Leah

"There is, however, another person who deserves recognition&mdash;someone who I fear that generations to come will misunderstand or even vilify. Her name was Leah."

- Tyrael, recounting Leah's story to the Horadrim

Leah was the ward of Deckard Cain and the biological daughter of Adria and Aidan/Diablo.

Conception
"A vessel. Something powerful enough to contain the souls of not just Diablo, but all his brothers and sisters. And now that Aidan has been slain, this vessel growing within me is the true hope for the End of Days. She is the key to Diablo's success."

- Adria, while pregnant with Leah

From the outset, Leah was conceived as a host for Diablo. While the three Prime Evils had masterminded their exile to Sanctuary, Diablo had taken the plan one step farther. He would become the Prime Evil, combining the essences of the Great Evils into a single form. And to do that, he would need a vessel to inhabit.

To this end, when Prince Aidan struck down Diablo in the Tristram Cathedral and bound himself to the soulstone in the hope of containing Diablo's essence, the demon had been given the means to fulfill his plan. Not long after Aidan's 'victory,' he met the witch Adria, who realized that Diablo was influencing the prince. By Diablo's will, Leah was conceived and born a year later in 1264.

While Aidan became corrupted by Diablo and so became the Dark Wanderer, Tristram fell to the forces of Hell. Adria escaped with Gillian and the two made their way to Caldeum. Adria set up wards around Gillian's residence and departed, leaving the barmaid to care for the infant.

Growing Up
"Listen, I don't like you either. Understand? Nobody does. You're a sewer rat. We should toss you in the fountain, wash off the stink from those filthy tunnels you crawl around in, but then we'd sell no tickets to the show."

- Pig-Eyes bullying Leah Leah had a hard time growing up in Caldeum. Gillian's mind had been adversely affected by her contact with demons, and so was not always in the right state of mind to function in society, let alone raise a daughter. Gillian's stigma made its way down to Leah herself and she was regarded as an unlucky child. "Sewer rat" was a name that bullies gave her, in part due to her time exploring the sewers beneath the city. For all her time in the city, she learned to live with the insults and indeed, her time exploring the city imparted survival skills to her. Throughout her life, Gillian never told her the truth about her father, or that Adria was her biological mother. And all the while, Leah had to contend with the powers she had inherited from her mother, such as prophetic dreams. Throughout her entire life, Leah would suffer from nightmares. Dreams of blood and war, of bloated corpses, of the eyes of crows glaring at her with hate. Other times she would dream of angels and demons with frightening clarity as if she were seeing memories. Gillian told her not to confuse the dreams with what was real, but the stern tone of her voice that she always used made Leah feel uneasy. As if Gillian was afraid that her own madness was creeping up on her adopted daughter.

At the age of eight, the insults Leah endured were starting to become unbearable and dark times were settling over Caldeum. Belial had set his minions in motion and was on the hunt for her. To make matters worse, Gillian's state of mind was deteriorating even further.

A New Guardian
"Adria once frightened me. Her daughter frightens me more."

- Gillian One day in Caldeum, Leah came across a beggar ranting about the Dark One, and was pursued by the sewers by a group of thugs. By the time she emerged, it was evening. Gillian was unimpressed by her poor state of hygiene, but her mind was too damaged to linger on the subject for long. Before long, she was ranting about demons, promising to protect Leah and accusing her of being a demon as well within the same breath. She retired to her bed, but awoke several hours later, with night having well and truly fallen. Gillian was in one of her moods, but before she could do anything drastic, there was a knock at the door. It was Deckard Cain, whom Gillian let into her home. Leah found something comforting about Cain, in part because she didn't want to be left alone with her mother. Gillian introduced Cain as someone she'd grown up with in the town she'd hailed from (a town she refused to specify as being Tristram).

The next morning, Gillian sent Leah to fetch something good to eat, as Cain arriving was a "special occasion." She obliged, and Cain spent the rest of the day exploring Caldeum, pursuing his own agenda. Come night, Leah went to sleep, but Gillian, in one of her less lucid moments, approached her with a knife. While still sleeping, some energy emanated from Leah, and the force of it sent Gillian slamming against the wall. Leah awoke and screamed as the same force ripped the knife from Gillian's hand. Cain used some powder to incapacitate both of them. He fell asleep himself, but it was Leah who woke him up&mdash;the house was on fire. Leah refused to leave, wanting to save Gillian despite Cain's protests. Leah shut her eyes and her body began to tremble, and her magic caused the temperature of the house to decrease. However, the effect was temporary, and she passed out. A bearded man managed to get both her and Cain out of the building.

