Nupraptor's Retreat

Kain sees a sign with the name of Nachtholm …

Kain (vo): The village of Nachtholm was typical of Nosgoth peasantry. It admits the farmers and smithys of the quiet country life, proud brigands and cutpurses.

Kain observes a sign with the name of Steinchencröe …

Kain (vo): The town of Steinchencröe bore with it the infamous aroma of its inhabitants. In life, I would not have graced the place with my presence. In death, I merely added to the stench.

Inside the city, Kain finds a man stirring a green cauldron…

Kain (vo): This lunatic was delighted to see me. Perhaps his madness would reveal a greater truth…

Irmok the mad: The bastards in Steinchencröe shun me as Nosgoth shuns them! I know what it means to be an outsider, vampire. I fear you not, but remember this - there are others who will speak to you, so long as you know how to look.

Leaving Steinchencröe, Kain arrives at a gypsy camp…

Kain (vo): The gypsies - purveyors of distrust and superstition. Most of their babble should be taken with a pinch of salt, since the gypsies often tinker with weary travelers’ minds… However, a few gypsies have something interesting to say.

Leaving the camp behind, Kain arrives at a sign with the name of Vasserbünde …

Kain (vo): Vasserbünde lay, its glory now stained and faded, a faithful child in the looming shadow of Nupraptor’s Retreat.

Inside the city, he sees for the first time Nupraptor’s lair in the distance…

Kain (vo): Nupraptor’s Keep lay west of Vasserbünde. I would seek to cut the cancer from its heart.

Exiting the city via a bridge…

Kain (vo): The wind carried screams from the west. I could not help but smile: someone else in this world was suffering more than I.

Getting a close look at Nupraptor’s retreat…

Kain (vo): The gaping maw of Nupraptor’s Retreat rained upon Nosgoth all his pain and misery. The disease begged to be cleansed.

Traversing a cave that leads to Nupraptor’s refuge…

Kain (vo): The Mentalist Nupraptor was renowned through Nosgoth for his tricks of the mind, telepathy and telekinesis. Pilgrims traveled from all across the land seeking the comfort of his lies. I sought not his wisdom but his life.

Once inside the retreat, Nupraptor senses Kain’s presence…

Nupraptor: You dare intrude upon my sanctuary? Can I not mourn in peace? Leave… leave and let my solitude be complete…

Inside the fortress, Kain finds one of Nupraptor’s maidens chained…

Kain (vo): I came upon one of Nupraptor’s serving girls, catatonic with fear, choking out half-words through bloodied, broken teeth. Although tempted by hunger, I stayed my hand, allowing her to tell her story…

She spoke of her Lord Nupraptor, driven to insanity by the brutal slaying of his beloved Ariel. She spoke of his self-mutilation, sewing his eyes and lips shut to deny the outside world. Fueled by despair and hopelessness, he turned his magic on the Circle, infecting their minds with his madness.

Nupraptor cared for nothing now, save his pathetic self-pity. Scars such as hers would never heal. Death would only be a mercy.

Kain arrives in another room like so many others filled with corpses…

Kain (vo): The cretin squandered life and left it seeping on the floor. Such waste was a travesty. Perhaps Nupraptor needed to be taught a lesson as to the value of blood.

In another chamber, Kain looks through the windows situated in the eye sockets of the skull…

Kain (vo): From the depths of the Retreat’s eye sockets, I viewed Nosgoth in a different fashion. The glass seemed to warp the image and taint the color. As if Nosgoth needed assistance in making its corruption apparent.

Kain manages to reach Nupraptor’s chamber, where he is accompanied by Malek…

Nupraptor: So, Malek, have you come to fail the Circle once more? Leave, paladin! I do not need your protection.

Come, Kain… come share my pain…

Kain (vo): So this was the mentalist Nupraptor, this broken, pathetic little man. Yet crippled as he was, he would not yield without battle.

Kain: Very well, old fool. If it is death you seek, I will not deny you.

After killing Nupraptor by slitting his throat…

Kain (vo): Perhaps the head of her beloved will convince Ariel that I have accomplished my task.