Diablo Chronicles Episode 21: Death Returns to the Undying Priest

This is a fan narrative rewritten based on the events of the original game. Character emotions, dialogue, and scene atmospheres have been reconstructed, and it contains major spoilers.

The Crimson Ritual and the Shadow of Immortality

Brushing the harsh dust of the Dry Steppes from his gear, the Wanderer pursued Elias's trail alongside Lorath. Elias, the fallen Horadrim, was the very man who had summoned Lilith into Sanctuary. The remnants of the crimson rituals he left behind refused to be swept away by the desert winds, emitting a sickening stench and radiating an ominous energy.

"He does not die. I ran my own sword through his heart, yet he stood right back up," Lorath muttered in a raspy voice, leaning on the tip of his broken staff. Elias, who had betrayed the knowledge of the Horadrim to dabble in forbidden magic, had transcended physical death. That horrific immortality was now threatening all of Sanctuary.

The Wanderer carefully examined the altar where the trail of blood went cold. Atop the altar, caked in dark, coagulated blood, the chaotic sigils of cultists praising Lilith were crudely carved. Elias was completely consumed by a twisted conviction that he could achieve Sanctuary's salvation by borrowing Lilith's power, losing his mind and running rampant.

"Whatever method he used to attain immortality, there must be a weakness," the Wanderer said resolutely, adjusting his grip on his weapon. Lorath nodded, but he could not hide his bitter and pained expression, sighing deeply at the cruel reality of having to permanently put down his former apprentice.

The two discovered clues indicating that Elias was not merely worshipping Lilith, but was attempting to summon an even more terrible demon into Sanctuary. On a torn piece of parchment, the name of Andariel, the Maiden of Anguish, was written. Shielded by his immortal flesh, Elias was relentlessly preparing the ritual, intending to turn Sanctuary into a living hell.

"Andariel... this is madness. If that demon of anguish is unleashed, Sanctuary will be reduced to ashes before Lilith can even make her move," Lorath said, a deep mixture of dread and anger flashing in his eyes. Clenching the parchment, the Wanderer set his jaw, feeling the heavy burden of responsibility to stop Elias's madness.

They discovered that Elias's next destination was an abandoned palace deep within the deserts of Kehjistan. There, he was searching for a host with a powerful soul to fully manifest Andariel. The time remaining for them to prevent the demon's descent was slipping away as fast as sand through an hourglass.

The Wanderer glared at the desert horizon while packing his gear. A perilous journey lay ahead, one where they would have to face both an immortal, corrupt priest and the Maiden of Anguish. Yet, to prevent Lilith's shadow from enveloping Sanctuary, they stepped without hesitation into the desert where a fierce sandstorm raged.

The Witch Who Became the Vessel of Anguish

As they reached the abandoned palace in Kehjistan, a thick stench of blood and agonizing screams echoed through the air. Slipping between collapsed pillars, the Wanderer and Lorath cautiously approached the central hall where the ritual was taking place. There stood Elias, clad in blood-stained robes, chanting a bizarre incantation.

At the center of the altar, the witch Taissa struggled against heavy iron chains. Horrific runes designed to summon Andariel were being carved into her flesh, burning with a crimson glow. Even amidst the excruciating pain of her flesh searing, Taissa resisted, spitting curses at Elias.

"Your anguish will make an excellent vessel to summon the Maiden to this land, Taissa," Elias smiled, his face pale as he placed a blood-soaked hand on her forehead. Taissa's eyes rolled back, showing only white as a bizarre green light began to emanate from them, and the air in the hall grew suddenly cold and heavy.

Lorath grit his teeth at the horrific suffering of his old acquaintance, Taissa. "Elias! Stop this madness at once!" he roared like thunder, leaping from their hiding place. The Wanderer also drew his weapon, standing by Lorath's side as they stepped into the center of the hall, radiating lethal intent toward Elias.

Elias turned his head with a leisurely gesture to look at them. "Lorath, my old, foolish master. You have never understood the true salvation of Sanctuary." With a wave of his hand, dozens of cultists praising Lilith poured out from the shadows of the hall, howling like beasts and brandishing weapons.

Deflecting the fierce onslaught of the cultists, the Wanderer carved a path toward the altar where Taissa was bound. Even as blades clashed and blood splattered in all directions, Taissa's screams gradually morphed from human cries into a bizarre, high-pitched metallic screech. It was an ominous sign that Andariel's descent was imminent.

"We must break the chains before Taissa's consciousness is completely consumed!" the Wanderer shouted urgently to Lorath as he decapitated a cultist. While Lorath wove magic to draw Elias's attention, the Wanderer charged fiercely toward the altar with all his might, tearing through the swarming enemies.

