Morrowe and Reane are fighting demi-humans in Liurnia of the Lakes.
Reane plunges her foil into a demi-human's eye.
Another demi-human swings his falchion at her.
She turns her victim around; he, instead, is slashed.
In a running somersault, Morrowe cuts both demi-humans up into pieces.
A demi-human chief roars.
The chief presents himself before Morrowe, taller than him by a head.
The chief tries to intimidate him with his fangs.
Morrowe picks his nose.
He flicks his booger at the chief.
The chief roars and lunges at him.
Morrowe, with one of his scimitars, deflects the chief's knife.
The chief, off-balance, is flung backwards.
Morrowe stabs the chief through the heart.
Morrowe stands over the demi-human chief's body, before his cowering clan.
The demi-humans run.
Reane puts a hand on Morrowe's shoulder. Reane: Let them go. We've done enough.
They look to the sky; dusk is coming. Morrowe: It's getting late. Shall we press on?
Reane: No, let's set up camp.
Night. Sleeping bags and a fire are set up. Reane, Morrowe, and Morrowe's horse, Swift, found but a few days ago, are finished eating.
Morrowe: Do you hear that? Reane: ...Faintly.
They put out the fire, and crouch beneath the bushes.
They look through the brush.
Second-generation Albinaurics are patroling the lakes. Morrowe: Who are those ugly fellows?
Reane: Albinaurics.
Morrowe: Should we ambush them? Reane: Are they coming?
Morrowe: Nay. Reane: Then leave them be.
Morrowe: Are they peaceful? Reane: ...No. They're likely marauding.
Morrowe: You sure? Reane: Just leave them be.
They continue watching.
The Albinaurics look around.
They continue marching.
They leave the area.
Morrowe: You know, where I came from, we had the tenet: Morrowe: "Everything under the sword."
Reane: Pray, where did you come from? Reane: The heap? Morrowe: Close.
Morrowe: Where I lived was warm, but everyone spent their time thieving. Morrowe: I was only so tall when I learned to pick up a sword.
Reane: Didn't care to be a farmer? Morrowe: You must be a fool to grow grain just to give half to another.
Morrowe: A pirate saw I had a good eye, and so he taught me his ways.
Morrowe: I'm lucky. That's why I'm so happy. Reane: ...
Reane: Pointing your sword at innocent men and women. Morrowe: Hey now...
Morrowe: Someone else always did. I'm not good at coercing. Morrowe: Sweet-talking, different.
Morrowe: In every place, in every sea, in every time, someone needs a swordhand.
Reane: You don't see yourself unjust. Morrowe: Yea.
Reane: The world, instead, is unjust. Morrowe: Hey now...
Morrowe: If that is how the world is, it can't be bad, right? Reane: Winning words...
Morrowe: You? Reane: ...
Reane: Do you see the moon? How it never wavers? Morrowe: Yea.
Reane: The moon is a catalyst for sorceries. Or rather, all illuminating things in the sky are the object of sorceries. Morrowe: Yea.
Reane: The sorcerors of Raya Lucaria use glintstone as their object...brilliant, colored, earthly. Morrowe: Yea.
Reane: But the moon is different. It is cold, distant, colorless, dispassionate.
Reane: It is the sorcery for an arrogant people. Morrowe: ...
Morrowe has nodded off. Reane: I figured.
Morrowe: No, no...continue. Morrowe yawns.
Reane: That's all. Morrowe: Huh? Reane: That is I.
Reane: I come from that clan. Reane: Those who worship the moon. Reane: The Carian royal family.
Morrowe: Oh, you're royalty? Reane: Aye.
Morrowe: You're a princess? Reane: Nay, just a noblewoman.
Morrowe: Do you have jewels? Reane: You cheeky...
Morrowe: You lived among the gods? Reane: No. But, in our realm, we believed we were gods.
Morrowe: But hold on, how did you get... Reane: Simply, by rebelling.
Reane: I disliked the airs my clan put on.
An image of a manor on fire. Reane: They treated the servants like chattel, like beasts of burden... Reane: So I punished them. I set the servants free. Reane: And, I was not strong enough to go unpunished in turn.
Morrowe: You set ablaze a good life? Reane: Yea. And I would do, again and again and again.
Morrowe: That's absurd. Reane: It's because you have no feelings.
Morrowe: ...Well, I suppose I can't stomach indignities put upon another person.
Morrowe: Hold on though, how long did they imprison you? Reane: Until I died.
Morrowe: What! Why? Reane: ? Reane: What do you mean why?
Morrowe: The punishment doesn't fit the crime. Reane: I see what you mean.
Reane: It wasn't the fire they imprisoned me for. Reane: I swore to never rest until every slave was free.
Morrowe: ! Reane: They did not break me to chasten me. Reane: They broke my body to prevent their nemesis.
Morrowe: You're a fanatic... Reane: I don't look like a fool, by changing my principles every hour.
Reane: They broke my bones...tore off my nails...ripped out my eyelids...starved me...
Reane: Because my spirit did not break, they sought to break the vehicle of that spirit.
Reane: My defiance...is what ensured my slavery, at the hands of other people.
Morrowe: ... Reane: I'm really not anything. I have no ambitions. I am bare.
Reane: If I were not so weak, I would not be here with you.
