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For the Paladin skill, see Sanctuary (skill).
For Diablo's refuge, see Chaos Sanctuary.
"This is the place we know as the mortal realm. This is our world. We must pause a moment to think upon this. Our world, unlike all the other worlds, was created by both angels and demons."
Diablo3worldmap

Map of Sanctuary after the destruction of Mount Arreat

Sanctuary, otherwise known as the Mortal Realm,[1] or the Realm of Mortals[2] is the primary setting for the Diablo series.

Lore[]

"The world around us is a vault of riches waiting to be plundered. Every creature, every plant, and every culture can serve us, willingly or not, in our goal to aid the Lords of the Burning Hells."

- Adria(src)

Geography[]

"This is Sanctuary. To protect it, you must cross many lands. Where forgotten evils linger. Yet you must go without fear. Into the heart of the unknown. This burden falls to us. A chance to fight the darkness. To ensure our home's survival."
Sanctuary

Map of Sanctuary before the destruction of the Worldstone

Sanctuary is a large world,[3] and a harsh, dark, and unforgiving one.[4] Its biomes range from frigid mountains to sand-swept canyons.[5] Filled with horrific monsters, one must be merciless towards their enemies if they are to survive in this world.[6] Even the wealthiest areas in Sanctuary are challenging to exist in.[7] As a land plagued by darkness, upholding a semblance of justice in Sanctuary is seemingly an impossible task.[8] Some of Hell's most dangerous creatures have made their way into this world.[9]

The forces that shape Sanctuary are unknown to most of its denizens.[10]

A number of focal points exist within Sanctuary; places that have been "hammered down," that hold Sanctuary's reality together. This is due to the nature of its creation by both angels and demons, who combined their powers into these focal points.[11] Similarly, sites of power exist across Sanctuary, and leylines transmit energy between these sites. The leylines drift, and are difficult to follow.[12] It is common for humans to erect shrines or altars on these sites, and while these structures come and go, the sites themselves remain.[13]

Sanctuary has seasons such as autumn and winter,[14] both of which occur late in Sanctuary's calendar year.[15] Harvest is carried out in the former, in order to survive the rigors of the latter. On the last day of harvest season, the wisest folk lock their doors, hang their wards, hide under their beds, and wait for dawn.[14][16] Winter can be harsh,[17] but those who survive the winter fever retain the strength of the madness it brings.[18] The closer the year moves to winter, the longer the nights become.[19]

Maps of Sanctuary depict two major landmasses, separated by the Twin Seas.[1] The eastern landmass is called Estuar,[20] otherwise known as the Eastern Continent.[7] This is boarded by the Sea of Light,[1] while the western landmass is bordered by the Great Sea.[21] To the north of both continents lies the Frozen Sea.[1] The seas of Sanctuary are vast[22] and volatile, and have claimed the lives of countless foolhardy adventurers.[23]

Sanctuary's landscape has been altered many times due to the Eternal Conflict, the destruction of Mount Arreat being one of the more (in)famous examples.[24] During the Reign of Enmity, Helltides repeatedly morphed Sanctuary's landscape.[25]

Astro-geography[]

Star Map Puzzle

A star chart of Sanctuary

Sanctuary resides in a pocket dimension, separate from both Heaven and Hell.[1] The Priests of Rathma believe that Sanctuary lies upon the back of Trag'Oul,[26] while the Celestial Court holds that Sanctuary is a spherical world.[27] The world possesses a single sun,[28] a single moon[29] and beyond Sanctuary lie stars. Both the moon and stars can affect the practice of magic within Sanctuary.[27] Sanctuary has solstices and equinoxes, and the alignment of heavenly bodies beyond Sanctuary generate power due to the harmonic nature of Creation.[30] The moon sometimes moves in front of the sun, causing an eclipse.[31] Similarly, the glory of the Heavens sometimes verges onto Sanctuary, turning hidden places into hallowed ground.[32]

At times, over the centuries, Sanctuary and Hell touch in a manner that allows the summoning of demons into the mortal realm to be easier than it might otherwise be.[33]

Lands of the West[]

Aranoch lies on western shore of the Twin Seas, with the Tamoe Mountain Range separating it from the lands of the West. These lands are collectively known as the Western Kingdoms, and consist of Khanduras, Entsteig, and Westmarch.[1] Off the coast of Westmarch lies a series of islands, one of which is Greyhollow Island[34]. The north most island is Stormpoint.[35]

