Return to the Pillars
Kain VO
I placed Nupraptor’s head before the Pillar of the Mind, and watched
on as it dissolved into the stone.
The pillar accepted its offering, thus it was restored. Nupraptor
was but the genesis - forever tainted by his madness, the Circle was beyond
redemption. For them absolution lay only in death. In me, they
would find their deliverance.
But first I had to defeat their shepherd - Malek, defender of the Nine,
lay in a keep far to the north, past Vasserbünde. It was time
for me to test the wrath of the Pillar of Conflict.
Ariel
Death in the Circle breathes life to the Pillars. For every Pillar,
there is a token; only with these shall they be restored.
But to reach a warrior, you must first breach his ward. Find Malek
and destroy him. Only then will the Circle fall.
Coorhagen
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Blood Fountain
Your magic energy recovers more quickly, for our blood enhances. |
As Kain approaches Coorhagen:
Kain VO
Years ago, word reached us of a strange pestilence that had laid siege
to a few remote villages far east. But the rumors failed to prepare
us for the horror that was the Plague.
Discovering a plague-ridden corpse:
Kain VO
Worms and maggots fed upon his festering skin, the scent of tainted
blood seeped through the wounds upon which they feasted. Pity . .
. such a waste; good blood gone bad.
Seeing the sign leading to Coorhagen:
Kain VO
Coorhagen - my home - the finest city in all of Nosgoth, rich in vanity
and conceit. I had no delusions as to the welcome I would receive.
Entering town:
Kain VO
Death and disease stalked these streets. Bodies lay, most in the
very spots in which fate had taken them. A perfect homecoming.
Encountering Snow for the first time:
Kain VO
Even the gentle snowfall can be lethal to a vampire’s wellbeing.
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Repel spell
Invoking this spell cloaks me under a protective aegis. Whatever
spell is cast at me will be reflected back at the caster, leaving me unharmed.
It will only last for a short time, however, before leaving me vulnerable
once more. |
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Bone Armor
Lower forms of undead fall swiftly to deception. With the Bone
armor, they are not as eager to challenge me. |
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Anti-Toxin
This cleanses my body of any dangerous poisons. Quite useful,
with all the filth I find myself surrounded by. |
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Pentalich of Tarot
A medley of death and evisceration. Let fate choose my enemy’s
demise. |
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Inspire Hate
This spell allows me to exploit the petty prejudices of man.
Minor grievance would escalate to murderous rage and oh, the sweet terror
when the spell wore off and they saw their hands covered with their neighbor’s
blood. |
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Malek’s Bastion, perched defiantly on
the mountain top, black as night against the blanket of snow. What
manner of man would choose a land so harsh and utterly devoid of life? |
Malek's
Bastion
Malek
I know you are here, demon.
The stench of death clings to you.
Kain VO
The interior was as cold and sterile
as the snow outside, with empty suits of armor and sharp, cruel steel lining
the walls.
Malek
My warriors are but shadows of my
skill, child.
Kain discovers
the first minion generation room:
Kain VO
The towering metal structure gave
birth to these wraiths. I could hazard only a guess at its function:
fusing the souls of long dead warriors to their armor, so that they may
do battle once again.
Life without blood. What a
travesty!
Each time Kain
silences one of the generators, he receives a taunt:
Malek
Do you hope to best me, Kain?
Do not worry. Your challenge will not go unmet.
Your undeath does not make you immortal,
vampire.
Come to slay the slayer of vampires,
have you?
Finding a secret door that leads to the power
source of the machines:
Kain VO
The globe powered the machinery. With its destruction, the deafening
shrieks of the machines ceased to echo throughout the bastion. It was now
time to silence the machines’ maker.
Malek
You try my patience, fledgling. Care to try my blade, instead?
Kain VO
My eyes yearned from lack of contrast,
my mouth ached for want of blood. In this cold wasteland, food was
scarce, and my hunger grew.
Entering the
heart of the Bastion:
The guards at the gate offered no
resistance; they were frozen solid and dead as they stood, their flesh
welded to the cold metal of their armor . . .
Kain VO
A corpse held court on a tattered
throne, grinning malignantly at me through blackened teeth.
