Chapter Four: The Upper City
"A Question of Faith"
"Kain" comes to a closed gate with a crank. Beyond the gate stands a vampire in an alleyway, with the corpses of two clergymen at his feet. This is Marcus.
MARCUS
So. The rumors speak true.
 KAIN
(sarcastic)
Marcus? My old friend –
MARCUS
A poor choice of words, Kain. We were not friends.
KAIN
Will you sour this reunion with old grudges? Granted, we parted on poor terms.
MARCUS
You tried to murder me!
KAIN
I seem to have failed.
MARCUS
You feared my growing powers. You knew they would one day surpass yours. Is that why you begged me to fight at your side, when you waged war upon Nosgoth?
KAIN
(scornfully)
Begged? I never begged.
MARCUS
In your arrogance, you presumed me dead. But I was stronger than you knew. I crawled from my haven and fled into hiding.
 KAIN
Heh… That's the Marcus I remember.
MARCUS
When the Sarafan proved victorious, I knew that my destiny lay with the Sarafan Lord. I
offered myself to the winning side.
KAIN
(growing anger)
I always knew you for a sneaking, cowardly opportunist. How unfortunate that my poor aim caused you so much suffering. This time, you will die completely, I promise you.
MARCUS
No, Kain. Once more you underestimate me. The Dark Gifts manifest differently in each of us. Over the years during your absence, my powers have increased enormously. I now have the power to charm all living things, to subjugate their minds and make them do my bidding. You will kneel to me, Kain, and the Sarafan Lord will be pleased with my new slave. Now – obey me!
Marcus uses Charm on Kain. Energies swirl around Kain for a moment, but are repelled back at Marcus.
MARCUS
What? Impossible!
KAIN
What manner of creatures have you been practicing on? Dull mortal fools with their minds full of commerce and dung? My mind is far too strong for your powers.
MARCUS
No matter. My mental power still allowed me to read your thoughts. You seek the Bishop of Meridian, do you not? He has some information that you require.
KAIN
Clever trick.
MARCUS
 I will ensure that you never get that information.
Marcus begins to back away from Kain.
MARCUS (CONT.)
You may find the good Bishop, Kain, but when you do – he will be dead.
KAIN
Not if I reach him first –
Marcus summons several clergymen to fight "Kain" for him by controlling their minds as he turns and runs.
“Kain” comes upon two thugs hiding in a tunnel outside a wealthy estate.
THUG 1
So this fella taps me on the shoulder.
THUG 2
Right there, in the Red Raven?
THUG 1
That’s right. But I could tell he didn’t belong there. Nice hands, he had, and that look in his eye like he reads too much.
THUG 2
Oh, a swell, was he?
THUG 1
That’s right. And he tells me, he’ll give me a tenner if I follow his wife for an evening, and kill the man she meets. Heh, and guess who it was?
THUG 2
Who?
THUG 1
A priest at the cathedral. She was going there every night to pray for her son who’s run off somewhere.
THUG 2
Whoa, what did you do?
THUG 1
What ya think? What I’d been paid to do. I’m not one to spit at a tenner.
THUG 2
Is it time yet?
THUG 1
No, wait till that light up there goes out. The gentry never think. They invite you to their house and, what, do they think you just go away after that?
THUG 2
And there’s lots of silver, you say? And the woman has jewels?
THUG 1
Hidden in the same place. Can you believe it?!
THUG 2
Well, we’ll just have to teach them a lesson about that. They should thank us for it.
"Kain" sees Marcus run up to a Seraphan Guard off in the distance beyond a gate.
MARCUS
You there! You are to conduct me to the Bishop’s manor on the instant.
SERAPHAN GUARD
We were told to be on the lookout for a vampire.
MARCUS
 Not me, you fool! You know me. Kain! Kain is the one you seek.
SERAPHAN GUARD
Well, he’s not gonna stop and tell us his name.
MARCUS
You’re to kill him on sight!
SERAPHAN GUARD
Those are our orders.
Marcus piles into a carriage with two guards and takes off.
“Kain” hears Vorador’s voice in his head.
VORADOR
Kain, it is Vorador. You must reach the Bishop’s manor at the other end of the city. Only he can give you passage into the Seraphan Keep. The curfew has set in, so be careful on the streets. The guards are looking for anyone suspicious, and will attack you on sight.
