R.I.P. Rene Auberjonois (1940-2019) Thank you for helping to bring Janos Audron to life with such a welcoming, easily approachable presence and sense of charisma for a being many would immediately dismiss as nothing more than a monster. You will be dearly missed alongside Tony Jay (Elder God and Blood Omen 1 Mortanius) and Paul Lukather (Vorador) among the Legacy of Kain fanbase :(
Raziel talks to Janos without knowing Janos knows he was a Sarafan. And yet, he calls him his child because he knows his human body. Janos compassion and forgiveness is honestly so beautiful, almost divine. He also doesn't want Raziel to kill himself.
Oh yeah, and it shows even for all the pain humans caused him, especially the Sarafan, that Janos cared a lot, because he understood what the vampires did was to protect *ALL* life from the wrath of the Hylden, not just themselves. In spite of the necessary evils of having to turn new members of the Circle of Nine into vampires to strengthen the binding.
I never payed attention to that. Janos knew who Raziel was. He accepted everything and still showed Raziel nothing but warmth, honesty, and enlightenment.
Love this scene just for the sheer fact it’s one of the very, very few encounters of Raziel’s we’ve ever seen where he shows no contempt or distrust for who he’s speaking with. Raziel even sympathizes with Janos here.
"where he shows no contempt or distrust for who he’s speaking with" Yeah, that really resonated with me (the way he was suddenly so calm and understanding) it really felt like a breath of fresh air meets zen, lol.
Nosgoths setting has a very interesting take on Vampires. Essentially turning them into an Elf analogue, eternal beings trusted with stewardship of the environment. Also Raziel asks an interesting question on why the Pillars chose human guardians. It provides an interesting frame on the significance of who Kain is: He is the Balance Guardian who is both human and vampire.
In the world of Nosgorh there are nonactual truly good or absolute evil beings Every creature and individual follows their own philosophy of good and what they think is right Vampires are ruled by their bloodthirst, driven to kill by a natural need as water is to humans I appreciate how humans aren't the main focus of the story and are relegated to being just another race, not special or important in the slightest Kain is such a fascinating character. Destructive, but cautious after centuries of being fates bitch Raziel in his youth is ruled by an urge to get whatever he wants at any cost Just like his father
Janos not hating humanity is surprising to hear from a vampire. If anything he understands why humans are scared of vampires and sympathizes with them. It’s refreshing to hear that from an ancient vampire.
It shows too how caring Janos is. And even if he knows Raziel is a Sarafan in this time period, seeing him as he is centuries later makes him feel for him.
@@BryonYoungbloodthe ancient vampires despite being cursed by the hyldin with a need for blood, still cared deeply for humanity despite their uncontrollable bloodlust for human blood
@BryonYoungblood Janos, just like the rest of his race, were benevolent and divine by nosgoth standards and only wanted a world of peace, serenity, freedom and perhaps order and they protected humans from the Hyldin which didn't like any race whom they deemed below them or inferior
RIP Janos Audron, the last guardian, the greatest vampire to have ever existed. Your words may have been in a video game. But they resonate so well in life too. They fear what they don't understand. And they despise what they fear.
The greatest vampire The father of human vampires The enchanter of the reaver And it's guardian Also vorador's mentor. This character is way too iconic.
"They know I'm up here...beyond their reach..." And then the camera pans down to reveal the way in you just carved. One of gaming's best "OH SHIT" moments if ever there was one.
Came to watch this scene after hearing about Rene Auberjonois' passing. So many people will immediately think of Odo from DS9 when they think of him and they are right to do so. but for me, he will always be the voice of Janos Audron first and foremost.
This scene surprised me. You hear about Janos Audron in BO 1 about how he was bloodthirsty and such, but then you see a soft spoken priestly blue angel, and my jaw dropped.
Seeing Janos for the first time is one of the most epic gaming moments up to this day... I will never forget it or how it made me feel. Janos seriously needed a hug... or a thousand.
I was just the happiest little 8 year old in the world .. watching my brother meet someone in the game that looked as bad ass as Him and he didn't want to hear us to shreds ♡
Raziel Mankind seems to have brought you only torment and grief. You must hate them. Janos responds slowly, considering - Janos They fear what they don’t understand; and they despise what they fear. But no - I do not hate them. Raziel Vorador does. Janos (considering for a moment) He has suffered much. He cannot forgive them. Raziel Should they be forgiven? Janos (thinks for a moment) They don’t understand what they’re doing. They are simply unenlightened... and vulnerable to manipulation. These words have always stuck with me, what are we but lost travelers seeking to understand our surroundings.
Wow I usually hate when ppl make quotes...but that's a really good quote. And godamn if it doesn't seem relatable even today. Janos is such a good soul. Of course I feel I may relate to Kain .kst, or Raziel. Haven't decided.
I keep coming back to this video just to listen to this one bit of the conversation. The millennia old idea that wrongdoing results from a lack of understanding or enlightenment is very comforting to me. And Janos expresses it with such feeling and charity.
Raziel Character has a strong sense of Righteousness even if it's through blind faith, passion or a higher purpose. Raziel is always trying to be hero. That tends to go sour, like cold blood licked from the floor, a good example of a tragic hero
Actually if you think about it, A vampire is made by the master placing part of his soul and blood into a dead body-hence Kain raising Raziel and his 'brothers'. So since it is the masters blood and soul animating the vampire, it's an transfer of more than genetic material. So since Janos' heart and any soul and blood left in it reanimated Kain, Janos is Kain's father, therefore Raziel's grandfather. I think that's why he treats Raziel as an relation, Raziel's his grandson in a way.
@@WillJM81280 Kane resurrection and calling as a balance gurdian made it impossible for him to die by anything outside of the reaver blade or by him deciding to sacfrice himself to the pillars. That why raziel needs be forced to kill him. The Hilden had no idea of this and grabbed the heart and thought they are done with that and throwing his body into hell.
