Galus rode on, Lattena and Nepheli had decided to travel with them, Lattena was a given she was going to the Haligtree in the first place. Nepheli was behind Galus on the back of tempest.

Galus looked over toward the cave he found Lattena in, he would have taken the claws to gain more control over his bloodhounds step, but he'd been practicing and the ivory sickles moved just as well if not better, as he could use it to change his trajectory on a dime. He didn't want to entirely emulate the bloodhound style of fighting, if anything he'd have rathered emulated black knife assassins fighting style, there was just something about their flowing low gravity movements and rapid attacks and rapid retreat strategy of wearing down their targets it made them his favorite enemy to fight in the entire game. But he supposed he'd have to create an all new style of his own, and by that he mean he'd basically copy the abyss watchers in darksouls. He sure as hell wasn't going to roll around like a drunk raccoon like in the game.

Galus was so lost in thought that he almost ran over some fellow in orange and white, he pulled back on the stirrups "woah girl."

The fire monk looked up at him his hands up to prevent an impact, but put them down when the horse stopped. "Have you seen a man? They stole something of great value to our temple."

Galus nodded, He gestured toe the cliffside. "Yeah, the knights of Caria caught him, Go up on that cliff, follow the path, eventually you'll come across a large stone circle, last I saw him he was trapped inside of it, it's known as an evergaol, just be sure to leave atleast one person outside otherwise the rest of your comrades won't have a way out, it's impossible to get out from the inside."

The monk looked at him. "And what do you want for this information?"

Galus thought for a few moments. "A few of those fur coats would be nice, we're going to castle Sol you see, so we'd like to prepare for the cold weather."

The monk visibly bristled but sighed. "Go anywhere near the firemonk monastery and you will be killed."

Galus nodded. "Never intended to go there."

The monk nodded. "As long as that is clear."

The monk left and came back with some of the firemonk coats no chest plate though, he was okay with that, as long as they didn't freeze to death. "Thank you sir."

The monk waved them off, glaring at Lattena the whole time. "just go, I'm already sickened by the company you keep."

Galus brisled at this but gently kicked his horses flanks to tell it that it's time to go. He looked over at Lattena. "Are you alright?"

She nodded. "Yeah, we're just lucky he didn't try to kill us, men have been executed just for shaking hands with an albinauric."

Almost on queue a massive fireball catapulted through the sky toward them, luckily their range wasn't the best but they still felt the heat from the explosion of fire and the splash of water and now steam. Lattena closed her eyes in frustration. "There it is..."

Edgar looked over his shoulder and Galus could see a cold realization on his face. For all of Galus' speeches on how the creatures of the fringes were treated, Galus detected little empathy from Edgar, sympathy maybe, but not empathy, one cannot empathize unless one has been in the others shoes, it's a stark contrast to hear about people being hunted, it's a whole other thing o be hunted yourself.

Galus summoned his crossbow and fired or over his shoulder. He didn't hit anything but it wasn't the point to, just like it wasn't the point for that fireball to hit them, it was to cover up the fact that the monk had traded with them in the first place, posturing for his friends, he'd seen things like this in school, a jock who was friends with a nerd in secret only to sock them in the face when their 'real' friends were around.

Galus rushed his horse up onto the ground. "We're taking a pitstop at Carian manor." He called over his shoulder, he saw the other two mounts, Lobo and Gale turn to follow.

They rode for a full three hours until they finally saw the ruins. Galus recommended they Ride around it, but the Lattena and Edgar thought otherwise, so they plowed on ahead.

Galus looked around in the ruins, he saw the aristocrat mages who were trying to rebuild this ruin, and Iji who was directing them in it's Reconstruction, it was downright bizarre seeing this world's people actually doing something other than digging in the dirt or walking down roads, seeing them actually try to cobble back together the thing they lost was a downright weird thing to watch. Galus rode up to Iji. "I assume you're Iji, can I assume Blaidd is challenging Radahn as we speak?"

Iji just stared at him. "What?"

