A/N: Time for another chapter in the land of Lordran. Let's get around to it right away, because we are now entering the second half of the game. Or second third depending on how you played. Personally, I always took my time, so it was more like two-thirds to two-fifths. And this story certainly has much more in store than the regular game from here on onwards.
Hope it will be to your liking!
Beta: Genatools (In Spirit)
Chapter 18: Chosen Undead.
The party of five made the trek back with little difficulty. All the enemies they had slain on their way to the Bell would remain slain until they decided to rest on a Bonfire, or if they waited long enough. Even so, it was wise to rest in order to recover some Estus, some energy, spells, and to heal any wounds that hadn't already been healed. They knew that more enemies could appear, but they were confident that leaving Blighttown would be a far simpler task than entering it, since as opposed to going down, going up meant they could outpace or outright ignore the enemies that came from other areas of the slum.
Surprisingly though, after they took a short rest by the nearest bonfire, reinforcements didn't come at all. Perhaps they had done enough damage to dwindle the numbers for a small amount of time, or perhaps they showed they were not easily trifled with. Regardless of the case, the only resistance they had to deal with on their way out were a couple of GIant Mosquitoes that could help themselves to harass them, and the Cragspiders, Ghouls, and Infested Barbarian that guarded the water wheel that led to the Valley of Drakes. They took out the Cragspiders with quick thrusts, cleaves, and spells before going up l and facing the Ghouls and the Infested Barbarians.
Oscar pinned a Ghoul to the wall with his shield and stabbed him through the throat to the other side of its head. Eskar ran ahead and delivered a powerful flying kick to one of the Barbarians' head and followed up with a knee to the head before landing, making the Barbarian fall and then stepping away as a Ghoul tried to pounce at him from behind. It gave Siegmeyer enough time to make a downward swing and decapitate the Barbarian. Solaire killed one of the Ghouls with a lightning spear and then turned towards another with a powerful sword strike to the chest, Beatrice next to him as she used her homing soul mass and great soul arrows to kill one of the Barbarians and one of the Ghouls, killing in a barrage of soul energy. One infested Barbarian remained, and so did a couple of Ghouls. Eskar finished the Ghoul he had been fighting with a combustion spell and two horizontal slashes of his blade, he and Oscar proceeded to rush down another Ghoul with quick slashes and strikes before aiding Siegmeyer in taking down the last Barbarian, all the while Solaire and Beatrice covered their sides with either spells or steel.
The Barbarian had its knee cut through, received multiple slices and kicks, received a shield punch to the face, had its chest pierced by Siegmeyer's Zweihander, and then was thrown to the ground by their combined efforts, its life-ending as its skull caved in by a hammer kick from Eskar. With no other resistance in their path, they were free to make the trip onwards towards the Valley of Drakes, and from then on to New Londo and Firelink Shrine.
It only took them a couple of minutes for all of them to reach New Londo, and from then on there didn't seem to be any new threat on their path, the Hollows near the elevator docile and completely unresponsive to them. Oscar took the time to wonder with Siegmeyer and Solaire what they would do now that their little adventure to assist them with the Bells of Awakening was over, Eskar paid attention to the conversation, but also noticed that there was still something about New Londo that unnerved Beatrice. It looked like she didn't dare look at the sunken city.
"Where do you think your path will lead you to next, Sir Oscar?" Siegmeyer asked.
"You are certain that my path will lead to a new road?" Oscar asked back.
"Oh yes, I'm pretty certain that one way or the other you'll find some direction thrust upon you. Why else would the Bells exist? Hmm? They must show you a path somehow, and they certainly provided a challenge, and something out there must have responded to them, recognized the merit of rigging them both! And even if not entirely clear, and I'm sure you'll find a road to trot soon enough." Siegmyer happily exclaimed.
"Hmm… I suppose it may be true. But I don't know yet. One thing's for sure though, it has been done, and at least some answers are owed. And I will not rest until I find some." Oscar proclaimed.
"Rightfully so!" Siegmyer cheered.
"I'll pray to the sun for your success in the near future, and that of us all," Solaire said. "Though I'm sure we'll meet again soon enough."
"So you are adventuring once more on your own?" Oscar asked him.
"Yes indeed. I still need to find my very own sun. Traveling with you has been gratifying. And also illuminating in many ways. I've gotten to see far more than I thought I would and aiding you has filled me with joy, and yet I still need to find my sun, my source of light. I suppose in a way similar to your purpose Sir Oscar." Solaire responded.
"I… see." Oscar nodded. He understood the need for purpose, but there was something about Solaire that didn't make it quite clear what he was looking for. Oscar himself was chasing after answers, and for his fate and that of others, and had set out on his journey and adventure with that purpose. But Solaire seemed the kind that had wondered for far longer, and not exactly with a clear direction in mind. He couldn't help but wonder if Solaire even knew what his sun would be, or perhaps, if it was even something he could find.
"I may take some time to ponder near the Sunlight Altar, but do feel free to visit any time you wish. You are a Warrior of Sunlight too after all. Feel free to offer those Sunlight Medals to the altar, your dedication might just be rewarded." Solaire told him.