Well fuck, there goes another character's voice. With Raziel's actor pushing 81 (Michael Bell) and Kain's at 65 (Simon Templeman), the series may never get a reboot/sequel/remake with any of the original cast.
Doubt i'll get a response, but one of his well known roles was in Star Trek Deep Space Nine as a Constable known as Odo. Thank you for reminding me of him. I hope he has found peace. he's had a colorful career.
Basically, Raziel has the capacity to be either the Hylden or the Vampire Champion. Since he can't die normally, he is unbound to the wheel of fate, presumably giving him true free will.
On the one hand, a remake of this would probably do very well. On the other hand, I feel like a lot of the series was lightning in a bottle, and it would be very hard to capture twice.
I keenly remember my anticipation about this encounter. I had butterflies when Raziel unlocked that door and started his long walk down the corridor. I had heard the name Janos Audron for years since first listening to the history of the "Heart of Darkness" relic in the original _Blood Omen,_ but I never ever expected to actually meet the legendary figure.
love the cinematic work here. giving the player hints on where to go or what's going on. like here for example, showing that the Serafan will take the same route Raziel took.
I agree. I always loved Janos and was disappointed he didn't have more parts. From the moment he was introduced I saw either an grandfatherly or priestly figure. I thought "he must be so lonely up there, last of his kind, even his 'son' (Vorador) avoiding him due to differences in opinion, humans hating and wanting to kill him" and in a way that dedication to his 'job' is so awe inspiring. However if you think about it the way of their beliefs with the Elder God, it's also kinda creepy too....
Also, in spite of going through all of that, he could still look at humanity in the most uncomplicated way. But I don't know if I could call it being 'dedicated' to his job as much as being 'resigned' to it, especially when he mentions how he was "sustained only by [his] obligation." Later, when I learned how nearly all of the ancient vampires committed suicide after being cursed, it made me realize how trapped he seemed to be by everything. If he wasn't the Guardian, would he have too?
It's saddens me... But this is a conservation I had with my father while we where fishing as a youth. I was blinded by rage, he understood... I will carrying is ashes and our love forever as a mirror of self·reflection in my soul. Thank you for serving, honor our parent's wishes remember our blood we carry always. Nicholas Frausto Jr. U.S.Army -Beloved·Father-
Janos was not alive when Kain was turned into a Vampire by Mortanius. Actually, Mortanius used Janos' very heart to do that. This is roughly five centuries before Kain was even born. Vorador didn't recognize Raziel when they met in the swamp, so it would be a stretch to say Janos shared any insight on the prophecies with him (in fact he admitted in Defiance that he was ignorant as to the purpose of the Reaver, which he forged). We must assume that Janos possessed knowledge no other being had D.R
So here we are, 18 years after Defiance, with still no conclusion to this fantastic story. Bluepoint needs to be commissioned to remake these games into a collection with a conclusion.
But Defiance was a conclusion...If i'm not mistaken given the events (I am avoiding spoilers btw). Bluepoint was sold to Square Enix who sinked their teeth into it and refused to let go, now 12 years later never touching it, they sold Eidos to "Embracer goup", Eidos promissed a new Thief, Deus Ex, Tomb Raider AND...a Legacy of Kain game, the series pretty much died after defiance and had a spin off multiplayer called "Nosgoth" sees a revival with the new purchase, so rest easy and hopeful.
@@FerLopez5 no it wasn’t. There are several loose ends left open after Defiance. Bluepoint was also never sold to anyone-where are you getting your information from?
@hanson666999 His character is such a radical change from the cynical, angry, deceptive personalities that we had been so accustomed to. He was the only one that I could consider truly benevolent.
actually, if you are to consider Blood Omen 2, Kain met Janos roughly 200 years after the events of Blood Omen 1 (which is 500 years after Raziel meets him the first time) So, if anything, before the events of Soul Reaver 1, Janos has been seen by both Kain and Raziel within the span of at least 700 years...
@@Kalivon893 You've forgotten. Defiance's climax and finale is right around the same time as Blood Omen 1's climax and finale chronologically. Then, 200 years later, BO2 happens. Stand alone as it may be, it's part of the plot, even if Amy Henning had to bend over backwards to make it fit via SR2, Defiance, and taking over BO2's story halfway through.
At least in the eyes of the original vampires, it was the only way they could reproduce after the curse, so anyone they turned, WAS their child in their eyes.
@@Proletarius87 I think it was mostly the humans who weren't turned who had a problem with vampires, rather than the ones which were. Most vampires seem pretty satisfied with their condition, the problem is they need to feed on humans which naturally the humans aren't too happy with. This was another clever play by the Hylden, the blood thirst ensured that sooner or later the humans would turn on the vampires.
I wonder if they have a picture of what Janos Audron's fortress looked like before it became ruined. If you look outside, you see staircases here and there that are broken like they actually lead up to his fortress from the outside. Interesting.
Very good point. In a way, I think that makes him stronger than characters like Kain and Vorador as well. Their treatment by humans made them become cynical and jaded; Janos had to put up with hunters, guardianship and isolation and was still able to retain his compassion. With that said, I just wish he could've had a break in this series :'(
In a way, Janos is stronger than the other guardians. In the end their obligation and necessity with the pillars didn't sustain them and they killed themselves along with the rest of their race, Janos stayed. Janos could have easily done the same, just left the Soul Reaver to someone else-like maybe Vorador-like the other guardians but he didn't. His 'obligation' may have seemed to sustain him, but something else must have as well. Maybe an fascination with humans.
Janos Audron is waiting for Raziel in his Aerie, thanks to his knowledge of Ancient prophecies. His interpretation was flawed, muddied down by his lingering faith in the Elder God, but he was still correct to some degree. What I never ever understood is how he knew Raziel's name. If Raziel was mentioned by name in prophecy (which is never addressed), then Janos might have led the Seraphan Raziel take his Heart willingly after all. D.R.
Late answer after 8 years but I believe he knows Raziel's name simply because he knows the human Raziel. This is also why he is surprised by his appearance.
