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BloodFountain-Tile

A Blood Fountain as they appear in Blood Omen Legacy of Kain

"The Blood of Ages flows so sweet... come drink from us."
―Blood Fountains — Listen (file info)[src]

Blood Fountains were a series of special spouts appearing in Blood Omen: Legacy of Kain that contained blood rather than water. Kain could drink from them to refill his health and obtain new abilities, but could be used only once before the blood in them turned black and it caused him harm.

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Blood Fountains were a set of fountains that instead of water contained consumable Red blood that Kain could use in Blood Omen: Legacy of Kain to refill his health. Each fountain also granted Kain a new ability or power. The fountains were often found in secretive locations such as caves and were presumably meant for Vampires rather than human eyes - although no background is given for the fountains and their history is unknown.[Blood Omen][Blood Omen manual (PlayStation)][Blood Omen manual (Windows)][Blood Omen strategy guide]

Blood Fountain

A Blood Fountain turning from Red to Black Blood

Upon entry each fountain would audibly invite Kain to drink from it with a feminine voice. Kain would then be able to drink from the fountain to recover his health. At this time the fountain would announce the extra abilities that Kain would gain and the blood in the fountain would change color to black. If Kain attempted to drink from the fountain again, he would be damaged by the Black blood and verbally admonished by the fountain.[Blood Omen][Blood Omen manual (PlayStation)][Blood Omen manual (Windows)][Blood Omen strategy guide]

Nine separate fountains were seen throughout Nosgoth: Three enhanced Kain's strength - allowing him to move larger Boulders. Three increased Kain's Magic energy recovery. One fountain gave protection from the Rain, One gave protection from the snow and one gifted Kain the Beguile form.[Blood Omen][Blood Omen manual (PlayStation)][Blood Omen manual (Windows)][Blood Omen strategy guide]

The fountains were not featured in further titles.

"Do not be greedy, vampire. You have had your fill."
―Blood Fountains — Listen (file info)[src]

Known Blood Fountains[]

At least nine Blood Fountains were known to exist in Nosgoth and all of these could only be encountered in Blood Omen: Legacy of Kain. The following details the fountains in order they could be encountered:

Strength Level 1[]

Strength1b

The first strength Blood Fountain

"Your strength has increased for our blood enhances."
―Blood Fountain — Listen (file info)[src]

The first blood fountain that could be encountered would be the first strength increase. This fountain could be found in a cave to the south of Nachtholm and Nachtholm Cove in a cave to the west of the trail on a ledge which could only be reached with the Wolf Form. Once gained Kain would be able to move small boulders.[Blood Omen][Blood Omen/3][Blood Omen strategy guide][1]

Immunity to Rain[]

Rainbf
"The rain will do you no harm for our blood preserves."
―Blood Fountain — Listen (file info)[src]

The second blood fountain that could be gained was the rain immunity fountain which made Kain invulnerable to the damaged caused by Rainfall. The fountain could be found just before the south entrance of Steinchencröe in a cave to the west of the trail.[Blood Omen][Blood Omen/3][Blood Omen strategy guide][1]

Magic Level 1[]

Magic1
"Your magic energy recovers more quickly for our blood enhances."
―Blood Fountain — Listen (file info)[src]

The third fountain that could be encountered was the first magic energy fountain - which allowed Kain's Magic energy to recover more rapidly. The fountain was found on the trail North of Vasserbünde leading to Coorhagen and was found in a cave just to the west of the trail at a fork in the road.[Blood Omen][Blood Omen/4][Blood Omen strategy guide][1]

Immunity to Snow[]

Snowbf
"The snow will do you no harm for our blood preserves."
―Blood Fountain — Listen (file info)[src]

The next blood fountain that could be gained was the immunity to snow fountain, which protected Kain from the damaging effects of Snowfall in Nosgoth's frozen northern regions. The fountain was found in the Oracle's Cave and could be accessed from the 'Cave Maze' preceding the main Oracle's Caves, with one chamber leading outside to a series of ledges along an open cliffside where Kain could use Wolf Form to leap up to the cave containing the fountain.[Blood Omen][Blood Omen/5][Blood Omen strategy guide][1]

Strength Level 2[]

Strength2bf
"Your strength has increased for our blood enhances."
―Blood Fountain — Listen (file info)[src]

The next blood fountain that could be encountered was the second strength upgrade - which allowed Kain to move larger Boulders. The fountain could be found in a cave in the far west of the Termogent Forest map area.[Blood Omen][Blood Omen/6][Blood Omen strategy guide][1]

Magic Level 2[]

Magic2b
"Your magic energy recovers more quickly for our blood enhances."
―Blood Fountain — Listen (file info)[src]

The next blood fountain that could be encountered was the second magic upgrade, which increased Kain's Magic energy recovery rate. This fountain could be found in a cave on the road to Dark Eden - specifically in the northeastern cave of the Eastern 'Ruined Land' map area.[Blood Omen][Blood Omen/7][Blood Omen strategy guide][1]