"Truly? Even a forsaken god can still bestow that kind of favor?" Oscar asked.
"Oh ho ho yes. And Gwyn's firstborn still cares for his followers, even in his exodus." Solaire practically beamed. It was somehow noticeable even though his helmet.
"Then I will do so." Oscar bowed his head.
"Hmm… mmm. And what about you two?" Siegmeyer asked both Eskar and Beatrice. "What are you going to do once we reach Firelink Shrine?"
"Eskar is soon going to meet his own people, he has already agreed on a meeting. From then on after meeting with them… I will still accompany him. He would be lost without me.'' Beatrice said, earning a silent stare from Eskar.
"A true. I remember." Siegmeyer nodded.
"Does that mean that our paths will separate?" Oscar asked both of them.
"I don't know. Perhaps. We achieved what we set out to do. We helped ring the Bells, and managed to find other Masked Ones that were sane. I do wish this wouldn't be the last time we see each other, but you have your own duty, one that I cannot drag you away from in a mission that may be endless, and it is a mission I must do. Our paths would've had to split in some manner eventually." Eskar said to him.
"I see… I cannot thank you enough for everything you have done for me. But you are right and I cannot keep you from searching more of your people either. But thanks to you, I've managed to not go Hollow, and continue on this path." Oscar responded.
"Je kellene danki vin." (I should be thanking you.) Eskar clasped his hands together and bowed his head in a martial salute. "But there's still time before we have to part, and I still don't know what the other Masked Ones plan to do. You still don't know where you'll have to go next either."
"As long as we have time, we can still help you until you find your answers." Beatrice smiled.
"I'm deeply grateful." Oscar bowed his head.
"Hah hah hah! I'm glad we'll be able to share this adventure a little longer." Siegmeyer laughed.
"What do you plan to do once our paths split, Sir Siegmeyer?" Beatrice asked him.
"Well, I may go back to Sen's Fortress and see if the door has finally budged, or to see if perhaps there's a way I can make it budge. Perhaps I'll travel in a different direction on my own. I did that when I went on to the Depths, perhaps this time I'll adventure somewhere… with a far more pleasant aroma. Hah hah hah hah!" Siegmeyer gave a hearty laugh.
"Hopefully. With luck, none of us will have to venture to somewhere like Blighttown any time soon." Beatrice hoped.
"Of course. But I say I would like to keep coming back to Firelink Shrine. They are not my responsibility, but I do wish to check on the wellbeing of our friends there. See that they still have their marbles together."
"They themselves must have their journeys to make. Maybe even Lady Rhea, hopefully." Oscar pondered. He also thought of Anastacia, and wondered what he should do about her. "I'm just glad we managed to aid them when they needed our help. And I hope they'll find something worthwhile in this cursed land."
"I say they found solace in your assistance. That's something I'm sure of. Only the future will tell what their own journeys will entail." Siegmeyer said.
"I suppose we'll see what that future has in store for us," Eskar said as they made their way to the elevator.
Nothing prepared them for the sight of Anastacia's cage being not only empty, but seemingly broken into in some manner. With Anastacia nowhere in sight, a small wisp of souls where she would have usually been, and a trail of blood leading up the stairs towards the bonfire.
Oscar was frozen in place for a couple of seconds, but soon he recovered from his stupor and drew his sword, quickly following the trial and rushing up the stairs. The others followed right after him, Eskar and Beatrice doing a double-take on Anatacia's cage as they followed him. Indeed it didn't seem to be a kidnapping of any sort. Whoever had done it, they had killed her.
The trail stopped once up in the Shrine, with some more blood splatters on the floor and walls, but these weren't from a trail of blood, these seemed to be the result of a fight. They could more or less figure out what had happened on the sight of Rhea and Griggs tending over a wounded Laurentius, and a wounded Crestfallen Warrior. All huddled up next to an inactive bonfire.
"Rhea, Laurentius, Griggs… Sir, are all of you alright?" Oscar asked the four of them. Still looking for any sign of the culprit.
"Sir Oscar! We are fine, we are fine." Rhea stammered.
"I shall be fine, I mean, I didn't die. Heh heh heh. But it is not exactly wise to waste Estus when the bonfire is… Well…" Laurentius said as they looked at the dead bonfire.
"The bonfire, Anastacia… who?" Oscar demanded. Griggs, Laurentius, and Rhea all looked at each other before Rhea began.
"It was… that man." Rhea paused on her words. "Sometime after you left, we heard the second Bell, from all the way up here. We knew you had succeeded, but soon after, the bonfire died down, and there was no indication as to why. In my worry, I decided to check on the Firekeeper, to see if she was alright. What I saw was that golden knight, the man called Lautrec, with his blade sullied in blood, and with her soul in his hand." Rhea told them.
"Lautrec." Oscar's grip tightened around his sword.
"I screamed at the sight. He noticed me and began to approach me. I questioned why he had done such a crime and… he cackled… and said he had done so for 'the true prize'. I think he meant the souls and humanity of the Firekeeper's soul. And as he began to approach, he said that noisy maidens should not come to this land, but that my humanity more than made up for it. He said so as he raised his blade."
