==During this time, a bold, new religion of the Light known as Zakarum began to spread throughout the kingdom of Westmarch and into many of its northern principalities. Zakarum, founded in the Far East, implored followers to enter into the Light and forsake the darkness that lurked within their souls. The Dark Exile==Seven is people of Westmarch adopted the number statutes of Zakarum as their sacred mission in the powers world. Westmarch began to turn towards its neighbors, expecting them to embrace this “New Beginning” as well. Tensions rose between the kingdoms of [[Hell]], Westmarch and Seven is Khanduras as the number priests of the [[Great Evils]]Zakarum began to preach their foreign dogma whether they were welcomed or not.
[[Duriel]]It was then that the great northern lord Leoric came unto the lands of Khanduras and, in the name of Zakarum, declared himself King. Leoric was a deeply religious man and had brought many Knights and Priests with him that comprised his Order of the Light. Leoric and his trusted advisor, the Arch Bishop Lazarus, made their way to the city of Tristram. Leoric appropriated the ancient, decrepit Monastery on the outskirts of the town for his seat of power and renovated it to match its time-lost glory. Although the free people of Khanduras were not pleased with being placed under the sudden rule of a foreign King, Leoric served them with justice and might. Eventually, the people of Khanduras grew to respect the kind Leoric, sensing that he sought only to guide and protect them against the Lord oppression of PainDarkness.
[[Andariel]], the Maiden of Anguish
[[Belial]]===The Awakening===<p style="text-align: right;">(Page 70)</p>Not long after Leoric took possession of Khanduras, a power long asleep awakened within the dark recesses beneath the Monastery. Sensing that freedom was within his grasp, Diablo entered the nightmares of the Arch Bishop and lured him into the dark, subterranean labyrinth. In his terror, Lazarus raced throughout the abandoned hallways until he at last came to the chamber of the burning Soulstone. No longer in command of his body or spirit, he raised the stone above his head and uttered words long forgotten in the realm of mortals. His will destroyed, Lazarus shattered the Soulstone upon the ground. Diablo once again came into the world of Man. Although he was released from his imprisonment within the Soulstone, the Lord of LiesTerror was still greatly weakened from his long sleep and required an anchor to the world. Once he had found a mortal form to wear, he could begin to reclaim his vastly depleted power. The great demon weighed the souls residing in the town above, and chose to take the strongest of them - that of King Leoric.
[[Azmodan]], the Lord of Sin
For many months King Leoric secretly fought the evil presence that twisted his thoughts and emotions. Sensing that he had been possessed by some unknown evil, Leoric hid his dark secret from his Priests, hoping that somehow his own devout righteousness would be enough to exorcise the corruption growing inside him - he was sorely mistaken. Diablo stripped away the core of Leoric’s being, burning away all honor and virtue from his soul. Lazarus too, had fallen under the sway of the Demon, keeping close to Leoric at all times. Lazarus worked to conceal the plans of his new Master from the Order of Light, hoping that the demon’s power would grow, well concealed amongst the servants of
Zakarum.
These are the true names of the lesser of the [[Prime Evil|Great Evils]]. For ages uncounted each have ruled over their own domains within the [[Burning Hells]], seeking absolute dominion over their infernal brethren. As the Lesser Four continuously vied for the control of those forces that dwelled within their realms, the Greater Three held absolute power over the whole of Hell. The [[Lesser Four]] used dark and evil measures in their quest for power, and herein begins the legend of the [[Dark Exile]].
The priests of Zakarum and the citizenry of Khanduras recognized the disturbing change within their liege. His once proud and rugged form became distorted and deformed. King Leoric became increasingly deranged and ordered immediate executions of any who dared to question his methods or authority. Leoric began to send his Knights to other villages
to bully their townspeople into submission. The people of Khanduras who had once grown to see great honor in their ruler began to call Leoric the Black King.
[[Mephisto]], the Lord of Hatred
[[Baal]]Driven to the brink of madness by the Lord of Terror, King Leoric slowly alienated his closest friends and advisors. Lachdanan, Captain of the Lord Knights of the Order of Light and honored Champion of Zakarum, tried to discern the nature of his King’s deteriorating spirit. Yet at every turn the Arch-Bishop Lazarus would waylay Lachdanan and admonishhim for questioning the actions of the King. As tensions grew between the two, Lazarus charged Lachdanan with treason against the Kingdom. To the Priests and Knights of Leoric’s court, the prospect of Lachdanan committing treason was ridiculous. Lachdanan’s motives were honorable and just, and soon many began question the reason of Destructiontheir once beloved King.
