First timeline

The first timeline is the earliest-experienced iteration of Nosgoth's history in the Legacy of Kain series. It is the timeline in which the majority of Blood Omen: Legacy of Kain occurs, but not necessarily the first timeline in existence. It was characterized by the corruption of William the Just by Moebius, and the rise of the Legions of the Nemesis, which would "lay waste" to Nosgoth.

The timeline was derailed by the first paradox, caused when Kain and William battled in the pre-Blood Omen era with two incarnations of the Soul Reaver. However, Kain retained memories of this version of history throughout the rest of the Legacy of Kain series, and utilized them to his advantage in Soul Reaver 2.

Before Nosgoth's recorded history (millennia)

 * The Genesis 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.


 * During this era, Moebius, the Guardian of Time, Mortanius, the Guardian of Death, and Vorador, the future patriarch of the vampires, are presumably born.

Nosgoth's early history (over 450 years)

 * At indeterminate points before or at the start of this era, the human Guardians of Balance, Conflict (Malek), Dimension, Energy, the Mind, Nature and States, who will actively serve during Vorador's later attack on the Circle of Nine, are born.


 * At an indeterminate point before or during this era, an unknown seer predicts the future rise of the Legions of the Nemesis.


 * At an indeterminate point before or during this era, a small cult devoted to a mysterious god - connected to tales of human possession - begins operating.


 * Nosgoth's vampire population increases, incurring the attention of the Circle.


 * Headquartered at the Sarafan Stronghold, the Circle of Nine forms and sponsors the monastic Sarafan brotherhood to counter the vampire menace. Malek serves as its leader and general.


 * (~30-40 years before ~0) The human Raziel is born.
 * (During the same approximate timeframe) The humans Dumah, Melchiah, Rahab, Turel and Zephon are born.


 * Dumah, Melchiah, Rahab, Raziel, Turel and Zephon join the Sarafan, and are trained to be devoutly loyal to the Circle of Nine.
 * The six become the commanding warrior inquisitors of the brotherhood.


 * The vampire purge: The Sarafan wage war on Nosgoth's vampires. Malek leads the brotherhood to many victories, killing thousands of the vampire race. Several of Vorador's friends, lovers and vampire children are slain, but he and Janos Audron elude their attacks.


 * Janos Audron is murdered by the Sarafan. His heart, the Heart of Darkness, is ripped from his chest and later pronounced a relic.


 * (~0) The slaughter of the Circle: Vorador fights back against the human Circle for their sponsorship of the Sarafan, infiltrating the Sarafan Stronghold and killing the Balance, Dimension, Energy, Mind, Nature and States Guardians. He battles, defeats and humiliates their protector, Malek.
 * Six new Guardians are born (variously Anarcrothe, Ariel, Azimuth, Bane, DeJoule and Nupraptor, or unseen predecessors to them).
 * Dumah, Melchiah, Rahab, Raziel, Turel and Zephon die in combat.


 * In Avernus Cathedral, Mortanius punishes Malek for his failure, fusing Malek's soul to a suit of magical armor. Malek is condemned to serve as the unliving Ward of the Circle.


 * The corpses of the six martyred Sarafan warrior inquisitors are interred in the Tomb of the Sarafan.


 * The ongoing vampire purges force Vorador into hiding. He becomes lost to Nosgoth, ensconsing himself in his mansion in the Termogent Forest.


 * (Long before ~450) The Sarafan disband, and their crusade ceases.

Pre-Blood Omen era (~50 years)

 * (Years before ~0) William the Just is born. At a young age, he inherits rulership of the kingdom which will become known as the Land of the Nemesis.


 * Moebius attempts to rally the villagers loyal to William, and secures an audience with the king.


 * (~0) ← Using his time-streaming device, Kain escapes from the Battle of the Last Stand in the Blood Omen era, emerging here, nearly 50 years in the past.
 * Kain travels to the Land of the Nemesis, intending to kill William before he can become the Nemesis and ravage Nosgoth.
 * In the stronghold of William the Just, Kain watches as Moebius provides William with the Soul Reaver and other weapons, and warns William of a vampire sent to slay him.
 * The first paradox : Kain attempts to slay William in battle. Both combatants are armed with incarnations of the Soul Reaver, triggering a history-distorting Reaver-convergence.
 * → This timeline is derailed and dies, spawning the altered second timeline. → 
 * Kain fails to slay William, and history proceeds as normal. Kain's fate is uncertain.


 * (~0-40) Moebius continues to conspire with William, resulting in the creation of the prophesied fanatical and ruthless Legions of the Nemesis. William becomes known as the Nemesis, an unstoppable tyrant destined to bring about the end of civilization. Over time, many cities fall to the Legions on their gradual march from the north.


