Zoltun Kulle

Zoltun Kulle

Zoltun Kulle was one of the original, founding members of the Horadrim who took a precipitous turn towards evil. A mage of immense power, at one time he was the most dangerous man in the world of Sanctuary. To confront this threat, the forces of Sanctuary teamed together and worked in vain to destroy Zolton Kulle, as he had already discovered the secret to immortality. As a working solution to this, his head was severed and buried in the desert while his body was imprisoned in an alternate dimension.

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Background

Much of the background of Zoltun Kulle remains largely a mystery. The scholar, Abd al-Hazir, however, possessed one of the texts written by this Horadric mage: Demonicus de Zoltun Kulle. Abd al-Hazir used this text as a corroborating cross reference to the Vizjerei tomes he frequently consulted. However, the information in Vizjerei texts were highly suspect, as Abd al-Hazir describes:

"As my readers are well aware, early Vizjerei writings are often little more than self-serving propaganda aimed at whitewashing heinous deeds committed by the mage clan."

How Abd al-Hazir came by this records is unknown.

Brother of the Horadrim

Zoltun Kulle was among the founding members of the Horadrim, alongside six other mages. Records passed down from Jered Cain to his descendant, Deckard Cain, implied Zoltun Kulle was an accomplished member of the Ennead clain, implying implicit skill in transmutation, alteration and alchemy. While Kulle originally proved to be a noble and insightful addition to the Horadric brotherhood, the hunt for the three Prime Evils left him hollow and twisted. He endeavored to craft a soulstone empowered to contain the souls of angels and demons. While its creation may have originally been an attempt at repairing his broken spirit, an aspect of madness and hunger for power manifested itself. At some point in the throes of madness, Kulle was convinced that this Black Soulstone would prove critical in saving mankind from an unseen threat.

The remainder of the Horadrim learned of Zoltun Kulle's experiments. Under Jered Cain, the brotherhood hunted down their former comrade-in-arms. Although Kulle was acknowledged as being one of the most powerful beings in the world, the combined efforts of the Horadrim finally defeated him. The Black Soulstone, though left incomplete by Kulle, was never found by the Horadrim.

Much to the chagrin of the Horadrim, Kulle's experiments had left him effectively immortal. They dismembered his body, isolating his head and draining his blood. Even so, Kulle's spirit remained restless and refused to leave the mortal plain.

Archives of Zoltun Kulle

The Archives of Zoltun Kulle was an area that was teased during Blizzcon 2011. Portions of it were playable in the Blizzcon 2009 floor demo and were the crumbling underground dungeons within the desert surrounding Caldeum.

The subterranean complex is a place of great power, with the relics of an age long past still humming with magical energy. Ancient wards and defenses were placed to guard the imprisoned head of Zoltun Kulle from the ill-intentioned seeking to restore or disturb the once great, Horadric mage.

The Archives of Zoltun Kulle will feature into the main quest of Diablo III in some way, but the pretext for the heroes' exploration of these ruins is still a mystery.

The Archives of Zoltun Kulle, lair of the twisted Horadric mage.

Media

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  Archives of Zoltun Kulle, concept 1.

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  Archives of Zoltun Kulle, concept 2.

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  Archives of Zoltun Kulle, concept 3.

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  Archives of Zoltun Kulle, concept 4.

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  Archives of Zoltun Kulle, concept 5.

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  Portrait of Zoltun Kulle.