In the beginning, there was only Anu, the primordial being that embodied all of existence within its perfect form. Anu was the totality of everything that was, is, and could be.

Seeking absolute purity, Anu performed cosmic self-surgery, violently expelling all evil, chaos, and darkness from within itself. This cast-off essence formed Tathamet.

The First Battle

Anu and Tathamet clashed in a battle that shook the very fabric of existence. For countless eons, neither could gain the upper hand. Finally, in a cataclysmic explosion, both beings destroyed each other utterly, tearing apart the primordial unity forever.

When Anu cast out all darkness from within, that expelled essence coalesced into Tathamet, a massive dragon with seven heads. Each head represented a different aspect of evil, a unique manifestation of sin that would later become the Seven Great Evils.

The Seven Heads

Tathamet's seven heads would become the foundation for the demonic hierarchy:

• Head of Terror - became Diablo
• Head of Destruction - became Baal
• Head of Hatred - became Mephisto
• Head of Anguish - became Andariel
• Head of Lies - became Belial
• Head of Sin - became Azmodan
• Head of Pain - became Duriel

The Worldstone is one of the most powerful artifacts in all of existence. Formed from Anu's divine eye during the primordial being's destruction, the Worldstone embodies the power to create, hide, and fundamentally reshape reality itself.

Divine Properties

The Worldstone possesses abilities far beyond mortal comprehension. It can cloak entire dimensions from detection, making Sanctuary invisible to both Heaven and Hell. It also allows the interaction between celestial and demonic forces, which should be impossible given their opposing natures. Most crucially, the Worldstone can alter the very fabric of existence.

Inarius's Control

When Inarius and Lilith stole the Worldstone to create Sanctuary, they used its power to establish a realm hidden from both the High Heavens and the Burning Hells. The Worldstone became the anchor point for Sanctuary's existence, literally holding reality in place.

The Weakness

Baal exploited the Worldstone in an attempt to corrupt it and end all of existence. When the Worldstone is damaged or corrupted, Sanctuary itself becomes vulnerable to demonic invasion and the merging of realms becomes possible.

The Crystal Arch stands as the magnificent centerpiece of the High Heavens, a towering structure of impossible beauty and divine power. Formed from the crystallized spine of Anu itself, the Crystal Arch serves as the eternal wellspring from which all angels are born.

Source of Angels

Every angel that walks the High Heavens emerges from the Crystal Arch in a state of perfect consciousness and complete knowledge of their purpose. Angels do not grow or develop—they are created fully formed with specific roles and duties already understood. The Arch continuously generates new celestial beings as needed to maintain Heaven's guard against demonic incursion.

Heart of Heaven

The Crystal Arch does more than birth angels. It is the very heart of the High Heavens, the source of the realm's immortal nature and its resistance to corruption. As long as the Crystal Arch stands, the High Heavens cannot fall. Demons have attempted countless times to shatter or corrupt the Arch, but its divine nature makes this nearly impossible.

Beauty Beyond Mortal Comprehension

Those few mortals who have glimpsed the Crystal Arch in visions report that its beauty transcends human understanding. It is described as a monument to perfection and order, radiating pure light and celestial harmony. Standing before the Arch is said to be an experience that forever changes one's perspective on existence.

The Burning Hells are the antithesis of the High Heavens—a realm of eternal torment, endless corruption, and absolute chaos. Born from the decaying corpse of Tathamet the seven-headed dragon, the Burning Hells exist in a state of perpetual agony and warfare.

Realm of Eternal Torment

The Burning Hells are not merely a place of punishment—they are punishment itself. Every inch of the Hells screams with suffering. The landscape is a nightmare of twisted flesh, burning stone, and impossible geometries. Demons are not imprisoned here—they are created from the very essence of the realm, born directly from Hell's suffering.

The Seven Great Evils

From Tathamet's seven heads emerged the Prime Evils (Diablo, Mephisto, Baal) and the Lesser Evils (Andariel, Duriel, Belial, Azmodan). These beings rule different dimensions within the Hells, each commanding legions of demons and lesser evils. The structure is a hierarchy of pure malevolence, where the strong dominate the weak through sheer force.

Endless Demonic Legions

The Burning Hells generate demons infinitely. No demon truly dies—their essence disperses into the Hells only to reform and rise again. This makes the demonic threat perpetual and seemingly unstoppable. For every demon slain on Sanctuary, ten more can crawl through the dimensional rifts between worlds.

Gateway to Sanctuary

The Burning Hells are not isolated. Rifts and gates allow demons to bleed through into Sanctuary when the barriers grow weak. During times of great evil or when the Worldstone is corrupted, the boundary between Hells and Sanctuary becomes dangerously thin, allowing demonic hordes to pour into the mortal realm.