Chapter 226. The Making of Monsters
With Sanctuary's help, Michael found the woman named Teckrin sitting outside a gazette, reading the newly posted warning.
[ ALMUN
Do not travel through the Ashen Tread in the southeastern Scarred Coast without a mercenary escort!
A horrific demon calling itself Almun scours the area for its next victim! ]
Realizing that the location of this demon was close in not the same area as one of his Side Quests, Michael prayed that he wouldn't have to face it.
"Hello. Lorath sent me. Have you heard from the Orbei Monastery?"
[*Sigh* No. No word from Orbei. Same as yesterday and the day before, but... I have something else. Rumor has it a pale man passed through the Abahru Canyons some time ago. Fearsome fellow dressed in black. After Lorath's performance last night, I wager he'll want to know.](Teckrin)
"Thank you very much. I will pass on the message. I am not in the know about it, so can you tell me about this Orbei Monastery? It's my first time hearing about it today."
[Orbei was once a prominent base of learning for Zakarum monks. In the 13th century, it was involved with the Zakarum Inquisition, demanding reports from Karamat's Reach on the results of their experiments with Cages of Binding.](Teckrin)
"Where is Karmat's Reach?"
[Karamat's Reach was a Zakarum outpost in Hawezar, though according to Cormond, the outpost was a pre-existing structure appropriated by Zakarum rather than built by the church itself. It was a base of operations for the Zakarum Inquisition, which conducted experiments with Cages of Binding on Malignant/Malignant-like creatures. Those present reported to Orbei Monastery. The experiments progressed to the point where they could extract Malignant Hearts, but as before, it always resulted in the subject's death. The experiments apparently had a theological bent to them as well, as they sought to remove "the darkness from the light." After 112 days of experiments, the inquisitors created a perfect cage that simply killed the subject and, in so doing, spared them from the fate of malignancy.](Teckrin)
"What about this Cage of Binding?"
[I feel like I should charge you for wasting my time and saliva... The origin of the cages is unclear. According to Cormond, the cages were created in Hawezar by Zakarum, while writings of the Scholars of Orbei indicate that the cages were found by Zakarum in 1236 and distributed among their outposts. During the Zakarum Inquisition, experiments with the cages were carried out in Karamat's Reach (which Cormond speculated to be the site where the Cages were created) on Malignant or Malignant-like creatures. The ritual was fatal to all it was used upon as they tried to separate darkness from light. They were able to create a cage that simply killed the creature. Karamat's Reach was later sealed, and the cages were confiscated.](Teckrin)
"What happened next?"
[By the Great Enmity, despite the efforts of Zakarum worshipers, the monastery fell into a state of dilapidation and was abandoned. However, it still attracted Zakarum pilgrims, making their way along the road to the monastery in wagons. The Scholars of Orbei operated out of the monastery.](Teckrin)
"What is..."
[Goddamn it, kid! You don't even know about the Great Enmity!?](Teckrin)
"Uhm... I didn't even ask about it yet..."
Shyly scratching his left cheek, Michael was embarrassed, but it wasn't often that he could find such a good exposition character like Teckrin. The woman's knowledge was vast, and she definitely liked hearing herself talk.
[Get lost! Your eyes shone brighter than a cat's upon seeing food when you heard me mention the Great Enmity. *Sigh* I'll make sure to charge Lorath for this! It's a period of time.
In the aftermath of Malthael's defeat, humanity was beset by religious schisms, war, and famine... such is the death toll of the Reapers. At the same time, Heaven, having also suffered, shutters its gates to the realms beyond. Tyrael departs from the Horadric Vault for reasons unknown and leaves Lorath Nahr in charge of the Horadrim, but eventually, the group falls apart without the angel's leadership.
Then, the Great Enmity descends on Sanctuary, a time of strife between kings and warlords.
Keep in mind that the following events are not necessarily in chronological order and may occur after 1318, but the gist of it is like this:
1. Decades after Malthael's defeat, the Sanctuary has been reduced to a bleak and shattered hellscape. Demons roam with impunity, and Sanctuary's people huddle in the darkness, struggling to survive demons and fellow Man alike.
