Chapter 1 – A Dark World
Who knew that a simple flame could become such pivotal power in the hands of a warrior? In a world where the light from the flame has all but vanished, a god is looking down upon the remaining embers of his castle, his home. Gwyn, Lord of Cinders, had fallen quite low. He knew that by prolonging the age of fire the cycle would be a never-ending circle of pain. By snuffing out the sacred flame once and for all, he might have plunged the world into darkness, but humanity and all living things would find a way to survive for sure.
Throughout his quest to find a solution for the flame, he had lost so much. His own family was driven away, his elder son deserted in quest to side with the dragons, and his other son went missing. Only his daughter Gwyndolin is still in Anor Londo, With the absence of Gynevere to guard the lord vessel since it has been taken, he now guards his father's tomb. His once prestigious knights were now a symbol of malice and darkness and his loyal great four… were now long gone from their former glory. Hawkeye went rogue and deserted, deciding he preferred hunting down the calamity dragon. Ciaran, his loyal right hand was now an accursed undead forever mourning the loss of her husband, Artorias. Artorias is perhaps the most changed man he has ever seen in his life. The once hero had been corrupted by Manus, Father of the Abyss, and was now a sick, murderous fool who blindly followed every order weather it being good or bad. The knight would often go against him sometimes if he deemed his task unfair and he respected that. But now.. he became the very thing he was fighting, a pawn to the most wicked being ever created, Manus.
Last but not least his only remaining loyal knight, Ornstein. He was clad in a golden armor with the helm designed like the head of a lion. His long spear held at its head in his right hand. The man was now tasked to team up with Smough the Executioner and to hunt down all the deserted knights and bring them back to him. He had a final mission for them and one that would forever rid his kingdom of the curse. However, Ornstein had been affected too over the years. His once best-friend was now a corrupt murderer and he had failed his mission of protecting Gwyndoline and the Lord Vessel. By his fault, his leader was forced to fight the Chosen Undead and was gravely hurt. He had bested the undead but with the price of his sanity. Gwyn, the ruling god, had become almost as corrupt as Artorias. This displeased greatly the dragon slayer but conceded to authority. After all, he was his knight, and knights obey. The only knight to ever oppose Gwyn was Artorias but that was when Gwyn was sane. Now any order not carried out led to a brutal execution. But as soon as he would have the chance, he would leave everything behind and start a new life. one that hopefully didn't involve killing. Ornstein had had enough of it. He had killed over and over and over again. He was made leader of the knights do to his skill in combat and his proficiency in Lightning, the Dragon's only weakness. Now that everything had died and the world was now just a shell of its old glory, Ornstein had no more interest in his life. he needed something lifelike, not dead.
Gwyn had assigned him to find his old comrades and to assemble and army. An army of demons and creatures of unimaginable strength, an unstoppable force. Why? He hadn't told. All he said was he was preparing a last campaign against the curse. That old fool. How could he best it? The only way to even halt it was to exterminate every hollow and the Abyss. Ornstein wasn't even sure that would work, but to him, it had the most chance in succeeding.
He was currently making his way to Oolacile and try to talk some sense into his old friends. And of course, Smough was with him, that fat, power hungry, murderer. Smough had almost made it to the status of knight if it hadn't been for his habit of crushing his enemies beyond recognition and proceeding to eat the mess he made. The buddha man was loud and obnoxious and Ornstein was seriously considering leaving for his new life right now.
"Hey, what happens if Ciaran, Artorias and Hawkeye refuse to cooperate?" asked loudly Smough.
"For the millionth time Smough we hope for the best and if push comes to shove we use force! Gwyn won't tolerate another failure from us."
"Do you think he will let me take Artorias' place?" Ornstein stopped in his tracks, dumbfounded at his partner's stupidity.
"How the hell did you come up with this outcome?!" he asked exasperated.
"Well we all know how insane he went and by now he's probably more loyal to the abyss then to Gwyn. So maybe if we just kill him and say he didn't cooperat-" Smough received a powerful electrical discharge from Ornstein's spear.