Elias raised a barrier of blood to block the Wanderer's approach, but the fierce momentum imbued in the Wanderer's weapon shattered the wall to pieces. However, the moment he reached the altar, a highly toxic mist spewed from Taissa's mouth, engulfing the entire hall and emitting a horrific stench that threatened to melt flesh.

The Maiden of Anguish Descends

Out of the toxic mist, a massive shadow arose. Using Taissa's physical body as a medium, the manifestation of Andariel, the Maiden of Anguish, had forced her way through a rift into Sanctuary, albeit incompletely. The demonic figure, bristling with bizarre bones bound in chains and hideous spikes, glared down cruelly at the Wanderer with glowing red eyes.

"Anguish... I shall grant you endless anguish!" Andariel's screeching voice shook the hall. As she slammed her toxic chains onto the floor, the stone ground melted instantly, releasing a lethal venom. Holding his breath, the Wanderer narrowly dodged the trajectory of the chains, looking for an opportunity to counterattack.

To prevent Taissa's soul from being completely extinguished, Lorath began chanting an ancient Horadric sealing spell. "Wanderer! Keep the demon distracted! I will try to hold onto Taissa's consciousness!" At Lorath's shout, the Wanderer leaped headlong toward Andariel without hesitation, unleashing a fierce offensive.

The Wanderer's weapon struck Andariel's hideous legs, but the demon merely spat venom in mockery. Despite the searing pain burning his skin, the Wanderer did not back down, delivering a relentless barrage of strikes. Phantoms of anguish materialized around the demon, attempting to gnaw at the Wanderer's mind, but he endured through sheer strength of will.

Elias watched the spectacle from afar, attempting to maintain his spell with ease, but Lorath's desperate interference was gradually disrupting the ritual's connection. Andariel's form distorted with every passing second, and Taissa's original voice began to break through sporadically, noticeably slowing the demon's movements.

"Now!" Seizing the moment when Andariel's defenses faltered, the Wanderer thrust his weapon with all his might into the demon's chest, where the toxic fumes were thickest. With a horrific shriek, a storm of venom swept through the hall, and the demon's massive form shattered into pieces, dispersing into the dense fog.

As Andariel's presence vanished with a deafening roar, Taissa collapsed to the floor, coughing up black blood. The Wanderer rushed over to support her. Taissa gasped for air and barely managed to open her eyes, but her entire body trembled violently from the horrific aftereffects left by the Maiden of Anguish, unable to escape the sheer terror.

Elias's face contorted with rage at the failure of the ritual. "Fools! To cast aside true salvation!" Unleashing a burst of blood magic to obscure their vision, he vanished without a trace into the collapsing ruins of the palace. Protecting Taissa, the Wanderer could only watch in frustration as the coward made his escape.

The Tree of Whispers and the Swamp Witch

After safely rescuing Taissa, they headed into the deep, dark swamps of Hawezar to find a way to break Elias's immortality. There stood the Tree of Whispers, a bizarre entity where the heads of the deceased hung, whispering forbidden knowledge. The sticky mud of the swamp clung heavily to the Wanderer's ankles, adding to the sense of foreboding.

Deep within the swamplands, they met Timue, the swamp witch. Coughing, Timue looked at the Wanderer and Lorath with wary eyes. "Pursuers of Elias, I see. That arrogant priest made a terrible bargain with the Tree. In exchange for eternal life, he agreed to owe a debt, staking everything he had."

Guided by Timue, they arrived at the Tree of Whispers, its rotting branches hung with countless severed heads. The heads flashed their eyes in unison and began a bizarre chorus directed at the Wanderer. "The one who has not paid his debt... Elias... His head belongs to us." Hundreds of voices blended together, piercing his mind.

Undeterred by the overwhelming presence of the Tree, the Wanderer asked firmly, "Tell me how to end his immortality. There must be a loophole in the contract he made with you." The heads of the Tree whispered among themselves, letting out chilling laughter before slowly speaking.

"He severed his own death from his flesh and hid it away. In a sunken temple at the bottom of the sea, a rotting part of his body lies tightly sealed," the Tree's voice echoed in the Wanderer's ears, cutting through the thick swamp fog. That was the hideous reason why Elias would not die, no matter how many times he was stabbed.

Timue nodded and added, "He cut off his own toe and placed a horrific curse upon it. As long as that toe remains intact, he will rise again even if you pierce his heart a hundred times." Lorath clicked his tongue in disgust at the fact that the secret of immortality was based on such a bizarre and gruesome act of self-mutilation.

"If we find and destroy that toe, he will face death like any ordinary mortal," Lorath said, unfolding an old map to estimate the location of the sunken temple. The Tree of Whispers offered a grotesque smile, opening the path to the temple on the condition that they bring Elias's head back to them.

