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TheDiablo 4universe primarily revolves around the world of Sanctuary. A land with a long and storied history, Sanctuary is home to many peoples and geographical places of interest, serving as the primary setting where angels and demons engage in their never-ending war.
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This article will explain how Sanctuary was brought into being, an overview of its history, and the major features that mark the world’s landmasses.
History of Sanctuary
The origins of Sanctuary stem fromthe time of the Great Conflict. In an endless war between the powers of High Heaven and the Burning Hells, angels and demons fought to determinewho would rule the entirety of creation itself. After aeons of bloodshed, an archangel namedInariuseventually grew weary of the endless struggle and began to desire a peaceful resolution. Upon being captured and imprisoned byMephisto, one of the Prime Evils, Inarius then came into contact with Lilith.
The daughter of Mephisto, Lilith shared Inarius' weariness for war andaided the angel in escaping his bonds. Inarius and Lilith became lovers,stealing the Worldstone from the Pandemonium Fortressand using its immense power to fashion a utopian land of their own,which became known as Sanctuary. Hidden from the eyes of Heaven and Hell by the artifact’s power, Inarius shaped Mount Arreat around the object, to protect it from those who would wish harm upon his new world.
However, unknown to Lilith,Inarius had begun siphoning the power of the Worldstoneto increase his own capabilities. The creators of Sanctuary would go on to sire the race that became known as the Nephalem, with their creation and persecution being a major point of contention between the couple.
Lilith would eventually be banished into the Void, but not before she altered the Worldstone to allow her children’s full powers to manifest. A Nephalem called Uldyssian led his people against Inarius ina conflict known as the Sin War, eventually defeating the angel and laying claim to the Worldstone.
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Now known to the realms of Heaven and Hell, Sanctuary was allowed to continue its existence, with the condition that the Nephalem’s powers were once again stripped away. This led to the invasion of Sanctuary by the Prime Evil,Baal, who was able to reach the heart ofMount Arreatand combine his soul with the Worldstone. Fortunately, the archangelTyrealarrived just in time to cast his sword;El’druininto the stone, destroying it.
Sanctuary was drastically altered by this cataclysmic event. The lands of Mount Arreat and the surrounding region of theNorthern Steppesbecame devastated, the area becoming known as theDreadlands. The once lush environment of Sanctuary became steadily more corrupted, and the very nature of the world began to change. The lands became blighted, and human civilization became sporadic, with only a few large populations remaining.
Geography of Sanctuary
The world of Sanctuary is much like the one we would recognise on Earth. It has seasons and a lunar cycle, with the land being divided into various distinct geographical regions. Split into two continents via theTwin Seas, many a traveller has been lost to the temperamental nature of the world’s oceans. TheGreat Sea lies to the West with the Sea of Light to the East. Both landmasses lie south ofthe Frozen Sea.
The Westernmost continent is divided into theWestern Kingdoms(comprised of Khanduras, Entsteig and Westmarch), the Dreadlands, the Skovos Isles, and Aranoch). This continent is much more splintered than its Eastern counterpart, with no large empire controlling a significant proportion.Originally home to the Barbarians, these countries experienced the primary fallout of Mount Arreat’s destruction.
The Dreadlandswere most heavily affected, becoming a barren wasteland, where little life could continue to survive. Ash and dust clog the air, and the former peoples of the Northern Steppes are scattered and divided. Ravaged by growing demonic corruption and outbreaks of plague,the lands are now home to the Demon Hunters, an order of humans hell-bent on destroying the growing demonic presence in Sanctuary.
Diablo 4 focuses onthe Eastern continent ofEstuar. These lands were formerly ruled by the empire ofKehjistan, which was once the primary bastion against the evils that plagued Sanctuary and compromised almost a third of Estuar’s landmass. Over time, however, the empire fell to ruin, and now is but a shell of its former self, the majority of its lands forgotten. Residing in theBorderlands, the Kehjistani populace now perpetually lives in fear of further hardships.
The Fractured Peaks is where Diablo 4’s campaign begins. A snowy, mountainous region, it is populated by largely small rural settlements, although the capital ofKyovoshadis large enough to support a strong military force, that helps to defend the lands against demonic invaders.
The other regions of Diablo 4 are:
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