Cold Isles

The Cold Isles are a group of islands on Sanctuary.^[1] They are collectively known as the Land of the Tempest.^[2]

Lore

The frigid^[3] Cold Isles are situated north of Ivgorod.^[4] Powerful storms rage around the islands, the storms themselves having birthed many strange and dangerous creatures, such as the Stormlost.^[5] Savaged by torrential rain, incredible winds, deadly beasts, and a toxic, ever-present mist, it is only by the tireless protection of the Unmoored and Tempests that the nation survives.^[6]

The storms that beset the isles have consumed settlements and islands each year.^[7] Islanders who brave the storm storm wear clothing with patagia that brace the wind, and taut cowls that seal to protect their eyes and face.^[8] This protects them from being soaked or windburned.^[9]

Culture

Cold Isles are ruled by sages, councilors and the Unmoored.^[10] Each refuge isle is led by one or more sages. They live in a constant state of voyaging, moving back and forth between Pelghain and their home isles to ensure they are schooled in the empire's history and trusted by those they represent. Few accomplish both.^[11] Sages in turn answer to a council based in pelghain.^[12] The council acts on the pronouncements of the Unmoored.^[13]

The architecture of the Cold Isles was inspired by that of Xiansai and other northern cultures.^[3]

The people of the Cold Isles tell many stories. Those of faith, love, and honorable Warriors are few in comparison to the tales of terror, of floods and crushing sea ice. Few tales terrify the children of Pelghain more than the myth of Xekorendaag. The legend says Mehrwen and Ksathra's fury cursed the isles so long as their descendants remained on Pelghain. When the people began to brave the deluges and hurricanes, arrogantly building tall cities and monuments, a great serpent drove into their settlements, consuming families and carving the isles apart as it did. Reproached, the people moved their settlements away from the capital, and the serpent faded to memory. The myth ends with a warning of Xekorendaag's return, reminding the people that they must protect their land and keep their settlements humble or again face the freezing of the seas and the devouring of their children.^[14]

History

Early History

Humans have been living on the Cold Isles for thousands of years^[10] as part of the empire of Pelghain.^[14]

Centuries ago, the demon Aeyntragga roosted upon the Spiral and stalked the outskirts of the Cold Isles.^[14]

Pelghain was ruined by violence between its sister priest-empresses. The battle roiled sea and sky, drowned their mainland cities, and left only their island capital standing, beset by permanent deluges and hurricanes, and surrounded by Maarozhi, beasts of the deep. The battle roiled sea and sky, drowned their mainland cities, and left only their island capital standing.^[10]

Post-Collapse

The aftermath of Pelghain's civil war left the Cold Isles beset by permanent deluges and hurricanes, and surrounded by Maarozhi. The once-proud people clung to the vestiges of their empire, relying on their Tempests to endure the weather and enemies that haunt them. Other than imperial ruins, the largest relics of Pelghain’s rule are the mists of the Spiral, a winding network of snowy fjords. The people of the Isles believe these mists are the dying breath of their empress Mehrwen.^[10]

Over the centuries, the people of the Cold Isles have been fighting a losing battle. Storms continue to batter the Isles, and more Tempests are required to curb them each year. With every beasts the Tempests slay, two more lurk below. However, the rulers of the Cold Isles were unwilling to abandon the islands, even as they continued to dwell in ruins. Over time, a number of Tempests abandoned their homeland, believing they were only delaying the inevitable, and those who did so were deemed pariahs, in an effort to prevent others from leaving.^[10]

With the Unmoored increasingly occupied with the ever-roiling storms, Aeyntragga was able to venture further inland from the Spiral.^[14]

In-game

The Cold Isles are explored in Diablo Immortal, introduced in the Crucible of Justice update.

Known Isles

• Frostgarth
• Mehrwen's Stay
• Old Pinnacle
• Pelghain (capital)^[15]
• Rag Sound
• Stormbrace
• Twinsend

Trivia

This section contains facts and trivia relevant to this article.

• When discussing the architecture of the Cold Isles, it was decided early on to keep them grounded in reality. Ryan Quinn repeatedly stated that "this is not Atlantis," which meant that the Isles would not be an undersea city, and would not be high fantasy. The architecture of the isles is actually based on that of eastern Europe. Emil Salim in particular took inspiration from Prague.^[3]

References