A Wondrous Map

Blood spilled through the air in defiance. The grieving, furious red-haired Misbegotten had never yielded, yet the light had faded from the beastly eyes of the figure standing with sword in hand. Yes, he had lost. Out of respect for his will to resist, the Tarnished had personally ended his life.

"I told you I'd let you die with dignity. Misbegotten, dying on your feet... is far more worthy of praise than living on your knees."

He had planted the greatsword into the earth to uphold his dignity-the blade that embodied the glory of ancient Misbegotten ancestors who had fought bloody battles and risen in defiance. Even in death, the Leonine Misbegotten gripped the Grafted Blade Greatsword and refused to kneel. Neither his body nor his will was accepted by the Erdtree, and his body would remain a symbol of this rebellion until the very end.

"If the Lands Between still have a future, the uprising at Castle Morne will surely leave a vivid mark on it. Perhaps you'll even be remembered." The Tarnished turned and left. Before long, he encountered Istvan's Golden Spirit.

"Why are you back? Weren't you heading to Limgrave?"

"I felt I couldn't just stay out of this. After all, it's my own people dying. I couldn't stop worrying, so I came back... Did you get into an argument with Castellan Edgar?" Upon returning, Istvan had found Edgar even more dejected. After asking around, he learned that a Tarnished had given the castellan a vicious tongue-lashing and wanted to take the castle's prized treasure.

"At first, I thought he was a real man. On closer inspection, he's just a high-ranking slave trained by his masters. I've got no interest in people like that." The Tarnished rolled his wrists.

"There's no need to put it so harshly. In times like these, everyone's trapped by circumstances." Istvan tried to make excuses for Edgar, though he himself felt that Edgar's loyalty was far too rigid.

"You're trapped by circumstances, he's trapped by circumstances, everyone's trapped by circumstances. So the world's destruction and this age's collapse are beyond anyone's control too, huh? We might as well all lie down and give up."

"Stop making so many excuses for yourselves. Pioneers never let the status quo hold them back." The Tarnished showed no mercy.

"Well..." Istvan was speechless.

"Don't forget, it was the Expeditionary Army that paved the way for the golden age. Even if that age couldn't withstand a blow, even if it was a misguided age, at least things were changing. They never would have said..."

"'The Ancient Dragons are too strong, so we have no choice but to be pushed aside. It's beyond our control. The giants' fire is so fierce, so it's beyond our control if the tree burns too.'"

"Besides, I really don't believe Edgar is stupid enough not to see what a useless ruler this so-called Godrick is."

"People need leaders, but that doesn't mean they should stop thinking for themselves and become their rulers' dogs."

"You... have a point." Indeed, if the Expeditionary Army back then had used those same excuses instead of ushering in a new age, would humanity even have a place in the world today?

"That may be true, but people don't all think alike. Even if you tell him, he might not change."

"Whether he changes isn't my problem. I came all this way to deliver a letter and didn't even get paid. It's already merciful of me not to go beat him up." The Tarnished brushed the dust from his clothes.

"A letter?"

"From the castellan's daughter."

"Ah, Lady Irina. She really is worried about her father."

"I was originally going to take the sword kept deep inside the castle as payment..." The Tarnished looked back at the Leonine Misbegotten.

"The Leonine Misbegotten...? Then the sword in his hand is..."

"That's right. The Grafted Blade Greatsword." The Tarnished nodded.

"Is he dead? Why did you leave the sword with him instead of taking it?" Istvan could not quite understand the scene before him.

"The Grafted Blade Greatsword belonged to the Misbegotten in the first place. It's simply back with its rightful owner."

"What? Wasn't this sword said to belong to a hero of a fallen kingdom...? Could that fallen kingdom have been..."

"A kingdom founded by Misbegotten sometime in the past. Their persecution began long ago."

"So that's how it was..."

"I respect them for still having the spirit to resist. Besides, I don't have much use for that sword, so I decided to leave it with him." The Tarnished shrugged.

"I see... You're a kindhearted warrior too." Istvan smiled.

"That's right, I'm very merciful. I met a Pumpkin Head with a headache on the way here and went over to lend a hand. His head doesn't hurt anymore."

"Uh..." A Pumpkin Head...? You probably chopped his head off.

Partway back, Istvan and the Tarnished parted ways again. Leaving was easy for Istvan, since he was a spirit. The Tarnished had no such luck. He could only climb back over the walls, just as he had when he first arrived.

"What a damn stupid castle..." The Tarnished cursed as he scaled wall after wall again, finally jumping clear of Castle Morne.

"The leader of the Misbegotten uprising is dead. The rest should settle down now." He clapped the dust from his hands. His work was done. Whatever Edgar intended to do was no concern of his. The letter had been delivered, after all.

"Um... is that you, Lord Tarnished?"

"Irina? What are you doing here?"

"Lord Istvan escorted me part of the way... I was just so worried about Father. I know he's very stubborn... but I really don't want to see him die." Irina clasped her hands tightly together.

