Legacy of Kain | Vorador - A Character Study 

Malek: "Vengence! Vengence for my eternity of suffering!" Vorador: "Whelp! As if you knew what eternity was! Grovel before your true master!" (Strengthens pimp hand)

_"Call your dogs. They can feast on your corpses."_ That quote alone made Vorador a badass.

I think we need novelizations of this series.

It's worth mention that Vorador is the only one essential character in whole LoK series that appears only in cutscenes, but you can't meet him during the normal gameplay.

The first human vampire. Too bad we never got that rumored game about him. Playing as Vorador would be nice.

I adore the design of every vampire in the Kain saga, especially in their transformations and adaptive qualities. It is like a morbid mixture between the classic European vampire with the ancient and bestial interpretations of the different folkloric traditions of the same around the world.

Never forget, Vorador was decapitated in FULL SUNLIGHT. Long before the smokestacks that weakened Nosgoth's sunlight, he was completely immune to the sun's rays. Added his manor being in a swamp, he was likely immune to water's acidic touch. Essentially, he was all of Kain's lieutenant's minus Raziel in power.

I think that the almost simultaneous attack by Vorador, Raziel and Kain is what ended the Sarafan order.

Paul Lukather did such an amazing job as Vorador. He'd be a hard act to follow in any sort of re-release

Its was definitely Mobius and his staff. At the time he was disabling the Wraith Blade they were close enough to hear the Circles screams for Malek while being slaughtered. He sacrificed the circle cause he needed Raziel to take up the Blood Reaver so he would eventually be drawn into it thus creating the Soul Reaver.

I thought the coolest thing about the opening scene in Blood Oman is you can eventually do everything Voridor did to the circle. He used flay, slow time, immobilize, blood gout, mist form then sanctuary to leave.

This channel always makes me extremely happy. Legacy of Kain was one of my favorite game series and it just falling by the way side was a real disappointment. I've done so many wiki dives and played the series so much I'm not learning anything new but I'm still having a blast just seeing someone talk about the series.

R.I.P. Paul Lukather! Vorador was a fantastic character, in a cast of so many great ones! It breaks my heart that so many of these wonderfully talented voice actors are gone now, and our beloved franchise is going unused by its owners. Loving your content. Keep these character deep dives coming!

A passing detail of note is that the Serioli were mentioned as the legendary weaponsmiths of Nosgoth by Kain when commenting on the Iron Sword in BO1. I get the inkling Vorador hailed from their line in its earliest years. His history as a smith was so passing save for his work on the Reaver and the hyrbid blade he used in BO1. it was a detail that sort of stuck out in my mind for years now as a potential story link to Vorador's human history.

I love the weary crestfallen Vorador from SR2. It was always such an event when he revealed himself - and you knew there would be new revelations, but it was never clear where they would lead. Truly a masterfully constructed character. Thanks for doing this study!

I like all versions. It’s an arc that makes sense. Being brought back from death and having a new sign of hope for vampire-kind works for the reason for the characters change in BO2 to me and a person coming back from apathy and cynicism doesn’t wreck the character in my view. He is definitely one of the best parts of each game he’s in. And if there are more games I hope we’ll see more of him. He could even be a playable character in much the way Defiance alternated between Kain and Raziel.

Always been a favorite character of many. I kind of dig the fact that he is technically Kains vampire brother, seeing as how they are both sired (in a roundabout way) by Janos. That makes him as much his brother as Kains lieutenants were "brothers" anyway. Edit: I suppose in vampire terms that makes Raziel his nephew and makes Janos the Grandsire of Raziel.....what a crazy family!

Just putting it out there as others may have missed it like I did. For anyone interested Blood Omen is now available to play on GOG

I had never considered how the altered timeline would affect Vorador. That said, Vorador is one of those grotesquely beautiful characters. He’s arrogant, yet poetic. Vorador’s appearance in BO2 was… poor at best. On other pages, I theorized (and later wrote a fan fiction) explaining that it was another vampire impersonating Vorador at Kain’s command, back when he was building his army. Finally, the loss of Paul L. was felt by all of the community.

It’s so funny how he telepathically drinks the blood. Sometimes I wished I have this power to drink apple cherry juice

Glad I discovered this channel, good to know that they are still people out here that still have interest in the LOK series. It's a pity Square Enix have the rights to this legendary series.