Keeping the ominous bargain with the Tree in mind, the Wanderer left the swamp. He sensed that the end was near for Elias, who had carved up his own flesh in pursuit of the vain desire for eternal life. Without delay, they hastened their steps toward the ancient temple submerged at the bottom of the sea, their expressions filled with resolve.

The Secret of Immortality Hidden in the Temple

Below the coastal cliffs where the ocean waves crashed, the entrance to a forgotten ancient temple yawned open. The interior of the temple was thick with moisture and salt, and the walls were lined with blood-red runes drawn by Elias to seal his death, glowing hideously and radiating an ominous energy that repelled intruders.

The Wanderer and Lorath cautiously advanced into the depths of the temple. Decayed sea monsters and blood golems left behind by Elias blocked their path, but they fell one by one before the Wanderer's fierce might, collapsing into the mire. After relentless combat, they finally reached the innermost sanctuary.

At the center of the sanctuary sat a jar filled with black water, surrounded by layers of vibrating, powerful protective magic. "His death is contained in there," Lorath said, raising his staff to analyze the flow of magic. Inside the jar, a bizarrely mummified toe floated, emitting a faint red glow.

As the Wanderer approached the jar, a trap left by Elias triggered, and powerful vengeful spirits poured out, shrieking. The spirits attempted to invade the Wanderer's mind and subject him to horrific illusions, but he shook off the visions with steadfast resolve, swinging his weapon to cut down the spirits binding him.

"Lorath, dispel the protective magic!" At the Wanderer's shout, Lorath began chanting an ancient Horadric spell to neutralize the barrier surrounding the jar. As the barrier wavered and the magical light faded, the Wanderer prepared to strike the jar with all his strength to shatter it without hesitation.

With a sharp shattering sound, the jar broke into pieces, spilling the foul water onto the floor. The Wanderer ruthlessly crushed the hideous toe that rolled out under his heavy boot. Accompanied by the dull crunch of breaking bone, a horrific scream echoed throughout the temple, causing the walls to shake violently.

The moment the toe was destroyed, a fatal shockwave must have struck Elias's physical body far away. The blood-red runes filling the sanctuary lost their light all at once, turning into black ash and scattering into the air. It was the historic moment when the chains of immortality sustaining Elias were finally severed forever.

"Now he cannot escape death. He has returned to being an ordinary mortal," Lorath sighed in relief, looking down at the broken debris. Sheathing his weapon, the Wanderer strengthened his resolve. Now, it was time to hunt down Elias and make him pay a terrible price for all the atrocities and slaughter he had committed.

The Miserable End of a Mortal

Having lost his immortality, Elias had fled and hidden in a dilapidated fortress on the outskirts of Hawezar's deep swamps. When the Wanderer and Lorath broke through the fortress gates, Elias was coughing up black blood, offering a desperate and pathetic prayer to a statue of Lilith, begging for salvation.

"Impossible... My grand work cannot end like this!" Elias screamed in a voice laced with venom as he spun around. On his pale face, his former arrogance and composure were entirely gone, replaced only by sheer terror of his impending death and madness, his eyes bloodshot.

"Your vain delusions end here, Elias," Lorath declared coldly. The Wanderer leveled his weapon and slowly approached to end Elias's life. Cornered, Elias squeezed out every remaining drop of his life force, unleashing a burst of blood magic in a final, desperate struggle.

Red lightning crackled from Elias's fingertips, surging toward the Wanderer. Rolling to dodge the attack, the Wanderer kicked off a collapsed pillar of the fortress, leaping high to slash deeply into Elias's shoulder. Crimson blood sprayed into the air, and Elias staggered, howling like a wounded beast.

"I am the savior of Sanctuary! Only Mother Lilith can lead us!" Elias laughed maniacally, using his own blood pooled on the floor to summon massive spikes of blood. Sharp spikes erupted from all directions, cutting off the Wanderer's retreat and closing in to choke the life out of him.

Slipping through the gaps between the spikes, the Wanderer landed a series of devastating blows. Deprived of his immortality, Elias's physical body could not withstand the heavy strikes and was torn to shreds. When a powerful thrust from the Wanderer pierced Elias straight through the chest, black blood gushed from his mouth.

Elias stared blankly down at the weapon embedded in his chest in disbelief. "Mother... punish... them..." Reaching a blood-stained hand toward the empty air, he collapsed to his knees. With the dull thud of his body hitting the floor, the ominous energy shrouding the fortress vanished completely.

Catching his breath, the Wanderer looked down coldly at Elias's lifeless body. The end of the corrupt priest, who had committed countless atrocities and plunged Sanctuary into peril, was utterly pathetic and miserable. Lorath approached silently, staring down at the corpse of his former apprentice, lost in deep thought.

