Recaps

Xia Tong awakened naked in the ruins of Gatefront, discovered he had become a level-one Wretch in the world of Elden Ring, and fought a Godrick Soldier before fleeing into the forest. After scavenging armor and food, he slept in a cave, where a hooded girl and Torrent watched him and wondered whether he might become a lord.

• Xia Tong inspected his unusual character stats and discovered a crystal containing Fanged Imps, then tried to sneak up on a Godrick Soldier.
• After a branch snapped and alerted the soldier, Xia Tong blocked its sword, activated Barbaric Roar, killed it with his club, and gained 64 Runes.
• More Godrick Soldiers gathered after hearing the roar, so Xia Tong fled into the forest and hid in a cave with a bleeding arm.
• Xia Tong returned to the ruins to strip the dead soldier's armor and sword, bandaged his wound, washed the gear, gathered Rowa Fruit, and prepared the cave before sleeping.
• A hooded girl and Torrent found Xia Tong in the cave, and the girl said he had been dead before coming back to life and agreed to observe him.

Xia Tong equipped himself with Godrick Soldier armor and hunted soldiers near Gatefront to gain Runes and equipment, then reached the Site of Grace to recover. There, he met Melina, agreed to take her to the foot of the Erdtree, and received Torrent and two flasks.

• Xia Tong put on the Godrick Soldier Set and practiced using his Lordsworn's Straight Sword skill, Square Off.
• Xia Tong ambushed and killed five lone Godrick Soldiers, gained Runes, and stored their equipment, but suffered injuries that forced him to stop hunting.
• Xia Tong avoided the patrols and activated the Gatefront Site of Grace, where its warmth eased his exhaustion and pain.
• Melina appeared before Xia Tong, offered to turn Runes into strength, and asked him to take her to the foot of the Erdtree; Xia Tong agreed.
• Melina gave Xia Tong a ring to summon Torrent and Crimson and Cerulean Tear Flasks, then departed as Torrent appeared.
• Xia Tong stroked Torrent and accepted him as his partner.

Xia Tong hunted Godrick Soldiers, learned from Melina how to use a personal storage space, and barely escaped the Tree Sentinel while making his way to the Church of Elleh. He reached the church safely and met the merchant Kale.

• Xia Tong killed a Godrick Soldier at Gatefront, collected his armor and weapons, and stored his growing haul in a cave.
• Melina taught Xia Tong to access a personal space, and he successfully placed a dagger inside it.
• Xia Tong encountered the Tree Sentinel near the Church of Elleh and fled on Torrent until he escaped the knight's pursuit.
• Melina used Blessing of the Erdtree to ease Xia Tong's fear and exhaustion, then advised him to sneak past the Tree Sentinel on foot.
• Xia Tong dismounted and carefully approached the Church of Elleh without attracting the Tree Sentinel's attention.
• Xia Tong entered the church and met Kale, who recognized him as a newly arrived Tarnished.

Xia Tong sold Godrick Soldier equipment to Kale, bought supplies, and used nearly all his Runes to increase his Vigor. That night, Renna visited him in a dream, gave him the Spirit Calling Bell and Lone Wolf Ashes, and invited him to find her at Caria Manor if he could prove he could break free of the puppet strings.

• Xia Tong sold eight Godrick Soldier Sets to Kale for 1,250 Runes and bought a torch and Crafting Kit.
• Kale explained that the Tree Sentinel would not attack anyone sheltering inside the Church of Elleh.
• Xia Tong used his Runes with Melina to level up twice, raising his Vigor to 12 and leaving him with 18 Runes.
• Renna appeared to Xia Tong in a dream and gave him the Spirit Calling Bell and Lone Wolf Ashes on behalf of the Spirit Steed's former owner.
• Xia Tong spoke of challenging the false guidances, and Renna invited him to find her at Caria Manor if he could prove he could break free of the puppet strings.

Xia Tong discovered that he could summon Spirit Ashes without a Rebirth Monument and call two sets at once, astounding Melina. After his wolves and Fanged Imps swiftly killed a Godrick Soldier, Melina wondered whether Xia Tong was the one chosen by fate.

• Xia Tong woke beside the Spirit Calling Bell and Stray Wolves Spirit Ashes he had received from Princess Ranni of the Moon.
• Despite Melina's warning, Xia Tong rang the bell in the woods and successfully summoned three Stray Wolves without a Rebirth Monument.
• Xia Tong rang the bell again and summoned two Fanged Imps, then recovered his drained Focus Points with a Cerulean Tear Flask.
• Xia Tong ordered his five Spirit Ashes to attack a patrolling Godrick Soldier, and they killed him while Xia Tong barely moved.
• Melina watched Xia Tong command his Spirit Ashes and wondered if he was the one chosen by fate.

