Omega: I bring you chapter 4 for all of you to read and hopefully enjoy, and if you don't, you don't have to rip me a new one to inform of your displeasure. That outta the way, lets continue the story.
Chapter 4: A Jog Through The Forest
Jack and company were heading down from the roof to continue on their quest. They descended the ladders and went down the steps that brought them back to ground level. Jack noticed an elevator that appeared in need of activation. He stepped onto it and motioned for Solaire and Oscar to do the same. They all stood on the elevator and Jack stomped the pressure plate, sending the elevator down at an impressive rate.
In about a minute they were all back down at Firelink, in a section that Jack kinda just passed by when he first came through. They walked down a set of stairs and came to a stop at a fat man in some heavy armor. He had blonde, bowl-cut hair and he appeared to be waiting for someone. Jack decided to talk to this man and see if he may be of some use.
"Greetings. I'm Jack." he said as he approached, giving a small bow.
"Hello, I'm Petrus, a cleric of Thorolund." the fat man said.
"A cleric? Hmm...you hunt the Undead?" Jack asked.
"Yes, why do you ask?" Petrus replied.
"Weelllll... I am kinda Undead." Jack said.
"Oh, don't worry, you aren't Hollow, therefore I have no real reason to attack you." Petrus said.
"You teach miracles?"
"Yes, but you will need a talisman to use them." Petrus said.
"I should be fine. Just teach me some." Jack said.
"Gladly, after you pay me in souls." the cleric replied.
"What? Your human! You don't need souls!" Jack snapped.
"Well, you see...I can only teach an Undead miracles by applying it to souls that the undead possesses, the more powerful the miracle, the more souls needed to implant it in memory." Petrus explained.
"When you say it like that, it is pretty simple." Oscar chimed in for the first time.
"Yes it is." Petrus replied.
"So, what can you teach me?" Jack asked.
"I can teach you any of them but it all depends on your faith." Petrus answered.
"Alright, I would like to know how to heal myself and how to knock groups back." Jack said.
"Alright, that is one Heal and one Force, got it." Petrus said as he wrote down the requested items on notepad that came from nowhere. " Just give me the souls and it is all yours."
Jack extended his hand and materialized souls in it. Petrus took it and infused the miracles to them, he handed them back to Jack. "Wow, I have perfect memory of how to use those, cool." Jack said.
"Yes, now you just need a talis-" Petrus was cut off by Jack blasting a wave of non damaging energy that swept him from his feet. "You did that without a talisman? Incredible." Petrus remarked after woozily getting up.
"Yeah, I guess so."
"Well, is that all you needed?" the cleric asked.
"Yep, lets go guys." Jack said leading Solaire and Oscar back to the Firelink Bonfire.
They sat down at the flame and rested, Jack worked on equipment repair, Solaire praised the sun, and Oscar headed off to the lower part of the shrine. Oscar came back up shortly and got Jack and Solaire to come with him. The Chosen and the Sunbro followed.
"Who is this?" Jack asked upon reaching the lower area with Oscar.
He was referring to to the blonde-haired, blue eyed, girl in ragged clothes sitting in a makeshift cell in the side of the Firelink Plateau.
"I believe she is the Firekeeper of Firelink." Solaire said as he reached Oscar and Jack from the upper level.
"Firekeeper?" Jack asked.
"You don't know what a Firekeeper is?" Oscar asked sounded pretty damn surprised.
"No, I don't. Well, I might have known, but my memory is very cloudy and broken up." Jack said.
"It doesn't matter, I'll explain." Solaire said cheerfully. " A Firekeeper is in charge of keeping the Bonfire she watches over lit, this is usually by attaching their soul to it. Now, this also means that they are constantly being imbued with Humanity. As long as she stays here, the bonfire stays lit."
"Alright so she is literally a Humanity magnet?" Jack asked.
"Yes, she is." Lautrec's voice came from behind them.
"When did you get here?" Oscar asked as the trio turned around.
"I have been sitting here for a while. You just seemed to not notice me at all." Lautrec replied.
