The Tarnished in the camp. For this page specifically, if you see the word "Tarnished", it doesn't necessarily refer to the same Tarnished; this is a page where the Tarnished discuss things among themselves, and it doesn't matter who specifically makes what point. So imagine any Tarnished in the following panels. This is after Maleigh and his party have left. Tarnished: What are we still doing here?! We're waiting to get killed by Morgott! Tarnished: We should head back through the mines!
Tarnished: But what if Kenneth comes back?... Tarnished: He's not coming back! The bastard's only looking out for himself!
Tarnished: I'm not leaving until Gareth or Rhys return. Tarnished: We're supposed to mend the Elden Ring, and only those two have the right to stand before the Erdtree.
Tarnished: So the Fingers say. Tarnished: Shut it, blasphemer!
Tarnished: What if they're dead? Tarnished: Then we'll wait for Morgott to tell us off. He did offer us amnesty. Tarnished: How long will that last?
Tarnished: ... Tarnished: Frankly, I'd take Leyndell's offer.
Tarnished: To what avail? Tarnished: Do you see how many men they had pouring at the end of the battle? Tarnished: We'll never win. Surely, the Fingers are lying. 'Tis a test of our senses.
Tarnished: Traitor talk. Are you waiting for the shardbearers to come, to kill them? Tarnished: ...
The Tarnished get rough with one another. Tarnished: I didn't come back to life for nothing! Tarnished: Get your hands off me, you dimwit! Tarnished: May Marika smote you!
Bernahl approaches them. Bernahl: I'll spare you all the weight of deciding with this proposition:
Bernahl: Join the Volcano Manor. Bernahl: Else, die.
Tarnished: There's one other choice: Tarnished: killing you, blasphemer! A Tarnished runs to Bernahl with his sword.
Bernahl raises the enormous Devourer's Scepter.
He smashes the Tarnished into a pancake.
The pancaked Tarnished. Literally a pancake. Bernahl had the strength to smash the Tarnished vertically, compressing and crushing every bone, even the spine.
Tarnished: Wh-What does joining the Manor, mean?
Bernahl: Join us as warriors, or as feed for the serpent.
Bernahl: Actually, the latter is no different from death. Bernahl: Really, your only choice in the matter is how you want to traverse the road to dishonor.
A chill runs through the Tarnished.
Maleigh and his party enter. Maleigh: You Tarnished are still here? Maleigh: Did you not heed what I said? Morgott will clear his hen-yards soon.
Maleigh: Those rings... Maleigh: You're Recusants, aren't you?
Maleigh: Wonderful. Maleigh: You'll all die.
Bernahl holds his hand out. Bernahl: Hold. Bernahl: All, or will one suffice? Maleigh: All.
Bernahl: Then, it does not matter in what order, correct? Maleigh: ...Yes.
Bernahl: Excellent. Bernahl: Let me duel your knight.
Maleigh: Go ahead. Bernahl: Please count to three.
Bernahl and Elemer, who looks really beat-up, square off. Maleigh: One, two...
Maleigh: Three! Elemer swings.
Bernahl ducks underneath the swing, his scepter resting on the ground.
Using the scepter as a pivot, he flips his body acrobatically in the air.
He smashes Elemer into the ground with the momentum from the flip, performing the Lion's Claw. Elemer falls face-down, his armor broken.
Bernahl raises the scepter high above his head with both arms, the head of the scepter facing forward.
He slams the head of the scepter onto Elemer's back, causing the earth to shake; hence the name of the technique, Earthshaker.
Bernahl then brings the weapon low, the head of the scepter pointed to the ground; he swings the scepter in a circle.
Like a golf swing Bernahl slams the scepter into Elemer, knocking him into the air.
Elemer falls into a spiked palisade, destroying it.
Everyone is shocked, particularly Maleigh. Even the Recusants are shocked; it's not every day they see extreme examples of Bernahl's strength. Bernahl: Whew! Easier than expected.
Bernahl approaches Maleigh. The Trolls growl at Bernahl's approach, now that Elemer is gone. Bernahl: If I kill you you'll just come back, Bernahl: but then I'll get some solace for however many years.
A shadow hovers over Bernahl from behind.
It's Elemer. Bernahl: Ah, you're tough. Fitting for Leyndell's sanctioned executioner.
Elemer raises a hand against Bernahl.
Bernahl swings, crushing Elemer's fingers; however, Elemer has a good grasp on the scepter's head.
His hands growing crimson, the scepter is raised up into the air.
Elemer grasps the scepter, smashing Bernahl with it, in the same fashion Bernahl smashed him into the ground with the Lion's Claw.
Bernahl, however, does not fall face-down as Elemer did; he is kneeling instead. Arguably, this is Endure. Bernahl: Hrrg-! Does...not...hurt!
Bernahl kicks Elemer, actually knocking the brute back; he grabs his scepter from him.
Elemer's hand and the Executioner's Sword glow crimson.
The Sword flies at Bernahl, who ducks.
The Sword swipes at Bernahl again; Bernahl slides on the ground, performing the Quickstep.
