We're back to the end of the Storm's Defense of Leyndell. Well, if one thinks about it, it ended with the God-Devouring Serpent attacking the Erdtree; you would think that's the most notable memory anyone would have of that day, but the Serpent always kinda does that. Still, it is fairly strange that these events would coincide with one another, but I think, for historical purposes, "Storm's Defense" makes more sense as Leyndell made an active defense against the Banished Knights. Or, if Leyndell and the Erdtree are symbolically linked, then the Serpent thing would be more significant. But "Serpent's Defense" wouldn't work because it would be confused with the big defense at the very start of the Shattering. Anyway. Fun little ramble. The view is of the God-Devouring Serpent's body on the highway leaving the northern gate.
The body rapidly retracts backward, as the God-Devouring Serpent retreats from the Erdtree, to heal.
The Serpent's head shoots back rapidly from the highway, kicking up massive clouds of dust. Some figures are obscured in the dust, leaving the Capital through the highway.
It's Gareth, Rhys, Morrowe, Latenna (on Maurice), and Gideon's knights. Reane and Yuina are conspicuously absent. Gareth is on Stalwart, and Rhys is on a horse supplied by Gideon's knights; Morrowe is on foot, because he's not important at all in the grand scheme of things. Their hands block the dust from kicking into their eyes.
The dust is too much; the Tarnished stop, coughing the dust out of their lungs.
They watch the Serpent recede into the distance. Rhys: Wh...what... Rhys: What is happening?
Gideon Knight: That's Rykard's snake, eater of the Erdtree. Gideon Knight: For us, it's a godsend.
Gareth: How were we... Gareth: It was hopeless to begin with...
Rhys: What? Gareth: Taking Leyndell. Uniting the lands. Gareth: That thing. That serpent is a god unto itself.
Gideon Knight, to Rhys: He's a shardbearer? Gideon Knight: Are his brains not working?
Gideon Knight: Man, I've been here for decades. Gideon Knight: I've seen Leyndell assailed many times.
Gideon Knight: I've seen this plateau filled with Tarnished before. Gideon Knight: You thought you were the only one?
Gideon Knight: Get out of your funk, man. Gareth: I just don't understand. Why even try?
Gideon Knight: What else are we supposed to do?! Gareth: I don't understand!
Gareth: Why were we born to fail?!
The knights of Gideon and Morrowe are not sympathetic. Latenna and Rhys are more sympathetic, but they are nowhere near as emotional as Gareth.
Gideon Knight: ...That's it. Gideon Knight: I don't have the desire to hand-hold anyone.
Gideon Knight: Rhys. You have a debt to Gideon. Gideon Knight: Keep the horses.
The knights of Gideon ride off. Rhys: ...
Rhys: Gareth. Rhys: ... He doesn't want to say "Things will be okay" to a grown man. He doesn't really know what to say.
Gareth: Rhys. Gareth: Why did you join battle?
Rhys: Well... Rhys: I thought it would be a good try.
Gareth: Rhys, so many men and women died today. Gareth: And you didn't say a thing.
Rhys: But... Rhys: Isn't that what they were born to do?
Gareth wants to get angry, but he sees Rhys makes the more logical point. Instead, he falls into despair. Gareth: ...I just can't comprehend it.
Rhys: Did you actually think we would succeed?
Gareth: I had people putting their hopes in me. Gareth: I had men who put all their heart into battle.
Rhys: That's your fault: Rhys: Men do what men do. Why question what anyone does?
Gareth: ... Gareth: So, what now?
Morrowe: You two are the ones they want to kill. Morrowe: You should flee.
Morrowe: Don't return to camp, either. You see how those men turned on you? Rhys: Morrowe.
Rhys: Frankly, I'm surprised you didn't. Rhys: I thought you wanted to join Leyndell?
Morrowe: Did you see their men? Morrowe: "Attention, sir!" "Hail, sir!"
Morrowe: They're not men, they're stone. Morrowe: I think that Morgott is a charlatan.
