Wonderful view on Arreat Summit! (Personal Gaming Entry)

This entry was copied from my Diablo gaming blog at http://diablo.wikia.com. Original source is http://diablo.wikia.com/wiki/User_blog:ENG

I had to learn how to summon [[Fire Golem]]s to help keep me and my party warm. I have managed to endure the abject cold since then. Now I have managed to reach the [[Arreat Summit]]. The view looks quite nice from up here; now the clouds no longer obscure the view of down below and I can see quite the valley down there! Also, there appears to be a series of decrepit forts and battlements. I don't remember their layouts; apparently I never went to that part of the mountain range.

Overall, I must be getting rather close! I had no idea that [[Demonhide Gloves]] would protect better than [[Greaves]]. Whereas I felt like a lanky middle-schooler upon arrival at the [[Rogue Encampment]], I feel like a military colonel now that I'm way up here, far more powerful than I have ever been before!

Soon, I must face [[Baal]] himself and the end of Evil's reign on our world will arrive!!! (At least for the meantime. I have had dreams that [[Diablo III|in 20 years, evil shall lurk the world again!]]. I hope to stay alive during the coming two decades of immense world peace, so that I can defeat more supernatural adversaries and [[Lilith|the one responsible for their inevitable resurrection.]]

Please pray that I do well in the coming final battles ahead. --[[User:ENG|ENG]] 12:08, 26 January 2009 (UTC)

[[The Ancients]]

Those statues animate into real guardians. They decimated my platoon of minions in quite a hurry! Despite resummoning my Fire Golem and trying to take them on manually, my potions ran out (save for a lone [[Super Mana Potion]]) and I had to jump back through the Town Portal. As I cast my escape, the Ancients suddenly became statues again. Apparently they needed a rest as well. When I replenish and repair, I will return mightier than I was the first time. I WILL enter the [[Worldstone Keep]]! --[[User:ENG|ENG]] 12:25, 26 January 2009 (UTC)

The majesty of Harrogath! (Personal Gaming Entry)

This entry was copied from my Diablo gaming blog at http://diablo.wikia.com. Original source is http://diablo.wikia.com/wiki/User_blog:ENG

The end of the Lord of Terror, in the meantime

'''After many nerve-rending attempts, [[Diablo]]'s reign of terror concluded once and for all!'''

Unfortunately, I could not be bothered to collect his [[soulstone]] once he died! When I remembered and tried to come back to retrieve it, someone had already taken the soulstone! [[Diablo III|Diablo will live on to cast his Reign of Terror upon us again!]] I have wept from this horrific news in the midst of good.

[[Harrogath]]

There were some parallels to [[Lut Gholein]] in Harrogath. It is as if a twin city was built on the foot of the [[Arreat]] Mountain Range. However, the city shines with such majesty. The [[Music|ambience]] elates me into feeling what it's like to [[starwars:Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy|adventure in]] [[Wikipedia:Star Wars|a futuristic saga]]!

However, the prices are as high as the elevations are! In the [[Rogue Encampment|lowlands of my first adventure]], the Town Portal scrolls were 90 gold each. Here, they are now 200 each. I demanded an explanation. Malah told us that supplies are easily run low in the siege, and whatever supplier they CAN find, they must pay dearly for their services. Who is the [[Lord of Greed]]? Someday, I will have to find and finish him, too. The suppliers greedily take advantage of Harrogath's siege situation and proceed to make a killing (a solid profit) out of it.

I wish I could find the suppliers so I could "persuade" them to be fairer. In the meantime, if something I'm looking for is available somewhere cheaper, I will waypoint there instead.

Barbarians were associated with nomadic lives. I never thought they could have a permanent settlement like Harrogath. It is too bad that Harrogath will be no more when Tyrael destroys the [[Worldstone]]. I saw this vision in my dreams. I also know from them that [[Nihlathak]] is a betrayer, but now is too premature to let the rest of Harrogath know; I must back this dream up with evidence.

On a brighter note, I can sell for up to 25,000 gold each now. I have, and must now go and cleanse the lands between the settlement and [[Mount Arreat]]. --[[User:ENG|ENG]] 12:34, 20 January 2009 (UTC)

Prelude to Battle: Hell Itself Shakes!! (Personal Gaming Entry)

This entry was copied from my Diablo gaming blog at http://diablo.wikia.com. Original source is http://diablo.wikia.com/wiki/User_blog:ENG

I had opened the 5th [[Seal]]. Out of nowhere, knight-magi show up and we dispatched them quickly as usual. The alpha soldier was [[Lord de Seis]]. After also bringing him to peace quickly, I was picking up his treasure and was about to lay my hand on his golden [[War Scepter]] when the Hell shook! I could not pick it up due from the rumbling force of the quaking, but at least nothing fell from the ceilings and hit my platoon.

An ominous voice boomed: ''Not Even Death Itself Will Save You From Me!''

I knew that had to come from Diablo itself. I could not see him as he was evidently risen from the central star on the floor many yards down the Sanctuary hall. I replied (quietly enough) "Well Diablo, would you please wait until I arrange the treasures in my inventory first? I'll off-load my loot at the Fortress, then we can have a fight."

I do not know how many times I will have to resurrect to return and defeat Diablo, but the first battle has not yet begun!