[[Diablo]], the Lord of Terror<p style="text-align: right;">(Page 71)</p>
Leoric’s madness was growing more obvious with each passing day. Sensing that the advisors of the court were becoming increasingly suspicious of foul treachery, Lazarus desperately sought to contain the eroding situation. The Arch-Bishop masterfully convinced the delusional Leoric that the kingdom of Westmarch was plotting against him, secretly planning to dethrone him and annex Khanduras into its own lands. Leoric flew into a rage and summoned his advisors to his side. Manipulated by the Arch-Bishop, the paranoid King declared a state of war between the kingdoms of Khanduras and Westmarch.
These are the [[Prime Evil]]s of Hell that wielded their power as a dark, sovereign triumvirate. The Three Brothers ruled over the Lesser Four by brutal force and malicious cunning. Being the eldest and strongest of the Evils, the Three Brothers were responsible for countless victories against the armies of the [[Light]]. Although they never held sway over the [[High Heavens]] for long, the Three were justly feared by enemies and subjects alike.
Leoric ignored the warnings and admonishments of his advisors and the royal army of Khanduras was ordered to the North to engage in a war that they did not believe in. Lachdanan was appointed by Lazarus to lead the armies of Khanduras into Westmarch. Although Lachdanan argued the against the necessity of the coming conflict, he was honor-bound to uphold the will of his King. Many of the high-priests and officials were forced to travel to the North as emissaries on errands of diplomatic urgency, as well. The desperate ploy of Lazarus had succeeded in sending many of the King’s
more ‘troublesome’ advisors to their certain deaths…
With the ascension of Man and the subsequent standstill of the [[Great Conflict]], the Three Brothers began to devote their energies to the perversion of mortal souls. The Three realized that Man was the key to victory in the war against Heaven, and thus altered their rigid agendum that they had propagated since the [[Beginning]]. This change caused many of the [[Lesser Evil]]s to question the authority of the Three, and so brought about a great rift between the Prime Evils and their servitors.
===The Darkening of Tristram===
The absence of prying advisors and inquisitive Priests left Diablo free to assume total control over the King’s battered soul. As the Lord of Terror attempted to strengthen his hold upon the maddened King, he found that the lingering spirit of Leoric fought with him still. Although the control over Leoric that Diablo held was formidable, the Demon knew that in his weakened state he could never take complete possession of his soul as long as a glimmer
of his will remained. The demonlord sought a fresh and innocent host upon which to build his Terror.
In their ignorance, the Lesser Evils began to believe that the Three were afraid to continue the war with Heaven. Frustrated by the cessation of the war, [[Azmodan]] and [[Belial]] saw the situation as their chance to overthrow the Prime Evils and take control of Hell for themselves. The two demon lords made a pact with their minor brethren, assuring them that the wretched plague of humanity would not deter the ultimate victory of the sons of Hell. Azmodan and Belial devised a plan to end the stalemate, achieve victory in the [[Sin War]] and ultimately ride the bloody crest of the Great Conflict straight into the very arms of Armageddon. Thus, a great revolution was set into motion as all of Hell went to war against the Three Brothers?
The demon relinquished his control over Leoric, but the King’s soul was left corrupted and his mind crazed. Diablo began to search throughout Khanduras for the perfect vessel to act as his focus, and found such a soul easily within his reach. Enjoined by his dark master, Lazarus kidnapped Albrecht - the only son of Leoric - and dragged the terrified youth down into the blackness of the labyrinth. Flooding the boy’s defenseless mind with the essence of pure Terror, Diablo easily took possession of the young Albrecht.
The Brothers fought with all of the savagery of the [[Underworld]], and to their credit, annihilated a third of Hell's treacherous legions. In the end, however, they were overcome by the [[Horned Death]] led by the traitors Azmodan and Belial. The Prime Evils, weakened and bodiless, were banished to the mortal realm where Azmodan hoped that they would remain trapped forever. Azmodan believed that with the Three set loose upon humanity, the Angels would be forced to turn their focus upon on the mortal plane - thus leaving the [[Gates of Heaven]] abandoned and defenseless. Those few demons who still pledged allegiance to the Three Brothers fled the wrath of Azmodan and Belial, escaping to the realm of Man to seek out their lost Masters.
