Normally, long weekends in the US mean that we get no new news for a few days. Apparently, this Memorial Day weekend is bucking the trend just a little, and we are inundated with cool stuff. Sure to please many gamers is this latest update from Blizzard, who have taken the opportunity to tell us all about The Fallen Ones - featured in the latest Bestiary Update for Diablo III.

If you've played a bit of Diablo II, then some of these might look a bit familiar - there's the Imp and Shaman - but there's also the Overseer, Lunatic and the Hound to make up the fearsome Fallen fivesome.

To quote volume 5 of the Demonicus de Zoltun Kulle:

As hard as it is to believe, the fallen ones were once exalted demons of the Burning Hells. They served as Azmodan's hands, performing acts that he would not, could not involve himself in. They were the instrument of Azmodan's first failed attempt to usurp power from Diablo and his brothers, and after that failure, the fallen were subjected to the full wrath of Diablo. They were twisted into small, ridiculous imps, in contrast to their previously powerful forms. Moreover, if they expected Azmodan to reverse their condition, they were sadly mistaken. The infuriated Azmodan held them responsible for the Prime Evils' continued reign, and so he left the fallen in their new bodies, where their degradation would serve to amuse him for all eternity. Their failure provided him with the information he required to succeed in dethroning Diablo and his brothers - the event now known as the "Dark Exile" - but that fact did nothing to soften his heart toward the fallen.

IMPS These are the commonest of the fallen family of demons. They are the stereotypical fallen ones in look and behavior: small, red, swarming, bloodthirsty, and cowardly.		SHAMAN Fallen shaman priests lead camps of fallen. I have also heard it rumored that they possess the ability to raise imps from the dead!
LUNATIC These enraged, oversized fallen creatures are bloated seemingly to the point of bursting, an impression buttressed by the fact that these insane demons rush their intended victims and then stab themselves until they explode. A more fitting name could not be found for these maniacal beings.		OVERSEER The fallen overseer drives his smaller impish charges into a frenzy with his ape-like leaping and growling. An overseer among a group of fallen is a dangerous thing, as the cowardice that usually characterizes them is overwhelmed by fear of their much larger brethren.
HOUNDS These slobbering abominations are commonly found among groups of the fallen and are utilized as guard animals, beasts of burden, or even food by their demonic masters. These beasts are loyal to a fault, regardless of the abuse heaped upon them.		"I suspect the existence of at least two other types of fallen, but I will need to conduct further research before I reveal my theories as to the ultimate familial structure of these fiends."

For more details and revelations about The Fallen, you'd be best advised to head over to the Bestiary, which has a few more interesting bits and pieces for you. A particular gem is the explanation as to why the monsters congregate in large groups...

"Other than feasting on human flesh, the only act that gives these unspeakable horrors pleasure is breeding; hence the tendency to encounter them in large packs."

Charming, isn't it...


The Fallen in action (click to enlarge)
Still no news on when exactly we can expect to meet The Fallen or any of the other terrors packed into Diablo III, but personally, I'm anticipating more than a little bit of information to come out of BlizzCon in August. If you'd like to check out what else has been revealed, take a look through our File Library, and take a few deep breaths as we wait for more information from Blizzard.

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Thanks to Jeatalong for tipping us off to this story!
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