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

Dark Chronicle - Chapter One - Arrival

Raziel has just leapt through the Chronoplast portal in pursuit of Kain, fuelled by blind rage and a thirst for vengeance. As his surroundings coalesce, he finds himself in a domed room, similar to the Chronoplast chamber, but smaller in scale.
Moebius, the Time Streamer, steps forward to greet him.

Moebius:
"Where am I" is the usual question.
In your case, "when?" might be more apt.

Raziel recognizes Moebius, and knows how dangerous he is. As he raises the Reaver in defense, the orb on Moebius's staff flares brightly.
The wraith-blade sputters out and retracts, its wisps of energy dissipating completely.
Alarmed, and now even more suspicious of the sorcerer's motives, Raziel advances on Moebius.

Raziel:
Very well, you old snake - if you'd prefer I use my bare hands...

Raziel lunges at Moebius and grabs him by his scrawny neck, throwing him up against the wall. Moebius feigns surprise and fear for a moment -

Moebius:
This is completely unexpected! This orb disables our vampire enemies, leaving them helpless and incapacitated.
Strangely, it seems to have the same effect on that peculiar weapon of yours.
But you must believe me - I mean you no harm.

Raziel:
You can drop the benevolent façade, Moebius.
I know who - and what - you are. I should kill you where you stand...

As Raziel speaks, Moebius's demeanour changes. He no longer appears to be an addled old magician - this Moebius is composed, confident, and completely in control.

Moebius: (laughing)
Perhaps you should, my boy. But you don't.

Raziel tightens his grip a bit on Moebius's throat.

Raziel:
Are you so certain of that, Moebius?

Moebius appears completely unfazed by Raziel's threats.

Moebius:
My role as Time Guardian affords me a certain level of omniscience, Raziel.
No, you don't kill me. That honor belongs to your maker, Kain, some thirty years from now.

Raziel releases him roughly, with disgust.

Raziel:
Hmph. You two are a pair - you're just as fatalistic as he is.

Moebius: (laughing softly)
Death comes for us all, Raziel. It's just a matter of time.

Completely composed, Moebius turns his back on Raziel and exits the chamber.

Raziel:
How is it that you know my name? We have never met.

Moebius:
On the contrary, Raziel - I know you very well...
And it grieves me to see how cruelly Kain has used you.
I knew you when you were one of the Sarafan brotherhood, Raziel. We were even close.

Raziel: (with revulsion)
Oh please.

Moebius:
Fortunately, you need not love me now to be my ally...

Raziel follows Moebius into the adjacent room - the walls of this octagonal chamber are decorated with murals memorializing the six martyred Circle guardians, slaughtered here many centuries ago.
The slain guardians are depicted in beatific imagery, while their murderer - the vampire Vorador - is demonized.
In the center of the room stands a distinctive basin engraved with arcane symbols.

Raziel:
Are we within the Stronghold of the Sarafan priesthood?

Moebius:
Yes, but the glorious days of the Sarafan have long since passed, I'm afraid.
This is a more... cynical and indecorous age.
My mercenary army now inhabits this stronghold - we strive to honor the memory of the Sarafan with our own humble crusade.

Raziel studies the surrounding murals, intrigued.

Raziel:
Is this the vampire Vorador?

Moebius:
Yes, the scourge of the Circle. The most depraved and decadent example of his whole degenerate race.
He slaughtered six of my fellow Guardians as they cowered, defenseless in this room.

Raziel: (incredulous)
And you somehow survived this massacre?

Moebius:
I, and two others. The Circle was devastated; only we three were spared.

Raziel: (disdainful)
How convenient.
You'll forgive me if I don't naively devour every scrap of information you toss me. You have a reputation for deceit.

Moebius:
And who has slandered me so?
Your malefactor Kain? The one who betrayed and destroyed you? Our common enemy?
Consider the source, before you judge me too harshly.
We'll forget about rekindling our old friendship, then. But consider an alliance based on our common ground -
We both want Kain dead.
I can help you do it.

Raziel:
You don't want to meddle in this, old man.
I know all about your sordid little schemes, but you're simply out of your depth on this one.

Moebius:
You underestimate me, Raziel.
Let me show you...

Moebius ignites the four candles that stand on the basin's edge, and an image slowly materializes in the mystical waters of the bowl.
The image in the basin coalesces, and Kain is revealed. Raziel leans over the basin and peers in, mesmerized.

Moebius:
Even now, Kain is lying in wait for you, unaware that I've snatched you out of the time-stream and brought you here to me.

The image wavers, and we see that Kain is standing in a clearing, beneath the Pillars of Nosgoth, apparently waiting...

Moebius:
See how he lingers at the very Pillars he is destined to destroy, foolishly confident that he has eluded your grasp.

Raziel: (fascinated)
The Pillars are still standing in this time?

Moebius:
Yes, Raziel - they are the embodiment of the divine force which preserves the life of our world.
We who serve the Pillars maintain their delicate balance - and Kain is destined to be the fulcrum upon which that balance turns.
I believe you have already endured the wasteland wrought by his terrible, selfish decision.
Kain's very existence is a cancer upon this world. As long as he lives, all of Nosgoth is in peril.

The image in the basin wavers and fades out completely.

Moebius:
You may never again be human, Raziel...
But you can re-embrace the essence of your humanity, and the nobility of your Sarafan heritage.
Go to him, Raziel, and end this.
But first you will need to find your way out of the Stronghold - and in this, I'm afraid, I cannot help you.
My soldiers will not understand your appearance here; they will try to kill you.
You needn't fear them, of course. They're no match for you.
Try to keep the casualties to a minimum, but do what you have to do.

Moebius: (ominously)
All great movements require a few martyrs...

Moebius vanishes, leaving Raziel alone in the chamber.

PREVIOUS PAGE - NEXT PAGE