After years of speculation, rumors, and leaks, Blizzard finally confirmedDiablo 4through animpressive CG trailer at BlizzCon 2019. While Blizzard has gone fairly silent with any news and updates, the studio did make it clear that the game is usingDiablo 2as inspiration for the art design. The teams mantra is embrace the darkness, a reference to the art style of the third game getting away from traditional franchise values.
Classic characters like the Barbarian and Druid are also making a return, though fans were quickly introduced to a returning villain in the debut trailer forDiablo 4. Lilith, Queen of the Succubi and Daughter of the Prime Evil Mephisto, returned to the world through a grotesque and bloody summoning ritual. While Diablo is likely going to be playing another major role as the Lord of Terror typically does, Lilith will no doubt be one of the main antagonists as well.
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Lilith, while never officially having been shown inside any of the three games to this point, is a major character in the series along with the fallen angel Inarius. Here’s what makes the two rogue characters so important.
Rebelling Against Their Kin
Advisor to the Angiris Councel and serving under the Archangel of Justice Tyrael, Inarius was a skilled warrior during the Great Conflict between the High Heavens and Burning Hells. However, eons of fighting soured his outlook on the battle and sought to escape from the never-ending conflict. During a battle at the Pandemonium Fortress, Inarius was wounded and captured byLilith, Daughter of the Lord of Hatred, Mephisto.
Like Inarius, Lilith grew tired of her father’s ideas and approach to the battle. She had also grown disillusioned with the conflict and her chance encounter with Inarius had given her an idea. He told her of his ideas to be free from this battle and decided that he could be manipulated to help her. She told Inarius her name and soon the two joined forces and eventually fell in love.
Creating Sanctuary and the Nephalim
The duo quickly gained a following of like minded demons and angels who had grown tired of endless war. Eventually, the rebel group gained control of theWorldstone inside of the Pandemonium Fortressand used it to hide if from the sight of the Eternal Conflict. Inarius used the power to create a new world called Sanctuary, free from the ravages of war. The Worldstone was placed inside of Mount Arreat and the power of the artifact was secretly tied directly to Inarius who made himself the strongest being in Sanctuary and its ruler.
With a new world created and both angels and demons now co-existing, Lilith and Inarius had offspring called the nephalem. Containing aspects of both good and evil, these nephalem held power that was much greater than the angels and demons currently living in Sanctuary. Fear and dissension quickly broke out as some were concerned that the greatest sin was the fact that offspring created by an angel and demon would cause the Angiris Council and Prime Evils to take notice.
Pressure was put on Inarius to wipe them out, though he was unable to destroy his own children. Instead, Inarius re-tuned the Worldstone to cause nephalim powers to diminish over time and that any use of powers in his world would be punished. Lilith began turning on her followers over the prospect of her children being killed off.
Where are they now?
Following the carnage brought on by Lilith, Inarius captured and ultimately banished her into an endless realm called the Void, unable to kill her himself. While she eventually escaped during the Sin War, she was eventually defeated and sent back. She remained stuck in the Void for thousands of years until she was eventuallysummoned back into Sanctuaryby a member of the Triune, followers of the Prime Evils.
Inarius eventually disappeared from the public eye, choosing to walk among humanity and manipulate events from behind the scenes. Eventually, the Burning Hells had discovered the existence of Sanctuary, invading the once prosperous and peaceful world. A new generation of nephalem led by Uldyssian also rebelled against both factions which would also cause the High Heavens to get involved in the conflict. As the fighting raged on, Uldyssian not only helped bring down Lilith but altered the Worldstone to destroy the bond Inarius had with it. Ultimately impressed by the nephalem, the Angiris Council agreed to spare Sanctuary and the people living there.
The end of the Sin War also saw an armistice between the Burning Hells and High Heavens, giving mortals free will to decide how to live their life. Part of this deal also saw the once proud ruler of Sanctuary, Inarius, given over to Mephisto where he would be tortured for all eternity. Under the watchful eye of Mephisto, Inarius was bound in chains, his angelic wings slowly torn off, and his body deformed. He remains trapped to this day and his fate is even quickly shown inside of a flashback in theDiablo 4reveal trailer.
Diablo 4is in development for PC, PS4, and Xbox One.
