Nosgoth is inhabited primarily by humans, but other sentient species have existed as well. Before recorded history, Nosgoth was home to the Vampires , also known as the Ancients, and the Hylden . The Hylden eventually cursed the Vampires with bloodlust, thus creating the Undead race which stalk the world in modern nights. Nosgoth is also the home of the enigmatic Elder God .
In '''', Nosgoth seems to be in a social era half way between the Middle Ages and the Renaissance , a common setting for gothic fantasy stories. The world is in relatively good health, although has become sickly as of late, due to the corruption of the Pillars Of Nosgoth . Thirty years prior, during the reign of ''King William The Just'' in his vast mountain kingdom to the north of central Nosgoth, the Pillars are in good health and the world seems to be lush and vibrant, and even before that, it is seen that during the time of the original Sarafan priesthood, the world is just as healthy. Several historical periods are shown after the collapse of the Pillars in ''Blood Omen'', and the decay of the world is evident in all of these. For example, in one, we see that much of the world has become wild and overgrown with rampant new mutant species of plants and animals, monster plagues cover the land and death is everywhere; the world looks as though weeping in a constant deluge of mythic proportions. In ''Blood Omen II'', 400 years later, the land seems to be in the middle of an Industrial Revolution, brought on by the technology of the Hylden. However, this revolution is halted by the destruction of the new Sarafan order and the banishment of the Hylden back to Hell . Ecologically, the world is quite frail. From what can be seen of the outside, the more visceral portion of the world's death has passed, and has now given way to an arid and barren desert-like environment, with only minor, diseased shrubs remaining of the plant life, and nearly no animal life remaining at all, having been squeezed from existence by the rampaging Demons and other Hellish beings invading the world from their respective planes of existence. Several thousand years later, in the time of ''Soul Reaver'', the death of the world seems complete and discernable history has ended. Humanity is nearly extinct, the world is barren, dry and devoid of life, with a rocky landscape and an undoubtedly frigid climate. Vampires have scoured the world clean of nearly all living things and completely choked the air with black smoke, blocking out the sun and sky permanently, and poisoning the waters acidic. It is not known what future, if any, is possible in the world of Nosgoth.
- lie at the center of the realm. For more on the Pillars, see the main article.
- is a large city that surrounds a massive cathedral. The cathedral serves as the center of the prevalent religion in Nosgoth (which strongly resembles Christianity , Kain even makes reference to Heaven and Hell, while trapped there by Mortanius). In ''Blood Omen'', Averus is ruled by Azimuth The Planer .
- is a wealthy town and the birthplace of Kain . Some time between Kain's death and rebirth as a Vampire, the population of Coorhagen as decimated by the plague.
- is a magical tower inhabited by Dejoule , Bane and Anacrothe .
- is a coastal city south of the Pillars conquered by Kain during his march on Meridian.
- is arguably largest city in Nosgoth. It is called the 'Capital' thereof, but this is only later, after the Sarafan took over. It is a port on the southernmost point of the continent. It was unlikely as large before the new Sarafan Order, with either Ottamars Willendorf or the Nemesis' capital city probably being the largest at the time. By the time of the Sarafan, however, Meridian had become a massive industrial centre, similar to Victorian London. The city and its surrounding lands serve the setting for ''Blood Omen II''.
- is a poor town with a surprisingly large number of taverns and pubs.
- is a village south of the Pillars conquered by Kain during his march on Meridian.
- is a village on the edge of territory of William The Just . It was home to the most prominent libraries and universities in Nosgoth.
- was a village Kain never visited as a human because he felt the town and its inhabitants carried a displeasing aroma.
- is a forest containing a vast swamp. At the heart of the forest lies Vorador's mansion.
- is one of the oldest villages in Nosgoth. It lies near the mountain retreat of Janos Audron .
- is a small town the resides below the mountain retreat of Nupraptor .
- is the wealthiest city in Nosgoth. It is ruled by King Ottmar .
- is a city, famously near the largest cemetery in Nosgoth. Kain was killed in Zeigsturhl before becoming a vampire.
- is massive floating structure or chain of structures of unknown origin, south of Meridian in the midst of the Great Southern Sea. It is constructed of black obsidian and within its confines, many natural laws such as time do not exist. It is said to be a phantom city, sometimes there, but usually not. Inside, immortal beings carry on a great ''experiment'', attempting to purify the souls of those who have, "become separated from their perfect inner nature". Kain mentioned that those who violate the laws of nature too strongly are "expelled" from existence, and it is possible this is where they go, as the Eternal Prison technically does not exist, and is not part of the world proper.
- was the home and base of operations to the Sarafan Priesthood (not to be confused with the Sarafan Order who took their name and were based in Meridian), an army of fanatical warrior-monks who studied Martial Art s and weapons handling, and who used their skills to wipe out undead, and especially vampires, whom they believed to be Demons in human form. Later on it become the '''Sarafan Tomb''', because it housed the remains of the order after their slaughter at Raziel's hands. Moebius' citizen crusade took it as their bastion when they set out to complete the Priesthood's work.
- is a huge pool lying in the center of Nosgoth. It is there where the weaklings and traitor meet death. When Raziel grew bat-like wings, Kain ordered Turel and Dumah to cast him in there.
- is Raziel's keep, lying in the west of the Lake of the Dead. This city was once occupied by the Razielim, but when Raziel evoluted before Kain, the extermination of the Razielim followed his damnation.
- was built over the Pillars of Nosgoth, and the Pillars of Balance lies as Kain's throne. It was there wher Raziel revealed his evolution.
- is Melchiah's territory. It is north of Raziel's keep and has a cemetery from which the Melchahim steal corpses to cover their rotten flesh.
- is Zephon's lair, east of the Underworld entrance. In the past Zephon and his spawns invaded that holy weapon and killed his guardians. In the first script of Soul Reaver, after defeating Kain, Raziel activates the Cathedral's pipes to kill the whole vampiric race, including himself.
- is a facility located near the Sanctuary of the Clans, and is the place where Raziel, Turel, Dumah, Rahab, Zephon, Melchiah's Sarafan self and Malek were buried. It is kept by Morlock, a revived Turelim.
- is Rahab's territory. In past times, Rahab and his clan overcame their vulnerability to water touch to escape from the sunlight touch and went to the depths of this half-drowned abbey.
- is the last enclave of mankind after Kain's campaigns. It is southwest of the Ruined City, and, in the first version of the script, it was there where Raziel met the Priestess.
- is a place accessible by passing through the Cathedral. It is there that Raziel gets the Sunlight Glyph.
- is a mountain city in the north. centuries after Raziel's execution, Dumah and his breed retired for there. It has a furnace which Raziel uses to burn Dumah.
- was the territory of Moebius the Time Streamer, place of his first encounter with Kain, it lies near the Ruined City.
Furthermore, somewhere to the distant south, in the Southern Sea, there exists a small island chain on which apparently live several tribes of extremely primitive (cave-dwelling) humans. They were used as slave labor when the Hylden returned to build their base of operations there.
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