"You say anymore bullshit like that and I will personally collect every single soul you have gained, including yours, do I make myself clear?!"
"Yes Ornstein…" The two continued to walk in silence. Ornstein hated when the Artorias was badly mouthed. The man had valiantly fought off the abyss for centuries only to be slain by the very father of it. He had asked Gwyn to do something about Manus but the fallen God had rejected the idea every time. Ornstein didn't know why Gwyn kept on declining his request, after all, he had served him relentlessly for more then a millennium. He deserved some sort of gift for his loyal service didn't he? The lion knight was in deep thought when they finally reached the coliseum where his old best friend resided.
"Alright Smough, I am warning you right now, if you attack without my permission I will personally send you to hell. Do I make myself clear?"
"Yes."
"Alright lets go" They penetrated the fog wall and advanced.
They were struck with quite the welcome, a corrupt villager was in the center of the coliseum, but no Artorias. Ornstein knew better then that obviously and waited. Suddenly a black mass lunged at the villager and impaled the thing with it's huge sword, instantly killing the abyssal creature. The knight rose from his crouched position in a menacing way and launched the creature still on his corrupt blade towards his visitors. The thing skidded to a stop at Ornstein's feet while leaving a trail of black blood on the ground. Artorias roared in victory and started to make his way towards his old friend. The knight was in an even worse state then Ornstein remembered. Blood leaked from between his armor plates, his broken right arm hung loosely down his body while his practically exposed left arm lazily held his blade on his left shoulder. His armor was severely damaged and his cape was torn to shred, only a loose blue cloth hung around his neck. His helm still covered his now undead face while his now cursed blade had turned black and purple. His armor clinked together as he walked towards his old friend.
"Well, well, well, what a pleasant visit by my good friend the dragon slayer" he looked at Smough, "and his personal slave." Smough readied his golden hammer but Ornstein lifted his spear between the two warriors.
"Pleasant to see you too abyss walker. I'm sure you're smart enough to figure out the reason why we're here."
"I have my suspicions, but I'll let you tell."
"We are reassembling the knight order, Gwyn has a final mission for us. We need to assemble the most powerful army ever conceived." Artorias laughed.
"if its only that he can talk to my master about it, I have no interest in participating in anymore activities with the others." He started walking around the duo, "I am comfortable here and I intend to stay here."
"It wasn't an option Artorias and you know it.."
"Give me one good reason why I should follow through with this, one good reason to why I should serve this mad man another time!" he roared.
"Cause Manus isn't as mad as Gwyn?" Ornstein retorted.
"Well he doesn't boss me around he leaves me alone."
"Come on Artorias, I won't be repeating myself. I'd rather we not obliterate your new home either." The two warriors stared each other in the eyes and after a while, Artorias gave in. He gave an exasperated sigh but continued in a very dark tone.
"Fine. But you will repay me Ornstein and so will that fallen god."
"Thank you cooperating, next stop is your ex." Artorias stopped in his tracks there. "Im sorry but you will have to figure out your differences for the goo-"
"She's dead."
"What?!"
"She came to confront me one last time. It escalated to a fight and I accidently killed her." He said with absolutely no remorse. Ornstein was speechless, his old bestfriend had killed one of their friends and felt nothing of it? Its at this point that he realised how much he had changed. His once brother in arms and light soul had killed his wife in a fit of rage. Ciaran was one of the sweetest, most genuine and brave soul he had ever met. He knew that his two friends were meant to be ever since they had met over one thousand years ago. But she was killed. By the man she married. It took everything he had to not impale Artorias right then and there but he kept it all inside.
"Then next is Hawkeye." He said in a barely audible whisper.
The trek to the tower was very quiet, not a single word came out of any of the knights. Smough was silently jubilant with the idea that because of Ciaran's death, he would be made one of Gwyn's knight. He really wished he would be granted this wish since its has been his goal all his life. after first showing his skills in combat, the buddha knight was placed in a team with his pathetic partner, Ornstein.
"One of these days you will feel my wrath Ornstein I promise it. I will be the one in the spot light and this day will be your downfall. I will crush every bone in your body and consume your power to become even more powerful then Artorias. Gwyn will be forced to recognize my strength and he will make me captain of the knights. Just you wait, your time is running out."
