The world of Lineage is filled with stories that many players of Lineage II have never encountered. While both games share familiar characters, locations, and legendary creatures, Lineage 1 contains unique lore that expands the history of the franchise in unexpected ways.
This article explores the origins of the dragon rulers, the stories behind Hardin and his students, and the rise of one of the most influential figures in the series—Ken Rauhel.
The Dragon Rulers of Lineage
The most powerful bosses in the Lineage universe are the dragons born from the goddess Shilen. While Lineage II currently features several of these legendary creatures, Lineage 1 introduced most of them years earlier and often presented them in very different locations.
Valakas, the Fire Dragon
In Lineage 1, Valakas resides within a massive volcano. Players are assisted by a cursed Death Knight, a warrior marked by Valakas who helps heroes confront the dragon.
Unlike Lineage II, where dragons are primarily associated with epic accessories, Lineage 1 allows players to obtain dragon scales and organs that can be crafted into powerful dragon armor.
Antharas, the Earth Dragon
Antharas lives on the deepest level of the Dragon Valley Cave, located east of the Elven Village.
Players receive assistance from the spirit of Knight Cray, who grants the legendary Dragon Slayer sword. Cray bound his soul to the weapon so future generations could continue the fight against Antharas. At the time of its introduction, the Dragon Slayer was considered one of the strongest weapons in the game.
Fafurion and the Fall of Eva’s Kingdom
The Water Dragon Fafurion dwells beneath the lands of Heine. Reaching him requires navigating underwater catacombs and obtaining Eva’s Blessing to survive beneath the sea.
The story of Fafurion is closely tied to the Kingdom of Eva, a magnificent underwater civilization protected by a magical barrier.
Unable to destroy the kingdom by force, Fafurion disguised himself as a handsome young man and manipulated Sael, a priestess responsible for maintaining the barrier. Deceived by his charm, she stole Eva’s Trident—the source of the barrier’s power.
With the barrier removed, Fafurion attacked the kingdom. Although the inhabitants eventually sealed him away, his poisoned blood spread throughout the region, corrupting countless creatures and transforming them into monsters. This became the dragon’s final curse upon the kingdom.
Halfas, the Dark Dragon
Known as Skelth in Lineage II, the Dark Dragon appears in Lineage 1 under the name Halfas.
According to the story, Halfas fought the powerful demon Kakhelyahi and perished during the battle. His soul later became entangled in conflicts involving demons, Dark Elves, and the Tree of Life. Unlike his mysterious role in Lineage II, Halfas plays a central part in one of Lineage 1’s major storylines.
Lindvior, the Wind Dragon
In Lineage 1, Lindvior resides northwest of Aden.
Ten years before the game's events, the witch Kerenis provoked the dragon, causing Lindvior to descend upon Aden and destroy nearly one-third of the city. Nearby lies the Forest of Mirrors, a location that also appears in Lineage II.
The forest features a unique mechanic: players encounter weakened mirror versions of themselves and must defeat these copies in PvP mode.
Shared History Between Lineage 1 and Lineage II
Although the two games share many themes, they do not perfectly align as a single continuous universe.
Both versions of the story include Shilen’s fall, the War of the Gods, and conflicts between elves and humans. However, many details differ significantly.
One notable example is the story of the Dark Elves. In Lineage II, their tragedy is heavily connected to Shilen, Desparion’s betrayal, and a divine curse. In Lineage 1, however, the goddess Einhasad stripped the elves of their immortality, while their dark appearance came from their association with Gran Kain.
Ken Rauhel: From Slave to King
One of the most compelling stories in Lineage lore is the rise of Ken Rauhel.
Born as Aster Ken Rauhel, he was the illegitimate son of a nobleman and spent his childhood as a servant. Despite repeated humiliation and broken promises from his masters, Aster developed extraordinary determination.
After enduring abuse and betrayal, he murdered those responsible and abandoned any belief in justice. His life changed forever when he encountered Kerenis, a powerful witch and daughter of Eva.
Unlike others, Aster resisted Kerenis’ magical seduction. Impressed by his willpower, she fell in love with him and became one of his closest allies.
Eventually, Aster assumed the identity of his deceased half-brother and entered the royal court of Aden. Through political skill, military victories, and personal charisma, he gained influence, married Princess Hadria, and ascended to the throne.
To erase all traces of his past, he later destroyed his hometown and killed anyone who knew his true origins.
Prince Deforge and the Struggle for Aden
Ken Rauhel’s greatest obstacle was Prince Deforge, the young son of Duke Deville and the rightful heir to Aden.
Fearing for his safety, Deforge was secretly sent away. Ken Rauhel later ordered assassins to eliminate him, but loyal guardians protected the prince and helped him escape.
The young heir eventually found refuge with the magician Hardin, who became one of his mentors.
In many ways, Lineage 1 allows players to choose their own role within this conflict. They may follow a path resembling Prince Deforge’s struggle against tyranny or pursue power in a manner similar to Ken Rauhel himself.
Rather than presenting a clear good-versus-evil narrative, the game portrays characters with complex motivations and conflicting ambitions.
Hardin, Orim, and the Origins of Forbidden Magic
Hardin’s story is one of the most mysterious elements of Lineage lore.
Originally a guardian knight and accomplished magician, Hardin conducted dangerous magical research on Talking Island. During one experiment, he summoned the demon Baphomet and lost control of the situation.
Several students were present during these events, including characters later seen in Lineage II such as Orim, Sema, Kaspar, Balthazar, and Melchior.
Hardin’s pursuit of forbidden magic eventually led to tragedy. His students became entangled in dark rituals, demonic forces, and necromantic experiments.
Orim the Shadow
Orim later became known as “Orim Shadow” because of his fascination with light, reflections, and shadows.
Once close friends with Hardin’s other students, Orim eventually became isolated from them. Despite years of separation and conflict, he continued to hold feelings for Sema, who also appears in Lineage II.
The continued presence of many of Hardin’s students throughout the series suggests they may have discovered secrets related to extended life or immortality.
A Deeper Understanding of the Lineage Universe
Lineage 1 contains a wealth of stories that expand the mythology later explored in Lineage II. From the origins of the dragon rulers to the political rise of Ken Rauhel and the mysterious research of Hardin, these tales provide valuable insight into the broader world of Aden.
While the two games do not always share a perfectly unified timeline, the connections between them reveal how many of Lineage II’s most recognizable characters, locations, and legends originated in the first game.