 * Mortanius is possessed by the Dark Entity.


 * (~20) Possessing Mortanius's body, the Dark Entity murders Ariel. Kain, her successor as Guardian of Balance, is born to an aristocratic family. Ariel's specter begins to haunt the Pillars of Nosgoth.
 * The corruption of the Pillars: Nupraptor, Ariel's lover, finds her corpse and realises that Mortanius was responsible for her death. Overwhelmed with grief and suspicions of treachery, Nupraptor plunges into madness, unleashing a psychic onslaught directed at the entire Circle of Nine. Throughout all Nosgoth, the minds of the sensitive and intellectual are blasted by waves of hatred. The Circle is permanently left mentally corrupted, and the Pillars physically crack and corrode.


 * The insane and deranged Guardians unleash their powers against Nosgoth, with malicious intent. Anarcrothe, Bane and DeJoule create the Dark Eden. Nupraptor practices self-mutilation, sewing his own eyes and lips shut, and terrorizes pilgrims who journey to his retreat near Vasserbünde.


 * King Ottmar of Willendorf holds a contest to celebrate his daughter's birthday, offering a royal favor to the creator of the finest doll in the realm. Among hundreds of submissions, Elzevir the Dollmaker's entry is proclaimed the winner. Elzevir takes a lock of the Princess' hair in payment.
 * Elzevir traps the Princess' soul in a burlap and silk doll. The Princess becomes lifeless, plunging Ottmar into despair.


 * Coorhagen, Kain's home city, is struck by the plague.


 * (~50) Kain departs Coorhagen, embarking on a journey across Nosgoth.
 * Mortanius recruits a band of assassins to murder Kain.
 * At night, Kain attempts to seek shelter at a tavern in Ziegsturhl, but is denied entry. Forced to the road, he is slain by the hired assassins.
 * Kain's body is interred in his mausoleum in the Cemetery.

Blood Omen era (~1 year)

 * (During, or shortly before, ~0) Azimuth begins summoning and unleashing demons on Avernus, setting the city on fire. Trade from Avernus to Vasserbünde ceases.


 * (~0) Mortanius offers Kain the opportunity to avenge himself in the Underworld. Kain hastily accepts, and is reborn as a vampire.
 * Kain awakes in his mausoleum, and kills his assassins near Ziegsturhl. Informed by Mortanius that the true culprits still live, and seeking a cure to his vampirism, he meets the specter of Ariel at the Pillars of Nosgoth, who instructs him to destroy the corrupt Circle of Nine and restore the Pillars.
 * Kain travels through Nachtholm and Vasserbünde, and infiltrates Nupraptor's Retreat. He beheads Nupraptor and returns the head to the Pillars. The Pillar of the Mind is restored.
 * Passing through the plague-ridden Coorhagen, Kain travels to northern Nosgoth and flies to Malek's Bastion. He attempts to destroy Malek, but fails. Kain travels to the Oracle's Cave in search of a means to defeat Malek.
 * Moebius, posing as the Oracle of Nosgoth, advises Kain to seek Vorador in the Termogent Forest. Kain meets Vorador, who gives Kain his Signet Ring. Kain travels to Dark Eden and kills Bane and DeJoule, while Vorador destroys Malek.
 * Kain returns Bane's Antler Headdress, DeJoule's Insulating Cloak and Malek's Helmet to the Pillars. The Pillars of Conflict, Energy and Nature are restored.
 * Kain journeys south through Avernus. In Avernus Cathedral, he discovers the Soul Reaver, and claims it for his own. With the Reaver, he slays Azimuth, and obtains the time-streaming device she stole from Moebius.
 * Kain returns Azimuth's Eye to the Pillars. The Pillar of Dimension is restored. Ariel advises Kain to combat the Legions of the Nemesis.
 * In Willendorf's Provincial Mines, Kain drinks the blood of one of King Ottmar's noble forefathers, gaining the Beguile ability. Using this, he infiltrates Willendorf Castle and meets King Ottmar, who offers his kingdom to whomever can restore his daughter to life. Kain hunts down and kills Elzevir, and returns the Princess' soul to Ottmar. Ottmar and Kain join forces against the Nemesis.


 * The Battle of the Last Stand: Led by Ottmar and Kain, the Army of the Last Hope meets the Legions of the Nemesis in battle. The Legions are victorious, decimating the Army of Hope, killing Ottmar and cornering Kain. Kain retreats by activating the time-streaming device, and is propelled 50 years backward in time to the pre-Blood Omen era. →

(No later events in this timeline are covered in the series.)

Appearances

 * Blood Omen: Legacy of Kain