According to the myths and folklore throughout the lands, there was an age of ancients in which the world was a very strange and different place then it is now. A time in which Everlasting Dragons ruled the world, fog filled the air, and trees reaching into the sky as far as the eye can see. And the very concepts that now tie our world together held no meaning. But then the first fire appeared, and brought forth the first few concepts, the dualities and disparities, that now compose the world of today. Heat from the fire's presence, and cold from it's absence. Life from it's softly glowing embers, and death from even it's most brilliant of flares. And of course light, which was born from the fresh flames, and dark which became omnipresent in it's absence.
But there were a few fires burned brighter then others, souls if you would, that lingered within the flames. The brightest among these souls were obtained by a few select individuals, and they would be the ones to give rise to change. One was the first of dead, Nito who brought forth the rules of life, and the entropy caused by time. One was the Witch of Izalith, who sought to control the full extent of the flame, and passed her powers to her daughters to ensure a legacy of sorts. One was Gwyn, the Lord of Sunlight, who united entire armies under his singular rule, bringing together powerful knights from across the land. And there was another ember, one that burned with a faint glow, which was obtained by a rather fragile being known as the Furtive Pygmy, but there's no real legend about what happened to it, or what it even did.
With the combined powers of the three strongest lords, they fought the Everlasting Dragons, Gywn using his lighting bolts to blow apart their stone skin, the Izalith witches brewed firestorms that torched the twisted trees and clouded the skies, Nito used his powers to bring death and disease to a world that had experienced neither. And in a twist of fate, one dragon, known as Seath the Scaleless turned against his own kind. And with all that had occurred, it's safe to assume that the Furtive Pygmy perished in the war, possibly before getting the chance to do anything meaningful. That is how I see the old legend, but legends and myth can be very difficult to discern from fact and fiction.
And that brings us to a more present time, one that is recognized as the Age of Fire. But as of now, the flame is dying, and the embers flicker across the land, serving as a haunting reminder of how finite our time is. With the end of the Age of Fire, will come a new era of darkness, one that the world may not recover from. But as the Age of Fire dwindles to an end, a cursed mark, the Dark Sign, begins to creep across humanity. And with the Dark Sign, comes the curse of unending death, and eventually, the depravity of one's humanity, or the Undead, as they are commonly called. At least, that's how the story goes, and perhaps there's some truth to it as well.
At first, I only ever looked upon these tales as superstitious stories, fairy tales for children, or fantasies for fools. But then I saw the Dark Sign for myself. And in time, I saw the Dark Sign on myself, and I realized that the tales of old may be more fact then I had first thought. But before I could take a closer look at those old legends and learn more about them, they began to round up and send away those bearing the sign, to various asylums across the world. Now, I repeat the tales I've heard, the stories I once scoffed at, and yearn to recollect every piece of the various fables that compose the history of our land, if only to make sense of this nightmare that has settled on our once peaceful lives.
But in this tiny cell, all I can do is sit and recite my personal life in an attempt to recall who I am if only to prevent myself from becoming one of those hollows. My name is Noella, a girl birthed from a commoner's family of an average build, with a head of wavy black hair, and from what I can recall in the water of those days, I had black eyes too, and that I have lived most of my life as a wanderer. And this trinket I keep with me, a pendant of sorts. I don't know why, or how, but it holds great meaning to me, so I keep it on my person at all times. And yet, I can remember so little else beyond that. Perhaps my end is at hand, but I will not allow my mind to rot here, not until I can see the sky's light extinguished for the last time, if only to spite the ones who sealed me here.
It was at this time in my festering that the sound of creaking metal caught my attention, followed by a corpse dropped into my cell from above. Looking up I saw a knight looking down upon me. What was his meaning, and why was he here? Was he a rebel of some kind, or looking for an army of sorts? Whatever his desires may be, the corpse had a strange light emitting off of it, as if a way to compel those who can see it to look closer. And compelled I was.
After taking a moment to observe the strange light, I stood up, and crept closer to the corpse. Within the light was a rusty key that looked to be in as much poor shape as the cell doors that hold me now. Out of curiosity, I moved towards the door, and slid the key into the slot. To my surprise, it actually worked, and the door opened. With the path opened up, I made my way down the hall. There were strange messages on the ground, referring to things like cameras and peculiar buttons that called forth attack actions.
