沉淪魔The Fallen Ones

   The fallen ones are a unique breed of true demonic origin, one of the few that I've been able to conclusively verify through sources other than the ancient Vizjerei tomes in my possession. (How I came by said tomes will, of necessity, remain my secret.)

     沉淪魔一族擁有罕見的惡魔血統，也是少數我能透過來源證明身份的怪物之一。 有些證據甚至不是來自於我所擁有的古維斯傑瑞書(Vizjerei tomes)。（當然，這些書的來源仍然是我的秘密。）


     As my readers are well aware, early Vizjerei writings are often little more than self-serving propaganda aimed at whitewashing heinous deeds committed by the mage clan. For instance, we now know that the goatmen were unwitting human victims of an ancient Vizjerei power struggle (see entry 009 for more detailed information on the khazra's tragic history), whereas the ancient Vizjerei texts would have us believe that they were actually demons - lieutenants of Baal, no less!

     我的讀者都知道，早期的(Vizjerei)維斯傑瑞文獻大多都是在進行有目的自我宣傳，意圖洗清掩飾他們法師部族犯下的滔天罪行。 例如，我們現在所知的羊頭人是古代維斯傑瑞(Vizjerei)，在一次權利鬥爭中的無辜人類受害者（請參閱項目009中有關於羊頭人(khazra)更多悲慘的歷史詳細信息）。然而古代維斯傑瑞(Vizjerei)的文中讓我們相信他們實際上是惡魔--而且還是巴爾的手下！

     Through diligent cross-referencing with other manuscripts in my vast library, however, I have ascertained that the Vizjerei depiction of the creatures known as the fallen ones is factually correct.

     然而，在將其維斯傑瑞(Vizjerei)文獻與我的大量藏書進行了相互參照交叉對比之後，我不得不說，維斯傑瑞(Vizjerei)文獻中對這個被稱為「沉淪魔一族」種族的描述是正確無誤的。

     To quote volume 5 of the Demonicus de Zoltun Kulle:

     Demonicus de Zoltun Kulle 第五章引用：

     Fallen Ones (Nanus Improbus)

     沉淪魔一族（小型惡魔類）

     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.

　 難以置信的是，沉淪魔一族曾經是燃燒地獄的高階惡魔。他們為罪惡之王阿茲莫丹(Azmodan)效忠，阿茲莫丹(Azmodan)把自己不願或不便親自出馬的勾當都交由它們完成。阿茲莫丹(Azmodan)利用它們向暗黑破壞神(Diablo)和他兄弟們發起了第一次篡權行動，在行動失敗後，暗黑破壞神(Diablo)把怒火發洩在它們身上，本來強大的它們，被硬生生的扭曲成小巧可笑的小鬼。然而，如果他們認為阿茲莫丹(Azmodan)會把它們恢復原狀，就大錯特錯了。對憤怒的阿茲莫丹來說，它們只是用來維持惡魔王朝統治的工具。他並沒有將沉淪魔一族從被扭曲的形態中還原出來，而是任由沉淪魔一族不斷的退化，並以此為樂。沉淪魔們的失敗教會了阿茲莫丹(Azmodan)打敗暗黑破壞神(Diablo)和他的兄弟們的方法，從而造就了後來眾所皆知的「黑暗放逐」事件(Dark Exile)。但即使這樣，阿茲莫丹也絲毫沒有要拯救沉淪魔一族的意思。

     When unleashed upon our realm by their master, Azmodan, these impish terrors display a tendency to swarm like flesh-hungry locusts, and they have been known to tear apart a sleeping village in minutes. Small of stature and simian in appearance, these creatures possess surprising strength and unnatural agility. 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.

     當這些惡魔被它們的主人阿茲莫丹(Azmodan)放到我們的世界中後，這些不安分的恐怖生物像飢渴的蝗蟲一樣集群出沒，他們可以在幾分鐘內把一個毫無防備的村莊踏平。這些身材矮小、像猴子一般的生物有著驚人的力量和超乎尋常的敏捷性。 這些令人髮指的恐怖生物，除了喜歡吃人肉以外，最大的樂趣就是繁殖，因此通常它們都是大批的出現。

     However, due to their small size, cowardice appears to be one of the chief features of this species. They quickly retreat when one of their brethren falls in battle.

     然而，由於體型小，這些沉淪魔變得相當怯懦。當它們的其中一個兄弟在戰鬥中倒下後，他們就會迅速撤退。

     Fallen ones display no obvious tendency towards greater organization beyond their predisposition to swarm. This is fortunate for humanity, for they are so numerous that if they were to band together in large numbers, they might easily overwhelm a small city.

     雖然有沉淪魔們喜歡集群行動，但是它們並不是很有組織。 這對人類來說很幸運，因為它們在數量上已經佔了優勢，如果再組織起來的話，要摧毀一座小型城市簡直易如反掌。

     Through further research, I have identified five distinct types of fallen:

     經過進一步的研究，我已經可以識別五種不同類型的沉淪魔：

     1.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.

     1.小沈淪魔-這些怪物是墮落惡魔的最常見成員。他們在外表和行為上非常刻板：小巧、紅色的、成群移動、嗜血、懦弱。

     2.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!

     2. 沉淪薩滿- 沉淪薩滿祭司是沉淪魔營地中的頭領，謠傳他們能從死屍中召喚出小沈淪魔！

     3.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.

     3. 沉淪瘋魔- 這些狂暴的，體型龐大的生物看起來已經膨脹到了爆裂的邊緣。 沒錯，他們會衝向他們的目標，用刀刺進自己的身體然後爆炸。對於這些瘋狂的傢伙我找不到更適合這種怪物的名字了。

     4.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.

     4. 沉淪督軍- 沉淪督軍會像猿猴一樣的跳躍動作和嚎叫，可以使它進入一種狂熱狀態。在一群沉淪魔裡中存在一個沉淪督軍絕對是件非常危險的事情，因為平常怯弱的沉淪魔們會因為懼怕它們的督軍而變得勇於面對它們的敵人。

     5.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.

     5. 沉淪獵犬- 這些骯髒可惡的傢伙是沉淪魔一族裡很常見的一種，他們常被用來做守衛、負重怪獸、甚至成為惡魔主人的食物。但是這些畜生即使受盡虐待，還是非常忠誠。

     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.

     我懷疑至少還有其他兩種沉淪魔，但是我還需要進行進一步研究，才能確定這個惡魔家族最終的組成結構。

     ABOUT THE AUTHOR


     Abd al-Hazir is a renowned gentleman, historian, and scholar. He has recently taken up the unprecedented task of investigating, researching, and compiling information about the unique locales and denizens of our world.

     阿卜杜勒‧阿哈茲(Abd al-Hazir)是一個著名的紳士、歷史學家和學者。他對我們世界所有相關的獨特語言環境和居民們採取了前所未有的調查、研究和編制工作。