In the north of the western continent lies the Dreadlands, formerly known as the Northern Steppes. To the east of this realm lies Ivgorod, though as a country, these realm no longer exists bar a single city-state.[1]

South of the western continent lies the Skovos Isles, consisting of four main islands with the names of Philios, Skovos, Lycander, and Skartara.[1]

The northern Part of the ocean to the west of the western continent is the Forgotten Sea; and it is filled with surging tides and fog.[36]

Lands of the East[]

The eastern continent is biodiverse,[37] and prior to its collapse, was dominated by the empire of Kehjistan, which encompassed a full third of Sanctuary's eastern hemisphere.[38] The area covered by Kehjistan can broadly be defined by its northern desert and southern rainforests. To its north lies the Dry Steppes, and further still, Scosglen. Off Scosglen's western coast lies the island of Xiansai.

To Kehjistan's southwest lies the Torajan Jungles, and bordering the Twin Seas, the Marshland. To the far east lies the Swampland.[1]

Lands Unknown[]

Lands and countries are known to exist/have existed whose locations are unclear. These included the now-defunct Samuren Empire,[39] the nation of Wojahn,[40] the island nation of Uie,[41] and the Bakuli Jungle.[42]

History[]

"You don't get to make things right. This world isn't made for redemption."

Sanctuary has always been a deadly world—even before the coming of demons.[43] It possesses a bloody history,[44] filled with struggle and conflict. A number of its casualties have been lost to history.[7]

Origins[]

"Inarius and his new companions altered the frequency or dimensional alignment of the Worldstone, using its power to conceal it from the angels and demons still fighting the Eternal Conflict. They shifted the massive crystal into a pocket dimension, and there they shaped a garden paradise around it: a world of refuge they would call Sanctuary."

- The Books of Kalan (excerpt)(src)

InariusLilith2

Inarius and Lilith create Sanctuary

Sanctuary has its origins with Inarius, Lilith, and the renegade angels and demons who followed them, seeking an escape from the Eternal Conflict. They absconded with the Worldstone from the Pandemonium Fortress and shifted it into a pocket dimension. There, they used its extraordinary power to shape a new world. A refuge free from war, free from unending strife. A Sanctuary.[45]

The various angels and demons within Sanctuary partnered together and bred the first generation of humans known as the nephalem. Inarius partnered with Lilith, and Rathma was their child. The nephalem turned out to be powerful beings, even stronger than both angel and demon.

Lilith had a plan of her own for this Sanctuary however; she wanted to use its population as her own personal army. She murdered all the other angels and demons in Sanctuary except for her loved one, Inarius. He didn't approve of her plan at all for he wanted the nephalem to worship him and fuel his ego. Inarius then altered the Worldstone so it not only cloaked Sanctuary from the High Heavens and Burning Hells, but to also dampened the powers of its Nephalem population slowly over each generation. Inarius wanted control over his creation, and that no one else should surpass him.

The Prime Evils soon learned of this Sanctuary and planted within it, the Triune in an attempt to convert mortals to their side.

Inarius followed suit and created his own religion. The two opposite religions slowly grew in size and strength sending missionaries to the whole of Sanctuary.

Following the eventual capture of Inarius with the help of Uldyssian and the Edyrem, the High Heavens also became aware of the existence of Sanctuary. The Angiris Council decided upon Sanctuary's fate, which ultimately voted for its survival. Mephisto then approached the Angiris Council and a pact was made; Mephisto would leave Sanctuary alone and he would get to have Inarius as a prisoner. It was agreed that they wanted to leave Sanctuary alone to see how it would turn out. However, it was also decided that everyone's memory on Sanctuary had to be wiped clean of the events occurred so that mortals as a whole could properly start anew, unaware of the forces that had created them and, ultimately, might bring them to their imminent destruction.

Post-Worldstone[]

After the destruction of the Worldstone, blight began to overrun the world's oceans and forests, and a wasting sickness began to spread through its cities.[46] Where once the Worldstone had hid Sanctuary from Heaven and Hell, now the world was open to the eyes of angels and demons, and both stared intently at the mortal realm. The essence of Sanctuary itself and every person on it began to change. By this stage, human civilization was fragmented, with only a few functioning cities left on Sanctuary.[47]

The Great Enmity[]

Death-necro

The plight of mankind

After the defeat of Malthael, monsters became an issue all over Sanctuary. Scouts regularly reported to Tyrael on these events, so he could best send the Nephalem to where they were most needed. As time wore on, Tyrael began to realize that the tasks of the Nephalem were never-ending.[48]

