Darkest Dungeon: Lowly Apprentices

Reports from Darkest Dungeon - spoilers ahead! You can follow the rest of the story here!

While we lost Tark and LeDore to the stressful darkness, I managed to lead a team composed of the bounty hunter Redbeard, Caes the plague doctor and the healer Plushie Mostly to victory - slaying the necromancer in the ruins, even destroying a horrid skull collector that was defending him. Alas this servant of darkness was only an apprentice, which meant his master would be further within.

It reanimates the severed heads of its many victims.

His death seemed to make the cultists more aggressive though, as they were responsible for the deaths of Cheshire Charr, Marcoh78, and Turms. We also lost Chloanne to a brigand cutthroat. Her father Lenigrast, is filled with unconsolable rage. To that end I am forcing him to be on scribe duty until he cools down. No point risking anyone else's life for his mistakes.

As a personal note, I am definitely leagues better than the rest of these so called adventurers and will no longer deign to attempt the easier dungeon runs. Instead I'll let the newbies prove their worth there and see which of them is skilled enough to join the elite (me).

-Fawadin

Dark Souls II: Creepy Crawlies

Tales from Dark Souls - spoilers ahead! You can follow the rest of the story here!

It's the poison that kills me... really?

Equipped with the rings I bought from the cat, I return to the misty lion man ruin and manage to talk to the previously silent man scorpion who introduces himself as Tark, possibly once known as Tarkus until something bad happened to him in Anor Londo. Apparently he wants me to help him slay his female counterpart who I had previously run into. Lucky for me he comes along to assist and on our second attempt (I misjudged the aggro swapping on the first one) we manage to slay her. Tark is satisfied and returns to his domain while I push on to a strange cavern full of locked doors which I quickly run out of keys for.

The place is guarded by slow moving elephant knights and ... really big dwarves(?) who are easy enough to run past. Eventually I emerge at a deep valley and after fighting through a small army camp I make my way down some dark, spider infested caves into a church where I have to slay a whole bunch of hollows and their magic wielding priest.

Oh, hell no.

Lower down is the continuation of the town, and it is absolutely infested with the poisonous arachnids (and some man-spiders), to the point that they start coming in swarms. Good thing the bastard sword has a wide sweeping arc attack which is effective at small group extermination. The lowest building seems to be where they are coming from, and I soon find out why: it's their lair.

Dark Souls: The Murderer

Tales from Dark Souls - spoilers ahead! You can follow the rest of the story here!

I was pleased to find not just a bonfire in the first room I opened, but also my old comrade Solaire resting here. He's not the only knight here either as the place is crawling with the same type I trained against at the Berg (which is handy for me). I even save Ser Chubby from a room with five of them at one point, on my first try! Having pretty much the run of the place I explore it fully, finding Havel's armor, open shortcuts to the outside, find a friendly giant blacksmith, and make my way to the main hall for what could only be the boss battle.

Except one of the cracked orbs I carried shook in that hall, and using it I discovered that the murderer - Lautrec was nearby. Of course I went for him first! He and his two cronies were too much to handle though, especially since Lautrec's curved knives ignored my shield. So I did the only logical thing: I farmed souls, went back to Ser Sad, and purchased 47 black fire bombs. Yes, I exploded the hell out of Lautrec and his pals. I also retrieved the fire keeper's soul from his corpse.

The long stairways seemed designed for this!

Ser Sad was kind enough to inform me that I was doomed though, because even the mighty adventurers Big Hat and Iron Tarkus were defeated at Anor Londo. What!? Tarkuuuuus! Filled with righteous fury after Lautrec's defeat I then marched into the boss battle to find not one, but TWO enemies - whom I think have one of the best prebattle cutscenes so far. Smough the slow(ish) smasher and Ornstein the spry and still pretty powerful lancer. I don't think I got one of them below 90% life before they slaughtered me.

Impending death...

Rather than hit my head against this wall I figured I'd go do something else first. :P

Dark Souls: Sunlight City

Tales from Dark Souls - spoilers ahead! You can follow the rest of the story here!

I finally reach the top of the fortress where I find not only a bonfire, but a very depressed merchant knight - Ser Sad. Not sure how he gets his wares given you need to "jump" to him, but he has some pretty nice stuff! I also find assistance in the form of Iron Tarkus, a heavy knight who first slays one of the giants who resides up here (the ones I've just been running away from), followed by almost soloing the Iron Golem boss!

Tarkus must be super high level.

Upon its defeat I am swarmed by flying demon things that decide to carry me up the mountain to the edge of Anor Londo. Apparently they also serve as transport back down if I need it, which is a really awkward way to travel. This beautiful place has gigantic sentries watching my every move, but they are nice enough to let me pass if I leave them (and whatever they are guarding) alone.

So pretty...

While it's pretty clear where I'm meant to be headed, I am detoured into a building full of assassin's creed cosplayers with a giant painting I can't interact with. Passed them is the way to the main building but of course the main doors are sealed. I have to go around and fight the same flying demons who were my transport to get through. Ironically, knocking them off a ledge makes them fall to their deaths. Guess I hit them so hard they forgot they could fly?

A number of deaths awaited me just after though, as the narrow path leading towards the building was well defended by a pair of archer knights, who shoot arrows the size of ballista bolts and covered not just my approach but each other. Eventually I was zen enough to blind dodge (via timing) the arrow coming from the back while dealing with the knight in front. One balcony jump later and I found myself in the palace! Woo!