As from the last chapter, Bloody Finger Nerijus and the Ravenmount Assassin have entered the Debate Hall. Yura: Wait.
Yura: If we're going to fight, spare the girl. Yura: She can hardly defend herself.
Reane: ... Yura: We're warriors. Let there be honor in something.
Nerijus: Fine.
The Bloody Fingers and Yura stand off.
The two sides run toward the other.
Yura cuts horizontally. Both of his opponents back off.
Both sides rush forward again, but Yura, whose Nagakiba is as long as a spear, threatens them with the tip of his sword.
Yura keeps Nerijus at bay with his sword, while the Ravenmount Assassin circles around Yura.
With his less-dominant arm he steps back and elbows the Assassin, while using his dominant arm to still keep Nerijus at a distance.
Yura throws the Assassin to the side as he climbs on top of the fallen Red Wolf of Radagon.
Nerijus's daggers are flooded with blood; he then turns the blood at Yura, which harden into a blade.
Yura deflects the blade, while the Assassin jumps up the corpse.
Yura swings at him; the swing is not at an angle to draw blood, but it pushes the Assassin aside so that they tumble onto the ground.
Nerijus steps onto the Wolf's head. He is preparing another blade.
Yura, waving the tip of his sword, pushes aside Nerijus's dagger. He also cuts Nerijus's face, though shallowly.
The Assassin, once more, tries to climb the Wolf, flanking Yura.
Yura slides off the Wolf; he grabs onto Nerijus's ankle in the process. He and Nerijus fall.
Nerijus tumbles on the ground. Yura runs to him, both of his hands on the hilt of his blade, ready to cut Nerijus down.
One of the hostages bangs his head backward, beating his Glintstone Crown against Yura. Yura: Oof!
The Assassin jumps down upon Yura.
In a flurry of slashes from his claws, he rips apart muscles and flesh in Yura's back and shoulders. Yura: Ah!
Yura stabs backwards, only for his blade to meet mist and feathers.
The Ravenmount Assassin is in the air, having leapt after his gambit.
He brings his claws down upon Yura's chest: pectorals and all.
The Assassin puts his claws before Yura's throat. Assassin: It's been fun.
Reane punches her foil through the Assassin's brains. Blood spatters on Yura.
The Assassin, frozen, begins to fall off of Yura's weakened body.
The Assassin's body falls hard on the floor.
Nerijus throws blades of blood at the duo.
Reane forces one of the hostages to stand, by gripping them hard by the crown.
The blades fall upon the scholar. Blood explodes unnaturally from the scholar's body; clearly, this is no ordinary blood.
Reane: Yura, you... Yura: Hah, honor...bit of a running joke.
Yura's arms, in fact all of his muscles, tremble. Yura, not wanting to give it all away: I can't... I... Reane: Shh.
Reane: Yura. Reane: I can do it.
Yura looks at her. A gleam is in her eyes.
Yura nods.
They press forward, surrounding Nerijus.
Reane kicks another hostage up, her foil pointed at his neck. Reane: Get up!
Reane pushes the hostage forward as a kind of shield, her foil menacingly poking out of the side.
Yura stabs forward, pretending he is still strong and a threat.
However, blood noticeably paints his shirt.
Nerijus lunges forward to Yura, but Reane stabs him through the arm.
Nerijus recoils, and steps backward. Both Tarnished are staring him down.
Nerijus throws a blade of blood. Yura blocks it with his sword, with effort. Yura: Hrgh!
Reane tries to push forward, but her hostage tries to stop her, anchoring his feet onto the ground.
Reane presses the tip of her foil on the hostage's spine. Reane: Keep resisting, and I'll ensure you won't walk again.
Nerijus, once more, lunges at Yura, sure now that his prey is weak.
A glintstone crown is thrown at Nerijus.
As Nerijus tumbles backward - the stone crown wasn't thrown too hard, but the suddenness threw him off-balance - Reane throws the hostage to the ground, her foil pointed at Nerijus.
As Nerijus stands, Reane puts herself in a stance, her foil held horizontal over her head, her feet planted on the ground.
It's the Piercing Fang. Reane, lightning fast, exerts every muscle in her body and lunges forward.
The foil lands in Nerijus's heart.
Nerijus's daggers fall. Reane's knees buckles.
Both bodies tumble to the ground.
Yura hovers over Reane. Reane, trembling: I-I, uhhhh... Reane: I misjudged my body's strength.
Yura tries to pull her up. Yura: I didn't know it was possible to misjudge one's own body. Reane: I was known as a quick study. Reane: Very mind over matter.
Yura: In any case, debt repaid.
Rhys rushes into the room. Rhys: What happened? Yura: Someone tried to renege on their deal. Yura: Nothing unusual.
Yura gestures at the hostages. Yura: Rhys... I'm too weak to keep our end of the bargain.
The hostages tremble. Rhys's hand is on his staff, a sword produced; he also trembles. Hostage: Wait... let's talk... Yura: To become a knight, they've killed their fellow Tarnished. Yura: At least one. Yura: If this troubles you, then think of it as tit-for-tat.
Rhys brings the blade down; blood spatters. Hostage: Ahhh!
The heads of the Academy gather in the Debate Hall, which is covered in the blood spatters of the fighters and the hostages. Maester: The Academy has come to an agreement - Maester: We accept Stormveil's protection, Maester: in exchange for some labor over Raya Lucaria's defenses. Maester: Some engineering and defensive projects. Ho-hum stuff.
