Hey everyone. Hopefully this document formats correctly. If not, I'll try to fix it as soon as I can. 'A Tale of Souls' is based off of the game but takes story lines and character development a tad further. The lore has always interested me so I'll be trying to add in as much as I can. Not all of the story will follow the plot exactly nor the lines of dialogue verbatim. I get a smidge of creative freedom. :p Anyway, enjoy!

Chapter One

Sounds came to her slowly, like the shifting of tides. Fingernails scraping against the stone ground, the occasional low moan from a nearby Hollow, and the rhythmic pacing of a large and unseen creature – all of these sounds had become familiar and calming. When exhaustion fell upon her lifeless inmates, the symphony of silence crept like spiders along her skin. Uneasy and restless, she would wait on edge until the pound of a fist would echo off the walls. With these noises, all was right in the confined world. The cold bars were her curtains, chains her silk sheets, and the bucket in the corner a feather bed. Yet, these luxuries were comforts she could scarcely remember. Time had eased the passing of memories but for how long had these walls been her cage? Weeks? Months? In the dark, images haunted her mind like the flickering of torch light. Smiles and blue eyes, laughter and faint touches – these too were comforts far from her memory. Even her own name was nothing but a word on the tip of her tongue.

Each day passed exactly as the last. It was impossible to tell when the shade of night fell upon the world and daylight illuminated it. Like a statue, she could feel her body slowing and found no point in movement. That is, until one day, a new sound intruded upon her world.

It was day, too. The blinding light from above filled her consciousness with memories of forgotten warmth. Had she been close to it this whole time? Had the sky and all the colors it had to offer really been so achingly close? A shadow covered the hole in the ceiling and after a moment, her eyes adjusted and the figure became clearer. Whoever it was, they stared down at her from behind a helmet as if contemplating her existence before disappearing from her sight. A jolt ran through her body. The figure was new and in such meaningless waiting, had provided her with something unexpected. Questions burned through her body and the tease of companionship was surprisingly desirable. Her fear was quenched when the figure appeared but they were not alone. With a shove, the mass of a body fell into her pit and she could make out the outline of bronze keys hanging on its waist. Mouth agape, she looked upwards again.

"Thank you," she rasped then startled at the sound of her own voice. When had it become so rustic and weak?

Her gratitude went unnoticed as the figure had already vanished from the hole they had appeared above. For a long moment, she stared at the single patch of blue. It didn't look real and yet as her eyes lowered to the body on the ground… An opportunity was lying in front of her. There was a brief instance where she considered remaining in her corner and letting the body continue to rot until the world met its end. The idea of leaving her comfortable surroundings shook her nerves yet she knew there was no way she could leave the chance at freedom sitting in the cold. She wanted it. No, she needed it.

Wincing, she tried to stand but her knees gave out and she toppled to the ground. Inwardly, she scolded herself. She should not have given up and become statuesque so soon. Her body displayed prominent signs of deterioration and she grimaced as she looked at her arms with new perspective. Focusing once more on the key, she pulled herself along the floor to the body. Freedom felt light in her hands and using the bars for support, she managed to stand upright. Her fingers trembled as she slid the key home and turned. At the click made from unlocking, she exhaled deeply, unaware that she had been holding her breath the whole time. With a gentle nudge, the barred door screeched open and she swallowed hard. With her hands still tightly grasping the bars, she cautiously lifted her foot and planted it forward. Her eyes closed as the smallest smile made guest on her lips. The floor was the same as it was in her cell and yet it had never felt more different. As she used the wall for support and made her way down the hall, she sniffed and found herself smiling once more. Even the air smelled different.

Movement caught her attention and she turned slightly to look at the beast whose pacing had been a metronome for her slumber. Beady eyes connected with hers before it grunted and continued its pattern. Turning back towards the hallway, she shook herself. That was a beast she did not want to deal with.

Several Hollow lined the wall as she made her way. Their bodies screamed of decay and their eyes looked upon nothing as they stumbled around, moaning for their losses. She passed by them without much thought. There was nothing she could do for them, after all.

Eventually, she came upon a doorway covered with the same light that had burned her eyes not long before. Excitement filled her veins and she clamored towards it greedily. She knew what it was and oh, it was beautiful, so beautiful –

For the first time in what felt like forever, the light of day washed over her skin from where she stood. There was even the slightest breeze caressing her cheek and a breath of a laugh escaped her lungs. Nothing would ever feel as good as this moment; she was sure of that. It was unfortunate that the almost religious moment was ruined by the sudden appearance of an arrow embedded into her left shoulder.

