Bernahl the knight (spoilers)

[Witcher]

After my 4th play thru, I only realised Bernahl you first meet at the Warmaster's shack is the same guy in Volcano Manor :D Why did he put on his helm in the Manor - so he can't be recognised as the invader in Crumbling Farum Azula lol.

Anyways, what's his story - why did he invade the tarnished at Farum Azula - because we burned the Tree that's considered holy to him?

[John Titor]

Originally posted by Witcher:

After my 4th play thru, I only realised Bernahl you first meet at the Warmaster's shack is the same guy in Volcano Manor :D Why did you put on his helm in the Manor - so he can't be recognised as the invader in Crumbling Farum Azula lol.

Anyways, what's his story - why did he invade the tarnished at Farum Azula - because we burned the Tree that's considered holy to him?

He's part of the manor, a blasphemer, he doesn't care about holy. Why is he there? :shrug:

[Dr.Abscondus]

He's a recusant. They kill whoever they want, when they want. They don't need a reason.

[John Titor]

Actually, if I'm not mistaken, the whole point of recusants is that they defeat tarnished and bring them to Rykard to devour. If true, that'll be why he's there. Or, if you killed Rykard, he's pissed you killed his master?

[CourtesyFlush09]

I believe he invades you in Farum because you simply got in his way. He was about to pick up that item that lets you deflect Maliketh's blade.

Basically, Bernahl himself was going to fight and try to kill Maliketh for Rykard (whom he serves iirc).

[❛❛Vénttea❜❜]

Originally posted by CourtesyFlush90:

I believe he invades you in Farum because you simply got in his way. He was about to pick up that item that lets you deflect Maliketh's blade.

Basically, Bernahl himself was going to fight and try to kill Maliketh for Rykard (whom he serves iirc).

The Blasphemous Claw seems to be already in possession for Rykard. I think Bernahl has been entrusted it to help further spread Blasphemy and kill Maliketh as part of something to do against the Greater Will or becoming a literal gatekeeper to any tarnish that once to fight Maliketh. Odds are he also wanted to kill you because you are the ultimate Tarnish and a worthy opponent, so he just wanted a battle of the ages like Alexander.

Either way, he wasn't sent by Rykard since he is still in the mansion after you kill him and you can still talk to him before he leaves.

[Witcher]

Originally posted by ❛❛Liechée❜❜:

Originally posted by CourtesyFlush90:

I believe he invades you in Farum because you simply got in his way. He was about to pick up that item that lets you deflect Maliketh's blade.

Basically, Bernahl himself was going to fight and try to kill Maliketh for Rykard (whom he serves iirc).

The Blasphemous Claw seems to be already in possession for Rykard. I think Bernahl has been entrusted it to help further spread Blasphemy and kill Maliketh as part of something to do against the Greater Will or becoming a literal gatekeeper to any tarnish that once to fight Maliketh. Odds are he also wanted to kill you because you are the ultimate Tarnish and a worthy opponent, so he just wanted a battle of the ages like Alexander.

Either way, he wasn't sent by Rykard since he is still in the mansion after you kill him and you can still talk to him before he leaves.

(1) What blasphemy does Rykard want Bernahl to spread and (2) why do others want to kill Maliketh?

[John Titor]

Originally posted by Witcher:

Originally posted by ❛❛Liechée❜❜:

The Blasphemous Claw seems to be already in possession for Rykard. I think Bernahl has been entrusted it to help further spread Blasphemy and kill Maliketh as part of something to do against the Greater Will or becoming a literal gatekeeper to any tarnish that once to fight Maliketh. Odds are he also wanted to kill you because you are the ultimate Tarnish and a worthy opponent, so he just wanted a battle of the ages like Alexander.

Either way, he wasn't sent by Rykard since he is still in the mansion after you kill him and you can still talk to him before he leaves.

(1) What blasphemy does Rykard want Bernahl to spread and (2) why do others want to kill Maliketh?

1. Defiance of the greater will.
2. To control destined death.

[Kim]

Not sure there is a "right" answer but , from Bernahl own words :

"Let us tread the path of the recusant together. Till we reach the miserable death that awaits us."

(for the Rykard piss off things) :

"So. You killed Rykard? I harbour you no ill will. The strong take. Such is our code.
Even he was prepared to meet a wretched end when he first took blasphemy unto his very flesh.
But anyroad, the Volcano Manor is no more. Though we may yet fulfil an old promise.
We hunted our own kind, and took what was theirs. And with everything in hand, the time has come to rise, against the Erdtree."

From what i understand , he just invade you because you are powerfull enought to be challenged at Farum Azula , he does not care about the Erdtree or Rykard for the matters , just the hunt of powerfull Tarnished to match is own.

As for the introduction to you , he never conceal his identity ,he just wait about you finish your first quest for the manor to tell you he is the same Bernahl that previous encountered in warmaster's shack.

[acesahn]

Bernahl starts off a knight (Perhaps trying to turn his back on his Reclusant past) sees you at the Volcano manor and gets upset, trying to get you to leave (Perhaps ashamed you see what he really is and he wants you to keep your purity.) Doing the Volcano quests you bloody your hands and he sees you as corrupted and fallen like he is and starts talking about how awful Tarnished are and how we will all meet a bloody fate. My guess is he's death seeking when he fights you, that and he sees you as someone he had hoped was purer then himself but wasn't.

[guig]

I'm not sure pve auto Invasions have a real meaning on the lore, compare to quest invasion.

After all you can fight invasion milicent very soon in the game, even before meeting her.

imo, I just see it as a way to get the stuff of those characters at least for collection.

[Dr.Falcon]

The Blasphemous Claw states, "On the night of the dire plot, Ranni rewarded Praetor Rykard with these traces. Should the coming trespass one day transpire, they would serve as a last-resort foil, allowing Rykard to challenge Maliketh the Black Blade, the black beast of Destined Death."
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Bernahl, like any member of the Volcano Manor, respects strength above all. He appears like any normal tarnished to us at the start, if you kill him early on he acknowledges your strength and states "the Volcano Manor awaits." He was, most likely, the champion of the manor before our tarnished arrived. Due to the convoluted nature of time in Fromsoft games, it is heavily implied in Bernahl's plot, he was able to defeat the Fire Giant and traverse Farum Azula as you can summon him for help against the Godskin Duo fight.
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The Beast Champion Armor states, "Beasts are drawn to champions, and to lords. And this armor befits a champion worthy of becoming a lord. And that is what Bernahl was.

Until his maiden threw herself into the fire."
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The Blasphemous Claw is, apparently, one of many traces of the Rune of Death that can resist Maliketh's power. Maliketh is the vassal of the Rune of Death, defeating him allows for death to take the Gods. Bernahl, despite being part of the manor, is still a tarnished. He would use his strength to upend the powers of the Erdtree and take seat as Lord. His ideal vision of the world probably falls within the morals of the manor and would want to shape the Lands Between into that on it's behalf.
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Red Phantom invasions, by NPC's, are many things. They are either projections of said character from a different time, a vengeful spirit lingering on, or the simple action of just being invaded. The tarnished you control serves as another barrier to Bernahls progression, you likely defeated Rykard and wish to claim the throne for your own vision. So, you're invaded by him in a last ditch effort to defeat the only tarnished able to contend against the rise of the Volcano Manor...and you defeat him.