--[[User:ENG|ENG]] 08:57, 20 January 2009 (UTC)

Sunless Daylight on the Fortress; I am nowhere the maps say! (Personal Gaming Entry)

This entry was copied from my Diablo gaming blog at http://diablo.wikia.com. Original source is http://diablo.wikia.com/wiki/User_blog:ENG

The Lord of Hatred has been defeated and now I have moved through a hostile-looking portal. The new castle I'm in may be smaller, but still more luxurious in appearance than the Rogue Monastery.

In my maps, I have not seen the [[Pandemonium Fortress]] appear anywhere. When I went up to the top of the battlements to soak in the view, it sat atop an ominous cliff overlooking an unnaturally calm ocean. I have never seen anything more tranquil in my life! When looking the other way though, I feel a tiny semblance of trembling; I see what I'd believe is the edge of Hell off on the horizon.

Sunless daylight
Trying to figure out the time from the Sun's position in the sky, was the most baffling discovery of all: THERE IS NO SUN!

I wondered exactly HOW there could be light ANYWHERE without a Sun. I have heard and read of far-off lands around the Sanctuary, but I have never heard of a fortress nor the surrounding area that had daylight WITHOUT A SUN! Where on Sanctuary could this ever be possible?

Apparently there's a magic spell that keeps artificial light shining, but what dark spell does it override??? This is not like the [[Tainted Sun]] in [[Aranoch]], is it?? Do I have to destroy another altar to destroy whatever is attempting to darken the sky and hide the Sun somehow? WHAT IS THE STORY HERE?

Human mice, the two shopkeepers
Nevertheless, after I became familiar with Tyrael and Cain, I started to re-adjust to my new temporary home. Two shopkeepers, [[Jamella]] and [[Halbu]], are not talkative in the least; they only greet. What kind of curse would make them so quiet? Who would put this curse on them and why? Do they have a big secret they mustn't share with outsiders? If I only knew more about their backgrounds. I might get an explanation as to why they remain silent little mice.

Embassy of Heaven on the Hell's Edge
Anyway, from what Tyrael and Cain told me, this Fortress is apparently an Embassy of Heaven in Hell. (Or more accurately, an Embassy of Heaven on the edge of Hell.) They place it here to ensure the minions don't escape to overrun the rest of creation. But what of the spiritually condemned souls who have become repentant since their time in Hell? Do the guards of the Fortress allow them to escape the realm of pain and suffering? Even if they don't, I would hope they have a chance to jump in the ocean; better a calm, tranquil ocean than the fiery furnace of Hell, wouldn't you say?

Dangerous steps
Finally, the steps leading from the fortress '''do not have any GUARDRAILS!''' It may be too easy for anyone to fall of the edges. Moreover, in the more "modern" chapters of the Earth sagas, there is a governmental entity within one of the myths' nation-states called the "[[wikipedia:Occupational Safety and Health Administration|Occupational Safety and Health Administration]]." They reinforce mundane protocols just so people are marginally safer and healthier while at their places of employment. This includes placing guardrails on staircases where falling off the sides would cause certain bodily harm.

I would agree that guardrails on staircases would reduce anxiety, which may hinder our combat abilities. Besides, we do not prefer to let our minions fall beyond their edges and weaken our platoon this way, you see. If OSHA ever came to inspect our Fortress, thanks to the railless staircase, Heaven would have hell to pay in fines!

''Let us see what rewards cleansing Hell will bring us in our journeys ahead!'' --[[User:ENG|ENG]] 13:14, 18 January 2009 (UTC)

The fetid jungles are much worthy of a deforestation! (Personal Gaming Entry)

This entry was copied from my Diablo gaming blog at http://diablo.wikia.com. Original source is http://diablo.wikia.com/wiki/User_blog:ENG

Granted, I may be one who likes to restrain civilization from overrunning the beauty of nature, but Mephisto went too far in his ideals of preserving nature.

In my extensive readings of mythical Earth tales, the artful renditions of a "Meso-American" civilization have an uncanny resemblance to the buildings of Kurast. I kept gazing in awe at the architectures around me.

Now, those [[Fetish]]es (what a weird name to call them) are like 5-year-olds straight from Hell, probably because they are! I've believed in the [[wikipedia:Age of Accountability|Age of Accountability]] for a long time, so I would hope to Tyrael, the other Angels and unseen Godhead that these Fetish demons are NOT spiritually condemned children!

To my Paladin buddy Chileth, those range attacks from those blowpipes could be rather annoying to him, but at least with my curses, ranged attacks, Elly's and my necromages' range attacks, we get to respond in kind.

I could almost promise you that I could SEE the jungle trees grow! Clearly it has been Mephisto's magic! When we rebuild Kurast and make Kehjistan stronger than it has been, the jungle's wood must be used for this purpose. Since it reeks of an evil aura, a deforestation is truly in order here. Even whoever the environmentalists may be would agree.

It appeared that Kurast, the city itself, was divided into socioeconomic classes. [[Lower Kurast]] was for the lower-class commoner folk (those huts looked depressing, inadequate, and incomplete. No doors; just open air making the house vulnerable to the elements, and super-drafty as well!)

The Bazaar area appeared to be a giant market where the middle-class probably lived, and the lower-and-upper intermingled when they went to buy and sell.

Then you can get an idea of who lived in the Upper-Class area. Those temples, meetinghouses, and stone homes still didn't meet my standards, but is quite the place for the Kurasteans.