When Leah came to, Cain told her that her mother had been taken away (to the madhouse) and that he'd find a safe place for her as soon as he could. Also that they had to leave Caldeum by first light. Leah silently followed her new guardian out of the city.

The Truth
Leah remained silent as she followed Cain across the desert from Caldeum. As the sun rose in the sky, Leah began to regain more of her sense of self. She reflected that Gillian, for her madness, had still been her mother, and now her mother had been taken away. There was also the question of Cain&mdash;Gillian had called him "Uncle Deckard," but not specified how they were related. She could tell that he was uneasy with her, but regardless, they made camp for the night, and she accepted the food he offered her. Cain, breaking the silence between them, told Leah that Gillian wasn't her mother. That her real mother was a woman named Adria, and that she and Gillian had come to Caldeum together to escape Tristram. That it was in Caldeum where Adria gave birth to Leah, but had left her in Gillian's care. Leah accused him of lying, but Cain replied that he wasn't. Caught up in her grief, Leah ran into the night, unwilling to believe what Cain had told her. She screamed, but the sound came back to her, cracking the very earth. The force of it knocked her out.

When Leah came to, she was back at the campfire with Cain, who'd found her passed out near a river. He was finally able to get her to eat, and after she'd finished, she began to ask him questions, wanting to know everything. Cain told her about Adria, and how last he'd heard, she'd perished in the Dreadlands. Leah burst into tears, but eventually went to sleep.

Come the next morning, they didn't discuss what had happened the night before. They headed off, and Cain revealed that they were headed for Kurast. Leah was aghast&mdash;Gillian had warned her about Kurast (a warning that was well founded given the city's sorry state), and accused Cain of wanting to sacrifice her. Leah ran away from him. Cain eventually found her at an overlook, where she told him that "I've nowhere to go, and nobody to help me." She pointed to a nearby town, suggesting that they could help them. Cain agreed to head for the town, and Leah followed him.

Lord Brand's Manor
By the time Leah and Cain reached the town, night had fallen. While the guards were unwelcoming, the one they served wasn't&mdash;Lord Brand, who embraced them warmly. He invited them to his manor. As they proceeded through the town, Leah saw only a few townsfolk, but after awhile, dropped her gaze, and simply followed Cain. She began to regret asking him to come here. Something about this place made her terribly afraid, but she couldn't put her finger on it. Brand was welcoming enough, but he did look off. The town appeared dead, so different from Caldeum. She also worried about Cain, noticing how tired he looked.

Whatever the case, they arrived at Brand's manor, the sight of which didn't alleviate Leah's anxiety. Walking inside, Leah found that the fire offered little warmth, and something smelt funny. Dinner was served, and while the food was tasteless, Leah didn't care, given how hungry she was. She ate until she was full, and watched as Brand did a Taratcha reading. She saw one that held the image of a dark tower, and the image of it swirled before her eyes. For a moment, her perception changed, as she beheld that the food on her plate wasn't the fine meal she had imagined, but strings of raw gristle and matted fur. She shoved the plate away, wanting to scream, but something was wrong with her throat. She tried to speak, tried to move, but could do neither. Brand's followers dragged her and Cain into separate rooms. She tried to scream, to wake Cain, but to no avail. Eventually, sleep took her.

As it turned out, Brand and his followers were a cult, believing that Sanctuary and Heaven were doomed to fall, but that if they did what was necessary, they might survive the coming flame. They attempted to offer Leah up as sacrifice, but her innate magic once again came to her aid, blue fire extending from her fingertips. She walked across the room as if in a trance, as if something else was guiding her. Her magic ended up freeing Cain as well, and he led her back into the town. Cain led her through the village, as the cultists closed in on them. However, they were slow and clumsy, and they were able to evade them. Cain bid Leah run ahead, and she did so, coming across a Monk named Mikulov. He beckoned Cain to follow him, and the three of them fled into the surrounding jungle.

Kurast
As Cain and Mikulov discussed matters, Leah looked out over the jungles. When Cain came to see her, she commented that there were no animals, and that the trees were greying. Cain said that he would find a place for her, and once his task was done, that he'd come back for her. Leah, however, wanted to stay with Cain, pointing out that Cain had told Gillian that he would take care of her. Relenting, he promised Leah that they'd stay together, and on that note, the trio headed for Kurast.

As they travelled, Leah became fascinated with Mikulov. Arriving at Kurast, they entered The Red Circle, where a man exclaimed that the inn was no place for a girl. They met with Cyrus, who informed them as to the state of the town, and kept the patrons in line as they took note of Leah. He told them where to find Hyland, and showed them to their room.

