Author's Note: Hey Everyone SaibotReaper Productions here. Just to inform you all this story and idea was something that popped into our mind while doing brainstorming while playing Dark Souls III and Witcher so we brainstormed and came up with a fully solid idea and unique take on what would happen. This story will feature the entirety of npc's from Firelink Shrine. This story will take place in key points from the show along with setting up events within the games of Witcher 2 and 3. As I never played the first game and had not much time to read the books unfortunately. To be noted the npc's storylines are completed so people like Orbeck, Sirris, Irina, are all still here and have been kept as we are taking liberties for what happened to them. So in chapter 2 we will explain why these people did not leave after their duties were fulfilled and why the Ashen One convinced them otherwise so thank you all and we do very much hope you enjoy this first chapter.
Witcher: Ash & Blood
Chapter I: The End Of Fire
The sound of clashing blades could be heard, the constant clanking of metal the kicking of ash, and the embers of fire dancing between the ash. The two figures came into view one adorned in armor burning with the embers of flame with a large coiled blade burning bright with the fire of a stagnant cycle.
The other wearing a tattered ragged hood and cloak over a set of black armor with hints of majestic golden engravings hidden slightly on the surface. In the knight's left hand he held a shield of a long-dead knight who defended the world from the dark of The Abyss.
In his right hand, he wielded a sword forged in the Astora and given to him by his friend after her duty had been fulfilled. deflecting the oncoming hit from the embued warrior of fire with his shield. The knight plunged his blade deep into the chest of the warrior of fire and kicking him to the ground as his blade was pulled free.
This defender of the fire was not yet slain as it slowly gained its footing, yet the knight refused to drag this fight on further rushing forward the knight leaped at the warrior of fire.
In a single swift motion, the knight's sword cut through the warrior's neck and arm taking them off in a single blinding motion. As he turned back to see the warrior fall to his knees and slowly crumble to ash adding simply to the kiln's already overabundance.
Where the warrior fell the knight saw it glowing, reaching his hand through the ash he recovered the light seeing a brilliant flame dancing in the palm of his hand. His eyes behind the helm flickered with the light's brilliance as he placed it to his chest and in a blink, the flame vanished. The knight turned his attention toward the coiled blade similar in every way to a bonfire, yet the knight knew this is where it always started and ended.
Where those who became strong and powerful lords would give it all up to the flame to become naught but cinders.
Approaching the flame the knight gazed at the coiled blade for what felt like centuries, each lord before him always accepting the path of self-sacrifice and to become naught but kindling for the First Flame. The knight almost drawn reached his hand for the flame to ignite it once more, yet his hand stopped mere inches as he remembered the last lord's words to him.
"Mind you, the mantle of Lord interests me none. The Firelinking curse, the legacy of Lords... let it all fade into nothing."
An image flashed upon killing Lothric, the younger prince looked up to the warrior as his end came. A saddened face peered up toward the knight one of pity and not anger nor regret as he spoke.
"Mark my words, Ashen One. You remain among the accursed."
The Ashen One looked on at the flame before drawing back. He knew rekindling the fire wouldn't change anything, visions of the ash-covered world came to view and that of Gael the one sent him to the Painted World Of Ariandel. Gael's voice came to him as he clenched his hand.
"What, still here? Hand it over. That thing, your dark soul. For my lady's painting."
The Ashen One withdrew from the flame as his eyes stayed focused on the coiled blade he remembered what the Fire Keeper said to him. If he truly wished for a world without flame.
"Ashen one, if when thou peerest upon the First Flame...Thou wishest yet, for a world without fire, for an end to the linking of the fire...Then call upon me. I am a Fire Keeper, and I tend to the flame, to the very end. Thou'st has given me eyes, and such it was they showed me."
His eyes turned to a glowing symbol upon the ground reaching for it the form of the Fire Keeper took and she nodded her head in respect to the Ashen One as she approached the First Flame. Kneeling at the side of the flame her hands soft and undamaged easily plucked the flame from the coiled sword, holding it in the palm of her hands was the cause of the endless cycles of fire.