Finally, [[Travincal]] would have to be the creme-de-la-creme sector. Mostly temples, but maybe a few mansions in there. Separated by a causeway and walled in, there appeared to be an analogue of [[wikipedia:Tenochtitlan|Tenochtitlan]] of the tales I read in my youth.

At least Travincal was somehow NOT absorbed by the jungle like how it was slowly digesting Kurast. This would have to be because it was on its own island, so it looked as pristine as it did on the day of the evacuation/slaughter.

Then down in the [[Durance of Hate]], which is some underground sub-temple of the principal temple of the city, this felt as close to [[Hell]] as I've ever gotten; the otherwise ornate spaces filled with tortured blood. I would hope magi clean the blood off with their spells rather than have average workers do it laboriously.

At the lowest level, there was a moat filled with blood. I could not believe the sights, and thought I grew thick skin from all these battles. I refused to let the smells hinder my ability to fight, so I kept casting a micro-spell to numb my nose.

Finally, the [[Lord of Hatred]] himself came down from the top of the steps. I attempted to [[Bone Wall]] him in place so we could fight him with relative ease, but my potions burned through, and I had to portal to the Docks to get new ones. (The regulars as opposed to the Greaters were what they had available; I had to make do.) Also, my minion platoon was decimated, leaving me and my love [[Elly]]. I had to return to Aranoch to find more demons to raise minions from. My [[Iron Golem]] was no problem; I just had to find any metal object not bolted or welded down anywhere.

After his defeat, I took notice of a shimmering evil halo giving me the angriest stare I've ever seen. This portal did not tell me where I was going to go. I had to off-load Mephisto's treasure back at the docks but when I arrived, [[Natalya]] was gone! I don't know what her story was, but perhaps her contract was to protect the Docks until Mephisto was defeated, then she could return from whence she came.

The soulstone I picked up was as blue as Heaven itself, but shimmered with the remnants of his hatred that he left on it. Nevertheless, now that Mephisto has been banished from here, hopefully Hatred will all but be an emotion of the past. --[[User:ENG|ENG]] 12:52, 18 January 2009 (UTC)

The Telkio Tales 2: The loss of my love (Personal Gaming Entry)

This entry was copied from my Diablo gaming blog at http://diablo.wikia.com. Original source is http://diablo.wikia.com/wiki/User_blog:ENG

Prelude and Reflections on Subterranean Warrens

Now that my old roomie Chileth has introduced me, I will write about myself from now, under The Telkio Tales.

The Monastery must have been the biggest complex I have ever seen! It is unknown whether there were any male employees at such a colossal place before Diablo's minions took it over, but I would have loved working there; the vast, extensive labyrinths filled me with awe. Someday, if I ever get wealthy off of the mightiest demons' plunder, I may build myself a mansion that looks like a nondescript cottage from the surface, but a gleaming, expansive palace underneath. I have been fond of labyrinthine expanses since I was about as tall as a [[Fallen Shaman]]. I could have gotten lost under the Monastery and its Cathedral had it not been for a spell that makes a self-motile [[map]] appear in my thoughts.

Chileth, a student of mystical Terran lore, once told me of extremely powerful weapons of legendary Earth that could vaporize Diablo, Baal, and the other head Evils in one fell swoop. In fact, he once said that "maybe five of them could destroy all Hell and its minions once and for all!" He referred to them as "[[wikipedia:nuclear|new clear]]" weapons that could project a fiery cloud of a ferocious mushroom up to several mountains' heights into the air. I have only paid attention to Earth Lore up to their "[[wikipedia:Renaissance|Ren a-sans]]" period because when I started reading of [[wikipedia:handgun|handheld barrels that fire pellets at the pull of a switch]], I decided I had to stop because futuristics would be something I would need a LOT more spare time to study, and I was too busy with bigger priorities. Nevertheless, Chileth once said that the only way to survive a "new clear" blast would be to [[wikipedia:bomb shelter|hide in a labyrinth deep underground]]; no amount of protective magic could EVER keep anybody alive in such a vituperative firestorm!

That is why I will also build an underground lodge to accommodate many refugees; the weather and other elements of nature will never touch this dungeon, therefore it will remain in a similar condition about 700 [[year]]s hence, when Chileth alleges that these mythic "new clear" weapons will exist. My name and statues dedicated to me will be inscribed and sculpted in the grand hallways of my subterranean palace, so all future occupants, "new clear" refugees or otherwise, will know who built these chambers!

As well, the Monastery would serve as the best "new clear" bunker in the region! If the tales' "[[wikipedia:nuclear winter|new clear winter]]" and "[[wikipedia:radiation|Ray-deAsian]]" hold true on Sanctuary centuries hence, the vast halls beneath the Monastery could serve as an underground city/fortress. To accommodate more people, laborers there could just dig away new extensions. (I don't know how "Ray-de'''Asian'''" has anything to do with the people of the largest Earth continent of Asia.)

I hope to find many more labyrinths in my journeys ahead; somehow I thrive better down there; something to do with making sure I haven't missed any rooms, whereas I could forget to explore a tract of land where demonic stragglers still hold out. Let us hope the lands around [[Lut Gholein]] will have more dungeons and other underground spaces in store for me. I am about to embark on my journey now that [[Andariel]] has been destroyed.