The following day, they met with Hyland at the docks. He informed them of Gareth Rau and the fledging new order of Horadrim. Cain was taken aback by Kurast's hostility to the group, but Leah urged him to keep his cool. Mikulov led her out of his office while Hyland and Cain continued to talk. Back at The Red Circle, Cain explained to the pair what Hyland had told him&mdash;that the Horadric scholars he sought were apparently real, and that they had been close to Kurast, perhaps located in Gea Kul.

That night, a Feeder attacked Cyrus, though Cain was able to save him, and brought the innkeeper back to their room. He was alive, but incapacitated, perhaps permanantly. They set off for Gea Kul before the sun had even risen.

Gea Kul
On the road out of Kurast, the trio came across the corpse of an ox. Looking at it, Leah felt it was mocking her, daring her to run away. For a moment, she was tempted to run back to Kurast. She found herself yearning for Gillian, but let Cain lead her on. As they walked, Mikulov told them of his homeland and the Monks of Ivgorod, in what Leah suspected was a bid to distract her. She listened to Mikulov's stories with interest, but had less interest in Cain talking about the Horadrim. As they travelled, she noticed that the sky had grown darker. She thought back to Caldeum; of the fire that had taken her and Gillian's house, and how she had blacked out. How she had done likewise at Brand's manor. Reflecting on Gillian's words, she wondered if she was indeed going crazy.

Crazy or not, they reached Gea Kul, and Leah was aghast at the sight of not only crumbling buildings, but corpses of horses and even people on the road leading out of the town. As they headed to the town, a woman, not quite dead, grabbed Leah's foot, whispering that she was damed, and that "they will return...soon..." Leah stared in horror before Cain pried the woman off her. They headed on, the woman's laughter echoing in her ears.

Arriving in Gea Kul itself, they found it dilapidated, filled with mist, and while there were people living there, they were "more skittish than wild deer." The people closed in on them, not moving, but there was a clear threat of violence in the air. However, a horn sounded, and the people slunk back into the mist. The one who sounded the horn was Captain Hanos Jeronnan, who led them to the Captain's Table. He gave them food, and Leah found herself warming to him. He told them of the Horadrim, stating that they were responsible for the ills that had befallen Gea Kul. How the group had arrived months before under the direction of a man named Garreth Rau, who'd built a tower on the edge of the sea. However, Rau had disappeared, and soon afterwards, there were sightings of creatures in the middle of the night, sucking the life out of people. He offered to take the trio to where the Horadrim used to gather. He took Cain there, while Leah was left with Mikulov.

Cain returned to the Captain's Table with a man named Egil. Leah was glad to see Cain's return, but was wary of Egil. Nevertheless, Egil led the trio through the night to where the rest of the Horadrim were, or, rather, the First Ones. In a copse of trees, they found Egil's followers, numbering around thirty in total. However, not all of the First Ones were enthused to meet Cain, and Leah could sense the disappointment around her. Leah fell asleep as Cain discussed matters with Egil. Waking up from a nightmare, she found a companion in Lund, who gave her a bow, and later, taught her how to use it. She quickly got the hang of it, and found comfort in the weapon; a sense that she was no longer powerless. That night, she listened to Cain telling the group stories of the Dark Exile and Darkening of Tristram, finding herself more content than she had in weeks.

The next day however, townspeople from Gea Kul, alongside other monsters, attacked. Lund was killed, but Leah was able to use her magic to kill several of the attackers, However, she was downed with a dart, and she was dragged off.

The Dark Tower
Leah was brought before Rau, who marvelled at her latent abilities. He planned to gather the magical energy within her to use as a "lifespark" to raise his undead army from Al Cut, as well as summon Belial into Sanctuary. He tried to withdraw some of her blood, but in a trance, she used her magic to repel him. Nevertheless, Rau set up a full-blown ritual.

Artifact Hunting
"Deckard Cain is a wanderer and a scholar, but now he simply serves as the vessel's guardian. He adopted the girl and is teaching her the ancient histories. He must see her as a student of sorts. Someone to carry on his work after he is gone."

- Adria

Over the next thirteen years, Leah and Cain (or "Uncle Deckard" as she called him) would hunt for artifacts and lore across the world that would help them piece together the Prophecy of the End of Days. Other areas of study included that of the Vizjerei and their (supposed) summoning of demons. Cain also tried to teach her how to control her abilities, which he told her came from her mother. His Horadric knowledge formed the basis of his teachings, but it never really helped. Still, he never gave up on her.