I love that nowhere in all my years of loving this series I've never heard, mentioned, or read a comment on Raziels burnt off vampire dick. Not even a joke. Truly shows how captivating the story and characters are..... No distractions.
I always felt glad he treated him with comfort in the beginning. Saying my child probably made him feel some compassion for a change. And then you had to hear what was going on in that room which made you want to help him no matter what
It's possible that Janos has been in communication with Vorador or Kain during all this time. It's possible Janos had known Raizel in his days under Kain's leadership. Raziel served for a thousand years before he became the wraith. Jano wouldn't leave himself blind to a raising of the vampies.
Between the stellar voice acting, everything these two characters have been through, and the music, there's something so unexpectedly tender about this scene. Rarely do two characters in this series trust each other enough to be so open.
He says he's the 10th guardian because he was called upon to guard the Reaver - he's not a guardian in the same sense that the pillar guardians are - that is to say, he isn't connected to them in the same way, and he isn't replaced in the same manner.
Very true. And even if Janos didn't create a vampire directly, they could trace their lineage back to him through Vorador (who as far as we've been told is the only one Janos is confirmed to have changed directly). So it goes: Janos=>Vorador=>group of vampires=>other group=>etc and for our protagonist: Janos' heart=>Kain=>Raziel And that's the Nosgoth vampire family-tree
I feel the same way for Janos, and after Blood Omen 2, could only feel worse for the poor guy. Interesting thing how Raziel possesses free will yet despite this, he's still manipulated into carrying out the deeds the enemy desired. In the end, Raziel made good on his part as "Redeemer and Destroyer", regardless if fate played its hand. In his act of triumph, his actions destroyed himself.
All that would have never happened if the ancient vampires and the Hylden never battled each other. But i guess the elder god has to be blamed for that.
Sad that the voice actor of Janos Audron has died. I just found out in 2020. Several voice actors from Legacy of Kain have died. I was hoping for another game with the original cast, but that is now impossible.
When you look at how far the door is from Janos and Raziel I can't help think why didn't they just run and jump off the balcony. Janos can fly and Raziel can just glide to safety.
This moment of the game is both greatly revealing and deeply intriguing. I felt sad for Janos... always felt sad for him. And this is the time I also began to truly feel sad for Raziel... the Pawn fo the Wheel. This is the most difficult forge of all... and one of the most epic moments in the Legacy of Kain series. Love this game. D.R.
I do remember in one of the episodes (maybe Defiance) Janos is puzzled and sais "Have I misread the signs" so it seems he had visions or some insight of future events. Could explain how he knows Raziel's name.
@yurikatos In SR1 intro, Raziel describes the setting by saying 'I stood with Kain at the dawn of the empire. I have served him a millennium." A millennium is 1000 years - so SR1 is 1000 years out from BO1, and Raziel meets Janos 500 years prior - so it's actually 1500 years between when Raziel meets Janos and when Raziel is tossed into the Abyss, as close as we can approximate.
Man I always loved this scene. Despite all the pain and torment humans have caused Janos, he still speaks of them like a loving father who just can't get through to his kids. I tend to forget just how much of a benevolent role the vampires played in Nosgoth till the Hylden struck them with the blood thirst
Oh, please, his vampires saw humans as prey and as blood bags. He later admits that the Hylden turned Vampires into 'Predators Upon Mankind'. Vampires have been shown to be bestial, cruel and corrupt just as much as humans, in some ways moreso. I don't see it as the humans' fault. His people, the vampires, started this. I see Vampires as having been like Vorador: A worthless, bloodthirsty beast. Just the fact that Janos sired Vorador is a crime. In fact Janos' crimes against humanity are so many that I agree with Sarafan Raziel: he died too quickly.
@@Ares99999 so you just ignored where I said “till the Hylden struck them with the blood thirst” to start explaining everything they did AFTER the blood thirst…
@@kiddfaz And what they did AFTER the blood thirst explains EVERYTHING the humans did to them AFTER the blood thirst. The humans had the right to fight back. The Sarafan had the right to kill Janos Audron. If you're going to excuse one, you excuse both. Or you excuse neither. I mean, what was the human alternative to being preyed upon by bloodthirsty, monsters like Vorador?
@@Ares99999 wtf are you talking about excuse one? 😂😂😂 Are you mental or something? I’m literally talking about Janos specifically and you’re going on this rant of vampires and humans that Janos wasn’t even involved in. I’m talking about the role vampires played before the blood thirst and you’re going on some wild rant about humans defending themselves and Vorador…WHAT lmfao
@@Ares99999 But I also see you actually don't know anything about Legacy of Kain lore if you think the humans were defending themselves lmao Humans literally started the war with the Vampires and almost wiped them out unprovoked. Vampires didn't even start fighting back against them till Vorador killed the Circle of Nine, and he did that because he literally watched the Sarafan wipe out his entire family during the Vampire Purge. Humans were manipulated by the Elder God to turn against the original blue race of Vampires and start killing them. Mobius and Malik were literally two of the balance guardians when they killed the rest of the Vampire guardians. The original blue race of vampires refused to give in to the blood thirst. All three games point this out that they were driven mad from the curse and started commiting mass suicide, which caused Janos to create Vampires from humans (Vorador's race of vampires), who were than hunted to extinction by the Sarafan. It's absolutely WILD that you called Vorador a monster but not the people that literally killed and burned his daughters in front of him
I have been reminded of Rene Auberjonois and relistening to this, I feel I want to like.. cross stitch or embroider this phrase somewhere, it feels like an overall important thing to remember, always: "Your role in this world's destiny is more crucial and more benevolent than you've allowed yourself to believe." optional bonus: "Your journey will not be easy - dark powers are allied against you, but I think you already know this. You appear to be cruelly tested." I love you Janos so much and thank you Mr. Auberjonois for bringing to life a character with so much heart that even just a few of his words soothes my heart. ;w;
@shewolf51 It's not likely that Raziel was met by Janos at any other time not shown by the games. Instead, it seems Janos had some clues about Raziel's looks (and, apparently, name too) thanks to the prophecies. Though, the prophecies must have depicted him with reverence and resembling the angelic appereance of the Ancients. Raziel's wraith form must have been for Janos a twisted version of the Vampire Hero's appereance he expected.