Eyes wide, she staggered backwards and threw herself into a small curve of wall, all the while cursing herself for her stupidity. She had been along the Hollow here for so long – how could she forget their mannerisms? While some lost themselves completely, others managed to cling to a semblance of who they were. Even simply holding a sword could bring about an intense desire to hold their position and attack all those who came close. From where she stood, pressed against the wall, she could hear the Hollow archer pull another arrow and the metallic cling as the point ricocheted off the stone. There was no way she was going to let this meager bother stop her from touching freedom. After pulling the arrow from her shoulder with a grunt, her eyes flew around her surroundings until they came upon a body leaning up against the wall she hid against. Whoever it was, they still retained their shield. Bracing herself, she took a deep breath and scooped up the leather shield, turning around the corner and allowing her shield to block the incoming arrow that sped towards her. With the shield held up to protect her head, she rushed forward, stopping only to reach down and slid an old looking scimitar into her hand. With shield and sword in hand, a familiar rush of adrenaline coursed through her blood. There was purpose in the blade and she wielded it fiercely. As the Hollow turned to flee, she caught it by the neck and wedged the scimitar between its shoulder blades. With the flat of her foot, she kicked her blade free of its body, breath ragged. As the Hollow hit the ground, a soft rush of energy hit her chest and strangely, she felt her exhaustion lessen. Standing straighter, she looked down at her arms, turning them this way and that. They appeared the tiniest fuller and the scimitar and shield felt lighter in her grasp. Frowning, she let this notion pass out of her mind.

The walls of her prison seemed to twist and turn, complete with ladders and stairs, but she followed the torches in hopes that they would lead her to some sort of exit. From there, she did not know where she would go. Still, she would take her escape one step at a time and figure out the details along the way. Above her were the sounds of bangs and thumps but she paid them little mind as she walked the stone paths. As she walked up a staircase, a loud noise crashed behind her and she stopped, turning at the waist and raising her shield in defense of the unknown. When nothing came towards her, she turned and froze as a giant boulder rolled towards her. Quick on her feet, she rolled to the side, landing firmly on the staircase below on the heels of her feet. The boulder collided with the wall behind her and she straightened. Distractions were foolish. She knew that and yet a sound had pulled her focus away. Walking back up the stairs, she scoffed lightly at the hole in the wall. Her remains could very well have been splashed upon the stone bricks. With one last scoff, she readjusted her shield and began to trek up the stairs the boulder had been placed on when once again, she froze. But no boulder came crashing towards her nor did a Hollow thrust a sword in her direction. Instead, it was a labored wheeze from inside the newly created hole that iced her skin. It was not the sound of a Hollow.

Dust still drifted in the air and as she approached the hole, she lifted the scimitar and shield, not to be caught off guard this time. It was dark inside the small room, vaguely reminiscent of the cell she had so recently stepped from, and before she could stop herself, a cough emitted from her chest as she breathed in the heavy, stone dust.

"Oh, you… You're no hollow, eh?"

The sound of another's voice stunned her for a moment but as she stepped forward, she caught sight of the figure lying in a ray of light. She glanced upwards, taking in the small hole in the ceiling and swallowed hard.

The figure – a man now, she could see from the way his armor lay on him – sat up slowly, body trembling, but he gasped and fell back against the bed of stone that had apparently cushioned his fall. "Thank goodness," he breathed, tilting his head back and though she could not see his face, she could hear a smile in his tone.

"You're…the one with the key," she said slowly. The words were almost ripped from her throat but somehow she knew this man would not mind.

He nodded once before letting his head fall back again. "Yes. Yes, that was me,"

She stepped forward, bending down on one knee. "Thank you." A pause. "Let me…help you,"

The man waved a hand. "No, I'm done for, I'm afraid… I'll die soon, then lose my sanity,"

With a groan, the man attempted to sit up again but fell back with a bitter laugh. When she reached out to help him, he shook his head. "No, no… I only wish to ask something of you. You and I…we're both Undead." He paused, anxiety seeming to overcome him. "Hear me out, will you?"

She nodded once and he visibly relaxed. "Thank you… Regrettably, I have failed in my mission but…perhaps you can keep my torch lit." A cough suddenly sputtered from his lips and he bent forward, body trembling harder than before. She grimaced at the sight and reached out, desperately wanting to help her savior, but once again, he waved her assistance away. "There is," he took a deep breath to fuel his speech. "an old saying in my family. 'Thou who art Undead, art chosen. In thine exodus from the Undead Asylum, maketh pilgrimage to the land of Ancient Lords,"

The old words lingered in the room until silence drifted in. With a cough, the man laughed and shook his head. "Well, now you know. And I can die with hope in my heart,"

"You don't have to die," she said firmly but he only chuckled, seeming to ignore her incessant pleas for his life.

"One more thing," Weakly, he placed his hand in a small pouch attached to his waist. "Take this," From it, he pulled out a bronze key, smaller than the one first thrown down to her. She took it slowly from his hand and her fingers lingered against his palms as she warred with the idea of simply grabbing him up and somehow managing to escape with him. But before she could think long on it, his hand lowered back to his side.

