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violinsoccur · 7 years

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Dark Souls: Prepare to Cry Edition -- Firelink Shrine

SCENE: Fire-link Shrine

Narration: Exiting the archway, I can see I've reached the upper bridge of the burg - I'm higher up than I realized. To my left is the long, wide surface of the bridge, scorched black by some unknown source, bodies of burned hollows scattered along its length. How recently was this done?

To my right, the last sight I would have expected here.

Music change: Mirage

CG Sequence: Solaire introduction

Narration: Who is this figure, looking so serene, gazing at the sun in a place like this...?

Narrator: Hello there! You don't look Hollow! Far from it!

Solaire: I am Solaire of Astora, an adherent of the Lord of Sunlight.

Narration: Her words are so calm and sure, said with a charming smile. I have no idea how to respond. My nerves are on edge after fighting the taurus demon. I must appear so ragged.

Solaire: Who might you be?

Narrator: Oh, yes, I am the Chosen Undead, I've come for the upper bell of awakening. What brings you here?

Solaire: I too am Undead. I have come to this great land, the birthplace of Lord Gwyn, to seek my very own sun!

Narration: Her... very own sun? She says it as if it were the most normal thing in the world to seek.

Narrator: …Your own sun?

Solaire: Do you find that strange? …Well, you should! No need to hide your reaction. I get that look all the time!

Narration: I can't help but smile. Crazy as the quest might seem, this Solaire carries an aura of calm, cheery confidence, so out of place in the burg. This conversation has brought me to a completely different world to the one I was in a few minutes ago.

Narrator: Your own sun, you say? How goes your search so far?

Solaire: So, I didn't scare you? Well then, I have a proposition, if you have a moment.

Choices:

Yes

No.

Choice: Yes.

Solaire: The way I see it, our fates appear to be intertwined. We’ve had the good fortune to meet in such trying times. In a land brimming with Hollows, could that really be mere chance?

So, what do you say? Why not help one another on this lonely journey?

Choices:

Yes.

No.

Choice: Yes.

Solaire: This pleases me greatly! Well then, take this.

Narration: She hands me a white soap-stone, the edges of which are positively incandescent.

Solaire: We are amidst strange beings, in a strange land. The flow of time itself is convoluted, with heroes centuries old phasing in and out. The very fabric of existence wavers. There's no telling how much longer your world and mine will remain in contact.

But with this, we can summon one another as spirits, cross the gaps between the worlds and help each other!

I am a warrior of the sun. Spot my summon signature easily by its brilliant aura. You cannot miss it.

I won’t keep you any longer. I have no doubt your own quest is important as well.

I will stay behind, to gaze at the sun.

Narration: And with that she turns back to the balcony and raises her gaze to the sun, whose rays peek between thick clouds.

This has undoubtedly been the strangest conversation I’ve had so far, yet somehow it’s left me feeling reassured.

I glance at the soapstone still in my hand. What had she meant by "cross the gap between worlds"?

A question I suppose must be answered later. I turn back to face the bridge, drifting reluctantly back to the world outside this small balcony.

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violinsoccur · 7 years

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Dark Souls: Prepare to Cry Edition -- Bell Gargoyles

SCENE: Bell Gargoyles

Narration: I step out onto the roof of the parish. It looks precarious, but finding stable footing isn’t as hard as I’d thought. I’ve only made a few steps toward the bell when I hear an ominous cracking sound coming from above...

Background: Gargoyle’s Roof

Music change: Total Destruction

CG Sequence: Gargoyle’s Intro

Narration: Siegmeyer grabs my shoulder reassuringly.

Siegmeyer: Quite the showy beast, isn't he? Well, it should be no trouble for two knights such as ourselves!

Narration: We need a plan of attack. The gargoyle steps towards us, its bronze armor discoloured from years of weathering. It carries a huge halberd that, while ordinary enough, would easily be enough to crush me. Its tail ends in a large bronze battleaxe - this is clearly an enchanted creature, presumably made to defend the bell...

Another step. Siegmeyer being here gives me options, we just need to work out the best way to approach it...

Choices:

1. Charge head on.

2. Attempt to get on opposite sides.

3. Attack solo, keep Seigmeyer for backup.

Narrator: Siegmeyer, I think we should –

Siegmeyer: Circle around to its left! I'll take the right flank. Draw its attention and I'll strike from behind. I have some experience fighting fiends such as these.

