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The first timeline was the first course of Nosgoth's history to be explored in the Legacy of Kain series, and the first which Kain has memories of, but not the first timeline in existence. It was altered when Kain introduced a paradox by assassinating William the Just at his Stronghold during the history preceding Blood Omen, creating the second timeline. Most of the events of Blood Omen: Legacy of Kain were set in the first timeline.

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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 assassination of William the Just, caused when Kain and William battled in the history preceding Blood Omen 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.

Historical Timeline[]

Notes[]

  • This is the only one of the four Legacy of Kain timelines in which the Legions of the Nemesis (and, presumably, the Battle of the Last Stand) exist. From the second timeline onwards, they are effectively replaced in history by Vampire hunters.[1]
  • The majority of information on the events preceding Blood Omen: Legacy of Kain in this version of history comes from the official timeline included with Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver 2's bonus materials, which is the only document that appears to cover these eras before the temporal derailment is introduced.[2]
  • As this timeline is only observed at the beginning of the series, it is unclear whether or not later historical events, first explored in Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver (which takes place in the second timeline), match up with this version of history. Kain's Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver 2 comment that the future "[finds] the path of least resistance while admitting only the slightest alterations" may indicate that events beyond the Battle of the Last Stand generally concur with those shown in successive timelines. The existence of the Soul Reaver itself seems to proof that. However, the matter is inconclusive.[3]
  • Though this is the first timeline explored in the series, it is not necessarily the literal first in existence. The Complete Guide To Legacy of Kain, written by Silicon Knights (prior to the introduction of Crystal Dynamics' time mythology and principles to the series), mentions that "in a previous timeline, William the Just was exactly as his title suggested", exempt from Moebius's influence, and in Blood Omen: Legacy of Kain, Kain accuses Moebius of "going back in time, and altering the past".[4][5][6] In Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver 2, Kain infers that both the first and second timelines are "artificial" destinies, and that his original, unaltered fate was always "to assume the role of Balance Guardian in Nosgoth, while [Raziel was] destined to be its savior".[7]
  • Though the Nemesis is expelled from future timelines, former series director and writer Amy Hennig has confirmed that Elzevir, King Ottmar and the Princess of Willendorf are not "lost in the time shuffle" created by the assassination of William the Just, and that "they just don't have much to do with Raziel's and Kain's journeys in SR".[8]

See also[]

References[]

  1. Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named SKQ&A
  2. Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Timeline
  3. Icon Soul Reaver 2 Kain: "You must understand, Raziel – we haven’t unwritten history, we’ve merely rewritten it. The future flows around our petty actions, finding the path of least resistance while admitting only the slightest alterations. This is the reshuffling you felt, when you refused to kill me. And remember, Raziel, we are irritants in this regard, as well – history will not allow the introduction of a paradox." Crystal Dynamics. Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver 2. (Eidos Interactive). PlayStation 2. (October 31, 2001) Transcript.
  4. Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Players
  5. Icon Nosgothic Realm GLoK Interviews with Amy Hennig at Nosgothic Realm (by Raziel Fan), post #4 (by RazielFan)
  6. Icon Blood Omen Kain: "Ironic. By going back in time, and altering the past, you turned William the Just into the Nemesis." // ~Moebius lies on the ground, cowering.~ // Moebius: "Aye - you have seen my plan, vampire, as I have seen your destiny. The future says you die!" Silicon Knights / Crystal Dynamics. Blood Omen: Legacy of Kain. (Crystal Dynamics). PlayStation. (November 15, 1996) Transcript.
  7. Icon Soul Reaver 2 Kain: "If you truly believe in free will, Raziel, now is the time to prove it. Kill me now, and we both become pawns of history, dragged down the path of an artificial destiny. I was ordained to assume the role of Balance Guardian in Nosgoth, while you were destined to be its savior. But the map of my fate was redrawn by Moebius, and so in turn was yours..." Crystal Dynamics. Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver 2. (Eidos Interactive). PlayStation 2. (October 31, 2001) Transcript.
  8. Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Warp

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Preceded by:
The previous timeline
History Nosgoth's historical timelines
The first timeline
Followed by:
The second timeline
The assassination of William the Just
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