Gilgard

You imagined some semblance of order within the academy, with it being shut off from the outside world. And yet, while the scholars move around with purpose, the academy as a whole is in disarray.

Books litter the halls, along with birdcages, glintstone crystals, and overgrown flora. Some halls serve as tombs of what you imagine to be renowned sorcerers, indicated by the glintstone staff above each sarcophagus.

In a similar fashion, you find a very regal scepter, this time perched below the portrait of a a tall, pale woman. The elaborateness of the staff and the prominent location of the painting make it stand out among the others.

You never imagined you'd survive an encounter with a dragon. Hells, the you from a short time ago wouldn't have. You've come such a long way in such a short amount of time. Key in hand, you trudge through the lake.

You pass through the magical gate with ease, yet the feeling of being manipulated by magic still sends a shiver down your spine. At the cross-section of the two entrances is an elevator tower; it leads into the academy proper.

The lilac dawn fades in the thick mist surrounding the elevated grounds. The facade of Raya Lucaria is in much better shape than that of Stormveil. Stepping into the mist, you sense a trickle of energy within. It's as if this place radiates magic itself.

A sudden breeze hits you as you exit the cave. The slight whistle of wings cutting the air give away the dragon overhead. Turquoise crystals crack through its scales. Just as you think you're safe, it turns around, the water spraying everywhere as it lands.

A sweeping arc of searing blue fire gives you just enough time to take cover under the dragon's wing. It makes a quick spin; this is a fight you won't be escaping from.

As the clash gets more heated, you're caught off guard; rather than fire, the dragon shoots a magic spell from its maw. By dumb luck, you trip backwards over a charred body and the spell misses your face by a hair's breadth. You look up. The body has a large stone mask like the sorcerers in the cave. And clutched in its hand: a key.

You tumble into a cave while skirting the edges of the academy. You decide to venture further in; perhaps this is a hidden way inside.

You start to hear hushed whispers. Squinting, you see the silhouettes of three sorcerers huddled in the dark. You step on a crystal. They turn, quickly lighting up the cave with their spells.

Tucked in a corner is just what you were looking for: intricate etchings of a sophisticated building poke through the jagged facade of the cave. It is guarded, of course, by two alien creatures made of crystal.

You maneuver around their magically-enhanced weaponry as blow after blow glance off of their skin. You suddenly find yourself pinned to the ground by a crystalline spear. As a desperate attempt, you grasp a rock and swing it... the spear shatters instantly. Its wielder quickly backpedals as you finish the job with nothing but a rock in your fist.

Ruins jut out from the mire; you wonder just how long the region has been left in disrepair.

A town sits below Raya Lucaria. As you move between buildings, you find yourself imagining how it might've looked when it was bustling.

Like the sorcerer said, the gates leading to the academy are sealed by magic. You'll have to find another way through.

Behind the throne room of Stormveil sits a modest crypt. Behind that, the backstep of Stormveil Castle opens up to the neighboring region, Liurnia of the Lakes.

A sorcerer sits on a rock nearby. Rising from the mist in the distance is Raya Lucaria academy, where he was once a student. Ever since The Shattering, the academy gates have been sealed by magic. And, it just so happens he lost his key. You roll your eyes: yet another roadblock.

Trekking down the cliffside, you find that the mist was obscuring a damp, swampish basin. The area is rich in crustaceans, and a "friendly" local offers you some.

You pick up Godrick's Great Rune. It feels empty, somehow. You start to feel a pull; not physical, but mental. Like a soft string, you find yourself being led back through the way you came.

The castle feels more empty than ever, as if Godrick was the soul of Stormveil that you have robbed it of. Rogier has vanished from the tree where you left him.

Snaking back through Stormveil, you end up at the numbingly long bridge towards a Divine Tower. Some sort of ancient golems line the bridge; a few even wake from their slumber and attack you.

A graveyard lies at the back of the castle. You find Godrick, lord of Limgrave, lauding the corpse of a dragon. He turns towards you as you enter.

There you see it: the pinnacle, or more accurately the horror, of grafting. His cape falls and legion arms stick out of his body.

Addressing you as a lowly tarnished, he lunges at you. While he is sluggish with his two great axes, you find it difficult to flank him; Godrick's various limbs swipe at you while you try to poke him.

