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Disclaimer: Long Post ahead!

Alright, I've done my best to search through and find if this specifically has been discussed before and didn't find much about what I'm talking about, though if I've missed it and this is a duplicate thread, I apologize.

Specifically, I just finished MotS and read it very, very closely knowing that chronologically it's the newest information / story we have, the closest to what's going to be happening in D3, and came across a few rather interesting things, though mostly ambiguous, but I think they could lead to some interesting discussion; that all being said, here are some excerpts / thoughts:

(pg. 19)

"Mount Arreat--where legend claimed it had been hidden--had exploded, its entire top ravaged."

Pretty obvious, nothing new here really, just interesting to note; I'm more and more convinced (it seems obvious) it is in fact the Arreat Crater in the D3 cinematic trailer (far beyond where two guards appear to stand watch).

(also pg. 19)

"Now, both the powers of Light and Darkness reached out to fully claim humanity, and in their battles against one another the two cosmic factions threatened to destroy what they desired. Somehow, all that tied into Zayl's own urge to come to Westmarch. Somewhere in this vast kingdom, the repercussions of Baal's heinous deed would soon be felt."

Again, nothing monumental here -- we still don't know exactly what destroying the Worldstone has caused to happen in D3, except that whatever protection it offered Sanctuary before is now completely gone. The implication with the rest of the novel is that Astrogha's return was only possible (not only because of the factors of timing, Karybdus's work, etc) due to the Worldstone no longer existing -- both Heaven and Hell truly do now entirely see Sanctuary, and many forces that may have been unable to manifest may now do so.

(pg. 105)

"There was a foulness to this that disturbed the necromancer, a foulness he felt was tied in part to the destruction of the Worldstone. The dark ones will be stirring, a jungle spirit had told him during a summoning he had made prior to sailing. Even the lost ones..."

More evidence of the previous; I think what we take from this is that no former enemy can be counted out, as who knows what is meant by 'lost'...easily an explanation for Diablo's obvious return, but it also means the rest are fair game...Lillith, Andariel, Duriel, Mephisto, whoever.

More interesting to me was the presence of a unnamed, fiery-winged archangel throughout the latter half or so of the novel that aids Zayl and Salene. Earlier on he takes the form of a well-built man in the garb of a mercenary, and each time he is encountered he reminds them both of someone they dearly trust -- Zayl mistakes the man for Captain Dumon, and a short time later when the man aids Salene, she reminds him of Polth, her dead, trusted guardian. He subtly guides them both on their quests.

While the logic of this being the archangel seems relatively certain, Knaak makes it explicit in the final lines of the novel:

(pg. 321)

"And from across the estate of House Nesardo, a figure that resembled a mercenary with many faces but was so much more watched the necromancer and the woman he had just left."

...

"With that thought, he spread his fiery wings and, unseen by all, took to the sky."

So, it was him, we know for sure.

Another quick excerpt demonstrating the description of the figure, as it came in at the end of the novel to guide Zayl's wendigo to aid Salene in reaching and saving him:

(pg. 285)

"Salene looked at the light...and noticed that framed in it was what appeared to be a glorious figure with a long, shadowed hood and a robe of silver. For just a moment, the startled noblewoman also thought she made out wings of fire..."

It seems very obvious to point to the numerous art and screen captures from the D3 media showing an archangel with distinctly fiery wings -- in one he's towering in the air above another archangel, if you look at the sketchwork (I can link to the artwork in question if anyone has a difficult time seeing it on the D3 website).

This would seem to be a figure important to the post-D2 world -- the obvious question is which archangel is it? It could still be Tyrael if he has undergone some kind of change since destroying the Worldstone, as we know him to not have wings of flame. In his numerous appearances in the Diablo novels, though, Tyrael has always had an obvious presence, either being named as such by the omniscient narrator he even offering his name himself (as he does in Demonsbane, I think elsewhere, too). It just seems what we're witnessing the presence of another archangel, and if it is not Tyrael we're left questioning who it is, and why he's doing the work we'd normally see Tyrael doing.

One more excerpt from early on in the book when an odd occurrence happens -- it isn't stated directly, but it would seem to be when this archangel descends to Sanctuary to aid the humans:

(pgs. 99-100)

"In the dark of the storm, a single light flickered in the sky. Those few who might have seen it likely would have imagined that somehow the clouds had parted just long enough for this one star to shine through. But had they now witnessed it drop toward the ground, they would have instead called it a portent, an omen. In both cases, such onlookers would have been entirely wrong...and entirely correct."

Basically, the light descends down into the city of Westmarch. While it's subtle, I think what this is getting across is that while this archangel's presence in Sanctuary is a positive one directly, it would seem that the need for the direct intervention of Heaven is a sign that Hell has new, equally terrible things in store for Sanctuary, Astrogha's near return being only the first.

