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Vorador's Mansion

Raziel arrives at the Mansion. Raziel Nestled deep in the black forest, Vorador had once held court over a private kingdom, as decadent as it was depraved.   Now, all was still.  I hoped I had not arrived too late...

Raziel enters a room occupied by a large fountain. Raziel This pool seemed related to the portals which had transported me into the Vampire ruins – but its surface was disturbed by the spouting of these gargoyles.  Raziel These gargoyles were effigies of the Vampires’ enemies.  In the corresponding murals they were impaled by heroic Vampire warriors.  Perhaps this was a clue… Raziel discovers another mural in an adjacent passage.

Raziel
This mural was similar to one I had seen before in the fountain room. 

Raziel approaches a tomb in the graveyard behind the mansion.

Raziel This mysterious chamber was clearly significant.  Perhaps I would find the elusive Vorador within.  Raziel attempts to light the smoldering braziers that stand before the tomb. Raziel The braziers were all lit, but still the door remained sealed.  Perhaps I had ignited too many…

Raziel finds statues of Ancient Vampires in Vorador’s living room and dining room. 

Raziel This statue appeared to be the same hero I had seen depicted in the fountain room.  This had to be significant.  Raziel solves a puzzle. Raziel This was indeed the Vampire warrior depicted in the fountain room - for here was the hero’s weapon.  This could be the key to solving the riddle of the fountain…

Raziel comes across a sealed door, on which is painted a winged, blue-skinned Vampire whose face is a skull. 

Raziel This door clearly required some artifact before it would open. Raziel returns to the mural in the passage adjacent to the fountain room. Raziel These murals were attuned somehow to those in the fountain room – for this wall too had shattered.  Raziel discovers a new passage behind one of the shattered murals.  It leads to an artifact.

Raziel
Perhaps this arcane emblem would unlock the sealed door in the crypt. 

Raziel returns the artifact to the sealed door. 

Raziel
Hm.  The artifact I had was not sufficient.  There was clearly still a missing piece of this puzzle.

Raziel follows another new passage created by a shattered mural and finds another artifact. 

Raziel
Ah, here was the second piece of the emblem.  Now undoubtedly the crypt door could be opened. 

The crypt door leads to another statue of an Ancient Vampire holding a spear.

With this third and final weapon, the mystery of the fountain would be solved. 
 
 

Vampire Citadel: Water Forge

Mural: Raziel Recognizes the Adversary Hero

Raziel Here the images were unadulterated, and their meaning ominously clear…  The Vampire hero, the bearer of the Reaver blade, was confronted by an adversary worthy of his powers.  The enemy race, long banished, had an adversary of their own – with flaming eyes and a fiery sword. Raziel manifests the wraith-blade, and his eyes flame. The resemblance I bore to the adversary mocked all my hopes.  Had Kain been the Vampire hero of prophecy all along?  Did he suspect what I was?  For if I was this foretold adversary, then Moebius was right, and had always been right – I was destined to fight Kain and destroy him…or be destroyed.  What part did free will play in any of this?…

Raziel confronts the States and Death Guardians.

Guardian of Death Your deliverance is at hand -- in Death is your release. Guardian of States This state is merely atonement... Raziel kills the Vampire Guardian spirits. Raziel Once more the Reaver absorbed the spirits of the former Vampire Guardians, and thus was imbued with the elemental power of Water.  Perhaps now I could enter that mysterious crypt at the end of the garden.

 
  Vorador

Raziel opens the sealed entrance of the crypt and enters cautiously.  He finds Vorador waiting for him inside, slouched upon the ruins of some sepulchral throne, and lit only by the dim candlelight of this dark tomb.  Vorador regards Raziel without surprise, as though he's been waiting for Raziel here.  He has a sword of unique design in his hand -- and although his posture is relaxed, he looks as though he could spring into action at any moment.
As Raziel steps forward, Vorador eyes him with steely suspicion. 

Vorador
So...our wretched little savior returns...  Come to join the last pathetic battle of the vampire race?  But on which side, I wonder...