Increasingly enraged, Godrick manically severs his left arm. Granting you witness to grafting first-hand, he takes the dragon head as his own. The mania in his eyes heightens as his new appendage spews flame across the arena.

You weave about with fervor. This is the most intense threat you've faced, and yet your adrenaline is higher then ever. Godrick's movements are more defensive, until finally he keels over. With his dying breath, he insists that he is lord of all that is Golden.

Far, far below the surface of Stormveil, the twisting halls lead you into some catacombs. Looking up, you're surprised to see daylight peeking in past the crumbled walls of earth and brick high above.

An excited shout startles you; Rogier hurries down the path of the catacombs. It seems that he's found the relic he was searching for.

The hair on the back of your neck raises as you tread towards Rogier. You've stumbled upon something you feel like you really, really shouldn't have. It's a corpse, but you can't tell of what. It has tendrils and nostrils and is quite large.

Rogier rattles on about a black knife plot. Before The Shattering, before the Elden Ring was destroyed, the first demigod was murdered. Godwyn, son of Queen Marika.

You find yourself doubting such a hideous thing was once a demigod. Before Rogier can finish his tale, branch-like tendrils wrap around his leg and shoot into his calf. With a yelp he falls back, shaking his leg vigorously. You grab his hand, pulling him away from the body.

Stormveil Castle: now that you stand at the base of it's steps, it really is quite intimidating. Putting aside trepidation, you make your way up.

The inside of the castle walls could be a city in and of itself. Although Godrick's forces roam throughout the castle, it's desolation is still palpable.

Ducking into the castle capel, you bump into Rogier; the charming man is a sorcerer. He is searching for something at the base of the castle, when he's not hotfooting it from the troops.

The dirt path gives way to stone brick as you finally near the steps of Stormveil Castle.

If you've learned one thing, it's that there will always be someone standing in your path, no matter where you go. Here, one called The Fell Omen blocks your path, determined to put your ambition to rest.

Through his ranting throughout the fight, you learn that the Night's Cavalry that have been menacing you work under him.

Hopefully my little changes in the Elden Ring story don't distract from my photography :')

The scattered troops of Godrick become denser towards Stormgate. You and Blaidd fight in tandem, the harmony of your swings improving in every scuffle. Past the gate, past the barricades, you and Blaidd must go your separate ways. A parting gift, Blaidd gives you a whistle to summon the spectral steed Torrent, so that you may never travel alone again.

True to its name, the weather turns quite dour as you climb the path up Stormhill. The grace of an Erdtree sapling lights the path ahead of you.

You duck into the first shelter you see. Away from the battering winds, you meet a fellow wayward soul, Roderika. The rest of her company was lost in Stormveil Castle. They were taken, their limbs severed and grafted onto Godrick, lord of Stormveil, and his ilk. Godrick the Golden, or, more accurately, Godrick the Grafted, butchered them.

You travel with Blaidd until finding the prison that holds his mark. It is nice to have a traveling companion for once.

You enter the fight together, facing off against Darriwil, the Blood Hound.

The incredible agility of your foe proves for a challenging fight. Luckily, your partner holds his aggression.

At Kenneth Haight's request, you head through The Mistwoods. His home has been occupied, and he left behind an important key as he fled.

Clearing out the invaders, you find half of a medallion. The medallion, as Kenneth claims, will grant you access to a grand elevator that will aid your journey to the Erdtree.

You turn around to take in the view from Fort Haight. The gloomy day is typical for The Mistwoods. A minor Erdtree breaks the tree line, acting as a nice centerpiece. A ruined garrison rests near its base, and peculiarly... Is that a man? A large man is climbing up the wall of the ruins...

Your surroundings are quiet during the twilight hours. Crossing back to Limgrave proper, the Erdtree lights your path, as bright as day.

Looking to your east as you cross up the bridge, you see silhouettes across the water. Small forts dot the coast of the neighboring region, the Caelid wilds. Peculiarly, a pale red haze lies thick across the Caelid coastline as well.

Eventually, you find yourself strolling along the edge of Agheel Lake once again. This time, however, another man of The Night's Cavalry catches you unaware.