I payed no mind to their ramblings as I counted the hollows I passed by. One was in it's cell, praying for aid of some form. The key that I had could not opened it's lock, so I left it alone. Another was standing in the hall itself, it's face in it's hands. It was in no state of mind to be of much use, so I left it alone. The next one was dead and dangling off of the bars lining the walls. Behind them was a beast like none I had witnessed before, aimlessly pacing back and forth in it's own section of the asylum. Clearly, it was the one responsible for this hollow's broken state. And not one I intended to follow suite on. There was yet another hollow leaning against the wall at the end of the hallway. Perhaps in thought? Perhaps in sorrow. Either way, it was not in my way, nor was it my concern.
Coming up to some stairs, I ascend them, finding another rambling message, and a hollow that was squatting in a pool of water. Moving the the shallow side of the water, I made my way through a tunnel, and found a ladder at it's end. At it's top, there was yet another message. This one made more sense, as it talked of a bonfire, which could be seen from a short distance away. Moving my cursed hand over the embedded sword, the Darksign started glow, and the bonfire lit up with a soft glow. At least, that's what I think happened. Either way, the bonfire's soft embers danced around it's cinders and the bones that had been amassed there. Despite their presence, the flame was soothing, and I was compelled to sit there, resting and reflecting on my circumstances. It was at this moment that I remember that I had a broken sword in my hands. I had been so tortured by my imprisonment, and then enthralled by freedom, I had forgotten I had such a blade in my possession. But how, and why did I have it. I do not recall grabbing it, or breaking it. Did I grab it in a moment of madness? Was I really so close to becoming a hollow myself? The idea makes me shudder.
After gathering my wits, I stand up and steel my nerves. I move away from the bonfire and back to the tunnel, with the Dark Sign on my hand active. Dropping down the chute, I land in the water, my body rippling with pain from the landing. With a moment of hesitation, I kneel down and focus my will into the Dark Sign. When I regain my consciousness, I find the bonfire behind me, and a giant door in front of me. Apparently, the Dark Sign can enable me to return to bonfires. But what other effects may it have, besides resurrecting the dead owner, and an emergency escape?
After a moment of thought, I move up the staircase and towards the door. It's tall metallic structure has aged, it's blue paint giving way to a rusty yellow. With some effort, I manage to pry it open. On the other side, I see a large open area. Pillars and pots on both sides, a message on the ground near the center of the ground in the middle section of the room, and another door on the opposite side of where I stand. Moving forward, I let my curiosity take control, and I read the message. Instead of more nonsense that I was accustomed to seeing, it only said a single phrase. "Get away!" Before pondering what it meant, a thunderous sound boomed out near me, and before me was a monster towering out of the now dust filled arena.
It's first order of action was to slam it's mace down with a vertical motion. I managed to avoid it by running out of the way. Without waiting, I ran in and started stabbing it with my broken sword, but as expected, a broken weapon is no weapon at all. It's broken, jagged edges barely scratched the beast's thick hide. It then turned it's mace upside down and plunged it into the ground, forcing me away. As I moved in to try striking again, the monster pulled it's mace out to the side, and swung it in a sweeping motion, blowing me away. As I stumbled to my feet, I could see the pillars around the area break under the weight of it's swings. Realizing that I had no effective way of hurting it, I used the Darksign to rebirth at the bonfire.
After awakening at the bonfire, I wandered the room, looking for an alternate route through. Aside from the tunnel leading down to the cells was of no use to me. Following the left side of the tunnel's exit, I found a rusted gate that reminded me of my cell. Unfortunately, the gate didn't have a key hole of any kind, making it into a dead end. Turning around, I made my way past the staircase and to the opposite side of the room, which laid barren of any doors. With only one way forward, I turn towards the metal door, and once again ascend the staircase.
