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{{Quote|The world around us is a vault of riches waiting to be plundered. Every creature, every plant, and every culture can serve us, willingly or not, in our goal to aid the [[Great Evils|Lords]] of the [[Burning Hells]].|[[Adria]], writing on the Coven|Book of Adria: A Diablo Bestiary}}
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[[File:Maghda.png|thumb|Maghda, Leader of the Dark Coven's Forces]]
  
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{{Infobox Faction
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The '''Coven''' (also Dark Coven) is a group of dark mystics dedicated to [[Belial]], the Lord of Lies. It is a remnant of the [[Triune]].<ref name="BoT">''[[Book of Tyrael]]''</ref>
  
   
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|Name = The Coven
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==History==
  
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|Image = [[File:Triune_vessel_runeGround.png|250px|center]]
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|Title =
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|Race = [[Human]]s<br/>[[Demon]]s
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|Leader = [[Adria]] (formerly)<br/>[[Maghda]] (formerly)
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|Affiliation = [[Belial]]
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|Headquarters = [[Leoric's Manor]]
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|Type = Cult
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|Membership =
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|Standing = Fragmented
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|Appearances = ''[[Diablo Immortal]]''<br/>''[[Diablo III]]''<br/>''[[Diablo III: Reaper of Souls]]''<br/>''[[Book of Tyrael]]'' (mentioned only)<br/>''[[Book of Adria: A Diablo Bestiary]]''
   
  ⚫
}}The '''Coven''' (sometimes called the '''Dark Coven''') is a group of dark mystics dedicated to [[Belial]], the Lord of Lies.
⚫
===Early History===
  
   
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==Lore==
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{{Section Stub}}
  
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[[File:Coven Logo.jpg|thumb|The symbol of the Coven]]
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Members of the Coven are experienced in both [[witch]]craft and [[demon]]ology. The final test of every Coven initiate involves drawing a symbol on the ground with powdered amethyst that inflicts a fatal curse. The initiate must conduct the ritual perfectly, then immediately reverse the effect with a counter-spell. If they fail, the result is certain death.
   
  +
Some Coven members willingly accept demonic possession, believing that in doing so, they ascend to a higher plane of existence.<ref name = "BoA"/>
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Little is known about the early history of the Coven under Belial's control, but it is known that [[Maghda]] and one other witch took command away from its prior leader. However, the unknown witch had left the Coven behind, while Maghda stayed true to her followers. The other witch responsible for taking command is unknown at this point, although there are suspicions from the Templar, [[Kormac]], that [[Adria]] may have been that other witch, who left the Coven to seek [[Diablo]] in [[Tristram]].
  
   
  ⚫
===History===
⚫
It is also known that, while the cultists were serving [[Belial]] unquestioningly and zealously, every member of the Coven was to be sacrificed to their demonic master sooner or later (as soon as there is enough taint in their bodies).<ref>[[Diablo III]], [[Cultist Blood]]</ref> In addition, Coven was paying generously for [[Behistun]] Magi artifacts, whose knowledge they were hoping to resurrect and use for their own purposes.<ref>[[Diablo III]], [[Behistun Rune]]</ref>
  
   
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===The End of Days===
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====Origins====
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{{Quote|We were once the Cult of the Triune, servants of the three Prime Evils: [[Diablo]], [[Mephisto]], and [[Baal]]. Now we are the Coven, a gathering of lost [[soul]]s seeking our destiny in the fires of the [[Eternal Conflict]].|[[Adria]]|Book of Adria: A Diablo Bestiary}}
   
  +
The Coven is a remnant of the [[Triune]].<ref name="BoT">''[[Book of Tyrael]]''</ref> While the Triune worshiped the [[Prime Evils]], the Coven was formed as a collection of "lost souls," seeking their destiny. The Coven's existence became known to some extent within the [[Western Kingdoms]], but they were looked upon with contempt by both lords and peasants.<ref name = "BoA"/>
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====The Search for the Sword====
  
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[[File:Triune_vessel_runeGround.png|thumb|Ritual circle of the Coven]]The descent of [[Tyrael]], the [[Archangel]] of Justice, did not go unnoticed by the denizens of the [[Burning Hells]]. Belial was aware of the fallen star and sent Maghda and many members of the Coven to retrieve [[El'druin]], the sword of Tyrael, which had been broken into three pieces. The Nephalem heroes themselves do not encounter the members of the Coven until shortly before destroying the [[King Leoric|Skeleton King]], where they attempted to turn a [[Kormac|templar]] to their side. The heroes freed the templar and aided him in tracking down and killing [[Jondar]], another templar who had turned his back on the order and joined Maghda and the Coven as a necromancer.
  