I desperately need to dive back into the lore of BO/LoK from the beginning. Having only played the LoK series and watched/read the BO series, I'm at a loss for the story timeline canonically. This series is held dear in my life as it influenced my decision in naming a son after an LoK protagonist. You're videos are amazing and I've enjoyed each one greatly, thank you

I would have adored a prequel but I love the sequel and Raziel and wouldn’t trade it for anything. This series needs to return.

Something I was hoping you mention is his connection to the half-hylden looking Seer in Blood Omen 2, who owes him a favor. Though maybe she can have her own short episode?

Vorador is my favorite character of the series! I couldn't expect a better coincidental birthday present xD Excellent vid as always, love your work !!!

While affirming that the voice acting of the entire LoK cast is stellar would be an understatement, I can't help but shiver at the magnificent performance given to Vorador, specially in that encounter with Raziel in SR2. That deep glooming voice absolutely nails the duality of a being of undying power with the fragility of a soul tormented by centuries of persecution, treason and bitterness. To have an already flawless writing only enhanced even further by the quality of the series' voice acting is a blessing. Few other games are capable of transmitting this flavor of Shakesperean tragedy like the LoK series has.

Before you mentioned it in the video, given all the physical links to Blood Omen 1 in the art and screen shots. I assumed that Vorador would take Raziel's place in a potential duel narrative for Dark Prophecy, playable alongside Kain. The world weary Vorador was my favourite iteration. He was quite the contrast to the rest of the cast in SR 2 and Defiance.

You & Raina are 2 precious channels for the community

I like all of them, it shows how his character grows and changes due to what goes on in his life.

Another absolute knockout video Strictly! I'm becoming quite the diehard fan, such so that as I replay the Legacy of Kain series with my fiancee and my roommates, we finish off each boss fight and watch these explanations. I cant wait to show them this after Raziel and Vorador's interaction in LoKSR2. Keep up the good work and you'll have my undying [ ;) ] support.

Vorador is the coolest looking vampire in this series to me. Funnily enough, he looks a lot like a Turelim, despite not being directly related to them. :)

I always thought Mobius' death in Defiance by Kain and Raziel is what spared Vorador the same fate. Since his death occurred before he could execute Vorador, that event would create a rift in the original timeline where he could plausibly escape. After all, only Mobius' sorcery could incapacitate powerful vampires like Kain and Vorador where other members have failed.

Another LoK video…YES. The gift that keeps on giving.

Thank you for continuing to do these retrospectives. I love this game world, its fiction and narrative. Vorador is an amazing character.

Fantastic video, I love the breakdown and analysis of this character!

I like the Soul Rever 2 and Defiance Vorador the most. I was a doomer so it was relatable.

I theorized Vorador resurrection and appearance in “Blood Omen 2” was done by Janos Audron. If I remember in Defiance after Janos gives Raziel the key to the inner sanctum he leaves. My guess is that he goes and retrieves Vorador’s body and head and resurrects him. Then Janos leave him immediately to rendezvous with Raziel, so when Vorador come too he doesn’t know the reason behind his revival.

I wish Defiance had found a plausible and necessary reason to place Kain in the era of Vorador's resurrection so he could perform the act himself. It would be cool to see his interactions with and thoughts on both the human Umah and resurrected Vorador. That and the idea that he is knowingly putting the pieces in place to ensure his younger self's victory against the Hylden sarafan is imo really cool. Vorador's resurrection by Kain would eliminate the redundancy of Raziel performing 2 resurrections in the same game, especially as Janos is far more useful and integral to Raziel's journey in this game, while fans would know well the significance of Kain resurrecting Vorador in that age. Plus it would make Kain's portion of Defiance parallel Raziel's journey all the more and make the full story symmetrical, which for a game that already has the player rapidly switch between the two characters to complete the story makes a neat kind of sense.

Originally, the sword Vorador wielded was to become the Bone Reaver, another sword Kain would find, but then the idea was scrapped. Also, the reason why Vorador is different in Soul Reaver 2 is because remember in Defiance, the time line changed, the paradox began as a new future was forged and Vorador never died. And because in the new time line he seems more of a freedom fighter is because he found something he never had before - hope. A few vampires survived which meant there was still hope in defeating the Sarafan Lord (AKA The Unspoken) This is why he is not the way he was in the past as this is a new time line made possible by pulling the Reaver from Raziel's chest in Soul Reaver 2 and the events of Defiance Kain changed to make this path.

You just made me spend 2 hrs reading lok lore..... Thanks xD love these games so much..... I hope they come back

I first played this game in 1998, I had NO idea what was going on in the opening cutscenes, it was my very first ps1 game, and my first game on cd-rom, and I became enthralled with everything about this series.