2. The empire of Kehjistan collapses due to demonic invasion and various wars. The Child Emperor Hakan II orders the gates of Caldeum sealed in a bid to weather the storm.
3. The Drowned invade the coasts of Sanctuary. They successfully conquer the entire coast of Scosglen.
4. Having returned to Sanctuary, Inarius reforms the Cathedral of Light.](Teckrin)
Eyes shining, Michael pestered the woman to 'add him' to her Ring of Communication. She was too valuable to be left alone.
After checking the Horadric Vault with Neyrelle and the sisters before, he was able to confirm that the year they were in was 1336.
According to Teckrin, the whole mess caused by Malthael, the former Archangel of Death, happened around 1286.
With the creation of a timeline, the Necromancer was over the moon with happiness. As soon as he had a bit of time, he would write a book of his own, describing the timeline of the Sanctuary from Diablo I to the current Diablo IV he was 'playing.'
[ Main Quest update - Spreading Darkness
Objective: Return to update Lorath. ]
Seeing the Sanctuary telling him to hurry, Michael snorted and left Teckrin behind after thanking her one more time.
When he found Lorath at the same patch of mud he had fought a goat over, the man looked tidier and cleaner. Furthermore, the weapon in his hands was a clear hint of his determination to find and stop his former apprentice.
Handing the hungover and hungry ex-Horadrim a sandwich, he started a conversation with the man.
"Here you go, sir Lorath Nahr."
[Thank you. Seems like Teckrin is as chatty as always.](Lorath)
"If it wouldn't be for our urgent business, I would like to spend at least a couple of weeks with her."
[Careful. You might end up being beaten by Captain Helen if she hears you. Did anything of note happen in Fractured Peaks recently? I haven't been able to keep track.](Lorath)
"Well..."
Telling Lorath of the whole Inarius, Lilith, Rathma mess, Michael felt like a kid complaining to his grandpa.
He did notify the ex-Horadrim about it through Beatrice, but it was easier giving him a recounting face-to-face.
[Inarius's stupidity never ceases to amaze. Had he not murdered Rathma, Lilith might have been stopped, but now... Now, she has the Key to Hell. We can assume she'll be looking for a door.](Lorath)
"Well... about that. I've actually met her in Scosglen."
Hearing about Scosglen, Astaroth, and Donan's loss, Lorath sighed heavily. Michael also shared his theory about Lilith needing to return to Hell for some reason and asking Astaroth for safe passage.
[Oh, Donan. The poor fool never could have guessed that Lilith would come for Astaroth, let alone offer his boy to it. But what did she buy in return? The Charred Duke hails from the Realm of Hatred, the same as her. Perhaps she left something at home and now wants to retrieve it?](Lorath)
"We know too little and have too much of a mess on our hands. So, let's take care of the issue with your former apprentice first. Teckrin had no message from the Orbei Monastery, but there was another message."
[Strange. I wrote to the Orbei Monastery the day I arrived. The Abbot should have replied by now... What did Teckrin say?](Lorath)
"She spoke of a rumor. A pale man, seen near the canyons."
[The canyons? Why didn't you say so earlier? We go at once! *Groan* But we can't leave Orbei unchecked-- Sod it, I'm off to the canyons. You can meet me there, or you can go to the monastery. You seem reliable thus far. Hope you won't prove me wrong.](Lorath)
"Hmm... I'll check on the monastery first and then join you to search for the canyons. How does that sound? It's better to go together, since things might get complicated by yourself."
[*Sigh* That's fine.](Lorath)
Judging by how things usually went, Orbei Monastery was probably razed to the ground, and all its monks had already become undead.
Going there for a quick search would be sufficient. Then, they could search for Elias's trail together.
