Ariel

Ariel is a recurring supporting character in the Legacy of Kain series. She is voiced by Anna Gunn in all the games.

Role

 
Ariel was the Balance Guardian before the events of Blood Omen. At the start of the game, we find out that she was betrayed and mysteriously murdered by Mortanius while he was under the influence of a Hylden . The repercussions of her death were expertly calculated as it sent her love, Nupraptor - Guardian of the Pillar of Mind, into madness. Since all the Pillar Guardian's are symbiotically connected, Nupraptor's madness corrupts the entire Circle of Nine, including Ariel's successor and the newly born Balance Guardian, Kain. The corruption has a destabilizing effect on Kain and renders him incapable of fulfilling his destiny as the Scion of Balance at birth. In turn, Kain's imbalance sends the Pillars and the entire Nosgoth into a state of decay.

After her death, Ariel haunted the Pillars of Nosgoth, trapped there until balance was restored to the land. When Kain approaches her (at the start of Blood Omen), seeking a cure for his vampire gift, Ariel saw the perfect pawn and tricked Kain into murdering the Circle of Nine. She even hide Kain's true identity from him. When Kain got rid of all the Pillar Guardians, Ariel reveals that he is the last guardian and he too must die for balance to be restored. Kain refuses the sacrifice, condemning the Pillars to an eternity of decay. This traps Ariel to the Pillars as well and she continues to haunt it.

During the events of Soul Reaver and Soul Reaver 2 Ariel guides Raziel in his adventures and helps him in killing his brethren. Ariel hopes that Raziel would free her from her eternal prison by killing Kain but the wraith continues to defy her and everyone else by refusing to kill Kain. In Soul Reaver 2, about a century after Kain's refusal to sacrifice himself, Raziel comes across a very bitter Ariel. She is angry at Kain because of his selfish decision but Raziel questions if Kain's decision was the wrong one or did he just choose the lesser of the two evils. He almost starts to defend Kain until Ariel becomes irritated and escapes into the spectral realm. Raziel chases her into the spectral realm and continues to hound her with piercing questions about her past. Seeing Ariel's pain, Raziel backs off and leaves the ghost alone.

Towards the end of Defiance, Raziel activates the Spirit Forge inside the vampire citadel. This summons the soul of every balance guardian and purifies their soul. The forge unites Ariel's soul with her ancestors for the final baptism of Raziel's wraith blade. On Ariel's request, Raziel releases her soul by absorbing her essence and she finally finds peace and rest. This act purifies the blade of all corruption, and it is now ready to be wielded by the Scion of Balance.

We later find that Raziel uses this Spirit Reaver to heal Kain and purify the material Reaver, thus revealing the Elder God to him.

Quotes

- You must unite that which has been set asunder... only then will the Scion of Balance be armed for his true endeavor.  Only then...