Ok guys it's been a long time coming but I wanted to upload a chapter for the dark souls series. Now to be fair and warn you, I will twist the story here and there to make my characters fit in a bit, as to why they have the weapons they have, and why they are doing the things they do. Also we still need to meet my last two characters, we should be seeing the next one in the upcoming chapters, but anyway time to proceed into the wonderful world of dark souls.
I do not own the character NPC's of Dark Souls I do however own the four created characters associated with the games story and plot.
Ch. 2 Raging Bull
Suren and Catarina were making their way up into the waterway. Catarina looked back, she could see the bonfire from firelink shrine as well as the hollows that tried to attack them earlier. When Catarina had become undead, that was her biggest fear, losing her mind and becoming a former shell of herself. Catarina turned when she heard the sound of Suren's sword cutting through flesh.
She looked into the waterway to see the body of a dead rat. The rats here in Lordran were definitely bigger than the ones she was used to seeing. However they still shared the same mangy traits, like the patches of fur that was missing as well as the discoloration of the skin. Their eyes were a misty white, and they had a foul odor.
Still that did not stop them from proceeding down the dark pathway of the waterway. Suren had to catch up with her traveling companion and if he held true to his word he should be waiting in the parish where she had left him.
"So what brings you here?" Suren asked Catarina.
"A giant bird." Catarina answered, to which Suren gave her a bewildered look. "I was locked away in the Undead Asylum, and when I escaped this bird just snatched me and brought me here." Catarina explained. "You said you are an explorer, what is there to explore here?"
Suren smiled. "These." She said holding out her right hand. On it were two rings. One was the Darkmoon Séance Ring she had acquired earlier and the other was a ring with a red tear stone on it. "There are this special rings scattered all over Lordran, each one granting different special abilities, I want to collect them all." Suren told her.
Catarina nodded. "So what do those rings do?" She asked pointing to the ones on her fingers.
"This one is called the Red Tearstone Ring. It grants me extra attack power when I'm in a pinch." She said. "The other is the Darkmoon Séance Ring. It allows the user to add extra attunement, great for those who love casting spells. But for me, it will grant me access to the Darkmoons." Suren said.
The two women exited the waterway and walked up some stone steps. They quickly found themselves in the undead burg, and waiting for them were two hollowed out soldiers. They attacked without warning, but luckily Catarina was quick enough to block it with her shield. Pulling out her dagger, she stabbed the hollow through its heart, killing it.
However she was now open to attack from the other hollow. It snarled as it ran towards her. However before it could attack an arrow pierced its skull. The hollow dropped dead as some of its essence were absorbed by both women.
"Thanks." Catarina said.
"Don't mention it. We better keep our guard up, there could be more around here, this an undead town after all." Suren said.
Catarina nodded and of course when they rounded the corner there was another hollow waiting for them. Rushing it, Catarina stabbed it, and pushed its body over the edge, letting it fall down the cliff side. Suren walked up beside her and looked over the edge, before smiling a bit.
However unbeknownst to them, was another hollow soldier. It was in a small room behind them and in its right hand was a firebomb. Taking advantage of the situation it chucked the firebomb striking Catarina in her back. Flames erupted from her back, causing her to scream out.
Suren turn around quick, spotting the hollow soldier. She fired an arrow hitting the hollow in its head, right between the eyes.
"Catarina are you alright?" Suren asked as she placed the bow on her back.
Catarina hissed. "Hurts like a bitch, but I'll manage." She told the blue haired woman.
Progressing forward through a gate of fog, they came up a set of stairs that offered a view of the surrounding area. Catarina and Suren looked up above, and saw a bridge that stretched on for miles.
"I'm guessing that's where we have to go?" Catarina asked.
Suren nodded. "Somehow, I don't see us getting there without much of a hindrance." She said as she let out a sigh, the archer didn't really want to be bothered with the depraved natives of this land.
"What can be so bad about crossing a bridge?" Catarina asked taking a few steps forward.
