Chapter 3 - The Stranded Graveyard

The cave proved to be vaster than Neria anticipated at first. She still hadn't fully regained her sense of time, but she could have sworn it had been more than an hour at this point. A question towards Cenric confirmed her suspicions.

"Look at the walls," Cenric said after a while. "This must have been a river at some point, now long dried up. Perhaps we're the first ones to walk this passage. Though I wouldn't hold my breath on it. Luck isn't exactly a luxury the Tarnished get to experience very often. Be ready for anything."

Neria's mind was full of new questions, at the forefront of which came a rather unsettling one: How had she died? Her body wasn't exactly one of old age, so she must have been killed. A fight? Illness? An execution? Had she been someone of significance? Not everyone would simply get put into a coffin along with noble clothes and gear. Someone had clearly viewed her as worthy of that effort. But who? She wanted to curse. Why couldn't she remember anything?

"Cenric," she whispered after a while, "Have you met any other Tarnished without memory?"

"Can't say I have," the man replied. "And if I did, then I wouldn't know. Like I said, most would rather attack me than talk things out. The others…well, let's just say they weren't in a state that allowed them to speak freely." Neria nodded silently. She would have to figure this out another way. Like so much else.

It wasn't like she didn't know anything at all. She knew her name. She knew of the Erdtree. She knew of the Lands Between. She had only regained those memories after a catalyst had brought the respective thought to an orderly halt. Was that how all of her lost memories worked? She simply had to be told or shown something she had experienced before? If it would be that easy, she wouldn't have to worry so much. But a faint voice inside her head told her that it would likely take more than that.

If it hadn't been for Cenric's torch, they wouldn't be able to see anything. Even the strange golden light was not to be made out here. How deep beneath the earth were they? Were they walking under a forest right now? Under a field? Perhaps under one of the strange ruins she had spied from her chapel?

They passed a small precipice, at the bottom of which they could see a small underground lake. It wasn't even worthy to be called a lake, more like a feeble remnant of the river that once was. Suddenly, Cenric stopped. "Do you…smell that?" he asked.

Neria sniffed the air, and truly. At first, the smell was stagnant…but then it became something else, something sickeningly sweet. "It comes from beneath," she gagged and began to regret having consumed the fish so readily.. With a frown, Cenric stepped towards the precipice and held the torch down. He whistled. "Well, would you look at that."

Neria followed his gaze. There, beneath the water's surface, at the foot of what appeared to be a great root, lay a pile of corpses. Bloated, rotten, soft green flesh peeling off bones. Some of them wore armour, while others had nothing but a few straps of rags. As Neria looked closer, she saw that one of the dead still had a face: an old man, withered and hollow, his face a mask of horror and regret.

"Poor bastards," Cenric muttered. "Can't see the Erdtree giving them back any time soon."

Before Neria could ask what exactly he meant by that, they heard something. Somewhere, further into the cave, they could make out the unmistakable sound of footsteps.

Cenric immediately tensed. "Be ready," he said and brandished his longsword, which he held in his torch-free hand. "We haven't been to these lands in ages. Who knows what other beasties besides Godrick's pet lurk here now."

Neria brandished her sword, although she felt a crawling dread begin to set in.

They made their way past the corpse water, and the stench was soon left behind. But the footsteps were now getting louder. Any moment now, they would see to whom they belonged. "Steady now," Cenric said grimly. "Follow me and do exactly as I say."

"What-"

"Just do it." His tone had changed drastically. He had been lighthearted and easy to talk to at the fire, but now he was made of pure focus. It was clear to Neria, if it hadn't already been from his damaged armour, that Cenric very likely came from a violent history. She only wondered against whom the violence had been displayed.

They turned right at a corner and saw a light ahead. It was a campfire, similar to theirs from earlier. But those around it couldn't be more different to them. For a moment, Neria thought the memory of the corpses in the water had clouded her vision somewhat. But no. The two figures before them had leathery, withered skin. Where the eyes should have been were hollow sockets with white-glowing dots shining in their depths. They were wearing broken pieces of armour and crude rusty blades. Dried blood reflected off of them in the fire's light.

Husks . The word echoed through Neria's mind. They look like…husks .

"I'll take the left one," Cenric said. "You get the one on the right."