The loss of dear [[Elly]]

My platoon was decimated fast upon encountering Andariel. Elly and I was the last ones to fight her. I had to heal, especially with the poison eating me alive, so while Elly fought valiantly, she was taking heavy hits. I tried to telekinese the potions to her, but she took a while to start healing. My second potion couldn't heal her fast enough; another of Andariel's volleys struck her down. I recalled something about resurrecting my hireling and love, then I had to ask [[Kashya]] how it could be done. She was able to [[resurrection|resurrect]] Elly for a price of 1260 gold. No price is ever too expensive to bring my love back to life.

I asked her how she was able to revive Elly and teleport her back to camp. Kashya's secret is well-guarded, but left instructions to some colleagues to decipher the secret should anything tragic or incapacitating ever happen to her, so that this precious secret never dies with her. This is for the sake for not letting this spell's knowledge fall to the wrong hands! I appreciated her deed and went back in to finish Andariel off.

I told Elly that I had to replenish our platoon with more skeletons and golems so I told her to run while we went to find more corpses. While running, Elly shot back to Andariel with two arrows, and just before we hit the stairs, the ground shook! I knew that Andariel had just been defeated. I asked Elly how she managed it all on her own.

"I was filled with rage and fury against Andariel, and so I overloaded my arrows with elementalities several times the potency as usual, and made sure I struck her in the eyes and mouth. My inundating vengeance toward Andariel enhanced my aim and caused my murderer to fall in two fell swoops! This is what adrenaline does to you - you finish something sooner with it, buddy."

We could not find any more corpses to raise new skeletal soldiers from, but decided we'll find more after our journey to LG. The fallen debris from Andariel's deathquake must have buried them all.

After grabbing Andariel's and her minions' plunder, we portaled back to camp, made out to wind down from our battles, and have now prepared for our journey East! --[[User:ENG|ENG]] 08:58, 9 January 2009 (UTC)

The Telkio Tales 1: A Roommate from Academy (Personal Gaming Entry)

This entry was copied from my Diablo gaming blog at http://diablo.wikia.com. Original source is http://diablo.wikia.com/wiki/User_blog:ENG

Recently, an old roommate of mine from academy decided to join in the cause. Sure, he may have had some nefarious tendencies before, but after a swarm of Diablo's minions killed and cursed one of his good friends unto the [[undead|unlife]], he decided to join our righteous noble cause, and turn his otherwise evil powers AGAINST evil.

Introducing Telkio Kayolara.

This [[necromancer]] is one hopeless necromantic. He knows how to summon and lead; I've known him as a natural-born leader since the day we first met.

Last I saw, he has built himself a necromanned platoon of 8 others: 3 Skeleton Warriors, 3 Skeleton Mages, 1 Clay Golem, and a Rogue named [[Elly]]. (She is of course the co-leader, lead-sidekick, or lead-assistant (however they're called,) being the only other fully flesh-and-blood being on Telkio's team. She has stuck beside him since the first day [[Kashya]] decided to hire her out to him. Word is they're drifting closer to one another and may soon fall in love! Whereas my contracts with them ended as soon as I traveled to my other adventures, it appears that their contracts have been amended to have them stay together no matter where they go, as long as the hireling stays alive and Telkio doesn't decide to change them up.

I can't believe he's able to get abundant extra help; Kayolara truly has the charisma and magic spells they need. I envy my former roommate; his platoon can attack-and-slash away the evil minions while he picks up gold and garbage and supplies his new lover extra potions to keep her in the fight. More than that, he can even distance-kill the demons with his [[Teeth]] spell.

Why did I have to major in the [[Paladin]] concentration? Why couldn't I have realized that [[Necromancy]] could also be used for heavenly causes and choose the path of the student [[Necromancer]] along with him??? In retrospect, being a Paladin sure is harder work! I hardly have time for rest while in the heat of battle, while Telkio can more or less sit back and watch his skeletal squad fight!

If only I had reconsidered from eating the enchanted Paladin Peach - a mystical fruit that academy graduates eat at their ceremony banquet that attunes them to Paladinship forever from that bite forward. When I think about it, the Necronectarine would have done me better - taste, quench and all.

I don't know if his skeleton-raising spells can raise more than three at a time, but as he learns new summoning spells, his postmortem platoon could soon become a bone-troop battalion.

I believe he will dispel evil from the world far better and faster than I can. Telkio has way too many blessings working for him! --[[User:ENG|ENG]] 23:56, 8 January 2009 (UTC)

The Defeat of Duriel! (Personal Gaming Entry)

This entry was copied from my Diablo gaming blog at http://diablo.wikia.com. Original source is http://diablo.wikia.com/wiki/User_blog:ENG

Several times I was defeated by Duriel. Had it not been for a pact with an [[Angel]] early in life, I would have passed on in a [[hardcore]] manner. Regardless, I keep coming back thanks to the angel's everlasting resurrective spell.

However, a very evil magic is at work here: Every time I resurrect and return to the field of fighting, new demons and adversaries appear again! I thought I had killed them off! Even [[The Summoner]] and other lead monsters have resurrected as well. However, this only occurs when I need to resurrect. I don't know why, but I hypothesize that demons have exploited a loophole in my resurrection spell that somehow allows all the demons I've killed to resurrect as well.

