Before Nosgoth's recorded history

"This era is of no further use to me. You will operate this device to provide me passage. I want to see the world in a simpler time - before the Sarafan began their crusade."

- Raziel

The era before Nosgoth's recorded history is the earliest known point in Nosgoth's time-stream, spanning several thousand years before the Sarafan brotherhood came into existence. It has not been visited in the Legacy of Kain series, but some of its events are depicted in murals seen in Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver 2, Legacy of Kain: Blood Omen 2 and Legacy of Kain: Defiance.

Overview
This era was considered a time of antiquity within Nosgoth; Raziel referred to it as "a simpler time", prior to humanity's dominion, and long prior to the events which would result in the land's spiritual decay.

Later timelines revealed that it was nevertheless dominated by strife: the ancient vampires and the Hylden had waged an all-out war during this period, each side unleashing a devastating punishment upon the other before its end.

Most of the prophecies which defined Kain and Raziel's journies were formulated in this era, and two elements pivotal to Nosgoth's future - the Pillars of Nosgoth and the Reaver blade - came into being.

Initial known events and information (first timeline)

 * The raising of the Pillars: The nine Pillars of Nosgoth are erected, and are intrinsically tied to the spiritual and physical health of all Nosgoth.


 * The summoning of the Guardians: The first Pillar Guardians are assembled, forming the Circle of Nine. The nine original Guardians swear to protect, represent and serve their individual Pillars. When a Guardian dies, the Pillars cull a successor, destined from birth to fulfill their role.


 * Janos Audron significantly grows in renown, and ultimately becomes known as "the greatest vampire to have ever existed".

Second timeline information and alterations

 * At an indeterminate point in this era, an ancient, primitive cult commences its worship of the Elder God, building a statue representative of the god beneath the Swamp.


 * The vampire-Hylden war: The ancient vampires battle an inhuman enemy race in an apocalyptic war for domination of Nosgoth.


 * The raising of the Pillars: The ancient vampires erect the nine Pillars of Nosgoth to banish their enemies. The Pillars are intrinsically tied to the spiritual and physical health of all Nosgoth. The ancient vampires construct the Subterranean Pillars Chamber.


 * The ancient vampires are somehow afflicted with a predatory blood-thirst.


 * The summoning of the Guardians: The first Pillar Guardians are assembled, forming the Circle of Nine. The nine original Guardians swear to protect, represent and serve their individual Pillars. When a Guardian dies, the Pillars cull a successor, destined from birth to fulfill their role.


 * Janos Audron significantly grows in renown, and ultimately becomes known as "the greatest vampire to have ever existed".


 * The forging of the Reaver: The Reaver is forged.


 * Vorador is born.


 * Vorador is sired by Janos Audron, and becomes a vampire.


 * ("Thousands of years" before the pre-Blood Omen era) Presumably, the Dark and Light Forges are constructed by the ancient vampires. They are sealed and forbidden to all but the prophesied bearer of the Reaver.


 * The ancient vampires' civilization crumbles. Their bloodline trickles away, until Janos Audron is left the sole surviving member of his original race.

Third timeline information and alterations

 * At an indeterminate point in this era, an ancient, primitive cult commences its worship of the Elder God, building a statue representative of the god beneath the Swamp.


 * The vampire-Hylden war: The ancient vampires battle an inhuman enemy race in an apocalyptic war for domination of Nosgoth.


 * The raising of the Pillars: The ancient vampires erect the nine Pillars of Nosgoth to banish their enemies. The Pillars are intrinsically tied to the spiritual and physical health of all Nosgoth.  The ancient vampires construct the Subterranean Pillars Chamber.


 * The enemy race afflicts the ancient vampires with the blood curse.


 * The summoning of the Guardians: The first Pillar Guardians are assembled, forming the Circle of Nine. The nine original Guardians swear to protect, represent and serve their individual Pillars. When a Guardian dies, the Pillars cull a successor, destined from birth to fulfill their role.


 * Janos Audron significantly grows in renown. In future eras, he will become known as "the greatest vampire to have ever existed".


 * The forging of the Reaver: The Reaver is forged.  Janos Audron is summoned to act as an honorary tenth Guardian - the keeper of the Reaver blade.


 * Vorador is born.


 * Vorador is sired by Janos Audron, and becomes a vampire.


 * ("Thousands of years" before the pre-Blood Omen era) Presumably, the Air, Dark and Light Forges are constructed by the ancient vampires. They are sealed and forbidden to all but the prophesied bearer of the Reaver.   The aeries which will become Janos Audron's Retreat are also presumably constructed.


 * The ancient vampires' civilization crumbles. Their bloodline trickles away, until Janos Audron is left the sole surviving member of his original race. The original members of the Circle of Nine die out. The humans of Nosgoth prosper, and eventually seize guardianship of the Pillars from the vampires.