"I find it ridiculous that we missed you. You armor shines like the sun!" Solaire said.
"That it is." Lautrec remarked.
"Hey how are you?" Jack asked the firekeeper. She simple stared at Jack. " Alright, silent treatment it is."
"She can't speak, nor move." Lautrec said.
"How so?" Jack asked, but his question was answered by a quick observation. Her legs were bent, as if permanently broken, and her mouth had a scar on it that looked like her tongue was removed. " Oh, that's how." Jack said with sympathy.
"Now, Solaire forgot to mention this, she can make your Estus stronger so that it can heal more grievous wounds. All you need is to give her your flask and the soul of another firekeeper." Lautrec explained.
"Well, that makes this 10 times more useful." Jack said as he pulled out the Firekeeper Soul. He handed it to the mute Firekeeper along with his Estus Flask. After a quick display of light, she handed back the flask. " Thank you very much." Jack said with a bow.
"That taken care of. Where are you three heading next?" Lautrec asked.
"We do not know." Jack replied.
"Why don't you go and visit Darkroot Garden? I hear it is lovely this time of year." Lautrec said.
"Where exactly is that?" Jack asked.
"It is accessible via the blacksmith's forge next to the church." Lautrec replied.
"Thank you for the information, we will see you around Goldielocks!" Jack said as they walked away.
"That was rather unnecessary." Lautrec remarked to the firekeeper.
Jack and companions moved back through the shrine and to the elevator. They rode it up and entered the church. They dispatched the three hollows guarding the way to the blacksmith's domicile with a good slash from each of them. The three proceeded through the narrow path to the old decrepit building where a blacksmith has set up shop. The inside looked like a small room for a sermon but was littered with debris. A small staircase was to the left that led downward. As the group made their descent they heard the clang of hammer on anvil.
On the next level was a bonfire resting in the center of the room, another set of stair and a doorway that opened up to a narrow bridge to a large fortress. After lighting the bonfire and resting just for a moment, they headed down to the lowest floor and saw the blacksmith. He was a old but strong man sitting on a stool and hammering away at a sword on the anvil. He heard the footsteps of Jack and company. The blacksmith stared up from his work and issued a greeting.
"You don't look familiar, you must be new arrivals. You don't seem Hollow either. So welcome, I am Andre, of Astora."
"Greetings, I am Jack."
"I am Solaire of Astora."
"I'm Oscar, also of Astora."
"Wonderful to meet you, especially since I can see some others from my homeland." Andre said with a hearty laugh.
"I can see you are a blacksmith, and a skilled one at that." Jack remarked.
"Yes I am, thank you. Now what brings you to my corner of Lordan?" Andre asked.
"We are on our way to Darkroot Garden." Solaire said.
"Ah, that would be right down that way." the blacksmith said as he gestured to a stairway to his right. " But you may need some better equipment before entering."
"That sounds good to me." Oscar said.
"I could use some reforging on a few weapons of mine." Jack said.
"No thank you my good man. My equipment is just fine." Solaire said.
"Alright, then bring me whatever equipment you want forged to me and I'll improve it the best I can with the materials I have." Andre said with a smile.
"Okay, what can you do with this?" Jack asked as he pulled out the Black Knight Sword he acquired earlier.
"Well, I can forge that, but I need a rather rare form of titanite known as Twinkiling Titanite. Lucky for you I have a piece with me, so I can make the weapon slightly stronger." Andre said as he took the sword and began forging it with the titanite.
"And what about this sword?" Oscar asked holding his Drake Sword.
"That I can't help with unless you get a dragon scale to forge that with."
"Well, that sucks."
"Yes indeed." Solaire said.
"I guess I will have to wait until I get a dragon scale. Dammit."
"Can you forge my armor?" Jack asked.
"Sure, just hand it here." Andre asked.