   
  ⚫
====Early History====
⚫
The Coven hounded the heroes' steps as they neared the pieces of El'druin. In the [[Fields of Misery]], they had taken control of the [[khazra]] and used them to kill those who opposed them, and tried to 'turn' the first piece of the sword for their own purposes before being thwarted. In the [[Drowned Temple]] near the [[Festering Woods]], the cultists were teleported in by Maghda in order to claim the second piece, but fell to the Nephalem. Finally, they descended upon the town of [[Wortham]] and burned it to the ground, murdering many people in order to get their hands on the final piece of the sword. Unfortunately for the heroes, not only were the Coven successful in claiming the final piece, but were also successful in invading [[New Tristram]] and capturing [[Leah]], [[Deckard Cain]], Tyrael and the other two pieces.
  
  +
{{Quote|The final war between the [[High Heavens]] and [[Burning Hells]] is coming, and if our masters do not prevail, we will suffer a fate worse than death. I have seen the Coven's uncertain destiny in the fire. Through the flames, the demon lords whisper to me of what is to come. They have told me of two outcomes. In one, the Lords of Hell recognise our worth and we rule alongside them. In another, they see us as less than useless and torment our [[soul]]s for eternity. What path we find ourselves on when the storm comes is up to us.|[[Adria]]|Book of Adria: A Diablo Bestiary}}
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[[File:Dark Summoner-BoA.jpg|thumb|A Dark Summoner]]
  +
According to [[Adria]], the Coven had lost its way prior to their coup; content to consort with lesser [[demon]]s and dabble with [[dark magic]]. With no vision or ambition beyond this, Adria later claimed that if not for the change in leadership, the Coven would have died a slow, pathetic death.<ref name = "BoA"/>
   
  +
Whatever the truth of that matter, it is known that at the suggestion of [[Maghda]], she and Adria poisoned the leaders of the Coven so they could take control.<ref name="D3A3" /> The cult had been floundering prior to their arrival, but they took control and poisoned its leaders, reforging it into a dangerous new order that practiced torture and [[demon]]ic summoning. It is said that these witches were fueled by the belief that they were destined to become mortal heralds of the [[Burning Hells]].<ref name = "BoT"/> Adria compiled a [[tome]] for the Coven, collecting all she had learned over her travels, so that the Coven might turn this knowledge to its advantage. She declared that the final war between Heaven and Hell was coming and that demon lords had whispered to her, telling her of two possible outcomes. In one, Hell recognised the worth of the Coven and they ruled alongside them. In the other, they saw the Coven as being less than useless, their [[soul]]s tormented for eternity. She urged the Coven to look at sources of power beyond demonology, from the [[Mage Clans]], to even [[Zakarum]] itself. While these groups were not servants of Hell, she insisted that the only pertinent question was whether they were powerful.<ref name = "BoA">''[[Book of Adria: A Diablo Bestiary]]''</ref>
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====The Death of Deckard Cain====
  
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The heroes rushed back to New Tristram to rescue their friends from the Coven, learning that Maghda sought the sword on behalf of Belial. Leah killed the cultists that had her captive when her hidden power unleashed itself and annihilated them all. Seeing that her advantage was lost, Maghda spitefully spirited Tyrael away, telling the heroes that the blade would be hers. Dying from the wounds inflicted on him by Maghda's evil magic, Deckard used the last of his power to restore El'druin, revealing its angelic nature, and that of its wielder, to everyone. After the death of Deckard Cain, the heroes made it their next goal to return the now reconstructed El'druin to its original owner and exact vengeance upon Maghda and the Coven.
  