Bernahl, hugging Elemer, plants his foot on the ground.
He swings the scepter upward in a half-moon crescent, performing the Stamp: Upward Cut. Elemer flies into the air.
Elemer falls onto the ground; the fall hurts all the more because of the weight of his armor. I sorta feel bad for the guy - he's been catching only L's from the start - but I hope this is gratifying to the many, many Tarnished he has killed in game.
Henricus: ...He's on our side, and I'm scared shitless of him.
A Troll brings their hands in a slam against Bernahl.
Bernahl actually pulls the Troll's arm closer to him, forcing the Troll in an awkward, slooping posture. This may have been the only time in the Troll's life when they have been manhandled by someone who only reaches their knees.
Bernahl beats the scepter against the Troll's head, crushing the skull in one blow.
The Troll stumbles.
The Troll collapses on the ground, clearly dead.
Elemer hovers around Bernahl again, breathing heavily. Bernahl: Come on man, stand down!
Bernahl notices something in the corner of his eye.
Millicent thrusts forward; Bernahl dodges by a hair's breadth.
Millicent and Morrowe face Bernahl's front and back. Bernahl sighs. Bernahl: Why can't anything be easy, for once?
Millicent: You're a Recusant? Bernahl: Aye. Millicent: Then, relinquish your claim on the Tarnished. Bernahl: No.
Bernahl stares at Morrowe. Bernahl: ... Morrowe: ...
Morrowe: ...Does your armor show two lions fucking? Morrowe: How tacky. Bernahl is annoyed but slightly relieved Morrowe doesn't remember him. You would think Morrowe would remember how unique his armor is but, alas, Morrowe is not a details-person.
Bernahl, to the Recusants: What are you waiting for? Bernahl: Round up the Tarnished!
The Recusants put their hands on the Tarnished; some of them begin to weep.
Millicent runs to help them, but: Bernahl: Lass. Bernahl: You'll die if you ignore me.
Bernahl: Let's settle this. Bernahl: I saw what you did to him. Bernahl: Do it to me.
Millicent is in the stance of the Waterfowl Dance. Bernahl rests the scepter on the ground.
Millicent cuts Bernahl up.
She enters the later, more intense stages of the Dance; her teeth are gritted, her face wears an angry expression.
She finishes the final move, her sword high in the air.
Breathing heavily, Millicent looks at Bernahl.
Beside a few scratches on his armor, Bernahl is fine.
Bernahl: Hewg, I'm ashamed to say your work is still immaculate.
Bernahl: Now, my turn.
He raises the scepter in the Overhead Stance.
He smashes it downward in lightning rapidity, on her head.
While Millicent doubles over in pain he, again lightning quick, smashes it upon her spine. One can see the dents in the ground Bernahl has made from the power put on his lower body, from the strikes.
Morrowe rushes toward Bernahl. Morrowe: You.
Morrowe tries to cut Bernahl, but none of his sword strikes cut through the armor.
Morrowe kicks Bernahl, but Bernahl blocks him.
Bernahl slaps Morrowe right across the chops.
Bernahl holds Morrowe by the lapels.
Morrowe has tears in his eyes.
Bernahl is sympathetic, but he is also disgusted. Morrowe: Are you kidding me? Get a grip on yourself, man.
Bernahl: I told you you weren't strong. Bernahl: I told you to become strong. Or else.
Bernahl: I warned you over, and over, and over... Bernahl, shouting: AND OVER, AND OVER, AND OVER!
Bernahl: YOU CAN'T PROTECT ANYONE, MORROWE! Bernahl: YOU SICKEN ME!
Bernahl violently shoves Morrowe to the ground.
Bernahl approaches Elemer. Bernahl: Fellow, if you had tricks, you would have shown them by now. Bernahl: You do have a choice in the matter, you know.
Voice, offscreen: Ahem. Bernahl sighs. Bernahl: I swear, I might actually kill the next thing...
Bernahl turns. A War Surgeon, accompanied with Bloody Finger "Rivers of Blood" Okina, approaches Bernahl. War Surgeon: I presume, based on the ruckus, you are the champion of Volcano Manor, Bernahl? War Surgeon: Sir Bernahl, meet Sir Okina, our finest Pureblood Knight.
War Surgeon: Believe me, it wouldn't be prudent of me to come even near you without him.
Bernahl gives a very hard sigh this time. Bernahl: Fine.
Bernahl: My men have the Tarnished rounded up. Bernahl: I think. Bernahl: Let's split them in half.
War Surgeon: Deal. Bernahl: Does this mean a temporary truce? War Surgeon: Aye.
Bernahl: Morrowe, get out. Bernahl: As for you, Marais household...
Bernahl and Okina stand before Elemer and Maleigh with fierce eyes, like the complexions of animals. Bernahl: Do you want to take your chances?
Maleigh: ...Frankly, yes. Maleigh: It's not prudent of me to go to Morgott emptyhanded, either.
Bernahl: Fine. Bernahl: Then you'll be a party to our discussion.
