Diablo 4 ends with a little bit of a cliffhanger. Although Lilith is defeated and Sanctuary saved for a time, one other risk, Mephisto, nonetheless looms. Searching for to place an finish to the Lord of Hatred as soon as and for all, Neyrelle traps Mephisto’s essence inside a Soulstone earlier than disappearing, leaving solely a cryptic word as to her intentions. Enter Vessel of Hatred, Blizzard’s first enlargement for Diablo 4 releasing on October 8, the place gamers will race to search out and assist Neyrelle in her wrestle earlier than it is too late.
Forward of the discharge of Vessel of Hatred and alongside the debut of a brand new in-game cinematic highlighting the bodily and psychological toll Mephisto’s presence has taken on Neyrelle, we acquired the prospect to talk with sport director Brent Gibson and affiliate narrative designer Eleni Rivera-Colon about Vessel of Hatred’s solid of characters. How is Mephisto’s affect affecting Neyrelle? What’s Mephisto’s objective, and what’s he in a position to do whereas trapped inside the Soulstone? What’s Lorath as much as? Gibson and Rivera-Colon would not spoil something however did assist set the desk as to what gamers can count on to see as they journey via Vessel of Hatred’s story marketing campaign.
In Vessel of Hatred, Neyrelle is searching for the Vault of Gentle, a location mentioned to be hidden inside the dense jungle of Nahantu and supposedly the ultimate resting place of Akarat, the founding father of the Zakarum religion. It is there she hopes to have the ability to destroy Mephisto for good, however his presence inside the Soulstone corrupts the world round her, catching the eye of the Spiritborn, the guardians of Nahantu’s jungles.
After teaming up with a brand new character, the clever Spiritborn elder Eru, gamers lastly catch as much as Neyrelle within the newly revealed cinematic. Soulstone in hand, she furiously recites historic chants in an effort to regulate Mephisto’s energy. Gibson mentioned the scene is the second the participant character is “coming to phrases” with the dimensions of Neyrelle’s state of affairs and realizing that one thing should be carried out as she struggles to tame Mephisto.
“She’s doing every part she will with chants to carry him within the Soulstone,” Rivera-Colon mentioned. “He is basically attempting to interrupt out. He will do every part he can.”
Neyrelle believed that by accepting the burden of the Soulstone alone, she could be maintaining her buddies secure. Taking up heavy burdens and being compelled to cope with conditions out of her management is one thing that Neyrelle as a personality is used to, Rivera-Colon mentioned.
“Within the enlargement we get to actually discover what she thinks about this selection and this choice now that she’s been with one thing like Mephisto and [the] Soulstone for thus lengthy,” Rivera-Colon mentioned. “It may take a heavy, heavy toll on her, and that is one thing she wasn’t certain if she was going to have the ability to do.”
As a lot as it is a story about Neyrelle, it is also one about Mephisto, too. Absent in Diablo 3, he performed a supporting position within the story of Diablo 4, aiding gamers anonymously in his Bloodied Wolf type on their quest to cease Lilith earlier than ultimately revealing his true identification. Gibson mentioned one of many targets of the enlargement was to hone in on the Lord of Hatred and inform the following main chapter of his story, teasing that there’s “nonetheless extra to return” with reference to Mephisto that Blizzard will craft over time.
Mephisto is likely one of the Prime Evils, and although he’s terrifying in his personal approach, he is fairly completely different in comparison with the demon from which the collection derives its title, Diablo. Mephisto is extra eager to sow hatred and division among the many individuals of Sanctuary, discovering vulnerabilities in individuals and turning family and friends in opposition to each other for his personal nefarious functions.
“That is his MO,” Gibson mentioned. “If you concentrate on the way in which he exhibits up within the base sport, making you second guess your allies, making you second guess Lilith. What sort of affect does he have on Neyrelle proper now? What’s he making her second guess?”
Although he’s nonetheless trapped within the Soulstone, his wolf projection seen within the base sport returns, as soon as once more serving as Mephisto’s voice and a approach for him to “unfold his message.” His corruption seeps from the Soulstone into the world round it, with Gibson describing the Soulstone itself as being nearly radioactive in nature.
“It is a reasonably large deal that Mephisto is again on Sanctuary,” Gibson mentioned. “Any time that occurs, they get banished again to the abyss and must kick and scream all the way in which again. Although he is caught within the Soulstone, the hazard right here is that if he will get out, he is bodily again on Sanctuary, and so it is essential Neyrelle finds an answer to not let that occur.”
Mephisto is attempting to do every part in his energy to interrupt free, although his choices are restricted and so he should be cautious, Rivera-Colon mentioned. Fortunately for Mephisto, the enlargement returns him to one in every of his outdated seats of energy, the jungles of Nahantu the place he beforehand corrupted the Zakarum church and battled gamers in Diablo 2. Gibson mentioned that Vessel of Hatred is “revisiting historical past” in that approach, nevertheless it’s clear that Vessel of Hatred can also be increasing on the area and its lore, including new wrinkles to the story of Akarat, the Zakarum, the Gentle, and the Spirit Realm.
“The Zakarum religion did not get every part proper,” Rivera-Colon mentioned. “They did not know Akarat. So it is a chance to discover Akarat and Akarat’s religion not simply via the Zakarum religion however via the land and the influence he had on the land all through Nehantu.”
There is not any doubt the main target of Vessel of Hatred is on Mephisto and Neyrelle. Nonetheless, one in every of Diablo 4’s most important characters, the final Horadrim, Lorath, is notably absent. Gibson mentioned that was by design, as they solely had a lot room for the tales they might inform within the enlargement.
“The place Lorath is is a thriller,” Gibson mentioned. “That may unpack over time, but when you concentrate on the state of the world after the bottom sport, he had some work to do.”
Blizzard remains to be leaving loads of particulars for gamers to find come launch day, although a current trailer could have already spoiled one of many enlargement’s boss fights. Fortunately, gamers will not have to attend lengthy to search out out what occurs subsequent. Preloading for Vessel of Hatred is out there now for PC gamers utilizing Battle.internet, whereas console gamers can preload the enlargement October 5 forward of its October 8 launch. For extra on Diablo 4, make sure to take a look at our hands-on preview with the brand new Spiritborn class, in addition to learn up on all the brand new programs, like Runewords, and the issue overhaul coming alongside Vessel of Hatred.