Reane: But, only because I have burning ambitions. Reane: It's not a slight against you.
Morrowe: Reane...let's talk no more on it.
Morrowe: Tell me about the moon. Reane: Trivial matter. But, sure.
Reane points out the features of the moon and the stars to Morrowe.
Reane and Morrowe are asleep.
Morrowe sees Reane shivering.
He rolls closer to her. She does not resist, and is warmed.
Morrowe puts his hand on Reane's thigh.
He moves his hand up.
His hand hovers over her groin.
Reane: That, they broke.
Morrowe: ...What? Reane: My jailers broke my womanhood. Reane: Mocked me, said I'd never be a mother.
Morrowe: I...I don't... Reane: I don't want to describe the method. Please, no more.
Morrowe: Broke...what? I don't... Reane: Trying to play dumb, even now?
Reane: Also, your hand chafed my old scars. Morrowe: I'm tired, I can't argue with your delusions.
Morrowe: Good night. Reane: Night.
Silence.
Morrowe rolls back and forth. Reane: ...
View of Reane's face. She cannot sleep, as Morrowe is making too much noise.
A repetitive sound is heard from Morrowe's side.
Reane throws a rock at him. Reane: Too energetic? Too much blood running through your veins?
Morrowe: Leave me be! Reane: You can't sleep with all that excess energy, huh? Reane: You need a woman?!
Morrowe: Y-yes! Reane: Get away from me!
Morning.
Morrowe wakes up. Reane is already awake, cooking breakfast. Reane: I trust you slept well?
Morrowe: ... Reane: I have half a mind to beat you raw, but it could only be in mind.
Morrowe: ...I thought this last night. Morrowe: Why do you keep that heavy helm on?
Reane: They ravaged my face.
Morrowe: You're not one to have vanity. Reane: ...
Reane: To remind myself of my anger. Reane: And the reason for it.
Morrowe: ...Out of shame? Reane: ...
Morrowe: You're insane.
Morrowe takes some of Reane's food. Morrowe: Thank you.
Morrowe, as he eats: What in...
Reane: What is it?
Morrowe points to a nearby cliff.
On the cliff-face, a figure can be seen climbing down.
The figure is a knight - specifically a Bloodhound Knight, with the Bloodhound's Fang slung on his back.
The knight turns his head around, spotting Reane and Morrowe.
Reane: ! Morrowe: What a strange fellow.
Reane: How did you notice him? Morrowe: You can't hear him clanking about?
Reane: He smells our food? Morrowe: What are you talking about?
Reane: That's a Bloodhound Knight. They have nonpareil scent. Morrowe: Oh. Poking their nose in another's business.
Reane: We're Tarnished, if you forgot. Reane: He might be hunting us.
Morrowe: Then we cut him up. Morrowe: Trust my blade.
The knight turns his head away, and continues to climb down.
The knight lands in the water, before Lakeside Crystal Cave.
He enters.
Morrowe: See? He has no business with us.
Reane: ...Can we follow him?
Morrowe: Why are you so fickle of a sudden? Leave the fellow be.
Reane: After I burned the manor, they sent bloodhounds on me. Reane: They're never employed for good intentions.
Morrowe: And I'm your constant companion? Morrowe: Hah! The world doesn't work that way, dear!
Reane: ...You're right. Reane walks towards the cave.
Morrowe: Reane? Where are you going? Reane!
Reane enters the cave's mouth.
Morrowe: ... Morrowe: Swift, shroud yourself.
Morrowe hides the horse in the brush. Morrowe: I thought I saw it all, Morrowe: but a woman who acts the martyr is the worst.
Morrowe runs after her. Morrowe: Hold on, woman!
Morrowe catches up to Reane, who is hesitant at the cave's entrance.
A trail of blood. The Bloodhound Knight has left slain demi-humans in its wake.
Reane: He's intent on something.
Reane crouches over a dead demi-human.
The demi-human reaches out to her; it is unclear if it wants sympathy or if it is angered.
Reane lays the demi-human's hand down.
She closes its hands.
Reane: Rest. May mercy find you in the next life.
Morrowe: Is there a limit to your absurd thoughts? You fended not a few of them yesterday.
Reane: Because you wanted it. Morrowe can't find his words. She picks herself up.
They follow the trail of blood.
Reane looks down, into the abyss.
The Bloodhound Knight is climbing down.
Morrowe: You're not climbing down. Morrowe: That's the end of it.
Reane sees, to her left, some ledges falling down.
Reane starts jogging. Morrowe: Oh, come on...
Reane jumps to a ledge.
She falls, and snaps her ankle. Reane: Urrgh!
Morrowe lands after. Morrowe: I'll carry you back up.
Reane tears a part of her sleeve.
She tightens the rag around her ankle, so as to blunt the sense of pain. (This probably makes no sense medically or biologically. Listen, I'm not a doctor.)
She picks herself up, wobbling.
She moves through the tunnels.
She enters a room. Crystals are in it.
The crystals are animated; they are actually snails. They hiss at her.
They leap at her.
Morrowe cuts them up.
Reane: As you said, you don't have to accompany me.
Morrowe: I already look like a fool. Please, don't make me look more like one, by leaving with a hanging head.
