What falls down from the heavens?

[Gamekk]

Quote from the Diablo III frontpage :

When Deckard Cain returns to the ruins of Tristram Cathedral seeking clues to defeat new stirrings of evil, a fiery harbinger of doom falls from the heavens, striking the very ground where Diablo once entered the world.

I have a few things to discuss about this. Some people misunderstood and even conclude that Diablo was brought from this :scratchchin: Whatever...

#1 It says it falls from the heavens. Do they mean, High Heaven? Wouldn't they just say from the skies if it just felt from above?

#2 How did it begin exactly in Diablo I? Diablo's soulstone ends up on the forehead of prince Leoric, so how exactly the soulstone got to the sanctuary? Which might lead to : was this fiery harbringer a soulstone? Or a shard of soulstone (Baal's)?

#3 It comes from the heavens, so is it an angel (Tyrael?) coming down to the cathedral to help? We also know that there's a path between the three worlds, so it might not be something heavenly, the 20 years gap might be the time for the demons to invade heavens.

If you guys have any information about Diablo I please post it and I will edit my post accordingly.

So what do you guys think is that thing from heavens?

[Apocalypse]

i am curious about this myself. my initial thoughts have been, during the 20 years hell has had to take time to recover and instead of marching back to fight the mortals where they had just lost twice to, they took thier assult to heaven. during that fight which imo is still going on during the events of d3 a demon or something(broken heaven) falls from above. maybe heaven started winning and a powerfull demon bails out so to speak and crashes down into our world and now that he is here he has started to bring back the forces of evil? maybe realizing that the only way to fully get to heaven was to go through our world?


not sure but i am very interested to see where the story is going to go

[IdiotDK]

Quote from the Diablo III frontpage :
#1 It says it falls from the heavens. Do they mean, High Heaven? Wouldn't they just say from the skies if it just felt from above?

#2 How did it begin exactly in Diablo I? Diablo's soulstone ends up on the forehead of prince Leoric, so how exactly the soulstone got to the sanctuary? Which might lead to : was this fiery harbringer a soulstone? Or a shard of soulstone (Baal's)?

#3 It comes from the heavens, so is it an angel (Tyrael?) coming down to the cathedral to help? We also know that there's a path between the three worlds, so it might not be something heavenly, the 20 years gap might be the time for the demons to invade heavens.

If you guys have any information about Diablo I please post it and I will edit my post accordingly.

So what do you guys think is that thing from heavens?

#1. Well we can only speculate on that one, however i think that there is a reason to use the word heavens. Also, they say a harbinger. which is a bringer of things to come.

#2. It didnt end up in the forehead of Prince Leoric. Leoric was kings. and he was to strong for Diablo to corrupt him. So he went mad and died.
It ended up in the forehead of his son, Prince Albrecht.
However, how the stones got there in the first place, is a whole nother story.
As you probably read somewhere, Diablo, Mephisto and Baal made a plan to be banished into sanctuary. Here they find themself in battle with The Horadrim. They have a little help from Tyrael, and captures the Evils in these soulstones.
The Horadrim then places the stones different places in Sanctuary, thinking the Evils within are contained.
Diablos in a Cathedral at Tristram.
Baals in Tal Rasha in the desert.
Mephistos in another great mage (cant remember whom) in the church of zakarum.

They think they are locked away and the world is safe like this. But we know they were wrong ;)

#3. Well. we dont know. But a fiery harbinger dont sound like an angel. But i agree, i think it should be an angel.

[Thirty-Thirty]

#1 It says it falls from the heavens. Do they mean, High Heaven? Wouldn't they just say from the skies if it just felt from above?I really don't know what to make of it, because I agree that referring to the (H/h)eavens is ambiguous. I'm just not sure if it's deliberate.
#2 How did it begin exactly in Diablo I? Diablo's soulstone ends up on the forehead of prince Leoric, so how exactly the soulstone got to the sanctuary? Which might lead to : was this fiery harbringer a soulstone? Or a shard of soulstone (Baal's)?
No, it's a long story explained partly above. There were no comets involved, to the best of my knowledge. The long and short is that the three manipulated their own exile from the Burning Hells and their capture by the Horadrim into a trio of stones forged in Hell. The Horadrim chose the places to imprison the stones, unaware that the Three already intended to bend the stones to their own purposes. Diablo corrupted the Archbishop Lazarus - an aide of King Leoric - to abduct Leoric's son, Albrecht, and place the soulstone into the child's head.
#3 It comes from the heavens, so is it an angel (Tyrael?) coming down to the cathedral to help? We also know that there's a path between the three worlds, so it might not be something heavenly, the 20 years gap might be the time for the demons to invade heavens.I personally also think it's an angel, if not Tyrael. My justification is that the D3 homepage appears to show an angel standing in the same cathedral as the girl that is lighting candles in the cinematic. I say this because the candles are visible on the right-hand side of the screen.