Pain and fire raced through the child’s soul. Hideous laughter filled his head and clouded his thoughts. Paralyzed with fear, Albrecht felt the presence of Diablo within his mind as it seemed to push him down, deeper and deeper into darkness and oblivion. Diablo gazed upon his surroundings through the eyes of the young prince. A lustful hunger still tortured the demon after his frustrating bout for control over Leoric, but the nightmares of the boy provided ample substance to sate him. Reaching deep into Albrecht’s subconscious, Diablo ripped the greatest fears of the child from their hiding places and gave them breath.
As the war fires died out upon the battlefields of Hell, Azmodan and Belial began to argue over which of them held the higher authority. The pact that they had made quickly fell to ashes as the two demon lords took up arms against each other. The legions of Hell that remained were polarized behind either warlord, launching themselves into a bloody civil war that has lasted to this day . . .<p style="text-align: right;">(Page 72)</p>
Albrecht watched, as if out of a dream, twisted and disfigured forms appeared all around him. Unholy, writhing visages of terror danced about him chanting choruses of obscenities. All of the ‘monsters’ that he had ever imagined or believed that he had seen in his life became flesh and were given life before him. Large bodies comprised of living rock erupted from the walls and bowed to their dark master. The ancient, skeletal corpses of the Horadrim arose from archaic crypts and lumbered off into the red washed corridors beyond. As the cacophony of madness and nightmares hammered its final blow against Albrecht’s shattered spirit, the bloodlusted ghouls and demons of his mind scattered and scrambled maniacally into the lengthening passageways of his waking Nightmare.
==The Binding ancient catacombs of the Three==In the ancient daysHoradrim had become a twisted labyrinth of raw, focused Terror. Empowered by Diablo’s possession of young Albrecht, before the rise creatures of the [[Western Empires]]boy’s own imagination had gained corporeal form. So strong was the terror that grew inside of Albrecht, that the dark borders of the Mortal realm began to warp and terrible entities known as the [[Three Evils]] were exiled tear. The Burning Hell began to seep into the world of Man. These eternal entities wandered throughout the waking world and fed upon take root within the lusts of men, leaving chaos and attrition in their wakelabyrinth. The Evils turned father against son Beings and prompted many great nations into brutal occurrences displaced by time and petty wars. Their Exile from Hell left them with an insatiable hunger to bring suffering space, and pain long lost to all who would not kneel before them, and so the Three Brothers ravaged the lands history of Man were pulled screaming into the [[Far East]] for countless centuriesever-expanding domain.
EventuallyThe body of Albrecht, a secretive order of mortal magi was gathered together fully possessed by the enigmatic [[Archangel|Arch-Angel]] [[Tyrael]]. These sorcerers were Diablo, began to hunt the Three Evils distort and put an end to their vicious rampagechange. The ordersmall boy grew and his eyes blazed as tendril-like spines ripped through his flesh. Great, known arched horns erupted from Albrecht’s skull as Diablo altered the form of the [[Horadrim]], consisted child to match that of [[wizard]]s from his demonic body. Deep within the diverse and numerous [[mage clan|mage-clans]] recesses of the Eastlabyrinth, a growing power wasbeing harnessed. Employing disparate magical practices When the moment was right, Diablo would venture once more into the mortal world and free his captive Brothers Mephisto and disciplinesBaal. The Prime Evils would be reunited, this unlikely Brotherhood succeeded and together they would reclaim their rightful place in capturing two of the Brothers within powerful artifacts called [[Soulstone]]sHell.
[[Mephisto]] and [[Baal]], trapped within the swirling, spiritual constraints ===The Fall of the Soulstones, were then buried beneath Black King===The war against the dunes zealous armies of Westmarch ended with a horrible slaughter. With the desolate [[Eastern Sands]]. The powers army of Hatred and wanton Destruction seemed Khanduras ripped to diminish in shreds by the East as superior numbers and defensive positions of Westmarch, Lachdanan quickly gathered together those who were not captured or killed and ordered a nervous peace began retreat back to settle over the land. Yet, for many decades the Horadrim continued their grim search for the third Brother, [[Diablo]]safety of Khanduras. They knew that if returned to find the Lord town of Terror was left untamed there could never be any lasting peace within the realm of humanityTristram in shambles.
