C14: Aftermath and Safe Haven
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Going up the stairs, past a multitude of metal caskets (nothing new at this point). I make a right turn into what looks like a water saturated basement. I take the first step into the building and immediately recoil in abject horror.
'MY socks are wet!!!' I internally scream as I tremble all over but shut the voice up momentarily as I keep walking forward in these horrible dance shoes. The water rises past my ankles and I noticeably twitch every so often. There is naught here but pieces of broken wood and what looks like more sand bags but it could have once been food maybe.
I climb up the very long ladder to arrive at what looks like a study, two large tables with celestial measuring devices on each of them with scattered books. I go around one of the tables to find a glinting note. It mentions a "Byrgenwerth spider hiding all manner of rituals". I'm stuck contemplating what they are talking about.
Rom or Patches.
Both are all sneaky sneaky but this mentions rituals so unless Patches has found god, it's likely to be Rom.
Setting the note down, I head further down the table length and arrive at a chest. I slam my hand on it and after moving the swaying lock aside, I open it to find a piece of the grand puzzle.
The Blood Gem Workshop Tool.
"Padre, why is this here instead of in the dream already? Idiot" I curse my foster father but nevertheless pocket the tool piece as I make my way up the steps once more.
These steps curve to the right as I climb before I reach a set of iron doors. With a heavy creak, I gradually push them open, only to be blinded.
Light, Glorious Light. Bestowing upon me the greatest of graces, A safe haven in an otherly hostile environment. I would love to enjoy the atmosphere far more than before, there is just one problem.
Squelch squelch.
MyFuckingSocksAreWet and my shoes make horrible noises with every step.
"Breathe, breathe, calmly" I stop myself as I directly kick my shoes off and rip my socks off, afterall, who needs shoes in Yharnam, not like there are any poisonous swamps near here.
I activate the lamp and sit beside it as I finally allow the system to tell me what it has been meaning to.
[Prey Slaughtered]
[New Title Obtained: Successor of Shadows Level 1-user has a great relationship with an individual blessed by the power of darkness itself. With his fall, he relays to you his inheritance, his legacy, a path forward that he created through his own will. Effect: Doubles all shadow related powers at 1.5x cost. Passive Effect: Gain access to the dark inheritance sealed within the axe of its former owner.]
"Inheritance" I whisper the word, as with a trembling hand, I take out Gascoignes Axe, the same one still coated in his blood. My nose scrunches up at the smell of it, how much blood it had been bathed in from years of service.
[Gascoignes Axe (modified Hunters Axe) +5. This axe, a marvel of the hunters workshop has seen better days as hunt after hunt have worn the handle down into a curved shape to fit its original owner's butcherous swings.
The years have not been kind but it's owner has glimpsed simple truths through the blade of this axe. A dark truth but a truth nonetheless.
Stepping upon this path, The axe has grown with it's original owner, stepping onto a deluge of darkness.
All has been seen, all has been felt, The pain embraced, the blood spilled. Now it simply needs a successor to understand it. Scaling: A-Strength, C-Skill. S-Arcane]
[Unique Skill detected: Dark Reprieve. Costs 2 Quick Silver bullets per usage]
I stroke the tainted black reflective blade as I momentarily swap over to this new title. From that moment, I see my own reflection seem to lean closer even though I have not moved. A boney shadow hand reaches out and grabs my throat. Yet I do not recoil, I do not thrash about. My sight is locked onto my reflection eyes, as its own head seeps through the mirror, I finally see it.
A vast expanse of darkness and surprisingly light, shadows forming like reflections of my surroundings. I choose to concentrate on a shadow in the distance and with a dropping sensation like I just 'fell'. I find myself on the other side of the room, a spot hidden from the light of the torches and lamps as well as the full moon high above.
Specifically, I stand besides the door that would lead me out to the actual Cathedral Ward.
I do not hurry to rush forward as i still have not gone through all the new messages. Returning to the lamp, I sit once more and continue reading.
[host has successfully slain Father Gascoigne. A penalty is in effect as more than 50% of the bosses hp has been dealt by an outside presence. NG+25 boss shall give only 1/4th of it's rewards in echoes but full insight is still gained.]
I suddenly shiver as the air around me coalesces into thick wisps that seep into me through my pores. I huff as the feeling and energy flows into and through me.
