"I sense a soul in search of answers."
—Adria[1]
Adria the Witch was a practitioner of magic, and a servant of Diablo.
Biography
Early Life
- "Akarat's bane, the fire burned with unnatural wrath. Two guards succumbed to the inferno, the Light-forsaken heat roasting them in their armor. Water had no noticeable effect on the flames at first. It took a full day to extinguish the blaze."
—An excerpt from one of the reports made on Adria's fire[2]
Adria was born in Kingsport[2] in the 1220s[3] as the daughter of a merchant named Sevrin.[2] At a young age, she resented her father, seeing him as more interested in his wealth and possessions than his own flesh and blood.
Adria saw a witch for the first time when her father took her to the town square to see one being burnt at the stake in public. He told her to look at the woman, at what he called "the face of evil." But when Adria looked, the witch looked like any normal person. And when the fire was lit, she burnt like any normal person. As the flames consumed her, the witch met Adria's eyes...and laughed.[4]
Before Adria's tenth year, Sevrin lost a small fortune when his ships were destroyed in a storm, and in a fit of drunken rage, killed Adria's mother. Sevrin was arrested by the city guards, but due to his wealth and influence, was able to secure a pardon. During this time, Adria lingered outside the jailhouse. When Sevrin was released, the two went back to living at their dockside abode.
Not long after these events, Sevrin's home caught fire in the dead of night. Standing outside,[2] Adria heard his screams and could smell his burning flesh, later describing it as "sickly sweet." Adria later reflected that it was only in his last moments that her father truly saw her, and only in those last moments did he understand what she was.[4] Afterwards, Adria vanished into the night. Deckard Cain would later speculate that Adria had played a role in the blaze.[2]
The Coven
- "Adria and Maghda. Two as one. Bound together as the Lesser Evils Duriel and Andariel are. They gave our lives meaning, and in return asked only for devotion. There was nothing we would not do for them. Nothing they would not do for one another."
—The writing of one of the Coven's former members.[2]
Adria and Maghda
After these events, it appears that Adria fled to the wilderness around Kingsport, and perhaps as far north as Westmarch.[2] Adria was labeled as a witch by those she encountered, but found that morality was flexible. When a daughter had a child that needed to disappear, when a sickness needed to be cured, it was her that they turned to.[4] Eventually she became involved with a small and secretive group of witches that existed in the region's remote wilds. Over the years, she became a powerful figure within the circle. It was here that she met another witch, Maghda. The two became close, sharing certain traits in an uncanny manner.[2] Magdha convinced Adria to poison the leaders of the Coven so they could take control.[5] The cult had been floundering prior to their arrival, but they took control and poisoned its leaders. The pair took control of the cult, reforging it into a dangerous new order that practiced torture and demonic summoning. It is said that these witches were fueled by the belief that they were destined to become mortal heralds of the Burning Hells.
Years later,[2] the two had a falling out[6] and Adria left the group,[5] around the time of the Darkening of Tristram.[2] Cain would later speculate that while Maghda had been devoted to the cult, Adria had only been 'passing through,' that she was driven by the allure of power rather than any greater affiliation.[2]
The Darkening of Tristram
"Why don't that old crone do somethin' for a change. Sure, sure, she's got stuff, but you listen to me... she's unnatural. I ain't never seen her eat or drink - and you can't trust somebody who doesn't drink at least a little."
