Huntsman's Copse

Lore

The Undead have been persecuted, hunted, and imprisoned throughout the ages. This forest was home to the Undead hunts during the reign of the Old Iron King. There's little difference between the guards and their prisoners now, though. Though the King sent his best soldiers to oversee the Hunts, their memories were lost to the Undead Curse.

The Skeleton Lords control this area. They were the Old Iron King's best soldiers, but in their dark resurgence, they have forgotten their original allegiance entirely. They seek to create a new kingdom - one of bone. And now you have trespassed upon that kingdom.

The foes encountered here are:

• Rogue: Dangerous in life as thieves and highwaymen, these Rogues are now doubly so in death, as Hollowing has robbed them of their reason. In life, they may have lusted after material wealth, but in death they seek your very soul.
• Undead Laborer: As if a lifetime of toil wasn't enough, these workers continue their duties even in death. And this time, their job is to kill you. Probably as in life, these under-appreciated, down-trodden souls simply aren't equipped for the task - they face you unarmed.
• Captive Undead: These woods have seen countless tragedies over the years, and each death brings an Undead ever closer to full Hollowing. Whether they were once hunters or prey matters little now - the march of time has stolen their minds and memories and rendered them Hollow.
• Great Moth: These giant, poisonous creatures attack[sic] themselves to trees and cave ceilings throughout the Copse. The moss that they light upon is itself poisonous - whether this is a result of the moth's influence or the moth being drawn to the poison is unknown.
• Torturer: These wicked Torturers don't wield conventional weapons - the tools of their trade are intended to inflict pain upon their Undead victims rather than death. If you underestimate them, you'll find that regardless of their intention, they certainly can kill you.
• Necromancer: The true origins of these Necromancers is unknown, but it is possible that they served the Old Iron King during the Undead Hunts in this forest. They are found near the Skeleton Lords' domain - perhaps they now serve them as their new masters.
• Armored Skeleton: These reanimated corpses are often under the control of a Necromancer, and they will be revived repeatedly until their Wizard is killed. Whether they served the Iron King or fled from his troops in life makes no difference now, as they are the property of their necromantic masters.
• Artificial Undead: A massive, hulking beast of an Undead, this creature is disturbingly unnatural. This patchwork monstrosity wields two Full Moon Sickles and swings them with immense power. Who would create such a monster? The Iron King himself sought to destroy the Undead, not create them…
• Merciless Roenna (Dark Spirit): Roenna wears a helm associated with the warlocks of Aldia. Could the unnatural condition of this forest be related to the experiments of the Aldian mages, or is it mere coincidence?
• Greatsword Phantom (Dark Spirit): This phantom stands watch over the entrance to the Undead Purgatory. His origin is unknown, but he is currently standing guard over the entrance tot eh domain of Nahr Alma's followers.

Theories

Design Source

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The early portion for this level is modeled after Hotel del Salto.

Sources

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Skeleton Lord Soul
Soul of a Skeleton Lord, who reigned from deep within the Huntsman's Copse. The Old Iron King commanded the capture of all Undead, but those charged with the task were overcome by the curse.

Bone King Crown
Skeleton Lord Crown. High dark defense. The Old Iron King led his best men on Undead hunts, but their memories were purged in rebirth.

Bone King Robe
Skeleton Lord robe. High dark defense. The very men who were ordered to hunt down the Undead were themselves hollowed, and founded a kingdom of bone.

Roaring Halberd
Halberd forged from the soul of a Skeleton Lord. Imbued with the power of dark. The unsettling skull carved into this halberd recalls the final moments of the Skeleton Lord from whom it was created.

Executioner's Chariot Soul
Soul of the Executioner's Chariot, that holds control over the Undead Purgatory. The Chariot was created only to torment Undead, and it took the form of a horrendous mad steed, a window into the soul of its master. Use the special soul of the Executioner's Chariot to acquire numerous souls, or to create something of great worth.

Chariot Lance
Lance forged from the soul of the Executioner's Chariot. Its cross-shaped blade causes bleeding. The perverse design of this spear mirrors the chariot from which it came, a merciless creation that endlessly tortured Undead.

Shield Crossbow
Crossbow created from the soul of the Executioner's Chariot. Iron plate serves as a shield while firing. The merciless chariot inflicted agony upon others with utter impunity, and the crossbow created from its soul strives to protect from possible retribution.

Executioner's Armor
Black Armor worn by the executioner of the Undead Purgatory. The spikes are designed to evoke fear. The executioner mercilessly put down countless Undead, but how could he know that it was never his own will, but that of the chariot horse?

Torturer/Executioner
These wicked Torturers don't wield conventional weapons - the tools of their trade are intended to inflict pain upon their Undead victims rather than death. If you underestimate them, you'll find that regardless of their intention, they certainly can kill you.

Undead Lockaway Key
Key to the prison in the Huntsman's Copse. The Undead hunts during the reign of the Iron King took place in this forest, and the cells in which the Undead were held still stand there to this day. However, the march of time has eroded any difference between the captors and the captives.

Cracked Red Eye Orb
Online play item. Invade other worlds. Defeat the master of the world you have invaded to acquire a Token of Spite. The residual sins of those who have succumbed to dark temptations are contained in the form of the Cracked Red Eye Orb.

Token of Spite
Token recognizing that the owner has traveled worlds to defeat others. Simply carrying these tokens shows the bitterness of the grudges the holder has accumulated.

Artificial Undead
A massive, hulking beast of an Undead, this creature is disturbingly unnatural. This patchwork monstrosity wields two Full Moon Sickles and swings them with immense power. Who would create such a monster? The Iron King himself sought to destroy the Undead, not create them…

Greatsword Red Phantom
This phantom stands watch over the entrance to the Undead Purgatory. His origin is unknown, but he is currently standing guard over the entrance to the domain of Nahr Alma's followers.

Skeleton
These reanimated corpses are often under the control of a Necromancer, and they will be revived repeatedly until their Wizard is killed. Whether they served the Iron King or fled from his troops in life makes no difference now, as they are the property of their necromantic masters.

Rogue
Dangerous in life as thieves and highwaymen, these Rogues are now doubly so in death, as Hollowing has robbed them of their reason. In life, they may have lusted after material wealth, but in death they seek your very Soul.

Rogue Hood
Hood worn by Hollowed thieves. The hood is primarily intended to hide the face of the wearer, and is of no practical value as defensive gear.

Bound Hand Axe
An axe with an unusual design. Found in the Undead Purgatory. The chains and spikes wrapped around the axe cause bleeding, but weaken the axe's effectiveness when slashing. Accessories that are added to a weapon for the sole purpose of tormenting foes can often detract from the weapon's natural effectiveness.

Bound Wooden Shield
A shield with an unusual design. Found in the Undead Purgatory. The chains and spikes wrapped around the shield cause bleeding, but weaken the shield's effectiveness. Accessories that are added to a weapon for the sole purpose of tormenting foes can often detract from the weapon's natural effectiveness.

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PREV: Heide's Tower of Flame

NEXT: Iron Keep

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