LEGACY OF KAIN
---------
TIMELINE
Yeah, yeah, it's not much of a title, but I'm no good at ASCII art.
INDEX
[1] - Legal Junk
[2] - Version history
[3] - Plot FAQ
[4] - Theories
[5] - Timeline "A Breif History of Nosgoth"
[6] - Thanks to...
[7] - Contact Me!
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[1] - Legal Junk
This FAQ is copyrighted by Will Roy, 2003.
This FAQ may be not be reproduced under any circumstances except for personal,
private use. It may not be placed on any web site or otherwise distributed publicly
without advance written permission. Use of this guide on any other web site or as a
part of any public display is strictly prohibited, and a violation of copyright.
All trademarks and copyrights contained in this document are owned by their
respective trademark and copyright holders.
Any similarities between the entries in this timeline and entries in a similar work are
purely coincidential. It's pretty easy to do, seeing as they'd be based heavily on the
same thing.
Now, on to the FAQ.
[2] - Version History
v. 1.11
-Added more questions
-Fixed some typos
-Added a "tag" system to the Timeline, enabling readers to follow the "life" of
either Kain, Raziel, or the Reaver. See the Timeline section for details
-Added a "Theories" section
-Fixed an oversight involving the timing of Raziel's emergence in Defiance.
-Added "Thanks To..."
v. 1.01
Added a few more questions. Expect a major update soon...
v. 1.00
Initial release! I'm undoubtably going to be updating this, so that's why I've
included this section.
[3] - Question and Answer Period
General questions
Q: What is Legacy of Kain?
A: The Legacy of Kain series is, well, a series of games, for many platforms,
focused on a vampire named Kain. The initial installment was the little-known
"Blood Omen: Legacy of Kain", by Sillicon Knights, but branched off into the
infamous "Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver", by Crystal Dynamics. It kind of took of
from there. Play the games if you want to know more.
Q: What is the purpose of this FAQ?
A: Legacy of Kain has a rather cofusing plot, as the later two games (Soul
Reaver 2 and Defiance) involve time travel, and place their events parallel to those
of Blood Omen. This FAQ is designed to enable the average player to see that
connection, and find out what's happening in the sidelines.
Q: Will this FAQ contain spoilers?
A: Yes.
Plot related questions
Q: Is Hash'ak'gik still around?
A: He was thrown into the Hylden Gate, but it is unclear as to whether or not he
still lives.
Q: Why is it that the Blood Reaver sustains Raziel in the final sequence of Soul
Reaver 2, but not Kain through all of Defiance?
A: At the moment, we don't know. I would suspect that the Reaver was made to be
irresistable to the Hylden champion, who it was designed to imprison.
Q: Is Defiance the last LoK game?
A: No. Another game has been confirmed by the Powers that Be, but nothing
specific yet.
Q: Why are the Sarafan still around in Blood Omen 2?
A: A continuity error. The BO2 team weren't the same people who worked on Blood
Omen, and I suspect that they hadn't even played the game all the way through. As
far as the Sarafan go, however, my theory is that it's a "new" Sarafan order. They're
not the origionals, they just took the name.
Q: How is Kain going to fight the Elder God and the Hylden at the same time? We
know the Hylden were defeated by Kain in 400 AP, but they are supposed to come
back which means they won't come back until 1900 AP, around the time Turel is
sent back. Coinsidence?
A: Probably not. I have some odd theories, but nothing concrete enough to answer
that question. We'll just have to wait for LoK 6....
Q: Janos Audron is locked in the Demon Dimension.  Will he come out at  1900 AP,
and if so, in what condition will he be in?
A: I don't even know if he will come out. But I suspect we havn't seen the last of
Janos...
Q: If Ariel was used to make the Spirit Forge in 0 AP, how was Raziel able to see her
in 200 AP and 1900 AP?
A: A paradox. In origional timeline, Raz would have met her and gained what
information he did. Now that history has been altered, he would have either not
learned what he did, or gained his information elsewhere.
Q: How is Kain able to cheat death?
A: His role as the Scion of Balance enables him to live without the Heart of
Darkness still in him.
Q: What power kept the Hylden at bay between 400 AD and 1900 AD.  Fear of
Kain's wraith if they popped their heads up?
A: The Scion of Balance is a "last line of defence" should the Pillars be
compromised. Kain is the last barrier keeping the Hylden out, and as long as he
lives the Hylden cannot fully enter Nosgoth (without the aide of another gate, that
is). This is probably why everyone wants Kain dead.
If there's a question I've missed out, feel free to contact me with it. I can
be reached at sephiroth_113
[4] - Theories
This section is devoted to explaining things that havn't yet been covered in-game.
POINT: Why did Kain, and Kain's vampires for that matter, evolve into demonic
creatures?
