Pillars of Nosgoth

The Pillars of Nosgoth - are a manifestation of the elements that preserved and gave life to the world. A semi-sentient edifice towering high into the Earth's atmosphere and deep into the ground; it consists of nine mystical columns of white marble, each representing a different function; Mind, Nature, Energy, States, Time, Dimension, Conflict, Death and Balance; which binds them all together. The Pillars were created by the as means to seal away their enemies, the Hylden race. Selecting nine random beings from birth, the Pillars empower each individual with magical abilities related to the element of the Pillar they will serve and protect. These beings are a group of sorcerers known as the Circle of Nine.

Thousands of years before the Blood Omen 1 storyline, there was a great war between the two dominating races of Nosgoth; the Hylden and the Winged Vampires. The war lasted over a thousand years and both races were devising a way to end the war once and for all. However, before the Hylden's plan could be carried out, the Vampires set theirs into motion. They banished the Hylden into a Demonic dimension and created the Pillars of Nosgoth to seal away the passages between the two worlds.

During their stay within the demon dimension, the Hylden plotted a way to bring down the Pillars and free themselves from their prison. The Hylden Lord (referred to as the Dark Entity) began by attacking the Circle of Nine. He possessed the guardian of the Pillar of Death, Mortanius and using him, he murdered Ariel, guardian of the Balance Pillar; calculating the effects of her murder. Ariel's lover, Nupraptor of the Pillar of Mind, was driven mad by her murder. So much so that it over-flowed and infected the other Circle members since they were all symbiotically bond to each other. The Pillars were also corrupted and began to crumble as a result.

The Hylden were aware that Kain was the next Balance guardian, but they didn't count on his death and rebirth. Mortanius had Kain assassinated and raised as a Vampire (fully aware that he was creating the Scion of Balance) in atonement for murdering Ariel and rebelling against his former masters; the Ancients. He, along with Ariel, guided Kain in his quest to destroy the Circle. However, the Hylden's plans were still in motion. Once all of the Circle members were dead, leaving only Kain, the Dark Entity attempted to kill Kain himself (possibly as insurance, just-in-case Kain decided to sacrifice his life) but was defeated.

In the end, Nupuraptor's mental corruption of his fellow guardians worked to the Hylden's advantage. Kain refused the sacrifice and damned the Pillars to collapse. The Hylden Lord was then free to possess the recently resurrected Janos Audron and using his blood, was able to bring his own body and some of his race back into Nosgoth. Far into the future, Kain eventually established the empire he had longed for. Using the collapsed Pillars as the base of his empire; he made the Balance Pillar his throne.