. It is obvious that Baal comes to assail Arreat, seeking the Heart of the World. And my faith, once unwavering, is now shaken to the very core.
+The prophecies that spoke of this day have at last come true. Doom has come to our world.
+As I have said, my brothers, I grow weary. I have no doubt that Evil exists. I have seen it with my own eyes; I have seen its cruelty. But is it not cruel for the gods to give hope, only to dash that hope again and again?
+In my youth, I tried as best I could to prepare for such an event. It was, at one time, the very reason for my existence. But now that the moment is at hand, I feel old. I feel afraid. I feel that I have lost my strength.
+I confess that my faith no longer guides my path. It is with a heavy heart that I take my leave of you, my brothers. I would say that I will pray for you, but I fear my prayers would fall on deaf ears.
+May you someday find the truth, and may that truth finally give you freedom.
+Yours in sorrow,<br>
+''[Signature]''<br>
+[[Ord Rekar]]<br>
+[[Elder]] of [[Harrogath]]