As players venture into the dangerous lands of New Tristram, and kill new mobs, there will be New Lore icon updates flashing onscreen at the bottom-right.

When players click the “New Lore” icon, a voice over plays featuring Deckard Cain or Abd al-Hazir. They will tell you a bit of lore about each new creature you come across in-game.

You can access these lore descriptions later by clicking the cup icon at the menu bar which launches the Quests and Journal window.

The Quest window can be opened by pressing “Q” on the keyboard. This window has two vertical-oriented tabs: Quests and Journal.

The Journal has a dropdown menu with six options:

  • Most Recent
  • Quests
  • World
  • People
  • Bestiary
  • Tutorials

Players can click the journal list entries to read the text and optionally can click on the voice over sound clip to listen the tale.

QUESTS

Mira’s Letter to Haedrig: My dearest Haedrig, Do not feel despair, my love, you did everything you could. Our time together meant more than words can say but in the end, fate is a cruel mistress. Your strength is needed to end the horrors that beset this world. My final wish is that you find your path. Love always, Mira.

BESTIARY

Imp: Demons have been known to devour their own young when no other nourishment is available. Their offspring, the imps, sometimes manage to flee and band together with other demonspawn. They rove in vicious packs, ready to descend upon the unwary traveler and rip his body to shreds with their tiny, needle-sharp teeth. — Deckard Cain

Ghost: The tragedies in these lands have left many restless spirits in their wake … and they demand retribution. These spirits will take out their vengeance on any unsuspecting individual who may pass … for they believe that the blood of the living will yet restore the lives that were ripped away from them. — Deckard Cain

Treasure Goblin: Some devious little goblins have been robbing our merchants! When pursued, they simply open portals and disappear with a most aggravating chuckle. The peasantry seem to believe that the goblins serve a great demon lord known as Greed and furthermore, that their portals lead to Greed’s domain! A ludicrous notion, truly. –Abd al-Hazir

Unburied: The Unburied are formed from human corpses that were flung into mass graves without a proper burial. This hideous amalgamation of bodies decomposes together into one being, bound by some foul magic. For all my knowledge, I could only flee from it … and I would expect any other sensible person to do the same. — Abd al-Hazir

Grotesque: The grotesques may seem slow and senseless, but they hide many dangers within their hideously malformed bodies. A set of spikes lurks beneath the monsters’ flesh and foul parasites nest within them. It is said that these horrors themselves are constructed by a greater evil … a darkness that I cannot even fathom. — Deckard Cain

Risen Dead: I will never forget the first time I saw these horrors shambling out of the misty woods. Our loved ones, buried long ago, rose from their graves and began to attack the living. However, the risen dead were only the beginning … — Deckard Cain

Wretched Mother: The wretched mothers were once normal women, but in death they serve a dark purpose. These horrors feast upon the remains of cadavers, then use foul magic to regurgitate the bodies as newly formed risen dead. One must slay the mother quickly or her nightmarish spawn will continue to grow in number. — Deckard Cain

Skeleton: During the last days of King Leoric’s reign, even the skeletons of the ancient dead could not rest. They took up their broken armor and weapons once more — ready to cut down anything that yet drew breath. Though wasted and fragile, these creatures possess a twisted cleverness that makes them quite formidable. — Deckard Cain

Carrion Bat: Some foul new disease has taken hold in this land and the carrion bats are near the heart of it. Since returning to Tristram, I have seen their numbers surge. The evil forces that linger here give them strength, and I fear that the worst is yet to come. — Deckard Cain

Carrion Nest: I was able to trace some carrion bats back to one of their nests. What I found shocked me! The nest itself is a living organism, a mature bat that has been mutated by the darkest of magics. I no longer doubt that demonic forces have corrupted these creatures. — Deckard Cain

Quill Fiend: Quill fiends are a common nuisance in the western lands and I have had my own tents ransacked by them during an expedition to Khanduras. I was able to beat them off with a shoe, but a less bold man would’ve fared far worse. Quill fiends are dangerous — underestimate them at your peril. — Abd al-Hazir

Scavenger: Scavengers are ugly, pathetic creatures who survive off of carrion and corpses too diseased to attract any other carnivores. I did once meet a raggedy fellow who claimed that he had trained one of the beasts to bring him large rats to eat, but I’m sure the story is utter nonsense. — Abd al-Hazir

WORLD

Old Tristram Journal: The rumors of torture and worse grow every day. What has happened to Tristram and its king? I once thought Leoric a great man, but it seems I was deceived. We all were. He sends our meager army against Westmarch on the morrow. What will become of us?

Traveler’s Journal: While exploring a cave with hopes of finding hidden treasure, I came upon a most grisly sight — a heap of dead bodies. Unbelievably, as I was searching them for any items of value, they began to rise! I must tell them of this in New Tristram before it’s too late.

Warriv’s Journal: I return to Khanduras after twenty years, the burden of countless failures and tragedies heaped upon my shoulders. Am I being punished for helping that stranger hunt the Dark Wanderer? I always thought Deckard Cain half a madman, but perhaps … he was right. Perhaps he can banish the shadow hanging over my life.