Xia Tong cleared the Godrick Soldiers near Gatefront, sold their gear, and leveled up to Level 9 before entering Mistwood Cave to find a talisman. He defeated the cave wolves and collected a Golden Rune and Cracked Pot, then faced the Beastman of Farum Azula beyond the fog gate.

• Xia Tong and his Fanged Imps killed a Godrick Soldier, and over the next three days Xia Tong cleared the soldiers near Gatefront and sold their equipment to Kale.
• Xia Tong spent his Runes with Melina to reach Level 9, increased his Strength to 15, and decided to seek a Lordsworn's Greatsword.
• Xia Tong found Mistwood Cave, summoned two Fanged Imps and three Stray Wolves, and led them inside to defeat the cave's wolf sentries.
• Xia Tong found a Golden Rune [1] and a Cracked Pot while fighting through the cave, and told Melina he had been thinking of a powerful woman he knew.
• Xia Tong passed through the fog gate and encountered the Beastman of Farum Azula, which roared and charged at him with a massive Dismounter.

Xia Tong defeated the Beastman in Mistwood Cave with help from his Spirit Ashes, gained the Flamedrake Talisman, and chose to increase his Dexterity after nearly being killed. The next day, he scouted Gatefront and found its camp far more heavily defended than in the game, leaving him to plan his approach.

• Xia Tong and his Spirit Ashes fought the Beastman; the Fanged Imps saved him from its deadly chokehold and helped kill it, while the Stray Wolves were destroyed or left unable to fight.
• Melina healed Xia Tong with Blessing of the Erdtree, then helped him spend Runes at a Site of Grace to increase his Dexterity.
• Xia Tong collected the Flamedrake Talisman but found he could not activate its fire resistance without a Talisman Pouch.
• Xia Tong rested at the Site of Grace in Mistwood Cave, then rode Torrent to scout Gatefront the next day.
• Xia Tong discovered that Gatefront had two horn-bearing sentries, three Godrick Heavy Infantrymen, many Godrick Soldiers, and one elite Godrick Knight, so he began considering his tactics.

Xia Tong cleared most of the Godrick Soldiers at Gatefront, sold their gear, and leveled up while searching for a way to defeat the remaining camp. Melina reminded him to use Torrent, and his first mounted attack began badly when his chipped sword became lodged in a soldier as the Godrick Knight charged toward him.

• Xia Tong ambushed more than ten lone Godrick Soldiers at night, stored their equipment in Mistwood Cave, and sold it to Kale for Runes.
• Xia Tong reached level 17 after several days of hunting, leaving only ten clustered soldiers and a Godrick Knight at Gatefront.
• Melina reminded Xia Tong that Torrent could help him fight the camp, and he formed a plan involving mounted combat and throwing knives.
• Xia Tong charged the camp on Torrent and struck an ordinary Godrick Soldier, but his chipped Lordsworn's Straight Sword lodged in the soldier's bones.
• Three Stray Wolves killed the dragged soldier as the Godrick Knight charged toward Xia Tong, while the sword remained stuck.

Xia Tong retreated from the Godrick Knight after a difficult fight and healed Torrent with Rowa Raisins. At the Church of Elleh, Kale refused to fight but gave Xia Tong Sleep Pots to help him face the knight.

• Xia Tong used his ambush and mounted spear attacks to kill Godrick Soldiers, then worked with Fanged Imps and Stray Wolves to wound the Godrick Knight before retreating with an injured Torrent.
• Xia Tong fed Torrent Rowa Raisins, which rapidly healed the horse's severe wound, and Melina called out Xia Tong's fear of the knight.
• At the Church of Elleh, Xia Tong asked Kale to fight beside him, but Kale refused because his people stayed neutral.
• Xia Tong promised to search for clues about the missing Grand Caravan, and Kale gave him three Sleep Pots that could put the Godrick Knight to sleep.

Xia Tong led an assault on Gatefront Camp, using a Sleep Pot and his Spirit Ashes to thin the Godrick Soldiers before fighting the Godrick Knight. The chapter ended as Xia Tong struck at the knight’s exposed waist with a powerful Upward Cut.

