The history of Nosgoth #1

The Pillars
In the centuries before Kain's birth, the land was protected by an
oligarchy of sorcerers known as the Circle of Nine. These guardians
were sworn to serve and protect the Pillars of Nosgoth, the ancient
edifice towering over the earth as a manifestation of the mysterious
power that preserved and gave life to the land.
But the Circle was infiltrated by dark forces, and Ariel - the Balance
Guardian - was cruelly murdered. Her assassination sent psychic
shockwaves throughout the Circle, and in their derangement the
remaining sorcerers turned their powers to dark purposes,
poisoning the land with their sorcery and abandoning the Pillars
to stand like silent, decaying sentries

Destiny
Into this dying world Kain was born. The son of an aristocratic
Nosgoth family, he lived the privileged life of a nobleman, never
realizing his undiscovered destiny - that he was marked from birth
as Ariel's successor, fated to take her place as the Guardian of
Balance - Ignorant of his destiny, the ambitious but directionless
Kain roamed the land. During one fateful journey, he was
ambushed by brigands and murdered, cruelly impaled on his
assassin's sword...