'''The sad tale of King Leoric''' of s fall is told in the [[Khandurashttp://diablo2.diablowiki.net/Diablo_I_Manual#Book_II_-_The_Return_of_Terror Diablo I manual]] was one , and through the quests and books of lore found in the first to fall for [[Diablo]]'s corruption after [[Lazarus|Archbishop Lazarus]]dungeons in that game. He is also known as '''Leoric the Black King'''

Leoric was the ruler of [[Khanduras]] and was a just and wise king. He noticed established his castle in the possessiontown of Tristram, but hid it from his priests in hope to defeat it himselfnear the ancient and decayed Horadric Monastery. He failed Deep within the monastery laid the attempt to stop soulstone containing Diablo's essence, and became corruptedthough trapped within the stone, beheading people that disagreed with him. His once proud and rugged form became distorted and deformed. Leoric began Diablo was strong enough to send forth his Knights to other villages to bully their townspeople into submissionspirit. The people Lord of Khanduras who had once grown Terror invaded Leoric's dreams, attempting to see great honor in their ruler began corrupt and possess the King. Leoric was able to call Leoric resist Diablo's presence, but he was driven mad by the Black Kingordeal.

Manipulated by Diablo had already drawn in [[Lazarus|Archbishop Lazarus]], Leoric got rid of 's most troublesome advisors by declaring war trusted adviser, and with [[Westmarch]]Lazarus whispering into his ear, the mad king turned on his own people, executing those who disobeyed him, sending themordering his army into a suicidal war, including and finally purging most of the honourable townspeople from [[LachdananTristram]] to their deaths against when his son, Prince Albrecth, vanished. (Lazarus had kidnapped the Westmarch armiesboy.)

The Leoric's most loyal knight, Sir [[Lachdanan]], finally led a revolt against the deranged tyrant, and after a pitched battle the King was never completely bent cornered. His knights demanded explanations, but Leoric spit defiance to be the shell for end. Ultimately, Lachdanan was forced to commit regicide, plunging his sword through the King's heart. Bitter to the end, the dying Leoric called down a curse on his former servants, the power of which ultimately consumed them all. Despite his madness, Leoric was given a royal burial, entombed beneath the Monastery in a special crypt. Diablo's growing power refused to let the king rest though, and the Lord of Terror was able to call Leoric back from the dead, granting his skeleton an unholy life and new powers. Leoric was unable to venture forth from his tomb, but he was forever sealed in slay many adventurers who dared enter his tomb under [[Tristram]]lair, where until he later was defeated finally dispatched by the unnamed hero who fought ultimately defeated Diablo, took the essence of the soulstone into his forehead, and became the Dark Wanderer. Leoric lay broken and still for two decades after those events, but rumor in New Tristramis that the Black King stirs, as evil men seek some sacred objects in the catacombs below the Monastery, and hope to call Leoric's spirit back to his bones, but seems to be reincarnated join them in [[Diablo III]]serving their unknown dark lords.