Dark Souls Quest: Clay Faces

Awaiting heartily.

>>1225528
You don’t know what the driver looks like, you haven’t seen their face. The creatures pulling the cart keep a steady pace. A great jolt startles you and the mindless hollows. A great blast of flame blows the side of the wagon apart.
It teeters over and crashes into a ditch beside the winding track. The two horses pulling the cart scamper off into the dark wood. Your head rings as you get up, witnessing two of the now freed hollows aflame, running in circles and screaming terrible death-cries.
Beyond the ditch is a shallow valley, clear of trees. Near the bottom you see a flickering light, perhaps from a flame, it seems to be dying.
You notice the driver has been crushed by the front of the wagon. He appears to have been wearing a shortsword and ring mail, that did him do good though against the blunt force of the heavy, steel reinforced cart.

>>1225536
If you stare too long at the flame, it begins to draw you forward, subtly.

As if it sending a promise...

To fulfill something...

Something essential...

Deep within...

>>1225541
Our loins?

Or...retribution?

>>1225541
>>1225563

...the soul.

>>1225567
But...okay, sure. The soul.
You sure?

File: tumblr_olss91Ftn31sdg1rno1_540.png (211KB, 540x290px) Image search: [Google]

211KB, 540x290px

>>1225569
>>1225567
This is in a separate Cycle from the games, yes?
Awaiting choice.

>>1225570
Yes, separate cycle. Maybe different continent to any of the games, but you'll have to find that out.

>>1225536
You just now notice a tiny white sprite lingering about the corpse of the wagon driver. It flickers and dances about his mangled body, dazzling you with it's morbid beauty.

>>1225575
If you want us to give an Action, do
>Write-in
at the end of the post.
Grab the ítem/thingy!

>>1225576
You clasp your hands around the whimsical sprite. It disperses into a cloud of sparkling mist.
You watch the mist as it swirls around you and through you, and finally rests within your bosom.
You feel comforted by its light, restored slightly.

A memory flashes into your head, ageless and dim, just a single word, a name...

>What is your name?

(Note: The mechanics will not work quite like dark souls, i.e. a sprite will only ever be a soul, an item can be acquired through realistic means.)

I feel Geist would be too on the nose. I'm terrible at names .
Kurt?

>>1225581
Unrull

>>1225588
Unrull sounds good enough

>>1225581
Klein

OP went hollow and bluephantom'd us

>>1225657
Feels bad

>>1225588
Unrull is fine

>>1225581
Giantdad

>>1225581
I'm with Unrull.

>>1225660
[OP was indicted]

>>1225938
>>1225660
>>1225594
>>1225588

Unrull, as this name emerges in your mind, you somehow feel more whole, less... hungry...
Right it is an empty name, but with so much potential.

>>1226193
The light at the bottom of the hollow, although flickering, and apparently dying, it radiates a strange resilience...

Do you...

>Investigate the light

>Inspect the driver

>Continue along the path

>Write in...

>>1226201
>Inspect the driver

>>1226201
>Investigate the light

>>1226201
>Write in...
After inspecting the light, bury the corpse off to the side.

>>1226201
>>Inspect the driver

Get his sword and maybe that chainmail, then

>Investigate the light

>>1226201
>Inspect the driver

>>1226368
>>1226523
>>1226907
>>1227159

The driver of the cart is undoubtedly dead. His chest caved in from a heavy beam of reinforced wood.
His chainmail is broken, and upon inspecting his sword you see that it was broken in half in the sheath, making it nearly useless in combat. But "nearly useless" is better than "empty handed" so you take the sword anyway. You shift the beam to one side, and pull off his mail shirt; it may only provide minor defence, but again, still better than nothing.
You take a moment to think. If you were to go down into the valley, the driver may have already reanimated by the time you got back. You decide to bury him beside the track to prevent him from causing you harm when he returns. The other hollows seem to be too weak to be of harm to anyone, so you decide to leave them alone.

>>1227214
>>Investigate the sack
>>Collect the sprites

>>1226430
>>1226907

You gaze at the flickering, fading light for a moment; it seems to call out to you, perhaps for help… You walk down the slope into the clear valley. You pass a puddle of stagnant water and stop, you see your reflection clear as day, and the cursed scar, seared into your flesh around your right eye; the Darksign.

