Spirit forges

"One must be wary in dealing with the Spirit Forges. The wraiths and shades that inhabit them offer items beyond mortal dreams, in exchange for a sampling of your blood.
The Wraith Smiths forge their items with forfeit souls."

―Kain — Listen (file info)^[src]

Spirit Forges were a series of hidden chambers found in Blood Omen: Legacy of Kain where Kain could commune with Wraith smiths and exchange some of his Blood - or the blood of another - for battle artifacts. All of the chambers were counted as Secrets

Profile[]

Spirit forges were hidden chambers that Kain could uncover in Blood Omen: Legacy of Kain. Each forge was run by a green horned individual, known as the wraith smith, who would offer Kain specific battle artifacts in exchange for a sampling of his blood. ^{[Blood Omen]}^{[Blood Omen manual (PlayStation)]}^{[Blood Omen manual (Windows)]}^{[Blood Omen strategy guide]}^[1]

Kain could find found his first Spirit Forge in Blood Omen shortly after he passed the pillars in the chapter "Nupraptor". Most of the forges were most blocked by Moon gates and were thus only accessible on the Full moon. Once inside, a rocky passage marked with a floor mural of the specifc artifact that could be gained led to the forge room - an open space decorated with patterns of curious intricate green symbols. At the end of the forge chamber was a darkened stepped altar backed by red stained glass where the Wraith Smith awaited. Once approached a prompt would offer Kain the chance to swap his blood for artifacts.^{[Blood Omen]}^{[Blood Omen/3]}^{[Blood Omen manual (PlayStation)]}^{[Blood Omen manual (Windows)]}^{[Blood Omen strategy guide]}^[2]

Many Spirit Forges had secret 'back door' entrances which led to Teleporters that could be used to enter the Spirit Forge at any time. Kain could then use Control Mind to send humans in his place, resulting in the subject gruesomely being ripped apart by chains. This method allowed Kain to take a profitable revenge upon Ziegsturhl's Barkeep, for example. All of the Spirit Forges were counted as Secrets, with the backdoor entrances tending to count as a second secret.^{[Blood Omen]}^{[Blood Omen strategy guide]}^[1]^[2]

Kain's comments suggested that the forges were inhabited by Wraiths and Shades and that the Wraith smiths forged their items with forfeit souls. Kain would encounter many similar forges in Blood Omen, but they were not featured in further titles.^{[Blood Omen]}

"Shed your blood for me, and these artifacts will be yours."

―Wratih Smith — Listen (file info)^[src]

Known Spirit Forges[]

Flay[]

The first forge that could be encountered was the Flay Spirit forge. This forge could be found in a cave atop the mountain above the Wolf Form Dungeon which could be climbed with the aid of the Wolf Form. A backdoor could be found behind the bar in the Ziegsturhl tavern - requiring Wolf Form to jump - which allowed Kain to use the barkeeper as a sacrifice.^[2]^[3]

Flay Entrance[]

Flay Backdoor[]

Implode[]

The second forge that could be encountered was the Implode Spirit forge. This forge could be found in a cave north of Steinchencröe on a ledge that needed the Wolf Form to climb. The back door could be entered through a secret door the Big Horn Brothel in Steinchencroe which was opened by moving the central chair in the upstairs chamber - this allowed Kain to use villagers as a sacrifice.^[2]^[4]

Implode Entrance[]

Implode Backdoor[]

Putresce[]

The next forge that could be encountered was the Putresce Spirit Forge. This forge could be found in a cave to the east of the trail leading from Vasserbünde to Coorhagen. The backdoor was in Vasserbünde in the house blocked by a standing stone, requiring the usage of the Spiked Mace to enter - once inside it was necessary to push a hidden switch in the upper left corner of the left room to move the cage in the central room, which opened the passage to the teleporter, allowing Kain to sacrifice the nearby villagers.^[2]^[5]

Putresce Entrance[]

Putresce Backdoor[]

Energy Bank[]

