I got up from the grace and walked into a rge circur room. Pale candlelight illuminates numerous pots and a rge lever on the left-hand side of the entryway. A set of steps leading up to a set of six pilrs. I walked into the middle of the pilrs and stepped on a raised segment of floor. The elevator rumbled and began rising, eventually coming to a stop in front of a metal door. I reached down and began lifting the door, since it didn't open like a normal door, instead opening more like a gate. Once open I stepped out into the Lands Between.

  I was speechless.

  The clouds and leaves shone with a dull golden color. The rolling hills a mix of grey rock, brown dirt, and green grass and shrubs that was pleasing to the eye. In the distance a castle stands on the edge of a cliff overlooking an ocean to the west. From the castle, a long bridge spans across the horizon towards the east. The bridge is broken in Many pces, looking as if the hands of time have caused sections to crumble. The bridge leads to a rge tower that stretches well into the sky, three more towers appear to rise from the . Behind the bridge was a massive golden tree that dominates the skyline, the light shining from the tree compliments the light of the sun, illuminating the world.

  The Erdtree.

  From behind the Erdtree to the east rises a moUntaintop, atop which is a bowl-like structure. A fifth tower rises beneath the mountain. Another cliff spreads out to the west from behind the castle. curved ruins are scattered across the nd before me. A church-like structure stands a short distance away.

  Down the stairs I see a Site of grace and a man in grey clothes with a white mask standing a little beyond.

  Varré.

  As I walked towards the grace I looked to the wesT and the clouds parted a bit, allowing me to see a silver crescent far beyond the sky. The moon.

  I walked up to the site of grace and brushed my hand against it, allowing the warmth and hope to flow through me, connecting to me. Turning to the left I saw a wooden stake with an arc affixed on top, stuck into the ground, with a burnt corpse crucified on it.

  Yeah... I never really thought about it during the game but... Yikes. This is just horrible.

  "?? = ??! ??!"(???)

  I walk up to Varré. And he begins to speak.

  "Oh yes... Tarnished, are we? Come to the Lands Between for the Elden Ring, hmm?Of course you have. No shame in it.Unfortunately for you, however, you are maidenless.Without guidance, without the strength of runes, and without an invitation to the Roundtable Hold...You are fated, it seems, to die in obscurity."(Varré)

  I Nod and gesture for him to continue.

  "Luckily for you, however, there is one shining ray of hope for even the maidenless.Me. Varré. Take care to listen.Are you familiar with grace? The golden light that gives life to you Tarnished.You may also behold its golden rays pointing in a particur direction at times.That is the guidance of grace. The path that a Tarnished must travel.Mm, indeed. Grace's guidance holds the answers.It will lead you Tarnished to the path you are meant to follow.Even if it leads you to your grave."(Varré)

  I take a deep breath at what I need to dO.

  "Grace's guidance will reveal the path forward, most certainly.To Castle Stormveil, over on the cliff.The home of the decrepit demigod, Godrick the Grafted. It's time you set off, I should think.To Castle Stormveil, on the cliff, where grace would guide you.If you seek the Elden Ring, maidenless as you are."(Varré)

  I let out a furious war cry, then leapT up and brought my club down on his head.

  "Oh? Do you even comprehend the gravity of this choice? Very well. If you mistake kindness for frailty of heart, then perhaps a more physical lesson is in order!"(Varré)

  Varré pulled out a bouquet of roses and swung them at me. I stepped back let them pass through where I was just stanDing. Varré moved to chase me, and I swung at him.

  My fighting was crude, unrEfined, wild. But I did damage. Five times I hit him, then I backed up, my stamina depleted. Varré drank a fsk of crimson tears, then enchanted his rose bouquet with crimson fmes. As Varré moved to chase me I swung my club at him, but he rolled out of the way and spyed me across my back. I leapt forwards to put some distance and turned around, only to feel a burning sensation as my blood erupted from my body. I quickly drank from my own fsk as Varré raced up to me.

  He stabbed his bouquet towards my stomach, but I rolled to the right as he did so. My club got him, and I locked him in my pace once more, stopping only when I felt myself run out of stamina. The fight dragged on, I vaguely recall him and I drinking another fsk, then I spun around him and smacked him in the back of his head.

  Crack!

  I sAw Varré begin to turn into ash. His body vanishing.

  "You maidenless runt... Who... do you think... I am? Guh!"(Varré)

  As his body vanished, I reached ouT to the ground where he stood. I picked up six Festering Bloody Fingers, which vanished into my inventory a moment ter. I walked back to the site of grace and took a rest, allowing the warmth and hope to rejuvenate me.

  "??????! ?????? ??!"(???)

  A few hours ter I stood up and began scavenging the hill for materials, rowa berries mostly, finding an Arteria Leaf behind the tomb's entrance. While behind the tomb I looked out at the ocean, There's an isnd out to the southwest, and directly south is another ndmass with several ruins and a rge tree on it. Not as grand as the Erdtree but simir.

  Below me is a beach.

  After scouring the hill and obtaining some tarnished golden sunflowers, I made my way towards the Church of Elleh, killing several sheep along the way and staying away from the guy on a horse with golden armor and a really big shield. Once I managed to get to the church, I picked up the golden rune from the front and activated the grace within. The church appeared to be ancient and long gone to ruin. Dirt covered the floor, and massive chunks of the walls and ceiling were missing.

  At the far end was a smithing table and across from it was a man dressed like Santa cuse with a violin, Kale. I walked over to the smithing table and obtained a smithing stone. I then turned towards Kale and approached. He looked up and spoke to me.

  "You are a Tarnished, I can see it. And I can also see... That you're not after my throat. Then why not purchase a little something? I am Kale, Purveyor of fine goods."(Kale)