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"I plunged the Reaver into the forge, and imbued the blade with the elemental power of Light.
Thus armed, I now had the means to re-enter the Stronghold, and finally use Moebius's time-streaming device to accomplish my own ends."
―Raziel — Listen (file info)[src]

The Light Forge was an elemental Reaver forge encountered by Raziel in Soul Reaver 2. Created by the Ancient vampires, the forge was located on the eastern banks of the Great Southern Lake in the south of Nosgoth and was the second forge encountered by Raziel in the game, initially discovered after Raziel left the Sarafan Stronghold in the history preceding Blood Omen and entered shortly after Raziel had imbued the Dark Reaver at the Dark Forge. Completing the puzzle of the forge, Raziel was able to imbue the Wraith Blade with elemental Light, creating the Light Reaver.

Profile[]

"These murals left no room for doubt – these winged creatures were indeed the architects of the Pillars.
And while the images were difficult to decipher, the Pillars appeared to banish or diminish their enemies somehow..."
―Raziel — Listen (file info)[src]

The Light 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 south-central Nosgoth on the eastern banks of the Great Southern Lake, The Forge was the second of the ancient elemental forges found by Raziel in Soul Reaver 2, being initially discovered in the history preceding Blood Omen in "A Reaver in Time" and explored in The Light Forge (chapter).[Soul Reaver 2][Soul Reaver 2/1][Soul Reaver 2/4][1][2][3]

Shortly after Raziel first emerged from the Sarafan Stronghold in the history preceding Blood Omen, he discovered a sealed door in the cliffs surrounding the Great Southern Lake, marked by a distinctive symbol.[Soul Reaver 2/1] Investigating Nosgoth in this era, Raziel soon discovered the Dark Forge in the Swamp and after imbuing the Dark Reaver he recognized that the distinctive symbol represented elemental Darkness. Returning to the Southern Lake, Raziel was able to use the Dark Reaver to unlock the sealed door and enter the Light Forge.[Soul Reaver 2/3]

Upon entering the forge, Raziel observed murals depicting the raising of the Pillars by the winged race in the era Before Nosgoth's recorded history and recognized that this served to banish their adversaries. Progressing further into the forge, Raziel was able to reach the main chamber of the forge - a large open chamber bathed in Sunlight and decorated with several distinctive crystals and a number of large statues, including one in a center of the chamber in a bowing position with a distinctive 'star' symbol atop its head.[Soul Reaver 2/4][Soul Reaver 2 strategy guide (Prima)]

The main objective of the forge was to recover the star-shaped Light Forge key and return it to the main chamber, where it could be used it to activate the forge.

This was achieved in several stages, with it necessary for Raziel to recover a number of Reflector items from Greater thralls and use them in conjunction with larger movable and rotatable Reflectors to manipulate the course of light through the forge and open different passages, ultimately allowing him to reach the Light forge key at the far end of the forge in the Material Realm and recover it by blinding the protecting Sentry eye.

Returning to the main chamber with the forge key, Raziel was able to place it in the main statue, causing it to rise up and activate the forge altar hidden beneath it. Imbuing the Wraith Blade with the elemental Light therein created the Light Reaver and activating all Light-affiliated Reaver fonts.[Soul Reaver 2/4][Soul Reaver 2 strategy guide (Prima)]

As Raziel left the forge he discovered that Reaver bolts from the Light Reaver could activate special Light crystals, and he was ultimately able to use this ability to re-enter the Sarafan Stronghold and its Time-streaming chambers [Soul Reaver 2/4][Soul Reaver 2 strategy guide (Prima)]

Design and Layout[]

Like the other elemental forges, The Light Forge is illustrated on the World map simply as a Light symbol and no effort is made to outline its area. The forge appears to in the South of Nosgoth, at the eastern bank of the Great Southern Lake, some distance west of the Lake of Serenity and south of Vorador's Mansion; though the layout of the forge would suggest it extended some way north of the lake area.[1][2][3][Soul Reaver 2/4][Soul Reaver 2]

In game, the Light forge was accessed from a small island in the cliffs on the south-eastern bank of the Great Southern Lake, where a Sealed door marked with a Darkness symbol led into the forge. Behind the doorway a tall corridor lined with pillars led south for a short distance before turning east and eventually turning north into the forge entrance chamber. The entrance chamber was a large open roofed roughly pentagonal chamber with high walls along with several pillar constructions. Raziel entered from a doorway in the south onto a high balcony spanning the south of the chamber and from the balcony two curved stairways led northward down to the floor of the chamber, where a Dark Reaver font could be found beneath the southern balcony. In the center of the chamber a high pillar stood with a Shadow bridge activation plate leading to a high opening on the north of the chamber. On the east and west walls murals were placed depicting the raising of the Pillars and the banishment of the Hylden respectively, while several murals around the walls of the chamber alos contained depictions of Ancient vampires, the Reaver and the Light symbol. Continuing on through the northern opening led up a small ramp to a Light marked gate and a small rectangular room beyond containing an initially inactive light font, with two distinctive square shaped burners in the eastern and western sides of the chamber. From here a wide pillared corridor led north to a large double door emblazoned with a sun and statue mural, which led into the main forge altar chamber.[3][Soul Reaver 2/4][Soul Reaver 2]

