Chapter 1: The Watch Begun
Deep within the walls of Farron Keep some lone stranger walks through the dimly lit halls. Hooded and cloaked, his face remained a mystery to those who watched him pass. They said nothing to him, not even a greeting, for beside him loomed the shadow of a tall, and pointed helm. A great sword was slung across his back, modeled after the sword that Knight Artorias once wielded, and in his left hand he clutched a small dagger, shaped like a wolfs claw. The pair passed silently through the keep, with only the sound of their steps to be heard.
Passing through the immense libraries the keep held, acolyte scholars looked up curiously as to who the newcomer was. An addition to their ranks, or perhaps another poor hollow chosen to join the wandering Followers. They contented to continue with their work, letting the watcher lead this soul to his new fate. Soon they arrived at a large set of doors, the sounds of swords clashing echoing out from behind them.
"This is where I take my leave of you" the watcher said briefly, gesturing towards the door. "Know this, there is no place for weakness among the legion, nor is there a place for cowardice, for the abyss is always growing."
The hooded stranger looked over to the watcher, whose face was hidden behind the high collar of his armor, and gave a subtle nod of understanding. The watcher only shook his head in response before pushing the door open and stepping inside.
Within the room stood another dozen men, clothed in the same armor that the watcher that led the stranger here wore. In the middle of them stood two men, one of whom was wearing tattered and beaten armor of a forgotten order of knights. The other wore an armor like the other watchers, yet distinct in its appearance. The pointed helm that adorned the others was absent, as was the high collar that masked the rest of the watchers' faces. His long white hair, damp with sweat, clung to his head as he stood over the wavering knight, who held his shield up with what was left of his strength.
"You cower behind your pathetic shield," the watcher taunted, stepping closer to the knight. "There is no defense against the abyss, if you are weak it will take you." He squinted, and then laughed, pulling a crooked dagger out from a sheath on his hip. "There is only one way to fight it" he swung the blade with incredible speed, the notches catching the edge of the knight's shield, and tearing it away from his trembling hands. Before he had a chance to react, the watcher had slammed his boot into his chest, pushing him to the ground and keeping him there.
The knight gasped for breath beneath the facemask of his helmet, grasping at the boot of the watcher in some feeble attempt to save himself, however, his movements merely cemented the boot onto his chest.
"The Legion never defends, it never falters, it only charges forward, always advancing to destroy all who would oppose us." The watcher's words were harsh, and each punctuated by grinding the heel of his boot into the chest plate of the knight. "We have no place for your weakness" he growled out, holding out his hand to the others on the side.
One of the closer spectators took his sword from off his back and handed it to the watcher in the center, who gripped the hilt of the blade tightly. Over the soft murmurs of the crowd, the hooded stranger could barely make out the pleas from the knight, begging for his life to be sparred, which was only met with a loud and hearty laughter from the others.
"You beg for mercy!?" The watcher was almost taken back by the sudden cry, though his foot remained cemented in place. "Will you beg the monsters bred from the abyss for mercy? Do you think these spawns of hell itself will listen to your pathetic cries!?" He brought the sword up and with one quick motion, plunged it down, piercing through the knight's armor with ease.
The fallen warrior grasped helplessly at the blade in desperation, unaware that his life had already come to an end. As his blood pooled onto the stone floor, the watcher stepped away and left him to his fate. The surrounding watchers continued to murmur amongst themselves until the watcher that escorted the stranger into the room spoke up, breaking the mood of the room instantly.
"Watch Captain Morrag," he exclaimed, grabbing the attention of the lone watcher in the center of the group.
At once every eye in the room fell upon the two of them, the watcher who slew the knight stepping forward.
"Watcher Ryvern" Morrag said with a quiet chuckle, spinning the dagger around in his hand. "What have you brought for us today, hopefully something better than this pathetic waste Watcher Iudices picked up."
Upon mention of the knight the watcher behind Morrag erupted in laughter, the stranger however, stepped forward, moving unwaveringly towards the Watch Captain. "Watch Captain Morrag, I have come here to join the Abyss Watchers, to fight the abyss as the great knight Sir Artorias did long ago."
The laughter died down quickly at the mention of Artorias, Morrag's gaze hardening as it pierced through the hooded stranger. "To join the legion, you must prove yourself in combat against me." He ended his sentence abruptly, his grip tightening on the dagger once again. "Do you accept the challenge?"
The stranger nodded in response, throwing back his cloak and pulling out a simple broadsword from a worn leather sheath by his hip. Morrag smirked as the crowd formed around them, Ryvern joining their ranks now. Slowly, he raised up the arm holding the dagger, pointing the blade towards the stranger. He took his free arm and crossed it over his chest, hand clenched in a fist at his right shoulder.
