Dark Souls Part 7: Blighttown and the Fate of the Undead

 

I must begin this post with an apology, as it has been a significant amount of time since my last post. Work, school, girl, the sorts. Although, I would not be entirely honest if I did not say that I haven't exactly been too excited about this post, as it covers one of my least favorite parts of the game. Anyway, when we last left off, you had finally reached the dreaded, poisonous ruins of Blighttown. This used to be a prominent swamp settlement occupied by local pyromancers and other followers of the witches of Izalith. However, a terrible spell poisoned the swamp, and condemned it to a place of plague and quarantine. I doubt it was called Blighttown back then, as its name is now more fitting than it was then.

What remains of the town is now a very hazardous place, and not just because of the crazed inhabitants or the poisonous swamp, but because the buildings really need to update their OSHA regulations. Most of the settlement is built into the cavern walls above the swamp, wooden balconies and houses just dangling at a dramatic height.  Scaling down this dangerous environment, you reach the bottom of Blighttown and head for the second bell. However, it seems someone else has made the area surround the belltower their home, and they don't appreciate visitors...

This spider-lady is as voluptuous as she is dangerous. Her spider half seems to love vomiting magma almost as much as it loves to defecate it. If you manage to survive the heat, you have finally conquered your last obstacle in this quest of ringing bells. You go to do so, and while its not immediately obvious, you soon discover the purpose of these Bells of Awakening. Back at Firelink Shrine, they have awakened an interesting individual - a serpentine fellow by the name of Kingseeker Frampt. Upon confirmation that you are the one who rang the bells, he dubs you the Chosen Undead, and volunteers to share with you your fate...

"Your fate... is to succeed the Great Lord Gwyn. So that you may link the Fire, cast away the Dark, and undo the curse of the Undead. To this end, you must visit Anor Londo, and acquire the Lordvessel.
Those who seek the Realm of Lords must brave Sen's Fortress, a deadly house of traps. Many have gone before you, but none have returned. Fate has chosen you, but proceed with caution. "

So there you have it. It appears that the trials you went through in ringing the Bells of Awakening were exactly that - trials. You have passed the tests, and been deemed worth to succeed Lord Gwyn and continue the Age of Fire. To do this, you must first travel to the mountain top city of the gods - Anor Londo - and acquire the Lordvessel. The Lordvessel is basically just a big container for all the Lord's Souls. Why do you need them? Frampt won't tell you yet. But alas, you have a new quest with renewed purpose. You are no longer fulfilling the quest of a man who saved you - you're saving the world...