Galus shook his head. "Nevermind that, I'm here for a colleague, is there any chance you'd be willing to turn off those glintstone death beams? I saved Blaidd's life and he sent me here, and I'm here to collect something that Seluvis owes my Colleague."

Iji sighed. "Alright, I'll see what I can do, what exactly did Blaidd promise you?"

Galus shook his head. "I don't remember, I'd be willing to take some new armor as compensation, I'm on my way to the Haligtree, so if you can embroider it's crest on it I'd be grateful." He held up his right palm to show the tattoo as an example.

Iji sighed. "Loretta is a good knight, she held to her principles even when all of society told her not to, but it ended in her going to the Haligtree and leading many albinaurics there with her. It seems you follow her path."

Galus whistled and tapped his horses flanks with his boots and it started forward. He looked over his shoulder to see the troll was lumbering after them. He talked as they walked. "So Iji, how would you say the carians relationship with the Haligtree is? I know lord Miquella often shows disgust and hatred with the gods, my point is, is there a chance of us making a powerful alliance?"

Iji looked at him. "Lady Ranni used to be allied to Miquella before his disappearance, you claim to be Blaidd's friend no? But do you know what he is?"

Galus thought about doing another long winded speech about the shadow bound but decided not to, he'd keep it short and sweet. "Yes, I know what he is, and I think I know how to block the two finger's influence upon him. Unalloyed gold is a powerful creation that my lord created, so if I can get an unalloyed needle it could possibly block it's influence and keep him from betrayal."

Galus couldn't see Iji's face but that was fine with him. "Iji, do me a favor, when you imprison Blaidd in the evergaol, don't call him a scourge or a bloghtt, give him a detailed explanation on why he's being imprisoned, tell him why he's a danger to Ranni, tell him everything in vivid detail, so he doesn't try to escape, when I've rescued Miquella I'll return and give him the needle, it should block the influence as I've said."

Iji made a deep rumbling sound that Galus assumed was a sigh. "I'll try my best."

Galus nodded, and watched Lattena ride up next to him. "If the Haligtree is such good friends with the carians, then why were the knights of the cuckoo sent to destroy my people?"

Iji made that sound again and said. "This was a long time ago, but when Lady Ranni's father left to become elden lord, it caused queen Rennala to become saddened and like wolves the academy of Raya Lucaria smelled the carians weakness in that moment and didn't hesitate to strike. They took us by surprise and while we repelled them they had our queen hostage, it was a grim war but none came out victorious. So you see young albinauric, we weren't in command of the cuckoo knights at the time, the academy was."

Galus shook his head. "You know, I know something that might make you hate Radagon more."

Iji looked at him. "I much doubt that I can hate him more."

Galus sighed. "Radagon and Marika conspired this all along, they wanted you to think think he was a mere champion but in fact he was more than that, he and Marika whispered in the ears of the academy and prepared the coup d'etat and turn Liurnia against itself. Because in the eyes of the erd tree, there can be no equals, only strong and stronger. Your people wielded a power that rivaled theirs, so they came in, learned your ways, raised a family, then when they could learn no more they left and left queen Rennala's mind in ruin in their departure, this is something we call espionage where I come from. Now he reigns as elden lord, and he has the carians and the academy to thank for it."

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Iji shook his head. "I suspected it but not to that level."

Galus nodded. "Yes, but I do have a question, do you think an alliance with ranni is possible?"

Iji tilted his head. "Maybe, you seem to be great friends with Blaidd, what would be the conditions on your side?"

Galus smiled. "Seluvis' head served on a platter."

Iji stopped in his tracks. "He is useful, why would we give you his life?"

Galus shook his head. "Follow me and I'll show you."

Iji sighed and crushed a chunk of Glintstone in his hand like it was made of paper mache and a glowing blue hologram formed in front of him. An old hooded albinauric looked panicked to see us, then Iji spoke. "Pidia, I need our defenses temporarily lowered."

Pidia looked to Galus and he thought he saw a flash of recognition cover the albinaurics face. "Of course sir, right away sir."

He had his horse start forward but then saw the distant shower of Glintstone. He turned his horse around and had it rush back.

