Introduction
Diablo 4 just introduced a new threat to Sanctuary, beyond the heavens and the hells. The void has been mentioned before as a place in the universe of pure nothingness, and where Lilith was banished twice - outside of that, not much else is known - until now. In this article, I’ll be explaining what we know about the Void, how it’s been utilized, how the return of Mephisto’s Son and Lilith’s brother Lucion may be involved, and the Lovecraftean ties that show face in Diablo 4. With that, let’s jump right in
The Void
Prior to Diablo 4, the void was really only mentioned in two separate instances - both tied to the same individual: Lilith
Back during the birth of Sanctuary, Lilith became enraged and slew all the refugee Angels and Demons that plotted to kill the Nephalem, and as a result - Inarius banished her to the void.
During the Sin War, Lilith managed to find her way back into Sanctuary - and when found by Inarius, he repeats his previous action, banishing her once more to the Void
In Diablo 4, we work with Lilith to repeat that same process with her Father. This is because of the eternal nature of demons. If they die, it will only be a matter of time before they are reborn in the burning Hells. But if banished to the void and still alive, they in theory should be trapped there forever - although Lilith is proof that getting banished to the void isn’t eternal
She speaks of her experience in the void, mentioning that it felt like she was falling eternally, with no end in sight
With these descriptions, the Void was always seen as a place of complete nothingness… but certain events reveal that the void isn’t as empty as it seems, and something much darker lurks within
Other Blizzard Void Appearances
This isn’t the first time that Blizzard as a whole utilized the Void as a major threat. World of Warcraft has an entire expansion with Midnight dedicated to the invasion of the void, a game that also has angel and demon equivalents like Diablo (the Naaru representing the light, and the Burning Legion representing the unholy) - with Void Lords posing one of the most significant threats in Warcraft lore
Starcraft isn’t a stranger to it either - with the 2nd expansion focused completely on taking down a rogue member of the God-Like Race of Xel’Naga - who created both the Protos and the Zerg - who was hiding inside the Void. This is important to mention because not only is The Void mentioned in both of these Blizzard IPs, but they both pose a significant threat greater than anything else they’ve ever encountered, making its emerging prominence in Diablo 4 quite significant
Of Wolves and Lambs
The thread that ties the Void and Mephisto’s son - Lucion’s - return is the side quest of Wolves and Lambs. Here, you find a note asking for the wanderer - by someone mentioning they’re ‘Mother’s Faithful', indicating the Triune
Meeting up with the individual we encounter someone we’ve met before - it’s Istel, the Triune member who helped us gain access to the Infernal Hordes with Locran back in Season 5.
She states she wanted us because of Lilith’s blood, but notice there’s no trace of it anymore.
Istel states that she intended to redesign Elias' ritual for summoning Lilith for her Mother’s Faithful’s purposes, but they were betrayed - a few turned traitor and sabotaged the ritual, meaning to rebirth something else, although she wasn’t aware of what. Istel mentions that since her Mother’s Faithful betrayed her, they renamed themselves the Midwives
The wanderer mentioned that you can’t summon Lilith using Elias' method because she is no longer in the void, Istel replies that she meant to use it as a base to refine, to bring Lilith back. Then, she says something REALLY interesting - that there are other things in the Void that should never be known. This is the first time in the game we’re hearing about things inside the Void - beyond the demons banished there
Istel was torturing a Midwife for information, and points them to the group in Atanos
There, they find the corpses of multiple people smuggled by the sea. The Midwives must’ve sacrificed them, but Lilith’s ritual required the blood of the willing, and these did not look willing.
Of Blood Unwilling
Reaching the end of a local cove, a disturbing ritual was conducted. a circle of corpses - pregnant woman - swayed in a circle, with their stomachs and birthing cavities hollowed out. They sway as if in worship
A woman nearby - who removed her own uterus to not end up as a sacrifice - states that the ritual brought forth their Lord, covered in Carrion, and he was magnificent. This ritual and descriptions may very well be the most disturbing imagery we’ve gotten in the entirety of Diablo 4 - if not the entire series
Istel chooses to use her own blood to complete the ritual that the Midwives' started, and a Demon comes forward - only referred to as ‘The Unmade’.