The pair descend further into the chasm. Morrowe steadies Reane.
At the bottom of the abyss.
An entrance ringed with crystals.
The Bloodhound Knight, staring into a tunnel. He is sniffing.
The Bloodhound Knight enters the tunnel.
Reane and Morrowe follow.
Sunlight, at the tunnel's exit.
The Bloodhound Knight stares out of the cliff of Liurnia. Latenna, offpanel: Brute. Latenna: Careful, now.
Latenna, a First Generation Albinauric, is hiding behind her wounded wolf, Lobo. She has a bow and arrow aimed at the Knight's head. Latenna: At this distance, you will die. Latenna: State your business, clearly, because I am short with your kind.
The Bloodhound Knight steps forward.
Latenna fires.
The Bloodhound Knight darts back quickly.
The arrows land precisely before his hand.
Knight: Hmmm...
Knight: Alright. Let's talk.
Knight: Sir Gideon Ofnir, rightly named the All-Knowing, and the next to be Elden Lord, has sent me looking for a means to Miquella the Kind's Haligtree. Knight: It is said the Albinaurics have it, on rumor they will journey there. Knight: Do you have it?
Latenna: No. Leave.
View back to the Knight. Reane and Morrowe are hiding at the cave's mouth. Knight: My nose doesn't lie.
Latenna: You smell medallions, dunce?
Knight: I didn't say a medallion opens passage.
Latenna: ...
Knight: The medallion is made of a kind of golden foil, that guarantees Miquella's authority.
Knight: I'm not stupid. Come on, give it.
Latenna: What will you even use it for?
Knight: Anyone who takes a passing interest in the Haligtree knows - it warps the Erdtree's influence.
Knight: Such powerful sorcery will allow Gideon to rewrite the Order.
Latenna: Sir Ofnir pretends to match the gods?
Knight: No one else but him could. Now, hand it over.
Latenna: Why should I share it?
Knight: As a surety of trust between both parties.
Knight: Gideon will send his best men with you and your kin, and we shall travel together.
Latenna: ...Aye. The Snowfield is harsh, and, being unknown, has unknowable dangers.
Latenna lowers her bow. Latenna: I'm not insensible. Come.
The Bloodhound Knight steps forward.
Latenna quickly fires arrows.
Two arrows pierce into the hound's eyes; the last bounces off the helm. Knight: Ahh!
Latenna fires again.
The arrows land in the soft spots of the armor, I think in the arms and the legs.
Latenna fires.
The knight runs. The arrows land in his cloak.
The knight is right before Latenna.
She has an arrow in her hand. Knight: Unfortunately for you...
A closer view of his visor, where the arrows have pierced into his eyes. Knight: ...I only need my sense of smell.
Reane's breakfast is thrown at the knight.
Knight: ! Knight: An interloper! The Knight is startled.
He grabs Latenna in his claws.
He points a talon to Latenna's throat. Knight: Now, the girl is confirmed a liar to me. Knight: It's easy for me, to pierce her throat.
Knight: So, let me go peacefully.
A view only of the Knight's face, to demonstrate his blindness. He does not know where Reane and Morrowe are. Knight, thinking: It's the Tarnished I spotted on the cliff.
Knight: They've disguised themselves well. Knight: And the wind is blurring my scent.
Knight: The girl is frail but... Knight: ...the man...was in the march.
Knight: Then, I am listening for a heavy imprint on the grass. Knight: And a male's musk.
Knight, speaking: What is your business?
Morrowe, offpanel: We've come to this girl's succor. Knight: Do you know who she is?
Morrowe: She's a girl. Knight: Nay. Her kind is a blight on the Erdtree.
Knight: But, if you so wish... Knight: For you, who aspire to the Erdtree's gold, I will ensure her safety.
Knight: But the girl must come with me.
Morrowe: Nay. Bad deal. 'Tis unfair. Morrowe: She comes with us.
Knight: Then we must do battle. Morrowe: Aye.
Knight, thinking: Erdtree, give me succor.
A thump in the grass. The Knight runs, fast as the wind.
He pulls out his sword.
Reane's foil punches into the Bloodhound Knight's visor, piercing his brain.
The Knight falls, slain. Next to him is Morrowe's boot, thrown, full of crystals.
Reane with her bloody foil. Morrowe is holding his bootless foot up, in his hand. Reane: I told you I didn't need you. Morrowe: But I supplied the victorious boot.
Reane, to Latenna: Dear, are you hurt? Latenna: No. Who are you?
Reane: Nobody to speak of. Latenna: ...Truly?
Morrowe: Well, I am the fantastical, radiant Morrowe, at your service, m'lady. Reane: He makes me a fibber.
Reane: I...don't have a merciful history with knights of his kind. Reane: So, I investigated.
Latenna: ...I've never met Tarnished like you before.
Reane: I've never met anyone like myself either.
Morrowe, holding Latenna's hands: I've never met anyone like you, either. Morrowe: What a lovely shade of skin.
Morrowe: Tell me, what is your name? Latenna, flustered, as she has never been in so friendly relations with a human before, answers. Latenna: I am Latenna.
Morrowe: Rolls off the tongue, methinks. Morrowe: Your mother did you well. Latenna: I suppose.
Morrowe: You know, I suggested we run to him swords waving. Reane: Morrowe...