Opening the door once again, I quickly made a backstep, looked up. There stood the monster. A towering demon with a thick hide, and a mace that's equally large to match it's girth. There was no way I could fight such creature with my hands. And if I was to die, I'd prefer a more fair fight. Peeking through the gap in the door, I scanned the room for routes. On the left side, torches caught my eye, their light shining off of a rusted gate like gold. Looking up at the beast one more time, I steeled my will and ran straight towards the torch lit route. Running full speed at the path, I noticed the gate rising upwards, as if opening itself for me. Not questioning this convenience, I ran under the arches and past the pots as the beast crashed down with an all to familiar thud. Dashing past the entrance, the gate closed behind me, as if on cue, and just as the beast swung it's mace too. Taking a backstep, and not taking my eyes off the gate, I observed the creature from the safety of the tunnel, and the creature stared back at me from beyond the gate. It's eyes fixating on me. This was no mindless monster ambushing out of instinct, but an intelligent creature that's hunting those who are out and about. But I must wonder why?
Turning around and making my way through the tunnel, I made my way down the stairs, ignoring the demon's glare along the way. Upon reaching the bottom, there was a room with water in it, a message to my left, and a bonfire to my right. As if by instinct, I place my cursed hand over the pit and lit the bonfire, and proceeded to rest, pondering how I could kill such a creature without any tools to use. After a moment's respite, I stood up, made my way across the water and to the message and read it. "Get your shield!" The message seemed to know more about me then I did. Did I have a shield? What other gear did I have before coming here I wonder. Turning towards the entrance of a nearby opening, I saw a hollow with a bow looking at me, and a glowing light off to the left. Without provocation, the hollow whipped out an arrow, and pulled it's bow string back. Recognizing the action, I quickly hid behind the wall that I crept out of. The arrow straying from my original position and hitting a wall instead. The hollow then fired several more arrows afterwards at the wall, before finally stopping.
After waiting a few moments after the volley of arrows stopped, I moved out from the opening, and began to sprint down the open path and to the shining light, which glowed off of a corpse of a broken undead, and next to that was another message. Pillaging the corpse allowed me to get a leather shield from it, which was strangely familiar. Putting it on my right hand and storing my broken sword away, I walked forward and read the nearby message. It's strange words held little meaning, but I understood the importance of a shield. Putting both hands onto my shield, I charged down the hallway, intent on taking the hollow undead out. The hollow ran as I approached, and at the end of the hallway, it turned left and fled up a staircase. Following the hollow, I ran past another glowing light and charged after the hollow. At the top of the stairs, the hollow turned around, it's path blocked by a strange wall of mist. Unable to flee, the hollow turned and stood it's ground, defiantly firing arrows as I approached. With both hands on my shield, I bashed the shield into the hollow's face several times over. When I grew weary and my energy ebbed, I backed off, and blocked the hollow's retaliating arrows, before rushing and bashing once again, finishing it off with a rush that ended with me smashing the shield over the hollow's head, putting it out of it's misery, and with it, an essence leaving it's fresh corpse, and entering into my body.
Turning around, I head back down the stairs and make a right turn to check out the glowing light I passed over earlier. It was another corpse, and pillaging it gave me a scimitar. It's another strangely familiar item. Moving the leather shield to my left hand, and placing the new scimitar on my right hand, I gave the new weapon a few swings to see how it worked best. With a few wide swings, a surprising twist and slice attack, I found the weapon to be most admirable. After gaining some confidence with the new toy, I went back through the opening, and up the stairs to see the mist wall. After staring at the mist wall, I approached it, and after hesitating for a moment, passed through the white light that obscured the beyond. Arriving on the other side, the wall that once obscured the path vanished into nothing. Looking around, I could see a room behind a broken door, too dark to see clearly, but with just enough light shining through to reveal a knight resting inside. Looking to my left, I see a familiar area, a large metal door with faded blue paint atop a staircase on the lower floor. On my level, the floor splits off into branching paths. On the ground was another message, this time rambling on about buttons for backstepping and rolling. On the left was a path that led to a ruined staircase, with a glowing light out of reach. Heading back around taking the alternate path led me to a staircase.
Eager to return the bonfire, I headed down the stairs and found a door. Upon opening it, I recognized where I stood; at the door that once was closed off. Passing through and taking a seat at the bonfire for only a few seconds, I quickly stood up, and raced back up the stairs. Eager to continue on, I made a sharp right turn and ran up the next set of stairs, only to be met with a giant boulder rushing me down. Staggering to my feet, I turned around to see what the boulder had crashed into, and to my surprise, the wall that once stood there was broken down. Heading inside, I came face to face with a knight. He seemed to recognize me at least, so perhaps he was the one who threw that corpse down earlier on? He talked as though he was dying, and that he would soon lose his mind. He then asked if he could ask me for a favor, since we are both undead. After staring at the knight, who was resting on the rubble, I decided to answer yes to his question.