- -Farnham on Adria
Adria
Not long afterwards,[6], with the appearance of the Hellmouth at Tristram, Adria saw an opportunity to both strike a blow against the legions of Hell, and to make some profit in gold and magical artifacts in the process.[3] Thus, Adria arrived in the village while most of its people were fleeing, and constructed a small hut on the edge of the village, seemingly overnight.[2] Many of the remaining villagers were wary of her, both in regards to her skill in magic, and her procurement of magical items.[1] She made no secret of being a witch,[7] and Deckard Cain was one of the few individuals to interact with her.[8] The pair spent many nights in the Tavern of the Rising Sun, discussing Horadric texts and the various arcana Adria had collected during her travels.[9] Cain found her knowledge about mysticism and demonology most valuable, though he did find her behavior peculiar at times.[8] It was during these conversations that Cain mentioned the Black Soulstone, something that Adria thought little of at the time, but would later come to realize its true significance.[9] When Cain asked about Adria's past, she only said that her father had been a merchant, and otherwise ignored or deflected subsequent questions.[2]
As adventurers came to Tristram, they found Adria's magical trade indespensible.[3] Not that this prevented them from meeting their demise in the depths of the cathedral.[10] Eventually though, three adventurers succeeded where others have failed. Aidan, accompanied by a rogue and sorcerer, journeyed into the depths of the Cathedral and found the source of its corruption—Diablo, Lord of Terror. Aidan slew the demon, but was left psychologically and physically scarred by the experience. Tormented by his experiences, Aidan sought solace with Adria.[8]
A sketch of Adria by Deckard Cain
Aidan had plunged Diablo's soulstone into his forehead in an attempt to contain Diablo's essence,[8] and Adria beheld that essence within him.[5] When Aidan spoke, she heard thousands of voices, and saw the flames of her past. Thus, Adria knew fear.[4] Thus, she pledged herself to Diablo's service,[5] and both she and Aidan spent many nights behind closed doors.[8] Through this liaison, Adria became pregnant with Aidan/Diablo's daughter, Leah. It would take time, but it was intended that when the time was right, Leah would serve as Diablo's vessel as part of his plan to become the sole Prime Evil.[5]
Departure
- "Aidan came to me last night. I suspected what was lurking within his troubled heart. I consoled him as best I could. Regardless, wherever he's headed, Hell will surely follow in his wake. The shadows close in on Tristram once again. But, like Aidan, I'll be gone before they fall."
-Adria in her journal[11]
Adria
Eventually, Aidan left Tristram, now wearing the guise of the Dark Wanderer. Adria told Cain that he had headed east to find mystics that could help exorcise his nightmares. Shortly afterwards, Adria departed also, along with Gillian. The pair traveled to Caldeum where Adria gave birth to Leah.[12] Adria bore no love for the girl, seeing her as Diablo's daughter rather than hers, and a tool at that. After all, she reflected, daughters were cheap.[4] The infant was left in Gillian's care, and after casting a protective spell around Gillian's new home,[12] Adria departed[8] on a mysterious errand.[2]
At some point during his travels with a new group of heroes in pursuit of the Dark Wanderer, Cain encountered Adria and learned of Leah's existence. He promised her that he'd keep her safe. She gave the scholar a scroll of misdirection and protection in the event that he and Leah would have to evade prying eyes.[12] Their paths crossed a few times over the intervening years and Adria caught a few glimpses of her daughter, but otherwise remained inconspicuous.[9]
Adria
Seven years after the destruction of the Worldstone and Mount Arreat, Cain heard a report that Adria had perished in the Dreadlands.[12] Whatever truth may have existed in the report, it was inaccurate in that Adria was indeed still alive.[9] The destruction of Mount Arreat was the culmination of a series of events that had left five of the Great Evils deceased, making Belial and Azmodan the last two lords of Hell.[8] The essences of their five counterparts still lingered in Sanctuary, and over the two decades following Baal's defeat, Adria was able to locate these essences, preparing them for absorption into the Black Soulstone,[9] as per Diablo's plan of taking their essences into himself.[5]
After visiting an Entsteig sanitarium (where he learnt of Adria's past affiliation with the Coven), Cain began to sense Adria's presence nearby. Still, the witch managed to evade his attempts to track her down. At some point around this time, Adria passed through the Great Library of Caldeum, where she had come searching for information concerning the battles of the Sin War and Mage Clan Wars. Specifically, she was interested in the Desolate Sands and the ruins of the Cathedral of Light. These were places that Zoltun Kulle had once visited. Cain realized that she was searching for information on the Black Soulstone.[2]
True Colors
- "Twenty years ago, a great and terrible power drew me to Tristram. But Aidan, Leoric's eldest son, defeated that power and sought to contain it within his own flesh. It was Diablo I saw within him. And I pledged myself to his service. Now, at last, his grand design comes to fruition."