Reane: Fantastic. We should bring this to Gareth. Maester: ...The castellan of Stormveil isn't aware of this at all? Reane: He doesn't need to.
Reane, to Rhys: I have an idea. Reane: Have you been to the Hold?
Rhys finds himself in the Roundtable Hold. Gideon is awaiting him. Gideon: Ah, the bearer of Rennala's shard? Gideon: Rhys. Welcome to the Roundtable Hold.
Rhys and Gideon shake hands. Rhys: Roderick, I presume? Gideon: ...Yes.
Gideon: But, we haven't met. Rhys: Ah. Gareth informed me of you. Gideon: Sir Gareth, I see.
Rhys: In fact, I am trying to contact him. Rhys: Do you know of any means?
Gideon: You're in luck. Gideon: This is one of the primary purposes of the Hold.
Gideon: The dream of the Hold ties the fates of the Tarnished together. Gideon holds Rhys's hand. Gideon: Give me your finger.
Gareth, in Stormveil. He is teaching a knight on how to bypass greatshields, but he suddenly becomes drowsy. Knight: Sir? Gareth: My head is light. Let me close my eyes for a bit.
Gareth sits on a stool, his eyes drooping.
Gareth closes his eyes.
Gareth is in the Roundtable Hold. Rhys: Gareth! Gideon: ...and, as you can see, you've influenced Gareth's fate slightly. Gideon: But only slightly.
Rhys leaves Gideon and shakes Gareth's hand. Rhys: Good to see you again. Gareth: And I too, Rhys. Gareth: I assume, by magickery, you've somehow summoned me?
Rhys: Yes. Rhys: As the champion of Raya Lucaria, I have a proposition for you.
Gareth, having heard Rhys's explanation and musing: ... Gareth: This is much better than what I had been planning. Rhys: Which was?
Gareth: I planned to take the knights through the Ravine only. Gareth: But, with the lift, we can save our strength.
Gareth: Only, Leyndell will most surely be keeping camp around the lift. Rhys: ! Gareth: Come now, you didn't think of that?
Gareth: And yet, having two battlefronts over one is preferable. Gareth: Particularly if one is not expected.
Gareth: I take the offer. Gareth: The Academy's terms are good in my eye. A strong ally strengthens me.
Rhys: There's only one issue - Rhys: The lift is currently inoperable.
Gareth: How long will it take to fix it? Rhys: That's not the issue.
Rhys: The lift works, Rhys: but, as the scholars have informed me, it's a matter of right.
Rhys: They used to have it, a medallion depicting the Erdtree's warriors on it. Rhys: But no longer.
Gareth: A medallion with the Erdtree? Gareth: Half of that, is in Fort Haight. Rhys: What?
Gareth: I think. Gareth: I saw the thing, and Kenneth was making a row about it.
Gareth: Said it established his right to audience with the Erdtree. Rhys: Then the other half?...
Gareth: Ask Kenneth. Rhys: Right...
Gareth: Someone trustworthy will lead an expedition to Raya Lucaria, Gareth: but I am heading to the Ravine.
Gareth: Should I send someone to Kenneth? Rhys: No, I will go. Rhys: But it will take me a while.
Gareth: We have time. Now that I know we can speak in this manner. Gareth: Alright then - Gideon: Wait.
Gideon, to Rhys: My man, Ensha, will accompany you. Gideon: He's tight of mouth, but he knows the land well.
Ensha stands in a corner of the Hold, away from the group, listening. Rhys: I welcome all the help I can get, Sir Roderick. Rhys: But where will he meet us...? Gideon: He will return to his body soon and head to Fort Haight.
Gideon: I wouldn't worry about haste. Gideon: Ensha is very capable.
Rhys: Alright. Rhys, bowing: Gideon. Gareth.
Rhys fades. Gideon, Gareth, also slightly bowing: Rhys.
Rhys returns to the Debate Hall. This time, Morrowe, Latenna and Nepheli are with Reane and Yura. Maester: Well? Rhys: The castellan of Stormveil has agreed. Rhys: They will send a contingent soon, to repair the bridges and pick up any other labor for a nominal fee.
Maester, pointing to the Wolf's carcass: Good. We can begin with getting rid of that. Reane: What is this dog doing here?
Rhys: Dog...? Wolf, you mean? Rhys: This thing tried to kill me. Reane: You killed this dog?
Reane: Dog killer. Latenna: Ugly-hearted... Morrowe: Sick man.
Rhys ignores them. Rhys, to the Maester: Did you explain the predicament with the Lift? Maester: Yes.
Rhys: Gareth says he knows where half of the medallion is. Maester: Wonderful.
Maester: But, you should know that medallion was split in half for a reason. Maester: And, understand no one hitherto reunited it.
Maester: It seeks a worthy master. Rhys: ...
Rhys: Yura, will you stay here? Yura: Yes.
Rhys: Are you in any risk of being invaded again? Yura: Well, if I stay in company, I have nothing to fear...
Yura: But, truly, the attempt to sever one's fate produces a wound. Yura: Fate, just like the body, exerts all its energies into healing the wound. I will not be attacked, in the same way, for a while.
Maester: We would defend Sir Yura, but, by happenstance, our gates have been brought down. Rhys: Hmm.