Alright, I know that's a lot of info, none of it huge exactly, and parts of this have been discussed elsewhere, but I wanted to offer some direct excerpts to give some concrete groundwork -- I also haven't seen the connection made between the angel in the artwork and the fiery-winged angel present in MotS before.

I've also read into the theory posted on this forum of the fiery-winged archangel possibly being Imperius, seeking to destroy Sanctuary, and it think it's clear this isn't the case -- this angel has already acted in the world of Sanctuary, and every move he made was to the benefit of its people, at least so far.

My thanks to anyone who bothered to read this looooong post, and I welcome any feedback or thoughts on these observations.

Quote from "Xinube" »

oh no, what else are they planning to do?
what about "Respecting the franchise" part?

Uh, considering that they're not only maintaining the core mechanics of the last game but are actually improving it to make it MORE randomized as far as events and encounters to ensure replayability...how are they not respecting the franchise?

PS, I love the grammar in your signature. How's remedial 2nd-grade English treating you? :rolleyes:

Why is this even being discussed if Diablo 3 wont have mounts? I think it's just a waste of everyone's time. :confused:

The only thing I could see be used remotely as a mount is if they were to added rentable horses so you can get to wherever you're going faster, and they'd give you five or ten minute time limit for you to get there.

Quote from "InterrogatorChaplain" »

In diablo2 keys weren't really a big deal, lol. i remember more often than not a locked chest would drop keys, or i'de have so many that i'de need to drop them. And there were somtimes like 20 locked chests in one single area, kind of defeating the purpose of keys being rare or needed, it was basically taking an inventory slot up that had no real special feel to it, half the time i wouldnt even know a chest was locked unless i was out of keys ( which i almost never was ) so who cares?

Now if it were maybe one special chest once in a while, with a low drop rate on keys, I would not mind that at all, THATS realism in my opinion. But in a game like diablo3, more often than not it would probably piss me and others off, so have at it blizzardz!.

To me realism would mean having a seperate window pop up with the lock in your face and having to try multiple keys in the lock until you get the right one, or getting the option to pick the lock.

Which work great in a traditional RPG, but the system would be to slow for an action-paced game and what we got in it's place was a severely gutted version of the same idea. At that point it's just best to remove it all together.

Quote from "Ent1ty" »

Okay so since the release of intel based macs and their shitty intel GMAX3100 graphics cards i have been unable to play diablo 2 which sucks hard, and yes i could just get windows on my mac but i don't feel like it. Now for those of you who don't know what is wrong with them it goes something like this. Mac and their intel Gpu uses millions of colors pretty much adding in between shades of colors rather than the normal 256 colors that diablo uses and therefore is unable to start up the game for some technical reason. I was wondering if anyone could help me, being as i don't have a b.net forum account, to go on and ask bashiok or anyone there if they know if Diablo 3 will support the millions of colors on these intel based macs? thanks in advance if anyone gets the answer.

there is currently no solution but many people are hopeful that it wil change in the upcoming d2 patch.

I agree that in some case, you wonder if they asked themselves that and just cut features for nothing - but I'm confident that they have good judgement over that matter.

Following your example, the way keys and chests are done in Diablo 2, there is no discussion: it is a 100% pointless feature that fill up one of your slot bag with a set of key if you want to unlock locked chests. Thats all. And if you don't have one? Portal and buy one.

I believe in Blizzard (now the only game company I actually trust, like and support) and I think their teams are smart enough to not remove features that would actually add something to the game.


Of course, if you think having to carry around keys like you did in Diablo 2 added to the gameplay, then you will be disappointed.

Quote from "Seth" »

The fifth class will be human. The story of Sanctuary is about humanity standing up for itself. That's what Diablo III is going to be. Period.

Thank you very much Seth.





Lets please! Leave it at that!

Okay then. Why? I think the issue here is that you're picturing Heaven like some show on Cartoon Network with frilly little babies playing harps in the nude on giant marshmallows.

What could be more epic than the Host of Hell contrasting the Light of the High Heavens at the very threshold of the angels? What could be more polarized than complete, burning chaos set against perfect order? The light of angels falling to battle against the rising hordes of Hell before the walls of Heaven? What could be more spectacular than forgotten magics of all kinds and natures raining down upon the ramparts? What confrontation could possibly be more beautiful than the Prime or Minor Evils pitched against the Angiris Council and the armies of the Light?

I really can't think of one.

Of course you can answer questions, anyone is free to chime in with an answer! That was very helpful, thanks.

Dauroth, seriously, I always feel so excited around you! Its the exclamation marks!