- -Adria reveals her true colors[5]
Adria being tortured by Belial's servants
Twenty years after the destruction of Arreat, the time had come for Diablo's plan to enter its final stage. At this point in time, Adria was in Caldeum, seeking to gather some things before setting out to find the head of Zoltun Kulle, the Black Soulstone's creator. However, she was cornered by the Imperial Guard in the sewers—Belial had enthralled the city, and was aware of the Black Soulstone's existence, if not function. His demons tortured her until she was saved by a group of heroes, among which were the now-mortal archangel Tyrael, the Nephalem, and Leah herself. Ever to the point, Adria told them of her plan to use the Black Soulstone to bind and destroy the Great Evils, and while the heroes set about resurrecting Kulle and retrieving the stone, trained Leah in the use of her powers. After successfully binding Belial, the party was left only with the issue of Azmodan.[9]
On the way to Bastion's Keep, Leah went through Cain's writings, where she learnt of Adria's past connections to the Coven, and Cain's suspiscions. Adria admitted her connection to the Coven, but claimed it was part of her quest to wage war against Hell, and 'confessed' she had gone too far.[2]
At Bastion's Keep, while Azmodan's minions lay siege, Adria remained at her daughter's side, as she struggled to contain the essences of the six demon lords imprisoned inside. Eventually however, Azmodan was defeated, and Adria and Leah were there as the latter imprisoned the last lord of Hell within the stone. Victory was in sight, and Adria stated that the stone would have to be taken back to the keep, to make preparations to destroy it and in turn, the demon lords it contained. At the keep however, Adria revealed her true colors, slaughtering a number of soldiers, and incapacitating both Tyrael and Leah. She revealed her true allegiance, and turned the soulstone on her daughter. Thus, Diablo was reborn in the world in a new vessel, as a singular Prime Evil, the embodiment of all seven Great Evils in one being. After over twenty years, Adria had completed the task that was assigned to her.
Adria's betrayal
Diablo was pleased, and ordered Adria to leave until he needed her again. She thus disappeared through a portal, while Diablo departed to lead an invasion of the High Heavens.[5] It was an invasion that ultimately failed, and Diablo cast down. Adria however, remained at large.[6]
Reaper of Souls
- "Diablo will return. I have done what I can to ensure it. He always finds a way. In your heart of hearts, you know this..."
—Adria[4]
Adria transformed
Adria entered the Blood Marsh not long after the events at Bastion's Keep.[13] She knew that Diablo had fallen and that the Black Soulstone had fallen into Malthael's hands, but maintained that the Lord of Terror would return, and sought to retrieve the stone. Her former allies attempted to locate Malthael after he unleashed his Reapers upon Westmarch. After the defeat of Urzael, Myriam Jahzia told the Nephalem that Adria was the only one who knew where Malthael was hiding, and that she had gone to the Blood Marsh. Thirsting for vengeance for the betrayal at Bastion's Keep, the heroes journeyed through the marsh, where they battled creatures that had been corrupted by Adria's newfound blood magic. The trail led them to the Ruins of Corvus, an ancient Nephalem city where they encountered blood golems also created by Adria.
The heroes finally cornered Adria in the Great Hall, just in time to learn that the Angel of Death resided in Pandemonium. After this Adria threw herself into a pit of blood and reemerged as a massive Blood Demon and did battle with the Nephalem. During the battle, she noted that Diablo sent her a vision of his return, with none other than the Nephalem releasing him. The heroes slew Adria, exacting justice for her betrayal and avenging her daughter, but the vision came to pass; during the final battle with Malthael, the Angel of Death shattered the Black Soulstone and absorbed the essence of the Prime Evil into himself, and when the Nephalem finally defeated him, Diablo's essence was loosed back into the world.[14]
In-game
Diablo
Adria's shop is located in the east of the Tristram map, far beyond the city borders, accessible through a small bridge. She sells and buys:
- Magic Books
- Mana Potions
- Elixirs (on the very late stages of the game, each costs 5000 gold, and she rarely has more than one)
- Magic Staves
- Scrolls
- Runes (in Hellfire only)
She can recharge player's magic staff for a fee, but unlike Sorcerer's ability, it will not reduce the maximum number of charges.
Adria also starts (and finishes) the Black Mushroom quest.
In Hellfire, talking to her also fully replenishes a player's Mana.
Quotes
- I sense a soul in search of answers...
Gossip
- Wisdom is earned, not given. If you discover a tome of knowledge, devour its words. Should you already have knowledge of the arcane mysteries scribed within a book, remember - that level of mastery can always increase.
