Kain reaches Coorhagen, but sees a city he does not recognize. It has exploded with Russian architecture wit hints of Catholic subtleties. The path goes through two large pillars; an angle of six wings and a giving look, and a devil with bat wings and tusks and horns, giving a judgmental look.
Kain: (Thinking) “This was obviously not the city as I had left so long ago. Instead of a single respectable castle, two large citadels stood firmly within the city center, decreeing divine protection to those below. These two statues also stood as a warning to those intent on doing harm. Pathetic, the soldiers of Raziel chose to hide within my mortal home. I guess it was ironic in a sense, and I’d have taken offense if Coorhagen meant to me what it did when I was alive. Now, all of Nosgoth was mildly dear to me, and I had no tolerance for squatters.”
As Kain tries to pass, the statues shock him, throwing him many feet back.
Kain: (Thinking) “Eradication must have forced them to realize hidden potentials. My respect for them increased slightly, but nothing would bar my path. I’d finda way into the theart of Coorhagen, be it one way…”
Kain shifts to the Spectral Plane.
Kain: (Thinking) “…or another.”
Passing the statues won’t be a problem now. The city is a maze of small churches, water towers, and complicated sewers. Neither citadel seems accessible by the ground, so the Player must go underneath. When traveling though the water towers and sewers, the Player must realize what combination of levers will lower the water levels enough to allow passage. There won’t be any hard enemies walking around, but certain levers will release water accidentally, forcing the Player to move quickly or die from their mistakes. Shifting into the Spectral Realm reveals the normal set of wraiths until reaching the last blockade to the first citadel’s entrance. Kain will be confronted by two winged wraiths of the deceased Razielhims.
Razielhim #1: “Look! It is the source of our disgrace!”
Razielhim #2: “Destroy his soul as he destroyed us!”
Kain: (Thinking) “Apparently, they had not forgiven me.”
When Kain finally enters the Citadel of Grace, he will find it to be a spiraling puzzle, guarded with powerful barriers passable only in the Spirit Realm. The art upon the wall recognizes the good will and accomplishments of the Razielhim, glorifying Raziel as a Saint.
Most of the puzzles will be simple movements of impassible blocks and finding hidden walkways around the outside of the citadel. At the very top will be five large bells and a locked doorway. There is a certain combination necessary to create the correct pitch to open the doors. A hint will be the Five Virtues of a Pure Assassin, which are represented by the five symbols on the first floor. If the player forgets them, the Citadel is hollow and will allow a straight drop down to its first floor.
Once the door is unlocked, Kain will see the patient six dove-winged Razielhim Binah sitting thoughtfully upon his throne. His skin is ashen, his facial features very angular, his chest bare, and his boots and pants of a martial nature. The room is unusually bare, except for the Razielhim Namste who stands patiently next to Binah. His skin is of a pale blue, he has two dove-wings, golden gauntlets, and leather pants as his only clothing.
Kain: (Thinking) “So there were indeed survivors of the Razielhim purge. Interesting, yet predictable. Muc more interesting were there wings; dove-like rather than like Raziel’s leathered wings. At least their forms were graced if not their numbers.”
Binah: “Finally, the wait is over. No need to explain your cause, Kain. I already know why you’re here. Secrets rarely stay hidden from my kind, and rumors never do.”
Kain: “If that is the case, then what is your answer? You’ve obviously had time to think it over.”
Binah: “My name is Binah, Guardian of Grace. I can only speak for half of my kind.”
Kain: “And?”
Binah: “I consent, but I still must defy you.”
Kain: “Explain yourself!”
Binah: “I know that you are reclaiming your empire to invade the Melchahim and destroy Gedaliah. My followers and I are sensitive to the sins of others, and his stench spoils even these northern winds. Yet, I have made an oath to Raziel, our deceased General. I swore to avenge his unjustified fall down the Abyss, even if I must sacrifice my life to complete it.”
Kain: “I promise you that you’d die by my hands before giving me one mortal wound in return.”
Binah: “My whole existence depends upon my honor. It alone has kept me alive all these years. To ignore it would plummet my soul into eternal loss. Failure in death is preferable to dishonor in life.”
Kain: “And what of him?”
Kain points to Namste.
Binah: “He and the rest of my soldiers have sworn their own oaths to serve you after I am no more. You are by nature distrusting of all, but you also have no choice but to believe me.”
Kain: “Are you sure your duties must end at my claws?”
Binah: “Quite. Namste will take my place as your Cornel and aid you in entering the Citadel of Judgement. Now, prepare for battle and give me a worthy ending.”
Binah will attack with a broadsword, blocking and giving extended attacks as usual, but his flight capabilities will allow him to fly away after being hit. After he moves away, he’ll dive down for a charge at Kain, causing a lot of damage. Another move he will occasionally perform is to flip over Kain and immediately attack him from behind. Simply sidestepping will protect Kain from being hit by both moves. After Binah loses half his life, he will rise into the air and become so bright as to be barely visible to the Player. Attack Move #2 should aid in hitting Binah, who loses his luminescence for a few seconds afterwards. However, attacking too long will allow Binah to throw Kain against the walls with wind pushed by the six wings. After Binah is defeated, Kain lands a killing blow to the neck, and Binah bleeds over the floor’s portrait of Raziel. Kain looks up at Namste.
Kain: “So, are you as honorable as your dead master?”
Namste peers at him with pure hatred, but then walks over and pulls a lever that opens a window.
Namste: “Rashnu waits for you in the Citadel of Justice. Binah requires a proper funeral.”
The Citadel of Justice has an opening down below that is accessible to the Player by ‘Floating’. The citadel is structurally similar to the last, but the artwork shows the disgraces of the Razielhim and names their fallen brethren. The puzzles will be very similar as before, but with much more chances of harm (spiked floors, shorter ledges, weakened steps, etc.). Within the Spectral Realm, the same can be said. After these will be the eleven bells constructed around locked doors. However, only five are needed, and six of the bells are cracked. They Player will have to move the useless bells out of the way in order to create the right pitch, and the hint as to the combination will again be on the first floor of the citadel.
Rashnu will be sitting on his throne without company. His skin is a dark blue, his eyes glow red, his tusks and horns are wide and threatening, he wears a heavy fur dress held up by a large belt.
Rashnu: “Binah is dead.”
Kain: (Thinking) “Whether he asked a question or made a statement was unclear. This keeper of justice showed no sign of mourning, nor relief from Binah’s passing. Before I made my reply, he stood up from his throne, holding forth an antique for a sword. Reluctance washed over me at the thought of destroying another Razielhim. Oh well, I was always capable of doing what must be done to survive.”
Kain: “Don’t tell me the same sad story of fulfilling honor by death. I won’t hear of it again.”
Rashnu: “I won’t.”
He walked forward and stopped three feet before me, staring in complete silence. I was prepared for another battle, but without warning he kneeled down before me, laying down his sword.
Rashnu: “I swear my allegiance to you, Kain. Thrust my brothers and I into the fires of war, and you shall see great soldiers before you.”
Kain: (Thinking) “A humerous turn of events indeed. I would later find out that although Binah had stayed hidden in Coorhagen for preservation of his kind, Rashnu did so merely out of duty to enforce their sacred laws. He was a prisoner here, and was overwhelmed with gratitude as I was his excuse for escape. With but a single casualty, the entire army of the Razielhim was at my side.”