"Hmm... Just wait a little longer. The uprising inside should die down soon. Edgar won't die."

"The castle's taking a beating, though." The Tarnished looked up at the smoke billowing throughout the castle and shook his head helplessly.

"Really...? Father's all right? Thank you, Lord Tarnished. You helped him, didn't you?" Irina dipped into a slight bow.

"No need to thank me. I've forgotten why I even came to Castle Morne." The Tarnished felt he had made the trip for nothing. He had gained nothing and helped out twice for free, though he did not particularly mind. It had only taken a little extra effort.

About half a day passed. The Misbegotten inside the castle seemed to discover that their leader was dead, and their morale gradually waned. Castle Morne's soldiers seized the opportunity to launch a counterattack, successfully driving the surprised Misbegotten out of the castle.

"Counting all the Misbegotten I killed for blocking my way... there really weren't many left inside. With their morale collapsing too, it makes sense they'd be driven out." The Tarnished and Irina sat on the grass a short distance from Castle Morne, observing everything happening within.

"Did Father... succeed?"

"He did." Looking up, the Tarnished saw a man raise the tattered Castle Morne Banner and plant it within the castle once more. That man was none other than Castellan Edgar.

"Lord Godrick... I have fulfilled my duty... Castle Morne still stands!" Edgar raised his arm and shouted, then sank to the ground in exhaustion.

"Your dad seems pretty excited."

"Yes, Lord Tarnished. I heard Father cheering." Irina beamed at the sound of her father's cry.

After some more time passed and the castle gradually quieted down, the Tarnished took Irina to see Castellan Edgar. He had intended to leave as soon as he brought her inside, but Edgar called out to him before he could go.

"Thank you for your help, unfamiliar Tarnished... It was your defeat of their leader that gave us an opening."

"I just happened to be there. But I'm telling you, leave that sword where it is. You brought this uprising on yourselves. I hope that whenever you see this devastation and the Misbegotten deep inside the castle, you'll remember the hell you've witnessed today."

"But the Grafted Blade Greatsword is..."

"Don't get the wrong idea. The Grafted Blade Greatsword never belonged to the people of Castle Morne. Do you know why Godfrey didn't take it back then? Because he knew it wasn't his."

"The Grafted Blade Greatsword doesn't belong to Godfrey, or me, or Castle Morne. It belonged to the Misbegotten all along."

"Well..."

"Whatever. Whether you listen is up to you. If you want another uprising, go ahead and try touching that sword."

"I... understand. As castellan, I should put the safety of my people first." Indeed, he could never let this uprising happen again. He would have to leave the sword alone.

"Good. Take care of your daughter. She's the only family you have. That matters a hell of a lot more than that bastard Godrick's orders." With those parting words, the Tarnished left Castle Morne without looking back.

"May your journey be safe... Lord Tarnished."

"My daughter..." Edgar lowered his head in thought. He had no answer yet, but surely, in the not-too-distant future, he would understand what truly mattered.

"All right, time to explore the Weeping Peninsula." Speaking of the Weeping Peninsula, he had rarely visited it in the past. With the changes brought by the passing ages, he knew very little about the place.

If only I had a map right now.

Continuing along the main road in front of Castle Morne, he discovered a Pointed Stone Stele. He had taken a detour on his way to the castle and missed this stele covered in golden writing. After he stared at it for a while, the writing flew free of the stone, drifted through the air, and finally formed a multicolored image.

"Is this a map? Huh, even this shattered age has some nifty things. Is this how everyone records things now?" He picked up the map and examined it closely.

The map was highly detailed, recording everything from the terrain to the tunnels, with many other symbols marked on it as well.

"It really is detailed. Does someone keep updating it?" He looked back at the stele, where golden writing had appeared once more. Apparently, taking a copy had no effect on it.

"Ha, things will be much easier with a map." He turned his attention back to it. Several marked places were clearly pits or caves, and there seemed to be ruins as well. It looked as though he would not be too bored.

"Honestly, there's barely anything to do for fun in the Lands Between. All I can do in my spare time is explore." In the past, he had visited plenty of tunnels and ruins, then cleaned them out thoroughly.

Finally, the Tarnished settled on a route. He planned to start at the top and make a circuit from right to left.

The Tarnished casually stepped to the right, and the unused Flask of Wondrous Physick at his waist began to flicker, seemingly resonating with something. The sight made him raise an eyebrow.

"Oh... This feels familiar. Is there a Golden Seed nearby?"

Golden Seeds were among the Erdtree's blessings. The Erdtree had left signs of its presence throughout the world, most notably in the form of Minor Erdtrees, which received offerings from the local inhabitants. Beneath those in rank were pure-gold Golden Boughs, and Golden Seeds always grew alongside them.

Come to think of it, there had been a Golden Bough in the cave where he first awoke, but its seed was nowhere to be found. Presumably, that mysterious girl had merged it with the flask in his hand. Golden Seeds increased the amount of liquid within the flask. No wonder his held so much.

Speaking of this flask... just how much spirit liquid can it hold?