Narration: Oh. Sure. I mean, I was just guessing anyway. It's a well thought out plan too—her zweihander will make much shorter work of something this size then my sword will, regardless of speed.

Narrator: I'm on it.

Narration: I rush to the left of the beast, trying to get in closer to draw its attention. It turns to face me, advancing. Out of the corner of my eye I see Siegmeyer circling around to get outside of its peripheral vision. The best raises itself up on its hind legs, its forearms tensing up as it grips the halberd tighter - an attack!

CG Sequence: Gargoyle’s attack

Narration: I dive out the way, bronze halberd crashing down to my right just in time. Roof tiles go everywhere. I suddenly understand the current disastrous state of the tiling work.

Siegmeyer: Dire fiend!

Narration: I look up in time to see one of Siegmeyer's devastating zweiander blows cleaving deep into the arm of the gargoyle.

I dash forward, tightening my grip, delivering my own much less impressive strike to the beast’s right thigh. It lets out a guttural roar and leaps back, its wings swooping down.

This is working well. I'd feel overwhelmed dealing with it alone, but with the two of us we have the gargoyle at an advantage. I give Siegmeyer a grateful smile, hardly able to believe my good fortune in having found such fine help.

Siegmeyer: A fine dodge there! Ready to finish this?

Narrator: Of course! Let’s –

Narration: Suddenly, a ferocious roar—from another direction. Oh no…

CG Sequence: Second gargoyle’s appearance

Siegmeyer: Oho! Now it’s getting interesting…

Narration: She's much more enthusiastic about this development than I am. No time for reflecting, it's either be decisive or be dead. The original gargoyle starts to run forward.

Narrator: Siegmeyer, you take that one, I'll finish this one off!

Siegmeyer: A fine suggestion!

Narration: She charges with gusto toward the new gargoyle, spiked shield covering her approach. My gargoyle leaps off the ground as it approaches, dusty wings beating to keep it aloft for a few seconds. It leans back—for a second it seems to be falling before I realize… The tail!

My shield comes up just in time to meet the huge battle-axe end of the tail. I lose my footing and stumble back a few steps… I’m not the only one. The gargoyle lands heavily—its attack from the air caused it to lose its balance. An opportunity!

I rush towards the gargoyle. It’s struggling to lift its own weapon, the deep cut from the zweihander running down its load-bearing arm. The beast swings its weapon out in a wide arc, far too slowly for it to hit me. I lunge to my left to avoid it. Then I rush in.

From this range it can't hit me. I bring both hands to my sword, and push hard off the ground.

My sword sinks to the hilt in the gargoyle's neck. It shudders once, twice. Then it collapses, revealing the scene behind it.

Siegmeyer's gargoyle is reared up on its hind legs, breathing a river of fire towards her. She's well-stanced, protected by the shield, but she seems to be collapsing under the heat.

Since when can they breathe fire!?

I sprint toward the gargoyle, nearly tripping on its disembodied tail, which has apparently been cleaved off whole by Siegmeyer.

I can feel the terrible heat from here—no one could take that for long...

Siegmeyer drops to one knee, shield still covering her face and supported by both hands.

I sprint foward, both hands on my sword. This has to be fast—one strike. The gargoyle is completely ignoring me, intent on burning Siegmeyer alive before me. Not today.

I leap at the beast, driving my sword in a smooth, strong arc just below its jawline. It lets out a deep cry. The fire ceases instantly. The gargoyle’s body folds over. Dead.

Music change: Wind

Narrator: Siegmeyer, are you okay?

Narration: I rush over and place a hand on her shoulder. She brushes it off calmly and takes a deep drink from her estus flask.

Siegmeyer: Not to worry, friend, I'm fine. A kngiht of Catarina can't be brought down that easily! You have my thanks, however, I was in quite a fix there. That was quite the fight!

Narrator: Please, don't thank me. You've been an incredible help. I've no doubt I'd have lost had I taken on those two alone. I probably owe you my life!

Siegmeyer: We'll call it even then. I'm glad I could be of some assistance.

Narrator: Did you know they could breathe fire?! Mine never did that.

Siegmeyer: I had no idea. Really, I feel I got the more exciting of the pair.

Narrator: Your enthusiasm is inspirational.

Effect: Fade out.

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