Reane: She can't...use her legs. A view of Latenna's legs, which are haphazardly placed on the floor. Morrowe: So?
Reane: She has no...motion in her lower half. Morrowe: I truly don't follow.
Reane: She has no movement down there.
Morrowe looks down, at Latenna's groin. Latenna, who is a bit of an innocent, is confused.
Morrowe looks back to Latenna, finally understanding.
Morrowe walks off in a huff. Morrowe: I meet every infertile woman in the Lands Between! Reane: Mind him not; he's stupid.
Reane: I am Reane. Morrowe: But, what brute coerces a lame woman?
Reane: The Order doesn't see her as a woman. Reane: She's an Albinauric.
Latenna looks aside, as if she is ashamed. Morrowe: She's a frog? Reane: No. Her kind precedes them.
Morrowe: Make this make sense. Reane: It makes no sense, because the story is of folly.
Reane: The Albinaurics are creations of my clan.
Reane: So is said by the Golden Order's scripture, we are beings of light.
Reane: The Carians, cruel in their arrogance, sought to make beings out of moonlight.
Reane: And so, as is told in legends, the Carians created helpers, occluded from the shining virtues you and I possess.
Morrowe: I don't understand. Men come out of wombs. Reane: And yet what ensures wombs? We are creatures of light, by the Erdtree.
Reane: The first generation of Albinaurics, as Latenna belongs, was born lame.
Reane: The second generation - those frogs, as you said - was born dumb.
Morrowe: This has the sound of a fairy tale. Reane: In the mortal world, it did.
Reane: I would be teased, "Lame and dumb as an Albinauric."
Morrowe is trying not to laugh. Reane: I could clobber you...
Reane: Being of silver, Albinaurics aren't worthy of grace.
Reane: And, devoid of grace, are devoid of dignity.
Morrowe: How abhorrent... Reane: From your viewpoint, no, it is not.
Reane: Because she looks human, and because you are ignorant, you forgive her.
Reane: And yet, presented claws and fangs, you'll tear it into ribbons. Morrowe: ...
Reane: Don't worry. Reane: The world agrees with you.
Latenna: And so, what will you do with me?
Reane: Nothing. Reane: I don't agree with the world.
Morrowe: I'm only in agreement with myself. Morrowe: Nothing from myself, either.
Latenna: ... Latenna: Thank you.
Latenna: And yet...it pains me to ask you for another favor... Reane: What is it?
Latenna: That brute's companions are now killing my kind. Latenna: I want to go to their succor.
Latenna: Fanatics of the Erdtree have entered our village under the plateau. Latenna: I escaped, before they went sour.
Latenna: I, truthfully, do not have the medallion they speak of. Another does.
Latenna: I need that medallion. Latenna: And I need myself. Latenna: There's too much to lose.
Reane: ...Alright. Reane: What do you need?
Latenna: Lobo is hurt. She gestures to the wolf. Latenna: I cannot leave on my own. Reane: Oh.
They both look to Morrowe.
Morrowe: Oh, come... Morrowe: Do you see how deep this chasm is?!
Reane: Are you going to leave me to starve here? Morrowe: Not you!
Latenna: Then me? Morrowe: ...
Morrowe: How much work do you expect from me?!
Reane: Just help us get out. Reane: That's where you're going, anyway.
Morrowe: Fine, fine. Latenna is stroking Lobo.
Latenna: Then I suppose it's time. Latenna: Farewell, Lobo.
The wolf winces in pain.
Latenna has an arrow in her hand. Latenna: You are my better half.
She punches the arrow into the wolf's heart.
The wolf howls in pain.
He tries to pick himself up, so as to reduce the pain.
Blood pours out. His legs weaken.
Lobo slumps down, dying.
Latenna: ...Forgive me.
In the chasm of Lakeside Crystal Cave. Reane is looking down; Morrowe is helping Latenna up.
Outside of the cave. Morrowe has Latenna on his back. Morrowe: Here.
Reane tries to carry Latenna on her back. She wobbles. Reane: Woah-oh!
Latenna: Don't worry, I can crawl. Latenna: Since I was born. Morrowe: Come on now...
Morrowe: This is the most pitiful scene I've given sight to.
Reane: Aye, it is. Reane: Let's go.
Morrowe: Give it up, Reane! Morrowe: How long are you going to fool yourself!
Reane and Latenna leave. Morrowe: ...
Latenna, crawling: He is right. Latenna: This is untenable.
Reane: ...I hear him. Reane: Latenna, point your arrow between those branches.
Latenna nocks her bow.
Latenna: Tell me when.
Reane: ...
Reane: Now.
Latenna fires.
The arrow flies through the air.
The arrow flies between the branches.
A Wraith Caller on his horse, wandering through the lake.
The arrow hits the Wraith Caller off his horse.
The horse flies off in a fury, while the Wraith Caller falls to the ground.
The horse runs towards Reane.
Reane stops the horse by waving her hands in the air rapidly. (I don't know anything about horses.) Reane: Hey!
Reane tries to mount the horse.
The horse shakes her off. Reane: Ahh!
Reane, to Latenna: I hate these finicky things... She is clearly not comfortable with horses.
Latenna pats Reane on the leg.
