• 1

    posted a message on Site copycats
    It's not a crime to have a bad web design, and no one needs to ok anything in order to link to an article. It just has to be done according to proper netiquette.
    Posted in: Trash Can
  • 1

    posted a message on DiabloCast: Episode IV - Art of the Artisan
    Quote from jonny_cool

    It seams that each episode is longer than the previous one.
    Yes. It's only a matter of time before each episode spans 168 hours. It will be the world's first reality show following the lives of a few ardent Diablofans :P
    Posted in: News & Announcements
  • 1

    posted a message on Birthright Reference
    Ok, this is what I produced during the reread of Birthright. It's actually been sitting here for weeks now, I just had to convert it to the forum format. Before I start with Scales of the Serpent however, I'd like some feedback as to whether you think the format includes all the important points, and whether I should add/remove/change something for the next book.

    I also planned to incorporate this knowledge into several wiki articles, but it turned out to be hard given that there's a lot of info revealed in the later books about characters, organizations and cosmology. I think I will do a remake of the DiabloWiki.com - Birthright Birthright page but after that I'll have to wait until I have all three books finished.

    [b]Explanation[/b]
    [b]Pages:[/b] The pages of the book which the chapter spans.
    [b]POV (Point-of-View):[/b] Lists all the beings that narrate the chapter.
    [b]Characters:[/b] Characters who are physically present in the chapter. Must be mentioned in the chapter to be listed.
    [b]Locations:[/b] Physical locations in which the events of the chapter take place. Does not include mentioned places.
    [b]Mentioned Characters:[/b] People and beings to are referred to or mentioned in the chapter. If Mephisto is mentioned, if only in passing, he is listed. If Lucion is called "Son of Mephisto", Mephisto is however not listed, since his name was only used to refer to Lucion in that case.

    Then follows a rought account of the happenings in the chapter

    [b]Important points:[/b] Lists things that are of value in the chapter in terms of lore. Divided into several subgroups for easy reading
    • Characters: Anything involving human characters. Demons and angels could be listed here, but anything noteworthy about them is generally filed under:
    • Cosmology: Anything that deals with the grander scheme. Mostly angels, demons and Trag'Oul
    • Geography: Thingsa about Sanctuary that are mentioned.
    • Monsters: Mentions and descriptions of monsters. Kind of in the middle between Characters and Cosmology.
    • Places and Organisations: Examples are Seram, Partha, Cathedral of Light
    • Other: Things that do not fit elsewhere.

    [b]Feedback[/b]
    • Are the bulleted lists in the beginning (pages, mentioned characters etc.) good? Should I add/remove something?
    • Is the desciption of the chapter adequate? Should it be shorter/longer or written differently?
    • Should the important points be presented otherwise or organized differently?
    • Should something else be added?



    [b]Birthright[/b]

    [b]PROLOGUE[/b]
    [b]Pages:[/b] 1
    [b]POV:[/b] -
    [b]Characters:[/b] -
    [b]Locations:[/b] -
    [b]Mentioned Characters:[/b] Baal, Diablo, Inarius, Kalan, Mephisto, Rathma, Uldyssian

    A one-page intro the story of the Sin War novels. Mentions are made of the Burning Hells, the High Heavens, Sanctuary and the Sin War, but no further explanation on these subjects is presented.

    [b]Important Points:[/b]
    • "The world was young, then, and only a few knew it as Sanctuary or knew that not only did angels and demons exist, but some of them had caused Sanctuary to be in the first place."

    [b]ONE[/b]
    [b]Pages:[/b] 3-16
    [b]POV:[/b] Uldyssian
    [b]Characters:[/b] Atilus, Cyrus, Lylia, Serenthia, Tibion
    [b]Locations:[/b] Seram, The Boar's Head
    Mentioned Characters:[/b] Achilios, Bala, Caligio, Dialon, Diomedes, Mendeln, Mephis, the Prophet, Thiel

    Uldyssian is introduced as a character, as is Serenthia and Lylia. Uldyssians personality and distrust of religions is established, as well as his beginning passion for Lylia and Serenthia's interest in him.

    [b]Important Points:[/b]
    Characters:
    • Uldyssian is just over 6 feet tall (1.85m).
    • Tibion is senior to Uldyssian, but probably not old, and knew Diomedes.
    • Serenthia has blue eyes, ivory skin nad red lips. She is more than 10 years younger than Uldyssian.
    • Achilios is the best hunter in Seram.
    • Lylia has golden hair, green eyes, ivory skin and thin lips.
    • Uldyssian can read and write, but it seems not all can.
    • Serenthia's eldest brother is named Thiel.
    • Atilus and Caligio are priests of Bala and Dialon (or the other way around).
    Seram
    • The Boar's Head is the only tavern in Seram.
    • Seram lies to the west of Kehjan.
    • About 200 people live in Seram. There is a smithy, meeting house, trading staion and guard quarters as well as houses.
    • Steel is not common in Seram. It is not used in tools for example.
    Other
    • Kehjan is called "The Jewel" of the eastern half of the world.
    • Uldyssian's family died of plague ten years prior to the books: parents, one elder brother and two sisters.
    • Tulisam is the nearest town to Seram, with at least 1,000 inhabitants.
    • Triune Missionaries work in teams of three.
    • Civilian leader of Kehjan is titulated High Magistrate.
    • Military leader of Kehjan is titulated Lord General.
    • Recent mage clan infighting has created a power vacuum that the Cathedral and Triune are trying to exploit.
    • Cahtedral and Truine preach about angels and demons.


    [b]TWO[/b]
    [b]Pages:[/b] 17-32
    [b]POV:[/b] Mendeln, Uldyssian
    [b]Characters:[/b] Achilios, Lylia
    [b]Locations:[/b] Woods outside of Seram, Seram
    [b]Mentioned Characters:[/b] Aronius, Caligio, Cyrus, Dorius, Gemmel, Jorilia, Lylia, Serenthia, Tiberius, Tibion

    Mendeln is introduced, as well as Achilios. Uldyssian's brother is portrayed as a little bit of an outcast. Not distrusted, but clearly different from farm folk. His interest in studying as well as his quick mind is shown. Achilios is presented as a talented and calm hunter.