Leah found her travels to be quite exciting, a boring summer in Bramwell notwithstanding. They came across danger many times, and many times, she had to drag Cain away from a "boring old tapestery" as skeletons bore down on them. However, while she saw many strange things and loved her adopted uncle, she remained skeptical of Cain's claims of a looming apocalypse. She did not believe in the existence of the Eternal Conflict or that of demons, or at least, not what many people believed them to be. Cain would later reflect that her lack of belief (when compared to his) was due to their lack of shared experiences in some areas. Unlike him, she had never encountered Diablo or the other Prime Evils. Leah herself would look back on these days fondly, but in hindsight, realized what the years had cost Cain, as well as herself.

At some point they entered Westmarch, arriving at Kingsport, looking for a Zakarum cipher. Cain had her stay with an old friend while he went looking for the cipher. In reality, he was looking into Adria's origins, a truth that Leah would discover over a decade later.

Eventually, after twelve years of travel and with Leah now a young woman, the two-headed for New Tristram. As soon as they set out, Leah began asking questions about her mother with growing frequency. On the first day they arrived, Leah sketched a portrait of Adria, despite having never seen her mother before. Cain was put off by the perfect likeness. He wondered if straying near Adria's hut had awoken some kind of dormant memory. He warned Leah not to linger around the place, but Leah refused to listen.

With Cain still in pursuit of the prophecy, he spent his days poring over the tomes and manuscripts found in the ruined Tristram Cathedral. Leah split her time between looking after him and helping out in the town.

The Fallen Star
"I will finish it, Uncle; I will carry on for you."

- Leah In 1285, what had begun over twenty years ago began coming to an end. Tyrael, Archangel of Justice fell to Sanctuary, having abandoned his place in the Angiris Council to aid humanity. However, his trajectory took him straight into the Tristram Cathedral. To make matters worse, Belial was aware of Tyrael's descent and had his minions attack New Tristram. Leah tried to search for Cain, but the dead were already rising. She returned to New Tristram to rally the militia. The militia headed for the cathedral, but were overcome. Leah and Rumford retreated to New Tristram, which came under attack by the undead. Despite the stakes, Leah refused to give up on the idea of rescuing her uncle. For six days, the line was held against the undead. Morale sagged. She told Rumford and the other militiamen not to give up home, but she was running out of it herself.

The fortunes of the down changed with the arrival of a new band of heroes at the town, having all answered the call of the "fallen star." Leah aided the heroes in their quest, helping them find her mother's cabin. She stayed to find out what she could, while the heroes pressed on to the cathedral to find her uncle. Going through Adria's writings, she learnt that Adria did not hail from Tristram, but had come during the town's darkening. She ascertained that she was in search of something, but wasn't sure what. Furthermore, she noted that Adria appeared as obsessed with the supposed war between angels and demons as Cain was.

Leah returned to New Tristram. She spent all day defending the gates, and all night tending the wounded alongside Mira Eamon. She later reunited with Cain, her uncle having been saved by the heroes. He told them in light of the Fallen Star, the Prophecy of the End of Days indicated that the end had begun. Leah dismissed such a claim, and stated that she was just glad to have Cain back. After the heroes left to search for Leoric's crown, Cain pressed the issue. In light of what was happening around them, surely she could not dismiss the signs of the End of Days so readily. Leah pointed out that he'd been telling her about the texts that prophecized the end of the world since she was eight, and that the lands had endured similar horrors before and survived.

After defeating Leoric, the heroes returned to New Tristram with a stranger; a man, apparently having descended as the Fallen Star. However, he was amnesiac. Leah could tell that her uncle was disappointed; that he had been hoping for something more miraculous. However, the stranger remembered falling, and that he had had a sword, which had separated into three pieces as he fell. Leah wondered if the scattered pieces were the reason why the khazra in the Fields of Misery had gone mad. By this stage, Leah admitted to herself that the events were getting to her. That maybe her uncle's "crazy stories" weren't as far-fetched as she'd believed.

The heroes returned with the first shard. The leader of the cultists had stated that the second fell "fell where only ancients may tread." Leah deduced that this was a reference to the Drowned Temple. Cain told her to go with the heroes, as her knowledge of the structure might prove useful. Arriving at the temple, they met with Alaric, whom she thought was a myth. Alaric instructed them to gather keys from the outlying tombs so that they may gain entrance. They managed to gain access to the tomb and retrieve the second shard, but were again ambushed by the Coven. Its leader, Maghda, appeared before the heroes as an apparition and recognised Leah as being Adria's daughter, as well as sensing a power within her. Maghda's words disturbed Leah, as they suggested that Adria was still alive, and she wondered what this power was she spoke of. The Nephalem told her not to listen. Leah suspected that Maghda was toying with them, and said that they had to return to New Tristram as soon as possible.