<p style="text-align: right;">(Page 73)</p>
The Horadrim followed in King Leoric, deep within the wake throes of terror and anarchy madness, went into a rage when he learned that spread throughout the [[Western lands]]his son was missing. After a great battle which claimed scouring the village with the few guards that remained with him at the lives of many brave soulsmonastery, Leoric had decided that the [[Lord of Terror]] was captured townsfolk had abducted his son and imprisoned within hidden him somewhere. Although the last townsfolk denied any knowledge of the Soulstones by Prince Albrecht’s whereabouts, Leoric insisted that they had crafted a group of Horadrim monks led by the Initiate [[Jered Cain]]. These monks carried the cursed stone to the land of [[Khanduras]] conspiracy against him, and buried it within a secluded cave near the river [[Talsande]]. Above this cave the Horadrim constructed a great [[Tristram Cathedral|Monastery]] from which that they could continue to safeguard the Soulston]. As ages passed, would pay the Horadrim constructed a network of catacombs beneath the Monastery to house the earthly remains of the martyrs of their Orderprice for such treachery.
Generations passed in Khanduras, and the numbers The mysterious disappearance of the [[Horadrim]] slowly dwindled. With Arch-Bishop Lazarus left no quests left to undertake, and too few sons to sustain their guardianship, one in Tristram with whom the once powerful Order faded into obscurityKing would take council. EventuallyOvercome by grief and dementia, the great Monastery that they Leoric had built fell to ruins as well. Although villages grew and thrived around the shell many of the old Monastery, no one knew of the dark, secret passageways that stretched into townsfolk executed for the cold earth beneath it. None could have dreamed crime of the burning red gem that pulsed within the labyrinth's hearthigh treason.
As Lachdanan and his fellow survivors returned to confront their King, Leoric sent his few remaining guards against them. Believing that Lachdanan was somehow part of the townsfolk’s conspiracy, Leoric decreed that he and his party were to die. Lachdanan, finally realizing that Leoric was beyond salvation, ordered his men to defend themselves. The ensuing battle carried them down into the very halls of the darkened Monastery, bringing a final desecration to the once holy sanctum of the Horadrim. Lachdanan won a bittersweet victory as his men were forced to kill all of Leoric’s deceived protectors. They cornered the ravenous King within his own sanctuary and begged him to explain the atrocities he had committed. Leoric only spat at them and cursed them for traitors against both his crown and the Light.
==The Lands of Khanduras==
BOOK TWO
THE RETURN OF TERRORLachdanan walked slowly towards his King and sorrowfully drew his sword. Full of grief and rage, all honor having been cast to the winds, Lachdanan ran his blade through Leoric’s shriveled, blackened heart. The once noble King screamed an unearthly death-cry, and as his madness finally overtook him, he brought down a curse upon those who had so betrayed him. Calling upon the forces of Darkness that he had spent his entire life combating, Leoric condemned Lachdanan and the others to eternal damnation. In that last, fleeting moment within the heart of the Monastery, all that was ever virtuous or honorable about the stewards of Khanduras was shattered forever.
THE LANDS OF KHANDURAS
===The Reign of Diablo===
The Black King lay dead, slain at the hands of his own Priests and Knights. The young Prince Albrecht was still missing, and the proud defenders of Khanduras were no more. The people of Tristram looked about their lifeless town and were greatly dismayed. Awash in feelings of both relief and remorse, they soon realized that their troubles had merely begun. Strange, eerie lights appeared in the darkened windows of the Monastery. Misshapen, leathery-skinned creatures were seen venturing forth from the shadows of the church. Horrible, wounded cries seemed to linger on the wind, emanating from deep underground. It became apparent that something quite unnatural had infested the once holy sight…
Years after the last of the [[Horadrim]] had died, a great and prosperous society grew in the lands of the [[West]]. As time wore on, many Eastern pilgrims settled in the lands surrounding [[Khanduras]] and soon established small, self contained kingdoms. A few of these kingdoms bickered with Khanduras over holdings of property or routes of trade. These squabbles did little to upset the lasting peace of the West, and the great Northern kingdom of [[Westmarch]] proved to be a strong ally of Khanduras as the two lands steadily engaged in ventures of barter and commerce.<p style="text-align: right;">(Page 74)</p>
Travelers on the roads surrounding Tristram were accosted by cloaked riders that seemed to now constantly roam the deserted countryside. Many villagers fled Tristram, making their way to other towns or kingdoms, fearing some unnamed evil that seemed to wait in the shadows all around them. Those few who chose to remain seldom ventured out at night, and never tread foot upon the grounds of the cursed Monastery. Whispered rumors of poor, innocent people being abducted
in the night by wicked, nightmarish creatures filled the halls of the local inn. With no King, no law, and no army left to defend them, many of the townsfolk began to fear an attack from the things that now dwelt beneath their town.