PEOPLE (Spoiler alert)

Adria’s Journal: Aidan came to me last night. I suspected what was lurking within his troubled heart. I consoled him as best I could. Regardless, wherever he’s headed, Hell will surely follow in his wake. The shadows close in on Tristram once again. But like Aidan, I’ll be gone before they fall.

Cain’s Old Journal, Part 1: I can no longer deny the true nature of the evil that rises from teh depths of the cathedral. It is almost too horrible to admit the truth of it. It is the dark Lord of Terror, Diablo himself, who plagues us. — Deckard Cain

Cain’s Old Journal: The vile staff of Lazarus was brought to me today, confirming my suspicions. There is no longer any doubt that Lazarus kidnapped Albrecht and perhaps even freed Diablo from his ancient prison. Who knows what further treachery he has planned? — Deckard Cain

Deckard Cain’s Journal, Part 1: We have come at last to Tristram’s old Cathedral. This is where Diablo, Lord of Terror, first corrupted mankind. This is where I may finally find the answers I seek. Leah worries after my safety, but I believe information vital to defeating the last lords of the Burning Hells can be found here.

Deckard Cain’s Journal, Part 2: I wish that Leah could live a different life — a more normal life — but, alas, such is not her fate. When I pass, there is none but her to continue my work, and the future of this world hangs in the balance.

Gillian’s Diary, Part 1: Ogden and his wife have offered to let me and grandmother continue to stay with them. I think we will, now that the troubles are over. I am still tormented by horrific nightmares. I keep hoping they will fade, but they seem to be getting stronger.

Gillian’s Diary, Part 2: To think I was once afraid of Adria. She is going to take me to Caldeum with her soon. Caldeum! I never thought to see it with my own eyes… Though it saddens me to leave Ogden and his wife, Adria assures me that she will find a cure for my nightmares.

Despina’s Journal: Praise the powers that be! Griswold, bless his dear heart, risked everything to bring that dear boy home from the cathedral. Though he is troubled and moody now, I am certain it will pass and he will once again be the sweet Wirt we all love.

Leah’s Journal, Part 1: We’ve been under siege for six days now. Uncle Deckard is still missing. Captain Rumford and the others are losing hope. I tell them not to lose faith … but if help doesn’t arrive soon …

Leah’s Journal, Part 2: A miracle has happened! A hero, like one out of Uncle Deckard’s tales, appeared and saved us! I know in my heart that my uncle still lives and I pray that the hero will bring him home safely.

Leah’s Journal, Part 3: Uncle Deckard’s home — rescued from the clutches of the Skeleton King! I’m so glad. But the Skeleton King? I thought he was a folktale. The idea of mad King Leoric returning to torture this place … Hasn’t Tristram suffered enough?

Leoric’s Journal, Part 1: We have just arrived in Tristram, and I must say I’m a bit dismayed. This place is a backwater filled with serfs and an ancient broken down monastery, hardly fit for the king of Khanduras! I cannot fathom why Lazarus was so intent on this becoming our new seat of power.

Leoric’s Journal, Part 2: A fetid, pallid malaise has fallen over the manor we now call home. Young Albrecht seems to be enjoying himself in our new home, however, even with his brother Aidan off to become a warrior. Perhaps I am simply suffering from an imbalance of humors brought on by the recent change of clime.

Adria’s Journal: Aidan came to me last night. I suspected what was lurking within his troubled heart. I consoled him as best I could. Regardless, wherever he’s headed, Hell will surely follow in his wake. The shadows close in on Tristram once again. But like Aidan, I’ll be gone before they fall.

Lachdanan’s Scroll, Part 1: My name is Lachdanan, and I am cursed. Once the captain of King Leoric’s army, I lived only to honor my land and my king. No man has a greater love for his king than I had for mine — even as I drove my blade through his dark and corrupted heart.

Lachdanan’s Scroll, Part 2: It was Lazarus — of that I am certain. He alone had the king’s ear and whispered dark and evil magics into it, instilling the notion of an imminent attack by Westmarch. Afraid to speak against the archbishop, the councilors nodded their empty heads in agreement and sent us off to die.

Lachdanan’s Scroll, Part 3: When we returned from our horrific defeat in Westmarch, my beloved king lost all pretense of sanity. He seethed with rage, spitting curses upon us as traitors. With great sorrow, I ran him through.

Lachdanan’s Scroll, Part 4: I will forever live in anguish for my last attempt to honor my king. As we lay him to rest in his burial chamber, he manifested as a hideous skeletal demon. Gorash and my other knights were overcome at once, but I fought on.

Lachdanan’s Scroll, Part 5: And now I wander, cursed by my once beloved king. Evil gnaws at my bones and I cannot risk putting my beloved Tristram in danger should I fail to contain that which tears at me. I must venture down into the labyrinth to die alone.

Old Diary: There is chaos everywhere, and word in town is that Lachdanan killed the king! If only this is true, perhaps our days and nights of living in terror are behind us now.

Skeleton King: The Zakarum High Priests in Kurast proclaimed Leoric King of Khanduras many years ago. He ruled well until Diablo’s influence drove him mad and the loyal knight Lachdanan was forced to slay him. Afterward, Diablo himself raised Leoric from the dead as the Skeleton King until the monarch’s son, Aidan, vanquished him. — Deckard Cain