Tyrael

"He has intervened for the sake of humankind time and again, for he sees the potential for heroism and selflessness in each of us. He has even acted against the mandates of his fellow Council members to fight on our behalf. For that alone I always have and always will believe in him."

- Deckard Cain

Tyrael, formerly the Archangel of Justice, now the Aspect of Wisdom, is a mortal angel. He is a stalwart defender of Sanctuary and mankind, but is considered a renegade by the Angiris Council.

Biography
As with all angels, Tyrael was borne from the Crystal Arch, millennia before the present day. and as with all members of the Angiris Council, embodied one of the virtues of the great titan Anu (in Tyrael's case, justice).

The Great Conflict
"Tyrael does not understand. He cannot see beyond the glory of battle. In time, he may. But that day is not yet here."

- Inarius As angels were of the great titan Anu and Heaven, so too were demons of Hell and the great dragon Tathamet. As the Archangel of Justice, Tyrael participated in the Great Conflict, and his exploits in battle became the stuff of legend. According to Imperius, he and Tyrael saved each other's lives countless times during the conflict. Off the battlefield, he administered the Courts of Justice.

One such engagement was in battle against demon forces led by Diablo himself. The Lord of Terror was captured, with Tyrael and Auriel pointing out that holding him captive would serve their cause better than slaying the demon outright, knowing that he would return. However, Imperius carried out his own form of justice regardless, slaying the Lord of Terror.

In another engagement, Tyrael faced the Lord of Sin, Azmodan. However, a fellow angel, Ardleon, called for aid, and despite being poised to deliver a killing blow to the Lord of Sin, Tyrael came to his comrade's aid.

Tyrael only encountered the Sin lieutenant Vidian once during the Eternal Conflict. On the occassion, the Heavenly Host did not recognize Vidian as a threat, and focused their attacks on his more powerful breathren. It did not take long before the angels themselves were beginning to turn on each other, and question their leaders. By the time they figured out what had happened, the battle was lost.

Izual served as Tyrael's lieutenant during the aeons of war, but was captured by Hell during an assault on the Hellforge. Inarius also served under him, and the two were close, regarded as being brothers among their kind. Inarius tried to make him see the futility of the conflict, but Tyrael would not be swayed. Regardless, the Great Conflict ground to a halt on its own&mdash;the Worldstone had disappeared, and the forces of Heaven and Hell could only blame each other before realizing that a third party had absconded with the artifact.

The Sin War
&mdash;Tyrael vouches for humanity's continued existence
 * "I did call them abominations...and I was wrong! My vote is for them...For I would see what they might become...and marvel in it."



In the course of the Sin War, Heaven would come to discover what Hell had already done so&mdash;Sanctuary. A world created by rogue angels and demons led by Lilith and Inarius. A world inhabited by the race of Men&mdash;beings descended from the nephalem, who had been brought into the world through the coupling of angels and demons. Venturing into the world, Tyrael spirited away Achilios, telling him that he had need of him. He forced him to target his Edyrem comrades including their leader Uldyssian, seeing them as key threats and unnatural blights upon the face of Creation. Achilios managed to refuse however, surprising Tyrael. He later convinced the edyrem that Uldyssian had been possessed by Malic. Surveying the situation, Tyrael was satisfied. Despite earlier considerations, he would not have these "abominations" allying with Heaven. They had to be eliminated due to the threat their inherent powers posed. And with the edyrem fragmented, Sanctuary's potential defenders would not be able to stand against his justice.

As such, Tyrael was among the Heavenly Host who descended upon the world, meeting in battle with the Edyrem and the Demonic Hordes themselves. Uldyssian, realizing that his growing power risked the destruction of the world, sacrificed himself to end the battle, saving Sanctuary, all those he loved, and perhaps most importantly of all, his own humanity. It was an act that touched Tyrael and swayed his heart&mdash;he had called these beings abominations. Yet no abomination would have made such a sacrifice as Uldyssian had.

The Angiris Council convened to discuss Sanctuary's fate. Imperius opted to eradicate Inarius and Lilith's progeny while Auriel and Itherael voted in favor of humanity, believing that humanity's potential to serve the Light could surpass even their roles and that the Conflict might be ended for good. Malthael abstained. Thus, the deciding vote would be left to Tyrael&mdash;were he to side with Imperius (as everyone suspected he would), Sanctuary would be destroyed, as a tie would still result in their original goal being carried out. Tyrael however, sided with humanity. They would be left to their own devices, free to choose between Light and Dark.

Demonsbane
"I am a wanderer; I have seen more than most would ever imagine. That is merely my nature." "Will you give me your name?" "My name is Tyrael."

- Tyrael conversing with Siggard In 302, Tyrael was present in Entsteig. Having taken the disguise of a golden-haired man, he met Siggard on the Night of Souls. Siggard, having supposedly survived the Battle of Blackmarch from two days past, wanted to return to the area. Tyrael pointed him northwards to his destination, but recommended that Siggard instead head south for Entsteig. Siggard nonetheless headed north.

The two reunited at Brennor, which was about to come under siege by the forces of the archdemon Assur. Siggard was incredulous that Tyrael was an archangel and that those around him knew so, but as Tyrael pointed out, he'd never asked. But to answer the question of what aid he could provide, all Tyrael could offer was advice. As Assur was protected by the Glyph of Invincibility, Tyrael advised the fortress's defenders to focus on his army instead.

Brennor fell, but Siggard was nonetheless able to defeat Assur in single combat, despite his glyph making it impossible for any living being to slay him. Meeting him afterwards, Tyrael revealed what Siggard had begun to suspect, that he had in fact died at Blackmarch, but his soul had not been claimed by death. Tyrael advised him that it was unlikely that he would find rest through revenge, but an act of love might suffice. Yet for the immediate future, Siggard would be a good ally against the forces of Hell. With that, Tyrael faded away and departed.

The Dark Exile
Tyrael would at times make sojourns into Sanctuary. However, greater tragedy was to come&mdash;Hell had not given up on Sanctuary, believing that humanity could be swayed to their cause. This was a view not shared by the Lesser Evils however, and in what became known as the Dark Exile, the Prime Evils were banished into Sanctuary. However, they were still capable of bringing woe to the mortal realm, and by the time Tyrael discovered their actions, they'd been active for decades. This concerned Tyrael greatly&mdash;Sanctuary had been spared by a margin of one vote when the Angiris Council had discussed its fate. If Heaven learned that Hell was focused on Man, it might carry out what he and Imperius once, and perhaps still, intended. As such, he kept silent. He would intervene on Sanctuary's behalf, and do so alone.

