Nepheli led Gawain up to the second floor, narrating the history and workings of the Roundtable Hold as they walked.
"We are approaching the area where the heroes of the Roundtable Hold usually congregate. That said, it isn't vastly different from the ground floor; perhaps just a bit less clamorous."
Upon reaching the second floor, the first thing Gawain saw was the iconic, colossal Site of Grace. Several familiar figures were seated casually in chairs nearby, either lost in thought or tending to their own business. Gawain decided to remove his helmet to make it easier to build rapport with these legends.
"Well, if it isn't Nepheli. Bringing another newcomer for a tour today?"
Diallos looked up, peering at the stranger. Out of habit and politeness, he offered an introduction.
"Greetings. I am... just call me Diallos. In the Lands Between, even the most prestigious of surnames is meaningless. Tell me, have you seen a girl named Lanya? She is my servant, but she is quite flighty and often disappears in the blink of an eye. If you see her, would you be so kind as to let me know?"
"My apologies, but I haven't seen any girl matching that description in the Weeping Peninsula," Gawain replied.
Beside him, Nepheli seemed exasperated. She couldn't even remember how many times she had heard Diallos asking after her.
"Has your servant run off again? I warned you to keep a closer eye on her. The number of Recusants in the Lands Between is growing; the road is no longer safe."
Diallos sighed, looking helpless. "I've reminded her many times, but she insists on wandering off. She grew up with me, after all. Every time I find her and she admits her fault, I don't have the heart to punish her. We became separated near Liurnia of the Lakes yesterday. Next time, I must keep a tighter watch."
Gawain knew the fate that awaited that servant—she would be hunted and murdered by the Recusants in Liurnia. However, he was currently far from the lake district and powerless to help. Diallos clearly knew where she had gone missing and had searched extensively; a reminder from Gawain would likely change nothing.
Furthermore, while Diallos's armor was polished and magnificent, he fell short of his brother in almost every respect. Gawain suspected his best possible ending was to stay in Jarburg and become a Potentate.
After offering Diallos a few hollow words of comfort, Nepheli continued the tour, introducing him to D, Hunter of the Dead, and Brother Corhyn, the incantation teacher. Had Gawain not spent nearly all his Runes, he would have liked to learn a few incantations.
Leaving the central Grace, the path split into two corridors. These were significantly larger than in the game, each lined with over a dozen different rooms. Because of this layout, there were no stalls blocking the walkways. Permanent residents, including Smithing Master Hewg, each had their own private quarters.
"These are the quarters for official members of the Roundtable Hold. Once you become one of us, you can spend a few Runes to rent a room. If you need one now, I can help you find a vacancy—it is far safer here than outside. Of course, the Runes are your responsibility."
"Thank you, but I don't plan on staying here just yet," Gawain said.
Just as he was considering whether to book a room for the future, a faint, rhythmic sound of heavy breathing drifted from behind a nearby door. Nepheli frowned at the sound and hurried past the area, whispering:
"I advise you to forget what you just heard."
"Is that... what I think it is?"
"Don't say it. As long as you understand. A woman named Fia lives there. How should I put this... her personal conduct is somewhat 'lax'."
Gawain listened more closely. Yep, confirmed. And it sounded like more than just two people. He was speechless but profoundly impressed. Wait a minute, he thought, scanning the area. I didn't see Rogier anywhere. Surely that straight-laced guy hasn't secretly become one of Fia's 'heroes' already?
As they continued, two Tarnished he didn't recognize brushed past them. They were both shrouded in a dreamlike, softly shimmering aura—the Baldachin's Blessing.
Great. I can't even take a stroll through the Hold without tripping over a pile of Fia's heroes. He shuddered to think how many of these "heroes" he'd have to fight later if he ever went down to the Deeproot Depths to deal with Godwyn's corpse.
Finally, Nepheli brought him to a door from which steam and heat billowed.
"Inside is Hewg, the finest smith in the Roundtable Hold. I take my weapons to him for reinforcement. If you find enough Smithing Stones in the future, seek him out. If you have surplus Runes, you can even commission a custom set of armor. However, Master Hewg has a bit of a temper. It's best not to disturb him unless you have business."
Gawain nodded. He currently lacked Smithing Stones, but he planned to ask Edgar for some upon his return to Castle Morne. Given the mining tunnels scattered across the Weeping Peninsula, it was a small request.
As they finished exploring this corridor, Nepheli seemed to remember something. Turning back, she asked:
"By the way, do you have a maiden following you?"
"I do have a maiden, though she didn't come with me today. Why do you ask?"
"I see. My mistake. I thought if you were maidenless, I could introduce you to someone."
Gawain was baffled. Since when were Finger Maidens so common?
"Don't be surprised," Nepheli explained. "While a Finger Maiden capable of turning Runes into strength is rare—and usually only great heroes have a dedicated one—the reverse is also true for the maidens. Often, a maiden guided by the Two Fingers finds herself with all the skill in the world but no suitable Tarnished to serve. They end up wandering, helping other Tarnished just to survive, hoping to one day find their own hero."
Nepheli paused. She was also a Tarnished without a Finger Maiden, which was why she often asked her friend for help with her own strength.
"I know a Finger Maiden in that exact situation. Her name is Therolina. She's currently staying at the Hold, helping warriors like me convert Runes. I was going to introduce you; who knows, you might have hit it off. But since you already have a maiden, never mind."
Gawain didn't know how to respond. This sounds like she's trying to set me up on a blind date.