[ Main Quest complete - The Spreading Darkness
Reward 1: 33,440 experience points
Reward 2: 2,550 gold coins. ]
[ Main Quest issued - Suffering Disquiet
Objective: Travel to the Orbei Monastery to speak with the Abbot
Description: Lorath has sent you to Orbei Monastery to speak with the Abbot, who may have more to share about the reasons Elias would have come to Dry Steppes. ]
[ Main Quest issued - Whittling Sanity
Objective: Head with Lorath to the Abahru Canyon
Description: You learned at Ked Bardu that a pale man dressed in black has been seen in Abahru Canyon. If that was Elias, a former Horadrim, you fear what lies ahead. ]
After reading the ominous description of the last Quest, Michael rolled his eyes at the dramatic Sanctuary and returned his attention to Lorath.
There was more intel he could extract from this hungover man before he left for the monastery.
"What did you want with the Orbei Monastery?"
[The Scholars of Rrbei devote their lives to the study of forbidden knowledge. 'To serve the Light, we must know the Darkness,' or some other silly platitude. I wrote to the Abbot seeking insights on Lilith. His silence is most unusual since he's similar to Teckrin in this regard. The man never misses a chance to speak.](Lorath)
"I'll head there first to check then. What about Elias? Do you have any inkling as to why he would summon Lilith?"
[*Scoff* 'Is he insane?' you mean. Elias was an exceptional Mage. He would plunge through fire and shite in search of the truth... and very often found it. Whatever 'truth' he has found in Lilith, only he can say the why of it. I'll go meet with Teckrin and get some lunch. Come find me after you get some information from the Abbot.](Lorath)
Shrugging and leaving the man to his own devices, Michael checked the MAP.
Orbei Monastery was south of Ked Bardu, and the distance wasn't too far. It was already 3 p.m., so if all went well, he should return by 4.
'Nice red flag, dipshit... *Sigh* Let's hope nothing too crazy happens.'
A bit annoyed at his own prediction as well as the multitude of red flags planted by Lorath through his exposition, the Necromancer was already preparing for the worst.
Fortunately, on his way to the monastery, he could 'farm' some bandits for his Side Quest. The fewer cannibalistic thieves exist in the world, the better.
Moving through the Wayward Plains, the Sanctuary marked on the MAP the location of some of the 'targets', and Michael indulged. For about half an hour.
"Tks, tsk, tsk! I think my mental sanity is dropping rapidly. Fuck me... I had to use 3 damned Cleaning Marbles. Who the fuck lives in those sorts of conditions!?"
He tried pushing out the image of disgusting human body parts being cooked and eaten by the bandits, as well as the human blood smearing every corner of the hideout.
Fortunately, after this quick raid, he managed to recover five crates of food supplies, which counted for his Side Quest.
Remembering Lorath, who was still waiting for him at the Inn, Michael decided to hurry up, just in case the ex-Horadrim started drinking again.
Moving through the Khurel Passage further south, he soon found the Brackish Pans and a small hidden bridge leading to the Orbei Monastery. The absolute silence was worrying, but he had no choice in the matter.
The location looked like something straight out of a horror movie, and seeing the sky darken due to ominous clouds didn't help at all.
"Hmm? Is that a Side Quest?"
Opening his MAP, he saw a Side Quest being highlighted by the Sanctuary.
Curious, he checked its description.
[ Side Quest: Exhuming Faith (Level 50+)
Description: Walk the Zakarum pilgrim path for great rewards. ]
Curiosity got the better of him, and thinking that it might be related to his Main Quest, Michael approached the place.
There was nothing and no one nearby, with only the old buildings slowly falling prey to the elements.
"A house of the Zakarum left alone to rot? How amusing and ironic."
As for what the Zakarum Order was, it could be called the predecessor of the Cathedral of Light, albeit an older and already fallen religion.
Remembering the foolish Monk seeking knowledge after being brought by Elias to serve as a sacrifice that would facilitate Lilith's crossing into the Sanctuary, he recalled what he read in one of the books he borrowed from the Horadric Vault.
"Akarat, the original founder of the Zakarum."