The beauty about this loophole however, is that all gold and treasures are replicated on them as well. Mercenary work could be the most lucrative job in all the land if someone kept resurrecting just so they could recreate monsters for us all.

Now onto the tale at hand - Duriel resembled an Olthoi Queen (of Dereth, Auberean) but had a very masculine voice. Perhaps on Auberean, he would be known as an Olthoi King? His eviscerations packed quite a wallop; I had to spend over 1,000 gold to get all of my used items repaired afterwards. My new [[War Scepter]] cast a 3rd level [[Holy Freeze]] spell that makes him colder than the frozen northern wastes so that helped my cause a little bit.

Once I defeated him all without a mercenary's help, his death caused the chamber to shake. Rocks fell all around me but miraculously only sand grains hit myself. He dropped several Unique items, but they all weren't so impressive. A swarm of hot-dog-sized maggots diverged from Duriel's carcass and I could step on many of them, but they were too numerous to bother dealing with.

Meeting of Tyrael

Next, I was told in my quest book to go explore the rest of Tal Rasha's chamber. There were no more creatures to fight (that I had to do more than just step on) and I happened upon a huge PIT that led over a mile down to a lava pit of Hell. Archangel [[Tyrael]] was where [[Baal]] was tied to a post and possessed by Tal Shiar. Diablo trapped Tyrael in Baal's place and I was the one who freed him.

He was such a superimposing, prominent ENIGMA that moved me and made me feel remarkably at peace! I have never felt such inner calm and solace since sometime in my childhood! (Even if the childhood was an abbreviated one.) His heavenly aura had such an unspeakable wonderful power about him that could really turn many mortals from evil tendencies for the last time in their lives!

I hope to meet Tyrael again; I must feel his emotion-changing power as often as humanly possible!

Kurastian Trip

After I tied up some remaining loose ends with the townsfolk of LG, I met with Meshif to set sail for Kurast. The docks were all in disrepair; had I not have gambled so heavily with [[Elzix]] for marginally better items, I would have the money to hire repairmen and lumber supplies to repair the creaking and rotted floorbloards! Some docks have holes, termite damage, and missing boards that could cause people to fall through, and file lawsuits in a futuristic civilization at least 700 years hence!

The shacks and docks looked [[Khanduran]] and [[Westmarchesque]], but the stone structures looked remarkably foreign; the only times I remember seeing structures of resemblance were in the old Earth tales of medieval "Meso-America" - the Mayan and Aztec civilizations had castles and temples that had steep steps up along their pyramidal walls. Kurast is quite possibly the "America of Sanctuary." Too bad there are no "Native Kurastians" that I have found so far, because either they have been killed off, turned into [[Undead]], or now work for the minions of the Prime Evils.

The merchants aren't much of an improvement in these parts; I had thought their trade price limit for the items I sell would double to 20,000! (It doubled last time.) Alas, they only buy for merely 5,000 more. It doesn't matter if an item is worth over 150,000; they'll buy for no more than 15,000. If only I knew what spell to cast to persuade them otherwise! --[[User:ENG|ENG]] 05:00, 3 January 2009 (UTC)

Reflections on the Humanity of Sanctuary (Personal Gaming Entry)

This entry was copied from my Diablo gaming blog at http://diablo.wikia.com. Original source is http://diablo.wikia.com/wiki/User_blog:ENG

On a calendar of a far-off, mythical land, the New Year has begun! I wish any of the observers of the mysterious Gregorian Calendar a blessed New Year.

I observe this calendar too, even though it's of a land which, in legend, we originated from in ancient prehistory. The mythical land of "Earth" has such a mystique, its tales are known and read by a majority of Sanctuarians.

Wars in a mythical land based on skepticisms

On "Earth," humankind has been at war with each other since time immemorial. On that land are mythical parallels: They believe demons and angels are a myth - those who fervently believe their existence are "religious adherents." Those adherents have many names - Christians, Muslims, Buddhists, Jews, Sikhs, Shintoists, and many more individual religions that probably derive from the same set of angels, Gods, and Goddesses from the same Heaven. (Some religions, like Christianity, believe there is only one God.) Those who only will believe if they see irrefutable proof are "atheists," "agnostics," and other kinds of secular humanists.

Often, war is about beliefs of demons and angels that will not show themselves there like they do here. Bloodshed has been needless and in vain because of the inherent skepticism that has plagued their humanity for millennia. Some wars are about resources, landspace, and the overthrow of brutal and adversarial governments, but that's beside the point.

United Humanity

Here on Sanctuary, there is no such thing as Atheism; angels and demons are just as real as you and I, and have been showing themselves regularly all over the planet. The closest parallel to the tales' Christianity is [[Zakarum]]. If it had not been for the ever-presence of super-worldly forces of [[Heaven]] and [[Hell]], there would be far fewer adherents to our religion than there are now. Only their presence removes all doubt that otherwise plagues the humans of legendary Earth.

Unless our fellow man has been possessed by Hell's minions, we do not war against one another on Sanctuary. (The [[Battle of Westmarch]] comes from [[Leoric]] being corrupted by Diablo, and his armies corrupted by his minions.) Especially since the attacks on our civilization have intensified, we have all united against a very common and universal foe - all led by [[Diablo]] and the other [[Evils]]. In times like these, we put aside all of our petty differences to focus our efforts on defeating the biggest threats first!

