Kormac

"I will never succumb to your evil."

- Kormac

Kormac the Templar is one of the three followers featured in Diablo III.

Recruitment
"I do not know much of your order. Were you born a Templar?" "No. Our scripture says, "As a farmer reaps his wheat, so must the order harvest and purify the weeds." "You say you are a weed. I think that even weeds have their purpose under the sun and moon." "No. They strangle. They corrupt. And the crop fails. I was lucky to be taken when I was."

- The Nephalem and Kormac discussing the latter's past

Kormac was once a soldier of Westmarch. However, he was conscripted by the Templar Order and initiated by force. He was chained to a wall by the order's inquisitors and beaten mercilessly. By the third day, he was mad from pain and hunger. That was when the whipping began. Kormac would later be told that he relived all of his past transgressions, of everything that brought him tainted joy, that the whip took away his joy and sin. By the end of it, he was a loyal follower of the Order, and was unable to remember his "sinful" past. Over the course of his service, Kormac was regarded as a paragon among them.

New Tristram
"I am Kormac, warrior of the templar order. If it is the Skeleton King you seek, then you will have to fight your way past Jondar. There is no reason we should hunt alone."

- Kormac introduces himself to The Nephalem

In 1285, Kormac was in Khanduras. In the Tristram Cathedral, he was betrayed by his fellow Templar Jondar, incapacitated, and disarmed by Dark Cultists. He was soon freed by a group of heroes however, and he was able to rearm. The heroes intended to confront the Skeleton King, and Kormac, seeing that their goals aligned, agreed to ally with them. After re-arming, Kormac took his revenge on Jondar, who had thrown in his lot with the Coven. The rogue Templar was killed, and in his last moments, Jondar begged for forgiveness. Kormac replied that betrayal could never be forgiven. After the fight, he took a journal off Jondar's corpse.

Kormac later thanked the heroes for their aid. As they too fought against the minions of Hell, he agreed to join them on the condition that he be allowed to keep any sacred tomes of his Order. The heroes agreed, but commented that Kormac did not seem like the kind of person who was once as sinful as he claimed, and wondered if there was any such 'sin' to be found. Kormac admitted that the idea had indeed occurred to him, but voiced his dismay that if that were true, it would ruin everything he fought for.

Caldeum
By the time the party reached Caldeum, Kormac had had much time to reflect on his companions' suggestion. He decided to confront his past. Still, the present had to be confronted as well. A present which involved the enchantress, Eirena, joining the group. Kormac was instantly attracted to her, though his vows as a Templar kept his actions in check.

Kormac later conversed with his companions over the issue of his past again, telling them of the journal he had taken off Jondar's body. It was written in an ancient Templar cipher, and while it would take time, he could translate it. He reasoned that by studying Jondar's treachery, he could gain insight into his past. He requested, however, that his friends slay him if he lapsed into his old sins. Despite his resolve, Kormac was afraid—Jondar had betrayed the Order, but what if he had discovered something that made him betray himself?

Reading the journal, Kormac ascertained that Jondar had found a set of what he called "key words" hidden in a dusty libram. Apparently, when Jondar read those words, memories from his past returned to torment him. It was at this point that he began to mistrust the Order. Kormac declared himself ready to look upon the same words, but urged his friends to understand that if he died, he would still be loyal to the Light. His friends assured him that he was testing his faith, and there was no shame in that.

Kormac proceeded to read the words. Memories came flooding back, allowing him to remember his time as a soldier of Westmarch, that he had been forcefully conscripted into the Order and lied to about his "past sins." Shaken, Kormac nonetheless reasoned that the inquisitors must have acted without the blessing of the Order's grand master, and declared that once he returned with the tomes, the master would punish the inquisitors.

Bastion's Keep
The group's journey led them to Bastion's Keep, for a final confrontation with Azmodan and his forces. By the time of their arrival, Kormac had studied Jondar's journal further. He found a torn page within the binding, which he believed to be from one of the tomes he sought. He considered it strange that Jondar would hide it as such, as if it were proof of a crime. Studying the page, Kormac realized that the writing contained instructions for the creation of magical weapons, yet a rune displayed matched one on the armor of Tyrael, a former angel of Heaven. Taking the parchment to Tyrael himself, the former angel explained that the plans were for angelic weapons that would fit human hands.

Tyrael reasoned that the manuscript implied that the Heavenly Host intended to destroy Sanctuary, and the Templar Order had been created to stop them. A claim that once had weight in the last days of the Sin War, but was no longer true. Kormac resolved to see things through to the end, but once the battle was over, he would march back to the Order and have justice for their sins and lies.