[As the user has permanently slain this 'boss', the rewards are also increased. Reward comparable to NG+6 victory. +85,982 Blood echoes. User has gained 3 insight (human form and defeating him.), this insight is doubled by Nugget man passive. Total Insight =10]
"Holy shit" I mutter at seeing the massive gains, at least when I'm reaching the reward equivalent ranking but when I see the actual numbers. I'm just stunned.
'Im rich'
I flop over on my back as I stare at the ceiling, whispers echo in my ear from the insight but I'm already crazy so I can't be more mad.
"Whats next"
[As the user inflicted less than 10% of the Cleric Beast's health before it died. It had instead been returned to its arena, awaiting your arrival to free it once more, at least, should you die again or run away from it after entering the arena.]
'So I still have a massively overpowered beast on the loose in Yharnam but it's at least sealed until I go near it.' I breathe a sigh of relief that I still get to be the one to finish it off.
[Warning: As the user holds a fragment of the Empowered Cleric Beast, it's leveling limiters have been disabled.]
"Excuse the fuck me?" I respond in confusion as I know I have the strange blood gem but what does that mean for me.
[Warning: Cleric Beast has reached level 21]
"Motherfu…GRR" I physically growl and curse the beast but move onto the next notification after not seeing a second level up in the next few seconds.
[With the host obtaining the Blood Gem workshop tool, blood gems can now be bought from the system store.]
'Nice'
[Hunters Axe Proficiency has risen by one level. Level 5->6.] 'Alright'.
[For initiating the first shadow jump. User has gained a new skill. Darkness Mastery level 1 (1% comprehension).]
[User has been given a quest: Take care of her- Father Gascoigne who perished in your hands has entrusted his daughter to you for safe keeping.
Part 1: {0/1 Get the child to a safe location}
Part 2:{0/1 Keep the child safe throughout the night of the hunt}
Rewards:
Part 1: 1 Kin of kin (consumable)
½ of Father Gascoignes dropped echoes (set to NG+25) (1/4th given after each part of the quest is completed)
Skill shard x 3 x 2 (3 shards per part completed) ]
[All updates displayed]
"Well that was a rollercoaster of emotions" I state as I get up, about to the path I just came from. At least until I notice….him.
The Chapel Dweller.
"Oh hello, my apologies, I couldn't tell you were there, the incense masked your scent. Oh, by chance, are you a hunter? Oh good, I've long been waiting for one of your ilk. This place is a safe haven from the hunt, though this night is quite the peculiar one. I tell ya, Yharnam is done for what not with people behind closed doors turning into beasts and such." The chapel dweller reveals his heartfelt good wishes to me and openly displays his thoughts as he is well aware of his appearance.
"This place is quite safe, I have plenty of incense to ward off the beasts , it will last the night. Should you find anyone who requires assistance, then I ask that you refer them here" he offers this place as a sanctuary for the few citizens that haven't lost their minds yet.
"Hmm." i nod in affirmation on all points as the dweller has been correct on all fronts.
"I already have one or two in mind, I'm going to get them now" I state as a look of happiness at the thought of company in these dire times appears on the dwellers face as I make my back down the way I just entered from.
My bare feet now becoming wet directly which only pisses me off more until I dry them off on the 'sandbags' scattered around before making my way past Gascoignes grave.
I gently stroked it, offering another prayer even though I was here just minutes prior. I then re-enter Central Yharnam as I find the two corpses of the shredded 'Large' Huntsmen, collecting vials from them before I collect 2 more bold hunters mark and my mood improves a fair bit as I return across the bridge and up the elevator.
I collect more vials from the 2 'minions' that were also torn apart as I was running from the cleric beast. I then make my way past the lantern, stopping by two different houses that had incense near their doors. One was near the overpass where one regular huntsman was keeping a fire steady.
"What do you want, I aint opening this door, no way no how" A male voice echoes with cynicism at my presence but I only offer an empty response as I frankly don't know or care about this individual.
"Just letting you know, I'm going to clear the streets in a few moments, double check your incense supply, if you arent sure you can last the night then make your way down the street. Some boxes on the left side will be broken. Make your way down to the kennels and taking a quick left will bring you to an elevator to the bridge. On the other side there will be Cathedral ward. They have plenty of incense to keep you all safe."
"Oh, I see. Thanks for the warning mate, though you don't have the look of a hunter on ya"
"My clothes got dirty…too much blood"
"I..I see, Ill keep an eye out then, if it works then good, if it's not then we will try to make the trip."
