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Adria, the Witch

Adria was a friend of Cain and the mother of Leah, reported dead in the Dreadlands. She was a witch, helping the adventurers back in the Old Tristan with magical itens.

'Spoiler Alert - Don't read further if you don't want to know TOO MUCH!'

  • Early Life:

Born in the 1220s, Adria was once a well regarded member of the Vizjerei Clan, but for some unknown reason was outcast from the order and labeled as a witch. Whenever asked about her time with the Vizjerei, Adria refused to respond. At some point, Adria encountered the demon Maghda. The demon convinced Adria to poison the leaders of the Dark Coven so that they could take control. However, the two had a falling out and Adria left the group a few years later.

  • The Darkening of Tristram

Not long afterwards, with the appearance of the Hellmouth at Tristram, Adria saw an opportunity to both strike a blow against the legions of Hell, and to make some profit in gold and magical artifacts in the process. Thus, Adria arrived in the village while most of its people were fleeing and constructed a small hut on the edge of the village, seemingly overnight. Many of the remaining villagers were wary of her, both in regards to her skill in magic and her procurement of magical items. She made no secret of being a witch.

Deckard Cain was one of the few individuals to interact with her. They spent many nights in the Tavern of the Rising Sun, discussing Horadric texts and the various arcana Adria had collected during her travels. Cain found her knowledge about mysticism and demonology most valuable, though he did find her behaviour peculiar at times. It was during these conversations that Cain mentioned the Black Soulstone, something that Adria thought little of at the time, but would later come to realize its true significance.

As adventurers came to Tristram, they found Adria's magical trade indespensible. Not that this prevented them from meeting their demise in the depths of the cathedral. Eventually though, three adventurers succeeded where others have failed. Aidan, accompanied by a rogue and sorcerer, journeyed into the depths of the Cathedral and found the source of its corruption—Diablo, Lord of Terror. Aidan slew the demon, but was left psychologically and physically scarred by the experience. Tormented by his experiences, Aidan sought solace with Adria.

Aidan had plunged Diablo's soulstone into his forehead in an attempt to contain Diablo's essence, and Adria beheld that essence within him. Thus, she pledged herself to Diablo's service, and both she and Aidan spent many nights behind closed doors. Through this liason, Adria became pregnant with Aidan/Diablo's daughter, Leah. It would take time, but it was intended that when the time was right, Leah would serve as Diablo's vessel as part of his plan to become the sole Prime Evil.

  • Departure

Eventually, Aidan left Tristram, now wearing the guise of the Dark Wanderer. Adria told Cain that he had headed east to find mystics that could help exorcise his nightmares. Shortly afterwards, Adria departed also, along with Gillian. The pair traveled to Caeldeum where Adria gave birth to Leah. The infant was left in Gillian's care, and after casting a protective spell around Gillian's new home, Adria departed.

At some point during his travels with a new group of heroes in pursuit of the Dark Wanderer, Cain encountered Adria and learned of Leah's existance. He promised her that he'd keep her safe. She gave the scholar a scroll of misdirection and protection in the event that he and Leah would have to evade prying eyes. Their paths crossed a few times over the intervening years and Adria caught a few glimpses of her daughter, but otherwise remained inconspicuous.

Seven years after the destruction of the Worldstone and Mount Arreat, Cain heard a report that Adria had perished in the Dreadlands. Whatever truth may have existed in the report, it was inaccurate in that Adria was indeed still alive. The destruction of Mount Arreat was the culmination of a series of events that had left five of the Great Evilsdeceased, making Belial and Azmodan the last two lords of Hell. The essences of their five counterparts still lingered in Sanctuary, and over the two decades following Baal's defeat, Adria was able to locate these essences, preparing them for absorbtion into the Black Soulstone, as per Diablo's plan of taking their essences into himself.

  • True Colors

Twenty Years after the destruction of Arreat, the time had come for Diablo's plan to enter its final stage. At this point in time, Adria was in Caldeum, seeking to gather some things before setting out to find the head of Zoltun Kulle, the Black Soulstone's creator. However, she was cornered by the Imperial Guard in the sewers—Belial had enthralled the city, and was aware of the Black Soulstone's existance, if not function. His demons tortured her until she was saved by a group of heroes, among which were the archangel Tyrael and Leah herself. Ever to the point, Adria told them of her plan to use the Black Soulstone to bind and destroy the Great Evils, and while the heroes set about resurrecting Kulle and retriving the stone, trained Leah in the use of her powers. After successfully binding Belial, the party was left only with the issue of Azmodan.

It didn't take long for Azmodan to reveal himself, and the party headed north to confront him at Bastion's Keep, which had come under siege by Azmodan's forces. For much of the battle, Adria remained at her daughter's side, as she struggled to contain the essences of the six demon lords imprisoned inside. Eventually however, Azmodan was defeated, and Adria and Leah were there as the latter imprisoned the last lord of Hell within the stone. Victory was in sight, and Adria stated that the stone would have to be taken back to the keep, to make preparations to destroy it and in turn, the demon lords it contained. At the keep however, Adria revealed her true colors, slaughtering a number of soldiers, and incapacitating both Tyrael and Leah. She revealed her true allegiance, and turned the soulstone on her daughter. Thus, Diablo was reborn in the world in a new vessel, as a singular Prime Evil. After over twenty years, Adria had completed the task assigned to her.

Diablo was pleased, and ordered Adria to leave until he needed her again. She thus disapeared through a portal, while Diablo departed to lead an invasion of theHigh Heavens. It was an invasion that ultimately failed, and Diablo cast down. Adria however, remained at large... until now.

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NPCs | The Witch | Adria (Boss)

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