"We had heard her scream, and we were able to see what was happening as the knight raised his blade. We weren't the first there, however…" Griggs said as he looked at the Crestfallen Warrior. The Undead received surprised looks from the party.
"Hmm? What?" The Crestfallen Warrior asked.
"You jumped into action. Even though you said you did not care anymore." Eskar stated.
"About this Fate of the Undead? I really don't, that's what you lot are for. And that knight was right, this palace isn't for noisy maidens or people. Doesn't mean he has the right to squander what little good thing we have left here." The Crestfallen Warrior said as he held on to one of his wounds.
"In the end though, we were lucky. Because that man is the kind that can survive out there. If we had been alone, or had one less person, we would have been minced meat." The Undead man said.
"The Sir attacked him to protect Lady Rhea, giving her a chance to back up, but the knight was able to react in time and deflect his attacks. Lautrec then continued to deflect and parry as the Sir was barely able to keep up the pace, receiving blows, and earning two deep wounds, the one in his gut and the one on his side." Laurentius explained.
"Even if he was better, I seem to be… rusty." The Crestfallen Warrior muttered.
"We obviously jumped in to help, but he was able to keep up with all of us. Once the Warrior here was wounded he became slower, and the knight was able to use that to his advantage. We were able to fight him by staying out of his range, with spells and giving the warrior a chance to strike. We scored a few blows, but he was fast, and he rolled out of the way of our spells, and was able to strike once more at the Sir here, and at Laurentius too." Griggs said.
"Lautrec is indeed skilled," Eskar said. Lautrec had fought alongside them against the Gaping Dragon of the Depths. And he had proved himself capable.
"Nothing too deep. I think I was able to burn part of his armor. Pyromancy can be really quick at close range. But he was still enduring. Griggs managed to get him with a soul spear, and it looked like the knight would go for him next for payback, but then Lady Rhea… she… How could I describe it?" Laurentius tapped his chin.
"The girl went ahead, ran in close, and then used a miracle, one that pushed the man away and looked like he had been hit by a warhammer. It was an explosion of white, and not like any miracle I've ever seen." The Crestfallen Warrior provided.
"Rhea?" Oscar looked at her. Rhea looked abashed.
"Incredibly dangerous. But incredibly brave as well." Siegmeyer said to her.
"It pushed him away from all of us and gave us a chance to follow up with spells. I hit him with a soul arrow and Laurentius managed to get him with a fireball. He looked weak, but he was still fast. It seemed we weren't worth the effort anymore, and decided to flee before we could get the better of him." Griggs said.
"Where did he flee to?" Oscar asked.
"To the Undead Burg." The Crestfallen Warrior said. The party looked at each other, and it was clear that Oscar was already raring to go and chase after the golden knight.
"We need to find him. Make sure he doesn't get away." He insisted.
"He is wounded, he could not have gone very far," Eskar added.
"He is still Undead, and must have Estus. He could have gone pretty far with the time he had before we got here." Beatrice argued.
"We cannot let him go any further then," Oscar said, he moved to rush to the Undead Burg, and The Crestfallen Warrior moved to the side to let him pass, but stumbled as his wound seemed to hurt. The others worried.
"I'm still alive, for now. And won't die again just yet." The Crestfallen Warrior assured them.
"You should go," Siegmeyer said to the rest. "I can stay here and help patch them up. But you are faster than me. I would only slow you down."
"I too will stay back. You three are the fastest out of all of us. Chase him before he can go ahead and split into his own world." Solaire told Beatrice, Eskar, and Oscar.
"Don't know if you'll manage before he does. But good luck." The Crestfallen warrior said to them.
The three of them nodded at the words and quickly began to sprint towards the Undead Burg. Quickly cutting down any Hollows that were on their way. They didn't have to deal with them, but luckily, these Hollows were not even a small challenge anymore, and they could not resist their now stronger blows. But if these were no trouble for them, they also wouldn't be for Lautrec.
The trio dashed through the Undead Burg, searching every nook and cranny they could think of. They passed through the Undead Woman selling moss, and she hadn't seen any trace of Lautrec. Which meant he had probably gone in the other direction. Eskar ran ahead, slashing a Hollow soldier's stomach, then kneeing him in the gut, and killing it with a diagonal slash to the head, running past it and killing other Hollows that obstructed his path as quickly as he could.
While Eskar moved on ahead and left the meandering Hollows behind, Oscar was the next to charge the Hollows, striking hard while they were still trying to slowly follow Eskar, killing several with powerful sword slashes, and beating them to death with shield punches. Beatrice followed close behind him, picking off any Hollow that could be a threat with soul arrows. Even her normal soul arrows were now enough to blast lowly Hollow dead on its back, or even blow some pieces of them off. One Hollow that got too close was beaten around the head by her catalyst and then had half its face blown off by a point-blank soul arrow.
As Oscar and Beatrice reached the foot of the bridge, the pillar with a bonfire inside, they saw Eskar coming back from the bridge, avoiding a firebomb and quickly casting a great soul arrow to kill the Hollow that had thrown it.
"Any sign of him?" Oscar asked Eskar.
"None. He hasn't gone in the direction of the wall, not many places from there he could go to either way. The Merchant hadn't seen him, and I took a glance at the lower Burg. Nothing." Eskar responded.
