Wirt (Diablo I)

Wirt Affiliation None Services Sells random but powerful gear Starts Quest None Gender Male Voice Actor ?

Wirt the Peg-Legged Boy, is a salesboy who offers a single expensive item, and is found at the top-left corner of Tristram, away from the main town in Diablo I. But the item in question was only revealed to the player if the player could churn out 50 gold only to have a look at it. It was a rudimentary form of Gambling in the early days.

But Wirt was not always like that. He was a sweet and charming boy until one day, when some Fallen Ones raided Tristram and abducted him and some other children. The children were brutally tortured by the sadistic Fallen, causing Wirt to have his left leg paralyzed. All of the children fell prey to the torture, save Wirt, who bravely and cunningly escaped from the clutches of his demonic captors. At least, that is one story: it is also said Wirt was only saved at all by the actions of Griswold.

When he arrived in town, he fell unconscious in the town square. The townspeople took him to Pepin who, even with all his knowledge of the human anatomy was only able to amputate his festering leg and replace it with a wooded peg in order to save the boy's life. When his consciousness came back, Wirt was shocked to see his leg gone and replaced by a wooden appendage. His anger grew worse when he received word that his mother had died in grief after his disappearance and the townspeople had done nothing to save him or the other children. This grief made Wirt a kind of outcast among his peers. He slowly got himself a name by peddling (read: smuggling) unique and powerful items to warriors who had come to cleanse the evil in the Cathedral. How one exactly smuggles gear in a land that for all intents and purposes appears to be lawless and without a king is never explicitly made clear.

He is a cynical opportunist primarily interested in making money by selling his magical wares to adventurers. He does reveal that he is actually hoarding up money in order to be able to leave Tristram with Gillian (who's probably not aware of his crush).

Relatives

Canace is the mother of Wirt, who died of grief when her only child was abducted by demons. None of Wirt's other relatives are known.

Diablo II

In Diablo II , Wirt is dead and his body lies in the ruins of Tristram. Clicking on his body will bring a shower of gold, and also his leg, one of the objects required to open the Secret Cow Level.

The 'shower of gold' is probably a reference to Wirt's vendor function in Diablo I, as he used to ask for a lot of money just so players could 'take a peek' at items.

Dialogue

Gossip

• Pssst... over here...

• Not everyone in Tristram has a use - or a market - for everything you will find in the labyrinth. Not even me, as hard as that is to believe. Sometimes, only you will be able to find a purpose for some things.

• Don't trust everything the drunk says. Too many ales have fogged his vision and his good sense.

• In case you haven't noticed, I don't buy anything from Tristram. I am an importer of quality goods. If you want to peddle junk, you'll have to see Griswold, Pepin or that witch, Adria. I'm sure that they will snap up whatever you can bring them...

• I guess I owe the blacksmith my life - what there is of it. Sure, Griswold offered me an apprenticeship at the smithy, and he is a nice enough guy, but I'll never get enough money to... well, let's just say that I have definite plans that require a large amount of gold.

• If I were a few years older, I would shower her with whatever riches I could muster, and let me assure you I can get my hands on some very nice stuff. Gillian is a beautiful girl who should get out of Tristram as soon as it is safe. Hmmm... maybe I'll take her with me when I go...

• Cain knows too much. He scares the life out of me - even more than that woman across the river. He keeps telling me about how lucky I am to be alive, and how my story is foretold in legend. I think he's off his crock.

• Farnham - now there is a man with serious problems, and I know all about how serious problems can be. He trusted too much in the integrity of one man, and Lazarus led him into the very jaws of death. Oh, I know what it's like down there, so don't even start telling me about your plans to destroy the evil that dwells in that Labyrinth. Just watch your legs...

• As long as you don't need anything reattached, old Pepin is as good as they come. If I'd have had some of those potions he brews, I might still have my leg...

• Adria truly bothers me. Sure, Cain is creepy in what he can tell you about the past, but that witch can see into your past. She always has some way to get whatever she needs, too. Adria gets her hands on more merchandise than I've seen pass through the gates of the King's Bazaar during High Festival.

• Ogden is a fool for staying here. I could get him out of town for a very reasonable price, but he insists on trying to make a go of it with that stupid tavern. I guess at the least he gives Gillian a place to work, and his wife Garda does make a superb Shepherd's pie...

Gossip (About Wirt)

Adria:

• There is much about the future we cannot see, but when it comes it will be the children who wield it. The boy Wirt has a blackness upon his soul, but he poses no threat to the town or its people. His secretive dealings with the urchins and unspoken guilds of nearby towns gain him access to many devices that cannot be easily found in Tristram. While his methods may be reproachful, Wirt can provide assistance for your battle against the encroaching Darkness.