Near the bottom of the clearing, you see six or seven smouldering corpses, three of which have a white sprite floating about them. They are all surrounding one other, clutching a small, bright flame. Suddenly the one in the centre begins to move, gesturing for you to come forward. Apparently unable to speak for the moment, it gestures with its other hand, to a small sack on the ground nearby.


Do you…


>Investigate the sack


>Collect the sprites


>Attack without remorse


>Write in…

>>1227233
>Collect the sprites
>Investigate the sack

>>1227233
>Investigate the sack
>Collect the sprites

>>1227233
>Collect the sprites
>Attack without remorse
They're too far gone to do anything but die.

>>1227286
We don't know that for sure yet, anon. At least try to see first before deciding to pick a fight with something.

>>1227253
>>1227281
>>1227227

Before approaching, you wander around and gather all of the tiny, white sprites and crush them in your hands. You absorb them all into your flesh. Another memory flashes through your congealed mind, a faint fleeting moment, just an emotion... but you can’t quite understand it, this emotion is alien to you, but maybe it once wasn’t.

Stepping over the corpses, you approach the sack. Inside you find a tiny key, and a small green flask. The flask contains a meagre amount of sparkling golden liquid, like bottled flame. The flask brings you comfort, something almost unknown in a place like this.

Do you…

>Offer the dying undead a drink

>Return to the road with your loot

>Attack without remorse

>Write in…

>>1227501
>Offer the dying undead a drink
then
>Return to the road with your loot

And always be prepared to:
>Attack without remorse

>>1227361
Huh, I think my last DS1 character got channeled for a bit there. Yeah, I suppose they're not beyond a little kindness.

>>1227501
>Offer the dying undead a drink

have the hilt ready in case you need to

>Attack without remorse

>>1227527
>>1227652

You hold the flask out to him; a quivering, wrinkled hand outstretches to grab it. He clasps it, but nearly drops it, luckily you manage to catch the flask as it slips from his hand. Carefully you hold your hands around his as he presses the bottle to his bearded lips. His eyes open, and his grip becomes firmer as the fiery Estus burns down his throat.

A crackled voice breaks through his lips.
“Thank… you.”

He Places the Estus Flask back into your hands.
“Keep it… it will do you more good than I.”

His eyes widen when he sees your face, a glimmer of something resembling hope shines through.
“Yes… You’ll do fine… You, undead, please take up my task.
I was entrusted with an errand… of great importance.
Should you choose… to accept it, you will be faced with tasks, of immeasurable difficulty.
But with such rewards… as to make you a god, among the living.”

Do you…

>Inquire further about this “Task”

>Go back to the road

>Go past him into the forest

>Kill him

>Write in…

>>1227906
>Inquire further about this “Task”

>Write in
Carry him to the path, le´t him recover some strenght and ask for guidance. Because we don´t remember shit

This is the third time my ID changed, WTF?

>>1227906
>Inquire further about this “Task”

Informing you all that I won't be writing any more for the next 14 hours.

>>1227930
your ID changes when you use a different computer and/or IP address.

>>1227906
Supporting >>1227930

>>1227906
>Inquire further about this “Task”

>>1227906
>>Inquire further about this “Task”

>>1227906

>Inquire further about this “Task”
>Write in…

Take a peek into the foret, see if you can spot anything in there.

>>1227906
>Inquire further about this "Task"

>>1227930
>>1228225
>>1228929
>>1228813
>>1228721
>>1229149

You are curious about his offer and so inquire further.

“Ah yes… I knew you had… that look about you. Long ago… before living memory… a message was written, and sealed in an envelope. A messenger was given… the task, of delivering this message… and he was told, that it was of the utmost importance. But this task… as trivial as it seems, proved too arduous a task for him… and he died before it was complete. But fortunately before his death… he passed on the message to another… and he to another… and so on…”

He sees the confused look on your face, as you wonder why it would take so long.