Yura: I don't need anyone worrying about me. Go on.
Rhys, to the Maester: Does the Academy keep a stable? Maester: No.
Maester: We have tried to tame lobsters, however... Reane: What do you need a horse for?
Reane: We'll attend you. Rhys: Are you sure?
Reane: Of course. You won't make it alone. Morrowe: Are you sure?
Reane: The whole land is full of dangerous creatures. What are you talking about? Morrowe: On whose horse shall you go, m'lady?
Reane: Oh. Nepheli: On mine.
Nepheli: I will stay here, to meet Gareth's contingent and watch over Yura. Nepheli: I don't mind leading men.
Morrowe: Wonderful. Then Rhys and Latenna will ride on Champion, and you and I shall ride on Swift.
Reane, peeved: What kind of game are you playing... Morrowe: Have I offended you? I think you've misconstrued me.
Rhys bows to the Maester. Rhys: Sir. Maester, whispering: May you have luck, finding the Primeval Current. Reane and Morrowe mount horse; Morrowe tries to help Reane up, but Reane rejects him.
Rhys, Latenna, Morrowe and Reane ride down Raya Lucaria, waving at the Cuckoo soldier they had met before.
The Tarnished wind through Liurnia, passing by ruined structures and mangroves.
Reaching the coast leading to Stormveil Castle, the Tarnished stop to dry their horses and rest.
The Tarnished enter Stormveil. Rhys, to a knight: Where's Gareth? Knight: He departed yesterday, for the Ravine.
Rhys: Were knights sent to Raya Lucaria? Knight: Yes, same as when he left.
Rhys: I don't know why he was so hasty... Knight: He believed you would find the medallion quicker than he would reach the Ravine. Knight: Help yourself to anything in the castle.
The Tarnished depart from Stormveil, heading down to Stormhill.
They pass through Gatefront Ruins.
They rest at the Third Church of Marika. Dusk is coming.
They ride slowly through Mistwood, trying to sneak past the Runebears and other fauna.
They arrive at Fort Haight.
A sentry at the height of Fort Haight sees them. Sentry: Rhys is here! Open the gates!
Kenneth Haight comes out. Kenneth: Rhys! It's been a while. Rhys: Kenneth. Kenneth: Kenneth Haight.
Kenneth: Gareth sent a messenger ahead of you. Rhys: He's a good man.
Rhys: May I see your half of the medallion? Kenneth: No.
Rhys: ...Come again? Kenneth: It's a reflection of my right to the Erdtree. Kenneth: My right.
Rhys: ...But we need it to use the Grand Lift. Kenneth: Mmm. Rhys: So the Tarnished may pass to Leyndell. Kenneth: Mmm.
Kenneth: But I'm not Tarnished. Rhys: Really now. Kenneth: Yes.
Rhys: Why did you even open the gate? Kenneth: Sir, I have a great deal of respect for you. Kenneth: But you lack any for me.
Rhys: You don't believe in mutual cooperation? Kenneth: I believe in dealing.
Kenneth: Rhys, you are a mighty knight. Kenneth: Enter into my service and learn the workings of the Erdtree's true Order.
Kenneth: I'm in...dire need of competent help, now that those two brothers have gone to Stormveil. Kenneth: As a satellite, of Fort Haight.
Rhys: I - n- Reane: Well, what are your terms?
Kenneth: I don't extend this offer to you. Reane: I am but Sir Rhys's humble page. Reane: An obvious promotion in my mean life.
Reane: My master has been given many offers, and he is mulling on them. Reane: But a lord as great as you, well... Kenneth: Mmm.
Kenneth: I would demand of my knight to stay at Fort Haight, and see to the defenses here. Kenneth: And then, to tame Mistwood.
Kenneth: I do not like those...things, roaming around. Reane: Hmm. Hmm. Hmm.
Reane: And yet, the runebears protect Fort Haight, no? Kenneth: But not for my sake. Reane: True, true.
Reane: But yet, besides the bears, which are quiescent, what else threatens your fort?
Kenneth: Madam, do you know how I took this fort? Reane: You...exhorted Gareth and Gaer to take it, and by thy encouragement they had the heart to take it.
Kenneth: Then you see it. Kenneth: What if someone tries to take it, again?
Reane: ...This fort in the middle of nowhere? Kenneth: Yes!
Kenneth: And once my situation in Fort Haight is secure, then I will take my mighty warriors to Stormveil, Kenneth: to name it, Castle Haight!
Kenneth: From Castle Haight, to Kenneth Academy! Kenneth: Or Academy Haight!
Kenneth: And once everyone sees the power and magnanimity of my rule, Kenneth: Leyndell, Capital of Haight!
Rhys is unbelievably frustrated. Morrowe: This must be a joke.
Reane slaps Morrowe in the chest. Reane: How dare ye, knave! Sir Kenneth Haight, has no light dreams!
Reane: It is clear to me, and to Sir Rhys, that thy rule, yea, is just, noble, and absolute. Reane: But, if I have a suggestion:
Reane: You need Sir Rhys little here, but out there, gathering the Tarnished under your cause.
Reane: I understand the Tarnished - as myself - are...unsavory help. Reane: And yet, if they follow your example, by Rhys, yea, they will shine as true as gold.
