Postscript:

So, it's very clear that there are some issues with the quick summaries. There's basically no tension, the reveals just sort of happen in some places, etc. One of my beta readers had a great deal of questions, so I'm also posting this conversation to help everyone else reading.

Alexeij

So, I'm going through the file on and off, taking notes. I won't hide that I'm much more confused than in the previous one, especially towards the last third.

Gensh

As far as the summary goes, it's definitely one of those things where reading between the lines is required – and that's difficult because it's just a summary.

Long story short, Guyra did one final act as "the bad guy." She did truly love her family, so she laid the groundwork for heroes to escape not just the cycle but the "Song" – the plot of the world, where heroes are forced to fight. This being Aldia's objective, though he didn't understand the meaning.

Unfortunately, too much of the real content is lost in the summary. Guyra just giving up seems to come out of nowhere. Izalith and Nito don't really have full plot resolution. Etc. Not to mention that understanding the final plot requires knowing the plot of King's Field. Well, that's a problem with Dark Souls itself, but it's more obvious here.

Alexeij

I think I got what Guyra's plan was, along the general lines. Most of the confusion stems from Vallad's "sudden" appearance, though not its role, where they end up after the Lighthouse is swallowed, and also by how Caffrey prioritizes saving Lex to saving her family and possibly child from Elwin Though I feel the latter is due to the summary necessarily not having the time to convey the full scope of their relationship

Guyra kills the demon army there at the end cause she doesn't need them to tip the scales anymore, plus securing her children's realm as a bonus?

Gensh

Vallad was in the real Lordvessel. I had originally intended for Lex to go to Heide, but I needed to move the plot faster. As a result, Gwynevere is just sort of there instead of the important character she was going to be. Likewise, Domhnall never appears again.

They're technically on the shores of "heaven," but I didn't spend much time describing it. The initial description was similar to the Painted World, and it was going to become more like Oolacile as they approached the center.

Halflight is actually fine since he's not undead; he joins the battle by traveling through the Abyss with Ludleth. Gwyn has been dead for a very long time. Caffrey was at peace with his passing. In a fuller version of the text, she was going to protest the abrupt death of all the undead but then realized that included Lex and stomped over in a fury. This is actually a revision of that section.

Also lost out on some good content like the Nameless King fighting Elros, True God of the Sky.

Guyra did utterly stack the scales, yes. Quelaag accepted the relative weakening of Izalith because that would make it impossible for her to become a military power. This version doesn't want to go on a campaign of conquest and just wants to be left alone – to return to the old City of Witches.

Alexeij

Both introductions for Gwynevere and Nameless are quite visually stunning, however. Shame for the rest.

So those who never got the Undead Curse are still in the material world, while the others pass on to Heaven, and the Abyss either separates the two or can be used as a gateway. Pre-Manus Oolacile or Post?

I did notice you also didn't resolve the Patches-Lautrec ambivalence there. It truly turned into a massive project.

That would have happened after the cliffhanger finale, I assume?

Humble Queelag. Truly, you're full of surprises.

One big issue I think the full version could have met is that, while Elwin is foreshadowed in the dream, and I think has some "character space", both Vallad and especially Elros, as "final baddies", kinda jump out of nowhere in the fifth act.

The Judicators' role in the battle is also a bit iffy. Who did they end up siding with?

Gensh

Yeah, all the undead just drop dead. It would have had some foreshadowing in a full length feature. It's the simplest explanation for why characters and lore go missing – even the immortal Bearer of the Curse.

The Abyss is wild and difficult to navigate post-Manus, but the Pygmy Lords wield more power over it. Halflight is totally immune to it because Dusk's lingering power recognizes him.

Vallad would have come in gently. During Velka's appearance before Sen's Fortress, she complained to her father that she lacked the patience to deal with Lex. In particular, Caffrey knows the secret and would have begun leaking information once her memory was fully back. And of course, there would have been an investigation plot in Heide where Lex would have discovered the secret of the kingdom's power being based in the lingering power of a True God.

Elros was just going to be an outright surprise. After the ambush, Vallad eventually looks up and warns everyone that Biggest Brother is coming.

The Judicators don't side. They just protect the city. They would ultimately follow the commands of Caffrey if she ordered them, however, as she has power over both Men and elves.

Alexeij

So you reckon something similar happened between cycles / between games? Sucks to be the BotC, after all their efforts.

Poor Dusk, still looking after the brother she missed so dearly.

Now that would be a clash for the ages. I assume Nameless can move between worlds due to his Buddhist Mummy status? Who would have won that one-on-one.

So they fight against Harald Legion, the traitorous knights, and the ringed knights, I assume?

Gensh

I'm expecting a "magic runs out at midnight" situation for the undead. As soon as the Fire isn't in danger, it stops providing them with energy.

Correct in part. Nameless can change between worlds because he no longer has any attachment to his mortal life. Except one. This time when his sister calls, he is there to answer. He's at a disadvantage at first, even after Messiatz gives Gwyn a chance to break away from fighting Elwin. Eventually, Guyra talks Lex into talking Vallad into giving her power back. Then the Nameless King gets to ride the completed Black Dragon into battle.

He still loses. Worse, Elwin is actually the stronger combatant, and the human forces are in trouble. Gwyn, Halfight, and the Two Kings are barely holding Elwin back. It's up to Patches to save the day!

The Judicators fight against anyone who tries to breach the inner city and approach the Church of Filianore. This is mostly the Dark side, but they don't care who it is. Ledo is a killing machine.

