Characters
NPCs
Anastacia of Astora: How Anastacia Ended Up at Firelink Shrine
Anastacia appears to have been the victim of an overzealous organisation (perhaps the Way of White). She has suffered several serious injuries; her tongue has been removed and her legs maimed, or otherwise broken. Her dialogue speaks of having an impure tongue that she hopes does not offend. This evidence lends itself to the following theory.
In her homeland or perhaps while traveling in Thorolund (pure speculation) she offended a powerful organisation like the Way of White by criticizing them in some way. She was captured and tortured, her tongue forcibly removed and her legs broken in order that she could not escape. She was then tasked with serving as a firekeeper at Firelink Shrine for all perpetuity. The torture and forcible removal of her tongue appears to have caused considerable trauma, convincing her that she truly should not speak. Alternatively, it may be more likely that she is wary of the Chosen Undead in that she is not clear of their allegiance. After her tongue is restored she will speak to Frampt and converse with the Chosen Undead almost freely.
Big Hat Logan: Logan Went Insane, Not Hollow
When Logan is encountered hostile, he is not hollowed, but was simply driven insane in a more traditional sense. All NPCs appear in their charred, undead forms when they encounter players after hollowing, but Logan just appears disrobed save for his hat. Both Big Hat Logan and Seath turned mad after studying crystal sorceries in the Duke's Archives.
After going insane, he started imitating Seath as best he could:
1. He has stripped down to just his undergarments (Seath is "scaleless")
2. He resides in the same chamber that you originally fought Seath (and likely where he himself too took on Seath)
3. He will lock you in the tower if you are defeated by him
4. He has developed White Dragon Breath in imitation
This theory is also supposed by the Design Works interview.
Big Hat Logan: How Logan Ended Up in Those Cages
Sen's Fortress
1. Logan was making his way through Sen's fortress, but became fatigued. The Serpent Men then locked him away:
If a hapless adventurer becomes fatigued during an imprudent attempt to overcome the fortress, the serpent men will not kill him, but lock him up in a lonely cage. Eventually, unless they have forgotten, they drag the victim off to who-knows-where. (Cage Key description)
2. Logan wanted to be captured by the Serpent Men because he knew they would take him to the Duke's Archives, however, it is may be that the Serpent Men forgot about him. Logan therefore decided that he was tired of waiting, so when the Chosen Undead showed up, he asked them to free him.
Duke's Archives
1. Logan's original plan of being captured in Sen's Fortress and taken to the Duke's Archives may have succeeded this time, however one point against this is he may not have wished to risk being forgotten again.
2. Logan made it through Sen's Fortress and into the Duke's Archives. He then took on Seath and was defeated, just like the Chosen Undead. Seath and his Serpent Men locked Logan in a cage then (this would explain how Logan knows that Seath is impervious to any damage and also why he is found in Seath's room when he is imitating him).
Crystal Knight: Eidas and the Crystal Knight
By taking a closer look at the Avelyn, the only weapon that mentions Eidas in its description, interesting design patterns can be found. These patterns are really similar to the ones found in the Crystalline set. This could connect the with Eidas.
It may also be possible that he went hollow and died in the gardens, where the set is found.
Eidas may be related to Sen's Fortress by the pressure plate traps, which are evidently similar to how the Avelyn works.
It's important to note that the crossbow mechanical design is similar to how the elevators and stairs work in the Archives.
In the Design Works Artbook, evidence suggests that the two were once, or still are, related. On the following image, Avelyn's concept art is on the left, while on the right, the Crystal Knight's weapon and shield can be seen.
Darkmoon Knightess: How the Lady of the Darkling got her Humanity
There are three known firekeepers in the game: Lady Darkling (the Darkmoon firekeeper in Anor Londo), Anastasia (the firekeeper at Firelink Shrine), and Quelaan (the firekeeper for the Chaos Servant covenant).
It's known for a fact that Quelaan needs Humanity to survive, which is why her servants bring it to her. I doubt we've been alone in thinking that this is simply due to her incredible weakness, thanks to her absorbing all of the plague that was consuming Blighttown into herself. But, what if this wasn't the case, and in actuality all firekeepers need a constant stream of Humanity to live?
Quelaan gets it from her servants. Anastasia gets it from the enormous amount of activity (i.e. Kindlings and De-Hollowings) that Firelink Shrine sees. But where would Lady Darkling get her humanity? No one goes to Anor Londo—Undead have to make it all the way through Sen's Fortress, a feat that very few have ever accomplished. So, that bonfire recieves next to no activity, especially considering that there are three other, more conveniently placed bonfires for Undead to use once they are in Anor Londo.
In the "We are the Souls" video, the Lady Darkling is seen crumpled against a wall, as if severely weakened. Then, she's standing, being cradled by Lautrec. So, Lautrec is where she gets her Humanity. He brings it to her in Anor Londo in order to keep his beloved Lady Darkling alive. This is why he kills Anastasia; Firekeeper souls have lots of Humanity. Anastasia's in particular would have quite a bit, even for a Firekeeper soul, because of the aforementioned heavy activity that Firelink Shrine recieves. He did not kill her out of spite, or a self-preserving instinct born out of a fear of turning Hollow himself, but in order to preserve the life of his mistress.
This would also explain why when you can first encounter Lautrec - imprisoned in a cell in the Undead Church. He is found right next to another Firekeeper soul. Who imprisoned him is another question entirely, but it seems clear that that was the reason for his visit.
Darkstalker Kaathe:Usurping the Flame
The Inspiration for the Primordial Serpents
The Mayans believed in a two-headed serpent. The serpent was responsible for transporting the dead from the earth to the underworld.
One head would swallow you from the earth and the other would spit you out in the underworld.
The art depicting the serpent even has a beard that is reminiscent of the ones that the primordial serpents have in Dark Souls.
The serpents being imperfect dragons also seems to have its roots in western mythology as dragons and serpents were often used interchangeably.
The Mayans beliefs were also centred around the 'World Tree' which is basically a tree that stretches from the underworld and through to the heavens so one could draw similarities there with the arch trees.
Crestfallen Warrior: The Warrior Symbolizes a Casual Player
The Crestfallen Warrior is the first NPC you find in Londran, and a quick chat says a lot about him: he is grumpy, he gave up ringing both bells, mocks you for even trying to attempt it and says it's pretty much "impossible". This dialogue symbolizes the mentality of many players about the Dark Souls series: They find it too hard, impossible, too hardcore, etc.
Then look at his armor: it's the first armor set you can buy, it's bought from the Undead Merchant. The casual player basically grabbed the first shiny armor that saw and went with it, then probably complained that he was still being killed. His sword is also a very basic sword and a starting weapon from one of the classes. It's no coincidence that he is the first thing you see when entering Firelink Shrine, he is there to remind you there are players who gave up easily in a game, never learn, and complain about it.
Elizabeth Was Created by Dusk
Perhaps there was an original Elizabeth, e.g. Dusk's mother, and she is the person that is spoken of in the Elizabeth's Mushroom description who helped those in need.
In her grief Dusk could have infused her memories of her mother into a mushroom to create a sentient being.
Evidence for this can be the fact that when Dusk is killed, the spell is broken, and Elizabeth dies too.
Everlasting Dragon Could be a Firekeeper
The bonfire in Ash Lake near the Stone Dragon, called by the same name, is already lit upon arrival and is kindled, like the rest of the bonfires that are linked to living Firekeepers, therefore there is a possibility that the Everlasting Dragon is a Firekeeper.
