The Army of Destruction (called the Ahjad-Den in the Barbarian language)[2] was a demonic army led by the Lord of Destruction, Baal.[3]
History[]
The army was raised by Baal as he headed towards Mount Arreat, after his meeting with Diablo and Mephisto in Travincal. He butchered entire villagers, and those he slew were possessed and transformed into demonic soldiers. Deckard Cain would later speculate that while Baal could have approached Arreat by stealth, every act of mayhem he and his minions committed boosted his soulstone fragment's power. Thus, Baal intended to wreck havoc along his journey so that when he reached the Worldstone, the shard would be pulsing with untold corruptive energies.[1]
Assault on Mount Arreat[]
The army outside Sescheron
Whatever Baal's motives, his army came into contact with the Barbarian tribes of the Northern Steppes. As hard as the Barbarians fought however, they could not stop Baal's advance, nor prevent the sacking of their capital of Sescheron.[1] The Army notably fought against the Barbarians at Daken-Shar, where they wiped out the mortal army, leaving only one survivor.[2] Elements of the Army also fought against the Druids in Scosglen.[4] Eventually, all that stood between Baal and Arreat was Harrogath, a fortress nestled in the mountain's foothills. To stave off Baal's advance, the Council of Elders cast an ancient warding spell, creating a protective barrier around the town.[1] This prevented any demon, including Baal, from entering Harrogath. However, the army was still able to encircle it. They were also able to seize and control the watchtowers and barricades on the slopes of Arreat. In the early days of the siege, Qual-Kehk attempted to break Baal's siege lines. He failed, and lost a third of his warriors in the process. Others were wounded, others were captured. Under the command of Shenk the Overseer, Baal's legions dominated the battlefield, and were able to bombard the defenders with their catapults. While the Barbarians had to ration food and water, Baal's demons feasted on the flesh and blood of their dead foes.[5]
Remnants[]
Despite Baal's defeat, and the destruction of Mount Arreat, remnants of the army remained in the snowy wastelands of the Frozen Tundra. Only the Barbarian tribes could keep the army at bay, but they were scattered and isolated. If they did not unite, they would surely die divided.[6]
In-game[]
The Army of Destruction features in Act V of Diablo II, and in the Frozen Tundra zone in Diablo Immortal. The army's assault on Sescheron is briefly seen in a flashback in "Destruction's End."
Known Members[]
Roster[]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Book of Cain
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Tales of Sanctuary, The Hand of Naz
- ↑ Baal's Minion, The Arreat Summit. Accessed on 2014-08-12
- ↑ Tales of Sanctuary, Rage
- ↑ Diablo II: Lord of Destruction
- ↑ 2021-04-21, DIABLO IMMORTAL CLOSED ALPHA — THE CRUSADE BEGINS. Blizzard Entertainment, accessed on 2022-05-24