“The Heart of Creation” -in other words, the Worldstone- that the Heaven and Hell ferociously fought for, was more than just a stone despite its name. The Worldstone -also known as the Eye of Anu– was roughly as huge as a mountain, and harboured an immense power within. The legends mention that whoever kept hold of the Worldstone would have the power to create worlds out of nothingness, and would be able to bend the fabric of reality. The same sources also mention that both sides had the supremacy over the stone at different times during the Eternal Conflict. The angels used this power to create worlds of perfect order and to create the morals of justice, hope, wisdom, fate and courage that reflected their ideals, whereas demons used it to destroy the worlds that the angels created, and to spread fear and hatred. Because of this vicious cycle, none of those creations had the chance to shape up and improve, and they died out within a short period of time.
As the endless struggle between the angels and the demons went on, something happened that totally upset the whole balance: The Worldstone that was residing at the Pandemonium Fortress, built by Tyrael, the Archangel of Justice, to protect it, suddenly vanished. The stone that neither the angels nor the demons could locate was in possession of an angel called Inarius. Inarius, who became aware of the meaninglessness of this endless struggle, believed that there would be others thinking the same way; thus he secretly strove to find both angels and demons to join his cause. There was one that he brought into the fold, one that played a bigger part than anyone else in stealing the Worldstone: Lilith, daughter of the Lord of Terror, Mephisto. Lilith, who was exposed to her father’s hatred for a very long time, clung to this opportunity. With this act, something unprecedented happened: The angels and demons that unified under the leadership of Inarius learned to live together for a common purpose. The first spark of love between Inarius and Lilith, both of whom swore to keep themselves away from the Eternal Conflict, was lit during this time. In order to achieve their goal and to live in peace, they -along with those who followed them- manipulated the powers of the Worldstone and created a world called Sanctuary.
Thus Sanctuary, the first world that was not threatened by the battle between Heaven and Hell, began to thrive and bloom. Inarius first created Mount Arreat that would cover and protect the Worldstone; then followed the seas, forests and other geographical formations. Inarius and Lilith, with the feeling of safety of finding a sanctuary that they could hide, planted the seed of their love: the Nephalem. A third race that was half angel – half demon with the potential of surpassing both in power. The children of the Worldstone…
The Nephalem were, in the beginning, welcome with open arms. The very first generation of this race would later be called “the Ancients” by the historians. Within this first generation, there were four important Ancients that are commemorated with respect and reverence even in current times. Bul-Kathos, whose name is still the battle cry of the barbarians of Arreat, was the first with his gigantic size, iron will, stubbornness and immense strength; Vasily, Bul-Kathos’ little brother, who was known for his affinity towards nature, was held in high esteem by the Scosglen Druids who adopted his doctrines generations later; the path of the mighty Kahjistan sorceresses was of Esu’s, who mastered the powers of fire, water, earth and storm as a result of her intensive meditation techniques; the Necromancers, who studied the cycle of life and death, and who undertook the duty of preserving balance, called themselves the Priests of Rathma.
As the Ancients grew in power, their parents started to feel the fear in themselves. The potential power that flowed within the Nephalem’s veins was exceeding the limits of any angel or demon, and this immense power gave birth to another conflict between the runaway angels and demons who had fled to Sanctuary to get away from the conflict and be safe in the first place. Some claimed that the Nephalem were a great threat to them and had to be eradicated, whereas some stood by the Nephalem, saying that such an action was out of question. Although Inarius didn’t like this disagreement between his followers, even an angel needed time to think before making such an important decision; so he retired into seclusion for some time in order to review his options. On the other hand, Lilith was maddened with this threat to her children, and she started to hunt down those who believed that the Nephalem had to be eradicated one by one. Inarius’ anger and disappointment was bitter when he learned that Lilith ensanguined the world he created to live in peace. He wanted to kill the daughter of Mephisto, but their love was still alive and bright, and thus Inarius decided only to banish her from Sanctuary.
Inarius, who was deeply hurt by Lilith’s betrayal and didn’t want any more blood to be spilt, manipulated the Worldstone once more to have it absorb the powers of the Nephalem. Just in a few generations, the Nephalem’s powers faded away and they became ordinary humans. The angels and the demons of Sanctuary vanished, Inarius sank without a trace yet again. And the unexceptional humans without any powers, reigned over the world, which was once a sanctuary to angels and demons, for tens of thousands of years…