"He might not go down to the Depths again, not sure the kind of man he is, but running all the way to the Depths wouldn't be my first option," Beatrice said. All of them then looked up to the bridge above them, all seemingly thinking the same thing.
"The Parish then," Oscar said. The three of them quickly ran inside the pillar tower, climbing up the ladder, and then going across the bridge.
The Hollows continued to block their path. But they quickly dispatched the groups of Hollow soldiers and went towards the Parish. Crossing the gate that separated the Parish from the Burg, and then facing the small battalion that guarded its entrance. The Hollows on the walls were dealt with spells, Beatrice and Eskar using soul arrows, and Oscar using a lightning spear, each killing one Hollow before taking care of the ones in the ground floor. Oscar charged with his shield and broke through the guard of a Hollow spearman, knocking on its back and stabbing its head. Eskar dealt with another spearman with a flyby roundhouse kick that hooked over the shield, hit it in the head, and left it stunned as Eskar landed past him, finishing with a reverse thrust through the neck. Beatrice finished the two remaining Hollows with a fire orb, aiming carefully for the moment they would be the closest to each other, and immolating them both at the same time.
"Where would he have gone?" Oscar pondered.
"The only places he could go are inside the walls, inside the Parish itself, towards Darkroot Garden, or back to Firelink." Beatrice stated.
"He hasn't gone back to Firelink. If he has passed through here…" Eskar looked in the directions of the walls, the passages to the sidewalls, and the Parish. As they pondered, however, it started to loom over them that Lautrec might have escaped them.
"He might be using some place here as a refuge. We need to check." Oscar insisted. The others agreed on the matter that at the very least they had to check.
"I can check the buildings." Eskar proposed.
"I will check the Parish," Beatrice said.
"Right… I'll check the walls then," Oscar said as he began to run in the direction of the stairs that led to them.
"If we are going to split, we should scout and reconvene. Let's not give him a chance to sneak up on us if he's near." Beatrice warned before Oscar could leave.
Oscar turned and nodded before continuing on his path. Eskar looked at Beatrice and nodded while going back towards the building inhabited by ragged Hollows, while Beatrice herself entered the Parish through the front door.
She was able to bait out the Balder Knights and guide them towards her spells. She used a homing soul mass to stagger it and defeated it with a heavy soul arrow. Another came dangerously close, but she was able to back step out of range and hit it with two great soul arrows in quick succession. The final Balder Knight hung back and was waiting for Beatrice to make a move, but got more than it bargained for as she timed a fire orb and soul arrow at the same time, the fire orb breaking the Hollow's guard and charring it, and the soul arrow killing it. The Parish was clear on the first floor, but the second floor was another story, and from where she stood, she could tell it was filled with Hollows.
She turned back in time to see Eskar running through the front gate of the Parish, seemingly done with his inspection rather quickly. Beatrice gave him a puzzling look and he merely shook his head, he hadn't found a trace of Lautrec. She then turned towards the second floor and pointed with her catalyst, Eskar rushed to see what she meant, but only saw the Hollows.
"I don't believe he's here. The Hollows would be cleared if he was taking refuge up there. In fact, unless he had run without a care for the Hollows of the Burg or the Parish, we should have seen a trail of Hollow corpses, maybe just a few, but some." Beatrice said.
"Átkozott" (Damn) Eskar responded as he looked at the Hollows.
"You found no trace of him?" Beatrice asked him.
"I dashed while looking for any sign, the entire place was filled with Hollows but I only had to kill a few. The rest of the way going up to the walls…, The ground floor was about the only place one could hide comfortably, and I found nothing." Eskar answered.
"I see." Beatrice nodded, soon both of them heard the sound of steel and Hollow grunts.
They turned the corner and were ready to help Oscar deal with some Hollows Soldiers and another Balder Knight. Eskar rushed in with a flying roundhouse kick, stunned the Hollow he attacked with two quick soul darts, and finished it with a horizontal cross-cut of his sword. Beatrice used a heavy soul arrow and hit a crossbow Hollow Soldier on the back of the head, killing instantly and then turning to fire a great soul arrow at a hollow soldier. The soul arrow was enough to almost kill the soldier, leaving it staggering, right for Eskar to end it with an upwards slice and side kick that sent its corpse flying back. Oscar in the meantime had been dealing with both another Hollow Soldier and the Balder Knight, he kept one at bay with his blade and blocked the attacks of the other with his shield, he did a quick spin and caught the Hollow soldier unaware as he trusted his sword in its gut and then followed up with a shield bash to the head, reaping the sword out in horizontal slice, and pushing it away with a front kick, leaving it lifeless.
Oscar then swung his sword behind his back and deflected the attack of the Balder Knight, right for Oscar to kick its leg, stab it once on the chest, block and attack with his sword and then cut at the Hollow's face with a backhand slash, hit it with a low slash at its stomach, push it away by ramming it with his shield, and finally use a side kick to push it over the edge and making it fall to its demise. Oscar recovered his breath, and then noticed as two soul arrows passed by close to him, well… a more to his side actually. He saw as the two soul arrows impacted and a Hollow Soldier with a spear that had been sneakily approaching, and then turned to see Eskar and Beatrice being the ones responsible for said soul arrows.