Rhys: What will you do now, then? Morrowe: That's the question I wanted to ask you:
Morrowe: Did you see Reane?
Rhys: ...No. Not in the panic. Rhys: Is she...your... For whatever reason, Rhys hesitates to say the word "girlfriend".
Morrowe: What? No. Morrowe: We're friends.
Morrowe: I mean, how far can a crippled woman go by herself?
Morrowe looks at Latenna. Morrowe: To be fair, you have the dog. Latenna shrugs.
Morrowe: I want to make certain that she's okay. Morrowe: But, yes, that's my advice: flee.
Morrowe: That Morgott...only speaks in the language of violence. Morrowe: In the eyes of a former pirate.
Rhys: ... Rhys looks at Gareth, who is haunted by doubt. Rhys: That works for me.
Rhys: Gareth. Come with me. Rhys: I intend to travel the base of the volcano, in search of a sorceror.
Gareth: ...That mountain, where that snake retreated? Rhys: Yes.
Rhys: I suppose us shardbearers should stick together. Rhys: I'll feel safer with you.
Gareth: ...Alright. Gareth: You have my shield.
Gareth: By then... I'm sure the Plateau will be quiet, Gareth: and we can find a way to leave.
Rhys: ...Ah. Rhys: I hadn't thought of that.
Morrowe: I like it here. Morrowe: Not wet, and not many graveyards. Morrowe: Gloomy.
Rhys: That will have to come later. Rhys: Morrowe. Latenna.
Morrowe and Latenna wave back. Morrowe: Cheers. Rhys: Good fortune for finding Reane. Rhys: She's dear to me too.
Rhys: Right. Let's go...there. Rhys points. Gareth: That's in the direction of Leyndell.
Rhys: Then there. Gareth: That's north. The mountain is in the west. Gareth: You can see it in the horizon, even.
Rhys: Well land doesn't all go straight, does it?!
Rhys: If you're Mister Compass, then you guide us. Gareth: ...Alright. Gareth: Let's find a place to rest.
The Serpent is retreating from Altus Plateau, about to cross the gap under the Bridge of Iniquity.
Knights jump or slip from the Serpent's scales, landing on Altus before the Serpent retreats.
These are champions of Praetor Rykard, each wearing one of his rings.
At the Writheblood Ruins, quiet and humble in the moonlight.
A portal, looking like a wound, appears over the ruins, pouring blood over the destroyed masonry.
From the blood, the heads of Mohgwyn's champions swim.
A Tarnished enters the Castellan's Hall of The Shaded Castle. They address an unseen figure. Tarnished: Lord Morgott - Tarnished: "The defense has ended. The cessblood stirs. Tarnished: "You heard the serpent scraping above your castle. Tarnished: "And, there are two shardbearers walking about."
A view of the Castellan, Maleigh Marais, seated at the end of the Castellan's Hall. His champion, Elemer of the Briar, stands behind him with the Marais Executioner's Hall. Tarnished: "Your night is long. Tarnished: "I will give you double for each Recusant, and anything for a shardbearer." Maleigh: Fetch my litter, and my icon. Maleigh: We leave immediately.
Henricus and other Recusants wind through the Writheblood Ruins.
Blades of blood are thrown at the Recusants; one lands, causing the Recusant to explode in blood.
Varre and the Bloody Fingers are camping at the Writheblood Ruins. Varre: Salutations, fellow vultures. Varre: Care for a tango in this moonlit night?
Henricus and the Recusants prepare for battle. Henricus: Scoundrel - Voice, offscreen: Halt!
Bernahl, helmed, walks between the groups, bearing the Devourer's Scepter. As someone who was considered worthy to be Elden Lord once, his bearing is stately and majestic. Bernahl: Idiots. They're in the right here. Bernahl: We're trespassers, on their territory. Bernahl: And how many rocks kick around your brain, wanting to get killed before our mission's over?
Bernahl: Varre. Varre: Bernahl.
