Ariel, the Guardian of Balance

Raziel (vo): The vampire hunters - brazen as they were - feared to walk these paths. I knew one spirit haunted this place… perhaps there were others, as well.

The entrance to the Pillars is blocked by a mechanism that will only ignite with fire…

Raziel (vo): These smoldering sconces seemed as though they would ignite, if only I had a fire source.

Raziel manages to enter a new forge — the Fire Forge — and takes in the murals adorning it…

Raziel (vo): I sought to unravel the mystery of my fate, and in this image lay my first clue.

For this scene depicted the forging of the Reaver- the weapon destined to become my prison - and I recognized its maker. The years had changed him, but this was unmistakably the vampire, Vorador – and in this era, he still lived.

If I could reach him before Moebius’ mob hunted him down, he would provide the answers I sought.

Raziel (vo): These images chronicled Vorador’s creation . As I already knew, he had not been born a vampire, but had been turned by the infamous Janos Audron.

But this mural suggested that Vorador’s origins were even more significant – apparently, he was the first human to whom the dark gift had been passed. This was the Vampires’ desperate bid to preserve their bloodline… for their enemies had cursed them not only with blood-thirst, but with sterility as well.

The spirit vessel to imbue the Reaver with Fire does not yet contain the guardian souls…

Raziel (vo): This spirit vessel was not yet activated. Perhaps there was some means for me to awaken it…

In one of the chambers, Raziel finds the tomb of one of the ancient vampire Guardians…

Raziel (vo): Approaching the tomb, I was met by the specter of the Guardian himself.

Conflict Guardian: Eternity weighs heavily…

Raziel: I have a solution.

Conflict Guardian: I bear it in atonement… but your moment of existence has passed. Come - and be released…

After fighting and defeating the ancient Guardian of Conflict, his soul returns to the spirit vessel, but Raziel cannot use it yet…

Raziel (vo): Apparently a single soul was not enough to activate this spirit vessel. Perhaps another specter was lurking around here somewhere…

He then finds the tomb of another Guardian…

Raziel (vo): I was met by the specter of the Nature Guardian, monstrously deformed since its death centuries ago.

Nature Guardian: Rejoice, creature, for today your spirit will return to the One…

After being defeated by Raziel, the Guardian’s soul finally activates the Fire spirit vessel…

If Raziel tries to use the vessel in the spectral realm…

Raziel (vo): The spirit vessel would not respond in the spectral realm. I had to return to the physical world to use it.

Raziel (vo): As the Reaver absorbed the souls of the Nature and Conflict Guardians, it was imbued with the elemental power of Fire with which their principles were aligned. I was now equipped to reach the Pillars.

With the entrance to the Pillars now open, Raziel beholds them…

Raziel (vo): Once again I beheld the Pillars of Nosgoth - crumbling in decay now, following the corruption of the Circle. Here I would find Ariel, the specter of the murdered Balance Guardian - and the last pure, undefiled member of the Guardian Circle.

Bound here upon her death, she was doomed to haunt these Pillars until her successor fulfilled his terrible duty, and Balance was restored.

Ariel: What manner of creature approaches?

Raziel: I know you well, Ariel - though you do not yet know me.

Ariel: I have no time for riddles, strange one.

Raziel: All you have is time. I have come to seek your guidance.

Ariel: I counsel only one man, and you are not he. But you will know him soon. The contagion of your kind is coming to an end.

Raziel: My kind? What exactly do you think I am?

Ariel: Your name shall remain ‘Unspoken’, as decreed by our ancestors. You serve the one who so brutally took my life and set this tragedy in motion.

But even now, hope is at work. Balance will be restored, and your kind will be expelled forever.

Raziel: You have pinned your hopes on Kain. He will disappoint you.

Ariel: What can you know of Kain?

Raziel: More than you could ever fathom.

Ariel: He will do what he must when the time comes.

Raziel: By choosing his own death? A sacrifice for the world? You don’t know Kain very well.

Ariel: I know what he is called to do. My faith sustains me.

Raziel: Is it faith, or fear? You know that if Kain refuses the sacrifice, you will never leave here. And you begin to suspect…

Ariel: I will not hear your poison, fiend.

Raziel: Grant me the answers I require, and I will leave you to your pathetic delusions.

Ariel: Ask, then.

Raziel: I seek the vampire Vorador.

Ariel: To kill him, perhaps? Or to join him in death? But for Kain, he is the last of his kind. Moebius’s mob has done its work.

Raziel: My reasons are my own.

Ariel: His refuge lies in the heart of the black forest.

And may you molder there together until the end comes.

Raziel cannot continue in the direction Ariel indicated, but finds one of the devices activated by the Reaver…

Raziel (vo): This seemed to be attuned to the elemental principal of air.

To activate this device, Raziel seeks out the Air Forge, to the west of the Pillars…

Raziel (vo): I was transported to yet another ancient Vampire chamber - this one apparently aligned with the elemental power of Air.

These murals had suffered some damage. Once again I recognized the Vampires’ hero, but this scene revealed something new… For here they had also depicted his destined adversary, now partially obscured, who seemed to bear a flaming sword.

Likewise, the spirit vessel is inactive. Raziel finds the tomb of the Dimension Guardian…

Dimension Guardian: In winning all, we lost all… In winning what we thought mattered, we lost what truly mattered… But for you, there is a chance.

Raziel: What chance is that?

Dimension Guardian: The bliss of death. I offer it.

Raziel: But I do not accept.

Raziel defeats the Dimension Guardian, whose soul fills half the spirit vessel. He then sets out in search of the Mind Guardian…

Mind Guardian: You too share the curse – submit and be released…

Raziel: Never.

After defeating this Guardian, the spirit vessel is activated with his soul…

Raziel (vo): As the Reaver absorbed the souls of the Mind and Dimension Guardians, it was imbued with the elemental power of Air with which their principles were aligned.

Raziel returns to the path leading to Vorador’s mansion…

Raziel (vo): With the Reaver endowed with the elemental power of Air, the way to Vorador’s refuge lay open at last. If the old vampire still lived, he alone could tell me how to escape the terrible destiny charted for me when the Reaver was forged.

Vorador’s refuge was hidden deep within the black forest. I hoped to find him before Moebius’s cutthroats did.