    Lylia's charm over Uldyssian is further revealed. He finds a dead man in the woods, which turns out to be Caligio. Lylia faints, and Uldyssian brings her back to the village and the inn. There he is accused of being the murderer of a priest of the Truine who also wound up dead. He was killed with Uldyssian's knife.

    [b]Important Points:[/b]
    Characters
    • Mendeln in nine years younger than Uldyssian.
    • Uldyssian has so alike to his father that they could be mistaken for twins.
    • Mendeln is half a foot shorter than Uldyssian (5' 6'', 170 cm), he has a more narrow body type, and his eyes are black.
    • Achilios is blond and wiry, almost as tall as Uldyssian.
    • Achilios is a better bowman than anyone he's encountered, including traveling guardsmen.
    • Achilios is "more than half a decade" older than Meldeln.
    • Achilios possesses great sight.
    • Tiberius is the captain of the guard in Seram.
    • Dorius is the leader of the village.
    • Jorilia is the healer woman of Seram. She is old. She is believed to be a witch, but most likely only possesses healing power through herbs and ointments.
    • Aronius murdered his stepson Gemmel while drunk four years past in Seram. Aronius was exiled from the village to "the great city" to pay for his crimes.
    • Dorius was a friend of Diomedes.
    Other
    • Achilios finds a black stoneslab that glistens of silver. He shows it to Mendeln. He senses agelessness about it, while Achilios senses death.


    [b]THREE[/b]
    [b]Pages:[/b] 33-47
    [b]POV:[/b] Serenthia, Uldyssian
    [b]Characters:[/b] Achilios, Lylia, Mikelius, Tiberius
    [b]Locations:[/b] Seram
    [b]Mentioned Characters:[/b] Cyrus, Dorius, Justivia, Marcus ul-Amphed, Mendeln

    Uldyssian is locked up in a prison cell in Seram. Desperate to get out, the cell magically unlocks itself. Scared by the event, Uldyssian freezes just as Tiberius walks in and sees the open cell door. The captain believes Uldyssian is innocent however.

    Lylia visits and starts to entice him and turn him against the church and temple. She warns him of the danger or inquisitors and peace warders appearing, and convinces him to stand up for himself rather than cower.

    Serenthia is about to visit Uldyssian, but hides when she sees Lylia and instead meets Achilios. At the same time, a party of Inquisitors reach the village. The master inquisitor is taken to the grave of the dead missionary, but it is revealed to have been desecrated somehow since the burial.

    [b]Important Points:[/b]
    Characters
    • Justivio is the second son of Marcus ul-Amphed in Seram.
    • Mikelius is a master inquisitor.
    Cathedral of Light
    • Inquisitors wear silver robes and breastplates with a golden sunburst set in the middle of the latter.
    • Master Inquisitor is a rank within the Inquisitors.
    Other
    • Tulisam is the nearest place where a permanent presence exists of the Cathedral and Triune.


    [b]FOUR[/b]
    [b]Pages:[/b] 48-63
    [b]POV:[/b] Malic, Mendeln, Uldyssian
    [b]Characters:[/b] Achilios, Lylia, Mikelius, the Primus, Serenthia, Tiberius
    [b]Locations:[/b] Wood outside of Seram, Seram, the Grand Temple of the Triune
    [b]Mentioned Characters:[/b] -

    Mendeln starts to have frequent blackouts during which he has visions from the mysterious killer that's loose. He also finds himself stained with dirt.

    Uldyssian is taken from his cell and given to the Cathedral, who want to question him.

    With the Master Inquisitor taking charge, Uldyssian is certain there is no escape for him when a furious storm quickly erupts and a lightning bolt strikes Mikelius in the village square, killing him. Uldyssian is mysteriously freed from his bonds, and the wind covers his and Lylia's escape into the woods.

    Lylia bruises her ankle, and Uldyssian appears to heal it, which he tries to deny but cannot explain any other way. He also seems to clear the storm above Seram by willing it.

    The Primus notices the events in Seram from his chamber in the grand temple as they take place.

    [b]Important Points:[/b]
    Temple of the Triune
    • The Grand Temple of the Triune is located 2 days ride south of Kehjan.
    • There are three high priests, and the one of Mefis is the highest of them.
    Other
    • There is someone called a Procurator General in Kehjan. It seems to be some sort of judiciary official.
    • Mikelius seems to recognize Lylia from somewhere.


    [b]FIVE[/b]
    [b]Pages:[/b] 64-79
    [b]POV:[/b] Achilios, Mendeln, Uldyssian
    [b]Characters:[/b] Cyrus, Dorius, Serenthia, Tibion
    [b]Locations:[/b] Woods outside Seram, Seram
    [b]Mentioned Characters:[/b] Lylia, Tiberius, Uldyssian

    As the storm crashes down on Seram, Cyrus is killed by a roof ripped of a house. He and Serenthia race out of the village to save themselves. Out in the woods, Achilios tries to track Uldyssian.

    Mendeln is at the same time at the edge of the village where the storm mysteriously stops. He enters the village once the storm has died, and begins to see and hear ghosts, though he does not realize it. The Inquisitors still alive seize control of the village and flogg Mendeln for being Uldyssian's brother.

    Uldyssian, sensing that his brother is in danger, races back to the village, where the weapons of two inquisitors turn against their own masters and kill them. The other guards are burned alive. Believing that Uldyssian is a monster, the villagers try to kill him with arrows, but he flees with Lylia, Mendeln, Achilios and Serenthia to the south-east.

    [b]Important Points:[/b]
    Characters
    • Cyrus dies
    • Achilios is hinted to have some special ability which allows him to track without actually seeing any tracks.


