scionofbalance

[scionofbalance]

Blood Omen: Kain VS Mortanius battle < After witnessing Anarcrothe's murder, Kain attacked the last remaining Pillar and Mortanius revealed his monstrous nature in an abomination, that had never before touched the land of Nosgoth.. >

Sketch commission grayscale for @kain-umah (watermark version + glaze for social media) from the black friday request 2024, you can see all the work in progress on Patreon this Friday by subscription. ( thank you all the supporters and followers for their support, encouragement and patient waiting, I'm finishing all the pending work! ❤️🙏)

[scionofbalance]

Rescue

"Reach, boy."

Kain commanded while he gripping on the cliff's branch. It was already testing God's fate with his weight, but he did not detour. The farmer's boy whimpered, holding onto his last edge of life from a fall off the mountainside. The wind pulled at the knight's long raven mane, the spit of rain stinking on his skin.

"I-I can't..."

"You can! Reach into yourself and know God sent me, now use your strength. You can do it!" He spoke over the wind, inching just a bit more. His heart was steady. He should feel fear for the child, but he didn't. Only the determination to ensure he made that inkling of potential. He could see it, he can see this boy becoming a fine young man. One with a smile on his sun-kissed face and wife watching him work the fields in a unbroken love for all his toilings.

But he must reach!

There was a brief heartbeat. A thunder's roar over them and the boy screamed, his fright loosened his grip. Kain's heart skipped, he saw the fall. He saw the lost hope in those eyes as that small body made flight...but instead of downward, he leapt up!

With a swing of his arm, the scion of Coorhagen snatched him out of t he air and close to his breast! "I have you!" He spoke, gripping tight as treasure before looking up, wrapping his fist on that branch before heaving up. The rope caught in a quick tease of Death looming so heinously!

"Augusta!" Kain cried out to his beloved mare. "Pull girl! Pull!"

The purebred destrier neigh with her unwavering spirit in the storm, hearing her rider's cry and pulled with powerful limb. Kain climbed up while the boy hugging his arms around his neck. Higher and higher until he tasted the edge of the cliff, wedging his elbow.

Then, he saw them...the watchers from the woods. Hooded and tightly held by furs and leathers, daggers and cleavers in their gloved fists.

Kain's face sneered as he forced himself up, refusing to hurry. If he did, they both would have returned back to the zephyr of fate. One of the brigands wasn't as patient, flicking his blade and coming to cut the line. The knight catching his boot's toe on a rock and hauled himself before the secure hold was sliced.

"Ira!" He snapped out and Augusta answered with a sudden buck, the man had only a moment of disappointment before his skull was caved in by two ironshoed hooves.

Kain almost laughed, but it was coiled only the utter audacity. The cravenous. The disgust. Nay, he will not let this go. He heaved himself up on a knee, Augusta racing from more of the murderers attacking for her now. She was a practiced warhorse, even without the barding, she whipped and slammed her beautiful weight against one. Trampled another and raced off from reach, the rain howling and winds spiralling as her master kept hold of his charge.

Reaching back, even if his better arm held the boy of twelve summers like one of four, the knight drawn his short arming blade with a flexed test of his fingers.

"Woe...onto you, cretins."

[scionofbalance]

Defense of Buchel

The fiefdom of House Buchel hollered against the Northman barbarians, farmmen and their sons roused from the months of raiding and the occasion kidnapping had finally their last with the murder of the good foreman Victor some nights prior. Even against these broad-shouldered men almost twice their size, the mob came with the riders of their lord's house.

The standards with the foremost horse on tower's crown flying under the principled bearers, Sir Walter Buchel and his comrades-of-arms with the support to their men-at-arms rode with their spears impaled into chests and throats. Their warhorses crushing ribs and skulls under hoof as they barrelled through in the battle-mucked field under Bane's Buff.

And among the company was one young warrior turning his horse already, his crested helm pointed down at the broken shaft. Its head and a portion of its heft still embedded in a gurgling brute. "Worthless dung-bloods!" He snarled out, kicking with spur onto his beloved mare and she neighed with her rider's familiar fury. Armoured chest and head smashing into another raider, pushing through while the peasant-soldiery was in fierce melee.