Vorador contacts “Kain” again.
VORADOR
Kain, the Bishop’s manor is near. However, the Seraphan patrols have locked down all the streets. You may be able to trick them into opening the gates. Find the clock tower, and ring its bell. The workers will think it time for their shift to change, and will open the gates.
A woman servant speaks to a delivery man outside the manor houses.
WOMAN
I told my lady the girls wouldn’t clean his lordship’s room with that light burning in there. They were that frightened of it.
MAN
The lights stay on of their own accord?
WOMAN
He calls it ‘glyph energy’. He’s lit the whole upstairs with it, now. It’s a wonderful light, so gentle and bright. I like it meself, but the girls near left in a body.
MAN
I’ve seen glyph lights, but not in a gentleman’s house.
WOMAN
But he won them over in a minute the day he got the glyph energy to heat his bathwater for him. That’s right, we carry the cans up cold now, and he’s got the water hot in a twinkling. The girls are alright with it now.
MAN
So I should hope. Here’s everything on your list for a week, just as you asked.
WOMAN
You call this a peach? Peach stone, more like. It’s green.
Two workers exchange words as they pass each other at the gates.
WORKER 1
I almost didn’t make it in time for my shift. I was buying another round when I heard the bell ring.
WORKER 2
Won’t hear me complaining. Time goes faster when you don’t watch the clock.
MALE ARISTOCRAT 1
They’re not ‘a plague on the land’. Don’t talk that way. They are the means to an orderly society.
MALE ARISTOCRAT 2
My father says -
MALE ARISTOCRAT 1
Oh, you and your father. Don’t you see? The order and discipline the Seraphan impose on the lower orders are for everyone’s good. They respect us. They know their place.
MALE ARISTOCRAT 2
My father says that there was a time when the great noble families ruled the land, with a king over all.
MALE ARISTOCRAT 1
It’s just the same now. The Seraphan Lord –
MALE ARISTOCRAT 2
But we, the nobles of the land, are not being permitted to have a proper influence upon affairs.
MALE ARISTOCRAT 1
Speak for yourself.
MALE ARISTOCRAT 2
We cringe, and we pay. Many an ancient family has been brought to ruin by the unending taxes. And where is the money going? He’s not even building palaces.
MALE ARISTOCRAT 1
Does your father say that, too?
MALE ARISTOCRAT 2
My father has disappeared.
MALE ARISTOCRAT 1
Oh, I am so sorry.
MALE ARISTOCRAT 2
He was summoned to a meeting –
MALE ARISTOCRAT 1
Don’t tell me anything more.
MALE ARISTOCRAT 2
He never returned. So I’ve been thinking that if we, the young nobles, could meet –
MALE ARISTOCRAT 1
I’ve just remembered, I have a very important – something I must do at once.
"Kain" catches up to Marcus long enough to see him approach another Seraphan Guard in the distance.
SERAPHAN GUARD
We were told to be on the lookout for a vampire.
MARCUS
You’re to kill him on sight!
Marcus enters an estate and disappears beyond sight.
One servant approaches another outside the Bishop’s manor.
DELIVERY SERVANT
Hey, you there, you work for the Bishop, don’t you? I have three crates of wine to deliver.
MANOR SERVANT
I don’t work for him.
DELIVERY SERVANT
Oh yes, you do. I’ve seen you there.
MANOR SERVANT
I’ve left his employ just this minute. And I wouldn’t go near the place if I were you.
DELIVERY SERVANT
Why not? I’ve got this wine –
MANOR SERVANT
The Seraphan are searching the house.
DELIVERY SERVANT
Thanks, friend, I owe you for that.
A Seraphan Guard senior officer interrogates one of his subordinates.
SERAPHAN SENIOR OFFICER
No? You didn’t take a stroll around the corner for a leak? You didn’t rest your eyes for just a minute?
SERAPHAN GUARD
No! I swear to you.
SERAPHAN SENIOR OFFICER
Because if the Bishop succeeds in escaping…
SERAPHAN GUARD
I was here every minute. He did not get out this way. Have you found the tunnel yet?
SERAPHAN SENIOR OFFICER
Ugh, you believe that rumor – that the Bishop had a tunnel?
