Written In Stone

A smile grew across Artorias' face while he walked alongside Duchess, letting her be their guide as they wandered southern Auster together. It still amazed him how he'd spent almost all his life on the southern continent and there was still so much he hadn't seen! She said she'd gladly partake in some of the Hallows' signature product and the Aegis made a mental note to be sure to send her home with a bottle or two of the good reserves when they did finally part ways. Look at him go, actually making friends! If only Artisan could see him now and realize just how wrong he had been.

When he asked where they were headed next, Duchess gestured to a cluster of tall granite rocks, referring to them as the Runestones. Artorias gaped in awe as they drew nearer to the odd rocks, shaped unlike any others he'd seen before. Their surfaces had been weathered smooth over time by hundreds of years of erosion. Their bases were covered in green moss that stretched up their lengths, obscuring some of the strange markings and symbols etched into their surface. But Artorias' keen eyes saw them. He raised a paw, peeling some moss away to reveal the symbols hidden underneath. A delicate digit traced over them, studying them, but ultimately finding no understanding or meaning in them. What sort of creatures could have created these?!

"What are they?" he asked, then immediately followed with, "Besides giant rocks." He half expected some sort of sarcastic remark, not that Duchess had shown him anything but demure pleasantries, but because he had grown up with a brother who was the definition of obnoxious sarcasm.

"Artorias Carpathius" | "Carpathian" | "Corbin" | "Argent"