   
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====The Vengeance of the Nephalem====
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====The Lord of Lies====
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{{Quote|When I joined the Coven, it was weak and idle. The leaders were content to do nothing, while the Prime Evils were imprisoned. I convinced another witch to help me poison them, and together we took control. She...left some years later, but I continued, bringing the Coven to glory under Lord Belial.|Maghda|Maghda, Leader of the Coven}}
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:''"(S)He's unstoppable! No mortal could slaughter our brethren with such ease!"''<br />- A Dark Cultist at [[Leoric's Manor]]
  
   
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Years after taking control of the Coven,<ref name="BoT" /> Adria and Maghda had a falling out<ref name="D3A4">''[[Diablo III]]'', ''[[Act IV (Diablo III)|Act IV]]''</ref> and Adria left the group,<ref name="D3A3">''[[Diablo III]]'', ''[[Act III (Diablo III)|Act III]]''</ref> around the time of the [[Darkening of Tristram]].<ref name="BoT" /> Her departure nearly tore the cult apart and left Maghda wracked by jealousy and rage. Fuelled by her dark emotions, she redoubled her efforts to contact the Burning Hells. At some point, they made contact<ref name = "BoT">''[[Book of Tyrael]]''</ref> with [[Belial]], Lord of Lies, and they pledged themselves to his service.<ref name = "Leader">''[[Diablo III]]'', ''[[Maghda, Leader of the Coven]]''</ref> Under Maghda, the Coven expanded its influence back into the East, in the deserts around [[Caldeum]].<ref name = "BoT"/>
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The Coven took Tyrael through the Highlands and into Leoric's Manor, where they spirited him down into the [[Halls of Agony]], [[King Leoric]]'s old torture chambers. Along the way, they also captured many villagers to torture and sacrifice in order to summon [[demons]] from the [[Burning Hells]]. It soon became apparent to the Coven that they had made a terrible enemy of the Nephalem. Nothing that the cultists could send their way -- not men, not khazra, not even demons summoned from the Burning Hells -- was enough to even slow the heroes down. Worse still, Maghda cared nothing for their fates except as a means to delay the heroes while she prepared their demise in the depths below.
 
   
  ⚫
It is also known that, while the cultists were serving Belial unquestioningly and zealously, every member of the Coven was to be sacrificed to their demonic master sooner or later (as soon as there is enough taint in their bodies).<ref>''[[Diablo III]]'', ''[[Cultist Blood]]''</ref> In addition, the Coven paid generously for [[Behistun]] Magi artifacts, whose knowledge they were hoping to resurrect and use for their own purposes.<ref>''[[Diablo III]]'', ''[[Behistun Rune]]''</ref> The most favored servants were given [[Gloves of Worship|special gloves]] made of [[Deceiver]] flesh.<ref>''[[Diablo III]]'', ''[[Gloves of Worship]]''</ref>
⚫
By the time the Nephalem reached Tyrael, the Coven had tortured him nearly to the point of death. As Tyrael lay dying, the Nephalem gave him El'druin back, restoring both his body and his mind. Tyrael remembers the warning that he had come to Sanctuary to deliver -- that the forces of the last two Lords of Hell were planning to invade and take control of Sanctuary for themselves. Already, the shadow of Belial has fallen upon Caldeum. With this in mind, after a proper burial rite for Deckard Cain, the Nephalem, Leah, and Tyrael set out for [[Caldeum]], to put an end to Belial's reign over the city.
 
   
  +
In the year [[Timeline#1270|1270]], the Coven was a fledging group. It took advantage of the chaos wrought by the destruction of the [[Worldstone]] [[Timeline#1265|five years prior]], its members spreading corruption wherever they trod.<ref name = "ImmortalWebsite">[https://diabloimmortal.com/en-us/ Diablo Immortal], ''Blizzard Entertainment''. Accessed on 2018-11-05</ref>
⚫
====Massacre of Alcarnus====
  
⚫
Maghda and the Coven made their way to the sands of [[Kehjistan]], descending upon the city of [[Alcarnus]] and torturing and slaughtering its people. They attempted to stop the heroes from reaching Maghda by means of obscuring the Black Canyon Bridge, an effort foiled by the arrival of the enchantress [[Eirena]], who directed them to the sites of the torturous rituals the Coven were using to create the illusion. They also attempted to lure the heroes into a trap at the [[Khasim Outpost]], where they learned that the [[Imperial Guard]] responsible for what is happening in the city of Caldeum were the [[Deceiver|serpent demons]] of Belial in disguise. After freeing the [[Iron Wolves]] that Maghda had marked for sacrifice to Belial, the heroes tracked Maghda and the Coven to Alcarnus, freeing those the Coven still held prisoner and killing every one of the cultists before confronting Maghda herself and exacting vengeance for Deckard Cain.
  
