Redmane Castle now bustled with warriors from all across the Lands Between.
The numbers were not enough to restore the fortress to its full strength—but compared to the days when only a skeleton crew of soldiers remained, the castle now seemed alive once more.
Leaving the Site of Grace, Lucian followed memory back toward his quarters. The chamber had been kept for him, no one else had entered since his departure. Yet he did not step inside. Rest would come later.
Instead, he stopped before the door to the neighboring room and rapped gently.
It was Hildegard's chamber. Lucian had gathered some Cave Moss from the crystal tunnels and thought to deliver it to her—surely, by now, her supplies for Neutralizing Boluses had run thin.
But no response came.
He knocked again, twice. Still silence. Clearly, Hildegard was not inside.
Lucian hesitated a moment, then realized he had nothing pressing to occupy him. Yet it was far too early to retire, the sun had not even set.
Very well, then. A walk to the square. Perhaps he could find Jerren, and learn the latest state of Redmane Castle.
On his way there, he spotted two familiar figures.
From their distinct silhouettes alone, he knew them at once: Blaidd the Half-Wolf, and Iron Fist Alexander.
They too seemed bound for the square, deep in conversation about the finer points of battle as they walked side by side. Their hulking frames nearly blocked half the street.
Alexander was broad even among the warriors of the jars, his body as wide as a house wall. Blaidd, though narrower, was tall, clad in thick fur cloaks for warmth, and took up nearly as much space.
Thankfully, Redmane was not yet so crowded as to choke the roads. Otherwise, the two would have paralyzed traffic entirely.
Curious how the pair had come to know one another, Lucian quickened his pace, closing the distance.
The sound of footsteps drew their attention. Both turned, and Alexander's face lit up in recognition.
"Ho ho! If it isn't Lucian himself!" the jar warrior boomed, raising a hand in cheerful greeting. "As I thought, you'd find your way here. I knew we'd meet again at the festival of combat."
Turning, he nudged Blaidd with a grin. "Blaidd, this is the warrior I told you of; the one who pulled me from that sorry plight."
Blaidd's eyes widened slightly at the sight of Lucian. He had only come because Master Iji had summoned him after word of the festival. To cross paths with Lucian here… well, perhaps it was only natural.
Lucian sought the Great Runes, aiming for Elden Lordship itself. As a warrior, of course he would not miss such a festival.
Blaidd inclined his head respectfully. "Lord Lucian, you've come as well."
Alexander looked between them, surprised. "Oh? You two are already acquainted? Splendid, splendid!"
Seeing that Alexander was unaware of Lucian's reputation, Blaidd took it upon himself to explain.
"Alexander, this is Lord Lucian, the Stormlord. It was he who struck down Godrick the Grafted, reclaiming Stormveil and all of Limgrave."
Alexander clapped his iron fist into his open palm, realization dawning. "Ahhh, so that's why the name rang familiar! I had heard of the Stormlord." He chuckled heartily. "Seems I've been a touch careless before, eh?"
Lucian waved it off with a smile. "Think nothing of it. More than lordship, I'd rather be met as a fellow warrior."
"Speaking of which," he added, "how did the two of you meet?"
Alexander laughed aloud. "Ah, that's a long story. To put it short… Blaidd lost his way."
Blaidd's ears twitched, clearly displeased. "What? It was you who were lost. Stuck before an illusory wall, unable to find your way."
"If I hadn't come from the other side to break it open, you'd still be trapped in that pit."
"Ha! Nonsense," Alexander barked back. "I was merely resting after a long walk. I was just about to turn back and find another path."
"Besides, why don't you explain how you came from the opposite direction? That way leads down from Caelid! And in the end, it was I who led you out of that tunnel."
Blaidd snorted. "At least I found a path. Better than sitting there like a lump before a wall."
And so the two bickered, neither willing to yield. Yet it was plain enough they had traveled together for some time—arguing like old comrades, perhaps even fast becoming friends.
From their words, Lucian pieced together the story.
Alexander had tried to cross from Limgrave through Gael Tunnel into Caelid. In the game, a simple wooden barricade might have posed no obstacle to him—but this time, it was an illusory wall.
And so, even Alexander had been stymied.
Though he claimed he was about to leave, Lucian doubted it. Far likelier that he had lingered there for quite some time before Blaidd happened by, smashing the wall from the opposite side.
Two wrong turns meeting to make a right—two wayward souls, who through misfortune had stumbled upon friendship.
Lucian cut short their endless squabble with a cough. "Enough. You've both reached Redmane Castle in the end. The rest hardly matters."
Both fell quiet at that, perhaps realizing the truth of it—and perhaps, too, unwilling to admit they were both equally poor with directions.
"Oh, that reminds me."
Alexander lifted his lid and reached inside, rummaging noisily. A moment later, he drew forth a katana, holding it out toward Lucian.
"After we left the tunnel, we encountered Redmane soldiers. They told us the place had been seized by a Magma Wyrm in its depths."
"We drove it out for them, reclaimed the passage, and in its lair, we found this blade."
He pressed it forward. "I thought my thanks last time were too meager. So take this as a proper gift."
Lucian shook his head, not reaching for it. "That was no more than lending a hand. No need for such reward."
But Alexander laughed, patting his shoulder with ringing cheer. "Haha! Then take it as a gift of friendship. Weapons are of no use to me, I need only these fists."
"And without question, of all warriors I know, you are the one most suited to wield it."
Lucian glanced at Blaidd. The wyrm had been slain by the two together; best to see if he had any objection.
