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Avernus Cathedral

Kain arrives at the entrance of the Cathedral.  He is immediately confronted by Raziel, whose eyes periodically glow green.

Raziel
Kain.  Why is this no surprise?

Kain
Because our destinies run together, Raziel, like two rivers that have met and can never be distinct again.  At your every fatal turn, you will find me.

Raziel
And the free will you said was mine, what has become of that?

Kain
You still have it.  And that has everything to do with my presence here now.

Raziel
It was your machinations that set my destiny in motion.  The coin you tossed has struck the earth.  Now you must abide by its outcome.

Kain
The coin is still turning, Raziel.  To reach the resolution we both can live with, that will best serve our futures, Janos Audron must not be raised.

Raziel Because you do not wish it?  Is my free will to be exercised only when it accords with your whim? Kain There is much more at stake in this than you know. Raziel Yes, and it is Janos who has the answers I desire.  Kain You must trust me, Raziel.  Our intentions - for Nosgoth, for our futures - are not so diverse.

Raziel
I must trust you -- or?

Kain
I have not come here to threaten you, Raziel.

Raziel
You say that, while you hold in your hand the instrument of my doom?

Kain 'sheathes' his sword so that his hands are empty.

Kain
I saved you from the Reaver once.  I have no intention of imprisoning you within the blade.

Raziel
At least not until the moment it serves your plans to do so.

Kain
You are not the only one at risk.  I may carry the instrument of your destruction, but I, too, have taken a chance in coming here.  Or haven't you realized -- you bear the only weapon that can kill me.

Raziel summons the wraith blade. 

Raziel
Then you know what I am -- and who you are?

Kain
I believe I do.

Raziel
And still you think you can move me about like your pawn.  Think again, Kain.

Raziel feints at him.  Kain dodges.

Kain
Take heed, Raziel.

Raziel Why?  If we are who we are, then are we not destined to fight to the death, to decide the fate of Nosgoth? Kain Don't be a fool.  I will not fight you. Raziel And that will be the prophesied heroes' battle?  I win, because you will not fight me?

Raziel feints at him again, a little more seriously this time.

Raziel
The mighty Kain, Scion of Balance, would-be savior of Nosgoth, surrenders before the final battle even begins --

He goes to strike again, but Kain pushes him off.

Kain
Very well, if this will make you see reason --

They fight.  Kain beats Raziel to a point where he is at a momentary disadvantage, and Kain has a chance to reason with him.  Kain holds the Reaver on him, to keep him still.

Kain
angrily
Now - you will listen to me.  The Heart of Darkness must remain undiscovered.  Great harm will come of its use. 

Raziel
realizing
You don't know where it is, do you?

Kain
No -

Raziel
-- you never looked for it.

Kain
growing impatient
It doesn't matter, Raziel.  Listen to me - you must understand that every creature is bound to one predestined path.  We are all shackled--

Raziel
--to the Wheel of Fate.  Believe me, I know that even better than you do.

Kain ignores Raziel's interruption and continues his thought --

Kain
All but one.  Because of your re-making, you are the one unbound creature, the one among us all that truly has free will.    You have a choice, Raziel -- 

Raziel
Which I'm sure I must make at your direction.  Your pawn has reached the end of the board, Kain.  And now my powers may even surpass yours.  How ironic if the creature that you made should prove your own undoing.  Now - we finish this.  Once and for all.

Raziel attacks Kain.  Eventually he is able to get in a slash at Kain’s chest with the wraith blade.  Unable to push Raziel back any longer, Kain reaches up to grasp Raziel's arm to prevent the blow of his sword.  Holding on to Raziel's arm, Raziel's soul begins to drain out of him and through Kain, to reach the material Reaver.  They are both astonished.  Raziel gasps in pain. 

Raziel You ... Kain No - Raziel-- Raziel in horror and rage  Vae victis-- Kain I didn't--

His words are cut off, as Raziel plunges his left hand into Kain's chest -- breaking Kain's grasp, and aborting his soul's absorption into the Reaver -- and pulls out Kain's heart:  the Heart of Darkness.  He holds it up to Kain.  Kain emits a hallow wheeze. 

Raziel 'Woe to the conquered' - I have found the Heart of Darkness.  And you - go to oblivion. With his new telekinetic powers, Raziel blasts Kain backward -- he is swallowed up into a dimensional rift, and disappears.  Raziel staggers backward, the Heart in one hand, the wraith-blade in the other.  This was a reflexive act -- even he can't quite believe what he's just done.  He breathes heavily as the rush of adrenaline fades.

Raziel
Kain was gone.  The madness of this place had somehow fueled my rage, and as it subsided I felt no elation, no sense of victory.  Only a calm certainty that we had once again walked blindly into our enemies' trap.  I couldn't be sure whether Kain had truly intended to destroy me - and now it appeared I would never know. 
 

 

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