Light Forge (Soul Reaver 2)

The Light Forge was an elemental Reaver forge encountered by Raziel in Soul Reaver 2. Created by the Ancient vampires, the forge was located on the eastern banks of the Great Southern Lake in the south of Nosgoth and was the second forge encountered by Raziel in the game, initially discovered after Raziel left the Sarafan Stronghold in the Pre-Blood Omen era and entered shortly after Raziel had imbued the Dark Reaver at the Dark Forge. Completing the puzzle of the forge, Raziel was able to imbue the Wraith Blade with elemental Light, creating the Light Reaver.

Role
Returning to the main chamber with the forge key, Raziel was able to place it in the main statue, causing it to rise up and activate the forge altar hidden beneath it. Imbuing the Wraith Blade with the elemental Light therein created the Light Reaver and activating all Light-affiliated Reaver fonts.

As Raziel left the forge he discovered that Reaver bolts from the Light Reaver could activate special Light crystals, and he was ultimately able to use this ability to re-enter the Sarafan Stronghold and its Time-streaming chambers

Design and Layout

 * The final passageway at the north end of the grassy trail led northward down a long straight darkened corridor marked by star-shaped symbols on the floor and at the end of the corridor the passageway widened into a small square room decorated with subtle vampire depictions on the walls with a wide staircase at the north leading between several small pillars to a raised platform in the north. The final room behind was a similarly square shape with a small construction containing a Sentry eye at the north of the room protecting the Light Forge key positioned on a star-shaped holder just north of the center of the room. An hourglass-shaped floor covering and a darkness symbol at the southern end marked the range of the sentry and the appropriate targeting location.

Connections
Form the open room with the large pillars behind the main chamber ("Light7")
 * The Southern gate leads into the main forge chamber ("Light1"), where the southern 'solution mural' door leads through a small chamber ("Light21") into the entrance mural chamber ("Light20") and on through the entrance passage ("Lake9"), emerging at the 'inner' lake area ("Lake3").
 * The southwestern passage leads south through the corridor ("Light16") connecting to the western dark sealed door in the main chamber ("Light1").
 * The central western passage leads north into a small 'pillar mural' room where the first Reflector is gained. ("Light9").
 * The northern passage leads down a long corridor ("Light14") to a chamber containing the Light Forge key ("Light6").
 * The southeastern passage splits - the southern passage leading through a corridor ("Light17") connecting to the eastern dark sealed door in the main chamber ("Light1"); the northern passage heads down a wide corridor to the 'gravestone room' ("Light3").
 * The high eastern opening leads down a wide corridor ("Light8") to the upper level of the 'gravestone room' ("Light3").
 * the high western opening leads to a small 'pillar mural' room where the second Reflector is gained, which connects with the western corridor below ("Light16").

Background
Like the other Reaver forges of Soul Reaver 2, the Light forge was based upon distinct architectural elements from real-world ancient temples, with The Light forge particularly related to real world Ancient Egyptian architecture and temple design. Design elements and features associated with Ancient Egypt include apparent limestone and sandstone construction materials, a grand column-lined hypostyle hall,Cavetto cornices atop walls and columns, hieroglyphic-like Ancient runes, pictorial frescoes and carvings, an open peristyle court, a central idol and many symbols and features related to Solar worship.

The Light Forge also seems to be one of the first playable sections of Soul Reaver 2 completed - it is unclear if any sections were completed for the cancelled Dreamcast version before the title was moved to the PlayStation 2,  though prerelease imagery depicts a number of locations visually identifiable as within the Light forge.

Appearances

 * Soul Reaver 2