Issatar

Issatar was a beast that once plagued Hezerit Valley with its brood, but later became their protector.

Biography

Issatar was once the most feared amongst the monsters of Hezerit Valley. Each year it prowled longer into the night, passing through shadows to steal pigs and chickens from townsfolk, and string entrails about.

In autumn, the people prepared for Issatar with pitchforks and spears. They found it feeding from their livestock, and stabbed it through the windows of the barn, and wrapped it in chains. Issatar's brood attacked Hezerit that night. They leapt upon the distracted humans, and their screams coursed through the valley. When the brood found Issatar chained, they mutilated Issatar, and Issatar too screamed.

Issatar's brood had taken innumerable captives into the shadows, none taken had ever returned alive. The people broke Issatar's coiled claws, but did not slay it, and it came to understand mercy.

The humans left to attack Issatar brood. They charged with burning torches, and drove them into the darkness. Issatar though bleeding from its wounds, took a spear up, and stood before the people, and slew its siblings. After the battle Issatar slumbered in Hezerit, and in the morning the humans swept up the ash and blood. They offered livestock to appease Issatar, and it guarded them with spear and shadow for a hundred years.

At this point, Issatar was old and close to death. It limped from Hezerit with a debt repaid. Its shattered claws were ingrown; its gait halting. Though the people beseeched it to stay, their need had become what animated Issatar. It could not pass on under their gaze. This, too, was mercy.

Legacy

Depictions of Issatar vary in the Hezerit. Some show it in its monstrous prime; others as an avenger, more human than beast. None capture the meager and quiet way it perished, and thus its legend remains.

In-game

Issatar is mentioned in Diablo Immortal, in the flavor text of the pieces of Issatar Imbued item set.

Trivia

• It was not recorded what exact beast Issatar was. However, from its legends, it was a nocturnal predator with clawed hands, lived in groups of broods, was capable of intellect and empathy, had a life span of more than a century, was capable of standing upright (at least for a time) and wield a spear.