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Bloodborne belongs to FromSoftware, Horizon Zero Dawn belongs to Guerrilla Games

Chapter 13: The Enemy Stronghold

LOG: Lost City: Data Corruption Moderate

Historian Marjorie Romulus: In all my years studying history, I have never encountered an anomaly quite like the lost Victorian city of Yharnam. History tells us that Yharnam was well known for two things. Being a massive center for healing in Victorian Europe, and the massive plague that forced the city to quarantine itself. It is theorized that this plague is what led to the razing of Yharnam. However, there are numerous conflicting accounts about the city's end. Many say the city was burned to the ground in a last-ditch attempt to stop the spread of the plague. Most historians agree that this is most likely the truth. However, other more fanciful tales exist. Everything from alien invasions to magically vanishing. Most historians discount the conspiracy theories outright. However, one theory that has much more debate around it is the Hunters. Some believe they were a secret order who were formed to protect the city from the plague… Why, though? Why woul- [Data Corrupted]

…/…

Retrieving Aloy's arsenal was slightly more problematic than she would have preferred. For one, reawakening in the Waking World involved her fading into existence next to a wrought iron lamp. For two, the area around her was completely unrecognizable. For three, Cyrus was not with her. However, she did still have the Bowblade. She reattached the Focus to the side of her head and began looking around.

"You're back." The monotone voice of Sylens said. "Good. I've come up with a plan for getting into the Zero Dawn project facility."

"Good to see you too." Aloy muttered.

"Focus, Aloy." Sylens commanded. "Now is not the time to waste on empty niceties. Now, while you've been asleep, I've discovered a weakness in the Eclipse's Focus network. If you can reach the point of transmission at one of their primary war camps, you crash the network."

"Does Cyrus know this?" Aloy asked.

"Yes. He woke up yesterday and explained what happened in the USRC." Sylens answered. "He plans on infiltrating Sunfall itself to get a better lay of the land, as he said."

Aloy didn't respond as Sylens signed off. She just continued working her way through the facility. Fortunately for her, the area she was in had some still active signs pointing her way out of the building. It took some time, but she was able to find the barracks she and Cyrus had performed the transfusion in. A short while later she had exited the building. An old elevator shaft beyond the war room led to an exit. She had to slide down one of the arms of the Horus unit, not that she was complaining. Cyrus was leaning against the rocks when she landed.

"Glad to see you made it out." Cyrus greeted.

"It would have been easier if you hadn't teleported me to some random lantern deeper in the facility." Aloy grumbled.

"Ok, that was my bad." Cyrus admitted. "I can explain how the lanterns work on our way west."

Aloy and Cyrus walked down the mountain path. Their striders were still waiting for them. The two mounted and rode along the road.

"So, how do the lanterns work?" Aloy asked.

"If you rest at one, you and anything linked to the dream will be transported to the Dream. It doesn't matter which lantern you rest at; you will always awaken at the base of the stairs leading to the Hunter's Workshop." Cyrus explained. "Like I explained in the Dream, exiting requires you to rest at one of the tombstones. However, I should have better explained how to determine which lantern you want to rest at. The four tombstones along the stairs lead to different… realities, I guess."

"You guess?" Aloy asked.

"Yeah, they used to lead to different areas of the Hunt. From bottom to top, it was Yharnam proper, the Frontier around Yharnam, Yharnam's secrets, like Yahar'gul and Castle Cainhurst, then the Nightmares and finally, around the side of the building, the Hunter's Nightmare." Cyrus explained. "With some help from our patron, I changed the tombstones so that the bottom one is every lantern still on Earth, while the rest take you to various Nightmares."

"Ok, so how do you determine which lantern you want to wake at?" Aloy asked.

"It's as simple as resting in front of the proper tombstone and willing yourself to wake up at a certain lantern, of course you have to know said lantern exists to waken there willingly. Otherwise, you will exit the dream at the closest lantern to where you rested to enter the dream." Cyrus said.

"Doesn't sound so bad." Aloy commented.

"Other ways to reach lanterns are Death and the Hunter's Mark." Cyrus continued. "Upon dying, your body will fade from the waking world, be rebuilt in the Dream, and awaken with your mind at the last lantern you rested at. The only part that changes is scarring. You will have the scars of whatever injury caused you to die. The Hunter's Mark will deposit any Echoes you hold where you are standing and simply transport you back to the last lantern you rested at."

Aloy nodded in thought. The two continued their ride in silence for a few moments.

"There's a lantern at Maker's End, isn't there?" Aloy asked in realization. "That's how you survived the fall from the top of the tower."

"Yep, and there's one near the coliseum you blew up in the ruins of Colorado Springs." Cyrus said. "I wandered this world for many years setting up lanterns where I thought they would be most useful."

"And the one at Maker's End?" Aloy prompted. "The recording I saw made it seem like you didn't really like Faro."

"That's because I didn't." Cyrus answered. "When Hartz-Timor first went rogue, FAS was the only place where anyone could reliably find the machines. It was also the first place to receive updates about other swarms going rogue. Until FAS gave the equipment to USRC, Faro's tower was essentially the base of operations. To be honest, I think the rapidly growing plague was the only reason that Faro never noticed me when I was in his building."

"Smart…" Aloy muttered.

They rode on. Time never let up on its continued march. They split at a fork in the road. Aloy taking the road south westwards towards the Eclipse's base. Cyrus continued west for Sunfall. The ride through the desert was largely uneventful. The only thing of real note that happened was a passing Eclipse patrol. They paid Cyrus no mind. The Good Hunter shrugged and continued on his ride.