Bernahl: You know? Varre: Yes. Bernahl: Then repeat it to me, so I know you're not playing cute.
Varre: Two shardbearers. Bernahl: Aye. Two.
Bernahl: It's been ages since there's been one, wandering around. Varre: Shards of the Elden Ring can't be that rare, can it? I heard they're given to any poor sod.
Bernahl: Do you know where they are? Varre: No. Bernahl: Where will you look?
Varre: The woods.
Bernahl: Then we'll take the highways.
Varre: Go wherever you like. But I can't guarantee you'll keep whatever you'll steal, in this kind of night.
Bernahl approaches Varre.
Bernahl raises his scepter, attempting to bash Varre into a pile.
He swings; someone blocks him. The ground beneath them cracks.
Bernahl notices the hand is scaly, reptilian like a dragon's. Bernahl: Ho...
A reveal of Eleonora the Bloody Finger; only her right hand is grotesque, deformed into the shape of a dragon's. Bernahl: You have a fondness for dragon communion, I see.
Bernahl: You've brought out the cream of your crop. I recognize the ardor of the Pureblood Knights.
Bernahl: And, I concede, we're all adults here...
Bernahl: But if you touch even a hair of my pride or my prey, Bernahl: your end will be by my hand, Bernahl, Beast Champion. Bernahl: Soon.
Varre is a little unnerved.
Bernahl, to the Recusants: Alright, gather around me.
Bernahl brings his hand, with Rykard's ring, to the sky, blotting out the Erdtree shining in the horizon.
The ring shines in a red glow; one can see the Erdtree dim, as the power of the Serpent severs the Erdtree's weaving of fate.
A giant serpent is summoned from the ground, coiling around the Recusants.
In one mouthful the serpent swallows them.
It sinks into the ground, melting.
Varre: How inelegant. Varre: Well. We should also get moving.
Varre snaps the nail on his middle finger.
An abnormal amount of blood flows from his finger and pools beneath the Bloody Fingers' feet.
The Bloody Fingers sink into the blood.
Rhys and Gareth ride southward from the fork at the windmills. It is almost dawn. Gareth: It's almost daybreak. We need to hurry; Leyndell will try to hunt us down. Rhys: Well, it was nary my idea to head down a dead-end.
Gareth: How was I supposed to know? Rhys: Oh I'm not blaming you man, I bow to your superior knowledge of North and West and the like. They completely miss the north east path from the windmills leading to Mt. Gelmir. Luckily, that's not where they actually want to go.
Gareth: What are you so pissy for?! Rhys: Me? Upset? I don't get upset. Why are you so touchy of a sudden?
Varre is with the Bloody Fingers. Varre, with his fingers sensuously caressing his mask: Do it.
The Bloody Fingers throw Swarm Pots at the shardbearers.
The pots explode on Rhys and his horse; flies erupt out of them.
The flies crawl around the horse's flesh, opening deep wounds.
The horse bleeds rapidly; blood pours out of the gaps in Rhys's armor. Rhys: Ah!
The Nobles flash their knives and Bloody Helices.
They lunge at Rhys.
Gareth, with Stalwart, slams into them.
Gareth pulls Rhys from the dying horse, putting him on Stalwart's back.
Gareth and Stalwart ride furiously south, toward the Minor Erdtree. Varre: Well.
Varre chases them. Varre: Come on now! Don't tarry!
Blood pours out of Rhys's armor. Gareth: Rhys! Are you all right?
Rhys looks at his bloody gauntlet in contempt. Rhys: ...
Nobles are standing in the Tarnished's way.
They throw blades of blood at the Tarnished.
Gareth puts his shield over Stalwart's face, blocking the blood. Gareth: Stalwart! CHARGE!!!
In the darkness of Gareth's shield, Stalwart's nostrils flare.
Stalwart smashes into the Nobles, bending their bodies into U's, snapping their spines.
The Nobles crumple before the Tarnished's charge. Gareth: Stalwart! Wall! Turn right!