He spoke of how he had failed his mission, and how there was a legend in his family that spoke of how the undead are supposed to be chosen. By leaving the asylum and embarking on a pilgrimage to the land of Ancient Lords and ringing the Bell of Awakening, one would understand the purpose of the undead. With his request fulfilled, he talked of dying with hope in his heart. He then handed me an Estus Flask, which is some kind of undead favorite, and a key that seems to be for another part of this asylum. He then spoke of how he must bid me farewell, and that he would hate to hurt me after death. Turning around to leave, I see the round metal sphere that crashed into me earlier, and proceed to make my way out of the sealed room. Upon leaving the room, I started to head down the stairs, when I heard a slicing noise rip through the air. Turning around and heading back into the room, I found the knight in his death throes, fading away into dust as his essence seeped into me.
Turning around, and heading back down the stairs, I rest at the bonfire to mend my wounds, before standing up once more. Setting the Estus Flask to an easy to access location, I pull it out and take a drink. It's warm substance flows through me, as though it's a warm liquid light flowing through my weary body. I now understand why the knight called this an undead favorite! I quickly start to chug it until it's reservoir runs dry. Upon taking the last drink, I notice it's empty, holding it upside down as only a few pitiful drops fall out, I shake my head in disappointment, and rest at the bonfire to mourn the loss of a satisfying treat. Upon standing up from the bonfire, I noticed a glimmer coming from the flask's location, and to my joy, it was restored to it's former glory! Without hesitating, I drank the flask dry once more, and took a seat at the bonfire.
With the satisfying and refreshing feeling of Estus flowing within me, I went back up the stairs, slowly, and ready to roll. As I walk, notice that I am emitting a small light in these dark corridors, and I wonder why that is. Heading up the second flight of stairs, I see another hollow staring me down. That must have been the one responsible for that metal sphere rolling me down then. Walking towards the hollow, it suddenly lunged at me. It's sword hit my shield, with my body feeling the blow as though it was putting all of it's force into that attack. As it prepared to swing the sword again, I quickly slash the hollow, once to push it back, and again to drop it, and once more for good measure, striking a wall in the process. Moving forward, I found another door, and used the key that the knight gave me to open it's path. I press on, ignoring the other messages, and coming out to a massive opening leading to a view outside of the asylum.
I had no time to admire the view as two hollows rush me from the right. I backed up as they approached, the closest swinging it's sword and whiffing by a long shot. As they close in, I move in, and before they can bring their swords across my chest, I sliced them first and flipped away from them. I then prepare to jump at them for the finishing blow, but one of them manages to hit me, and force me to back off. They then creep closer, one that struck me in front, the other one trying to flank my left side. As the first one prepares to attack, I swing first, before quickly swinging again to take out the other offender. I then go to the path they came from, and see another hollow with a bow. With my shield, I close in, blocking the one arrow it fires, before doing a spinning slash that cuts through the hollow once, before bringing the blade down the hollow's body, taking it out. Looking over my shoulder on the left side, I see another wall of light. Ignoring it, I move through an opening in the asylum, heading inside from another angle.
Inside, I saw a hollow standing in the dark, with a sword and a shield at it's disposal. The hollow stood at attention, and stared me down as I looked at it from across the room. As I got closer, it lunged at me, thrusting it's sword outwards. Dodging to the left, I begin to slice it several times over, but this hollow was a grade stronger then the others. It did not fall with only a few strikes, and after overexerting myself, I lacked the energy needed to move properly. In trying to back away, the hollow took this opportunity to thrust it's sword into my stomach. The wound drawing blood, as the sword was pulled out. As the hollow prepared to stab me once more, I rolled away from it, narrowly avoiding the blade. I then tried to use the spinning double stab, the hollow survived, and once again tried to slash at me, only to miss as I dodged away. I then rushed in and to slash at the hollow. The first strike was blocked by it's shield, but the second strike interrupted it's attack, and opened it up for the finishing blow. After the fight was over, I checked my wound, and noticed that the surrounding skin was rotted.
