Tal Rasha

"We cannot always change the future, but we can fight to guide it. In doing so, even if we fail, we will have set a path for others to follow."

- Tal Rasha on the nature of mortals^(src)

Tal Rasha was a powerful Horadric Mage, and the original leader of the order. He became the host for Baal, Lord of Destruction. Few Sorcerers have been able to reach the same levels of fame that he has.^[1]

Biography[]

"A selfless, noble fool."

- Zoltun Kulle on Tal Rasha^(src)

Early Life[]

In his youth, Tal Rasha visited the court of Coshumat. He gave him the title "the Halfwit Count," as he ruled over starving fiefs, yet refused bread and succor to those who did not impress him. Coshumat kept a retinue of ten burly show fighters he called the Eminents. As Tal Rasha arrived, they had just finished with a man who begged relief for his village after a poor harvest. The count asked him to endure thirty strikes from the Eminents, and watched attentively as they beat the man unconscious with the flats of their swords.^[2]

The Hunt for the Three[]

The Horadrim were formed at the behest of the archangel Tyrael, given the task to hunt the three Prime Evils that had been banished to Sanctuary. Tal Rasha was made the group's leader.^[3] This included the responsibility of inducting recruits.^[4]

Legacy of the Horadrim — Tal Rasha and the Horadrim bind their essence

Tal Rasha was among the Horadrim that bound their essence into vessels. As the Horadrim could not conquer death, these vessels would store their memories for future Horadrim.^[5]

At some point, Tal Rasha stored most of his power inside a source.^[6]

The Binding of Destruction[]

"Baal! May this shard be your eternal prison!"

- Tal Rasha after defeating Baal^(src)

Of the Three Brothers, Baal was the second Prime Evil found, who took refuge in the city of Lut Gholein for three days.^[3] Tal Rasha ordered the Horadrim to wait so that no innocents would be caught in the crossfire.^[7] The Horadrim finally confronted Baal after he left the city.^[3] Tal Rasha confronted Baal alone before Kulle and the other Horadrim arrived. Together, they were able to incapacitate Baal and use the soulstone against him.^[3]

Accounts differ on what happened next. The main account states that during the fight, one of Baal's attacks shattered the sacred soulstone that was supposed to imprison him. Tal Rasha however, subdued the raging demon lord and, gathering the largest of the soulstone's shards, trapped Baal's destructive essence within it. Another states that it was the inability of Zoltun Kulle (another member of the Horadrim) to properly handle the stone in battle, which lead to its breaking.^[3]

KulleBaalRasha — Kulle and Tal Rasha seal Baal inside the fragment

In truth, the first account appears to be more accurate, as Kulle and Tal Rasha wielded the soulstone together, but Baal shattered it, before escaping through a portal. Tal Rasha teleported after him, while ordering Kulle to lead the Horadrim into the valley below to meet up with him. They found Tal Rasha and Baal locked in mortal combat, and joined the fray. In a second battle against the Lord of Destruction, Baal was subdued, and imprisoned within the soulstone fragment.^[8] However, the fragment could not contain Baal's essence forever,^[3] and there wasn't enough time to reformulate it.^[9]

Tal Rasha was unperturbed, stating that all they had to do was obtain another soulstone. Kulle, annoyed, pointed out that only an archangel's weapon could cleave the Worldstone, and even then, there was no way they could make it to Mount Arreat before Baal escaped. Tal Rasha stated that Tyrael would have answers, and promised Kulle that Baal would not roam free again.^[8]

Tal Rasha-soulstone — Tal Rasha, impaled with the soulstone

While accounts again differ as to whether it was Tal Rasha or Kulle who made the suggestion, the idea was put forward that a human body might be able to contain the demon's essence by fusing a shard to their body. Unfortunately, the host would be left to wrestle with the demon for all eternity. But an instant later, Tal Rasha stepped forward to volunteer. It was at this point that Tyrael appeared, leading the Horadrim to an old burial chamber. A binding stone with runes of containment was built, and Tal Rasha ordered his brethren to chain him to it.^[3] Kulle asked Tal Rasha whether he was certain of this path three times—once when Tyrael first led them through the subterranean tunnels, once when they began to shape the binding stones and forge the chains, and a third time after the work was finished. Tal Rasha answered that he was—better in his mind that he should suffer rather than the millions who would if Baal was allowed to run rampant.^[10]

Tal Rasha uttered a prayer to the Light as the manacles were closed around his wrists. When he opened his eyes again, Tyrael was there, holding the soulstone. Tal Rasha told him he was ready.^[10]

As the Mages looked on in sorrow, Tyrael jammed the soulstone shard into Tal Rasha's heart, sealing his fate.^[3] The pain was excruciating, and part of him wanted to call out for the others to help him. He bit his tongue until his mouth was full of blood, his body shaking and rattling in chains, the presence of Baal already affecting him. Already, he could feel Baal pushing at his mind and body, scouring for weaknesses and shaking the foundations of his soul.^[10] Sorrowfully, the Horadrim sealed the chamber and departed.^[3]

Dueling with the Demon[]

"You cannot...fool me...with your illusions, demon!"
"And yet I have fooled you with the same illusion time and time again, mage. Each time it takes you a little longer to understand that it is an illusion. Your mind is crumbling. And soon it shall be reduced to ash, and I will be free."