    [b]SIX[/b]
    [b]Pages:[/b] 80-96
    [b]POV:[/b] Uldyssian, Mendeln, Malic
    [b]Characters:[/b] Achilios, Lylia, Serenthia
    [b]Locations:[/b] Woods somewhere south-east of Seram
    [b]Mentioned Characters:[/b] -

    Setting up camp in the woods, the split up to search for food. Lylia follows Uldyssian and continues to seduce him into using his powers and preaching to others. Uldyssian is wary, but she convinces him.

    Achilios accidentally reveals to Serenthia that her father is dead, and Mendeln leaves the camp where he spots a figure in black robes. Shortly thereafter, a monster attacks Mendeln. Achilios and Serenthia come to help him, but to not avail. The ground however swallows the demon. Serenthia is wounded, but Uldyssian appears to heal her. Lylia tries to blame the demon for the murders in Seram, but Mendeln is not convinced.

    Malic was the one who sent the demon to determine who he was hunting. He is days away from Uldyssian, but starts to ride towards his quarry.

    [b]Important Points:[/b]
    Monsters
    • Mendeln encounters a monster that is very similar to a Scavenger, but with more eyes and a thicker tail. It has a thick hide. He was sent by Lucion.


    [b]SEVEN[/b]
    [b]Pages:[/b] 97-111
    [b]POV:[/b] Serenthia, Uldyssian
    [b]Characters:[/b] Achilios, Lylia, Malic, Mendeln, Rondo
    [b]Locations:[/b] Heading towards Kehjan, Partha
    [b]Mentioned Characters:[/b] Cyrus, Thiel

    The party heads off towards Partha and makes camp for the night. Uldyssian is starting to listen to Lylia more and more. No one else has uet shown any powers, so he tries to awaken it in Serethia. It succeeds, but Serenthia does not seem to like it.

    Lylia tries to talk to her the next day, but Serenthia panics and flees into the woods. There she encounters the group of Peace Warders that are led by Malic. He tries to trick Serenthia into taking him to Uldyssian, but she refuses, and he resorts to force instead.

    [b]Important Points:[/b]
    Other
    • Partha is larget than Tulisam and lies on the route between Kehjan and the largest seaports.
    • A truce between the mage clans is currently in effect.


    [b]EIGHT[/b]
    [b]Pages:[/b] 48-63
    [b]POV:[/b] Malic, Uldyssian
    [b]Characters:[/b] Achilios, Lylia, Malic, Mendeln, Rondo, Serenthia
    [b]Locations:[/b] Heading towards Kehjan
    [b]Mentioned Characters:[/b] Lucion

    Malic and Serenthia appear in the camp. Malic tries to foll Uldyssian as well. He fails however, and Peace Warders storm the camp. Uldyssian seems to use his powers again, but Malic is the stronger of the two and holds Uldyssian down.

    Uldyssian, angered and fearful of his companions, overpowers Malic's hold on him, which causes the priest to summon three demons. One of them vanishes, but Uldyssian is no match for the other two. Just as he is about to be defeated, a surge of power invigorates him and allows him to overcome his adversaries.

    Malic, confused by this surge, determines that it must come from somewhere else, and he realizes that Lylia is the source. He does not realize who she is though.

    Uldyssian comes for Malic next, but he manages to escape.

    [b]Important Points:[/b]
    Characters
    • It seems as if Uldyssian is really using his powers on his own here and isn't helped by Lylia, though it's no conclusive.
    Monsters
    • The first demon destroyed was a pyrioh, more dangerous than the other two.
    • The other demon was skeletal but had a birds beak and sucking appendages, and the other a long tongue and sharp teeth.
    Knaak Error
    • In the beginning of the chapter, Achilios is hunting, however mere moments later he is suddenly captured in the camp by Peace Warders. Uldyssian later comments that Achilios is not present in the camp.


    [b]NINE[/b]
    [b]Pages:[/b] 128-139
    [b]POV:[/b] Lucion, Malic
    [b]Characters:[/b] Damos
    [b]Locations:[/b] The Grand Temple of the Triune
    [b]Mentioned Characters:[/b] Baal, Diablo, Lilith, Mephisto, Uldyssian

    Malic is first punished by Lucion for his failure, but the demon saves him and grants him another chance. He then changes Malic's arm into something demonic and takes him deeper into the temple.

    There he encounters the morlu, of which six are placed under his command to capture Uldyssian. Lucion is troubled by Malic's tale and suspects Lilith is involved, but he isn't sure.

    [b]Important Points:[/b]
    Cosmology
    • Malic incorrectly believes that the Three created Sanctuary, and that Inarius tricked them to take it for himself.
    Monsters
    • The morlu are first revealed. They were once humans who are now clad in black armor with ram-like helmets without horns, skin like gravestones and an emblem, a skull laid on two crossed sorts entwined by snakes, emblazoned on their armor. They can speak, but do not sound human.
    • Damos is the namy of a morlu, maybe the strongest of them.
    Other
    • The Kiss of Mephisto is a stone that resurrects the morlu. It seems to have been named something else in the past.


    [b]TEN[/b]
    [b]Pages:[/b] 48-63
    [b]POV:[/b] Mendeln, Uldyssian
    [b]Characters:[/b] Achilios, Lylia, Serenthia
    [b]Locations:[/b] Lands outside of Partha, Partha
    [b]Mentioned Characters:[/b] Ameli, Cedric, Ethon ul-Garal

    Having dealt with the Peace Warders, the party rides off in the night. Uldyssian, not knowing Mendeln is troubled by ghosts, thinks his brother is losing it.

    Mendeln sees the dead Peace Warders ride with them on invisible mounts, especially close to Mendeln.

    They rest at noon next day near a spring of tainted water. Uldyssian purifies it.

    Achilios then sees a local, and it turns out they are one hour from Partha, even though they did not ride in that direction. Lylia urges them not to enter, but Uldyssian disagrees, though they all suspect the work of Malic.

    There they meet Ethon, who is the headman of the city. He invites them to his home. On their way there Uldyssian sees a disfigured child whom he heals. He fears the reactions will be the same as in Seram, but people bow to him instead.