Everlasting Dragon Was Not Always a Dragon
Miyazaki said in an interview that
The Stone Dragon is not alive. The Ancient Dragons are half living, half element.
So there's no pain for them.
when asked about why the Dragon is fine with having his tail cut off. This could mean that it is indeed possible to completely transcend life through the Path of the Dragon.
According to the Dragon Eye, "transcendent apostles pray to the ancient dragons. To be alive is to be vulnerable, and the fiery Gods are no exception. The apostles seek another plane of existence, which transcends life". This is "attainable by transformation into an ancient dragon" According to the Dragon Greatsword, the Stone Dragon in Ash Lake is a "descendant of the ancient dragons", thus it is most probably that the Stone Dragon did indeed become a Dragon at some point, maybe the same way the player does; by collecting Dragon Scales and performing ancient rites.
Lastly, consider the similarities between players transformed via the Dragon Head Stone and Dragon Torso Stone and the Stone Dragon itself:
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Griggs of Vinheim is a spy from Vinheim sent to observe Logan
The black sorcerer set suggests that it is worn by "secretive sorcerers from the Vinheim Dragon School", who use "sound-based spells and never reveal themselves". Griggs not only wears this equipment but also sells Aural Decoy and Fall Control. He drops Hush when killed. All of these are sorceries used by Vinheim spies.
It is possible that the Dragon School sent him to observe Big Hat Logan's research, although he claims to want to gain Logan's recognition and calls him his master. He mentions that Logan's methods were considered heretical at the Dragon School and that there were "awful rumors" about him.
It is worth mentioning that there is another set of the same Black Sorcerer Set in Sen's Fortress, which can suggest that he is not the first spy to follow Logan.
Havel the Rock and Ash Lake
The equipment he and his warriors wore in battle were carved from solid rock, while the weapon they used was a Dragon Tooth. Ash Lake in the game is likely a metaphor of a journey, but considering the cinematic intro, it looks very similar to where Gwyn and his army fought against the Everlasting Dragons.
Havel's miracle the Great Magic Barrier is found in Ash Lake, and it is possible that the Dragon Tooth weapons were "harvested" off the "dead" dragons after the battle was won.
Why Havel was Inprisoned
Havel despised magic as well as Seath the Scaleless. Havel served Gwyn but was eventually "locked away by a dear friend. For his own good of course". This little link implies that it was indeed Lord Gwyn who locked Havel away once he turned hollow, or maybe he turned hollow after being imprisoned.
His hatred for Seath is apparent from the Great Magic Barrier item description:
Havel the Rock, an old battlefield compatriot of Lord Gwyn, was the sworn enemy of Seath the Scaleless.
He despised magic, and made certain to devise means of counteraction.
Perhaps after Seath was awarded dukedom, Havel the Rock planned to kill him but was captured in time.
There is also the fact that a Havel set is found in Anor Londo in a hidden, dark room along with an occult club which was used to hunt the gods in an occult rebellion. It may be that it was planted (for example by Seath) to falsely accuse Havel and his followers of high treason, or maybe him and his warriors were indeed plotting against the gods but were found out when the rebellion failed. Either way, he ended up being imprisoned.
List of Frampt's known acquaintances
We know that Frampt has spoken to the following:
1. Gwyndolin - because Gwynevere's illusion says that "Kingseeker Frampt, the primordial serpent, shall guideth thee"
2. Gwyn - Frampt himself claims to be a "close friend of the Great Lord Gwyn"
3. Ingward - he mentions that he trusts the player and Frampt
4. Anastacia - Anastacia tells the player that Frampt told her about the Undead's intention to link the Flame
Frampt was jealous of Seath
When Frampt talks about Seath he says that Seath is Gwyn's "former confidante". It is interesting that he bothers to use the word "former", unless it is a claim of superiority over Seath. It is known that Frampt and Gwyn seemed to share a semi-close relationship, it seems only fair that Frampt was jealous of Seath's closeness to Gwyn. This would explain why Frampt seems to have a distaste for anything Seath-related (e.g. Crystal items). So maybe when Seath lost Gwyn's favour, Frampt stepped in to become his next confidante.
There may have also been a rivalry between the Primordial Serpents and the Dragons, as the serpents are seen as an "imperfect dragon".
Kirk's connection to the Darkwraiths and Chaos Servants
According to item descriptions of his sword and armour, he is an infamous, notorious Darkwraith, however the placement of his corpse, the places where he invades and the fragment from the Game no Shokutaku interview practically confirm that Kirk may have abandoned the Darkwraith covenant upon discovering the Fair Lady, and started collecting humanity for her.
Nonetheless, others theorise that this contradicts his infamous and notorious nature, and point him to be actually willing to kill the Fair Lady in the same way Lautrec of Carim does with Anastacia of Astora for her Firekeeper Soul.
How Lautrec ended up imprisoned in the Parish
Lautrec was likely captured by the Six-Eyed Channeler found in the area before his cell. It may have been his plan as it is known that the Channelers take their captives to the Duke's Archives in Anor Londo (similarly to how Big Hat Logan might have gotten himself captured to enter the Archives), a destination Lautrec might be seeking to visit, considering he has a "pressing matter to attend to up above"
Alternatively, Lautrec may have been there for a very long time, evidence for this is that the entrance to his cell has been boarded up (albeit shoddily). In the chapel below has killed a Firekeeper upon the altar to the statue depicting a woman holding a baby. Perhaps this was his handiwork; it's clear that Lautrec is not averse to killing Firekeepers.
As a final note: if Lautrec had been locked in the cell by the Channeler, it would make sense for the Channeler to be holding the key, and yet he does not (though he is not very far from it).
Where Lautrec gets his Sunlight Medal from
When he is freed, Lautrec promises a reward, claiming that he does not have anything for the player yet.
However, not long after this he gifts a Sunlight Medal.
Upon clearing a boss, all party members are awarded a Sunlight Medal if the survivors include at least one Gold Phantom (i.e., a Warrior of Sunlight phantom, including NPC Phantom Knight Solaire).
It seems the most likely possibility that Lautrec fought beside a Warrior of Sunlight and was rewarded for his co-operation.
Lautrec is a summonable white phantom for the Gargoyle and Gaping Dragon battles, as well as Solaire, who is a known member of the Sunlight Covenant.
Alternatively, Lautrec may have gained the medal outside of the means available to the player.
One theory is that he murdered a member of the Sunlight Covenant or another undead who held one and took it for himself.
Laurentius and the Butchers
When freed, Laurentius talks about "she who wants to eat her".
The general belief is that he refers to Maneater Mildred, given her name and garb, or perhaps to the butcher that ambushes the player when approaching Laurentius (it has been confirmed that the butchers were female despite their looks), but there is another theory:
There's nothing really that suggests the butchers do anything other than cut meat: it seems they just chop up their victims and prepare their flesh for consumption. The question is, if they don't eat it themselves, who are they feeding it to?
Directly behind the first butcher cutting meat at a table next to a dog, is a hidden hole in the ground that leads to the area with the giant undead rat.
The butchers might be feeding the giant rat, that's why it's so huge. It is already known that rats eat human corpses (which is why they sometimes drop Humanity). The butchers kill hapless adventures, chop them up into little bits and then toss their bodies down the chute, where the rat eats them.
To support this theory, when landing from the hole, the player lands on a pile of human remains.
Petrus is Not Undead
There are several signs pointing at the possiblity that Petrus himself is not undead. Unlike other NPCs, he does not use Estus. He goes out of his way to spread rumours about Rhea's plentiful humanity, but he himself does not take it. He cannot be summoned and he never invades.
This would also explain why he is not keen on going into the Catacombs and why he abandoned his group and possibly fled.
