Everyone knows about the Theocracy of Lescatie, a heavily religious kingdom with a strong anti-mamono state of mind. They follow their Chief God, or rather, Chief Goddess who set forth a mostly benign set of rules: people should live temperate, virtuous lives of kindness and charity - just not kindness and charity to monsters. That last part was what stuck out the most. Monsters, or mamono as they prefer to be called, are treated worse than dirt and are exterminated whenever possible. In their efforts to do just that the nation raised the tax to a high degree which lead it's people to poverty and starvation. Still, the masses cheered on as their heroes cut down mamonos like wheat and waited for all to be rewarded by the Goddess for their efforts.

But one night, devils didn't come from Hell beneath. That night, they came from the sky.

The lilim Druella managed to take the capital, also known as Lescatie, in one night. Succubi flew down from the skies, tackling men left and right to show them unthinkable pleasure. Women who were not so lucky to escape were turned into mamonos themselves and jumped their husbands to milk them of every drop of their seed. The lucky ones who managed to escape seek refuge to the east in Lescatie's port stronghold Baldr's Creek, the last town on Druella's list before she takes full control of the kingdom. It was a long shot but every other way was infested with mamono and demonic energy and so the people hoped the Goddess would send an avenging angel to save them.

"ONE MORE ROUND BARKEEP!" anyone will do. "AAAAAND WHAT DO WE DO WITH A DRUNKEN SAILOR EARLY IN THE MORNING. " really, they weren't picky.

"SHAVE HIS BELLY WITH A RUSTY RAZOR!" okay, maybe not any of them.

"PUT HIM IN THE BED WITH THE CAPTAINS DAUGHTER! " nope.

"HEY! " the captain's too old. What about that first one?

"Already did that. EARLY IN THE MORNING! " fuck it, let's go with him. At least he looks strong. About 6'3'', built like a brick house, and even good-looking. Straw-golden colored hair with a matching neat beard he looks like one of those heroic northmen from legend. Yeah, should be fine.

"SKARIN! " the captain called out. As soon as our future hero glanced at his superior he was met with a hard right hook that sent him tumbling down from the table. "THAT'S WHAT YE' DO WITH A DRUNKEN SAILOR!" the tavern exploded into laughter as Skarin slowly stood up with a huge grin.

"EARLY IN THE MORNING!" he then hugged the captain tightly who returned the hug in equal measure. Both men were laughing heartily as the barkeep brought the requested round to the table.

"Last call, sea wolves." he said with a gruff voice through his thick mustache.

"What's the damage?" one of the men asked.

"Twice the amount from yesterday." suddenly the bar went quiet. The captain raised a curious brow while Skarin merely whistled.

"Well, gotta' go, early shift tomorrow and all that." before Skarin could bolt, the captain yanked him by the hair but it didn't even seem to faze they younger man.

"Oh no ye' don't. You dragged our arses here, again, so you can pay, again."

"How's that fair? I always pay!" Skarin protested but still pulled out his coin purse.

"Then stop getting us drunk every night and stop paying everytime!" one bald crewmate yelled out while the others cheered him on. Skarin rolled his eyes but still payed the barkeep and even gave him a large tip as he always did.

"Seriously though, are you secretly a Lord or something?"

"Let's just say I have made some fruitful investments." Skarin said smugly and picked up his new mug of ale. "Alright boys, this one and we go, another one and we don't!" they didn't go. Four hours later the entire crew crawled out of the tavern, drunk out of their minds and cursing the day they met Skarin. "I really hope your wives are asleep. " he walked out like he had been drinking water all this time and maybe felt a little tipsy. Nevertheless, Skarin continued on his merry way to the small house down the street he called home. It was situated in the nicer part of town so it wasn't a beaten-up shack held together with two nails in the slums and it was close to the tavern. But there was one other perk that came with the house, that being his next door neighbor. Skarin hoped he would run into her like he did every night and sure enough as he neared his house, there she was. "As beautiful as ever." he called out and got a small laugh in response as the figure turned around.

Smooth blonde hair like finest silk swayed with her movement. Her features more beautiful than any woman he had ever seen and eyes like brilliant rubies. A figure that even the best sculptors in the world would pay good money to make a statue of that sadly wouldn't do it justice. Like every night, she wore a dress that tightly fit her curves and showed a generous amount of cleavage, this time, it was pure black with a matching fluffy scarf that hung off her shoulders.

