Dragonrider
The first order of business is to collect the Rotunda Lockstone. You require the item to unlock the passage to Huntsman's Copse
Things Betwixt
Start from your character's spawn point at the gazebo at Things Betwixt. Run to the Fire Keeper's cottage and open the door to initiate a cutscene. Skip the cutscene and exit the cottage via the door in front of you. To your right is a wooden cart, behind which sits a corpse containing Soul of a Lost Undead and Torch. Collect the Torch because it adds five minutes to your torch time. The Torch will come in handy in a few areas later on. To your left is the Fire Keeper's Dwelling bonfire. You will not return to Things Betwixt until the next NG cycle. Feel free to ignore the bonfire.
On your way to Majula you will encounter various fog walls. The first fog wall is to your left; ignore this mist. The second fog wall is to your right. The mist leads to a corpse from which you can collect Amber Herb x 2. The herb can be ignored if you do not plan on using spells in your run.
Majula
Proceed to the Far Fire bonfire at Majula. Along the way, you will enter and then exit a narrow stone passageway. After exiting the passageway, a little further ahead you will find a shiny on a corpse to your left. The shiny contains a Divine Blessing, consuming which would fully restore your HP bar and remove any status ailments. Find and exhaust the dialogue of the Emerald Herald, then light the Far Fire bonfire.
Heide's Tower of Flame
The first boss on your agenda should be the Dragonrider at Heide's Tower of Flame. The only reason to defeat this boss is to unlock the path to Licia of Lindeldt, whom you must defeat as soon as possible in any NG cycle. Here are two reasons why Licia must die:
- Licia's death would prevent the Nameless Usurper from invading you at Drangleic Castle and Undead Crypt, making your run through each of these areas a little easier.
- Upon death, Licia would drop the Rotunda Lockstone. The item unlocks the contraption found in the rotunda at Majula and opens the passage to Huntsman's Copse.
From the Far Fire bonfire, sprint to Heide's Tower of Flame. Light and rest at the Heide's Ruin bonfire if you want, but doing so is not necessary. Ignore all enemies and dash to the arena of Dragonrider.
Dragonrider
Cheese Dragonrider at Heide's Tower of Flame NG+7, Dark Souls 2 SotFS
Sorcerer versus Dragonrider NG+7, Dark Souls 2 SotFS
This is the easiest boss to cheese. Position your character near the right-most edge of the fog wall. Enter the arena and count the number of steps taken by the boss. Count to six steps, wait for the 7th step to be half done, then dash diagonally to your right. The boss would perform a thrust attack with his halberd. Roll through the attack if you want, but it is also safe to continue sprinting. The momentum of the thrust attack would carry the boss over the edge to his doom. If for some reason the cheese does not work for you, move far away from the boss and Homeward Bone to the last bonfire at which you rested, or quit to menu, reload your character, and try the cheese again. You might also want to fight the boss melee style or using spell. The fight can be made rather easy by equipping a great shield. Use the shield to block one or two attacks, strafe behind the boss and get in one hit. Rinse and repeat.
Defeat the Dragonrider and ascend the spiral staircase to light the Tower of Flame bonfire. Now it is time to cheese Licia.
Licia of Lindeldt
Cheese Licia of Lindeldt NG+7, Dark Souls 2 SotFS
Find Licia kneeling near the Tower of Flame bonfire. Position your character in front of her. Use your character's fist to attack Licia three (or more) times until she stands up to fight you. She would usually attempt to cast a miracle with her Idol's Chime. As soon as you hear the chime ringing, use your character's fist to attack Licia once, thus pushing her back a small distance. Licia would again try to cast a miracle with her chime. Deal another fist attack to push her back a bit more. Rinse and repeat until you push Licia off an edge and let gravity kill her.
Licia's death would prevent the Nameless Usurper from invading you at Drangleic Castle and Undead Crypt. Your run through those areas would be easier without an NPC invader. However, the NPC Forlorn still has a chance to invade you at each of the above locations.
Rest at the Tower of Flame bonfire to spawn a shiny where Licia previously knelt. The shiny contains the Rotunda Lockstone and the Idol's Chime. Collect the shiny. You require the Rotunda Lockstone to open the path to Huntsman's Copse. Warp to the Far Fire bonfire.