It seemed like Lordran or whatever gods of fate that existed had an answer for that, as a giant Wyvern landed on the bridge. Its clawed foot almost crushing Catarina. Catarina fell onto her rear as she stared at the beast. Its red scales glistened in the sun as it looked around. It roared out as it flapped its powerful and took flight, disappearing over the bridge above.
Still a bit frightened she scooted back, until she bumped into Suren's leg. Catarina looked up to her, and the archer helped her to her feet.
"Do you understand now?" Suren asked her. "This land is dangerous, so we best be on our toes, if we want to make it to that bridge, let alone the parish."
Catarina nodded, and when she had stopped shaking, they continued onward. They found themselves surround by a large group of hollows. Three soldiers, a crossbow hollow up the stairs behind them, and to there right two spear hollows holding large shields.
"We really stepped in it this time." Catarina said, a small smirk on her face as she gripped her dagger.
"It looks that way." Suren said as she pulled the Gravelord Sword off of her back.
"I'll handle the guys to our front, you think you can handle our friends with the spears?" Suren asked.
"A lot better than I did with those skeletons." Catarina commented with a nod.
Both women nodded and ran off in different directions. Suren cleaved through the first two hollows, spilling the blood on the floor. She dodged to the right avoiding the axe of the hollow soldier. She was going to dash in when a bolt from the crossbow hollow hit the ground next to her foot.
Suren looked back, she had allowed herself to forget about that hollow, a mistake that almost got her killed. She kicked the hollow soldier back and ran up the stairs. Dodging another bolt from the crossbow Suren thrusted her great sword forward through the chest of hollow killing it instantly.
Seeing the other hollow give chase, she swung her blade, sending the impaled hollow flying off and into the other, making both fall over the edge. Suren let out a sigh of relief as she let the tip of the blade touch the ground. She looked behind her into a small room filled with barrels, and there she saw a bonfire, unlit but a bonfire nonetheless.
She looked over to see how Catarina was doing. Catarina wasn't having an easy time as Suren was, after all trying to fight spear wielding hollows with a dagger was not easy. She rolled out of the way avoiding being impaled by a spear. She thrusted her dagger forward only for it to bounce off of the shield.
Jumping back she groaned, these enemies are just mere hollows so they were bound to slip up eventually. Fortunately for Catarina, one of them did as they moved to strike. Seizing the opportunity, Catarina side stepped the spear, as she lunged over the hollow, landing behind him. She brought the dagger back around slit its throat, killing the hollow.
"One down." She said.
Catarina turned only to see a shield coming her way. The impact from the shield knocked her into a crate of boxes, smashing through them. What Catarina didn't know or expect was for the crates to be covering a staircase. Catarina tumbled down the staircase, hitting the cold stone floor with a loud groan.
She sat up slowly as she groaned some more. She could hear the hollow soldier's footsteps as it came down after her. However behind her was a hollow hidden behind a small wooden bookcase. The hollow raised its axe as it prepared to cut through the book case and the ebony thief.
XX
Suren watched as Catarina fell down the stairs, and rushed over to her position. "Catarina!" Suren said catching the hollows attention it turn and thrusted the spear forwards at Suren. The spear deflected off of Suren's great sword and pierced through the hollow killing it. She walked down stairs quickly calling out to Catarina.
"Catarina are you alright?" She asked as she descended the flight of stairs.
"I'm ok." The silver haired thief responded.
Suren looked to see a dead axe wielding hollow. Catarina dusted herself off as she kicked the dead body, and looked over to Suren.
"Ready?" She asked the archer.
"Hold on." Suren responded as she walked through an open door. She found herself on a lower level of the Undead Burg, and more importantly she found someone that frequented this spot often.
Suren spotted a hollow, dressed in dirty, dingy clothes that hung loosely to his body. Of course he noticed Suren as well, and she immediately put herself on guard. Catarina quickly walked over when she seen Suren's reaction.
The hollow looked at both women and smiled. "Well, now." He spoke. "You seem to have your wits about you, hmm? Then you are a welcome customer!" He said.
"Customer?" Suren repeated.
"So you are a merchant?" Catarina asked, in to which the merchant nodded. Catarina walked over. "Got anything good?" She asked.