Jack removed his shield and armor and was left with the comfortable cloth clothes that lied underneath the armor. The three went up to the bonfire and awaited Andre's signal. While they were waiting, Jack and Oscar gave more souls to the bonfire to strengthen themselves. Jack improved his vitality, strength, and dexterity. Oscar massively incresed vitality and endurance. After an hour of waiting, Andre called for them. Jack headed down first since he was the onc getting his equipment improved.
Andre handed Jack the much improved armor, shield, and sword. The once blooded Black Knight Sword was now clean and sharp. The shield was clean of rust and had a redone design. The Astorian Knight Armor was refined and without a single bit of damage present. Also an engraving was forged into the armor's left arm pauldron.
"What is this?" Jack asked.
"It is a special little rune that applies magic protection. Despite its location it will apply to your entire body, just it will be stronger when you are blocking." Andre explained.
"That is really useful. Thanks."
"No need to thank me. You are the first to give me something to do for quite some time. It was the best way I could repay you for helping me stay busy." Andre explained.
"I am going to collect my compatriots and head into Darkroot Garden." Jack said as he started back to the bonfire.
"I would be careful if I were you, there is a Titanite Demon guarding the entrance and many dangers within." Andre warned.
"I'll keep that in mind. Thanks."
Jack headed back up and collected Solaire and Oscar. The group then headed down stairs and to the path to Darkroot. They had only just gone into the massive room when a bolt of lightning rocketed towards them. The three dispersed and looked over to where said projectile appeared from. A hulking creature of titanite was staring them down. Well, not really staring since it had no head or present eyes. It was also missing a leg, so it instead used its left arm to hold itself upright while it charged another lighting bolt in its staff.
The heroes were ready for it this time. The bolt went flying only to miss Jack by a mile. They then all rushed the demon. Jack jumped up and crashed down with the black knight sword. It hit and stuck in the demon's body. Jack worked to rip it out while Oscar and Solaire cut away at the titanite monster. The being seemed unaffected by the strikes and swung the staff around to grab Oscar with and slam him into the ground. It held Oscar down while it punched at Solaire. Solaire blocked, but was launched by the force. Jack finally ripped put the sword and apparently did some serious damage in doing so.
A large crack began to form where the blade was removed. It spread across the demon's body and caused the beast to stop momentarily. It only lived a moment longer as Solaire stabbed his sword into the crack and opened the titanite monster clean up. It crumbled to dust and spewed souls. Jack found that the neck area where some symbols where carved was perfectly intact and stored it for possible later use. He turned to Oscar and helped him up.
"My back is going to be hurting for quite some time." Oscar said as he cracked it.
"You'll be fine, it is better than being incinerated ain't it?" Jack said.
"I would have to agree with that." Solaire said.
"Fine, but I get this weird feeling like some sick being is controlling things just so I can get hurt badly every time we fight something." Oscar said worriedly.
"It is just horrible luck is all." Jack said reassuringly.
"I hope you are right."
"Trust me. Now come on, we need to get through this place." Jack said as he continued into Darkroot.
They exited out to a forest area, a crumbling wall to the right and a path deeper in to the left. They headed left and where greeted by some tree creature that rushed them. It stretched its stubby branch arms out and whipped them at the Oscar. He luckily raised his shield in time to block it. Jack responded and rushed the killer plant. With a slash it was cleaved in two. They progressed with Solaire leading on account of his shield size. Another tree thing approached as they reached a cliffside. It was easily dispatched as Solaire shield bashed it off the edge.
They continued forth into a wider area with a drop off on the left. Another treant, is what you could call it, attacked them. It was quickly dispatched by Solaire's blade and they pressed forth. They had passed and could see a closed door ahead of them when Oscar was knocked in the back and almost over the edge by a whip like appendage from an ambushing treant. Jack turned and impaled his sword through the evil piece of foliage as Solaire helped up his fellow Astorian. Oscar got up to his feet and spoke.
"Jack, I will have to say that your whole thing about bad luck is a bigger load of bs than a Blighttown resident will ever drop."
"Jeesh, you don't have to be like that. I am sure that it is just really bad luck." Jack said as reassuringly as he could.