Now, it's worth saying that this might not be valid evidence, because we don't know from what points in the story the two scenes (frontpage and cinematic) are taken. The angel on the frontpage might have come later to quell whatever landed in the Cathedral, as depicted in the cinematic. (I'm just making sure that the universal doubt of any speculation is preserved.)

[HeroQuest]

My take on it would be a comet striking the ground where Diablo once entered the world. Maybe re-opening the way.

Also i dont know if this has been mentioned before, but it was Tyrael who destroyed the Worldstone, which wasnt part of the prophecy. So i doubt he is here to help

[SmittySixTen]

#1 It says it falls from the heavens. Do they mean, High Heaven? Wouldn't they just say from the skies if it just felt from above?

I don't think there is much dispute that whatever fell is from heaven. As for what it specifically is, that's pure speculation and no one knows for sure yet.

#2 How did it begin exactly in Diablo I? Diablo's soulstone ends up on the forehead of prince Leoric, so how exactly the soulstone got to the sanctuary? Which might lead to : was this fiery harbringer a soulstone? Or a shard of soulstone (Baal's)?

Tyreal brought the soulstones to Sanctuary in order to contain the prime evils. All three prime evils were imprisoned within the stones, and each stone was placed in a different spot for safe keeping. The Arch Bishop Lazarus was corrupted by Diablo, who still needed a body. Lazarus kidnapped the prince, and drove the stone into his (the price's) forehead, allowing Diablo to manifest his physical form by taking over the young boy's body. Hence Cain's journal even saying something like, "When Diablo was killed it sounded as though a child was screaming out in pain", to paraphrase.

#3 It comes from the heavens, so is it an angel (Tyrael?) coming down to the cathedral to help? We also know that there's a path between the three worlds, so it might not be something heavenly, the 20 years gap might be the time for the demons to invade heavens.

This is just pure speculation. No one really knows for sure, and I doubt Blizzard will release anything else on this specific topic. They want the rumor mill to keep going on this one.

If you guys have any information about Diablo I please post it and I will edit my post accordingly.

You won't be able to. You can only edit your post up to one hour after it is made.

[Grawner]

nothings for sure, and there really is a lot of rumours, yeah.
it's interesting reading, but i think it puts up to much anticipation..

dont be dissapointed if you expected something complete different..

[Gamekk]

dont be dissapointed if you expected something complete different..

ofc I wont be disappointed I'm open to anything that can happen :D .. As long as it makes sense to me.

There was also that theory that the other thread started, that it was a fallen angel falling from the cinematics video (it's probably the same comet we're talking about as it strikes a cathedral).

Anyway, I think from the "heavens" is a keyword that will take a big part in the game :)

[NKlint]

I bet it's a Giant Firebomb thrown by the Big Giant Witchdoctor in the sky.

That's my best guess :D

[Hodl Pu]

#1. W
Mephistos in another great mage (cant remember whom) in the church of zakarum.


It was Tal Rasha right? If he was imprisoned in Zakarum, how did he end in up act 2? I've always been confused by that.

[Saint Anger]

It was Tal Rasha right? If he was imprisoned in Zakarum, how did he end in up act 2? I've always been confused by that.

He didn't. It was Baal who was imprisoned within Tal Rasha, and the reason for this was because Baal's soulstone had already been broken prior to the events of Diablo 2. It was no longer capable to fully contain Baal, which is why they required a powerful mage in the hopes of keeping him subdued. It seems to have worked, at least until Marius drew the fragment of the soulstone from Tal Rasha's chest and Baal was able to overpower the battered mage.

Mephisto was imprisoned under Kurast, but managed to corrupt the council members (save for Khalim, the old head priest, who was subsequently torn to pieces by the others. In d2, you endeavour to bring these pieces back together in 'Khalim's flail'). Eventually Sankekur, the new head priest of the Zakarum, became the embodiment of Mephisto.

[Thirty-Thirty]

Nope, it was Sankekur who became the embodiment of Mephisto. Tal Rasha was Horadrim, and was imprisoned with Baal in the desert because it was believed that the broken soulstone alone was no longer sufficient.

edit: pwnt by St. Anger.

[Grawner]

well, couldn't it just be a starship from Star Wars?

[AlexanderM]

As mentioned by St. Anger and Thirty-Thiry it was Sankekur who gave Mephisto form. It was never really clear to me how in D1 and in this case in D2, a prime evil within a soul stone as able to exercise their will upon others, first Archbishop Lazarus then the council members, but our hero in D2 has no problem grabbing the soul stone of Mephisto and carting it around for any amount of time.

[NKlint]

I do not recall how the Soulstone came into the possession of King Leoric to posess his Son, the Prince. Was it Lazarus who procured Diablo's soulstone? If so how did he come across it.

