Guide to Soul Reaver excised dialogue by
See file Soul_Reaver_Dialogue.HTML for full transcription of all SR dialogue (XX-YY) references are to this file).
http://www.peak.sfu.ca/~blincoln/
Thanks to The Gaming Intelligence Agency for blowing the lid
off this one in the first place =): http://www.thegia.com/news/n990831a.html
Thanks to Warpsavant for pointing out a better arrangement of The Priestess’ sequence, and of course thanks to Amy Hennig, Crystal Dynamics, and Eidos Interactive for creating and releasing such a great game.
The dialogue files for Soul Reaver contain a great deal of material that is not present in the final game. By examining it, clues as to the originally-planned full story arc can be gleaned. Based on the available evidence, here is the progression as I see it.
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Excised portion #1: The Priestess
The Priestess was another boss character, based in the Human
Cita
[Upon first reaching the human cita
<RAZIEL>“Mysterious figures moved under cover of darkness, their robes betraying occult intent. This temple seemed to be a source of contagion. I would find a way to infiltrate this vampire lair.” (26-01)
[Raziel presumably does not have the abilities to enter The Temple at this time, then fights Dumah. This is supported by the odd nature of the dialogue when you are victorious over Dumah, since it refers to “Nosgoth’s northern wastes” when in fact you are already there. After fighting Dumah:]
<THE ELDER GOD> “Return to the Human
Cita
[Raziel returns to the Cita
<RAZIEL> “I watched, unseen, as shadowy figures slipped down the temple walls. The city slumbered, oblivious to the danger creeping just outside.” (23-13)
[Raziel enters The Temple]
<THE PRIESTESS> “Heretic! Welcome to your undoing! Your sorcery is useless in this holy place.” (19-10)
<RAZIEL> “My faith in destiny is all I need to prevail.” (14-03)
<THE PRIESTESS> “Faith? [Laughter] Faith left you when you were excommunicated by our lord Kain.” (18-09)
<RAZIEL> “I was executed, not excommunicated. You will learn the difference.” (16-03)
[Raziel fights The Priestess]
<RAZIEL> “Your faith has failed you. Where are your precious vampires now? Where is your holy Kain?” (20-11)
<THE PRIESTESS> “You are the one who has betrayed his faith – his brethren – his creator. I have served my gods.” (20-15)
<RAZIEL> And now, you will meet them.” (11-00)
[Raziel kills The Priestess, and devours her soul]
<THE ELDER GOD> “In her long service to her vampire masters, The Priestess had learned a measure of sorcery. In devouring her soul, this power is conferred on you. You may project your spirit, and in so doing take possession of your victim’s body.” (27-02)
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Excised portion #2: Turel
After fighting Kain in the Chronoplast chamber, and presumably viewing his destiny, Raziel’s next step was to fight his last brother, Turel.
[Before fighting Dumah]
<THE ELDER GOD>“Beyond the maelstrom of the abyss, a subterranean tunnel leads northward to the clan territories of Dumah and Turel. Endowed with Rahab’s soul, you may swim to gain entry, where your progress was previously impeded.” (26-07)
[or]
<THE ELDER GOD>“Dumah and Turel - your brothers who bore you into the abyss - have both retreated with their clans into Nosgoth’s northern wastes. The gift of Rahab’s soul enables you to pursue them, past previously insurmountable obstacles.” (26-09)
[After fighting Kain in the Chronoplast chamber]
<THE ELDER GOD> “Even this small measure of Kain’s soul has conferred on you a great gift: like your master, you may now shift into the material plane at will. While your health must still be fully restored, you no longer require a portal.” (26-14)
[After exiting The Oracle’s Cave]
<THE ELDER GOD> “Kain has withdrawn to his mountain retreat. Your only means of reaching him cut straight through the lair of your brother, Turel.” (22-02)
[Raziel reaches Turel’s fortress]
<RAZIEL> “Though the room seemed vacant, these banners clearly identified it as Turel’s audience chamber.” (18-05)
[Turel appears]
<RAZIEL> “Let me pass, Turel. I have enough blood on my hands today. My quarrel lies with Kain.” (19-05)
<TUREL> “Poor Raziel, your rage blinds you to the bond of gratitude that we owe our master.” (20-02)
<RAZIEL> “Gratitude? Toward one who would have you grovel at his gate like a dog? You once had noble aspirations, Turel. Now how humbled are your goals? Do you prosper on the scraps he casts you?” (25-15)
<TUREL> “Your insults will do nothing to blunt the agonies of your demise.” (18-04)
[if taken literally, Raziel could use this line now:]
<RAZIEL> “You killed me once - behold the result. I have no more to fear from you.” (17-08)
[or he might save that for Kain and say this instead:]
<RAZIEL> “I smell water. Tell me, have you – like Rahab – learned to swim in all these eons?” (19-00)
[if Raziel loses all his strength and returns:]
<TUREL> “You try my patience, Raziel.” (13-00)
[if Raziel runs away:]
<TUREL> “Leaving so soon, brother?” (11-11)
[Raziel kills Turel. Interestingly, apparently he does not gain any abilities.]
