Once again I see the fog gate in front of me. Once again I slay the knights that guards the scorched earth around me. I’ve done this all before and nothing has changed. As I once again prepare to fight the great lord Gwyn, to once again choose the path of the world around me. Though, it will not matter, I have made both choices and both send me back to where I started this death-filled quest.
But I’m getting ahead of myself, I am Nathaniel, I hail from the lands of the Great Swamp. As you may know, the people of the Great Swamp are pyromancers, which so happens I am one. Though being an undead came with an unwarranted change my living arrangements. So I was sent to the Northern Asylum, to await the end of the world. But a stroke of luck, or maybe a curse, I was freed by a fellow undead. To which let me start the quest of the chosen undead.
As for the quest, it was to to go to the land of the gods, Lordran, collect the lord souls and kill the the once great Gwyn, Lord of Cinder, and surrender my body and soul the the first flame. For doing this it would let the flame live a little longer and keep the darkness at bay, but only for a short time. If I choose to let the flame die out it would bring the age of man, but also bring the darkness and the evil that comes with it.
With these choices you would think it that it would not make much of a difference. As for that, I have to say... I don’t know. You see, I have made this choice before, and as the fire took me I thought I was giving the world a little more time to prepare itself for the darkness that will indeed come... and I was wrong. I opened my eyes only to see a familiar place. The asylum which marked the beginning of my journey. At first I was shocked, wondering why I was alive and why I was here again. I still had my tattered clothes, my shield, which I received off a hollow soldier in the Undead Parish, and my simple hand axe. I was thinking finding a different weapon, but I was so focused on not dying that I didn't take the time.
So I left the room to soon find out that I must go on a quest quite similar to the one I just completed. This is also when I found out that my enemies have grown stronger as well, making me meet death more than wanted. As I continue my quite similar quest, I found old friends and enemies but they treated me like we never meet. It left me puzzled, but gave me ideas to see if different choices would give me a different ending to their quests. Which it did, giving me new friends and new enemies. I did this until I once again arrived at the first flame, and to find Gwyn standing there, a emotionless husk. I killed him and had to make a choice. Since I wished not to be forced into the same path I choose to let the flame die. And as I left, I felt the darkness surround me and pull me in. When I awoke I again, I found myself in the asylum.
This made me angry, for once again I was to face the horrors of Lordran. This continued on for countless times. Leaving me more angry and even more tired the more I repeated the cycle. In this endless quest I found many weapons and armor. Though I choose to stay with my tattered clothes, it gave me a feeling of connection to my old home. As for the weapons, I stuck with my shield finding no better substitute, but my axe was starting to become lacking; the dead becoming more resistant to its attacks. I chose a wonderful great-axe that I received off of one of the knights guarding the flame and Gwyn. As opposed to my first weapon, this axe was substantially bigger, and required both of my hands.
So now I again stand at the fog gate, to confront the ever-silent lord; so I may continue this endless loop. I give myself a once over, checking my supplies. I had my black knight great-axe and hollow soldier shield, my tattered clothes and heavy boots, my estus flask full and prepared to bring back the strength needed to face my foes. Plus a large assortment of goods such as humanity, homeward bones, charcoal pine resin, a repair box, and my trusted hand axe. My inner fire flowed through my bones, showing that I was indeed ready to face the silent lord.
Before I entered, I cast the spell Power Within, and I felt strength enter my bones and muscles as a red mist descended over me. The only downside to the spell is that it damages my flesh. I stepped into the fog and as soon as I was past the point of no return, he came. Gwyn jumped at me, clearing the room easily, swinging his mighty sword. I quickly rolled to the right barely dodging the edge of his blade, and as I got to my feet he was already there with another swing.
I held my shield up, blocking his attacks, but the sheer power of his blows forced me back, digging my heels into the ground. As his attacks lulled for a moment, I took my great-axe and swung, taking the opportunity to do something to this giant. He showed no sign that my attacks were affecting him. He raised his sword and swung again. I barely rolled backwards in time and put my axe away and prepared my flame so I may cast it at him. He saw this and took the moment to close the distance but was not fast enough to stop me from throwing my great fireball.
He took the hit and staggered somewhat. I took the chance to deliver more hits with my axe, but I didn't see his hand shoot forward. He grabbed me by the neck and hoisted me into the air. I could feel power build up in his hand and I tried to escape his grasp, but to no avail. Then all at once the power exploded in my face sending me flying backwards and causing my great axe and shield to be sent flying. Leaving me leaving me breathless, full of pain and worst of all, unprotected. As I tried to get up he slowly walked over to me, as if he had already won. Once he was over me he raised his sword and plunged it into my stomach.
I looked into his face and could've sworn I saw a smirk. This opened the floodgate to my anger and I kicked with all my might into his right leg. I heard a satisfying crack and saw his face twist in pain as he fell over onto his back. With all my rage, I quickly stood and pulled the sword out of my chest, and threw it to the side. I slowly walk over to Gwyn, letting all the anger and rage fuel my power, causing my arm to become engulfed in flames.
Gwyn was already on his good knee before I got to him and punched him in the face with all my might. He was sent flying into the bonfire in to middle of the room and I wasted no time to continue my assault. I jumped onto his chest and pulled out my hand axe, the flames on my arm writhed onto my weapon like snakes, and I began sending blow after blow into his face. Letting all my rage fall onto my blows for all the pain I received for this endless quest. After some time I finally stopped and looked at result of my anger. All that was left was a bloody mess of bone and brain matter. As I stood, his body dissolved into dust leaving me with more souls to add to my collection. When I finally calmed down and could think straight, I saw how bad of a shape I was in and then collapsed onto my knees in front of the bonfire. Too weak to reach for my estus, I merely lifted my hand to the bonfire. As I did, I prayed to the godmother to remove me from this torment, to send me somewhere other than this forsaken place, to no longer be stuck in this endless loop of death and destruction.
...And so I opened my eyes.
