Ariel

Ariel is a recurring character in the Legacy of Kain series, appearing in every title with the exception of Blood Omen 2. She was Kain's immediate predecessor as the human Guardian of the Pillar of Balance. When Ariel was murdered by the Dark Entity (who possessed Mortanius to commit the deed), the discovery of her corpse - her lover, the Mind Guardian, Nupraptor - led Nupraptor to descend into madness, thus causing the corruption of the Pillars. After her death, Ariel's specter was bound to the corrupt Pillars of Nosgoth, which she haunted for many centuries afterward.

As a specter, Ariel acted as a guide to Kain throughout Blood Omen: Legacy of Kain, setting him on his pursuit to restore the Pillars, guiding him throughout, and eventually revealing his true role to him. During the events of Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver, she fulfilled a similar role for Raziel, assisting him in his quest to destroy Kain and restore Nosgoth. She also appeared as a supporting character in both Soul Reaver 2, and in Legacy of Kain: Defiance, in which her spirit was finally restored, released from its eternal limbo, and consumed by the Wraith Blade.

Nothing Left to Fear
Ariel was born to serve the Pillars as Guardian of Balance at some point in the centuries of Nosgoth's early history and, along with the immortality gifted to her by her role; Ariel's "magic influenced the regulation of the other magic in Nosgoth" and her magical prowess was only "rivaled that of her beauty". At some point, Ariel became romantically involved with fellow guardian Nupraptor (Guardian of the Mind) and the two embarked on a controversal relationship, of which other guardians may have disapproved*. The Cult of Hash'ak'gik seducing the Circle of Nine|Circle of Guardians behind the scenes, led to the Dark Entity being able to possess Death Guardian Mortanius and he was able to use the Necromancer's body to murder Ariel, stabbing her as she performed her duties. Nupraptor was first to discover Ariel's corpse and suspecting the involvement of a 'traitor' Pillar Guardian|Guardian, Nupraptor decended into a grief-fuelled madness, which led him to turning his phenomenal psychic powers against the pillars and the guardians themselves - setting off the Corruption of the Pillars.

Like previous Balance Guardians, Ariel's soul was her Pillar Token and as she died, it returned to the Pillar of Balance and Ariel's successor as Balance Guardian, Kain, was born. However, the corruption of the Pillars had to some degree 'frozen' the usual process, and Ariel was trapped at the Pillars (greatly disfigured as the flesh on half her face had been stripped off, exposing her skull) and unable to be spun back into the Wheel of Fate, until 'balance' was restored.

Locked in Eternal Limbo
Thirty years later, Mortanius led Ariel's successor, the young Vampire Kain, to the Pillars and Ariel (believing she would be freed if balance was restored) persuaded Kain to take up the quest to eliminate the corrupted Circle of Guardians (ambiguously offering him "release" when the quest was completed), directing him first to her lover Nupraptor. Throughout Blood Omen, when Kain returned to the Pillars, Ariel was on hand to offer advice and hints about guardians he would face, though she kept him ignorant of his true destiny.

Whilst Kain was away on his quest, Ariel was approached by the Wraith Raziel (for the first time from her perspective but not from his). Raziel had come to the Pillars seeking Ariel's guidance regarding the Vampire Vorador, but Ariel was clearly suspicious of Raziel, believing that he was the Hylden champion. The two briefly debated Ariel's conselling of Kain, before Ariel told Raziel the location of Vorador's Mansion, deep in the Termogent Forest. Ariel hoped that Raziel and Vorador would "molder there together until the end comes".

By the time Kain's quest was completed, "Moebius's mob [had] done it's work" and Vorador had been killed, leaving Kain as the last Vampire in Nosgoth. As Kain finished the last guardian Mortanius and defeated the Dark Entity, he saw that there was still one pillar remaining to restore - the Balance Pillar. Ariel materialized and Kain finally realized that he was Ariel's successor as Balance Guardian and the final corrupted pillar guardian remaining; and only with his death would Nosgoth be restored. Ariel offered Kain his final climatic decision; to sacrifice himself to heal the land (but ensure the vampire's extinction), or to reject the sacrifice and rule the land in its damnation; Kain chose to reject the sacrifice, shattering Ariel's hopes of her release, and damning the Pillars to collapse.