"Then i shall be on my way" I tell them and then begin to hunt down the nearby huntsmen before arriving at the second door which was in the middle of the streets, just off from where the first house was. I give them a similar warning but this time, they don't take me seriously and say I should just do my job and "protect them like a hunter should".
I ignore them and finish off this street by taking down the huntsmen and dog in this area before moving down to the house with the ladies who helped me earlier. This time, I properly offered to escort them to the chapel if they required the assistance. They kindly refused my offer as they reassured me they had enough incense of their own.
I at the very least informed them of how to make molotovs so that they can defend themselves should that not be the case. They thank me for my service as I walk off to the formerly blocked gate that Gascoigne's daughter was at.
I knock on the metal bars. And a voice immediately perks up at the sound.
"Oh, Hello mister Hunter. Still can't find my mum?"
"I did, They asked me to bring you to them, to keep you safe. Pack up your things and any incense you have left"
"Oh really! Hurray. Mummy and daddy haven't forgotten me" She seems to cheer as I hear her run down the halls of her home.
As she does that, I go up the stairs and take care of the few dogs and huntsmen here in case some idiot I warned ends up here. When I finish and return, I find she is already standing outside with a sack on her shoulder. I questioned her about what she brought and found that she brought out a few useless things like a candlestick for some reason. I go inside with her, gaining the out of bounds debuff and help her back more clothes and toys as well as a second sack for food stuff so she doesnt go hungry, which I help carry for her.
As we make our way down, I spot another group which seems to be the residents of the first group I spoke to that heeded my advice as they follow my instructions, about to climb down the ledge to the now-fixed kennels. Though they do get scared by the dogs as they stop in their tracks.
Me and the girl who I learned was named Cherry also made our way down the street. I went down first to take care of all the dogs relatively quickly before ushering them all down. I caught Cherry after I took care of the dogs, she followed my lead by jumping down into my arms.
The other survivors climb down as well but more individually. They keep following my words on how to get to the elevator I unlocked.
Now we could have followed the other group down the elevator but I remember there is another house across the bridge from the dogs. I head down there and knock on the door.
"Oh you certainly kept me waiting after killing that dog. You better not be expecting any thanks from me, you hear me"
My body stills as I recognize the voice, not from the game as I never interacted with her before then. No, I personally knew her. Almost akin to a whisper, I mouth out. "Granny Mina?"
A silence envelops the street as it seems the old lady inside heard my voice as I soon heard rummaging and clicking before the door opened to reveal an old crone in an aged white outfit.
She has a look of shock as she stares at me.
"Little Rascal, you're alive." She has a happy expression on her old face as she rushes over as fast as she can with her cane before hitting me in the knee with it.
"Oh how I outta give you a piece of my mind, disappearing like you did these past few years." She begins to beat me with her cane as I try to block everything with my arms or legs so she at least doesnt strike my joints as that could affect my movements.
"Oi-ow, stop hitting me old hag. I got hurt-ow- during a hunt. I only-ow- just came back an hour ago" I reveal to her as in better faith as she seems to tire out to keep hitting me. She still has a negative expression on my face which I now mirror as I glare at her act of violence.
"So why have you come back now? I ain't got anything to offer you."
"Im guiding people to a safe place, The Oedon Chapel. If you don't want to go then don't go, just stay here with the rest of the roaming beasts for all I care."
"Yes yes, let's go. Well, what are you waiting for? Oh aren't you a cute little thing" She seems to immediately agree to my words and crosses the bridge at light speed before harassing Cherry.
-Sigh- "This old bat still hits hard. If I didn't already have brain trauma, she would have been the source of all my concussions" I complain as I cross the bridge back and down to the elevator before guiding the duo across the bridge.
I soon spot the first group which is standing just outside the graveyard area. I, with a confused expression look at them before stepping forward to talk to them.
"Why did you all stop here? The Chapel is just up the stairs there"
"Ah, sir Hunter. We were just unsure is all. Afterall, there is someone just standing there, in front of the center grave"
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Word count: 2908 Completing some quests, getting rewards and the aftermath of the boss fight. Also let me know if you want to change the word count phrasing to just be numbers instead?
Whether you like the chapter or not, drop a comment. I can't be letting myself get complacent in my writing. I still have plenty of growth in all forms.
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Patreon.com/Xanok to find me.