Dr. Werner Von Croy

Lore & Background

In *The Angel of Darkness*, Werner Von Croy is Lara's former mentor. An unspecified time after the events of *The Last Revelation* and *Chronicles*, where Lara was presumed dead, she arrives in Paris at Von Croy's request. He had been tasked by a man named Eckhardt to find the Obscura Paintings. During an argument between Lara and Von Croy, an unknown force attacks them, and Lara is knocked unconscious. She wakes to find Von Croy dead and her memories of the attack blurred. Suspected of his murder, Lara goes on the run. Later, at Von Croy's apartment, Lara relives the murder and realizes that a strange man—revealed to be Eckhardt—had knocked her unconscious and killed Von Croy. However, it is later revealed that Joachim Karel, Eckhardt's right-hand man, actually murdered Von Croy while shape-shifted into Eckhardt's form.

In Their Own Story

The game opens with Lara arriving in Paris at Von Croy's request. During an argument, an unknown force attacks them, knocking Lara unconscious. She wakes to find Von Croy dead and her memories blurred. Suspected of his murder, she goes on the run. Later, at Von Croy's apartment, she relives the murder and sees that Eckhardt knocked her out and killed Von Croy. Near the game's end, Karel reveals that he was the one who murdered Von Croy, using his shape-shifting abilities to appear as Eckhardt.

Reader's Guide

Dr. Werner Von Croy is a key figure in the plot of *The Angel of Darkness*, though he appears only in the opening scene and in flashbacks. His murder is the catalyst for Lara's journey. Players learn about his role through Lara's investigation: he was tasked by Eckhardt to find the Obscura Paintings, which hide pieces of the Sanglyph, an alchemical artifact. Lara retrieves Von Croy's journal from a colleague named Margot Carvier, learning that Von Croy discovered the location of the fourth Obscura Painting beneath the Louvre. Later, at his apartment, Lara relives the murder and identifies the killer as Eckhardt, though the true killer is later revealed to be Karel. Von Croy's death drives Lara to clear her name and ultimately stop Eckhardt's plan to awaken the Cubiculum Nephili.

Did You Know?

• Werner Von Croy is murdered at the start of *The Angel of Darkness*, and Lara is suspected of the crime.
• He was tasked by a man named Eckhardt to find the Obscura Paintings.
• Lara relives Von Croy's murder at his apartment, initially believing Eckhardt killed him.
• The true murderer is revealed to be Joachim Karel, who shape-shifted into Eckhardt's form.
• Von Croy's journal, retrieved from Margot Carvier, reveals the location of the fourth Obscura Painting beneath the Louvre.