The Vampire Vorador

Kain enters the Termangente forest…

Kain (vo): The black forest reigned here, its kingdom rarely invaded by those that live in the light. But it was called home by this mysterious Vorador.

Legend told of a time when Vorador defeated Malek of the Sarafan. If such a man did exist, then he could perhaps be the key to defeating the Ward.

Deeper in, in the swamp…

Kain (vo): Strange that Vorador would choose a dwelling so perilous to him. The swamp could only offer a vampire hazard and pain.

Now in front of Vorador’s mansion…

Kain (vo): Vorador’s keep was hidden deep within the Termagent forest, nestled amongst vines and creepers that clung desperately to its dark weathered stone.

Kain enters and admires the luxury that Vorador’s mansion boasts…

Kain (vo): The luxury with which this Vorador surrounded himself was impressive. His wealth would shame the haughty nobles of my former court.

Kain continues to observe the luxury that the mansion displays…

Kain (vo): That this vulgar display of fortune remained undisturbed was a testament of fear’s dominion over greed.

On a balcony in an adjacent room…

Kain (vo): The darkness was soothing and in the distance, sharp and sweet, came the scent of spilt blood.

Kain directs his gaze towards one of Vorador’s slaves…

Kain (vo): Their charms were almost visible through the gauze of their clothing. Yet beauty such as theirs delivered only death. For these were Vorador’s pets, nothing more than beasts, slave to his will and the easy prey he provided.

Vampires, all of them, held in thrall by one stronger still.

In another room, Kain finds humans chained to the wall…

Kain (vo): Vorador’s pantry! A vampire’s feast! Like cattle awaiting slaughter, men and women dangled from the rusted hooks upon the dungeon walls, blood and viscera frosted the dirt and stone.

The abundance nearly overwhelmed me. For blood is the life…

In another very different room, Kain finds humans who have been tortured…

Kain (vo): The room I had entered had but one purpose - the torture and execution of human beings for the sadistic pleasure of its engineer.

Blood was splattered on every surface. The dread and agony of victims past still echoed through the lethal walls. A symphony of terror and agony filled the air.

Then, from amidst the cacophony of screaming souls came the perverse laughter of the Vampire himself…

Kain (vo): And upon the wall, scrawled in blood, were the words: Manus Celer Dei.

Advancing through the mansion, Kain finds a book on a pedestal…

Kain (vo): Amongst Vorador’s possessions, I found an ancient chronicle…

Long ago, vampires grew in such number as to capture the attention of the Circle. The Order of the Sarafan, or the “Angels of Light” as they were called, was instated to counter the menace. Thus, the “Vampire Purge” began.

Controlling a human, Kain observes the tapestries that adorn a room…

Kain (vo): The tapestries wove a tale of chaos ignited, an orgy of fire and pain.

Undead beings, with rotted skins caked with sulfur and ash, beckoned at me through a burning abyss. Their tortured stares were a testemonial to the price of weakness.

Their fate would not find me. Yet blood calls to blood.

Finally, Kain finds Vorador…

Kain (vo): In the bowels of that black forest I found something worse than Hell. A vision of what I was becoming…

Vorador: It’s not often I see one of our own, especially one as young and foolish as yourself.

Nonetheless, drink. Drink deep and indulge your gift.

Kain (vo): Gift? Pah! Vorador thought my curse a blessing. That we were gods and that mortals offered their blood as sacrifice so that we could enjoy our supernatural powers.

And somewhere deep inside my new self I knew he was right. That mortal dreams were prayers. Prayers to us - begging for our power.

I pondered this as the decadent old fool prattled on about his past; a boorish account of how he defeated Malek of the Sarafan and took his vengeance upon the Circle of Nine for supporting the Sarafan’s holy war to exterminate us…

Vorador: After slaughtering six of the sheep I defeated their pathetic little shepherd - Malek.

Since then our kind has not bothered with the cattle, except to feed. And I suggest you do the same. Meddling with the affairs of man can do us no good. Sarafan witchhunts are much too tedious to concern ourselves with. Am I understood Kain?

Kain nods shyly…

Vorador: Good. Take this ring. If you ever need assistance it will summon me. Despite your youthful arrogance, you amuse me, Kain - it would be such a pity to lose you to the Abyss.

Now be gone!

Kain leaves the room where he was…

Kain (vo): My visit with Vorador only strengthened my resolve. His power uncontested by mortals, he had fallen to another enemy. Decadence has claimed itself many a great warrior.

After leaving the mansion, Kain reflects…

Kain (vo): And so I left that place, with clear knowledge of what sort of monster I would become if I let my curse consume me, and with an ally for the future.