Fire Forge (Soul Reaver 2)

The Fire Forge was an elemental Reaver forge encountered by Raziel in Soul Reaver 2. Created by the Ancient vampires, the forge was located within Janos Audron's retreat and was the fourth and last forge encountered by Raziel in the game, only discovered after meeting with Janos in Nosgoth's early history. Completing the puzzle of the forge to imbue the blade with elemental Fire, creating the Fire Reaver

Role
The Fire Forge was a playable location in Soul Reaver 2, indicated as one of the main areas on the World map - shown as encompassing an area in the northeast of Nosgoth just north of the entrance to Janos Audron's Retreat, and within the top level of the hollow mountain structure that composed the internal rooms of the retreat. The Forge was the fourth and last of the ancient elemental forges found by Raziel in Soul Reaver 2, being discovered in Nosgoth's early history in Chapter 8: Vampire Interview.

After solving the Dark, Light and Air Forges, Raziel traveled back to Nosgoth's early history, attempting to reach Ancient vampire Janos Audron before his death. Arriving at Janos Audron's Retreat in Chapter 8: Vampire Interview, Raziel was able to enter the retreat and ascend through it ti the upper levels where he could find Janos's private chamber and the ancient vampire himself. However as Raziel conversed with Janos, their meeting was interrupted by the Sarafan warrior inquisitors who had followed Raziel through the retreat and arrived bearing Moebius's Staff. Ostensibly to protect Raziel, Janos teleported Raziel to the nearby sealed Fire Forge.

Completing the puzzle of the forge by using a Light crystal to change the liquid level(a red substance, possibly Blood, which behaved the same as ordinary Water), utilizing various Air updrafts to glide across the forge and ultimately using several torches to move a Fire source between several different braziers and upto the main actyivation point of the forge, Raziel was able power the forge - using it to imbue the Wraith Blade with elemental Fire and create the Fire Reaver, which enabled him to unlock the sealed door and return to Janos's private chambers.

Raziel returned just in time to witness Janos's death, as his former Sarafan self tore the Heart of Darkness from Janos' chest and fled with the other inquisitors, taking the Reaver blade with them. Speaking with the dying Janos one last time, Raziel set off to avenge himself on his former brethren.

Design and Layout
Like the other elemental forges, The Fire Forge is illustrated on the World map simply as a Fire symbol and no effort is made to outline its area. In game, the forge appears to be high up and roughly in the center (or east-central area) of the retreat, however the maps shows it as slightly north of the area identified as Janos's retreat on maps - it appears that the area identified as the retreat is only by an outline oif the externally visible areas (like the main facade) and does not include the internal areas of the retreat, most of which are north of the Fire Forge.

In contrast to the other forge in Soul Reaver 2, which were all large complicated buildings featuring many rooms, the Fire Forge was a much simpler area, set within a large single room which altered depending upon conditions.

Connections
From the balcony overlooking the main forge.
 * The large chamber below and to the north is the main forge chamber ("Fire 1")
 * The northeast passage leads into a small room containing a save altar ("Fire1")
 * The northwest passage leads through a small corridor to a chamber containing a Fire font ("Fire2") and on through another corridor to the Sealed doors leading back to the retreat ("Fire3"). Beyond the doorway the passage emerges in the top-level northern balcony in Janos's chamber within Janos Audron's Retreat ("Janos7")

Appearances

 * Soul Reaver 2