Termogent Forest

The Termogent Forest, also known as the Black Forest, was a massive swamp filled forest in central Nosgoth that appeared in Blood Omen: Legacy of Kain and Legacy of Kain: Defiance. The marshland was filled with crumbling ruins holding many secrets, weapons and powers. At the forest's western edge lay the Lake of the Dead and notably the ancient vampire Vorador made his home within the swamp. Vorador's Mansion stood at the centre of the Termogent Forest, the path leading there marked by the Ignis Fatuus, skull shaped torches that glowed with green energy.

Role
The Termogent Forest appeared in Blood Omen: Legacy of Kain and was briefly revisited in Legacy of Kain: Defiance, being visited by both Kain and Raziel.

The Termogent Forest was first mentioned in Blood Omen: Legacy of Kain in the chapter Find the Oracle as Moebius - in the guise of the "Oracle of Nosgoth" - instructed the fledgling vampire Kain to follow the Ignis Fatuus to the forest in search of Vorador and a way to defeat Conflict Guardian Malek. After passing the Lake of the Dead and the Mist Form dungeon, Kain was able to enter the Forest in the chapter Vorador's Mansion, where he found a vast forested swampland filled with many ruins, with several Ignis Fatuus - skull shaped lanterns - indicating a trail westward. Along the way Kain could explore some of the ruins, structures and caves in the area. Three 'dungeon' keeps - the Flame Sword dungeon, the Control Mind dungeon and the Blood Gout dungeon could be found within and caverns led to Spirit forges for Anti-toxin artifacts and Energy bank artifacts as well as a Blood fountain for increased strength.

Following the Ignis Fatuus westward, the path shrank to a single trail which spiraled around the western area of the forest inward to Vorador's Mansion at the center. Exploring the Mansion and meeting with Vorador, Kain was able to secure assistance from the elder vampire and left by a secret path which led him beyond the forest to a cave on the outskirts of Uschtenheim.

When Raziel progressed from the Subterranean Ruins towards Uschtenheim in Soul Reaver 2 in the chapter Through the Swamp, he too passed through a heavily forested location bearing many of the hallmarks of the forest, but was never explicitly identified as such - only as "the swamp" - with its location suggesting that it bordered the Termogent Forest of Blood Omen. Raziel returned through the swamp all three time periods.

Raziel returned to the the Termogent Forest proper in Legacy of Kain: Defiance, when advised by Ariel to seek Vorador in the black forest in Find the Location of Vorador's Mansion. Travelling on a lesser used trail from the Pillars through the Forest, Raziel arrived at Vorador's Mansion in the chapter Find Vorador and was able to find Vorador within. Departing for Avernus after Vorador's suggestion of seeking the Heart of Darkness, Raziel would return to the masnsion in Return to the Guardian Citadel after recovering the heart by apparently killing Kain. Fighting Moebius's mercenary army through the structure Raziel would revive Janos Audron and be teleported to the Vampire Citadel, leaving the forest behind. The forest itself was only seen briefly and not encountered as a playable location, with Vorador's Mansion fulfilling that role.

History
Much of the history and timeline of the forest is unknown, by the time of Blood Omen the forest was already an overgrown marsh. Vorador was known to lurk amongst the ruins during the time of Kain's birth and the corruption of the Pillars, his Mansion was visited by both Kain and Raziel some thirty years later. At some point during Kain's reign the forest is obliterated and only a desolate wasteland remains, there is no evidence of the forest's existence left during the time of Soul Reaver.

The ruins scattered throughout the forest contained many secrets. As a fledgeling vampire Kain discovered the Flame Sword hidden within one of the ruins and obtained the Blood Gout and Control Mind powers from others.

Connections
In Blood Omen For the Western Termogent Forest:
 * The northwestern trail leads north to the eastern Lake of the Dead and the Mist Form dungeon - leading onto the Lost City
 * The western cave leads to a Blood fountain increasing strength
 * A crack in the southwestern cliff leads to the Energy bank Spirit forge
 * The northern cave (obstructed by a tree) leads to the Anti-toxin Spirit forge
 * The northeastern structure is the Flame Sword dungeon
 * The middle-eastern structure is the Control Mind dungeon
 * The southeastern structure is the Blood Gout dungeon
 * The eastern trail leads into the eastern Termogent Forest

For the Eastern Termogent Forest:
 * The western trail leads to the eastern Termogent Forest
 * The middle structure is Vorador's Mansion - leading onto Uschtenheim

In Defiance For Vorador's Mansion:
 * The main courtyard door leads back through the forest to the Pillars of Nosgoth
 * The Library Vista leads through the forest to Avernus/Avernus Cathedral

Appearances

 * Blood Omen: Legacy of Kain
 * Legacy of Kain: Defiance