The horse is in a frenzy, kicking water around. Latenna covers her eyes.
She pats the horse's underbelly.
The horse calms down.
Latenna waves her hand in the air.
The horse brings its head down into her hand.
Latenna: I should mount first.
Reane helps Latenna up. Reane: What... How...
Latenna: I don't know. Animals don't mind me.
Reane and Latenna ride through the lake of Liurnia.
Before them is the Moonlight Altar, an immense plateau which the Carians have reserved for themselves. Beneath this plateau is an equally immense shadowed region, housing a poisonous swamp. The swamp has a gloomy, forbidding feeling.
The pair enter the shadow of the Moonlight Altar; looming behind them is the path winding upward to the Village proper.
Depraved Perfumers are seen stalking the grounds.
Latenna fires.
The arrows enter their skulls, killing them.
A Perfumer throws a bottle at them.
The horse winds past the bottle; the bottle explodes into fiery sparks.
Reane readies her foil.
She pierces the perfumer's heart.
First Generation Albinaurics, crawling on the ground, surround the horse.
The Albinaurics pin down the horse's legs. Latenna: What are...
The Albinaurics wrench apart the horse's legs. The pair are unsteadied.
Reane pierces one in the head with her foil.
Reane: Latenna. They've gone mad.
Reane pulls Latenna off the horse; they fall together.
The Albinaurics crawl toward them.
Morrowe cuts them into pieces.
Reane: Morrowe. Morrowe: Don't even ask.
Morrowe: If there is a price in chasing skirts, then I pay it in full.
A Depraved Perfumer approaches them, dagger in hand.
Without a word, Morrowe also cuts him into pieces.
The chest of the Perfumer bulges.
A poisonous cloud erupts from him.
Morrowe: !
An unknown figure pulls Morrowe back.
The cloud plumes in the air. Morrowe tumbles on the ground.
The grass the cloud descends on withers.
Morrowe: Sick freaks...
Morrowe looks to the figure who saved him. Morrowe: Nepheli?
Nepheli: Yea. Reane: What are you doing here?
Nepheli: ...Hmm. Reane: What?
Nepheli: The wind runs cold with foul deeds, here.
Latenna, to Reane: Why did my kin - Reane: Your minds are frail.
Reane: ...A fault of my clan.
Reane: They must have tortured these poor folk, for the medallion.
Latenna: ...Can you take me to the meeting grounds? I want to see who remains. Nepheli: No one.
Nepheli: The chief executioner is there. Nepheli: And so, please accompany me.
Nepheli: I witnessed a sight much the same, in my infancy.
Nepheli: The oppression of the weak. Murder and pillage unchecked.
Nepheli: A waking nightmare, made by men.
Nepheli: But I am a woman, grown. Nepheli: I can still mete out justice.
Morrowe: You can't give justice to dead men. Nepheli: You can, as if they were alive.
Morrowe: But they're dead. Nepheli: ...
Latenna: I need to see if any of them had the medallion in their possession.
Nepheli: Medallion...? Reane: Alright, let's go.
The group cross the bridge to the meeting grounds.
A view of the Omenkiller, bathed in the blood of his victims. Dogs accompany him.
A dog barks, at the sight of the group.
The Omenkiller, an immense man, moves ominously towards the group.
Omenkiller: Wait... The omenkiller holds the dog down. Omenkiller: Hold on, I recognize one.
The Omenkiller holds his hand up to them, as they are wielding their weapons. Omenkiller: Halt. Omenkiller: Nepheli.
Everyone but Nepheli is startled. Omenkiller: That is you, isn't it? Gideon Ofnir's daughter?
Nepheli: ...Aye.
Omenkiller: I'm looking for a half of Miquella's surety. Omenkiller: Help me look.
Omenkiller: Your father has sought the Consecrated Snowfield since time immemorial.
Nepheli: Why now?
Omenkiller: What? Omenkiller: What does... Omenkiller: Why not now?
Omenkiller: It is because Miquella the Kind foolishly granted these beasts safe passage to his lands. Omenkiller: He nearly succeeded.
The lift at Rold, cold and gigantic with its statues of fire prelates of times past. Omenkiller, in card: In the lands where Godfrey had conquered the giants, Miquella set a seed.
The image of the Haligtree, a tree as grand and majestic as the Erdtree yet flecked with white gold. Omenkiller: The seed grew to be the Haligtree, a mocking replacement of the Erdtree.
Omenkiller: There, thriving under Miquella's stupid mercy...
An image of Misbegotten, Crystallians, and Pests. Omenkiller: ...are despisers of the Erdtree.
Omenkiller: He wanted to lead the Albinaurics there. Omenkiller: To fix those who cannot be fixed.
Warriors of the Erdtree slaughtering the Albinaurics. Omenkiller, in card: The great Erdtree sent its warriors to frustrate them, and put an end to their foolish ambitions.
The graveyard that is the Consecrated Snowfield. Omenkiller: In response, Miquella defeated the army and closed the Snowfields, lest they come after his false haven.
Omenkiller: All because Marika indulged him. Omenkiller: A further symptom of our shattering.
Omenkiller: But now, after all this time, the Albinaurics found a means to march to their so-called holy land.