Fashioning three soulstones out of the Worldstone, Tyrael gathered a number of mages, forming a group called the Horadrim. Over many years, they hunted down the three Primes. Mephisto fell first, and Baal second, though he shattered the soulstone meant for him in battle. There was not enough time to reformulate the soulstone, but with the suggestion that a mortal heart could serve as a surrogate soulstone, Tal Rasha stepped forward, plunging the stone into his flesh. Tyrael assured him that his sacrifice would not be forgotten, and led the mages to a tomb beneath the sands of Aranoch. There, the Horadrim built a binding stone etched with runes of containment. Tal Rasha ordered that he be bound to the stone, and as the other mages looked on in sorrow, Tyrael jammed the soulstone shard into Tal Rasha's heart, transferring Baal's essence into the mage's body. Sorrowfully, the Horadrim departed, leaving Tal Rasha to wrestle with Baal's writhing spirit for all eternity.

Finally, after a decade of searching, the Horadrim confronted Diablo in the lands of Khanduras. The soulstone worked and was hidden away within a labyrinthine cave system near the River Talsande. Tyrael appeared before the Horadrim one last time, commending them for having achieved a victory despite their losses. He declared that the site would have to be guarded and to this end, the Horadrim erected a monastery over the site.

Tyrael had succeeded&mdash;the Primes were captured, Sanctuary still existed and Heaven was none the wiser. However, he had not counted on the Prime Evils' ability to exert their will over Men. Over time, Mephisto would corrupt the Zakarum faith and Diablo would do likewise through the archbishop Lazarus.

The Return of Evil
&mdash;Tyrael confronts the Dark Wanderer
 * "Stop! The beast contained herein shall not be set free — not even by you."

In 1263, Diablo escaped from his prison by corrupting the spirit of Aidan, hence referred to as the Dark Wanderer. He headed east, seeking to free his brothers, Mephisto and Baal. Baal was first, bound to Tal Rasha's body. Tyrael appeared to stop the release and did battle with the Wanderer. However, another had traveled with the Wanderer&mdash;Marius, and thanks to the demon's manipulations, released the Lord of Destruction. Tyrael telepathically ordered Marius to take Baal's soulstone to the Temple of Light in Kurast, where he would find a gateway to Hell and by extension, the Hellforge, where the stone could be destroyed. Immediately afterwards, Tyrael was ensnared by Baal and bound to the Binding Stone.

Tyrael came to be freed by a group of heroes who were pursuing the Dark Wanderer. They traveled to the Pandemonium Fortress; Deckard Cain arrived first, whom he greeted. He told Cain that he had known his ancestor, Jered, and that he had been waiting to meet Jered's descendant for a long time. He told Cain about Izual and the Hellforge, where they could destroy Mephisto's soulstone. He did not doubt that Cain would provide wise counsel to his companions, but warned the scholar that one day, he might be required to do more. That one day, he may no longer be present, and Cain would have to face the darkness alone.

The heroes arrived after Cain, and Tyrael guided them to face Izual and Diablo himself. He dared not help them directly, as he had been weakened by Baal and feared that direct action could lead to the High Heavens discovering the danger Sanctuary was in. The heroes prevailed however, and Diablo's soulstone was destroyed, as was the stone of Mephisto.

Marius, however, had not been so courageous. He had failed to venture into Hell and consequently, the stone was still in his possession. Possession that switched to Baal himself, now the last Prime Evil active in Sanctuary. Baal marched on Mount Arreat, intending to corrupt the Worldstone and in doing so, shackle humanity to Hell's cause. To this end, Tyrael transported the heroes to Harrogath, but weakened as he was, could not face Baal directly.

The heroes came to defeat Baal, but were too late to prevent him corrupting the Worldstone. By this point, he was aware that Heaven and Hell's continual warring over the stone had 'poisoned' it, altering its original nature. After transporting the heroes to safety, Tyrael cast his sword into the stone, shattering it. The resulting explosion destroyed Tyrael's physical form and rendered Arreat and the surrounding lands a barren wasteland. Worse still, although humanity had been saved yet again by the Archangel of Justice, the destruction of the Worldstone meant the world was open to both Heaven and Hell.

Return to the High Heavens
"What happened when you destroyed the Worldstone?" "The resultant explosion dispersed the light and harmony of my angelic being. Without form or shape, I restored myself within the realm of Pandemonium. It took me twenty of your years, but finally I returned home to the High Heavens."

- The Nephalem and Tyrael

The explosion of the Worldstone dispersed Tyrael's light and harmony. Without form or shape, he spent twenty years within Pandemonium, restoring his physical form. He returned to the Heavens and summoned El'druin to his side. The act of reformation was unprecedented, as usually angels were replaced through the Crystal Arch, a new angel embodying their aspect rather than rebirthing the original angel who was deceased. At some point after this, he advised Urzael to search Sanctuary for the missing Malthael, as the Archangel of Wisdom had taken an interest in humanity prior to his disappearance.

The Fallen Star
"You cannot judge me. I am justice itself! We were meant for more than this! To protect the innocent! But if our precious laws bind you all to inaction...then I will no longer stand as your brother."

- Tyrael's parting words

In 1285, evil threatened Sanctuary, this time from the Lesser Evils Belial and Azmodan. He promised that Man would not face the coming darkness alone. The Angiris Council however, believed that Tyrael's actions with the Worldstone had endangered all of Creation, and put him on trial. Tyrael believed that Heaven was doomed unless it could enlist humanity's aid. Imperius, however, was unmoved, stating that the law of Heaven prevented them from interfering with the mortal world. The two came to blows before Tyrael declared that if Heaven would not intervene on Man's behalf, he'd do so himself.

Tearing off his wings, Tyrael deliberately chose to become mortal, sacrificing his angelic essence. In doing so, Tyrael hoped to demonstrate to the High Heavens that laws could be bent for a greater good. By tearing off his wings, he intended to bring the Heavens and mankind together, to show each side the other's strenghths and weaknesses, to forge a lasting an eternal peace and an unbreakable union against the forces of darkness. He had a degree of control over the process, and as he intended to walk amongst humans, taking on their form would serve his goals. Furthermore, by becoming mortal, he would no longer be bound by his nature as an angel, as the other members of the Angiris Council were. Such an act was without precedent amongst angelkind.

Now mortal, Tyrael fell to Sanctuary as the Fallen Star. In the descent, El'druin separated into three fragments, which fell across Khanduras, before Tyrael himself smashed through the Tristram Cathedral. As he fell, his power left his body; a process he had no control over. This awakened the vengeful dead (those slain unjustly during the Darkening of Tristram, and sent the khazra in the hills near New Tristram into a frenzy, causing them to rampage through the area, killing all in their path. The journey left him weakened, but he was saved by a group of heroes. Tyrael suffered from amnesia, and could not tell them who he was. He remembered falling, and that he had come with a warning, though could not remember the details. He was taken to New Tristram and shown to Deckard Cain. Cain was skeptical as to the claim that this stranger was the one who had fallen from the sky, stating that no man could survive such a thing. Tyrael was similarly amnesiac with Cain. Over the first few days of his now mortal life, Tyrael tried to fight his body's need for sleep, something that he'd had no need for as an angel. When exhaustion took over, he dreamt&mdash;another new experience that filled him with disquiet, for while his dreams were initially wondrous, they steadily became darker. As an archangel who had watched entire generations of Men live and die, studying the forces that governed their lives, he had previously come to the conclusion that he'd learnt everything there was to know about being mortal. It was an assumption that the reality of his mortality shattered.