It is possible that the Way of White posted him in Lordran to deal with members of the church on their Undead Mission, perhaps to make sure they do not succeed.
The only contradiction to this theory is that he trades for Souls (perhaps because the accepted currency in Lordran is Souls). It is unknown if humans can use Souls, though he does give the player a Copper Coin:
Coin made of copper. Its face shows Old Man McLoyf, god of medicine and drink.
Even coins of great value in the world of men have little value in Lordran, where the accepted currency is souls.
Those who dream of returning to the outside world are fond of carrying these around.
Quelana is a ghost
There is a debatable theory that Quelana is, in fact, a ghost. This is supported by some of her phrases:
A mere Undead, yet you can see me?
I am not often revealed to walkers of flesh
and the fact that the body that Ceaseless Discharge guards over specifically mentions Quelana.
One could argue that the fact that she escaped Izalith without being mutated is proof of her being dead, but there seems to be another, living Daughter of Chaos in front of the Bed of Chaos boss room, and also a corpse of another in front of Ceaseless Discharge (unless, as in this theory, it is her corpse).
This theory can be potentially disproved by the survivor's guilt that Quelana shown or the constant calling of Quelana as the only one who survived the Chaos.
Rhea was abducted by a Channeler and was taken to the Duke's Archives
According to a common theory, Rhea's location in the Undead Parish after being rescued from the Tomb of the Giants, a Firekeeper's corpse on the altar and the location of the Channeler in the same location line up conveniently for a quite bizarre theory.
Channelers were well-known for abducting young maidens and the one in question is overlooking the altar in the Undead Parish Church, where the corpse of a Firekeeper can be found (proven by the Firekeeper's Soul looted from it). Rhea later appears in the same spot and if all her miracles are bought and Petrus is prevented from killing her, she can be found hollowed in the Duke's Archives. This is particularly interesting because it is known that the Channelers worked for Seath and brought their abducted maidens to the Duke's Archives.
It's worth noting that Rhea's mission was to acquire the Rite of Kindling, which is located in the Catacombs/Tomb of the Giants according to their knowledge, thus it is clear that she had no business in the Duke's Archives.
While the chronologic order of the above events don't line up (the non-respawning Channeler is there when the game starts, Rhea appears far after he's killed and then ends up in the Duke's Archives), the question still stands: how did Rhea end up in the prison of the Duke's Archives if not for a Channeler?
Another valid point is Big Hat Logan's suspected plan; he wanted to study Seath's work and the easiest way to the Duke's Archives was to get kidnapped by Seath's followers, which can potentially support Rhea's abduction, too.
Sieglinde is not Undead
In the game's text dump, Siegmeyer laments the fact that Sieglinde came all the way to Lordran to find him, and that such an action is dangerous due to her status as a "normal" human. After she completes her quest, Sieglinde mentions that she is "returning to Catarina". Since the undead and hollow are abhorred by the rest of the world, she would not otherwise be able to return to her home, unless she herself was not undead.
Solaire may be Gwyn's Firstborn
Solaire was theorised by some to be Lord Gwyn's firstborn who has been stripped off his deity status. To this, his dialogue might be a reference to his banishment:
But when I peer at the Sun up above, it occurs to me…
What if I am seen as a laughing stock, as a blind fool without reason?
Well, I suppose they wouldn't be far off!
It is also described in the Sunlight Medal description, which states that Lord Gwyn's firstborn "still watches closely over his warriors", which could be interpreted as a hint to to Solaire's ability to be summoned to aid in boss fights as a Warrior of Sunlight.
His armor description states that it has not been blessed with special attributes, reinforcing the idea that he is extremely strong and versatile in combat for other reasons.
His shield description supports the idea that his equipment "has no divine powers of its own. As it turns out, Solaire's incredible prowess is a product of his own training, for his equipment exhibits no special traits."
Additionally, he possesses the Lightning Spear miracle, which is described as "the weapon of the God of War".
It is also theorised that his line:
I will stay behind, to gaze at the sun.
The sun is a wondrous body. Like a magnificent father!
If only I could be so grossly incandescent!
could be hinting at him being the firstborn because he compares the sun to be like a father, but such a direct and blatant reference to lore is very unlike the type of storytelling Souls games use.
In addition, it is theorised that he has been stripped of his memory when he lost his deific status, which could be a contradiction since he states himself that "[he] became Undead to pursue [finding his own sun]".
Although developers have not confirmed anything, they have stated that Gwyn's firstborn does not appear in the game.
Solaire is a normal Human / Undead
(Work in Progress)
While the above theory tells about the possibility of Solaire being Gwyn's Firstborn, this second theory expands into it is more likely for Solaire to be just a normal human, follower of Gwyn and the gods, who became Undead to follow his "sun".
The Female Undead Merchant may be Yulia
As many speculate, Yulia, the companion of the Male Undead Merchant can possibly be the Female Undead Merchant. She appears behind iron bars in the sewers and hile it is unclear how she ended up there, it may be that she was locked up or ran away - both could be what the Male Undead Merchant is hinting at by saying "You'd never leave my side, now would you, Yulia?".
The Female Undead Merchant may be Yulva
Yulva is known to be one of the sealers of New Londo who later left their duties. These sorcerers were once healers and Yulva's gear and miracle Remedy is found atop Blighttown.
The mosses to dealt with the poisons and toxins of Blighttown are only sold by the Undead Female Merchant (not counting the DLC), along with the moss that clears bleed build-up. She also has an unlimited amount of Purging Stones and Transient Curses, items that Ingward, a known and alive sealer also sells and are most useful in New Londo Ruins.
Considering her vast knowledge of Blightown and the knowledge about curses is it possible that she is actually Yulva who has started to lose her marbles after the curing of Blighttown proved to be a task too difficult or perhaps because of the guilt she felt after flooding New Londo, killing many innocent people.
The Male Undead Merchant and Yulia
As many speculate, Yulia, the companion of the Male Undead Merchant can possibly be:
- The bucket next to him, since he keeps stroking it as he talks, and at times, it seems he is talking to it; evidence to this is the following dialogue:
Ah, this one? Ain't she lovely?
Her name is Yulia. She's plumb in love with me.
You'd never leave my side, now would you, Yulia?
- The Female Undead Merchant; the dialogue above could be evidence to this, as the Female Undead Merchant is found behind iron bars. While it is unclear how she ended up there, it may be that she was locked up or ran away - both could be what the Male Undead Merchant is hinting at by saying
You'd never leave my side, now would you, Yulia?
- His Uchigatana
- Just an imaginary friend; he's petting/talking to a bucket, afterall.
Vamos is part of the Izalith royal line
His Royal Helm suggests that it belongs to a royal line:
Helm of Vamos, skeleton blacksmith of the Catacombs.
Partially made of gold, and confers high resistance overall.
The helm is believed to belong to an ancient royal line,
but only Vamos would know for sure, and he shall never speak again.
The fact that it is made of gold ties into the idea that the people of Izalith used gold to create the armor and clothing for those of importance. We can see this by looking at the Gold-Hemmed Black Set which belonged to Quelana of Izalith (and all the Daughters of Chaos wore a similar garb).
Admittedly gold appears to be used in a number of precious things in reality but this may therefore just be a coincidence.
It would explain why he is adept at using fire based embers, and why he is able to recognize the chaos ember:
… Hmph? What, that's… an ember unlike any that I have seen…
A very curious pattern… … Could it be the flame of the legendary witch?
I know! Suppose you left that ember with me?
