Blizzard released a new entry to the episodic introduction to StarCraft II entitled "The Story So Far," and this time, the developers introduce the second character the first mission demonstration unveiled - Zeratul, the legendary Dark Templar who lead his brethren to aid the Protoss' exodus from their overrun planet.

His achievements far precede him: the Dark Templar prelate was the first Protoss to have proven that the Zerg Cerebrate were not immortal, and that was on Char, the Zerg's very homeworld.

Soon after meeting with Executor Tassadar, we saw his return to Aiur and the reuniting of the Protoss race against the invading Zerg. And when their situation was hopeless, Zeratul orchestrated the exodus of the Protoss to the Dark Templar homeworld - Shakuras.

And when the invaders followed, carrying with them enough threat to overrun the Dark Templars, Zeratul aided the Protoss forces in securing the two parts of a progenitor crystal, the Khaydarin. The Khalis and Uraj (the light and dark) crystals were needed to activate a Xel'Naga temple as a last ditch effort to push back the Zerg.

We know that transpired around the temple, and how many Protoss lives were given to ensure that the temple crystals were delivered. That wasn't all - there was the Queen of Blades' treachery to contend with, and how poor Zeratul served instrumental in the slaying of the Overmind and her take-over of the Zerg Swarm.

Upon the fall of Raszagal, High Matriarch of the Protoss, Zeratul attempted to rally as much of the Protoss as possible. In his search, he stumbled upon an obscure moon where he finds that the Protoss power signatures were actually coming from Zerg-Protoss hybrids - results of a dark experimentation of one Samir Duran. He was better known as Lieutenant Duran, a former agent of the infested Sarah Kerrigan.

"Former" being the operating term here - he made it no secret that he was working for a "far greater power," and you may have much reason to believe that this far greater power would have something to do in the upcoming sequel. Excited? So are we, but we'd like it if the Xel'Naga was around to boogie as well.

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