    [b]Important Points:[/b]
    Characters
    • Cedric is a young local of Partha.
    • Ethon is a trader and the father of Cedric. He is at least ten years Uldyssians senior, and he knew Cyrus.
    • Uldyssian's youngest sister's name was Ameli. She had a defect right arm and was very thin. She has always been very cheerful.
    Partha
    • Partha has houses four stories tall, higher than any in Seram or Tulisam. The roads are made of stone, not mud.


    [b]ELEVEN[/b]
    [b]Pages:[/b] 154-168
    [b]POV:[/b] Inarius, Lylia, Uldyssian
    [b]Characters:[/b] Achilios, Bartha, Cedric, Jonas
    [b]Locations:[/b] The main temple of the Cathedral of Light, Partha
    [b]Mentioned Characters:[/b] Lilith, Protheus, Tyrael

    The Prophet laghishes in his sanctum. He seems to be aware that Lilith is free from her prison.

    Troubled by current events, he retakes his angelic form which he has not done for centuries. He remmbers how he rebeled against both Heaven and Hell and how Sanctuary came to be as it is. He bears an intense hatred for Lilith and what she did before her banishment.

    Uldyssian and his party stays with Ethon. Uldyssian receives gifts from the townspeople. Their stay has lasted several days, and Uldyssian intends to do something about the giving. He heads to the town square to being explaining to the people that they can all do what he did.

    Bartha calls him "Holy One" when summoned, and Uldyssian tries to awaken the powers in her by having hear present when healing Jonas. It seems to succeed, and Uldyssian promises the townspeople much more. The people in turn all want it, ad Uldyssian realizes it will be some time before they can leave for Kehjan.

    Lylia watches as this unfolds, and betrays some of her sinister nature in turn. She planned to get to Kehjan faster, but becomes content with staying in Partha for awhile. She reveals that she will kill Uldyssian if it helps her reach her goal.

    [b]Important Points:[/b]
    Characters
    • The Prophet has silver-blue eyes with ivory skin and golden hair past his shoulders.
    • Bartha is the name of the mother of the child Uldyssian cured in the previous chapter.
    • Protheus was one of the founders of Partha and had preached kindness and understanding.
    • Jonas is an inhabitant of Partha and has a face that had been "ravaged by disease".
    Cosmology
    • Inarius looks like "a towering, hooded figure with wings of that same flame, a figure who had no face as mortals understood it, but rather a wonderful radiance beneath long flashes of silver light that in their shaping somewhat resembled a magnificent mane of hair shadowed by the hood."
    • Inarius calls himself "He was again Inarius, once of the Angiris Council, once a commander of the Heavenly Hosts!" He also says that he was an advisor to the council.
    • He describes the conflcit as "He had done what he had because both sides had become so mired in conflict that they could not see the ultimate futility of their struggle.
    • Since the dawning of reality, when the two celestial realms had come into existence and, shortly thereafter, discord, their vast forces had fought one another for the control of All. Anything of value became the focus of attack and counterattack, generally to its destruction. Angels— as his kind would have been called by humans—and demons alike perished by the legions, all in the name of the Angiris Council—they who ruled the High Heavens—and their eternal adversaries, the Prime Evils."
    • Tyrael is his brother in that their resonances are more similar to each other than others. Tyrael is also called the essence of Justice.
    • With Inarius, Lilith was "The one with whom he would help forge a world, a place known to his band of rebels as Sanctuary."


    [b]TWELVE[/b]
    [b]Pages:[/b] 169-181
    [b]POV:[/b] Achilios, Mendeln
    [b]Characters:[/b] Lylia, Rathma, Serenthia, Uldyssian
    [b]Locations:[/b] Partha
    [b]Mentioned Characters:[/b] Cyrus, Ethon, Mikelius

    Achilios finds Serenthia watching Uldyssian as he trains the townspeople. He tries to tell her how he feels about her, but fails to do so, and they watch Uldyssian. Neither of them understand why none of them have displayed any powers themselves, though Achilios tries not to embrace it at all.

    Mendeln meanwhile is walking in some shade of Partha, with no other people around save the ghosts of the Peace Warders that now follow him around. The road leads to a cemetary that does not belong there, and no matter where he turns, he moves closer to it.

    In the cemeraty is a statue of an angel, though Mendeln has no idea what an angel is and does not realise it.

    Though he cannot read what any of the tombstones say, suddenly he understands the script, and as he does, undead begin to rise from their graves. A back figure appears and dispels them however, sending him back to Partha. The ghosts are now also gone.

    They both head to the town square. Mendeln tells Achilios he did not enter the cemetary, but Achilios does not believe him, though he does not say so.

    [b]Important Points:[/b]
    Cosmology
    • Symbol of Trag'Oul: "Dragon. A loop twisting into itself, a thing without beginning or end."


    [b]THIRTEEN[/b]
    [b]Pages:[/b] 182-193
    [b]POV:[/b] Malic, Uldyssian
    [b]Characters:[/b] Achilios, Damos, Ethon, Lylia, Serenthia, Romus
    [b]Locations:[/b] Partha
    [b]Mentioned Characters:[/b] Jonas, Lucion

    Uldyssian continues to awaken the gift in the townspeople, but to little effect. A man named Romus does manage to use his powers to heal himself, showing the people that it is possible, but Uldyssian warns it may take time.

    Meanwhile, Malic is hunting Uldyssian with his six morlu.

    After a days work, Uldyssian has a dream of Sacntuary being invaded, but he does not yet know it is done by Heaven and Hell. His friends die and the world is destroyed, byt Lylia is unharmed. She transforms into her demonic form. He is still drawn to her, but awakens soon thereafter. He dismisses it as a dream.

    Lylia however realizes that the dream could be a portent or warning, and though she does not know the source she dismisses Inarius or Lucion of planting it in Uldyssian.