What would it take for the same unity to happen on Earth? I believe nothing short of an extraterrestrial invasion could make this possible! Furthermore, in times of global unity, otherwise improbable relationships are born! --[[User:ENG|ENG]] 03:18, 3 January 2009 (UTC)

A dungeon in the outer void! (Personal Gaming Entry)

This entry was copied from my Diablo gaming blog at http://diablo.wikia.com. Original source is http://diablo.wikia.com/wiki/User_blog:ENG

Space becomes "void" in Sanctuarian parlance. Space exploration = Void exploration. Outer space = Outer void. Spaceships = Voidships. Space stations = Void stations, and etc.

[[Arcane Sanctuary|This floating dungeon in the outer void]] has been the most expansive "dungeon" I have EVER seen in my adventures! I thought it took so long to run from one end of this fighting space-labyrinth to another, I really wished I could have a possessive spell to mind-control the [[Specter]]s so they could air-ferry me across the area in a hurry.

Anyway, the background looks very much like outer void, yet I do not see any planets! I was hoping this remote floating, open labyrinth would be somewhere in orbit above [[Planet Sanctuary]] but apparently it's light-years away from our solar system.

The air and its temperature is as very much present as it is back in Lut Gholein, except it's not so hot and our star doesn't glare down on us. (Maybe it's somewhere in the background, but I can't pick out which star holds our Sanctuary.) I do NOT know how the air remains present in the otherwise vacuumed harshness of void! Perhaps an everlasting "force field" spell keeps the air in, allowing for demons and man alike to keep breathing and fighting each other. (Specters probably don't need air but without this "force field," they would get sucked out into the timeless depths of the void.

I might very well be one of the first "astronauts;" void explorers, but I do not think this is "official" until we gain the technology to break through this force field, wear self-contained suits, and fly in man-made "voidships" directly from Sanctuary rather than walk through portals. To advance our society to enter space without magic will probably not happen for 700 years hence! (Now the [[year]] is [[1266]]; let us hope my descendants; the Socunas of 1966, will find my journal in a vault somewhere and make my name known again across civilization: Chileth Socuna - the predictor of voidflight!) --[[User:ENG|ENG]] 05:53, 30 December 2008 (UTC)

Perpetual 24-hour darkness (Personal Gaming Entry)

This entry was copied from my Diablo gaming blog at http://diablo.wikia.com. Original source is http://diablo.wikia.com/wiki/User_blog:ENG

As soon as I explored the Lost City for the first time, everything suddenly went dark. I had to use my mana-powered lighting aura to see in the sudden pitch-blackness. I may have been thrown off-guard for a few seconds, but I knew I had to head back to L.G. to ask around about it. A magicware seller (whose name is not easy to remember) told me of a tainted sun altar in an underground temple of vipers.

My circadian rhythm has since been thrown off; I do not know when to sleep and wake anymore, and all we tell time with in the 13th century are simply sundials (and [[wikipedia:Water_clock|clepsydras]] in Aranochian cultures.) Sure, I could ask for the time of the official Palace clepsydra but I have bigger fish to fry.

Update: I had reached the bottom level of the [[Claw Viper Temple]] when I had to go back to LG to offload and sell all plunder. I noticed two cages on the bottom left corner of the alter room - there were two lost souls trapped in those cages, long since dead but with very much of their flesh remaining on their corpses. I wish they had still been alive when I came to clean the temple out. I hope they do not burn in Hell now.

I will see if the Western Lands of my [[Act I|First Adventures]] are also shrouded in this accursed darkness. If they are, I will see what the characters there have to say about it.

Hopefully by now, the Rogues have all moved back to their Monastery. --[[User:ENG|ENG]] 13:48, 16 December 2008 (UTC)

Update: Now I have went back to the West and returned to LG. It is apparently dark everywhere on Planet Sanctuary. However, the Rogues have nothing to say about the prolonged night spell.

Would anyone PLEASE tell me why the Rogues cannot move back into their Monastery?! It has been thoroughly cleaned out; what are they STILL afraid of? Why are they still at their encampment??? They will not speak of this either. Accursed Rogues... --[[User:ENG|ENG]] 14:16, 16 December 2008 (UTC)

The Maggot Lair reminds me of the Olthoi nests of Asheron's Call. (Personal Gaming Entry)

This entry was copied from my Diablo gaming blog at http://diablo.wikia.com. Original source is http://diablo.wikia.com/wiki/User_blog:ENG

(Notice: I cannot wikilink anything in the blog title here. There ought to be nothing wrong with that. Someone could change the code so that this is therefore allowed.)

When I used to adventure in the lands of [http://asheron.info/~asheron/index.php?title=Dereth Dereth], there were a swarmy set of monsters called the [http://asheron.info/~asheron/index.php?title=Dereth Olthoi], who paralleled ants except that they were far bigger and far more vicious. Their lairs, sometimes called "Olthoi Horde Nests" very much paralleled the [[Maggot Lair]] in the Aranoch Desert. I think the [[Scarab]]s and the other life-sized fireflies parallel the Olthoi, and same for the life-sized maggots! I wonder if Auberean (the lands of Asheron) were also an influence in the formation of these creatures? --[[User:ENG|ENG]] 13:48, 16 December 2008 (UTC)

My Semi-Immortality Explained (Personal Gaming Entry)

This entry was copied from my Diablo gaming blog at http://diablo.wikia.com. Original source is http://diablo.wikia.com/wiki/User_blog:ENG

In the desert immediately north of Lut Gholein, I was fighting more dung soldiers and undead with a Mercenary whose name I've forgotten now. Seconds after he quickly died (I think ranged mercenaries are best,) I was chugging my health potions while fighting off the swarm. It all turned out to be futile. Had I not created the pact with an angel whom I shall not name, I would have been gone for good. (FYI: Not making this pact with an angel is referred to by the slang "going [[hardcore]].") When I was but a young lad, I had been fervently seeking redemption and atonement of myself. One day, I stumbled upon an angel who was doing a survey of the lands. I told him what I wanted. I also asked if there's any way to make me return to life should I die young.

