Vhenard

Biography

Early Life

Vhenard and Neyrelle travelled Sanctuary in search of artifacts and the remnants of the Horadrim,^[1] and the origins of humanity.^[2] Finding the Horadric Vault was her life's work.^[3] Neyrelle wanted to know why things were the way they were, and Vhenard told her that the Horadrim had the answers.^[4] She once told Neyrelle that there were no coincidences when immortals were involved.^[5]

They explored old ruins and read old texts, and in the process, Neyrelle learnt all manner of information pertaining to the arcane.^[1] Vhenard felt guilt over dragging her daughter all over the world in her search, but was able to rationalize it, later claiming that she'd done it to teach Neyrelle how to survive.^[6]

During this period, Vhenard was aware of the Cathedral of Light and Inarius. She apparently believed (to at least some extent) the Church's claims about the angel.^[7] She was likewise aware of Lilith to some extent.^[6]

A Cold and Iron Faith

In Her Wake

In 1336, Vhenard and Neyrelle came to Yelesna in the Fractured Peaks. To Neyrelle's surprise, Vhenard suddenly ran off.^[8] Unknowingly in the company of Lilith, Vhenard used a wealth charm to bribe a knight stationed at Pine Hill to grant them entry to the mines beyond. The knight obliged,^[9] and Vhenard and the Knights Penitent entourage entered.^[6]

Beneath the mines lay the ancient nephalem city of Kasama. When Vhenard and the entourage entered, Lilith revealed herself as the "Mother of Sanctuary," and slew the knights.^[6] In that moment, despite the horror unfolding before her, Vhenard knew Lilith's words were true.^[10]

Vhenard begged for her life, and Lilith spared her, leading her further into the city.^[6] With her sanity already deteriorating, Vhenard used chalk to record their journey through Kasama, which as they soon saw, had murals depicting the history of the Eternal Conflict. Lilith explained that the war had been waged since the beginning of time, as angels and demons battled for control of Creation. Vhenard asked to what end, and Lilith simply laughed.^[11]

Further in, Lilith spoke to Vhenard directly. She claimed that Vhenard had always pursued knowledge, and had dragged Neyrelle all over Sanctuary to get it. Vhenard protested that she'd taught Neyrelle how to survive, but Lilith told her to drop the act, and stated that Vhenard had questions, she had answers, and she was willing to provide them. While everything Vhenard had read warned her against Lilith, she nevertheless succumbed to the demon's temptations.^[6]

As they made their way through Kasama, Lilith continued to tell Vhenard the history of Sanctuary, and Vhenard continued to scribble in chalk. Lilith told her of her seduction of Inarius, which made Vhenard note that despite her earlier beliefs, Inarius was clearly not infallible.^[7] She told her of how she and Inarius had created Sanctuary, confirming her earlier claims to be the world's "mother."^[10] She further told Vhenard of the Firstborn,^[2] and most pertinently, Rathma; the son she and Inarius had birthed born together. His lair, she explained, lay further within the city.^[12]

The two pressed on. Vhenard wondered why she was spared, and when asked by Lilith if she had faith in her, murmured that she wanted to have faith in her. Lilith simply commented that they were going to meet with Rathma.^[13] As they moved through the Cradle, Vhenard continued to scribble her chalk writings.^[14] Lorath Nahr would later speculate that Vhenard had written these things at least in part to justify her actions to Neyrelle. He suspected that some part of Vhenard must have known and feared what others would think of her actions.^[15]

Vhenard still missed Neyrelle, and Lilith noticed. The Daughter of Hatred gave Vhenard a final choice; go, or stay. Vhenard cast her lot with the demon, rationalizing that Neyrelle would be fine without her. Pleased, Lilith explained that they were heading for a lake at the bottom of the ruins, and it would require a ritual to pass over.^[13] Now fully enthralled by Lilith, Vhenard noted in her scribblings that whereas once she'd believed in the Horadrim, they could not be the saviors of Sanctuary. Lilith, however, would make humanity victors.^[14]

The pair reached the Mourning Shore. Lilith had Vhenard assist in a ritual where they sacrificed a priest from the original escort. Vhenard's role was to cut the priest's neck, and he had no fight left in him.^[16][17] With the holy blessing from the priest's blood, Lilith was able to cross the Black Lake to enter the Necropolis of the Firstborn. Vhenard, twisted by Lilith's influence to the point of insanity, was left on the shore. She continued to draw symbols with her chalk, desperate to join Lilith, and when the chalk was reduced to its last nub, she began to draw in her own blood.^[3]

It was in this state that Vhenard was found by Neyrelle and the Wanderer, both of whom had followed the path she and Lilith had taken through Kasama. Neyrelle begged her mother to leave with them, but in her insanity, Vhenard believed that her daughter was trying to lure her away so she could take the trove in the Necropolis for herself. Using the dark gifts Lilith had bestowed upon her, Vhenard summoned demons to attack her daughter and companion. In the ensuing fight, the demons were killed, and Vhenard gave out, dying seconds later.^[3] Her body was left where it fell.^[18]

Crossing Over

Sometime after Vhenard's death, Neyrelle and the Wanderer returned to her body. Using a necromatic tome, Neyrelle raised Vhenard from the dead, as given that she'd worked with Lilith to allow the demon to cross the Black Lake, she would know how to do the same for the Wanderer, who had obtained a divine blessing. Neyrelle raised her mother, albeit imperfectly. Neyrelle told Vhenard that she could save her from this state of unlife, but Vhenard, accepting her mistakes, told Neyrelle that she had to let her go.^[18]

Neyrelle conducted the same ritual Lilith had, instructing the Wanderer to shed their blood. Coupled with the divine blessing, this created an ethereal bridge over the lake. Vhenard died a second time, this time in her daughter's arms. She told Neyrelle she loved her before passing away.^[18]

Legacy

Neyrelle took Vhenard's body from Kasama,^[18] and buried her in Mistral Woods, outside the Horadric Vault. Neyrelle reasoned that as finding the vault had been her life's work, she would want to be buried nearby.^[3] The wealth charm Vhenard had bribed Vigo with was returned to Neyrelle after Vigo's death.^[19]

Vhenard's last piece of chalk made it into Lorath's hands. He reflected that Vhenard's record might have been an attempt at justifying her actions, but instead, her writings only confirmed how far she had fallen. The piece of chalk he now held was now a cursed token of her madness and denial. Vhenard had joined the ranks of those who were desperate to tell their own tales, who knew there would be others who told them, who sought to have the final word. Often, these attempts were in vain, and Vhenard was no different. She was among the countless others who had been enthralled by Lilith over the history of Sanctuary.^[15]

Vessel of Hatred

As Neyrelle approached the River Gate in Nahantu, her body was wracked by tremors caused by Mephisto's corruption. In a moment of distraction, the soulstone floated in front of her and put her in an illusion. There, Mephisto took the visage of Vhenard to catch her off guard and convince her to give up control.^[20]

In-game

Vhenard appears as an NPC in Diablo IV in Kasama. She is fought as a boss at the conclusion of "The Cost of Knowledge" quest.

During the fight, Vhenard can't be harmed herself, but instead summons numerous demons to attack the player. The fight goes through four phases, each being more intense than the last. After her death and the quest's conclusion, the player is gifted Mother's Knife, a Rare dagger.

References