Well finally NG+ now I see why people are having trouble with Flexile Sentry. Its the same challenge as the Capra Demon fight in Dark Souls. The hard part is getting the two lackeys killed so you can focus on the main boss. Its either fight the ruin sentinels or fight this asshole I don't know what one would be worse.

Oh man, I'm so close you guys. IM SO CLOSE. I got all the souls I needed on NG+ for the unique spells and I just need to beat the game and get back to Drangleic castle on NG++ to buy the final two miracles and pyro that I need. Super pumped about this. Will be my first Souls game Platnium. I can finally put Dark Souls 2 to rest afterwards.

the soldier key opens at least 1 door in that location... but the key you are talking about is found in the iron keep.

Not sure if anyone will read this, but I didn't wanna start a new thread. I was wondering if anyone playing on PS3 has a character in NG around SL120 and has an orma's greatshield they'd wanna give me. I was building a character to dual wield that and reeve's greatshield and the enemies only gave me reeve's and I don't really wanna keep using bonfire ascetics to farm them since I was wanting to do NG+ and would prefer not to fight mega Velstadt.

Just to throw this out there but any DLC owners might want to read the spoiler...

If you revisit the undead crypt, have the ashen mist heart, and examine the kings armor laying in a pile at the far side of the room you can now enter Vendrick's memory and talk to him.