"Who are you?" she asked him, and he turned his head to look at her.

Again, she could hear the smile in his tone. "I am Oscar, a knight of Astora. Do I have the pleasure of your name?"

Her lips parted and yet she had no name to give him. Trouble plagued her mind as she searched through her memory and still, nothing. The man, Oscar, stretched out his hand to touch his fingertips to her shoulder. "There is no worry. If it does not return to you, you can choose a new name for yourself. For now, you are a friend; that is what truly matters," Another shudder crippled his body and a low moan escaped him as he bent forward. Uncaring of his resistance, she stood and took his shoulders in her hands, gently lowering him back against the stones.

"I must…bid farewell," Oscar said quietly. "I would hate to harm you after death, so go now…"

When she lingered, he reached out one hand to her hip but his push was weak. She stepped backwards and towards the hole. "Let me help you," she said again but like the times before, he chuckled.

"No…" His voice had become nothing more than a whisper and his breathing labored. "But…thank you, my friend."

Against every instinct, she turned from her savior and headed up the stairs. She hardly recognized the Hollow men who came at her at the top of the stairs nor the ones that attacked when the fresh chill of air met her decrepit skin. All she could think of was that she was leaving the man who had unselfishly taken the time to hand her salvation. The Hollow fell before her feet and her scimitar dripped with what little blood remained in them. Oscar. She paused at a ledge that overlooked a large courtyard. How could she leave behind the man who gave her the chance at life again? But she had seen the hole in the ceiling and she had heard the fail of his body. He had given her life but doing so had cost him his own.

The sound of deep breathing came from below her and she felt her fingers twitch. Standing towards a doorway was a creature much like the one near her cell. It snorted loudly, shifting the immense hammer it held from hand to hand, as her eyes flashed to the rooftop that showed signs of wear and tear from a battle.

Her mouth tightened as she stared down at the creature. Oscar had given her life.

At the very least, she could avenge his.

Grasping her scimitar until her knuckles turned white, she stepped from the ledge. Air enveloped her and time seemed to slow. As she lifted her blade, the creature turned, looking up at her with black eyes but her strike was quick. Her feet slammed into the beast's nose while her blade plunged deep into its skull. A roar shook her world as she leapt from the creature, landing on the ground and immediately leaping to the side as it slammed the hammer down in an attempt to destroy the being that threatened it. But the rage that fueled it was equally as strong in her. As the hammer connected with the ground, she threw herself forward, rolling between the creature's legs and slashing her scimitar at its hind quarters. Blindly, it swung angrily and as she rolled, the hammer connected with her side. A gasp burst from her as her body slammed into a nearby pillar and knocked it down. The world blurred as black spots danced in front of her eyes and she heard the thud of the creature's feet as it approached. Raising her shield, she braced herself, tumbling forward as her vision cleared. She could feel the rush of air above her head as the creature swung, clipping the top of her shield.

Had she simply stumbled upon this demon, perhaps it would have won. But she had been trapped for too long and too much had been sacrificed already. She fought for the taste of fresh air. The view of a blue sky. For the life Oscar had given her. She fought – and nothing would stop her from winning.

With exhaustion pooling quickly, she let out a yell and swung towards the massive creature with all of her might. The scimitar sliced into the creature's stomach and she leapt back to avoid the rush of blood and innards. Leaning back its head, the creature howled and fell backwards, crushing a pillar as it toppled.

Breath ragged, she stood, then fell to her knees. The corpse lay before her and the fresh scent of death made her gag. Using the scimitar to stand, she walked towards the large, closed door the beast had been standing before. It took almost all of her strength to open the doors but it was the sight that lay spread out in front of her that could have brought her to her knees once more.

Green grass was scattered among snowy rocks. As she walked, she stared down at her feet and watched in amazement as the ground sank beneath her shoes. Soft – the ground was so soft. The sight of mountains and a never ending sky led her forward towards the edge in an almost trance-like state. Had a color ever been so bright?

As she stared out at the world, heaviness filled her heart. Freedom was a gift but it was unfortunate to be standing in it alone. Yet, she would not waste what had been given to her. The thought made her smile briefly. Oscar of Astora. No, she would not let him down. In fact, she would dedicate such a life towards the man who had freed her and given her the opportunity for another chance.

"Choose a name…" she muttered. Her gaze turned solemnly back towards the stone prison. "A name…"

At the bottom of the hill, the asylum seemed small and lonely. A distant ruffling grew steadily closer as it hummed through the air and thin sheets of snow drifted at her feet while the cold wind tangled within the folds of her tattered clothes. Her bone-like fingers pulled up the hood of her coat, protecting her from the cold, and she gave a shadow of a smile.

"Ostora. My name is Ostora."

With that she turned to face the sky, only to be swept swiftly away by the clutches of a giant crow.