    [b]Important Points:[/b]
    Characters
    • Romus is a bearded and bald man with a scar across his face, and apparently a criminal in Partha. Romus removes it himself when Uldyssian awakens the gift in him.
    Cosmology
    • Uldyssian has a dream that is clearly a vision of what could be, and it is very accurate and contains information that he does not have himself. Either he possesses some form of sight into the future, or Trag-Oul/Rathma gave it to him. It is alluded that is the case, but not confirmed.


    [b]FOURTEEN[/b]
    [b]Pages:[/b] 194-208
    [b]POV:[/b] Lucion, Uldyssian
    [b]Characters:[/b] Astrogha, Balthazar, Ethon, Herodius, Ikarion
    [b]Locations:[/b] Partha, The Grand Temple of the Triune
    [b]Mentioned Characters:[/b] Achilios, Baal, Diablo, Malic, Mendeln, Mephisto, Romus, Serenthia, Tremas.

    Uldyssian continues his work, and more people begint o show signs of powers. People from outside of Partha are now also coming since the news started to spread.

    That night, Uldyssian takes a walk. His friends seem to grow more distant by the day, though he does not understand why. As he walks the streets alone, he is attacked by an unknown foe (probably a morlu). Achilios timely arrival saves him, though the attacker escapes. Uldyssian wonders how Achilios knew, and the hunter responds that he had a hunch.

    Heading back, the encounter Ethon. He asks to inspect Achilios bow, and remarks that he'd like to see it in action again, though neither Uldyssian nor Achilios seem to connect that to the attacm just before that.

    Lucion meanwhile summons two other powerful demons, one from Diablo and one from Baal, to perform some powerful spell he cannot do on his own. He bargains with them by offering the body of a dead priest, and this binds them to the bargain.

    [b]Important Points:[/b]
    Characters
    • Achilios seems to be able to tell when his friends are in danger, and also knows where they are in those situations.
    • Tremas was Achilios father.
    • Balthazar and Herodius are the high priests of Bala and Dialon in the Triune, though it is not clear which for which.
    • Ikarion is a priest of the Triune. He knows Lucion's true nature.
    • Tomal is priest of the Triune. He knew Ikarion and brought the latter's sisters to Lucion to satisfy his tastes.
    Cosmology
    • Lucion does not mind basking in Mephisto and the other Prime Evils glory.
    • Astrogha is a demon of Diablo.
    • Gulag is a demon of Baal. Appearance: "It took on a shape vaguely humanoid, vaguely porcine. Its body still maintained the stone design of the original floor, but approximately where the head should have been, three eyestalks suddenly sprouted."
    • “Stupid is Gulag,” came Astrogha’s monstrous voice from above. “Like his master he is…”
    • Clear reference is made to the stupidity of Baal's servants by Lucion, thinking: "It was as close to an acquiescence as Lucion would get from one of Baal’s minions."


    [b]FIFTEEN[/b]
    [b]Pages:[/b] 209-221
    [b]POV:[/b] Uldyssian
    [b]Characters:[/b] Cedric, Ethon
    [b]Locations:[/b] Partha
    [b]Mentioned Characters:[/b] Achilios, Cyrus, Jonas, Lylia, Malic, the Primus, Romus

    Ethon, seeing Uldyssian is troubled, invites him to his study at midnight the next day. There they talk about the attacker, and Ethon suggests that Uldyssian should ride out and meet Malic, thus saving everyone else from danger. Just as Uldyssian is about to agree however, he senses that something is wrong with Ethon. at that moment, a morlu jumps down from the roof and grabs him, and Ethon is revealed to be Malic, who has taken the skin of the merchant and clad himself in it.

    Malic is also hunting for Lylia, though she eludes capture. Uldyssian tries to escape, and pushes his two guards out of the window. He deafeats them and rushes back inside.

    The chapter ends with a morlu descending his ax on Uldyssian.

    [b]Important Points:[/b]
    • None


    [b]SIXTEEN[/b]
    [b]Pages:[/b] 222-233
    [b]POV:[/b] Achilios, Mendeln, Uldyssian
    [b]Characters:[/b] Cedric, Damos, Serenthia
    [b]Locations:[/b] Partha
    [b]Mentioned Characters:[/b] Ethon, Lylia, Malic

    Achilios awakes during the night and sees Cedric walking around looking into rooms. He follows Cedric, but the boy is a morlu and fights with Achilios. His bow, previously disabled by Malic in disguise two chapters earlier, he misses his shots and is about to die when Mendeln saves him by uttering words of power and killing the morlu.

    Serenthia bursts out of her room, Achilios kills another morlu and they all rush into Udlyssain's room, where he is fighting yet another morlu.

    Mendeln stays behind while the others rush to the study. He realizes that the morlu, despite appearances, aren't dead, and perform a ritual to kill them completely.

    Uldyssian storms into the study, where he finds Malic and a morlu dead.

    [b]Important Points:[/b]
    • None


    [b]SEVENTEEN[/b]
    [b]Pages:[/b] 234-245
    [b]POV:[/b] Uldyssian, Mendeln, the Prophet
    [b]Characters:[/b] Achilios, Lylia, Mendeln, Trag'Oul
    [b]Locations:[/b] Partha, The Cathedral of Light
    [b]Mentioned Characters:[/b] Cedric, Ethon, Lucion, Malic

    Uldyssian finds Lylia, who has killed both Malic and a morlu. Mendeln is suspicious of her, but Uldyssian trusts her story and dismisses any doubts.

    Mendeln begins to preach the teachings of Trag'Oul, though he doesn't realize it yet.

    Uldyssian is concerned about him, but sees that the message does good.

    Achilios approaches Uldyssian about Serenthia. The hunter is in love with her, and she with Uldyssian, but Achilios believes she may love him one day. Achilios says she wants to stay in Partha, and in turn so does he. Uldyssian is part glad and part sad by this revelation.

    Mendeln is coming to grips with his connection to death. He realizes someone watches over him, yet he is not frightened but rather curious of that fact. He enters the graveyard again, where Trag'Oul gives him a short message to stay with Uldyssian, and Mendeln races to catch him before he leaves Partha. He does not realize who Trag'Oul is at this point.

