12,486
edits
Changes
ADVERTISEMENT
From Diablo Wiki
no edit summary
'''Deckard Cain's Journal''' explains a lot of the events that took place in the Diablo games up until the third instalment, and excerpts of it can be found here. Some of the graphics used for [[Deckard Cain]]'s handwriting is a little bit unclear, and you should look at the [[Sanctuary#Sanctuary_Calendar|Sanctuary Calendar]] for further help. You can also find interesting findings in the [[timeline]].
'''Please note that the numbering of years seems to lack match with the [[Journal of Elder Aust of Haggorath]], where he describes a demonic onslaught arriving in Montath of 1265, while Deckard Cain's journal clearly states Montath of 1266.'''
===15th day of Jeshasan===
The events of the past year are unbelievable, and have driven me to write again my thoughts. No matter how hard I try, the facts are unavoidable: our [[King Leoric ]] has gone mad, lashing out in crazed frenzy at the abduction of his son, [[Albrecht]], and our steady losses in the ill-advised war against [[Westmarch]], leading to an open revolt among our guards. There is something almost palpable in the air. It feels like...terror.
===1st day of Damhas===Can the old stories be true - can the tales of the brave [[Horadrim]] and the Lords of the [[Burning Hells]] be more than a legend, a fairytale told to me by my mother?
Could there be some basis in truth to all these tales? The signs all point to this but how is someone with my education, my knowledge, to take these tales seriously?
===12th day of Damhas===
I am a fool. If I had acted sooner, if I had voiced my concerns, they would not be dead; [[Farnham]] would not be the drunken sot he now is. [[Lazarus]], supposed [[Archbishop]] of Light, has lured a group of villagers to their horrific end under the guise of searching for the king's missing son. Is he the architect of the evil that has befallen the town, or simply an unwitting pawn?
The nights are long, and as I sit and listen to the hellish drones emanating from the cathedral, I begin to see my path clearly before me. I shall return to the texts. There must be an answer, a way to defeat this evil that torments us.
===20th day of Damhas===
Each new terror sends more townspeople fleeing. There are only a few of us left now: [[Griswold]], [[Pepin]], [[Ogden]], [[Farnham]], the unfortunate [[Wirt]], and, of course, the fair [[Gillian]]. There is someone else, however: someone who has come, while others flee. I am not so sure what to make of this [[Adria]], who openly calls herself witch. She has access to all manner of arcane knowledge that even I do not. Why has she come here now, at this heinous time? I feel there is something amiss about her.
===27th day of Damhas===
Every dawn seems to bring more adventurers into our midst. But none who can yet be called hero. I bide my time and continue scouring the old texts for answers. If only I had taken them more seriously, not dismissed them so lightly!
===1st day of Ratham===
Finally one of these adventurers seem to stand out from the rest. Though a man of few words, he radiates a calm and focus that unnerve the others, who are only interested in pillaging and looting. I feel I have come to know this hero, this [[wanderer]]. I have revealed my history and shared my knowledge with him. I hope it is enough.
===21st day of Ratham===
I have suspected for a time now the true nature of the evil that us at the heart of our troubles, but it was too horrible to admit the truth of it. But the time for denial is past: it is the [[Lord of Terror|Dark Lord of Terror]], [[Diablo]] himself, who plagues us.
The vile staff of [[Lazarus]] was brought to me today, further confirming my suspicions. There is no longer any doubt that he is the one who kidnapped [[Albrecht]] and perhaps even freed Diablo from his ancient prison. Who knows what further treachery he has planned? Luckily I suspect Lazarus has not long to live if our champion has anything to say on it.
===6th day of Evunas===
I dreamt of the death wail of a small child tonight. It tore up from the depths, shattering the windows of the decrepit [[Tristram Cathedral|cathedral]]. As I started awake, it became apparent that it was actually the shriek of [[Diablo]]'s tortured end. Unable to return to sleep after such an unsettling cry, I ventured outdoor to await the warrior's return. He finally emerged, covered in blood - much his own, much his enemies'. I am greatly relieved that he survived the ordeal, and that these horrible events are now in our past. But my mind is troubled, for could this not have been avoided id I had not dismissed my legacy so lightly?
===18th Day of Evunas===
I have never seen [[Tristram]] bursting with such joy as in the weeks since [[Diablo]]'s defeat. The town's quiet, brooding hero, whom I am proud to call friend, has humbly endured these celebrations. Yet it seems clear to me that the scars he gained beneath [[Tristram Cathedral|the church]] run deeper than those upon his skin and may have changed him forever. I have offered counsel, but he remains distant. Time, perhaps, is the only thing that may heal him.
===20th Day of Evunas===
How could I have been so blind? I believed my friend's melancholy to be a natural reaction to the horrors he had lived. How could I not have seen that he carried within him the very being of [[Diablo]]? After brooding for weeks, he finally slipped away in the night. Perhaps he has gone to "the east" that he so often woke screaming about in the days following his victory over the [[Lord of Terror]].
Shortly after he left us, legions of foul [[demon]]s attacked and burned our town to its foundations. None of the townspeople were spared, and not even the women or children were allowed peace of the grave. Instead, all were reanimated in grisly [[undeath]]. And [[Griswold]], who had so faithfully armored the one I had called friend during his battles, suffered perhaps the worst fate of all, being corrupted into a slavering demonic beast thirsting for human flesh.
This is no simple madness. It can be nothing less than possession by the Lord of Terror himself. The fool, he thought he could contain Diablo's evil. His reckless overconfidence has proven costly to us all.
I sit now, caged, amongst the screams and the hellfire, as I await my own end.
==1265 Anno Khejistani==
===2nd Day of Kathon===
Although I had long given up hope and surrendered to my inevitable fate, the impossible happened today. I was rescued. Heroes have come to [[Khanduras]] to combat the corruption that the man I've come to call the [[Dark Wanderer]] has brought upon these lands. He had long since departed on some unknown mission, but they could not follow until they defeated the vile demoness [[Andariel]], who barred the only passage east. I have decided to join them, in the hopes that my knowledge of the ancient ways might be of some help.
[[Mephisto]]'s resurrection in our world was brief; my companions have seen to that. They fought through horrors I can scarcely imagine to defeat him and reclaim his [[Soulstone]]. They also brought back the devastating news that the Wanderer was no more. All traces of his humanity had been eradicated; he had been completely overtaken by [[Diablo]] in mind, body, and spirit. Fortunately they have succeeded in driving him back to his fiery home, and they tell me they mean to assault the [[Burning Hells]] in order to put an end to this existence once and for all. I can only wish them luck.
===4th Day of Ovtasa===
[[Diablo]] is dead. I have long desired to hear these words, but now that they come, I feel little joy. News has also reached us of a [[demon]]ic army marching upon [[Arreat]]. This is [[Baal]]'s doing, no doubt. We depart for the north with the tide. Still, we must count our blessings: the [[Soulstone]]s of [[Mephisto]] and [[Diablo]] have been destroyed at the [[Hellforge]] and they will trouble us no further. Only one remains.
==References==