Smough was at least twice as big as Ornstein and possibly weighed four times his weight. He was dressed in huge golden armor that was in the shape of a buddha. He wielded a giant war hammer half his own size and could deliver absolutely devastating attacks. There was a good reason to why he was partnered up with Ornstein.
The gang finally reached the tower where Gough was locked in.
"I'm going alone, Smough don't you dare attack Artorias."
"What? Don't you want your little dog here to follow you?" Artorias mocked.
"Be. Quiet." Ornstein said in an unusually dark tone.
The Golden knight started to make his way up the tower. Memories flooded back to his brain, memories of the four of them together. Out of all of them, Hawkeye Gough was possibly the wisest of them all. He was also the most generous and merciful of dragon slayers. He and Ornstein were the only ones who could properly take down dragons. Hawkeye was a giant with the sharpest eye in the entire kingdom. He was at least twice the height of Smough and weighed four times his weight. Hawkeye was massive. He wielded a giant dragon slaying bow and fired arrows the size of Ornstein's spear. His bow was brown and seemed to be made out of dragon bones. Even after getting blinded by his enemies permanently, he could still shoot down any target that was presented to him.
Ornstein arrived at the top of the tower, his sight fell upon the mountains of small wood carvings the giant had made. The giant was currently sitting on the ground carving more wood into words. He wore a giant helm was shaped in the form of a hawk and covered the entirety of his head. He wore heavy armour only on his right arm and left his elbow exposed revealing light tan skin. The only armour being worn on his left arm was on his forearm. His chest was a mix of heavy iron and gold squares in two lines that crossed his chest. To finish off, he wore heavy iron boots. Ornstein smiled under his helm, happy at the fact that his old friend hadn't changed much.
"I see you've discovered yourself a new passion there!" Ornstein said in a warm voice. The giant turned towards him and smiled too.
"Ahh Ornstein my good friend! It's a pleasure to feel your presence again! Sit down next to me and tell me about you!" Ornstein obliged and the two men started talking about their lives. Ornstein talked about the castle and his duty to guard the Lord Vessel with Smough, Gwyn and his downfall. Gough told Ornstein about his hunt of the black dragon and his carvings. Ornstein remembered the goal of his visit and his smile faded, knowing full well about the information he was about to give the friendly giant.
"Alas my good friend, I would love to keep going longer but there is a specific reason to my visit." Hawkeye had a feeling he knew about his friend's visit.
"If its about Ciaran I am already aware…" Ornstein was shocked but recovered quickly, "I was walking down the tower to visit the young lad when I saw her body… I'm afraid our good friend Artorias really has changed. At first, I was so enraged, I ran towards the coliseum in search of the mad man but abandoned halfway through, too destroyed to even lift a weapon against the man. If it weren't for that damned abyssal beast this would have never happened. So I come back here, her lifeless form in my arms and I burned her. I reduced her to ash and but the ashes in a wooden urn I made myself and buried it at the foot of a tree beyond the Guardian's domain." Ornstein stayed quiet for a while, in midst of his moment of grief. He was really grateful that his only remaining friend in this world was still the same kind and generous man. Hawkeye continued, "I then collected her pure soul and infused my bow here with it. Now she will be with us everywhere this bow goes and augmented my firing power tremendously, I now inflict magical wounds as well as efficiency against dark enemies." Hawkeye smiled, "even beyond the living she is always the ever powerful one, isn't she?" Ornstein was happy that her soul had been turned into a strong weapon to fight the evil of this land, its what she would have wanted.
"Well then, there is still one final matter I need to discuss with you." Gough sat straight and listened, "Gwyn tasked me to reassemble the knighthood and to gather the strongest army ever conceived. Hawkeye Gough, Dragonslayer, and my only remaining friend, please accept my request of joining our mission." Hawkeye was pensive for a moment. He had fled the army and was now on his own mission because he was tired of all the bloodshed, but his friend needed him, and he couldn't look away in this time.