Vamos may have been the Royal Blacksmith of Izalith, or perhaps an apprentice during his time in flesh, although his theory does not explain why he resides in the Catacombs.
Witch Beatrice has ties to Velka
Speculation, but the evidence for this is:
1. The dark feathers attached to her catalyst (see concept art). Dark feathers could be associated with Velka's crow. Her Catalyst's head also resembles a bird's talon.
2. She is a witch who knows age-old sorceries, Velka is described as a black haired witch versed in arts both old and new. They are both described as being rogues
3. Her catalyst is intelligence based (as you would expect) but it is also interesting to note that offensive items associated with Velka are also intelligence based. Examples being Velka's Talisman and Velka's Rapier.
Witch Beatrice came from Oolacile.
Evidence for this:
1. You encounter her first in Darkroot, known to be the remains of Oolacile, and in New Londo which was corrpupted by the Abyss much like Oolacile.
2. A child version of Beatrice was slated to appear in the Artorias of the Abyss DLC.
3. Her catalyst was used for "age-old sorceries". Oolacile was well known for its unique Sorceries. The catalyst is also said to "contrast with Vinheim sorceries". Oolacile is the only region other than Vinheim known for sorcery.
Jeremiah is King of Oolacile
In the golden scroll found in Farron keep in Dark Souls III, the people who did research on the Oolacile socrceries, possibly developing them, are referred to as 'xanthous scholars'. From this it can be assumed that the people of Oolacile were characteristic of wearing yellow, as can be seen on Dusk's golden yellow dress, as well as the fact Oolacile is known as the 'golden land', so it's possible that Jeremiah was in fact the king of Oolacile, which would also explain his notched whip, as the people of Oolacile were known to torture people in their research on Humanity. This would mean that Dusk is Jeremiah's daughter.
Jeremiah is Infected by a Massive Parasite
For a start, the headpiece bears a striking resemblance to a certain parasite in Blighttown that's stuck to a wall - the shape is nearly identical. Near the parasite you find a whip, and King Jeremiah is the only enemy in the game to use such a weapon.
There's also the fact that Jeremiah uses chaos pyromancies to fight you, and the parasite is found on the path to Izalith, home to this form of pyromancy. Lastly, he's found in the Painted World, a realm things are banished to, in order to protect the outside world.
Is it possible he chose to exile himself once infected? The bandages suggest something quite sinister is lurking beneath. Original concept art for the character also shows tiny, worm-like creatures sprouting from Jeremiah's headpiece and body.
Bosses
Artorias' Pact with the Beasts of the Abyss
The "beasts of the abyss" are generally accepted to be the primordial serpents.
It is clear that Artorias gained the ability to traverse the abyss without being completely consumed. More specifically, it was either Frampt or Kaathe that Artorias made the pact with.
Kaathe was thought to be responsible for convincing the people of Oolacile to dig up Manus, as he generally wants to see Humanity propagate by any means.
Artorias may have been deceived into being corrupted. Or, it may have been Frampt to mess up Kaathe's plans, which is more in line with the legend of Artorias going to Oolacile to fight Manus.
Asylum Demon killed Oscar of Astora
It's likely the Asylum Demon killed Oscar of Astora:
When the Asylum Demon is first encountered, it jumps down from the roof. Oscar is found in a room with a human sized hole in the ceiling, lying upon a pile of bricks, with no other entrance to this room.
This clearly indicates that Oscar was smashed through the roof.
Bed of Chaos is the center of the Izalith Kiln
The Witch of Izalith was trying to recreate a new First Flame, using her soul. Bed of Chaos area is where this event happened and from here, every demon was born. By looking at the area of Lost Izalith, it's really easy to see how the whole city was inside a dome, with a bell shape, similar to the Kiln of the First Flame dome. It was evidently constructed to hold a new, recreated First Flame.
Kalameet is the cause of Oolacile's downfall
The title of this theory is a little misleading because it is clear that Manus is what brought about the true destruction of Oolacile, but it can be theorized that Kalameet started it all. Kalameet's presence provides an explanation as to why the people of Oolacile began to look for more power, why they were susceptible to the promises of a toothy serpent.
The people of Oolacile lived an idyllic life, they had established guardians to protect them from danger and gardeners to provide them with daily essentials to survive, but when the Black Dragon Kalameet, a dragon whose ire not even Anor Londo would provoke, decided to make Oolacile its new home, the people of Oolacile realized that their defenses would not be enough. While Kalameet may not have actively destroyed the township of Oolacile, it is likely that it terrorized its citizens in one way or another.
Prompted by their dire circumstance, the people of Oolacile began to search for a new means of power. This was a town that lived in the shadow of Anor Londo, one that followed the ways of Gwyn and had nary a murmur of dark. It was then that a toothy serpent appeared to these desperate people, and told them about the ancient being that dwelt within the ground. Should they unearth it, they may find the power necessary to defeat the dragon that plagued them. And so the people listened, they followed the advice of this toothy serpent, and the rest is history.
Priscilla’s Parentage
Priscilla’s father is almost certainly Seath. The main reasons for this are:
- Despite this being fully lost in translation, Priscilla's soul in Japanese translates as "The white half-dragon that is an illegitimate child and enemy of life" which proves that her father was indeed Seath, as he is the only dragon which is ever called "white" or "pale".
- There is a very close resemblance. In the official artwork her tail matches Seath’s in style almost exactly, albeit on a smaller scale. There is a reference made to Priscilla's "stark whiteness" in the Lifehunt Scythe description. This is a defining feature of Seath as he is the "albino" dragon.
- Seath is one of the only living dragons remaining in Lordran (the other dragon being the Everlasting or Stone Dragon) and since he is the only known dragon to be not immortal, thus it may be that he is able to reproduce. This is important as it is likely that Priscilla is half-god, half-dragon.
- Seath is the only dragon known to have an interest in studying life, rebirth and especially women. Presumably, prior to the war with the dragons, the dragons had no interest in mankind (or godkind). As the anatomy of dragons and humanoids is vastly different, it can only be speculated that Seath achieved reproduction through some sort of experimental means, and he is known to conduct wild experiments.
It is less clear who Priscilla’s mother is. Due to her immortal status we can speculate that her mother was a god of Anor Londo. The most likely candidate is Gwynevere and the reasons for this are:
- Gwynevere is cherished as a symbol of fertility. Because of Seath’s fascination with women, life, reproduction and so forth (in his attempts to achieve immortality) it is most likely that the goddess viewed as the goddess of fertility would present a very interesting subject to experiment upon. See Divine Blessing description: "The Goddess of Sunlight, Gwynevere, daughter of the great Lord of Sunlight Gwyn, is cherished by all as the symbol of bounty and fertility."
- Gwynevere and Priscilla share a certain resemblance. Their faces are anatomically similar in the official art and they are of a similar stature (though the Gwynevere seen ingame is an illusion, the Gwynevere depicted in statues is smaller than the actual illusion and may have been closer to the real size).
- Gwynevere and Priscilla are voiced by the same voice actor and therefore have very similar voices. Though this may be a simple developer decision to save money on hiring another voice actor. It is known that there are voice actors in Dark Souls who voice multiple characters, however, it may be that casting the same voice actor for the two different characters who could be related was intentional.
- The fact that she was not killed. This could be explained that the gods feared her so much they did not try to kill her, or that she was the daughter of someone important in the pantheon so executing her would cause an outrage.
The Legend of the Chosen Undead, Gwyndolin and Velka
When her previous attempts failed, Velka started the legend of the Chosen Undead that would allow her to take worthy undead warriors from the Asylum into Lordran and have them mercilessly attack and destroy the gods she's been warring with. Gwyndolin, to counter this, attempts to manipulate the Chosen Undead into his own cause, that of linking the First Flame.
