Lansseax, an Ancient Dragon from the days before the Shattering, appears before the Tarnished in majesty. On Ancient Dragons. They have a very distinct appearance compared to the dragons we have hitherto spoken on. The most distinct feature is that Ancient Dragons do not have wings attached to their forelimbs; their wings are separate organs, attached to their backs. Thus an Ancient Dragon has arms, which are quite similar to human arms in that they can grab onto objects dexterously. Ancient Dragons have a different posture than regular dragons. Dragons tend to hug their heads closer to the ground, so that it seems they are "hunched" over; Ancient Dragons bear their heads further from the ground, in a similar posture to gorillas. Thus they seem more "dignified". Ancient Dragons all tend to have a similar skin type: white, with a very rocky texture. They can be called "statuesque" next to their more reptilian descendants. Ancient Dragons also have blunter faces; a good analogy for their face shapes to that of Dragons is the face of primates to the elongated faces of canines. Overall, Ancient Dragons tend to have more "anthropomorphic" features, and seem more dignified than dragons. This is all obvious to anyone who has played the game, but I thought it was worth reiterating in order to emphasize their placement in the story. Lansseax: I sense it. Lansseax: Someone, of Godwyn's blood.
Gareth, murmuring to Corhyn: It... Gareth: She...talks.
Corhyn, softly: That's...an ancient dragon. Corhyn: A kind of god.
Lansseax: What are you saying? Lansseax: Speak up.
Gareth: ... Corhyn: ... Yuina: ... Millicent: ... Godfrey: ... The Tarnished say nothing. They have never encountered something like this being before. Perhaps they think this encounter is so strange that their only hope is that Lansseax will just leave on her own accord. As to why Godfrey says nothing, it's probably because he doesn't want to be found out.
Lansseax slams her fists before the Tarnished. Lansseax: Speak up! Lansseax: Do you think it's proper to waste my time?!
Lansseax: Are you Tarnished? Lansseax: Godwyn the Golden, was a demigod. One of you has his blood, thickly.
Lansseax: Reveal yourself, now. Lansseax: The rest of you may go.
Meilyr: Ma'am, with all due respect, none of us are august dragons, Meilyr: neither a scale or talon on our hides -
A red lightning bolt falls violently from the sky, striking Meilyr. Lansseax: SILENCE, HUMAN!
Meilyr is face-down on the ground, charred by the lightning. He had burn marks before; now he looks positively crisp. The Tarnished look at him in horror.
Lansseax: Tarnished should not hesitate to give me respect. Lansseax: I demand it.
Lansseax: Fine. All of you, stand still. Lansseax: I will scent each of you.
Lansseax's head lowers to Gareth. Gareth, as brave as he is, is frightened.
Lansseax sniffs him.
She passes from him.
Lansseax scents Millicent, with some disgust at her odor.
Lansseax scents Yuina.
Lansseax scents Godfrey. His head is bowed, almost humble to the ultimate conclusion.
To his surprise, Lansseax passes him by. This is probably because more of Marika's blood courses through Godwyn's than Godfrey's.
Lansseax is finished. Lansseax: ...None of you... Lansseax: have the bouquet I sought.
Lansseax: I apologize, then, for taking your time. Lansseax: I make my leave.
Gareth: Wait! Gareth: May I ask...erm...
Lansseax gives Gareth a glance. She is not condescending, she is not angry, but she seems...tired. As if she is exhausted of repeating her name to beings whose lives pass away so quickly. Lansseax: My name is Lansseax.
Gareth: Sir, Gareth: my understanding is, Godwyn the Golden has been long deceased. Gareth: Why do you seek him?
Lansseax: ...It's not something the Tarnished can easily understand.
Lansseax: Godwyn's death began the land's Shattering. Lansseax: Say what one wills, but his time was a happier time, surely more than now.
Lansseax: So, I want him to return. Lansseax: It's a sentimentality, one you humans surely share.
Meilyr, coughing: I thought I almost died!
Gareth: Meilyr! Gareth: Oh, blessed fortune! The Tarnished rush around Meilyr.
Lansseax, thinking: Who has survived my thunderbolt? Lansseax: A strange man.
Lansseax: Farewell. She flies away.
Godfrey watches her on, almost with regret with the things he wants to ask. The Tarnished around him relax.