During this time, a bold, new religion of the [[Light]] known as [[Zakarum]] began to spread throughout the kingdom of Westmarch and into many of its northern principalities. Zakarum, founded in the Far East, implored followers to enter into the Light and forsake the [[darkness]] that lurked within their souls. The people of Westmarch adopted the statutes of Zakarum as their sacred mission in the world. Westmarch began to turn towards its neighbors, expecting them to embrace this New Beginning as well. Tensions rose between the kingdoms of Westmarch and Khanduras as the priests of Zakarum began to preach their foreign dogma whether they were welcomed or not.
The Arch-Bishop Lazarus, frayed and disheveled, returned from his absence and assured the townsfolk that he too had been ravaged by the growing evil of the Monastery. With their desperate need for reassurance clouding their good judgment, Lazarus whipped the townspeople into a frenzied mob. Reminding them that Prince Albrecht was still unaccounted for, he persuaded many of the men to follow him into the depths of the Monastery to search for the boy. They gathered torches and soon the night air glowed with the flickering light of hope. They armed themselves with shovels, picks and scythes and so prepared, they boldly followed the treacherous Arch-Bishop straight into the fiery
maw of Hell itself...
It was then that the great northern lord [[Leoric]] came unto the lands of Khanduras and, in the name of Zakarum, declared himself King. Leoric was a deeply religious man and had brought many Knights and Priests with him that comprised his [[Order of the Light]]. Leoric and his trusted advisor, the [[Archbishop|Arch Bishop]] [[Lazarus]], made their way to the city of [[Tristram]]. Leoric appropriated the ancient, decrepit [[Tristram Cathedral|Monastery]] on the outskirts of the town for his seat of power and renovated it to match its time-lost glory. Although the free people of Khanduras were not pleased with being placed under the sudden rule of a foreign King, Leoric served them with justice and might. Eventually, the people of Khanduras grew to respect the kind Leoric, sensing that he sought only to guide and protect them against the oppression of Darkness.
The few who survived the horrible fate that awaited them returned to Tristram and recounted what they could of the ordeal. Their wounds were terrible, and even the skills of the healer could not save some of them. As the stories of demons and devils spread, a stifling, primal Terror began to consume the hearts of all of the town’s inhabitants. It was a Terror that none of them had ever known...
==The Awakening==Not long after [[Leoric]] took possession Deep beneath the foundations of [[Khanduras]], a power long asleep awakened within the dark recesses beneath the [[Tristram Cathedral|ruined Monastery]]. Sensing that freedom was within his grasp, [[Diablo]] entered gorged himself upon the nightmares fears of the [[Lazarus|Arch Bishop]] and lured mortals above him . He slowly sank back into the dark, subterranean labyrinth. In his terror, [[Lazarus]] raced throughout the abandoned hallways until he at last came welcoming shadows and began to the chamber of the burning [[Soulstone]]. No longer in command of harness his body or spirit, he raised the stone above his head and uttered words long forgotten in the realm of mortalsdepleted power.
His will destroyedHe smiled to himself in the sheltering darkness, Lazarus shattered for he knew that the Soulstone upon the ground. Diablo once again came into the world time of Man. Although he was released from his imprisonment within the Soulstone, the [[Lord of Terror]] final victory was still greatly weakened from his long sleep and required an anchor to the worldfast approaching. Once he had found a mortal form to wear, he could begin to reclaim his vastly depleted power. The great demon weighed the souls residing in the town above, and chose to take the strongest of them - that of King Leoric.