Even headless, the young knight whipped his spear-heft and plunged into a northman trying to yank him off his saddle. "Begone!" He commanded, pushing through the howling man's eye and skull. Bloodily ending a life before his horse turned along and kicked the spasming cadaver away.

But his manuevering was interrupted to the sound of a holler. "Aldric!" He called out, seeing the knight older than he thrown off by a well-hurled axe biting at his breastplate.

With a scuff, the young man urged his mare onward. "Gather 'round! Gather! Gather!" he commanded, charging foward and smashed into the back of the opportunist murderers. Slipping off in smooth trained motion, the knight drawing his iron sword and cleaving a foe from jaw to gut. The stench to follow after was almost worse to a farmer's refuge.

"Get up, ol one! I shalt not allow your death here." He urged, his gloved hands gripping his blade and coordinated the feral dance of combat with two of the vicious raiders. Aldric grunted out as he pulled the axe from his chest with barely a spell of blood to wet his underlying gambeson. "You frit too easy, Kain. These whelps shalt not be my bane!" The older knight almost laughed despite the pain of bruised ache underneath, forcing himself up and tripping one of the ruddy-haired foreigners with the same axe biting calf. Knife catching between ribs, stabbing over and over to ensure fatality.

Kain, Second Son of the distinquished High House to Lord Coorhagen truest blood and recently ordained knight to the Lion's Throne for two summers past, proved his training under his father and later mentor with a ferocity fitting to Willendorf's heldric beast. Every strike held no mercy. Limbs were hewed and swinging blows missed by an able body keeping its awareness.

"Vae Victis!" He cried out his Father's ferocious warcry, cleaving one barbarian's gut onto the ground and plunged his blade into another's skull. His body thrown close enough to avoid losing his own head, whipping around to take a man's knee down and back to back to Aldric as their horses circled around to further the confusion of their enemies.

"Tired yet, boy?" Aldric huffed, looking at the chaos - almost hard to tell the rabble between outlanders and the dirty folk of Buchel's fief. Kain inhaled and exhaled, he felt the sting of sweat trying to kiss on his eyes but he kept strong. "No, ser. I just want this battle done. They thought Coorhagen weak as a babe!?"

Aldric chuckles, his head snapping over and quickly yanked his charge over as a spear almost took at Kain's shoulder. It was by pure trust that the younger warrior did not react on hard-drilled instinct. "Freda!" He called, summoning his mare and she lunged for her jock.

"Ready?" Kain questioned and it wasn't needed to be said as he caught rein, pulling himself up to his saddle. His sword-arm caught and used to hoist the heavier knight, it was herculean that the Lord's Son managed to bring Aldric with him and escaped from the furthering of the barbaric warband.

A horn was blowing. All heard it coming.

"Aha!" One of the Knights harked, just as the hounds came howling and barking with bloodied maw. More of Coorhagen's knights were coming and the barbarians knew, trying to make a retreat whilst the more wounded charged in their pagan desire to a bloody end. Kain could never under such madness but he didn't find disdain for it. Only a strange awe.

[scionofbalance]

I draw Kain different every single time

[scionofbalance]

A Grandfather's Watch

Thunder cracked its dirge across the black sky before the lightning scarred it, illuminating and stabbing into the poisoned trees and earth in their fickle rage. The corpse pyres reached up to the weeping heavens, sending their souls to whatever sad existence awaited on the other side.

Even Death wasn't a release.

Kain looked up while his retinue scoured through the fortified village. This was a common sight. Even with the Sarafan that remained with their iconology and belief, holding a desperate grip on their stolen kingdom, rebellions have become more and more frequent. Tithes denied. Militia risen up. The cry of a free people against their chainhandlers.

It is always the same. Humans will always rebel against their betters the moment of weakness. One must never show it. Such is nature.

The rain tapped on his hood and cheek, the droplets rolling coldly on his gilding skin. Upon a time, he should fear it but that was a long time ago. Only rushing water had any chance of offending him now. His servants however were dressed head to toe under layers and masks. Even then, he taught them the use of aegis. Tutelage was a gained right, to urge fledglings to serve or be left to their devices.