"Why thank you Skarin. And I see you're as cheerful as ever. "

"You can say drunk, Valentina, I'm not a baby. You can hurt my feelings. " Skarin bowed curtly and Valentina rolled er eyes. "Leaving so soon? "

"Well, the night is young. " she looked up to the sky before sighing. "They'll soon be here you know. "

"I know. " Skarin shrugged "We've already built the extra housing, food should arrive come dawn and the healers are ready shuld anyone need them. "

"You don't seem troubled by it. " Valentina took a step closer, her lilac perfume giving off a pleasant scent.

"Everything will be fine. "

"Are you really that drunk? " Valentina sniffed the air. "Ugh, it's worse than yesterday. But that's besides the point. Baldr's Creek is the last bastion of the kingdom. If the capital stood no chance with all it's heroes, what can we do? "

"Well, you have me. " Skarin winked to which Valentina rolled her eyes. "All right, fine. This is the last night we're going to meet like this. Wanna make it special? "

"Please don't. " Valentina took a step back.

"It's not what you think. " Skarin rolled his eyes and moved towards his house. "C'mon, I won't bite. "

"Maybe I will. " she said quietly.

"Sorry? "

"It's nothing. Besides, I know and hear what happens once a girls goes in. "

"Wow, you really take me for a pig. " he shook his head and unlocked the door. "I promise, it's not what you think. I just want to show you something and you can be on your way. Look, I'll even leave the door open." Valentina still looked unsure of what to do. There was something strange about him from the day she met him. Not bad strange, just strange. Against her better judgment she took a slow step forward, followed by another and another until she was inside Skarin's home. She didn't know what to expect but it was certainly not the minimalistic décor. While her house had all the finest things money could buy, Skarin's home was practical. A small table with two chairs, a large armchair by the fireplace with a bear rug in front and a basic kitchen that didn't look like it was used very often. Hanging in the middle of the room was sizeable oil lantern which Skarin lit with a match that provided light.

"It's cozy. " Valentina observed every inch on the small ground floor and sat in the admittedly comfortable armchair by the fireplace. Skarin smiled in return and made a dash towards the stairs that lead to the upper floor. Valentina could hear rummaging from above and wasn't sure what to expect but she trusted Skarin had pure intentions. It didn't take long for him to come back and she noticed he was holding something behind his back.

"Okay, I learned from our porch conversations that you're a big fan of books. " he then revealed an old looking book from behind his back. "And after hearing a bout all the amazing stories you've read I had a little spark in my head and decided to write something. " Valentina's mouth was slightly agape but she closed it quickly after Skarin handed her the book.

"Dark Souls. " she read the title. "Sounds ominuous. What's it about?" her fingers slowly opened the book to the first page.

"It's a collection of stories set in a dying world. " Skarin suddenly flipped a few pages. "This is my favorite. "

"Artorias, the Abysswalker. " Valentina read the title and continued flipping through the book. "Why are you showing me this? " Skarin scratched the back of his head.

"Well, I haven't shown it to anyone, really. And I kinda hoped you'd give me my first critique since you kinda' inspired me to start writing. " Valentina blushed a little but remained her composure.

"I appreciate it, Skarin. To be honest, I didn't know you had it in you. "

"I'm full of surprises. " Skarin then rose to his feet and pulled out two more books from seemingly thin air. "See? "

"Dark Souls 2 and Dark Souls 3. Well , here is your first critique: work on your titles. " Skarin chuckled as Valentina observed the two new books which were thicker than the first one.

"I have a few ideas for that. " he then pulled the two books from her grasp. "Maybe I'll come up with something better while you read the first one. "

"This is a lot to read in one night, even for me. "

"There's plenty of time. " he waved dismissively which made Valentina sigh.

"Skarin. " she slowly stood up. "Druella is coming for Baldr's Creek. She's coming for us all. " Skarin rolled his eyes. "The kingdom has already fallen and we're next. All this preparation will amount to nothing. " Skarin rubbed his eyes tiredly.

"I don't understand why everyone is so afraid of a succubus. I've met one and I'm perfectly fine. " this caused Valentina to blink in surprise. You don't just meet a succubus and go on your way. You meet a succubus and have the most awesome sex for the rest of your life. Heck, Skarin would probably enjoy it.

"You met a succubus? "

"Yes. We fought, we fucked, we had a good time and I was gone in the morning. " Valentina blinked a few times more, shook her head and then smiled.

"You know what? I'm not even going to ask. Have a good night and thank you for the book. I'll be sure to read it. " this seemed to cheer him up a little.

"Great! I'll see you tomorrow. " he said with a beaming smile which somehow made Valentina think everything is going to be alright. Skarin escorted her to the door and after another farewell he closed the door behind her. Valentina looked at the book in her hands and then held it closely to her chest.

