Turel

"Yes - I am changed. I have become a god. Greater than you ever were, Raziel. You were never a god. Greater even than Kain!"

- Turel

Turel is a major character in the Legacy of Kain series, originally planned to feature in (but largely cut from) Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver, and making appearances in Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver 2 and Legacy of Kain: Defiance. Initially born as a human in the Sarafan era, Turel was raised as the second of Kain's Vampire Lieutenants in the post-Blood Omen 2 era. Turel, in turn, raised his own Vampire clan - the Turelim - who participated in the conquest of Nosgoth.

Alongside Dumah, Turel participated in the execution of Raziel, and succeeded Raziel as Kain's second-in-command. Upon returning as a wraith, Raziel was unable to locate Turel in the Soul Reaver era, but unexpectedly found his brother in the Blood Omen era of the fatal paradox timeline: Turel was, in fact, the dark god of the Cult of Hash'ak'gik, summoned backwards through time to serve as a vessel for Hylden possession.

In Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver 2, Turel was voiced by Richard Doyle, and by Gregg Berger in Legacy of Kain: Defiance.

Noble Aspirations
"And here at last was my brother Turel, who along with Dumah would bear me into the abyss without questioning Kain’s command. So dutiful and righteous, even as a Vampire... I guess some habits die hard."

- Raziel, on encountering the Sarafan Turel

Born as a human at some point in the Sarafan era, Turel would go on to join the Sarafan Brotherhood, eventually reaching the highly-respected rank of Sarafan Warrior Inquisitor, and serving as Raziel's second-in-command. Upon his death, Turel was beatified as a "Sarafan saint", and his corpse was interred in the Tomb of the Sarafan, memorialized alongside his comrades Dumah, Malek, Melchiah, Rahab, Raziel and Zephon. When Kain discovered a method of creating Vampires single-handedly, he stole into the Tomb, reanimating the martyrs to serve as his Vampire "sons". Turel was the second of the six Lieutenants Kain raised, surpassed only by Raziel. Turel served Kain as part of the Council for over a thousand years, raising the Turelim clan and assisting in the conquest of the world's human Kingdoms. Turel was present at the Sanctuary of the Clans when Raziel revealed his wings to Kain, and when Kain ordered Raziel's demise, the "dutiful and righteous" Turel did not question his master. He actively participated in the execution, casting Raziel into the Abyss alongside Dumah upon Kain's command. With Raziel vanquished, Turel assumed his position as Kain's chief Lieutenant. His clan territory was presumably situated near the smokestacks east of the Oracle's Caves.

The Bond of Gratitude
"I heard what you did to them... And now you have found me at last."

- Turel, to Raziel

Five centuries later, when Raziel returned to Nosgoth as a wraith, he was eager to exact revenge on his former brethren, harboring particular enmity for Turel and Dumah for their participation in his killing. Turel, however, "eluded [his] vengeance": Raziel devoured the souls of four of his former fellow Lieutenants, but did not encounter his final surviving brother in his pursuit of Kain. As the only remaining member of the Council in the post-Soul Reaver era, Turel continued to reign over Nosgoth - alone - for an indefinite time, and beheld a period of "darkness and great hunger" as he grotesquely pupated. In the third paradox timeline, when Raziel traveled back in time to the Sarafan era, he unearthed more of Turel's history, along with his own. In this age, Turel had infiltrated Janos Audron's Retreat alongside his comrades, Raziel, Dumah, Zephon and Melchiah, and assisted in the slaying of Janos Audron: Turel was entrusted with Moebius' Staff, and incapacitated Janos while Raziel tore the Heart of Darkness from his chest. Before fleeing with his brothers-in-arms - the Reaver in tow - Turel commented on how the black heart continued to beat while dismembered. Janos' murder had dire consequences for Turel, as the time-traveling future incarnation of Raziel had followed the Inquisitors back to their base at the Sarafan Stronghold to avenge Janos and reclaim the heart.

Assaulting the Stronghold at the same time as Vorador's legendary attack on the Circle of Nine, Raziel claimed the Reaver and confronted Turel in the Chapel, having killed Melchiah, Zephon, Rahab and Dumah just prior. Unmoved by Turel's threats and insults, Raziel seized the chance to annihilate this incarnation of his former brother, having relished the opportunity to kill Turel since his resurrection. In doing so, Raziel "reveled as [he] colluded with [Kain] across the centuries", providing the corpse which Kain would reanimate one thousand years hence.

Humbled Goals
"Why stay? Would I remain if I could get out? While they hound me and tear at me and --"

- Turel, on his captivity

As a result of the fatal paradox, Raziel managed to postpone his destiny to enter the Reaver blade, attaining another opportunity to exact revenge on Turel. During the Blood Omen era, he sought out the Heart of Darkness, and infiltrated Avernus Cathedral on Vorador's advice, where he was able to uncover a secret portal to the Avernus Catacombs. There, he witnessed Mortanius and a host of Cenobites carrying out a "bloody ritual" to the god, Hash'ak'gik, upon the Altar of the World. When the ceremony concluded, Raziel peered into the gaping chasm below the altar, and was telekinetically thrust forth into its depths.

At first, neither realized the identity of the other, but the "so-called god" inhabiting the "hideous pit" was, in fact, Turel. With the Time Streaming Device she had stolen from Moebius, the Guardian of the Pillar of Dimension - Azimuth - had summoned Turel from the post-Soul Reaver era to be utilized as an impressive, durable mouthpiece for the Cult of Hash'ak'gik. Physically unable to escape and possessed by several Hylden, Turel's voice was used to command the cult's followers. Over time, these frequent possessions resulted in his becoming increasingly deranged, and he accepted his identity as the "god", Hash'ak'gik, subsiding on the gory human sacrifices cast to him by his human worshipers.

No More Worship
"No -- no more questions. No more worship. Time to run - time to scream - time to die..."

- Turel

Unaware of the creature's identity, Raziel brandished the Wraith Blade at the "monster" in Turel's Pit. After sniffing Raziel further and hearing his voice, however, Turel recognized his brother, commenting on Raziel's execution and the fratricide he had committed against the Council in the Soul Reaver era; though incredulous, Raziel likewise deduced and confirmed Turel's identity. Boasting of his deification, Turel somewhat confusedly explained that he had been "summoned" and "found", and was "hounded" and visibly tormented by the possession he had suffered. As they spoke, Turel was suddenly possessed by several Hylden, who urged Raziel to confront and kill the Vampire Champion. Shaking off their possession, Turel crazedly exclaimed that he required Raziel's blood to "strengthen [himself] against them", and attacked him.

During the battle, Turel used several enhanced telekinetic barrages against Raziel, with most of his attacks utilizing his advanced sense of hearing to locate Raziel. Raziel was able to turn this advantage against Turel, however, by striking one of several gongs in the pit to temporarily stun him. Dying, Turel willingly invited Raziel to end his life, but was possessed one final time by the Hylden, who impelled Raziel to hurry in his endeavor. With Turel's demise, Raziel devoured his brother's soul, gaining his enhanced telekinesis. He also appeared to absorb a measure of Hylden essence, enabling them to "fuel his rage" in his subsequent confrontation with Kain.

"We shall all be... free..."

- Turel's dying words