- The greatest power is often the shortest lived. You may find ancient words of power written upon scrolls of parchment. The strength of these scrolls lies in the ability of either apprentice or adept to cast them with equal ability. Their weakness is that they must first be read aloud and can never be kept at the ready in your mind. Know also that these scrolls can be read but once, so use them with care.
- Though the heat of the sun is beyond measure, the mere flame of a candle is of greater danger. No energies, no matter how great, can be used without the proper focus. For many spells, ensorcelled Staves may be charged with magical energies many times over. I have the ability to restore their power - but know that nothing is done without a price.
- The sum of our knowledge is in the sum of its people. Should you find a book or scroll that you cannot decipher, do not hesitate to bring it to me. If I can make sense of it I will share what I find.
- To a man who only knows Iron, there is no greater magic than Steel. The blacksmith Griswold is more of a sorcerer than he knows. His ability to meld fire and metal is unequaled in this land.
- Corruption has the strength of deceit, but innocence holds the power of purity. The young woman Gillian has a pure heart, placing the needs of her matriarch over her own. She fears me, but it is only because she does not understand me.
- A chest opened in darkness holds no greater treasure than when it is opened in the light. The storyteller Cain is an enigma, but only to those who do not look. His knowledge of what lies beneath the cathedral is far greater than even he allows himself to realize.
- The higher you place your faith in one man, the farther it has to fall. Farnham has lost his soul, but not to any demon. It was lost when he saw his fellow townspeople betrayed by the Archbishop Lazarus. He has knowledge to be gleaned, but you must separate fact from fantasy.
- The hand, the heart and the mind can perform miracles when they are in perfect harmony. The healer Pepin sees into the body in a way that even I cannot. His ability to restore the sick and injured is magnified by his understanding of the creation of elixirs and potions. He is as great an ally as you have in Tristram.
- There is much about the future we cannot see, but when it comes it will be the children who wield it. The boy Wirt has a blackness upon his soul, but he poses no threat to the town or its people. His secretive dealings with the urchins and unspoken guilds of nearby towns gain him access to many devices that cannot be easily found in Tristram. While his methods may be reproachful, Wirt can provide assistance for your battle against the encroaching Darkness.
- Earthen walls and thatched canopy do not create a home. The innkeeper Ogden serves more of a purpose in this town than many understand. He provides shelter for Gillian and her matriarch, maintains what life Farnham has left to him, and provides an anchor for all who are left in the town to what Tristram once was. His tavern, and the simple pleasures that can still be found there, provide a glimpse of a life that the people here remember. It is that memory that continues to feed their hopes for your success.
Diablo III
In Diablo III, Adria does not really participate in gameplay, except for very brief periods of time when she helps in the assault on the Imperial Palace, or in the Wretched Pit (where players fight over her with Belial's servants). In both cases, she attacks with fireballs that deal minor damage. She can, however, draw the enemy's attention, and cannot be killed, as she is marked as essential quest NPC. In Acts II and III, she has a variety of dialogue options, spending most of her time in town.
Reaper of Souls
Adria emerging from her pool of blood
Adria is a second, mid-act boss in Act V. The battle takes place in a square arena, with impassable pool of blood in the center and two Healing Wells in two opposite corners. The combat starts immediately after entering the Great Hall in the Ruins of Corvus. After a cutscene (and her transformation) Adria gains the following combat abilities:
- Slash: a rapid melee strike, only used if all other attacks are on cooldown.
- Wing Slash: Adria raises her wing menacingly, swiping a cone in front of her over 1 second. Deals heavy Physical damage, but can be avoided if noticed on time.
- Arcane Rune a.k.a. Blood Ball: places a small pool of arcane energy beneath the player's feet. This pool deals average Arcane damage over time, but has a very small radius.
- Whirlpool a.k.a. Blood Pool: Adria instantly moves to another location (usually into close combat with the player), dealing Physical damage within 10 yards of both starting and destination points. Before cast, one may see a black rune glowing beneath her feet.
- Blood Rain: Adria's main weapon; every 25% of health, or every 45 seconds, she will use Whirlpool to move back to her starting position. Once there, for 3 seconds she cannot perform any actions (and is vulnerable at that moment), and after that, calls down a rain of blood oozes. The oozes are invulnerable and untargetable, crawling erratically over the arena, and if stepped on, create a pool of blood dealing average Physical damage over time. Each pool exists for roughly 15 seconds, but oozes do not despawn until stepped on.