    Meanwhile, the Prophet paces the top of the tower of the cathedral and thinks about his current situation.

    [b]Important Points:[/b]
    Characters
    • Mendeln now sees better in the dark than even Achilios, or so he thinks at least. It is almost as good as during the day.
    Partha
    • A blue sash across the chest is the way Parthan's honor the death of a great man.


    [b]EIGHTEEN[/b]
    [b]Pages:[/b] 246-260
    [b]POV:[/b] Uldyssian
    [b]Characters:[/b] Lilith, Lylia, Mendeln
    [b]Locations:[/b] Partha, land outside of Partha
    [b]Mentioned Characters:[/b] Achilios, Cyrus, Inarius, Malic, the Primus

    Uldyssian sneaks out of Partha alone and leaves for Kehjan, having realized that he cannot make Lylia stay behind any other way. She follows him however and cathes up just outside of Partha. She tries to convince him to take her with him, but just as he is about to budge, her true visage is revealed to him. Lylia tries to tell him it's a spell of the Primus, but Uldyssian does not believe it. Lilth, realizing this, drops the facade.

    She confesses to having summoned the storm and guided the lightning, as well as saying that she has guided Uldyssian all the time, this being the reason he has shown such quick progress. She also admits to killing the missionaries in Seram, as well as being related to Lucion and having had Inarius as her lover.

    Disheartened, Uldyssian thinks himself only a puppet, then realizes there must be more to him than that. Despite her demonic appearance, she seduces him anew, then disappears, having told him to see what he would be without her. He believes her every word.

    [b]Important Points:[/b]
    Cosmology
    • Physical description of Lilith again: "Rather, it was taller and hideously scaled, with a mass of fiery quills for hair, quills that ran down the spine to…to a reptilian tail ending in savage barbs. Where the delicate hands had been were now clawed fingers—four, not five. Worse, the feet were like hooves, yet splayed, too. The body was unclad and, although monstrous, still very, very female. The lush curves enticed, drawing his eyes despite his dismay. But most horrific of all was that, when he looked up into the face —the face with its burning orbs that had no pupils and teeth designed for shredding—he could still see the features that he recognized as that of the woman he loved.
    • “Are you ill?” the creature asked in her voice, a black, forked tongue darting in and out with each word."
    • Lilith is revlealed to be Lucion's brother, and to have had Inarius as a lover.
    • Lilith reveals that humans were originally born from angels and demons.
    • Lilith: "From demon and angel came the nephalem, greater than anything ever created in the cosmos!"
    Geography
    • There is a strange break in climate near Kehjan. One moment you're in warm jungle, in the next in snow, as if some spirit had shaped the world at a whim.


    [b]NINETEEN[/b]
    [b]Pages:[/b] 261-275
    [b]POV:[/b] Uldyssian, Lucion, Rathma
    [b]Characters:[/b] Achilios, Mendeln, Serenthia
    [b]Locations:[/b] Woods outside of Partha, The Great Temple of the Triune.
    [b]Mentioned Characters:[/b] Lylia

    Uldyssian is found in the woods where he has passed out. He tells of Lilith to Achilios, Mendeln and Serenthia. They are all horrified, but believe him, and they head back to Partha. Disheartened, Uldyssian tries to run away. Achilios chases after him, but falls of his horse, causing Uldyssian to return for him. The party reuinited, they head of Toraja.

    Lucion meanwhile is looking at Uldyssian through a spell. He places a spell on Malic's arm that, when touched by Lilith, would make her vulnerable to Lucion's machinations.

    He had been the one to reveal her to Uldyssian.

    A conversation between Rathma and Trag'Oul takes place in the dream world the dragon inhibits.

    [b]Important Points:[/b]
    Cosmology
    • Astrogha is hinted to be more smart than Gulag because of his relation to Diablo: "The spider was a more cunning creature, being of Diablo’s calling."
    • A hint is dropped that Lucion may have plans of his own that are not in accordance with his father's wishes: "It would not be difficult to keep his two counterparts ignorant, for there was much that he had done since assuming his role as Primus of which they were unaware…of which even his father was unaware."
    • Physical description of Trag-Oul: "Above him, what appeared to be an array of distant stars formed. At first, they clustered together, but quickly began to spread far part. As they did, they formed a vague shape. Like a constellation, the stars create a half-seen, gargantuan image that, to his trained eye, resembled a beast as mythic as himself."
    Geography
    • The deepest part of the Torajan jungle lies to the southwest of Kehjan.
    Temple of the Triune
    • The spell that Lucion requested Astrogha and Gulag to help him with was a spell that allowed him to see Uldyssian from his temple.


    [b]TWENTY[/b]
    [b]Pages:[/b] 276-289
    [b]POV:[/b] Uldyssian
    [b]Characters:[/b] Achilios, Mendeln, Romus, Serenthia
    [b]Locations:[/b] Lowlands before Tojara., Tojaran jungles
    [b]Mentioned Characters:[/b] Lylia

    The party rides towards Tojara. On the way there they enter Lowlands, which are devoid of almost all large vegetation. The next day, they enter the jungles, and both Achilios and Uldyssian spot something which looks like a tree yet which cealry isn't.

    Achilios hunts two reptiles which are about five feet long, probably juvenile crocodiles. Uldyssian goes to look for firewood, and finds a Thorned Hulk who kneels before him. As Achilios comes however, the creature disappears back in the jungle.

    Achilios sees this as proof Uldyssian is of special significance, but Uldyssian does not believe it.

    Mendeln disappears in the dead of the night when Uldyssian is on guard. When he goes to look for him, he encoutners a host of Parthans led by Romus who've been following Uldyssian since his disappearance from their town.

    [b]Important Points:[/b]
    Monsters
    • Achilios and Uldyssian both see something which must be a Thorned Hulk in the jungles.


