Flynn

SL12 - 13 VGR - 10 ATT - 11 END - 15 VIT - 15 STR - 12 DEX - 9 INT - 9 FTH - 7 LCK

Resa

SL12 - 12 VGR - 10 ATT - 9 END - 12 VIT - 12 STR - 12 DEX - 8 INT - 15 FTH - 11 LCK

Flynn

"What do you mean, 'savior of the undead'"?

The Fire Keeper extended her hand towards me. "If you will, please give me the sword. I will explain everything, you have my word."

I did as she asked, handing over the coiled sword. She placed it into the the basin of ashes in the center of the shrine. "You are, what many people call, 'unkindled'. You are separate from many other undead, for you are incapable of going hollow. I presume, based on your memories, that you once required humanity in order to keep from hollowing?" When I nodded my affirmation, she continued. "You will find this practice is no longer necessary - and that humanity is rarely seen in this day and age. No, unkindled cannot hollow...but you can light the fires within yourselves to gain strength. They are embers...the handmaiden of this Shrine might be willing to provide you with some that she has found."

Resa responded, inquisitive. "I don't follow...what does this have to do with saving the undead."

"I will get there, in due time. Due to your previous life being far, far earlier, you would not know of the cycle...this makes the explanation even more troubling. You attempted to link the Fire...the specifics of that I know not and do not wish to know. Whatever the case is, many, many other undead followed in your footsteps. Many succeeded, many failed. However, one thing became apparent - the Fire never lasted forever. No matter how many undead fed themselves to the flames, it would inevitably dwindle. Civilizations of undead rose and fell, all with one goal in mind...keep the First Flame burning. Eventually, a powerful undead would come to the fire, and link the Fire...they became known as the Lords of Cinder."

The Fire Keeper asked for me to extend my hand towards the coiled sword. "Please, light this as you would any other bonfire...bring life to my Shrine once again."

I did so, extending my hand. By all accounts, the basin didn't look anything like the bonfires we'd seen before...and yet I still felt the slight twinge of pain as a piece of my own flame leaped from my hand, and onto the coiled sword. The basin of ashes lit up, a small but healthy flame springing to life.

The Fire Keeper continued, a slight smile across her lips. "Just as you were able to light this fire, so too did the Lords of Cinder bring life to a dying First Flame. Now, however...look around you. The fires of this world are dying, and the First Flame is about to flicker out. This time, however, no champion has been able to reach the flame, to try to keep the age of the undead burning for even a moment longer. Hence...the bell."

The Fire Keeper began pacing, her frustration evident. "The bell called forth all those that could link the Fire...including the past Lords of Cinder. With their combined efforts, the power of all five Lords would be enough to usher in yet another new age, and keep the fire burning once more. However, as you can see...the Lords have not taken their thrones, except one." The woman pointed towards the little man, sitting alone atop the thrones. "Ludleth of Courland has returned to his throne, but we must have all five if we are to survive. That is why the unkindled have been called. You need to return the Lords to their thrones, through whatever means necessary. It is the only way to save the undead."

With that, she paused...silence filled the room. "I understand...I think we need a moment."

She nodded. "This is a lot. When you are ready, return to me. The bonfire can take you to where you must first go. As I said, the other denizens of this Shrine can teach you what you must know. Many things have changed since your previous life. You will need every advantage you can grasp if you are to tame the Lords."

I turned my back to the woman...the woman I so desperately wished was someone else. She had given us a lot to process, and I needed time to make sense of it all. Now that we were on the ground, I could see a passageway leading off to one side, torches lining the walls. "Sister...I need to take my mind of this. That was a lot to take in."

She nodded. "Let's meet people here. This seems to be a gathering ground...it wouldn't hurt to know the people that reside within. I'll meet you back at the Fire Keeper...if you think you want to do this."

I cocked my head. "Why wouldn't I?"

Resa squirmed around her words. "Well...I remember enough to know that our first journey to the Flame was terrible...I hated most of it. Are you sure we want to do this again?"