Pidia's hologram stammered. "Wh- whoops, now it should be turned off."

----------

Galus walked his horse inside the walls and he tied it to a post on the gate, Edgar did the same, but Lattena stayed in her wolf, given that her people are paraplegic, he didn't see anything wrong with it.

Iji lead them inside the living hands seemed wary of the big smith so they all stuck close, they also passed some actual Carian knights, plural, he'd thought them all dead but clearly they didn't show up in the game for some reason or another, eventually going inside, the doorway was cramped but Iji fit if barely and they went upstairs and Galus saw a root cluster, he promptly destroyed and the cluster and looked out to the many... Bridges? Archways? regardless he looked over his shoulder and saw Pidia quickly duck out of sight. He shook his head and walked outside, Lattena on her wolf, Lobo growled at the lump bodies of cuckoo soldiers, and Lattena knocked an arrow, it clearly wasn't proper terrain for cavalry combat so Galus had her stay in the middle of them with Edgar staying behind them, Edgar had put Irina on Lobo's back so they wouldn't accidentally fall over the edge. Iji had crawled out of the doorway, and looked at the narrow passage, he clearly wouldn't be walking on that.

Galus walked forward keeping the bodies in his sight, he had a horrible feeling about this, and his brain was in full agreement with his gut, something was up with Pidia. They continued onwards, and as they were passing the bodies, one of them twitched, he skipped backwards nearly right into Lobo, Nepheli took out her axes and Galus unsheathed their sword as the bodies rise up as if by invisible strings, floated in the air for nearly a full five seconds as the bodies convulsed. He watched them collapse back to their feet, they were facing away from them but their heads twisted in a 180 with a sickening CRACK! They regarded them with their glowing blue eyes, before turning their bodies to face them as well, and marched forward their weapons extended, behind them he heard other bodies marching toward them. He also heard Iji's bellowing voice. "Pidia what are you doing?!"

It looked to Galus like he wasn't in on the plan, and the massive troll charged across the archway swinging his massive hammer knocking the puppets aside. He saw their bodies ribs protruding out of their chest and their leg and arm bones were sticking out of their skin. Galus realized his mistake and brought his eyes back to his own enemies, one was holding up a shield and Nepheli hooked it's shield with the beard of her axe, and Galus skewered him with his sword, he kicked him off, and they stumbled back but didn't fall down, he heard its teeth grating against eachother and then a gust of wind threw it over the side, Galus saw one of them raise a crossbow and fire it but a swirl of wind deflected it, Nepheli raised her axe and threw it a swirl of lightning and wind causing it go in ways that it wouldn't normally, it hacked into their arm. And it split the limb up the middle. Galus saw a mass of ten of them coming over toward them in the distance. Galus heard from behind them Edgar had engaged with atleast one of them. though Lattena was shooting ones down the archway behind them. That left and Nepheli to guard their front. Galus summoned his discus, them a second and controlled them to sheer through the mass of bodies. To his horror they were still coming even one that was cut in half, crawling on his ribs leaving his belly and legs behind. Galus shook his head clearing his mind trying to separate himself from his fear, he brought the discus' down on it's head, the. Through a other ones head, he was focused on picking them off one by one, and barely noticed the one that was coming up from beside him only dodging when he saw a glint of light and watched as they swung their sword, he rocked his arms to the side and grabbed his sword by the back of the blade and then he rammed it into their chest before heaving and throwing it off of the walkway.

He turned seeing that one wasn't alone, he gave the blade a flick. some blood spattering on the bricks, he raised his sword and swung in an arc cutting through their chest, then round house kicked it in the side of the head, he heard a crunch and it's head was bent at a ninety degree angle, it's eyes looked at me blankly, it reached up and adjusted it's head back to standing. Galus suppressed a shudder, this was not fucking natural. Galus swung his sword and hacked at its head, he heard another sickening crack and then smacked it with the pommel of his sword, leaving a sickening dent in it's helmet, before bringing it down on it's shoulder, it cut down and through the armor, the chainmail links like a tailors scissors through silk, he guessed that whetstone was magical or something because that sword was tearing through them. He recalled his discus' and had them pair with him in fighting this side horse, he saw three arrows impact with three of their heads. He backed up a dodging a blow before his disc flew in and cut their sword. He swung his sword and cut through their chests with ease. This was like butcher grade weaponry, cutting through bones like carrots. sidestepped an arrow and the discus of light sheered through their chest like a power saw, it was particularly effective because it cut through multiple bodies and could be moved around remotely to devastating effect.