"I'm sorry Skarin. Tomorrow, everything changes. " the book suddenly disappeared in a reddish magical flame as two black bat wings appeared on her back before taking off into the night sky.

Meanwhile, Skarin sat down in his armchair and with a flick of his wrist sent a small fireball into the wood in the fireplace. The warm flames illuminated the small house even more and Skarin welcomed the warmth the flames produced. Putting his hands forward a pair of handcuffs appeared in them and he began inspecting them.

"Tomorrow, Everything changes. "

The next day Skarin was up early and made his way downstairs. Taking a generous amount of pork into his mouth while also stuffing himself with bread he made his way through the door. Once outside he looked to Valentina's house and saw that the curtains were drawn.

"She's really not a morning person. " after that he continued towards the new houses he was building with his crew. Once he got there, Skarin found that he was the only one who arrived. "Lightweights. " he chuckled before continuing his work from the previous day. As the Sun rose his crewmates slowly dragged themselves towards their new workplace.

"Ugh, my wife almost killed me last night. " said a black haired man while rubbing his temples and trying not to look up at the glowing ball of fire in the sky.

"That's why you never say Oh honey , you're home when you see a broom outside the house. " replied another.

"Oh motherf- " a third one cried when he saw Skarin. "How the fuck do you do it? " Skarin merely laughed and continued to saw a wooden beam in half. "I mean seriously, you drank a barrel last night. "

"Practice my friends. Now get to work, these homes aren't going to build themselves. " he only got groans in response but work they did. The rest of the day went by fairly quick. The last home was built and the last of the refugees have finally moved in. Soldiers were running their drills before the attack came tonight but hope and morale was low. It would appear only Skarin was not worried.

"I mean, I get it. " one of the crew spoke up. "The notion of infinite sex sounds like Heaven to you. "

"Crazy as it may sound, I'm not interested in that. " the whole crew gasped mockingly at Skarin's words. "Romantic at heart, who would have thought. I assure you I enjoy sex as much as the next man but I'm not about to become someone's toy. "

"The Goddess will save us. " one especially young boy piped up and the others nodded in approval. "Of course you don't believe in Her, you heathen. "

"Gods aren't all what they're believed to be. Besides, you don't believe in a hundred gods and I just don't believe in one more. Is that such a problem? "

"I'd give a hundred gold coins to hear you say that in the center of Lescatie. "

"In time. " Skarin said criptically and everybody dismissed it as usual banter.

Night began to fall and tensions were high. Everyone who wasn't a soldier barricaded themselves in hopes the mamono won't reach them. Every guard and every able man was stationed at the main square which was right in front of the main gate. You could see the soldiers were nervous, some even made peace with the fact they'll become a mamono's plaything soon. Even so, the Captain of the guard held up morale with heroic speeches. But all that talk soon came to an end.

"Good evening, Baldr's creek. " a sweet and seductive voice suddenly spoke as the large gate burst open and a feminine figure walked through the mist of demonic energy. The men were already being affected by the energy and some of them dropped their weapons entirely. "My name is Druella and I come here to set you free. " the beautiful lilim walked slowly, her hips swaying and breast bouncing making the men's armor feel very tight. "Free from the morality and chains you're bound with and offer you a new paradise. " one unlucky, or lucky soldier depending on your view, came in his pants when Druella winked at him. "A paradise of untold pleasures and depravity. You shall wish for nothing and need for nothing as long as- " her speech was cut short when an unusual commotion began stirring amid the soldiers. Not the kind that said Take me you beautiful Goddess but like someone was arguing and trying to get to the front.

"What do you think you're doing? " came a feminine hiss followed by an anoyed masculine grumble.

"I'm going to talk to her. "

"You are an idiot! " finally the two figures emerged to the front and Druella liked what she saw. The man's back was turned to her but she could already tell by his voice and physique that he'll be hers tonight. The woman could also indulge in their lovemaking after monsterization if she so desires but Druella will have first taste.

"I'm telling you it'll be… It'll be- ACHOOO! " Druella looked at the man in confusion but said nothing. "Damn demonic energy, always makes my nose itch. "

"Are you serious right now? " the female yelled at her companion and that's when Druella made her presence known.

"A lovers quarrel, so sweet. Worry not my dear humans. Soon both you and your husband will indulge in pleasures you've never- "

"We're not married! " the man turned around to face Druella and she felt like she received a punch to the gut. "Oh shit… "

"You! " gone was the seductive voice and hazy eyes as an accusing finger pointed at Skarin combined with seething rage.

"You? " the woman peeked over Skarin's shoulder to look at Druella and the lilim gasped.