"Wait, how do you-"

But Cenric was already rushing off. And not a moment too soon. The creatures had spotted them. Letting out a duet of howls, reminiscent of mourners at a funeral, they launched themselves at Cenric.

Neria's mind raced. For a moment, she simply stood still. But then, she tightened the grip around her sword and followed Cenric, who was keeping both figures at a safe distance with his torch. This direct approach felt wrong to Neria, as though her preferred way of fighting was something else. She would have liked more time to plan and prepare. Similar to the fight with Godrick's beast at the chapel, this felt both strange and familiar. Neria swung the sword and sliced one of the creatures across the arm.

The husk cried out and turned towards her. Neria's eyes met the glowing white orbs and she felt her legs give in again. The beast lunged at her. Only Neria's legs giving in at the right moment saved her throat from being sliced open. The creature stabbed downwards and Neria rolled away.

Meanwhile, Cenric had backed his beast into a corner, dodging each attack effortlessly. As the husk went for his heart, the man's blade parried with such force that the rusty sword was jerked out of the creature's hands. Before it even had time to cry out, Cenric's torch set its leathery face ablaze. The husk screeched and clawed at its own face, ripping out burning chunks of meat. Cenric, a disgusted frown on his face, stepped forward and plunged his blade into the thing's heart. The husk opened its burning mouth to cry out one last time, before going stiff and dropping down before him. A puff of translucent smoke rose out of its mouth, quickly vanishing in the darkness beyond the fire's light.

"Right!" he said. "Looks like we're not the-" His voice was silenced as he turned around and beheld the spectacle playing out before him.

In a maddened frenzy, Neria's husk began to viciously slash through the air as Neria crawled back against the wall. Her heart was almost bursting.

"What…are you doing?" Cenric asked in disbelief as Neria narrowly dodged another swing. Finally, the thing slowed down. Neria quickly jumped back to her feet and grabbed the shortsword with both hands, letting go of the staff.

"Did you just drop your staff?" came the immediate question.

"Some assistance would do wonders," Neria gasped as she barely managed to block an incoming strike meant for her face.

"Surely you can handle one of those," Cenric replied without making a move. Seemingly in response, the husk charged forward and Neria jumped aside. "You have a shield! Use it!"

Neria quickly brandished her shield, just in time to block an incoming piercing strike. Again, the strange symbols carved into the wood glowed in a white light. The husk let out a frustrated cry. "Cenric, please!" she yelled.

"The weapons were buried with you for a reason," Cenric replied calmly.

Anger rose amidst Neria's desperation and she wanted to tell Cenric exactly what she thought of him at this moment. But the other, more rational side of her, agreed with him. Weapons weren't simply decorations but intended for fighting, for killing. Someone had put them with her into the coffin. Her thoughts went back to Godrick's creature, how she had raised the shield, sliced the hand. Like her body had done it for herself. She had simply…put her mind aside.

As the husk made a wild jump forward, Neria let the mind trust the body. At the last moment, she stepped aside. Her sword swung through the air and cut deep into the creature's neck. A weak and pathetic croak emerged from deep within. The creature collapsed and ceased its movements. Once more, the strange white smoke rose out of its mouth, disappearing in the cave's ceiling above.

Neria took several deep breaths before looking at Cenric, who still wasn't moving. His face was completely neutral. Finally, he opened his mouth. "That was…absolutely pathetic."

Neria felt a blush of irritation coming to her cheeks. "You could have helped me", she retorted.

"I'm not your guard, Neria. We must all know how to defend ourselves. If we don't, the Lands Between will have you before you even get a chance to sit down. Those things right there? They're the least of what we'll encounter."

"How do you know?"

"I've seen what became of this once great realm before I left. I highly doubt it has changed for the better in my absence."

Neria sighed. "But…I killed it," she said meekly.

"Yes, you did. One of them. On its own. What will you do when you see five of them? Or ten? Coming at you all at once?"

"I…" Neria stopped. There was nothing really she could say in her defence here.

"And why did you drop your staff?" Cenric continued. "If you have access to spells, by the gods, use them! The power they wield triumphs over all steel!"

Neria blushed again. But this time, it was not of anger. "I…don't know…"

"You forgot how to use spells," Cenric finished for her. "Goodness, your death was truly unforgiving, wasn't it? Has someone erased your mind on purpose? Were you a dangerous criminal, perhaps, deserving of a complete loss?"