The Punishment of Eternal Whispers

The Wanderer severed Elias's head from his corpse and placed it in a heavy sack to fulfill their bargain with the Tree of Whispers. As they traversed the swamplands once more carrying the dripping sack, the swamp fog drifted eerily as if urging them forward, making unsettling noises.

Upon their arrival at the Tree of Whispers, the hanging heads cheered in unison, bursting into bizarre laughter. "You have come to pay the debt. We smell it... the scent of the arrogant priest's rotting blood." The thick branches of the Tree bent toward the Wanderer like hungry hands, making grotesque creaking sounds.

Unfastening the sack, the Wanderer roughly tossed Elias's severed head onto the muddy ground. The head rolled, its expression frozen in the terror of death. The roots of the Tree squirmed and rose, wrapping tightly around Elias's head, ruthlessly dragging it up to a vacant branch and securing it firmly.

Suddenly, Elias's head hanging from the branch snapped its eyes open. "No! I am the chosen of Lilith! I cannot hang from this rotten tree!" Denied rest even in death, Elias's soul shrieked and struggled, but the branches only bound him tighter.

The other heads cackled, mocking Elias. "You wanted eternal life, did you? Now you shall whisper with us forever, arrogant one." As the Tree's essence seeped into Elias's head, his screams gradually turned into a painful metallic rasp, and his eyes darkened with despair.

The Wanderer watched the horrific sight with cold eyes. It was the most fitting and cruel end for one who had trampled on the lives of others and allied with demons for his own ambition. The bargain was fulfilled, and Elias was trapped in eternal torment worse than death, becoming a part of the swamp.

The Tree of Whispers rustled its leaves in satisfaction and spoke to the Wanderer, "The debt is settled. Go your way, mortal. The threshold of Hell awaits you." The Tree's warning implied that Elias's death was not the end, but merely the beginning of an even greater threat to come.

Lorath averted his gaze from Elias's head and turned away heavily. "Let us go. That is punishment enough for his sins. We still have the real enemy to stop." The Wanderer nodded, leaving the Swamp of Whispers behind as he took heavy steps toward Hell.

Resolve Toward Hell

With Elias's threat eliminated, the Wanderer and Lorath returned to their temporary shelter in Tarsarak. There, Donan awaited them, his face gaunt. Though the grief of losing Yorin still weighed heavily on his shoulders, his eyes burned with a resolute desire for vengeance.

"Is Elias dealt with?" Donan asked, and Lorath gave a brief nod. "He hangs from the Tree of Whispers, babbling for eternity. Now, only Lilith remains." At the mention of her name, the air in the shelter grew heavy, and a suffocating tension settled among the three.

Lilith was already prepared to open the gates to Hell. If she were allowed to fully absorb the power of Hell, Sanctuary would undoubtedly face irreversible ruin. Spreading a map across the table, the Wanderer traced the path to track Lilith, and they discussed their upcoming plans in detail.

"We must enter Hell ourselves. If we fail to stop Lilith there, all is lost," the Wanderer said resolutely, and Donan and Lorath agreed in heavy silence. Stepping into Hell, the den of demons, in mortal bodies was nothing short of a horrific suicide mission.

"The tuning of the Soulstone is nearly complete. We will need perfect timing to imprison Lilith," Donan said, drawing a faintly glowing Soulstone from his coat. Though his fingertips trembled slightly, his resolve to avenge his son, whose life had been stolen by the demons, was firmer than anything else.

Lorath silently prepared for the coming battle, sharpening his old sword on a whetstone. "The final mission of the Horadrim being a march into Hell... Tyrael would be dumbfounded if he saw us now." Beneath his bitter jest lay a compulsive sense of duty to protect Sanctuary, far outweighing any fear of impending death.

The Wanderer inspected his armor and sharpened the edge of his weapon. The lingering triumph of defeating Elias had already vanished, replaced by a suffocating pressure, as if the scent of Hell's sulfur was already brushing against his nose. Locking eyes, they forged a grim resolve for what might be their final stand.

"We depart as soon as preparations are complete. Lilith will be waiting for us at the threshold of Hell," the Wanderer said, leading the way as he slung his weapon over his back. With grim expressions, Donan and Lorath followed behind him, as the desperate yet grand journey of three men carrying the fate of Sanctuary was about to begin.

Verified Sources

Official Blizzard Lore: Akarat and the Spirit Realm

Official Blizzard Material: From Vessel of Hatred to Lord of Hatred

Official Blizzard Material: Lord of Hatred Campaign

Polygon Event Explanation: Lord of Hatred Ending

Official Diablo IV Store: Battle.net