Lilin

For the similar cosmetic set, see Children of Lilith.

"The world was to be paradise for the Lilin. Now, everywhere they look, they see the thieves of their future."

- Faction description^(src)

The Lilin

The Children of Lilith, otherwise called Lilin, or The Mother's Blood are a race of humans (formerly nephalem) dedicated to Lilith. Their counterparts are the Inari.

Lore

"Hail Lilith, Blessed Mother!"

- The Lilin^(src)

An afflicted Lilin

The Lilin claim direct descent from Lilith. They see themselves as champions of freedom. The Inari and Lilin jointly ruled the Cradle through (a council of) elders, under the ultimate authority of the Prevailing Wind.

History

"What began in harmony, ended in discord. After the war, the Father returned to us, forever changed. He had condemned his children, sealed away the Fire of Life. Only those with angelic blood were permitted to guard its embers. We watched as the light faded."

- Tarzoine^(src)

The Lilin were the favored children of Lilith. Supposedly, Sanctuary was to be a paradise for them.

The Lilin supported Lilith during the Purge

The Lilin supported Lilith in the war their patrons fought before she was banished to the Void. Afterwards Inarius returned changed. He sealed the Fire of Life and removed the Worldstone from the island. Before he left, he made the Pathstone — a conduit channel the embers of the Fire of Life, to his "favored children," namely the Inari. The Lilin and Inari remained in perpetual conflict ever since.

As with every other nephalem culture on Sanctuary, the Lilin devolved into humans due to Inarius's tampering with the Worldstone. Furthermore, the Lilin's position in their homeland steadily deteriorated. At first, both peoples were equal, but then the Inari made themselves greater, too slowly for the Lilin to realize. Each side created sacred places at different parts of the island, where they sought to recreate Hell and Heaven respectively, using whatever means were at hand. This state of affairs lasted well into the 13th century By this point, everywhere the Lilin looked, they saw "thieves" stealing their future. The Lilin thus set out to reclaim their birthright. Because of their prayers, Lilith's favor was brought into Sanctuary.

Famine further intensified the acrimony between the two peoples, and Lilin began to advocate leaving their homeland. Of these voices, Morwith was the highest-ranking elder to state this position, and while she was rebuked, she was not stripped of her title, allowing her to convince many of her followers to flee the Cradle with her. The Pathstone was stolen by Morwith and her followers, and they fled the island. Not long afterwards, the Fire of Life ran rampant across Ancients' Cradle, causing social breakdown for both the Inari and Lilin.

For the Lilin who remained on the Cradle, their fortunes worsened further. Ymuthrus became the new Prevailing Wind and declared that Morwith had damned her home and people with her selfishness, and that all every Lilin who had advocated fleeing the Cradle was responsible. The punishment for their sins would be death. Even some Inari were shocked at the severity of his declaration, but his hand was not swayed, and Inari Sanctifiers were assigned to carry out the ordered executions.

Trivia

This section contains facts and trivia relevant to this article.

• The Lilin/Inari conflict mirrors that of angels and demons in the Eternal Conflict, and the Cathedral of Light/Triune in the Sin War.
• From the presence of horns, yellow irises and lengthened fingernails seen on Morwith and in the cosmetic set, the Lilin had benign mutations before they became afflicted, likely because of their long history of demon worship.
• The Lilin are likely named after/in reference to Lilith. In reality, the term "Lilin" originates from Mesopotamian lore, referring to succubae.