Stalwart, before he hits the wall, swerves right; the shadow of the Greatbridge falls on him.
On the Greatbridge above is Eleonora.
Eleonora falls, diving like an eagle; the cape of her Drake Knight armor flares around her feet.
Gareth, keen, blocks her with his shield.
Eleonora sticks her hand out; a maroon glow emanates from it, as well as the Dragon Communion Seal.
Eleonora's arm grows grotesque, gigantic and scaly.
Gareth: Dra-dragon! Gareth: Wyrm!
Eleonora brings her fist against the shield and the ox.
Rhys points his glintstone staff at Eleonora, a dark-blue blade pushing out; Eleonora is repulsed.
Gareth and Stalwart continue charging westward, missing the slope upward that would lead them to the Second Church of Marika.
Gareth sees the wall ahead of them. Gareth: This is a dead-end! Damnit! Gareth: Stalwart, tu-
The gold of grace guides Gareth. His head turns.
He sees the Mirage Rise, appearing out of nowhere.
Gareth guides Stalwart into the Rise.
The Bloody Fingers, unified, approach the dead-end the Tarnished ran into.
Varre: ... Varre: Where are they? Varre: Isn't this a dead-end?...
A Noble sticks their finger out. Varre: Wait, man, don't!
The Noble snaps their nail off, trying to align their fate to the Tarnished's.
Blood pools underneath the Noble's feet.
A blood-red light emanates from the pool bathing the Noble. The Erdtree is distinctly in the background.
A ray of light shines from the Erdtree, striking the Noble; the power of the Erdtree dispels the foulness of the cessblood. Noble: Ahhh!
The Noble disintegrates into dust; nothing of them will remain, for defying the Erdtree. Varre: Idiot! That death was deserved. Varre: They're shardbearers. No common severing will work.
Eleonora approaches. Varre: What do we do? Eleonora: ...
Eleonora: I smell them... Eleonora: I say we wait here.
Varre: Well, I'm not one to doubt your instincts...
Varre hears stomping above him.
The Banished Knights, on the plateaus above them, are stomping, singing their sweet storm-song.
Banished Knight: Foul cessbloods, I only have one question: Banished Knight: Are thy ilk enemies of Sir Gareth?
Varre: ...
Varre: Enemies? We're wolves. Varre smiles. He has pride as a Pureblood Knight.
Banished Knight: No more questions, then.
The knights stomp angrily, in greater pace.
The knights jump.
Eleonora pulls her helm off; her face is scrunched up, made ugly. Scales cover her face, and her face swells. She resembles the Magma Wyrm greatly now.
She breathes fire on the leaping knights.
Though the storm deflects some of the fire, some of the knights wither into ash.
Eleonora's face returns to its original shape; she battles the Banished Knights with her poleblade. The Pureblood Knights and the Banished Knights clash.
Within the Rise, which appears fully to Gareth, its inhabitant, and is invisible to everyone outside, Gareth watches in horror.
Rhys is holding onto his bleeding hand. Rhys: Oh, wonderful.
Rhys: Let them fight it out. Rhys: I bet those assassins will tire out and leave.
Gareth wears a pained expression. Gareth: ... Gareth: No. I cannot.
Rhys: ... Rhys: Gareth. Rhys: If you leave, I will be found out.
Rhys: I need you to cooperate with me.
Gareth: Then you come with me. I have the steed. Rhys: How can you now be so illogical?!
Gareth, shouting: I'm a man, Rhys! Gareth: How can you be so callous to people who are willing to die for you!
Gareth: Dishonor - after dishonor - after dishonor. Gareth: I've made up my mind. I won't make an enemy of my guilt.
Gareth gets on Stalwart. Gareth: Your choice. Come with me, or stay here.
Rhys: ...
A Banished Knight squares off against Eleonora.
Eleonora cuts up the knight in the beginning moves of the Bloodblade Dance.
Varre dances around a Banished Knight, bashing their heads with his Bouquet.
Banished Knights explode in blood.