I definitely enjoy vorador in his 1st incarnation, and truly hate his 3rd in BO2. But his more somber turns in SR2 and Defiance? I disliked them initially, but now they kind remind me of Older Kratos in GOW. A long lifetime of violence, cruelty, and immortality not all cracked up to what he probably thought it would be, is finally taking its toll on him...

I can't help but wonder if anyone else noticed that of all the murals showing Vorador's slaughter of the Circle, there is one that's different. The balance guardian is not murdered in her mural. Vorador is merely talking to her, and she seems sad. Also, her halo shines brighter than all the others. See 8:12. Maybe she was the one in the portrait.

I like to think Janos revived Vorador after he left Raziel at the citadel, but before the Sarafan lord took him over. So Vorador just woke up without a clue how he came back.

I agree the weird revolutionary persona did not suit the BO2 Vorador. Since I am one of the few people who actually like the BO2 game I wish they spent more time developing his character more. Anyway, thank you again for an amazing video about LoK, I will never get tired of learning more about the rich lore. I wish there was something the LoK community could do to get another game.

Once again, you did a great job, Strictly Fantasy!! And once again, I thank you greatly to have used one of my pictures to make it!! 💞💞

After all these years this is still my favorite game, or at least in the top 5

Even if it did go into a little tangent towards the end, this is another good video. lok characters always bring something different to the table r every time one returns to them. I’ve never seen many, if any other games genuinely accomplish this with their writing

My beloved Vorador! I found this channel recently, watched few films and then, this one! Oh my!

12:35 "Janos Audron was murdered by the Sarafan five centuries ago" Camera: focuses on Raziel.* I never even noticed this masterful level of foreshadowing right here.

Wow. I had no idea about the cut Vorador resurrection mission. It's sucks we never got to play that. Sounds like it would have been excellent.

For Voradors love interest: I thought I read on one of the now shut down fan forums that the woman on the dining rooms picture was either a witch or normal human women that was chosen by the pillars as one of the first guardians born after the vampire race was cursed out of the cycle of life. There also was some speculation that she could be found on the very same wallpicture on which we see human Vorador. Even more speculation put her in the line of the human mountain tribe guarding the lost cloud temple since those tribesmen also seem to have these face tattoos - as well as the scrapped occult followers from SR1.

If you can talk so much about a painting on Vorador´s house you can make a video for all the pillar guardians!

Vorador was my top character in the game. He knew a lot but acted like he doesn't

Holy crap. On my third video of yours. You're really freaking good at this. Not only doing the research and scripting, but music and video editing too. Just getting footage alone is a lot of work. I'm impressed. Subbing.

I know this is coincidence but I find it cool that Turel and Vorador both have bat-like ears and green skin.

Ive been a fan of LoK Blood Omen series since day 1. And im seriously impressed with your raconteur skills of this series. I really wish we sould get novels or film or whatever to deepen this already quite deep series. It's up there with some of my favorite vampire lore out there. Great job with these videos...

You're like the only channel that seems to really care about this series since you put in the effort to make great videos. I keep hoping enough attention being shown on these games will get us a reboot or at the very least a remaster of SR . I feel like if we got a good remake of SR, it would bring in enough players for them to reboot and finish the series. The story is incredible, especially for a series from the 90s.

Fantastic video, thank you for making it. Since my introduction to the series was SR2, I like that version of Vorador the best.

I like the version of the second game more (Soul Reaver 2) although I also love the version of the first game of Legacy of Kain. The implementation of that unpublished scene of his resurrection would have been great. Especially intriguing would have been its development based on the events of Defiance and others.

What I like about this game series is that, not only is it a well thought out and magnificently scripted title, but they managed to keep all the voice actors the same to add credibility to the cannon of the game. I don't think it would have been so well liked if the character voices kept changing during the series. this series and the Elder Scrolls are my two favorite series in gaming period. I really find the repeat playability of these two series incredible! Hope they make a new soul reaver game soon for the PS4/PS5 or port the old ones to these game systems. I would love to see Soul Reaver the original masterpiese played using the engine for the Legacy of Kain: Defiance. no blocky polygons but true HD graphics. can you imagine how amazing it could look?

I do love Vorador. He became the monster people wanted him to be also i think that Mobius disabled his circle members before hand by doing something that they would probably have overlooked at the time

I think the inability of the members of The Circle to defend themselves is the fault of the Hylden. It may have yet to be fully explained, but it would make sense given the objective of the Hylden and their propensity for momentarily possessing human members of The Circle(i.e. Mortanius' revealed possessions in Blood Omen and Defiance).