- Tal Rasha and Baal^(src)

Over the centuries, Tal Rasha was left to wrestle with Baal's spirit. Legends of his tomb spread.^[11] Horazon was able to find and record its location.^[12]

Tal Rasha's physical form began to wither away as hunger and thirst took their toll. He was left a hairsbreadth shy of death, and his deteriorating body was no longer entirely his. Baal, controlling Tal Rasha's body, struggled to escape, but could not break free of the bonds.^[10]

BaalTalRasha-tales — Baal torments Tal Rasha

To break Tal Rasha's mind, Baal kept showing him the moment where he and Kulle had bound him to the soulstone fragment, but subtly reworked it, introducing shades of doubt and fear to make Tal Rasha doubt himself. Always, Tal Rasha saw through the illusion, but each time, it took him a little longer to realize that it was falsehood. In Tal Rasha's mind, Baal mocked him, telling Tal Rasha that his mind was crumbling, and that eventually, it would be reduced to ash, and the Lord of Destruction freed. Deep down, Tal Rasha knew this was true. Only a few years had passed since his imprisonment, and what were a few years compared to the eternity that awaited him? Baal promised to break Tal Rasha down bit by bit. Over the years, Baal kept playing the same vision over and over, always with new falsehoods to make Tal Rasha doubt his own memory, and while the Mage was able to see through them, it took him a little longer to see through Baal's lies each time.^[10]

Tal Rasha-demon — Tal Rasha's vision of himself as a demon

Baal created a new vision within Tal Rasha's mind. Here, Tal Rasha had sacrificed himself to contain Baal, but his life had been returned to him, and having returned to the Horadrim, he had dedicated himself to a monastic life of contemplation and wisdom. In the vision, Tal Rasha wrote an account of his sacrifice, but after removing the quill, he saw that the words on the parchment were not the same words he had written. The words stated that Tal Rasha had become a shadow of his former self. Soon, his mind would be gone, and his body subject to Baal's will. In horror, Tal Rasha saw his hand had turned dark red, clawed, and scaly, his face transforming likewise. In the vision, he called for help, and heard Kulle's voice from outside the door. Kulle explained that Tal Rasha would be contained until the Horadrim knew they could trust him again, but until that happened, Tal Rasha would be left to record his history and slide it under the door.^[10]

Tal Rasha continued to write, believing himself to be a demon, but has his mind wandered, he continued to doodle, and when he looked at what he had drawn, he saw his human face looking back at him. The vision began to fade, and he realized that the candelight in his cell was the flickering light that illuminated his tomb. Tal Rasha told Baal that he had again failed to break him. Baal called him a fool and a waste of time.^[10]

The years passed, and Tal Rasha lost track of them. Decades, centuries, he could no longer tell how long he had been in the tomb, nor did he know how much longer he could endure Baal's mental assaults. Baal became more inventive, manipulating and pushing Tal Rasha's mind more and more effectively, making him more malleable. With every vision, Baal was able to tell what element had affected Tal Rasha the most, and was able to tailor the next vision accordingly.^[10]

At some point, Tal Rasha realized one of his hands was no longer restrained, that the chain that bound it had become loose. He was tempted to tug it out, to allow himself to die, but he was resolved to keeping Baal contained as long as possible. He knew that if Baal realized that the hand had come free, the Lord of Destruction would wrest control of Tal Rasha's own hand, tug the soulstone shard free, and release himself. Despair welled in Tal Rasha as he wondered how long he could keep this a secret. Baal, for his part, could tell that Tal Rasha was trying not to think of something, but couldn't identify it. He pushed his way through Tal Rasha's mind.^[10]

In this, Baal walked into the mental trap Tal Rasha had set for him, as Baal believed he was freeing himself by using Tal Rasha's free hand to remove the soulstone, but instead, was only doing so in the mental vision Tal Rasha had conjured for the demon. In the vision, Baal was freed once the shard was removed, and sought to exit the tomb. He threw open the doors, but found himself back in the same tomb. He opened the doors again, found himself outside, only to be assaulted by a horde of cows. Rattled, Baal entered the mirror image of the tomb, where he made his way back to Tal Rasha, realizing that the Mage had tricked him. Despite his perpetual agony, Tal Rasha smiled, having briefly turned the tables on the demon, even if, in reality, the entire ordeal had onyl lasted a few moments. In so doing, he had preserved a tiny piece of himself.^[10]

But then within him, Baal raged. His smile extinguished, and Tal Rasha began to scream.^[10]

The Release of Destruction[]

"When Tal Rasha chose to embody the spirit of Baal, he knew his doom was to wrestle eternally against the will of the greater Evil. Look around you and ask yourself, 'Has the battle been won or lost?'"