Meilyr: A fortnight, I was roasted! Meilyr: Now, I'm fried! Meilyr: I never want to savor my smell ever again.
Meilyr: I'm fine, I'm fine. Meilyr: Ow. Meilyr: I suppose I am not.
Gareth: ...Do you want to stay behind? Meilyr: No!
Meilyr: It's not every day one sees talking dragons! Gareth is in disbelief.
Boggart: I never met a man whose brains are so broken. Godfrey: Hah hah hah! A lust for adventuring is no defect at all!
Godfrey pulls Meilyr up. Godfrey: You're as grey as me, but your heart's youthful. I like you. Meilyr: Softly, softly now. My flesh is all spongy.
Gareth: Everyone, there's no time to lose. Gareth: We must advance now.
Gareth: Everyone ready? Gareth: Move!
The Tarnished, once more, ascend out of the Abandoned Coffins.
The Tarnished enter the Erdtree-Gazing Hill. Compared to the view from the Grand Lift of Dectus, the Tarnished have a better view of the walls around Leyndell and the Erdtree. Below them are the enemy camps. Gareth: That's... Gareth: Leyndell... Gareth: It's bigger than any city I've ever seen.
The Tarnished, who have followed Gareth through the Ruin-Strewn Precipice, kneel before the Erdtree.
Gareth: ...
Gareth: Men!
Gareth addresses the Tarnished. Gareth: I am not one for words. Gareth: I try my best to answer your hopes. Gareth: I acknowledge you have arrived at the footstool of your gods.
Gareth: I...am not a man of religion, but of faith. Gareth: I have faith that the future is won through effort, and that the dawn succeeds night. Gareth: I have faith in the human spirit, and therefore I have faith in you.
Gareth: You all have assisted me, the shardbearer, admirably in arriving to Altus. Gareth: I saw my duty was to honor you for your assistance. Gareth: Here, I firmly say this to you all: Gareth: you are under no obligation to me to continue.
Gareth: After all, it is my shard to bear, Gareth: and, therefore, my battle to wage. Gareth: I free you, and I thank you, from any service you believe you owe me.
Gareth: However, I have the dream, of taking Leyndell, and uniting the Elden Ring again. Gareth: If you do not come with me, that does not mean you will not partake in my dream. Gareth: But if you follow me, you will be among one of those few, who dared to dream impossible dreams, and have them. Gareth: What then do you say? My fate is in your hands.
Tarnished: You have my sword! Tarnished 2: And mine too! Tarnished 3: I pledge myself to you! The Tarnished are in a rancor.
Gareth smiles, and yet his smile is in part a grimace. Gareth believes in the spiritual part of his words, but not in the actual substance - he does not believe in the glory.
Millicent stares out from the Erdtree-Gazing Hill, her fate in the golden horizon.
Millicent: Gareth. Millicent: Forgive me, but I do not dream your dream.
Gareth: Millicent, you are not forgiven, for you owe me no debt. Gareth: But I so admire your strength, I would want to know why you would leave me helpless.
Millicent: I came to Altus seeking my fate, Millicent: and my fate, sadly, is not in accord with the Tarnished's.
Millicent bows. Millicent: That is why I am apologizing. Millicent: That I am so lacking, though I want to assist you.
Corhyn. He is wistful as he stares out into the Erdtree. Corhyn: Gareth. Corhyn: I, too, have to apologize. Corhyn: I must apologize. My reason is selfish next to Millicent's, and I can tell it you.
Corhyn: My master, Goldmask, is on this plateau. Corhyn: I can't stand to be without his brilliance, any longer.
Gareth: Corhyn, you are excu- The Prophet also bows. He is, notably, bandaged up.
Gareth: ...I almost want to beg you, of all, not to leave.
The Prophet's eyes glow with grace.
Gareth: ...I see. It's your fate, too. Gareth: I wish I could feel so secure in mine.
Meilyr: Gareth - Gareth: Say no further. Gareth: Of everyone, I anticipated yours.
Gareth: You're a free spirit, Meilyr. Go do as you please. Gareth: I can't cow you into strictures of an army.
Meilyr: I mean, when you see a big open field, you just want to run around in it, right? Gareth: ...I acknowledge your point.