The main forge altar chamber was a large open roughly square shaped chamber with a curved northern end and several high openings along the sides of the chamber which allowed natural Sunlight to stream in. The southern wall was decorated by four large standing statues and a low platform along the southern wall which contained a small staircase in the center leading down north into a low enclosure in the center of the room where the forge altar was positioned. At the northern end of the central enclosure just behind the altar another large statue was placed, initially in a prostrated position with arms outstretched, the statue had notable crystals on the back of the hands, a star-shaped slot for the Light Forge key atop the headdress and was flanked by two tall pillars topped with large Reflector disks. Between the southern platform and the central enclosure two small staircases lined with flaming braziers led up to the east and west where ramps led up from the southern platform along the sides of the central enclosure to a curved walkway leading behind the central statue. At the east and western ends of the curved walkway, two dark sealed doors were positioned leading into the two side corridors, whilst at the head of the curve a light marked gate flanked by two large crystals allowed access to the large pillars hallway in the northern room behind. The pillars room was arguably the main hub of the light forge, with passageways leading to the remaining rooms in the forge.[3][Soul Reaver 2/4][Soul Reaver 2]

The pillars room itself was a large open roofed rectangular chamber lined with several large pillars and with six large pillars in the center of the room topped with beam constructions in various states of ruin. Along the center of the chamber a grassy trail ran north between the pillars to a passage leading north. In the south-west a trench ran north-south with a large reflector block embedded within it allowing Raziel to bounce light between the doorways in the south-west and western sun doorway. Similarly in the south-east a holder was positioned on a small plinth for a Reflector which could be placed and used with a nearby rotatable reflector to bounce light between the doorway in the south-east and the eastern sun doorway. At the top of the chamber a pair of high openings in the north-west and north-east could be crossed with a Shadow bridge activated from the east side.[3][Soul Reaver 2/4][Soul Reaver 2]

The various passageways leading out of the pillars hallway led into the remaining rooms of the forge:

  • The southwestern corridor headed a short way west then met with a large reflector and headed south, crossing a small chasm and meeting another Reflector holder in the corner before the corridor turned east and entered the main chamber through the western dark sealed door.[3][Soul Reaver 2/4][Soul Reaver 2]
  • Similarly the southeastern alcove contained the rotatable reflector off the pillars room and a passageway led south from here, crossing a small chasm and continuing passed a dark marked pillar to a reflector in the southern end, where a sealed doorway in the west led into the eastern dark sealed door in the main chamber.[3][Soul Reaver 2/4][Soul Reaver 2]
  • The Western sun doorway led to a small pillar-lined corridor which headed north and dropped down into a small square room decorated with a two murals depicting the raising of the pillars - and it was here Raziel would gain the Reflector item from a Greater thrall.[3][Soul Reaver 2/4][Soul Reaver 2]
  • Similarly the high north-western opening (reached by a shadow bridge from the high northeastern opening) led south into another small square room containing dual depictions of the raising of the pillars, where it was necessary to confront a Greater thrall to recover a Reflector item. Continuing South from here it was possible to drop into the western side corridor below.[3][Soul Reaver 2/4][Soul Reaver 2]
  • The northern sun doorway off the southeastern alcove contained a long wide corridor which headed east before turning north through a darkness sealed gate into another large open courtyard area, square in shape and covered in grass with several columns and a high beamed construction. The courtyard contained dark font in the north and several curious gravestone-like features in the corners of the courtyard. In the west of the chamber a notable mural depicted Ancient vampires, the Reaver and the Light symbol with the rays from the symbol appearing to power the Reaver. A block could be pulled from this wall allowing Raziel to climb to the platform above and a long wide corridor behind leading west back to the high northeastern opening in the pillars room.[3][Soul Reaver 2/4][Soul Reaver 2]
  • The final passageway at the north end of the grassy trail led northward down a long straight darkened corridor marked by star-shaped symbols on the floor and at the end of the corridor the passageway widened into a small square room decorated with subtle vampire depictions on the walls with a wide staircase at the north leading between several small pillars to a raised platform in the north. The final room behind was a similarly square shape with a small construction containing a Sentry eye at the north of the room protecting the Light Forge key positioned on a star-shaped holder just north of the center of the room. An hourglass-shaped floor covering and a darkness symbol at the southern end marked the range of the sentry and the appropriate targeting location.[3][Soul Reaver 2/4][Soul Reaver 2]

Connections[]

Form the open room with the large pillars behind the main chamber ("Light7")

  • The Southern gate leads into the main forge chamber ("Light1"), where the southern 'solution mural' door leads through a small chamber ("Light21") into the entrance mural chamber ("Light20") and on through the entrance passage ("Lake9"), emerging at the 'inner' lake area ("Lake3").
  • The southwestern passage leads south through the corridor ("Light16") connecting to the western dark sealed door in the main chamber ("Light1").
  • The central western passage leads north into a small 'pillar mural' room where the first Reflector is gained. ("Light9").
  • The northern passage leads down a long corridor ("Light14") to a chamber containing the Light Forge key ("Light6").
  • The southeastern passage splits - the southern passage leading through a corridor ("Light17") connecting to the eastern dark sealed door in the main chamber ("Light1"); the northern passage heads down a wide corridor to the 'gravestone room' ("Light3").
  • The high eastern opening leads down a wide corridor ("Light8") to the upper level of the 'gravestone room' ("Light3").
  • the high western opening leads to a small 'pillar mural' room where the second Reflector is gained, which connects with the western corridor below ("Light16").