But Blaidd only shook his head. His royal greatsword was bound to him by oath to Ranni, the only blade he would ever wield. If this katana were to find a master, none could be more fitting than Lucian.
"Very well," Lucian said at last. "Then I accept. Should you ever need my aid in turn, you have but to ask."
He took the blade—Moonveil, the famed katana of glinting light.
Never had he expected it to fall into his hands so. Once, he had wielded it often; a favorite weapon. Now, fate had spared him the search.
Blaidd tilted his head. "Lord Lucian, are you also bound for the square?"
Lucian glanced ahead. The plaza was close now. "Yes. I came to Redmane before, but left for a time. Today I return. My companion is not in her chamber, so I thought to see if she might be there. If not, I'll seek out Jerren."
"I see," Blaidd nodded. "Then let us go together. There is a ring set up in the square, Alexander and I planned to test ourselves there. Even if your companion is absent, both Jerren and Master Iji are present."
Lucian's brows lifted. "Master Iji is here as well?"
"Yes," Blaidd explained. "Jerren was once a guest commander of the Carian royals, and he and Iji have long been friends. When word came of the festival, both of us set out. Iji arrived before me."
Lucian nodded. That explained why Iji's forge lay empty outside Caria Manor. So he had come all the way to Caelid.
Good. Lucian had gathered plenty of smithing stones from Ranni, but had yet to strengthen his Dragon Slayer Swordspear.
The Sword of Night and Flame was powerful, yes—but it was no weapon for a warrior's duel. Against Radahn, Lucian wished for steel and blood, not sorcery. Enlarged by Rune power, his Swordspear would serve best. But at only +12, it would not last long against Radahn's colossal blades. Iji's hammer would see it sharpened yet.
Together, the three entered the plaza.
It was alive with noise and movement—half the castle seemed gathered there.
A ring stood at its center, and two Tarnished clashed atop it, their blades sparking as they pressed blow for blow. Their skills were matched, the fight fierce. Around them, the crowd roared, eager for their turn.
To Lucian's eyes, however, their level was far from heroic. Little more than squabbling fledglings.
He cast his gaze over the square, noting who had come.
There was Great Horned Tragoth. Lionel the Lionhearted. Istvan, the Old Knight. And in the corner, clad in his full beast set, Knight Bernahl.
Tarnished of every kind gathered—warriors in savage garb, monks with fists bandaged, even some of Lucian's own men from Stormveil, who saluted him at once.
Nor were they all Tarnished.
He spotted Storm Knight Moroga, whom he had once seen at the Dragon Communion. Knights of the fallen kingdom of Eochaid, wielding the power of qi. Gladiators with bare chests and heavy axes. Flame monks sitting cross-legged, chanting scripture.
A host of warriors, all drawn by the chance to face General Radahn.
For them, the duel itself was honor.
Yet Lucian doubted most could survive the attempt. Perhaps twenty at best bore true strength. The rest, a hundred or more, would be little more than fodder. A single Night's Cavalry could trample half of them in a pass.
As these thoughts passed his mind, the scent of blood reached his nose.
Fresh blood, spilled but moments ago.
Not from the duel in the ring; their blades had yet to draw such flow.
The crowd stiffened as one. Every warrior there had felt it. Danger lurked nearby.
Even the duelists halted mid-swing, eyes darting toward the source.
A space cleared in the throng. At its center lay three figures.
Frozen mid-motion, as if time itself had seized them.
Two had their backs to Lucian, but the third sat facing him. And so Lucian saw it clearly—the bloodstained mask of carved wood upon his face.
The mask of an angry old man.
It was the famed swordmaster of the Land of Reeds, nameless and wrathful—the Asura known only as Okina.
—
[T/N: Just some info about the characters mentioned.]
Knight Bernahl:Bernahl (later known as Recusant Bernahl) is an NPC in Elden Ring. Bernahl is a Tarnished Knight initially found at the Warmaster's Shack in central Stormhill. He serves as an Ash of War merchant, selling various ashes in exchange for Runes. He is also involved in certain questlines and will move locations according to player progress. Upon meeting him and progressing his storyline, he can become available as an NPC Summon against the Godskin Duo, as well as an NPC Invader.
Old Knight Istvan :Istvan is one of the few surviving wizened Tarnished. He wields a Dismounter with Gravitas, and is clad in corroded metal armour reinforced with rock-hard scales. At some point, Istvan became a target for the Recusants of Volcano Manor.
Lionel the Lionhearted :Lionel is a dauntless knight who adopted Fia after her exile from her homeland. Known as a chivalrous fighter having earned the title "The Lionhearted" he is a skilled fencer and battle mage. He is first met during the Radahn Festival, available as a spirit summon; why he joins the Festival is currently unknown. He can be met again later as one of the spirits Fia summons to defend herself in Deeproot Depths.
Great Horned Tragoth :Cladded in the giant horns of a bull-goat, mighty Tragoth is a silent knight famed for aiding many Tarnished against the adversities of the Lands Between. He is also one of the assassination targets assigned to Patches by the Volcano Manor. You can find the summon sign to invade his world in Ruin-Strewn Precipice. All NPC Invaders and invadable NPCs can be found here. He is also an NPC Summon against Draconic Tree Sentinel, Magma Wyrm Makar and Starscourge Radahn.
Bloody Finger Okina :Okina (meaning "Old Man" in Japanese) is a great swordsman from the Land of Reeds whose nickname came from the wooden mask that depicts an old man baring his teeth. He had several disciples in a group called the White Reeds, combatants who seek proper deaths won honorably through hard-fought combat. The head disciples of Okina were called the Inaba (Japanese name for the leaves of the rice plant).