Ghastly Past, Insufferable Future
Ariel was still bound to the Pillars a century after their collapse, when she was approached again by Raziel (from his perspective this was before their meeting in the Blood Omen era). This time Ariel was despondent, lamenting her fate and bitterly angry at Kain for his decision to abandon the Pillars (consciously keeping her imprisoned). Raziel was unusually forced to defend Kain's actions as the two debated his guilt and the role of the dark forces behind the corruption, but taunting her about the possible "eternal" nature of her imprisonment pushed Ariel too far and she retreated to the Spectral Realm (apparently unaware that he could follow). Raziel impatiently followed, continuing to taunt the trapped and terrified spirit, with cruel accusations. Unable to gain any useful answers from her, Raziel wearily relented leaving Ariel behind at the Pillars and once again hinting at her the possibility that she was "merely at the threshold" in terms of her imprisonment.

The Threshold of Purgatory
Ariel would remain bound and restless at the pillars for over a thousand years; bearing witness to the rise of Kain's empire and the building of the Sanctuary of the Clans around the pillars. Ariel would still be imprisoned there as Kain's empire devolved and the Vampire clans scattered. When Raziel returned from his execution in the Abyss as a wraith, he sought out Kain at the Sanctuary of the Clans and there he found Kain apparently awaiting him, after a short battle Kain easily defeated Raziel (see Kain (SR1 first encounter)), striking him with the Reaver, shattering the blade and sending Raziel back to the Spectral Realm.

In the Spectral Realm (along with the Wraith Blade) Raziel found the spectre of Ariel (this was their first meeting from Raziel's perspective). Ariel explained her imprisonment to Raziel, holding Kain's "blind ambition" responsible for her eternal imprisonment. Realizing that they both "shared a common foe", Ariel offered to help Raziel; in a similar vein to her behaviour to Kain in Blood Omen|Blood Omen, she would act as a guide providing hints to Raziel whenever he returned to the Pillars. Ariel's final hint to Raziel, directing to the Chronoplast, was (aptly enough considering the events of Soul Reaver 2) "Be wary, Raziel - those blind with rage are by destiny ensnared". When Raziel retreated through the Chronoplast into the past, Ariel was left in the 'wasteland' Nosgoth.

Rendered Pure by Spirit
At the climax of Defiance, in the Blood Omen era, Raziel activated the Spirit Forge, which called the souls of all the Balance Guardians for "the final baptism of the blade" - The Spirit Reaver enhancement. Ariel represented the former Balance Guardians to Raziel; finally appearing restored and with the "veil" of her own prejudices lifted. She explained that "to restore balance the sword must be rendered pure by Spirit" and when Raziel reached out and gently grabbed her hand, Ariel's soul, "united with the souls of [her] predecessors", was consumed by the Wraith Blade 'releasing' her and gaining Raziel the Spirit Reaver. As she faded Ariel gave Raziel her last piece of advice "You must unite what has been set asunder... only then will the Scion of Balance be armed for his true endeavor" - words which would later help Raziel see his own destiny.

Appearance
Ariel's disfigurement is not elaborated upon; presumably it was gained when she was murdered (making the attack, only partially seen, particularly gruesome). Ariel is never viewed from the front before the attack however.

Ariel's attire varies slightly between games and this is most apparent in Soul Reaver, where (presumably to highlight the corruption in the wastlend Nosgoth) Ariel's clothing is a charcoal colour (as opposed to the usual white/ light grey.

Etymology
Ariel means "Lion of God" or "Altar" in hebrew and is commonly used to refer to an Archangel associated with healing or wrath. At some point in the development of Blood Omen, Ariel was known as "Adonathiel"*. Ariel is also the only Blood Omen era guardian (aside from her sucessor Kain) that does not have another 'title' they are known by.

Appearances

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