Tyrael's presence in New Tristram did not go unnoticed by the townsfolk; he attracted some suspicion. Some were able to piece together that he had fallen with the star.

Cain pressed the issue of what Tyrael remembered, but still amnesiac, he could only recall that he had fallen with a sword, which had broken into three pieces as he fell. The heroes departed to find the fragments. Wracking his memories, all Tyrael could remember was "surges of light" and "a kind of pain." The heroes returned with the first piece, and informed Cain that the Coven was pursuing the pieces as well. The fragment did not restore Tyrael's memory, but while he had no knowledge of the Coven, he sensed a darker presence guiding the Coven's hand. This evil felt familiar to him, and he wondered if this greater evil was something he had come to fight.

The heroes were able to recover the second piece from the Drowned Temple. He remembered the third part of his sword streaking towards a fishing village, which Leah identified as Wortham. The heroes headed for it. In their absence, Maghda and her cultist followers captured Tyrael, Leah, and Cain. Having retrieved the third piece ahead of the heroes, and having taken the other two from Cain, Maghda ordered him to use his Horadric arts to fix the sword, lest she kill Leah. She mortally wounded Cain, and enraged, Leah unleashed her power. Maghda retreated, but absconded with Tyrael, reasoning that if she couldn't have the sword, she could take prisoner the one it was bound to.

Tyrael was taken into the old manor of King Leoric and dragged down into the torture chambers below. The Nephalem found him being tortured by cultists. While they were killed, Tyrael was mortally wounded. However, upon being reunited with El'druin, Tyrael's health was restored, as well as his memory and some of his armor.

In New Tristram, Tyrael warned his new companions that Belial was spreading his influence through Caldeum. Leah wondered how they would find him. Tyrael responded that they didn't have to, that by following Maghda and the Coven, they would find the Lord of Lies. Leah refused to leave before laying Cain to rest. Tyrael acquiesed, and stated that he would arrange passage to the East, and would see to Cain as they departed. With The Nephalem, he stated that he also sensed Azmodan's influence within Sanctuary, but didn't know where he would strike. Their saving grace was that at least for now, Azmodan and Belial were rivals rather than allies.

Leah and Tyrael carried out Cain's funeral. Leah lashed out at Tyrael's sympathy, asking him what he knew of sacrifice. In response, Tyrael revealed his true nature to Leah; how he had become mortal in order to aid humanity. Leah, having come to terms with her uncle's tales, took his writings in hand, before Tyrael cremated his body. ''

Shadows in the Desert
"You were treacherous before. How do I know you won't be an even greater threat when you're fully revived?" "You don't. So you must ask yourself: How much would you risk to save this wretched world?"

- Tyrael and Kulle, in light of the latter's resurrection

The heroes arrived in Kehjistan. Tyrael and Leah set up a hidden camp in a bluff overlooking Caldeum. Tyrael could 'smell' Belial within the air. At The Nephalem's suggestion, Tyrael and Leah searched for Belial, while the hero(es) searched for Maghda. The Nephalem returned, telling Tyrael that they had killed Maghda, but that before her death, she had claimed that Belial had used the Imperial Guard to capture Leah. Tyrael deduced that Belial was having the Guard hold Emperor Hakan II against his will. The Nephalem headed into Caldeum in order to confront Hakan.

The Nephalem and Leah returned in the company of Adria. She told them of the Black Soulstone, how it could be used to trap the souls of Belial and Azmodan. However, to find it, they would have to revive its creator, Zoltun Kulle. Tyrael considered Kulle a madman, but when pressed by Adria, conceded that he didn't have a better plan. The Nephalem returned with Kulle's head, and under Adria's direction, Leah used her powers to resurrect him in spirit form. Kulle recognised Tyrael's voice, and Tyrael told him that he was now mortal. Kulle commented that fate was whimsical. He agreed to give them the Black Soulstone on the condition that he be made whole once again. Tyrael was skeptical of Kulle's trustworthiness, but conceded that he was willing to trust Kulle if it meant saving Sanctuary.

The Black Soulstone was retrieved, though Kulle was struck down not long after being resurrected as he turned on The Nephalem. He met with Adria, Leah, and The Nephalem inside the archives. Adria revealed that the essences of five of the Great Evils (those bar Belial and Azmodan) had been drawn into the soulstone. Once all seven Evils were inside the stone, she would shatter it, destroying the Evils for good.

The group returned to their camp. While Adria expressed doubts about Hakan, Tyrael stated that they had no choice but to trust him. However, he warned that if Belial became desparate, he would unleash Hell upon Caldeum. It was a warning that proved prophetic, as Belial rained fire down upon the city. However, after a fierce battle, he was defeated by The Nephalem and imprisoned within the soulstone. All that was left was Azmodan. Tyrael warned them that Azmodan would attack them when they least expected it. To this end, Leah entered Caldeum's Great Library in order to deduce where Azmodan would emerge. After days of searching, Leah had a vision where, afterwards, she told Tyrael that Azmodan and his forces were amassing at the Arreat Crater.

The Siege of Bastion's Keep
"The keep’s defenses cannot hold. Its soldiers are scattered, fleeing before Azmodan’s onslaught, which rushes forth from Arreat Crater. Should the keep fall, Azmodan will claim the Black Soulstone. If he does, there will be no hope for this world." "I will not let that happen." "Light the signal fires and show these soldiers that we are not yet defeated! Salvation has arrived! Go! You are needed below!"

- Tyrael and The Nephalem

The group headed for Bastion's Keep. By the time they arrived, Azmodan's forces had besieged the fortress, and its defenders were barely holding on. Tyrael ordered The Nephalem to light the keep's signal fires, in order to boost the defenders' morale. As the battle progressed, Tyrael found himself invigorated, reminded of his deeds in the Eternal Conflict.

The Nephalem was able to light the signal fires and ensure that the keep's catapults were able to be raised. However, upon their return to the keep's stronghold, demons attacked from below. Tyrael told them that Azmodan's forces had opened a hole in the lower walls, and were flooding into the keep's depths. If not closed, the fortress would be overrun. The Nephalem headed into the depths to head the attackers off. While they were away, Tyrael heard noises coming from the armory. He headed there to investigate, and told Lieutenant Lavail to send The Nephalem there when they returned.

