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'''The Dark Wanderer''' was originally is a human male attempting to contain the evil essence of Diablo in his soulstone. This character is an evolutionary stage; he began as the Warrior character in Diablo I, and only became the Dark Wanderer during the time after that game. He is a central figure in the story of Diablo II, featured in most of the cinematics as he wandered across the world, through the Eastern Deserts (where he visited the hero tomb of Tal Rasha/[[Diablo IBaal]]), to the jungles of Kehjistan where he encountered his other brother [[Mephisto]]. At that point the Dark Wanderer finally lost his battle to contain Diablo's essence and becomes was transformed into the huge red demon, then traveled to Hell through a dark portal. The Dark Wanderer's backstory was [[NPC]metcon] ed in Diablo 3 and grew more complicated. Instead of an anonymous warrior he retroactively became King Leoric's oldest son, [[Diablo IIAidan]]. His presence Thus the events in Diablo I were much more dramatic, as Aiden the Warrior had to defeat his father's animated bones and kill his younger brother [[Diablo IIIAlbrecht]] is unknownto break the possession Diablo had wrought upon him. Furthermore, Aiden impregnated the witch Adria, although Blizzard has given him a name and family tree: he is thus became the semi-estranged son father of [[LeoricLeah]], the Skeleton King, and his name is '''Aidan'''a major character in Diablo III.
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As [[Diablo I]] draws to a conclusion, the hero defeats [[Diablo]], and takes Diablo's [[Soulstone]] within his own body, intending to contain Diablo there forever- which had potentially unforeseen consequences. According to [[Deckard Cain's Journal]] it takes about 2 the hero grew troubled and withdrawn over a couple of days for after his apparent triumph in the dungeons below the Tristram Cathedral, before abruptly leaving town and wandering to the East. As revealed in the spirit epilogue cinematic of Diablo to corrupt and posses him. At which pointI, the hero still thinks he became fully possessed can control and left [[Tristram]]contain the demon, but is clearly being influenced by Diablo in his desire to head to the Eastern Deserts, for there lies Baal's tomb, which Diablo clearly clear intends to visit in order to free his brother. Immediately after his departure Furthermore, hordes of evil and demons either killed or possessed follow behind the remaining denizens with Dark Wanderer, as Diablo summons forth monsters and evil, like dark footsteps left behind the exception unwitting human. This re-emergence of Deckard Cain whom evil was only captured. It is implied that the Dark Wanderer is directly responsible for that carnage, although it may have just been a side-effect the destruction of Tristram and the surrounding areas as seen in the opening setting of his presenceDiablo II.
===In Diablo II===
[[Image:Wanderer.jpg|right|frame|The [[Dark Wanderer]] (left) and Archangel [[Tyrael]] (right) do battle during a Diablo II Cinematic.]]
After the destruction of Tristram the Dark Wanderer proceeds to the east where he frees [[Baal]] and [[Mephisto]] from their respective prisons before shedding the last of the hero's humanity and metamorphosed into Diablo- ceasing to be the Dark Wanderer. Diablo then proceeds by entering Hell where he will eventually be slain by the band of heroes.
===In Diablo III===
The Dark Wanderer does not appear in Diablo III. He is mentioned in Cain's Journal on and the [[Official Diablo 3 WebsiteBook of Cain]], and concept art but that is all in summary of the Wanderer has been released by Blizzard. It is also possible that story of the pages earlier games, much of which was [[Deckard Cain's Journalmetcon]] which make reference ed to better lead into the Wanderer contain concept art events of him as well, but that remains to be seenDiablo III. The concept art His story and events in CainDiablo I were changed to transform the anonymous Warrior hero into [[Prince Aidan]], King Leoric's Journal does not match that released by Blizzardestranged older son.
==Heritage==
[[File:Dark_Wanderer_skull.jpg|thumb|right|Wanderer transforming into [[Diablo]].]]
Many fans believed the Dark Wanderer to be, specifically, the {{iw|Warrior warrior}} class due to gender and skin tone. Blizzard later confirmed this theory, and it became cannon. Fans who believed this also subscribed to canon, which was expanded on in a [[metcon]] for Diablo III as the theory that the {{iw|Rogue rogue}} became {{iw|Blood_Raven Blood Raven}} Warrior become Prince Aidan and ultimately the {{iw|Sorcerer Sorcerer}} became {{iw|The_Summoner The Summoner}}, each hero succumbing to madness due to father of [[DiabloLeah]]'s corruption in their own way.
The Identity of the Dark Wanderer is never revealed in any of the games or [[Novel|books]], but in the [[Diablo_pen_and_paper_RPG|Diablo II PnP RPG]] module released as [[Diablo II: The Awakening|The Awakening]], his name is revealed as [[Qarak]], the last surviving member the [[Order of the Gauntlet]], an order of adventurers.
In 2011 [[Chris Metzen]] informed the world that [[Blizzard]] had given the Dark Wanderer a minor [[retconmetcon]]. When the Dark Wanderer was human he was the long lost son of [[King Leoric]] and his name was [[Aidan]]. This would also make him an an older brother to [[Prince Albrecht]]. This does not directly contradict known information about the character (save for one NPC referring to Albrect as Leoric's only son, easily explained away), and as such might be labeled a minor retcon.
In the Diablo 3 beta it was revealed, from [[Leoric's Journal]], that Aidan went off to become a warrior after Leoric made Tristram his new seat of power. He later returned to Tristram to put the Skeleton King to rest and later defeat Diablo. It is also hinted from [[Adria's Journal]], and other sources in the beta, that Aidan may be Leah's father.