I nodded. "Even if we aren't the same undead we once were, it's still our world that is at stake. It's going to be tough...unbelievably tough. But I think we have to do it. I don't think we have much of a choice."

My sister sighed. "You always have a way of putting things in perspective...alright. I need to mentally prepare myself though. I'm not quite as ready for this as you are."

"Take the time you need, sister. I couldn't get to Gwyn without you, and I know I won't be able to do this without you either."

That having been said, we split up, exploring the shrine. I went towards the one sound I recognized...the sound of a hammer on an anvil. Perhaps there was another blacksmith who I could learn under...I had my hopes. As I approached, I could start to make out the shape of the blacksmith amidst the flurry of sparks flying from his hammer. He was an enormous man with muscles packed upon muscles, a grizzly beard combined with messy gray hair covering most of his face...I recognized this man as well.

I fought the memories this time. I didn't trust them. My mind told me this man was Andre of Astora, the man that taught me everything I...used to know about smithing. I still remembered the details and more were coming to me as the memories played out in my mind...but the same had been true for the Anastacia and the Fire Keeper...they clearly weren't the same person.

I approached the man cautiously. I had made a fool of myself last time, and I didn't want to be seen as a raving lunatic. "Greetings. I take it you are the smith here?"

The brutish man set down his hammer, turning to me. "Aye, I am...and who are ye? I 'aven't seen that suit of armor 'round here before."

I was on edge now...he sounded like Andre. But there was no way it could have been him...if what the Fire Keeper said is true, he would be even older than I am...and if he wasn't unkindled, that means he's persevered the entire time. Such a feat would be legendary.

"I'm...I'm Flynn. Just arrived here, like you guessed."

At this, the smith stood up, walking away from his anvil. A sword was still resting on the anvil, now deforming due to the lack of attention it was receiving. "Flynn...Flynn of Thorolund?"

I shook my head...why couldn't I even remember where I was from. "I...perhaps, but I don't know for certain. I lived in Lordran...previously. I can't remember where I was before then."

The man broke out into a smile. "Flynn...it's Andre. Andre of Astora. I don't know if I've ever been happier to see someone in my life...and believe me, I've had a long life."

It was him...I couldn't believe it. Somehow, he'd survived all the way from the near-dawn of the undead. I was speechless...this man was a legend.

Andre ushered me over to his anvil, and I promptly took a seat by the walls surrounding his forge. "A lot's changed since ye've last been here. Everything's changed. Let me do my best to shed some light on yer situation"

He pointed to the icy blue bottle of Estus still clinging to my hip. "First off...I'm sure ye've figured out that that's no normal Estus Flask. Ye'va also probably figured out that any and all sorceries, pyromancies, and miracles ye once knew aren't up to snuff. That's because...oh, how do I explain this...magic is dying. Ye can't just call upon powers or yer own strength to do something, ye need energy 'ta do it. That Flask gives ye the energy, er at least, gives ye more of it. Ye've got a bit in yerself already, but it's not enough for most caster."

Andre continued on, taking a seat back by is anvil. "Course...ye still can't cast yer spells, if ye ever knew any. They all had to be changed, to account for the new way 'a doing things. Hell, even pyromancers found they needed 'ta relearn how 'ta use their flames. Don't ask me 'ta tell ye why...after all this time, I still 'aven't got the slightest clue about magic."

I chuckled, nodding. Some things never changed. "That's...well, that's quite a change. Anything else worth mentioning?"

Andre nodded back. "Plenty, specifically one that I'm sure ye'll care about - titanite. Turns out there's not as much 'a the stuff as we hoped there was. At this point, we've all but exhausted a lot of the colored titanites ye and I knew back in the days 'a Lordran. Green, blue, red, white...nobody's seen any in several ages. Black, however...there's still black titanite around, but ye have 'ta go lookin' fer it. Because 'a that, modifying yer weapons has changed too. I'm sure ye remember how we mad yer sister's sword holy...ye can't do that anymore. People have found gems of all different sorts, however, capable of replicating the effects of colored titanite while also providing completely new ones. There are these lizards out there...real small ones, that seem 'ta grow the things naturally. Whenever ye see one, take it down. Ye'll be glad ye did."