“I know what you’re thinking… each messenger couldn’t have been, as incompetent, as the last… but you must know that… when this letter was given, it may sound foolish to say, no information was given as to where… the message need be sent… only that it must arrive.”

As he speaks the clouds darken, and it begins to rain.

“And so, each successive bearer of this… message, has been searching, some think aimlessly, for the true… intended recipient of… the message. And you… I choose you, to be the next messenger. Please, take it.”

He produces a large, tattered, leather envelope from within his coat, and offers it to you.

“Take it, then continue down the road… there’s… a place… where you can rest… and gain your bearings… oh, and take this as well.”

He places a tiny red flame into your hand, and surprisingly, it doesn’t burn you, it just seems to float above your palm.

“Use this… flame… for protection… it is… of utmost… importance… the… message.”

He dies before his next word. A tiny bright sprite accumulates in from of his chest, it floats up and then splits into a shimmering mist. The mist is assimilated into you, a tear rolls down your cheek as you stare at the now lifeless body of the old man.

>>1231794

You peer on into the forest, there is a small animal track leading off into the gloom, you can't see much pas the treeline because of the rain and lack of sunlight.

Do you...

>Take the envelope

>Go past into the forest

>Return to the road

>Write in...

>>1231804
>Take the envelope
For we now bear the past. A message, One for All.

>>1231804
>Take the envelope
Then walk down that oh, so lonely road

(Note: any time you want to know what is in your inventory just type: >check inventory.)

Inventory:
1 x Broken Straight Sword/sheath
1 x Pyromancy Flame

1 x Ragged Travelling Hood
1 x Ragged Travelling Cloak
1 x Rusted Chain Shirt
1 x Ragged Travelling Boots
1 x Worn Wrist Irons

1 x Tiny Iron Key

1 x Mysterious Envelope

>>1231850
>>1231848

You reach out and take the envelope from his stiff, cold hands. It is large and sealed with leather thong. It bears a seal burned onto the front, perhaps with a branding iron, of a great clawed hand hovering over a stout tower with horned battlements.

You feel it would be either unwise or disrespectful to open the sealed envelope, so you leave it be and stow it under your cloak. You turn and trudge back up the hill, struggling to keep your footing on the drenched earth. Using your scabbard as a cane, you manage to make your way back to flat ground without Incident.

Upon approaching the road you see, through the mist and rain, one of the draft horses standing in front of the wagon wreckage, apparently searching the ground for food. A strange wind howls through the trees and gives you a bitter feeling, and causes you to draw your sword out of fright. You stand ready with sword and flame in hand.

Do you…

>Approach the horse

>Ignore the horse and continue along the track

>Search the wreckage for anything useful or that you might have missed

>Attack without remorse

>Write in

>>1232256
>Search the wreckage for anything useful or that you might have missed

>>1232318

You ignore the horse and stride over to the wrecked cart and start rummaging around for anything of use. You find nothing other than splintered wood and shattered chains. You notice that all of the hollows are gone, likely ran off up the track or died in the forest.

You notice an odd smell, very subtle cause it’s hard to smell anything in heavy rain, but it’s there, the distinct scent of burnt flesh. The horse whinnies behind you as if out of fright and you turn to see what the matter is. The horse drops a dismembered arm from its serrated jaws, it scrapes the ground once before charging directly at you, you have little time to think.

Do you…

>Dodge

>Block (sword)

>Attack (sword/pyromancy)

>Write in…

>>1232708
(note: you know the following spells: Combustion (Create a burst of flame in front of you) and Fireball (Throw a small ball of fire that explodes upon impact)).

>>1232708
Dodge, let's get rollin'

>>1232709
Just for clarification, in D&D terms, is it Fireball (http://engl393-dnd5th.wikia.com/wiki/Fireball) or Firebolt(http://engl393-dnd5th.wikia.com/wiki/Fire_Bolt)?

>>1232708
DODGE!!!

>>1232708

>Dodge

>>1232708
>Dodge
until you
>Write in
Strike when it gives an opening
Now we Dark Souls
>>1232768
It produces a ball of fire immediately in front of you. Essentially, it's a melee attack.