Alexeij

That's properly epic. Too bad the Family-Bonding-Team's not enough. How does exactly Patches succeed where Guyra and Nameless fail? Also, what are Lex and Caffrey doing at this point?

Gensh

Remember how Gwyn complained that in Demon's Souls, Allant broke the ultimate weapon from King's Field? And also how we never find it again in Dark Souls?

Alexeij

Do they reforge it from the two tail swords?

Gensh

No, Patches just had it the whole time. Caffrey gave it to him for safekeeping after becoming the last Monumental.

Alexeij

Why didn't Lautches use the sword before? Holy relic status?

I assume Caffrey becomes the last Monumental at the end of Demon's?

Gensh

Patches lacks the STR.

Caffrey is the Slayer of Demons, yes. That timeline doesn't make sense, but this part of the story was kind of rushed.

Alexeij

So in the finale who uses it? Does Tarkus teach the Gods a lesson, or is it Caffrey?

Gensh

Lex, who is very confused.

Alexeij

Does he have the STR?

Gensh

Nope. But the Excellector is a weapon which grows to suit the wielder. As the Northern Regalia, it's greatly weakened. That form is just a reforged version of the Demonbrandt and Soulbrandt pieces. It can't even use its magic. If Caffrey were to fix it, however…

So the final sword turns into some broken Int/Faith hexing weapon.

Alexeij

Fun for the three bros, including the tree bro, I assume

Gensh

They're all very confused because divine intervention should have kicked in by now.

Alexeij

That is, Sylval? Does he appear?

Gensh

He knows better. [Link to the ending of the Dr. Strange movie]

Alexeij

What would happen should one of the three brogods be killed?

Gensh

As with Tolkien, they're fundamentally cowards and would flee.

That is, flee before any truly dangerous blows could be struck.

Alexeij

After that, would Caffrey be able to bring back all the dead Undead, or only Lex?

My shipping bone is aching for Messiatz and Priscilla

Gensh

She's not a dictator like the true gods. Each gets to choose. Though each one likewise drains some of the remaining Flame.

Alexeij

Hasn't that gone out already when the Lighthouse was cast into the sea? Unless Caffrey pulled a Firekeeper?

Gensh

The First Flame is out, but the fake gods still have large amounts. Each human who comes back to life weakens Gwynevere's healing ability, etc.

Alexeij

The Lord Souls in Caffrey too, then?

How many would realistically refuse paradise?

Gensh

Right. Caffrey has no need for that power, as she's also no longer forcibly holding the world together as a Monumental. The Age of Dark will come at last.

Mostly the suspicious ones. Nameless does give up his entire soul to give a fairly large ticket back. Since he's resolved his only regret, he no longer has any business in the mortal world.

Alexeij

Assuming all fragments of the Lords' souls are turned into tickets, how many could come back?

More importantly, who does? I assume SOlaire would be heartbroken when he's not able to follow Nameless

Ornstein, too

Also, the elephant in the room: Guyra. Does she return willingly to Vallad now that she has truly and fully fulfilled her role? Or does she get to play grandma?

Gensh

Guyra dutifully gives her power back as promised. Gwyn is unable to return to life due to his body being gone, and she wants to stay to protect him from whatever trial the True Gods would put him through.

Patches is actually the first to go, to "prove it's safe." Oscar and Solaire return so that they can spread the word and fix Astora. A lot of nasty folks return, like Arstor. Likewise, family-types like Siegward.

Eventually, they're out of Flame, and Lex finally starts to walk off. He turns back and sees that Caffrey isnt'coming. It's the time of the Age of Men. They don't need her anymore, and she's given up all her power to return humans who wanted to go.

Lex tries to argue that she came for him, so if anyone should stay, it should be him. She won't have it. Lex turns to go at last. Abruptly, something falls on him, and he falls through to the mortal world, looking up as he sinks.

Patches waves. He had gone into the Abyssal sea, but then swam back while no one was looking. He slapped a soul onto Caffrey's back and Patches-kicked her into the water so hard she couldn't do the same.

Alexeij

Fucking hell, that's beautiful

And cathartic

So Guyra loved Gwyn too, not only her children?

… who did Patches take the second soul-ticket from? One for Lex, one for Caffrey, right?

Or did Caffrey have just enough left for one last ticket?

Gensh

Right. She originally wanted to just use Gwyn like she had Lloyd or heroes from previous worlds, but he was too manly, until the very last when he chose to sacrifice himself before anyone else.

Caffrey had always saved one last ticket for Lex.

Alexeij

Dragons swooning

Damn, sweet

Does Lex bring a Goddess back home to his merchant parents, just for the kick of it?

Gensh

Their relationship remains ambiguous. Together with Ludleth and Gwynevere, they do use the remaining strength in the Ringed City and Heide to start rebuilding. As before, Oscar founds a republic, etc. Because of so many people from many backgrounds having returned beyond death telling the story, basically everyone knows Caffrey and Lex, though.

Alexeij

Where would Heide draw power from, now that they are out of potted plants?

Gensh

[Picture of the Terracotta Army]

Alexeij

Golems?

Gensh

Yeah, and potentially giants. If nothing else, they've got a bunch of spoopy Judicators.

Alexeij

Fair enough

Gensh

…and the Undead Legion. And unsealed Ringed Knights.

Alexeij

And the Silver Knights

Gensh

Well, they're just regular elves now.

Alexeij

So the Undead Legion comes back in full?

Gensh

Not all of them, but there are enough angsty lads.