The Banished Knights of Commander Niall accompanying the Albinaurics. Omenkiller: Miquella set them with a guard of powerful knights to ensure their safety.
Omenkiller: But Ofnir does not condescend to the ignorant; he simply wants to see the Haligtree.
Nepheli: ...And so you hunted them like dogs.
Omenkiller: ? Omenkiller: Yes, as we always did.
Nepheli's brow furrows. Omenkiller: I don't understand. Omenkiller: Miquella sent van after van.
Nepheli bares her teeth. Omenkiller: And we hunted them, again and again. Omenkiller: They always destroyed their surety, the fools.
Omenkiller: But this time, we have them - Nepheli: Sir.
Nepheli: And my father never told me?
Omenkiller: Well. You dislike this business, don't you? Omenkiller: Ofnir knows the peeves of his adorable little daughter.
Omenkiller, pointing to Latenna: I mean, aren't you growing a bit too old to play with those things?
Nepheli leaps, plunging her axes into the Omenkiller's flesh.
The Omenkiller staggers back, the wounds not deep. Nepheli: To think... Nepheli: ...he'd order his men to enact such tragedy...
Nepheli: I no longer trust Father.
Nepheli: Let the scars I carve, remind you: I am Nepheli Loux, Warrior.
Omenkiller: Hmph...so be it. Omenkiller: But, really, think about it...
The Omenkiller looms, larger than Nepheli in the shadow of the fire. Omenkiller: Do you think you can best me?
The Omenkiller pulls out a bottle by his side.
Latenna fires.
The Omenkiller drinks from the bottle.
His flesh pounds; his mouth foams. Omenkiller: Ah... ah...
The arrows land, and bounce off his flesh, as if it were iron.
Nepheli: Mad imbiber... The Omenkiller, gigantic, leaps in the air, raising his Omenkiller Cleavers high above his head.
He slams the axes into the ground, smashing wood and cracking the earth; Morrowe pulls Nepheli back.
The Omenkiller breathes fire.
The two dodge.
The dogs bark, running toward them.
Reane pierces one through the brains with a foil; Latenna fires her arrows in another.
The Omenkiller raises one of his cleavers against Latenna.
Nepheli blocks it, with her Stormhawk Axes.
Nepheli's elbows creak, strained by the blow.
Omenkiller: What insanity. Same as protecting dirt. Omenkiller: Someone should teach you a lesson.
The Omenkiller pushes his axe down. Nepheli's arms are crushed.
Nepheli screams.
Nepheli is on her knees, trying to protect Latenna, who attempts to crawl away. Omenkiller: Do you know what these cleavers are made of? Omenkiller: Omen horns. Omenkiller: Giant men. Strong men. Hardly men. Not soft as humans should be, like you and me.
Omenkiller: When a real monster, strong as they, are put before them, they scream for their mothers. Omenkiller: Do you want to know how they scream?
Morrowe tries to stab the Omenkiller. His sword is repulsed from his iron-like flesh.
The Omenkiller swipes his other cleaver at Morrowe.
Morrowe is knocked back, far away.
The Omenkiller kicks Nepheli in the stomach, bowing her down.
He raises one cleaver, aiming to raise her into a bloody pulp.
Latenna fires.
An arrow pierces an eye; the other misses, cracking the mask.
The mask crumbles. Omenkiller: Heh heh...heh heh heh...
The Omenkiller's grotesque face, red, puffy, swollen and strained from repeated consumption of aromatics. Perfume reeks from his breath. Omenkiller: Doesn't hurt.
Fire courses through his mouth again.
Instead, blood comes out.
Reane has punctured one of the veins in his throat.
Reane: Anyone tell you veins don't have muscles in 'em?
The Omenkiller brings his arm up high against Reane.
He swings down; she pierces into a joint.
His arm falters; the axe falls down. Reane: Joints too. Reane: They taught you perfume, but anatomy nothing, apparently.
Reane: Your strength made you arrogant. Reane: Bastard.
Nepheli waves her bent arms above her head, gripping the axes tightly. She is beginning the Thunderstorm. Nepheli: Hey.
Nepheli begins her dance of death.
The Omenkiller brings one arm up, defending himself with his axe. His arm, broad, muscular, and tense from the perfume, flexes.
A series of blows falls upon the axe.
The axe is flung apart, the Omenkiller's arm sore.
Nepheli cuts the Omenkiller's knee; her weapon makes the sound of striking steel. The Omenkiller buckles.
Omenkiller: ... Omenkiller: Do it!
Nepheli cuts the Omenkiller's head off.
The head rolls; Nepheli falls to her feet, succumbing to her wounds.
Reane holds Nepheli. Reane: Nepheli. Nepheli: Heh heh heh...
Nepheli: That's the second time this week someone wanted to set me afire.
Nepheli: Just my luck...
Nepheli: Don't worry about me, I need some rest... Nepheli: But...I can never see my father again...
Reane: Who is... Nepheli: ...
Reane, to Morrowe: She fainted.
Morrowe, to Latenna: I don't think anyone remains. The brute smashed them all into pulp.
Latenna: ... Latenna: Indulge in me. I want to walk around, one last time.
A horse approaches them. Reane: I suppose this is Nepheli's horse. Reane assists Morrowe in putting Nepheli's body on the horse.