These vampires each held a piece of his sons' breaths and he would be their final gate into acceptance.

One day, if fate and smarts allowed, they may become his sons' generals and closer council as they were to his. And the chain of an empire would stretch from there. One day, the Plan will bloom.

Until then, Kain had nothing but time.

"Move, fool." Tiberius growled with a push against a kindred Kain couldn't immediately see. Dumah's chosen first was a knight of Wilendorf, much like him a lifetime ago. Several lifetimes... Broad and shaped like a farmer's scion, the rain pelting off his armour while heaving a overturnt wagon, revealing a crushed village-lord that couldn't escape out of the vehicle properly. The folded corpse caused a snort out of the other fledgling, an urchin that Zephon plucked from some back alley of Meridian in one of his bravados of showing some misguided worth to Kain's attention.

Foolish boy, you all have my attention. Whether you know it or not.

"Sire, we may have cleared this village," Tiberius called back. "Perhaps, did you check every crevice and hidden little door?" The urchin almost hissed with his mask a smile of porcelain, earning a low sound from the knight. "Is killing worthless villagers truly necessary to our conquest?"

"Oooh, don't have the stomach for it?" The son of Zephon questioned, leaning in. "Given all of this power and scared to exercise it?"

Kain didn't say anything, he let them bicker. Like fathers, like sons it seemed. However, arguments often showed truths and the extent of passions better than a court of masks. Battle was the truest courtship.

"You have no honor, creature." Tiberius sneered, pushing the lean rat of a man aside with no further patience, and walked to retrieve his sword out of a militiaman's chest. Not a second drop of blood escaped the wound, drunk dry by his killer.

"Alexander!" He called out, looking for Raziel's scion.

"The Whisper, Child. Stretch your mind beyond your skull and reach out - there may be still foes prowling."

Kain's voice startled Tiberius, not expecting the patriarch but it was a quick recovery. His head tilted a certain way, trying, and finally spoke, "What foes do we have left, the old and newborn?"

There was a slithering sensation of dry amusement crawling through the knight's spine to that. Kain could understand the sentiment. "The Enemy would use even them to destroy us. I have seen it before. Humans have no qualms if the end justifies the means in the end..."

Tiberius took that for a moment. Whether, he accepted it or not, Kain didn't care. He will do what is required.

[scionofbalance]

A City Hidden by the Moon

The realm twisted and warped, Kain scorned as the situation. It wasn’t the first time to step through their enigmatic portals yet still the sensation was still unwelcome to him. It was but a moment before his sense returned. What he found surprised him; from this portal-dais, the vampire was in a dark room. Its architecture odd, seemed to be made of some earthy stone, not like that of Nosgothic masonry. Pillars of great grinning serpents welcomed him. The chamber itself appeared like a treasure, ancient and untouched. One such statue was of a snake-headed man holding out two queer artefact Kain did not expect. In offering palms were that of two black hearts, how they beat even now. Without cadavers to hold them, pumping wetly of their foul sanguine yet the layers of dust still caked the muscles.

Their beats held Kain into a momentary trance. In perfect pulses of one another; twinned hearts waiting. His eyes traced, following the trail of their blood slithering to the dais itself, powering its odd magics. When he looked onto the statue’s side, he saw the foci of arcane electricity crackling and feeding into mechanisms that seem to hum behind the walls, including the door that kept him from being sealed. On the other end, another statue holding a weighted scale. Both resting hourglasses with sand that warped to and fro as if struggling to free from the countless grains’ glass prisons.

That too was feeding to the dais, however this marvel of magic and science was made – it provided this teleportation device and even in his ignorance, Kain knew he did not have much time to indulge. And he stepped through the moonlit night, what he saw took his breath.

Such oddity that Nosgoth holds, even to take one to places perhaps long forgotten and lost in our history. Or hidden from it. Ignorance is truly our greatest sin and salvation.