The angel granted me semi-immortality on the condition that I serve [[Heaven]]'s cause for the rest of my existence, and paid a tithe of part of the gold on myself at the time of death. Once I had paid this gold, I would revive in a new body back in the nearest settlement. I had lost ~4,800 gold in my first death in a tomb underneath a desert outside Lut Gholein. All of my combatware and jewelry were lost so I had to hire another mercenary and attack with a [[composite bow]]. I had my items and the remainder of my gold returned, so I continued on as before. --[[User:ENG|ENG]] 13:08, 14 December 2008 (UTC)

The tombs look so "Egyptian" (Personal Gaming Entry)

This entry was copied from my Diablo gaming blog at http://diablo.wikia.com. Original source is http://diablo.wikia.com/wiki/User_blog:ENG

In my youth, I took a hobby in reading an extensive amount of folk tales of adventures and civilizations on the mythical planet "Earth." In one of these tales, were the chronicles of an ancient civilization named the "Egyptians." I have paid heed to the artists' depictions of Egyptian life-culture and death-culture. The Egyptian tombs look uncannily similar to the tombs I have been cleaning through in the [[Aranoch]] Desert.

Also, the backstory about these Egyptian tombs included that of graverobbers picking the tombs bare of all the treasures it had in store. Now I have been kicking urns and uncovering sarcophagi in order to re-equip myself in the field of my battles with the cursed demons and undead in these tombs. I would be considered a "graverobber" here, albeit for a heavenly cause.

It is obvious that the lore-writers decided to be unoriginal in basing the Egyptian culture directly off of ancient [[Aranoch]]. Then again, the origins in lore are much shrouded in colossal mystery. Perhaps portals opened from this "Earth" eons ago, sending us mortals from our original planet onto [[Sanctuary]]. If so, then these stories were an attempt to preserve our true origins, and the ancient Aranochs actually based their culture off of Egypt's.

However, as the Terran Tales have been handed down through the generations, we have corrupted our convictions enough into reducing the chronicles of Earth down to mere myth, folk lore, and fairy tales. Our civilization needs a reaffirmation that once upon a time, these were our true origins, not mere works of fantasy fiction. The prospects are dim and nigh-hopeless on this matter. There is reason to believe that no one will find a reaffirmation of the truth in these tales anytime soon. --[[User:ENG|ENG]] 13:08, 14 December 2008 (UTC)

Visala, my new Rogue (Personal Gaming Entry)

This entry was copied from my Diablo gaming blog at http://diablo.wikia.com. Original source is http://diablo.wikia.com/wiki/User_blog:ENG

My current rogue partner is now Visala. She looks Irish with that signature orange hair and all, but I believe Visala is an East Indian name. Rozene gave her life to keep me and our mission going, and Heather was her replacement. She also sacrificed herself for the good of our mission somewhere in the Catacombs on our way to Andariel.

Kashya only has two more rogues left after Visala. I was hoping that she could find more women to recruit. She cannot find any willing prospective employees quite probably because her pay for her rogues are too low. Any sensible fighting women would (and should) only be hired for 2,000 gold or more. The risk to their lives is clearly not worth any less than the 2,000 gold they ought to be paid!

I surmise that the two other rogues remaining, Fiona and Hannah, only haven't quit on their own because their contract (probably) says they can only move on to another occupation once I decide to hire another rogue, or keep fighting alongside their mercenary boss until death. Becoming hired through Kashya can become a sad fate indeed. --[[User:ENG|ENG]] 09:34, 14 December 2008 (UTC)

Beginning My Second Adventure - Lut Gholein (Personal Gaming Entry)

This entry was copied from my Diablo gaming blog at http://diablo.wikia.com. Original source is http://diablo.wikia.com/wiki/User_blog:ENG

Those [[Dung Soldier]]s in the sand fields immediately on the outskirts of my new adopted city hurt even more than Andariel herself could! I have not died once yet in the entirety of my adventures, but death chases ever closer now than it did in back in the west. When they die, they don't give up; they splash the last blast of electricity to stun me with it. I wish we could capture those dung soldiers so they could generate electricity for our lighthouses and our ships' beacons. If we ever get to harness electricity enough to replace candles with contained "light-bulbs," we could use these dung soldiers as our sources for electricity. Sure, this sounds like slave work, but it's the price they ought to pay for harrassing us out in the desert lands!

My new mercenaries die more quickly even if they're higher-level than the Rogues out west. My first was Durga, then the next was... oh which one was it? Was his name Washeed or Waleed? He was one of the most expensive ones - at 612 when the others were in the 500s, and yet, he died within 10 minutes of getting hired while we fought in the sewers under Lut Gholein. Maybe the hiring coordinator ought to train his mercenary job pool better.