Adria's demonic form in-game model
On Torment difficulty, Adria does not have the Enrage timer, but has a soft enrage of her own: unless killed quickly, she will overwhelm the player with Blood Rain oozes, covering the entire arena with those, making it impossible to move without stepping on them.
Increased movement speed is advised in this battle, as all Adria's abilities can be avoided by moving quickly. High Physical resistance also helps.
Quotes
- "Let's see where you've been hiding, Malthael..."
- "The angels will never suffer us to live. They cannot accept the fact that we may choose our own path. At least demons are not so rigid in their beliefs."
- "Diablo sent me a vision: he had returned, and you were the one who freed him."
- "He always finds a way. My master will return."
- "Are you really so angry because of Leah? (laughs) What a waste..."
- "Heroes die."
- "Burn!"
- "Fire consumes all."
- "The power of my blood sings to me."
- "The fires of the Burning Hells cannot be extinguished."
- "You never even suspected."
Personality and Traits
- "So then, what do I know of Adria? She is an enigma I fear I will never understand. At times she has appeared suspect, while at others noble and caring. What I can say with certainty however, is that she is a driven and fiercely intelligent person, bristling with a mix of grace, beauty, and raw, frightening power."
—Deckard Cain[2]
Adria
Adria was direct and to the point with all those who interacted with her. She didn't have time for the merely curious. In her thirties, she had raven-black hair,[3] though come her fifties, it had started to go gray.[15] During the End of Days, she still appeared quite young, which proved to be surprising for others, though she responded quite icily to anyone who asked for her true age.[9]
A tenacious individual,[16] Adria was in tune with the ebb and flow of magic[3] and had great affinity for it.[2] She also possessed the gift of foresight.[12] She was also skilled in the making of herbs, elixirs, oils[3] and potions,[12] and possessed much knowledge in mysticism and demonology.[8] Cain noted that if there was one constant about Adria, it was her lust for power.[2] Being a witch, Adria often practiced the darker healing practices, being able to fight the diseases against which other healers were powerless.[17]
Probably as a consequence of her own father's negligence and lack of love, Adria was very cold-hearted to maternity. She gladly helped peasants get rid of their unborn children, and did not have any thought of regret upon finding out what would happen to her own daughter—indeed, despite her words to the contrary, she never cared for Leah except as a means to the end of resurrecting her dark master (as Adria herself stated, "daughters are a cheap thing").[17]
At least during the Darkening of Tristram, Adria's accent conformed to the style of speech used in Kingsport.[2]
Notes
According to The Awakening, Adria was once a well regarded member of the Vizjerei Clan, but for undisclosed reasons, was outcast from the order and labeled as a witch. Whenever asked about her time with the Vizjerei, Adria refused to respond. This backstory was apparently retconned through Book of Tyrael, where it established that Adria joined the Coven early on and only left during the Darkening of Tristram.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Diablo
- ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 2.12 2.13 2.14 2.15 2.16 2.17 2.18 2.19 Book of Tyrael
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 The Awakening
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 2013-10-13, Reaper of Souls - Adria Lore Sound Files. YouTube, accessed on 2013-12-21
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 5.7 Diablo III, Act III
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Diablo III, Act IV
- ↑ Deckard Cain's Journal
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 8.5 8.6 8.7 Book of Cain
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 9.5 9.6 Diablo III, Act II
- ↑ Diablo Manual
- ↑ Diablo III, Act I
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 12.3 12.4 12.5 The Order
- ↑ 2014-03-06, REAPER OF SOULS™ FIRST LOOK: EXPLORING THE BLOOD MARSH. Blizzplanet, accessed on 2014-06-11
- ↑ Diablo III, Act V
- ↑ The Art of Diablo III
- ↑ 2013-12-08, BlizzCon 2013 – Diablo III Lore and Story Q&A Panel Transcript. Blizzplanet, accessed on 2014-03-29
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 Diablo III, Adria's Journal (Act V)
Diablo — Adria • Deckard Cain • Farnham • Gillian • Griswold • Kael Rills • Ogden • Pepin • Tremain (cut) • Wirt
Hellfire — Celia (cut) • Complete Nut (cut) • Lester • Wandering Trader (cut)
Videos
DIABLO 3 - ADRIA'S BETRAYAL
Adria Betrays Tyrael and Leah