Following
the history-altering encounter with Kain in the chapel, Raziel
returns to the Circle's gathering-room. Armed with the Light
Reaver, he is now able to unlock the second Time Streaming chamber.
Just as the chamber's door slides open, Moebius rushes into
the room, shaken and alarmed. He knows that Kain has survived
what was supposed to be a fatal encounter with Raziel in the
chapel, and that the course of history has therefore been changed.
Raziel greets Moebius smugly, realizing that he has the upper
hand, and relishing it.
Raziel:
Ah, yes - I like that look on your face, Moebius. You really
don't know what to do now, do you, old man?
Here you are - caught without your damned staff - and I suspect
things aren't progressing quite as you'd hoped.
You're not used to the fly turning to confront you in your web,
are you?
Genuinely
shocked and distressed, Moebius struggles to regain control
of the situation. He admonishes Raziel -
Moebius:
Kain's devious influence has poisoned your mind, Raziel.
Now you see betrayal everywhere, even in your closest allies.
Raziel:
We were never allies, Moebius.
Conspirators, perhaps. Briefly.
Moebius:
Why did you not kill Kain when you had the chance? He was at
your mercy!
Raziel:
Precisely. I had a choice, and I chose mercy.
And now I know your sordid little secret - the significance
of that displacement I felt when the two Reavers came together.
Strangely enough, I was enlightened by the 'devious' Kain, not
by you.
In fact, I've learned much more than you counted on - I understand
now how you've tried to manipulate all of history for your own
personal gain.
But now all your little schemes are whirling in ruin around
you, aren't they?
All because I decided to exert my will for once, rather than
obey the demands of sorcerers and spirits and demons all singing
the same tiresome refrain: 'kill Kain!'
I am setting my own path from here, Moebius.
I intend to discover the truth behind all of this.
Moebius:
But
you condemn us all with this impetuous act!
Raziel:
Hardly
impetuous; it took all the will I could muster.
Has my refusal to kill Kain reshuffled your carefully stacked
deck of cards?
Moebius
responds angrily -
Moebius:
You
really think that you're exercising your free will, Raziel?
You're simply Kain's servant -
Raziel:
(steely)
I
do not serve Kain. I merely did not kill him.
Desperate,
Moebius implores Raziel -
Moebius:
Raziel,
do not forget your purpose here - you are destined to be the
savior of Nosgoth!
Raziel
replies disdainfully -
Raziel:
Oh,
I'm sick of hearing that particular phrase.
As for saving Nosgoth, so far I see precious little reason to
bother.
And I'll choose my own 'purpose' from here on out, Time-Streamer.
Right now, I choose to manipulate you, for a change.
Go - in there.
Raziel
summons the wraith-blade and flourishes it at Moebius threateningly.
Gesturing with the Reaver, Raziel directs Moebius toward the
Time Streaming chamber.
Moebius refuses to move -
Moebius:
What
are you doing?
Raziel:
Come
now, Moebius - you're a cunning serpent... you'll piece it together,
I imagine.
Raziel
shoves Moebius and brandishes the Reaver to usher him into the
chamber.
Raziel:
This
era is of no further use to me. You will operate this device
to provide me passage.
I want to see the world in a simpler time - before the Sarafan
began their crusade.
Moebius
obediently adjusts the device's arcane switches, but continues
to entreat Raziel -
Moebius:
And
what about Kain? You're leaving your quarry behind!
Raziel:
You
kill him, if it's so damned important.
Moebius:
You
need only touch the two poles of the switch, and the device
will transport you.
But I urge you to reconsider -
Raziel
places his hands on the poles of the time-streaming device.
Raziel:
You've
lost your powers of persuasion, old man.
Rot here, and forget me.
Moebius
turns away dejectedly, but once his face is averted he breaks
into a cunning grin.
Raziel throws the switch, and the chamber blurs around him as
he is swept to another time.