The merchant laughed. "Why don't you just have a look around, but remember I trade for souls, everything is for sale." He said with another laugh.
"Souls?" She said, and looked to Suren for a hint.
"Souls are the currency and life blood of Lordran. Don't expect to get anywhere far without them." She told the thief.
"I'm still not following, how do I get these souls, let alone trade them." Catarina said.
"Concentrate Catarina, those remnants that you absorbed from the hollows, concentrate on that." Suren told her.
Catarina tried focusing, and she tried for several several minutes, which wore on the merchants nerves if his constant groaning meant anything. Soon she was able to bring forth the remnants of essence that she took from the slain hollows.
Catarina smiled. "That wasn't so hard."
"You'll get used to it, soon everything we do here will become second nature." Suren said as she placed her hand on Catarina's shoulder.
"Just how long have you been here?" Catarina asked.
"Close to two weeks, like I said I'm a traveler, and I'm searching for special rings." Suren was about to explain, before they were interrupted by the merchant.
"Now, don't squander your time chatting! You need to look over my wares!" He told them.
"Well aren't you a rude little man." Suren said with a huff.
"Hmph, go and fall off a cliff." He said waving her off.
Suren was about to respond, when Catarina had advised that Suren wait for her above. Suren nodded and left to wait. Catarina turned her attention back to the merchant and the assortment of items he had for sell.
"Where did you get all of these from?" Catarina asked.
"Eh? My wares? They're stolen of course, what else did you think? Stripped off corpses from people not unlike yourself, and when you lose your head, I'll sell them again!" The undead merchant said.
"Suren was right about you." Catarina mumbled under her breath.
"What was that? He asked.
"Nothing." She quickly said.
"Hmph, well I'm not here for chit-chat, we talk business or not at all." He said.
Catarina looked over various items and found several things. Like talismans and firebombs, both which she bought from the merchant. A key to residential area and a repair box. She looked over the weapons and saw short swords and daggers and clubs. However what caught her attention was the katana, lying next to the merchant.
"How much for that one?" Catarina asked pointing at the katana.
"Ah this one? Ain't she lovely? Her name is Yulia. She's plumb in love with me. You'd never leave my side, now would you, Yulia?" he said rubbing the hilt of his katana.
"Seriously old man, how much for the sowrd." Catarina said trying to call the man's bluff, if there was a bluff to call.
"Ah, you can forget it. I'm all that she needs. Careful, she'll bite your little fingers off! Be kind Yulia, be kind! Nee hee hee hee hee!" The merchant said.
Catarina was sure that this merchant had lost most of his sanity. She traded souls for the short sword as well as the orange stone.
"Thank you kindly. Nee hee hee!" he said to the thief.
She bid the merchant a farewell as she started to walk away.
"Hold on." He called out to her, making Catarina turn around. "Things are getting dangerous in these parts. A horrible goat demon has moved in down below. And up above there is a humungous drake, and a bull demon too. If you stick around this place and it might end up being your grave." He informed Catarina.
"So I've been told." She said. However that's just the bad news she needed to hear, more demons. She was still recovering from her encounter with the Wyvern earlier.
"Well, come back anytime, and we can talk more business. Just kept that other woman away from me and my Yulia, I don't trust her." The merchant yet.
"Suren's nice, a lot nicer than this place that's for sure." Catarina told him.
"Well it's actually quite nice here you now." He said countering Catarina's statement. "The hollows don't care for an old twig like me. But, I've got Yulia….and no one pelts me with stones anymore. You're undead, you know how it is. I was treated worse back home." He said.
"Wait, how did you know I was undead?" she asked.
The merchant chuckled. "I may be old, but my eyes work just fine." He said with a smile.
Catarina nodded and proceeded back to her traveling companion. She walked back up, to see Suren was picking off the other hollows from a distance with her arrows. They chatted about the merchant before resting at the bonfire and healing their wounds. It was here that Catarina learned that she was not the only one connected to the bonfires.
Suren told her that most of the hollows here are linked to the bonfire, that the individual bonfires in Lordran are linked to the special souls found in the keepers of the fires. Each time they rested at one, meant the revival of those they have slain before. Still they had to press on, if Suren wanted to catch up with her traveling companion.
