Decision at the Pillars Once over the bridge, continue along the pathway. An Attack Dog catches your scent immediately; crouching attacks work best (hold L2, tap square button). Deal with his Vampire Hunter and continue down the path. Know the Foe: Attack Dogs These trained killers help Hunters sniff out vampires. Attack Dogs notice you before their handlers do and rush in to assault. A few swift kicks should take care of them. Pass an outdoor shrine and encounter another Hunter before the trail opens. An Attack Dog and Cannoneer wait for you here, across a small stream. Terminate them from long range with force or Reaver bolts if you don't want to get your claws dirty, and then pass the checkpoint here before continuing up the stairs to the north. The Plane Truth If you find yourself in the Spectral Plane, a Material Plane Portal and plenty of wandering souls are located at the base of the outdoor shrine. Follow the wooden footbridge, but watch for the Cannoneer waiting at the end. Farther along the trail, you come across a number of impaled vampires. A pair of Hunters and an Attack Dog guards the gates to the Pillars. After you dispatch them, approach the lever to the left of the barred doors. Press and hold square button until the doors fully unlock, then open them. The Pillars, and Kain, await. Raziel finds Kain at the base of the Pillars. Kain suggests that Raziel is merely Moebius's tool, but Raziel doesn't care-revenge, one way or another, is all he's after. The pristine white Pillars darken to black after the Balance Guardian, Ariel, is murdered, and it seems Nosgoth is doomed to a violent descent into decay. Raziel believes he must kill Kain to restore the balance, but Kain suggests a third option and disappears. North of the Pillars are two small columns with a pair of burning torches visible above (but beyond jumping height), in the cliff face. Switch to the Spectral Plane and a stairway appears. Follow the winding path, but watch out for Sluagh. Know the Foe: Sluagh These denizens haunt the Spectral Plane, feeding on lost souls. Raziel encounters them many times while traveling through the Spectral Plane. They're quick and good at dodging; sidestep their jumping claw attacks and unleash a square button combo to dispatch them. Make sure you're at full health after killing the Sluagh. When the narrow path opens, you see a Material Plane Portal. Return to the Material Plane, and then pass the checkpoint beacon ahead. Shortly after the checkpoint, you find a door bearing the image of a winged figure, similar to Raziel. This is the first of many Reaver doors you will encounter. Activate the Reaver and press square button to open it. Subterranean Ruins Follow the dark and winding path that leads into the ruins, but be wary. New and not-so-pleasant enemies - Shades and Greater Sluagh - await. Keep an eye on your health, and if you do go to the Spectral Plane, a Material Plane Portal is right by the door through which you entered. Know the Foe: Shades Shades are hard to spot, attacking from long and close range and lashing out with their claws. Worse, they release no soul and therefore no health when killed. Use the Reaver when you encounter a Shade. Lunge with a strong triangle button slash, then unleash a two-hit square button combo. As the Reaver bar increases and the wraithblade's power grows, you can fell Shades with a single lunge attack. Know the Foe: Greater Sluagh Greater Sluagh are only found in the Spectral Plane, but they're more formidable and aggressive than normal Sluagh. Wait for them to charge, then sidestep and unleash the Reaver. Crouching triangle button attacks also work well. After you dispatch the first two Shades, follow the caves to the east. You encounter another Shade before the path winds south, where three more Shades wait. The caves give way to a marble stairway descending east. A Shade dwells at the base of the stairs, at the entrance to the Sub-Pillars. Raziel discovers a long-forgotten chamber beneath the Pillars. Murals decorate the walls, depicting a noble race of winged creatures like Raziel who built the Pillars but later fell from grace. The Elder God, who resurrected Raziel after Kain hurled him into the abyss, speaks to Raziel from his dwelling place beneath the Pillars. He urges Raziel to destroy Kain, but Raziel is unwilling to be manipulated again. He is determined to uncover his origins and face Kain on his own terms. Head toward the save obelisk (watch out for the water surrounding the platform-you must jump) and press square button. Dive into the water. There are two glowing crystals at the eastern side of the lower chamber, marking the opening of the tunnel that you must navigate. Head into it. |
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