Nepheli was a literal whirlwind, a tornado sparking with electricity was sent forward flinging the puppets around like rag dolls, lightning was occasionally striking them or sparking between their bodies. They were flung away when the tornado ended, thrown literally to the wind most of them with many burns on their bodies in the distinct pattern of chainmail.

Lattena fired a volley of arrows at the puppets that were being destroyed by the troll. Though he was having trouble keeping balance on the narrow passage. She turned and saw some of the ones they'd knocked off were climbing back up the pillars. "We need to go!"

Galus seemed to notice the bodies that were clambering up the body. Galus looked over the edge and saw them. He backed up back to the group and then got to the head of the group. "I know where to go, come on."

Galus started forward, cutting anything that got in their way. Nepheli occasionally blasting groups with the concussive force of stormwind. he turned one way and then another until they finally got to the elevator. When everyone was on except Iji who was still fighting his way to them, eventually he lumbered over to the elevator and crouches down in front of them. "I know another way upstairs, you guys go ahead."

Galus nodded and pulled the lever.

They raised up to secondary courtyard.

Galus walked forward seeing the building, he walked inside his sword still drawn. He walked inside and then walked out the side door. He saw some blue wolves lying around a small golden tree, he saw one of them nursing pups, despite his unyielding rage that put a smile on his mouth, he tapped Lattena on the shoulder. "Look, a bunch of little lobo's how exactly do you albinauric riders bond with those little guys?"

Lattena looked at him, then smiled. "Since you didn't say something insensitive like how do you tame them I'm inclined to tell you. They're not normal animals, they're far more intelligent, they can understand speech but their inarticulate tongues make it impossible to speak, you just have to talk to them, allow them to get to know you, don't think of them as pets but as people, celebrate when they've had pups, comfort them when they've had a loss, it's as you said, it's a bond, not ownership."

Galus nodded, he'd had a cat once, their relationship started rough because he'd treated her as a possession, but when he instead let her do her own thing and gave her space instead of smothering her in kisses and snuggles, he found she'd grown to be much more than a pet to him. He understood immediately what she ment, somewhat. "I'll come back and introduce myself later, for now I'm going to kill that little shit who sent a horde of corpse puppets at us."

Lattena looked at him. "Who?"

Galus gritted his teeth. "Pidia, that albinauric who keeps track of the puppets and security spells in the first place."

Lattena looked at him with disgust then realization, then rage, though he couldn't feel it directed at him. "That little fucker!"

Galus nodded. "Don't worry, I'll give him a taste of his own medicine."

Galus saw Irina looked physically sick by that. "What's wrong Irina?"

She shook her head. "It's nothing, I just smelled something from those bodies..."

Galus looked confused, he'd thought he caught a faint whiff of something that smelled distinctly... Of bleach, he didn't know why. Lobo seemed to chuff an agreement with Irina.

They continued forward, Galus had sword sheathed opting for his summoned spear instead. Irina said she heard fighting ahead, and Lattena rode ahead to scout things out bringing Irina with her, the others ran after them, being left in the dust by Lobo, luckily it wasn't a long run they just had to run across the grass and up some stairs. When they got there they saw what was causing the fuss, the puppets from Seluvis' Bunker was fighting the pages, sorcerers, and the troll knight, Galus shook his head and pointed to Edgar, Lattena, and Nepheli "go to the central most rise, and protect Ranni. You'll bring Irina to the topmost room with her, she's the blue doll in white, I'm going to go take care of Pidia and if I'm right, this will all end."