Before him was a great city of stone pyramids and etched monoliths, their majesty only whispered by travelers and talespinners. The novelists and scholars of Stahlberg bore little comparison to the wonder. Even in the night, the chilling cold had an autumn touch yet the air was drier than summer. There was no smell of fortress or mountain’s range. Where-ever he is, it was not Nosgoth. Kain was so awestruck, from the seemingly ageless pyramids, the full moon’s light gleamed of their whitestone, the aged gold trims and glittered jewels the size of a man’s torso. All of it seemed like a great altar-city, similar to the Avernus Cathedral but far different. However, despite it all – the traveller did not miss the innumerable skulls that adorned space in the vault’s entrance and between the street cobblestone.

The vampire strode further out, looking to one of the crumbled pillars and its crumbled remnants, he felt an eerie familiarity. A boot rolling a piece over, upon it was a glyph. The complete detail was washed by constant erosion but it appeared similar to that of the Pillars. “How odd…”

His thought was interrupted by a piercing howl. At first he thought it was a fierce wind, but the vampire knew better than that. His spine shuddered at the foreknowledge of a wolf’s cry, but it was stronger and much larger. What beast still resides in such a remote place? The question was answered by a great shadow galloping on all fours from around one of the temple-like structures. Kain held the flame-sword in both hands, focused on it and its glaring gold eyes before another howl rattled overhead.

He looked up in time to see another figure hanging off one of the temple’s many layers before it bounded with great agility and landed on bowed legs swollen with power. Its companion circled at Kain’s side, making the vampire keep his wits about him as he saw clearly of these wolf-men.

They were similar to his own form, but they were more...natural. Powerful yet gaunt, creatures starved and abused by the scars he saw on patches of their dark pelts. He recognized them, similar to the werewolf that was bound to the storm-altar. Their jaws snarled with glistening fangs and dirty claws flexing from mighty paw-like hands.

“You were foolish to return, Vampire.” The foremost snarled in a dialect that was barely recognizable. Kain flexing his fingers around his hilt, “I have never ventured here before, Beast.” “Your kind has been expunged. Forgotten. Excommunicated by Him.” The other snarled, lunging forward to snap at the fledgling, immediately being rebuked by a flourish of the vampire’s blade and its witch-fire hissed before his face! The yelp was enough to make the nobleman grin before pointing the sword’s tip at the brazen other, who recoiled with a conscious cover of his snout and eyes.

“I grow tired of riddles, Beast. Speak plainly or die like the mongrel that you are!” Kain demanded, “Where am I?”

“In a city blessed and damned. We were the inheritors and we too were denied…” The werewolf groaned, his mane bristled. “Now, only slaves. Caretakers. Our last duty…”

“And you will not deny us that!” Kain heard from behind, spinning to see a third have crept on the arched pillar above and already in flight of a pounce that would crush a mortal man. Fortunately, Kain was no mere man and have fought numerous beasts before this vampiric damnation! With a defensive cross of his sword, he spiralled under the enclosing arms and claws that hungered for his flesh. He could already hear the wolf’s cry as his burning blade was searing its jaw and collarbone. The vampire kept his momentum, slicing into muscle and bone in one great swipe as he followed himself into a low kneeling crouch!

Hissing blood spewed in the air as an arm and head were sent into flight whilst the rest of the burly body crashed into the stone-ground, the bitter wolf sanguine trailing as it tumbled against another pillar. Kain huffed, the only respite he had before the other wolfmen attacked. Claws slashed with such force he could feel the air sunder in their strength and the vampire had no choice but to dodge and move with his inhuman speed. His burning sword swinging out to make one recoil, even then the stink of burnt fur was becoming more and more apparent.

His quillon smacking the other’s snapping jaw and the quick motion slashing, taking his eye in a downward swipe for one ugly flesh-burning scar, the werewolf howled an ear-piercing shriek of agony as he covered his face and retreated away. His companion wasn’t so bright, face twisted for ugly vengeance while Kain’s back was turned. However, the claw-sickled paw missed from the vampire becoming a mere blur to the werewolf’s sight and that was enough to make the beast snort out in hateful irritation, “Sorceries!”

As quick as he spoke that word, his right arm was seared off with a burning slash. Then his thigh cut deep, making the miserable beast crumble down on a knee. From bear’s threatening size to a man’s before Kain dropped his sword in an executioner’s swipe, taking head from shoulders in one clean motion. His ivory mane flowing to a dry wind and the stink of lycan blood carried into the air, the vampire grinned as he lifted himself. Now he was really curious to know what this city held. Eyes peering up to the moon, it was only the beginning of the night, he had time to spare – for a moment.