<THE ELDER GOD>“This smokestack will permit your ascent to the summit of Kain’s mountain sanctuary.” (16-00)
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Excised portion #3: Taking Ariel’s soul into the Reaver
In order to kill Kain, Raziel would have needed the strength of Ariel’s soul:
<ARIEL> “Raziel, I am your only hope. Only my spirit can empower the Soul Reaver to destroy Kain and restore balance to Nosgoth. You know this is true.” (25-10)
<KAIN> “Listen to her, Raziel. Strike me down if you can, but without her essence the blow will barely sting.” (22-03)
[Raziel takes Ariel’s soul into the Reaver]
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Excised portion #4: The final battle with Kain
Taking place in his mountain sanctuary (Malek’s bastion? That would be fitting with Kain’s love of using his enemies and their works against them – The Pillars, his Vampire Lieutenants…), this would be the second to last segment of the game, with Raziel using Ariel’s soul in the Reaver to strike down Kain:
<KAIN> “You have your father in you after all.” (11-05)
<RAZIEL> “My father?! You’re nothing but a grave-robber, Kain.” (13-08)
<KAIN> “You and I have both been to Moebius’s chamber, Raziel. The future has always been written. You have served me well. Even now, you fail to disappoint. Shall we see if you pass the final test?” (26-08)
<RAZIEL> “I though I understood you, Kain – that your jealous hatred was the root of the wounds you inflicted, but this… this genocide of your own kind is unconscionable.” (24-07)
<KAIN> “Do you have the will to do it, Raziel? Could it be after all your posturing you do not possess the resolve for this final act? Can you have come this far only to fail now?” (26-06)
[Raziel kills Kain]
[As Raziel takes Kain’s soul into the Reaver as well:]
<ARIEL> “No! Please!” (10-08)
<RAZIEL> “Such a dire fate - their souls commingling, fettered eternally – just as Kain’s refusal had bound them together centuries before.” (23-03)
[or]
<RAZIEL> “Such a dire fate - their souls commingling, fettered eternally – just as Kain’s refusal at the Pillars had bound them together centuries before.” (23-09)
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Excised portion #4: Restoring balance to Nosgoth
After killing Kain, all that would remain would be to destroy the remaining vampiric life on the planet:
[presumably from the summit of Kain’s mountain retreat, the doorway pictured in the Chronoplast]
<THE ELDER GOD> “From this summit, the pinnacle of The Silenced Cathedral is within your reach. Hurry, Raziel – with The Soul Reaver thus enhanced, no obstacle can thwart your progress, no enemy obstruct your path, but take heed: the vampires of this world can sense your intentions, and will hound you in their desperate fury.” (28-03)
[Raziel runs to The Silenced Cathedral]
<RAZIEL> “As they swarmed after me, I felt the terror that must have filled their wizened hearts. They knew what I had to do here, that it would spell their downfall – and that I too might perish in the very act. This tower had stood too long as a grotesque symbol of Kain’s perverse intent. The time was ripe – indeed, past due – for me to exploit my newborn talents and send a hymn of death across this land. Enough to banish sanity; enough to set the children of the night plucking at their eyes, tearing open their own throats; enough to destroy every vampiric creature on the face of this bruised and bleeding land. My goal was within reach, all that remained was to open each and every sounding pipe.” (29-11)
[Raziel opens the pipes, destroying the vampires]
<THE ELDER GOD> “It is done; your destiny is fulfilled. The cycle of birth and death, stalled and stagnant these long years, once again begins to flow. You have done well, my servant.” (27-06)
[or]
<THE ELDER GOD> “It is done, Raziel; your destiny is fulfilled. Though you have destroyed every creature who might call you kin, the world is born anew. The cycle of birth and death - stalled and stagnant these long years - once again begins to flow. You have done well, my servant.” (28-11)
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Miscellaneous dialogue excised (or believed to be):
<THE ELDER GOD> “These forges are tuned to the Soul Reaver’s energy. One you have baptized the sword in these elemental fonts, the blade may be imbued with that element at any future time.” (24-11)
<MOEBIUS> “Welcome, Raziel” <Moebius> (09-00)
<RAZIEL> “Damn you! How many ages did you bind me in your grasp?” (14-04)
<THE ELDER GOD> “A millennium… or a moment?” (12-10)
<THE ELDER GOD> “We who stand outside the rim of time dwell not in past or future ages. There is only the now.” (20-01)
(Do these last three constitute a fifth excised portion?)