Lower City

The Lower City is a playable location in Meridian featured in Blood Omen 2. Chapter 3: In Darkness We Gather takes place entirely in the Lower City.

When Kain was first roused by Umah he found himself in the Slums. Once trained, Umah suggested that they should travel to Sanctuary in the Lower City and meet the mysterious leader of the Cabal. Unfortunately they were separated by a Ward Gate and Kain was forced to find an alternate route through the Smuggler's Den and Smuggler's Tunnel to find a hidden passage to the Lower City.

The Lower City itself was the first part of Meridian Kain encountered that was regularly patrolled and 'looked after' by the Sarafan, the streets were all paved (or cobbled) and were well lit and clean, including large symbols and statues. (in stark contrast to the more run-down appearance of the Slums and the Smuggler's Den.). The Lower City had a bigger population than any of the areas Kain had encountered so far; hence he could overhear many conversations and read many signs and posters. There were also a variety of businesses and amenities in the area. The majority of the Lower City seemed to be centred around a long wide 'main street' that was broken up by Ward Gates.

When Kain arrived in the Lower City he met Umah once again, she had been sent on a mission to investigate the Industrial Quarter and instead of guiding Kain to Sanctuary personally, she directed Kain on a complicated trail that led him to get information from Cabal Contacts The Tapster of the Red Raven Pub and The News Vendor. Using many different methods to bypass the Ward Gates on the Main street (including using sewers and rooftops, using workers passwords, breaking into shop and houses, vandalising his way through a warehouse and finally deactivating the Ward Gates.) Kain is able to find the Blue Lady Curios shop that hides Sanctuary. He is briefly distracted by Sebastian (who Kain does not yet remember) before he enters Sanctuary and meets the Cabal and it's leader, Vorador.

Inside Sanctuary the meeting is interrupted by injured Cabal Vampire who tells Vorador that Umah has been captured after discovering something significant in the Industrial Quarter. With Umah taken to the Sarafan Keep, Vorador sent Kain to find out the location of the secret entrance to the Sarafan Keep from the Bishop of Meridian in the Upper City.