   
  ⚫
====The End of Days====
−
After Maghda's fall, the Dark Coven are never seen again in the original game.
  
   
−
===The Reaper of Souls===
 +
=====The Search for the Sword=====
  ⚫
The descent of [[Tyrael]], the [[Archangel]] of Justice, did not go unnoticed by the denizens of the [[Burning Hells]]. Belial was aware of the fallen star and sent Maghda and many members of the Coven to retrieve [[El'druin]], the sword of Tyrael, which had been broken into three pieces. [[The Nephalem]] encountered cultists attempting to turn the [[Templar Order|Templar]] [[Kormac]] to their side. The Nephalem freed the Templar and aided him in tracking down and killing [[Jondar]], another Templar who had turned his back on the order and joined Maghda and the Coven as a necromancer.
⚫
:''"They say Belial is dead, but I know he cannot be. He is the Lord of Lies! We will build our army and defeat the Angel of Death to prepare for Belial's return. Malthael...hah! Even a rogue [[archangel]] is nothing compared to our master."''<br />&mdash;A cultist's log<ref name="WestCult" />
  
  +
  +
[[File:Wortham2.jpg|thumb|The Coven in Wortham]]
  ⚫
The Coven hounded the heroes' steps as they neared the pieces of El'druin. In the [[Fields of Misery]], they had taken control of the [[khazra]] and used them to kill those who opposed them, and tried to 'turn' the first piece of the sword for their own purposes before being thwarted. In the [[Drowned Temple]] near the [[Festering Woods]], the cultists were teleported in by Maghda in order to claim the second piece, but fell to the Nephalem. Finally, they descended upon the town of [[Wortham]] and burned it to the ground, murdering many people in order to get their hands on the final piece of the sword. Unfortunately for the heroes, not only were the Coven successful in claiming the final piece, but were also successful in invading [[New Tristram]] and capturing [[Leah]], [[Deckard Cain]], Tyrael and the other two pieces.<ref name = "D3A1">''[[Diablo III]]'', ''[[Act I (Diablo III)|Act I]]''</ref>
  +
  ⚫
The heroes rushed back to New Tristram to rescue their friends from the Coven, learning that Maghda sought the sword on behalf of Belial. Leah killed the cultists that had her captive when her hidden power unleashed itself and annihilated them all. Seeing that her advantage was lost, Maghda spitefully spirited Tyrael away, telling the heroes that the blade would be hers. Dying from the wounds inflicted on him by Maghda's magic, Deckard used the last of his power to restore El'druin. After the death of Deckard Cain, the heroes made it their next goal to return the now reconstructed El'druin to its original owner and exact vengeance upon Maghda and the Coven.<ref name = "D3A1"/>
  +
  ⚫
=====The Vengeance of the Nephalem=====
  ⚫
{{Quote|(S)He's unstoppable! No mortal could slaughter our brethren with such ease!|A Dark Cultist at Leoric's Manor|Act I (Diablo III)}}
  +
[[File:Halls of Agony2.jpg|thumb|The Coven in the Halls of Agony]]
  ⚫
The Coven took Tyrael through the Highlands and into [[Leoric's Manor]], where they spirited him down into the depths of the [[Halls of Agony]], [[King Leoric]]'s old torture chambers. Along the way, they also captured many villagers to torture and sacrifice in order to summon [[demons]] from the [[Burning Hells]]. It soon became apparent to the Coven that they had made a terrible enemy of the Nephalem. Nothing that the cultists could send their way -- not men, not khazra, not even demons -- was enough to even slow the heroes down. Worse still, Maghda cared nothing for their fates except as a means to delay the heroes while she prepared their demise in the depths below.
  +
  ⚫