Eleonora turns her head, noticing something in her field of vision.
She sees Gareth, Stalwart and Rhys escape from the Mirage Rise; the tower reappears.
Gareth, shouting: HEY! Gareth: Come for me, you bastards!
The Bloody Fingers watch after Gareth and Rhys. The Banished Knights cheer. Banished Knights: OUR LORD!
The Bloody Fingers pursue the Tarnished.
The Banished Knights smash them with their shields, breaking their bones.
Gareth and Stalwart climb the slope they hadn't seen earlier. Eleonora observes them.
Banished Knights pursue Eleonora.
A view of her boots.
Her boots explode; her feet grow to great proportions, becoming scaly and taloned like a dragon's feet.
She leaps, catching up with Gareth and Stalwart.
Rhys summons a great dark-blue greatsword, swatting Eleonora aside.
Rhys sees there is only open-air before them. Rhys: Another dead-end?!
Gareth: No... No, I don't think so. Gareth pats Stalwart on his side, affectionately.
The ground before Stalwart's feet.
Now there is air beneath Stalwart's feet.
The ox has leapt, and is falling down.
The ox lands on the plateau of the Second Church of Marika; falling from such a height is painful, but he endures it.
The ox's clenched face.
Gareth: Stalwart! North! The ox turns, heading toward the graveyard part of the church on a lower elevation.
Eleonora falls down, catching up but quickly losing ground against them.
She takes her helmet off.
Her face becomes puffy and scaly again.
She is about to breathe fire on Gareth and Stalwart, diminishing in the distance.
Voice, offscreen: Eleonora. She stops.
It is Yura and Reane. The wind has picked up; Yura's cape and the golden blooms are swaying in the air. Yura: ...
Yura, at a loss for words, holds up his Nagakiba.
Eleonora leaps at Yura.
She begins the motions of the Bloodblade Dance. She twirls the poleblade rapidly, like a lotus spinning on a pond.
She brings the blade down diagonally, as she lands on the ground. Yura simply walks in the opposing direction.
From her lower stance, after landing, she spins, her head kept low to the ground, and swings the blade diagonally up. Yura blocks with his blade.
She moves the poleblade to her right side; Yura halfheartedly stabs forward, but Eleonora keeps her head tucked back.
With one wide swing she tries to cut Yura, but he blocks again; in the same motion she jumps powerfully backward.
Eleonora is vulnerable; Yura puts his blade over his head, in the stance of the Piercing Fang.
His foot is firmly planted, in full aggression and energy.
Eleonora faces him, unable to defend herself back.
Yura throws his blade away. Yura: I can't.
Yura: I'm no match for you. Yura: I never was, and I never dreamed I could be.
Yura: Your sword, your flesh, your fire... Yura: How could you stain these?
Yura: Please, please, yield to the cessblood no longer. Yura: If you ever felt I cared for you, please.
Eleonora removes her helmet.
Eleonora: Yura, Eleonora: I told you again and again:
Eleonora: We were born in blood. Eleonora: Forged by it. Eleonora: Blood was only expected of us.
She puts her helm back on it.
She puts herself in the stance of the Bloodblade Dance.
She leaps at Yura.
She cuts him in half.
Eleonora: ! The fingers of her dominant hand are cut.
Yura is on the ground, a knife in his hand. His other hand has all of her fingers. He's a mess. Yura: Heh heh heh... I've learned a thing or two myself, you see.
Eleonora: ...So long, dear friend.
Eleonora stabs Yura through the heart.
The wind picks up. Eleonora is silent in this bitter moment.
She looks at her fingerless hand. Eleonora: Heh. The fool. Eleonora: As if this will stop me from spilling blood.
Reane steps forward. Reane: I...was Yura's friend. Reane: He told me about you.
Reane: How could you...do it?
Eleonora: The same way I did it for countless others. Eleonora: What a stupid question.
Reane: ...I figured.
Reane is in a dueling stance. There are some principles even she can't neglect, despite her weaknesses. Reane: Let's fight.