War Surgeon: Oh dear... you've already disgraced our contract by letting so many Tarnished go... Bernahl: Whatever.
Bernahl: Do either of you know where the shardbearers are? War Surgeon, Maleigh: No.
Bernahl: I assume Morgott wants to collect the shards? Maleigh: Aye. Maleigh: And the Recusants too, but the former more.
War Surgeon: What will you deliberate, "Knight" Bernahl? War Surgeon: Will you show your arch honor?
Bernahl: Life is battle. Bernahl: Life is torment. Bernahl: Life is hard. Bernahl: There are no other rules.
Bernahl, to the War Surgeon: The Bloody Fingers have the woods, Bernahl, to Maleigh: and you came from the bridge, Bernahl: and my men have been watching the mines...
Bernahl: So, we have a few options: Bernahl: Gelmir. Bernahl: Leyndell. Bernahl: Or Seethewater.
Maleigh: I imagine Leyndell would have found them by now. Bernahl: Then find out.
Bernahl: And ensure that Leyndell searches thoroughly. Bernahl: I know those battlegrounds: they're wide and ill-patroled.
War Surgeon: And so you'll head to Gelmir, your stomping grounds? Bernahl: Hell no! Do you think I'm stupid?!
Bernahl: That mountain is vast, man. One party cannot search every hole and crevice. Bernahl: But my men will tread the main path. That will be enough.
Bernahl: Then, all three of us will enter Seethewater, Bernahl: and there, Marais, you can hunt my Recusants down, for your vapid Morgott.
Maleigh: How nice of you. Bernahl: We spurned the Erdtree. I don't know what else to believe, but we're prepared for damnation.
Bernahl: Hourly my men, then yours, then Marais's will go - War Surgeon: Hold, man! What gives you the right?
War Surgeon: More Bloody Fingers will come. War Surgeon: We will succeed.
War Surgeon, menacingly: Surely, you don't want this to be more of a bloodbath than it has to be?
Bernahl presses the War Surgeon closer. Bernahl: Let me make this clear -
Then, very unexpectedly, Bernahl presses against Okina to an uncomfortable degree, literally puffing his chest. Bernahl: - my men hold the pass.
Okina has a hand on the hilt of his katana. War Surgeon: Hold.
War Surgeon: Fine. War Surgeon: The Bloody Fingers will follow behind.
War Surgeon: But by no means will we protect your rear...
Bernahl walks off. Bernahl: Hmph! Bernahl: That's fine! Bernahl: We Recusants are alone! Bernahl: We were born alone! Molded!
Bernahl shouts to the Recusants; the Tarnished camp is in pandemonium as Recusants and Bloody Fingers alike round up struggling Tarnished for their respective uses. Bernahl: MEN! Bernahl: ROUND THEM UP! Bernahl: AND I WANT WATCHES ON THE MOUNTAIN'S FLANKS, NOW!
Maleigh, to his Tarnished: Inform Morgott. Relay to me the state of affairs.
Maleigh, in a whisper: Tell him too... Maleigh: ...to send skilled men. Maleigh: I'm asking for a favor. I cannot deal with this alone.
Maleigh: And make sure they do not come too soon!
It is mid-afternoon. The Tarnished camps are emptied (for the time being); the Recusants are prepared to storm the direct route to the Seethewater Terminus. Bernahl, to Maleigh: What's the report? Maleigh: Soldiers are being spread out; nothing found. Bernahl: Alright. Bernahl: Same for the mountain.
Bernahl: Well, I'm off. Bernahl: ...To tell you the truth, I hope to see neither of you today.
Bernahl: And I would make a cheerful remark on seeing you at the appointed time, but my expectations are low. War Surgeon: We'll keep our end of the bargain.
War Surgeon: Where Volcano Manor will fail, Mohgwyn will excel. Bernahl: Sure, sure, sure...
Bernahl, to the Recusants: Men! We're ascending to the Wyndham Ruins! Bernahl: Search every corner! There's a catacombs in the back; someone check if it is disturbed!
Bernahl: If our search is thorough, then we'll head down the river! Bernahl: So, convene at the river's mouth!
Bernahl, raising the Devourer's Scepter: Sure as this staff, the serpent will someday devour the world! Bernahl: Nourished on the shards, we'll overcome the gods!
Bernahl: We will not fail! Recusants: NO!!!
Bernahl: Let's go! The Recusants ascend the Erdtree-Gazing Hill, climbing onto the plateau leading to the Wyndham Ruins.
The Recusants wade through the lake of the Wyndham Ruins.
Bernahl: This must be some joke. Bernahl and the Recusants are looking forward in disbelief. As a little note, their heads are tilted slightly upward.
Gareth, Rhys and Stalwart are right before them. Literally, right before them, also wading through the lake.
And, towering over Gareth and Rhys, is a giant, animated skeleton.
The Tibia Mariner blows its horn, summoning the dead.
The dead rise. The fallen from the recent defenses, and other defenses of Leyndell, rise; the giant skeletons, notably, push themselves out of the lake, upending much of the soil and water. (This differs from the game, but whatever.)