No titanite...things certainly had changed. "So, let me get this straight, for myself. All of magic has changed. Everything to do with improving our weapons has changed...what hasn't?"

Andre chuckled. "Well, yer armor still can take a hit. If that ever changes, I'll eat my hammer. Anyways, I don't sell weapons like I use 'ta...the Shrine handmaid takes care of most 'a that now. She'll also buy stuff from ye if ye don't want it. Everything's precious now. Some people would even give their souls for a dagger. Looks like yer sister's already found her, though...that is Resa, innit?"

I turned around, seeing my sister in the hallway, kneeling next to a woman I had more or less ignored as soon as I saw Andre. Resa was clutching a scroll in her hands...perhaps she was learning about these new miracles and how they worked. Unfortunately, I wouldn't be so lucky, from what Andre told me. Even if I could learn how these new pyromancies worked, I wouldn't be able to use them without a flame. In all likelihood, this meant that I'd need to find another pyromancer in this world, one that already knew the new methods.

Oddly enough, that thought reminded me of something...I didn't know how I learned pyromancy originally. I had to have had some teacher, someone that gave me my flame...but I didn't know who. For something as important as that, I was shocked that I didn't have even a name to remember. Perhaps I'd pushed that memory aside...but I don't know why that would have been the case. Whatever the case, now wasn't the time to dwell on such memories, or lack thereof.

"Thank you, Andre. Thank you for everything. It's nice to have a familiar face around here. If I see any titanite, or any of those gems...I'll be sure to let you know."

"Aye, Flynn. Stay safe out there...this isn't the Lordran ye once knew. Hell. It might not even be Lordran."

That was unsettling...but it could very well be our reality. I left Andre, returning back to the center of the shrine. There was someone else I wanted to speak to...the man, I believe the Fire Keeper called him Ludleth. He was the only Lord out of the five that wished to return. There had to be a reason behind it. In fact, something else didn't make sense...the Fire Keeper had said that powerful undead became Lords. This man looked nothing of the sort.

I walked up the far stairway in front of which all five thrones sat, turning and moving to the space right in front of him. The man was tiny...after getting this close to me, he likely wouldn't even reach my belt. "Greetings, unkindled one. Dost thou have inquiries for Ludleth of Courland?"

This man...by the way he spoke, perhaps he was even more ancient than I was, which felt really odd to think about. "I, just...why did you return? Why have you stayed, when it's clear none of the other Lords will return willingly?"

Ludleth let out a slight chuckle, barely audible given his small frame. "The bell doth toll for a purpose, and that purpose I willfully obey. The other Lords deign to follow its creed...I cannot pass judgement upon them. I am different from the other Lords...they possess great strength, whereas I am do not. My power as a Lord doth come from mind, not body. I am a manipulator of souls, an art long lost to the ages...and now to myself."

I sat down beside him, leaning against the lower throne. "I don't quite follow."

Ludleth nodded, the simple act looking like it would break the frail man. "Few do, few do. There dost be an item known as the Transposing Kiln. With it, I can manipulate one's soul...or the souls of the parted...into objects that were once meaningful to soul's owner. Powerful weapons, shields, spells, and rings have been formed through this power...likely more still to come."

I nodded along...I'd heard of nothing like this. "And why can't you do it?"

"It was not with me when I awoke from my slumber. The dangers of this world are frightening, even to a Lord of Cinder such as myself. I daren't retrieve it...if a Lord were to perish and none were to find his ashes, the First Flame would not be linked. The plan would fail...the undead would perish."

That was...grim. "If I find it...I will bring it back to you."