"Thanks." Oscar bowed his head. "Have you found him?" He quickly asked.
"No," Eskar answered. Oscar let out a low growl at the news.
"The only place left to check are the top floors, filled with Hollows. And perhaps… we could ask him as well." Beatrice offered. Of course, Eskar and Oscar quickly understood who she meant. The Pardoner.
"Very well, then we'll face the Hollows together. And if he's not found, we shall ask that man, he'll probably know something."
"Aah, welcome! Now, what does bring thouhst here? Hmm? Have thy come to confess or accuse? Or perhaps, thy hath cometh to inquire? All sin is my domain, and I wager thee may have a cometh to me for the sins of another once more. Heh heh heh heh heh…" Oswald cackled.
"We are indeed here for the sins of another. The ones of Knight Lautrec." Oscar quickly asked.
"Ah, the sins of a devoted servant. Truly a perplexing notion." Oswald brought his hand to his chin.
"Devoted servant?" Eskar asked.
"Oh, does thy don't know? Though I would not blame thee if the fiend hath not told you. His devotion to his goddess Fina, and his own nature, both is what guides his sin, and stained and wrenched with sin is what he truly is." Oswald smiled.
"Fina. The goddess of favor and love?" Beatrice questioned.
"A goddess with fateful beauty, but of a love as fickle as the weather. Tell, hast thou ever chased a dream? A tale dream, one thee could not reasonably come close to, or better said, one that simply cannot be achieved because it requires the will of another. That devotion combined with his own goals and tendencies, what he had planned to achieve in this world, perverted to a form of lust and greed. Achieved many sins, and taketh many victims he has." Oswald told them.
"What are his plans, what does he intend?"
"I don't rightfully know. I know the motives of his sin, but not the man's mind and plans. His sins are my domain, but not the rest. Although I do know who thy seek would go next."
"Tell us!" Oscar insisted.
"Thou quarry has an interest in acquiring Humanity. He hath plundered many a soul for it, but beyond that thirst, lies a goal, one which has made him come to this land, and one that will push him to beyond the walls erected by the gods. And with Sen's Fortress now open, he seeketh whatever is there in the city of the gods. Anor Londo." Oswald told them.
"The city of the gods! He wouldn't… shouldn't be able to…" Oscar looked at Oswald.
"All that pass the test of Sen's fortress, hath a rightful claim to enter the city," Oswald said.
"H-how is that Sen's fortress is now open? Why would it after open its gates now, after centuries if not more." Beatrice questioned.
"Keh heh heh heh heh. Oh, thy question is a good one. But rather amusing considering that thou art the ones responsible." Oswald smiled.
"What? How did we…" Oscar was about to ask how they would be the ones responsible for Sen's Fortress. But then he remembered something they did quite recently.
"The Bells." Eskar realized as well.
"Indeed. I presumed thou would be the ones to ringeth the second bell. Thy might, skill, and companionship befitted a good chance of success, and it appears thou has." Oswald said.
"If he's going through Sen's Fortress, then perhaps we can catch up to him and-" Oscar began to ponder.
"Oh ho ho, my dear knight. Is thy prepared to face Sen's Fortress? And to trifle not only its tests, but so too thy quarry?" Oswald asked. "Is the sin that he hath committed of personal nature?"
"... It is," Oscar answered.
"Mmm. It's only rightful for you to chase after a wrongdoer that hath wronged you. But if revenge is what thou seek, I advise thou make sure that thy can deliver it. Sen's Fortress is no easy task."
"We must reach him, before he… he leaves this world and-" Oscar paused as he looked at Oswald's look of pity.
"I believe thy chance has already passed. If thou hath not found the knight on your path until here, then I believe he outpaced thee into his own world. Separated for the moment though. Follow the path ahead and surely thee shall find soon. Perhaps in Sen's Fortress, or perhaps in Anor Londo." Oswald said to Oscar.
"Sir Oscar…" Beatrice spoke as she and Eskar looked at the knight.
Oscar in turn looked back at them, and then stared to the ground disgruntled. He had hoped that they would be able to deliver swift justice to Lautrec. He should have seen the signs, he and the others had in fact, but absentmindedly decided not to mind him. Thought him to be not a problem, yet they forgot that he could hurt not only them, but others. And now he was running away, running and ready to plunder once more. He was one step ahead of them, and already on a path that may be even more dangerous than anything they had faced before. And it was hard to say if he would be able to follow. Yet he couldn't help but desire his demise, a blind rage filling him and telling him that all risk was worth it if it meant his death.
"Anastacia…" He quietly said, then lifted his shield and punched the wall with it in a cry of fury. Leaving a sizable dent in the stone wall.
"Damn you Lautrec. Damn you, you vile crook." He seethed.
"Sir Oscar," Eskar spoke, earning his attention. "He will not escape. Kanajlog sorsára leur sorton. Scoundrels meet their fate sooner or later. He will either die at the fortress, or die facing someone that's not easy prey. And we can still pursue him, and show him ."
