Elden Ring : a Tarnished of No Renown

Short note :

I have came back to writing this after a long break, and decided to revise the chapters covering the Weeping Peninsula. Hope you'll enjoy this improved version more.

[Sigurd's POV]

(Near the Bridge of Sacrifice...)

When I woke up, it was still night time.

"Huh..?"

Torrent had dropped me off at a site of Grace near the bridge.

"Why did I doze off so easily just now..."

Was it regaining the memory taking up my mind? Or was it from a whole day of travel?

Either way, I shall continue on my path.

Following the highway, I decided to head further into the island... until I was stopped but the voice of a woman.

"Hello, is someone there?"

It came from someone sitting to the side of the road. But why does she have a blindfold on?

"What is it that you are doing out here, lady? It is dangerous out here."

"Please, I require you assistance good sir. May you lend your ear for but a moment, please?"

"Very well."

"Thank you, kind Sir. My name is Irina, I escaped from Castle Morne to the South.... it seems that the servants there have rebelled.

I-I can't be sure of what they are - my eyes have been weak since birth you see, but I swore I could hear frightful howling from all over...."

"That does not sound human... If I recall, that castle is housed by the nobles of Limgrave, and had Misbegottens as their servants."

"My good father secreted me out of the Castle when the rebellion happened but he decided to stay... I fear for his life.

Please, good sir, I implore you.... Would you take this letter to the Castle for my father? My sole wish is for him to return with his life, even if it means the end of his honor."

"Sigurd, a word with you." Melina whispers, still in her spirit form. "We stand to gain nothing from this... There is little reason for her to impose on us."

"That is my exact thoughts. Only..."

I looked at the blind woman.... I can't help but feel a sense of pity.

"...I will help you, Irina."

"Ah thank you, dearly! Then please, deliver this letter to my father who remains in the Castle... Please, I just want to see him safe!"

"Rest assured, your letter will be delivered. Take care of yourself for now."

She handed me the letter - rather it was just a piece of napkin with words written on it out of blood, for she did not have the luxury of a simple pen and a paper.

As I called upon Torrent and ride on into the island following the highway, Melina materializes on the back of the steed.

"These bodies are impaled with primitive weapons. No doubt the work of the Misbegottens... It's a miracle for her to make it out alive, if I may be bold.

May I ask you a question?"

"Speak your mind."

"You have been around this island far longer than I have, as I recall Lord Godfrey was the one who led the assault on the island back then.

How much do you remember truly about your past?"

"Very little. I do know of this battle that you spoke of but I do not have any recollection of taking part in it.

But if I were to go to the castle I may just awaken some dormant memory of mine, and gain something. I did not take her request just out of the kindness of my heart you know?"

"I see. I will scout ahead to gather information.

And the next time you feel your consciousness slipping, remember to take some of your Cerulean Tears, it will ease your mind."

"So it was the memories coming back in that made me doze off..."

Following the road south, I was met with a few monsters on the way.... Misbegottens, they are the same race as the blacksmith inside the roundtable hold.

However, they aren't exactly as friendly as him.

Come to think of it I haven't asked for his name yet.... Guess I'll have to introduce myself again later when I return with a proper weapon.

____________

[Melina's POV]

(Night Time)

We continued on the highway heading South but on our way we came across a rider in black mounted on a steed just as dark as himself.

While he doesn't wear heavy armour like the Tree Sentinel, he does hold a dangerous looking flail in his hand.

This man is a member of the Night's Calvary, the fearsome rider of the King of Leyndell, employed to hunt down champions after the Shattering to quell ambitious Tarnished seeking to overthrow the throne.

Just as their name implies, they hunt at night and concealed themselves in the shadows....

This one doesn't seem to be hiding, however.

"Sigurd, that is a Night Rider, a formidable foe for you to take on... Let's just-"

"So he's a worthy opponent? I see I see...."

Sigurd looks to the side of the road where there's a Site of Grace nearby....

"Please listen-"

"Torrent, let's go!"

"Neigh!"

"Sigh..."

"Hyah!" He charged forward towards the black rider with his club raised.

And just a second later... 'Thump!!!'

I am starting to have doubts about him... will he really be the one to take me to the Erdtree?

[You Died]

________________

[Sigurd's POV]

(At Castle Morne...)

The Night Rider disappeared after morning came. That's a shame really, if he can bleed then I am certain I can kill him.