I'd like to bring a Rogue to Lut Gholein because of their better proven track record, but since Visala didn't follow me East after slaying Andariel, I have reason to believe no other Rogues can. --[[User:ENG|ENG]] 09:34, 14 December 2008 (UTC)

Andariel was too easy! (Personal Gaming Entry)

This entry was copied from my Diablo gaming blog at http://diablo.wikia.com. Original source is http://diablo.wikia.com/wiki/User_blog:ENG
It is far too bad that Andariel was defeated so easily, I only needed three healing potions. (Maybe I only needed two, but in the heat of the moment, I may use more than necessary.) She dropped three yellow, unique objects: a [[crystal sword]], an [[axe]], and a [[dirk]]. Also, she dropped two more blue, enchanted items. If only she was more of a challenge; her height was twice that of mine! Her dropped treasures were worthy of a foe three times her strength! Regardless, her days of torturing and killing rogues, along with deflowering captured male soldiers, have finally ended! I have far more journeys ahead, but I have proven myself valiantly in the face of serious, but relatively unchallenging evil.

Then again, I have thoroughly "gambled" with Mr. Greed ("Gheed Greed;" my nickname for him) and earned uber, unique fighting wares this way. Otherwise, Andariel may have been a worthier challenge.

(Speaking of Gheed Greed, after defeating Andariel, he exclaims that he'll "party like it's 999!" I come from a land where a different calendar system is used. What year is it where I am now??) --[[User:ENG|ENG]] 05:34, 14 December 2008 (UTC)

Preparing for my second adventure (Personal Gaming Entry)

This entry was copied from my Diablo gaming blog at http://diablo.wikia.com. Original source is http://diablo.wikia.com/wiki/User_blog:ENG

It is far too bad that Andariel was defeated so easily, I only needed three healing potions. (Maybe I only needed two, but in the heat of the moment, I may use more than necessary.) She dropped three yellow, unique objects: a [[crystal sword]], an [[axe]], and a [[dirk]]. Also, she dropped two more blue, enchanted items. If only she was more of a challenge; her height was twice that of mine! Her dropped treasures were worthy of a foe three times her strength! Regardless, her days of torturing and killing rogues, along with deflowering captured male soldiers, have finally ended! I have far more journeys ahead, but I have proven myself valiantly in the face of serious, but relatively unchallenging evil.

Then again, I have thoroughly "gambled" with Mr. Greed ("Gheed Greed;" my nickname for him) and earned uber, unique fighting wares this way. Otherwise, Andariel may have been a worthier challenge.

(Speaking of Gheed Greed, after defeating Andariel, he exclaims that he'll "party like it's 999!" I come from a land where a different calendar system is used. What year is it where I am now??) --[[User:ENG|ENG]] 05:34, 14 December 2008 (UTC)

Foolish Fiends Fight Futilely (Personal Gaming Entry)

This entry was copied from my Diablo gaming blog at http://diablo.wikia.com. Original source is http://diablo.wikia.com/wiki/User_blog:ENG

The [[Dark One]]s do not have the sense to throw their weapons down, put their filthy arms in the air, and surrender to me. They have SEEN me defeat Andariel, so why MUST they keep fighting in a vain attempt to overpower me?

If only they had surrendered, I could have led them through the Town Portal to the rogue encampment holding hands with two at a time (while Visala watches the rest of them) so I would turn them in to Warriv to make them our labor slaves. If only they would have redeemed themselves this way, then they would not be burning in Hell right now. They would have had a chance at salvation had they have decided to labor for us. --[[User:ENG|ENG]] 05:34, 14 December 2008 (UTC)

Antisocial Rogues (Personal Gaming Entry)

This entry was copied from my Diablo gaming blog at http://diablo.wikia.com. Original source is http://diablo.wikia.com/wiki/User_blog:ENG

My Rogue employees are pretty antisocial. Is there some kind of code in their [[Sisterhood of the Sightless Eye]] that prohibits speaking to their employers while they are mercenaries?! I don't remember the name of my first Rogue anymore, whom I hired for a really low 100 gold, but I decided to replace her because I couldn't find a way to get her to speak to me.

Then the next Rogue wouldn't talk either. I kept her around until she got defeated in Tristram. (I still was able to clean out the town just fine.) Disappointingly, my rogue employee wouldn't drop any loot once a gang of demons killed her. I have since hired a new one, named [[Rozene]].

Also, I do not know why a Rogue cannot carry any packs; none of them will pick up any loot for me that the monsters drop! I really, really wish they could also serve as my mules so I wouldn't have to Town-Portal back to the Rogue Camp every 5 minutes to off-load and sell demons' junk.

I have over 35,000 Gold in my possession (in the stash and on myself). I wish I could give them bonuses of extra gold for doing excellent work. Alas, '''there isn't a mercenary incentive system here!!!''' (And maybe if I gave them a BIG bonus, of perhaps 5,000 gold or more, I could get them to court and fall in love with me as well. They aren't trained to be prostitutes either so I can't.)

Finally, another big frustration with my employees is that I cannot buy any weapons and armor for them! Why do they have to keep using basic fighting wares all the time? This just won't help them get far, you know? --[[User:ENG|ENG]] 01:50, 13 December 2008 (CST)