>>1232768
Wait, forget about >>1232923, actually. I shouldn't try to respond to posts right after I wake up. For some reason I convinced myself you were asking about Combustion.

>>1232962
I figured combustion was similar to Produce Flame (http://engl393-dnd5th.wikia.com/wiki/Produce_Flame).

>>1232812
>>1232840
>>1232923
>>1232717

As the beast gallops towards you, you dive to the right, past its flank and barely missing it hooves. You land on your side in the mud and slide into the ditch, tearing your cloak and scraping up your arms. You see the steed rear and wheel around. It looks around, as if searching for you, it appears confused.

This seems like an opportune moment, but for what is up to you.

Do you…

>Attack (pyromancy/sword)

>Remain hidden and hope it goes away

>Run

>Write in…

>>1236031
>Attack pyromancy, Firebolt (the sword is a parry tool at best.

Pyromancy attack!

>>1236067
>>1236142

Taking the moment to its full advantage you charge up a ball of flame in your hand and hurl it at the creature. The blast of fire upon it's hide, causes the horse to stagger and whinny. It turns toward where you sit in the ditch, and begins to trot, then gallop towards you. Before you can think it has leaped over the ditch and stands before you. You obverse in horror, its bared teeth dripping his fresh blood.

It appears to be heavily injured.

Do you...

>Attack (pyromancy/sword)

>Prepare to block

>Run

>Write in...

>>1236242
>Attack (pyromancy)

>>1236242
>Attack (pyromancy/sword)

Sword, should be enough to put it down

>>1236242
>Attack (pyromancy)
Burn that bitch!

Is this still runnning?

>>1241603
Trust me it is still running.

>>1241603
>>1241626
Sorry for the long delayed post. Internet problems.

Here we go.

>>1236317
>>1238183
>>1240407

The creature’s mouth seems like it is twisted into a sort of disgusting mockery of a grin, which disturbs you to no end. You present your hand and spread your fingers, expelling a blast of heat and flame that engulfs its entire head. The beast keels back and rears up, shaking its head about in pain, before toppling over onto the ground. Its smouldering corpse lays there still and silent, until a small wisp of sparkling white vapour exudes forth from its hide, and absorbs into your chest.

Another sliver of a memory comes into your mind, a piece of an emotion. You recognise it as pity…

The beast is undoubtedly dead.

Do you…

>Continue up the path

>Go back down the valley and explore the forest

>Examine the creature

>Write in…

>>1243037
>Examine the creature

>>1243037
>Examine the creature

>>1243373
>>1243942
Do this

>>1243037
>Examine the creature
Then
>Continue up the path

>>1243373
>>1243942
>>1244978
>>1245907

The rain is reaching the point of deluge. You are soaked to the bone, and freezing, the flame in your hand provides little warmth. You bend down over the creature and take in all of the details. It is about the same size as an average fully grown draft horse, and most of its features are remarkably similar, with a few striking differences; the first obviously being the teeth. Now seeing it closer you can tell that its teeth are in fact natural, as in, not sharpened to points or deformed from magic, this creature was in fact carnivorous even before this level of decay. The smell sets you off from investigating further.

You feel you need a rest. You remember something the old man said:
>“…continue down the road… there’s… a place… where you can rest… and gain your bearings…” you’re now thinking this to be good advice.

The rain pours down harder, as the sky grows ever darker.

Do you…

>Go up the path

>Go back down the hill and explore the forest

>Write in…

>>1246478
>Go up the path

>>1246478
>Go up the path

>>1248134
>>1247222

You decide to heed to the old man’s directions and begin to trudge along the track through rain and mud. You walk along between the trees, using your flame to light the way so you don’t miss a step in the dark. Every so often you hear a noise in the forest to either side of you; a rustling or chattering, and rarely a faint voice, harsh and guttural. The sounds don’t appear to heed to any danger as you don’t encounter any other creature along the way.

>>1250014

After walking for an amount of, long or short you cannot tell, the path begins to broaden. It opens up into a large amphitheatre, with steps leading down to the bottom through each of its five tiers, you cannot see the other side due to mist and dark. You descend the steps slowly, being careful not to miss a step. Near the bottom, in the centre of the theatre, is a pyre, resembling a campfire except with a twisted metal stake in the centre. You reach the bottom and approach the bonfire, now noticing the fuel that keeps it alight; the bones of slain undead.

