"Eh, let 'im go," you say. "I'll see if I can't get Eileen ta chat with him, fill 'im in on why we did what we did, but forcin' 'im ta stay won't do anyone any good."
"What, like you did me?" says Liam.
"That was different."
He opens his mouth to rebut you, but just sighs. "I've learned better than to try and argue semantics with you."
It's a losing battle.
At last, people who recognize your impeccable debating prowess.
"Got some things ta take care of downstairs; be back in a bit." Your two companions nod and make their ways closer to the edge of the rooftop, looking over the city's mangled streets alongside Alfred and Ellis. You note that a few of the lounging Churchmen have chunks of masonry in their hands, the reason for which becomes clear when the pounding of footsteps announces a fresh wave of baddies. Said Churchmen hop to their feet and, after testing the wind, hurl their munitions over the edge. A moment later, the standard burning screams enjoy the accompaniment of several satisfying *thunks*.
As someone who has also spent his live in the clergy, you are both impressed with and unsurprised by their talent for mitigating boredom.
At your approach, Simon lays down the cleaver he was ogling and rises to his feet.
"The materials and crafting processes have changed quite a bit," he says by way of explanation. He gives a wan grin a he looks out over the Yharnam skyline. "Even if not much else has."
"Say what you will about the folks in charge of buildin' this place, they had a vision and they stuck to it. Eileen's havin' a strategy meetin' downstairs and ye're welcome to join. I need ta chat with her real quick and then I'll pop in once I finish some business in the Dream."
"That's the place you mentioned with the Doll and the old man in the wheelchair, correct?"
"The same."
"Enjoy yourself, I suppose. Lead the way."
The feathery friend in question has set up shop in one of the third floor's side rooms, complete with fancy chairs and a tasteful wooden table. She is seated next to Steffon, three Churchmen spaced haphazardly on the opposite side. Upon noticing you, she rises and extends a hand towards Simon.
"Simon of the Bowblade. Steffon's told me quite a bit about you."
"Eileen, Hunter of Hunters," he replies, accepting the handshake. "Father Anderson has spoken your praises."
"He speaks a lot of things," she says as she returns to her seat. Simon sits next to one of the Hunters and Eileen turns to you. "Ready to join us?"
"Need ta stop by the Dream first. Also, I've a favor ta ask."
"Oh?"
"Would ye mind fillin' Alfred in on what's happened and why? I've tried but he hates my guts."
"I suppose so; you can bring him down here and we'll open with a recap. You don't mind if we start while you're away, do you?"
"Nah, It's fine."
"It's just that your strategy for breaking the siege was for Ebrietas to throw you even though you can teleport and-"
"Just needed ta comment on that in front of everyone, huh?"
"You deserved it."
"It's not my fault none o' ye can see the depths o' my tactical genius."
You scurry back to the rooftop to find that Alfred has not moved at all. He doesn't even have a visible reaction to Ellis uncertainly poking him in the shoulder. You walk over and stand behind him, just out of immediate stabbing distance.
"We're havin' a meetin' on the third floor. I'd like ye ta attend."
"And if I choose not to?" he replies.
"No skin off my back. I brought ye back ta apologize; what ye do now is yer business."
You wait a few moments for a response; when none is forthcoming, you walk over to Ebrietas, whose presence snaps a memory into focus.
"I've just had a thought."
Should I be worried?
"Remember Hope? I told ye about 'er back in Upper Cathedral Ward."
Yes, she's the Doll from the Hunter's Dream.
"Well, I told her about ye and she said she'd love ta meet ye."
She rounds on you excitedly. Really? She wants to meet me?
"She does; sounded real excited about it, too. Ye figured out how ta work the eye, so I thought maybe ye could finagle a way ta communicate with the Dream."
It's certainly possible. I would have to spend some time studying the objects that link this world to the Dream, but I think I could do it. She's projecting an air of calm analysis after her initial reaction to the news, but her happily-wiggling tentacles betray her eagerness. The odd lantern in the Grand Cathedral was one, correct?
"Aye; got one downstairs, too."
Once the siege is dealt with, I'll head over and see what I can do. Though she tries to maintain her composure, the facade soon falls and she begins rapidly bobbing up and down. A new friend! Liam, I-
"I heard, I heard," says the big man.
"Great! I'll let Hope know while I'm in the Dream." You once more head towards the stairway, leaving a very grumpy-looking Liam to deal with his overexcited parole officer alone. Footsteps, which a glance over your shoulder confirm to be a haggard-looking Alfred's, follow you down. He gets off at the third floor while you tiptoe your way through Iosefka's impromptu surgical theater en route to the lantern.
Hope gives you her customary bow when you arrive. With a smile, you take a seat next to her on her ledge and regale her with tales of your extraordinarily violent adventures in the Nightmare. As you speak and demonstrate with ever-grander gestures, the Messengers trickle in from the various corners of the Dream for storytime.
They, too, seem perplexed as to why you had Ebrietas throw you off of a multi-story building when you can teleport.
"...And here we are. Iosefka's fixin' up Djura's arm and the rest are either standin' guard or strategizin'."