With two of the three shards retrieved, the stranger remembered the third streaking towards a fishing village; Leah identified it as Wortham. She and the heroes took the ferry to it, but found the village ablaze, under attack by the Coven. Perturbed, Leah headed back to New Tristram to check on Cain, while the heroes fought to retrieve the third shard. Unfortunately for them, Maghda retrieved them first. And unfortunately for Leah, Maghda took her, Cain, and the stranger hostage. She threatened to kill Leah if Cain did not use his Horadric arts to fix the sword. She wounded him using her magic, which caused Leah to unleash her own power, killing the cultists Maghda had brought with her. In the instant she unleashed her power, her mind briefly connected with Maghda's.

Maghda retreated, leaving the sword fragments, but taking the stranger hostage. Leah rushed over to Cain, finding that he was mortally wounded. As his last act, he mended the sword, and told Leah that the stranger was an angel, and to heed his writings. Leah cried out in anguish as her uncle died before her eyes. She bitterly reflected that while Cain had called the stranger an angel, he was only a man. They were just stories. And her uncle had died for them. However, some of her anguish was reserved for herself, feeling that if she had been able to control her powers, she might have been able to save him.

With Cain's death, his journal passed into Leah's possession. She read (part of) it, how it spoke of an angel falling from the Heavens as a shadow rose from the Abyss. She determined that the stranger that Maghda had abducted was key to everything. She told this to The Nephalem, and how her mind had connected with Maghda's. Through this link, she knew that Maghda had fled to the highlands, and that they could reach her by travelling through the caves near Wortham.

The Nephalem returned with the stranger; alive, and in possession of his reforged sword. He told them that Belial was spreading his influence in Caldeum, and that they would have to head east. He told Leah that they would not have to search for Belial directly. Rather, they would follow Maghda and the Coven, who would lead them to her master. Leah said that they wouldn't leave without laying Cain to rest first. The stranger acquiesed, telling her that he would arrange a caravan to guide them east, and that they would see to Cain as they departed.

With The Nephalem having got their affairs in order, Cain and Leah prepared to cremate Cain's body. An emotional Leah lashed out at the stranger, only for him to reveal himself as Tyrael. Taking up Cain's writings, Leah vowed to finish her guardian's work before cremating his body.

At some point after discovering the stranger's identity, Leah wrote to the First Ones, telling them of Cain's death and Tyrael's arrival.

Shadows in the Desert
Arriving in Kehjistan, the group set up camp on a bluff overlooking Caldeum. She and Tyrael made sure it was set up in secret. The Nephalem instructed her and Tyrael to search for Belial, while they hunted Maghda. Leah roamed the sewers of the city, and found her mother, Adria, who was being help captive by the Imperial Guard but she was captured by the Imperial Guard herself, and brought before Emperor Hakan II. He presented her to The Nephalem as 'proof' of their complicity in the slaughter at Alcarnus. The Nephalem was able to escape, and Leah led them into the sewers in order to get away from the Guard, explaining that she had found her mother there. The heroes found Adria being tortured by demons, and after freeing her, Adria recognized Leah, stating that she had watched over her all her life, but could not get close to her due to the danger that followed her.

Adria told the group of her plans to resurrect Zoltun Kulle, per her plans to use the Black Soulstone to defeat Belial and Azmodan. Adria was wary of reviving Kulle, given his reputation, but trusted Adria, since Cain had trusted her in life. While The Nephalem departed to retrieve Kulle's head, Adria had Leah practice her powers. With the head returned, Leah cast a spell that Adria had taught her, and Kulle's spirit returned. He agreed to give them the Black Soulstone under the condition that his physical form be restored. Leah headed out with The Nephalem, putting Kulle's head in a bag that they took with them. When they reached the Desolate Sands, she headed back to the camp, telling The Nephalem that she had to learn the spell that would restore Kulle's body. However, she said she would meet him at his archives.

Inside the archives, Leah arrived in time to see another projection of Hakan II, who claimed that he had discovered Belial's identity. Afterwards, The Nephalem explored the archives to retrieve Kulle's body, while Leah remained put to prepare for the ritual. Leah successfully resurrected Kulle, who, true to his word, led them to the Black Soulstone. However, he reneged on his promise upon discovering that the stone already had the essences of five of the seven Great Evils, and was slain by The Nephalem. Adria arrived, and told Leah that Cain had told her of the stone over twenty years ago in Tristram, and Leah concluded that she had marked the Great Evils' souls, so they could be drawn into the stone. Once the stone contained the souls of all seven Evils, Adria planned to shatter it, destroying them.