Raziel
I've not come to fight you, Vorador.

When Raziel approaches, Vorador -- still sitting -- brings the point of the sword up to his throat.  The move is supernaturally swift, and reveals that Vorador is a master swordsman. 

Vorador
coldly; correcting him
You don't know why you're here.

Raziel
I know this much: that you are the author of my fate - and as such, only you can rewrite it. 

Vorador
laughs mirthlessly
You give me too much credit. 

Raziel
You forged the Reaver - I have seen the evidence.

Vorador suspiciously I was its maker, yes. Raziel Then you know its purpose. Vorador No - only the scraps of prophecy my master shared with me. Raziel And do these scraps explain why you would forge a weapon to imprison your savior?

Vorador stands now, and brings the sword back up to Raziel's chest.

Vorador
Ah, well then... it seems we have our answer.  You've chosen your path.

Raziel
angry
I have chosen nothing.  I've been deceived at every turn.

Vorador looks at him thoughtfully, but says nothing.

Raziel
You seem to know what I am.  Tell me.

Vorador
I thought I did, once.  But now all the prophecies have failed.  The Pillars are corrupted...  I am the last of my kind...and when Moebius's hunters find me, it will have all been for nothing.

Raziel
You've forgotten about Kain.

Vorador
contemplating
Ah yes, Kain... I fear he shoulders a greater burden than he realizes. 
then, to Raziel
I cannot help you - even if I was inclined to.  I crafted the Reaver blade, but only at the behest of my sire, Janos Audron.  What sorcery he and the others laid upon the sword afterward, I cannot say.

Raziel
Janos tried to give me the Reaver before he died.  He said that it was forged for me... but what did he mean?  As my weapon, or my prison?

Vorador
Perhaps you should ask him yourself. 

Raziel
Janos is here?

Vorador
In a manner of speaking.

Vorador presses a series of panels, which opens a secret door in the crypt.  He  ushers Raziel into a small chamber, and steps aside as Raziel realizes what's ensconced here.  An elaborate bier stands in the center of the room, surrounded by flickering candles -- upon the bier lays the body of Janos Audron.
As Raziel approaches the body, Vorador stands back and speaks.

Vorador
The greatest of us all - the father of our race.  The Sarafan tore the heart from his living body five centuries ago.

Raziel steps up to the dais to see the body more closely. Raziel But there's no sign of decay - how is this possible after all these years?  Vorador Somewhere, the Heart still beats.  And while it does, the body will remain preserved.  If his Heart could be restored, Janos might yet be raised. Raziel And you haven't tried to recover it, in all these years?

Vorador
Many times...but our enemies hid the Heart too well.  It was taken as a trophy to Avernus Cathedral centuries ago, where they christened it 'the Heart of Darkness.'   Believing that it embodies the essence of our dark gift, they hid the Heart away, lest it fall into the wrong hands. Our hands.

Raziel steps back down from the dais to face Vorador.

Vorador
Redeem yourself - you may be our last hope.  Perhaps you alone can find the Heart, if it is meant to be found.  If Janos can be resurrected, he will have all the answers you require.

Vorador reaches into his robe and withdraws the key to the library exit, offering it to Raziel.

Vorador
This key will open your way to Avernus.  But be advised, there are dark sorceries at work in the cathedral.  You must be on your guard. 

Vorador then vanishes in a cloud of mist, leaving Raziel standing alone in the chamber.

Raziel enters the library, and finds Vorador at the guard railing, starring down at the room below. 

Vorador Avernus is in flames... and with it, our hopes may evaporate. Raziel How can I find the Heart in the midst of such chaos?  Vorador turns to Raziel --

Vorador
You must act quickly.  But beware - an ancient evil dwells within, long Unspoken among our kind.  Undoubtedly this is the source of the corruption that infects the Circle.  If you are to succeed, you must resist its influence.

Vorador dissipates into mist, once more leaving Raziel alone in the room. 
 
 
 

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