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Chapter One: The Slums
"Welcome to Meridian"
Kain emerges from the tower into the first street of the Slums. After proceeding down the street a short ways, Umah's disembodied voice suddenly speaks to him.
 UMAH
Kain – do not be afraid.
KAIN
Hah – what magic is this?
UMAH
I am using the Whisper, Kain, a natural ability of vampires. In this way, we can keep in contact even over great distances.
KAIN
Yes, I remember now.
KAIN (VO)
She had been in my thoughts. I almost believed I had called her myself.
UMAH
Never fear, I cannot read your thoughts, but only speak into your mind, and hear you in return. Now, proceed down this street. I shall be waiting.
“Kain” passes beneath a bridge, upon which a man and woman peasant are having a conversation.
MAN
They’re here to protect us, that’s why.
WOMAN
Then why so many?
MAN
Well, we need a great deal of protection. The Seraphan have sworn to protect the people and destroy the vampire menace.
WOMAN
Have you ever seen a vampire?
MAN
Exactly. They’ve kept their promise.
WOMAN
I’ll tell you what else they’ve kept – our tax money, that’s what.
MAN
Hush that talk. Someone may hear you.
Kain sees Umah standing on a ledge above him.
UMAH
Welcome to the Slums, Kain. We are in the oldest and most decrepit part of the city, where few people dare to come. A perfect place to train you.
KAIN
Train me? Do you take me for a dog?
UMAH
Your memory has been shattered, and your body has lain dormant for two hundred years. What skills you had must be recovered before you can be of any use to the Cabal. You must learn to fight, and to survive.
KAIN
I thought you were taking me to feed.
UMAH
Patience, vampire. First, know that you are stronger and faster than mortal men, able to jump higher and farther than any human that ever lived. When your path is blocked, seek for a place to jump. Now, join me up here.
“Kain” leaps up to join Umah on the ledge above.
UMAH
Excellent. Know that you also have the ability to float. When you are on a ledge, such as this one, you may land silently and carefully by floating down. This will be important when I train you to kill. Now, follow me.
KAIN
She would discover I needed little training in how to kill.
Umah turns and runs off.
After a bit of exploring, “Kain” passes by two men who are conversing.
FIRST MAN
Closed off? The whole of the lower city? How am I to get home tonight?
SECOND MAN
It’s just as I told you.
FIRST MAN
My Agnes will have my head.
 SECOND MAN
I couldn’t get home the last time they did this. I had no place to sleep. And then I was picked up and fined for being on the street at night.
FIRST MAN
They can’t do that!
SECOND MAN
But they do. We better find a bed for the night.
FIRST MAN
Agnes is not going to believe me.
“Kain” follows Umah into a basement.
KAIN
This city is a labyrinth.
UMAH
All the better for a hunting ground. Tell me, Kain, are you hungry?
KAIN
Yes.
UMAH
I have a prisoner waiting for you down below, a thug from a local gang of criminals. He sought to murder yet another helpless victim, but he met me, instead.
KAIN
Spare me the moral anecdote and direct me to his throat.
UMAH
Drink then. I will be waiting below.
After feeding, Kain approaches Umah.
UMAH
I see you are restored.
KAIN
(Wipes his mouth)
I am.
UMAH
Blood is your life. Without it, you will die. If you are wounded, seek out blood to restore your vitality. You must know, too, that by drinking the blood of others, you will gradually become stronger, and harder to kill. We call this a vampire’s Lore. The more creatures you drink from, the more Lore you will gain, and the greater your health will become. Leave no enemy alive, Kain. You will need their blood and their Lore to survive.
Now, let us continue.
Kain exits the basement and proceeds through a back alley. He arrives at the edge of the Slums, by the Docks. This is a small waterfront, with dilapidated shacks and boats. Umah is waiting for him.
UMAH
While we are superior to humans in many ways, we also have certain weaknesses that they do not possess. Though it is life-giving to humans, water is deadly to vampires. Its touch burns our skin, immersion in water can kill us. Avoid it at all costs.
UMAH (CONT.)
Also know that scattered throughout Meridian are relics of our ancestors. Useless to humans, only vampires can access these Coffers and use the power held within. Seek these out on your journey.
Kain jumps over running water in a canal here. The section ends in a Ward Gate.
 UMAH
I spoke before of our mortal enemies, the Sarafan. It is their sworn crusade to destroy all vampires, and for this they have developed special defenses. You see here a Ward Gate.
KAIN
What, precisely, does it do?
UMAH
Should you so much as touch it, you will be burned as by fire, and an alarm will summon the guards. The Sarafan have raised these Wards throughout Meridian. We can go no farther this way. Follow me into the sewer.
Umah runs off ahead of Kain.
Kain enters the sewers, where Umah is again waiting for him.
UMAH
You’re ability to survive will depend upon your ability to fight. It’s time for you to learn how to kill.
UMAH
Your first line of defense is your agility. You can dodge around an opponent using your inhuman speed. You can also defend yourself by blocking attacks. I shall now strike at you. Do not be concerned, I shan’t use my claws. Block my attacks, and we can proceed to the next lesson.
“Kain” blocks her attacks nine times.
UMAH
We are all armed with a natural weapon: our claws. Use them to kill your enemies. You can practice by attacking me.
“Kain” hits Umah nine times.
UMAH
If you see an enemy become tired, use this opportunity to grab him. Once grabbed, you can throw him a great distance.
“Kain” grabs and throws Umah twice.
UMAH
Excellent. Your lesson is over, for the moment. Continue through
The sewer, and I shall meet you again shortly.
Umah dematerializes in a haze of purple mist. “Kain” proceeds onward.
“Kain” arrives at an encampment.