Inside the armory, Tyrael and The Nephalem found Leah losing control of the stone, resulting in the release of Terror Spawn. They were able to defeat them, and Adria commented that the demons' rage inside the stone appeared to have abated. For how long though, Tyrael asked? He stated that they needed to take the fight to Azmodan. He told The Nephalem that their recent successes would mean nothing if Azmodan's war machines (which had bombarded the fortress since the beginning of the siege) brought down the walls. The Nephalem exited the fortress in order to deal with them. Tyrael joined them on the battlefield, stating that he couldn't sit idly by, and that it had been too long since he'd felt the thrill of battle. With the war machines destroyed, Azmodan appeared as a vision before them, stating that it didn't matter. That every hour, more of his forces poured out from Hell, and that soon, they would wipe Bastion's Keep from existence. Tyrael was unfazed, stating that words were all Azmodan had left to hurl at them. He and The Nephalem pressed on to the Arreat Crater. At the crater's edge, they were able to defeat a Siegebreaker Assault Beast. In the aftermath, Adria informed them that Leah had a vision of "twisted, demonic towers and enormous hearts beating within them." Tyrael recognised them as Sin Hearts, and that Azmodan must have dragged them up from his realm to empower his legions.

After a titanic struggle, The Nephalem came to confront Azmodan himself. Azmodan was defeated, and Leah captured his essence inside the Black Soulstone. Tyrael was in awe, commenting that once the soulstone was destroyed, the Eternal Conflict would finally end. However, Adria pointed out the stone would have to be destroyed under specific circumstances. She would return to the keep and make preparations.

Adria, however, had been in league with Diablo since he awakened in Tristram, and turned the artifact on Leah. To the group's horror, it was revealed that Diablo had bred her as a vessel. A vessel that would contain the essences of the Seven Great Evils, all so neatly packaged within the Black Soulstone. Diablo now stood as the Prime Evil, and departed for the High Heavens. Tyrael and the others followed him.

Prime Evil
"We are lost. Diablo is too powerful. Always before, the Lords of Hell bickered and worked against each other. They undid themselves. Within Diablo, within the Prime, there is no such division, and now the halls of the High Heavens quake beneath his steps."

- Tyrael

Diablo and his forces rampaged through the High Heavens and Tyrael gave into despair. Beyond the now destroyed Diamond Gates, Tyrael and The Nephalem met with Imperius, who had been wounded by Diablo. Imperius held Tyrael and The Nephalem responsible for Diablo's assault on Heaven. Tyrael reflected on his actions, wondering if it was mortal weakness that had prevented him from seeing through Adria's deception. Whether by siding with mankind, had he set the End of Days in Motion. As Diablo's assault continued, as he heard the wails of his breathren as they were torn apart, Tyrael became crippled with terror&mdash;a mortal emotion that he had never truly comprehended until now.

Tyrael regained his confidence after The Nephalem rescued Auriel. They fought their way up the Silver Spire to the Crystal Arch, where they were confronted by Imperius, who even now, refused to see The Nephalem as an ally. However, as Diablo began to corrupt the Arch, Imperius and his fellow angels were incapacitated. Tyrael was unaffected, and guided The Nephalem to the final gate, where beyond, they cast down Diablo. In the aftermath, Tyrael decided to rejoin the Angiris Council, but as a mortal. Heeding the call of the Crystal Arch, he would now be the aspect of wisdom (though would remain as the Aspect of Justice). Accepting the Arch's call was one Tyrael made voluntarily&mdash;he believed that to ensure a new dawn for angels and humanity, the virtues of wisdom were required more than those of justice. Taking his place, Tyrael vowed that forevermore, Heaven and Sanctuary would stand together.

A New Dawn
"Forevermore we shall stand together, angels and men, in the light of this glorious new dawn."

- Tyrael

Through Mortal Eyes
Tyrael's euphoria did not last long. His mortal comrades departed Heaven and, now mortal himself, he struggled to find his place. Food and other necessities of mortal life were non-existent in Heaven, and the constant light of the realm interfered with his sleep patterns. While he could find rest, he began to suffer nightmares from the corruption that Diablo had brought to the realm. What had been familiar was now foreboding, and he felt out of place as a mortal amongst his angelic brethren. In the Courts of Justice (his former domain), fleeting visions of every angel who had perished at the hands of Diablo assaulted him. The fallen angels held Tyrael responsible for their deaths. Overcome with guilt, Tyrael lacked the courage to face their judgement and fled. More and more, Tyrael longed for the simplicity of his life as an archangel, to exist beyond mortal limitations. Such yearning reached its apex when he witnessed the Lightsong. Now mortal, he could only watch the event, not take part as he had done so previously.

Alienated and alone, Tyrael reflected on his former companions&mdash;Cain, Leah, and the Nephalem. All of them with the ability to find hope in despair and muster courage in the face of overwhelming fear. Rather than cower from his emotions, Tyrael resolved to face them. Slowly, he adapted to his status. Slowly, he began to notice that something was wrong&mdash;with mortal eyes he beheld the High Heavens, and with mortal eyes, he noticed a subtle darkening of the realm, as discordant notes tainted the chorus of the Crystal Arch. And at the center of this growing disharmony, he beheld the Black Soulstone.

The Dissonance
"An angel without wings. You are like a bird with clipped feathers that cannot fly. Perhaps we should put you in a cage."

- Balzael mocking Tyrael In the wake of Diablo's defeat, Tyrael had resumed his involvement with the Angiris Council, though now embodying wisdom. Through his position, he learned that the Black Soulstone had been recovered by angels under the command of Imperius, and entrusted it to the group. However, Auriel and Imperius remained deadlocked over their approaches on how to deal with the artifact, and Itherael was paralyzed by indecision. Tyrael began to notice the adverse effects the relic was having on his breathren&mdash;angels who handled it for extended periods of time were bombarded with dark emotions intrinsic to the Great Evils. He warned the council of the disharmony the stone was creating, but was largely ignored. Imperius claimed Tyrael's apprehension was systemic of "mortal cowardice"&mdash;indeed, throughout the council's meetings, Imperius had been loathe to heed Tyrael's suggestions. Imperius held Tyrael responsible for the destruction Diablo had inflicted on Heaven, and claimed that his nature as a mortal prevented him from living up to Malthael's legacy. Tyrael knew there was some truth to such claims, that he had yet to embrace Malthael's aspect fully. Doubtful that he could do so, he refrained from bringing other angels in under his command.

In addition to the Black Soulstone, there was still the issue of Sanctuary, as Imperius called for a re-vote for the fate of the mortal realm, once thought settled at the end of the Sin War. In light of Diablo's recent attack and the role the Black Soulstone and the demon's human host had played, by Council law, Imperius had the right to demand that the issue be re-examined. In a repeat of history thousands of years passed, Imperius demanded that humanity and Sanctuary be eradicated. Auriel erred to humanity's side, but with far less conviction than she had done so in the past. Finally, Itherael spoke&mdash;the issue at the heart of the matter was the Black Soulstone, and as it was forged by human magic, the Scroll of Fate could not guide him. The debate once again turned to the fate of the stone, and finally, Tyrael spoke&mdash;it had to be hidden in Sanctuary.