Neria blanched. She hadn't thought of it like that. What if her mind had been erased before her death? What if it had been a punishment?

"Well, whoever you were, you still have it in you," Cenric said. "Some of it, at least. Let's keep moving. Stay close to me. Once we're out of here, we may look into refreshing your skills."

He took a few steps away from the fire as Neria picked up her staff and brushed some dust off. When she looked at the dead husks, she gave Cenric a questioning look. "What was that…smoke? It left through their mouths."

"The Erdtree likes to retrieve what it once gave," came the answer.

Before Neria could ask for elaboration, they were already moving again. Their advance through the cave was now one of slow and methodical care. Two husks couldn't have been all that resided in here.

And indeed. They stepped into a larger, more open cavern. Moss, even whole bushes grew here. A singular ray of sunlight flooded in through a crevice in the ceiling. They had almost reached the surface. But their eyes were mostly focused on the group of four husks gathered around a pile of what appeared to be a selection of all kinds of trinkets.

"Right, I'll deal with this," Cenric said. "I've seen enough embarrassment from your end today." Neria gave him a vicious glare, but Cenric simply shrugged and moved into the area. He put his torch onto the ground, replacing it with his shield. Then, he hammered his sword against it, creating a loud echo. The husks turned around and a cacophony of screams filled the cavern.

Neria watched in reluctant awe as Cenric moved between them with calculated precision. He performed a quick spin with his outstretched sword, slicing one of the husks in half before it even had time to register what was happening. And when the others started attacking, the shield was already up.

The longer Neria watched, the more it appeared to her that time was slowing down. Cenric blocked an aggressive dagger pierce and used the husk's short-lived stagger to strike it with the shield. A loud crack was heard and the creature fell down with a fractured neck. Two remained. But they seemed to have grown wary, for they had begun to circle and dodge. It looked like they and Cenric were intertwined in a strangely chaotic dance.

As Neria studied the rest of the cavern, she noticed, with rising alarm, that they had missed a husk. It was standing in the shadows, surrounded by bushes, loading a hideous crossbow. And Cenric didn't see it. He was too focused on his remaining two opponents. Neria's gaze returned to the silent attacker, and her decision was made.

When she moved, it was as though a long forgotten memory was crouching its way to the forefront of her inner eye. She saw herself gliding through a foggy valley, unseen and unheard, her weapon readied for a lethal strike. In the same way, she now found herself merging with the shadows of the bushes and the cave. She didn't know how she did it, but she managed to avoid any kind of sound.

The husk was ready to shoot. Her shortsword ready, Neria leapt forward and thrusted the blade into the creature's chest. With her free hand, she quickly pushed its arms aside. The crossbow loosened and its bolt raced through the cavern, striking a stone a fair distance away from Cenric. Neria pulled out her sword, only to ram it into the husk's throat. The thing fell and the white orbs in its eyes diminished.

Neria immediately turned to Cenric, who was still engaged with his two foes. Without thinking, the young woman crouched, her bloody blade gripped tight. When one of the husks stood backwards, she plunged the weapon right into its spine. An ugly crack was heard and the creature fell, a mask of grotesque surprise written over the remnants of its once human face.

The last of the husks whirled around in confusion. That was enough for Cenric to swing his blade and relieve the creature of its head with one clean strike.

The man beheld Neria with a look that bordered on a mixture of admiration and confusion. When he noticed the crossbow husk in the back, he raised an eyebrow. "You play dirty," he said. Then he smirked. "Where was this earlier?"

"I…just knew," Neria said hesitantly. "I think my body remembers what my mind forgot."

"Well, let's hope your body remembers how to cast spells," Cenric said. "We could really use some spells. If this is what we get only a few hours in the Lands Between, I feel the whole realm will mean bad news for us."

Once they had gathered their belongings from the ground, they turned their attention to the pile of trinkets. Almost all of them were either damaged or completely broken. There were knifes and daggers, empty glass vials, ripped apart leather pouches, even a doorhandle could be made out.

"Why would they guard this?" Neria asked.

"Sentimental value?" Cenric suggested. "These things used to be human. Only madness, abandonment and year-long vegetation drove them to this. Releasing them from these bodies is an act of mercy if I've ever seen one."