Reane: In Sir Rhys's noble crusade, Tarnished will line up to Fort Haight, to follow the example of this great hero. Reane: And they thereby will find that he has no other noble origin than you, Sir Haight.
Reane: In the same sense the stars give obeisance to the sun, they will all kneel before you.
Kenneth: ...You speak true, and wisely. Everyone else is stunned by the unprecedented levels of ass-kissing.
Kenneth: Rhys, you have chosen a most excellent page. Reane: Yes.
Kenneth: Then, these are my terms: Kenneth: Join me, and do what is necessary to recruit Tarnished to my cause. Kenneth: And, as my emissary, you will be second to enjoy my right to the Erdtree, after I have partaken in it.
Reane looks at Rhys. Rhys notices and enters the conversation. Rhys: ...Deal.
Kenneth: Then let us rejoice, with ceremony, and feasting, and - Rhys: Please, Sir Haight, there is no time.
Rhys looks to Reane nervously, trying to recover from his indiscretion. Rhys: The...ah... Rhys: The Tarnished are...a-moving and we must move quickly in the... Rhys: ...proselytizing.
Rhys: However, we will send for you before we ascend to Altus Plateau. Rhys: To allow you your right to be first before the Erdtree.
Kenneth: Right. Then let us move quickly! Kenneth hurries back into the fort.
Morrowe, Rhys and Latenna look at Reane. Reane shrugs.
Morrowe: He's going to die on that plateau. Reane: Better for us, right?
Kenneth presents the Tarnished the medallion. Kenneth: Here it is! The greatest treasure of Fort Haight!
Rhys holds his hand out. Rhys: May I? Kenneth: Of course. Kenneth: But, kneel first.
Rhys half-heartedly kneels. Rhys: Oh Lord Haight, I devote myself to your cause. Kenneth: Then, this is yours.
Rhys inspects the half of the medallion. Rhys: It's...oddly warm. Kenneth: It radiates with the Erdtree's power.
Kenneth: The Grand Lifts operate solely on belief and belief alone. Kenneth: Medallions were issued by Marika herself.
Kenneth: That is why this was halved: Kenneth: to ensure only the faithful are allowed on the Altus Plateau.
Kenneth: Seeing no Tarnished was worthy of the Erdtree, the halves were sent to the edges of the land.
Kenneth: One half was brought here, protected by rugged Mistwood,
Kenneth: and the other was brought to Fort Faroth, in Caelid.
Reane: You're kidding. Latenna: That isn't true.
Morrowe: What? Kenneth: Aye, 'tis true. Kenneth: To show the Tarnished, the burden of lordship is heavy.
Morrowe: What in the world is a Caelid? Reane: Caelid is hell.
Reane: Trees that bleed, earth like flesh, and monsters...
Reane: And, even worse, warriors that refuse to die, after eons of torment. Reane: If every world has a religion, Caelid is every hell.
Kenneth: Aye. 'Tis the very symbol of the Shattering's harm.
A view of Caelid as it had once been: a beautiful land of rolling green, with rises dotting the landscape and a lake in the center of it. Redmane Castle looms in the background. Kenneth, in card: Caelid, at the furthest ends of the land, once attracted unusual folk. Kenneth: It was a second home for the Carians and those who studied glintstone, Kenneth: as well as those dragons that submitted to Marika's rule.
Redmane Castle proper. General Radahn, at the battlements, with his banners unfurled in the wind, so that the lions depicted are dancing in the sky. His knights return his cheer back to him. Kenneth: This was the domain of General Radahn, son of Rennala and Radagon, the Battlefield's Lion. Kenneth: Here, he was taught by the mages at Sellia, and paused the movement of the stars, so as to boast that he controled fate itself. Kenneth: When Radagon absconded with Marika after the Elden Ring's shattering, Radahn built his forces here. Reane: Radagon?... Absconding with Marika?... But, Rennala?... Kenneth: Don't interrupt me!
The defense of Leyndell, against Radahn, hereby known as Lion's Defense of Leyndell (which is very confusing, as the possessive does not mean Radahn did the defending but merely that he was part of the defense, as the aggravator; but, you know, NAMES). Depicted is the Veiled Monarch Morgott successfully repulsing Radahn's forces. Kenneth: Radahn and his knights marched to Leyndell and put it to grievous siege; they would have taken the royal capital had the Erdtree not provided a protector: Kenneth: Morgott the Grace-Given. Kenneth: Radahn retreated, from Leyndell through Limgrave, back to Caelid, licking his wounds. Kenneth: In pursuit of him was...
A statue of Malenia, as worshipped in a world outside of the Lands Between. Malenia has two aspects, one "masculine" and one "feminine". The first aspect depicts her in intimidating battle armor, different than the one she actually wears in the game, with piles of corpses beneath her; she has a frightening aspect as a god of death and psychopomp. The other aspect depicts her without any armor whatsoever, in fact she does not have her prostheses on. She is in the image of Pietà , holding a wounded warrior and bringing him to heaven, returning to her reputation as a psychopomp. Kenneth: The One-Armed Valkyrie, Malenia, deformed daughter of Marika and Radagon. Kenneth: Smelling the blood of a wounded animal, and not keen to fighting the Lion at his full strength, she hunted Radahn, for her brother Miquella's sake. Kenneth: A cripple and a coward she, nevertheless, was a formiddable foe. For she was born an empyrean, one able to succeed Marika.