Well, thinking about it, the whole situation could have been resolved easier. Raziel should have just shouted : JANOOOS AUDRON! I am Raziel!!! Janos would fly down, pick up Raziel, and fly him up to the balcony. Simple, no need for that long puzzle inside and no path for the Sarafan. :)
in the series, it is mentioned numerous times that the human guardians were not competent to serve the pillars. but going by the likes of moebius, mortanius, ariel and nupraptor, they all seem potent and skilled. nupraptor was the master of telepathy, mortanius too was powerful, ariel was a skilled sorceress. i believe humans were not competent to serve in the sense that they were vulnerable. how nupraptor (the mind guardian) himself lost control of his mind on seeing ariel's corpse.
@AebelAlmighty Well, he had been dead for 500 years when the others were being introduced, and he's not a pillar guardian (of which there are 9, and were originally said to be 9).
I don't think he was trying to terrorize them. In fact, i'm sure he tried to merely "sip" from them, so he wouldn't have to harm those fragile creatures. After all, he doesn't hate humanity...
He probably did terrorize them, but not intentionally. He had to survive, for Raziel, for the fate of Nosgoth. It would've been a crushing thought and action for Yanos to feed on humans, who was a gentle soul, who despised the vampire curse to begin with. He wanted to save the humans too.
it was shown that the ancient vampires could easily feed without doing any long lasting harm ot their prey, but the act of doing it was utterly terrifying for the humans coupled with the fact that ocasionally the ancient had a turn some humans(the upcomnig guardians and a few other ppl like Vorador), and this has ot be done while they were still young. in the eues of the Humans in the setting , you see this incredibly powerful creature just whisking away apparently random people for unknown reasons to never be seen again or you occasionally saw one of them feeding, you'd be scared out of your wit too if you werent in the know.
Didn't I comment on this before Poor Janos Razeeal human and Raziel soul reaver I dont wish they were the same To rip flesh even a vampires Janos is blue Vorador is green horrible way agony and a tragic death.
It doesn't just disable their powers - it incapacitates them. We saw this when Moebius used it on Kain in Defiance; he couldn't even stand up, which I'm pretty sure requires a much more rudimentary grasp of basic motor skills than flying does.
R.I.P. Rene Auberjonois (1940-2019)
Thank you for helping to bring Janos Audron to life with such a welcoming, easily approachable presence and sense of charisma for a being many would immediately dismiss as nothing more than a monster. You will be dearly missed alongside Tony Jay (Elder God and Blood Omen 1 Mortanius) and Paul Lukather (Vorador) among the Legacy of Kain fanbase :(
all 3 are legends and will NEVER be forgotten
Tony and Rene... Star Trek will miss them as well😢
Much respect bro
Thank you! Love you rene
I haven't noticed Rene's surname sounds eerly similar to Janos.
“It is heartening after all these years, to hear my name spoken without contempt....”
A memorable start, to an amazing conversation
Yeah...
I know exactly how Janos feels
@@SamuelBlack84 Woe is you
@@tremendousyeet3467 Likewise
@@SamuelBlack84 I object. for that is for me to decide. and I settle on it being void.
Raziel talks to Janos without knowing Janos knows he was a Sarafan. And yet, he calls him his child because he knows his human body. Janos compassion and forgiveness is honestly so beautiful, almost divine. He also doesn't want Raziel to kill himself.
His frame of reference is long enough to know how short-sighted humans are.
Oh yeah, and it shows even for all the pain humans caused him, especially the Sarafan, that Janos cared a lot, because he understood what the vampires did was to protect *ALL* life from the wrath of the Hylden, not just themselves. In spite of the necessary evils of having to turn new members of the Circle of Nine into vampires to strengthen the binding.
I never payed attention to that. Janos knew who Raziel was. He accepted everything and still showed Raziel nothing but warmth, honesty, and enlightenment.
Yeah , F**k Tomb Raider
that's why he recognized raziel?
"I dont like that word... smells of martyrdom".
Foreshadowing always get me after I've found out what it foreshowed
Not as big as what the Elder God says in Soul Reaver 1
"for this point hereafter, your destinies are intertwined. Soul Reaver, and Reaver of Souls"
Love this scene just for the sheer fact it’s one of the very, very few encounters of Raziel’s we’ve ever seen where he shows no contempt or distrust for who he’s speaking with. Raziel even sympathizes with Janos here.
"where he shows no contempt or distrust for who he’s speaking with" Yeah, that really resonated with me (the way he was suddenly so calm and understanding) it really felt like a breath of fresh air meets zen, lol.
You can immediately tell Janos brought out the best in him. Perhaps the only truly kind character in the series.
Nosgoths setting has a very interesting take on Vampires. Essentially turning them into an Elf analogue, eternal beings trusted with stewardship of the environment.
Also Raziel asks an interesting question on why the Pillars chose human guardians. It provides an interesting frame on the significance of who Kain is: He is the Balance Guardian who is both human and vampire.
In the world of Nosgorh there are nonactual truly good or absolute evil beings
Every creature and individual follows their own philosophy of good and what they think is right
Vampires are ruled by their bloodthirst, driven to kill by a natural need as water is to humans
I appreciate how humans aren't the main focus of the story and are relegated to being just another race, not special or important in the slightest
Kain is such a fascinating character. Destructive, but cautious after centuries of being fates bitch
Raziel in his youth is ruled by an urge to get whatever he wants at any cost
Just like his father
Janos not hating humanity is surprising to hear from a vampire. If anything he understands why humans are scared of vampires and sympathizes with them. It’s refreshing to hear that from an ancient vampire.
It shows too how caring Janos is. And even if he knows Raziel is a Sarafan in this time period, seeing him as he is centuries later makes him feel for him.