It is possible that after her plots have been found out, she was banished to the Painted World of Ariamis and Gwyndolin (perhaps secretly) took over the covenant.
To support this, consider the following evidence:
Gwyndolin, leader of the Darkmoon Covenant rewards the player for killing the half human, half crow hybrids associated with the worship of Velka, found in the Painted World of Ariamis. These crows drop Souvenirs of Reprisals:
blood-drained, shrunken ears, […] taken for subduing the guilty. The knights called the Blades of the Darkmoon punish the guilt-soaked offenders of the Gods and take this as proof of their conquest. The earless corpses of the guilty will be left behind as a warning to others, inspiring both fear and respect for the Gods. Such is the eternal mandate of the Dark Sun.
This implies that Gwyndolin is using the Darkmoon Blade covenant to manipulate the Chosen Undead to kill Velka's followers.
In the same context, note that the Blades of the Darkmoon, knights of Gwyndolin, punish the offenders of the gods:
O Disciple of the Dark Sun. Thou hast journeyed far; hear my voice.
If thou shalt swear by the Covenant, to become
A shadow of Father Gwyn and Sister Gwynevere,
A blade that shall hunt the foes of our Lords;
Then I shalt protect thee, safeguarding thy person with the power of the Darkmoon.Hunteth the enemies of the Lords, by the power of the Dark Sun.
Note how the covenant is now used to "hunt the foes of [the] Lords", instead of sinners. This might mean those who oppose the gods: Velka and her kin.
Furthermore, Gwyndolin's catalyst allows user to use sorceries with faith instead of intelligence, while Velka's Talisman enables the user to use miracles using intelligence instead of faith.
Upon the killing Gwyndolin Oswald, a pardoner of Velka has unique dialogue, seemingly congratulating the player for killing the leader of the Darkmoon Blades:
Good tidings, thou art welcome. Laudable is thy dedication to sin.
Illusions of Anor Londo
Some believe that Ornstein and Smough did not know of Gwyndolin's deception and that the princess Gwynevere in Anor Londo was an illusion. Alternatively, it is possible that either or both Ornstein and/or Smough were illusions created by Gwyndolin. Since there is no way to break the illusion of Anor Londo before the fight happens, it's impossible to tell whether or not either of them were illusions.
Spoilers from the Sequels:
There's a strong case to be made that the Ornstein seen in the first Dark Souls isn't Ornstein at all, but is rather an illusion meant to protect the Lordvessel. For a start, an Ornstein-like being is fought in Dark Souls 2, but wearing darker armour.
This might not be Ornstein either, but things are cast into serious question by the fact that it's possible to find Ornstein's armour next to the Nameless King boss in Dark Souls 3, along with the a description stating that Ornstein left Anor Londo in order to track down Gwyn's first born.
So if Ornstein left Anor Londo, how can he be killed there? Illusion is a very common theme in Anor Londo: Gwynevere is an illusion, as is the sun itself. It makes a lot of sense for Ornstein to be one, too.
Velka's Involvement in the Four Kings' Betrayal of Gwyn
The statue of Velka found in the Painted World can be also found only in New Londo. While it is true that Gwyn granted the Four Kings of New Londo a fragment of his Lord Soul, strangely there seems to be no statues or other signs of worship of Gwyn, only Velka. This might imply that Velka had a hand in the Four Kings betraying Gwyn.
Furthermore, the fact that Red Soapstone, associated with the Darkwraiths of New Londo is found in the Painted World might also tie Velka to New Londo and possibly the Darkwraiths:
Certain Darkwraiths resist their descent into dark and preserve along the honorable path. The Red Soapstone is for them.
Gaping Dragon climbed up from Blighttown
Gaping Dragon's area ends in a cylindrical cliff, from where this boss appears in the intro for the fight. The cylindrical hole is actually connected with the bonfire area in lower Blighttown, where a Dragonscale is found.
"First of the Dead"
The title "First of the Dead" alludes to him being the first being to die. Or better yet, the first beings to die (notice how dead can be taken as either singular or plural here).
In the Age of Ancients before the advent of fire, the world was grey and uniform and ruled by everlasting, unliving and undying dragons. Nothing lived, and nothing died.
But this does not mean that before the Age of Fire, no other lifeforms existed; this is evidenced by such an ancient figure such as Gwyn having an uncle in Allfather Lloyd, and thus, presumably a mother and father. Furthermore, Daughters of Chaos are stated to be the daughters of the Witch of Izalith, so it seems that beings other than the Everlasting Dragons reproduced before the Age of Fire.
Perhaps the key to the immortality of the Everlast Dragons lies in their name: everlasting. Not only could they not die so long as they had their stone scales, they didn't change at all.
While they never died, they still aged, suffered injuries, and came down with diseases, they just never died; they wasted away but were denied the release of death.
Then when the fire came, and the even gray of the world was tossed into the yin-yang of black and white; life and death; light and dark.
With this newfound disparity, life and death separated, and all the old, injured, infirmed, and decomposed members of the proto-race suddenly died en masse. This massive influx of death and the equally massive release of souls that came with it coalesced into one being, Nito, who became the First of the Dead. This could explain his strange skeletal form which places him so apart from his fellow lords and also the fact that his body seems to be made of several humanoid sekeletons. And who better to take the mantle of the Lord of Death and the holder of the Soul of Death, than all those who died before him?
Manus is the Furtive Pygmy
Deep in the dungeons below Oolacile where it would seem the townsfolk tortured various humans. Broken-through cells can be found with chains dangling from the ceiling. One such tortured soul is found at the entrance of it, who seems to have been mounted and chained to a pole.
A primeval serpent convinced the people of Oolacile to open the grave of the primeval man, likely initiated by Kaathe with the hopes of setting in motion the prophecy of the Dark Lord.
Or perhaps by Frampt, attempting to harvest the power of the Dark Soul in a desperate act to to prolong the Age of Fire.
Dark of the Abyss, which swallowed poor Artorias, threatens to devour our entire land of Oolacile. It seems that this dire fate is unavoidable. But, seduced by a Dark serpent or no, they awoke that thing themselves, and drove it mad. …One's demise is always one's own making. If thine wish is to succeed poor Artorias, and challenge the spread of the Dark, Then thou must face Manus, Father of the Abyss. The Dark emanates from Manus himself. Even if this land shall expire, thou may be able to prevent further corrosion.
Thy Scent is very human, indeed. …But, not intolerable… But Princess Dusk is here no longer… snatched away by that horrifying primeval human.
Believe it or not… Oolacile has brought the Abyss upon itself. Fooled by that toothy serpent, they upturned the grave of primeval man, and incited his ornery wrath. What could they have been thinking?
According to Gough and Marvellous Chester, Oolacile was tricked by a primeval serpent. It is possible that the Kalameet theory played a part in this, thus the folk of Oolacile began to search for a new means of power to protect themselves from the dragon. In their quest for power, they discovered an ancient burial ground where they awoke and tortured the primeval human that lay there, to the brink of madness.
It is possible that to discover these powerful, dark sorceries they tortured various humans, and that the sorcerer may have been human as well, but the likelihood of one of these sorcerers becoming Manus is unlikely. Furthermore, note tyhat it is known that there were various other human being tortured by Oolacile, yet none of them created such a catastrophy.
Dark Fog: Abyss sorcery discovered by an Oolacile sorcerer on the brink of madness. Although Dark Fog is, in theory, relatively close to humanity, it also happens to be a terrible poison for humans. Perhaps it reflects man's cruelty against his own.