They fought their way through the Undead Burg, cutting down the hollows that attacked them. They came to a stop in front of house and found the door to be locked. When Catarina's master key failed, she used the key she bought off the merchant. It unlocked the door and they stepped in. They walked through the home, seeing ait as nothing special and came out the back and found a chest.
Suren looked at Catarina who nodded, and the thief opened the chest. She was rewarded with three gold pine resins, which Suren explained that it would allow them to buff their weapons with an elemental state for a short time.
Dropping down they found themselves surrounded by more spear wielding hollows, who quickly descended upon them.
"Allow me." Suren said gripping the Gravelord Sword.
Catarina merely shrugged, and Suren dispatched the hollows with ease. Catarina walked down the set of steps and when she did, she froze in place. Her eyes widened when she saw a knight clad in black armor. The armor spiked up in places, like the helmet and shoulders and fauld, and was wielding black sword.
Catarina began to back away as the knight had its back turned to her.
"Catarina what's wrong?" Suren asked, as she observed the silver haired woman's strange behavior.
Catarina quickly hushed the blue haired archer. Suren moved to see what had Catarina so stricken with dread. She too froze in place upon spying the black knight. However there was something else that caught the archer's eye.
"Is that…a ring?" Suren said as she looked past the knight, further down the tunnel.
"A what?" Catarina asked.
"It's one of the rings I was telling you about, but what is one doing here, just lying around?" Suren questioned.
"Maybe he's guarding it?" Catarina proposed.
"Maybe." Suren muttered. " I have a plan." She said.
"Oh no, I don't have a giant sword like you do." Catarina quickly objected.
"Don't worry, I'll fight it. While I distract him, you grab the ring." She said as she pulled out her bow and arrow.
"Are you sure about that?" Catarina asked her.
"I'm going to collect all those rings, and I'm not going to let some measly knight scare me away." Suren said.
Catarina shrugged, she stepped back as Suren took aim. She aimed for the knights helmet and loosed the arrow. The arrow hit the knight, but bounced off his armor. However she succeeded in attracting its attention.
The knight turned and quickly spotted Suren. He advanced quickly making the archer back away, as she quickly swapped out her bow for her great sword. The knight rushed and Suren clashed swords with him. The knight immediately began to push her back as they slowly passed behind the staircase.
Catarina made a break for the ring, as she sprinted down the tunnel. She picked it up quick and looked it over. It was similar to Suren's Red Tearstone ring, except the tearstone hear was blue. She was sure that Suren might know what it was used for, but she would have to make sure the archer didn't die first.
Suren tried to push the knight back, but his strength was greater than hers. She looked back and could see that she was being pushed towards a cliff edge. However when she turned to look back, the black knight kicked her in the gut knocking her on her back.
She looked up to see the knight raising her sword, her eyes widened at the sight. Fortunately for her, Catarina arrived first and delivered a powerful back stab to the knight. The knight dropped his sword and stumbled forward. Suren scrambled out of the knights way as it took several steps forward. Catarina walked up and pulled her sword, kicking the knight over the edge, to his death.
Seconds later both women received some of the knights essence.
"You alright?" Catarina asked as she extended her hand for her to take.
Suren nodded and she took Catarina's hand, so the thief can help her up. "I guess you can say we're even." She said.
Catarina nodded. "I think this belongs to you." Catarina said as she reached in her pocket.
She dropped the ring into Suren's hands so the archer could examine it. Suren smirked after giving the ring a thorough look over.
"It's the Blue Tearstone ring." Suren said. "It's similar to the red version, except instead of attack it grants a little defense. What was it doing here?"
"Who knows?" Catarina asked.
Suren then looked to her. "Here, you keep it. You got it so it's only fair." She said.
"Are you sure about this?" Catarina questioned.
Suren nodded. "Yeah, whatever rings you come across are yours to keep, I already have the one I want." Suren said flashing the Darkmoon Séance ring.