THEORY 1: As the corruption of Nosgoth continued, the vampires became
corrupted with it.
THEORY 2: In Blood Omen 2, Kain drinks a lot of Hylden blood. It's possible that
this affected his evolution and the evolution of his offspring.
POINT: In Soul Reaver, Kain executed Raziel on "a jealous whim", yet in Defiance
and Soul Reaver he shows compassion for his eldest son.
THEORY: Kain undoubtedly knew of the Ancient's "Scion of Balance" prophecy,
and took Raziel's evolution of wings to indicate that the champion had been
chosen. As well, he may already have known that Raziel was to inhabit the  Soul
Reaver, and Kain did what he thought would transform Raziel into a devourer of
souls.
HOWEVER: Note that the wings of an Ancient are bird-like, based on the anatomy
of an arm, whilst Raziel's wings are bat-like, based on the anatomy of a hand. Also
compare Raziel's wings to the "wings" of a Hylden. Kain either overlooked this, or
was not aware of the Hylden champion.
POINT: At the end of Defiance, Kain's Soul Reaver contains both Raziel and the
purified Wraithblade. Yet, the "future" Soul Reaver can only contain Raziel.
THEORY: When Janos presented the Reaver to Raziel, he said "The binding must
be secured. The Pillars are the lock-", and Raziel interjected with, "-and the Reaver
is the key!" In other words, the Reaver is required to somehow interact with the
Pillars and restore the barrier between the demon dimension and Nosgoth.
Also, it is unlikely that the Spirit Forge was created simply to make the Soul Reaver
godly. Thus, the purpose of the Spirit Forge was probably to purify the Reaver and
make it fit to restore the Pillars.
In the next LoK game, Kain will likely use the purified Soul Reaver, or the "Balance
Reaver" as it is called by fans, to repair the Binding. In the process, the  raithblade
portion will be "burned off", leaving just Raziel in the Reaver.
[5] - A Breif History of Nosgoth
Key events involving Raziel, Kain, or the Reaver have been "tagged" so that one
may follow the "lives" of either of these three. To follow Kain's life, press Crtl-F to
bring up the Find box, then enter [K-#], with the # replaced by a number. To follow
the "lives" of Raziel and the Reaver, enter [Ra-#] for Raziel and [Re-#] for the
Reaver.
BC - Before Corruption - Events prior to the corruption of the Pillars
AC - Age of Corruption - Events occuring while the Pillars of Nosgoth were corrupt
AP - After the Pillars - Events occuring after the Pillars were destroyed
======================================
BEFORE RECORDED HISTORY
======================================
The Ancients attempt to convert the Hylden to worship the Elder God and the
Wheel of Fate. The Hylden refuse, igniting a genocidal war that eventually wipes
out both races.
The Ancients erect the Pillars of Nosgoth, thus banishing the Hylden to the
"Demon Dimension". With their last breath, the Hylden curse the Ancients with
bloodthirst, sterility and, above all, immortality, thus they are expelled from the
Wheel of Fate and forsaken by their god.
The Ancients prophesize two Champions; the Scion of Balance, who wields the
Blood Reaver, and his adversary and killer, who wields a fiery sword.
Vorador forges the Blood Reaver, weapon of the Scion. Janos and the Guardians
imbue the blade with vampiric energies.
[Re-1]
The elemental temples within the Citadel are built and attuned to the Reaver.
The Elder God, though no longer communing with the Ancients, takes Moebeus as
his servant.
As the Ancients begin to die out, the Pillars select human guardians. The Ancients
attempt to pass the vampiric curse onto these human guardians, but the humans
rebel, under the guidance of  Moebius. Eventually the origional Ancients are wiped
out, except for Janos Audron. The human-vampires continue to spread their Dark
Curse.
~500 BC -
The Sarafan Order, under the leadership of Moebius and Malek, undertakes their great
crusade, attempting to exterminate the "vampire plague" once and for all, unaware
that they are destroying the very architects of the Pillars.
======================================
THE AGE OF THE SARAFAN BEGINS
======================================
~500 BC -
Malek selects the 6 Sarafan Leutenants; Melchiah, Zephon, Rahab, Dumah, Turel
and Raziel.
[Ra-1]
Raziel exits Moebius' time-streaming chamber and seeks out Janos Audron.
[Ra-15]
In his mountain aerie, Janos presents the Blood Reaver to Raziel, believing he is the
Scion of Balance prophesied. Following Raziel's trail, the Sarafan Leutenants invade
the aerie, steal the Reaver, and kill Janos. Sarafan Raziel rips Janos' heart, which
would later be called the Heart of Darkness, from his still-living body.
[Re-2][Ra-2][Ra-16]
Raziel persues his former self to the Sarafan Stronghold, but is led into a trap by
Moebius.