Strength Level 3[]

Strength3bf
"Your strength has increased for our blood enhances."
―Blood Fountain — Listen (file info)[src]

The final strength upgrade - which allowed Kain to push the largest boulders - could be encountered just after Kain passed below the outskirts of Willendorf town and the trail leading to the Provincial Mines. Continuing further south he could find a cave on the west side of the trail containing the fountain.[Blood Omen][Blood Omen/9][Blood Omen strategy guide][1]

Magic Level 3[]

Magic3bf
"Your magic energy recovers more quickly for our blood enhances."
―Blood Fountain — Listen (file info)[src]

The final magic upgrade - which allowed Kain's Magic energy to recover at its quickest rate - could be encountered just after passing below the outskirts of Willendorf town and the trail leading to the Provincial Mines. Following the southern trail hew could enter a canyon with several ledges which could be jumped with the aid of Wolf Form. Part way down the trail a passage led off to the east to a cave where the fountain could be found.[Blood Omen][Blood Omen/9][Blood Omen strategy guide][1]

Beguile[]

BO1-Map0010-Sect08-ProvincialMinesBloodFountain
"Mighty Willendorf had sliced open the belly of the earth, reaping a bounty of precious metals and unearthing ancient secrets.
Of these secrets, I had heard of a tomb that contained an ancient forefather of King Ottmar himself.
Within the tomb, a fountain of blood would allow me to cast the most noble of illusions, and gain entry to the city of the Mighty Lion."
―Kain — Listen (file info)[src]
Main article: Beguile

The final blood fountain was that of the Beguile form. It was more integral to the story than the arguably somewhat optional nature of the others and could not be skipped. The fountain could be found at the end of the Provincial Mines which blocked entry to Willendorf town and had to be encountered to gain entry to the town. Once Kain had drunk from the fountain his Disguise Form was permanently upgraded to a more powerful form called Beguile which granted him the visage of nobility and allowed him to enter Willendorf City and gain audience with King Otmmar without being attacked by the soldiers of the Army of the Last Hope.[Blood Omen][Blood Omen/9][Blood Omen strategy guide][2]

Behind the scenes[]

"Our blood enhances. Our blood preserves. Our blood heals. For the blood is the life."
―Blood Fountain — Listen (file info)[src]

Silicon Knights FAQ gives an interesting look at what may be an early developmental version of a Blood Fountain. Here the theming is slightly different with floor tiling resembling that of the Hell Realm in the retail game. The entrance is different and the room itself appears much smaller with fewer skulls. While the fountain appears much larger than its retail counterparts, compared to the size of Kain it may have been roughly the same size as seen in the final game.[3]

Unused dialogue excepts in Blood Omen appeared to suggest that at least two - and potentially as many as five - blood fountains had been removed from the finished game. One would have granted Kain immunity from the water damage of the Termogent Forest Swamp, the other would have "improve[d] [his] vampiric abilities", though what this entailed is unknown. Other dialogue seems to suggest that some of the blood fountains were originally meant just to fill up Kain's blood or magic meters and could be used more than once. The last excerpt was unclear, suggesting some kind of general salutation.[Blood Omen][4][5]

M0005591

A deleted blood fountain

"Your vampiric abilities improve for our blood enhances."
―Unused Blood Fountain — Listen (file info)[src]
"The swamp will do you no harm for our blood preserves."
―Unused Blood Fountain — Listen (file info)[src]
"Your health is restored for our blood heals."
―Unused Blood Fountain — Listen (file info)[src]
"Your magic is restored for our blood heals."
―Unused Blood Fountain — Listen (file info)[src]
"Our blood enhances. Our blood preserves. Our blood heals. For the blood is the life."
―Unused Blood Fountain — Listen (file info)[src]

The discovery of the Blood Omen alphas in 2018 illuminated a little more of the background to this, showing that the the longer salutation was to be used on all fountains once Kain had fed, but it's extended runtime potentially increased the likelihood of audio glitches as Kain exited the chamber. The other unused dialogue excerpts were not used in the alphas either, however there were an additional four Blood Fountains present in this version. None were connected to the outside world or the Developers' level select and they could only be reached using various tricks. Each was placed in the 'bonus areas' map coding at "Map 55" and "Map 56" rather then the blood fountain map coding at "Map 10" and each bore several blood symbols on the walls similar to those seen in Avernus - the significance of which is unclear. Unfortunately none of the deleted blood fountains bore any significant dialogue aside from using the extended greeting.[6][7][8]

There is evidence of some kind of developmental mix up between the Rain and Snow immunity fountains. The retail version the fountains appears to be listed the wrong way around in the Developers' level select - with the "INVR" listing leading to the snow invulnerability fountain and "INVS" leading to the rain immunity one. The alpha builds reveal that this swapping goes deeper and the entire fountains were originally being placed in the opposite locations. Given the unsuitable locations and continued switched level select naming it is perhaps probable that the fountains were originally misplaced and when they were swapped to their final positions the naming conventions were left as a hidden legacy.[Blood Omen][Blood Omen/3][Blood Omen/5][6][7][8]

