thats-a-moray

North of Termogent 500 years before the Pillars' corruption Raziel's feet sank into the snow with a soft crunch. With every step he took he pulled ice up from the ground, frost clinging to his boots like white powder, and left behind flecks of red. Grains of snow clung to the hollows of his ribs and gathered together in the flayed caverns of his corpse, blown by the wind. The silent wind played with his tattered wings. He did not suffer the cold. This was nothing new. In life, such as it was for a vampire, he had never shivered from the touch of ice. Frozen water could not harm him. His body adopted winter's chill as its own, such that neit

The Sarafan Stronghold 485 years before the Pillars' Corruption The man had a strong, handsome face. He held his head high and his marble eyes challenged the horizon. Under his left arm he carried a winged helm and in his right hand a short sword. The young Balance Guardian bent to read the inscription on the gold plaque. Her white dress flowed around her ankles. Those who wait for the Lord shall find their strength renewed, they shall mount up on wings like eagles, they shall run and not grow weary, they shall walk and not grow faint. - RAZIEL - Head Inquisitor of the Sarafan Order Righteous Protector of the Circle of Nine "Raziel..." s

Somewhere near Nachtholm Hours after the Pillars' corruption Warm sunlight bristled through the amber trees as a lone, blue figure trekked through the wilderness. Orange and red leaves fluttered in the breeze and littered the ground. The autumn colors crunched under his cloven feet and rusted bronze boots. Bone-white claws scratched at his stained cowl. His bright white eyes searched his surroundings. Was this Nosgoth centuries before Kain's empire? Attracted by the sound of running water, Raziel came to a small cliff where a stream trickled into a shallow pool. Tiny fish swam in the clear water, their scales gleaming. Raziel's cadaverous

Kain's Retreat 500 years after the Pillars' corruption The young vampire studied a mural in the hallway of his master's home. A man of about thirty, a noble by the looks of his fine suit of armor, posed in front of a red curtain, wearing an oppressive smirk on his heavy features. Melchiah recoiled from it. Next to this painting was another, more recent portraiture of the same man, if he could still be called that. The vampire Kain loomed over him, the Soul Reaver clasped at the hilt. It was a vicious looking weapon, Melchiah thought. The blade snaked from hilt to tip in an S-like pattern and the cross guard was adorned with what appeared to

Abide with me; fast falls the eventide; The darkness deepens; Lord with me abide. When other helpers fail and comforts flee, Help of the helpless, O abide with me. Thou on my head in early youth didst smile, And though rebellious and perverse meanwhile, Thou hast not left me, oft as I left Thee. On to the close, O Lord, abide with me. - Christian Hymn The Sarafan Stronghold 500 years before the Pillars' corruption The first warning came by falcon. A horde of demons was approaching the Sarafan Stronghold. Within minutes the barracks came alive with activity. The warrior inquisitors, the highest ranking members of the Sarafan Order, gathered

The Drowned Abby 2,000 years after the Pillars' corruption On the back of a headless, stone gargoyle jutting out from the roof of the drowned cathedral, Raziel stiffened beneath the downpour. Frigid rain washed over his burned and bloodless muscle. As the coldness seeped into his bones, he cracked open his blackened eyelids and allowed the light to slip out of his glowing eyes. What his Benefactor said appeared to be true: devouring Rahab's soul had granted him immunity to water's touch. Water was now inert. He no longer needed to hide from the rain. Raziel knelt over the ledge. He held out his hands and allowed the water to pool between h

30 APC (Thirty Years After The Pillars' Corruption) The Pillars of Nosgoth "No." One word. That was all it took to topple the world. It started with an earthquake. The ground jumped out from under him and trees came crashing down - but the loudest noise in the clearing was the unearthly shrieking of Ariel, the ghost of the previous Balance Guardian, clutching her ears and writhing mid-air like a snake with its head cut off. Then with a bone-shuddering crack the towering Pillars of Nosgoth split and splintered vertically, fractures racing upward and upward beyond his sight. Kain shielded his face. Just as he transformed his body to mist the

The Silenced Cathedral 1,600 years after the Pillars' corruption The portrait of Lord Zephon overlooked the hall of the Silenced Cathedral, the capital of Zephonim territory. This artwork was, in some part, an exaggeration (Zephon was not that tall) but mostly an accurate depiction: his features were pointed, from the tip of his chin to the end of his nose. His ears were spears; his smile a dagger. His smooth hair swept back like a black flame. With one cloven hand on his hip, he held his short-sword like a gentleman's cane, the banner of his clan flowing from his shoulder in the wind. A touch of irony there, Rahab thought. He and Zephon we

Deep in the mountains of Uschtenheim 500 years before the Pillars' corruption At last Raziel reached the highest balcony of the mountain's interior. It had taken him more than an hour to traverse the elegant, soaring architecture within Janos' retreat, for these towers and balconies were built by beings gifted with flight. The most direct route was up, but Raziel's threadbare wings would not rise to the task. By now the sun was rising. Visible through the open roof, the sky glowed pink and gold. Intent on reaching his destination, the sight went unnoticed by Raziel as he made his way down the hall. Strange crystals lit the vast corridor. P