Imperius was aghast at such a suggestion, and Auriel sided with him to a point. Tyrael claimed that the Black Soulstone was corrupting them, while Imperius once again singled Tyrael out for his mortality. Eventually Imperius drew his weapon, mirroring events prior to Tyrael taking mortal status. The events fresh in his mind, Tyrael refused to draw El'druin. But like before, he did leave, storming out of the meeting chamber&mdash;either the Council would respect his decision to become mortal, or he would not remain. Outside, his anger boiled over, and in light of the mockeries of Balzael, he did draw his sword and the two came to blows. Imperius intervened and ordered that Tyrael be let go, but still chastised him for his 'mortal failings' and refusal to consult Chalad'ar.

The Waters of Wisdom
"Behold, my brothers and sisters, Wisdom comes as a mortal to stand before the Arch, but his eyes burn and his ears bleed! Is he not an insult before Anu and all that is holy?" "I am still your brother." "You are an immortal who chose to leave his own kind and stand with the human race! The mighty Tyrael, who served as Justice and fought our enemies on the battlefield, will no longer take his place among the archangels. And now he comes here, on a day of celebration, to dirty the Arch with his filth! Your moment of reckoning is fast approaching."

- Balzael and Tyrael in argument.

Tyrael doubted it was his brother's intent, but Imperius's barbs nonetheless prompted him to action, and he ventured into the Pools of Wisdom, Malthael's former domain. Peering into Chalad'ar, the Chalice of Wisdom, Tyrael's fears were confirmed&mdash;so long as the Black Soulstone remained in the care of angels, it would bring about the downfall of both Heaven and Sanctuary. The task of standing vigil over the relic did not rest with angels, but with mankind, for only they possessed the potential foresight, willpower, and perspective necessary to take on such a burden. However, the council members would never release the Black Soulstone willingly, so Tyrael kept his conclusion a secret and began considering who he could entrust the soulstone to. The Horadrim lingered in his mind, but the order had ceased to exist with Cain's death. Reading Cain's writings however, Tyrael learned of the existence of the First Ones, a group of scholars who had laid the foundations for a new order. Thus, Tyrael resolved to refound the order, and to entrust it to guard the Black Soulstone. Furthermore, he began considering where the stone might be hidden, and researched the histories of Sanctuary's hidden locations, such as Ureh and the Arcane Sanctuary. He made note of a network of catacombs within Westmarch.

All the while, the corruption of the Black Soulstone spread. A messenger from Auriel informed Tyrael that the Council had refused to act on his advice to hide the stone in Sanctuary. He could sense a bloodlust in the Council members unlike anything that he had felt before, and feared that if he remained in Heaven, his days of freedom would be numbered. Still, he attended another Lightsong&mdash;an angel was to be born that would be assigned to the command of Imperius. Once again, he felt isolated from his fellow angels due to his mortal status. Yet something else was wrong this time&mdash;there was dissonance in the Arch, yet none of the other angels seemed to realize it. The angel was born, yet Tyrael felt a dissonance within her as well, a dissonance that again, the other angels seemed oblivious to. As his eyes and ears burned, he realized that the Black Soulstone had corrupted the Arch itself, and that Chalad'ar had heightened his senses to the point where he could see it. Turning to leave, Balzael once again confronted him, mocking him. Informing him that tomorrow, the Council would put him on trial for treason. A staged debate, Tyrael knew&mdash;the Council could not be saved while the Black Soulstone remained in Heaven.

As such, he chose to leave, resolving to forge a team of gifted humans to seize the Black Soulstone. Opening a portal, he left the High Heavens, taking Chalad'ar with him.

Storm of Light
"I cannot destroy the stone, nor allow its evil to remain within the Heavens. And so it must be hidden. Even from the angels."

- Tyrael

The New Horadrim
After leaving Heaven, Tyrael continued to consult Chalad'ar. It strengthened his resolve, but repeated use began to take a toll on his well-being. Every time he withdrew, he was left more and more drained, and yet hungry for more.

To strengthen the new order, Tyrael sought out trustworthy mortals whose talents lay in magic and other martial disciplines. These included Jacob of Staalbreak, the Wizard Shanar, the Monk Mikulov, the Gynvir, Zayl the Necromancer, and Thomas and Cullen of the First Ones. During this time, he compiled a tome of writings, of his own, and of those of Cain and Leah.

In Khanduras, Tyrael told the group of the history of Sanctuary, from its creation to the Nephalem's triumph over Diablo at the Crystal Arch. He needed the aid of the Horadrim to retrieve the Black Soulstone from Heaven, and to store it in the catacombs of Corvus, an area they admittedly still had to find. On that matter, Zayl suggested that they head for Bramwell to find Borad Nahr, whom he had been led to believe could help them. The meeting was interrupted by a demon attack&mdash;remnants of the Lesser Evils' followers. The demonspawn were defeated, but not without wounds to the mortals, and they made for New Tristram to recover. They rested in the Slaughtered Calf Inn. Tension existed between Jacob and Tyrael, for Jacob had wielded El'druin after the destruction of Mount Arreat, before Tyrael summoned the sword back to his side. As night fell, Tyrael was left alone with his doubts.

The group were forced to leave in light of a man's death, struck down by a Phantom. Knowing that they would be blamed for the death, Tyrael led the group away, giving them one last chance to leave. None did so, and they left for Bramwell. On the way, Tyrael did his best to answer Cullen's questions, even as mortal life took a physical toll on his body due to lack of food and sleep. Eventually, they reached the town, though Tyrael still advocated caution, lest they draw the attention of a group of Westmarch knights, which were nearby.

The group met with Borad, who informed the group of ill-goings in the town&mdash;black-winged creatures, taking citizens in the night, made worse by tensions between Westmarch and the Templar Order. Tyrael wondered if Imperius had begun an assault on Sanctuary, but considered it unlikely&mdash;even as the Council had darkened due to the Black Soulstone, he reasoned he would have received some kind of indication of their intent. Tyrael told Borad of their intent to find a Zakarum repository that he believed could aid them in finding Corvus. Borad confirmed its existence, and handed them one of the texts he had recovered from the area. He agreed to take them there.

Despite this, Tyrael was still uneasy. Jacob had told him of a villager who had raved about a "destroyer of worlds," a term used to describe a Sicarai. That, and there was still no explanation for the phantom creatures, nor was he confident that his group of Horadrim could work effectively as a team. Regardless, with the help of Zayl and the demon X'y'Laq, the group gained entry, after a brief altercation with the Bone Demon Il'qual'Amoul. Inside, they found the bones of the missing people of Bramwell. Tyrael realized that it wasn't a repository, but something far older, even older than Zakarum. To make matters worse, the group again came under attack by demons. They managed to fight their way out, and Tyrael noticed that his new Horadrim were beginning to function together as a team. However, the group had to face a new foe in the form of a Sicarai.