"Now," Morrag spoke in a low tone, slowly lowering his arms. "Come and prove your worth to the Legion."
The stranger spun his sword in his hand, readying himself as Watch Captain Morrag grabbed the great sword from the lifeless corpse of his previous opponent. As he walked over towards the stranger blood continued to drip from the blade, leaving a small trail behind him. Before the challenger even knew what was going on Morrag was upon him, his sword crashing down into the stone of the floor, only having stepped out of the way in the nick of time. The speed of the watchers was often heralded, though this was the first time the stranger had been able to witness it firsthand.
Morrag let out a fierce growl, almost like an animal, when his swing missed its target. Quickly, and without much hesitation he drove the point of the small dagger into a small crack in the floor. In a wide sweeping motion, Morrag used the momentum of his movements to fling himself airborne, slamming down with a mighty crash.
The challenger staggered slightly, taken aback by the quickness of the captain's movements even when encumbered by such a hefty sword. Morrag, however, took no such leisure and was upon him in an instant, his great sword clashing against the challengers.
Morrag growled, pulling away with a hasty back step before lunging forward again, hoping to make effective use of his challenger's flimsy broadsword. He swung wide and again jabbed the dagger into the floor spinning circles around the confused challenger as he waited for an opening. As he came around to his right side, Morrag struck lifting the mighty blade above his head and swinging it down with all his might. Time seemed to slow to a halt as the blade, once again, missed its mark, the dull metal ring slowly echoing through the hall. Morrag winced slightly, thoroughly confused as the miss wouldn't have hurt him. It was only when he looked down, towards the hilt of his sword that he saw the result.
As the blade came down, his challenger evaded with a swift roll to the right before jabbing his sword in between the gaps of the metal plates of his armor just below the ribcage. While the roll had given him enough distance to avoid the attack it had kept him close enough to still reach his target with ease. The challenger smirked slightly as he twisted the blade in his hand, giving a faintly audible laugh as he watched the captain come to terms.
"You, managed to land a blow" Morrag growled out as his dagger clattered to the floor. His other hand still clutched his sword tightly but soon his own laughter could be heard along side his opponent's. "In all my years as Captain of the Watch, never before has any foe drawn blood from me. You are indeed worthy." He bowed his head as he finished, letting the sword fall as well.
The stranger sighed in relief, quickly removing and sheathing his own blade, standing before the defeated Captain. Morrag rose to his feet, clutching his side loosely, "Tell me, what is your name? I would be honored to welcome you as a brother to the watch."
The stranger laughed slightly hands moving up to remove the helmet that had long shrouded their face. "Well I hope you would also mind welcoming me as a sister" a feminine voice responded, long blonde hair slowly falling as the helmet reveal the stranger's face.
She was a young-looking woman; her hair was a dull blonde color and fell just past her shoulders. Her deep brown eyes stared back into the stunned crown that surrounded her and Morrag. A slight smile adorned her face as she continued to speak. "I am Astrea of Astora, and long have I heard tales of the Knights of Gwyn, of the legend of Artorias, and recently, of the feared Abyss Watchers of Farron." She knelt and bowed her head, her smile gradually fading away. "I would be honored if you would accept me Captain Morrag."
Morrag looked around at his fellow watchers, hearing the faint grumbling and hushed whispers coming from them. There had never been a woman in the watch since it was created, nor even among the acolytes or followers. Indeed, this was unheard of, not only for the watch, but for Morrag as well for he would have to admit to being bested by a woman. Sensing the tension building in the room Ryvern finally spoke up above the hushed voices. "Brothers, when we took up our watch did we not pledge to stand by any who had been deemed worthy to accept the wolf's blood?" His question was answered by a few grunts of agreement, though most still looked on in silence. He continued, unphased by his brothers, "Astrea has proven herself a capable warrior, striking our Captain and drawing blood when no man has succeeded before. We would be remiss to turn her away after this display."
Morrag gave a delighted chuckle, turning his attention to Ryvern and away from Astrea. "You see potential in her Watcher Ryvern" he questioned, turning his gaze back towards Astrea. "Then I will place her in your direct care" he took a step towards her, gesturing her to stand. "Gone now is Astrea of Astora, rise and take your mantle Watcher Astrea."
Astrea breathed a heavy sight of relief as she stood, bowing politely to Morrag as Ryvern came to her side. "We seek to extinguish the abyss from this world, we will fulfill Artorias' dying wish. Ad lucem ac tenebras Watcher Astrea"
"Ad lucem ac tenebras Captain" Astrea and Ryvern repeated, the pair smiling slightly. The hall soon echoed in the chant, every watcher repeating the phrase. "To light the darkness, that is our calling, this is your duty now" Morrag said briefly before turning away, wading into the now dissipating crowd.