(Lying down on a soft patch of grass, Ronin wakes once more after his mind and body were being controlled by some unknown entity that forced him to fall into a black hole filled with ghostly creatures and hellish screams. From the sound of thunder and lightning above him, Ronin opens his eyes and turns over, looking up at a black sky and watching for the flashes of lightning above the clouds. Feeling the long and soft grass at his fingertips, Ronin's mind drifts off and be begins to think of Artemis and all that he lost.) (As Ronin lies on the ground, closing his eyes and trying to relax as he remembers the past through the sounds of silence and thunder, a presence of a humanoid figure approaches him. Opening his eyes as seen as he feels the presence, Ronin looks up to see a male person dressed in medievel knight gear staring down into his eyes.) ???: *calm and curious voice*. "You lost friend? It's dangerous to be out here like this." Ronin: *sits up and brushes the dirt from his clothes*. "I'm fine, you need not worry of what I do." ???: *holds his hand out to Ronin*. "My name's Bop, you're gonna need my help if you wanna survive out here in this land." Ronin: *ignores Bop's attempt at a handshake*. "Your help? Please..... I've been through enough shit to involve my self with someone like you.." Bop: *laughs off Ronin's attitude*. "C'mon dude, we all get a little cranky sometimes, no need to be so harsh. Follow me, I'll take you to the shrine where you can get set up." (Cautiously and curiously following Bop as he leads Ronin to the shrine location, Ronin notices the location coming into view as the two pass through a small walkway of large trees and brushes. The appearance of the location from the outside is a small dome cathedral with a large tower attached to the side. Also, the location appears as if it's been there for hundreds of years. The stone is old and mossy, parts of the architecture are broken off and destroyed.) (As Bop and Ronin head inside the cathedral through a small entrance, there are two stairways leading down at the sides of the walls. The majority of this location appears to be an underground safe haven. Looking out from the viewpoint at the top of the stairs, Ronin looks down at the shrine below and notices 5 large throne chairs facing towards a bonfire in the center of the shrine. All the chairs appear to have their own unique design to them.) Ronin: *looks to Bop*. "I don't like how I'm feeling about this..." Bop: "Hm. Well, you'll just have to get familiar with your new surroundings. Take a look around, meet the people, come back to me when you're all done." Ronin: *shakes his head*. "Tsk.....everything used to be so simple, now it's a what the hell moment..." (Without speaking to Bop any further, Ronin walks down the stairs leading to the center of the shrine and appraoches the bonfire.) Ronin: *notices Aleah sitting on the steps near the bonfire*. "Hey.....what are you doing here?" Aleah: *lifts her head to examine Ronin*. "Oh. Yes. Hello again, I am here." Ronin: *asks curiously*. "Where is here?" Aleah: "This is Firelink Shrine. Your new home of sorts." Ronin: "Heh, home. Yeah right...." Aleah: *lifts her hand up to Ronin and a white light appears in her palm*. "Take these, they are yours." (Looking at Aleah questionably, Ronin slowly reaches out for the white light in Aleah's palm and as his hand touches the light, dual swords and an orange flask manifest into reality for Ronin to use.) Ronin: *takes the items*. "Thanks, I guess." (After Ronin takes the items, Aleah lowers her head and goes mute once again as if she is asleep.) Ronin: *turns around and looks at the thrones as he puts on his weapons*. "Well, at least I have a weapon now." (Noticing something peculiar on the thrones, Ronin walks up another set of stairs that leads behind the chairs and appraoches the throne that has the number three carved into the back and some strange writing like that of a name. Unable to read the writing, Ronin shrugs it off but as he turns away, a figure of another person is standing before him wearing a cloaked hood and garb that covers all his skin.) ???: "Taken an interest in the thrones have you? Well, pay them no mind, they are cursed and will benefit you none." Ronin: "Who the hell are you huh? Shouldn't sneak up on people...." ???: "My name is Jay, I was once like you Ronin. Trying to find my way, a purpose, seeking power, ultimately I was met with my death along side my friends. But, did I really die? No.....I did not..." Ronin: *takes a step forward towards Jay*. "What are you talking about? Don't even tell me you're from that time...." Jay: "Heheh, it's a strange life we live in. So many forces from the unknown that play a part. The good, the balanced, the one's filled with pure hate and rage....." Ronin: *looks down towards the ground away from Jay*. "Pure hate and rage......do you speak of a hollow?" Jay: "I lost a piece of myself, I lost my best friend, but in this loss, I found a way into the beyond.......tell me Ronin, where will your journey this time take you? The beyond, moonlight, the darkness, perhaps your path will not continue...." (After speaking those strange and ominous words, Jay turns away from Ronin and begins to turn into ash as he walks down the steps, fading away from reality.) (Questionably staring into the ash leftover from Jay's body, Ronin begins to feel a massive headache surge into him that brings him down to his knees. As Ronin holds his head, a red light glows from the carving on the back of the throne and Ronin turns to look at it. Staring into this red glow of light, a name begins to form that is much different than the carving that was previously there.) Ronin: "Astalore, Monarch Of The Vasto......" (With the pain subsiding, the red glow of light fades away and the name disappears, returning back to what the carving once was.) Ronin: *stands back to his feet*. "The Vasto. The Vasto Lorde's?!! I don't understand what's going on....." (Standing in silence, Ronin hears laughing and chatter from further down into the Firelink Shrine as if a group of people are talking to each other.) Ronin: "Hm, guess I better check that out...." (End of Part 3)