That a Sicarai was on Sanctuary was a cause for concern, given the implications, and the fact that if he couldn't stop it, the Horadrim would be slaughtered. While he had trained many Sicarai, Tyrael knew that he was at a disadvantage, as he not only didn't recognise this warrior (so was unaware of any particular quirks he might be able to take advantage of), but as a mortal, he would be no match for the angel. Nonetheless, he stood his ground, though was clearly outmatched. However, he had some grace in the form of the remaining demons, which distracted the Sicarai. Furthermore, Gynvir was able to wound it, forcing it to retreat.

A New Course
The group returned to Bramwell to treat Jacob (who had been injured in the battle). He discussed the artifacts retrieved from the cavern with Thomas, Cullen, and Borad Nahr. A journal penned by Korsikk gave a hint as to the location of Corvus; Cullen stated that there was a passage to Corvus leading directly from Westmarch itself. Cullen warned however, that Westmarch was a proverbial hornets' nest, as tensions were growing between the Templar Order (who had taken control of the Church of the Holy Order) and the Knights of Westmarch. Tyrael planned to set out on the morrow, but despite his offer, Borad Nahr refused to come, as his duty lay in Bramwell. However, he promised that he would send word ahead to Westmarch, so that the Paladins there knew that the Horadrim could be trusted. He also gave Tyrael a brand bearing the insignia of House Nahr, and bid that he show it to his son, Lorath, so that he knew that the Horadrim had come with Borath's blessing.

Leaving the others to discuss their upcoming journey, Tyrael reflected on events. He concluded that the Sicarai had been sent by Imperius, and once again consulted Chalad'ar. However, when he peered into the chalice's depths, no relief came. Rather, a wave of despair washed over him, more powerful than anything before. He saw flashbacks of the past, of Cain and Leah dying, and visions of Nahr and Cullen dead as well. In the depths of the vision, he screamed.

Sometime later, he awoke in the woods, unaware of how he'd gotten there. He sensed someone nearby, and while he first feared it would be a Phantom, it was only Mikulov. Mikulov cautioned him against being out alone, to which Tyrael angrilly replied that Mikulov knew nothing of what he faced. The two discussed matters of faith, before Tyrael declared that they would set out for Westmarch tomorrow. He headed back to Borath's house.

Westmarch
The Horadrim spent the next few days using less-travelled paths, keeping an eye out for any Sicarai or Phantoms. Finally, they arrived, but after entering the city, they were confronted by a Templar, who was less than enthused to see a group with a Wizard and Necromancer. Tyrael, steering the situation to his advantage, claimed that the group wished to help with the cause, and asked if they might be guided to the Church of the Holy Order. The Templar directed his companions to the Inn of the Snapping Dog while he led Tyrael, Cullen, and Thomas to the church. Inside, they met Lord Norlun, leader of the Westmarch Order of the Templar. Tyrael repeated his lie of trying to join the Order. Norlun accused them of being spies, but let them go. He gave them a message to take to King Justinian IV, stating that the Templar would not be intimidated, and that the Church of the Holy Order was theirs. As they departed, Tyrael heard the faint sound of a scream following him.

Tyrael didn't meet with Justinian, but rather General Torion of the Knights of Westmarch. Zayl had already prepped the knights on the Horadrim's story, and Tyrael relayed what he had seen of the church. In the early hours of the following morning, the knights gathered near the cathedral. Executing a plan made with Lorath, the Horadrim entered the cathedral while the knights engaged the Templar. Inside, they had to fight (and kill) brainwashed Templar, much to Tyrael's regret. Fighting their way through the structure, they entered the cathedral's lower levels, where they found a torture chamber&mdash;the place where the Templar brainwashed initiates to become members of the Order.

The battle having ended, Tyrael found Norlun, still alive, but in the hands of Torion. Enraged by what he had seen in the cathedral's depths, he attacked the man, but Torion ordered Tyrael let him go&mdash;Norlun would hang for all of Westmarch to see. Lorath asked on the Horadrim's behalf to seek artifacts located in the lower chambers. Torion refused initially, but relented when Lorath offerred to stay with them. Torion gave them the night to study the cathedral.

Corvus
"The Ivgorod monks have a saying. Without a beginning, there is no end. We must start somewhere, and this place is as good as any. I sense you remain conflicts, and perhaps there is a good reason for it. But the object you carry is not the answer. You have brought us this far. We cannot turn back now."

- Mikulov to Tyrael Thomas was able to find the secret entrance that Korsikk's notes spoke of. Tyrael took lead, but led the Horadrim in circles. Cullen realized that because Tyrael was not human, Corvus's defenses were misdirecting him. Thus, Cullen took the lead, and instantly, around the next curve, the passageway changed, recognising Cullen's nephalem birthright. Thus, they entered an underground cavern, and through it, Corvus. It was a dead city, and Tyrael's faith began to fade&mdash;there was nothing that could help them here. Despair began to consume him&mdash;despair for Sanctuary and the invasion of Heaven that he feared, despair at his own failings, despair at his own mortality. He was tempted to use Chalad'ar, but Mikulov cautioned against it. In the midst of this, Lorath requested to join the Horadrim. Despite some misgivings from Shanar, Tyrael accepted Lorath as an apprentice in the order, declaring that he would continue to work with the Knights of Westmarch to forge an alliance. Resisting the call of Chalad'ar, Tyrael declared that they would find the Tomb of Rakkis.

As it turned out, it didn't take them long to find the tomb. It took them even less time to continue following the passage and emerge at the surface, seeing the spires of Westmarch in the distance. They returned to the Snapping Dog, and were treated with revelry by the people, who had heard of the role the Horadrim had played in driving out the Templar. During the festivities, Tyrael slipped into the city streets. He had awoken that evening with every muscle on fire, with itching skin, and ragged breath. He needed to consult Chalad'ar, and yet, he was left to ask what the chalice was doing to him. It had never been meant for use by mortals after all. Peering in, he wondered if there was a traitor in his midst, considering how easily the Sicarai had found them. Exhausted, he returned to the Snapping Dog.

Departing Sanctuary
"Tonight we will conduct our first true test. But before that, an order of busienss. You will face extreme emotional and spiritual stress during our mission and truly long odds. Some of us&mdash;perhaps all of us&dash;will lose our lives. I am giving you one more chance to leave now, before it is too late. After this, there is no turning back."