A statue of Radahn, worshipped outside of the Lands Between: Same as Malenia, Radahn has two aspects. The first is that of a bloodthirsty berserker, leading men into battle. The other is that of a wizened sage, with a staff in his hand; he most resembles Odin, someone able to gleam knowledge from the stars. Is Radahn, in reality, old? No, but it doesn't matter with idols. Kenneth: And so Malenia, from Leyndell, marched southward, putting the capital's enemies, grown arrogant from Radahn's assault, to the sword. Kenneth: Liurnia to Limgrave, she bested those lords who joined Radahn's cause. Kenneth: I admit, by her feats, she is a mighty hunter. Kenneth: But the Lion had a cunning plan.
Malenia and her Cleanrot Knights march to Redmane Castle. Kenneth: The Valkyrie assumed she would fight a valiant and fair battle at Redmane Castle... Kenneth: The fool.
The Cleanrot Knights routed, pushed back into the lake of Caelid (which, I honestly don't want to make up a pre-Aeonia name for, it's just "lake"). Kenneth: But Radahn pushed them back into the lake through a stratagem. Kenneth: He slaughtered them, and stained the sky-blue lake with blood.
The lake of Caelid, with slain knights and fallen swords floating on the surface. Kenneth: And on the waters, the two great warriors...
Malenia, dancing on the waters of the lake, her blade flying like a waterfowl. Kenneth: ...clashed.
Radahn, swinging his immense swords, cleaving his enemies in two; the force of his strikes are so great as to cause waves.
The famous image of Malenia, holding her arm as if wounded, watching a battlefield full of fallen swords overcome with dusk; General Radahn, arms folded and adorned with his most sumptuous armor, towers over her, on the quiescent surface of the lake. Yes, the original image looks like the battle took place on the Wailing Dunes. This is me taking artistic liberty, because it's difficult for me to reconcile the fact that the Scarlet Aeonia took place on the lake, but the image is on the Dunes. Considering the very idea of "Elden Ring" and the Souls series is about time blurring fact and fiction, I'm going to "excuse" myself by saying that the image in the game's intro is also artistic liberty, by some someone. And, to clarify, because I'm aware of this concept called "powerscaling", no, I'm not glazing Radahn; again, this is Kenneth taking artistic liberty as well, projecting his own biases, because the event took place so long ago. Kenneth: And, Radahn was victorious.
Radahn, his face twisted with rage, points his finger to the stars.
A star, as if from a dream, shoots down from the sky, by Radahn's urging.
The star slams into Malenia, in a great explosion. Smoke and vapor pours into the air.
Malenia, recoiling from the pain, in a fetal position. Kenneth: And yet, at the end, Malenia was worthy of becoming a god.
Malenia, in the womb of the void, transforms, her body becoming more like the petals of a flower. Kenneth: She made a pact with the Outer God of Rot,
Malenia, as a flower. Kenneth: becoming the Goddess of Rot.
The famous image of the Scarlet Aeonia blooming, on the sky-blue lake.
The air becoming fouled, scarlet and bleeding, as the reeking fumes fill the sky.
Soldiers becoming mutated, melted, their flesh rotting and transformed into mold.
The waters of the lake becoming spoiled, turning brown-red, the color of blood and dung.
The same image as the panel two pages ago, only now, the lake looks like the Swamp of Aeonia we recognize too. Kenneth: And so, Caelid is the way it is today.
Reane: ...Hold on, isn't Marika the goddess? Reane: How can there be two goddesses?
Kenneth: Fie! Girl, do you not know art?! Kenneth: You are supposed to clap and say, "Fine story, Sir Kenneth!"
Kenneth: But you hit on a hard truth: Kenneth: goddesses are plenty, but without the Greater Will and therefore the Erdtree's succor, they are all beneath Marika.
Kenneth: And Marika herself, is nothing without the Greater Will. Kenneth: So this conflict, reveals.
Rhys: So...is it difficult to traverse Caelid? Kenneth: So long as you eat and drink only what you carry with you.
Kenneth: Everything that grows there, is poison. Kenneth: And anything that can grow on that poison, becomes a mockery of the Erdtree.
Kenneth: Oh, and I heard it reeks there, too. Kenneth: Worse than runebear droppings.
Reane, to Rhys: I've seen the things from Caelid. Reane: ...We may need more strength.
A knight enters the scene.
It's Ensha. His armor is adorned with the gilded bones of an ancient lord. Reane: Ah, Ensha. Reane: Roderick's man.
Ensha walks by Reane. Reane: ... He sticks his hand out for Rhys to shake. They shake hands. Rhys: Sir. Ensha: ...
Rhys: You look capable. Rhys: Our destination is Fort Faroth, in Caelid. You know the way?
Ensha shakes his head.
Rhys: Wonderful. Kenneth: Well, hold on...
Kenneth: I can't have you, my vassal, die in that cesspit... Kenneth: there's no honor in that.
Kenneth: But, to have a knight in my keep survive that nightmare... Kenneth: Looks quite good on me, hmm?
Kenneth: I'll send a missive to Stormveil, asking for some help. Kenneth: I'm sure Gareth left some skilled knights there.
Rhys: Thank you, Rhys: erm...
Rhys bows. Rhys: Lord Kenneth. Kenneth: Ho ho ho! I like the sound of that.