@@BryonYoungbloodthe ancient vampires despite being cursed by the hyldin with a need for blood, still cared deeply for humanity despite their uncontrollable bloodlust for human blood
@lthunder5740 That too! Which is why they forged the Pillars too, to keep the Hylden trapped.
@BryonYoungblood Janos, just like the rest of his race, were benevolent and divine by nosgoth standards and only wanted a world of peace, serenity, freedom and perhaps order and they protected humans from the Hyldin which didn't like any race whom they deemed below them or inferior
If I were put in his place, I would go down the path that Vorador took with his hatred of mankind
-I don't like that word. It smells of martyrdom.
That's some Character Development for you, people.
I agree! Raziel’s journey was incredible! Kain’s was also a work of art.
RIP Janos Audron, the last guardian, the greatest vampire to have ever existed. Your words may have been in a video game. But they resonate so well in life too.
They fear what they don't understand. And they despise what they fear.
The greatest vampire
The father of human vampires
The enchanter of the reaver
And it's guardian
Also vorador's mentor.
This character is way too iconic.
but he appeared in Legacy of kain defiance !
He was resurrected in defiance
"They know I'm up here...beyond their reach..."
And then the camera pans down to reveal the way in you just carved.
One of gaming's best "OH SHIT" moments if ever there was one.
Turns out that the Elder God is the real parasite.
From someone who doesn't particularly like video games I say this that Legacy of Kain series and story is supreme poetry.
It is one of the best.
The voice acting added so much depth and character to this series. RIP René Auberjonois.
Came to watch this scene after hearing about Rene Auberjonois' passing. So many people will immediately think of Odo from DS9 when they think of him and they are right to do so. but for me, he will always be the voice of Janos Audron first and foremost.
Same
Same here.
This scene surprised me. You hear about Janos Audron in BO 1 about how he was bloodthirsty and such, but then you see a soft spoken priestly blue angel, and my jaw dropped.
A LIE WILL REMAIN A LIE!
Seeing Janos for the first time is one of the most epic gaming moments up to this day... I will never forget it or how it made me feel. Janos seriously needed a hug... or a thousand.
I was just the happiest little 8 year old in the world .. watching my brother meet someone in the game that looked as bad ass as Him and he didn't want to hear us to shreds ♡
How ironic, the human Raziel reap the heart of darkness from Janos, and ghost Raziel back to him the heart of darkness in five hundred years later.
Raziel
Mankind seems to have brought you only torment and grief.
You must hate them.
Janos responds slowly, considering -
Janos
They fear what they don’t understand; and they despise what they fear.
But no - I do not hate them.
Raziel
Vorador does.
Janos
(considering for a moment)
He has suffered much. He cannot forgive them.
Raziel
Should they be forgiven?
Janos
(thinks for a moment)
They don’t understand what they’re doing.
They are simply unenlightened... and vulnerable to manipulation.
These words have always stuck with me, what are we but lost travelers seeking to understand our surroundings.
Wow I usually hate when ppl make quotes...but that's a really good quote. And godamn if it doesn't seem relatable even today. Janos is such a good soul. Of course I feel I may relate to Kain .kst, or Raziel. Haven't decided.
I keep coming back to this video just to listen to this one bit of the conversation. The millennia old idea that wrongdoing results from a lack of understanding or enlightenment is very comforting to me. And Janos expresses it with such feeling and charity.
Raziel Character has a strong sense of Righteousness even if it's through blind faith, passion or a higher purpose. Raziel is always trying to be hero. That tends to go sour, like cold blood licked from the floor, a good example of a tragic hero
I keenly remember the thrill of anticipation about this meeting. Wild horses couldn't have torn me away from the controller.
Actually if you think about it, A vampire is made by the master placing part of his soul and blood into a dead body-hence Kain raising Raziel and his 'brothers'. So since it is the masters blood and soul animating the vampire, it's an transfer of more than genetic material. So since Janos' heart and any soul and blood left in it reanimated Kain, Janos is Kain's father, therefore Raziel's grandfather. I think that's why he treats Raziel as an relation, Raziel's his grandson in a way.
I just wonder why Kane was still able to live in LOKD despite having the Heart of Darkness ripped out of him.
@@WillJM81280 Kane resurrection and calling as a balance gurdian made it impossible for him to die by anything outside of the reaver blade or by him deciding to sacfrice himself to the pillars. That why raziel needs be forced to kill him. The Hilden had no idea of this and grabbed the heart and thought they are done with that and throwing his body into hell.
Crystal Dynamics really needs to stop making Tomb Raider games and needs to reboot the Legacy of Kain series
I agree
Yes and just one more game to finish the story
Agreed
Yes
Amen
This game is pure poetry.
RIP René Auberjonois. I heard that he had died today. This role was the first time I had heard of him.
Well fuck, there goes another character's voice. With Raziel's actor pushing 81 (Michael Bell) and Kain's at 65 (Simon Templeman), the series may never get a reboot/sequel/remake with any of the original cast.
The Legacy of Kain cast is...old.
I fear Michael Bell might leave us soon...
@@Karloss00 Reason why they shouldnt reboot, the voice cast is 90% of the franchise.
Doubt i'll get a response, but one of his well known roles was in Star Trek Deep Space Nine as a Constable known as Odo.
Thank you for reminding me of him. I hope he has found peace.
he's had a colorful career.
Basically, Raziel has the capacity to be either the Hylden or the Vampire Champion. Since he can't die normally, he is unbound to the wheel of fate, presumably giving him true free will.
The storytelling and voice acting in this game are pure magic.
On the one hand, a remake of this would probably do very well. On the other hand, I feel like a lot of the series was lightning in a bottle, and it would be very hard to capture twice.
I keenly remember my anticipation about this encounter. I had butterflies when Raziel unlocked that door and started his long walk down the corridor. I had heard the name Janos Audron for years since first listening to the history of the "Heart of Darkness" relic in the original _Blood Omen,_ but I never ever expected to actually meet the legendary figure.