[scionofbalance]

Kain's One Rule

Never trust open benevolence. There is always a price to pay in the end.

[scionofbalance]

Simplicity of Kain

Kain is a very simple man at his core and it is consistent in his appearances. Even when he is trying to be a 'father' in teaching Raziel along the journey, that rash nobleman still sat in his heart.

Kain despises betrayal more than anything else. Both in recognition of his former code of chivalry in his mortality, and the webs of lies and half-truths made in his vengeful quest. Lies from Mortanius. Lies from Ariel. Lies from Moebius. Nothing but lies from the ancients that have twisted and used the world. Each betrayed and used him, and that can never be forgotten.

Honesty, he values it. Straightforward honesty. Kain seemed to respect Vorador most for it in the end. The only creature to be outright with him, even if they did not see eye-to-eye in the end. And noticeable, Kain has never, or rarely (I can't recall a moment of it) lied. Only answered vaguely if he needed to.

Even when Raziel was hunting and demanding answers out of the Emperor, he never truly answered the questions. He deflected and hinted enough that his vengeful son could only assume be true or a lie himself.

And as Emperor, at least in my depictions, Kain is still as straightforward, honour-bound and very apt in his political skills that he can see through his sons and their descendants, but allows these 'games' of theirs in boredom, amusement and curiosity on their development of character.

As known across the Empire, to lie to the Emperor is death thriceover and to betray him is damnation of the quickest kind. And these characteristics crossed with his sons in various forms.

He doesn't forget nor forgives an insult to his character and strength. However, it is clear in his advanced age and experience during the series - Kain has learned and kept control of his legendary temper until the precise moment that it is needed. And even, in his heartlessness, he still knew love for his only children - even if of darker birth - and that the only thing he could conceive of sacrificing them for was a greater good beyond even himself.

For Nosgoth and the continuation of the twice-damned Vampires that he champions.

[scionofbalance]

The Vestige of the Sarafan

Kain snarled as he deflected another swing from the animated armour's sword. These ghosts of long-dead Sarafan moved in eerie clarity like their Master, their armour clicking in their motions and the bare phantom of their shapes visible to his heightened sight. "You will not leave here, Vampire." Another of his assiliants whispered, voice sounding a league off as its twinned swords grazed against each other.

"I plan to, spirits and with your Master's helmet as my prize." He spat back before taking into a sudden assault of blades with a strain to his own powerful being. His blade whirled and arced, deflecting and riposte with three. Kain was forced into a back pedal. His strength was tasting a numbness of wane, there was no blood here. He have been fighting since stepping in this damned stronghold.

Truly, this was a place of damnation for any vampire to step upon. Nevermind the snow blanketing this high altitude of the mountain's spine.

A blade, even one as well-crafted and endowed as his iron sword, had little effect onto the cursed armour. They were bound to their shells and like their master, their zealotry were their eternal spite. With vampiric speed, Kain dodged and made a curtly retreat with the twin-swordsman quick to the chase. He must break their connection to the materium.

Both blades was a tempest of glyph-blessed iron, coming for Kain's neck and stomach but an angled block had their blades locked into a cross. Despite appearances, the warrior-priest was still a resemblance of Humanity's finest killers to his kind and the abnormal strength with it. One handed, the strained look on Kain's face was not half-farced as his free hand opening out. Just in time of the swordsman's comrade lunging to catch the opening.

With a holler, arching veins of arcane electricity casted out from Kain's fingertips and tore into both. The sheer force throwing both suits of armour back and spasm. The cruel spell that was keeping them to this world was fighting to keep them whole and their unholy screams howled out. Even through it, the nobleman could hear one of them, "Oh Lord, Deliver us!"

With a inward pop of energy, Kain threw a wave of power and broke their shells into shattered smolder of warped metal. The momentary ache of weariness crossed over his shoulders. Panting before old teachings from his knightly tutor pierced the halt of weakness. Breath in. Breath out. Take the lungs - control them. The fatigue gnawing away and the soldiery straightened his spine.