    [b]TWENTY-ONE[/b]
    [b]Pages:[/b] 290-303
    [b]POV:[/b] Mendeln, Uldyssian
    [b]Characters:[/b] Achilios, Bartha, Lucion, Nicodemus, Romus, Serenthia
    [b]Locations:[/b] Tojaran jungles
    [b]Mentioned Characters:[/b] Cedric, Cyrus, Ethon, Lylia, Nicodemus

    Mendeln is awakened in the middle of the night by someone calling his name. Not fearing it, he follows it out in the jungle where he finds and obelisk with the same ancient writing he's seen before. He reads and learn more and more as he does so.

    Uldyssian realizes that a quarter of Partha has followed him, and all are ready to follow him should he give the word. They go back to camp, but Uldyssian is again filled with doubt and try to flee once more.

    As he does, a white horse appears in the woods. Believing it to be a stray mount of the Parthans, he is about to mount it when Mendeln shows up and warns him of it. He says it is a demon in disguise, but Uldyssian doubts him, thinking Mendeln is the demon, not regocnizing his brother. Mendeln comes though, and Uldyssian breaks free of a trance that was maintained by Lucion. The demon attempts to trick Uldyssian yet again however, and they both tryto convince Uldyssian they speak the truth.

    Lucion's subterfuge fails however, and he resorts to force instead. Mendeln is pulled away, likely by Rathma/Trag-Oul, and Uldyssian is left in the hands of Lucion.

    [b]Important Points:[/b]
    Characters
    • Nicodemus is a native of Partha and a good tracker.
    Cosmology
    • Lucion calls Mephisto "“But you never were, human. I am Lucion, son of Mephisto, the greatest of the Prime Evils!" This may be a biased statement due to Lucion's heritage.


    [b]TWENTY-TWO[/b]
    [b]Pages:[/b] 304-319
    [b]POV:[/b] Achilios, Uldyssian
    [b]Characters:[/b] Bartha, Lucion, Romus, Serenthia
    [b]Locations:[/b] Tojaran jungles
    [b]Mentioned Characters:[/b] Inarius, Lilith Lylia, Mendeln

    Back in camp, Achilios and Serenthia immediately sense something's wrong with Uldyssian and Mendeln.

    Achilios puts an arrow in Lucion's throat, but the demon simply heals. Serenthia brings the entire camp to bring down Lucion, but the peasants can do nothing but throw rocks and are no match. Uldyssian struggles but cannot free himself.

    Achilios continues to fire arrows, but it killed by Lucion. As he prepares to slay Serenthia, the Parthans begin their attack anew with magic. Just as they are about to die, Uldyssian breaks free of his mental block and saves the Parthans at the same time.

    Uldyssian fights with the demon, until eventually he deafeats him by willing him out of existence. Lucion simply ceases to be.

    Afterwards he heals all who can be healed, but Achilios cannot be saved. They bury Achilios.

    [b]Important Points:[/b]
    Characters
    • Achilios dies.
    Cosmology
    • Lucion's comment on angels: “Well, ‘never’ is a relative term with her. Inarius should’ve known better. He should have slain her, but his kind always was too sentimental.”
    • Lucion's appearance: "Lucion stood half again taller than the demoness and much broader, but he, too, had the thorns that acted as mane all the way down his scaled back. Yet, where she had only had one tail, her cursed brother had three, all spiked from top to tip with daggerlike projects longer than Uldyssian’s hand.
    • Lucion took a step toward him again and, in doing so, revealed that he also had the hooved legs his sister did. His hands were different, though, for the fingers on each numbered more than five and the claws were like those of a badger, but dripping with what surely had to be poison.
    • And of the face, only the eyes were identical. Lucion, who played at being the handsome, schooled cleric, was a beast whose head more resembled a toad. His mouth was wider than the top of his skull, and row upon row of teeth greeted Uldyssian. The brother of Lilith had no nose, not even nostrils, and his chin was hooked so sharply in the middle that Uldyssian could almost imagine it being used as a weapon."
    • Lucion about Lilith: "Lilith is every creature’s desire, you know. She had so many lovers besides you, but only one did she love…oh, but not you.” An exageration probably, but there is a hint of truth to it, since we know Inarius was the only one she loved.
    Partha
    • It is Parthan tradition to burn the dead, as opposed to Seram where the dead are buried.


    [b]TWENTY-THREE[/b]
    [b]Pages:[/b] 320-326
    [b]POV:[/b] Uldyssian, Astrogha
    [b]Characters:[/b] Mendeln, Romus, Serenthia
    [b]Locations:[/b] Tojaran jungle, the Grand Temple of the Triune.
    [b]Mentioned Characters:[/b] Achilios, Bartha, Cyrus, Gulag, Lilith, Lucion, Mephisto

    As the final corpses are burned, Uldyssian decides that the Temple must be brougth down. The rest of the Parthans, as well as Serenthia and Mendeln, are with him.
    Uldyssian akss Mendeln what is happening to him, but his brother replies that he does not yet know.
    In the Grand Temple of the Triune, Astrogha is startled by the return of the Primus. It is in fact however Lilith, posing as her brother, who returns.

    And Inarius, having watched events (though it is not clear which or to what extent) is pleased with how events unfold.

    [b]Important Points:[/b]
    Cosmology
    • Astrogha wonders whether Lucion had thought the nephalem could have raised him above the Prime Evils.
    • Astrogha and Gulag are representatives of Diablo and Baal, although Lucion was intended to lead: "Generally, the arachnid would retreat to one of the towers until Lucion was done with whatever it was he was working on. As the demon chosen to lead, Lucion had benefits that Astrogha often envied."
    Posted in: Backstage Archives (Pre-Release)
  • 1

    posted a message on + Diablo Database Project +
    Quote from Magistrate

    3) UI = user interface. I'm just going to copy the basic structure of WoWHead and Rift DB :confused: What I was going for was not simple enough.
    Don't beat yourself over the head with it. After all, Rift copied wowhead ;)
    Posted in: Backstage Archives (2013- Feb 2019)
  • 1

    posted a message on + Diablo Database Project +
    Quote from Magistrate

    The txt's, once again (unfortunately!), do not store any value which specifies if an item is elite, exceptional, or normal, so that would have to be manually added to every row.
    Not exactly. Weapons.txt and armor.txt have three columns called normcode, ubercoda and ultracode (normal, exceptional, elite).