• Xia Tong used Magic Pots and a Sleep Pot to disrupt the camp, then killed three sleeping Godrick Soldiers.
• Xia Tong used Square Off and an Upward Cut to kill another soldier and gain a Rune.
• The Godrick Knight awoke and engaged Xia Tong, wounding him with a spear and forcing him to use his Crimson Tear Flask.
• Xia Tong dodged the knight’s charge and unleashed an Upward Cut at the gap in his waist armor.

Xia Tong defeated Godrick Knight and the remaining defenders at Gatefront Camp, then recovered the Lordsworn's Greatsword and a flail from two coffins. With the camp cleared, he considered how to reach Stormhill through the heavily defended Stormgate.

• Xia Tong used a jumping slash and Square Off to stagger and kill Godrick Knight, earning 300 Runes.
• Xia Tong joined the Spirit Ashes' fight, killed the remaining minor enemies, and won the assault on Gatefront Camp.
• Xia Tong thanked Kale for his support and dismissed the injured Spirit Ashes so they could recover.
• Xia Tong opened the camp's two coffins and claimed the Lordsworn's Greatsword and a flail, choosing to store the flail for later.
• Xia Tong examined Stormgate and saw its soldiers, ballistae, crossbowmen, and a Troll blocking the route to Stormhill.

Xia Tong hunted Kaiden Sellswords to capture their horses, then used three as decoys to slip past Stormgate with Melina and Torrent. After escaping up Stormhill, he encountered a pack of wolves.

• Xia Tong spotted a Kaiden Sellsword, found his camp, and decided to avoid fighting them head-on.
• Xia Tong and his Fanged Imps ambushed and killed a lone Kaiden Sellsword, then took his equipment and captured his horse.
• Over two days, Xia Tong captured three injured horses, and Melina healed them with Rowa Fruit and magic.
• At Stormgate, Xia Tong hid beneath Torrent while Melina guided the three captured horses as decoys.
• The decoy horses drew the soldiers and Giant Troll away, allowing Torrent to carry Xia Tong through Stormgate and up Stormhill.
• Xia Tong saw more than a dozen pairs of glowing green eyes ahead and realized wolves were waiting on the path.

Xia Tong fought off a pack of wolves on Stormhill and met the grieving Roderika at Stormhill Shack. After accepting her request to take the Spirit Jellyfish Kurala, he weighed how to help Roderika and obtain sorcery, but decided against risking a trip to Caelid.

• Xia Tong and his summoned spirits killed twelve wolves, including their alpha, and he collected their bones before continuing onward.
• Xia Tong reached a Site of Grace near Stormhill Shack, stored items, and took a Stonesword Key from a corpse outside.
• Xia Tong listened as Roderika grieved that her companions had been mutilated for Grafting and that she had run away.
• Roderika asked Xia Tong to take her Spirit Jellyfish, Kurala, with him to Stormveil Castle, and Xia Tong agreed to help her.
• Xia Tong considered seeking Sellen's sorcery lessons and retrieving the Meteorite Staff and Rock Sling in Caelid, but decided the danger was too great.

Xia Tong repaired Roderika's Shack and found a Golden Seed, then explored a graveyard in search of Godrick Soldiers Spirit Ashes. Faced with dangerous Crimson Jellyfish and skeletons, he followed Melina's advice to return at dawn and asked Roderika to let him stay the night.

• Xia Tong and his Fanged Imps repaired Roderika's Shack, and he told Roderika his name before leaving her dried meat.
• Xia Tong found a Golden Seed and used it to increase the number of uses in his Flask of Crimson Tears.
• Xia Tong rode Torrent to a graveyard, where he found Godrick Soldiers Spirit Ashes surrounded by Crimson Jellyfish and Skeletal Militiamen.
• Xia Tong tested the Crimson Jellyfish with a stone, then retreated when their corrosive venom and the skeletons made the graveyard too dangerous to approach.
• Melina advised Xia Tong to return at dawn, when the enemies would be weakest, so he rode back to the Shack and asked Roderika to let him stay overnight.

Xia Tong risked his life to seize the Godrick Soldier Ashes from the Crimson Jellyfish, then returned gravely injured to Stormhill Shack. Melina and the Site of Grace helped him recover, and the Ashes resonated with Roderika, hinting at her potential as a spirit tuner.

• Xia Tong left Roderika at Stormhill Shack and rode Torrent to retrieve the Godrick Soldier Ashes.
• Xia Tong grabbed the Ashes, but a Crimson Jellyfish sprayed him with corrosive fluid, badly injuring him and Torrent.
• Torrent carried Xia Tong through the jellyfish swarm and back to the Site of Grace, where Roderika and Melina helped him.
• Melina used the Site of Grace to purify Xia Tong and restore his consciousness.
• The Godrick Soldier Ashes leapt into Roderika's hand, and she sensed the spirits' emotions and power.

