What is Bloodborne?

Due to bloodborne coming out all the way back in 2015 (that's more than 10 years ago now! Oh my goodness), I assume that a majority of people, my age or older, have heard of it. However, for those unaware of it, or just not sure on the exact details, I will provide a brief explanation here.

Bloodborne is a Soulslike and Action RPG set in a victorian-esque, gothic, world. The game has you play as the Good Hunter, as you fight your way through the bloodied streets of Yharnam and beyond, slowly uncovering the eldritch truth of this world. The game provides little guidance simply leaving you with a note written in the Hunter’s own handwriting instructing you to “Seek Paleblood to transcend the hunt.” Even the characters you meet cannot give you the whole story, with Gherman, the first hunter, simply telling you to “Just go out and kill a few beasts” upon meeting him. As you do just that, the horrors of the world begin to unfurl before you.

Bloodborne is a game with deep and complex lore. Thankfully to those new to its world, players have spent much time unraveling and making sense of the details we are given. Through direct hints and careful interpretation, players have made sense of the esoteric world of Bloodborne.

Above all else, Bloodborne is a game beloved by many, myself included. It is a game that you can spend years analyzing and still uncover something new. It draws in fans of horror and those utterly petrified by horror alike. In my eyes, Bloodborne is a masterpiece of a game, with so very much to explore.

WIP Alfred Fic

The Hunter stood just outside of Queen Annalise’s Chamber, letting the frigid wind ground him. This night was already making him lose his mind, and now Queen Annalise had left him with information that shattered his already fractured worldview. He was a Vileblood, he had always been a Vileblood. He’d been sent to Yharnam in search of a cure for the wretched illness that was slowly consuming him, and he’d forgotten who he was, what he was.

This revelation stung all the more harshly when the Hunter realized he would have to face Alfred with this new insight. A part of him hoped Alfred would show him mercy, would see past his hatred to see his friend. Yet, the logical part of the hunter knew how unstable Alfred was, even when calm.

The Hunter did not want to lose Alfred. Strained as their relationship was, their erratic waltz had grown to be almost soothing to the Hunter. There was a violence seeded deep within Alfred that the Hunter knew better than to try and extract. Still, he forced himself to be content with that, content to revel in their rare tender moments, content with nothing more, nothing deeper.

The Hunter knew this would shatter the strained care they shared. Yet, it was better to address it now, rather than later. Right?

Favorite Characters

Gilbert is one of the few kind souls we meet in Bloodborne. Willing to grant the hunter aid despite his own sorry state. Gilbert is dying, trapped in his small home on the night of the hunt; slowly succumbing to what we can infer to be the Scourge based on his transformation into a Beast Patient upon the rising of the Blood Moon. He is a tragic character, one who even the hunter cannot help.

It is also intriguing that he gives you the flamesprayer a weapon that is described as being “used by certain members of the Healing Church.” It may simply be that Gilbert got a hold of one for the comfort a weapon brings during the hunt (especially because he states that he “made no use of it”), but it’s still weird that he has a flamesprayer of all things. Again, I may just be reading into things too much.

Regardless, I love Gilbert and his transformation into a beast is one of the hardest to stomach. He had hope, he believed that he would be able to “die human.” Yet, the curse of Yharnam does not spare even the kindest of souls.

Djura captured my heart the first time I heard him yell at me from his perch in Old Yharnam. To me, he plays a pivotal role in revealing the true nature of every last beast in Bloodborne. For “the things [we] hunt, they’re not beasts.” Djura is a deeply interesting character, from his stance on the beasts, to his retiring from the hunt.

While I love Djura, I’ve never successfully befriended him because I get impatient trying to reach Paarl and end up running through Old Yharnam first. One day I’ll redeem myself.

Many a hunter find Micolash utterly insufferable. Yet, despite my deep seated hatred for his fight, I love his character. There's something strangely charming about his ugly little self. Obviously, he’s instrumental in the story of Bloodborne due to his connection to The School of Mensis and the ritual he is implied to have orchestrated. I am fascinated by the lore of Mensis and his connection to it; however, I also just like him because he’s annoying and stupid, and I would gladly punch him in the face given the chance. Everyone either loves or hates him, and I love him.