"You know what? Nevermind, I can't argue with you." Oscar said as his head just pointed to the ground.
"It appears you just can't argue and have shit luck. You my friend, are screwed." Jack said.
"Whatever, let's just go." Oscar said as he trudged towards the door.
He tried to push it open to no avail. After kicking, bashing, punching, praying to, power waving, and even begging, Oscar was unsuccessful at getting the damn thing open. Jack and Solaire watched with both of them occasionally chuckling at Oscar's failures. The Knight of Astora turned around, got on his knees and pounded the ground.
"Oscar, I can't believe you didn't notice the other path right next to the door. We have been sitting here for 20 minutes while you made a fool of yourself." Jack said.
"WHY DID YOU NOT TELL ME BEFORE!" Oscar yelled.
"It was rather humorous watching your blunder. Especially when you busted your good hand from punching the door. You let out the most feminine scream." Solaire said chuckling at the thought.
Oscar just walked over to the conspicuous wall to the door's left and banged his head. " IDIOT IDIOT IDIOT IDIOT IDIO-" Oscar's self punishing was cut off by the wall fading away and him falling flat on his face to the dirt. He looked up with dirt filling every crevice of his helmet.
Jack was on the ground laughing his Undead ass off. Solaire was trying not laugh which resulted in him snickering. Oscar clumsily stood as he tried to pry dirt from the visor with his fingers, to no avail. He pried off the helmet, revealing a young face with blue eyes and short blond hair. Oscar shot a look at the two just reveling in his pain.
"You two are assholes." Oscar said as he continued to clean his helmet.
"And you are just plain hilarious to watch." Jack said in between laughs.
"I didn't think it was possible for something that comedic to happen!" Solaire said, now in a bellowing laughter.
" Whatever, screw you guys, I am going to go actually get something done." Oscar said as he trudged off down the path further into the forest.
"He completely missed the bonfire." Solaire said.
"I know. That is what is even funnier!" Jack said with another laugh.
Jack and Brolaire lit the bonfire and took a wonderful rest. It was a few minutes later that Oscar returned, with tattered remains of armor hanging loosely from his torn clothing.
"You look like you had a wonderful time." Jack said with a chuckle.
"Shut up." Oscar said as he put his dented helmet back on.
"What happened?" Solaire asked.
"Stone. Giants. They. Hurt." Oscar said.
"I bet, the state of your armor says it all." Jack commented.
"They can slow me down with magic then smash me like glass. My armor is the only reason I got out alive."
"And about the armor, I can't fix tattered pieces." Jack said matter of factly.
"I am going to talk to Andre, be back in a bit." Oscar said as he trudged off.
He got just out of view and his death cry echoed throughout the forest. Jack and Solaire gave that look of 'He forgot about returning foes.' The two shrugged and awaited him to appear at the bonfire. It took two minutes for Oscar to materialize next to Jack. When he did, his head hung low in shame. Without a word he trudged off again, this time him rounding the corner resulted in souls being acquired. About an hour later is when Oscar finally got back. With something a bit different about him.
His armor was not that of an Astorian Knight, but of Balder. Not like the ones in the parish with their scantly clad selves. This was actually a good set of armor that was in perfect condition. A solid chestplate and pauldrons adorned his torso with a full body chainmail and Oscar's Astorian garments underneath. He wore non-cracked gauntlets that went up to his elbow and stopped to save mobility. The usually torn up waist piece now flowed down to his knees, with metal studs lining the entirety of it, and the boots reinforced with more armor along with metal knee pads and glimpses of thigh protection underneath his skirt. His red cape flapped in the randomly appearing breeze.
"Damn, Oscar, Damn." Jack said as Oscar sat at the bonfire.
"Thanks, I grabbed some Balder armor off those Hollowed knights, handed it to Andre, and now I have this."
"Cool, I see you even got one of their shields." Jack remarked.
"Yep, and Andre applied the crest from my old shield to it. I get the Balder knights' famous stability with the magical protection of Astorian shields." Oscar said proudly.