Apocrypha[]

Blood Fountains were an important part of the backstory of the Prophets and the Lost seers of Avernus faction in the cancelled multiplayer spin-off Nosgoth. The Prophets were explained as having arisen from a sect of Cenobites of Avernus that had been shocked at Azimuth's actions and had evolved over centuries to become isolated "scavengers and treasure seekers" sensitive to the magical energies in the land.[9]

In the later years, the Prophets had discovered the Beguile Blood Fountain in the long abandoned Provincial Mines beside Willendorf and one of their number - Malus - drank from the Black blood in the fountain and, fatally poisoned and in toxic shock, she received a series of visions that illustrated the black blooded fountains were lethal to vampires.[9]

Realising their potential, the Prophets sought out and discovered many other fountains but struggled to find a way to utilise them as the black blood from them quickly became inert. However it was discovered that the black blood within would return to its original Red blood state after several decades, so volunteers remained to guard them and drink the blood to turn it black again.[9]

When news of the renewed human rebellion rose in the mid Soul Reaver era, the volunteer prophets - desperately seeking a way to aid their human brethren - imbibed lethal quantities of Black blood from the fountains, emerging from the toxic shock barely alive and permanently altered as 'blood witches': they returned to assist in the War for Nosgoth.[9]

Notes[]

  • Blood Fountains are named as such in several sources including manuals, scripts, official guides and Silicon Knights Blood Omen FAQ - as well as Nosgoth lore blogs.[Blood Omen][Blood Omen manual (PlayStation)][Blood Omen manual (Windows)][Blood Omen strategy guide][10][2][3][1][9]
  • The Blood Fountains are individually named in Silicon Knights FAQ as "Strength Level 1", "Strength Level 2", "Strength Level 3", "Magic Level 1", "Magic Level 2", "Magic Level 3", "Immunity to Rain" and "Immunity to Snow". The Beguile fountain is not mentioned in the section dealing with fountains but is mentioned as "the last of the blood fountains" in the plot section.[1][2]
  • All of the Blood Fountains are individually listed in the Developers' level select with coded designations under the "BLFT" entry for the Blood fountains. These were: the first strength upgrade outside Nachtholm ("STR1"), the second strength upgrade in the Termogent Forest ("STR2"), the third strength upgrade outside Willendorf town ("STR3"), the first Magic energy upgrade south of Coorhagen ("MAG1"), the second magic energy upgrade in the 'Ruined Land' ("MAG2"), the third magic energy upgrade on the trail between Avernus and Willendorf ("MAG3") and the upgrades protecting against Snow ("INVR") and Rain ("INVS") - as mentioned the latter two appear to be mislabelled probably due to a mistake and swap during development. Again the final plot related fountain is listed separately and is only accessible through the main "BEGL" entry, which leads to the Provincial Mines dungeon and not to the fountain directly.[8]
    • The Blood Fountains are generally listed in files among the "Map 10" designation which cover the fountains. The individual fountains are listed in the same order as the level select. As such "Sect00" (or "M1000") refers to Strength Level 1, "Sect01" refers to Strength Level 2, "Sect02" refers to Strength Level 3, "Sect03" refers to Magic Level 1, "Sect04" refers to Magic Level 2, "Sect05" refers to Magic Level 3, "Sect06" refers to Rain immunity and "Sect07" refers to Snow immunity - with all of those fountains appearing identical. "Map 10 Sect8" refers to the beguile fountain which appears and is connected slightly differently to the other fountains. The extra fountains which appear in the alpha builds are not listed along with the other fountains and instead appear at "Map 55 Sect 90", "Map 55 Sect 91", "Map 56 Sect 90" and "Map 56 Sect 91" - none of the four are connected to the rest of the game world and all four appear visually identical, being much the same as the usual fountains except defaced with several blood rune symbols.[Blood Omen][11][6][7]
  • Although the Blood fountains do not appear in further titles the mechanic of using a vessel filled with blood to refill health is a fairly common one in the series, with Blood vials, Blood beakers and even arguably the Heart of Darkness objects fulfilling similar roles in Blood Omen: Legacy of Kain and Blood basins appearing in Legacy of Kain: Defiance - Soul Reaver 2 also had its own blood basins and Blood chalices, but these were used in a more puzzle related capacity to summon Bloodstone bridges. Several of the games feature environments that appear to utilize more straightforward spouts or basins of blood designed to aid Blood drinking for Vampires that aren't available to protagonists for that purpose. Locations that feature these more basic blood fountains with no associated powers include Vorador's Mansion, Janos Audron's Retreat - and the associated Fire Forge - and the Fane in cancelled multiplayer Nosgoth. Blood Omen 2 featured its own brand of ancient remnant devices to aid vampires in the form of Weapon power chests and Lore coffers.[Blood Omen][Defiance][Soul Reaver 2][Soul Reaver 2/8][NOS][Blood Omen 2]

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