You know, making that Vorador prequel now might be a good way to reinvigorate the franchise and renew interest in the series. It could be a good springboard to get remakes of the first games going

Vorador was such a badass im glad he was on our side rather then a boss he may have been difficult to defeat

Kain and his machinations are so expansive and Interesting, but the characters are round him are even more intriguing at times.

Legacy of Kain: Blood Omen is finally available on GoG! Sorry, I know its not a comment on the vid (nice one though!) but I felt compelled to share in case someone interested doesn't know yet.

I've been binging on these videos for the past few days and i can't get enough. As for which incarnation is my favorite I love em all

Want to add that I love your reviews, I hope you can do more! Poor Vorador, really. The dude might only be matched with Janos as to how many centuries he suffered; at least Raziel went out on his own terms. Vorador died multiple times, and Janos did, and also had the joy of going to Hell while still alive. As for Vorador in BO2, I would hazard that through time travel shenanigans, somehow he found out that Janos had been brought back by Raziel, giving him new reason and purpose. with Moebius and the Circle gone, Vorador might have only joined with Kain in order to restore vampires overall as rulers of the land, and with some hope that Janos could be found still. Vorador does seem shocked to see Janos in BO2, but doesn't seem surprised to see him alive, indicating he had some hint he was, just no idea where. Assuming Vorador wasn't killed by the Hylden Lord's use of the Reaver, I would imagine Kain, after the portal closing, would have killed him outright; the other vampires he would likely still need in his conquest, and eventually they would fall in battle or by his hand, leading him to create his lts. Lastly, when you think about it, ages aside, Moebius, Mortainus, and Vorador saw much of the history of Nosgoth. I doubt Vorador had any idea of the Hylden ruining the Circle, but it no doubt would have pleased him to know in the end, Moebius died screaming.

Definetely my favorite character of the serie. I did countless illustrations about him.

Defiance/SR2 Vorador was my favorite because of how chill and cautious he was. :D

Another fantastic Legacy of Kain video. Vorador is one of my favorite characters in the series, I had hoped Defiance would have answered the question of his return in Blood Omen 2 but sadly it was content that just never made it into the game.

love your content on LoK series loved it as i remember seeing my Step-Dad or Dad to me playing these games and was always there watching him play them and was happy to play em when i was in Jr. High since then been loving it again. gotten a friend into the series as he noticed The Elder God was pretty much a Cuthulu monster can't wait for the next video

" Do I make myself clear now be gone!!" Varador a true vampire G

And now, we come to Blood Omen 2's Vorador. (Cue goofy music and dancing.)

in regards to the abrupt personality shift from Blood Omen/Soul Reaver 2/Defiance to Blood Omen 2, due to BO2 being a 4th timeline, it's very easy that perhaps some of the events that shaped the personality of the original versions of Vorador have been altered causing him to have "mellowed out" or retained his pre-hatred attitude. after all if it's possible to have 2 versions of a character living in same time period/two versions of the physical Reaver existing in a single time period causing the first paradox of the younger Reaver being destroyed by Kain when killing William the Just, whos to say some other defining and pivotal moment that caused the Vorador we were originally introduced to's attitude to not be altered? thats my theory, bt still, just a theory.

I guess you can stretch Vorador's sudden optimism as an effect of meeting Elder Kain. Vorador wouldnt realize who he's talking to, and Elder Kain would introduce himself only as the Ruler of Nosgoth in the future. That could inspire Vorador as not only does the vampire race survive, but it becomes the dominant race. Seeing the Soul Reaver, with Raziel in it, could make him believe the Ancient Vampires' prophecies again. You could also use this to explain his distrust of Young Kain, not believing him to be the Ruler of Nosgoth that he met and waiting for that one to pop up and overthrow Young Kain.

With so much plot arcs to maintain while wanting to play as Raziel, I'd plot Kain to return Vorador's head in an attempt to gain further information of the pillars and the Reaver, only for Vorador to pick Kain's chest like a lock with the Reaver: jamming it past the hilt through Kain's torso, leaving the blade projecting out of Kain's back, with the handle and hilt buried inside in his thorax. From there Raziel takes form, including intact wings; replacing the physical forms of both blade and sire.

The thing that really drives it home about BO2's Vorador being weird and not quite himself, is his voice.

All those forms of him has all my love for the character.