Latenna rides on Nepheli's horse and Reane rides with Morrowe on Swift. They look through the gloomy village.
Morrowe: What do your folk eat? Latenna: What you eat.
Morrowe: No. I mean... Morrowe: What grows in this swamp?
Latenna: Mushrooms. Rowa fruit. Latenna: We're not much different from other parts of the Lands Between.
Morrowe: Even so...how oppressive...
Morrowe sees a large pot. Morrowe: Oh, a pot. Is that where you keep preserves?
Latenna: ...Pot?
The two circle the pot. Latenna: We don't keep pots here...
Morrowe: My lady, don't deign to come down. Morrowe dismounts.
His hands hover around the pot. He can hear breathing.
He grips the pot roughly and shakes it about. Morrowe: SHOW YOURSELF ROGUE!!!
The illusion of the pot dissolves.
Morrowe has his hands around an old Albinauric's neck.
Morrowe: WHAT DO YOU KNOW, YOU SNEAK?! Albus: Please, no! Dear me! I haven't a clue.
Albus cowers. Albus: No secrets lie with me, not a one. Albus: Please leave me be.
Latenna: Albus? Albus: Latenna.
The two embrace. Morrowe, to a judging Reane: Well how was I supposed to know...
Albus: Are these...? Latenna: Friends.
Albus: Latenna, you must leave. Albus: We are finished. The whole village is finished.
Albus: Is it safe to...? Latenna: Yes, entrust me with the medallion.
Only a half is given. Latenna: Only this half? Albus: Yes. The other half is in Castle Sol, where Marika subdued the giants.
Latenna: But that's... Albus: Impossible, without Niall's warriors.
Albus: But I believe in you.
Latenna: And what are you to do? Albus: By myself? I'll die here.
Albus: I'll not delay you on your journey. Albus: And, I find my thoughts are swirling. I'll go mad soon.
Morrowe: Old man, is there anywhere we can take you? Albus: Sir, my kind are not welcomed anywhere, especially in Raya Lucaria.
Morrowe: Aren't there other Albinaurics? Albus: We've never been on good terms with the second generation.
Albus: I lived a hard life. I'm not afraid of death. Albus: And to be rejected by the Erdtree, means I won't come back.
Albus: That's my only consolation... He sees Latenna has tears in her eyes.
They embrace. Reane, to Morrowe: Let's leave them. Reane: This is the last they'll speak.
Reane: So what now? Reane: What do you want to do?
Morrowe: Me? Reane: This, I assume, is more than you bargained for.
Reane: How about this: accompany us to Leyndell. Morrowe: ?
Reane: The royal capital. Surely you know this? Reane: The - former - home of the gods.
Reane: With your abilities, you can easily become a knight. Reane: You'll live beside the Erdtree, with everything provided you.
Reane: Who knows? You may find the Tarnished of your dreams there. Morrowe: ...
Reane: Latenna and I will make due. We'll find a way to get to the Snowfields from there.
Morrowe: Tell me you're not actually entertaining this adventure. Reane: I am.
Reane: I feel responsible, in some way, for her fate.
Reane: And I, too, want to see this legendary Haligtree.
Morrowe: ...Let's sleep on it.
Morrowe: But as for Leyndell - sure.
Reane: Thank you. Morrowe: Don't thank me until we get there.
Morrowe, to Albus: Old man. We intend to make camp somewhere else.
Morrowe: More may come. Morrowe: Are you sure you want to stay here?
Albus: The medallion was worth more than my life. Albus: So, yes.
Morrowe: Fool...
Reane gives him a mean look.
Morrowe: I'll never understand... Morrowe: ...how someone can give their life away.
Night. The four have made camp, on an island in Liurnia. Nepheli, Morrowe, and Latenna are resting. Reane is staring at the stars.
Reane yawns. She closes her eyes.
Silence.
She is snoring.
Reane is in the Roundtable Hold. She is wide awake and wide-eyed, unsure of what is real or not. She cannot believe her eyes.
Roderika is staring at her in disbelief too.
Reane: Ro-Ro-
Roderika: Reane! She hugs her.
Reane: I don't...where... Roderika: It's all a bit much for me, too.
Roderika: You're in the Roundtable Hold. Roderika: A gathering place for champions, who vie to become Elden Lord.
Reane: Is this a dream? Roderika: It is a kind of dreaming, yes. Roderika: But if the same dream is shared, isn't it real?
Roderika points to a closed chamber, where the Two Fingers lie. Roderika: As to who is dreaming, I surmise...
Reane: Yes, but... Reane: You? Reane: Elden Lord? Roderika: Hah hah.
Reane: None of this makes any sense... Reane: If this were a dream, why am I not, say, ten feet tall?
Roderika: You are not the dream; the Hold is what you are dreaming. Reane: Then...
Reane disappears.
Reane reappears. She has a pouch in her hands.
Reane: Well, I do indeed have it.
She opens up Roderika's pouch of ashes. Memories of Jellyfish dance in it. Roderika: My ashes!
The Jellyfish dance on Roderika's arms. Roderika: Ah! My favorite little things!
An unknown voice: Ahem. An unknown voice: A little too loud, you two are.
They look to the voice.
Smithing Master Hewg has interrupted them. He is constantly working on his anvil. Hewg: You're spoiling my focus.
