The Immortal Seal: Ilphas Part 5

Ilphas heads into caverns glowing with vestiges of the Chaos Flame.

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Ilphas rested for an untold length of time. He awoke to a layer of fine dust covering his body that puffed off of him as he rose up. He decided to backtrack a bit to check on the Sorcerer before moving onto the next Legendary Remnant Keeper’s grounds.

Oracle is the sorcerer still there? No.

He was not too surprised to see him gone, but thought the Sorcerer would have enjoyed studying the Living Flask Legendary Remnant. No matter.

Heading back to the vast cavern where the demonic dragon was defeated, Ilphas continued past, going downwards along a long dark bedrock path. The heat was intense and the very rock was glowing. He felt as though he was close to the domain of the Elder Witch.

Area 1. UD: 10. Doors: 1. Fortune: reward under price. Scenario: Sunken. Encounter: Automatons. Number: 1. I will roll d2 for foes to create more difficulty. Quirk: Unique eyes. Curse: Astral moon, Frost.

The floor into the next room sloped steeply down. Half of the room looked like it had once been molten rock, now cooled, and still showing the textures from when it was flowing. A sharp snap alerted Ilphas to a rolling ballista-like automaton that was tracking him with blue glowing eyes. It seemed stuck, but managed to pull itself out. It must have rolled in here when the rock was not quite cooled. Ilphas prepared himself as it began to fire and move in his direction.

Combat: 2 Str, 1 Bloodthirst (no longer imbued): 5. Minor effect and 6 decay. Shield, Helm and 1 Bloodshot eye mitigating 3 decay. 3 decay suffered.

The automaton fired true while Ilphas charged. The bolts made snapping sounds as they zipped towards him. Cold frost floating in the hot air for just a moment before turning to mist. He took a heavy hit in his side and another in his leg, but managed to come in close and disable the machine of death.

Remnant: Weapon. No further flavor rolls needed. A small ballista with d6 bolts: 4

Ilphas extracted one of the smaller ballistae near the bottom of the machine. Aspects of the moon were traced along it in gold. He shouldered the Tower Hand-Ballista and 4 Cold Bolts before moving on.

Tower Hand-Ballista: Used by automatons that endlessly patrol the Dragon Tower. Able to fire imbued bolts.

Cold Bolt: Specialized bolts causing cold and piercing damage. The Dragon Tower Archmage often dabbled in applications of the Arcane and martial warfare.

Area 2. UD: 10. 2 doors. Fortune: Danger unleashed/Trap. Scenario: Lift/Ladder. Danger or trap? Oracle: Is it a trap? Yes.

Across the room, Ilphas could see two separate ways out. One doorway straight across and a ladder leading up on the right side. The few skeletons laying in the middle of the room, along with the four catlike statues made him pause. The statues were stone and randomly placed. Expecting a trap, Ilphas bolted for the doorway. The cat's eyes glowed red as they followed his movement, rapidly shooting fireballs.

Dex 2: 6! Greater result.

Ilphas was able to make it through the doorway unscathed.

Area 3. UD: 8 now. I was expecting the UD 10 to last longer. Fortune: Opportunity with risk. Scenario: Path/bridge. Encounter: Disembodied voice. Quirk: Mount. Curse: Chaos flame, savage. Reward purpose: Guidance. 

A wide solid looking bridge traversed a slowly flowing molten river below. It looked to be made of huge blocks built from the surrounding rock. Halfway across, a lantern with an angry red glow, hung from a pole. A headless knight patrolled the bridge, flames guttering up from its open neck. Ilphas decided to fire a Cold Bolt and then charge in.

Combat: Bolt 1, Str 2, Sword 1: 6! No damage. 

The Cold Bolt seemed very effective as it smashed into the knight’s chest, hurling him off the spooked undead horse. Ilphas charged in and finished the knight off.

Remnant: Weapon.

Iphas pulled the fine looking sword from the grasp of the headless undead (now fully dead) knight. It was black with red traceries running along it, much like the Chaos Spear wielded by the demon in the catacombs. He took it and went to the lantern. It was fairly large and Ilphas, who had seen much, was startled to find the head of the knight inside. Its eyes glowing a deep red. “Do you understand me, knight?”

Oracle: Does it respond? No.

It gave no response and Ilphas attached it to his belt just behind his hip.

Chaos Longsword: Exquisitely forged swords used by Guardians of the Chaos Flame. Said to be imbued with fires from the very Warped Bed of Life itself. Give to a Blacksmith to imbue any weapon with Chaos Flame damage.

Chaos Skull Lantern: Chaos Knights who fail in their duties are beheaded and made to forever guard checkpoints. Perhaps they will take the job more seriously in death. Can alert one to danger.

Area 4. UD: 8. 2 doorways. Fortune: Valuable reward. Scenario: Darkness. Interesting after just discovering a lantern. Encounter: Giant. Quirk: Slumbering. Curse: Shadowvoid, darkness (again). Since this is my own game where i want to invoke a direct Souls fee, this giant is a straight up blacksmith. Oracle: Is he chained? No.

The room after the bridge is pitch black. Slow deep breathing, like a massive bellows, can be heard inside. Ilphas’ Abyss Ring brings it all to life in monochrome. A giant is sleeping, curled around an anvil and cold fire pit. Ilphas opens the lantern to let the red gaze of the Chaos Skull Lantern illuminate most of the room and the giant snuffles and turns. He coughs and raises himself to a sitting position. A very deep, yet muffled voice issues from behind his wooden mask. “Oh! Hello there! Fancy you bringing a light into my smithy. Just what I needed!” He leans closer to get a better look at the lamp. “Tell you what, wandering pilgrim, you give me that lamp and I will fashion fine weapons and armour for you. What do you say?”

Ilphas didn’t need to think long and handed over the lantern. The giant took it and promptly smashed it into the firepit of his forge. The Chaos Flame magic ignited the forge with a frenzied fire. “Ah, yes! Bring me certain items and I’ll craft handsome things indeed!”

Ilphas took out the Chaos Sword and asked for the giant to imbue Bloodthirst. The giant took the longsword reverently and got to work.

Notes:

I started rolling for more enemies or 2 stages to add a slightly higher difficulty. I may tie that into the fortune roll as well. Things do seem a bit more balanced in the open dungeon than the last Boss fight. I suppose Ilphas prepared for the Boss fight very well. Some enemies and bosses in the Souls games are much easier than others.

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