[Thirty-Thirty]

My D1 lore is a little sketchy, but I think the important fact is that the soulstones were corrupted, so that they amplified the presence or spirit of the relevant brother. Or something like that. Big D's stone wasn't in anyone, but just lurking around in the catacombs/caves under Tristram. From there, Big D lured Lazarus to provide a weak body to possess. I presume weak so that he didn't end up in a struggle to corrupt like Tal Rasha and Sankekur.

But in short, I think the Diablo lore is a bit messy, and Blizzard need to clean it up like they did Warcraft's story.

[GreatInRemembrance]

I do not recall how the Soulstone came into the possession of King Leoric to posess his Son, the Prince. Was it Lazarus who procured Diablo's soulstone? If so how did he come across it.

The Soulstone was hidden beneath the Tristram Cathedral by Tyreal after Diablo's capture, and the Horadrim were supposed to watch over it to make sure it stayed buried and hidden. Cain, being the last of the Horadrim, believed he was the only one who knew of it's presence beneath the otherwise peaceful town. However, this wasn't the case, the Archbishop Lazarus of the Zakarum Church knew of it's presence, as well. In fact, originally it was the Archbishop Lazarus' responsibility to watch over Mephisto's Soulstone in Kurast. This was back when the Que-Hegan Sankekur was still alive. While the Zakarum Church originally started out devoted to the Light, over time, it was subverted by Demons, and it was when Sankekur noticed the changes, and rebellion against his wishes in the Archbishop Lazarus, he called him and the rest of the Archbishops into council immediate, at which point I believe they betrayed Sankekur and used his body and the Soulstone to give Mephisto a physical form in this realm.

After this is when Archbishop Lazarus went to Tristram. It wasn't Diablo's influence that corrupted the Archbishop Lazarus into freeing him... he along with the rest of the Zakarum Church had been corrupted some time before. (And the ones that weren't, Sankekur and Kalim were otherwise disposed of in their own ways.) He went to Tristram with the single goal of freeing Diablo, having been made aware of the hiding place of his Soulstone, just as he had done for Mephisto.

It was always said that Mankind would win the war for one of the sides, be it Heaven or Hell and the forever-raging war. During the course of the war, Izual, forger of the Angel blade Azurewrath, went against Tyrael's wishes, and led a failed assault on the Hellforge, at which point he was captured by the three Prime Evils and corrupted. He told them about the Soulstones, and how to corrupt them to their will. At this point they led a self-imposed exile, under the guise of a coup by the Lesser Evils, (though after they were gone, two of the Lesser Evils, Azmodan and Belial, both sought the keep the power of reigning over Hell for themselves, and those two are currently waging war against each other behind the scenes) into Sanctuary, which is when, as predicted, Tyrael gave the Soulstones to the Horadrim and had them used, he thought, to capture and lock away the Prime Evils forever, and had them hidden. Knowing already how to corrupt them thanks to Izual, and how to use them to give themselves a permanent form in the realm of man through the use of a body, they set their plan into motion. Archbishop Lazarus delivered two of the bodies needed, Sakekur to Mephisto and later Prince Albrecht to Diablo. His work was made easier when it came to Baal, who already had a body. Baal was the last of the Prime Evils to be captured, and when the Horadrim hunting party, led by Tal-Rasha, came upon him, there was a huge battle with him, at which point in a last attempt to kill Tal-Rasha, Baal instead succeeded in shattering the Soulstone, at which point Tal-Rasha came up with the plan that he would use his spirit and will to keep Baal contained, and further imprisoned by being locked away and bound by the most powerful magics the Horadrim could muster.

[Thirty-Thirty]

Someone might correct me, but I think Sankekur became Que-Hagan after they tore up his predecessor. Certainly, according to Natalya, Mephisto is housed in Sankekur's body.
Beware, my friend. Sankekur may be the most powerful mortal in the world. He controls thousands of fanatical worshippers and embodies the Lord of Hatred, himself.

[popodomo]

Someone might correct me, but I think Sankekur became Que-Hagan after they tore up his predecessor. Certainly, according to Natalya, Mephisto is housed in Sankekur's body.

Agreed, I think Sankekur was already corrupted as well, and the only one that wasn't, was hacked into pieces (Khalim).

[Telzen]

I believe that it is Tyrael and that he is not evil. During the Cinematic Trailer when it shows it coming down she is talking about people praying for strenght and guidance.

[redrach]

As mentioned by St. Anger and Thirty-Thiry it was Sankekur who gave Mephisto form. It was never really clear to me how in D1 and in this case in D2, a prime evil within a soul stone as able to exercise their will upon others, first Archbishop Lazarus then the council members, but our hero in D2 has no problem grabbing the soul stone of Mephisto and carting it around for any amount of time.
The two factors involved are time and the will of the one who is being possessed. The stronger the will, the more the time. Which is why Diablo picked a child for his first host, and why the warrior from D1 was able to resist for so long. Tal Rasha resisted for a long, long time, while Mephisto was able to use the greed and hatred of the Zakarum against themselves.