 * (Over further thousands of years subsequent to the ancient vampires' near-extinction) Over the millennia, Janos Audron continues to guard the Reaver alone, awaiting the arrival of the prophesied vampire messiah.

Fourth timeline information and alterations

 * At an indeterminate point in this era, an ancient, primitive cult commences its worship of the Elder God, building a statue representative of the god beneath the Swamp.


 * At an indeterminate point in this era, the Hylden give the primitive, cave-dwelling humans of Nosgoth "all that they [have]" (presumably, advancements in cultural and intellectual sophistication).


 * The ancient vampires, considered god-like and dominant over Nosgoth, ascribe to the doctrine of the Elder God, devoutly worshiping the Wheel of Fate.
 * The Hylden oppose the Elder God, and refuse to submit to the Wheel.


 * (Duration of ~1000 years) The vampire-Hylden war: The ancient vampires declare war upon the Hylden in their god's name, battling their foes in an apocalyptic conflict for domination of Nosgoth.
 * During or before the war, the Vampire Citadel is constructed.
 * Under the direction of the Builder, the Hylden construct the Device to house the Mass, intending to channel the Mass' mental energy through Nosgoth's cities and eradicate all non-Hylden life. Before the weapon and its essential conduits can be completed, the Builder is incarcerated in the Eternal Prison.
 * The Hylden record the events which precipitated the war on murals in what will become the Avernus Catacombs. The prophecies regarding the Scion of Balance, the vampire champion and the Hylden champion are presumably formulated.


 * The raising of the Pillars: The ancient vampires banish the Hylden race to the Demon Realm, and erect the nine Pillars of Nosgoth to secure this Binding. The Pillars are intrinsically tied to the spiritual and physical health of all Nosgoth.  The ancient vampires construct the Subterranean Pillars Chamber.
 * The summoning of the Guardians: The first Pillar Guardians are assembled at the Vampire Citadel, forming the Circle of Nine. The nine original Guardians swear to protect, represent and serve their individual Pillars. When a Guardian dies, the Pillars cull a successor, destined from birth to fulfill their role.
 * Defeated, the Hylden unleash a final retaliation against the ancient vampires, afflicting them with the blood curse. Sterile and immortal, the ancient vampires are divorced from their god and the Wheel of Fate, and are plunged into despair. Many are driven to madness, and resort to suicide.


 * Janos Audron significantly grows in renown. In future eras, he will become known as "the greatest vampire to have ever existed".


 * Vorador is born.


 * The forging of the Reaver: At the behest of Janos Audron, Vorador forges the Reaver blade.  Janos Audron is summoned to act as an honorary tenth Guardian - the keeper of the Reaver blade.
 * Vorador is sired as a vampire by Janos Audron, and becomes the first human in Nosgoth to whom the blood curse is passed. The curse is subsequently passed to more humans, in an attempt to prolong the vampires' bloodline and secure the Binding.


 * ("Thousands of years" before the pre-Blood Omen era) Presumably, the Air, Dark and Light Forges are constructed by the ancient vampires. They are sealed and forbidden to all but the prophesied bearer of the Reaver.   The aeries which will become Janos Audron's Retreat are also presumably constructed.


 * Over time, the ancient vampires begin to die out. As the members of the Circle of Nine perish, they are entombed in the Vampire Citadel. The Pillars begin to summon human Guardians. The ancient vampires begin to routinely abduct and adopt the human Guardians, turning them into vampires as they come of age.
 * Moebius and Mortanius are born. They are abducted by the vampires, and schooled in the prophecies of the Scion of Balance and the champions.
 * In the Vampire Citadel, the Elder God speaks to Moebius for the first time. Moebius begins his secret worship of the Elder, and obtains his staff.
 * The human Guardians' revolt: Through Moebius, the Elder God orchestrates a rebellion among the young human Guardians in defiance of their vampire masters. Moebius and Mortanius lead the revolt. Victorious, the Guardians of the human race claim full ownership of the Pillars.


 * The seminal events of vampire history are recorded in murals throughout the Vampire Citadel.


 * The ancient vampires' civilization crumbles. Their bloodline trickles away, until Janos Audron is left the sole surviving member of his original race. Humanity prospers as the vampires dwindle.


 * (Over further thousands of years subsequent to the ancient vampires' near-extinction) Over the millennia, Janos Audron continues to guard the Reaver alone, awaiting the arrival of the prophesied vampire messiah.

Appearances

 * Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver 2 (depicted only)
 * Legacy of Kain: Blood Omen 2 (depicted only)
 * Legacy of Kain: Defiance (depicted only)

Annotations