Meilyr: I guess I'll travel with the valkyrie - Meilyr looks around. Meilyr: Where'd the lass go?
Meilyr waves to Corhyn and the Prophet. Meilyr: Then I'm with you folks. Meilyr: Let's be good mates! Corhyn: Sure.
Gareth: Please take my hurried farewell. Gareth: I am in your debt. Ask of me anything, please, so I may be relieved of it.
Gareth: Alright, no more sentimentality. Gareth: Tarnished! Onward! Tarnished: Hurrah!
As the Tarnished march on, one can discern Patches, Diallos and Rya quietly walking away.
The battle scene around the Grand Lift of Dectus. Footmen are pushing catapults toward the site of battle. Soldiers run toward the Tarnished, swords in hand. The knights of Leyndell, on their horses, charge.
Knight: Fire!!
The catapults fire their salvos.
The boulders fly through the air, flung by the banners of Leyndell. One can see the lines of battle being drawn: Leyndell's catapults and soldiers are gathering around the Altus Highway, while the Tarnished are slowly pulling from the Grand Lift of Dectus to meet them. Though the Tarnished are fairly disorganized - they have had light drilling - one can see certain patterns. The Banished Knights have advanced far from the Tarnished, spurred by their winds of their storm. The knights from Castle Morne, who were formerly knights from Leyndell, have organized themselves into distinct square phalanxes, their shields and their spears making beautfully symmetric shapes.
The boulders land on the shields of the phalanxes. This is probably a stupid move in real life, but because this is a fantasy world the strength of the knights combined somehow mitigate the damage.
The phalanxes press forward, running through Leyndell's soldiers through the weight of their charge.
The Banished Knights press forward, smashing up the wood of the catapults. These are wild men, who have no need to rely on order, for their strength alone suffices; they look like lions pouncing on sheep. Also seen here are the arrows of the one Guardian Golem, destroying the catapults in one blow.
A exploding ballista bolt strikes a knight in his back, piercing through his armor and setting his flesh aflame.
Leyndell's footmen are pushing through ballista closer to the front.
Pumpkin Heads, giant warriors with golden pumpkin-shaped helms, enter the battlefield, stepping on the bodies of the slain.
They smash the Banished Knights with their hammers; they are equal in strength to these warriors, and in fact tower over them.
The Pumpkin Heads are hacked in the back by Gareth's Tarnished.
The Tarnished unarm and bash apart the ballistae from behind. R2S1 From the west and the south the Tarnished surround Leyndell's soldiers, pushing them northward into Altus Highway. The Tarnished tear apart ballistae and catapults, and run the soldiers through.
The Tarnished rearrange the palisades around the camps in the west and set stakes around the Grand Lift of Dectus in the south. The stakes to the south are aligned where the Guardian Golems have stopped their defense.
Cavalry arrive from the north. These are the true Leyndell Knights, handpicked defenders of the capital.
The cavalry, however, are blocked from advancing by the fleeing crowds of footmen and soldiers. They halt their horses, who foam in panic. The Tarnished, emboldened by their strength, press forward, maddened.
Voice: HALT!!
On the grand staircase leading to outer walls of Leyndell, Morgott descends. He, notably, is hunchbacked - to his detractors, he is called the Hunchbacked King. In Morgott's hand is a gigantic, slender sword, designed in a similar way to a Zweihander. Morgott's chosen weapon is meant to demonstrate his immense strength - he wields it one-handed - but also his elegance in combat. Morgott: Knights, fall back! Morgott: Form before me!
The Leyndell Knights, hesitant and eager to defend the capital, fall back.
The knights form before Morgott on the staircase. Morgott is at the head of the staircase, right before the gates of the outer wall. Extending below him is an immense host of Leyndell Knights; forming columns around them are Leyndell Soldiers, formiddable men in their own right but lacking the inhuman strength of the knights. In the wings are the cavalry.
The Tarnished no longer give chase to Leyndell's warriors; they loot the corpses around them, and return to the boundaries they have set up. It is now dusk.
On the grand staircase, the Leyndell Knights stand like statues. The darkness obscures their faces; their expressions show their solemnity toward their duty. Their golden armor are almost black in the night.
In sharp contrast, the Tarnished camps are crackling with flames; Tarnished are bustling about, cooking food, moving wounded, and hardening their defenses.