The group returned to their camp. Leah stated that they had to evacuate the people of Caldeum before meeting with Hakan to face Belial, and that Asheara and the Iron Wolves could help them. However, upon entering the city, they found that Belial had already started his attack, raining fire down upon the city. Leah instructed The Nephalem to rescue citizens and bring them to the sewers, and while Adria objected, wanting to focus on Belial, Leah wasn't swayed. With that done, the group moved on into the city proper, with Leah using her power to bring down the gates. Exhausted, she stayed behind with Adria looking after her, while The Nephalem went on to confront Belial. After The Nephalem defeated the demon, Leah bound his soul inside the Black Soulstone.

While Belial was defeated and Caldeum saved, that still left the issue of Azmodan. Leah guessed that he would strike where defeat would break humanity's will to resist. Complimenting her for her insight, Adria told Leah to enter the Great Library, in order to ascertain where Azmodan would emerge.

The Lord of Sin
"You thought you were so clever, that you had outwitted us all. One by one, our brethren fell into your trap. But not me...I defy you. I now know the Black Soulstone is the key, and it shall be mine. Soon, my armies shall pour forth from the Shattered Mountain, ravaging this world and all hope of resistance. My minions will find the stone, wherever you choose to hide it. Then, at long last, Azmodan shall reign as the Prime Evil."

- Azmodan threatens Diablo through Leah's nightmare Returning to her studies, Leah poured through scrolls of lore, seeking a clue as to where Azmodan would emerge. Even as she searched through the tomes, her thoughts drifted to Deckard, as she was still haunted by his death. She felt herself under pressure from Adria, Tyrael, and the Nephalem, believing that they believed her to have all the answers, while, in her own words, "I don't know a damn thing." She recorded her thoughts, reflecting on her fears and her uncle's absence, hoping that if there was indeed something waiting for mortals after death, her uncle had found it to be everything he wished for.

After days of searching, Leah finally succumbed to her weariness. It was a brief moment that led to a vision, where she saw Azmodan, Lord of Sin, and the last of the lord of Hell, boasting of his impending and inevitable victory to the younger brother. Through the vision, he revealed his plans, that the Demonic Legion would emerge from the Arreat Crater and lay siege to Sanctuary. Tyrael pulled Leah back into reality. Sobbing, she informed him of what she had seen. Azmodan was coming, and all that stood in his way was the fortress of Bastion's Keep.

Revelations
"This doesn't seem to be addressed to anyone in particular. Is it one of Uncle's personal journals?"

- Leah, upon discovering Cain's journal Before setting off for Bastion's Keep, Leah came across one of her uncle's old journals, where he detailed his findings on Adria. She was touched as she read her uncle's thoughts on her, as he expressed his love for his ward within the pages. What was less touching, however, were his uneasy thoughts on her mother. Leah supposed that her uncle had thought he was protecting her by not telling her the truth about her mother. Her unease weighed down on her, filling her thoughts even more than the threat of Azmodan. She tried to ask her mother about her past (which she had gained insight to thanks to Cain's journal), but Adria kept changing the subject. As she continued to read, she discovered that her mother had once been part of the Coven.

Leah was left at a crossroads&mdash;it made no sense for Adria to have ever been part of the Coven, for, after all, hadn't she spent her life fighting against the power of Hell? She didn't tell her mother about the journal but pondered what she should do. She didn't want to ruin Adria's opinion of Deckard, as she knew Adria considered him to be a friend. Meanwhile, she reflected that ever since they'd recovered the Black Soulstone, her nightmares had been getting worse. She kept vigil over the stone and could sense the five Evils within it, watching her, battering against the prison's walls, their screams filling her ears. Adria's lessons, helping her learn how to control her magic, allowed her to stay in control. Leah was uneasy at first, given how Cain had tried and failed to help her control her powers, but Adria made her see her power as a natural extension of herself. That she was tapping into something that was meant to be set free.

Eventually, Leah confronted her mother about her role in the Coven. Adria admitted to her connection, claiming that it was part of her quest to fight against the forces of Hell, but admitted she had gone too far. Leah kept this revelation a secret from her companions, for their trust couldn't afford to be jeopardized at this critical hour. As she continued to read Cain's notes on Adria, and his assessments became more damning, Leah's notes took on a tone of self-rationalization. Adria was her mother. Adria couldn't have been there for her because she had been planning the defeat of Hell. Just because Adria and Cain had chosen different paths, it didn't mean that Adria's path had been wrong.