SERAPHAN GUARD
If he didn’t get out this way, and the others didn’t see him, then there must be a tunnel. It stands to reason.
SERAPHAN SENIOR OFFICER
If there is, we’ll find it. Just as we’ll find whoever told the Bishop we were coming.
SERAPHAN GUARD
He knew it, then?
SERAPHAN SENIOR OFFICER
Of course he knew! Why else would he have slipped away like he did? Idiot!
“Kain” gains entrance to the manor of the Bishop of Meridian. The manor is under guard by the Seraphan, and is being searched by them. After defeating the first Seraphan knight he has encountered, a bookcase moves aside before “Kain”, revealing a cowering man inside the hidden passage.
KAIN
You, there! What's your business here? Who are you?
 BUTLER
I beg you, be merciful, good sir. I am – I was – butler to the Bishop of Meridian. But the Sarafan – they're inside now. I thought I would wait here.
KAIN
Why are they here?
BUTLER
They accuse the Bishop of aiding the vampire resistance. They are looking for proof. I beg of you, do not tell them where to find me. I will do anything…
KAIN
Yes, you will. Tell me where to find the Bishop.
BUTLER
I can't – I mean, I don't know –
KAIN
Shall I ease your mind and tell you I am sent by Vorador for the vampire resistance? Or shall I simply tear out your throat and continue my search? I leave the decision to you.
BUTLER
The Cathedral – he fled there. He thought he would be safe.
KAIN
Holy ground will not deter his pursuer. Where is the Cathedral?
BUTLER
To the Northeast. But it will do you no good – you cannot enter without the proper authority.
KAIN
(Quietly threatening)
I suggest you show me the way. Now.
BUTLER
Of course, sir. This way, sir. It is my pleasure to serve you. This tunnel will bring you again to the streets.
KAIN
I thank you. Good night.
Marcus
Kain battles his way through the Cathedral and reaches the Private Quarters. The room is darkly lit except for a throne that is surrounded by burning candles. A man in priest's robes stands at attention, staring forward.
KAIN
Greetings, old man. I assume that I address the Bishop of Meridian?
The Bishop doesn't answer, only exhales loudly, a hiss.
BISHOP
Hssss…
KAIN
I seek information on gaining access to the Sarafan Keep. You are to give me passage inside. I am sent by Vorador.
The Bishop seems to be trying to speak, but only gurgles come forth.
BISHOP
Grhgh…
 KAIN
What ails you? Speak!
MARCUS
He speaks only at my command.
KAIN
What –?
Marcus steps forward from the shadows.
MARCUS
You are too late, Kain. He is entirely in my power.
KAIN
Release him, and I may spare your life.
MARCUS
I hold the cards now, Kain. Surrender yourself to me, or I will kill him.
KAIN
What do I care for the life of some mortal? But the thought of killing you at last entices me. Tell me, Marcus. Do you truly believe you can stop me?
“Kain” begins to approach Marcus.
MARCUS
Stay back! You cannot win. The Bishop will tell you nothing while he remains under my power. And you will never catch me!
Marcus runs away, leaving the Bishop in a collapsed heap on the floor.
Kain has chased Marcus through the city and back to the Cathedral roof. They have both fallen through the roof.
 Marcus phases in and out of invisibility as the battle ensues.
MARCUS
You seek, I hide.
Ringing the church bells causes Marcus to pause and drop his defenses.
MARCUS
(groans)
Damn you.
Damn those bells!
Ugh, my ears!
After dealing enough damage to Marcus, he summons mind-controlled clergymen for reinforcements while trying to avoid “Kain”, himself.
MARCUS
You think you can catch me?
Destroy Kain now, my puppets.
Sheep, do my bidding.
Rid me of this pest.
Kain battles Marcus and brings him down, drawing the Charm ability from him.
The Bishop runs up to "Kain".
KAIN
Old man? Do you live?
 BISHOP
I…yes. Yes, I do. I must thank you for destroying…that fiend. He robbed me of my mind.
KAIN
He was a novice. Bishop, I require your help. Vorador has sent me to gain passage to the Sarafan Keep. One of our associates is held captive there.
BISHOP
A fool's errand, to enter the very maw of the beast. But yes, I will help you. I will take you there, I will show you the entrance.
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