The cycles of lords bringing about another age of fire only for it to dwindle in madness and hollowing. Looking to the Fire Keeper who intern looked to the Ashen One and with a simple nod from him, she understood as the flame slowly dwindled in her hands, and with it, the world grew ever darker.
The FireKeepers voice spoke as the darkness closed in upon the Kiln Of The First Flame, her voice soft and tender yet unsure of what was next to happen.
"The First Flame quickly fades. Darkness will shortly settle. But one day, tiny flames will dance across the darkness. Like embers, linked by lords past. Ashen one, hearest thou my voice, still?"
As she spoke those words, the Ashen One for the first time in what felt like a hundred lifetimes spoke his true first words. The words that left his lips though somewhat low found the FireKeepers ears which eased her heart.
"Yes...I yet still hear you my Fire Keeper." The Ashen One spoke as he kneeled at her side his hand upon hers to ease her burden.
A smile formed on the FireKeepers lips slowly as she held the Ashen One's hand gently, the darkness crept in closer as it engulfed the world. The Ashen One looked around seeing the world was indeed still here, yet they were not gone. Helping the Fire Keeper to her feet both traversed the kiln, the fires slowly faded from the bonfires using what power remained they arrived back at Firelink Shrine.
The Ashen One saw the entirety of the shrine had gathered Andre, Karla, Cornyx, Orbeck, Sirris, even Patches was there in his ever squatting nature only giving the Ashen One a wink of approval.
"So..this is the end of fire yes?" Andre asked looking to the Ashen One. "I thought I would never see such a day pass."
"Could be worse honestly." Patches chimed in. "Not everyday someone comes along to say no to the linking of the fire. Especially an unkindled one heh."
"Darkness settles across the land," Karla stated as she lowered her head. "Almost feels like home again. Heh, funny is it not?"
"Though the dark gathers we yet remain. The masters of the swamp, what they could say to such a moment I cannot. Ashen One you have done a thing unheard of since the time of Lord Gwyn." Cornyx though barely showing it a small smile formed on his wrinkled lips in approval.
The Ashen One said nothing as he helped the Fire Keeper to sit beside the others on the ash-covered steps within the shrine. Looking to the thrones he saw Ludleth was gone only his crown remaining as he looked back to the others.
Sirris simply looked on at the Ashen One a face blank of emotion not showing either approval or disapproval only giving a simple nod of her head keeping true to her oath of loyalty to the Ashen One.
Taking a seat on one of the steps, he lowered his head as for the first time since his resurrection from the ashes he felt he could finally rest, removing his helm his long white hair flowed backward and matted in his face from the sweat. Fixing his hair he pulled it back revealing his pale white complexion and greyed eyes a child born from Irithyll in the Boreal Valley.
Looking on at all those he saved and those he considered friends, a small smile formed on his face as he took a moment to shut his eyes and to at least enjoy a moment of solemn peace without a battle. As the moments passed a rumbling could be heard and with it, the entirety of Firelink Shrine shook.
"Oh, bloody hell. What's happening now?" Patches quickly got to his feet looking around at the surroundings of the shrine.
"Seems an age without fire wouldn't last long it seems," Andre stated as he looked to the coiled blade.
"Agh.." The Ashen One's gripped his chest as he fell from the steps. Grasping his chest he could feel the pain as he coughed up blood.
"Oi, what's wrong with ya lad?" Andre rushed to the Ashen One's side grabbing him and removing pieces of his armor. "Patches ya bastard get over here!"
"Right, right I'm coming. Come on friend, don't die now not after all you did for me heh." Patches helped in removing the remaining armor.
The Ashen One could feel his very flesh burning underneath as he felt something pushing its way out of him as his chest ruptured light emerged souls, countless souls freeing themselves from the Ashen One's body. The souls rushed toward the top of Firelink Shrine and broke through the sealing disappearing into the darkness of the world.
