Darkdrift and the Ritual Flames

You and Yuria get to the small enclosed area, it was a part of the ruins you had entered above, the Stone walls opening only at single doorway which opened to Farron Swamp.

Yuria walked over calmly, Coaxing the warm embers of the bonfire to burst into a gentle flame, "Beyond here is Farron Swamp Our Lord..." she pointed towards the open doorway, "it is very dangerous, and we should be prepared for trouble" You strolled over to Yuria removing your helm, your hand wondered to Yuria's waist, though she wore her Mask Yuria's body shuddered at your touch "My Lord, now isn't the time-" You quickly grasped at her Blades sheath pulling it from her belt, "Wh-" she said confused as you inspected the near invisible blade of the Katana.

"...how strange" you said, lightly running your finger along the blade, feeling resistance felt strange considering the outline of the transparent Blade, "What is it called?" you asked grasping the well wrapped hilt, the long dark beads and materials serving not to hinder the grip but strengthen it, "...Darkdrift" You turned back to her respectfully handing back her blade, she took it twirling it skillfully "...A true Killer needs not see the blade that draws blood, strike with faith and not one nor a hundred can fell you, For that is Darkdrift's Curse" she sheathed the Blade slowly as you put your helmet back on, "Let's put that Mantra to the test eh?" you said striding confidently towards the room's exit, Yuria following in tow of her Lord.

You instantly took in the Swamps muggy and thick air, as you looked upon the thick sludge that coated most of the very large space, you spotted a few spots of thick forestation and all of t surrounded by several ruined stone structures, "...as you can see, the Swamp is covered by the legion's walls, if we continue through the swamp we will find the entrance to the Legions Keep." you grinned happily "...and likely to the Abyss watchers also" Yuria looked to you "but the door will likely be closed, M'lord" a long sigh left your visor "Of course it will be.... and I doubt that it will just push or pull open for us?" You almost thought you heard Yuria giggle a little behind her mask but she quickly collected herself.

"No, M'lord we must Extinguish the Ritual Flames, of which their are three." You looked up and just above some of the treelines, where several towers, at their apex; a Blazing flame, "Very Well, how do you propose we do this then Yuri?" she rested her hand on Darkdrift's decorated hilt, you also noticed movement in the distance, "What if we split up? I can take the tower in the middle, you take take the one to the right, then we can meet at the Fire-Tower near the gate" Yuria nodded "Makes sense... I shall make way for the eastern tower..." Yuria stepped forward but quickly looked back "and M'lord be wary of the Gru, according to my agents they are very dangerous in groups...", she continued on, stopping at the sludge and hesitantly stepped in her steps becoming slowed and hindered, as she dispersed into the distance.

You cleared your throat and draw your sword, the cold mist emanating from the long blade, your shield was sturdy and light, "Time to put out some candles." you said with a smile, stepping forth through the swamp.

As you began to trek through the swamp you realised two things, one: that the sludge greatly hindered movement, and Two: that the sludge was likely very toxic, simply pushing through and sticking to land as well as you could, you took the forward path, following the flames which seemed to served as a guide towards the tower; its high standing form now blocked off by the forestation and tree tops, you trudged through the wooded swamp and began to hear scuttering around you, with your feet in the sludge, now was no time for battle, but from what you could tell, they had no issue moving in the swamp.

In seconds they where on you, roughly three or four tried to jump you, but luckily due to your quick reflex, they only met the face of your shield, one more tried to pounce on you from behind but he only met your blade s you sliced it in twine midair with no issue. The other three went to circle you, allowing a clear view of the beasts, they where clearly not human, but neither where they beast, they carried weapons and shields and covered themselves in rags, but they seemed to be adorned with hideous animal features and goat like horns that spiralled wildly in the air "...Gru huh?" you muttered watching as another charged for you, of course he fell within seconds, the sound of hard cracking and shifting began to come from behind you, Turning your eyes met a Greying tree, standing with a thick trunk and dying branches, but it's roots where ripped from the ground and holding it's large form, was massive horned Gru; it's near eleven foot form slowly coming for you. "Nope." you said bolting in the other direction.