Kenneth: Head north, and wait at the Smoldering Church, right before the wall of fire. Kenneth: If no one comes by morn, then you can proceed on. Rhys: Thank you, again.
Ensha gives Reane a meaningful look, as they disembark.
The Tarnished depart. Kenneth waves them off. Kenneth: ...
Kenneth: Ah. The cannibal.
The Tarnished travel northward, through Mistwood.
Past the Third Church of Marika, they ascend the cliffs leading to Caelid, as they had in the march.
The Smoldering Church in the distance, still burning in the night. The wall of fire is in the distance, also burning.
The group draw toward the church. Reane has a curious look on her face.
Reane touches her finger on the church's walls. It singes her skin. Reane: Ah! Morrowe: Watch it, will you!
Reane: How does this church still burn? Reane: And why even set a church on fire?
Rhys: ...If we go by the logic of these lands, Rhys: fire is heretical.
Reane: Meaning? Rhys: This church is heretical. Rhys: Therefore, it must burn eternal.
Reane: And yet, what happened - Morrowe: I hear footsteps.
Rhys: Ah, the - Reane, whispering: Cannibal!
Everyone looks at one another. Except Ensha, obviously.
Everyone dives behind the church walls, hiding themselves.
Morrowe: What about the horses?! Reane: They prefer people meat, not horse meat, right?
Latenna: What about me? Reane: Oh like you'll get off scot-free!
Morrowe: Why don't we knock their brains out? Rhys: Hold on a bit.
A corpse is being dragged into the church.
The person dragging the corpse, is a woman, dressed in a Finger Maiden's outfit.
She rests the corpse on a pillar of the church.
She raises her immense cleaver, nearly the length of her body.
She brings it down, chopping the corpse's feet.
Her teeth bared, she hungers for the flesh of her victim.
Like an animal, she tears through the meat of the feet. Blood paints her chin.
Rhys and Morrowe prepare themselves behind the wall, ready to leap at her.
Rhys accidentally kicks a rock.
She notices, and looks in their direction.
She grabs for her cleaver.
Anastasia: Do you want some? Anastasia, the Tarnished-Eater waves the foot at them.
Everyone gives Anastasia a strange look.
Reane: ...No? Reane: Why would you think that? Anastasia: Usually people run away from my people-eating tendencies.
The Tarnished sit in a circle in the church. Latenna: Should I try it? Morrowe: No, and I'm offended you would ask.
Anastasia, to Reane: What are you doing around these parts? Reane: We're looking for something in Caelid.
Anastasia: Are you heading south, Redmane-ways? Reane: Um. Reane looks to Rhys. Rhys: I believe we're heading north.
Reane: You know your way around here? Anastasia: I get most of my food from Caelid.
Reane: ...Why? Anastasia: Easier to hunt down. Anastasia: Meat's more tender.
Anastasia: But, you have a lot of Tarnished unable to die. Anastasia: Some are old. Very old.
Reane: ! Reane: The rot doesn't kill you? Anastasia: No. The rot is part of the Order.
Reane: I... Reane: I don't begin to understand... Anastasia: Which bit?
Reane: Order, part. Whatever that means. Anastasia: That's the part you don't get?
Anastasia: The Order has strict rules over how body, mind and fate conjoin. Anastasia: Everything else is everything else.
Anastasia: Concepts of life and death don't factor into fate - it's just fate, those don't matter. Anastasia: A tree dies in a different way than a man, but they both have "fate".
Anastasia: I mean, nothing's the same after the Shattering, but... Anastasia: that's how it's supposed to be.
Anastasia: But rot - decomposition, aging, disbanding - is necessary to the Order, else nothing changes.
Rhys: So...rot was designed to counteract stagnancy? Anastasia: Yes.
Anastasia: That's the Golden Order: an incorporation of a lot of different ideas, for contriving immortality. Anastasia: Neat idea. Anastasia: Shame it didn't last.
Reane: So why is Caelid the way it is? Reane: Shouldn't rot lead to regeneration?
Anastasia: ... Anastasia: Dunno!
Anastasia: Maybe there's just too much rot. Anastasia: Clogging the arteries.
Rhys: Do you know why this church is on fire? Anastasia: To ward off the rot.
Rhys: But if rot is part of the Order, why does it need to be warded off? Rhys: One defends against unnatural consequences, no?
Anastasia: I mean... Anastasia: If I get sick, that's natural, right? Anastasia: Simply because it's allowed, does not mean it's good.
Rhys: This is completely confusing. Anastasia: Simply because there is a place and purpose for bad things, does not make them less bad.
Reane: That makes no sense whatsoever. Anastasia: Take it up with Marika.
Rhys: ...Do you eat Tarnished to collect their runes? Reane: ? Anastasia: Correct.
Anastasia, pleased with herself: I've gotten qu-i-i-i-te a bit this way. Rhys: Are the only ways to get runes by eating and trading?
Anastasia: No. There are quite a number. Anastasia: ...You're quite warm. You have some runes on you, don't you? Rhys: Yes, Rennala's.
Anastasia whistles. Anastasia: Wow. Anastasia: How'd you get it? Rhys: I...peeled it off her...egg.
Anastasia: That's another way - if you see it "written", you can then receive its "impression". Anastasia: Like getting ink on your hand.
Anastasia: Or, the Erdtree passes it onto you. Anastasia: If it recognizes honor in combat.