Xia Tong leveled up his Dexterity at the Church of Elleh, then traveled toward the Bridge of Sacrifice and watched a caravan of Trolls, Wandering Nobles, and Kaiden Sellswords. He hid on a slope beside the road, preparing to sneak past the caravan on foot.

• Xia Tong used Runes and sold his Lordsworn's Flail to reach level 20, raising his Dexterity to 13.
• Xia Tong practiced his jumping and balance at the Church of Elleh while Kale praised his progress.
• Kale warned Xia Tong not to harm Nomadic Tribe merchants and taught him how to snap his fingers to summon Blaidd the Half-Wolf.
• Xia Tong rode Torrent south of Lake Agheel and noted that the defeated enemies had only partially revived.
• Xia Tong spotted a caravan pulled by two Trolls, accompanied by Wandering Nobles and Kaiden Sellswords, and hid on a slope to sneak past.

Xia Tong bypassed the Bridge of Sacrifice’s defenses and led an assault that destroyed its explosive ballista and defeated the Castle Morne Soldiers. After looting the bridge, he reached a Site of Grace and found Irina, Edgar’s blind daughter, sitting nearby.

• Xia Tong surveyed the Bridge of Sacrifice from a cliff and saw its barricades, soldiers, and explosive ballista.
• Xia Tong summoned Spirit Ashes and sent the Stray Wolves to lure the bridge guards while the Fanged Imps attacked them.
• Xia Tong charged across the bridge on Torrent, dodged an explosive ballista bolt, and destroyed the ballista.
• Xia Tong forced the nimble foot soldier off the firing platform, then joined his Spirit Ashes in defeating the remaining guards.
• Xia Tong stripped the defeated soldiers of their equipment and reached a Site of Grace, where he recognized Irina sitting on a roadside boulder.

Xia Tong met Irina, a blind noblewoman fleeing Castle Morne, and agreed to help her after first taking her to safety. As they traveled toward a wandering merchant, they encountered Winged Misbegotten feeding among wrecked carriages.

• Xia Tong stopped when he found Irina, who asked him to deliver a letter to her father, Edgar, at Castle Morne.
• Xia Tong gave Irina venison jerky, then refused to deliver the letter until he had first brought her somewhere safe.
• Xia Tong settled Irina at the Site of Grace beside the Bridge of Sacrifice and planned to take her to a wandering merchant near Castle Morne.
• At dawn, Xia Tong helped Irina onto Torrent and led the horse along the road with three Stray Wolves scouting ahead.
• The wolves sensed danger near wrecked carriages, where Xia Tong spotted more than a dozen Winged Misbegotten feeding on corpses.

Xia Tong summoned his Spirit Ashes and fought a group of Winged Misbegotten, coordinating his allies and defeating several enemies despite taking heavy pressure himself. After the battle, he reassured Irina that her knowledge of Castle Morne would make her valuable when they reached it.

• Xia Tong summoned two Godrick Soldiers, a Spirit Jellyfish, three Stray Wolves, and two Fanged Imps, then armed himself with a shield and a light sword.
• Xia Tong and his Spirit Ashes killed two Winged Misbegotten, and Xia Tong assigned his allies to fight the approaching group.
• Two Winged Misbegotten struck Xia Tong's shield together, but he counterattacked by stabbing one in the throat and later killed the other with its Iron Cleaver.
• Xia Tong confirmed the Misbegotten were dead, then rested as his Spirit Ashes finished their assigned fights.
• Irina apologized for being unable to help, and Xia Tong told her that her knowledge of Castle Morne would be essential.

Xia Tong traveled with Irina to the Site of Grace near Castle Morne, selling a cartload of weapons and armor to the wandering merchant Moen along the way. After reaching the Site of Grace, he began leveling up by increasing his Mind.

• Xia Tong camped for the night and tended to the injured Spirit Ashes of the Stray Wolves and Spirit Jellyfish.
• Three days later, Xia Tong and Irina rode Torrent through a canyon while Stray Wolves guarded them and a cart carried their collected equipment.
• Xia Tong told Irina and Melina the history of the Trolls as they avoided dangerous enemies along the road.
• Xia Tong reached Moen's camp near Castle Morne and bargained with the wandering merchant, selling the cartload of equipment for three thousand Runes.
• Xia Tong took Irina to the nearby Site of Grace and began leveling up by increasing his Mind.