A Final Betrayal
Kormac and his companions had to endure one last betrayal as Adria turned upon them, her actions leading to the death of her daughter Leah and the rebirth of Diablo as a single Prime Evil. Kormac reflected on the history of the Coven, and reasoned that Adria must have once been allied with Maghda, and left to find Diablo in Tristram over twenty years ago. However, the heroes were able to succeed, defeating Diablo and his forces and saving both Heaven and the mortal realm in the process.

Return to Westmarch
"I dedicated my life to a lie. Everything I thought I knew...it was all in the service to a madman. I swear that every templar I meet will be freed from the lies of the order. And if they refuse, I will be forced to convince them."

- Kormac

Kormac and his companions journeyed to Westmarch, only to find his old home under attack by the Reapers.

After successfully repelling the invaders and securing the city, Kormac decided to pay a visit to the Templar headquarters, the Vault of the Order, in order to confront the Grand Maester and tell him about the atrocious techniques the Inquisitors were using on recruits (i.e. wiping their memory through torture). However, upon arrival, Kormac found out that the Order was welcoming him as a hero (the greatest templar ever, the one who defeated Belial and Azmodan) and that torture of neophytes was no longer a secret, being performed with consent of the Grand Maester. Furious, Kormac ordered the initiates to be unshackled (the Inquisitor did so, stating that such is the wish of the greatest one in the Order) and faced the Grand Maester, questioning him about how could he ever allow this. The Grand Maester, truly proud of Kormac's accomplishments, replied that such measures were necessary, and offered Kormac to be his second in command and eventually become Grand Maester himself. After Kormac refused, the Templars' leader ordered to kill him and his companions, but was slain along with his guards, and Kormac made a decision to leave the Order for good. He swore that every Templar he met would be freed from the lies of the Order...by force, if necessary. In the meantime, however, he remained sworn to aid the Nephalem.

Disciples of Sanctuary
After long study and observation of The Nephalem, Kormac, Eirena, and Lyndon formed the Disciples of Sanctuary, and continued the fight against the minions of Hell.

In-game
Kormac first appears in the quest "Reign of the Black King" in of Diablo III. If the player saves him from the Dark Cultists on level 3 of the Tristram Cathedral, he will ask the player to help him retrieve his items. He is first named "Warrior." Even if the player ignores him and runs right past him, he manages to get free by himself anyway and joins the player, asking them to get his gear.

Even with the chest containing his gear in plain sight he just seems incapable of opening it for himself.

After the player retrieves his items, he will accompany the player through the rest of level 3, culminating in a showdown with his old brother-in-arms Jondar, who has become a Necromancer serving the Dark Coven. After dispatching him, Kormac will become a follower, able to be selected at will.

The option is given to have him continue accompanying at that point (there is an 80 second countdown: if he is not accepted in that time he returns to town) and he is useful as a tank to defeat the. The only downside is that he kills unnecessary enemies which is bad if you want to minimize XP gain to generate a low-level Leoric's Crown drop.

If he isn't present when entering Leoric's chamber it won't be possible to go get him since Town Portal is disabled upon entry until Leoric's defeated.

Replay
It is possible to replay quests in Act I, but keep Kormac. This includes being able to rescue the Templar, which gives the player two Templars.

This actually leads to unique dialogue. The original templar will say "evil cowers at the sight of just one Templar. Two will bring it to its knees" and refers to the replay-Templar as "brother."

This only lasts until slaying Jondar. At that point a message says he is no longer following you, despite the dialogue saying he agrees to help: he vanishes after breaking the next barrier for you. This means it's not possible to have 2 Templars against the Skeleton King, only the Necromancer.

It makes it very easy to go AFK and just have them kill skeletons, which will be constantly summoned.

Equipment


Kormac rushes head first into combat, garbed in heavy armor and brandishing his one-handed weapon and shield. His imposing figure and righteous battle cries inevitably draw the attention of most servants of the Burning Hells away from you in battle, though he fights with more of a focus on slaying his foes than on self-preservation. Throughout your journey, Kormac collects Templar Relics – chalices, scriptures and fragments of sacred weapons that lend him purpose and power.

Available equipment:


 * Amulets
 * Rings
 * Shields
 * Daggers
 * One-handed Axes
 * One-handed Maces
 * One-handed Spears
 * One-handed Swords
 * Templar Relics (special item)

Skills
Many of Kormac’s skills focus on improving his capacity as your protector through taunts, new attacks and stuns. When acting in a support role, Kormac can increase party-wide health and resource regeneration, or quickly heal you with a burst of radiance.