Catarina accepted the ring, and slipped it onto her right index finger. Wasting no more time they began to ascend the tower so they could cross the bridge. They walked through another fog gate that led out onto a curved pathway.
The area was destroyed, the sides of the pathway were either crumbled or missing. The wind picked up blowing through their hair as they looked to one another. They continued across, since their destination was close according to Suren. Still the archer couldn't shake this foreboding feeling she was having.
Behind them sitting on top of the tower they had just exited were two hollows, and one of them was wielding a crossbow. It took aim and fired an arrow. The arrow sped to its target, piercing Catarina's right shoulder.
The ebony thief cried out in pain as she gripped her shoulder. Suren turned as soon as she heard Catarina cry out. Seeing the arrow in her shoulder she looked behind them.
'Fucking hollows.' She mentally cursed.
Suren took aim with her bow and arrow, but the hollows moved back out of range to be hit. Suren cursed the deranged beings as she placed her bow and arrows away.
"Hold still." Suren told her as she gripped the arrow.
Suren pulled the arrow out, and Catarina cried out in pain, a tear sliding her cheek.
"I'm going to take care of those two hollows, you proceed across and heal up with estus." Suren advised her.
Catarina agreed, seeing as she knew Suren could handle two little hollows. Suren climbed the ladder to the side of the tower, and pulled out her great sword. She was definitely beginning to tire of these hollows, they were slowing down her progression.
They charged her like she expected. She dodged the first hollow focusing on the crossbow wielder. She blocked the shot from the crossbow with the Gravelord Sword, taking one of her arrows from her quiver she stabbed the crossbow hollow through its heart, killing it.
She turned swinging the sword cutting through the hollow at its waist spilling its rotted blood. She sighed, this hollow business was becoming more tedious, she hated tedious. A scream took Suren from her thoughts, prompting her to look over to her left.
Suren's eyes went wide as she took notice of a giant beast. The beast was a bipedal minotaur like monster, at least twice Suren's and Catarina's height. It was covered in brown fur and large bull like horns that curved backwards. It was also wielding a giant demonic great axe.
"Catarina run!" Suren shouted.
Catarina did just that, as she avoided the blow from the Taurus demons great axe, however the impact it made from smashing into the ground was great enough to knock Catarina off of her feet. Catarina looked up as the Taurus demon stalked its way over to her. She scrambled to her feet as the Taurus demon swiped at her.
'This was the demon the merchant warned me about!?' Catarina thought.
She climbed to her feet pulling out her short sword. Stepping back she was waiting for the demon to act, so she could hopefully counter it. She looked into the eyes of the Taurus demon, as it studied her, gazing into her soul.
'I've got to be fucking nuts, to try and fight this thing!' She mentally scolded herself.
She snapped back to reality when she noticed that the demon wasn't moving. The next thing Catarina heard was Suren calling out to her, telling her to run back to the tower. It was her only plan, that didn't involve a one hundred percent death ratio.
Catarina took another step back, and that's when Taurus roared out. Catarina ducked as the axe swept horizontally over her head. The debris kicked up, temporarily blinding her, but she turned and ran, with the demon in tow.
Catarina made it to the ladder, just as the shadow from the Taurus demon fell over head. She ducked again as the demon slammed its axe into the tower, knocking a chunk out of the stone structure.
Catarina rubbed her eyes, trying to clear them of the debris that gotten in them. She could feel the hot breath of the Taurus demon breathing down upon her as well as smell its foul stench. Up above Suren acted quickly reaching into one of her pouches she pulled out a throwing knife. She tossed the knife, hitting the Taurus demon in its hard skull.
"Hey you!" She shouted trying to get its attention.
Taurus looked up and snorted at the other woman. It was more interested in the prey it had cornered right beneath its feet. Suren had to think quickly and once again found her hand going to the sword she had come to rely on so much. She looked onto the Taurus demon, she had to be sure about her next move, but then again she didn't have much time to think on it.
Gripping the sword tightly she jumped off the edge and onto Taurus's back. Taurus roared out as it felt the sharp cold steel pierce its flesh. Suren continued to stab at its back as it tried to reach its back to remove her.