Bastion's Keep
"Whenever I stumble, she's at my side, holding me. Telling me how proud she is. How much she's missed me these long years. We talk about the things we'll do when the battle is over. She urges me to push forward just a little longer so that everything we've worked for will come to fruition. She promises me that this pain will all be over soon. Then, we will begin our life together anew."

- Leah's final note

Leah and her comrades arrived at Bastion's Keep in time to confront Azmodan's army. She tended to the Black Soulstone with Adria supervising, the relic becoming harder to control. Over the days and nights, Adria stayed at her side. Adria informed her that the tide had turned in the defenders' favour, as the Nephalem and Tyrael had routed Azmodan's forces. However, it was hard to be hopeful, as her mind was focused on the Black Soulstone. She could sense that the Evils knew that the end was coming, and as such, they were growing desperate in their efforts to escape. The energy radiating from the artifact was changing how she saw and felt things, stretching Leah to her physical and psychological limits. It became harder to sleep, but at least when she found it, her dreams became more pleasant, as she dreamt of Deckard, of New Tristram, of happier days. But she would always wake, and be faced with the ugly reality of siege warfare. In what would be her final note, Leah wrote that she understood why Cain had doubted Adria, but it was all right now. Adria was here for her. Adria told her how proud she was of her daughter, of how much she missed her. Talked of the things they would do when it was all over. Just a bit longer, her mother promised, and then they would begin their lives together anew.

Later in the siege, Leah briefly lost control of the Black Soulstone, resulting in the release of Terror Spawn from the artifact. The Nephalem was able to destroy them. Adria stated that the demons' rage from within the stone appeared to have abated, but as Tyrael asked, for how long? They had to take the fight to Azmodan. While Tyrael and The Nephalem left the keep, Leah had a vision of "twisted demonic towers" with "enormous hearts beating within them." Adria left the keep to inform their allies of what she'd seen.

Azmodan's legions were defeated and the Lord of Sin imprisoned in the stone. However, what should have been a celebrated victory turned into despair. Adria showed her true colors and turned the stone on Leah, revealing that Diablo had conceived her as a vessel for future use. The powers of the seven Evils were transferred into her, her mind shattered as a result. The heroes grieved, but circumstance dictated the action. Diablo had possessed Leah but had no intention of stopping there. Rather, he departed for the High Heavens, intent on finishing the Great Conflict once and for all.

The Prime Evil
"My old enemy. You cannot hide from me...no matter what form you choose to wear. Let your true self be revealed...Diablo!"

- Imperius to Diablo in Leah's form Outside the Diamond Gates, Diablo, still in Leah's body, was confronted by Imperius. The archangel turned Solarion on him, prompting the demon to reveal his true form, which came from the seven Evils merged into Diablo's being. It was partially feminine; when Diablo had possessed Aidan and Albrecht, he had been a hulking brute, their greatest fears made manifest. Leah was no different in this regard. When the Prime Evil emerged from the torrent of Solarion's holy flames, he was slim, with iconic horns and spikes, what appear to be remnants of breasts, and pronounced hips, as well as multiple mouths. Hellfire burned within his form at all times, engulfing the Black Soulstone plunged deep into his chest.

Ultimately, Diablo was cast down. Unlike Aidan and Albrecht however, whose mortal forms had remained Leah's body was nowhere to be found. Diablo's physical form crumbled into dust as he fell from the Silver Spire, leaving only the smoldering Black Soulstone to be discovered later.

Legacy
"But when I think of Leah, I do not see the face of evil. I see the niece of Deckard Cain, a kindhearted young woman who was the light of her uncle's life. I see a determined scholar hunched over stacks of empty tomes, spending every waking hour searching for answers to forestall the coming End of Days. I see a friend, braving the legions of the Burning Hells, her hope and inspiration to everyone who fought at her side."

- Tyrael

After the Nephalem defeated Diablo, Tyrael found a collection of notes in Leah's possessions in Bastion's Keep. He would later collate this in his work. He was racked with guilt, wondering if he could have somehow saved her.

When Tyrael reformed the Horadrim, he told them about Leah. He expressed his fear that future generations would misunderstand, or even vilify her. He considered that given her corruption by Diablo, her tale may be seen as just another example of the darker side of mankind's nature, and of Man's penchant for corruption. He gave her great praise in his reflections of her actions and nature, and to look to Leah as an inspiration in the days ahead.

Sometime later, the Nephalem slew Adria in the Blood Marsh, avenging Leah's death.

Diablo Immortal
It was stated that Leah would appear as an NPC in Diablo Immortal. However, she makes no appearance in the final game.