After battling the demon, Istel binds it, and he states that he gave lost, motherless lambs a purpose. That by the wanderer’s hands - a throne was left unguarded, and many shall labor to fill it. This most likely refers to Mephisto’s banishment and Lilith’s demise. He mentions traveling to a city that wears a crown of spires, where a birth-cry will be heard. This ‘unmade’ demon must’ve instructed the Midwives on a further ritual
Now, here’s the key here. There are two clear indicators that can pint to the identity of this ‘unmade’ demon. First off, the use of pregnant women as victims has been used by one demon before in the past - one disguised as The Primus back during the Sin War, hold onto that for a second.
Then, the Demon before us has a very peculiar name - The Unmade - which indicates this is a Demon that was unmade. There has only been one demon in the history of Sanctuary and the Hells that we know of that whose existence was completely erased, willed out of existence by the Edyrum Uldyssian, during that same Sin War. That same demon who also disguised himself as the leader of the original Triune temple - Lucion himself, the prince of Hatred, sister of Lilith, and son of Mephisto
By sacrificing all these women with child, the morbid ritual gave birth to an existence thought permanently extinguished - and by mentioning Mephisto’s throne being now empty, it’s very possible that this demon is indeed Lucion.
Of Void and Vessel
Inside a Derelict house, Midwives protect the entrance of a most disturbing passage -a birthing pit, with membranes and tendrils still very alive - indicating the living flesh of something much larger
At the end of this Birthing Pit is a room titled the Cradle, where the midwives are in the middle of an unknown ritual - with three towering structures made of sacrificed humans and viscera. Istel runs to interrupt the ritual, stating that the Midwives disgrace Lilith - the midwife states that a new master claimed them, that they pull at the void and aim to bring him home
After striking down the morbid ritual, a creature from the void itself - named a liminal guardian - appears to attack the group. At this time, a creature titled ‘He who is awakened from the void mentions something being complete, and laughs.
What Istel says next is significant - the ritual apparently succeeded, and a baby imbued with unholy magic appears on a morbid slab of flesh. She states that the baby has been imbued with demons - and says something significant - that it feels familiar, just like Lilith, and it feels a little like the wanderer
If Lucion was unmade by Lucion, his essence could of very well been sent to the void, which is a realm of pure nothingness as Lilith explained it earlier - implying that to be turned into nothing, is to be a part of the nothingness that the void is. Putting this altogether, it’s very possible that the Midwives birthed Lucion from the void, and implanted his very essence into this child. Instead of destroying it, Istel vows to take it up as her responsibility and care for it.
With the liminal guardian and voice from the void, it’s the first time Diablo 4 introduces a 3rd cosmic force that poses a threat to Sanctuary - and that’s not the only time a Lovecraftian inspired story appears in Diablo 4 either
The Fathomless One
In the Saltwind Stronhold, you wander upon a group of pirates who are completely enthralled by some… thing, chanting ‘Flesh for the Fathomless. Flesh for coin’, before witness a ‘This is Sparta’ moment, a pirate pushing an individual down a hole only for something to eat them
Progressing through the stronghold, idles of worship are found, and a beast with massive tentacles attacks, leading the brainwashed pirates to serve as its army against you
Leading down to the end of the Stronghold, you come face to face with ‘the Fathomless One’, which has a very Lovecraftian name and appearance - Grigg’Saltosh is the name, a massive Kraken creature. Defeating Grigg’Saltosh unlocks the stronghold, where some pirates that are no longer enthralled mentioning gaining coin for sacrificing their flesh or that of others to the creature.
With direct void summoning and encountering creates from there in Istel’s quest - possibly even Lucion- and now this Fathomless One? Blizzard is kicking the door wide open for future integrations
What do you all think of more integration of the Void with Diablo 4? Are you excited about this idea, and is there anything I may have missed?
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- Loathe