By the time the Nephalem reached Tyrael, the Coven had tortured him nearly to the point of death. As Tyrael lay dying, the Nephalem gave him El'druin back, restoring both his body and his mind. Maghda escaped to [[Kehjistan]], where her master Belial had seized the city of [[Caldeum]], and where the rest of the Coven dedicated to him had gathered. Tyrael remembered the warning he had set out to deliver about the forces of the last two Lords of Hell planning to invade Sanctuary and take control, and about how Belial had descended upon the Jewel of the East. With this in mind, after paying their final respects to Deckard Cain and giving him a proper burial, the heroes set out for Caldeum in order to free the city from Belial's reign.<ref name = "D3A1"/>
  +
  ⚫
=====The Massacre of Alcarnus=====
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{{Quote|Maghda, This "hero" means to attack you in Alcarnus. If I were you, I would set a trap at the Khasim Outpost, but I am not you. For all I know, you wish to fail me again and force me to kill you. That would grieve me, though somehow...I think I could manage it.|Belial's message to Maghda|Missive to Maghda}}
  +
[[File:Alcarnus3.jpg|thumb|The Coven in Alcarnus]]
  ⚫
Hunted by the Nephalem, Maghda and the Coven descended upon the city of [[Alcarnus]], torturing and slaughtering its people, the survivors fleeing the city and seeking refuge in Caldeum. The Coven attempted to stop the heroes from reaching Maghda by means of deceptive illusions, among them obscuring the [[Black Canyon Bridge]], an effort foiled by the arrival of the enchantress [[Eirena]], who directed them to the sites of the torturous rituals the Coven were using to create the illusions. They also attempted to lure the heroes into a trap at the [[Khasim Outpost]], where the heroes learned that the [[Imperial Guard]] responsible for what was happening in Caldeum were the [[Deceiver|serpent demons]] of Belial in disguise. After freeing the [[Iron Wolves]] that Maghda had marked for sacrifice to Belial, the heroes tracked Maghda and the Coven to Alcarnus, killing every demon in their path, freeing those the Coven still held prisoner, and killing every one of the cultists before confronting Maghda herself and exacting final vengeance for Deckard Cain.
  +
  +
After Maghda's fall, a final remnant of the Coven in Kehjistan were seen in the [[Dahlgur Oasis]] and the [[Desolate Sands]], presumably taking orders from Belial himself as they tried to claim the head and blood of [[Zoltun Kulle]], and met with about as much success as their endeavors to stop the heroes under Maghda.<ref>''[[Diablo III]]'', ''[[Act II (Diablo III)|Act II]]''</ref>
  +
  +
====The Reaper of Souls====
  ⚫
{{Quote|They say Belial is dead, but I know he cannot be. He is the Lord of Lies! We will build our army and defeat the Angel of Death to prepare for Belial's return. Malthael...hah! Even a rogue [[archangel]] is nothing compared to our master.|A cultist's log|Act V (Diablo III)}}
   
 
The Coven endured the loss of their master. They had a presence in [[Westmarch]] when Malthael led his [[Reapers]] against the realm. The Coven intended to oppose him.<ref name="WestCult">2013-10-01, [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TsKbHugvLTk Reaper of Souls - West March Cult Retaliation Sound Files]. ''YouTube'', accessed on 2013-10-04</ref> During this time period, a reformed Coven member informed [[the Nephalem]] that there was a stash nearby, that it would have been better served in their hands, rather than his own.<ref>''[[Diablo III]]'', ''[[Act V (Diablo III)|Act V]]''</ref>
  
The Coven endured the loss of their master. They had a presence in [[Westmarch]] when Malthael led his [[Reapers]] against the realm. The Coven intended to oppose him.<ref name="WestCult">2013-10-01, [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TsKbHugvLTk Reaper of Souls - West March Cult Retaliation Sound Files]. ''YouTube'', accessed on 2013-10-04</ref> During this time period, a reformed Coven member informed [[the Nephalem]] that there was a stash nearby, that it would have been better served in their hands, rather than his own.<ref>''[[Diablo III]]'', ''[[Act V (Diablo III)|Act V]]''</ref>
   
