UPDATE 1: Cemetery and Shrine
Trigger Warnings: Depression, Gore, Violence, Horror
In this update the LP begins! Welcome to the Cemetery of Ash. This is a massive site full of graves and undead who are trying to cling to what is left of who they were before death. This is the tutorial zone for Dark Souls 3 where we will be learning how to play the game while being introduced to its concepts and mechanics. It is a very straightforward area which introduces us to backstabbing, dodging, attacking, blocking, estus flask healing, and bonfires.
Boss: Iudex Gundyr
Iudex Gundyr is an intimidating but ultimately easy boss. His attacks appear to carry a heavy weight to them yet despite that and his size he has remarkably low health and does not hit very hard. It is best to hug close to Gundyr and circle him as you fight him in his first or second form. His attacks are often slow to come out meaning you have to dodge later for most of them rather than sooner. Don’t be afraid to use the firebombs found in the cemetery they are especially useful for defeating his second form. Save Pyromancies or Spells for his second phase to hit him at a further range outside of the dangerous area surrounding the front of him. With a bow you want to let him swing then go for a shot then get ready to dodge. You need to be patient and understand it will take time. If you are accurate you can headshot Gundyr. On the left side of the arena there is a slight slope which makes it possible to headshot him while locked on. Parrying him can allow you to get in a critical arrow or two for heavy damage against him, the easiest attack of his to parry is his thrust.
Important NPC’s:
Fire Keeper
A lonely Fire Keeper bound to the shrine who lacks eyes. She is rather kind and sorrowful but tied to her duties. She allows us to level up.
Andre of Astora
Andre is a buff old man built like an ox with thick muscles and arms meant for pounding. He is the blacksmith and offers to repair, upgrade, and infuse weapons/shields. He can also increase you Estus’ number of chugs and lets you determine how many of each Estus type you want.
Hawkwood
A depressing warrior who appears rather crestfallen.
Shrine Handmaiden
An old mysterious woman who is attached to the shrine for an unknown reason with an unknown power. She is a vendor that sells commonly used items.
Important Item Descriptions:
Estus Flask:
“The Undead treasure these dull green flasks. Fill with Estus at bonfires, and drink to restore HP. The journey of an Undead has always traced the bonfires, and no journey of import has been made without an Estus Flask.”
Dark Souls 1 Estus Flask’s poem:
“An emerald flask, from the Keeper’s soul.
She lives to protect the flame,
And dies to protect it further”
Ashen Estus Flask:
“Undead treasure these dull ashen flasks. Fill with Estus at bonfires, and drink to restore MP. Quite befitting of an Unkindled, an Ashen Estus Flask turns a bonfire’s heat cold.”
Darksign:
“The Darksign is the sign of an accursed Undead.
The Darksign returns its bearer to the last bonfire rested at, or the bonfire at Firelink Shrine, but at the cost of all souls held.
Carriers of the Darksign are reborn after death, and eventually lose their minds, turn Hollow. And so it is they are driven from their homeland.”
Coiled Sword:
“Sword missing from the shrine bonfire.
Cannot be equipped as a weapon.
Thrust into the shrine bonfire to restore its power and enable travel between bonfires.
This sword is only bequeathed to chosen ash, as judged by the Iudex, who awaits the arrival of ash as a scabbard.”