[Ra-17]
Enraged by the murder of Janos, Vorador slaughters the Circle, missing only
Moebius, Mortanius and Malek.
His wraith-blade disabled, Raziel is forced to take up the Blood Reaver and slay his
former Sarafan comrades.
[Ra-18][Re-3][Re-25]
The wraith-blade recovers its strength and bonds to the Blood Reaver, then turns
on Raziel, attempting to devour him. Kain, who had been following Raziel for some
time, intervenes just in time, but is only able to postpone Raziel's fate.
[Re-4][Ra-19][K-23][Re-26]
Raziel is whisked away to the Underworld, where the Elder God imprisons him for
500 years.
[Ra-20]
Kain retreats for some time, then returns to the Stronghold to seek out Moebius.
Moebius directs Kain to the ancient Vampire Citadel, where he will find the answers
he seeks.
[K-24]
Kain completes the Balance Emblem, thus enhancing the Blood Reaver's power
greatly. He unseals a chamber and meets with the Elder God, who propells Kain
500 years into the future.
[Re-5][K-25]
??? -
Malek's soul is infused into a suit of plate armor, as punishment for failing to
protect the Circle.
======================================
BEFORE KAIN
======================================
~50 BC
In the bowels of Avernus Cathedral, a cult is formed which worships the Hylden
lord Hash'ak'gik. Turel is summoned from Nosgoth's dismal future to act as an
avatar.
At some point, the purified Soul Reaver looses its purity and finds its way to
Moebius, who gives the blade to William the Just.
[Re-8][Re-33]
~40 BC
Fledgeling Kain, with a future version of the Soul Reaver, travels back in time and
battles with William, to prevent his becoming the Nemesis, though he unwittingly
ignites another vampire crusade. In the battle, William's Reaver is shattered.
[K-7][Re-9][Re-14]
William's tomb, with the broken Reaver, is placed in the Sarafan Stronghold.
[Re-10]
0 BC
Elder Kain exits a time-streaming chamber somewhere and makes his way to the
Pillars, confident that Raziel will follow.
[K-20]
Raziel emerges from a time-streaming chamber in the Sarafan Stronghold, in persuit
of Kain. Moebius directs him to the Pillars, and proposes an alliance, saying "We
both want Kain dead. I can help you do it." Raziel refuses.
[Ra-8][Re-20]
Raziel comes across the broken Soul Reaver. The wraith-blade awakens and meets
its former self, still imprisoned in its corporeal shell. Leeching Raziel's soul, the
wraith-blade manages to repair the Soul Reaver's blade.
[Ra-9][Re-11][Re-21]
At some point the repaired Soul Reaver, is moved to Avernus Cathedral.
[Re-12]
Possessed by Hash'ak'gik, Mortanius murders Ariel.
Raziel and Kain meet at the Pillars. As Elder Kain explains his "edge of the coin" to
Raziel, Nupraptor discovers Ariel's corpse and, driven by suspicions of treachery,
psychically attacks the rest of the Circle. At that instant, Kain, Ariel's replacement,
is born, and instantly rendered incapable of fulfilling his destiny. Moebius and
Mortanius are unaffected by Nupraptor's attack, as Moebius saw it coming and
Mortanius was shielded by Hask'ak'gik's possession.
[K-1][Ra-10][K-21]
[Before Corruption age ends, After Corruption age begins]
0 AC
Raziel imbues the Soul Reaver with Darkness, and talks to Vorador. Though, he
receives more questions than he does answers. Raziel decides to try and find Janos
Audron.
[Ra-11][Re-22]
Raziel imbues the Reaver with Light, and enters the Stronghold. Moebius, held at
the point of the Reaver, is instructed by Raziel to send him back "before the Sarafan
began their crusade". Instead, Raziel is propelled centuries into the future.
[Ra-12][Re-23]
At some point, Kain follows Raziel to the future.
[K-22]
~30 AC
Young Kain is murdered, and placed within his family mausoleum
.[K-2]
Mortanius, using the Heart of Darkness, resurrects Kain as a vampire, and besets
him to destroy the Circle.
[K-3]
======================================
Kain's Quest Begins
======================================
~30 AC
Raziel escapes from the Underworld and enters the Material realm. He forges the
Reaver with the opposing elements of Light and Dark, then proceeds to the Pillars,
hoping that Ariel will provide some answers.
[Ra-21][Re-27]
Kain kills Nupraptor, returning his binding items to the Pillar of Mind. He then
meets Vorador, who provides the infamous words of advise to not "meddle in
the affairs of men".
[K-4]
Kain murders Bane, DeJoule and Malek, and restores their respective pillars.