  +
After Malthael's defeat, the Coven was, by this time, in shambles. Its scattered remnants established themselves in the ruins of [[Leoric's Manor]].<ref>2016-01-06, [http://us.battle.net/d3/en/blog/19996038/are-you-prepared-for-240-1-6-2016 ARE YOU PREPARED FOR 2.4.0?]. ''Blizzard Entertainment'', accessed on 2015-01-08</ref>
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==Composition==
  
   
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==In-game==
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  +
The Coven serves as a major antagonist force in both ''[[Diablo Immortal]]'' and ''[[Diablo III]]''.<ref name = "ImmortalWebsite"/>
  +
  ⚫
==Composition==
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[[File:Cultist-BoA.jpg|thumb|A Coven cultist]]
 
===Human Ranks===
  
===Human Ranks===
 
*[[Dark Cultist]]
  
*[[Dark Cultist]]
Line 53: Line 94:
   
 
==Known Members==
  
==Known Members==
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[[File:Maghda.png|thumb|Maghda, Leader of the Dark Coven's Forces]]
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===Leadership===
  
===Leadership===
 
*[[Adria]] (former co-leader)
  
*[[Adria]] (former co-leader)
Line 75: Line 116:
 
*[[Jezeb the Conjuror]]
  
*[[Jezeb the Conjuror]]
 
*[[Krailen the Wicked]]
  
*[[Krailen the Wicked]]
−
*[[Pontius]]
 +
*[[Pontius]] (formerly)
 
*[[Reformed Cultist]] (formerly)
  
*[[Reformed Cultist]] (formerly)
 
*[[Shondar the Invoker]]
  
*[[Shondar the Invoker]]
Line 87: Line 128:
 
==References==
  
==References==
 
<references />
  
<references />
−  
 
{{Clans and Orders}}
  
{{Clans and Orders}}
 
[[Category:Article stubs]]
  
[[Category:Article stubs]]

Revision as of 11:13, 25 November 2018

"The world around us is a vault of riches waiting to be plundered. Every creature, every plant, and every culture can serve us, willingly or not, in our goal to aid the Lords of the Burning Hells."

- Adria, writing on the Coven(src)

The Coven (sometimes called the Dark Coven) is a group of dark mystics dedicated to Belial, the Lord of Lies.

Lore

Coven Logo

The symbol of the Coven

Members of the Coven are experienced in both witchcraft and demonology. The final test of every Coven initiate involves drawing a symbol on the ground with powdered amethyst that inflicts a fatal curse. The initiate must conduct the ritual perfectly, then immediately reverse the effect with a counter-spell. If they fail, the result is certain death.

Some Coven members willingly accept demonic possession, believing that in doing so, they ascend to a higher plane of existence.[1]

History

Origins

"We were once the Cult of the Triune, servants of the three Prime Evils: Diablo, Mephisto, and Baal. Now we are the Coven, a gathering of lost souls seeking our destiny in the fires of the Eternal Conflict."

- Adria(src)

The Coven is a remnant of the Triune.[2] While the Triune worshiped the Prime Evils, the Coven was formed as a collection of "lost souls," seeking their destiny. The Coven's existence became known to some extent within the Western Kingdoms, but they were looked upon with contempt by both lords and peasants.[1]

Early History

"The final war between the High Heavens and Burning Hells is coming, and if our masters do not prevail, we will suffer a fate worse than death. I have seen the Coven's uncertain destiny in the fire. Through the flames, the demon lords whisper to me of what is to come. They have told me of two outcomes. In one, the Lords of Hell recognise our worth and we rule alongside them. In another, they see us as less than useless and torment our souls for eternity. What path we find ourselves on when the storm comes is up to us."

- Adria(src)

Dark Summoner-BoA

A Dark Summoner

According to Adria, the Coven had lost its way prior to their coup; content to consort with lesser demons and dabble with dark magic. With no vision or ambition beyond this, Adria later claimed that if not for the change in leadership, the Coven would have died a slow, pathetic death.[1]

Whatever the truth of that matter, it is known that at the suggestion of Maghda, she and Adria poisoned the leaders of the Coven so they could take control.[3] The cult had been floundering prior to their arrival, but they took control and poisoned its leaders, 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.[2] Adria compiled a tome for the Coven, collecting all she had learned over her travels, so that the Coven might turn this knowledge to its advantage. She declared that the final war between Heaven and Hell was coming and that demon lords had whispered to her, telling her of two possible outcomes. In one, Hell recognised the worth of the Coven and they ruled alongside them. In the other, they saw the Coven as being less than useless, their souls tormented for eternity. She urged the Coven to look at sources of power beyond demonology, from the Mage Clans, to even Zakarum itself. While these groups were not servants of Hell, she insisted that the only pertinent question was whether they were powerful.[1]

The Lord of Lies

"When I joined the Coven, it was weak and idle. The leaders were content to do nothing, while the Prime Evils were imprisoned. I convinced another witch to help me poison them, and together we took control. She...left some years later, but I continued, bringing the Coven to glory under Lord Belial."