It seems that they not only tortured him, but also took his pendant, setting him over the edge, transforming him into Manus, Father of the Abyss. This is supported by:
Soul of Manus: This extraordinary soul is a viscous, lukewarm lump of gentle humanity. Ancient Manus was clearly once human. But he became the Father of the Abyss after his humanity went wild, eternally seeking his precious broken pendant.
I still think on that creature from the Abyss that preyed upon me. My faculties were far from lucid, but I quite clearly sensed certain emotions. A wrenching nostalgia, a lost joy, an object of obsession, and a sincere hope to reclaim it… Could these thoughts belong to the beast from the Abyss? But if that were true, then perhaps it is no beast after all?
Pursuers: Sorcery of Manus, Father of the Abyss. Grant a fleeting will to the Dark of humanity, and volley the result. The will feels envy, or perhaps love, and despite the inevitably trite and tragic ending, the will sees no alternative, and is driven madly toward its target.
Manus, driven mad, attacked everything around him. His humanity and power gone rampant, created a spreading Abyss, that began consuming all of Oolacile, transforming and corrupting all in its path, in his rage and attempt to find his precious broken pendant.
Kaathe gives the only information about the furtive pygmy:
After the advent of fire, the ancient lords found the three souls. But your progenitor found a fourth, unique soul. The Dark Soul. Your ancestor claimed the Dark Soul and waited for Fire to subside. And soon, the flames did fade, and only Dark remained. Thus began the age of men, the Age of Dark.
Last but not least, note how Manus' soul is described to be a lukewarm lump of gently humanity and that his humanity went wild. Looking at his soul icon, a humanity sprite can be seen amidst the chaotic growths on his soul.
The stones circling Manus grave are reminiscent of Stonehenge, it is a clearly marked burial site and it seems particularly important. As it is known, humanity is central to the influence of the furtive pymgy - humanity sprites are found within the Oolacile dungeons.
During the Game no Shokutaku interview with Miyazaki, he said: "The image is something like a human ancestor. It found the Lord Soul and humanity is like a fragment of it. Kinda like an ancestor, so the descendants have a part of that soul/"
Why Pinwheel Stole Nito's Power
When fighting Nito, he controls, or is at least necromancing two skeletons. This may ultimately be Nito's power that Pinwheel wanted.
Starting with Pinwheel's coffin, it is filled with books and skeletons/corpses which is by far not unnatural for a necromancer, but it hints that he is dedicated to gain knowledge and practices hard to achieve something. In the Catacombs there is a hidden room behind a wall in which a slightly opened coffin is found with a corpse inside.
In this same hidden room there is a large statue of a woman holding a baby in her hands. It may be that the corpse belongs to the woman depicted by the statue. It could be that Pinwheel is the father that desperately tries to revive his loved ones.
Pinwheel's Possible Involvement with the Occult Rebellion
In the aforementioned hidden room where the coffin is found, in which the corpse in presumed connection with Pinwheel lies, holding the Darkmoon Seance Ring:
This ring is granted to adherents of Gwyndolin, Darkmoon deity and last born of Gwyn, Lord of Sunlight.
It allows the wearer, presumably a member of the Blade of the Darkmoon Covenant, to invade the world of a sinner to seek justice.
Interestingly, the Effigy Shield found in the Tomb of the Giants and the Darkmoon Seance Ring may connect Pinwheel to the occult rebellion theory:
Frightful occult shield. Defends against Divine weapons and lightning.
In an ill-fated plot to destroy the very gods, the followers of the occult once attempted to steal the power of Gravelord Nito, the first of the dead.
If indeed Pinwheel was part of the occult rebellion, it would make sense for Paladin Leeroy to help in the fight, but also prevent anyone entering Nito's domain and attempting to steal Nito's power.
Pinwheel's Three Masks
In human history, death masks were once used as mementos of the dead. As far as appearances go, both the Mask of the Mother and Child are eyeless, however the Mask of the Father is the only one to have eyes present.
The fact that the Masks of the Mother and Child are eyeless might symbolise the mother and child being dead for a while. The father is also apparently holding the bodies of the mother and the child on his back.
- The Mask of the Father slightly raises equipment load, symbolising how a father "carries" his family (quite literally in Pinwheel's case)
- The Mask of the Mother slightly raises HP, symbolising how a mother cares and protects her family.
- The Mask of the Child slightly raises stamina recovery speed, symbolising the inexhaustible energy of a playful child.
Expanding on this theory, it may be that after his wife and child passed away, the father attempted to find a way to resurrect his family (hence why he's found near Gravelord Nito, God of Death). Meddling with dark magic is risky business, however, and the family was fused together as a single entity. The Mask Of The Father is the lowest on Pinwheel, as if under the cloak he's carrying the Mother and Child. Also, Pinwheel is in a crypt filled with hundreds of books, as if he's desperately researching some sort of fix. And to top it all off, one of Pinwheel's main attacks is separating itself, as if trying to split back into three different entities.
Why there are Channelers in Undead Parish and The Depths
In his research, Seath may have discovered that when the Age of Fire ends, rekindling the flame would require his Lord Soul fragment. He may have also suspected that, as he betrayed his own kind, his allies may eventually betray him to retrieve his piece of the Lord Soul. Eventually, someone would come and deny him his long desired and finally attained immortality.
So, knowing the prophecy of the Chosen Undead, he placed a Channeler in the Undead Parish by the first Bell of Awakening and set another to guard the Gaping Dragon, who holds the key to Blighttown, which must be traversed to reach the second bell.
The Origin of Seath’s Name
Seath is likely named after Seath the White Dragon, a character in the game Kings Field, an older title also made by From Software.
The Origin of the Name Sif
The name Sif most likely derives from Norse mythology, in which she is the consort of the thunder god Thor. Supposed that the developers were inspired hereby, other parallels in the Souls universe can be construed:
- According to that, Artorias would be the counterpart to Thor. In the norse mythology he is (among other) the protector of Midgard (the Realm of humans) or the humankind respectively.
- Imagine he came to Oolacile to battle the threat that lurks below oolacile, the town would be the counterpart to Midgard he wants to protect. This does also underline the theory that Oolacile is the cradle of human in the Souls universe (and the realm of humans in is time).
Enemies
The Butchers are feeding the Giant Rat
When freed, Laurentius talks about "she who wants to eat her".
The general belief is that it is Maneater Mildred, given her name and garb, or the butcher that ambushes the player upon approaching Laurentius (it has been confirmed that the butchers were female despite their looks), but there is another theory.
There's nothing really that suggests the butchers do anything other than cut meat.
Given what Laurentius says, it seems the butchers chop up their victims and prepare their flesh for consumption. But if the butchers don't eat it themselves, who are they feeding it to?
Directly behind the first butcher, cutting meat at a table, is a hidden hole in the ground that leads to the area with the giant undead rat.
The butchers are feeding the giant rat, that's why it's so huge. It is already known that rats eat human corpses (which is why they sometimes drop humanity). The butchers kill hapless adventures, chop them up into little bits, and then toss their bodies down the chute, where the rat eats them.
To support this theory, when landing from the hole, the player lands on a pile of human remains.
Mimics are From Oolacile
The Symbol of Avarice item is a rare drop from killing a Mimic. Its description explains "this is the symbol of shame imposed on a long lost clan, exiled for the sin of avarice."