For many months King Leoric secretly fought ==The Nature of the evil presence that twisted his thoughts and emotions. Sensing that he had been possessed by some unknown evil, Leoric hid his dark secret from his [[Priest]]s, hoping that somehow his own devout righteousness would be enough to exorcise the corruption growing inside him Soulstones==<p style="text- he was sorely mistaken. Diablo stripped away the core of Leoricalign: right;">(Page 77)</p><center>'''s being, burning away all honor and virtue from his soul. Lazarus too, had fallen under the sway by Jered Cain of the [[Demon]], keeping close to Leoric at all times. Lazarus worked to conceal the plans of his new Master from the [[Order of Light]], hoping that the demonHoradrim'''s power would grow, well concealed amongst the servants of [[Zakarum]].</center>
It was long ago that the enigmatic Arch-Angel Tyrael bestowed upon us the secrets of the mysterious Soulstones. Tyrael bequested upon our Order three of these Stones so we could contain the vile essences of the Three Prime Evils who had been let loose upon our world. Although the artifacts were constructed in realms far removed from our own, we found that they were simple to understand.
The priests of [[Zakarum]] and the citizenry of [[Khanduras]] recognized the disturbing change within their liege. His once proud and rugged form became distorted and deformed. King Leoric became increasingly deranged and ordered immediate executions of any who dared to question his methods or authority. Leoric began to send his Knights to other villages to bully their townspeople into submission. The people of Khanduras who had once grown to see great honor in their ruler began to call Leoric the [[Black King]].
The Soulstones effect only beings that are non-corporealand thus have no power over living, breathing creatures. When invoked, the Soulstones bring into being a strong “spiritual” vacuum. Any non-physical entities caught within this vacuum are drawn into the burning recesses of the Soulstone and are forever trapped within. These spirits are released only when the Soulstone is deactivated or destroyed.
Driven to the brink of madness by the [[Lord of Terror]], King Leoric slowly alienated his closest friends and advisors. [[Lachdanan]], Captain of the Knights of the [[Order of Light]] and honored Champion of [[Zakarum]], tried to discern the nature of his King's deteriorating spirit. Yet at every turn the Arch-Bishop [[Lazarus]] would waylay Lachdanan and admonish him for questioning the actions of the King. As tensions grew between the two, Lazarus charged Lachdanan with treason against the Kingdom. To the Priests and Knights of Leoric's court, the prospect of Lachdanan committing treason was ridiculous. Lachdanan's motives were honorable and just, and soon many began question the reason of their once beloved King. Leoric's madness was growing more obvious with each passing day. Sensing that the advisors of the court were becoming increasingly suspicious of foul treachery, Lazarus desperately sought to contain the eroding situation. The Arch-Bishop masterfully convinced the delusional Leoric that the kingdom of [[Westmarch]] was plotting against him, secretly planning to dethrone him and annex Khanduras into its own lands. Leoric flew into a rage and summoned his advisors to his side. Manipulated by the Arch-Bishop, the paranoid King declared a state of war between the kingdoms of Khanduras and Westmarch.
The power of the Soulstones proved to be much more difficult to employ when used against the great Prime Evils. Voraciously disposed to possessing hapless mortals, the Three Brothers found that they were immune to the effects of the Stones while occupying human souls. Sadly, we were forced to hunt down and kill the innocent victims of the Prime Evils so that their demonic essences could be subject to the effects of the Soulstones.
[[Leoric]] ignored the warnings and admonishments of his advisors and the royal army of [[Khanduras]] was ordered to the North to engage in a war that they did not believe in. Lachdanan was appointed by Lazarus to lead the armies of Khanduras into Westmarch. Although Lachdanan argued the against the necessity of the coming conflict, he was honor-bound to uphold the will of his King. Many of the high-priests and officials were forced to travel to the North as emissaries on errands of diplomatic urgency, as well. The desperate ploy of Lazarus had succeeded in sending many of the King's more troublesome advisors to their certain deaths . . .
Mephisto and Diablo, once found, were easily lured into the Soulstones. The capture of their brother Baal, however, became complicated when the Soulstone that was to be his eternal prison was shattered and fragmented. We found that while the shards still held the power to lure the demon to them, they could not properly contain it. Tal Rasha, a fellow Initiate who has been since immortalized in Horadrim lore, theorized that a mortal of strong will might be able
to contain Baal within his own mortal soul. This sacrifice meant that the essence of any mortal so chosen would be forever tortured while locked in eternal conflict with the enthralled demon. To this end, Tal Rasha volunteered to contain the raging Lord of Destruction.