After reaching level 21, Xia Tong was attacked at night by a Night's Cavalry and fought back with his spirit summons. He left the enemy's armor and horse corroded by the Crimson Jellyfish's venom, but the battle was still underway.

• Xia Tong reached level 21 and learned from Melina that leveling took longer as his body and soul grew stronger.
• Xia Tong camped by a Site of Grace with Irina and Merchant Moen, but a Night's Cavalry appeared and targeted him as a Tarnished.
• Xia Tong summoned the Stray Wolves, Godrick Soldier, Spirit Jellyfish, and Fanged Imp, then sent Melina to hide Irina with Moen.
• Xia Tong mounted Torrent and charged the Night's Cavalry, dodging a sweeping flail strike by hanging off the side of his horse.
• The Fanged Imp's Magic Pots startled the Funeral Horse, allowing the Crimson Jellyfish to spray venom over the Night's Cavalry and his horse.

Xia Tong and his Spirit Ashes warband battled the Night's Cavalry, wounding his Funeral Horse and forcing him to retreat uphill before he launched a devastating counterattack. The cavalryman's Leaping Strike shattered the Godrick Soldier's shield and sent him flying, leaving Xia Tong's formation in grave danger.

• Kulala sprayed venom at the Night's Cavalry, and a shield-bearing Godrick Soldier protected the Crimson Jellyfish from his first flail strike.
• The Stray Wolves and Fanged Imps wounded the Funeral Horse, while Xia Tong pursued the Night's Cavalry with Torrent and his spear.
• The Night's Cavalry rode uphill to gain the high ground, then charged back downhill toward Xia Tong and the Spirit Ashes warband.
• Xia Tong retreated toward his formation and told Kulala to prepare another venom shot as the Godrick Soldier braced behind his shield.
• The Night's Cavalry leaped into the air and smashed his flail into the Godrick Soldier's shield, shattering it and sending the soldier flying.

Xia Tong and his Spirit Ashes defeated the Night's Cavalry, though Kulala was badly injured in the fight. After collecting the Rune and recalling his wounded spirits, Xia Tong approached the fallen knight to remove his helmet.

• The Night's Cavalry struck Kulala with his flail, tearing part of her bell, and Kulala retaliated by binding him and spraying him and his horse with acid.
• Xia Tong used Torrent's double jump to launch a furious greatsword attack, breaking through the Night's Cavalry's block and knocking him off his horse.
• Xia Tong and his allies overwhelmed the fallen Night's Cavalry, and Xia Tong finished him by stabbing through a gap in his neck armor.
• Xia Tong gained 3400 Runes, found Kulala severely wounded, and recalled her and the injured Godrick Soldier's Spirit Ashes.
• Xia Tong approached the dead Night's Cavalry and reached for his helmet to see his face.

Xia Tong recovered an Ash of War from the Night's Cavalryman and learned the Barricade Shield skill. After reuniting with Irina and Moen, he bought supplies from the merchant and noticed an ash-gray key among his wares.

• Xia Tong removed the Night's Cavalryman's armor, found a gray crystal embedded in his chest, and used the Whetstone Knife to awaken its Ash of War.
• Xia Tong experienced the Ash of War's combat memory and learned the Barricade Shield skill, then examined the Night Cavalry Flail and found it awkward to wield.
• Irina and Moen approached Xia Tong after the battle, and Xia Tong reassured them that he was unharmed.
• Xia Tong thanked Moen by buying Kukri and a Cracked Pot, then spotted an ash-gray key among the merchant's goods.

Xia Tong spent his Runes on a Stonesword Key and Demi-Human Group intelligence, leaving himself penniless, then rested and nurtured his Spirit Ashes while discussing his combat skills with Melina. Melina explained that the Lion Guardians of Redmane Castle in Caelid used the real Lion's Claw.

• Xia Tong tried Moen's Misbegotten Greatsword but felt dizzy because his Faith was too low to meet its requirements.
• Xia Tong negotiated with Moen and bought Demi-Human Group intelligence for 500 Runes after purchasing a Stonesword Key.
• Xia Tong returned to his tent, rested until dawn, and nurtured his Spirit Ashes as they recovered.
• Melina told Xia Tong that his Botched Lion's Claw relied on brute force and had worked against the Night's Cavalry because it was restrained.
• Xia Tong described the combat skills he had used, and Melina recalled seeing Lion Guardians use Lion's Claw at Redmane Castle in Caelid.