Deckard Cain:

• The story of Wirt is a frightening and tragic one. He was taken from the arms of his mother and dragged into the labyrinth by the small, foul demons that wield wicked spears. There were many other children taken that day, including the son of King Leoric. The Knights of the palace went below, but never returned. The Blacksmith found the boy, but only after the foul beasts had begun to torture him for their sadistic pleasures.

Farnham:

• If I was you - and I ain't, but if I was - I'd sell all that stuff you got, and get out of here. That boy out there, he's always got somethin good, but you gotta give him some gold , or he won 't even show you what he's got.

• Wirt is a kid with more problems'n even me, and I know all about problems! Listen here, that kid got sweet deal, but he's been there, you know. Lost a leg. Gotta walk around on a piece of wood. So sad, so sad

Gillian:

• I grew up with Wirt's mother, Canace. Although she was only slightly hurt when those hideous creatures stole him, she never recovered. I think she died of a broken heart. Wirt has become a mean-spirited youngster, looking only to profit from the sweat of others. I know that he suffered and has seen horrors that I cannot even imagine, but some of that darkness hangs over him still.

Griswold:

• That lad is going to get himself into serious trouble... or I guess I should say, again. I've tried to interest him in working here and learning an honest trade, but he prefers the high profits of dealing in goods of dubious origin. I cannot hold that against him after what happened to him, but I do wish he would at least be careful.

Ogden:

• Wirt is a rapscallion and a little scoundrel. He was always getting into trouble, and it's no surprise what happened to him. He probably went fooling about someplace that he shouldn't have been. I feel sorry for the boy, but I don't abide the company that he keeps.

Pepin:

• Poor Wirt. I did all that was possible for the child, but I know he despises that wooden peg that I was forced to attach to his leg. His wounds were hideous. No one - and especially such a young child - should have to suffer the way he did.

Quests

The Butcher

• I know more than you'd think about that grisly fiend. His little friends got a hold of me and managed to get my leg before Griswold pulled me out of that hole. I'll put it bluntly - kill him before he kills you and adds your corpse to his collection.

Poisoned Water Supply

• For once, I'm with you. My business runs dry - so to speak - if I have no market to sell to. You better find out what is going on, and soon!

The Curse of King Leoric

• Look, I'm running a business here. I don't sell information, and I don't care about some King that's been dead longer than I've been alive. If you need something to use against this King of the undead, then I can help you out...

Ogden's Sign

• What - is he saying I took that? I suppose that Griswold is on his side, too. Look, I got over simple sign stealing months ago. You can't turn a profit on a piece of wood.

The Magic Rock

• If anyone can make something out of that rock, Griswold can. He knows what he is doing, and as much as I try to steal his customers, I respect the quality of his work.

Valor

• You intend to find the armor known as Valor? No one has ever figured out where Arkaine stashed the stuff, and if my contacts couldn't find it, I seriously doubt you ever will either.

The Chamber of Bone

• A vast and mysterious treasure, you say? Maybe I could be interested in picking up a few things from you... or better yet, don't you need some rare and expensive supplies to get you through this ordeal?

Halls of the Blind

• Lets see, am I selling you something? No. Are you giving me money to tell you about this? No. Are you now leaving and going to talk to the storyteller who lives for this kind of thing? Yes.

Black Mushroom

• I don't have any mushrooms of any size or color for sale. How about something a bit more useful?

The Anvil of Fury

• If you were to find this artifact for Griswold, it could put a serious damper on my business here. Awwww, you'll never find it.

Warlord of Blood

• I haven't ever dealt with this Warlord you speak of, but he sounds like he's going through a lot of swords. Wouldn't mind supplying his armies...

Lachdanan

• Wait, let me guess. Cain was swallowed up in a gigantic fissure that opened beneath him. He was incinerated in a ball of hellfire, and can't answer your questions anymore. Oh, that isn't what happened? Then I guess you'll be buying something or you'll be on your way.

Archbishop Lazarus

• Yes, the righteous Lazarus, who was sooo effective against those monsters down there. Didn't help save my leg, did it? Look, I'll give you a free piece of advice. Ask Farnham, he was there.

Trivia

This section contains facts and trivia relevant to this article

• The official lore of the Hell Bovines in the Arreat Summit indicates that Wirt was, in fact, the first to be slain by them before they made their way to the Secret Cow Level. This is probably why Wirt's Leg is the key ingredient in opening the portal to the level.
• In Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne, there is an item called Wirt's Other Leg that can be found in a level in the Blood Elf campaign. The item is, quite coincidentally, found behind an Abomination called the Butcher.
• In World of Warcraft, there is another item called Wirt's Third Leg.
• In the game Hellgate: London (which was developed by ex-Blizzard North veterans) exists a quest reward named "Wart's Peg Leg", which seems to be a parody of "Wirt's Leg".
• Diablo III has the skeletal mace Wirt's Original Leg, his amputated leg.
• Squirt the Peddler is a young girl in the Caldeum Bazaar and an obvious reference to Wirt.