Neria studied the still corpses. Her eyes remained on the one whose spine she had ruined. Even the face was beyond recognition. Had it been a man or a woman? Where had they come from? What life had they led? What cruel twist of fate had brought them into this cave? Had they been pure of heart or a scoundrel? Were any of their loved ones still alive? Were they wondering what became of them?

"We can't be far from the surface," Cenric said while looking at the sunlit crevice. "And it's still daytime. Even better. Let's hurry."

They crossed the cavern quickly and were about to venture forth into another passage that led further upwards, when they suddenly realised that they were still not alone. A figure walked out of the shadows before them, blocking their path. It carried a great two-handed blade, which it gripped tight. The figure wore armour with clear heraldry: two golden lions meeting in the centre, one against red colours, the other against green. The figure wore a helmet that covered half of its face, the rest shrouded in darkness.

"Seems like we're not quite done yet," Cenric said, readying his blade once more. "How is that magic looking?"

"Not promising," Neria said, gripping her own sword tight, the symbols on her shield glowing once more.

"Well, time for another old-fashioned fight," her companion replied and began to advance.

To both of their surprise, the figure before them lowered its blade and spoke. "You are no undead," he said, for it was definitely a man's voice. It carried an air of surprise.

"No," Cenric said, still unconvinced. "Can you claim the same?"

The man sheathed his sword and took off his helmet. A young face came into view with a mop of curly blonde hair. His eyes were brown and very much brimming with life. Neria, relieved, sheathed her sword, while Cenric remained cautious.

"I cannot recall your faces. What brings two wanderers into the Stranded Graveyard?" the man asked. When neither of them answered, he stepped closer. "Speak, quickly! This is a most unusual sight."

"How about we begin with basic manners," Cenric said at last. "Tell us your name, warrior, and we'll tell you ours."

"Fair enough," the warrior said. "I am Edvin, Soldier in the service of Lord Godrick the Golden, ruler of Limgrave, in which we now stand."

"I am Cenric," Cenric said and slowly lowered his blade.

"Neria," Neria added.

"A strange place of refuge to choose," Edvin said.

"Not really much of a choice," Cenric said. "Only place to dock for days."

"You came from the ocean then?" Edvin asked, before his face took on a curious tone. "Are you Tarnished?"

"What if we were?" Cenric asked with a raised eyebrow. "Any problems with that? If so, we can settle them here and now."

Neria wanted to protest. They had finally met someone who wasn't openly attacking them at sight. Surely they could come to a more verbal agreement.

The man called Edvin hesitated, before sighing. "You have picked an ill time to return to Limgrave, Tarnished," he said. "Even if the Erdtree summons your kind, not all agree with its decision."

"Would one of them be Godrick?" Neria asked, who still very clearly remembered the beast at the chapel mentioning his name.

"Lord Godrick has declared all Tarnished enemies of the realm, to be immediately put to death upon sight."

"And you, as a soldier of Godrick," Cenric said, "are relaying this information to us…why exactly?"

Edvin remained silent for a while. "There are other forces at work here," he said at last. "You would do well not to announce yourselves to anyone you cannot wholly trust." He walked past them and looked at the unmoving husks. "I see you have dealt with the undead. Are there any more?"

"Two further down," Cenric said. "And a whole pile of them underwater."

"Underwater? That is not well," Edvin remarked. "But those on the ground will be dealt with."

"What…are you doing here?" Neria asked. "Has Godrick sent you?"

"The undead are always on the rise," the soldier said. "I am one of the few chosen to patrol the ancient resting places and destroy any I can find." He turned towards the two Tarnished. "Would you lend me your hands? The bodies must be burned. The sooner we end this, the sooner we may leave."

"And what then?" Neria asked. "Will you deliver us to Godrick?"

"Once we leave this place, I shall forget about you and we will go our separate ways," Edvin said. "Like I said, there are other forces at work here."

There was no more to be discussed. Neria let her mind wander while the three approached each of the corpses, setting fire to the carcasses. Soon, the stench of burning flesh and smoke filled the damp air of the cave. What exactly would they find once they would reach the surface? Would Edvin be true to his word? Who was to say he wasn't planning some foul treachery? Cenric seemed to be of a similar mindset, for he kept his sword in a nigh-readied state at all times.