Gareth meets Kenneth, Rhys, Reane, and the representative of the Banished Knights. Gareth shakes Rhys's hand. Gareth: Rhys. Very happy to see you again. Rhys: I, you.
Gareth shakes hands with the Banished Knight. Gareth: Sir, I am glad to meet you for the first time, and that you and your men have performed admirably on the battlefield. Banished Knight: Say no more. 'Tis expected of us knights. Banished Knight: I am, however, glad to meet you as well.
Gareth, to Kenneth: Is this all? Kenneth: Aye - every man that ought to be here, is here.
Reane: What now? Gareth: If Morgott wants to fight a pitched battle, then an envoy will be sent to us. Gareth: Otherwise, I expect an orderly march from the capital.
Voice: Tarnished. Voice: Let us speak.
Gareth, to Kenneth and the Banished Knight: May you excuse us? Kenneth: Whatever for? Banished Knight: Do as you will.
Banished Knight holds his hand against Kenneth. Banished Knight: Let them do the queer thing that they do. The Tarnished leave. Kenneth: What are you talking about? Kenneth: Kneel, knave!
The Tarnished enter the Roundtable Hold. They are greeted by a Tarnished emissary of Morgott's. Emissary: Men. Emissary: Gentlewoman. Gareth, Reane, Rhys: Sir.
Reane: I expected Morgott. Emissary: Morgott is not a Tarnished.
Gareth: And you are? Gareth: Man, why are you on the opposite side of this table?
Emissary: I have come here to relay Lord Morgott's will, and not my own. Gareth: Fine. Then speak.
Emissary: These constitute Leyndell's stance: Emissary: No mercy is the fundament. Emissary: The heads of the shardbearer, are the exception.
Rhys: Wh- Reane: Why is mercy not proferred to the shardbearers? Reane: Aren't they, above all, dignitaries?
Emissary: They are robbers of the Elden Ring. Emissary: They shall be examples for future transgressers.
Reane: And yet Marika, the one true goddess herself, spurred them to take the shards. Emissary: I am Morgott's voice, and nothing more. Reane: ...
Emissary: If you do not surrender, Emissary: then, at midnight, Morgott invites the armies to clash.
Rhys: I accept those terms. Gareth: ...
Emissary: Very well.
The Emissary vanishes.
The Tarnished return to the waking world.
The Tarnished are speaking to the Banished Knight, Kenneth and Godfrey. Banished Knight: So, we clash at midnight? Banished Knight: Alright. My men will be at the front.
Godfrey: If possible, I'd like to be in front with you. Banished Knight: You look a hale fellow. I welcome you to join us. Gareth: ...
Gareth: Morgott's terms were, that mercy is on the condition Rhys and I give ourselves up.
Banished Knight: Then we will not fail. Banished Knight: We'll fight the harder.
Banished Knight: Frankly, I'm insulted at the thought I would sacrifice another's life for mine. Banished Knight: Everyone is here on their own will. Suggesting we would waver is condescension. Nay, it is a blasphemy on the very symbol of the Erdtree.
Godfrey: ... Godfrey agrees entirely, but he is trying to read Gareth's state of mind.
Gareth, to the Banished Knight: May I speak with you privately? Banished Knight: Of course.
Gareth: Rhys, Reane. Please form the warriors however you see fit. Rhys, Reane: Yes.
Godfrey: Gareth, let me speak to you first. Godfrey: This is urgent.
Godfrey: I have had your mind not a few times in my past. Godfrey: Gareth. Listen to me.
Godfrey: You have no right to give up your life. Gareth: ...
Godfrey: Even if Morgott promised unconditional mercy, Godfrey: even if he promised paradise on earth, Godfrey: you don't have the right.
Godfrey: It is as he said - the Tarnished are here on their own will. Godfrey: Even if they don't know their futures. Godfrey: Even if you sold them a pack of lies.
Godfrey: You could pack up your bags and hightail it from here, Godfrey: and that would be infinitely more honorable than your supposedly "sacrificing" yourself.
Godfrey: A promise you'll never see is no promise at all. Godfrey: You would be a fool to take it.
Gareth: But, Gottfried... Perhaps Gareth's voice trembles, as he recalls what happened to Gaer. Gareth: Promises are all we were given.
Godfrey clasps Gareth's hands in his. Godfrey: Then make those promises come true.
