Disclaimer: I do not own Diablo 2 or its expansion.

This is my first fanfiction though, and it is based on the new Necromancer character and his adventures. Other characters from other professions might come in sooner or later in time. Please begin to give your votes about which character class should appear next.

Sidestory: Awakening and Meetings

A stab of pain shot through the man's body as he gasped for breath. He opened his eyes and found himself in some sort of burial chamber. He sat up slowly, feeling the pain gradually subsiding. He was lying on the ground; a magnificent blade lay beside him. He glanced around and then thought. "Who... Who am I?" He rose to his feet, stretching his body, feeling the soreness of his muscles, as though he had never used them for a long time. "How did I get here? Where is this place ?" He thought as he continued to survey the interior of the sepulchral monument. He then noticed a stone plaque close to what seems to be a coffin of a grand design. He apprroached the granite block and then as he read the inscription on the plaque, memories began to assault his brain and he slumped to the floor, clutching his head with both hands.

"Yes… Yes… I now know who I am… I am... King Leoric…" He said, breathlessly as he recovered slowly. Leoric was now slightly younger than when he was buried and corrupted by Diablo. His skin was now quite pallid, like a corpse, but his blue eyes and his light brown hair was almost the same when he was alive.

"Took you long enough, old man… I was wondering when you will wake up." An amused snort came from the shadows. Leoric looked around and rushed to where his blade was.He took it and grasped it firm in his hands. "Who is there? Show yourself, you foul beast!"

The voice chuckled and then he heard the sound of hooves approaching, the creature in question stepping into the dim light. He was a goat man with a bluish and red coloration in his fur. "I trust that you know who I am, O great king?" The goat man said sarcastically.

Leoric racked his brains, looking at the goat man, finding it vaguely familiar. He then remembered and gasped, though he still wielded the blade warily and then said. "You.. Your name is Gharbad. But how? I thought you and I were…"

"..Dead?" Gharbad finished it for him. "Indeed we were, Leoric. But our rising again would mean that our former Master..." he spat out the word distastefully. "….is on the loose again. And you know what that means… trouble will be following him every step of the way."

Leoric nodded and said. "That may be true in some way, demon, but are you not as evil as he was? Why shouldn't I kill you right here and now?" Gharbad chuckled and said. "Because I am no longer bound by his influence, and so are you. I am eager to pay him back for all the suffering he has caused, and his influence has begun to spread to Khanduras, where the Rogue Sisterhood is. I do not know how that knowledge came upon me… but we must hurry, and pursue him. If he is stronger this time… I can bet that many more would try even harder to slay him for good this time, and these people may need our help."

Leoric thought for a moment, looking at the goat man for a moment and then said. "Your words make sense, demon… I sense no evil in you. Very well, let us get out of this tomb and out into the world. We have a former Master and a Prime Evil to slay."

Gharbad chuckled and said. "I'd knew you'd say that. Your sense of honor and duty as a Paladin and King has never faltered."

Leoric chuckled and said. "So it would seem, but I would expect that Westmarch would send another from my former Order to vanquish Diablo. I no longer have the blessings and abilities from before, Gharbad. My training might have never faded, but instead of the Light empowering me, it is the Dark that is in me."

Gharbad mused for a moment and then said. "Are you saying that you are like one of the Blood Knights of Diablo's former army?"

Leoric nodded and said. "So it would seem... but the knowledge that I have now might provide useful in combating any strong foes that we and our future allies might face."

Gharbad nodded and said. "Oh, by the way, I suggest that we take a look at Tristram. All I know, from what I felt before I awakened, was that the town of Tristram is no more."

Leoric's eyes widened and said. "Are you sure?"

Gharbad shook his head and said. "I do not know, and it is best we make haste towards it, to find any survivors if possible, and defend them from Diablo's minions, who I believe might have taken the town."

Leoric nodded and said. "Then there is no time to waste... we must embark immediately." He then looked at Gharbad, who wielded a nasty looking mace in his hands.He grinned and then walked out of the tomb, Gharbad following closely at his heels as they made their way from where they were to the town of Tristram.

Meanwhile, a host of undead creatures gathered in the deep confines of the Mausoleum of the Burial Grounds of the Sisterhood of the Sightless Eye.

Their leader, a Bluish tinged skeleton named Bonebreak brought the meeting to order. " Brethren, brethren. Order, Order please. I called you all here to discuss something with you. What do you think of the necromancer and his party that had just freed Blood Raven, dispatched Corpsefire, and even Bishiboshi ? Not to mention even Cold Crow and Treehead Woodfist. I would not be surprised if Rakanishu would soon be defeated as well."

Some of the zombies and skeletons expressed their dread in meeting the necromancer, for they all heard his prowess, while some questioned by a priest of the dead would go after Diablo.

After some time, Bonebreak raised his hand and all discussion stopped. " There is one thing to be sure. We are not at an advantageous position any longer. If we see them progress any longer, Andariel will be surely defeated. I do not like being under her power anymore than anyone of you, am I correct?"

An unanimous whisper and murmur of agreement was heard rippling through the crowd at his statement.

Bone Break raised his hand and then silence reigned once more. " There are only two things that are possible for our survival One, we take a stance of neutrality, guarding this place, and have peace with the Rogues, or we can form an alliance with the Rogues, and have a chance to help brindg down Andariel. What say you brethren ?"

A murmur of discussion rippled once more around the room, most of the throng were in favor of siding with the Rogues, while a minority would prefer that they do not take sides in the war. BoneBreak listened to the outcome and nodded. " I have decided then, we shall aid the Rogues in the defense of their encampment if need be, and I will extend this proposition to the leaders of the Rogues, as well as that Necromancer and his party. For those who do not wish to fight, I leave you all in charge to guard these holy resting places of the Rogues, and make sure that none of Andariel's minions come here and defile it again. Is that understood ?"

At the unanimous nods of agreement, Bonebreak nodded. " Good! You are all dismissed! Except you two." He said as he pointed to two wraiths.

When all had left he approached them. " I have a special mission to you two, I want each of you to go to two different places. One will go to the Rogue Encampment, bearing a message that I will meet them to discuss a proposition that will benefit both of our parties, and the other will go to see my brother Bone Ash, and speak to him of my plan , and say to him that it is my wish that he throw in his lot with us.Now go! "

The wraiths nodded and floated away, while Bonebreak went to a room and leaned against an empty sarcophagus, waiting for his messengers to return.

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