[Lone Wanderer] 6 – Saved by Tarnished

I made my way up the road past the site of Grace, where Rodricka rested, and found myself before a large encampment and a tunnel leading to Stormveil. Whoever came through here had torn apart the soldiers, as few remained. Unfortunately for me, from what I could see, a soldier still maned the ballista, blocking the tunnel. 

I had to get through them, but all I had was a sword, and I was willing to bet they all knew how to use one better than I did, though I would have to find out anyway. Afterall...I'm Tarnished, right? I can sit at the Grace and be rejuvenated by its Golden light. I would awaken at my last site of Grace after I die and try again and again.

Taking a deep breath, I crept forward, wanting to see just how close I could get before they'd spot me.

I couched along some bushes, intending to sneak by from the right and get as close as possible to the tunnel so I could book it. Unfortunately for me, I felt a sudden sharp pain in my thigh, causing me to scream out. Looking down, I was met with a bolt embedded in my thigh. Falling to the ground, I hissed and pulled myself away, covering behind a boulder.

Moments later, I heard the sound of fighting and men screaming. Peaking over the boulder I hid behind, I saw a group of people attacking Godrick's soldiers from behind. They numbered in four, but I knew three of them. Rogier, Nepheli Loux, and her knight.

The fourth person I did not know nor recognize. Were they the Chosen Tarnished? The one that'd eventually become the Elden Lord?

Even now, it is hard to think through the pain, but once the other Tarnished cleared out what remained of the soldiers, Rogier was the first to approach me.

"Ho, there...Tarnished," Rogier began, freezing at the sight of my sickly skin, vibrant red hair, and glowing gold eyes.

"Hey, thanks for the save. Would you mind helping me get to the next Site of Grace? I'm afraid I'm not much use with this injury," I laughed before yelling in pain as Rogier ripped the bolt out of my leg.

"There, now let's get you to the Grace," Rogier gave a small smile, offering out with a hand.

Groaning but taking his hand, he helped me to my feet.

Wrapping my arm around his neck, he helped me limp to the tunnel entrance, where the others were looting through the now-dead soldiers' things.

"Mind leaving me a set of armor?" I asked with a wince, as my clothes, while marking me as a foreigner in the Lands Between, provided next to no protection against the dangers here in the Lands Between.

"All yours," Nepheli Loux spoke out, showing off her lack of decent armor, which showed off a lot of her skin and many vulnerable areas.

"Thanks," I grimaced as my wound flared in pain. As he helped me down the tunnel, I glanced at the unknown Tarnished. She was wearing a mismatched set of a Soldier of Godrick's armor and brandished a sword.

As we headed further down the tunnel, he led me to the opening, where I could see streams of Gold flowing into the sight of Grace.

"My thanks," I nodded as he let go of me, and I reached out for the Grace. With a flash, my wounds were gon,e and I was as good as new, though a bit of a headache still remained to torment me. "Ah...that's better," I let out a sigh of relief as I felt the warmth soothe my flesh and bones like a warm hug.

Turning around, I looked upon Rogier, who beckoned me to follow him.

"So what's your name, friend?" Rogier asked as we walked side by side back down the Tunnel to the entrance.

"My name? It's Simon, Simon Adler," I introduced myself. [#1]

"Simon?" Rogier asked, confused by the name.

"As you've guessed, I'm not from around here," I answered with a chuckle before we reached the others who were talking, who stopped as soon as we stepped close.

"So another Tarnished? Seeking Godrick's Great Rune or passage to Liurnia?" Nepheli Loux asked as soon as she laid eyes on me.

"Not interested in the Great Rune, looking for safe passage through to Liurinia as well as looking for something hidden within Stormveil," I answered Nepheli, getting a nod in return, and she replied, "Sounds good, one problem though. The Fell Omen blocks the bridge; it attacks anyone who is near until it is defeated; we can't get by."

"Ah...I know a way we can beat him...though we'll have to find a particular merchant hiding down by the lake," I replied. 

"Patches?" Rogier asked.

"Patches..." I answered with a sigh.

"Whose Patches?" Nephili asked.

"Patches is a dick head of a merchant who will do everything possible to scam you, cheat you, steal from you, and I hear he also has a penchant for kicking people down cliffs," I joked.

"He's also a coward who has more bark than bite," Rogier continued.

Nepheli nodded, looking at me, "You sure he has something that we can use to defeat the Omen?"

"Positive," I answered, thinking of the shackles he sells.

"Then what are we waiting for? Let's go chase him down," Nepheli waved to the road with her axe.

"Wait, there are two problems with getting to him," I spoke up, stopping Nepheli in her tracks.

"What is it?" Nepehli asked.

"There's two problems. First, there's a dragon who is stalking the Lake, attacking anyone who ventures too close," I began.

"Hmm, but that's only if we stray too close, and I doubt Patches would camp out near that Dragon," Rogier spoke up.

"Right, which is where the next problem lay. He is camping out in a camp down the river, and the problem is that there is a Tarnished waiting in ambush with a cursed red dagger that lies in wait outside Patches's cave. A bloody finger, to be exact, a Tarnished in service of Mogh," I continued with my warnings.

"One of them?" Nepheli cursed with disgust.

"Luckily for us, the Bloody Finger Hunter, Yura, is hunting this bloody finger down and is likely to help us," I continued, noticing the recognition in the two Tarnished eyes.

"How do you know all of this?" Nepheli asked suspiciously.

"I'm afraid I can't reveal my source," I answered, avoiding the question, "However, I will stake my life on this information."

Her eyebrow rose with a questioning gaze, but she didn't inquire further, as she'd likely tell her Father about me, and he'd look into it.

"Then let's get moving; the more time we waste, the more time the Omen will have to heal and recover from his injuries," Rogier spoke up, breaking the tension.

That's when I felt a tug at my side, finding the unknown female Tarnished with a set of armor she stripped from one of the Knights in hand.

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[#1] - I just realized this whole time the MC has been nameless.