"... We?" Oscar looked at Eskar stunned. Eskar himself seemed like he had made a choice, his masked face looking aimlessly before nodding with conviction.
"Yes. We. I do owe Anastacia." Eskar said as he tapped his mask. Oscar now remembered what Anastacia had done by unshackling Eskar from the Mask of Moral. If that's what she did of course. He didn't really know what she actually did to Eskar and the mask.
"It does not sit well with me that her soul should be in Lautrec's possession. We'll get it back from him. I owe her that much, and as a friend, I should stand by you in this hunt." Eskar said. Beatrice right then and there stood tall right next to Eskar.
"Eskar is right." She said. "People like him should not escape the consequences of their actions. There's plenty I could not do before in my time, but here and now, I won't stand by as he plunders the souls of the innocent. Regardless of his intentions or goals, he seeks them at the expense and suffering of others. It would be foolish to let a man like that free to gather more power and strength."
"What about what you set out to do? Your people?" Oscar asked Eskar.
"It can wait. Right now he's a menace, one that will gladly help you chase down." Eskar bowed his head.
"And besides. I do believe that perhaps I can get us some help." Eskar added. Oscar for his part looked at both Eskar and Beatrice, and wondered what he did to deserve them as companions and friends.
"I thank you both. I thank you so much. Anastacia is… one of the only people I truly knew, from back in Astora. I should have seen the danger Lautrec was sooner…" Oscar said.
"We all should. We all knew he wasn't of trust. But we did not think he would go after others, even less a Firekeeper. To plunder her soul knowing it will make a bonfire as valuable as Firelink die. We failed to see the kind of killer he was." Beatrice lamented.
"Indeed. But with you, I know we'll bring her some manner of justice. I will owe you eternally, more so than I did before." Oscar bowed his head.
"Don't fret Sir Oscar. For the moment, we perhaps should meet the others, and tell them what we know now." Beatrice suggested.
"You are right. Though we shouldn't give the bastard much time to wander." Oscar said.
"Obviously. We should move then." Eskar said and the other two nodded before they began to walk out of the bell tower and back towards Firelink.
"Do come again! And do talk to the newcomer at Firelink Shrine, Sir Oscar. It is someone thou hath been seeking." Oswald said. Earning a surprised look from the knight.
Oh, and I do warn thee!" The pardoner called out. "Be mindful on thy chase. Sinners accompany others of similar stock, more often than not. Keh heh heh heh heh heh."
"Are you certain that-" Oscar asked as he, Beatrice, and Eskar rode down the elevator to Firelink Shrine.
"No. I'm not." Eskar answered.
"What will you do if they disagree, or no one agrees or accepts," Beatrice asked.
"Then I will accompany you, and meet with them at another time," Eskar said.
"Eskar. What if this means there won't be another time?" Beatrice asked as the elevator stopped at their destination.
"They would be hard-pressed," Eskar said.
"Perhaps, but…" Beatrice left her words hanging, but just as they walked out of the elevator and climbed down the steps towards the Firelink Shrine itself. The three of them heard it.
They heard the clicking sound first, the loud clicking and strange wet noises of something beyond the wall. And then they smelled it. Blighttown had left them with a new definition of what foul and noxious truly was, and even if this smell wasn't as horrendous, it was a powerful stench of its own, and hardly like anything they had smelled before. Weary of the sounds and the smell, they slowly turned the corner as they walked the steps around the old church and towards others, but that was when they saw it. The large red eyes, the massive unsettling teeth, and the strange proportions of its face.
They jumped back in surprise, the humongous gray-skinned creature staring at them with curiosity and clicking its teeth as they quickly backed away from it and out of its field of view. Not sure if it was dangerous, or if it would somehow follow them, Beatrice had her catalyst raised while Eskar and Oscar had their swords drawn.
"What is that?!" Oscar asked out loud.
"I don't know…" Beatrice stared at the creature. It was nothing like anything she had ever seen, and nothing that she would even imagine could exist. It was no normal creature, that much she knew.
"It looked at us, addressed us with its eyes, understood what was happening when he saw it. It's not a dumb creature." Eskar stated as he looked at the rest of Firelink, not seeing any other person other than the people they knew had been at the Shrine. And it was then that a possibility sprung to his mind.
"Could that thing be-"
"Oh, I see you have met the large head." The Crestfallen Warrior interrupted as the trio back-peddled into the area of the bonfire. By now far away enough that they couldn't hear the clicking of teeth or smell the stench of its breath anymore.
"That thing showed up as soon as we heard the second bell. Before that knight killed the lass, we heard stones moving, and then its snores. Eventually smelled its lethal breath too. I don't believe it cares for any of us, but it has certainly made this place a bit less peaceful and quiet, and not in any good way." The Crestfallen Warrior said.
"We did not tell you before because… well, we were all dealing with other happenings. Sorry about that." Laurentius apologized.
"It is fine, Laurentius," Beatrice reassured him.
"Speaking of. Did you…?" Griggs began to ask.
"No. We did not catch him. But we know where he is going. He'll go through Sen's Fortress, and if he survives, he'll go to Anor Londo." Oscar said.
"Anor Londo. The city of the gods?" Solaire perked up.