Gareth and Rhys look forward in horror.
They then look backwards, at the Recusants in further confusion.
The Recusants are also baffled.
Gareth and Rhys book it, on Stalwart.
Bernahl: CORNER THEM!!
Gareth and Rhys charge underneath the legs of the giant skeletons.
The Recusants - who are more seasoned than possibly given credit to them - already block their way. They have a net set before the Tarnished.
Stalwart slams into the net, getting tangled. The Recusants struggle to hold the bull back, but they succeed in doing so.
A giant skeleton slams their fists onto the Recusants.
The War Surgeon hears sounds from the battle, but very faintly. War Surgeon: Hmm. War Surgeon: Very energetic, up there.
Gareth slams his shield against the Recusants, fending them off; Rhys, using his staff, cuts up the ropes around Stalwart.
Bernahl rushes toward Gareth.
Gareth: Bernahl.
Gareth: ... Gareth: Why? Gareth is in despair.
Bernahl closes toward Gareth.
Bernahl smashes the scepter against a giant skeleton's ankle.
The skeleton collapses.
Gareth raises his shield, protecting himself from the falling bones.
Bernahl and Rhys square off.
Rhys: ... Rhys: You always had the smell of a sellsword.
Bernahl: You always had the look of a tool. Bernahl charges at Rhys.
Rhys produces a lance against Bernahl.
The lance grazes Bernahl's armor. Bernahl: Hmm.
Bernahl jumps, in a similar stance to the Raging Beast, his scepter overhead.
Gareth slams into Bernahl with his shield, knocking him back.
Rhys casts a few flying swords over his head, while Bernahl recovers himself.
Gareth: So is that it? Gareth: After risking life and death with one another, you'll sell us out? Gareth: To whom, Bernahl?! TO WHOM?!
Gareth: I never thought your honor had any price! Bernahl: ...
Bernahl: Well, neither do life and death. Bernahl: That's my answer.
Unbeknownst to Bernahl, he has set Gareth in a frothing rage; I think everyone, except for Gareth obviously, forgets his freaking brother died not too long ago.
Gareth charges at Bernahl; Bernahl is bracing his foot, to perform Kick.
Rhys waves his staff; the swords fly at Bernahl.
Bernahl brings the scepter up, blocking the swords as best as he can.
Gareth smashes into him, knocking him a little back.
Gareth continues charging. Bernahl, unable to make a last-second dodge, tries to defend himself by putting his arms up in an X.
Gareth smashes into Bernahl again.
Bernahl tries to plant his feet onto the mud, but his feet never fully remain on the ground.
Bernahl, thinking: T-This is a little absurd! Bernahl: Where did he get all this strength?!
Bernahl sees gold.
Gold graces Gareth's eyes.
Bernahl: Not just a shardbearer, Bernahl: but graced by Marika herself!
Bernahl: The Serpent will engorge!!
Gareth finally smashes the shield downward, putting Bernahl prone. Unfortunately for Gareth, there's only mud on the ground, so it's not as much as an impact as he would hope.
Rhys is on Stalwart. Rhys: Gareth! Rhys: Come on!
Gareth gets on Stalwart. The ox charges forward, on his own initiative.
The Tarnished wind through the battlefield, where the Recusants have their hands full with the revived skeletal warriors.
The skeletal warriors. They are "speaking" telepathically. Warriors: Gareth. Gareth.
Gareth looks at them in disbelief.
Warriors: Why did you abandon us, Gareth? Warriors: Why did you lead us to death?!
Rhys waves his staff; magical sigils appear above his head.
The sigils become swords, cutting the skeletons in half.
Rhys: Pull yourself together, man! Rhys: They're not people! They're facsimiles of living things!
Gareth doesn't believe Rhys. He's still stunned.
A giant skeleton rises before them, the socket of its left eye humming with ominous power.
The Recusants pull the skeleton apart, redirecting its eye-laser.
Inquisitor Ghiza bears his Wheel before the Tarnished; the motor whirls, as the blades dance furiously in the air.
Ghiza puts his Wheel in the Tarnished's path.
Rhys conjures a great dark-blue blade, cutting the skeleton's head from its neck.
The skull falls on Ghiza. The Tarnished push past the Recusants.
The Tibia Mariner is right before them.
Spirits dance in the Tibia Mariner's left eye. Spirits: Gareth... Gareth... Spirits: Did we win? Have you and Gaer escaped?
Gareth: What?
Gareth leaps off of Stalwart. Rhys: Gareth! GARETH!! Rhys: Have you lost your mind?!
Gareth: Hedwig! Lotte! Gareth: Emil! Ansel! You... Gareth: even you are in the Lands Between?
Spirits: Gareth... it's cold... Spirits: Please... it's so cold, Gareth...
Gareth is horrified.
Bernahl approaches, his beautiful, ornate armor muddy and wet.
Rhys: GARETH! Rhys: WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU?!
Bernahl rushes at Gareth, ready to swing at him.
