Elden Ring Shorts

A Warrior's Understanding (Iron Fist Alexander)

"Hello-o?"

A voice sprung from the dense mist blanketing the grassy cliffs of Liurnia. The drumming of hooves almost drowned the voice out, before reins pulled a mighty steed to a halt. Whinnying, the beast stomped but obliged, waiting as the rider on its back listened through the rustling leaves.

"Anybody there? Can you hear me? Help me, I'm stuck!"

A soft snort escaped the person mounting the steed, shaking their helmed head. Boots nudged the sides of the steed, starting into a comfortable trot as they rode through the trees in the shade of a tall Carian tower. Beyond the shadowed patch of trees was uneven terrain dotted with rocks poking through the grassy ground. Weaving the obstacles, a small decline came to view and from among the green foliage a large round pot stuck out like a sore thumb.
The pot's long rocky arms pushed and shoved the ground beside it, leaving long scrapes in the dirt, wet grass serving as no help in terms of friction. The large round body was dug tight in the ground, dirt raised around it like a snug crater.

"Hnnngh- ghuh..." A struggling sigh came from the large pot, hands sliding on the grass, pulling bundles of green blades between the fingers. "Humf... No use..." He grumbled.

Soft thudding of hooves approached from behind and the pot shifted, as much as it could at least, to show his attention to the approaching company. "Hello? Who goes there? Might you have the time to- Oh!" -he gave a hearty laugh- "My friend! How great it is to see a familiar friendly face!" The pot practically shuddered with glee as the warrior dismounted their spectral steed, boots hitting the moist grass heavy with the weight of their armor.

"Got yourself stuck again, Alexander?" They kid, earning a light-hearted sigh from the pot.

"How I'd like to say no, but alas, here I sit." The pot shrugged his arms before dropping them back into the dirt. "Lucky you came along, really. Mind helping me out, once again?"

Chuckling, the Tarnished warrior took out a club, thudding it onto the ground beside them, inspecting the pot on the ground while leaning on the end. "Let me see here... You're deeper in than last time... Your cracks are still fresh and I don't have the best feeling hitting you so soon, Alexander, are you sure you can handle it? I can try and find a leverage or-"

"No, no, my friend. I can take it! Just, give it your all and I'll be out of this in no time, hm?" The jar shook his hand dismissively, voice as determined as ever, body rumbling with the gruff laugh that emitted from within. "Don't you worry about me."

The Tarnished hummed hesitantly but lifted the club. "You know your body better than I do... But let me know right away if you're going to break. I don't want to... you know..."

The jar gave a thumbs up at the Tarnished's words. "I understand, friend. I will let you know right away. I wouldn't want my warrior's journey to end too soon either! Hahahaha!"

Smiling, feeling slightly more comforted, the Tarnished raised the club on their shoulder, taking a wide stance. Standing behind the pot, they could see the large gnarly cracks that covered the pot's entire form. Swallowing the rising anxiety, they steeled their grip and took a wide swing right on the backside of the warrior jar.

"Agh!" The jar cried out, body groaning under the hefty clash of the club. The pieces cracked held together still, so the jar did not complain.
Another swing came and a dull soreness flashed over the entire jar, but he only groaned gruffly, still silently waiting for a release from the grounded prison. Hands tightly balled into fists, grass poked from between his fingers as he waited for the third swing.

Brows knitting with worry, the Tarnished looked over the jar's back, but it wasn't exactly leaking or falling apart. The jar assured this should be the last and the Tarnished nodded slowly even if to themselves. Readying the club, they swung with a warrior's might, club bashing against the back of the jar heavily once more.
A nasty crack came from the body and the jar groaned out, shaking his arms for the Tarnished to stop. "Ah! P-please! Wait." -he gulped- " I have a terrible feeling about this! Would you stop hitting me for a minute!" His entire body shuddered, cracks on his back crying out from the constant abuse.