    Crystal Sword, Dimensional Blade and Phase Blade all have crs, 9cr, 7cr, since crs is the code for crystal sword, 9cr for dimensional and 7cr for phase.

    So you can compare an items code value and see which of these three columns it matches with: that's it's quality level :)
    Posted in: Backstage Archives (2013- Feb 2019)
  • 3

    posted a message on Staff Quotes
    This just had to be done, way too much awesome going on in the staff forums (and shoutbox) for us not to record some of it before it drowns in archives. Unfortunately, we can't share this with teh common board. This is just a beginning, and the only ones I remember right now, but I figure it's a work in progress :)

    Standalone Staff Quotes
    Don
    "But yes, incgamers could adopt the tagline "For whiny little kids, by whiny little kids, since 1997"."
    when Incgamers trashed our interview of the Male DH announcement.

    "Criticizing Blizzard --> totally fine.

    Criticizing the economical system we live in --> totally fine.

    Criticizing Blizzard BECAUSE OF the economical system we live in --> Err... what?"

    outlining Flux's argument as to why Blizzard North was superior

    "Feelings are irrelevant, for I am the Ban-tron 5000, the latest in inhumane automated moderators!"
    showing the mod team how modding is done.

    FingolfinGR
    Whoever opened the door to 2008 please close it on the way out.
    In response to a thread about the art direction created in 2011.

    Mags
    "I think he's going to be one of those benchmark members that we compare future ones to when we look back."
    in reference to BarlowEnter and his very cryptic writing style.

    "Please leave your sanity at the door and hang your dignity in the closet down the hall. If you would like a better position, simply deposit your soul in the trash bin on floor three and notice of your lack of life will earn you a near instant promotion."
    welcoming Zero(ps) and Wingless to the team

    Phrozen
    "Stones can't do shit."
    talking about the soulstones and why the Prime Evils needed bodies in D1 and D2.

    Scyber
    "Bashiok farted today!"

    "What does it mean?"

    "That Blizzard's full of shit!"

    during the DiabloCast joking about people who overanalyze Bashiok's every action.

    Solomir
    I find the lore on your Wiki lacking, and since its mostly yourself who has edited it, I find you lacking.
    when commenting on Leord's work over at diablowiki.net

    Stormy
    "Rainbow Warriors"
    refering to people who flame D3's art style

    Umpa
    "Lol! She just...refuses to be wrong. I don't think I've ever met someone who REFUSES to EVER be wrong EVER."
    talking about Equinox in the Shoutbox

    Quote Chains
    Helios, Siaynoq and Thasador
    "as my butt hole tightened up everytime it was a close call."
    Helios talking about what happens when he's close to dying while playing.

    "I'm actually glad Helios mentioned that. Cause before when playing a video game and I was about to die, or my guy was about to fall off a narrow ledge, or whenever there was a moment like that, my butthole would also tighten up. Stimulus response, I suppose. But I could never get other people to admit that this happens to them too."
    Siaynoq in response.

    "Everyone who is a gamer should have already experienced the "Sphinktor Reflex Syndrom". Side effects include, muscle spasm in the glute region, involuntary muscle movements in the quads, abdominal, and arm regions when experiencing difficult game play, eyelidsnotclosingism, and more."
    And Thasador commenting on the situation in general.

    Apoc and Phrozen
    "A wild Force appears!"
    Apoc greeting Force to the team.

    "Apoc used an Ultraball. It appeared to be caught!"
    And PhrozenDragon continuing on the same track.

    Don and DaeDae
    "Flying is safe because the planes are serviced and monitored constantly and there is little to no chance of collision with air traffic control in place. The crew is also a non-issue because there is always 2-3 people that can fly the plane aboard. In most reasonable scenarios at least one is capable of flying the plane down to the nearest airport. Most air traffic accidents happen in the third world only because the planes are worn beyond their intended use and the security routines aren't as thorough. When flying in the western world, it's about as safe as it gets. Road safety is worse because a car can always break and it's not that impossible for a DUI-driver to hit you. You're more likely to contract a deadly disease than die in an air traffic accident. "
    Don_Guillotine explaining to Umpa the dangers of flight.

    "Don uses Wall of Text! It's super effective! Daemaro has fainted."
    and Daemaro suffering ill effects because of it.

    Force and Sixen
    "i see nothing. and jeesus Zhuge, full thoughts in a shoutbox message. taking up a whole damn page with two word lines! ;)
    Force commening on zhuge's posting habits in the shoutbox.

    "That's zhuge in a nutshell."
    And Sixen replying.

    Scyber and Winged
    "I have internet again!!"
    ScyberDragon after getting internet back after moving

    "Welcome back to real life!"
    and Winged congratulating him.
    Posted in: Backstage Archives (2013- Feb 2019)
  • 1

    posted a message on New Mod Guidelines
    No you don't look for it. You just press print screen, open paint, and paste. That's it, it's not saved as a file anywhere :confused:
    Posted in: Manager's Forum
  • 1

    posted a message on Activision Blizzard Q4 2010 Financial Results Conference Call
    Quote from Don_guillotine

    I officially hate the werehamster for being right with the 2012 club.

    Nah, no kidding,
    No you're not kidding. You're dead serious, and you want to curse his hamsterbeing to be eternally stabbed by little bone fetish knives.

    You're not dead yet 2011! Right...?
    Posted in: News & Announcements
  • 1

    posted a message on Download Diablo II Music, Cinematics and Speech
    Added a new sounds archive, I'd forgotten to include the expansion sounds in the previous one.
    Posted in: Diablo II
  • 1

    posted a message on Download Diablo II Music, Cinematics and Speech
    And added :)
    Posted in: Diablo II
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