The Priests of Rathma (a.k.a. the Cult of Rathma) are an order of Necromancers who base themselves in the eastern jungles of Sanctuary.
Lore
Practices
A Necromancer
Of all the practitioners of magic, none are so widely maligned and misunderstood as the Priests of Rathma.
As with most users of magic, the priests of the cult of Rathma hail from the far Eastern jungles. They reside in a vast underground city located deep within those jungles. Their specific geographical locale is particularly secluded, however, preventing their assimilation into a formal mage clan. But it is this same isolation that allowed them to pursue their distinct kind of arcane science. For it is through the teachings of Rathma, as well as through years of research and physical experimentation, that these men have come to understand and hold sacred the delicate balance of life and death and are able to twist the line that borders the two. For although the minions of Hell have long possessed this power, among mortals the knowledge to reanimate and control the dead belongs to these priests alone. It is this practice that has lead outsiders to refer to them as "Necromancers." They truly comprehend the balance of all things, and understand and accept their place in what they refer to as the Great Cycle of Being.[1] The Necromancers believe that even the slightest imbalance in the Cycle can lead to catastrophe.[2]
A low ranking Necromancer
Although their art is considered "dark," and the people of the outside world shun the priests who practice these arts, these mysterious cultists never suffered the epidemic of corruption that plagued the ancient Mage Clans.[1] They will accept any spellwork provided it does not cause its user to become corrupted.[2] Pragmatists in the truest sense, they are above temptation. They see death merely as a natural part of life and do not seek to deny its arrival. Their singular knowledge of the unknown allows them to face death without fear. These ideals, coupled with an understanding of the natural balance between Order and Chaos, explain why they have not fallen prey to the influences of evil.
The priesthood resents any force that would treat humanity as part of a cosmic game. They are willing to ally with the forces of Order, but only to the point of restoring the Balance.[1]
Trag'Oul is the closest thing the priesthood has to a deity—he is the focal point of the Balance, and it is from him that the Necromancers draw their powers.[3] They believe that it is on Trag'Oul's back that Sanctuary lies.[4] They believe that when one dies, their soul passes into the next plane of existence, where they will fulfill another role for the Balance.[5]
The Necromancers believe that numbers influence the Balance, and that certain numbers will shift it in one way or another.[2]
Necromancers do not sleep much. Instead, they sink into a trance that allows their bodies to get the rest they need while their senses remain active.[2]
Necromancers are adept at stealth, and are easily able to blend into the shadows.[2] They are capable of utilizing blood magic.[6]
Training and Organization
A master necromancer
When one begins training as a priest, they are expected to set emotional connections aside in their quest to uphold the Balance.[5] Necromancers often set aside their surname when they become priests; their allegiance is to the Balance, not a house or clan. Every Necromancer is taught to choose their own path as to how to best maintain the Balance. Few Necromancers reach the end of their natural lives; most perish in their service to the Balance, such is the dangerous nature of their calling.[2]
The following ranks exist within the priesthood:
- Deathspeaker (leader of the priests)
- Master Necromancer
- Necromancer[7]
- Apprentice/Acolyte (possibly separate ranks)[8]
History
A Necromancer
Early History
The culture of the Priests of Rathma stretches back to a time before magic was formalized into strict disciplines. Their culture subsisted in the shadow of the Mage Clans.[1]
During the Sin War, Kalan[9] (the first Necromancer)[10] was instructed in the art of necromancy by the nephalem Rathma and Trag'Oul, the guardian of Sanctuary. At the end of the conflict he was instructed to travel into the jungles of Kehjistan, which were rife with magical energy (and thus a good place to instruct students). Kalan was instructed to gather followers to preserve the Balance, thereby preventing both angels and demons from having too much sway over humanity.[10] The priests strove to uphold the Balance, but always feared that one day, it might be lost.[11]
There is evidence that the order played a role in the Mage Clan Wars.[12]
The Coming of the Three
By the 13th century, the Priests of Rathma had been fighting the servants of the Prime Evils for centuries in their bid to maintain the Balance. The order engaged in much internal debate as to what the extent of their actions should be.[2]
The return of the Prime Evils to Sanctuary disrupted the symmetry of the mortal realm and that of the Balance itself. This event brought the Necromancers out of their isolation to destroy Diablo once and for all, and to rid Sanctuary of non-mortal intervention altogether.[1] Dark forces swelled in both Kehjistan and Scosglen, and the Priests were more stretched out than at any point in their history.[5] One Necromancer notably allied with a group of fellow heroes who were able to defeat the Prime Evils, though at much cost, including the destruction of the Worldstone.[13] This was a potentially disastrous event, as it left Sanctuary open to angelic and demonic intervention.[14] With the Worldstone gone, demons were able to travel further east than they had done so before, coming into conflict with the priests.[15]
Recent Events
The Necromancers prepare for battle
Over two decades later, the Priesthood became at odds with Malthael due to his raising of the dead, and consequent disturbance of the Balance.[16] The Balance was subsequently lost, leading to Sanctuary being ravaged by death and ruin.[11] With Sanctuary in need of their unique powers, the priests answered the call to arms.[17]
Known Members
A Necromancer
Leaders
- Rathma (patron)
- Kalan (founder)
- Deathspeaker Daros (former leader)
- Deathspeaker Jurdann (current leader)
Other Members
- Master Necromancer Cairo (member of the Bright Circle, formerly?)
- Master Necromancer Xul
- Kara Nightshadow
- Karybdus (went rogue)
- Mehtan
- Szab
- "The Necromancer" (player character of Diablo III)
- Zayl (formerly)
Trivia
- The Hand of Naz mentions a group called the "Bright Circle," of which the Necromancer Cairo belonged to. It is unclear whether this is a separate group of Necromancers, or an order within the Priests of Rathma itself. The Arreat Summit would indicate the latter, establishing that only the Priesthood possesses humans who can practice necromancy.[1]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Necromancer History, The Arreat Summit. Accessed on 2014-03-15
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 Moon of the Spider
- ↑ 2013-12-08, BlizzCon 2013 – Diablo III Lore and Story Q&A Panel Transcript. Blizzplanet, accessed on 2014-03-11
- ↑ Poison and Bone Spells, The Arreat Summit. Accessed on 2014-03-22
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Legacy of Blood
- ↑ 2016-11-24, THE LONG ROAD TO DIABLO 4 IS PAVED WITH MORE DIABLO 3. IGN, accessed on 2016-11-26
- ↑ Heroes of the Storm
- ↑ Tales of Sanctuary, The Hand of Naz
- ↑ The Veiled Prophet
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Book of Tyrael
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 2016-11-04, Diablo III: Rise of the Necromancer Pack Reveal – BlizzCon 2016. YouTube, accessed on 2016-11-07
- ↑ Oblivion Knight, The Arreat Summit. Accessed on 2014-09-25
- ↑ Book of Cain
- ↑ Moon of the Spider
- ↑ Storm of Light
- ↑ 2013-08-25, GamesCom 2013 interview – Josh Mosqueira talks about Diablo III: Reaper of Souls, Return of Pandemonium Fortress & Necromancers. Blizzplanet, accessed on 2013-09-06
- ↑ 2016-11-04, Restoring the Balance—Necromancer Overview. Blizzard Entertainment, accessed on 2016-11-07