Over the next five decades, Sanctuary became a bleak and shattered hellscape, bereft of hope and beset by demons. Chaos threatened to consume Sanctuary as evil and impiety continued to spread. Depraved demons and wildlife roamed the land unchecked, as terrified townsfolk huddled in dark corners, trying to survive one more day.[49] This period of time became known as "the Great Enmity."[50]

Demons gained control over areas of Sanctuary, the most afflicted being those subsumed by helltides.[51] Belial spread his falsehoods to make the mortal ever more fractious.[52]

In light of the power vacuum Malthael's actions had created, some rose up to attempt to fill the void, including the Zakarum church and a resurgent Temple of the Triune.[53] With the return of Lilith to Sanctuary, more demons rose from Hell to blight the mortal realm,[54] and a new wave of cultists and worshippers were spawned, but regardless of one's faith, all prayers remained unanswered.[49] Lilith herself began a brutal campaign to conquer the now ruined world.[55] The Fields of Hatred formed as a result of her presence.[51]

After Lilith's death, demons from the darkest reaches of Hell manifested within Sanctuary, ushering in a new era of death and wanton destruction.[56]

Trivia[]

"Sanctuary should always be items glittering in dark dungeons. Tales of powerful heroes standing against the onslaught of hell. Lands where trials, treasure, and terrible monsters lie around every corner, equal parts familiar and boundless in its possibilities."
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This section contains facts and trivia relevant to this article.
Sanctuary-ruins

The ruins of Sanctuary

  • It has been joked that everything in Sanctuary (except cows) kills people.[57]
  • In comparison to the real-world, much of Sanctuary is comparable to the Medieval period.[58]
  • A map of Sanctuary is mounted on the wall at Blizzard's HQ.[59]
  • The original creation of Sanctuary and the initial period of peace has been referred to as (the equivalent of) Eden.[60]
  • Sanctuary has been referred to as appearing as a "pale red dot" to Heaven and Hell,[47] though it is unclear if this is a literal statement.
    • The term may be based off the Pale Blue Dot; a picture of Earth, and phrase used to describe Earth later popularized by Carl Sagan.
  • Sanctuary appears to possess a magnetic field, given how compasses operate in the setting.[61]

Development[]

  • The nature of the Diablo setting (dark fantasy) existed as far back as the original design document, though the name "Sanctuary" was not in use in this time. What was also pitched, but never implemented, was the idea of a "living fungus world."[62]
  • While developing Sanctuary, Blizzard Entertainment took a lot of inspiration from pop culture references. These came from comics, TV shows, movies, and especially roleplaying games.[63]