"Sen's Fortress is now open?!" Siegmeyer exclaimed.
"Yes. Apparently, it was the Bells of Awakening which made its gates open. And if the Pardoner is to be believed, the ones who are able to pass the fortress, can go on the path to Anor Londo." Oscar told them.
"The city of the gods… Incredible. I would never believe that after so long there would be a chance for anyone to enter the sacred city. But him… He is going to those sacred grounds?" Rhea asked them.
"Yes. He seeks humanity, power, and souls, whatever he can find. We still don't know why, but he seems to know the path to the city. And still probably has Anastacia's soul." Eskar said.
"You will- Ahem, it sounds like you are gonna go after him. You are?" Laurentius asked with worry.
"We are." Beatrice nodded. Earning a few seconds of silence from anyone.
"Very well then. I don't know if I can be of any use to all of you. I don't rightfully know if I should accompany you, I fear I would only just get in the way. But Laurentius, and I, had ideas that could help you, experiments. Having to help you discover how to use those Shards for spells has really expanded our horizons." Griggs pointed at Eskar. "And if you need them, we still have some things we can teach you, or assist you with."
"Yes. And if you have the souls and materials, I believe there's still something I can do to strengthen both your flames. On top of the ideas, Griggs has had." Laurentius said.
"I offer my services as well," Rhea spoke up. "If there's anything I can teach you, then I'll gladly share the knowledge with you. I too heard the ideas of Sir Griggs. And… I do believe I could assist. Perhaps not so much with new ideas, but I'm sure together we can figure out something that would be of use to you."
Oscar, Eskar, and Beatrice were honestly surprised by how devoted Griggs, Laurentius, and Rhea were to help them. They were not fighters, not truly, but they were making a great effort to assist them in other ways. And perhaps just the kind of help they would need.
"Thank you, all of you," Oscar said. "Sir Siegmeyer, Sir Solaire. What will you do now? I cannot rightfully ask you to follow me in such a quest. It is inherently not only dangerous, but somewhat selfish too."
"Hmm. I'm afraid that I do not know Sir Oscar. I've postponed the search for my sun long enough. I need time to ponder, to gaze at the sun and its magnificence. Though perhaps I will soon go and try my luck to enter the city of the gods myself. With my own strength. I hope I don't sound too inconsiderate, but do know that I will leave you with something that will aid you." Solaire said to the trio.
"What is it?" Oscar asked.
"Meet me at the Sunlight Altar, and I will show you the rewards of your dedication to our covenant. If I go eventually in that direction, our worlds will cross, and know that my Summon Sign will be there. Eager to cooperate with you once more." Solaire bowed his head.
"Very well. I won't judge you. Because I'll admit, I'm even almost forsaking my own duty." Oscar said, Eskar nodding alongside him. Were they perhaps impulsive? Reckless? Oscar with his desire to bring Lautrec to justice, and Eskar in his desire to help him and postpone their duties. Perhaps.
"What about you Sir Siegmeyer?" Oscar asked the Catarinian Knight.
"Oh ho ho. I was already waiting for Sen's Fortress to be opened. I say I have no reason to not assist you. I will be glad to face the challenges with you. And perhaps, bring some justice." Siegmyer swore.
"Thank you Sir Siegmeyer." Eskar clasped his hands in a martial salute.
"That's all well and good. But coming back to what happened earlier. Are we gonna do something about that being?" The Crestfallen Warrior brought their attention back to the creature that appeared in the old ruined church.
"Has it done anything? Anything of note?" Beatrice asked.
"Umm… before the incident with Lautrec. I and Laurentius approached it, and it asked who it was that rang the Bells." Griggs answered.
"It speaks," Eskar stated.
"Yes. it does." Laurentius nodded.
"... No one else has come to Firelink Shrine right?" Oscar asked.
"Not a damn soul has come." The Crestfallen Warrior responded.
"Then, he's the newcomer the pardoner spoke of," Oscar said as he stared back in the direction of the creature.
The trio decided to approach this newcomer, entering the old church and staring directly into its large eyes, and odd large teeth. Its breath was, as the Crestfallen Warrior had said, noxious. But they had gone through and smelled worse. They stepped closer, stepping right in front of it and earning its attention.
"Ahh, hello. You two are not Undead, unexpected. But you, was it you who rang the Bell of Awakening?" The creature spoke in a deep voice.
"Yes. It was our doing. I followed the prophecy, the one that told the fate of the Undead shall be known upon ringing the bells." Oscar said.
"Indeed. I am the Primordial Serpent, Kingseeker Frampt, close friend of the Great Lord Gwyn. Chosen Undead, who had rung the Bell of Awakening. I wish to elucidate your fate. Do you seek such enlightenment?" Frampt asked Oscar.
"It is what I have sought, what I've wished to know for a long time. Right now I do have some other issues at hand, a personal matter I must focus on, but please. Tell me what's our fate." Oscar said to the serpent.
"Very well. Then I'll be pleased to share. Chosen Undead. Your fate is… to succeed the Great Lord Gwyn. So that you may link the Fire, cast away the Dark, and undo the curse of the Undead. To this end, you must travel to Anor Londo, and acquire the Lord Vessel." Frampt spoke, leaving Oscar and the others listening in stunned silence.