- Tyrael to the Horadrim

Tyrael explained to his followers that they would spend the week preparing for their incursion into Heaven. Their trials would include going beyond Sanctuary itself. He took them back to the Tomb of Rakkis, and told them of the emotional and spiritual challenges they would face in Heaven. He gave the Horadrim a chance to back out, but none did so. Therefore, they began planning their incursion. Each member was assigned a task that corresponded to their particular skills bar Jacob and Shanar, whom Tyrael led into the Wastelands for training. He subsequently did the same for the other members. On the night before the incursion, Tyrael's mind was consumed by worry, as he counted all the possible things that could go wrong. As confident as he was in the Horadrim, his mind drifted to Zoltun Kulle. Kulle, he remembered, had been human, and had fallen to darkness. Once again, he took out Chalad'ar, and lost himself in its depths.

Come dawn, they departed, accompanied by some knights. In the bog outside the tomb, they were attacked by Phantoms and a Sicarai, who killed a number of knights. He bid the Horadrim sprint to the tomb, as the Phantoms wouldn't be able to follow them inside. He battled against the Sicarai, able to parry its blows, but could not go on the attack, such was the angel's ferocity. The angel struck him, cutting through his armor, but its blade struck Chalad'ar, though still drew some blood. However, he was saved by Zayl, who was able to get Tyrael inside the tomb. Zayl used his magic to heal Tyrael, and revealed that the satchel that was meant to transport the Black Soulstone had been damaged by the Sicarai.

Despite concerns from the Horadrim, Tyrael stated that they had to leave. Due to the satchel being damaged, they had little time left to retrieve the soulstone. To this end, Tyrael opened a portal to Heaven.

Entering Heaven
The Horadrim emerged in the Pools of Wisdom. Shanar's magic would mimic the Lightsong, their Luminarei armor should kept them concealed from any non-inquisitive angel, and Jacob would lead them to the Gardens of Hope, then the Courts of Justice, and in turn, the Angiris Council Chamber. During the way, they lost track of Zayl, but Tyrael bid that they keep going, reasoning that Zayl would find his way to the chamber, and if not, they would carry the soulstone with their bare hands.

They entered the Gardens of Hope, and Tyrael prevented Jacob from being lost in its atmosphere. Halfway through the gardens, Jacob let out a scream. Tyrael suspected that he had become too drawn into the gardens and suffered a loss of hope, but something else was wrong. Thing grey tendrils had grown up through the branches of the tree where Jacob stood. They were hairline cracks, but he realized that the Black Soulstone was here, and was corrupting the gardens. To make matters worse, angels noticed them, and realized that they were not Luminarei. Tyrael ordered the Horadrim to run for it. However, the angels were easily able to catch up, incapacitating them.

Endgame
"If you turn your back on me, we are forever enemies. There will be no returning from this, Tyrael."

- Imperius's warning

The group was successful in retrieving the stone, though Tyrael was called to account for his actions. Imperius demanded that he stand trial, while Auriel and Itherael, who had come to recognise the adverse effects of the Black Soulstone, vouched for his reinstatement as the Aspect of Wisdom, and as an ambassador between the Heavens and the mortal realm. Auriel sorrowfully accepted that Tyrael had chosen a path that had ensured Heaven would no longer be his home, but understood that Sanctuary was where he wanted to be. Imperius was outraged, and Tyrael accepted that his brother would never be swayed from his views on Sanctuary and humanity, and that the bond they had once shared could never be mended. Imperius warned him that if he turned his back on him, they would forever be enemies. In response, Tyrael tossed Chalad'ar at his fellow archangel and took his leave.

Enter the Reaper
"You have done well Horadrim. Your service here is finished and you should all... run."

- Tyrael

The stone was successfully stolen, but could not be destroyed. After considering various sites, Tyrael and the Horadrim placed the stone in a series of catacombs underneath Westmarch, an ancient nephalem city which housed the Tomb of Rakkis. It did not escape the gaze of Malthael however, the archangel having since taken on the aspect of death. As he held his former brother-in-arms off, Tyrael dispatched Lorath Nahr to find the Nephalem. He then witnessed Malthael reap the very souls of his mortal foes, and easily withstood Tyrael's attempts to defend himself. He then wounded Tyrael himself, but would not, or could not, take his soul also. Malthael thus proceeded to take the stone for himself, ignoring Tyrael's warnings that the nephalem would stop him.

Tyrael met with his former companions later in Westmarch, currently being overrun by Malthael's thralls. He explained that with the defeat of Diablo, Malthael had deemed the time right to end the Eternal Conflict, which meant the eradication of humanity as per its demonic heritage. This was demonstrated when Reapers entered the nearby Zakarum Cathedral, killing many of the people taking shelter there. Fighting alongside the nephalem, Nahr and Westmarch soldiers, Tyrael and his allies were able to defeat the Death Maiden Kasadya and her underlings.

The Nephalem wanted to find Malthael, but Tyrael only knew that he was not in Westmarch, and could be anywhere in Creation. However, he revealed that when Malthael took the stone, a sliver of the artifact broke off. Having retrieved it, Tyrael reasoned that if he studied the sliver, he might be able to locate Malthael.

The Nephalem was able to save Westmarch and learn of Malthael's presence in Pandemonium. Upon learning of this, Tyrael took the Nephalem to the Pandemonium Gate in Heaven, only to find it under attack by Malthael's Reapers. Upon their foes' defeat, Imperius appeared, who reluctantly agreed that Malthael had to be stopped despite the fact that he did not care whether Malthael wanted to destroy humanity. Imperius led the Nephalem into Pandemonium.

Tyrael reunited with the Nephalem outside the Pandemonium Fortress, informing the hero of Malthael's plan. He intended to use the Black Soulstone to consume all demonic essence in Sanctuary. As human souls were both essences of angels and demons, the loss of their demonic side would destroy them.

The New Face of Death
The gates of the massive fortress were breached. Tyrael informed the Nephalem that in order to defeat Malthael, they had to become "one with death," and the hero descended into the depths of the fortress.

After the Nephalem defeated Malthael, Tyrael saw his companion in a new light. While the hero had defeated the most mighty adversaries that Heaven and Hell had provided, the Nephalem was still mortal. One day, Tyrael knew, his ally would be tempted by corruption. He was left to ponder whether the Nephalem would resist, or bring about a new doom.

New Evils
"Our journey has been long, my friend. I can see the toll it has taken on you&mdash;the weight you carry. I never imagined this burden when we first met in New Tristram. But how could any of us have known where our paths would lead? You have conquered many foes, but there are always more waiting in the shadows. It is clear to me that your duty is without end."

