Part 25: Aldia's Keep

Aldia's Keep is the place where Aldia, the brother of Vendrick, hung out most of the time. If you're familiar with Seath just pretend that Aldia is basically Seath only he's called Aldia. He does much the same stuff. Which is experiment on things a lot to reach his goals. Oh yeah, he fucks around with the bodies of Giants. Gameplay-wise it's just a straight corridor with some enemies, though.



Finally we have Lucatiels Set. Not wearing the helm, though. Or the pants. But the Torso piece is pretty damn sweet lookin'. Though, in the video we are actually wearing the full set.


We are Sledgehammer Skeletor. Technically it's an anvil on a stick, which admittedly is way cooler than a sledgehammer but Anvil on a Stick Skeletor doesn't quite have that ring to it.




Guardian Dragon

While not as laughably easy as some bosses it will most likely only require you one try to either beat him or find out how to not die next time.

At first the dragon will be on the ground and you'll have a good chance to get in some hits. Then hey may fly up or remain down on the ground. If he stays down stay close to his legs (I prefer the left one from his PoV, but it doesn't matter). Just wreck his feet a bit and when he moves his leg up get away to avoid his stomp. Sometimes he'll move his head back to your location to bite you I guess. Just be aware that he can do it and then dodge or block if you can. Of course, you may not always be that close to him. At a distance he'll breathe fire at you but it's not very difficult to avoid.

When he flies up, there's a good chance he'll just cling to the walls and either shoot fireballs at you or beeathe fire. In either case it's best to stay far away and get to the opposite wall. Another nasty thing he can do is fly up and breathe fire downwards. As a general rule it is probably a good idea to run away when he flies up to avoid that. In my experience he rarely does that, though, but it's better to be safe than sorry.

Now, as for the Lore it's debatable whether this is a drake (Dark Souls lame excuse to have dragons in a game where dragons are extinct) or an actual dragon. The answer may be neither but we don't have the information necessary to speculate on that at this point. Essentially you could say that this dragon is most likely born of Aldia's experiments but there's a tiny little bit more to it that I find pretty interesting. On the other hand, one of the weapons you get from his Soul is the Drakewing Ultra Greatsword the description of which refers to drakes. Knowing that Dark Souls II has quite a few translation errors it's possible that this is supposed to be a drake.


Boss Weapons
Soul of a dragon that guards the path to the shrine.
Do the dragons watch over the land of their own will, or are they in the grip of one of Aldia's spells?


Spitfire Spear

Trade Soul with: Ornifex
Moveset/Weapon Class: Spear
Physical Damage (+0/+5): 64 / 160
Fire Damage (+0/+5): 50 / 120
Scales with: STR (E), DEX (E), FIRE (C)
Requirements: 10 STR, 18 DEX
Damage Type: Thrust
Special Ablity: Heavy attack shoots fireballs.

In-Game Description:
A spear said to have been forged in Aldia. Contains the power of a great flame, which is unleashed in a strong attack.
The mysterious Lord Aldia secluded himself inside a manor to conduct various experiments. Those invited to the manor disappeared, replaced over time with malformed beasts that formed its halls.
Effect: special attack (strong attack)


Drakewing Ultra Greatsword

Trade Soul with: Ornifex
Moveset/Weapon Class: Ultra Greatsword
Physical Damage (+0/+5): 142 / 355
Scales with: STR (D), DEX (B)
Requirements: 20 STR, 18 DEX
Damage Type: Slash
Special Ablity: Heavy attack is a ranged attack.

In-Game Description:
A sword decorated with drake wings. Use strong attack to unleash its latent power.
The blade of this sword is split into two, and is best swung in smashing motions rather than slices.
Drakes are likely descendats of the ancient dragons, and although their strength pales in comparison to the what is described in legend, to mere humans they are still mighty beasts.
Effects: special attack (strong attack)


Item Descriptions

Lucatiel's Set
Worn by knights while on travel. Belonged to Lucatiel of Mirrah. Only those who have distinguished themselves on the battlefield were admitted into the elite ranks of Mirrah's official order of knights. It is common to hear of a peasant's dream of striving for knighthood as an escape from hardship, but who would ever think it possible?