"You have your wonderful old drake sword as well." Solaire said.
"Yep, Andre at least managed to sharpen the edge, but he couldn't make it any stronger."
"That's good. Now, why don't we smash those stone assholes?" Jack said as he gestured to the path leading the way down.
"Yes, I want some vengeance." Oscar said as he confidently led the way.
The trio went down the small path and past a clearing with a body in the middle. It caught Jack's eye and he headed for the body. Oscar kept forward but Solaire followed Jack. A quick inspection of the area was performed and the ambush was realized. The two stabbed their swords into the bushy heads of the treants hiding in the ground. Jack grabbed a purple clump of moss off the body and shrugged as he and Solaire returned with Oscar, who patiently awaited them.
"I figured you would have missed us moving in a different direction." Jack said.
"If you hadn't killed whatever you killed I would have." Oscar replied.
"You see this Solaire? He is finally being somewhat intelligent."
"This is quite the change indeed." Solaire agreed.
"I can't tell if you two are insulting me or proud. Anyway, lets kick some ass!" Oscar said as he charged into a larger area with a clear path to a ruined tower and a mini-forest with various stone creations lying down and treants waiting in ambush.
Oscar went straight for the one closest. He began to hack at it with his blade, seeming only to scratch it. The stone knight took its time getting up, but when it did it immediately kicked Oscar back. The Astorian flew back but with his shield up and landing on his feet. Jack and Solaire rushed to his side with weapons ready. Oscar charged again and ducked under the knight's swing, and rolled behind its back. Jack came next leaping up with his black knight blade ready to smash. He brought the greatsword down hard on the knight's head and flipped over it, landing behind the monster. The hit cracked the knight all the way down the middle. Solaire followed Jack's attack with a stab through the now open gut of the stone warrior. Solaire reached into the crack and tore the knight in half with his hands.
"If that is how tough the rest of these bastards are, we got quite the fun challenge ahead of us." Jack said with a crack of knuckles.
"I think only one more stands in the immediate way." Oscar said.
"Alright, then lets kill its ass." Jack said as he charged for the one guarding the ruined tower's entrance.
It stood up much more quickly then the previous one, swinging at Jack as he approached. Jack blocked with his sword and stood his ground. The knight stepped back and rose its sword high, sending out a burst of energy. With this, Jack suddenly felt extremely slow, he could barely move and had to watch as the knight rose its sword. Until Oscar and Solaire came and jabbed there swords into the guardian. They didn't take it down though and were now subject to the same slowness. They all were stuck as a sweeping strike was prepared. The knight was ready to swing, but suddenly jerked as something collided with its back. It turned around and soul arrow crashed into its face, taking the whole head off. The weight that Jack and company were under was lifted and they looked to their savior.
It was a blonde haired woman in a dark purple overcoat with a lighter purple and skirt and shirt underneath with a golden design running from her chest to her waist. A purple witch hat with strands of fur wrapping around portions that partially covered her face. A catalyst that resembled a dead tree in her right hand and a cracked wooden round shield in her left.
"You three stooges alright?" the witch asked.
"Yeah, were fine. We could have handled it." Oscar said.
"I'm sure. So he totally wasn't going to cleave all of you in half?"
"Excuse my idiot friend here. We are grateful for you assistance." Solaire said.
"You are welcome. Now why are you three here?" the witch asked.
"We are just exploring this area since we had nothing better to do." Jack said.
"You came in here not knowing of what is here?" the witch asked her hand.
"Yep, we are apparently that dumb." Oscar said.
"Enough insulting ourselves." Jack said with annoyance. " Allow me to introduce myself, I am Jack."
"Beatrice." the witch replied.
"I'm Solaire and you already heard our friend Oscar's name."
"Nice to meet all of you. Now if you don't mind, I have business to attend to." Beatrice said as she made her way up the stairs to the tower's top.
"Are we going to stand here or go see what is up there?" Oscar asked.