Godfrey pats Gareth's chest. Godfrey: Alright. Go. Godfrey: And tell no one else about Morgott's poisoned promise. Godfrey: No one.
Gareth bows to Godfrey.
Gareth walks toward the Banished Knight. Banished Knight: What did you want to speak on?
Gareth is abstracted. Gareth: ... Gareth: Oh. Right.
Gareth: I know the motivation for all the Tarnished, but not for your men. Gareth: I'm curious.
The Banished Knight stares at Gareth. Gareth: ...
The knight sits down. He feels comfortable disarming in front of Gareth, for some reason. Banished Knight: That... Banished Knight: ...is a long story.
Banished Knight: Before Godrick, we served some fledgling lord in Leyndell. Banished Knight: Before him, we served the Carians, in some minor war.
Banished Knight: Before them, we served Kindly Miquella, in the furious storms in the Forbidden Lands. Banished Knight: Before him, we served General Radahn in his most fateful battle.
Banished Knight: Before him, we were The Black Blade's guard. Banished Knight: Before him, we stood alongside Godfrey and his Crucible Knights on the Long March.
Gareth: Hold on... Banished Knight: And before Godfrey, we stood by our Storm Lord at Stormveil. Banished Knight: And before him ... I don't recall. Banished Knight: I was not blessed to remember it all.
Gareth: How long... How old... Banished Knight: Aye.
Banished Knight: You know the Golden Order? Gareth: Vaguely. Banished Knight: You know about life and death? Gareth: I think.
Banished Knight: To tell you the truth, because it was so long ago, my memory has become bad. Imprecise. Banished Knight: When you are old, you recall themes_ and not _events.
Banished Knight: When the Erdtree sprouted, my lord said, "The Giants will not submit. Let us watch." Banished Knight: When Godfrey subdued the Giants, we fortified Stormveil.
Banished Knight: Over and over I have been asked... Banished Knight: Why did you and your lord not give in? Banished Knight: Submit to the law of the land? Submit to Marika's undeniable power?
Banished Knight: Gareth, Banished Knight: I scoff at such men. Banished Knight: They have allowed the Order to neuter them, shape them ugly.
Banished Knight: Why do men choose not to be free? Banished Knight: And because we, by our lord's beliefs, sought to be as free as the wind, Marika hated us.
Banished Knight: By the Golden Order, everyone finds their final fate. Banished Knight: Our fate is to never have a fate. Banished Knight: Gareth. I am tired.
Banished Knight: I have never served a man for pay. Banished Knight: I have never served a man for forgiveness. Banished Knight: I have never served a man for common cause.
Banished Knight: I fight to fight. Banished Knight: Not because I enjoy it. Not because battle defines me. Banished Knight: Because I will do the only thing I am left free to do.
Gareth bows. Gareth: I...apologize if I transgressed. Banished Knight: Do not apologize.
Banished Knight: I have explained this countless times, to countless men.
Banished Knight: They nod at me. They say nothing. They commend my ardor. Banished Knight: They approve, tacitly. Banished Knight: They do not understand, and close their hearts. Neither do I want understanding.
Banished Knight: That you apologized, Banished Knight: means you held my pain in your hand, even though you couldn't bear a thousandth of it.
Banished Knight: If men shared in pain, then the world would be better. Banished Knight: It would not be this one.
Banished Knight: Anyway. No philosophizing from me. Banished Knight: Does that suffice? Gareth: Yes.
Gareth: I won't give you orders then. Gareth: I want to see you and your men, be yourselves. Banished Knight: Thank ye. Banished Knight: That, we shall do.
Midnight. The Tarnished and their torches are arrayed before Leyndell's army. The Banished Knights are at the fore; the knights of Castle Morne, surprisingly, form the rear of the host. The Tarnished are put between the most disciplined knights, perhaps in the fear that they'll retreat at the first sign of a struggle. Or there is a reliance on the Tarnished's peculiar sense for fighting. (I'm not a tactician, to be clear.) Just like Leyndell, their horse is at the wings. The Tarnished are lively and, frankly, human compared to the stone-like Leyndell knights.
A trumpeteer beside Morgott steps forward.
They raise the trumpet up into the air.
The trumpet is blown.
