Cain's Journal, concerning the fall of Baal and research on the Cow King
Glorious is the day! My six companions have successfully defeated Baal, the Lord of Destruction, and journeyed back to the Hellforge to destroy his Soulstone. According to the brave Makuta, the Barbarian of our troupe, Tyrael was forced to destroy the Worldstone. I know too little of this ancient artifact to understand what will come of this, but the explosion that tore Mount Arreat apart indicated that it's destruction will have grave consequences for the inhabitants of Sanctuary. Vecna, the Necromancer, mentioned that they had but one thing left to investigate. It appears that during their time in Tristram, during which they rescued me and freed the villagers of their torment, they looted the corpse of the unfortunate Wirt, taking with them his wooden leg. Dounedi, the Amazon, suggested we return to the Rogue Encampment to inquire further on the matter.
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My companions have returned from their journey to what they called "The Secret Cow Level", and have brought me interesting findings. Apparently a horde of demonic bovines lived there, ruled by the one and only Cow King. The spoils brought back from their adventure were plenty, though none as strange as the Cow King's scepter. I asked Remus, the Druid, if I could hold onto it for a while, to study it, which he agreed. It was at last that these brave heroes went their separate ways. The journey was a long one, and it was perilous every step of the way, but in the end, it was worth it. The world would likely know peace, for a time. The three Prime Evils were vanquished, and their Soulstones, destroyed. I pray that this may be my last entry concerning battles against the forces of Hell.
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It's been a full year to the day of Baal's defeat at the hands of the brave heroes. A New Tristram has been built but only a few leagues away from the old one. I stayed for only a brief period of time there, my memories of the old Tristram's fate still to vivid for me to do otherwise. As I made my final preparations to leave, Adria, the Witch, came by, a baby swaddled in her arms.
"Please, Deckard, take Leah with you. I cannot keep her, for fear of what may happen. I beg of you, take care of my daughter." she had pleaded me. I agreed, thinking that caring for and raising a child was the only thing I had yet to do in life.
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Five years have gone by since my last entry. Leah is growing up quickly. She almost immediately showed herself to be a studious and intelligent girl. I've taught her as much as I could fit into lessons during out times of research. I cannot help but feel pride whenever I see Leah bringing me her findings. Even at her early age, she mastered books like a champion. We also spent a great deal of time traveling. I recently ran into an old friend, Yal-Keagr, the Paladin who fought against Diablo and his brothers, as I was aimlessly wandering the streets of Westmarch. He was following a lead he had on a templar order based there, and their more... questionable practices.
Over the years, I've continued to study the myths behind the Cow King and his scepter, as well as researching the "Prophecy of the End Days", a prediction which foretells the return of Diablo and his brothers. I made a discovery regarding the scepter, forcing myself to once again go to New Tristram, this time with a nine-year-old Leah at my side. I sought out the aid of a young smith named Haedrig Eamon, who was descended from one of King Leoric's chancellors. With his help, I was able to restore the mythical powers of the scepter. According to the legends described in the many tomes I'd searched, the Cow King's scepter could open the way to a strange and mystical world, where Evil has no hold whatsoever. With Leah in tow, I set out on the path leading from New Tristram to the ruins of the old Tristram. As we passed by a deep chasm, next to which rested the remains of a bovine, the scepter began to glow. As the glow intensified, a spirit materialized over the skeletal carcass, taking the shape of a bipedial cow.
"Yooooou hold my scepter in your hands. Yooooou've also restored it's power. Everything is in order." it had said.
I found the scepter wrested from my grip, held by an unnatural force likely commanded by the ghost of the Cow King, who stood before Leah and I. I ought to commend that girl for her courage, for she never moved an inch the whole time. Nor did she show any fear at the sight of the spirit.
As the Cow King sunk into the earth, a nearby crevice began to glow with a multicolored light. I found myself drawn to this crevice, as was Leah.
"I think something's down there, Uncle!" Leah promptly exclaimed.
Even my old eyes could tell that much. Then, as if fate meant for it to be so, Leah and I were gently carried by an unseen force into the glowing crevice. As the light grew brighter, I closed my eyes, my eyelids providing little protection from the brightness. I expected Leah to protest in fear, but she remained silent, save a quiet expression of amazement.
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It's become clear to me that Leah and I lost consciousness at that time, as when we awoke, we found ourselves in the plaza of a small town populated by creatures of likeliness I've never seen before.
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