"And even you? "

"Even you? " Skarin looked at Valentina with a puzzled expression.

"Yes, me! But how do you know- " the words caught in her throat as she suddenly put two and two toghether. "Dammit Skarin. "

"Well, I did tell you I met a succubus one time. That's her alright. Never did remember her name though. "

"Excuse me? " Druella was livid. Not only did Skarin bail on her after giving her the best sex of her life, he didn't even remember her name. "Wait, why are you here, Lady Valentina? " Skarin looked at Valentina with a raised brow.

"Lady? " said woman rubbed her temples in annoyance.

"I hoped to avoid all of this. It's a long story now can we please go before things get worse? "

"You and I have a lot to talk about when this ends. " Skarin crossed his arms in an accusing manner.

"Damn right we do! For starters how come you're not at all affected by her demonic energy? "

"If you haven't noticed, I did sneeze- "

"That doesn't count! "

"DON'T IGNORE ME! " fueled by rage and betrayal, Druella lunged forward and was about to do something she never did in her life. She was about to assault a man. Valentina saw it coming and tried to warn Skarin to the danger but she froze. She didn't hesitate, she simply froze the moment she saw Skarin's eyes. It was such a drastic change and the pressure that came with it made it hard to breathe, she felt like she would lose her soul at any moment. It all happened in slow motion for her. Just as Druella was in range, Skarin deflected her oncoming fist with his left hand. As soon as Druella was staggered he delivered a crushing blow to her stomach causing her eyes to roll into the back of her head before she limply fell on the ground. With Druella down, all the demonic energy brought with her to Baldr's Creek disappeared and one could see her troops waiting outside for her signal. Except now that she laid motionless on the ground her troops scattered all over trying to save themselves from this true monster that brought Druella down in one strike.

Valentina slowly came to her senses and looked around her. The soldiers were at a loss just as much as she was. She looked to Skarin who was crouching next to Druella and checking wehter she was breathing or not.

"SHE'S DEAD! THE BITCH IS DEAD! LONG LIVE-"

"She's not dead. " Skarin said loudly enough for everyone to hear as he hoisted her up bridal style. "Valentina, put these on her. " she felt a weight appear in her hands and saw a pair of handcuffs but these felt different. They felt wrong. "Trust me, please. " she looked at Skarin and once again felt like it'll be alright. She secured the cuffs on Druella and waited to see what Skarin would do next.

"What do you mean she's not dead? " the captain yelled whilst storming over. "We have to kill her! Now! " the captain drew his sword and pointed it at Skarin. "She is the offspring of evil! She laid waste to our kingdom! She deserves to die! "

"No. " Skarin replied simply and started walking towards the soldiers who made way for him. Nobody wanted to be on the receiving end of Skarin's fist.

"Heathen! Heretic! Traitor! " the captain yelled insult after insult while Skarin walked through the rows of guards with Valentina closely behind. "Arrest them! " nobody dared to move and took even more steps away from the trio. "Arrest them or I'll burn you all at the stake for heresy! " this seemed like a good incentive for some guards to try and approach them.

"Watchers, heed my call. " five flaming circles appeared around Skarin and what followed made people jump in fright. From each circle a figure wielding a large sword emerged, their pointed helms and red drapes over their armor looking like they were slowly burning away by ember yet still remained the same. "Guard, don't kill. " all five nodded before forming a circle around Skarin, Valentina and Druella. Slowly but surely people came out of their houses to see what all the fuss is about and boy did they. Their friendly neighbor was carrying the passed out princess Druella in his arms while surrounded by five embered knights. After a couple of minutes they reached their homes and Skarin turned to Valentina. "Can we do this at your house? Mine is a little lacking. "

"What are we even doing exactly? " Valentina raised a curious brow.

"Talking. All of us. " Valentina looked around herself. The watchers as he called them stood vigil and their intimidating appearance made sure noone from the mob that followed them would raise a finger against them. She looked back at Skarin who waited for an answer.

"Fine. Come on in. I'll put on some tea. " Valentina opened the door and let Skarin, along with Druella, inside.

"Cozy. " Skarin commented after the door closed, leaving the Abyss Watchers to stand guard outside. This will be a long night for everyone in Baldr's Creek and beyond.

A/N

As you've seen I've taken some liberties here with the lore, setting, etc. This story won't be like The Knight just so you know in advance but you probably already knew that from the description and the 2/3 of this chapter. And no, he is not Artorias, he is the character I play in Dark Souls games.

Leave your thoughts in the reviews, favorite and follow if you liked it and I'll see you next time.