==The Darkening Piercing his breast with a shard of Tristram==The absence the Soulstone, Tal Rasha took within himself the essence of prying advisors and inquisitive Priests left [[Diablo]] free to assume total control over the King's battered soul. As Baal, the Lord of Terror attempted to strengthen his hold upon the maddened KingDestruction. The Initiate’s body was shackled, he found that chained and buried deep within a tomb under the lingering spirit desert. The sacrifice of [[Leoric]] fought with him still. Although Tal Rasha has kept Baal imprisoned for many years now, and although the control over Leoric that Diablo held demon was formidableimprisoned without the use a whole Soulstone, the Demon knew we believe that in his weakened state our victory may be a hollow one. Should Tal Rasha ever escape, he could never take complete possession would have the formidable powers of Baal added to his soul as long as a glimmer own. By ridding the world of his will remained. The demonlord sought this present Evil, we may have created a fresh and innocent host upon nightmare worse than that which we first sought to build his Terrorcontain...
The demon relinquished his control over Leoric, but the King's soul was left corrupted and his mind crazed. Diablo began to search throughout [[Khanduras]] for the perfect vessel to act as his focus, and found such a soul easily within his reach. Enjoined by his dark master, [[Lazarus]] kidnapped [[Albrecht]] - the only son of Leoric - and dragged the terrified youth down into the blackness of the labyrinth. Flooding the boy's defenseless mind with the essence of pure Terror, Diablo easily took possession of the young Albrecht.==Credits==
Pain and fire raced through the child's soul. Hideous laughter filled his head and clouded his thoughts. Paralyzed with fear, Albrecht felt the presence of Diablo within his mind as it seemed to push him down, deeper and deeper into darkness and oblivion. Diablo gazed upon his surroundings through the eyes of the young prince. A lustful hunger still tortured the demon after his frustrating bout for control over Leoric, but the nightmares of the boy provided ample substance to sate him. Reaching deep into Albrecht's subconscious, Diablo ripped the greatest fears of the child from their hiding places and gave them breath. Albrecht watched, as if out of a dream, twisted and disfigured forms appeared all around him. Unholy, writhing visages of terror danced about him chanting choruses of obscenities. All of the 'monsters' that he had ever imagined or believed that he had seen in his life became flesh and were given life before him. Large bodies comprised of living rock erupted from the walls and bowed to their dark master. The ancient, skeletal corpses of the [[Horadrim]] arose from archaic crypts and lumbered off into the red washed corridors beyond. As the cacophony of madness and nightmares hammered its final blow against Albrecht's shattered spirit, the bloodlusted ghouls and demons of his mind scattered and scrambled maniacally into the lengthening passageways of his waking Nightmare. The ancient catacombs of the Horadrim had become a twisted labyrinth of raw, focused Terror. Empowered by Diablo's possession of young Albrecht, the creatures of the boy's own imagination had gained corporeal form. So strong was the terror that grew inside of Albrecht, that the borders of the Mortal realm began to warp and tear. The [[Burning Hells{{stub|Burning Hell]] began to seep into the world of Man and take root within the labyrinth. Beings and occurrences displaced by time and space, and long lost to the history of Man were pulled screaming into the ever-expanding domain. The body of Albrecht, fully possessed by Diablo, began to distort and change. The small boy grew and his eyes blazed as tendril-like spines ripped through his flesh. Great, arched horns erupted from Albrecht's skull as Diablo altered the form of the child to match that of his demonic body. Deep within the recesses of the labyrinth, a growing power was being harnessed. When the moment was right, Diablo would venture once more into the mortal world and free his captive Brothers [[Mephisto]] and [[Baal]]. The [[Prime Evil]]s would be reunited, and together they would reclaim their rightful place in Hell. ==The Fall of the Black King==The war against the zealous armies of [[Westmarch]] ended with a horrible slaughter. With the army of [[Khanduras]] ripped to shreds by the superior numbers and defensive positions of Westmarch, [[Lachdanan]] quickly gathered together those who were not captured or killed and ordered a retreat back to the safety of Khanduras. They returned to find the town of [[Tristram]] in shambles. King [[Leoric]], deep within the throes of madness, went into a rage when he learned that his son was credits are missing. After scouring the village with the few guards that remained with him at the monastery, Leoric had