Original premise:
The gang has been reunited in Act II through some insane adventure, and by Act III's time they would have moved in with Tyrael to... do something, I have no idea. Act III would have still featured Quiet and Tyrael out in the wilds (again, apparently) and at the mercy of Rathma through some means, only they would have also been supported by Zayl and Humbart eventually.
Inarius' scream of terror greatly reflected Tyrael's own sentiments. Staring down an entire army of necromancers could do this to people.
Zayl threw himself between them and his fellow priests.
- Do not attack! I beg you! – he shouted in an uncharacteristically desperate voice.
- Return to us, Zayl. You too must feel the danger to the Balance – an old priestess ordered in a raspy voice, holding a white, still beating heart in her left hand. – They must be removed! Join us!
- We mean no harm to the Balance! You are mistaken! – Tyrael called out.
- The Balance cannot be mistaken.
- But it may be this time! Noroa, please listen to me – Zayl refused to budge from his position. – There has to be an explanation for this signal—
- The explanation is right behind you, blind one – Noroa snarled.
- This child is harmless!
- This child is a demon in—
A war horn's shrill cry interrupted the clashing. Behind Tyrael on a huge tree's lowest branch stood a lean dark skinned figure clad in furs, leaves and bones. He had a wooden mask with copious colors and an enormous feather crown woven into it, which he now pushed aside to blow the curved horn in his hands. Once he was done with the fanfare, he readjusted his mask and looked at the stunned crowd.
- Pale Ones! – he called out with heavy accent. – Friends! Fall back! For this day is sad! I wish no clash with you.
- Turzo! What is the meaning of this? – Noroa cried out. – We are allies of the Umbaru.
- That you are, friend Pale One! And that is why I ask you fall back. I wish no fight with you!
- You must feel something is not right. Your kind too is attuned to the Balance. Help us preserve it!
Instead, Turzo remorsefully raised his arm, to which infernal shrieking and war cries shook the jungle around them, and soon the entire necromancer squadron and Tyrael's group was surrounded by Umbaru warriors springing from the vegetation like shadows coming to life. Most of them were ordinary combatants with all kinds of shields, daggers, spears and axes, however there were quite a number of Witch Doctors among their ranks as well.
From their number, it seemed that at least a dozen tribes had joined up for this occasion.
- Turzo! – Noroa shrieked at the Witch Doctor on the tree.
- Friend Pale Ones! – the shaman called out again. – The spirits told us to come together this day and protect the Shaper! They had sung to us of this day and of this task. We cannot allow anyone, not even you friends to kill the Shaper and his friends!
- Your spirits are wrong!
- Our spirits cannot be wrong. Your Great Spirit can be blinded, however.
- The Balance is not a spirit, and it cannot be tricked! How many times do I have to tell you this?! – Noroa clutched her heart with gnarly fingernails so hard, the poor organ looked like it was about to burst.
- Listen to Turzo, Noroa. There is something behind all this that is tricking us. Somebody is mistaken here – Zayl spoke up as well.
- Their "spirits" are, clearly! – Noroa retorted.
- The spirits of the Unformed Land are wise and true – another Witch Doctor screamed in rage from the side.
The Umbaru was clearly not backing down, and the necromancers were growing restless as a result. While wielding incredible and terrible powers, the necromancers were not an aggressive people and they most certainly weren't fine with actual war. They were more prepared against the "monster of the week" kind of threats, and even then they operated alone or in small groups. On the other end, the Umbaru, while also not aggressive, were much more equipped for war, both physically and mentally. They were hunter-gatherers, shaped by the cruel jungle, tenacious and surprisingly tough despite their seemingly fragile build.
The necromancers could, in theory, win this clash, but it was highly likely that they would come out broken and ruined forever on the other end. Noroa must have had the same idea, for she eventually lowered her heart and pointed accusingly at Turzo:
- I demand a meeting with your spirits later!
- And you shall have it, friend Pale One, once you recall your forces against the Shaper.
- This child is not the Shaper of your myths! 'Tis a threat to the Balance.
Inarius whimpered and buried himself deeper into the coat of Tyrael.
- I beg to disagree – Zayl spoke up.
Noroa just waved with an angry snarl and she and her people slowly began to fall back. Behind them, the Umbaru army opened up, allowing them to leave without trouble. Eventually every necromancer melted into the shadows of the trees.
[…]
- Who is this "Shaper" you keep mentioning? – Tyrael asked, taking a sip from his bowl.
- Ahhh, the Great Shaper, the first and highest of all the spirits! – Turzo nodded his feather-crowned head. – The spirits sing of him. A golden quetzal bird carrying a red sun in its talons! It flew above the Unformed Land, it sung, and from its voice our world sprung! Parts of the Unformed Land were tamed and carried life, bearing us and all the creatures we share this land with. The quetzal birds are its children and they are sacred to all the tribes.
That… that was the weirdest description of Inarius and the Worldstone he had heard so far, Tyrael had to admit.
- The spirits are unsure of you, Fallen Star – Turzo pondered aloud, seizing up the fallen angel. – They… hope you shall be a good friend.
- I prefer diplomacy, I assure you – Tyrael defended himself. – I mean no harm—
- Not to us, Fallen Star – Turzo waved his hand. – To the Shaper.
2019.02.06.
Featuring:
- Finally some interactions between the Necromancers and the Umbaru.
- A glimpse into the Creation Myth of the Umbaru.
- Tyrael still being a jerk to Quiet.
- Necromancers displaying admittedly waaaay too much emotion.
- Rathma being a little shit in the background still.
- The gods having a more subdued role in this version.