It was dawn the next morning when he finally spotted the city. Sunfall was a tiered city, similar to Meridian. Although, whereas Meridian was built on a mesa with a temple of some sort being its center, Sunfall was built into the side of a mesa with an arena at its center.

The Good Hunter dismounted from his Strider and walked towards the city. He was sure that word would have probably gotten around about him and/or Aloy riding machines. The entrance to Sunfall was a well-built paved road with massive arches every twenty feet or so. Around the outside was a massive camp. It reminded Cyrus of refugee camps from the Faro Plague. However, he had no clue what had led to such a camp being erected.

As he neared, a problem formed in his mind. One that was easily rectified. Seeing as there was no one paying attention to him, Cyrus drank a blue elixir. He smirked as his form seemed to disappear. He hurried into the Eclipse capital. None of the soldiers were able to pay him any mind. However, the large garrison was slightly concerning.

He walked over to a balcony and gazed into the arena below. Several men and women were fighting an equal number of Sawteeth. The crowds were watching the spectacle they assumed it was. Cyrus grunted in disgust at the execution. The men and women hardly looked to be warriors. A fact that rang true as one Sawtooth bit into one of the men.

Cyrus turned, drank another blue elixir, and entered the structure next to the balcony. It struck him as odd as he wandered through it. For one, it was a temple of sorts. For two, the person of importance looked to be a young boy, barely older than five. Third, a priest was speaking something about some traitor to a group of heavily armed men and women from various tribes. Cyrus easily recognized a few of them belonging to the Oseram in the mix, but that was about it. It didn't take a genius to figure out these people were mercenaries.

"-the Sun glare down mercilessly upon the traitor Uthid! To the hunter who brings his head to us shall go a bounty of five hundred Shards!" The priest was saying as Cyrus moved towards the back of the group.

The Hunter barely noticed as he bumped into a dark-skinned woman in the black armor of the Eclipse. He leaned against the back wall and watched as the mercenaries ran out of the room. The boy looked tired, and slightly fearful. Cyrus raised an eyebrow as the priest bowed to the boy before retreating deeper into the building.

"More prisoners than royalty, don't you think? I can't see you, but I know you're there.. The green tent down in Shadowside. I'll be waiting." The black armored woman stated before walking.

Cyrus raised an eyebrow. His curiosity getting the better of him, Cyrus downed a third blue elixir and exited the capital. He walked back out the way he came. He let the elixir wear off as he entered the tent city outside of Sunfall. He saw the curious woman giving some fruits to a small group of children.

"You are quite perceptive." Cyrus stated as he neared her.

"And you aren't as careful as you'd like to believe." The woman said as she stood up and faced Cyrus. "Word has been getting around about you. A machine rider, the strangest armor anyone has ever seen, ruthless yet you still possess something of a conscience. They didn't say you were a cripple though."

"You seem to know my life story. I know nothing about you. How about a trade of names then dispense with the pleasantries and get down to business?" Cyrus stated.

"Vanasha." The woman replied.

"You can call me Cyrus." The Good Hunter said. "And you can tell me why you wanted to speak."

"Very well." Vanasha began. "You don't look like a killer for hire."

"You'd be surprised." Cyrus muttered.

"I'm trying to save Uthid. He's a good man, so of course his death has been ordered." Vanasha continued. "From what I've found, I believe he's hiding out at Greenclimb. I could use some help."

"And you're asking me… why?" Cyrus pressed. "All you know about me is rumors and hearsay."

"You seem capable." Vanasha evaded.

"Capable. Most certainly, then again so do most of the people around us." Cyrus drew his blade and pointed it at her neck. "How about you tell me the truth?"

"Fine. I can't say much, just know that I have friends in Meridian who saw you helping the red-haired Nora girl." Vanasha said. "Of the two of you, they made it no secret that you were the much better fighter of the two."

Cyrus raised an eyebrow. "So, you want to hire me to bodyguard Uthid?"

"And maybe help spirit away the queen and her son." Vanasha requested.

"How integral are the royals to this city?" Cyrus asked.

"It'd cause a fair level of chaos if they were to vanish." Vanasha admitted.

Cyrus nodded and sheathed his sword. He held out a hand to Vanasha.

"You, madam, are in luck. I just so happen to have a need to instill some chaos here. Tell me where this Greenclimb is, and I'll help you save Uthid and kidnap some nobles." Cyrus said.

Vanasha grinned as she shook his hand. "Due east from Sunfall are three dead trees. They mark the start of the Greenclimb. Uthid is likely hiding up along the path. You save his sorry behind and I'll start smuggling the royals out of this city. When you have him, meet me in the Cleft."

"The Cleft?" Cyrus asked.

"A canyon just south of the Greenclimb." Vanasha clarified. "We should be there tonight."

"Tonight, it is." Cyrus said before whistling.

His Strider approached and he mounted.

"Good luck with your royals." Cyrus said as he rode off.

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Data Log TEH-013

Sorry that updates have been so sporadic these past few weeks. I've been in the process of getting my dream job and moving. Life has gotten in the way. However, I still plan to continue writing. This hobby brings me much joy. Updates will just be sporadic for the foreseeable future.

Thank you to all who read this, your feedback and views are much appreciated.

Goodbye viewer; Fare thee well.

End Log S.T.K.