Anastasia: Though...the Erdtree is finicky, from what I gather.
Anastasia: In any case...the last reason why I eat Tarnished is... Anastasia: ...I don't really want them to suffer for so long.
Anastasia: It's not what Marika would want.
The corpse Anastasia brought in twitches. Corpse: Ohhh...
Anastasia, picking up her cleaver: Sorry, I usually cut the head clean off 'fore they wake up.
Reane runs off, nearly about to vomit. Reane: I'm going to be sick.
The Tarnished from Stormveil arrive, on their horses. Tarnished Knight: Sir Rhys, I presume? Rhys: Ah, yes. Rhys: You all are a welcomed sight.
Rhys: Though, I'm sorry for what you will have to undertake today. Knight: Don't apologize at all.
Knight: Sir Gareth set us aside for your aid, Knight: and whoever departed, are curious about these forbidden lands.
Rhys: Well, I'll certainly call you brave fellows.
Reane: Anastasia, do you want to join us?
Anastasia: For what reason? Reane: Just asking.
Reane: There's safety in numbers, and you're not likely going to find a band of Tarnished entering Caelid any time soon.
Anastasia: ...You're thinking of my interests? Anastasia: That hasn't happened to me, in ages!
Anastasia: Of course I'll go! Anastasia: You wouldn't succeed otherwise!
Rhys: Alright. Everyone ready? Dawn breaks.
The Tarnished head out. They see the wall of fire. Anastasia: I imagine the Redmanes set that up, to stop the rot's spread.
The Tarnished pass by the gaps in the wall.
The Tarnished enter Caelid; the soil, notably, changes color and textures. In fact, the soil seems to "bleed" under the horse's hooves. Rhys: Holy...
The iconic view of Caelid from the Rotview Balcony. From the cliff the Tarnished stand on, they can below them are ruins, with thick, fleshy black fungi around the masonry. In the distance one can see white hills, only the hills are white with fungi; in closer inspection, the hills are actually the prone forms of giants, their bodies decaying completely. Behind the giant, one can see the Swamp of Aeonia, a lifeless, festering sore of a lake. Then, on a leafless, branchless tree, is a giant crow, its skin scabby, its feathers patchy, and its head out of proportion to its body. The crow seems to have teeth.
A view of the fungi-infested ruins.
The face of the giant.
The crow.
The crow begins to sing. One expects the melodious song of birds; instead, the crow's song is ugly, ominous, and somehow violent. It sounds like as if those same precious songbirds are singing inside of a blender. Everyone looks concerned.
The Tarnished look wearily on. Tarnished: ...I'm leaving.
Other Tarnished: You're...returning back to Stormveil? Tarnished: Yes.
Other Tarnished: But... the expedition... Tarnished: My curiosity is sated. Tarnished: And there isn't enough compensation.
Rhys: ...Well? Rhys: I don't hold it against anyone.
Another Tarnished: Though my desire is nil, Another Tarnished: my willingness to look like a fool is less.
Another Tarnished: Also... Another Tarnished: I wouldn't want to give Gareth a reason, not to trust me.
Knights: True... Rhys: Alright. Let's do this wisely. Rhys: Will anyone want to act as a scout?
Some Tarnished: I think I'm the swiftest one here. Rhys: Alright. Thank you.
Morrowe, to Reane, quietly: I'm sure I'm the swiftest... Morrowe: But I'm not the swiftest volunteer. Reane rolls her eyes.
The scout moves down the road on their horse; in view is a Minor Erdtree, golden in the backdrop of a blood-red sky.
The scout, before the bend, slows down. They pull out a telescope.
They look into the telescope.
They see an Abandoned Coffin.
Moving the telescope to the west, they see the Divine Tower of Caelid, which is in the Dragonbarrow.
Moving the telescope lower, they see the Forsaken Ruins.
A red, piercing eye enters the telescope.
The Tarnished lowers the telescope, trembling. A Giant Dog towers over them; it resembles a Tyrannosaurus Rex rather than a dog, its heads and legs out of proportion from the rest of its body.
The Giant Dog opens its mouth.
It devours the Tarnished and horse, the horse's head and the Tarnished's arms.
The Tarnished screams; though the horse is clearly dead, the Tarnished struggles to pull their arms out of the Dog's mouth.
The Dog bites down, snapping the arms, then chopping them off.
The Dog chomps on the Tarnished again.
The Dog bashes the Tarnished against the cliff, in an attempt to make them stop struggling.
The other Tarnished, justifiably, are horrified. Latenna readies her bow.
She fires three arrows.
The arrows fly into the Dog's eye; it opens its mouth, the Tarnished falling like a ragdoll.
The Dog charges at the Tarnished, shaking the ground.
However, before the Dog can reach them, Corpses, which had been lying flat on the road the entire time, rise, awakened by the hubbub.
Reane: Uh - Reane: What are those?! Anastasia: Tarnished - who have given up, and whose fates are not to die.
The Corpses stumble toward the Tarnished, holding their arms out for them. A Corpse grapples a Tarnished.
The Corpse bites into the Tarnished's face, destroying it. Tarnished: Ahhhhh!
Anastasia: Ah - and they may hunger for runes yet.
The Dog slams its mouth to the ground, using its chin like a battering ram. It topples the Corpses as if they were bowling pins.
Latenna fires arrow after arrow into the Dog, but it doesn't flinch from pain, even after being blinded in both eyes.