Malek
It is not often that a man sees
his own corpse, it is a sobering experience. But I am far less interested
in my own corpse than I am in yours. Prepare yourself, vampire.
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The Axes
Havoc and Malice, their presence
in my hands keeps me from employing magic, yet rest assured they do little
to hamper my relish for slaughter. |
Kain VO
‘Twould seem Malek’s destiny with
my blade was postponed. Perhaps Ariel could offer further guidance.
Upon returning
to the Pillars:
Ariel
Ah, the lord returns empty-handed.
Does the Sarafan elude you? Very well, go east of Malek’s Bastion.
The Oracle shall give you aid. |
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High up on the face of these cliffs,
hidden amongst a complex network of caves, the underground sanctity of
the wise Oracle of Nosgoth lay sleeping. Perhaps it was time to brave
the winds, and seek out this Oracle, from the vantage point of the heavens. |
The
Oracle's Cave
| As Kain enters
the mountains:
Mortanius
Oh, little vampire, the game grows
interesting. But with so many pawns, can you find the true player?
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Stun
The human mind is a fragile thing.
One minor shock, properly timed, can render them catatonic and ripe for
feeding. |
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Blood Fountain
The snow will do you no harm, for
our blood preserves. |
After navigating
the network of caves, Kain finally nears the Oracle's lair - and finds
his museum:
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The shield was newly crafted, its
metal shone brightly in the firelight. The crest I did not recognize. |
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I recognized this crest from my
youth. ‘Tis the sigil of the Mighty Lion of Willendorf, bloodstained
and rusted upon this battered shield. |
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Hidden amidst the many obscure artifacts
in that museum, I discovered an ancient chronicle. This passage caught
my eye:
“It
was during these dark times infested with the plague of the undead, that
the Circle brought the Sarafan to existence. Trained to be devoutly
loyal to the Circle, and the perfect exterminators of the undead scourge,
they were led to many victories by the righteous paladin, Malek.
They cleansed the vampires with fire, and released their souls to more
blessed realms. There is no wrath as terrible as that of the righteous.”
I had read enough. At
once disgusted and intrigued, I placed the book back down in that museum.
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A guillotine, its blade still wet
with blood. |
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Odd. This armor resembled
that of the Ward and his minions. Yet, the steel seemed newly fashioned
and untarnished by time. |
The Oracle
Kain enters a large cavern through a winding tunnel. Inside the cavern a small old man stands by a roaring fire, cooking something in a huge pot. He looks up as Kain enters.
Oracle
A nobleman? Seeking wisdom? Death has taught you well.
Kain
Enough philosophy - I seek answers.
Oracle
Answers indeed. I have them all if you have the questions.
And what are the questions for these answers?
The oracle throws something into the fire. The smoke reveals a great army marching across the land.
Oracle
King Ottmar - the only hope to defeat
the legions of the Nemesis.
King Ottmar paralyzed by his princess’
malaise.
King Ottmar the useless.
Pray good sir, what are the questions?
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Kain
(with anger)
A pox upon your tricks and babble,
old man! Answer me this: Who is Malek and how can I defeat
him?
Oracle
(cryptically)
All in time sirrah. Yes, time.
Unless you master it - it will master you.
And now it’s time for your answer:
He throws flame powder into the fire.
Oracle
Malek - defender of the Nine and
last of the Sarafan sorcerer-priests. His vanity led to the slaughter
of the Circle at the hands of the vampire Vorador. For his failing,
his spirit was fused to a hellish set of magical armor. He has allowed
no member of the Circle to fall since.
Kain
What of this Vorador?
Oracle
Follow the glow of the Ignis Fatuus
to the Termogent forest.
Kain
Ignis Fatuus?
Oracle
The Ignis Fatuus lights the path
to Hell, nobleman. Your path.
Time Kain. Next time . . .
There is another flash of flame powder, and the oracle disappears.
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Incapacitate
Through this magic, I can stop my
enemies in their tracks. Frozen in time, they can do nothing to hinder
their own doom. Sometimes, I draw out their fate, for the added fear
sweetens their blood. |
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