Me not owning Dark Souls, or have once owning, or will owning likely.
Oscar and the Crestfallen Warrior talked amongst themselves for a bit, both reaching the conclusion that this was quite possibly a sign of the Chosen Undead. The Warrior seemed to be in a mood that was downright only a little Crestfallen. He wasn't willing to try and get up and help the knight and his cohort, but the Warrior would share all he knew.
Oscar decided not to reveal this information to Petrus. After all, the man would likely claim the bonfire for the Way of White's exclusive access. Considering this seemed to be a central hub for all potential chosen undead to arrive at, that would not be good.
Oscar had tried speaking with Anastasia of Astora, but to no avail. The woman had her tongue cut out, but that wasn't all there was to her silence. It was likely that she had undergone some trauma that left her unwilling to speak with anyone, in fear of retaliation. Oscar knew little of what officially happened to Firekeepers in Astora, but he knew the culture surrounding them. They were often victims of harsh prejudice amongst the masses and the Astrian Church (History Lesson: Astora was once a series of semi-independent municipalities that was presided over by the city-state of Astria. King Oscar IV, who Oscar was named after, but not related to, ruthlessly took away the municipalities' independence and united them all under one nation. While the whole nation was renamed to Astora, the Church of Astora had been established in Astria, and thus was mostly separate from the municipalities, and so was called the Astrian Church before and after the unification.). The reasoning behind such accusations was both awful and illogical most of the time. The better cases generally had people assuming that Firekeepers were scandalous women who had been cursed by the Gods to serve the at their bonfire until the end of their sanity. The worst cases of prejudice generally involved the drowning, or, ironically, burning of Firekeepers, with the more ignorant (or more spiteful) individuals claiming that the Firekeepers were the cause of the Undead Curse, and thus should be purged.
None of this was officially allowed by either the crown of Astora or the Astrian Church, but that was the same thing for slaves. It wasn't allowed, but it was never reprimanded. Once Oscar had attempted to have a number of cleric's from his home town of Bollins tried for the drowning of a Firekeeper. Not only were they never tried, Oscar was almost demoted to a regular knight once again, rather than an elite knight.
The elite part of the title probably sounded like simple bragging to those unaware, but for those interested in Astoran politics, there was quite an important distinction. A regular knight was merely another member of Astora's military, and were paid like most servicemen, in coins. However, elite knights followed the old rules of the Astoran military. They were not just paid in coins, but in land, too. It was Oscar's wish to gain enough favor with his King, enough to convince him that Oscar should own the land on which Bollins resided. Then, Oscar could finally gain some sway in the politics of Astora and make sure that Bollins stayed morally just.
That all changed when he was revealed to be undead.
Oscar shook his head. He didn't want to think about that right now. He was in too good a mood to bring up a memory such as… that. In time. In time.
"So, should we or shouldn't we kill the Dragon? Considering we aren't gods, I'd say if we are to, then "we" should mean "Selena", seeing as how she is likely the only one here strong and crazy enough to attempt such an insane feat." Griggs said. Selena and her allies had met up with Domhnall of Zena, and the four plus the canines were currently discussing what to do about the Gaping Dragon.
Laurentius offered his opinion, "Do we need to do this? Selena, the way you describe it makes it sound like we'll be perfectly fine as long as we don't irritate it. Couldn't we simply leave without ever encountering the Dragon?" While he admitted that he was being cowardly, he wasn't exactly wrong. It didn't seem like they'd gain much from taking on the drake besides some souls, which Selena seemed to have plenty of, considering she had Laurentius bring his pyromancy flame up to its maximum potential.
Domhnall nodded in agreement, "Hmm… Normally I would say that I could use beast's hide to make armor, but from the way you describe it, I would not wish to use its form as a design for my craft. Besides, I am a man of peace. I do not want to enter into a senseless fight." Griggs shook his head.
"Normally I'd agree that it seems like too much trouble for something so unrewarding, but I have two reasons to agree with Selena." Griggs said, "The first is that, as a scholar of Vinheim, it is my sworn duty to try to dispose of an abomination of a dragon. The second is that I'm dearly hoping that it might greatly injure Selena in some way. Then I could at least know that something could hurt her."