Catarina watched as Suren attacked the beast, her eyes wide with surprise. "Suren, are you crazy!?" She asked the archer.
"Instead of standing there gawking, why don't you try attacking!" She shouted as she gripped the fur of Taurus tighter as not to be shaken loose.
Catarina picked up her short sword and tried to run up to the beast, but Taurus knocked her back whilst flailing about. She shook her head, trying to rid of herself of the headache she now possessed, when her eyes spied the ladder. She got up to see her hand was covered in some of the pine resin she had picked up earlier. Remembering what Suren told her about it, she had gotten an idea.
Meanwhile Suren continued to bite at Taurus demon with her sword making Taurus roar out some more. She climbed higher, hoping to kill it with a stab to its neck. However Taurus slammed into the siding the bridge causing Suren to temporarily lose her grip. She slid back down its back holding on with her left hand, trying to avoid the demons flailing arms.
She stabbed at its side, spilling more of its black blood. However Taurus grew anger with her and managed to take hold of her. Without a second thought it threw Suren to the side, against the stone wall of the bridge. It let out an annoyed growl as it picked up its great axe and raised up over its head.
'Catarina if you are going to do something, please do it now.' Suren thought to herself as she tried to get up.
Right before Taurus could kill the archer, it heard a loud war cry. Looking back behind it, Taurus spied the woman from a few moments before. She was plunging down towards it, but more importantly was the weapon in her hand. Her blade was covered in the rampaging arc of lightning, the element looking to be loosed in some form or manner.
Catarina was mere seconds away from stabbing the sword into the demons head, when Taurus grabbed her out of the air.
"No, Catarina!" Suren called out.
Taurus let out a demonic chuckle, as it mused over the fact on how the human was so sure she was about to make the kill. Catarina felt the demons grip grow tighter, and her only option she had left was to throw the sword. She quickly did so, and fortunately hit her mark, striking the demon in its left eye.
Taurus released Catarina, letting the woman drop to the ground. It roared out again as it dropped its axe once more, covering its eye with both of its monstrous hands. Suren quickly stepped out of the demons path, as it continued to stumbled backwards, towards a broken piece of the bridges wall, where it could tumble off the side.
Taurus tried to remove the sword, but the lightning coursing through its left side of its face, preventing it from doing just that. It took several more steps before stopping just short of falling to its doom.
Suren looked over Catarina. "Quickly let me borrow some of that resin." Suren asked of her.
Catarina handed Suren some of the gold pine resin, and applied it to several of her throwing knives. She threw them, each hitting Taurus in its torso, making the beast shriek. Losing its balance, both women watched as the giant bull demon tumbled backwards off the side of the bridge, and to its death far down below.
Suren collapsed onto the floor, letting out a much needed sigh. She looked over when she heard Catarina laughing a bit.
"What's so funny? We both nearly just died just a few seconds ago?" She asked, wanting to know what humor could be found in this.
"Well I was just thinking of how grateful I am, that all of our opponents are clumsy. So far they all seem to have a thing for falling off edges." She chuckled.
Suren thought on it, before she began to chuckle herself. Both women got a good laugh for about a minute, before they began taking in a large amount of essence from the Taurus demon. The essence went from white to a dark black, which Suren noted that meant they had somehow acquired a humanity, that the demon must have stolen off an unlucky passerby.
"Well shall we get a move on? We are almost to the parish, and I would love to get there before nightfall." Suren said.
Catarina nodded as she stood up. It looks like she would be using her dagger again, since her short sword was lost when it went over the edge with the Taurus demon. Catarina merely shrugged and both women pressed onward, hopefully without another major hindrance like the raging bull they had just defeated.
Track list
Taurus demon fight- Taurus demon theme
I hope you all enjoyed this little chapter, I wanted to upload to show that I still plan on continuing the series, and had not forgotten about in the slightest. Also in the next chapter, Catarina will receive the weapon she uses throughout most of the game, as well as Suren receiving a temporary weapon off a certain scaled beast. Any way enjoy the rest of your day, and don't forget to comment with your thoughts, feedback is most certainly welcome.