You are taken aback by fright when you notice a cloaked figure sitting near the fire, seemingly appearing out of thin air.

“Sit down, you look tired” her voice is dry and smooth “you look like you’ve seen a ghost. Well, I wouldn’t be surprised if you had.”

Upon realising you’re so tired you slump onto the ground. You are confused though, you don’t remember doing anything so exerting. Being so near the flame now comforts you, and seems to restore your strength and energy.

The woman produces a small, empty, green flask from under her robe and unstoppers it. She holds it near the flame and, like condensation from fog, little golden droplets begin to form around the rim of the flask. The droplets shimmer as they slide down into the bottle. More appear, and larger, they enter the flask like a shower of golden rain. When the flask is filled with Estus she stoppers the bottle and deposits it back under her robe.

>>1250022

The amphitheatre has three paths leading out from it:
>One to the West.
>One to the East.
>One to the North-west.

Do you...

>Rest until dawn

>Talk to the woman

>Leave the amphitheatre (West, East, North-west)

>Write in...

>>1250028
>One to the North-west.
>Talk to the woman

>>1250028
>One to the North-west.
>Talk to the woman
Also, fill up our flask like she did, if we haven't already.

>>1250218
>>1250811

You hold your flask to the flame and let the Estus drizzle in until it is completely full, about five mouthfuls based on the size of the flask. You then turn to the hooded woman and ask about the surrounding area.

“Yes, you do seem like a wanderer. This forest, it won’t surprise you to hear, is ancient, nearly as old as the stone theatre we sit in. It is death to most undead who wander through… but why not you? Who can tell? Perhaps you are special, perhaps the creatures of the wood fear you, or perhaps it is something you carry that grants you safe passage”

She eyes your cloak, and you know she is peering directly at the envelope.

“Have you brought blight to this land by entering here? Maybe time will tell… maybe you are exactly like the others, doomed to fail over and over again ‘till there is nought left but a husk of what once was, or maybe not, it is too early to tell.”

>>1253608

"The road to the west will lead you to an old farming village, still inhabited, but by new residents, don’t expect a warm welcome. Beyond that over the river and across the moors is the old fort Grauffa, about which I cannot tell much, other than it is said in the old stories to be impregnable; it is written that a force of two dozen could hold it against thousands.
To the North-west you will find a natural labyrinth of fallen stones named quite recently by the locals as the Traitor Ravine, the reason for this I do not know, perhaps you could ask some of the locals? I have no knowledge of what lies beyond the ravine, for any traveller that has passed through here and went onward through there has not returned.”

>>1253660

“My advice to you, linger here for the time being, wait until sunrise to go wandering about… But if you so wish, I would recommend heading to the village before anywhere else.

Do you…

>Wait until sunrise

>Push onward (west, north-west, east)

>Inquire further (Fort Grauffa, Traitor’s Ravine)

>Write in…

>>1253702
>Inquire further (Fort Grauffa, Traitor’s Ravine)

>>1253702
>>Inquire further (Fort Grauffa, Traitor’s Ravine)
>Wait until sunrise

>>1253702
Second this >>1254331
then
>Push onward (west)

>>1253761
>>1254331
>>1257449

You ask about the ravine, trying to get as much information as you can before heading out.

“As I have told you, I have never been there myself, so I could not help you navigate it. But what I do know is, no-one has returned through here once they’ve passed into the labyrinth. This could mean two things; it is a deadly road and none that have braved have survived, or, on the other side there is place more homely than here and they all would rather stay. I have no more for you on this matter, but someone in the village to the west may know more.”

You ask about Fort Grauffa and its origins.

“I have been to the gate and back, but have never seen inside. It stands at the foot of the Greyhem Mountain, across the great moor. The front gate has been shut for centuries, and seemingly all other exits as well… it seems as though they were trying to keep something out… but don’t ask me about what.
It was built long ago, as I understand it by a Lord of some sort. The stories say it was commissioned and built to house his collection. What did he collect? Well I couldn’t tell that, except that it was very valuable, to him at least, valuable enough to behead anyone who asked about it. What was his name? Well the stories, and records, are very old and some parts are missing, I guess people were expected to know who they were talking.”