The Ashen One felt his very being begin to fade as he was surrounded by friends as he slipped unconscious all he heard was Lothric's voice calling out one last time in the darkness.
"Mark my words, Ashen One. You remain among the accursed."
Awakening sometime later, the Ashen One quickly tried getting to his feet. Only to be stopped by a hand as Patches was there at his side.
"Easy friend, heh had quite the nasty bowel movement you did. Never seen anything quite like what you did." Patches said with a smile. "Tell me what did it feel like?"
The Ashen One pushed patches off as he got to his feet as Patches just chuckled away. The Ashen One made his way from the top floor down seeing everyone gathered around the coiled flame of the fire. Orbeck turned to see him coming down, a small nod of welcoming awaited as he spoke.
"Welcome back friend. We are glad to see you alive and unharmed after your..outburst." Orbeck stated as he shook the Ashen One's hand.
"What happened to me Orbeck?" He asked as he saw his chest and body were repaired. "I should be dead. Yet I'm...I'm."
"Still here?" Orbeck stated. "Yes, I noticed that myself. It seems you're still branded with undeath, I'm not sure myself how or why of what occurred but I'll look into our scrolls, my friend."
"Is everyone else alright?" He asked as he looked toward everyone sitting around. Orbeck simply nodded as he motioned to them. "They all waited to see if you would wake. Things outside have...let us say become complicated."
"What do you mean?" The Ashen One asked. Orbeck motioned for him to follow. "This way my friend."
Both walked from the central pedestal where the coiled sword was still plunged and toward the exit only for the Ashen One's eyes to widen as he saw a person who should be dead. A little man in a crown sitting at the exit to Firelink Shrine, it was Ludleth Of Courland the former Lord Of Cinder still small but his legs had been restored.
"Ahh Ashen One, thou'st good to see you yet live my friend." The little lord said with a smile and warm welcoming. "Ludleth how.." The Ashen One asked. "How do I live though I was rendered to not but ash. A good question indeed but one even I a mighty lord cannot answer."
Looking out onto the horizon, the Ashen One could see the sun shining brightly yet Lothric Castle no longer stood in the distance instead it seemed the entirety of Firelink Shrine was moved. To where was unknown but compared to endless darkness was it in the Ashen One's mind an improvement.
Ludleth could see the sun and feel the breeze on his skin as he looked up toward the light a smile forming on his small face.
"Tis have been too long since I have seen the light or felt of it upon my skin," Ludleth stated. "This moment I shall cherish forevermore."
"How are we even here?" The Ashen One asked.
"Unsure. But I shall look into it with my scrolls and perhaps this is an advantage on your part friend." Orbeck had the look of a plan formulating in his mind as he stroked his chin. "Perhaps you and one other can venture forth. A village or town could be nearby."
"Not a terrible plan. Yet which way to go is the question?" The Ashen One stated.
The surroundings of the place where Firelink Shrine was located, was what appeared to be on a massive hillside. Some of the tombs and gravestones were transported as well yet not all of them especially the place where Gundyr once stood guard.
"Perhaps I could assist?" A smooth voice spoke out.
The Ashen One along with Orbeck quickly turned to see a finely dressed man standing in the doorway of Firelink Shrine. embroidered with gold thread, and finely tanned the man wore a silver mask with a tricorner hat atop his head.
This was Ringfinger Leonhard a member of the notorious Rosaria's Fingers and someone the Ashen One rarely spoke to let alone associate with as Sirris warned him of this mysterious man who acted kindly to the Ashen One.
"I see you slinked your way here as well Leonhard. How are you here?" Orbeck asked keeping his dagger and staff at hand.
"Please. I'm not your enemy nor the Ashen One's, I am here just like the rest of our merry band of misfits heh. I only sought to provide aid in this matter." Leonhard gave an elegant bow of respect as he tilted his head toward the Ashen One. "What do you say Ashen One. Will you take a gamble on a lowly finger separated from his hand hmm?"
The Ashen One's mind was torn between not trusting the Ringfinger and his own need for an expert tracker, and that was one of Leonhard's greatest attributes. Even if it was a terrible idea on either side of the coin.