He is stopped by the Mariner's gaze. Spirits: Bernahl...
Spirits: Have you become Elden Lord yet? Spirits: Why won't you end this tragedy?
Bernahl, too, is horrified. But, in a sense, he's also indignant.
Bernahl slams the end of the scepter into the mud.
The eyes of the ornamental snake on the scepter's head glows scarlet.
Bernahl: Devour it all.
The scarlet glow intensifies, engulfing the ruins. The "life force" or whatever of everything in the vicinity is drawn to the scepter.
The spirits embodied by the Tibia Mariner are drained into the scepter, screaming.
The spirits inhabiting the skeletons are drained; the corpses become inanimate.
The life is drained from Gareth, the color being taken away from his already-pale face.
The gold in Gareth's eyes is being pulled away.
The life from Bernahl is also being drained too.
Bernahl cannot handle the strain; he ends the effect. The air quietens, the corpses fall, and Gareth reels back.
Bernahl is exhausted. Bernahl: Mmm...
Gareth is woozy; his sense of balance is gone.
The Tibia Mariner, the spirits having been devoured, withers into dust.
The dust is carried in the wind, leaving behind the Deathroot.
Gareth, noticing this, picks it up.
Rhys and Stalwart ride toward Gareth; Rhys smacks Gareth in the head. Rhys: What's the matter with you?! Rhys: Get on!
Gareth climbs onto Stalwart. They ride off. Recusant: They're getting away!
The Recusants run past a weakened Bernahl.
In the Tarnished's escape, Rhys casts more magic sigils in the air; they become swords, piercing through the Recusants.
The Tarnished jump into the mouth of the Seethewater River.
Recusant: Damnit! Recusant: We'll never catch up to them!
Recusant: What do we do now, Bernahl? Bernahl is exhausted.
Recusant: ...Bernahl? Bernahl: ...We do have mounts.
Bernahl: Ghiza... Bernahl: Summon the goats.
Ghiza: ! Ghiza: Can that even be accomplished through the Serpent's powers?
Bernahl: All animals have fates. Bernahl: If you don't know how, ask Tanith. She'll know whether or no.
Bernahl: Regardless, we'll have to wade through the mud. Bernahl: The Bloody Fingers will press forward soon.
Recusant: ...Are you sure you're up to it? Recusant: I'd give you my legs if I could. No one else.
Bernahl: I'll...be fine. Bernahl: It's my fault they got away.
Bernahl: Ghiza. Ghiza: Right. Ghiza is pointing his ring in the direction of the Erdtree. Bernahl: Let's go.
Stalwart charges through the Seethewater River. I don't know if four-legged animals can actually run well over mud or riverbeds, but for the sake of cool, why not.
Gareth: Rhys - Rhys: What? Gareth: Rhys, pull him back!
Stalwart stops; a volcanic vent flares up, shooting hot air upward.
Rhys: ... Gareth: They've stopped chasing us, anyway. Gareth: Let's switch, quickly.
Gareth and Rhys switch positions on Stalwart. Rhys: Gareth, Rhys: if you continue to do foolish things, I will leave you to die. Gareth: That's fair.
Rhys: ...What happened there? Gareth: Warriors. From my past life. Gareth: Gaer led them. I suppose they remember me too.
Gareth: Our band tried to take over a fort, but we were routed. Gareth: Some sacrificed their lives for Gaer and I to escape. Gareth: We didn't.
They are now traveling, cautiously but surely, through the river, avoiding the vents. Gareth: It was them, Rhys. They crossed to our world. The stranger thing has to be true.
Gareth: But that was, quite literally, a lifetime ago. There's no point in dwelling on it. Gareth: If I get sentimental again, then leave me to die, with nothing on your conscience. Rhys: ...
Steam issues upward from the volcanic vents. Fort Laiedd looms in the distance, above the uneven, bloody battleground.
Chanting can be heard as the Tarnished come closer to the palisades. Voice, offscreen: Halt.
A Fire Monk approaches them, accompanied by Thorn Sorcerors. Fire Monk: Are you Tarnished? Fire Monk: Turn back around.
Gareth: Sir, we can't. Gareth: We are being chased by foes.
Fire Monk: Leyndell? Gareth: ...I don't know. Gareth: Please, have mercy in your heart.
Fire Monk: ...I will need to inform the prelate. Fire Monk: Please wait here. Gareth: There is no time!
Fire Monk: It's up to you to sort your own problems, not ours. The Fire Monk leaves. Gareth looks hesitantly behind him.
The Recusants are wading through the mud of Seethewater. Recusant: Whew... mud is much harder than dirt on the kneecaps... Recusant: Feel I'm going to blow out my ankles...
A giant snake is coiled on the cliffs, camouflaged by the mountains.
The snake uncoils itself right before the Recusants.
The snake slithers backwards, vomiting out the bighorn sheep and Ghiza from its gullet. I assume sheep would be preferred for the rugged terrain of Mt. Gelmir. Also I feel sheep would be less sensitive than horses concerning the inherently violent nature of the volcano. Ghiza: Evidently, it can be done.