- Tyrael to the Nephalem. After the defeat of Malthael, Tyrael advised the Nephalem on bounties they could undertake within Sanctuary. Scouts came to him reguarly with reports on enemy activity in surrounding lands. As such, Tyrael used the information to send the Nephalem to where he believed they would be most needed. One such evil that reached his ears was one that lurked under the Shrouded Moors, but again, the Nephalem triumphed. It was now clear to Tyrael that the duty of the Nephalem was without end. Also by this time, Tyrael began to feel regret about his choice to become mortal. At the time, he knew it had to be done, but he had underestimated how weak mortal flesh was when compared to the strength of an angel. For all the Nephalem had achieved, he wondered if he could have achieved more if he had possessed his old strength. Nonetheless, he told himself that as long as they prevailed, it wasn't worth dwelling on.

Another issue raised its head in the form of the Realms of Fate. Recognizing the threat these pockets of reality presented to Sanctuary, Tyrael bid the Nephalem investigate, his faith in their skills, if not their heart(s), still strong.

Diablo II
In Diablo II, Tyrael appears as a quest giver at the Pandemonium Fortress in Act IV. In the expansion, he also provides the services of a mercenary captain. He takes gold to revive mercenaries, leading to many calling him a money-hoarder. Blizzard jokingly explained this behavior by saying that Tyrael has to pay certain bills.

Diablo Immortal
Tyrael appears in the opening cinematic of Diablo Immortal. The game will explain how he was able to reform in Heaven after the destruction of the Worldstone.

Diablo III
Tyrael falls to Sanctuary after his fall from grace in the High Heavens. He aids the nephalem hero in many tasks during the events of Diablo III, including helping him in the Scouring of Caldeum and the Siege of Bastion's Keep. When Azmodan attacks the castle, Tyrael acts as the soldiers' commander. In addition, Tyrael helps the nephalem in fighting his way through Heaven when it falls to Diablo's forces.

Tyrael appears in the game's Adventure Mode. He provides the mode's tutorial to the player.

He is voiced by Jonathan Adams in the game.

Dialogue

 * See Tyrael's Dialogue

In Other Games
Tyrael appears in Diablo Chess. Here, he represents Heaven's knight piece.

As with Diablo himself, Tyrael makes an appearance in World of Warcraft. He is a non-combat pet, offered at the World Wide Invitational along with a beta key for Wrath of the Lich King, inside a goody bag. It could also be won on different WoW fan-sites, along with the beta keys.

A mount called "Tyrael's Charger" was offered to players who signed up for the World of Warcraft annual pass, which guaranteed free access to Diablo III upon its release as well as a guaranteed beta entry for Mists of Pandaria. The mount is a horse in golden armor with Tyrael's signature wings.

Tyrael appears in Heroes of the Storm as a playable tank hero.

A Tyrael Marine portrait is available in StarCraft.

Tyrael is available as a mercenary in Hearthstone.

Personality and Traits
"Mortal, he means. Not angel or demon. But not human, either."

- Mikulov on Tyrael

Tyrael was once seen as the most rigid of all angels, firm in his adherence to laws, rules, and order. He had a single duty, namely to secure victory for Heaven in the Eternal Conflict. He was renowned for being calm, controlled and meticulous in his execution of combat technique. Outside of combat, Tyrael was noted for being fair and impartial, as justice itself must be. Tyrael enjoys taking part in battle.

Because of Uldyssian's sacrifice, Tyrael underwent a change of heart, and became something of a maverick to Heaven. He intervened on humanity's behalf, despite the edicts of his fellow Council members. Over time, he came to believe that the angels were meant more than just fighting the demons, but also protect the innocent from them. Even as a mortal, he stayed true to the ideals of justice.

As a mortal, Tyrael had a little bit of trouble understanding humanity. He couldn't comprehend how humans could press forward, even if they are living in a time of great despair. His true test came when he too was overcome with despair when Diablo assaulted Heaven but his nephalem companions pressed forward. After seeing the Hell rifts close however, Tyrael rejoined his companions and finally understood that although mankind faces death and darkness every day, they still find the courage to move forward. The human spirit never ceases to amaze him, and he has embraced aspects of mortal life such as the ability to dream. Of the many things he finds intriguing about humans, foremost is their endless thirst for knowledge, in contrast to angels, who believe that everything there is to know is written in the Scroll of Fate. Seeing the world through mortal eyes led Tyrael to realize that angels, in fact, didn't know everything.

Physically, in his mortal form, Tyrael doesn't appear to be old. However, a villager noted that by looking into his eyes, "you can see the centuries looking back at you."

Abilities
"Surprisingly, Tyrael has decided to join me as I fight my way into the crater. He is a fine swordsman, and more importantly, he possesses a determination that is rare even in the best of warriors."

- Valla

Tyrael wields El'druin, the Sword of Justice. He is capable as both a commander and warrior, able to wield his blade with great skill.

Because of exposure to Chalad'ar, Tyrael's senses have been heightened. He possesses great raw strength, but even at his most powerful, could not defeat Diablo in single combat. After the Sin War but before the destruction of the Worldstone, for all his strength, Tyrael could only manifest himself on Sanctuary for only a night at a time.

Trivia

 * A statue of Tyrael exists on Blizzard Entertainment's campus. A similar statue was displayed at Blizzard's GamesCom 2015 booth.


 * In a poll conducted by Blizzard, Tyrael was voted as players' favorite Angiris Council member.


 * Týr (of similar name to Tyrael) was a god of justice in Norse mythology.


 * Blizzard has not yet fully explored as to whether the Angiris Council could grant Tyrael his wings and/or immortality back. In the view of Leonard Boyarsky, for Tyrael's sacrifice to have meaning, it should be impossible to reverse, or at least extremely hard.


 * Brian Kindregan has speculated that the ramifications of Tyrael becoming mortal will continue to be explored.


 * Tyrael cameos in Overwatch through the Fighters of the Storm arcade game.
 * In Heroes of the Storm, Tyrael can be heard laughing heartily after the match starts. This makes him the second angel to laugh, the first being the considerably larger Urzael.
 * According to a real life grimoire written by medieval occultist Cornelius Agrippa the planet Mercury was supposed to be ruled over by an angelic intelligence known as Tiriel. Interestingly this angel is supposed to be opposed by the demon Taphthartharath who could serve as the basis for the name of the demon Tathamet.

Development

 * Tyrael's design became the basis for how angels would be portrayed within the series. This included the Angiris Council.


 * The idea for making Tyrael mortal came from Chris Metzen. The intent was to exemplify that the greatest heroes (of a setting) do not have to be the most powerful. He was designed to look like a peasant, who "grows in stature" as heroes rally to his side.

Merchandise

 * A Tyrael vinyl statue is available.


 * A 2UP figure of Tyrael will be available in 2015, based on his appearance in Heroes of the Storm.


 * A 7" figure of Tyrael based on his appearance in Heroes of the Storm will be released.


 * Tyrael's wings can be purchased as a prop for an Xbox Live avatar for $5. After all, as it points out, it's not like he's using them anymore.


 * Smaller action figure collectibles of Tyrael exist.


 * A Funko Pop Tyrael figure went on sale in May, 2020.