Galus went through the sorcerer's and found the puppet that was meant to be Selen's he brought the device into his hand. "Here's hoping this works..."

Galus rushed forward tackling the doll to the ground, Edgar apparently saw Selen's body because he looked to get mad which confused Galus. Galus shoved the Glintstone device into the puppet's chest, and he saw the puppet's blank stare slowly fading, unfortunately it wasn't fast enough because a Glintstone shard whizzed by his head, he got up and looked to the side seeing Thops, the blank stare and ethereal blue glow in his eyes told him everything he needed to know, he'd lead the poor sorcerer to a fate worse than death.

Galus threw his spear into his chest causing him to stumble back, but he didn't die, he summoned it back again and did it again, a flash of blue caused his spear to dissipate into golden sparks. An enraged Edgar cut the puppets head off, a silver and purple arrow impacted him in the shoulder, and he seemed to fall asleep, collapsing onto the ground. Galus looked over to Dolores and a discus of light later and her bow string was cut.

Galus marched past the jarwight a smack with the pommel of his spear knocked him down so he walked over into the moonpool courtyard, a pissed looking Seluvis was standing there, Galus stopped in front of him the pommel of his spear sat on the ground. "Seluvis, how are you, I haven't seen you since the incident with the hound knight."

Seluvis just regarded him blankly.

Galus laughed. "Come on, did Blaidd really rip your tongue out of your head?"

Seluvis didn't answer only raising a dark staff and a pair of puppets came up next to him, one a finger maiden, the other one was another Omen killer.

Galus kicked the bottom of his spear and it did a spin as he walked forwards. The puppets rushed forward and Galus slid under the omen killers strike and went straight for the healer, his spear slicing through her throat before he smacked their head with the pomme, he turned and blocked the omen killers strike, he tumbled backwards before coming to a stop on his knee he got up, shaking out his wrists. "Man, your puppets are weak, I fought a real omen killer recently and he hit alot harder than that..."

Seluvis broke his uncharacteristic silence. "You're the one who was with that tooth mongril."

Galus laughed. "It speaks, I'm impressed, tell me Seluvis, who did you get to do your dirty work?" He summoned his crossbow and shot the snarky sorcerer.

They deflected the bolt with their staff spinning in the air. "None other than you, you brought Nepheli right to me."

Galus smirked summoning Gideon's staff. "Don't tell me this is about Gideon, he's dead, gone with the death birds to an eternity rimed flames, you'll join him soon enough don't worry." He pointed the staff at Seluvis and he watched as Gideon's mark burned into his chest, and he felt it burn into his own flesh as well.

Seluvis looked yelled and rushed forward magic be damned. Galus shrugged and went gang enforcer on them smacking them upside the head in a baseball swing before beating the absolute shit out of them with the staff. He heard bones breaking he tossed the makeshift bat aside and it disappeared, summoning instead again his spear, he then remembered Trina's orders and grabbed the potion from Seluvis' bag he tore his mask from his face and crammed the bottle down his throat. Though to his surprise his eyes already had the ethereal blue glow in it so he raised a boot and brought it down on the bottle shattering it, broken glass going down his throat with the puppet concoction.

Galus turned to the omen killer who was looming above him, a swift stab with a summoned bastard sword and a kick in the knee caused it to fall over, he hacked through it's neck with his kukri.

He looked around seeing the others were about to finish off Dolores who was the last puppet standing. Galus couldn't tell if they were dead or not so he walked over as Edgar was about to bring his sword down but he managed to get over there with a well placed hound sprint. He grabbed Edgar's wrist. "Orders from on high, she's not to be harmed. Tie her up and we'll see if Selen can't work an antidote for whatever the fuck this puppet shit is."

Galus looked to see Selen was removing the device from her chest and getting up, she dusted off her robes and took off the marble mask thing, showing the face of none other than Selen, no glowie shit in her violet eyes.

Galus walked over to her and shook her hand. "It's good to see you again teacher. I think you'll be happy to know Seluvis is dead. But the bad news was he's a puppet, and their puppet master, is about to die."