[K-5]
Ariel and Raziel meet, a first for Ariel and third for Raziel. Ariel refuses to answer
Raziel's questions, saying that "your kind will be banished". Raziel prompts Ariel
with the question, "What exactly do you think I am?", and Ariel makes some
reference to the "Unspoken". Eventually, Ariel discloses the location of Vorador's
mansion, and, once he forges the Reaver with Fire and Air, Raziel departs.
[Ra-22][Re-28]
Kain obtains the Soul Reaver, kills Azimuth, and propels himself back in time to kill
William.
[K-6][Re-13]
Raziel infiltrates Vorador's mansion, forges the Reaver with Water, and eventually
comes upon Vorador himself. Vorador takes him to the preserved body of Janos
Audron, and Raziel sets off to Avernus to retrieve the Heart of Darkness.
[Ra-23][Re-29]
Elder Kain emerges in the Vampire Citadel, and sets off to Avernus to find
Raziel.[Re-6][K-26]
Moebius's vampire hunters breech Vorador's mansion, and begin to hunt him
down.
Raziel reaches Avenus Cathedral and, after forging the Reaver with Earth, enters
the catacombs in search of the Heart of Darkness. There, he discovers that he is
not the Scion of Balance, but the Hylden's prophesised champion, and that Kain is
the Scion. Later, he is reunited with Turel, the one vampire who escaped his wrath.
After a brief question-and-answer period, Raziel defeats Turel and devours his
soul, enhancing his telekinetic powers.
[Ra-24][Re-30]
Raziel runs into Mortanius, who is fighting off Hash'ak'gik's possession. Mortanius
reveals that the Heart of Darkness was used to make Kain a vampire.
[Ra-25]
Elder Kain enters Avernus Cathedral and runs into Raziel, who confronts him with
the knowledge of the prophecy. The two battle, and Kain gains a momentary
victory. He attempts to explain what he thinks is Raziel's true destiny, but Raziel
uses the delay to recover his strength and continue the fight. Eventually, Raziel
defeats Kain and rips the Heart of Darkness from his chest, tossing Kain into the
catacombs, now consumed by the Demon Dimension.
[Ra-26][K-27]
Moebius' vampire hunters locate Vorador and drag him to the Stronghold for a
public execution.
Raziel returns to Vorador's mansion and revives Janos, who apparently "jumped
the gun" by presenting the Reaver to Raziel. He teleports Raziel to the vampire
citadel, and unseals the Spirit Forge.
[Ra-27]
Fledgling Kain returns from his time-traveling in time to witness Vorador's
execution. He proceeds to execute Moebius and restore his Pillar.
[K-8]
Thwarting the Elder's attempts to stop him, Raziel bathes the Soul Reaver in the
souls of all previous Balance Guardian, forging the mighty Spirit Reaver. He returns
to the council chamber of the citadel, seeking more answers from Janos.
[Ra-28][Re-31]
Anarcrothe, enraged and fearful that Mortanius beset Kain to destroy the Circle,
attempts to kill Mortanius, but is killed instead. Afterward, when Kain confronts
Mortanius, Hash'ak'gik fully possesses him and the two battle, Kain emerging
victorious. Kain restore the two's pillars, and, to his shock, discovers that he is the
corrupted Balance guardian. Kain's hand falters, and he damns both the Pillars and
Nosgoth to an eternity of corrption.
[K-9]
[Age of Corruption age ends, After the Pillars age begins]
0 AP -
Janos and Raziel witness the destruction of the Pillars, and in that instant,
Hash'ak'gik possesses Janos. He and Raziel battle, with Raziel gaining a victory, but
he hesitates and allows Janos to escape. But before he does, Janos attempts to kill
Raziel, returning him to the Elder God's grasp.
[Ra-29]
Kain awakens in the Demon Dimension, much to his surprise. He manages to
escape and return to the Citadel, and investigates the Spirit forge.
[K-28]
The Elder God resurrects Moebius once more, and as he converses with the Elder,
Kain drops in and impales him upon the Blood Reaver.
[K-29]
Moebius' soul again drifts to the spectral plane, where Raziel impales him on the
Spirit Reaver. Free of corruption, the Reaver grants Moebius his first glimpse at his
dark master, and on that note, Raziel returns his soul to him. Then, realising the
power of the Spirit Reaver, and perhaps his true purpose, Raziel inhabits Moebius'
corpse. Kain retaliates quickely, and to his horror, witnesses as Moebius
transforms into Raziel, and becomes absorbed into the Reaver, purifying it and
allowing Kain to see the Elder God.
[Ra-30][K-30][Re-7][Re-32]
Kain battles the Elder, defeating, but not destroying him, then returns to the
ancient council chamber and ponders his next move...
[K-40]
======================================
KAIN'S EMPIRE
======================================
???
Vorador is resurrected, possibly by Elder Kain.