Sankekur was a Zakarum Que-Hegan, who served as Mephisto's host.
Biography[]
Sankekur was originally a Zakarum priest.[1]
The Prime Evils[]
Sankekur, possessed by the Lord of Hatred
After the death of Que-Hegan Khalim, Sankekur was chosen as his successor as head of the now corrupted Zakarum faith. He was soon after chosen to be Mephisto's host within Sanctuary, with Mephisto's soulstone being punctured into the priest's hand.[1] At some point during his reign, Sankekur also fell under the will of Mephisto.[2] When Baal and Diablo arrived in Travincal, they freed Mephisto from his soulstone. The Lord of Hatred quickly took possession of Sankekur completely, the body of the Zakarum priest twisting and distorting to mirror Mephisto's demonic form. However, Mephisto was defeated by a group of heroes, and Sankekur was slain as a result.[3]
Sankekur's corruption, and that of the Zakarum faith as a whole, later became public knowledge. It was a revelation that nearly destroyed the organization. Sankekur was succeeded by Que-Hegan Dirae, and the faith took steps to mend its reputation.[2]
The Black Tomb[]
A tapestry depicting Sankekur under Mephisto's influence
The corpse of the former Que-Hegan seeped corruption, as Mephisto's influence still leaked demonic energy even after his defeat. To ensure the contagion of Mephisto's hatred wouldn't spread over the land, Carthas, a Zakarum Paladin Marshal who was part of the group of heroes that defeated the Prime Evils, took Sankekur's body back to Hawezar. The Paladin and his Order sealed the priest's body inside a chamber built at the depths of the Ruins of Rakhat Keep, a former Zakarum temple. The resting place of Sankekur's body became known as "The Black Tomb". Carthas and his Paladins locked themselves inside the keep to prevent anyone from reaching the tomb, as a final display of devotion to protect Sanctuary from Mephisto's influence.[citation needed]
The Black Tomb turned out to be a passage to a much larger crypt where Sankekur was entombed. His eyes, ears and tongue had been removed by the Zakarum Paladins and placed in ceremonial urns scattered across the tomb, in an attempt to contain the demonic energy seeping from the priest's corpse. Hatred had begun spreading in the tomb due to the Triune and the seemingly resurrected Fell Council meddling with it. When the Wanderer and Locran, a Triune cultist loyal to Lilith, found Sankekur's body, they discovered it had been severely corrupted. After fending off the Undead as well as a Council member, they managed to halt the corruption thus preventing the veil between Sanctuary and the Burning Hells from being completely torn asunder, at the cost of Locran's life.[citation needed]
Trivia[]
- Sankekur is far less 'visible' in Diablo II: Resurrected, where in the associated cinematic, Mephisto is far more demonic in appearance, with little of Sankekur's form to be seen.
- Tapestry depicting Sankekur being possessed by Mephisto can be seen at the Ruins of Rakhat Keep in Diablo IV.