Covenants from Dark Souls return in Dark Souls II. By fulfilling certain requirements you can join an online group of protectors or player killers.

The Blue Sentinels members protect other players and are whisked away to another player’s world when their game is invaded by a dark spirit.

When a member of The Way of the Blue Covenant is invaded other Way of the Blue members shows up in their game to defend them. It’s possible to have a Blue Sentinel and a Way of the Blue member help you so you can take on Red Phantoms in a 3-on-1 fight.

If you like invading other people’s games, the Brotherhood of Blood is the Covenant for you. This is basically like the Darkwraith Covenant from Dark Souls, but instead of collecting humanity you are defeating other players to sacrifice their blood for the god of war, Nahr Alma.

The Heirs to the Sun Covenant also help other players and it looks like you show up in other player’s games as a Gold Phantom.

Bell Keepers guard twin bells, a symbol of the bond between two lovers who could not be united. Members of this Covenant are automatically summoned into another player’s world when they enter an area with a bell and their goal is defeat the approaching player.

Dark Souls II comes out on March 11, 2014 for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 with a PC release following after the console versions.