"I accept, my brother." Ornstein was relieved, he was beyond merry at his friend's decision but remained cool and collected.
"Thank you, now please we must leave and return to the chapel where the painted world resides, Gwyn is waiting for us to reveal more of the mission. From there we will be on our way to recruit soldiers." He was then hit with the sudden realisation. "Also, He is with us… Please I ask that there is no hostility between anyone."
"Do not worry, I have made amends with my demons and I have since calmed down in regards to him. I shall not hold it against him since he is possessed by the Abyss."
"Good, in this case lets depart." With that said, they got up and Hawkeye picked up his bow, along with his arrows and they both left the top of the tower and began their descent. Just when they were reaching the ground they heard the sound of a hammer breaking stones.
"Oh no…" Ornstein knew all too well what was happening and now was not the right moment for this. He levitated himself and flew at lightning speed down the rest of the stairs in the now arena. The two warriors were currently in a weapon lock to see who was the strongest.
"HA is this all you can muster fat man?" Artorias insulted.
"I WILL DESTROY YOU ABYSS BEAST!" Smough roared.
"I doubt, I am stopping you with merely just my left arm, admit it, you are weak and forever will be." Smough broke the lock and franticly swung with Gold hammer, each strike was dodged by the swordsmen. Just as both fighters were going to engage again they were hit with a powerful electrical discharge, neutralizing both of them.
"That is enough! I am the commander here and I will end both your asses if you do not calm down and follow my orders! Smough! What did I say about fighting with Artorias?"
"Im sorry Ornstein, he insulted me one too many times and my will broke." He said on his knees.
"I don't care what your reason is, I want you to not say a damn word until our return to Anor Londo is that clear?"
"Yes sir." Ornstein turned to Artorias who was standing defiantly against his leader.
"As for you, you are currently under me. Which means you follow every single order I give. I would have no problem dismembering you after the things you made. You're lucky you were once my brother or else you would de dead. Now I also do not want to hear a sound from you until our return, have I made myself clear?"
"If you think for a second that I still obey to your pathetic little leadership then you are a fool my friend. I do what I want when I want okay?"
Sparks of lighting were coming off of Ornstein and he suddenly became much more menacing, his footsteps became heavier and lighting was coming off of his spear. "Are you by any chance provoking me Artorias?" Before he could do something regrettable a calm hand settled on his shoulder.
"No need to get so worked up my friend," said the calm voice of Hawkeye, "Artorias! Long time no see good pal, how are things?" The knight huffed and mumbled a "nice to see you too" and walked in direction to the exit.
Ornstein sighed, "Thank you Hawkeye. Now let's go, Gwyn doesn't like to be kept waiting."
Inside a cathedral, littered with dead painting guardians, a god was standing in front of his new toy. He, along with the help of many powerful sorcerers, had built a mirror capable of seeing the entire world. The mirror was placed flat on a stone slate about ten meters from Ariamis' painting. Gwyn walked over to his new generals Manus, Seath, and Nito.
"I'm glad to see everyone has responded to my call."
"Anything for you master Gwyn" Seath said in a high-pitched voice.
"It's the least we could do Sir, afterall, we are fighting for a way to get rid of this curse." Nito said in a very grave voice. Manus was quietly nodding his giant head.
"Indeed, we are, and with the help of our new toy, we are able to see where we can send all of these forsaken undead." He turned back towards his mirror, a menacing smile plastered upon his face. "With this trusty device we are able to see which lands I should have conquered a long time ago." He approached the mirror and looked into it to see a large continent adjacent to Londor, separated by a giant ocean. "I will send Ornstein upon his return to scout this new land. For now, I need you to go gather your troops. I will need anything we can use. If they resist cooperation, tell me and I will kill them myself."
"Yes my Lord." All three of them said at the same time.
"Go, you have three months before the invasion starts." With that, all three of them teleported away to their respective homes: The Archives, a giant tomb and the Abyss. Gwyn smiled evil while staring at the newly discovered continent. "Your time will come soon, Fiore, very soon." All we could hear coming from the cathedral were Gwyn's maniacal laugh.