Janos: "They know I'm up here. Beyond their reach"
*as the camera pans down to the giant hole in the mountain* XD
love the cinematic work here. giving the player hints on where to go or what's going on. like here for example, showing that the Serafan will take the same route Raziel took.
The game telling you that you fucked up
RIP Rene Auberjonois
You’ll be forever missed 😇🙏🏼
You know why you are here!
We shall meet again in December!
I agree. I always loved Janos and was disappointed he didn't have more parts. From the moment he was introduced I saw either an grandfatherly or priestly figure. I thought "he must be so lonely up there, last of his kind, even his 'son' (Vorador) avoiding him due to differences in opinion, humans hating and wanting to kill him" and in a way that dedication to his 'job' is so awe inspiring. However if you think about it the way of their beliefs with the Elder God, it's also kinda creepy too....
I always deeply hated the fact how the Elder God manipulated them so maliciously..
Even after everything that humans had done to him and his race, Janos did not hate them. That is very respectable goodness in his heart.
Also, in spite of going through all of that, he could still look at humanity in the most uncomplicated way.
But I don't know if I could call it being 'dedicated' to his job as much as being 'resigned' to it, especially when he mentions how he was "sustained only by [his] obligation." Later, when I learned how nearly all of the ancient vampires committed suicide after being cursed, it made me realize how trapped he seemed to be by everything. If he wasn't the Guardian, would he have too?
It's saddens me... But this is a conservation I had with my father while we where fishing as a youth. I was blinded by rage, he understood... I will carrying is ashes and our love forever as a mirror of self·reflection in my soul.
Thank you for serving, honor our parent's wishes remember our blood we carry always.
Nicholas Frausto Jr. U.S.Army -Beloved·Father-
Thank you for everything Rene...
Janos was not alive when Kain was turned into a Vampire by Mortanius. Actually, Mortanius used Janos' very heart to do that. This is roughly five centuries before Kain was even born. Vorador didn't recognize Raziel when they met in the swamp, so it would be a stretch to say Janos shared any insight on the prophecies with him (in fact he admitted in Defiance that he was ignorant as to the purpose of the Reaver, which he forged). We must assume that Janos possessed knowledge no other being had D.R
Vorador said he didn't know what type of sorcery was laid to the Reaver by Yanos and "the others." We never got to find out who "the others" were.
Great Helm others were more of Janos race the first guardians
So raziel is way older than kain both in their human forms?
@@alejandrooo29 Much rather his "corpse" than him.
@@GnosisZX yup, the reaver has powers connected to the pillars, so it's reasonable to assume that it was enchanted by the first guardians.
"You must save yourself, Raziel!"
"Bitch, I'm literally unkillable."
What is crazy is Janos always has to perish so the heart of darkness could be stolen by serafan and that it would restore Kain in defiance.
Yup
So here we are, 18 years after Defiance, with still no conclusion to this fantastic story.
Bluepoint needs to be commissioned to remake these games into a collection with a conclusion.
But Defiance was a conclusion...If i'm not mistaken given the events (I am avoiding spoilers btw). Bluepoint was sold to Square Enix who sinked their teeth into it and refused to let go, now 12 years later never touching it, they sold Eidos to "Embracer goup", Eidos promissed a new Thief, Deus Ex, Tomb Raider AND...a Legacy of Kain game, the series pretty much died after defiance and had a spin off multiplayer called "Nosgoth" sees a revival with the new purchase, so rest easy and hopeful.
@@FerLopez5 no it wasn’t. There are several loose ends left open after Defiance. Bluepoint was also never sold to anyone-where are you getting your information from?
@@FerLopez5Actually, a sequel was already in the works shortly after Defiance's release, but was canned after a few months.
R.I.P. Rene Auberjonois :,(
@hanson666999 His character is such a radical change from the cynical, angry, deceptive personalities that we had been so accustomed to. He was the only one that I could consider truly benevolent.
actually, if you are to consider Blood Omen 2, Kain met Janos roughly 200 years after the events of Blood Omen 1 (which is 500 years after Raziel meets him the first time)
So, if anything, before the events of Soul Reaver 1, Janos has been seen by both Kain and Raziel within the span of at least 700 years...
Technically, those events followed the events of Defiance. But in their own way they were shall we say, a stand alone event.
@@Kalivon893 You've forgotten. Defiance's climax and finale is right around the same time as Blood Omen 1's climax and finale chronologically. Then, 200 years later, BO2 happens. Stand alone as it may be, it's part of the plot, even if Amy Henning had to bend over backwards to make it fit via SR2, Defiance, and taking over BO2's story halfway through.
At least in the eyes of the original vampires, it was the only way they could reproduce after the curse, so anyone they turned, WAS their child in their eyes.
Children birthed from rape i suppose, as humans rejected "the gift" given time.
@@Proletarius87 I think it was mostly the humans who weren't turned who had a problem with vampires, rather than the ones which were. Most vampires seem pretty satisfied with their condition, the problem is they need to feed on humans which naturally the humans aren't too happy with.
This was another clever play by the Hylden, the blood thirst ensured that sooner or later the humans would turn on the vampires.
Here because Rene just died. RIP thank you for Odo and Janos.
And Chef Louis.
God, this voice acting was amazing.
I wonder if they have a picture of what Janos Audron's fortress looked like before it became ruined. If you look outside, you see staircases here and there that are broken like they actually lead up to his fortress from the outside. Interesting.
Rest in Peace Rene Auberjonois (Janos Audron).
Very good point. In a way, I think that makes him stronger than characters like Kain and Vorador as well. Their treatment by humans made them become cynical and jaded; Janos had to put up with hunters, guardianship and isolation and was still able to retain his compassion.
With that said, I just wish he could've had a break in this series :'(
RIP, Rene Auberjonois.
Mannn....i remember being stuck on this part for a long time...even giving up and coming back like a year later. Lol
I've dived into the series due to the virus
I'm blown away how they haven't kept series going.