References[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 Book of Cain
  2. Diablo: The Roleplaying Game. Glass Cannon Unplugged, accessed on 2023-11-11
  3. 2017-06-22, First Look: The Shrouded Moors & Beyond. Blizzard Entertainment, accessed on 2017-06-24
  4. 2021-02-20, DIABLO DEEP DIVE PANEL RECAP. Blizzard Entertainment, accessed on 2021-02-27
  5. 2022-06-12, ALL HELL BREAKS LOOSE IN 2023—DIABLO IV IS COMING. Blizzard Entertainment, accessed on 2022-06-23
  6. 2021-12-20, DIABLO IV QUARTERLY UPDATE—DECEMBER 2021. Blizzard Entertainment, accessed on 2021-12-25
  7. 7.0 7.1 7.2 2022-03-29, DIABLO IV QUARTERLY UPDATE—MARCH 2022. Blizzard Entertainment, accessed on 2022-04-08
  8. 2022-08-02, DIABLO IMMORTAL MINI UPDATE: SEASON THREE BATTLE PASS BEGINS SOON. Blizzard Entertainment, accessed on 2022-08-06
  9. Diablo Bestiary, Amazon.com. Accessed on 2018-03-14
  10. Diablo III, Eyes of the Earth
  11. Scales of the Serpent
  12. Diablo Immortal,The Astral Bloom
  13. Book of Lorath
  14. 14.0 14.1 Diablo III, Samhain
  15. Writings of Abd al-Hazir
  16. Diablo III, Harvest
  17. Diablo III, Winter Flurry
  18. Diablo III, Rabid Strike
  19. 2023-12-07, Diablo Immortal | Splintered Souls | Dev Video Update. YouTube, accessed on 2023-12-14
  20. 2023-03-22, DIABLO IV EARLY ACCESS BETA IMPRESSIONS. Blizzplanet, accessed on 2023-03-23
  21. Diablo II Manual
  22. Diablo IV, Sunken Treasures
  23. 2022-11-08, SERVER MERGE COMES TO DIABLO IMMORTAL. Blizzard Entertainment, accessed on 2022-11-22
  24. Diablo Immortal, Bell of Sorrow
  25. 2022-09-19, DEVELOPER UPDATE: CLOSED END GAME BETA DRAWS NEAR. Blizzard Entertainment, accessed on 2022-11-02
  26. Poison and Bone Skills, Arreat Summit. Accessed on 2014-03-14
  27. 27.0 27.1 Diablo IV, Celestial Court
  28. Diablo IV, Skyhunter
  29. Morbed
  30. Diablo IV, Luminary Conjunction
  31. Diablo Immortal, Crimson Slag
  32. Diablo Immortal,Sacred Wilds
  33. Moon of the Spider
  34. 2015-11-06, PATCH 2.4.0 PTR PREVIEW. Blizzard Entertainment, accessed on 2015-11-15
  35. Diablo Immortal,Terror's Tide
  36. Diablo Immortal,Trail of Terror#Wortham
  37. 2023-05-30, Diablo IV – Review In Progress. Game Informer, accessed on 2023-06-03
  38. Act III, Arreat Summit. Accessed on 2015-08-06
  39. Diablo III, Raekor's Heart
  40. Diablo III, Wojahnni Assaulter
  41. Diablo III, Myken's Ball of Hate
  42. Diablo III, Bakuli Jungle Wraps
  43. 2014-11-27, BlizzCon 2014 – Diablo III: What’s Next Panel Transcript. Blizzplanet, accessed on 2015-03-14
  44. Diablo Chess, Blizzard Entertainment. Accessed on 2016-07-30
  45. Book of Lorath
  46. The Order
  47. 47.0 47.1 2022-05-31, DIABLO IMMORTAL: THE STORY SO FAR. Blizzard Entertainment, accessed on 2022-06-03
  48. Diablo III, Adventure Mode
  49. 49.0 49.1 2019-11-01, BlizzCon 2019: Diablo IV Announced. Blizzplanet, accessed on 2019-11-10
  50. Book of Lorath
  51. 51.0 51.1 2023-04-21, Diablo IV Developer Update Live Stream - April 2023. YouTube, accessed on 2023-04-23
  52. Book of Lorath
  53. 2019-11-11, BlizzCon 2019 Diablo IV: World and Lore Panel Transcript. Blizzplanet, accessed on 2020-04-26
  54. 2023-06-06, Diablo IV is now live (promotional email). Accessed on 2023-06-07
  55. 2022-12-08, Diablo IV’s first hours provide welcome twists on a familiar formula. ArsTechnica, accessed on 2022-12-27
  56. 2023-10-04, BITE DOWN ON DARKNESS IN SEASON OF BLOOD. Blizzard Entertainment, accessed on 2023-10-06
  57. 2015-05-14, DEBUNKING THE COWSPIRACY. Blizzard Entertainment, accessed on 2015-05-17
  58. The Bloodstone Tomb
  59. 2017-10-24, Diablo Twitter. Twitter, accessed on 2017-10-27
  60. 2018-11-17, BlizzCon 2018 Diablo Immortal World and Q&A Panel Transcript. Blizzplanet, accessed on 2018-11-20
  61. Diablo Immortal, Broken Compass
  62. 2016-03-19, Original Diablo Pitch Document. Graybeard Games, accessed on 2016-03-23
  63. 2019-11-11, BlizzCon 2019 Diablo IV: World and Lore Panel Transcript. Blizzplanet, accessed on 2020-04-18
Locations in the Diablo universe

Astral RealmBurning HellsEtherFractured PlaneHigh HeavensLimboMirrored WorldNephalem RiftsObliterated RealmPandemoniumRealm of the BanishedRealm of the DeadRealm of ShadowRealms of FateVoidWastelands

SanctuaryAncients' CradleAranochBakuli JungleBilefen (Valostre, defunct) • Cold IslesDreadlandsDry SteppesEastern SteppesFractured PeaksGreyhollow IslandHawezarIvgorod (defunct) • Kehjistan (defunct) • MarshlandNahantuSamauren Empire (defunct) • ScosglenSharval WildsShassar Sea (Fahiran Empire, defunct) • Skovos IslesStormpointUieWestern Kingdoms (EntsteigKhandurasWestmarch) • WojahnXiansaiZeleny Lowlands
Related — Towns

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