Behind the scenes[]

Like the other Reaver forges of Soul Reaver 2, the Light forge was based upon distinct architectural elements from real-world ancient temples, with The Light forge particularly related to real world Ancient Egyptian architecture and temple design.[4] Design elements and features associated with Ancient Egypt include apparent limestone and sandstone construction materials, a grand column-lined hypostyle hall,Cavetto cornices atop walls and columns, hieroglyphic-like arcane symbols, pictorial frescoes and carvings, an open peristyle court, a central idol and many symbols and features related to Solar worship.[Soul Reaver 2/4]

The Light Forge also seems to be one of the first playable sections of Soul Reaver 2 completed - it is unclear if any sections were completed for the cancelled Dreamcast version before the title was moved to the PlayStation 2,[5][6][7] though prerelease imagery depicts a number of locations visually identifiable as within the Light forge.[8]

Notes[]

SR2-LightForge-LightSymbol

One of the Light symbols from the Light forge

  • The "Light Forge" is named as such in Soul Reaver 2 stage directions[Soul Reaver 2/4] and the Prima guide.[Soul Reaver 2 strategy guide (Prima)] Under Debug menus and game files the internal forge area is broken down into several chambers each listed under the main "Light" entry. The rooms are listed as: "Light1" - the main forge altar and statue room, "Light3" - the western open area containing cross 'gravestones' and adjoining corridor, "Light6" - the room with the Light Forge key and Sentry eye, "Light7" - the central open area lined with pillars, "Light9" - the room at the end of the western corridor decorated with pillars murals containing a Greater thrall and Reflector, "Light14" - The long passageway leading to the Light forge key room, "Light16" - the room above the western corridor decorated with pillars murals containing a Greater thrall and Reflector, "Light17" - the eastern passageway containing the 'dark obelisk', "Light18" - the passage between the top of the main pillars room and the top of the cross gravestone room, "Light20" - the forge entrance room containing the main murals and "Light21" - the small chamber between the entrance room and the main chamber. The narrow entrance passage leading from the Sealed door at the Great Southern Lake to the main mural room is instead listed under the "Lake" area, where it is listed under "Lake9". "Light7" and "Light18" are notably unstable and often crash, though their contents can be browsed in files. Along with the nearby "Lake9" and "Lake3" (internal lake area containing the Light forge and Spirit forge), the areas all only exist in one era, the history preceding Blood Omen.
  • The Light forge contains a number of distinctive crystals that are activated by the beams of light used throughout the forge. These are visually similar to Light crystals and are effectively a 'demonstration version' of the principle - despite this the crystals cannot be activated by Light Reaver bolts, even if the Light Reaver is imbued early through Debug menus or similar effects.[Soul Reaver 2/4][Soul Reaver 2]
SR2-Texture-LightForge-PillarMural

Alternate raising mural with possible alternate pillar symbols

Gallery[]

Murals and textures[]

Bonus materials[]

Models[]

See also[]

References[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 Icon Nosgothic Realm Soul Reaver 2 - Map of Nosgoth at Nosgothic Realm (by Tenaya)
  2. 2.0 2.1 Icon Dark Chronicle Soul Reaver 2 - Map of Nosgoth at Dark Chronicle (by Ardeth Silvereni)
  3. 3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10 Eidos Interactive The (almost) definitive Legacy of Kain maps thread at the Eidos Forums (by Shrykull/Bazielim) (preserved at Cult of Hash'ak'gik)
  4. Icon DCabDesign Various art and plot questions at DCabDesign (by Dubiel), post #2 (by Daniel Cabuco)
  5. Icon The Lost Worlds Soul Reaver 2 for the Sega Dreamcast at The Lost Worlds (by Ben Lincoln)
  6. Icon DCabDesign SR2 Dreamcast version at DCabDesign (by Raina Audron), post #2 (by Daniel Cabuco)
  7. Icon DCabDesign Soul Reaver 2 questions at DCabDesign (by Raina Audron), post #2 (by Daniel Cabuco)
  8. Icon The Lost Worlds Early Versions of Soul Reaver 2 at The Lost Worlds (by Ben Lincoln)
  9. Icon DCabDesign A few questions at DCabDesign (by Paradoks), post #6 (by Daniel Cabuco)
  10. Icon The Lost Worlds The Elemental Reavers at The Lost Worlds (by Ben Lincoln)
  11. Icon The Lost Worlds The Elemental Reaver Forges at The Lost Worlds (by Ben Lincoln)

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