- Maghda(src)

Years after taking control of the Coven,[2] Adria and Maghda had a falling out[4] and Adria left the group,[3] around the time of the Darkening of Tristram.[2] Her departure nearly tore the cult apart and left Maghda wracked by jealousy and rage. Fuelled by her dark emotions, she redoubled her efforts to contact the Burning Hells. At some point, they made contact[2] with Belial, Lord of Lies, and they pledged themselves to his service.[5] Under Maghda, the Coven expanded its influence back into the East, in the deserts around Caldeum.[2]

It is also known that, while the cultists were serving Belial unquestioningly and zealously, every member of the Coven was to be sacrificed to their demonic master sooner or later (as soon as there is enough taint in their bodies).[6] In addition, the Coven paid generously for Behistun Magi artifacts, whose knowledge they were hoping to resurrect and use for their own purposes.[7] The most favored servants were given special gloves made of Deceiver flesh.[8]

In the year 1270, the Coven was a fledging group. It took advantage of the chaos wrought by the destruction of the Worldstone five years prior, its members spreading corruption wherever they trod.[9]

The End of Days

The Search for the Sword

The descent of Tyrael, the Archangel of Justice, did not go unnoticed by the denizens of the Burning Hells. Belial was aware of the fallen star and sent Maghda and many members of the Coven to retrieve El'druin, the sword of Tyrael, which had been broken into three pieces. The Nephalem encountered cultists attempting to turn the Templar Kormac to their side. The Nephalem freed the Templar and aided him in tracking down and killing Jondar, another Templar who had turned his back on the order and joined Maghda and the Coven as a necromancer.

Wortham2

The Coven in Wortham

The Coven hounded the heroes' steps as they neared the pieces of El'druin. In the Fields of Misery, they had taken control of the khazra and used them to kill those who opposed them, and tried to 'turn' the first piece of the sword for their own purposes before being thwarted. In the Drowned Temple near the Festering Woods, the cultists were teleported in by Maghda in order to claim the second piece, but fell to the Nephalem. Finally, they descended upon the town of Wortham and burned it to the ground, murdering many people in order to get their hands on the final piece of the sword. Unfortunately for the heroes, not only were the Coven successful in claiming the final piece, but were also successful in invading New Tristram and capturing Leah, Deckard Cain, Tyrael and the other two pieces.[10]

The heroes rushed back to New Tristram to rescue their friends from the Coven, learning that Maghda sought the sword on behalf of Belial. Leah killed the cultists that had her captive when her hidden power unleashed itself and annihilated them all. Seeing that her advantage was lost, Maghda spitefully spirited Tyrael away, telling the heroes that the blade would be hers. Dying from the wounds inflicted on him by Maghda's magic, Deckard used the last of his power to restore El'druin. After the death of Deckard Cain, the heroes made it their next goal to return the now reconstructed El'druin to its original owner and exact vengeance upon Maghda and the Coven.[10]

The Vengeance of the Nephalem
"(S)He's unstoppable! No mortal could slaughter our brethren with such ease!"

- A Dark Cultist at Leoric's Manor(src)

Halls of Agony2

The Coven in the Halls of Agony

The Coven took Tyrael through the Highlands and into Leoric's Manor, where they spirited him down into the depths of the Halls of Agony, King Leoric's old torture chambers. Along the way, they also captured many villagers to torture and sacrifice in order to summon demons from the Burning Hells. It soon became apparent to the Coven that they had made a terrible enemy of the Nephalem. Nothing that the cultists could send their way -- not men, not khazra, not even demons -- was enough to even slow the heroes down. Worse still, Maghda cared nothing for their fates except as a means to delay the heroes while she prepared their demise in the depths below.