"Fine." The Ashen One stated. Orbeck gave him a look of surprise as he spoke. "Ashen One, we cannot trust him. Let alone if you go with him...alone."
"Oh, the ever protective sorcerer. Heh can I even call you that or should I call you by what those in Vinheim call your kind...Assassin hmm?"
"You little.." Orbeck was stopped as the Ashen One looked to him. "Orbeck not now. Right now we must focus. I'll take Leonhard with me. I'll be fine I promise."
"Of course Ashen One. I understand, if you return Leonhard and without the Ashen One there shall be no place you can hide from me." Leonhard said nothing as the Ashen One gestured for him to follow.
While he walked past Orbeck without a word, the sorcerer could feel the smugness radiating off Leonhard as both walked down the hillside together. Orbeck watched as the two faded into the distance as Ludleth looked upward toward Orbeck speaking.
"Ease your mind scholar," Ludleth said his tone calm as always. "The Ashen One has not come this far to fall to a lonely finger."
"Yes..yet that ring finger is not to be trusted. Will see once they return." Orbeck turned walking back into the shrine with Ludleth at his side.
As both returned inside Ludleth felt something was off. As he looked to the thrones before him the remains of the other Lords Of Cinder were gone. His eyes looked downwards as his voice uttered.
"From the ashes of the old world. Those reborn will rise anew like a Pheonix from death." Ludleth said in a low tone as he returned to his throne.
Both the Ashen One and Leonhard traversed the hillside taking one or two stops along the way. Leonhard rubbed the dirt and checked around seeing there were footprints multiple sets looking to the Ashen One he nodded for them to head east.
It took several hours for both men to make it to the nearest town, sunset had fallen as they entered the town. Both men drew the attention of much of the town as they were oddly dressed, one slightly resembling a knight and the other a possible sorcerer but the villagers couldn't tell with the mask.
Leonhard used his eyes to see around the town watching as families pulled their children back inside and behind closed doors. A small smile curled on his lips as both men walked toward a local tavern, it wasn't too hard to find in Leonhard's mind as he looked to the Ashen One.
"Not hard to find information in a town if you find a tavern," Leonhard stated. Pointing toward a pigpen. "Simply look for a person's face first in pig shit and you'll find a tavern heh."
"Not wrong in that assessment Leonhard." The Ashen One stated looking to a person face first down in a pig pen with an empty mug in one hand. "Not. Wrong. At. All."
Entering the tavern both men drew the attention of the whole tavern. Leonhard looked to the Ashen One with a shrug.
"Tough crowd it seems even for humans," Leonhard said with an amused tone. "Let's see if we can learn where we are."
Walking to the woman who owned the tavern, the woman was in her mid-thirties her hair tied loosely behind her head, and wearing a grey gown with an apron and gloves over her hands she looked at both men.
"Welcome to the Cat's Eye. What can I get you both Redanian Lager, Kaedwenian Stout? Tell me we got it all friends." The woman stated.
There was a moment of silence between the two as the Ashen One spoke up as both took a seat at the bar.
"Miss. We require information." The Ashen One stated.
"What kind of information you needing sirs?" She asked looking to the Ashen One but keeping her eye more on Leonhard.
"Where exactly..." The Ashen One took a moment to think hoping what he said next wouldn't sound too strange. "Where exactly are we located in this province?"
The innkeeper gave him a strange look at first but she quickly changed her attitude as she grabbed a mug. "You two are in Temeria. But from the looks of you two, I'd say your not from around these parts."
Leonhard and The Ashen One looked to one another as he spoke up. "No, unfortunately. Wouldn't happen to have a map of this...Temeria yes."
"I do why?" She asked.
"Let us just say humble innkeeper we are not from around these parts. Besides I'm sure someone as established as you can help two wanderers." Leonhard asked as he leaned on the bar.