Roderika, to Reane: Ah, that's Hewg. Roderika: He's a bit of a grump.
Reane sees the chains on his legs. Reane: Are you...stuck in this dream, sir?
Hewg: These chains? I'm a prisoner, and these are my chains. Hewg: I'm trapped by the hold, undying, smithing for you fools.
Hewg: That's all there is to it. Reane: ...
Reane: Why? Hewg: Must I suffer all kinds of questions? Isn't it enough I don't have freedom?
Reane: Then, here. She puts her foil on the anvil. Reane: The point is not as sharp.
Hewg: ... Hewg: Do you have smithing-stones?
Reane: I'm supposed to have rocks on me? Hewg: Do you think we keep stones in this bloody place?
Reane: None of this makes any sense at all. Hewg: It hasn't made sense in the longest time.
Hewg: This is a memory of champions, of hot swords and hot words, of undiminished glory. All long gone.
Hewg: My hammer would ring as loud as the cheers in this place.
Hewg: But now, eons later, with the blood of heroes running dry, this place is a shell of its former self.
Hewg: This is no refuge for kindred souls. Hewg: It's the recollection of a hopeless romantic.
Hewg: But I, smith all the same.
Hewg, to Roderika: Whether girls sulk at me all the while... Roderika: Heh heh heh...
Reane: So are you both...stuck here? Roderika, and Hewg: Aye.
Reane: As...spirits only? Roderika: I think. Hewg: Aye.
Reane: Can you ever leave? Hewg: When the dream is no longer wanted. Or needed, by its dreamer.
Reane: So that means... Hewg: Aye. When the lands are reunited, and the throne has its Elden Lord on it.
Hewg: So, never.
Roderika: ...It's not so bad, here. Roderika: At least nothing comes to kill me.
Roderika, playing with the Jellyfish: Perhaps it were better if you leave these with me. Hewg: ...
Hewg, to Reane: Miss, I want to speak to you privately. Reane: Me?
Hewg: She has a gift with spirits. Hewg: She could be a spirit tuner.
Reane: I don't know what any of this means. Hewg: Ah, bumpkin.
Hewg: Mind, body, and fate; fate acts like a light. Hewg: Though Roderika's body is dead, her fate is still alive, and she is drawn to the hold.
Hewg: In the same way, your fate was led to the hold. Hewg: Your body and mind simply followed it here.
Hewg: Without fate, the body and mind wander. Hewg: Like tumbleweeds rolling by wind.
Hewg: The ashes Roderika plays with, are that: Hewg: Ashen remains and memories, without destiny.
Hewg: It's not a pitiable existence. Hewg: Ash is a kind of a rest. Hewg: There are much worse fates.
Hewg: See how the jellyfish take to her? Hewg: They are drawn to her light. Her soul.
Hewg: With practice, one can give purpose to those ashes, through one's own. Hewg: That, is spirit tuning.
Reane: All well and good but... Reane: Why are you telling me?
Hewg: Well...the lass takes to you, so... Reane: She's right there.
Hewg: Who would want to talk to an ugly brute such as myself? Reane: I am.
Hewg: You're different - Reane: Sir, I have every inclination to smack your head all ways.
Reane: Can you watch over her, and teach her?
Hewg: That's absurd. Absurd. Ugly brute as me? Absurd.
Hewg: She'd never agree to it - Reane, to Roderika: He says you have a talent. Roderika: Is that true?!
Hewg: Well...yes. Very much. Hewg: As much as another I've seen, long ago.
Roderika: Master Hewg, would you teach me? Hewg: Ah...sure... Reane walks away, finding something curious.
Reane brushes into someone.
Reane sees Ensha, tall in his dark armor. His armor is in the image of a corpse; in fact, the armor is composed of the gilded bones of a king, who had long abandoned the vanity of the mortal world.
Reane: ... Reane: Excuse me?
A voice, offscreen: Don't mind him.
Voice: He's not one to say much.
A view of the actual round table of the Roundtable Hold, decorated with the swords of champions past. The door to the Two Fingers looms large. Sir Gideon Ofnir, the All-Knowing, a Tarnished who has seen many years and one of the closest to the Elden Throne, stands by the fire. Gideon: What a rare occasion. I can't remember the last time a Tarnished made their way to the Roundtable.
Reane: What is your name, sir? Gideon: ...Roderick. Gideon: Sir Roderick.
Gideon: As your senior, I bid you welcome. Gideon: The hold is a much-needed reprieve from the...storm, that is the Lands Between.
Reane: How long have you been here?
Reane: ...Sir? Reane: How long - Reane comes closer to Gideon.
Ensha pushes Reane back, gently but firmly. Reane: Hey!
Gideon: I only speak for the hold, when I welcome you. Gideon: Know your place, trash.
Gideon: I tire of you namby-pamby Tarnished... Gideon: ...running around these storied halls like imbeciles...
Gideon: You're skin and bones, whose fate is to die... Gideon: No different than the ones before you.
Gideon: Unlike you, I have important business. Gideon: Off you go.
Reane: ...
Reane bows. Reane: Sir.
She walks back to Roderika and Hewg.
Gideon glares at her, knowing exactly who she is and how much she has frustrated his schemes.