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The Lost City was an extensive, enigmatic settlement located in an undetermined region of Nosgoth, seemingly a desert. Walled-off and primarily populated by Werewolves during the events of Blood Omen, the place was secured against interlopers by a Moon Gate, and housed many secrets and Battle artifacts.

Architecturally, the city consisted of numerous step pyramids decorated with serpentine imagery. During his quest to restore the Pillars of Nosgoth, Kain was able to access and explore it through a teleporter located at the center of the Lake of the Dead. It appeared only in Blood Omen: Legacy of Kain.

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Though seemingly an ancient settlement, the history of the Lost City is almost wholly unclear. Its origins are unknown; the city's unique architectural style suggests it was built by an elder race. Its design seems to correspond more closely with the creations of the Ancient vampires over the Hylden, with its ziggurat-like structures somewhat similar to the Dark Forge, and its textures and palette akin to the Light Forge.[Soul Reaver 2] However, the snake motifs emblazoned throughout the place are not found in any other known Vampire creations, calling into question the true identity of its creators.[Soul Reaver 2][Defiance] The Lost City and the Vampire Citadel were not one and the same, and were in different areas.[1]

During the events of Blood Omen of the first timeline, the exterior of the city was primarily inhabited and defended by Werewolves, with its other major buildings internally guarded by Humans, Giant demons, Red Skeleton Knights, Malek's warriors and a single Will-O-Wisp. An enormous collection of battle artifacts was housed within its expansive confines, and several human prisoners could be found shackled to pillars and walls. Kain was only able to access the city via a teleporter on a small island at the heart of the Lake of the Dead, within a stonehenge. A Moon Gate blocked the exit of the room housing the teleporter - therefore, the rest of the city could only be visited on a full moon. It was unclear whether the city was adjacent to the Lake of the Dead, beneath the lake, or somewhere entirely different.[Blood Omen]

The city was considerably larger than most of the human cities and villages Kain encountered, eclipsed only by Avernus in terms of sheer size. The presence of Werewolves and a Moon Gate suggests that Werewolves may have been its architects, but it is equally possible that they - as nocturnal creatures - simply occupied it after happening upon it.[Blood Omen][2]

By the events of Soul Reaver, the Lake of the Dead had become host to the Abyss, a supernatural, endlessly-swirling vortex of water where the Elder God dwelled.[Soul Reaver] If the Lost City was indeed upon or within the Lake of the Dead, this implied that the city was ultimately destroyed in the creation of the Abyss, possibly by the Elder God itself.[2]

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  • In a FAQ, Amy Hennig stated that there was indeed a connection between the Lost City, the Lake of the Dead and the Abyss which had yet to be revealed, but did not elaborate further.[4] As of Legacy of Kain: Defiance, the Lost City has not reappeared in the series.
  • In Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver, both Celtic- and Aztec-inspired ruins can be seen scattered beneath the Abyss, throughout the tunnels between the Elder God's chamber and the entrance to the Underworld. Presuming the Lost City was in or near the Lake of the Dead, it is possible that these are its remains.[Soul Reaver]
  • Artist Daniel Cabuco has discussed his beliefs on both the origin and fate of the Lost City in public discussions - however on both occasions he was careful to state that he was not privy to the full explanation:
    "I never got the full skinny on it. I believe it was the Vampire race [that created the city].. and it was abandoned. The Werewolves took over, but the whole time the Elder God was there, whispering and pulling it into the depths."
    "As far as I can tell you, The Elder God was known for 'Pulling things down' . So the Lost City was pulled into the Abyss by the Elder God, as were many areas. (like the end citadel in Defiance) I don't really know what the direct connection was. The lost city probably had a backstory with the Elder God, allowing him purchase on that part of the world so he could pull it down into the depths of the world."

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References[]

  1. Icon The Lost Worlds Question and Answer with Amy Hennig at The Lost Worlds (by Ben Lincoln)
  2. 2.0 2.1 Icon Dark Chronicle The Lost City at Dark Chronicle (by Ardeth Silvereni)
  3. Icon Dark Chronicle SK: The Complete Guide To Legacy of Kain - The Secrets! (page 6) at Dark Chronicle (by Silicon Knights)
  4. Eidos Interactive Warp's answers from Amy at the Eidos Forums (by Blincoln)
  5. Icon Soul Reaver 2 Moebius: "The Wheel of Fate – the inexorable cycle of death and rebirth to which all men are compelled. We serve the same God, Raziel. // ~Moebius grows more confident as he sees this is having some effect.~ // Moebius: To strike me down would be striking God’s own attendant, and I don’t believe even you would take that risk." Crystal Dynamics. Soul Reaver 2. (Eidos Interactive). PlayStation 2. (October 31, 2001) Transcript.
  6. Icon Defiance Janos Audron: "It was a necessary evil. Our immortality banished us from God's grace - He turned His sight from us, and fell silent. Many took their own lives, unable to bear the separation from our God." Crystal Dynamics. Legacy of Kain: Defiance. (Eidos Interactive). PlayStation 2. (November 11, 2003) Transcript.
  7. Icon DCabDesign Ruins in Nosgoth at the DCabDesign (by Jake Pawloski/Daniel Cabuco)
  8. Icon DCabDesign The Connection between the Lost City and the Abyss at the DCabDesign (by Jake Pawloski/Daniel Cabuco)

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