The Deacons of the Deep

"Greetings Ashen One..." you removed your helmet wiping a small dot of sweat from your brow, "Ash will suffice for now Lady Anri..." you gave an honourable bow to the Warrioress, Anri removed her helm revealing her Beautiful face, the long locks of hair falling graciously like autumn leaves, she gave you a gentle punch to the shoulder "...Then Anri will Suffice for now: Ash." you smiled at her as Horace approached extending a hand, you shook it happily, greeting the Knight curiously.

"What Brings you to this gods-forsaken cathedral" you asked looking back at the Barbed Warriors corpse "This is the Cathedral where the Grim aldrich resides, I believe I mentioned it the last time we met?" you may or may not have forgotten about that after the whole Crystal Sage thing... "Yes of course I am here for the Lord of Cinder also..." you totally didn't arouse any suspicion "Well I suppose we are both on the same path then..." Anri sounded seductive as she got a little closer to you "I suppose so..." you said looking into her eyes and seeing the raw passion "How fortunate am I to travel with such a handsome Knight..." she said smiling at you "(Grunt)" Horace grunted breaking our little moment "Oh sorry, two handsome knights..." Horace nodded grunting approvingly once more...

you, Anri and Horace move forward towards the Giant with Weapons at the ready "The Giant will attack if we get too close..." you said noting your experience with him on the platform earlier, "Guarding the staircase up no doubt..." said Anri sword and shield raised and ready, you came to the edge of the boggy swamp-like floor in which the motionless giant stood, Anri spoke gently and quietly "how do you want to handle this?" you looked back at Horace who also waited for your response.

you dipped one of your boots in the swamp and just as you thought it was thick and heavy, any attempt to run through it would be hindered greatly, "I suppose we will have to fight it..." Anri gulped looking up at the Giants colossal form, "I hope you have a plan..." you looked up at the large being, he was very large but his size left him quite open to attack "Perhaps if Horace and I attack its legs toy can get its attention while we attack" The two looked at each other Anri Shrugged "why do I have to be the Decoy?" said Anri in an annoyed tone "Because from what ive seen Horace is the Heavy Hitter between you" Horace nodded in agreement, Anri's grudge full stare making him stop, she sighed "Very well I guess if it gets us to Aldrich..." Anri readied her self "Ready?" you looked at Horace again who readied his halberd "Ok, Lets go!" you said leading the duo through the swamp-water, you and Horace Printed over to a leg each, and both began to viciously attack, Anri throwing a fire bomb up at his knees got his attention as he slowly slammed his large fist down which Anri managed to dodge, you and Horace where subjected to the average stamp which long missed every time, but with Anri's distraction and Horace's assistance you fell the Giant rather easily his large form fading into a mist of souls as he died, the souls divided equally into the three of you, you all regrouped making your way across the rest of the thick swamp floor and up to the stairs.

Making your way up the stairs the three of you encountered several knights alongside some Deacons who attacked along with them, you all battled the Cathedrals Defenders succeeding with little damage, though Anri did take a couple hits which you manged to save her from, finishing off the last knight Anri looked at you Blushing with both Shame & what seemed like arousal, "Thank you Ash..." you helped her up and observed the floor you where on, before you was a very, very large Throne, covered in a fanciful silk which around it laid a path, "He is this way..." said Anri's voice it taking on a colder and harsher tone that you had heard before, when she went to follow the path with her aggression in full ****, Horace's hand caught her arm, he shook his head at her, resting his hand on her shoulder with reassurance, Anri took a deep breath, relaxing herself "Of course, Thank you Horace..." she said taking her friends hand with gratitude "Are you okay?" you asked Anri, she seemed on edge after seeing the throne.

"I will be, I just need to prepare for this..." Anri put her helmet back on and led Horace and you along the path that led behind the Throne, following the short path you saw a arch way which led to the beginning of a long staircase, Anri seemed to walk down them in a drone like state, you went to stop her to at least come up with some kind of plan, but Horace put a hand on your should and shook his head, you looked at him wondering what happened to them to make them both so damaged, and what did that have to do with this "Aldrich", "You keep her safe, from others and herself?" Horace nodded unclasping his gauntlet to show you a mark on his skin, Horace's skin was dried and dark: he was an undead, but on his skin was a circular mark branded on his skin, "Aldrich did this?" he again nodded pointing at her and them himself "...both of you?" he nodded re-strapping his heavy black gauntlet and making his way down after Anri, "these two have been through some serious shit..." you thought following after them.

Coming to the bottom the large entrance of whatever kind of place Aldrich resided in, their was a large wall of fog, "I can do this..." said Anri drawing her blade "Are we ready?" you asked both Anri and Horace nodding in response, all making your way through the fog you saw something that you did not expect; instead of a single man, there was a very large group of deacons who all prepared to attack, Anri and Horace charged into the crowd attacking and killing a couple of Deacons and though slightly confused you felt the urge to join in. The Deacons where no problem battle wise they dropped like flies, coming back to back with Anri you fought slaying several deacons together "Which ones aldrich?!" Anri slashed a deacon killing him instantly "None of them!" she shouted returning to battle, after slaughtering what must of been 30 deacons something strange happened, a crimson light emerged from the middle of the massive crowd a shorter undead deacon in fancier robes with a large staff appearing in a flashing glow, "Kill the Arch Deacon, if he falls they all fall with him!" shouted Anri cleaving herself a path through the deacons, you pushed through slaying deacon after deacon to get to the leader, eventually running into several fatter deacons who pounced on you!

their weight pressed down on you nearly crushing you , they held you down and you felt the air from your lungs beings squeezed out of you, feeling yourself being starved of oxygen you began to panic but salvation came in Horace's Halberd cleaving into the massive deacon, he helped you up and cleared a path to the Arch deacon, seeing your opportunity you charged at him, sword in hand and with a fury performing a jumping thrust running the Arch deacon through with ease.

deep pained moaning came from the deacons in unison as they all fell, the room suddenly becoming a mist of souls which all flowed into you at once. resting on your knee you took a moment to breath after having that deacon on you, "Horace!" said Anri running over to her companion who lay on the ground ****, you sprang up running over to them, Anri now crouched next to him, "Is he okay?" you asked looking down at them as Anri dragged him over to the newly emerged bonfire "He is only **** but might have a concussion I have to look after him..." you nodded sheathing your blade and turning to what you realised what actually a giant coffin in the middle of the room, you also noticed that in the pile of the dead Arch deacons robes was a shining object.