The Tarnished press forward; Leyndell, notably, does not. The Leyndell Knights absorb the weight of the Tarnished's advance with their shields. Great arrows are fired by the Leyndell Knights; the force of these knock the Tarnished several meters back. I kinda forgot how cavalry work, particularly in close quarters like this. I think logically the horse would not enter battle immediately and only factor in when either side is routed.
The Tarnished press against the shields of Leyndell, but lightning bolts from the sky flash through the night air, striking the Tarnished dead.
A line of Leyndell Knights in the rear of the host, flanked by greatbow archers, raise their spears to the sky; from the tips of their spears bolts of lightning fly into the heavens.
The frontline of Leyndell Knights push the Tarnished back, their spears thrusted from their large oval shields.
The Banished Knights, through the storm, attempt to leap over the Tarnished's heads, but they are caught by lightning, spears, or arrows.
The Banished Knights are trampled underneath the advancing Leyndell Knights; despite their wounds, they cannot die.
A view of the grand staircase. It is clear the Leyndell Knights, from this angle, have pushed the Tarnished near to the foot of the staircase. The horse of Leyndell are beginning to move, harassing and frightening the Tarnished into a rout.
Rhys: Fall back! Fall -
A light illuminates the night sky. The Tarnished and the Leyndell Knights pause.
The Erdtree shines, a sole globe of light in the night sky. The light illuminates the plate of the Leyndell Knight's armor, finally rendering them in gold. The battle has temporarily paused, as if everyone is listening to the Erdtree speak.
The light illuminates the helms of the Banished Knights.
Narrator: For the banished knights, defeat was inevitable. Narrator: For them, their fate is to awaken on a battlefield, their bodies broken, their lord and allies dead.
Narrator: And then they simply pick themselves up, and begin all over again.
Narrator: What is a dog without a master? Narrator: Nothing. But a piece of meat. Narrator: And so the dog finds a new master again.
Narrator: In the darkest hour of the day, the clouds departed from the Erdtree, and it shown...
Narrator: ...brighter than a thousand jewels. Narrator: The Erdtree is no sun, crawling through the sky like a worm; the Erdtree is no moon, peeking behind the clouds; the Erdtree is music, is inspiration, is epiphany, is beauty itself.
Narrator: To Leyndell and the Tarnished, it was but a bright light, unexpected. Narrator: But each of the bright rays the Erdtree shed entered...
Narrator: ...into the portals of the banished knights' souls. Narrator: Them and them alone. Narrator: And it bespoke to them one message sole:
Narrator: "I forgive you."
Narrator: Then, a sound was carried in the wind. Narrator: It was not the sound of arms clashing. It was not the sound of horse hooves. There was neither scream nor shout.
Narrator: It was a song.
The Leyndell Knights. Their faces are turned to the Erdtree.
They turn their heads to face their foes. A loud stomping is heard.
The Banished Knights, in a line, are stomping their feet in a rhythm.
Tears streak down the Knights' faces. They begin to wave their weapons high above their heads.
Godfrey, too, is visibly moved, with tears on his face. He is joining in their wind-song, the most beautiful he had heard since the Long March.
The trees of Altus are blown; they are almost diagonal.
The Leyndell Knights charge forward, attempting to interrupt them in the midst of their song.
The night wind roars into a storm; the Leyndell Knights are blown backward.
The Banished Knights leap into the air, part of the storm. From the sky they bring their halberds down on their foes' heads; from the ground they slam their shields against the Leyndell Knights', breaking the discipline of this army famed for their defenses. The ranks of the Leyndell Knights fall apart. The knights roar with rage, Godfrey joining them.
Like lions, the Banished Knights pounce on the Leyndell Knights, mauling them into pieces. The rear line of Thunderbolt-using Knights and archers are torn into shreds. Notably, too, many of the Leyndell Knights are disoriented by the storm.
Morgott: Retreat! The Leyndell Knights squeeze through the doors of the outer gate.
Gareth: Forward! The Tarnished roar in joy, trying to join in the rout as well as they can.
Leyndell cavalry try to impede the Tarnished, giving cover for their fallen comrades.
Rhys pierces through a horse with a projected dark-blue lance from his staff. The rider falls.
Morrowe stabs through the rider's heart, killing them instantly.