Taking off my hood and my coat, I stepped closer to the torch light and realized that my entire body had rotted away. Removing my manchettes more or less confirmed it too. I had become hollowed monster, and never knew it. But how long was I like this, and why didn't I notice sooner? Or did I notice before, and blocked out my memory of it? Pulling up the Estus Flask and cautiously taking a single drink, I feel rejuvenated, and to my surprise, my wounds have closed up, restoring my body and spirit to peak condition. At least as far as wounds go. Being hollow seems to be another problem entirely, and not one that can be solved by drinking. Putting my coat back on, slipping my gloves on, and pulling up the hood, I head towards the location the hollow was guarding to see that it's also a locked door, but not one I can open. Turning around, I leave the area, and head towards the white light that was.
Heading up it's stairs, I find myself at the wall of light, and pass through it. On the other side, I see a path leading no where, except down, where the demon is waiting, and looking up at me. Without waiting too long, I move forward and drop down towards the monster, plunging the scimitar into the back of the creature's head, before pulling it out and leaping off it's head, and dropping down to it's feet, and slicing it's stomach once. At that point, the creature had finish it's recoiling and started to turn it's attention to me, turning it's club head side down. I roll as the creature strikes the ground with a sweeping strike. I then roll to the beast and slash it's leg once, before the creature tries to strike back with a sweeping attack, narrowly missing me as I backstep away from it. I then strafe the creature, waiting for an opening. I see that opening when it turns it's club upside down to smash the head of it's weapon into the ground. I move in, ready to roll, but I overestimated myself, and was crushed under it's weapon, my bones cracking as I bear the weight of it's weapon. In retaliation, I slice it's stomach twice with my scimitar, when it begins to bring it's club back. Like a fool, I try to roll far too early, and get hit by the it's club for my troubles, the strike hitting my head and sends me hurling away, blood flying out of my mouth and nose from the impact and internal damages. Still, I stumble to my feet, my chest thoroughly crushed, and my head a throbbing, bleeding mess, just in time to see the beast bring it's weapon over it's head. Narrowly avoiding the club, I roll away to put some distance between me and the weapon, before heading straight at the demon. As I get close, I slash at it twice over, when the creature begins to take to the sky. Not able to attack the creature from this disadvantage, I back away from it, at which point it slams down at the same location it started.
Realizing the weakness in this attack, I move in to strike the creature again, twice more on the stomach, before it swings it's club around again. As it does so, I roll between the strike, and move in to strike again, but I missed by a fair margin, the throbbing pain in my head causing some misjudgement on the distance. As the creature takes flight, I strafed the landing site, before rolling away just before the time of impact. At which point I rush in once more to attack the creature twice more, rolling away from the beast's club smashing attack and attacking another two times. With a final slash, strike the creature, it rears back in agony, before kneeling down, and finally crumbling to dust as it falls at my feet, a key falling from the demon as it begins to fade. And from it's remains, I find a strange black sprite laying in the dust, as if it was a prize that came from within the creature itself. After resting for a moment, I take a drink from the Estus Flask, and I feel my wounds mend themselves, and my head's throbbing pain go away. At the same time, I feel a surge of essence come from the creature's dusted remains.
Making my way across the arena, I decide to try the new key on the door, and with some effort, manage to push the door open, and see the outside of the asylum from a new perspective. Snow covered mountains as far as the eye can see, and in front of me, a path leading to some ruins, with only a few traces of snow littering the stairs and the ruins themselves. As I go through, there's a single message on the ground on the only path forward. "Good job. Go straight ahead." A simple enough message. As I ascended the snow sprinkled stairs, I pass by the ruins and graves that line the sides of the path. And at the peak, I see the valley range below, and clouds that dot the sky above. At that time, an awe inspiring view, which was cut short with the arrival of a massive crow, which arrived with it's talons spread wide. Sweeping me up by my shoulders, it flew across the valley with no issue. As it carried me, I recalled the legend that the knight spoke of, and I began to wonder if this was the part of the prophecy he spoke of. If it was, then this jail breaking escapade of mine may have gotten a fair bit more complicated.