- The Memory of Jered Cain(src)
The Spirit Realm
The Spirit Realm is an otherworldly plane, separate from Sanctuary. It is here spirits go after death.
Various human cultures/groups have their own terms for the Spirit Realm. These include the Hall Beyond,[1] Realm of the Dead,[2] Mbwiru Eikura ("Unformed Land"),[3] "the Spirit World,"[4][5] the Unformed Lands,[6] or the Plane of the Dead.[7]
Lore[]
A human and spirit inside the realm
The Spirit Realm is said to have "empyrean topography;"[8] a ghostly reflection of Sanctuary shaped by human beliefs.[9] It warps around powerful soul(s) to form a reflection of real locations.[10] Inhabitants of this realm include human and animal spirits,[7] insect and plant spirits,[9] vengeful spirits,[7] along with creatures such as the Skitterwright.[11] Over time they evolve with some becoming Spirit Guardians who grew to be massive from magical energy concentrating within them. The Guardians protect the realm from angels and demons.[9] A veil exists between this realm and Sanctuary.[12] During Hallow's Wake, the boundary between the realms of life and death becomes paper thin, and for a short duration, the two realms become one. In this period, vengeful spirits spread across the land.[13]
The Spirit Realm is sub-divided into various realms, each of which is overseen by a Spirit Guardian. A human spirit under a Guardian's patronage may roam their respective realm.[14]
History[]
The Spirit Realm has existed since Sanctuary's creation. When Inarius and Lilith altered the Worldstone, the magic between these two great powers released a clouded veil of magical energy which created the realm.[9]
Akarat pierces the veil
Akarat is the first known human to have discovered the Spirit Realm. When he returned to Nahantu, he discovered the veil between the Spirit Realm and Sanctuary—a place uninfluenced by angels and demons. He knew such a place had to be protected, and he and his most trusted acolyte Ysevete spent many fortnights studying the Spirit Realm until Akarat became the first living body to cross the veil into the Spirit Realm.[9]
Akarat’s acolytes continued his studies of the jungle while he was abroad. Returning for his twilight years, Akarat spent them exploring the uncharted territories of the Spirit Realm. When it was time for Akarat to make his final crossing into the Spirit Realm, it would be under the watch of his devoted followers. Ysevete's cries of sorrow would reach the Realm and were met with support from the spirits. Ysevete would go on to form the basis for the Spiritborn culture.[9]
In 1286, spirits of the realm were consumed by Malthael, as he sought to increase his strength. His actions weakened the divide between the realm and Sanctuary.[15]
Mephisto's corruption affects the Spirit Realm
In 1336, as Neyrelle made her way through Nahantu carrying Mephisto's soulstone, his corruption began to seep into the Spirit Realm.[16]
Beliefs and Practices[]
Priests of Rathma[]
It is from this realm that Necromancers can summon these spirits, upon which, they will rip a portion of their foe's soul and carry it with them back into their realm.[7]
Necromancers can tap into the spirit realm, channeling bitter and mischievous spirits into the minds of nearby enemies. The victims are bombarded with the gibbering of the dead, which, indistinguishable from their own thoughts, urge them to strike at friend and foe alike. The discordant wailing of these spirits builds to a crescendo, eventually driving the victim mad.[7]
Spiritborn[]
A Spiritborn accompanied by Spirit Guardians
The Spirit Realm is integral to the practices of the Spiritborn.[6] The Spiritborn were founded by Ysevete, who formed the group after Akarat passed into the realm for the last time. Spiritborn culture endured well into the Great Enmity, using the tenets Yveste and Akarat created.[9]
Spiritborn believe that if they devote themselves to the Spirit Guardians sufficiently in life, that once they cross the veil after death, they will become Spirit Guardians themselves.[17] The desired transfer of their soul to the Spirit Realm upon death is one they prepare for while alive. Rejoining with the Spirit Realm upon death is thought to be the highest honor someone can bring upon themselves.[9]
Spiritborn can visit the Spirit Realm while alive, although it is a dangerous, honor-laden undertaking usually reserved for elders who’ve mastered every other facet of their skillset. The uninitiated can still experience vestiges of the Spirit Realm in the form of visions or dreams, whispers from the other side of the veil, and unsolicited intuitions.[9]
Umbaru[]
- Abd al-Hazir(src)