The answer was Solaire and Jack bolting up the stairs. Oscar followed and actually caught up thanks to how light this armor was compared to his old Astorian armor. They all stood at the top with Beatrice staring at a fog wall.
"I take it this is stopping you?" Jack asked.
"Yeah, it is getting me pretty pissed too. I need to get in there but nothing seems to get rid of this thing."
"Allow me." Jack said as he walked clean through the wall and it faded away.
"How did you? Never mind, thank you."
"It was no trouble. Now I think we ought too deal with that thing." Jack said as he pointed to the massive green butterfly flying over the bridge.
"That is exactly what I wanted to kill." Beatrice said with a smile.
"Shall we?" Jack gestured.
"Yes, lets." Beatrice said as she charged a soul arrow.
Oscar charged across the bridge to engage the butterfly. He had to stop to block the barrage of magical needles that flew towards him. After thanking the crest on his shield he motion for the others to back him up. Solaire came behind him and prepped a Lightning Spear. Jack took out his crossbow and loaded a bolt. The butterfly made another pass and launched large seeker orbs at them. Jack and Oscar formed a magic proof wall with their shields and blocked the attack. Beatrice fired a soul arrow and Solaire's spear was hurtled at the butterfly. Both collided and caused the massive winged creature to flinch. It came around for another pass and paused over the bridge. It began to charge an apparently powerful attack. Jack, Solaire, and Beatrice got distance to avoid it but Oscar stood as if trying to prove his manhood.
The butterfly reached full charge and something strange happened. A large red mouth with ridiculous eyes sprung from it and yelled the phrase " IMMA FIRIN MAH LAZAH!" as it blasted Oscar into oblivion with a beam of pure energy. The ash statue of Oscar stood for a second before being blow away in the wind. The butterfly rested next to the bridge momentarily and was bum rushed by Solaire and Jack. The two smashed its head until the thing flew up a small bit then crashed into the bridge as it died and released souls and its very own soul, which laid upon the bridge. Jack grabbed it and stored it. Oscar was back shortly and human.
"Well, that was interesting." Jack remarked.
"Um, lets just forget that." Oscar said.
"I'm sorry Oscar, but that is going down in history as one of your funnier deaths." Jack said with a hand on Oscar's shoulder.
"I had to admit that was funny. You tried to be all tough and get incinerated." Beatrice said.
"Screw all of you."
"Ripping on Oscar aside, I am going to see what is in that tower." Jack said as he bolted across the bridge, into the opposite tower, and up the stairs. At the top he found what looked like an old blacksmith's forge with a stone statue of a blacksmith that looked just like Andre. It also clutched something in its stone cold hands. Jack reached in and grabbed it. It was white box with a fancy pattern all over it. Jack had no clue what it was but assume Andre might know. Jack walked back down the stairs and was surprised to see the new person still standing with them.
"I see you have decided to stay a bit longer with us Beatrice." Jack remarked.
"Yeah, I figured you guys would need someone competent in magic on your side."
"I believe we do. Besides, the more people the jollier the cooperation!" Solaire said cheerfully.
"Then its settled. We now have hot witch skilled in magic on our side." Oscar said, drawing looks from his comment he hoped would be drowned out by the skilled in magic part.
"I appreciate the compliment, but you aren't my type." Beatrice said with a laugh.
"What you don't like dashing knights?" Oscar asked while striking a heroic pose.
"No, I just don't like people who try to be them."
"get the flash sweat cause somebody got BURNED!" Jack said while laughing.
"Really? Do you have to double team me?" Oscar asked.
"Yes. Otherwise this whole adventure would be very boring." Jack replied.
"I am already liking traveling with you 3." Beatrice said with a grin.
"Wonderful. Now lets get going. We got places to go and shit to do." Jack said to end the conversation.
Omega: Thus ends another chapter. Thoughts? Comments? Complaints? Leave em somewhere that I can see em.
Khaos: No he won't *KLANG*
Beast: Shut up and get out bitch.
Khaos: *from ground* I hate you all.
Omega: Well, that escalated quickly. See all you Undead later!