Diablo

through the eyes of the young prince. A lustful hunger still tortured thedemon after his frustrating bout for control over Leoric, but thenightmares of the boy provided ample substance to sate him. Reachingdeep into Albrecht’s subconscious, Diablo ripped the greatest fears ofthe child from their hiding places and gave them breath.Albrecht watched, as if out of a dream, twisted and disfiguredforms appeared all around him. Unholy, writhing visages of terror dancedabout him chanting choruses of obscenities. All of the ‘monsters’ thathe had ever imagined or believed that he had seen in his life becameflesh and were given life before him. Large bodies comprised of livingrock erupted from the walls and bowed to their dark master. The ancient,skeletal corpses of the Horadrim arose from archaic crypts and lumberedoff into the red washed corridors beyond. As the cacophony of madnessand nightmares hammered its final blow against Albrecht’s shatteredspirit, the bloodlusted ghouls and demons of his mind scattered andscrambled maniacally into the lengthening passageways of his wakingNightmare.The ancient catacombs of the Horadrim had become a twistedlabyrinth of raw, focused Terror. Empowered by Diablo’s possession ofyoung Albrecht, the creatures of the boy’s own imagination had gainedcorporeal form. So strong was the terror that grew inside of Albrecht,that the borders of the Mortal realm began to warp and tear. The BurningHell began to seep into the world of Man and take root within the labyrinth.Beings and occurrences displaced by time and space, and long lost tothe history of Man were pulled screaming into the ever-expanding domain.The body of Albrecht, fully possessed by Diablo, began to distortand change. The small boy grew and his eyes blazed as tendril-like spinesripped through his flesh. Great, arched horns erupted from Albrecht’sskull as Diablo altered the form of the child to match that of his demonicbody. Deep within the recesses of the labyrinth, a growing power wasbeing harnessed. When the moment was right, Diablo would ventureonce more into the mortal world and free his captive Brothers Mephistoand Baal. The Prime Evils would be reunited, and together they wouldreclaim their rightful place in Hell.THE FALL OF THE BLACK KINGThe war against the zealous armies of Westmarch ended with ahorrible slaughter. With the army of Khanduras ripped to shreds by thesuperior numbers and defensive positions of Westmarch, Lachdananquickly gathered together those who were not captured or killed andordered a retreat back to the safety of Khanduras. They returned to findthe town of Tristram in shambles.72