This page is part of a frameset. Click here to reload the frameset including navigation.

Chapter Two - The Den - "Creatures Of The Night"

The Lair Of The Lawless

Kain enters the Smuggler's Den region of Meridian. Suddenly, he hears Umah's voice.

Umah: (WHISPERING)
Greetings, Kain.

Kain: (WHISPERING)
You eluded the guards?

Umah: (WHISPERING)
They were only human.
Welcome to one of the glories of our fair city - the Smuggler's Den. As squalored as you found the Slums, you will find this place even more offensive. Rogues and thieves rule the streets, and of course the Sarafan too have their own dealings here.
You may expect small help from the inhabitants, and more trouble.

Kain: (WHISPERING)
I do not require their hospitality.
You spoke of a Smuggler's Tunnel I must find?

Umah: (WHISPERING)
Yes.
It is hidden somewhere in this district, I know not where. I have sent word to a member of the Cabal to help you. You will find him at the tavern, deep within this district.

Kain: (WHISPERING)
How will I know this person?

Umah: (WHISPERING)
He will know you.
Find the tavern quickly. We will speak again later.

When Kain reaches the tavern, he encounters a human on the stairway.

Contact:
Ah. Um, sir. A moment of your time.

Kain:
You know me?

Contact:
I was instructed to look for you, yes. Yes, sir.
I am a friend of the Cabal's, sir, one of many in the city. I am here to assist you.

Kain:
Then do, by all means.

Contact:
The Smuggler's Tunnel you seek is hidden in a cavern underground. The thieves enter by way of the church outside, but there is no entrance there for any but themselves. You, sir, must go beyond the church and find a lift. This will take you underground.

Kain:
Where precisely is this lift?

Contact:
In a collapsed section of the district beyond the church. The church, remember sir, is forbidden to all but the thieves. The guards there will attack you should they but lay eyes on you.

Kain:
I will be most careful.

The bartender looks across the tavern and notices Kain standing at the bottom of the stairwell. He recognizes him as a vampire, and scared by his realization, raises the alarm -

Bartender:
Help! Somebody help me, please! Guards, call the Sarafan!

Two Sarafan guards arrive outside of the tavern. Kain goes up the stairs and eludes them by locating and leaving through the back door.
Kain finds and uses the lift. Two Glyphwrights disappear from the tunnel before him as the lift reaches the ground. As he arrives at the end of the tunnel, Kain sees a Glyphwright conversing with someone - the same individual who, unbeknownst to Kain, murdered the Grand Hotel contact. Their business concluded, the two part company.

Faustus

Soon after, Kain catches up with the unknown murderer. In a small circular room, he is forced into a confrontation. His opponent is walking around the room's balcony.

Faustus:
Well, well. Our lord was correct, you are alive.
Do you remember me, Kain, who served you so well?

The vampire walks into the light, allowing Kain to identify him -

Kain V.O.:
It was Faustus, one of the legionnaires of my army of vampires. An indifferent soldier, but now a traitor to our race.

Faustus laughs, and somersaults off the balcony to land in front of Kain. He circles his former leader as Kain addresses him.

Kain:
Faustus. It's true then, I hardly believed it. Vampires have turned against their own kind.

Faustus stops to reply -

Faustus:
What is our kind? In serving the Sarafan I have protection - I have power. And who better to hunt down a vampire than a more powerful vampire? History is written by the winners, Kain. That is my kind.

Kain:
How many of us have been destroyed by the Sarafan? How many have been brought to their deaths by you?

Faustus:
I care not for those destined to die. I don't weep for them, and I won't weep for you.

Kain:
Look around you, Faustus. Does your victory seem so assured now?

Faustus:
A fleeting setback. Our lord knows of your presence; he beat you before and he will bury you now.

Kain:
But you will never know how it ends, Faustus, for I will bury you first of all.

Kain and Faustus fight. After a while, Faustus leads Kain into another room -

Faustus:
I have a surprise for you, Kain.

Faustus jumps onto one of four ledges above Kain, and throws firebombs at him. Kain tries to pull the levers below the ledges, but he has to reach them without being seen.

As Faustus throws the firebombs -

Faustus:
Catch! (repeated for each bomb thrown)

If Kain is spotted before pulling the lever -

Faustus: Can't catch me!
   or Too slow, fool.

If Kain pulls the lever without being seen, Faustus will jump off the ledge to save himself -

Faustus:
What's this? (screams)

If Faustus cannot see Kain when he returns to the ledges -

Faustus:
Come out where I can kill you!

When Faustus is finally defeated, Kain absorbs the Dark Gift 'Jump' from his body.

PREVIOUS PAGE - NEXT PAGE