While the two seemed unconvinced, Selena added her own reasoning as to why she wanted the dragon dead, "Listen, from what I understand about this thing, all it wants to do, all the time, is eat. Considering it is the size of a dragon, and trust me when I say its mouth is almost big enough to eat another dragon whole, I'd have to say we'd save a number of later people trouble if we took care of it now. Besides, if you can get over the initial fear of seeing it, and are a safe distance away from it, then you'd very much enjoy to see it. Most people are.
"Besides, Griggs is right. I should be able to handle this on my own," Griggs smiled at the thought, until Selena added, "At melee range. You three should be able to hurl spells, pyromancies, and firebombs at him from a balcony above. You'll be safe, and I won't have to deal with this problem alone. Before you ask, I have plenty of black firebombs to spare."
While Domhnall was still reluctant, Laurentius nodded his head. Selena had saved him from the butchers, and the thought of the trouble that the Dragon could inflict now seemed like something they should try to stop.
Thus, the members went to their stations. Selena went to the bottom floor, while the rest went to the top balcony. Griggs had his catalyst out, Laurentius had a fireball ready to go, Domhnall already had a black firebomb in head, and the dogs just looked.
A loud rumbling was heard, and within seconds the Gaping Dragon had come out, in all its horrific glory. The three winced at its roar, and in that moment heard a loud snapping noise, and then a crash. When they opened their eyes, they saw that the maw was beginning to drop down the pit, as it had been separated and thrown with great force onto the wall opposite to them. Selena now stood before the gaping wound where the drake's waist and mouth connected, drenched in draconian blood.
Suddenly, laughter broke out between Laurentius and Domhnall, while Griggs awkwardly realized that a quite a bit of blood began flowing down under when he saw the Gaping Dragon's Gape. He swore he would never reveal that secret to anyone, and he would take it to his grave.
Oscar, who had been sitting next to the Warrior, noticed Petrus coming down the steps to the bonfire. The cleric gave a glare to Oscar, and said to the knight and the Warrior, "What I'm about to do is considered one of the Way of White's most guarded secrets. The only reason I'm doing this in front of you two is because neither of you are likely to meet anyone from the outside world. But remember this; if you tell this secret to anyone, be assured, you will be tried, found guilty of heresy, and executed by the Council of Saints. All records of you will be erased, and all your associates will be found guilty of heresy by association. So it would be best if you do not reveal this to anyone."
While Oscar felt a bit chilled by the thought of how the Council of Saints, the leaders of the Way of White's ethics upholders, would execute an undead and make it meaningful, the Crestfallen Warrior simply laughed. Oscar couldn't tell if it was out of bitterness or disbelief.
Oscar turned his eyes to Petrus, and saw him take out three small things from his pocket. They appeared to be odd bulbs made of interconnecting twine. At one end they had a much smaller bulb, almost resembling a head on a very fat body. At the other, the twine all seemed to sway to one side, away from a point in the middle of the bulb where twine converged. Something was odd about it though. When Oscar stared deeply and intently at it, it almost… looked like him. He shook his head, thinking it was impossible.
Petrus stared intently at the first bulb, and it seemed to… look different. They shape hadn't changed at all, it just… brought to mind a different appearance than it gave. It put into Oscar's mind a young woman, feminine, to his relief, in the clothes of a priestess. When the image seemed its most solid, Petrus threw the bulb into the fire. He repeated the process for the next two bulbs, though the images were different for these. Both looked like clerics, men around the woman's age, but they weren't identical. One had blonde hair and a bright expression on his face, while the other wore a helm and looked… wrong, somehow. Like there was a problem with his jaw, or something.
After he threw the bulbs into the fire, Petrus backed away from the flames. The onlookers waited for a bit, when a light came from the bonfire suddenly. Oscar was blinded for a second, but when the light died down and his eyes readjusted, he was dumbfounded.
Where before the bonfire had been empty, now it had three new residents, all of which looked like one of the images from the bulbs. A priestess and two clerics. They all started standing up, but before Petrus could offer his greetings, the Crestfallen Warrior spoke up, "Well, that was quite surprising. I guess the Way of White doesn't exactly follow the whole, "Secrets kept are sins kept" philosophy they always spout on about."