The next forge that can be accessed is the Energy Bank Spirit forge. This forge can be found in the southwestern corner of the Termogent Forest where a rasied ledge required Wolf Form to jump up and a crack in the cliff wall allowed Kain to mist through to reach the forge behind. The backdoor was found through a secret teleporter in the Control Mind Dungeon which required all the Secrets in the dungeon to have been gained and Kain to be in the hidden back room. Activating the levers here opened the way to backdoor teleporters leading the Energy Bank and Anti Toxin forges, with the Energy Bank teleporter located at the back of the of the western balcony area.^[2]^[6]

Energy Bank Entrance[]

Energy Bank Backdoor[]

Anti-Toxin[]

At around the same time as the Energy Bank Spirit forge could be entered, the Anti-Toxin forge could be reached as well. This forge can be found in a cave in the north of the Termogent Forest, just northwest across the swamp from the Flame Sword Dungeon.The entrance was blocked by a tree and thus required the axes to chop down and enter. The backdoor was found in the same room as the Energy Bank backdoor through a secret teleporter in the Control Mind Dungeon which required all the Secrets in the dungeon to have been gained. Activating the levers here opened the way to backdoor teleporters leading the Energy Bank and Anti Toxin forges, with the Anti-Toxin teleporter located in the alcove at top of the central staircase.^[2]^[6]

Anti-Toxin Entrance[]

Anti Toxin Backdoor[]

Heart of Darkness[]

The next Spirit forge that can be encountered is the Heart of Darkness Spirit Forge This forge can be found in a cave on a trail leading off the southwest of the 'Ruined Land' preceding Dark Eden. The back door was found in a house in central Uschtenheim and required all the switches on the first switch puzzle in the first crypt of the Cemetery to be pushed in. Once this was done, Kain could enter the central-east house in Usschtenheim to find that a secret door had opened which allowed passage to the forge and the sacrifice of one of the townsfolk.^[2]^[3]

Heart of Darkness Entrance[]

Heart of Darkness Backdoor[]

Slow Time[]

The penultimate forge that can be found is the Slow Time Spirit Forge. This forge can be found in a canyon area south of Willendorf which required Wolf Form to jump down several ledges. The forge could be found in a cave to the west of the trail. The backdoor can be found in the house behind the cliffs in Willendorf town.^[2]^[3]

Slow Time Entrance[]

Slow Time Backdoor[]

Pentalich of Tarot[]

The last forge that could be encountered was the Pentalich of Tarot Spirit Forge. This forge is found in a cave to the north of the Lake of Lost Souls, but was accessed by travelling west from the Stronghold of William the Just. Because of its position the Pentalich of Tarot forge was the only forge that could be visited in different eras and as such it could technically count as three forges - it was counted in such a manner in secrets listings for example. Unlike other forges, this forge had no secret backdoor.^[2]^[7]

Pentalich of Tarot (Present)[]

Pentalich of Tarot (Past)[]

Pentalich of Tarot (New Present)[]

Behind the scenes[]

M0001416 — The indoor Anti Toxin entrance in the alpha (not connected to the game world)

In the earlier developmental alpha versions of the game, the forges themselves are much the same, however the entrance chambers are much smaller and generally consist of plain square rooms rather than the longer corridors seen in the retail version. Few of the forges are connected to the outside world or the Developers' level select, making it difficult to definitively check their locations. At least one - the anti toxin forge - does seem to have changed location as it is presented as inside a building in the alpha version.^[8]^[9]^[10]

Notes[]

"So, you come to the Spirit Forge for help, do you, vampire? Trade you secrets for the blood of the dead, I will..."

―Wratih Smith — Listen (file info)^[src]