As for Finger Maiden Therolina... he remembered seeing her at the Radahn Festival in the game. She would bow politely during dialogue; he had a clear memory of the NPC who chased him around trying to heal him. However, her ending was grim—she was eventually turned into a puppet by Seluvis. Or perhaps even earlier; some theorized the Therolina at the festival was already a puppet sent by Seluvis.
Knowing she was currently Nepheli's friend, Gawain wondered: was this a coincidence, or was this part of Seluvis's "preparations" before moving against Nepheli? Regardless, since it hadn't happened yet, he decided he would lend a hand to prevent that dark fate.
Entering the opposite corridor, they encountered a silent figure standing guard outside the first room—Ensha. Nepheli looked at the locked door and shook her head.
"It seems my adoptive father isn't taking visitors right now. Otherwise, I would have introduced you to one of the founders and the current leader of the Roundtable Hold."
As she spoke, Nepheli walked a few steps further and knocked on a door. It opened quickly to reveal a woman carrying a pot. Seeing it was Nepheli, the woman gave her a warm hug.
"Nepheli! What brings you here? Do you need me to convert Runes for you today? Please wait a moment, let me put my work down first."
As Therolina turned to set the bottle back in her room, she noticed the stranger looking at her with a peculiar expression—she could almost sense a trace of pity in his gaze.
"Nepheli, who is this?"
"Let me introduce you. This is Gawain, a new Tarnished who just arrived today. I'm showing him the sights and decided to drop by. Hey... are you even listening?"
Therolina was staring at Gawain, momentarily dazed. She fumbled, and the pot in her hand shattered on the floor, spilling holy-infused liquid everywhere. Just as she gathered her courage to ask him something, Nepheli pulled her aside.
"Um... he already has a maiden."
At those words, the spark of hope that had just ignited in Therolina's eyes vanished, replaced by disappointment. She offered a deep bow of apology.
"Forgive me. I lost my composure. My name is Therolina. As you can see, I am a roaming Finger Maiden. I make a living here at the Hold to sustain myself. If you ever need assistance, you may seek me out. However, I often follow the guidance of Grace and travel abroad, so if I am not in this room, I simply haven't returned yet."
Gawain nodded, glancing inside the room. It was filled with various pots and crafting equipment, including a small, independent Site of Grace. This was likely where she performed the Rune-to-strength conversions for outsiders. He felt compelled to offer a warning.
"I'll come to you if I need help. But the Lands Between are quite unstable lately; I advise you not to travel outside. Nepheli told me of your situation, and I am sorry to hear of it. If I encounter a suitable warrior in the future, I will introduce him to you. Perhaps you will find a hero you approve of."
Therolina could only manage a strained smile in response. Nepheli, too, was worried about her friend.
"Gawain is right. It's best not to wander these days. Diallos's servant is missing, and according to my father's intelligence, the number of Recusants is rising. I don't want your future hero to arrive in the Lands Between only to find your corpse."
Therolina nodded. She certainly didn't want that. "In that case, I will remain at the Hold for a while."
Nepheli had successfully comforted her friend; meanwhile, the one feeling "broken" was Gawain.
Pain. This is just too much pain.
After bidding Therolina farewell, the two continued their tour, visiting everything from the Twin Maiden Husks to various odd corners. They passed the room where the Dung Eater resided—the door was tightly shut, but an aura of curse emanated from within. They even saw a facility similar to an Adventurers' Guild, where one could post commissions or find teammates for hunts.
Overall, this Roundtable Hold was much livelier and felt more "lived-in" than the game version. If you were tired, you could stay the night; if you lacked supplies, you could trade downstairs; if you needed allies, you could post a request; and if the pressure was too much or you were lonely, you could even... ahem.
Eventually, they circled back to the central Site of Grace. Nepheli pointed to a set of heavy, closed doors and described the final location on her list.
"Behind those doors is the Great Two Fingers. Currently, only my adoptive father, the Confessors who serve them directly, or a hero capable of claiming a Great Rune may gain audience."
Nepheli sounded a bit dejected, but a glimmer of hope remained in her eyes as she turned back.
"That said, currently only my father holds two Great Runes. No other hero has emerged capable of defeating a Shardbearer and earning the right to see the Two Fingers. I can sense you are a powerful warrior. I hope you will be the first hero to claim a Great Rune. Follow the guidance of Grace; I believe that one day, the path will lead you to the throne of the Elden Lord."
"I hope so too."
Having familiarized himself with the Hold, Gawain soon bid Nepheli farewell. He touched the central Site of Grace and entered the private pocket dimension. Time slowed to a crawl. Melina was sitting at the round table, waiting for him. Since they were in this special, hidden space where no outsider could see her, she was simply staring at her healed hand, lost in thought.
Seeing that his visit had concluded, Melina smiled.
"Welcome back. You seem to have gained much from this trip."
"Yes, quite a lot," Gawain replied. "I nearly ended up with a second Finger Maiden."
"Pardon?"
"I'm joking. Here—I bought three Golden Seeds. I'll leave them to you."
Melina took the seeds, slowly peeling away the soft outer husks to begin crafting the new Flask containers. Gawain pulled out his map, looking at the marked locations and planning.
"So, where do you intend to go next?" she asked.
He pointed to the center of the Weeping Peninsula. "First, that Minor Erdtree. Then, I'll explore the Tombsward Catacombs. Let's set that as the plan for now. We leave tomorrow morning."
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Elden Ring: In the Name of Ash (40 chapter - Ongoing)
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