decided that the townsfolk had abducted his son and hidden him somewhere. Although the townsfolk denied any knowledge of Prince [[Albrecht]]'s whereabouts, Leoric insisted that they had crafted a conspiracy against him, and that they would pay the price for such treachery. The mysterious disappearance of the Arch-Bishop [[Lazarus]] left no one in Tristram with whom the King would take council. Overcome by grief and dementia, Leoric had many of the townsfolk executed for the crime of high treason. As [[Lachdanan]] and his fellow survivors returned to confront their King, Leoric sent his few remaining guards against them. Believing that Lachdanan was somehow part of the townsfolk's conspiracy, Leoric decreed that he and his party were to die. Lachdanan, finally realizing that Leoric was beyond salvation, ordered his men to defend themselves. The ensuing battle carried them down into the very halls of the darkened Monastery, bringing a final desecration to the once holy sanctum of the [[Horadrim]]. Lachdanan won a bittersweet victory as his men were forced to kill all of Leoric's deceived protectors. They cornered the ravenous King within his own sanctuary and begged him to explain the atrocities he had committed. Leoric only spat at them and cursed them for traitors against both his crown and the [[Light]]. Lachdanan walked slowly towards his King and sorrowfully drew his sword. Full of grief and rage, all honor having been cast to the winds, Lachdanan ran his blade through Leoric's shriveled, blackened heart. The once noble King screamed an unearthly death-cry, and as his madness finally overtook him, he brought down a curse upon those who had so betrayed him. Calling upon the forces of [[Darkness]] that he had spent his entire life combating, Leoric condemned Lachdanan and the others to eternal damnation. In that last, fleeting moment within the heart of the [[Tristram Cathedral|Monastery]], all that was ever virtuous or honorable about the stewards of [[Khanduras]] was shattered forever. ==The Reign of Diablo==The [[King Leoric|Black King]] lay dead, slain at the hands of his own Priests and Knights. The young Prince [[Albrecht]] was still missing, and the proud defenders of [[Khanduras]] were no more. The people of [[Tristram]] looked about their lifeless town and were greatly dismayed. Awash in feelings of both relief and remorse, they soon realized that their troubles had merely begun. Strange, eerie lights appeared in the darkened windows of the [[Tristram Cathedral|Monastery]]. Misshapen, leathery-skinned creatures were seen venturing forth from the shadows of the church. Horrible, wounded cries seemed to linger on the wind, emanating from deep underground. It became apparent that something quite unnatural had infested the once holy sight. Travelers on the roads surrounding [[Tristram]] were accosted by cloaked riders that seemed to now constantly roam the deserted countryside. Many villagers fled Tristram, making their way to other towns or kingdoms, fearing some unnamed evil that seemed to wait in the shadows all around them. Those few who chose to remain seldom ventured out at night, and never tread foot upon the grounds of the cursed Monastery. Whispered rumors of poor, innocent people being abducted in the night by wicked, nightmarish creatures filled the halls of the local inn. With no King, no law, and no army left to defend them, many of the townsfolk began to fear an attack from the things that now dwelt beneath their town. The Arch-Bishop [[Lazarus]], frayed and disheveled, returned from his absence and assured the townsfolk that he too had been ravaged by the growing evil of the Monastery. With their desperate need for reassurance clouding their good judgment, [[Lazarus]] whipped the townspeople into a frenzied mob. Reminding them that Prince [[Albrecht]] was still unaccounted for, he persuaded many of the men to follow him into the depths of the Monastery to search for the boy. They gathered torches and soon the night air glowed with the flickering light of hope. They armed themselves with shovels, picks and scythes and so prepared, they boldly followed the treacherous Arch-Bishop straight into the fiery maw of Hell itself. The few who survived the horrible fate that awaited them returned to [[Tristram]] and recounted what they could of the ordeal. Their wounds were terrible, and even the skills of the healer could not save some of them. As the stories of demons and devils spread, a stifling, primal Terror began to consume the hearts of all of the town's inhabitants. It was a Terror that none of them had ever known. Deep beneath the foundations of the ruined Monastery, [[Diablo]] gorged himself upon the fears of the mortals above him. He slowly sank back into the welcoming shadows and began to harness his depleted power. He smiled to himself in the sheltering darkness, for he knew that the time of his final victory was fast approaching.}}