"I… I-I, I am… I am meant to succeed L-lord Gwyn? What?" Oscar stumbled on his words.
"Tis the fate of The Chosen Undead. The one who would rise to test in these bleak times, and take the mantle. You have preserved your Humanity, and you have rung the bells. As long as your resolve holds strong, you'll fit the title. So too could any other Undead that faces these perils and succeeds. But you. You are the ones that managed, where many others have fallen. And so, it is you who fate has chosen." Frampt explained. Even so, the revelation was far more than anything Oscar had expected.
"I…" Oscar could hardly believe it. But for now, he also had other things in mind. Among them, how his new duty and what he desired seemed to be on a similar path. "You said this Lord Vessel is in Anor Londo?"
"Yes. Those who seek the Realm of the Lords must brave Sen's Fortress, a deadly house of traps. Many have gone before you, but none have returned. Fate has chosen you, but proceed with caution." Frampt warned Oscar.
"Right. Seems my duty and my enemy are on the same path. Perhaps it is fate, or maybe not. But I will face them both regardless. I'll bring the Lord Vessel, and I will bring that fiend to justice as well." Oscar looked at Frampt with resolve.
"I see personal matters are involved as well. But perhaps you are right and it is fate. I wish you best of luck in these endeavors. And that your justice may be swift." Frampt responded.
"I… I did not think a human, and even less an Undead, would be chosen to take Gwyn's place. Can it truly be done? Link the fire and cast away the dark and the curse?" Beatrice asked.
"With the Lordvessel, yes. Once you have it, I will reveal more." Frampt answered. Beatrice had plenty of questions still.
"This prophecy. Was it a plan, or was it always destined for an Undead to be chosen? Did the gods know this? If so, why were the Undead locked away? Hunted down by the church." Beatrice asked.
"There's much I cannot say, but I can say this much. It was not always known that an Undead would be the one. The Undead curse is still a curse, and nothing can bring a true Hollow back. It is no blessing for a mantle, but it was deemed that from the ones that returned from the dead, one with enough perseverance would become strong enough to match a Lord. The truth is that this prophecy was known too late, and before word of it could properly be shared, stigma and discrimination had already spread. Though it is true that many Undead are dangerous, as they are bound to become Hollow. Aside from those cases, there's little that can be done to rectify the views of man. The crowds fuel the fires of hate, and many gods did not accept the idea of an Undead being worthy. As such, the Undead were seen as a disease, to be cast away and forgotten." Frampt explained.
"And you believe differently?" Beatrice asked once more.
"I know for a fact that the prophecy is true. And that you managed to ring the bells is proof. You have chosen the path, and so fate has chosen you in return. Hmm…" Frampt paused as he looked at the trio. "It is perhaps fitting that the Undead chosen would be the one aided by trusted friends. So too was the case with Lord Gwyn. And among them is even a Masked One, a kind of folk that seems to have appeared from the ether."
"Our paths crossed, and have remained intertwined so far…" Eskar stated as he looked at his friends.
"Mmm. If you succeed, I see great things for the future of the world. Farewell. Chosen Undead. I shall remain here, and await thee once you return." Frampt bowed his head.
The trio in response bowed their heads, seeing as their queue to leave. They turned to see the heads of Solaire, Siegmeyer, and the other inhabitants of Firelink shrine peaking around the gate. It seemed they had been witness to the whole conversation with the Primordial Serpent.
"Aah… uh. We are deeply sorry. We were curious, and we couldn't help but listen." Rhea hastily apologized.
"I-it is hardly something I would have expected… It is honestly incredible." Laurentius commented.
"Ugh…" The Crestfallen Warrior seemed dejected, and quietly dragged himself back towards his seat in the stone bench.
"Oh don't mind him. He was hoping you would convince the Kingseeker to go away. But it seems he'll stay here for the time being." Siegmeyer said to them. The group was already moving past the gate to give Frampt some space and not bother him with too many people.
"Still, that you're meant to succeed Lord Gwyn. Could it be real?" Siegmeyer pondered.
"To replace Lord Gwyn. Hmm… Would you inherit the sun? Oh don't worry, I seek my own sun, figuratively of course. But still, would you inherit the Sunlight itself?" Solaire asked.
"I honestly do not know. I don't believe I'm fit for it either. But first, we need to get the Lord Vessel, and bring down Lautrec." Oscar said.
"Then we should prepare. Do you think they will listen? And help?" Beatrice turned and asked Eskar.
"I can only hope," Eskar responded.
"Who are you speaking of? What are you hoping for?" Griggs asked.
Eskar turned towards the others, he wasn't sure if he would be able to promise anything. It was far-fetched already that his idea would yield results. But regardless, he already had decided that he would try.
"With luck. I hope to gather help from other Absolvers. The other Masked Ones." He told them.
A/N: And so begins the beginning of the path to Anor Londo, and oh boy it's gonna be fun. Many things will occur. I wonder which ones you guys expect.
I hope you enjoyed it. Follow, favorite, and review if you so desire. And I hope to see you again. Have a good day.