25 hours in, stuck at the Bell Gargoyle, and I'm starting to feel human again...

(warning: still new)

I've spent the better part of 5 hours since the time I've read my post and have taken the useful advice everyone's given me, and I'm now at the Bell Gargoyle. Why did I stop? Well my IRL self is starting to feel hollow from the lack of food :P

So, to keep everyone up to date as to my progress, if interested:

• Hit an impasse where GFWL corrupted my save :( Had to restart. Was a good thing too, since I now know what to do. Also, yet again GFWL is a horrible horrible system and should be brought out to the back of the shed and shot. Twice.

• Accidentally pissed off Yulia's "boyfriend". Was alright, think I bought all the kits from him. Also, he had a fine sword on him :D

• Mr Taurus Demon M.D. upstairs was treated to a faceful of sword at the start of the fight. Tingling sword :D

• Had an interesting experience with becoming Human and ending up being invaded and the invader (side diversion since Mrs Doubtfire Wyvern upstairs proved to not even let me get downstairs to kick the ladder, which I managed later)

• Managed to not die against Li Fang Boar, master of the pig style, kung fu. A surprise colonoscopy solved his issue.

• Returned to say hi to that emo black knight upstairs, showed him the light... quite literally (bonfire around Fang Boar miniboss area).

• Reclassified armored crossbow hollow from "annoying" to "demonic spider". dammit :(

• Said hello to the blacksmith in the lower levels. Wondering why he had a disfigured statue as a next door neighbor. Solved his issue after a couple of tries.

• Accidentally walked into a moment between a knight and what I'm guessing is his recently snicker deceased loved one in the parish itself. That soul will be put to good use, dont worry :)

• Was left agast at how good random hollows are if you buff them right. Also was more surprised at how quickly the priest went down :|

• Bell Gargoyle says hi :(

Thank you everyone for all the tips. I've definately moved from the Level of Despair of the Eternal Hell I was in, and I think I've probably entered the Level of Rage >:( Damn that Gargoyle!