Ah well, can't cry about that now can I?

Castle Morne is just after this Site of Grace, 10 minutes away on Torrent.

"Let's proceed with caution, Sigurd... Irina warned us about the rebellion of the servants there."

"Of course. Hmm, what's that noise? Is that a golem with bow-"

'BOOM-!!!'

[You Died] (again)

________________

Arriving at the castle isn't much of an issue... the problem comes after that.

The interior of the Castle was destroyed and ravaged, clearly a sign of fighting not too long ago.

"Hmm.... Not very nice of them now are they?"

There were countless corpses scattered throughout the Castle, some burnt while the others were hanged.

And the culprits? A group of Misbegottens celebrating together as if they were holding a festival.

"Rahahaha!" (?x)

They were busy keeping to themselves. I can sneak right pass them if I just moved quietly....

"Woof! Woof!"

"Ah shit dogs?!... Here doggie, I have some meat for you- ARGHH DON'T BITE MY ASS"

"Rah?!..."

"And now the entire world knows I'm here, great!"

_______________

(Some more time later....)

"Hah... Hah... Phew..."

I sipped on the last drop of Crimson Tears I have left....

Somehow I managed to kill everyone in the courtyard... There were a dozen of Misbegottens, some dogs and a pumpkin head?...

This place is overrun with hostiles, while beating them individually might not be that hard there are simply way too many of them...

I have to be more careful next time.

I scaled up the castle walls, until I came across a section of the castle where I heard shouting and clashing sounds.

There were still a group of Godrick Soldiers left on here and they are making a last stand against the Misbegottens.

"Let me just carefully walk pass everyone here-"

'Smack!'

A sharp pain was felt to the back of my head.

"....Who did that?"

"Rahh!"/"Die, lowly servant!"

"That's it, I'm killing everyone in here!"

___________

On top of one of the watch towers, a man clad in armour with a halberd sat there.

"...."

He looked at the downpouring sky. He couldn't even see the sun due to the perpetual raining.

"I'm sorry... Irina."

He took the halberd, and got on his feet...

When he walked towards the stairs leading down to the battlements, the sound of a man's shout shook the air around him.

"Ragh-!!!"

The man is covered in blood, but not of his own. And he only wielded a club, if you can even call it a weapon.

"Ah... Sorry, your men attacked me so I had to beat them too."

"You have the spirit of a fine warrior... My name is Edgar, I am the Warden to this castle, Castle Morne.

You have no reason to risk your neck dawdling here. Especially now that the castle have fallen to the servants."

"About that, I am Sigurd, and I am here to deliver you a message."

Sigurd explained the situation to the Warden. About how no one else I left alive on the castle, and how his daughter Irina wanted him to get to safety.

"I see, Irina wants me to leave.... but I can't do that just yet. Even if the castle should fall, I as a commander must remain, to ensure the treasured sword of Morne does not fall to the wrong hands."

"Is the sword more important than your daughter?"

"No... and you should watch your mouth, Tarnished. The treasured sword of Morne is the sole reason I am here in the first place.

It hails from a great champion that fell in battle to Lord Godfrey, First of the Tarnished. It was said that the blade still holds the rage that this sole champion once unleashed upon the Golden Order and it's people."

"That sounds... familiar indeed."

"If you do see Irina, then tell her that I'll be back for her once I've finished my duties... For now however, I must ensure the sword does not fall into the hands of the enemy."

"...I shall locate the sword. Tell me where it is."

"Excuse me?"

"I will help you locate the sword and secure it. Do you not want my assistance, Sir Warden?"

"No, of course I appreciate any support that I can get. But why would you go so far for a random old man in the middle of nowhere?"

"Well, I am only doing this for myself. You see, I am on a journey to recall my memories - reawaken what little ability that I had before Queen Marika banished me away from the Lands Between.

Truthfully, I merely wish for you to respect Irina's request. You are after all the only thing she has left, seeing that she already lost both her sight and her home."

"I see... Yes, you have a point. Very well, I shall leave the sword's fate entirely up to your hands, as you have proven yourself to be capable enough to have made it so far by yourself. Once again I am grateful for your assistance, Tarnished.

The sword is stolen by the leader of the Misbegottens. From last I saw of him, that foul beast took the blade and headed for the back of the castle."

"Then to the back of the castle I will go. Your daughter is by the Bridge of Sacrifice, you should head there now and do not delay."

(Chapter End)