Gareth leads the Tarnished and the Castle Morne knights forward, merging with the Banished Knights.
At the gate above the grand staircase, the Leyndell Knights try to squeeze into the relatively narrow aperture. The Tarnished cut them up, piling body upon body before the gate.
The Tarnished pass through the outer gate, near the Outer Wall Phantom Tree (which, now that I think about it, it's kinda odd they haven't tried to chop this one down, as it is a contradiction to the Erdtree). To the east, on a hill, is a church dedicated to the Golden Order. It is clear, once one passes into the outer wall, the ground is paved into stone streets and there is more form to the path. The Leyndell Knights are notably scattering north, chased by the Tarnished cavalry and the Banised Knights who run faster than the wind.
The Tarnished ascend the streets of the Outer Wall in a rage. They're probably caught up in their emotions though, thinking on it, they haven't found a particularly good place to encamp.
The Tarnished ascend, to the second mock Tree above the second set of stairs. Unrolling before them is the Outer Wall Battleground, where countless of defenses of the capital have been fought. Giant - truly giant, the size of the Guardian Golems - bolts stand tall over the ground, showing the violence committed here. Holes pock the battlefield, and swords and armor litter the floor. It is clear the well-paved streets terminate here in the destruction.
The Banished Knights and the cavalry continue pursuing the Leyndell Knights, who are retreating onto a crumbling staircase in the east of the battlefield.
Great arrows and spears punch through the Banished Knights from behind; the cavalry spin around.
An army of Leyndell Knights enter from the northern gates of Leyndell.
As the Tarnished face this unexpected enemy, they are attacked from the south from a small detachment of Leyndell Knights, hiding on an elevated rock formation.
Gareth is amongst a whole mob of Tarnished, hesitant on the ancient battleground. He is pointing to the south, along the paved streets leading from the southern gate. Gareth: Fall back! Fall -
Another small detachment of Leyndell Knights, who hid in the church on the south, arrived, covering their escape. This is why it is important to collect as much intelligence on terrain and enemy numbers as possible. Alas, they are but Tarnished.
The Tarnished try to escape to the south, but they are blocked by a thin but wide line of Leyndell Knights.
Deep into the battlefield, Leyndell cavalry are cutting up the Tarnished, pressuring them to fall back.
The Banished Knights try to press eastward, deeper into the outer wall, but they are stopped by another line of Leyndell archers on the elevated ground above the staircase.
Gareth and Rhys are fighting off Leyndell Knights together, along with Morrowe, Reane, Yuina and Nepheli; they are caught in a desperate situation. Rhys, thinking: Gideon! Gideon!
Rhys: We're trapped! Please, send us some relief! Rhys: Gideon!
The Leyndell Knights trap the Tarnished in a thin but impenetrable circle.
Tarnished are slaughtered, by the spears and swords of the Leyndell Knights.
Corpses fall to the ground; some Tarnished give up in despair.
Morgott: HALT!!
The circle stops closing. The Leyndell Knights, like statues, stand before the Tarnished, their shields and spears pointed at them. The archers stop, their bows nocked.
The Tarnished, exhausted, look up.
Morgott is on the elevated rock formation, alongside his emissary and flanked by two Erdtree Sentinels. Morgott: Tarnished! Morgott: Visitors of the Land Between! Morgott: Ye who seek grace, Morgott: after disgraceful deaths in ignoble lands.
Morgott: Spurred by Marika to take arms against Leyndell, Morgott: you see, just why this is the domain of the gods. Morgott: We repulsed the Battlefield's Lion, Radahn. Morgott: The Serpent King, Rykard. Morgott: Gods you may have worshipped, in your prior lives. Morgott: We defeated them.
Morgott: I do not dislike you Tarnished, truly, I don't. Morgott: Marika set upon you an impossible task: to take the home of the gods. Morgott: And so I, Morgott, Lord of Leyndell, tell you this: Morgott: you have passed your trials. You are loved. Morgott: You may pass through the gates of Leyndell.
Rhys, despairing: What... What is he getting at...
Morgott: It was a test: after your many failures, can you emerge, from the forge of struggle, pure and sinless, as befits the domain of the gods? Morgott: You stand before the Erdtree. You have fought Leyndell's finest. Morgott: Whatever virtues you had lacked, you have now acquired, and proved. Morgott: Marika loves you all. You have my permission, to join the armies of the heavens, against the forces of evil.