Bernahl: You're the man. Bernahl: Everyone, get on.
The Recusants dash down Seethewater with their mounts.
Gareth and Rhys look behind them; they see the Recusants coming. Gareth: ...
Gareth: Go! Thorn Sorceror: H-hold on - Stalwart charges forward.
Stalwart pushes back the palisades, running through the battlefield around the fort.
The Fire Monk comes rushing out, with the Prelate. He looks at the direction Rhys and Gareth have run to. Fire Monk: The bastards.
He then looks in the direction of the Recusants. Fire Monk: Volcano Manor.
The Recusants charge forward, into Fort Laiedd; the Fire Monks and the Flame Chariots form a perimeter around the fort.
Ghiza: Well? Bernahl: They're on our mountain. Bernahl: Run them through.
The Recusants charge through the palisades of the fort; they attack the Fire Monks. In return, the Chariots breathe long pillars of fire at them, while the Prelate's head erupts in a cloud of fire.
Stalwart charges through the grounds around Fort Laiedd, knocking down palisades and shoving through Thorn Sorcerors.
The trio push deeper down Seethewater.
Appearing before them is a vast pool of magma. Gareth: Oh. Rhys: It's hot.
Rhys points to the strip of land right of view. Rhys: That seems relatively safe to - Rhys: Wait... Rhys sees something swimming through the lava.
A black rock is floating down the pool of lava; it looks like the back of an alligator.
The Magma Wyrm's head peeks out of the lava.
The Magma Wyrm appears before them, lava dripping down its scales. Rhys: What is that?! Gareth: Oh for - not another one!
Gareth: Stalwart! The ox plows through the strip of land Rhys identified; one can see the heated rock scalds his hooves slightly.
The Magma Wyrm, on all fours, charges towards the trio.
It sticks its hand out, grabbing for the ox.
Rhys, conjuring an immense dark-blue sword, bats the hand away.
The trio ride off; the Magma Wyrm, indolent, lets them go.
The Magma Wyrm turns around, facing the arriving Recusants.
The Recusants behold the giant Magma Wyrm.
The Magma Wyrm devours one of the Recusants.
Bernahl: Everyone, get back! The Recusants, except Bernahl, retreat.
Ghiza: Bernahl!
Bernahl slams the scepter to the ground; the head of the scepter glows scarlet.
A scarlet glow covers the entire lava flow; the life force is being sucked out of Bernahl and the Magma Wyrm.
Sweat pours out of Bernahl's helm. One can see Bernahl's Great Rune(s) being pulled toward the scepter.
The life is being consumed out of the Magma Wyrm. It tries to grab at Bernahl.
As it approaches Bernahl, the process of being devoured accelerates. The Magma Wyrm's scales are being reduced to dust.
I don't know if this is possible, but the color is being drained out of the Magma Wyrm; its skin becomes ashy-white.
Though it tries to turn away, the Wyrm's eyes begin to move out of their sockets.
The eyes and the light contained in them are pulled into the scepter.
The scepter consumes the eyes and the Wyrm's accumulated light.
The Wyrm collapses.
Ghiza: Bernahl! Ghiza: THAT'S ENOUGH!
Ghiza pulls a bow from a Recusant's hands. Ghiza: Give it to me!
Ghiza nocks the bow.
He fires an arrow at Bernahl.
The arrow hits Bernahl lightly in his helm; the glow ends, and the scepter's power diminishes.
Bernahl collapses on a knee, kneeling beside the emptied husk of the Magma Wyrm.
Ghiza: ...You goddamned idiot. Bernahl is breathing heavily, sweat pouring out of his armor. He, surprisingly, is very hot, as the very heat of his body is being dragged out of his flesh; in contrast, his interior organs, heart, lungs, stomach, are very cold.
Ghiza: Set up a perimeter! Ghiza: We're defending this place!
Bernahl: ...N-no... Bernahl weakly waves his hand in front of him, not even touching Ghiza, not even in the direction of Ghiza's body. He's completely out of it. Bernahl: G-give...ch-cha...
Ghiza walks up to him and slaps his hand down. Ghiza: How are we supposed to move forward without you? You fool.
The area around the lava pool. The Fire Monks are still pushing toward the Recusants; the Recusants, at a stand-off, throw Volcano Pots at the Flame Chariots. Ghiza: I don't know what else is at the volcano's base. Ghiza: It's our fault for not sending reconnaissance here. Ghiza: And we shouldn't discount the Tarnished's wit and, franky, appalling fortune.
Ghiza: Besides, the hermit's village is down there. Bernahl: ...
Bernahl: But... the Bloody Fingers are coming... Ghiza: That's why this is the perfect opportunity.
Ghiza: Look around you. Ghiza waves his hand around the lava pool.
Ghiza: The lava pools, over which Volcano Manor, our home, sits. Ghiza: That means fortune is on our side.
Ghiza, sinisterly: And, you know... Ghiza: Bloody Fingers are Tarnished, too.
