Brightstone Cove Tseldora

Before exploring this area, purchase all Brightbugs from Melentia. The upper portion of Brightstone Cove Tseldora is a small area with little notable loots. You will find Benhart's summon sign inside one of the tents. To advance Benhart's quest line, you must summon him for the fight against Prowling Magus and the Congregation and ensure he survives the fight.

32. Prowling Magus and the Congregation, Dark Souls II: SotFS

Notable loots:

• Sunlight Medal. Dropped by the Falconers near the Royal Army Campsite bonfire. These items are used to rank up in the Heirs of the Sun covenant. You need to reach rank 3 in the covenant to receive the Sunlight Spear miracle, which is required to earn the Master of Miracles achievement.
• Staff of Wisdom. Inside a Mimic at upper Brightstone Cove Tseldora, near the Royal Army Campsite bonfire. The Mimic can only be accessed by jumping down a well.
• Estus Flask Shard. Found inside a room on an elevated platform. The room is located in the desert area and can only be accessed by dropping down from above.
• Engraved Gauntlets. While equipped, you have 5% chance of dealing a critical hit. The gauntlets are found inside an iron chest (next to a wooden chest) and you must have the Tseldora Den Key to unlock the room containing the chest. The key is given by Pate or Creighton after you help one to defeat the other. This means that you must have been following the quest lines of both Pate and Creighton.
• Brightstone Key. Used to open a door above the lair of The Duke's Dear Freja. The key is dropped by Duke Tseldora, who can be reached after you have defeated Freja. Use the key to unlock a room and grab these treasures: Black Knight Ultra Greatsword, Fire Seed, and Great Fireball.
• Pickaxe. The method of spawning this weapon is obscure and the process can be tedious. Clear all enemies, except the two boars, from the Royal Army Campsite bonfire to the room above the lair of The Duke's Dear Freja. Run back to the Royal Army Campsite bonfire and lure a boar to the said room. Equipping the Redeye Ring would make it easier for the boar to constantly follow you. As soon as the boar enters the room, its attention would be directed to a patch of mushroom. It feeds on the mushroom and then the Pickaxe would spawn.
• Fragrant Branch of Yore. Dropped by Duke Tseldora. You must first defeat The Duke's Dear Freja to access the Duke.

Prowling Magus and the Congregation

Use any weapon you are comfortable with. As this is a gank boss, a weapon having a horizontal swing is ideal for crowd control. Apply any elemental buff to your weapon, but lightning or fire are recommended. Equip the Thunder Quartz Ring+1 to boost your lightning defense. Benhart is available to be summoned for this fight. To advance his quest line, you should summon him for this fight and ensure he survives the battle. His summon sign is rather hidden; find the sign inside a tent near the Royal Army Campsite bonfire. The route from the bonfire to the fog wall should first be cleared of all enemies. Then summon Benhart to assist you against the boss.

Defeat the boss, head to the Chapel Threshold bonfire, and light it. Locate Cromwell the Pardoner at the top of a nearby ladder outside the boss arena. Cromwell is one of the merchants for miracles. For a fee, he can also absolve any sins you have committed, e.g. you killed an NPC.

33. Brightstone Cove Tseldora, Dark Souls II: SotFS

34. Brightstone Cove Tseldora: Estus Flask Shard, Dark Souls II: SotFS

After defeating Prowling Magus and the Congregation, you should be in Brightstone Cove Tseldora proper. This area can be difficult to explore in one go without using a Homeward Bone to return to a bonfire. For this reason, purchase all Homeward Bones from Sweet Shalquoir and use a Homeward Bone whenever you want to restart your exploration. At this point in the game, Sweet Shalquoir sells only Homeward Bone x 10 so ensure you use a Homeward Bone only when absolutely necessary. You will find Weaponsmith Ornifex inside a room, provided you have rescued her from the locked room at Shaded Woods. Purchase some Flame Butterflies from her.

The Duke's Dear Freja

35. The Duke's Dear Freja, Dark Souls II: SotFS

This boss is weak against weapons that deal strike damage. Buff your weapon with fire. The spider minions that spawn during the fight can be repelled by your torch. As long as you hold a torch in one hand, the spider minions won't come near you or attack you. Hold your torch in the left hand and one-hand your weapon in the right hand, thus you only have to concentrate on dodging and attacking Freja.

Defeat Freja, interact with the shiny item that spawns, make your way into a room to kill an NPC who wears the Tseldora armour set, grab the loot, and head into another room to light a Primal Bonfire. Aldia would spawn. Talking to him here would initiate his quest line, which culminates in you fighting him as an optional "final boss" of the game. Defeating Aldia in the end-game encounter would yield nothing, no soul item or souls in your counter. Thus there is no benefit in talking to him and follow his quest line, unless you want to fight all optional bosses. Visit Tark at Shaded Woods and exhaust his dialogue to complete his quest line. Visit Melentia and purchase all Brightbugs from her.