Diablo III
Leah appears as a follower of sorts in Diablo III, following the hero during several plot-relevant quests. She is armed with a bow and will engage enemies with it, dealing little damage, but being able to draw away their attention, buying the player time. Since she is marked as a quest NPC, Leah has no Life bar and cannot be killed, although some non-damaging effects will still be able to put her out of combat for a short time. As of the second half of Act II, she is no longer able to fight alongside the player.

Her journal can be read between the main quests of the first three Acts.

The PS3 version of the game also allows players to obtain Leah's Ring.

Quotations
If left idle


 * "Aren't adventurers supposed to, I don't know, do some adventuring?"
 * "Don't we have important things to be doing?"
 * "Shouldn't we be going?"
 * "This is about as exciting as the time Uncle Deckard and I spent the summer in Bramwell. People are quite boring there."

Personality and Traits
"Has anyone seen my dear niece Leah? She is brave, kind, and disinclined to believe in any of my stories. Hmm..."

- Deckard Cain Leah was a kind soul and arguably a sensitive one as well; Gillian noted that she was far more perceptive than many children her age, able to read people better than most adults. Valla noted that Leah had a "stout heart," and was reminded of her sister, Halissa. She also noted however, that because of the events in New Tristram, the "hopeful young woman" she'd seen in New Tristram was unlikely to return.

Leah tended to see the good in people and be hopeful. While versed in Horadric lore, she was something of a skeptic. She initially loved travelling and seeing the world, but as Sanctuary became more dangerous, it lost its allure. In part because of this, she had aspirations to open her own inn. At the age of eight, Cain noted that Leah that thin, long-limbed, and "cottish," as if some parts of her body were outgrowing others. He also noted however that beneath the dirt and grime was an "inner thrumming of energy," and that she'd grow up to be a stunning woman one day, not unlike her mother.

Abilities
"You and I aren't so different. I have great power within me, too. The only difference is — I have no control over mine." "Then you must learn to master it." "It's only happened a few times in my life, and only when I was in grave danger. Something rises up from deep within me...and, well, I can't really explain it."

- Leah and The Nephalem discussing the former's magic

Leah was able to competently wield a bow and had inherited powers from Adria (and, most likely, Diablo). These included prophecy/foresight and a degree of magical ability. Her powers surpassed Adria's own, as well as Garreth Rau's. Through most of her life, her powers only manifested when she was in grave danger. It wasn't until she was reunited with her mother that she was able to wield these abilities at will to a certain extent. Said abilities were strong enough to give Maghda pause, destroy the gates of Caldeum, resurrect Zoltun Kulle's spirit, and contain the Evils within the Black Soulstone. Tyrael noted that Leah was not a scholar, nor was she a great mage, but she was nonetheless committed to the road ahead and refused to take the easy path. Tal Rasha had once said of mortals that "we cannot always change the future, but we can fight to guide it. In doing so, even if we fail, we will have set a path for others to follow." In Tyrael's mind, there was no better example of this wisdom than Leah.

Trivia

 * Leah was one of the wives of Jacob in the Hebrew Bible. She was later seen as a symbol of non-monastic life in medieval Christian symbolism.


 * Leah appeared in the announcement trailer for Diablo III. It closely mirrors the final intro to the game itself, but depicts the events as a vision rather than actually happening, not to mention that Leah is on her own in them. After the cinematic, more work was done on her model and her physical features were changed by final release.


 * Chris Metzen has hinted that Leah's spirit may be "floating around somewhere" after the events of Diablo III. Covetous Shen also tells the player not to underestimate Leah's spirit and implies he had seen something similar before. In Heroes of the Storm, Leah is portrayed as still being merged as part of Diablo's Prime Evil form. In his 'poke lines', she is portrayed as a separate entity, whereas in Diablo's interactions with Deckard Cain, Diablo appears to be able to use Leah's voice at will.


 * Leah was brought into Diablo III due to Cain's age. The designers felt that a new character was needed to take the role he'd filled in the earlier games, not to mention being able to aid the player in a more dynamic sense. Certainly Leah was designed as a character the player was meant to empathize with.


 * As of BlizzCon 2013, Blizzard Entertainment has no intention of revisiting Leah's storyline, though she remains on their 'radar.' Brian Kindregan has stated that he feels that for characters who have suffered a sad fate, that state has to exist for a period of time for it to be meaningful. In March 2014 it was stated that the Diablo III development team intends on addressing her storyline eventually.


 * Leah is voiced by Jennifer Hale.


 * Leah is intended for inclusion in Heroes of the Storm.