Some time later, though not very long after the time of the last panel. We're at the mouth of the Seethewater. A cacophony of loud cawing and barking is heard.
The Bloody Fingers race down Seethewater, on the Blistered Giant Crows and Dogs of Mohgwyn. (Considering Mohgwyn is located underground and they don't seem to travel all that much, I don't think they have any standardized mount. I imagine horses don't really like to live underground. I guess they could ride ants, but, from what I recall, there aren't any ants above ground. There are some Dogs that are much bigger than the others. I dunno, I'm not particularly confident in this detail.)
They enter the perimeter of Fort Laiedd. They are greeted by no one. (The Fire Monks saw the Bloody Fingers arrive and, rather than deal with both the Recusants and the Bloody Fingers, and observing that both parties are not interested in them at all, retreated into the fort.)
The Bloody Fingers enter the lava pool. They see someone small in the distance, on the strip of rock on the edge of the pool. The Crows singe their claws on the magma rock; the Fingers comfort them, goading them on with food.
They approach. It's Ghiza, alone. Ghiza: Halt.
Ghiza: We are in the middle of cornering the Tarnished. Ghiza: Stay back, and form a defensive perimeter so they can't esca- Okina jumps off the crow, his hand on his sheath.
Lightning-fast, Okina cuts up Ghiza into several pieces; he is so fast it looks like his hands have not left his sheath.
Ghiza's robe falls apart, into snakes; the Bloody Fingers have been duped.
The earth shakes; the Bloody Fingers look toward the source of the lava.
A large torrent of lava spews forth, from the lava's origin.
A giant snake bursts out of the rock. (Considering the amount of power the God-Devouring Serpent has been building throughout the centuries, I would imagine it has developed "demigod serpents" - lesser serpents born of its flesh that are gods in their own right, that also act as envoys of the God-Devouring Serpent's presence. It's kinda like how Athena was born out of Zeus's head and basically does everything Zeus tells her to; Athena is part of Zeus's power, though she is of an independent mind.)
The snake shoots toward Okina; Okina, an incredible warrior on his own right, thinks he can deflect the snake with his katana.
The snake, sensing Okina's strength, shoots away from him, devouring a sizeable chunk of the Bloody Fingers' contingent.
The snake swallows; the screaming Bloody Fingers, who at one point in time or another were Tarnished, sink into the serpent's intestines.
The snake bites at the withering Magma Wyrm.
The serpent winces; the corpse has no flavor in it, it has all been consumed by the scepter.
It spits the corpse at Okina.
Okina cuts the corpse in half.
The serpent, dangling over the lava pool, retches; the legs of humans fall out of its mouth.
The Recusants, including Ghiza, fall on the lava pool, unharmed by the magma.
Bernahl, like Velstadt, twirls the Devourer's Scepter. Bernahl: It's time someone taught you so-called "nobles" some manners.
It is dusk. The Leyndell Soldiers, in a line, arrive at the Tarnished camps. They cover the entire countryside; the Soldiers most prominent in view enter the camp surrounding the Grand Lift of Dectus.
A Soldier peeps behind the palisades of the camp.
A spear is thrust forward, missing the soldier; this is enough, however, and he panics. Soldier: Woah!
The Leyndell Soldiers back away from the camps; there are Tarnished behind the palisades, ready to defend the camp. Soldier: Tarnished?! Soldier 2: I thought these camps were empty!
Tarnished: I don't know what you're talking about, but, Tarnished: we spent the whole day in battle. We're no quitters.
Tarnished: Get the hell out of our faces. Tarnished: We will never bow down to Morgott, in spite of his honeyed words.
Soldier: Why, you - Soldier 2: Leave them! We only came to check.
Soldier 2: Our priority is to go down Seethewater. Soldier 2: We can deal with them later. Soldier: Feh!
Soldier 2: You Tarnished are fools -
In the distance, it's clear that some Tarnished that had been on the shardbearers' side have joined the hunt, to be rewarded by Morgott. Soldier 2: Your lot have already joined Leyndell. Soldier 2: You're on the losing side.
The Tarnished look at their former comrades with complex emotions: regret, rage, sadness, all. Tarnished: ...
Back to Gareth and Rhys. They have just fled from the Magma Wyrm, and are near the emptied coffins at Gelmir's side.
Gareth: Is it pursuing us? Rhys: ...No. It gave up, for some reason.
Gareth: Good - Gareth: Stalwart's in pain. The ox is limping, after putting his feet on literally burning rock.
Gareth and Rhys get off Stalwart, allowing the ox to rest. They continue walking up the slope toward the Hermit Village. Gareth: Is now the right time to discuss - Rhys: how to get the hell out of here?
Rhys: It's possible it just loops. Gareth: What if it doesn't? We're obviously between two fires. Gareth: And we don't even know where we are on this mountain!
Rhys: ...I'm sorry. Rhys: I didn't think this far ahead.
Gareth: Don't. Neither did I. Gareth: But, unless another godforsaken monster attacks us, please exert all of your brains into figuring this out. A very small, but slightly perceptible, blue mist creeps into the corner of the panel.