By the time the Nephalem reached Tyrael, the Coven had tortured him nearly to the point of death. As Tyrael lay dying, the Nephalem gave him El'druin back, restoring both his body and his mind. Maghda escaped to Kehjistan, where her master Belial had seized the city of Caldeum, and where the rest of the Coven dedicated to him had gathered. Tyrael remembered the warning he had set out to deliver about the forces of the last two Lords of Hell planning to invade Sanctuary and take control, and about how Belial had descended upon the Jewel of the East. With this in mind, after paying their final respects to Deckard Cain and giving him a proper burial, the heroes set out for Caldeum in order to free the city from Belial's reign.[10]

The Massacre of Alcarnus
"Maghda, This "hero" means to attack you in Alcarnus. If I were you, I would set a trap at the Khasim Outpost, but I am not you. For all I know, you wish to fail me again and force me to kill you. That would grieve me, though somehow...I think I could manage it."

- Belial's message to Maghda(src)

Alcarnus3

The Coven in Alcarnus

Hunted by the Nephalem, Maghda and the Coven descended upon the city of Alcarnus, torturing and slaughtering its people, the survivors fleeing the city and seeking refuge in Caldeum. The Coven attempted to stop the heroes from reaching Maghda by means of deceptive illusions, among them obscuring the Black Canyon Bridge, an effort foiled by the arrival of the enchantress Eirena, who directed them to the sites of the torturous rituals the Coven were using to create the illusions. They also attempted to lure the heroes into a trap at the Khasim Outpost, where the heroes learned that the Imperial Guard responsible for what was happening in Caldeum were the serpent demons of Belial in disguise. After freeing the Iron Wolves that Maghda had marked for sacrifice to Belial, the heroes tracked Maghda and the Coven to Alcarnus, killing every demon in their path, freeing those the Coven still held prisoner, and killing every one of the cultists before confronting Maghda herself and exacting final vengeance for Deckard Cain.

After Maghda's fall, a final remnant of the Coven in Kehjistan were seen in the Dahlgur Oasis and the Desolate Sands, presumably taking orders from Belial himself as they tried to claim the head and blood of Zoltun Kulle, and met with about as much success as their endeavors to stop the heroes under Maghda.[11]

The Reaper of Souls

"They say Belial is dead, but I know he cannot be. He is the Lord of Lies! We will build our army and defeat the Angel of Death to prepare for Belial's return. Malthael...hah! Even a rogue archangel is nothing compared to our master."

- A cultist's log(src)

The Coven endured the loss of their master. They had a presence in Westmarch when Malthael led his Reapers against the realm. The Coven intended to oppose him.[12] During this time period, a reformed Coven member informed the Nephalem that there was a stash nearby, that it would have been better served in their hands, rather than his own.[13]

After Malthael's defeat, the Coven was, by this time, in shambles. Its scattered remnants established themselves in the ruins of Leoric's Manor.[14]

In-game

The Coven serves as a major antagonist force in both Diablo Immortal and Diablo III.[9]

Composition

Cultist-BoA

A Coven cultist

Human Ranks

Summoned Demons

Known Members

Maghda

Maghda, Leader of the Dark Coven's Forces

Leadership

Dark Cultists

Dark Summoners

Dark Vessels/Thralls

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Book of Adria: A Diablo Bestiary
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 Book of Tyrael
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Diablo III, Act III
  4. ↑ Diablo III, Act IV
  5. ↑ Diablo III, Maghda, Leader of the Coven
  6. ↑ Diablo III, Cultist Blood
  7. ↑ Diablo III, Behistun Rune
  8. ↑ Diablo III, Gloves of Worship
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Diablo Immortal, Blizzard Entertainment. Accessed on 2018-11-05
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 Diablo III, Act I
  11. ↑ Diablo III, Act II
  12. ↑ 2013-10-01, Reaper of Souls - West March Cult Retaliation Sound Files. YouTube, accessed on 2013-10-04
  13. ↑ Diablo III, Act V
  14. ↑ 2016-01-06, ARE YOU PREPARED FOR 2.4.0?. Blizzard Entertainment, accessed on 2015-01-08
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