The voice acting alone is absolutely mind-blowing
The varus?
@@omensoffate the coof
rest in piece, rene auberjonois
In a way, Janos is stronger than the other guardians. In the end their obligation and necessity with the pillars didn't sustain them and they killed themselves along with the rest of their race, Janos stayed. Janos could have easily done the same, just left the Soul Reaver to someone else-like maybe Vorador-like the other guardians but he didn't. His 'obligation' may have seemed to sustain him, but something else must have as well. Maybe an fascination with humans.
Yanos was extremely principled and honorable. The other ancients sacrificed themselves for the Elder God, Yanos sacrificed himself for Raziel.
RIP René Auberjonois
:(
this series is a timeless classic...never can get tired of its brilliance...
Janos Audron is waiting for Raziel in his Aerie, thanks to his knowledge of Ancient prophecies. His interpretation was flawed, muddied down by his lingering faith in the Elder God, but he was still correct to some degree. What I never ever understood is how he knew Raziel's name. If Raziel was mentioned by name in prophecy (which is never addressed), then Janos might have led the Seraphan Raziel take his Heart willingly after all. D.R.
Late answer after 8 years but I believe he knows Raziel's name simply because he knows the human Raziel. This is also why he is surprised by his appearance.
I love that nowhere in all my years of loving this series I've never heard, mentioned, or read a comment on Raziels burnt off vampire dick. Not even a joke.
Truly shows how captivating the story and characters are..... No distractions.
As the Reaver Guardian, Audron alone knew the truth behind Raziel's terrible destiny, that's how he knows his name
RIP Rene. 😭
I always felt glad he treated him with comfort in the beginning. Saying my child probably made him feel some compassion for a change. And then you had to hear what was going on in that room which made you want to help him no matter what
It's possible that Janos has been in communication with Vorador or Kain during all this time. It's possible Janos had known Raizel in his days under Kain's leadership. Raziel served for a thousand years before he became the wraith. Jano wouldn't leave himself blind to a raising of the vampies.
alonso6300 Pretty sure he was dead during that time. He was dead by the events of BO1 and wasn't seen again until about 3 games later in BO2.
Between the stellar voice acting, everything these two characters have been through, and the music, there's something so unexpectedly tender about this scene. Rarely do two characters in this series trust each other enough to be so open.
He says he's the 10th guardian because he was called upon to guard the Reaver - he's not a guardian in the same sense that the pillar guardians are - that is to say, he isn't connected to them in the same way, and he isn't replaced in the same manner.
Very true. And even if Janos didn't create a vampire directly, they could trace their lineage back to him through Vorador (who as far as we've been told is the only one Janos is confirmed to have changed directly).
So it goes:
Janos=>Vorador=>group of vampires=>other group=>etc
and for our protagonist:
Janos' heart=>Kain=>Raziel
And that's the Nosgoth vampire family-tree
I remember this I excelled in this video game so much.
I feel the same way for Janos, and after Blood Omen 2, could only feel worse for the poor guy.
Interesting thing how Raziel possesses free will yet despite this, he's still manipulated into carrying out the deeds the enemy desired.
In the end, Raziel made good on his part as "Redeemer and Destroyer", regardless if fate played its hand. In his act of triumph, his actions destroyed himself.
All that would have never happened if the ancient vampires and the Hylden never battled each other. But i guess the elder god has to be blamed for that.
Not only Sarafan but also the residents of Uschtenheim as well, he did need to feed after all!
Sad that the voice actor of Janos Audron has died. I just found out in 2020. Several voice actors from Legacy of Kain have died. I was hoping for another game with the original cast, but that is now impossible.
When you look at how far the door is from Janos and Raziel I can't help think why didn't they just run and jump off the balcony. Janos can fly and Raziel can just glide to safety.
We don't know how much range the staff from Moebius has. Janos probably knew about it's existance and knew there was no escape.
Larry Smith That or give Raziel the Reaver. Boom, he's invincible and can kill all the Sarafan Knights.
ArvelDreth, Yanos didn't know the extent of the Reavers power in relation to Raziel
R.I.P. René Auberjonois, aka the voice of Janos Audron.
best music. best voice acting. best atmosphere. best game. i freaking love this series I WANNA SIIIINGGGG
This moment of the game is both greatly revealing and deeply intriguing. I felt sad for Janos... always felt sad for him. And this is the time I also began to truly feel sad for Raziel... the Pawn fo the Wheel.
This is the most difficult forge of all... and one of the most epic moments in the Legacy of Kain series. Love this game. D.R.
I do remember in one of the episodes (maybe Defiance) Janos is puzzled and sais "Have I misread the signs" so it seems he had visions or some insight of future events. Could explain how he knows Raziel's name.
@yurikatos In SR1 intro, Raziel describes the setting by saying 'I stood with Kain at the dawn of the empire. I have served him a millennium." A millennium is 1000 years - so SR1 is 1000 years out from BO1, and Raziel meets Janos 500 years prior - so it's actually 1500 years between when Raziel meets Janos and when Raziel is tossed into the Abyss, as close as we can approximate.
RIP René Auberjonois, the voice of Janos Audron.
RIP Rene 🙏 ❤ 😥
Man I always loved this scene. Despite all the pain and torment humans have caused Janos, he still speaks of them like a loving father who just can't get through to his kids. I tend to forget just how much of a benevolent role the vampires played in Nosgoth till the Hylden struck them with the blood thirst
Oh, please, his vampires saw humans as prey and as blood bags. He later admits that the Hylden turned Vampires into 'Predators Upon Mankind'. Vampires have been shown to be bestial, cruel and corrupt just as much as humans, in some ways moreso. I don't see it as the humans' fault. His people, the vampires, started this. I see Vampires as having been like Vorador: A worthless, bloodthirsty beast. Just the fact that Janos sired Vorador is a crime. In fact Janos' crimes against humanity are so many that I agree with Sarafan Raziel: he died too quickly.