There was a sorcery developed in Oolacie, Chameleon. The spell allows the caster to turn into objects to blend into the environment, such as: vases, barrels, and… chests. The lost clan was likely a group of mages in Oolacile that were driven by greed to use Chameleon to disguise themselves as chests. Why would anyone want to be a chest? It's simple, where do people put their valuables? Chests! This clan would pose as chests, wait for people to put stuff in them and then steal the loot. It was only when they were full of loot when they tried to attack people who would take their things.
Thus, the Bloatheads that inhabit Oolacile are most likely those same mages. Furthermore, their bodies are similar to those that emerge from Mimics, hunched over with long, scrawny limbs.
Finally, there is even an interaction between a mob from Oolacile and a mimic chest in Oolacile Township. The mob wanders up to the mimic then points and laughs at it, as if in total recognition.
The Parasitic Wall Hugger might be a Chaos Bug
The PWH is a later stage in the Chaos Bug life cycle. This is supported by the Sunlight Maggot description, which calls it a 'loathsome parasite'. Also, they both have seven legs, but the Parasite Wall Hugger has a tail as well, in the same position relative to the abdomen.
The Serpent Men and Seath
The serpent men are the jailers in The Duke's Archives, and are also found in Sen's Fortress. Both places seem to have several cells where they could lock up their captives.
The Cage Key description explains that the serpent men imprison hapless adventurers but do not not kill them. “Eventually, unless they have forgotten, they drag the victim off to who-knows-where.” Considering they guard the prisoners in the Duke's Archives where Seath experimented on them, it is possible that these serpent men also transport captives to the prison there.
The Silver Knights are Humans
The Silver Knights once fought aside Gwyn against the everlasting dragons at the dawn of the age of fire. They are furthermore dedicated to the divine entities around Gwyn but not described as divine themself. They guard / protect Anor Londo and can be found there in Dark Souls 1 as well as in Dark Souls 3. Though time is not exactly stated in the Souls games, it can be sure that it is a very long time from the age of dragons to Dark Souls 3. The Silver Knights may be in fact immortal.
There is no exact hint if they are divine or human - with one exception: Traveling through The Ringed City in Dark Souls 3 at a particular point the player is invaded by Silver Knight Ledo. Invasions are not unusual in the Souls games by both NPCs and other players. But all Invaders are humans without exception. That leads to the assumption that he and most other (if not all) Silver Knights are humans.
Exact time measurements can't be found in the Souls games, even for historic events, apart from their order of occurrence. But it can be assumed that the appearance of the lord souls and the fight against the everlasting dragons did not happen at the same time or short after another but that there are many years in between. Enough time for the furtive pygmy to rise, give birth to the human race, die and been buried below Oolacile. This is why he is not mentioned in the intro of Dark Souls for the fight against the everlasting dragons: He was already dead but the humans (some, or all?) fought in form of Silver Knights in his stead.
If the Silver Knights are humans, not neccessarily all humans have ascended to Silver Knights. An important difference between both is the obvious immortallity of the Silver Knights. A possible cause could be found at two locations in the ringed city:
- The statue of Gwyn: The path to princess Filianore's bed-chamber leads through a room with a statue. This statue shows Gwyn and a second person, kneeling befor him. Even if it doesn't appear very especially at first sight, its symbolism is maybe enormeous: The creature praying to gwyn looks frail and goes in rags. Further it appears to be human. Gwyn appears to be far superior and sublime. However in his hands he holds a crown similar to its own and holds it above the creature. As if he want's to crown it, to make it even. Irrespective if the creatue is the futive pygmy or a human in general, the scene can be taken as Gwyn equates man with himself while or because he is praying to him. So it is possible that he rewards humans with ascending them to a higher ranking equal to him.
- The soul of Darkeater Midir: The Item info explains that Midir was raised by the gods. It is also stated that he owes his immortality to the gods. This states that the gods (and therefor Gwyn) can grant immortality. Maybe also to humans who then have been ascent to Silver Knights.
Beside are five notable characters that maybe have emerged from the ranks of the Silver Knights or lead them respectively. This could also hint on a human relationship:
- Smough: Though not one of "Gwyn's most accomplished warriors", he was aspired to be one. His appearance seems to be alienous and the Item info of his armour states, that it "can be donned by humans" but it is not explicit stated whether his origin is humanely or not.
- Gough: He doesn't appear to be human but rather a Giant - as the item info of his helm also hints. Further he speaks of humans as different beings. However the origin of the giants in the Souls universe remains unclear though the origin of intelligent life is explained in general.
Mentioned
All-Father Lloyd, the Church of the Way of White and its Teachings
Founded by Gwyn's uncle, All-Father Lloyd, patron deity of Thorolund, the Way of White has a significant influence in other countries and kingdoms such as Astora and Thorolund.
Thorolund is a hierarchic theocracy, where Lloyd's Apostle is responsible for maintaining order according to the White Seance Ring.
The church teaches that the Dark Sign is a cursed brand and that bonfires must be maintained in order to please the gods. As such, the Northern Asylum is probably the works of the Way of White to get rid of the "accursed".
The Way of White was given means to hunt down the cursed Undead (Miracles and Lloyd's Talismans, which blocks Estus recovery which is used exclusively by undead).
Members of the church are set on the Undead Mission, should they become undead. The purpose of this pilgrimage to Lordran is to find the Rite of Kindling and offer humanity to the bonfires to buy time for Gwyn to link the Flame and maintain the Age of Fire and Gods (it is an accepted hypothesis that humanity is a fragment of the Dark Soul thus burning it strengthens bonfires and weakens the spread of the Abyss and the coming of the Age of Dark).
Carmina's Fate
The pyromancy Power Within is found on a hanging corpse next to the Parasitic Wall Hugger in Blighttown. This may have been Carmina's end (as her other two known pyromancies are sold by Laurentius).
Two unnamed Daughters of Chaos were sacrificed to the Bed of Chaos
One of the most accepted general theories support that the two orbs that keep the Bed of Chaos chained were made from a sacrifice of two daughters. This may be why Quelana says the following dialogue:
I have a favour to ask…
My mother, the Witch of Izalith, was one of the primeval Lords…
Her power came from the soul that she found near the First Flame.
She focused this power to light a flame of her own, but she failed to control it.
The Flame of Chaos engulfed Mother and my sisters, and moulded them into deformed creatures.
Only I escaped, and now I am here.
But my mother and sisters have been in anguish since.
I beseech you. Free Mother and my sisters from the Flame of Chaos.
I cannot do it myself; I lack the strength, and the bravery
But you…
I realise what I am asking. But please, free their pour souls…
Mother's ambitions were misguided, no doubt, but surely a thousand years of atonement is enough!
It's important to note that she only starts mentioning her mother and sisters after the player has defeated Chaos Witch Quelaag, and that she probably doesn't know about the Fair Lady, so it's clear that she does not mean them. Furthermore, she is talking in plural, so she must mean more than one sister, so Grana, guarding the Bed of Chaos fog door, cannot be the only one she meant.
Another interesting proof is the one which claims that the root-like chains that hold the Bed of Chaos are very similar to the Izalith Catalyst.
King Rendal is Still Alive
Within the last hundred years, three people attempted to attack Sen's Fortress. They did not all fail. Although it is likely Rendal's body that you find with the Ring of Steel Protection, the way time is distorted in the world could still allow Rendal to be adventuring in another reality. The Baldr knights are never seen after Sen's Fortress, so it is likely that Rendal and his knights never advanced further than that. But there is a Silver Coin with his visage on it inside a chest in Anor Londo. Anor Londo itself is discovered to be an illusion though, so it becomes harder to know what is real. When the illusion is broken though, a Baldr knight appears, and that might be Knight King Rendal.