The new arrivals turned to look at the secular pair, with Oscar giving a small wave and the Warrior laughing at his own joke. They then turned back to their fellow cohort and, in hushed whispers, Reah began to question why Petrus revealed the human effigy to two individuals unrelated to the Church. Assuming this was what they were discussing, Oscar spoke up, "That twine bulb wasn't the only secret the Cleric has revealed. He told me what your mission was. So, are you really-"
A new voice interrupted them, "-Searching for the Rite of Kindling. Yes, they are." Everyone turned to look at the newly arriving party of Selena, Griggs of Vinheim, Laurentius of the Great Swamp, and Domhnall of Zena, along with their canine companions.
Reah spoke up, asking, "How did you-", when she, as well, was interrupted by Selena, "Learn about your mission? I'll say the short version and tell you that Petrus told me. A different Petrus though. Well, the same one, but different. It's complicated.
"But that's not what matters right now. What matters is that I know that there is something that you all don't know that will keep you from failing your mission." By now everyone was starting to look confused, and the Crestfallen Warrior spoke up, "Well, now I'm invested. What is it that is so vital to their mission? They're just going down to the Catacombs and stealing the Rite from Nito. Such is what all the other clerics tried. So what is there to know."
Selena, with her crowd enraptured, spoke thus, "Well, that's the problem. Nito doesn't have the right. It was stolen by a necromancer by the name of Pinwheel." Everyone gave her skeptical looks. She knew they would. "Don't believe me? I have proof that I've used the Rite before. On that very bonfire, right there."
While the others looked at it with suspicion, Oscar and the Warrior glanced at each other. Both were alike in their thoughts. Could she have been the one…?
The clerics and priestess reached down and filled their flasks, to see that they were all filled to twenty dosages. Reports had said that it only filled to ten, and Petrus confirmed those reports. Meaning that what the man had said could very well be true. While they wished to cry out in amazement about the miracle amount of estus, the church-members stayed focused on their mission.
But Reah spoke up in hopeful curiosity, "Well then, could you give the right to us? If you have it, then that means that we can complete our mission right now. We are the rightful owners, after all." To their dismay and rage, Selena shook her head.
She began to say, "I don't-" Before the young blonde cleric began yelling at her, "How dare you! M'Lady has gone on this godsforsaken journey into Lordran, ready to find and fight Nito, the Gravelord, and you just ignore her distress? How dare you! What right do you have to not give it to her?"
"The right of me not currently having it. Pinwheel still has the Rite, I just got it eventually." The others stared at her in confusion, "So, you gave it back to him?" Oscar asked. Selena sighed, "Nope. Right now it never left his hands. I've yet to touch it technically." Oscar asked, "Then how did you use the Rite of Kindling… If you've never touched the Rite of Kindling."
Selena sighed through her nose and reached her hand to the middle of her chest, holding it out as if to catch water. Without warning, a shield appeared in her hand, which she tossed to Oscar. She did the same for a some armor to the Warrior, a talisman for Reah, different armor for Petrus, different armor for Laurentius, a helmet to Domhnall, and a hat to Griggs. Selena paraphrased some words that she had painfully come to understand.
"Time has been fucked right up the ass in Lordran."
So, that was chapter four. Any thoughts? Comments?
For those wondering, there was some precedent for such a history in Astora. France originally was called Gaul, and so their church is the Gallican Church. Germany was originally a number of different lands that wasn't unified until the late 19th century. In old England, knights were given land by the lords they served. So while the history might be fake, it's not as if there was no reason behind it.
The reason I made the whole bit about how Reah and her companions got into Lordran is because I never really understood how they did arrive. It didn't seem like it was by crow, so how?
I'm going to admit, I had forgotten about Domhnall when Selena told Oscar that she would be saving Griggs, killing the Capra Demon, and saving Laurentius.
So next chapter will be when the characters are informed of the nature of the chosen undead, and where we are informed with them on how Selena's abilities work. Some of them, at least.
If you wouldn't mind, I'd also like people to leave reviews saying whether they want the party to go to Izalith or the Catacombs next.