@@Ares99999 so you just ignored where I said “till the Hylden struck them with the blood thirst” to start explaining everything they did AFTER the blood thirst…
@@kiddfaz And what they did AFTER the blood thirst explains EVERYTHING the humans did to them AFTER the blood thirst. The humans had the right to fight back. The Sarafan had the right to kill Janos Audron. If you're going to excuse one, you excuse both. Or you excuse neither. I mean, what was the human alternative to being preyed upon by bloodthirsty, monsters like Vorador?
@@Ares99999 wtf are you talking about excuse one? 😂😂😂 Are you mental or something? I’m literally talking about Janos specifically and you’re going on this rant of vampires and humans that Janos wasn’t even involved in. I’m talking about the role vampires played before the blood thirst and you’re going on some wild rant about humans defending themselves and Vorador…WHAT lmfao
@@Ares99999 But I also see you actually don't know anything about Legacy of Kain lore if you think the humans were defending themselves lmao Humans literally started the war with the Vampires and almost wiped them out unprovoked. Vampires didn't even start fighting back against them till Vorador killed the Circle of Nine, and he did that because he literally watched the Sarafan wipe out his entire family during the Vampire Purge.
Humans were manipulated by the Elder God to turn against the original blue race of Vampires and start killing them. Mobius and Malik were literally two of the balance guardians when they killed the rest of the Vampire guardians.
The original blue race of vampires refused to give in to the blood thirst. All three games point this out that they were driven mad from the curse and started commiting mass suicide, which caused Janos to create Vampires from humans (Vorador's race of vampires), who were than hunted to extinction by the Sarafan.
It's absolutely WILD that you called Vorador a monster but not the people that literally killed and burned his daughters in front of him
The series always gives me the feeling of a theatrical play when i watch the cutscenes.
There are few games where the dialogue between two characters jas such genuine connection. Soul Reaver 2 was a masterclass.
I love it and think it actually fits beautifully. It's surprisingly not cheesy to me... Makes him even more noble as far as I'm concerned.
boy he looks a lot better here then on defiance
He didn't; I believe we're meant to assume that he recognizes him from prophesy or something similar.
Janos Was kick ass in the 3rd game He and Raziel were like best friends
I have been reminded of Rene Auberjonois and relistening to this, I feel I want to like.. cross stitch or embroider this phrase somewhere, it feels like an overall important thing to remember, always:
"Your role in this world's destiny is more crucial and more benevolent than you've allowed yourself to believe."
optional bonus: "Your journey will not be easy - dark powers are allied against you, but I think you already know this. You appear to be cruelly tested."
I love you Janos so much and thank you Mr. Auberjonois for bringing to life a character with so much heart that even just a few of his words soothes my heart. ;w;
These games are so well-written.
Such a fantastic scene.
RIP Rene
@shewolf51 It's not likely that Raziel was met by Janos at any other time not shown by the games. Instead, it seems Janos had some clues about Raziel's looks (and, apparently, name too) thanks to the prophecies. Though, the prophecies must have depicted him with reverence and resembling the angelic appereance of the Ancients. Raziel's wraith form must have been for Janos a twisted version of the Vampire Hero's appereance he expected.
Janos is quite kind for a vampire with wings of a angel
Well, thinking about it, the whole situation could have been resolved easier.
Raziel should have just shouted : JANOOOS AUDRON! I am Raziel!!!
Janos would fly down, pick up Raziel, and fly him up to the balcony. Simple, no need for that long puzzle inside and no path for the Sarafan. :)
in the series, it is mentioned numerous times that the human guardians were not competent to serve the pillars. but going by the likes of moebius, mortanius, ariel and nupraptor, they all seem potent and skilled. nupraptor was the master of telepathy, mortanius too was powerful, ariel was a skilled sorceress.
i believe humans were not competent to serve in the sense that they were vulnerable. how nupraptor (the mind guardian) himself lost control of his mind on seeing ariel's corpse.
raziel and janos seems talk in great kinship of each other
Strangely enough. Janos Audrons face was based of Bela Lugosi who protrayed Dracula in the 1931 film
@AebelAlmighty Well, he had been dead for 500 years when the others were being introduced, and he's not a pillar guardian (of which there are 9, and were originally said to be 9).
I love this game so much. It reminds me of my now dead buddy and our lost conversations.
I love the clarity that I have about when we discussed this moment.
I don't think he was trying to terrorize them. In fact, i'm sure he tried to merely "sip" from them, so he wouldn't have to harm those fragile creatures.
After all, he doesn't hate humanity...
He probably did terrorize them, but not intentionally. He had to survive, for Raziel, for the fate of Nosgoth. It would've been a crushing thought and action for Yanos to feed on humans, who was a gentle soul, who despised the vampire curse to begin with. He wanted to save the humans too.
it was shown that the ancient vampires could easily feed without doing any long lasting harm ot their prey, but the act of doing it was utterly terrifying for the humans coupled with the fact that ocasionally the ancient had a turn some humans(the upcomnig guardians and a few other ppl like Vorador), and this has ot be done while they were still young.
in the eues of the Humans in the setting , you see this incredibly powerful creature just whisking away apparently random people for unknown reasons to never be seen again or you occasionally saw one of them feeding, you'd be scared out of your wit too if you werent in the know.
Didn't I comment on this before Poor Janos Razeeal human and Raziel soul reaver I dont wish they were the same To rip flesh even a vampires Janos is blue Vorador is green horrible way agony and a tragic death.
The best LOK game.
Lok blood omen is much better but then just my opinion (still love soul reaver 2 though)
Nope. The combat in this was awful. Defiance is the best.
@@Disconnect350 but the camera was annoying, but I like changing the game to an hack n slash
For me LOK Soul Reaver 1
Soul reaver 2 the best. More then a game, a meditation.
It doesn't just disable their powers - it incapacitates them. We saw this when Moebius used it on Kain in Defiance; he couldn't even stand up, which I'm pretty sure requires a much more rudimentary grasp of basic motor skills than flying does.