Not long after [[Leoric ]] took possession of [[Khanduras]], a power long asleep awakened within the dark recesses beneath [[Tristram Cathedral|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 realm 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.

[[Zakarum]].

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 admonishhim for 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 Leoric's court, the prospect of Lachdanan committing treason was ridiculous. Lachdanan’s Lachdanan's motives were honorable and just, and soon many began question the reason of their once beloved King.

Leoric’s 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.