Spirit Forges are named as such in several sources including manuals, scripts, official guides and Silicon Knights Blood Omen FAQ.^{[Blood Omen]}^{[Blood Omen manual (PlayStation)]}^{[Blood Omen manual (Windows)]}^{[Blood Omen strategy guide]}
The Blood Omen Spirit Forges are individually named in Silicon Knights FAQ after their artifacts as "Flay", "Implode", "Putresce", "Energy Bank", "Anti-Toxin", "Heart of Darkness", "Slow Time" and "Pentalich of Tarot".^[2]
All of the Spirit Forges are individually listed in the Developers' level select with coded designations under the "SPFG" entry for the Spirit Forges. These were: the Flay forge outside the wolf form dungeon ("FLAY"), the Pentalich of Tarot forge at the Lake of Lost Souls ("PNTR"), the implode forge at Steinchencroe ("IMP"), the Putresce forge on the Vasserbunde-Coorhagen trail("PUTS"), the Energy Bank forge in the Termogent Forest ("ENGY"), the Heart of Darkness forge on the Ruined Land trail ("HART"), the Anti-Toxin forge in the Termogent Forest ("ANTI") and the Slow Time forge south of Willendorf ("SLTM"). Two extra forges are listed at the end of the list because of the version of the Pentaliche of Tarot forge seen in other eras - the Past of the Pre-Blood Omen era ("PNTR2") and the New Present of the second timeline ("PNTR3")^[10]
The Spirit forges are generally listed in files among the "Map 14" designation which covers the forges and their entrance chambers. The individual chambers are listed as follows: "Sect 00" refers to the Flay forge, "Sect 01" refers to the Pentalich of Tarot forge, "Sect 02" refers to the Implode forge, "Sect 03" refers to the Putresce forge, "Sect 04" refers to the Energy Bank forge, "Sect 05" refers to the Heart of Darkness forge, "Sect 06" refers to the Anti-Toxin forge, "Sect 07" refers to the Slow Time forge, "Sect 10" refers to the flay entrance chamber, "Sect 11" refers to the pentalich of tarot entrance chamber, "Sect 12" refers to the Implode entrance, "Sect 13" refers to the Putresce entrance, "Sect 14" refers to the energy bank entrance, "Sect 15" refers to the Heart of Darkness entrance, "Sect 16 " refers to the Anti-Toxin entrance, "Sect 17" refers to the Slow Time entrance, "Sect 21" refers to the past version of the Pentalich of Tarot forge, "Sect 31" refers to the past Pentalich entrance, "Sect 41" refers to the new preset pentalich forge, and "Sect 51" refers to the new present pentalich entrance.^{[Blood Omen]}
Most Spirit forges count as two secrets - with one secret given for discovering each forge and another for each backdoor entrance. As per the numbering in the Developers' level select, the Flay forge is #72, with its backdoor at #66. The Implode forge is #74 and its backdoor #67, The Putresce spirit forge is #75 and its backdoor #68. The energy bank forge is #76 and its backdoor (shared with the anti toxin forge) is #69. The heart of darkness forge is #77 with its backdoor at #96. The Anti-Toxin spirit forge is #78 with its backdoor (shared with the energy bank forge) at #69. The Slow Time forge is #79 with its backdoor #98. The pentalich forge can be found at #73 with its past version at #80 and new present version at #80 - this forge lacks a backdoor entrance.^{[Blood Omen]}^[10]^[4]^[5]^[6]^[7]^[3]

Kain claims that the Spirit Forges are inhabited by wraiths and shades, but these do not appear to be the same as Wraiths or shades seen later in the series. Kain also claims the wraith smiths can offer items beyond mortal dreams.^{[Blood Omen]}^{[Soul Reaver 2]}^[Defiance]

Many Spirit Forges were hidden behind Moon gates and thus had to be visited on a full moon, whether this relates them to the architects of the Moon Gates or those of the Lost City is unknown.^{[Blood Omen]}

The architecture and decoration of the Spirit Forges is particularly unusual; retroactively speaking, the green patterns visually it do bear some similarity to Hylden designs seen later in the series but no connection between the two has ever been established and the origins of these forges remain a mystery. The Wraith smiths use static models taken from some of the Blood Omen enemy classes: particularly the Demons, Liches and Bone Monsters]].^{[Blood Omen]}^{[Blood Omen 2]}

Other locales named as Spirit Forges were planned to feature in the Soul Reaver games, however these were unrelated to the Spirit forges of Blood Omen and were more concerned with the Spirit element being used to enhance the Wraith Blade.^{[Soul Reaver]}^{[Soul Reaver 2]}^[Defiance]

Main article: Spirit Forge (Soul Reaver)

Main article: Spirit Forge (Soul Reaver 2)

Main article: Spirit Forge (Defiance)

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