Absolutely outstanding video! Thanks so much for yet another amazing Legacy of Kain video!😈👍👍👍👍👍

Love these videos so much thank you so much for the amazing gifts huge legacy of kain fan an really appreciate you reminding me how fantastic theses games really are thx so much 🙌

I assumed after Defiance that Kain killing Mobius before Vorador's execution (although after his capture) may have allowed him to escape or be rescued and still be alive during BO2.

Great opening 😄🖤Vorador’s triumphant shout “Call your dogs! They can feast on your corpses!” 😈. Your point that its in a way humans saw him as just the monster and didn’t see that this was his revenge against humanities cleansing of his kind. And his outrage not that different from a persecuted individual watching his loved ones being lost at the hands of humanity and having Nosgoth’s populace turned as an hateful mob murder more of his people just pushed his hatred of them further. One of the other best things i loved of his character was how he viewed that vampires should remain uninvolved with human affairs for their safety as he told young Kain shows his pain his fear of losing more of his kind. There’s much to look at it that his views are much more to look at with his brash and fierce version in BO1 and to see his SR2 and Defiance weariness

The LoK games are my favorite series. I just subbed to your channel after seeing your video on the morality in LoK. Really good stuff, as is this. I’m looking forward to watching the rest. Thanks and keep up the good work! 👍

The first version of Vorador seems like a natural "Prequel" to how he is in Soul Reaver 2 and Defiance. They fit pretty much perfectly together and I liked the straight forwardness we got with him and Raziel whenever they spoke. The sequel that was supposed to come to Defiance REALLY could've kicked off with bringing Vorador to the presence of Elder Kain. That would've been fucking awesome. Edit: No, I'm not going to mention the "other thing".

I wish the Blood Omen series(with a theoretical 3rd game) would lead into Soul Reaver. Sort of like a time twisted timeline that has odd holes that are then meaningfully filled in by the Soul Reaver series. But then we have Defiance that doesn't fit into either series so who knows whether naming conventions ever mattered much to the team or publisher.

7:20 I agree. It stands to reason that Mobius would be familiar with arts and artifacts that produce this disabling effect. It might even be the result of an experimentation by Mobius. As a contingent against potential rivals of an arcane persuasion.

My head canon is that the cleansed true Kain raised Vorador, gave him that fleeting taste of hope after showing him the purified reaver, but knowing that in doing so, he was sending uma to her grave, kain recognizing after what Raziel did that sacrifices must be made to form the chain that frees him from fate, even a sacrifice from himself for Kain loved Uma, as much as Kain is capable of such.

blood omen 2 Vorador just seems like he's still retaining some degree of hope for his future.

after coming across your channel many weeks ago, i was awaiting a video of Vorador and i cannot be any more happier ! i have always been a huge fan of the Soul Reaver series, and after Raziel, Vorador is my next favourite character; and it must be mentioned that the talent of Paul Lukather (may he rest in peace) is the embodiment of the revered vampire, awesome voice acting. my favourite incarnation of Vorador would have to be his portrayal in Soul Reaver 2 and Defiance, as you said of his weariness and hardened resolve and mellowed take showed a side not expected from Blood Omen, very refreshing in all honesty. his interaction with Raziel is by far my favourite piece of dialogue, and watching it side by side with the Behind the Scenes of SR2 really shows Paul Lukather's performance.

Vorador when killing Melek: "Parry this, you filthy casual!"

Please keep doing these. I don’t care if you get down to the character studies of the prisoner saying “help me kind sir!!!” Make as much LOK content as possible haha

Great content as always. Hoping for a Mortanius one in the future

Just stopped by to drop a comment and a thumbs up. I’ll have to watch this later! Love your work.

From my play of the game, I believe two factors contributed to the attack. First being the conspiracy of Mortanius and Moebius, the defences were likely weakened by the sharing and moving of resources and soldiers for the grand plan. Second would be the presence of Raziel during soul reaver 2, Moebius knowing how the progression of time knew these event had to happen for Kain to push his agenda and plan. Taking Malik to guard Raziel and dispatch him. Leading to the elimination of these members of the circle, a calculated move that was likely to rid of any opposition to the plans of Moebuis and Mortanius. This likely also played into Moebius’ hands, as it would galvanise the troops further to their goal of the extinction of the vampire race. Because the fear of an attack in their place of safety would affirm the brainwashing and prejudice.

Love you dude. I'm so grateful for your work. Greetings from Poland :D

I love the subtle shade you throw at BO2 in your various videos. As someone who really disliked that entry, it makes me chuckle.

Love these videos. Was a huge fan back in the day....and still. Brilliant! 👏 👏 👏

Legacy of kain was such an AWESOME series still my favorite setting in video games to this day