- Lysander^(src)

Baal-imprisoned-in-Diablo-2-Resurrected — Tal Rasha, possessed and fully corrupted by Baal, moments before his release

The Tomb of Tal Rasha was eventually found by Diablo who, under the guise of the Dark Wanderer, sought to free Baal. By this time Tal Rasha's essence had been consumed by Baal, which also gave the Lord of Destruction insight into Horadric knowledge.^[11] As the Wanderer, Diablo entered the tomb, but was confronted by Tyrael. As the two battled, Baal called out to the Wanderer's companion, Marius, begging him to release him. Marius was compelled to do so, and plucked the soulstone from Tal Rasha's chest. This freed Baal, who now had control of Tal Rasha's body.^[13] By the time Baal reached Mount Arreat, no trace of Tal Rasha's physical form remained,^[14] and his physical form was destroyed as per the destruction of the Worldstone.^[3]

Legacy[]

"I've heard legends of the Tomb of Tal Rasha, but I thought they were just old tales meant to scare young children."

- Atma^(src)

Horazon considered Tal Rasha to perhaps be foremost among the Horadrim.^[15]

Supposedly, Tal Rasha penned some memoirs, but if so, they were lost. The Crusader Anajinn searched for them.^[16]

A ring once owned by Tal Rasha was recovered in the sands outside Lut Gholein. The discoverer was unware of its true value and sold it to Rakhaan for a meager handful of coins.^[17]

In-game[]

Diablo II[]

Tal Rasha's Wrappings is an item set that can be obtained in Diablo II.

In Act II, Greater Mummies and their variations can be heard uttering "Tal Rasha."

Diablo Immortal[]

Tal Rasha-portrait — Tal Rasha in *Diablo Immortal*

Tal Rasha appears in Diablo Immortal in the "Destruction's End" dungeon in Diablo Immortal. He is an NPC that players fight alongside as they relive the defeat of Baal during the Dark Exile.

Tal Rasha plays an active role during the second Baal fight. He can generate a shield that will protect the player from Baal's fireballs.

The Memory of Tal Rasha is encountered as an NPC as part of the Legacy of the Horadrim system.

Diablo III[]

Tal Rasha's Elements is an item set that can be obtained in Diablo III. One of the Kanai's Cube recipes, Archive of Tal Rasha, is named after him.

Season 14 features Tal Rasha-themed portraits.

Diablo IV[]

Tal Rasha's Iridescent Loop is a malignant ring available in Diablo IV.

Personality and Traits[]

"If you would bear the scepter of rule, see that your arm is strong enough to hold it steady."

- The Memory of Tal Rasha^(src)

Tal Rasha dedicated his life to justice and the Light.^[10] He had a strong sense of justice, and possessed a virtuous streak; his memory duplicate claimed that Tal Rasha never once lied to anyone who deserved honesty. He had a suspicion of those in power, noting "if a king's subjects starve, he is no king, and that anyone who wielded power should be accompanied by moral fortitude. He noted that "realms with fewer aristocrats have fewer demons."^[2]

Despite his magical power, Tal Rasha was likewise humble on this front. He noted that for all of magic's power, not everyone could wield it, while something as simple as bread was vital to everyone. He considered the other Horadrim to be his superiors in virtue and wisdom.^[2]

Despite this, Tal Rasha's apparent virtue was not always welcomed. Fara espoused the opinion that his act of attempting to seal Baal was selfless, but perhaps foolhardy;^[11] a similar opinion was shared by Zoltun Kulle, who was exasperated by Tal Rasha's stubborness and naievete.^[8] He considered Tal Rasha a "selfless, noble fool," and noted that he never questioned Tyrael's directions. He did however, concede that Tal Rasha's leadership had held the Horadrim together.^[18] Caldesann was similarly disdainful, calling Tal Rasha "a mushroom," but conceded that Tal Rasha was at least tough.^[19]

Tal Rasha clothed himself in garments of subtlety and power, like the rest of the Horadrim, but to a greater extent.^[20]

Abilities[]

"The virtue and wisdom of my fellow Horadrim can never be in doubt. Only in force of will do I compare favorably."