- The Memory of Jered Cain(src)
The Realm of the Dead[1], otherwise known as the Mbwiru Eikura ("Unformed Land"),[2] "the Spirit World,"[3][4] Plane of the Dead,[5] or "the Spirit Realm,"[5] is an otherworldly plane, separate from Sanctuary.
Lore[]
The realm is said to have "empyrean topography,"[6] and is inhabited by vengeful spirits,[5] along with creatures such as the Skitterwright.[7] A veil apparently exists between this realm and Sanctuary.[8] 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.[9]
Spirits of the Unformed Land were consumed by Malthael, as he sought to increase his strength. His actions weakened the divide between the Unformed Land and Sanctuary.[10]
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.[5]
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.[5]
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,[2] in a state they call the Ghost Trance.[11] 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.[12] It is from this realm that they draw their dark magic.[13] According to Enkasi, the Unformed Land is the 'true world,' and Sanctuary is its shadow.[10]
According to the Umbaru, gods dwell within this realm, their life force flowing from the Unformed Land into Sanctuary[11] (it has been said that a 'thread' flows from the Unformed Land into all living things).[14] Thus, the Umbaru hold ceremonies involving ritual sacrifice to keep this life force flowing.[11] Among these gods is Giyua, who is said to greet the spirits of the departed once they enter the realm.[15]
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.[16] An Umbaru priest once crossed into the realm, but returned as a Phantasm (and was subsequently slain).[17]
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.[2]
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.[18]
Some believe that Duskprowlers escort the dead into lands beyond Sanctuary.[19]
References[]
- ↑ Diablo Immortal, Masters of Death
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Book of Cain
- ↑ Diablo III, Umbral Oath
- ↑ Tales of Sanctuary, The Hand of Naz
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 Diablo II Manual
- ↑ Doubtwalker
- ↑ 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
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Diablo III, Act V, Angel of Death
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 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 • Ether • Fractured Plane • High Heavens • Limbo • Mirrored World • Nephalem Rifts • Obliterated Realm • Pandemonium • Realm of the Banished • Realm of the Dead • Realm of Shadow • Realms of Fate • Void • Wastelands
Sanctuary — Ancients' Cradle • Aranoch • Bakuli Jungle • Bilefen (Valostre, defunct) • Cold Isles • Dreadlands • Dry Steppes • Eastern Steppes • Fractured Peaks • Greyhollow Island • Hawezar • Ivgorod (defunct) • Kehjistan (defunct) • Marshland • Nahantu • Samauren Empire (defunct) • Scosglen • Sharval Wilds • Shassar Sea (Fahiran Empire, defunct) • Skovos Isles • Stormpoint • Uie • Western Kingdoms (Entsteig • Khanduras • Westmarch) • Wojahn • Xiansai • Zeleny Lowlands
Related — Towns