The innkeeper could see Leonhard's eyes dimly lit behind his mask they were cold, uncaring to the plight of others, and strangely seemed to stalk her as she moved back. The woman went to retrieve a map of Temeria showing to the two, the Ashen One remained silent.
Looking on while Leonhard took it in full as he traced his fingers to the Cat's Eye and then eastward marking the location of their tower. Leonhard turned his attention toward the Ashen One as rolled the map up.
"At least we have our location dotted down. Now I believe we should return to the shrine before it gets too dark friend." Leonhard stated.
"Let's go." The Ashen nodded to the innkeeper as both departed back for Firelink Shrine.
The journey back up the hillside and toward the tower wasn't as bad even as night fully fell once back inside the shrine. The whole tower was lit with torches for everyone to see. Leonhard gestured to where he would be, while he gave the map to the Ashen One and head back up the steps toward Lothric's Throne.
The Ashen One descended the steps seeing Ludleth and Orbeck speaking alongside the Fire Keeper on something his ears couldn't quite pick up as he reached them.
"Good to see your return, my friend." Orbeck nodded as he stood up shaking the Ashen One's hand.
"Thous't return with good news yes?" Ludleth asked a smile on his face.
"Yes." He started turning his attention to the Firekeeper kneeling at her side. Taking her hand gently into his own. "Are you alright Firekeeper?"
"I am well Ashen One." Her smile reassuring him. She could feel his hand tighten gently around her. "I promised thee I would remain at thy side. Fret not for my safety."
The Ashen One's eyes lowered slightly behind his helm as he gently pulled his hand from the Firekeepers and turning his head upward he saw Ludleth sitting atop his throne once more. The little lord gestured for him to meet with him again, making his way upward he met with the pygmy lord and stood at his side as he spoke.
"Is something troubling you Ludleth?" The Ashen One asked, kneeling beside the little lord.
"Ah, my friend. Tis good to see your return went without complications." His smile ever-present as he crossed his hands under his chin. "Tell me hast thou found civilization upon this new world?"
"I have Ludleth. Yet I take it you haven't simply asked for me to discuss matters of such trivial natures yes?" The Ashen One looked to the little lord who lowered his head in slight sadness.
"Tell me Ashen One. Oh Lord Slayer hast thou not sensed a change in the shrine?" He asked as he turned his attention to the other thrones.
The Ashen One looked to the other thrones. He noticed the remains of the other Lords were missing and even still he could feel something in his chest, a hole where something should be. Turning to Ludleth, the little lord nodded his head as he began to speak once more.
"They have fled once more unto the waking world," Ludleth stated. "Their souls powerful indeed will have undoubtedly reconstituted themselves. Time is a fickle thing in any world Ashen One. Yet we must remain in our duty."
"Seek the lords..." The Ashen One clenched his fist as his mind raced at the prospect of having to face them all again. "The Abyss Watchers, Yhorm, Aldrich...Lothric, tell me Ludleth how can they be back!?"
"I know not how it is possible my friend. Know though if they have returned this world may face dangers unknown to them." Ludleth said his tone low. "Seek the lords once more, bring them back as cinders if need be. You wield power that surpasses them divided, taught you we all have."
The Ashen One's anger began to bubble but it subsided. He knew if the Lords Of Cinder had truly returned. They would no likely bring dangers to this new world if allowed to go unhindered.
Yet what of the other souls he took, the Old Demon King, Sulyvahn, and others who he kept buried deep inside himself upon slaying them. Looking to the little lord, the Ashen One nodded and bowed slowly as he took up his sword and sheathed it.
A new journey was beginning for the Ashen One just like how it began before, an unkindled seeking the Lords Of Cinder but now he sought them not to return them to fulfill a duty. But to stop them before they would unleash madness and death upon this new world and those who inhabited it.
This was the Ashen One's duty but he would not do it alone, he was not alone in this world all those he saved. His companions, no his friends would aid him in this mission, and surely he could find others from this world who could fight against such threats but for now, he would journey out alone this time. As all chosen have before him an unkindled's duty is never truly ended nor their curse.