Morrowe pushes Latenna aside, as the Dog rushes straight at her.
Latenna in his arms, Morrowe watches as the Dog swerves and dives right at them.
Rhys, having casted swords above his head, is too late. Rhys: Damnit!
Ensha's hands. He is gripping onto his weapon of choice: the Clinging Bone. These consist of two skeletal hands with their arms; he holds the hands in his, using the pointed ends of the humerus to punch into his foes.
Ensha jumps, landing on the Dog's head.
He raises his arms up, obscuring the Erdtree in the background.
He thrusts the Clinging Bone into the Dog's nostrils, puncturing the very, very, very sensitive nerves in there.
The Dog, insensible to every pain but that of its delicate nose, winces and has tears in its eyes; blood pours out of its nose.
It shakes its head, knocking Ensha off. However, it stops its charge.
Rhys waves his staff; the dark-blue swords fly. They pierce the Dog's head, but not too deeply.
Rhys thrusts forward; where the swords left marks, he punches the lance deeper into the Dog's skull, puncturing the brain.
The Dog, not needing much of a brain to begin with, rushes at Rhys, while brain matter oozes from the wound.
Morrowe jumps on the Dog's back. Morrowe: Mutt...
Morrowe brings his scimitars deep into the Dog's brain. Morrowe: SIT!
Morrowe carves his scimitars down. The Dog pauses, as blood spills from the top of its crown.
The Dog slumps over and dies.
Meanwhile, Reane is thrusting into a Corpse. Reane: Hah!
The Corpse receives her foil.
It falls down, without a fight.
Reane: These are... Reane: very paltry fellows. Anastasia, who has cut a few herself, is chewing on a hand. Anastasia: Yup. Anastasia: They, in their despair, make easy snacks.
The Corpses are disposed of. Rhys: Who have we lost? Tarnished: Just Gwen and Albert. Tarnished: But...
Tarnished: I... um... don't want to be here. Another Tarnished: I too. Rhys: That's fine. You've seen enough.
Whoever of the Tarnished want to leave, leave. Rhys: One expects the Tarnished to be of better stuff, but... Rhys: it's hard to blame them.
Morrowe and Ensha give the other the cold shoulder, though Ensha saved Morrowe's life, technically. Morrowe: ...Feh!
Rhys, to Ensha: Quick thinking, there. Rhys: Do you...have any recommendations on how to proceed?
Ensha scratches his head, trying to figure out how to make his point across. He's not used to being in groups.
He points forward.
He is pointing at Reane. Reane: Hmm?
He also points at Latenna.
Rhys: ...Do you mean to say, you want to proceed with Reane and Latenna?
Ensha nods.
He points to his eyes.
He makes the pose of an archer.
Rhys: ...Ah. Rhys: You're saying they have good eyesight, and Latenna can shoot from afar.
Rhys: Then, Reane, you and Latenna take Champion. Reane: ...Alright.
Reane looks at Ensha wearily, not shaking off an unspoken discomfort with him. Reane: You lead the way.
Ensha and Reane proceed forward, with Reane at the reins of Champion.
Ensha gestures for Reane to come.
Reane presses forward, and surveys the landscape around her.
Reane sees, right after the bend, the Abandoned Coffin the deceased scout had seen. A camp is also in view, which the Scout did not see. This same camp is being ransacked by Giant Dogs and Giant Crows, digging out of the soil for more Corpses to eat. Perhaps, if they had known the creatures made their residence here, there would have been fewer casualties.
Reane, returning to Ensha: In an abandoned encampment, there are three... Reane: and two by the cliff. Reane: But none on the road.
Ensha points sharply to himself, signifying to follow him, then.
Ensha presses ahead, Reane follows. Reane: Got it.
Ensha and Reane wind through Caelid, moving north to the Dragonbarrow while avoiding the terrors in the land. One can see Latenna marking the ground behind them with arrows.
In the skull of the giant's corpse in the distance, one can see the Kindred of Rot poking out. They resemble anthropomorphic centipedes, with human arms and legs poking out of their many shrunken limbs.
Aeonian Butterflies flutter near Reane's shoulder. Reane: I wonder how these can live here...
Reane looks to Ensha. Reane: Oh.
Reane: I have been spoiled by more... Reane: gregarious hosts.
Ensha lets this one slide. He looks onward, resolute in his mission.
They jump the chasm, before Dragonbarrow.
At a higher vantage point, Ensha points at Latenna.
Latenna fires an arrow.
The arrow, in Reane's vision, lands near the band of Tarnished.
Reane: They're following. Ensha nods.
Ensha points at Reane. Reane nods, and rides forward.
Reane and Latenna push forward on the road, passing underneath the immense Divine Tower of Caelid.
The pair stop. In a pond, they see the wings and scales of a familiar foe.
Before Reane, and below the hill, is a great number of infant dragons, smaller than the ones she has seen before, but still larger than her. Reane: By Marika. Reane: Of course this is called Dragonbarrow.
The dragons look warily at Reane, territorial yet neutral at the moment.
Reane looks behind her. Reane: Hey, dragons ahead -
Ensha, on his horse, charges into Reane; her horse, in pain and in panic, rushes forward. Reane: Hey! Reane: What are you -
The dragons, seeing Reane move forward, roar.
Reane enters the nest of dragons.