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Birthright (2006) is the first book from The Sin War trilogy. It is written by Richard A. Knaak and the story takes place in the Diablo universe. It tells the beginning of the story of Uldyssian as he begins his struggle against the forces of Heaven and Hell.
Birthright and the other two novels of the trilogy are the only books that are considered true canon.[1]
Description[]
Since the beginning of time, the angelic forces of the High Heavens and the demonic hordes of the Burning Hells have been locked in an eternal conflict for the fate of all Creation. That struggle has now spilled over into Sanctuary -- the world of men. Determined to win mankind over to their respective causes, the forces of good and evil wage a secret war for mortal souls. This is the tale of the Sin War -- the conflict that would forever change the destiny of man.
Three thousand years before the darkening of Tristram, Uldyssian, son of Diomedes, was a simple farmer from the village of Seram. Content with his quiet, idyllic life, Uldyssian is shocked as dark events begin to rapidly unfold around him. Mistakenly blamed for the grisly murders of two traveling missionaries, Uldyssian is forced to flee his homeland and set out on a perilous quest to redeem his good name. To his horror, he has begun to manifest strange new powers -- powers no mortal man has ever dreamed of. Now, Uldyssian must grapple with the energies building within him -- lest they consume the last vestiges of his humanity.
Plot Summary[]
The story begins in the small village of Seram and centers around the people of Uldyssian, his brother Mendeln and his friends Achilios and Serenthia. Uldyssian is a farmer who is falsely accused of murdering missionaries from the two major religions of the land: the Cathedral of Light and the Triune. With the aid of a mysterious noblewoman named Lylia and a freak storm, he manages to escape and makes his way towards Partha along with his brother and friends.
Meanwhile The Primus has sent Malic, the high priest of Mefis, after Uldyssianto bring him back to the Triune. They encounter each other just outside of Partha. Malic commands both trained Peace Warders and three demons, yet is defeated by Uldyssian and the magical powers that he has recently developed. Malic flees back to the main temple of the Triune, where he is given both demonic powers and morlu servants to aid him in bringing in Uldyssian.
As Uldyssian and his companions enter Partha he unwillingly begins to awaken similar powers in the people of Partha. Though hesitant at first he is supported by Lylia, whom he also falls in love with, to continue until most people have been given powers. Achilios and Serenthia also begin to develop similar powers, while Mendeln develops unique powers focused on death and the dead.
Malic returns, but this time acts through subversion by impersonating the leader of Partha, master Ethon. Cladding himself and the morlu, undead warriors, in the flesh of Ethon and his household, they successfully fool everyone but still lose. Malic himself is killed by Lylia.
Lylia's sudden power is suspicious, and shortly thereafter Uldyssian discovers that she is really Lilith, daughter of Mephisto and a powerful demon. Following this revalation she abandons Uldyssian, but not before explaining to Uldyssian how he's been her pawn and how it was she who created the storm in Seram, awakened his powers and defeated Malic, and how he has done nothing on his own. Though this is only partially true, Uldyssian nevertheless believes her and becomes disheartened after he tries to fight her and fails miserably.
There is little respite before the next encounter. After Malic's failure and having seen who Lylia was through a spell, the Primus himself decides to act and bring Undyssian in. He turns out to be Lucion, Lilith's sister, and his interest in Uldyssian turns out to be because of his magical potential and the use it could be to the Triune. Though initially no match for the demon, Uldyssian eventually overpowers Lucion and does something unprecedented: rather than killing him, he causes the demon to "cease to exist", a fate apparently far worse for a demon and something never done again.
During all of these events the Prophet, leader of the Cathedral of Light and a persona of Inarius, has been watching.
Links[]
References[]
Diablo Novels | ||
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Released Books | The Sin War | Birthright • Scales of the Serpent • The Veiled Prophet |
Other | Demonsbane • Legacy of Blood • The Black Road • The Kingdom of Shadow • Moon of the Spider | |
Compilations | Tales of Sanctuary • Diablo Archive | |
Proposed Books | A Kingdom for a Sword • The Fate of Siggard • Angels of Darkness, Soldiers of Light |