It's no secret that Diablo 4's lore loves to drag players into delightfully grim detours. Few side quest chains capture that energy better than To Walk a Dark Path, and its capstone, By Three They Come, is basically a haunted-house tour with extra ghouls. One might wonder: does this quest actually matter? Absolutely—it fills in the gap between Lilith being summoned and the main story's opening chaos. Plus, free title.
The story of Lilith's return to Sanctuary starts with Elias making some very questionable decisions. The Wanderer spends most of the game chasing those two, but this quest chain lets players see the darker mechanics behind the summoning. By Three They Come is the fourth and final piece of that puzzle, and it's automatically accepted after completing Turbulent Waters. So if someone finished that quest and then got a surprise journal entry, that's not a bug—it's the game saying, 'you're not done yet.'
Meeting Sev: A Swampy Reunion
The first task is to meet Sev west of Backwater. The closest waypoint is Vyeresz, but here's the catch: it's only accessible if that stronghold has already been cleared. If not, enjoy a scenic stroll through Hawezar while dodging swamp-themed horrors and questioning every life choice that led to playing a Diablo game outdoors. Once there, chat with Sev and she'll agree to tag along. And by tag along, she means walk a few steps then immediately abandon the player at Esret Chapel. Classic companion behavior.
After Sev wanders off, the mini-dungeon Halls of Dark Portent becomes available. Enter it and clear out the usual riffraff. The real fun begins at the Engraved Stone Door. Players might think, 'oh, just break a door? Easy.' Nope. The moment someone starts hitting that door, ghouls ambush. And this isn't a one-time jump scare—after the first wave, players get two more ambushes, making three total waves of ghouls before the door finally shatters. It's like the game is testing whether players can handle multitasking: damage door, kill ghouls, repeat. Someone should probably send a complaint to Sanctuary's door manufacturer about the lack of a 'no ghouls' sign.
Blood Echo Boss: A Familiar Face
Behind the door waits the Blood Echo boss. Anyone who has fought a Blood Bishop in Akkhan's Grasp or Hallowed Ossuary will feel right at home because this boss is basically that guy with a new coat of paint. The strategy is the same: avoid telegraphed attacks, burn it down, and don't stand in the red stuff. It's a straightforward fight, but the ghoul waves beforehand might leave a player's potion supply looking a little sad. After the boss falls, the game asks for a moment of silence—well, not really. It asks players to inspect Symon's corpse and read the Tattered Journal he drops. The journal reads like a tragic monologue in item form, and it fills in exactly why this whole dark path got so dark.
After collecting the journal, travel back to Zarbinzet to speak with Father Dymus. He gets all the grim news, and the quest completes. The rewards include gold, experience, Renown, and the 'Pale Harbinger' title. It's not a full armor set, but the title alone might be worth the ghoul ambushes. Anyone who enjoys being slightly ominous in multiplayer lobbies will appreciate it.
Quick Facts Table
| Step | Location | What Happens |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | West of Backwater | Meet Sev |
| 2 | Esret Chapel | Sev leaves, Halls of Dark Portent opens |
| 3 | Halls of Dark Portent | Fight through, break Engraved Stone Door |
| 4 | Behind the door | Defeat the Blood Echo boss |
| 5 | After boss | Inspect Symon's corpse, read Tattered Journal |
| 6 | Zarbinzet | Report to Father Dymus |
Why Bother?
For players focused purely on endgame, By Three They Come might seem like a detour, but it's a short one with a decent payoff. It adds context to Lilith's summoning, provides a decent chunk of Renown for Hawezar, and hands out a title that sounds like it belongs on a metal album cover. Plus, the Engraved Stone Door sequence is a nice change of pace from mindlessly clicking through dialogue. After three waves of ghouls, anyone will appreciate the simple joy of a title reward.
So, is By Three They Come worth the trip? For lore fans, completionists, and anyone who enjoys breaking doors while being ambushed, absolutely. Just make sure to clear Vyeresz stronghold first—unless walking through a swamp while getting chased by ghouls sounds like a fun Tuesday.