Quotes
Upon hiring the Templar as a Follower


 * Templar: Let us seek honor together, my friend.
 * Templar: It is good to fight with you again.
 * Templar: Lead the way to glory!
 * Templar: What shall we fight today?

When the Player gains a level


 * Templar: The Light grows stronger within you!
 * Templar: Glory to you.

When the Follower gains a level


 * Templar: Once again, I become stronger.
 * Templar: Within me, the Light grows stronger!
 * Templar: My power grows great.

Upon training


 * Templar: I would have chosen the same.
 * Templar: A worthy choice.
 * Templar: A useful skill.

Upon retraining


 * Templar: I feel like a new man.

Upon equipping with an item


 * Templar: I will use this.
 * Templar: This will aid me.
 * Templar: This will help.
 * Templar: Good thought.

Upon noticing a rare monster or a champion pack


 * Templar: A mighty adversary is before us.
 * Templar: By all that is holy! Do you see that enemy over there?
 * Templar: There! A worthy foe!
 * Templar: I don't like the look of that.
 * Templar: Our opponents may be strong, but I will not stand down!
 * Templar: Always wanted to fight some of these.
 * Templar: We'll rip these brutes to shreds!

Upon defeating a rare monster or a champion pack


 * Templar: What a monstrous creature.
 * Templar: A worthy opponent.
 * Templar: That was a worthy foe. Glorious.
 * Templar: Could we find more like that?
 * Templar: A well-deserved death!
 * Templar: I'll be telling stories about that for a while!
 * Templar: I like to think that the world is safer now.
 * Templar: Not even a sweat!
 * Templar: Evil has been rebuked!

Random comment after killing monsters


 * Templar: Just a skirmish. Give me a real battle!
 * Templar: I expected more.
 * Templar: That was invigorating!

Upon receiving damage


 * Templar: I bleed!
 * Templar: Blood, hah!
 * Templar: I do not fear pain!
 * Templar: Nothing more than a scratch!

Random comment


 * Templar: I tried to count how many we've killed, but I've lost track.
 * Templar: The Light still guides us, even in the darkest of places.

Waiting to be hired


 * Templar: I was one of the best in my order! And yet here I am, standing around instead of doing my duty.
 * Templar: I can hear the cries of war out there! Take me to the front!
 * Templar: Allow me to accompany you. I will refrain from making statements about my faith this time. All right, well... fewer statements.
 * Templar: Your enemies are growing stronger. You need a warrior at your side.
 * Templar: My service is yours if you would have it.

Upon entering the Old Ruins


 * Templar: This village surrendered to evil and paid the price.

Upon Entering the Forgotten Ruins


 * Templar: Brast never wrote about this!
 * Templar: History weighs heavily on this place.

Upon entering the Halls of Agony


 * Templar: Evil wears no disguises here.

In Caldeum


 * Templar: Do not be fooled by the gold and marble. This city was built with greed and pride, and sin is its foundation.

In the Sewers of Caldeum


 * Templar: It's quite a maze down here, isn't it?
 * Templar: I can only hold my breath for so long.

Upon entering the Shadow Realm


 * Templar: There is no sun in this world. I can feel it. Outside these walls is a land of eternal night.

In Bastion's Keep


 * Templar: It is grim out here but I have seen worse.
 * Templar: This may be our last stand, my friend.

Upon entering the Hell Rift


 * Templar: By the Light, I never wanted to see this demon squalor again!

Random comment in the Overgrown Ruins


 * Templar: How long do you think Adria would last if I held her head under one of these blood pools?

Personality and Traits
"That templar you brought to town may seem grim to most, but I think he's hiding a good heart."

- A villager to The Nephalem

Kormac is a courageous, headstrong individual, and often rushes into battle with more focus on slaying his foes than self-preservation. Loyal to the ideals of his Order, in Kormac's words, "love is the surest way to a tragic end," hence why he has forsworn it. It was an oath that his infatuation with Eirena tested. He likewise came into friction with Lyndon, whose personality is the opposite of his own. After Adria's betrayal and the death of Leah, he was shown to be noticeably agitated, seething with rage over Leah's death and need to kill Adria. While outwardly grim, Kormac has a good heart, even if he tries to hide it.

Trivia

 * Kormac is voiced by British actor Dominic Keating.