LEGACY OF KAIN: BLACK HEARTS
CHAPTER 11: VORADOR
After several moments of traveling through the dark and smelly swamp, Raziel stopped in front of what appeared to be just abandoned ruins.
"What's this?" Kali asked.
"I don't know," Raziel answered. "But it doesn't look like anything the humans would have constructed."
They walked up to the door to see that it too, had an image of the Reaver on its lock. Raziel summoned the blade, and used it to open the door, as he did before.
As Raziel and Kali stepped into the ancient temple, the door sealed behind them. Raziel observed the new lock on the door. This one had the elemental symbol of darkness engraved into it. Raziel tried to open the door, just in case they would need an escape route. But the door rejected the Reaver.
"Well, damn," Kali said in response. "How do we plan to get out of here?"
"We would have to find other means of opening the door," Raziel answered. "I have a feeling we can find a tool, or something like that, within these ruins. For now, let's explore the area."
"Got it," Kali said.
Raziel and Kali walk deeper into the ruins. Within, they found more murals of the winged race. These depictions showed an ancient war against the ancient vampires and another inhuman race. Again, these murals displayed the Soul Reaver as some holy icon.
"I don't like this…" Kali said. "These ancient beings… it seems that they suffered dearly…"
Raziel silently sympathized. After a few moments of silence, he decided it was time to move along.
"Come on," he said. "We have to keep moving."
Eventually, Kali and Raziel reached what looked like an ancient alter. Raziel summoned the Reaver in its presence.
"What is it?" Kali asked. "Do you see something?"
"No…" Raziel answered. "It just like in William's tomb…"
The blade pulled Raziel towards the alter. As Raziel was forced closer to the forge, the Reaver appeared more agitated. Almost like it was lusting for some kind of power. Kali didn't know what to do.
As Raziel was forced to step onto the platform, the Reaver forced itself into the forge. The room seemed to be filled with dark energy. Every source of light was taken out, and the room was black. The only light was the Reaver, which glowed dark purple.
Raziel waved the newly endowed weapon before him. Light began to flood the room again as the forge's energy was drained.
"Raziel," Kali said after moments of silence. "What just happened?"
"The Reaver…" Raziel answered. "It is now imbued with the elemental power of Dark."
"Which means…?" Kali said.
"I'm not sure," Raziel said. "Though, I do recall the symbol of Darkness engraved into this shrine's lock. And if I'm remembering correctly, there was one near the lake outside the Sarafan stronghold."
"So that's our next destination?" Kali asked.
"Correct. Let's go," Raziel said as they made their way to the exit.
As Raziel had expected, the door accepted the Dark Reaver, and opened. Kali never thought she would be happy to smell the fresh air of a swamp, but that place had never seen fresh air in so many years.
"You're a ragged excuse for a savior," An unexpected voice made Kali jump.
"Vorador," Raziel said. Kali remembered the depictions of the vampire slaughtering the Circle.
"I see me reputation precedes me," Vorador chuckled.
"It does," Raziel confirmed dryly.
"All good, I hope," Vorador said ironically.
Vorador studied Raziel intensely. When he noticed Kali, he seemed surprised, but then shrugged it off. Kali didn't feel too happy about that.
"I've been watching you since you emerged from that accursed stronghold," Vorador said. "Strange that your arrival coincides with the corruption of the Pillars; but I'm wondering… are you the catalyst of these events, or the answer to them?"
"I don't know what you mean," Raziel replied.
"I will speak plainly, then." Vorador seemed irritated. "I distrust your origins, stranger. Seeing you crawl from the putrid depths of Moebius's Keep makes me question your purpose here. And the fact that you had a vampire crawling with you. Moebius does not allow vampires to simply walk away. And what should I make of your appearance? Not human, clearly, and more demon than vampire. And the Pillars, it is no mere coincidence that your arrival in that clearing heralded the Pillars' decay. And so I ask you plainly: are you the instrument of the Pillars' destruction, or their salvation?"
Raziel's eyes narrowed, "Neither."
Vorador seemed to be more annoyed by Raziel's answer. "Very well, let us look at the other side of the coin. I have followed your journey, and watched as you blithely unlocked secrets that have been sealed and forbidden for thousands of years. The path you have been treading is open to only one being..."
He trailed off as if he just realized something. He looked back and forth to Kali and Raziel.
"You don't know who you are, do you?" He asked.
"I have been many things," Raziel said, "If you find me ignorant, enlighten me."
"What's the point?" Vorador said, gesturing to the world. "This world is beyond redemption. Let the human have it."
"Sounds like you're giving up," Kali said. "I would expect better that meek capitulation from you."
"Centuries of persecution have taught me well," Vorador told them. "Five hundred years ago, our race was almost exterminated by the fanatical crusades of the Sarafan. And now the same sick drama unfolds again. In merely a decade, Moebius's cutthroat citizen army has nearly accomplished what the Sarafan could not."
This didn't make sense to Kali. The vampires she knew were well overpopulated. Yet, somehow, centuries ago, they are going extinct.
"Vampires meddling in the affairs of men," Vorador said to himself. "Look where it has brought us."
"What am I to make of these secrets I've uncovered, then?" Raziel asked. "The depictions of the winged race, the Pillars, and the Reaver?"
"Fairy tales, boy," Vorador answered. "The delusions of an ancient culture, clinging to hope long after the world had discarded them. Their bloodline trickled away, until only one of the Ancients remained, sustained solely by obligation and his unfaltering faith in the old prophecies."
Vorador steps closer to Raziel, making Kali feel unsettled.
"But you see," he continued. "Even if you are who you appear to be, it no longer matters... You're simply too late. Janos Audron, the Reaver Guardian, the last of the Ancients, and my maker - was murdered by the Sarafan nearly five centuries ago. He alone would have the answers you seek, but his secrets died with him. I don't know how you've come even this far without his guidance, or without the Reaver, stolen these five hundred years ago by the Sarafan. I am afraid, my friend, that you, and all of us, are out of luck."
Vorador vanished, leaving Raziel and Kali only to think. Kali thought about the vampire's situation. As vast as they are in Kain's reign, how could the vampires be endangered here?
Raziel paced back and forth, pondering. He thought about the murals, and the ancient vampire, Janos Audron. He had to be the key.
"What are you thinking?" Kali asked.
"Janos," Raziel answered. "If he has the answers, then we will find him. And Moebius will do that for us."
"What about Kain?" Kali asked.
"I have a feeling that we will meet him soon enough," Raziel said.
They retraced their steps back through the swamp. Once they reached the Elder God's chamber, Kali collapsed again. Raziel thought that he must have been a huge coward, being afraid to be seen by one vampire. Raziel carried Kali through the chamber once again.
"Ah, my wayward child returns," The Elder God's voice boomed in the chamber beneath the Pillars.
"Having unearthed more than you'd like, I suspect," Raziel said. "What am I to make of these ruins that litter the land and these images here in this chamber?"
"Merely the deceits of a failed civilization," The Elder God said. "You are being mislead, Raziel. This ancient race hoped to manipulate the future with these scrawled misdirections. You must tread carefully. There are dark forces at work in this world, bent on subverting your true destiny."
"I have no doubt of that," Raziel said. "The question is: am I in their presence right now?"
"Your arrogance will spell your demise, Raziel," the Elder God warned. "Deny my will, and the arc of your destiny will reach a sudden conclusion."
"You're threats are unmoving," Raziel argued. "Even now, I'm beyond your reach."
"My reach is longer than you realize," the Elder God threatened. "This is a very dangerous game you're playing, Raziel."