Rhys continues walking, musing on the problem. Rhys: ...
Rhys wordlessly notices the growing blue mist around him.
Rhys turns around. We do not see at all what he is seeing. Gareth continues walking, not noticing Rhys's change in attention.
Rhys starts running. Gareth hears his footsteps. Gareth: Rhys, what is it?
Gareth: Rhys! Rhys is running, as fast as he can, like a madman.
He stumbles. Again, we do not see at all what he sees.
Rhys falls on his face; he has mud over his armor.
He picks himself up quickly, and continues running.
Rhys: R-r-
The reveal of everyone's favorite witch, Ranni, sitting on the cliff at the edge of the Hermit's Shack, staring at the moon, veiled in mist. Rhys: Ranni!
Rhys, panting heavily, stares at Ranni. She doesn't return his gaze.
Rhys, no longer panting, is waiting for Ranni to say something.
Gareth catches up. Rhys turns his head, to see what Ranni is seeing. (Perhaps, in her mysterious way, this is what she wanted from him all along.)
Rhys and Ranni look at the full mystery and beauty of the moon together. Gareth, notably, is not. Gareth is a rather practical person and is wondering who the heck this woman ("woman?") with the big hat is. (I only now realize the moon absolutely does not appear in this direction at dusk, and the mountain mostly obscures the moon all times at night, but FOR ARTISTIC PURPOSES it is here.)
Ranni, still staring at the moon: I apologize. Ranni: Were you addressing me?
Rhys, dumbfounded, turns to her. He has found the woman behind the voice literally 23 chapters ago.
He digs around his belongings.
He pulls out the pouch with the Wolf Spirit Ashes; he presents it to Ranni, with the projections of the wolves playing in the grass over the ashes. Rhys: You left this for me, didn't you?
Ranni turns, showing her full face to Rhys; she also shows the projection of her true face in her "former" life, glimmering in blue. Ranni: My cherished wolves. Ranni: Yes. I must have dropped them.
Rhys: ... Ranni just stares at him.
Rhys: Do you want them back? Ranni: Why? Do you not like them?
Rhys: ... Gareth: ...
Rhys, not knowing what to do, puts the ashes away (because he thinks that's what she wants him to do; forgive him, living in the woods means he knows very little about women). Rhys: Blaidd told me about you. Rhys: That you're a princess. That you're special.
Ranni turns her face back to the moon. Ranni: Ah. Blaidd. Ranni: I may have been those, once.
Gareth: Rhys... Rhys brushes him off. Rhys: Wait. Rhys: What are you doing here?
Ranni: Hmm? Nosey, aren't you? Ranni: I am visiting family here.
Ranni: Or, are you upset that I, at a whim, am merely admiring the night, and its stars?
Rhys looks like he has been slapped.
He looks down at his feet, embarrassed.
Ranni: Forgive me, Tarnished. Ranni: My tongue is quite sharp.
Ranni: It was nice to meet you; Ranni: it's good to have company, on nights like these.
Ranni vanishes into dust.
Rhys is bereft, watching Ranni vanish. He had been looking for her this whole time, trying to solve some mystery, and the mystery, frankly, resolved itself into one big wet fart.
Gareth: Rhys... Gareth: Well, one, we need to move.
Gareth: Two, who was that? Rhys: ...
Gareth: And who wears white silk to the mountains? Rhys: Shut up. Gareth is not a total boor and has a tiny understanding of how Rhys is feeling. Gareth: Fine, fine.
They hear a shrieking in the distance. Gareth: Oh, heavens no... Gareth: I recognize -
Paws - gigantic - pound on the mountain floor.
They kick off a cliff.
A runebear, chained and held back by many Demi-Humans, leaps down before the Tarnished, bearing its fangs and claws before them. Stalwart, in the background, panics and flees. Gareth: Come on!
The runebear charges at them, with the Demi-Humans following closely, banging their weapons against their shields. A faint blue mist can be seen at the edges of the panel.
The runebear is near Gareth. Gareth is before Rhys, ready to protect him.
The runebear's limbs, inexplicably, tense up.
The runebear's eyelids droop.
The runebear, mid-charge, collapses into sleep, or frost, or whatever. The demi-humans do too.
Gareth and Rhys are fine. They are dumbfounded by the sight.
The trio travel further, passing the Craftsman's Shack.
They see the Hermit Village before them, vast - compared to other settlements around the Lands Between, anyway - and, disturbingly quiet.
They pass through the streets of the Hermit Village; all the Demi-Humans are asleep.
They see Demi-Human Queen Maggie and her Raya Lucarian attendants also sleeping, coated in a wintry frost. (Normally I wouldn't give so much panel space for redundant information, but this is the first time a reader would see a Demi-Human Queen (alive), a rather impressive monster.)
In a wintry wind, Ranni manifests on a rock. Ranni: I have made up my mind, Tarnished - Ranni: Thou'rt a rare sort.
Ranni: Wilt thou enter into the service, Ranni: of Ranni, the Witch?