The '''soulstones''' were created under the direction of [[Archangel]] [[Tyrael]]. They are thought to have originated from [[Worldstone|The Worldstone]], which was deep within [[Mount Arreat]], which was destroyed by Tyrael to prevent Baal's corruption of it from bringing any further evil to the world of [[Sanctuary]]. The explosion created by The Worldstone destroyed Mount Arreat, leaving [[Arreat Crater]] in its wake.

[[Baal]]'s soulstone was taken to the depths of a desert temple in [[Lut Gholein]]. Baal damaged his soulstone before he was imprisoned, and thus the largest fragment was not adequate to contain him. [[Tal Rasha]] offered himself as an extension of the damaged '''soulstone''', and Baal was contained. He was later freed by his brother, Diablo (The [[Dark Wanderer]]), who was accompanied by Marius. Marius held Baal's '''soulstone''' until Baal later retook it.