You are confused and ask where these records are kept, and if she rarely leaves here, how she accesses them.

“Hah! Oh their all around, you’re sitting some right now. Carved into the rock by craftsmen form an age long gone. Their histories, poems, legends, all inscribed here, into the bare stone. But what baffles me, is, why did they collect it all in one place? You see a lot of it is just rabble, monotonous poems about the landscape, letters to friends, private things of no interest to others, all recorded for eternity, and for all to see. Quite strange is it not?”

You gaze around in awe at what was not apparent before, although it is still dark, you can see all around the bonfire illuminated passages of script, etched in the tiniest writing so that it can only be read if you’re no more than a metre off the ground.

You sit back down and gaze at the sky, the stars are unfamiliar and distant, you feel finite as a wisp of cloud breaking in the wind. But you know this to be false, you will linger, unless your mark is taken and your curse removed.

You lay down on the cold stone ground and sleep.

>>1257771

You are roused from slumber, and rise to your feet. The cloaked woman is gone, and now seeing the forest in the light, you feel less vulnerable. Seeing no reason to hurry, you take a moment to stroll around the amphitheatre and examine the scripture. Most of it is nonsense, seemingly unnecessary passages; smithy orders lists, land deeds and so on. But every so often a piece catches your attention, something with a date, and a signature, although they also are nothing of interest. You decide it would take weeks of research and puzzling to decipher the lands history from these stone slabs. Seeing nothing else for you’re here you start out west.

After leaving the theatre and re-entering the forest, you come upon a road, wider than the track on the other side. You walk along through the tall trees until you reach a fork. Expecting to see this you turn left, as that way you understand leads to the village. Along the path, throught the gloom of the forest you see daylight, and the leaves you see smoke rising into the air.

A silhouetted figure shambles across the path, then another, then two more. Four skinless hollows armoured in torn gambeson. Three are armed with either broken shortswords or long daggers, you can’t really tell, while the other wields a spear and a cracked wooden round shield.

None of them seem to have noticed you… yet.

Do you…

>Remain hidden and hope they move past

>Attack without remorse

>Dry to dash past them

>Write in…

>>1257851
>Remain hidden and hope they move past
I was hoping someone would do a dark souls quest.

>>1257851
>Remain hidden and hope they move past

>>1258055
>>1258308

You freeze on the spot and slowly attempt to conceal yourself behind a tree to the side of the path. One of the hollows continues walking and leaves the path into the forest. You stand back with your right shoulder against tree-bark. Breathing heavily you clutch your sword hilt for comfort, but moving even that much makes your chain-mail clink. You hear footsteps on the path but do not look around for fear of drawing more attention. A faint gust of wind blows over the treetops and masks any minor noises.

You hear the crackle of leaves and gravel on the other side of the tree. On the spur of the moment you swing around slash the hollow across the chest with your blade and send him flying back onto the ground with a blast of pyromancy. You sustain a hit in the shoulder from a knife thrown by one of the other two.

Only two hollows remain standing, one wielding spear and shield, the other wielding a dagger.
They are positioned forward and back respectively.
You have sustained a minor injury.

Do you…

>Attack close hollow (pyromancy/sword)

>Attack far hollow (pyromancy)

>Drink Estus

>Run

>Write in…

>>1258424
>Attack close hollow

Inventory:
1 x Broken Straight Sword/sheath
1 x Pyromancy Flame

1 x Ragged Travelling Hood
1 x Ragged Travelling Cloak
1 x Rusted Chain Shirt
1 x Ragged Travelling Boots
1 x Worn Wrist Irons

1 x Tiny Iron Key

1 x Mysterious Envelope

Known Spells:
Combustion
Fireball

>>1258424
>Attack close hollow (pyromancy)
Our sword can't do shit, so it is best if we get the spear and shield first.

This thread is now dead. Go to next thread here:
>>1258506