But nothing hostile came from the soldier of Godrick, at least not at this time. When all the undead remains had been burned, the man turned towards the Tarnished and offered to guide them to the surface. Still wary, they accepted.

The way upwards took them past several other burning remains. It appeared that Edvin had done some good solitary work already. They crossed a stone bridge over a deep abyss, at the bottom of which they could hear the sounds of a running river. Presumably, this was where the water had retreated many years ago. The bridge was followed by a round chamber filled with cold water that reached up to their ankles. It made Neria just how thirsty she was. One of her personal priorities upon reaching the surface would be to find a source of clean water.

The cave soon began to transform into a more artificial environment. The cold earth turned to solid stone plates and the rocky walls turned into those of a mausoleum. Neria couldn't recall the last time she had seen one, but the sight was familiar.

Soon, the three reached a round room with a great stone platform in its centre. As they stepped on it, a soft rumble went through the floor, and the platform began to ascend towards the ceiling, where a singular round hole would let it pass to the top.

"Luck is on your side," Edvin said. "The Stranded Graveyard is one of the oldest and smallest ones in all of Limgrave. Not many undead linger here anymore. It was deemed that I alone would be sufficient to patrol here. It will make matters easier."

The platform carried them into another chamber with a round domed roof. Edvin stepped towards a heavy dark door. After a good push outwards, it swung open, and sunlight flooded the room.

Neria covered her face, until her eyes had gotten used to the light. And once they did, she couldn't help but find herself in awe.

They were standing in the remnants of a ruined graveyard. Mouldy tombstones and the mausoleum they had just left were the only reminders of it. Further in the distance, surrounded by a small forest, she could see the ruins of a small village. Aside from those two marks, nature was almost completely untouched. Great cliffs to their left marked the edge of the world, beneath which the ocean's waves were still raging. To their right were vast stretches of fields and pastures. And right ahead, Neria could see a great forest with several hills rising out of it. A layer of fog was coating it. And above all, across thousands of miles and yet still visible, stood the great Erdtree, illuminating the Lands Between with its everlasting golden light. The sight was both lonely and peaceful. And yet, a lingering sadness seemed to lie over everything like an invisible curtain.

"I thank you for your assistance with the undead, Tarnished," Edvin said. "And I wish you luck on your journey. It has been a long while since one of your kind passed through here." He began to move towards a stout-looking white stallion that stood in close distance, bound to a tombstone.

"There were other Tarnished?" Neria asked.

"Indeed," Edvin said. "Though where they are now, I know not. And I wish for it to remain so."

"So that's it?" Cenric asked. "You will make good of your word and 'forget' us? Just like that?" The distrust in his voice was almost tangible.

"It is for the best," Edvin said as he unbound the horse. "You would do well not to attract too much attention. There are those in Lord Godrick's service who would not hesitate to deliver you to him. His anger clouded much of his judgement. In his attempts to keep Limgrave strong, he allows his fury to often be directed at those who are not responsible for our ills and woes. If you would value my advice, I would tell you to vacate the land as swiftly as you can."

Neria hesitated, before she asked: "Do you…know anything about a servant of Godrick's with many arms and legs?" Edvin turned to look at her with a raised eyebrow, and she quickly continued. "It looked like a spider, but…a human one. It wields two great blades and a shield the size of a door."

Edvin pondered and his face darkened. "I know of no such creature," he said. "But only those worthy of the Golden One's personal attention receive a summon to Stormveil Castle. I do not know what lurks behind those walls, but you would best keep your distance." He pointed towards the foggy woods. "Travel straight ahead. You will find a village named Elleh in the heart of the woods. You cannot miss it if you follow the bells. Speak to a man named Kalé. He will know of all safe passages out of Limgrave. Leave this land before Lord Godrick learns of you."

He swung onto his horse and prepared to depart, when Neria raised a gloved hand. "Thank you, Edvin," she said and gave him a tired smile. Cenric hesitated, before giving a reluctant nod of appraisal.

Edvin inclined his head before putting his helmet back on. "Search for what you seek, Tarnished," he said. "But do not dwell here. Hope is all but lost in these lands." And with that, he gave his horse the spurs and galloped away. The Tarnished watched as he rode towards the cliffs, before navigating his horse straight ahead, further North. A few moments later, Edvin, soldier of Godrick, was gone.