Atziri
The Vaal Queen whose civilization's overuse of thaumaturgy and the Beast's awakening doomed her empire.
Atziri is the Vaal Queen whose reign ended with the Cataclysm that destroyed her civilization. The Cataclysm was caused by the Vaal's overuse of thaumaturgy and the Beast's awakening, not by Atziri merging with the Beast. She is a central figure in Vaal history, but the player does not time-travel to meet her or Doryani on the eve of the fall; time travel is associated with the Temple of Atzoatl and the Incursion league. Atziri herself does not appear directly in the early access story, but her actions are a pivotal historical turning point.
Quick Facts
- Affiliation
- Vaal Empire
- Race
- Human
Lore & Background
The Vaal Empire was the greatest civilization to ever form on Wraeclast, and its queen, Atziri, ruled during its height. The Cataclysm was triggered by the Vaal's overuse of thaumaturgy and the Beast's awakening, not by Atziri merging with the Beast. The player does not time-travel to the eve of the fall to meet Doryani; time travel is instead linked to the Temple of Atzoatl and the Incursion league, where the player character (not a separate 'Exile from the first game') interferes with the temple's construction by killing its architects and workers. Doryani, a royal thaumaturge loyal to Atziri, died during the Cataclysm and did not join the player as an ally. Atziri's legacy is one of catastrophic hubris, as her civilization's actions directly led to the fall of her empire and the spread of corruption.
Reader's Guide
Atziri is a historical figure in Path of Exile 2, not a present-day antagonist. Her significance lies in her failed attempt to merge with the Beast, which triggered the Cataclysm that destroyed the Vaal Empire. The player encounters the consequences of her actions when they travel back in time to the eve of this event. The player must fight Vaal guards and defeat Doryani, the royal thaumaturge, before the Cataclysm occurs. Atziri herself does not appear as a boss in the early access content; her role is entirely backstory. Her story serves as a warning about the dangers of attempting to control the Beast, a theme that continues with Count Geonor and Oriana in the present-day narrative.
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Elsewhere in Path of Exile
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