Diablo 4 continues the Diablo story in all its gruesome, gritty detail. Diablo 4 is full of wicked immortals, ferocious monsters, and mind-bending twists that players are not likely to forget any time soon.
Long-time fans of the franchise will recognize that this rendition of Sanctuary is far more similar to the first two games in look and feel than Diablo 3. The story spares no detail when it comes to dark themes and brutal imagery, which are hallmarks of these games. This extends all the way down to the vendor NPCs, each of which have their own unusual background.
The Purveyor of Curiosities
One of the many details that add a touch of shady mysticism to Diablo 4 is the Purveyor of Curiosities, a strange vendor with an unusual business model. Rather than accepting coin, the purveyor trades items for weird baubles the player collects along their adventures called “Murmuring Obols.” It’s an interesting system that players can use to fill gaps in their equipment when needed.
Players can purchase Whispering Keys from the Purveyor of Curiosities in exchange for 20 Murmuring Obols. Whispering Keys are used to open locked chests out in the open world. The chests provide a large pile of rare loot, which means they’re usually worth the effort. However, the chests don’t have a set spawn location. They pop up anywhere and everywhere, so it’s best to have a couple of keys on hand.
Apart from the keys, the Purveyor of Curiosities also offers every type of armor and weapon that players can equip. In exchange for more Murmuring Obols, the Purveyor will give the player a randomized version of anything they select. It could be common, rare, or even legendary quality. It’s entirely random. It’s a gamble, but since players pick up Obols regularly–and they aren’t used for anything else–there isn’t much to lose. Players can only hold up to 500 Obols. Once they reach their maximum, they may as well spend some on keys or gear.
The Purveyor won’t buy anything from the player, and there’s no way to trade for more Obols. It’s strictly a one-way shop. That said, if players are strapped for gold, they can pick up some randomized gear, hope for something rare, and sell it off if they get lucky. It won’t work all the time, but it can help them acquire good Aspects if they get really lucky.
Diablo 4 launches June 6 on PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, and PS5.