"Never a dull moment for you or your flock," she replies.
"Can't have 'em gettin' complacent, can I? Struggle builds character."
She laughs softly. "A flock full of character and characters."
"Speakin' o' characters, I talked with Ebrietas and she's gonna try and find some way ta communicate with ye. Ye mentioned wantin' ta meet her and she's tickled, well, blue about the idea."
"Oh my," she replies with a smile, "that is excellent news. The Dream is safe and tranquil, but can be so terribly lonely. I cannot wait to speak with her. Do you think she will like the little ones?"
"She'll adore the buggers." You reach down and pat one of said buggers on the head. "Gehrman about?"
"He is in the Workshop."
"Thanks, Hope."
"Anytime, Hunter Anderson."
You find Gehrman near the doorway, resting his head on his knuckles.
"Listenin' in?" you ask him.
"You are many things, Father Anderson. Easy to ignore is not one of them." He turns his chair about and wheels his way further inside. "I'm impressed that you made such short work of the Nightmare. Not surprised, mind you, but impressed nonetheless."
"I've had more terrifyin' nightmares from bad pizza. Ye know much about the place?"
"As with so many things, just stories." He stretches to place a trio of bells and some tools back on the upper shelves. "Secondhand, thirdhand, exaggerations and fabrications. None pleasant."
"It ain't all awful," you reply, fishing through your sleeves to produce Ludwig's battered blade. "Picked this up off o' what was left of Ludwig, the Holy Blade. Which I guess would make this the Holy Blade."
"Never met the man," he says as he takes the weapon in his calloused hands. "But Laurence loved him like a son. I've heard legends of Ludwig from generation after generation of Hunters. Truly extraordinary individual. And you defeated him."
"It was a team effort and that thing was barely Ludwig for half the fight. Still, it was an honor."
"I would imagine so." He scoots a bit closer to the desk and picks up a variety of lenses, inspecting the weapon up and down in a blur of mechanical precision. He pauses, frowns, and rifles through various drawers before pulling out another bevy of contraptions and giving the blade the works once more.
"There was something there," he reports. "There are traces left, but this is just a sword. One I would be proud to have made, but just a sword."
"Traces o' what?"
"I'm not entirely sure, and it's been quite some time since I've been baffled by a weapon. I'd be willing to hold onto it and see if I can't learn more."
"Had another plan for it, actually; figured I'd give Ludwig a proper funeral. He earned that much."
"Here in the Dream?"
"Can't think of a better place. The Nightmare's awful and Yharnam ain't all that much better. Ye're welcome ta join me if ye'd like."
Gehrman takes a deep breath and lets it out with a sigh, leaning heavily on his cane. "Please forgive me, Father, but I'm not one for funerals. I'll be sure to pay my respects afterwards." He reaches up among the assorted weapons and plucks out a sizable shovel, passing it to you along with the blade. "You're welcome to use this, though. Just don't push that button halfway up the handle. You can make a plot for him in the flowerbed, near the tree."
"Thank ye kindly." You step back outside and walk towards Hope, who is currently having her hair braided by a dedicated team of Messengers.
"Yes, Hunter Anderson?"
"Would ye mind terribly if I buried Ludwig here? Man was a warrior and he deserves peace for once."
"You are welcome to do so, so long as Gehrman has given you permission as well."
"Aye, he said I could bury him in the flowerbed."
"A lovely spot, and a kind gesture from him. He adores those flowers."
"Care ta join me?"
"I would love to."
The Messengers tie her work-in-progress locks up with a bit of ribbon and the two of you pass through the gate into the silent field, awash with white four-petaled flowers. You spend some time searching for a spot that won't disturb too many of them before getting to work.
It's a hell of a shovel, tearing through the Dream's unbroken soil with incredible ease. You have a few close calls with the button, prompting flinches from Hope, but you make excellent time. She watches impassively as you produce his twisted head from your sleeves and lay it within its cradle of earth.
Once the divot has been filled and patted smooth, you pull out your Bible and flip through for an appropriate quotation. Hope produces her copy from among her bundled clothing and, with your direction, follows along.
"Listen; the time will come -- indeed it has come already -- when you are going to be scattered, each going his own way and leaving me alone. And yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me.
"I have told you all this so that you may find peace in me. In the world you will have hardship, but be courageous: I have conquered the world.
"Bless this man's soul, o LORD, that he may know your guidance. Unbreakable to the end, let him carry on his fight in your name or beat his blade into a plowshare in eternal peace. Amen."
"Amen."
You press his sword, beautiful despite its foregone splendor, into the earth until it holds firm.
"Would ye care ta make a blessing of yer own?" you ask Hope.
"I have but one prayer, Hunter Anderson, but it is very dear to me. Would that be acceptable?"
"Anything is, so long as it comes from yer heart."
She kneels down before the mound and you soon follow suit. The both of you bow your heads.
"O Flora, of the moon, of the dream..."
[] Talk to
-[] Gehrman
-[] Hope
[] Return to Yharnam
-[] Strategy meeting
[] Write in...