You tried you best to run through the swamp, but found it difficult due to the thick mud, you where still moving pretty fast, which made sense considering; you could her the heavy and terrifying steps of the giant Gru chasing after you. "Oh shit, oh shit, oh shit!" you said quickly looking back to see how far you where getting from the Beast, you saw that not only was the massive Gru keeping a good pace with you, but now also has several other smaller Gru following it! "Oh for fucks sake!" you looked ahead and saw as the path was leading towards a small hill path, which diverged slightly upward, "That's gotta lead to the Ritual fire!" you said bolting even faster towards the path, as you got closer you knew that the Gru would only follow you up and then you would be trapped, "Gotta think of something fast!" luckily something came to you almost as soon as you took your breath, "That's it!". You quickly removed a one of your firebombs from your inventory, you quickly lit it, you moved forward spotting a thicker spot of the swamp and dashed over it and looked back, the Gru pursued still but where a little to far away for your plan, "C'mon, c'mon!" as they where literally four feet away you threw the bomb into the pool as they entered it, and as you expected the flames ignited the swamp gasses creating a massive explosion and killing a lot of the Gru.

You let out a little Victory chuckle and slipped away in the chaos. you followed the small stone-pathed hill up to the area, looking around you quickly spotted the large shrine-like structure, you approached looking at the shrine closely, it was a stone area, where there had clearly once been a small building but now only the rubble and crumbled arches where left as well as you objective: the small area with the tiny flame sat on it's stone surface, strolling over to it you peered fascinatingly at the small flame, "So i can just...?" you reached down gripping the small flame, extinguishing the fire, Looking up to the tower directly above you, you saw that the blazing fire calm and extinguish along with the one that was before you.

A smile formed on your face as you looked eastward to see Yuria's tower also extinguished, "two down, one to go."

From there you encountered little trouble, sure you had to hide from a couple more Giant Gru and slay a few smaller ones, but you followed the flames to the next Shrine with no issue, Walking up the Stone path, you readied yourself for a fight, you surveyed the area, it was nearly exactly the same as the other but with much more Foliage and trees, "There has got to be some beast waiting for me, that's my luck" you thought slowly inching towards the identical stone stand with the tiny little flame on it, you got closer and closer and closer and closer "Ow, fuck!" you said as your hip hit the stone stand, "wow, really!" you said laughing a little, you reached down to extinguished the flame but felt a little tingle along your shoulder, "What the-" you felt your body react before you mind, throwing yourself way from the strike on an unknown enemy.

You readied you blade and lifted your shield surveying your enemy, this one was truly strange: he wore a bright Yellow and brown garb though mostly Yellow, especially the Massive spiralled Cloth that twisted upward in a queer fashion, he had one very heavily bandaged arm and a small cape hanging from her shoulders, he neat down giving a respectful bow, you where certainly weirded out but bowed back, "I guess we're gonna duel then?" he reached behind him pulling out a small crossbow from his belt, "What is that even allowed in a duel!" he didn't seem to care, rushing towards you.

he came in swinging in, striking at you, you actually thought he was... kinda slow, he continued to try and strike at you wildly but you either dodged with no effort of blocked with even less effort, it was then he pulled out something that actually caught you off guard, he waved his pick-like weapon above him and just-like with the crystal sages a bolt of magic flew at you, but this one was much smaller and faster, and was followed by several consecutive bolts of magic which you only just managed to block, he then began shooting at you with his crossbow, only just managing to dodge them and even took one to the shoulder, "Okay, that's enough of that shit!" you dashed forwards bashing the man with your shield making him violently fall to the ground, you dropped your weapon and shield, pulling out your Knife and trying to hold him down.

"Hey, hey that's enough!" you said not wanting to kill another sane person, you managed to hold his arms down, his lack of strength making it a cakewalk, "Hey, Hey! who do you work for huh? you a Legionary? Rosaria's Finger?" he stopped struggling as he heard that name, seeming confused by how you knew Her name "That's it then" you said smiling behind your helm, "M'lord!" Yuria said just now entering the small area, you looked over "Yuri, help me with this would you!?" while distracted the man booted you in your cock and balls of course possibly killing you, "OH, WHAT THE FUCK!!" you cried falling on your side, but luckily Yuria was already on the Strange Finger as soon as he did this, holding him down in a ****-hold.

"Are you okay M'lord?" you squirmed you way standing but nodded "Yup, totally..." you looked down to the Finger, considering kicking him in the ribs, but decided against it, "What should we do with him Our Lord?" you thought on it as you rubbed your balls for a second "Urrr take him back to the Shrine and keep him from leaving until I get back," Yuria's face was hidden but you could tell she was cringing "But m'lord you can't fight the Watchers by yourself?" you picked up your sword and shield, "I'll handle it, just do as I say..." you wanted to sound tough in front of the Finger, but you were pretty sure you where gonna die again, "Very well, but I shall send one of my agents to help should you need him..." you nodded "Thank you Yuria, I'll see you back at the Shrine" you sheathed your Icy Sword "Oh, and keep her away from Rosaria, it is important that she she kept safe from this one." Yuria nodded as you walked towards the small bridge leading towards the gate and from there to the Watchers.