The Unformed Land is the central tenet of the Umbaru's belief system, that the mortal realm is merely a veil for the true reality that is the Unformed Land. It is through the Witch Doctors that the Umbaru gain insight into the realm, who can purportedly see and experience it,[3] in a state they call the Ghost Trance.[18] They believe that every being senses the Unformed Land, even if they do not know it. It has been demonstrated that (supposedly) being severed from this connection results in excruciating pain.[19] It is from this realm that they draw their dark magic.[20] According to Enkasi, the Unformed Land is the 'true world,' and Sanctuary is its shadow.[15]
According to the Umbaru, gods dwell within this realm, their life force flowing from the Unformed Land into Sanctuary[18] (it has been said that a 'thread' flows from the Unformed Land into all living things).[21] Thus, the Umbaru hold ceremonies involving ritual sacrifice to keep this life force flowing.[18] Among these gods is Giyua, who is said to greet the spirits of the departed once they enter the realm.[22]
The gods aside, the denizens of the land are mischievous and drawn to power, always seeking to intrude upon the mortal world, but fail to stay for long.[23] An Umbaru priest once crossed into the realm, but returned as a Phantasm (and was subsequently slain).[24]
Other[]
Various cults have believed that the souls of virtuous humans are rewarded in Heaven while the souls of wicked sinners are punished in the Burning Hells, though Deckard Cain noted there was little evidence for this belief. He believed that human souls passed on to an unknown location, beyond the reach of Heaven or Hell.[3]
Scrolls found by Kamien described a river of tar that separated the living from a "land of the dead." Any unfortunate soul who tried to cross would be dragged into oblivion.[25]
Some believe that Duskprowlers escort the dead into lands beyond Sanctuary.[26]
Some Barbarians believe in "the Hall Beyond"; apparently their version of the Spirit Realm. In this belief system, those who face their end without fear will be able to keep their form in the titular Hall.[1]
Trivia[]
The composition of the Spirit Realm
- From a narrative standpoint, the Spirit Realm is to humans what Heaven and Hell are to angels and demons.[17]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Diablo Immortal, Dauntless Temper
- ↑ Diablo Immortal, Masters of Death
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Book of Cain
- ↑ Diablo III, Umbral Oath
- ↑ Tales of Sanctuary, The Hand of Naz
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 2024-07-19, Diablo IV | Vessel of Hatred | Spiritborn Class Trailer. YouTube, accessed on 2024-07-21
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 Diablo II Manual
- ↑ Doubtwalker
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 9.5 9.6 9.7 9.8 2024-7-18; AWAKEN THE FEROCITY OF A NEW CLASS: SPIRITBORN. Blizzard Entertainment, accessed on 2024-7-18
- ↑ Diablo Immortal, Mad King's Breach, The Realm of the Dead
- ↑ 2023-12-12, REPEL DEMONIC DEFILEMENT IN SPLINTERED SOULS. Blizzard Entertainment, accessed on 2023-12-15
- ↑ Diablo III, Mirrorball
- ↑ 2022-10-11, SCARE YOUR WAY THROUGH SANCTUARY DURING HALLOW’S WAKE. Blizzard Entertainment, accessed on 2022-11-02
- ↑ Diablo IV, Harmony of Ebewaka
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 Diablo III, Act V, Angel of Death
- ↑ 2024-09-18, Diablo IV | Vessel of Hatred | The Next Chapter. YouTube, accessed on 2024-09-18
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 2024-07-18, Hands-On With The New Spiritborn Class. Game Informer, accessed on 2024-07-20
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 18.2 Writings of Abd al-Hazir: Witch Doctor
- ↑ Diablo III, Ring of Emptiness
- ↑ 2016-11-04, Restoring the Balance—Necromancer Overview. Blizzard Entertainment, accessed on 2016-11-07
- ↑ Diablo III, Lakumba's Ornament
- ↑ Diablo III, Visage of Giyua
- ↑ Diablo III, Fetish Sycophants
- ↑ Diablo III, The Tall Man's Finger
- ↑ Diablo IV, Black River
- ↑ 2023-12-06, SPLINTERED SOULS CONVERGE IN THE SOUTHERN DREADLANDS. Blizzard Entertainment, accessed on 2023-12-15
Astral Realm • Burning Hells • Deluged Plane • Ether • Fractured Plane • High Heavens • Limbo • Mirrored World • Nephalem Rifts • Obliterated Realm • Pandemonium • Realm of the Banished • Realm of Shadow • Realms of Fate • Spirit Realm • Void • Wastelands
Sanctuary — Ancients' Cradle • Aranoch • Bakuli Jungle • Bilefen (Valostre, defunct) • Cold Isles (Pelghain, defunct) • Dreadlands • Dry Steppes • Eastern Steppes • Fractured Peaks • Greyhollow Island • Hawezar • Ivgorod (defunct) • Kehjistan (defunct) • Marshland • Nahantu • Samauren Empire (defunct) • Scosglen • Shassar Sea (Fahiran Empire, defunct) • Shimmering Tropic • Skovos Isles • Stormpoint • Uie • Western Kingdoms (Entsteig • Khanduras • Westmarch) • Wojahn • Xiansai
Related — Towns