Uschtenheim

USCHTENHEIM IN BLOOD OMEN

Uschtenheim was a settlement located in the canyons, slightly to the northeast of Vorador's Mansion. In Blood Omen, Kain commented that this "quaint pastoral village" was the birthplace of Janos Audron, but this was probably incorrect. He also referred to another aspect of the legend surrounding Janos - that he hunted the peasants of the village until his execution. If Kain spoke to the villagers, they would reveal slightly more about the old stories.

USCHTENHEIM IN SOUL REAVER 2

In Soul Reaver 2, Raziel saw Uschtenheim in two different time periods. The first was some one hundred years after the events of Blood Omen. Raziel described "the quaint hamlet of Uschtenheim" as "long abandoned and collapsing into ruin". He also knew of the village's legendary status as Janos' hunting ground, and reckoned that "if there was any truth to the old tales, the lair of the infamous vampire would not be far away." In fact, Janos had resided north of Uschtenheim, in his mountain retreat. Unfortunately, when Raziel reached Janos' aerie, it - like the village - was uninhabited and collapsed.

Raziel found a way to travel further back into Nosgoth's past. He passed through Uschtenheim again, now around five hundred years before Kain's vampiric rebirth. The village was snow-covered, and patrolled by Sarafan. They were occupying most of the canyons in that era, and mustering their forces in Uschtenheim. Raziel mentioned this to Janos when they met. Janos didn't know what they were planning, but with hindsight, they were likely preparing for the Sarafan Inquisitors' infiltration of the aerie.

FURTHER OBSERVATIONS

With its historical links to Janos, it is almost certain that Uschtenheim was the village depicted in the stained glass of Soul Reaver 2's Sarafan Stronghold - part of the mural that depicted Janos' murder at the hands of the Sarafan.