Kain move on after a soft sip of his waterskin, the sweet taste of blood away demanding his attention. To be a glutton and suck it all down but discipline chained the fledgling, there was still more enemies to face and this bloodless place tested just how ready was the assassin to his quest...

[scionofbalance]

The Emperor in his Wolf form

[scionofbalance]

I just realized something or rather thought of something; Kain’s sanctuary in Blood Omen 2 might have been his family’s manor/castle in Coorhagen. The conquest started from Pillar of Nosgoth and southward, but their hiding spot might have been Coorhagen. 

[scionofbalance]

*dabs*

The human-guised Lord creased something of a smile. It almost looked natural on his weathered face, the sheen in his blue eyes on the playful other. The humans utterly ignorant to the two vampires in their blissful midst of this coffee shop. "Been dipping in the youth's 'memes'?"

[scionofbalance]

Bats fact #58

Bats know every swear word

[scionofbalance]

Fledgling Kain is available for starters and drabble ideas today. Off he goes for wizard-kicking adventures.

[scionofbalance]

“Agreed.” The warlord said as he turned to walk at the barest step into the streetlight’s glare. The citizens were being pulled into their imposed curfew soon, that coward Marcus had been racing for the bishop if it wasn’t for the Sarafan who even stop him in their orderly demands. The fool has to play by his master’s rules now. “I trust you to lead the way, this damnable city is an annoyance to navigate through in this point of time.” 

Two Kinds of Wolves

[scionofbalance]

When the last was pulled from this cadaver, Kain wasn’t surprised in the least and tossed it deeper into the alleyway’s darkness. “You may pay it in cooperation with me. I know your cabal don’t trust me and I don’t expect it.” He said dryly.

 “What I require is our unity against the obvious threat. The Sarafan patrols are crawling like dogs, the vampire I’ve encountered earlier - Marcus - is standing between me and the Bishop.”

In the words, the former monarch absentmindedly fixed at his vambraces. Even in his long memory-shattered hibernation, instincts had him prepared for anything. Too long have he lived of battle, it was in his bones. 

“I require your knowledge in this sector of the city and the guards to have two of us to worry about.” 

Two Kinds of Wolves

Kain dragged his newest prey into the alleyway, one of countless in this labyrinthine Lower City. The thug fought hard for a wild human, but it only has gone so far. He didn’t bleed him too bad, the collapsed ribs from tyrannical fists enough to end him. The nobleman glared in the dark and spoke in a testing probe of the Whisper, “You can come out now.” 

He could sense her in the unwelcoming aroma of waste that still clung from the Slums. She was…a small thing yet something bestial hiding under the shell of recognizable nerve. It wasn’t fear, not in the disrespectable sense. Good, otherwise he would have contempt. There is fear of the wary and fear of the weak.

@littlewolfofnosgoth

[scionofbalance]

Kain grabbed the back of the thug’s ratty hair and yanked his head back with a loud, wet snap! Thyroid pierced by splittered bone, letting dark beads of blood flow before the pressure pushed more. The body twitched, leg kicking in its last defiance to its killer but the vampire didn’t look averse in the least. 

“Feed.” He encouraged, ‘Take what you need.” 

To see that a vampire was starving in this deprived time, it brought further anger into Kain. This wasn’t supposed to be. Vampires were to be the rightful rulers, not hunted once more into extinction. Damn the Sarafan, they will pay a hundredfold for it.

Two Kinds of Wolves

Kain dragged his newest prey into the alleyway, one of countless in this labyrinthine Lower City. The thug fought hard for a wild human, but it only has gone so far. He didn’t bleed him too bad, the collapsed ribs from tyrannical fists enough to end him. The nobleman glared in the dark and spoke in a testing probe of the Whisper, “You can come out now.” 

He could sense her in the unwelcoming aroma of waste that still clung from the Slums. She was…a small thing yet something bestial hiding under the shell of recognizable nerve. It wasn’t fear, not in the disrespectable sense. Good, otherwise he would have contempt. There is fear of the wary and fear of the weak.

@littlewolfofnosgoth