Sunset Staff
A staff said to have been forged in Aldia. A catalyst for sorceries and hexes. Particularly powerful for casting hexes.
The mysterious Lord Aldia secluded himself inside a manor to conduct various experiments. Those invited to the manor disappeared, replaced over time with malformed beasts that roamed its halls.

Aldia Key
Key used in the mansion of Aldia.
King Vendrick condemned his own elder brother to the mansion.
They both sought the truth, but through different means, and their fervor meant the eventual withering of their familial ties.

Sorcery: Soul Geyer
A secret art unleashes a gush of souls.
The homing soul mass pierces its target, then hits repeatedly for additional damage.
This blasphemous spell is a family heirloom of Lord Aldia's. It was designed to pummel foes until its power is entirely exhausted.

Malformed Shell
One of the malformed weapons developed in Aldia.
Swung like a great hammer. Appears to be a fragment
of a giant shell, but its precise origins are unknown.
The peculiar figure known as Lord Aldia attempted to
uncover the secrets of life itself, and viewed the Undead
as a key to this mystery.

Black Witch Set
Dark Souls II: Robe worn by Zullie the witch, seducer of Alva the Wayfarer. Boasts excellent magic defense.
When Zullie the witch learned of Alva's dedication to Saint Serrate she used all manner of tricks and deceit to ruin him, but in the end she would spend her life with him, supporting his endeavors.
Dark Souls II: Cloak of the rogue witch Beatrice.
Almost all magic users that employ catalysts studied at Dragon School, but Beatrice is one of the few exceptions. She braved the Abyss but did not live to tell of her ordeal.
Note: In Dark Souls this was called the Witch's Set

Dispelling Ring
A protective ring set with gemstones of four different colors. Increases the wearer's resistance to magic, lightning, fire and dark.
The artistry required to attune the varying powers of four different stones within one ring could only be described as transcendental.
There is only one sorcerer who could have done this; a man from the lost land of OlaphisA protective ring set with gemstones of four different colors. Increases the wearer's resistance to magic, lightning, fire and dark.
The artistry required to attune the varying powers of four different stones within one ring could only be described as transcendental.
There is only one sorcerer who could have done this; a man from the lost land of Olaphis
Note: One of the rewards for Navlaans "assassination" quest
Bring Navlaan a ladder miniature by either Killing Gilligan or just buy one from Gilligan.

Forbidden Sun
"Pyromancy developed in Aldian rites.
Fires a giant fireball with a widely encompassing explosion.
What could possibly justify such excessive destructive power? In all likelihood, the madmen of Aldia never even questioned the need.
Note: One of the rewards for Navlaans "assassination" quest
Bring Navlaan a Sunset staff by either killing Felkin. Or get it from him by having 20 FTH and 20 INT. OR, just freaking find it in a little deeper into Aldia's Keep.

Chaos Set
Robes worn by a chaos sorcerer.
He calls himself Navlaan, now.
Note: One of the rewards for Navlaans "assassination" quest
Bring Navlaan the Aged Feather by either killing the Emerald Herald or by getting it as a gift from the Emerald Herald when you meet her at the beginning of Dragon Aerie immediately after fighting the area boss of Aldia's Keep.

In case you're wondering, there's another person Navlaan requests you kill. It's Cale. Navlaan basically wants his helm. Cale will just give it to you when all eight flames on his map are lit. This is always happens after beating the final boss. So feel free to come back to Cale after beating the final boss before starging New Game+ to get the helm. However, this is the second person Navlaan wants you to kill, if you want later rewards earlier just kill Cale. Like, really. Just kill him. The reward Navlaan gives you is only a Simpletons Spice, though.