Morgott: And yet, you have one more duty: Morgott: There is only one true god. She is called Marika. Morgott: You must kill all false idols. Morgott: Kill the shardbearers.
Rhys and Gareth are in despair. Rhys: No... Morgott: Some of you, yea, have followed these false prophets, for want of guidance. Morgott: Some of you have followed them, out of convenience. Morgott: They have shewn you great works, but these works are devilry to the Erdtree. A test of your faith. Morgott: Now is the final test. Prove your devotion. Show the Erdtree the depth of your belief.
Morgott, in a wroth expression: Or feel... Morgott: The true wrath of the gods.
Hundreds of hungry Tarnished eyes stare at Rhys and Gareth and, by extension, Reane, Morrowe, etc., like wolves.
The Tarnished pounce Rhys and Gareth, cutting them from left and right.
The Banished Knights, in a fury, cut down the Tarnished, in turn. Banished Knights: TRAITORS!!!
Banished Knight: Sir Gareth! Make your escape! Gareth: And what about you?
Banished Knight: The Erdtree spoke, through the portals of our eyes: Banished Knight: We shall die here.
Banished Knight: Finally, a noble end! Banished Knight: We will show these turnabout curs what real stuff is.
Banished Knight: Gareth. Do not waver. Banished Knight: That man lies and lies. Banished Knight: The Erdtree has not turned its back upon thee.
Banished Knight: Go! Banished Knight: And good fortune! Rhys, Gareth, etc. run. The Banished Knights make a corridor for them.
However, the Tarnished (or rather, our band of Tarnished) are stopped by the Leyndell Knights to the south.
These Knights try to stab and cut through the Tarnished.
And, in turn, these Knights are run through from behind.
A Knight wearing Gideon's emblem approaches. Gideon Knight: Rhys. Gideon Knight: As promised, Gideon has send his band of knights.
Gideon's knights cut up the Tarnished and the Leyndell Knights. The Tarnished are escorted. Gideon Knight: Come now! Quickly!
Cavalry try to impede the Tarnished; however, Latenna, on Swift, pepper the horses with arrows.
Thunderbolts rain from the sky, cutting off the Tarnished's escape route. Gideon Knight: This is no good! Gideon Knight: The enemy forces are thick here!
Rhys: Then where do we go? Gideon Knight: There's much movement at the northern gate...
A view of the northern gate. The Leyndell Knights are disturbed here; they are failing at their duty at keeping the gate secure.
Waves of Toxic Putrid Corpses attack the Leyndell Knights from behind. Their foul breath stuns the knights.
The Corpses stretch all the way down the highway leading to the northern gate.
Seeing the Corpses push through the gate, the Leyndell Knights, fighting the Banished Knights, begin to panic. Narrator: Poor Tarnished, corrupted beyond recognition and out of their wits, crowded the northern gate. Narrator: The knights of Leyndell, in fear, stood apart from them. Narrator: Why did these proud warriors, who feared nothing breathing, blanch?
An aerial view of Leyndell, particularly the battlefield where the Tarnished are fighting.
The aerial view moves westward through Altus Plateau; here one can see the encampments surrounding Leyndell's walls and the Windmill Villages.
More westward. One can see the Shaded Castle, the Erdtree-Gazing Hill, and various ruins. Lurking at the left of the panel is the rugged area that marks Mt. Gelmir.
The rugged terrain of Mt. Gelmir. One can see the countless battles fought here, and Leyndell numerous camps and watchtowers built in a futile attempt to curtail the Praetor's blasphemous army.
Finally, the full, majestic view of Mt. Gelmir, tall, solitary and rough in the distance, a veritable match for the Erdtree. It is almost arrogant next to the Erdtree's splendor. Narrator: Mt. Gelmir shook.
Mt. Gelmir erupting. Narrator: It had shook before, a few generations ago. Narrator: Before then, a few generations. And then more. Narrator: For the eons that followed the Shattering. Narrator: Every eruption, Narrator: brought calamity.
A single serpentine eye emerges from the top of the volcano.
The God-Devouring Serpent, gigantic - compared to the game, large enough to coil around the Erdtree - emerges from the magma, roaring. Earthquakes and lava flows accompany its wrath.