To that, Ludleth smiled. "You are most gracious, unkindled one. You will find many powerful souls in this land, likely many great foes will block your way to my Kiln, some providing souls of their own. If you were to return the Kiln to me, I will provide you with my services. Without the Transposing Kiln, I am barely a Lord of Cinder. With it...I can make others become Lords."

That was a powerful statement, and it was one I wouldn't soon forget. "Thank you, Ludleth...you have my promise. If I find it, or anything I might suspect is it, I will bring it to you."

The Lord gave another curt smile, nodding. "Thank you."

I left him, taking the stairs back down to the Fire Keeper. Resa was speaking with the last person we'd seen, a man sitting not far away from us. I'd leave her to that...I needed to speak with the Fire Keeper. She approached me with the same professional disdain as she did before...it was clear this wasn't Anastacia, no matter much I wanted that to be wrong. "What is it, ashen one?"

I shook my head...I couldn't bear it. "Please, my name is Flynn. I'd prefer it if you used it."

To my surprise, she shook her head. "Just as I do not provide those here with my name, so I do not wish to use others. My role here is simple - I guide others to the Lords of Cinder in hopes that they will be successful. I do not serve, and do not wish to serve, any other purpose."

I was taken aback by simply how blunt that statement was...I sat in silence for a few moments, trying to formulate a response. "Other Fire Keepers...they were not like this, you know. Anastacia, Quelaan...neither of them acted this way, and they benefited because of it." While Quelaan's exact function in my previous life was still largely unclear, I did remember that she was a Fire Keeper. How odd...two of the three people I remembered were Fire Keepers.

"I am not them, Ashen one. I know you wish for me to be someone else, but I cannot do that for you. Anastacia has likely long since passed, I assure you. I do not wish to explain this again." She crossed her arms, taking a few steps back. "From my understanding, Anastacia befriended many of the undead that crossed her paths later in her life. Of all of them I have met, Ashen One...you are the most persistent."

I clenched my teeth...I didn't know what to think anymore. One one hand, I wanted to know this woman...I needed someone like Anastacia back in my life. My heart bore a hole in it, formed upon the realization that she was no longer with me...and I needed to fill it. On the other hand, however, the Fire Keeper would likely be pivotal in the journey to come. I didn't want to risk alienating myself from her any more than I already have. "I apologize, Fire Keeper...it will not happen again."

I backed away, waiting for Resa to finish speaking. I wanted to leave here, desperately...just to get my mind off the current topic. Thankfully, it wasn't long before my sister meandered back towards me and the Fire Keeper, an audible silence evident between the two of us.

Resa grabbed her attention...thankfully. "I believe we are ready. Where is our destination...and more importantly, how do we get there?"

The Fire Keeper focused most of her attention on my sister, directly facing her. "There was an ancient relic, one capable of taking undead from one bonfire to the next...the Lordvessel. I suppose, given your life, you might have even seen it."

The Lordvessel...that sparked a memory. I nodded, speaking up. "We carried it at one point...it opened up the Kiln of the First Flame for us."

At that, the Fire Keeper seemed astonished. "Well...very, very few can say that they held the Lordvessel. Indeed, the Lordvessel did that as well. Over time, however, its power became infused within all bonfires - soon, one didn't even need to have touched the Lordvessel in order to use its power. Eventually, few even remembered that the Lordvessel existed - it's power was simply latent across all bonfires. I cannot tell you where your journey will begin...only that there is a bonfire out there, waiting for you. Carry strength with you, Ashen Ones...this is not an easy journey before you."

"Neither was our last one. Yet we still completed it." I took a seat by the lone bonfire, Resa quickly taking a seat by my side. "Are you ready?"

My sister nodded. "We have to do this, so I don't get much of a choice...but I'd chose to anyways."

I smiled beneath my mask, a gesture that goes largely unnoticed. "Then let us begin."

I closed my eyes, focusing on the bonfire before me...I could see a vision of our destination. It was hazy...I didn't recognize it, likely because I'd never been there before. It was no matter...I was going there now.

Short chapter, but if I did my usual 6k - 7k length there wouldn't have been any good stopping points.