UMAH
Here you are at last. Through this door lies your first true test. A gang of criminals are encamped ahead, and one of their number stands guard, unaware that his fate approaches. You must kill him, Kain. You have the skill to block and dodge his attacks. Bring him down using your claws. Once you have felled him, drink his blood to restore yourself from any wounds you may receive. I will be watching.
Kain emerges from the Sewer and enters the Cemetery. This is a dark area marked by towering mausoleums casting long shadows across the ground.
 UMAH
In addition to our physical superiority, vampires also possess Dark Gifts. These are our supernatural abilities. Our curse develops differently in each of us, giving us unique powers. Much of your former power, Kain, has been weakened during your long hibernation. But you yet retain a single Dark Gift. The Mist you see here can be used to your advantage. You have the ability to assume a Mist Form, and become nearly invisible. You can move silently to bring down your prey from behind. At times when you are outnumbered, look for mist from which to kill your enemies silently. If you are pursued, you can hide in Mist to escape. Now, use this Gift to kill those before you in the cemetery. I will let you continue when the deed is done.
Kain assumes mist form and sneaks up behind a thug who is in the process of mugging a peasant.
THUG 
Empty your pockets.
PEASANT
You again.
THUG
Be still! Give me what you have.
PEASANT
I’d have more if you’d rob me less than once a week.
THUG
Be still, I tell ya, and be quick!
Kain continues down the street. He comes to a closed gate with a lever next to. There is a powerbox next to the lever, with a glyphline running to a glyphbox. Umah is on a rooftop nearby.
 KAIN
(Indicating the glyphbox)
What manner of sorcery is this?
UMAH
This is Glyph Energy, a new form of magic brought into the world with the rise of the Sarafan. It supplies power to all of Meridian. The gate you see can be opened using this energy. Activate the glyphbox. This will bring power to the gate’s lever, and allow you to open it.
 Kain opens the gate.
UMAH (CONT.)
Well done. The glyphs are operated by the Glyph Wrights, a secret society existing within Meridian. You may see them working on glyphs, from time to time. They rarely talk with the townsfolk, and very little is known about their origins.
Ahead is the market where the common dregs of Meridian engage in their filthy commerce. Beyond the market is the bridge that leads to the Lower City. Make your way east to the bridge. I shall meet you there.
KAIN
And where are you going?
UMAH
I shall scout ahead to ensure that you don’t meet any Sarafan patrols. You aren’t ready for them yet.
KAIN
How trusting of you, to leave me to my own devices.
UMAH
Consider it an act of good will.
Umah dematerializes in a haze of purple, sparkly mist, leaving “Kain” to navigate through the Town Square.
“Kain” comes upon a peasant man standing by a powerbox.
PEASANT
That’s generous, I call it. You see that? Have you seen what it can do? It will bring light and heat, and no cost for oil or coal. And they bring it right down here for us simple folk to use. Bless the Seraphan for all their doings, that’s what I say – for sharing their magic with the poor.
Separated
Umah and Kain come to the bridge to the Inner City.
UMAH
Come – this way. Follow me.
KAIN
Where are we going?
UMAH
I am taking you to Sanctuary, the heart of the Cabal. It is time that you meet our leader.
KAIN (V/O)
It was time indeed, to hear this so-called leader's plans, and learn what he thought his plans might be for me.
Umah has started ahead of him.
UMAH
Kain – this way.
Umah runs forward past an inactive Ward Gate that spans the bridge entrance. She runs near a guard who has his back to her. The guard's armor suddenly glows. This is a Glyph Guard. He swings around and shouts:
GLYPH GUARD A
Vampire! Here! Close the gate!
The Ward Gate comes to life. Kain runs against it and is thrown backwards. The Guard goes after Umah. Umah leaps out of his way, calling to Kain.
UMAH
Kain – you must find a way to reach the Lower City. The Smuggler’s Tunnel will take you there.
GUARD B
Pestilent vampire – die!
He strikes, she eludes him, leaping out of his way, then leaping to where she can more easily speak to Kain, softly.
 UMAH
(To Kain)
Go to the Grand Hotel, in the Slums. A contact will meet you there – he will tell you where to go.
The Guard comes up and strikes at her again, cursing at each stroke.
GUARD B
Stinking – verminous – blood sucking – fiend!
Umah at each stroke leaps out of his way, and leads him further off. She calls back:
UMAH
Hurry, Kain.
(To the Guard)
Do you want your death now? Come, and you shall have it.
She runs off, the Guard follows.
GUARD B
Come back!
KAIN (VO)
I was alone at last, in a city changed beyond all recognition, in a land that was under a curse.
Should I follow her, as she asked, or go my own way, find my own answers? But answers were
promised me, in Sanctuary. After that, I would know what to do.
After navigating through the Slums, Kain comes to the Grand Hotel and finds a contact of the resistance, Dimitri. He is standing beside a lever to a closed gate.
KAIN
I was told to meet someone here.
DIMITRI
(Turning quickly)
Who's there? You must be Kain.
KAIN
And you are a human. Curious that you would help one such as I.
DIMITRI
We hate the Sarafan, we humans. The things they do, it's not right, not natural. If your kind can bring them down, I'll help you, I will.
KAIN
I was told to find the Smuggler’s Den.
DIMITRI
You’re a stone’s throw from the entrance.
He pulls the lever, opening the gate. A stalker watches some distance off.
DIMITRI
Go through, it will lead you to Smuggler's Den. Careful, though. There's rogues down that’ll attack you on sight.
KAIN
 Then they will die.
Kain starts to go.
DIMITRI
Wait – tell Umah that I helped you. Please. She promised me the Dark Gift, if I did as she asked. You'll tell her, won't you?
KAIN
I'm certain Umah will give you all that you deserve.
Once “Kain” is gone, the stalker pounces upon the human contact, striking him down, and killing him.
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