Legacy of Pharis
The archer in Darkroot Garden may have been his lover, which could be the reason why she has his gear.
She could also be a descendant of his and the gear is her inheritance.
Velka's Plotting and the Occult Rebellion
The Painted World of Ariamis holds several items related to Velka and is generally associated with the rogue goddess.
The Dark Ember, found in the Painted World of Ariamis that unlocks the Divine upgrade path, is used to make "occult weapons [that] were used to hunt the gods and are effective against their following and kin. The church long hid the forbidden black ember, and no living blacksmith knows of it."
There is a mention of an occult rebellion in the Effigy Shield description, stating:
Frightful occult shield. Defends against divine weapons and lightning.
In an ill-fated plot to destroy the very gods, the followers of the occult once attempted to steal the power of Gravelord Nito, the first of the dead.
This shield appears to have been used against the gods and their followers, while it is known that the Dark Ember and occult upgrade path associated with Velka is used to hunt gods and their followers. Velka's Rapier scales with intelligence and also inflicts occult damage. This implies that Velka played a significant role in the rebellion against the gods.
According to the Karmic Justice miracle,
For each sin there is a punishment, and it is the task of Goddess Velka to define the sin, and mete out the punishment.
It is possible that Velka was present at the beginning of the Age of Fire and witnessed the defeat of the Everlasting Dragons and found the gods guilty of interfering with the Dragons. Alternatively, it may also be possible that she thought Gwyns' linking of the flame, thus extending the Age of Fire to be a sin.
After the occult rebellion failed, she seemed to have had a new plan. The statue found in the Painted World can be also found only in New Londo. While it is true that Gwyn granted the Four Kings of New Londo a fragment of his Lord Soul, strangely there seems to be no statues or other signs of worship of Gwyn, only Velka. This might imply that Velka had a hand in the Four Kings betraying Gwyn.
Furthermore, the fact that Red Soapstone, associated with the Darkwraiths of New Londo is found in the Painted World might also tie Velka to New Londo and possibly the Darkwraiths:
Certain Darkwraiths resist their descent into dark and preserve along the honorable path. The Red Soapstone is for them.
Lastly, Velka's influence can be found in the Catacombs and the rebellion is mentioned in the Effigy Shield description, which is found in the Tomb of the Giants. Interestingly, the Effigy Shield and the Darkmoon Seance Ring thus may connect Pinwheel to this occult rebellion theory:
In a hidden room in the Catacombs, a coffin is found in which a corpse is found, holding the Darkmoon Seance Ring:
This ring is granted to adherents of Gwyndolin, Darkmoon deity and last born of Gwyn, Lord of Sunlight.
It allows the wearer, presumably a member of the Blade of the Darkmoon Covenant, to invade the world of a sinner to seek justice.
The same room is home to a statue of a woman holding a child. It may be that the corpse belongs to the woman depicted by the statue.
Frightful occult shield. Defends against Divine weapons and lightning.
In an ill-fated plot to destroy the very gods, the followers of the occult once attempted to steal the power of Gravelord Nito, the first of the dead.
If indeed Pinwheel was part of the occult rebellion, it would make sense for Paladin Leeroy to help in the fight, but also prevent anyone entering Nito's domain and attempting to steal Nito's power.
The motive behind stealing Nito's power is not clear, but one may argue that Velka wanted to destroy the power that allowed for the further offering of humanity to the fire, meaning that the Lords would have no means of prolonging the Age of Fire by commanding their followers to offer more humanity to the bonfires.
Rite of Kindling
This secret rite allows bonfires to be bolstered further with Kindling, so that even more Estus can be collected.
Kindling was a sacred rite passed down among clerics, but all Undead can imitate the process in the same manner that they restore their Hollowing with humanity.
How peculiar that humans had found little use for humanity until they turned Undead.
Yulva is Alive
The mosses to dealt with the poisons and toxins of Blighttown are only sold by the Undead Female Merchant (not counting the DLC), along with the moss that clears bleed build-up. She also has an unlimited amount of Purging Stones and Transient Curses, items that Ingward, a known and alive sealer also sells and are most useful in New Londo Ruins.
Considering her vast knowledge of Blightown and the knowledge about curses is it possible that she is actually Yulva who has started to lose her marbles after the curing of Blighttown proved to be a task too difficult or perhaps because of the guilt she felt after flooding New Londo, killing many innocent people.
Locations
The Meaning of the Anor Londo and its Renaissance Inspiration
While there is no official confirmation of what "Anor Londo" means, it's possible to decypher it and give some possible meanings:
The most accepted theory is that, as "anor" means "sun" in Elvish (language created by J. R. R. Tolkien), and "londo", shared with New Londo, could mean "city", thus Anor Londo's meaning may well be City of (the) Sun. New Londo, in this sense would mean "New City".
Others theorise that "anor" means "Lord, Lord's" or "God, God's", which makes sense lore-wise, since Anor Londo is called City of the Gods and the gods are also called Lords.
Anor Londo's design is based on buildings from the Renaissance Era. The outside is based primarily on Basilica Cattedrale Metropolitana di Santa Maria Nascente in Milan while the interior is based on the inside of French castleChâteau de Chambord.
Why There is a Hydra In Darkroot Basin
Some think Hydras spawning has something to do with the blood or corpses of the Ancient Dragons. Similar to the hydra in Ash Lake, where many a dragon were defeated in the war with the Gods, the one in Darkroot Basin is possibly related to where Kalameet was defeated by the Chosen Undead. In support of this theory is the fact that Dragon Scale can be found on dead hydras, which is said to be "peeled from an ancient dragon".
The Kiln is where the Lords Souls were found
The Kiln of the First Flame houses the First Flame and it is possible that this is where the lords first found their Great Souls. At some point, the structure of the Kiln was constructed around the cave where the flame was first discovered.
The Kiln may exist in a different time.
Sen's Identity
The name of this fortress has always been a topic for discussion. The most popular theories are the following:
Sen's Fortress is a mistraslation: it means "House of Thousand Traps"
This theory claims the japanese name to have been badly translated, and that "Sen" means "thousand" in Japanese, although the in the Japanese version, the fortress bears the "センの古城" name, which translates to "Sen's Old Castle", in which, "Sen" is definitely a name.
Pik Sen Lim
Pik-Sen Lim is a Malaysian-Chinese-British actress who has appeared on British television on countless occasions, and she's the voice of the narrator of the cinematic intros in Dark Souls 1 and Dark Souls 3. From this fact, it has been theorised that Miyazaki wanted to honour her by giving the fortress her name, although knowing Miyazaki and his design approach, this is highly unlikely.
Senhime, Lady Sen
Senhime, sister of the historically famous Oda Nobunaga, whose dramatic life produced many legends. Some legends talk about her tenderness, some others tell her lecherousness. Nothing really points to this being the inspiration behind the fortress' name and the kanji used in the Japanese name "千姫" translate to "Thousand" and "Princess".
Sen is the Name of Gwyn's Firstborn
In this theory, Sen's Fortress is supposed to be used as a royal armoury or perhaps training ground due to the stacks of unused Silver Knight statues and the several challenges. It is known that Gwyn's Firstborn was a God of war. This could imply that Gwyn's Firstborn was originally the leader of Gwyn's knights before Ornstein took over, and presumably would have control of the royal armoury in that position.
It is known from Andre's dialogue that the fortress was built by the Gods:
Sen's Fortress is an old proving grounds built by the ancients Gods.
It is the only route leading to the great Anor Londo.
Evidently, Sen could have been an individual from the Age of the Fire, possibly either the builder or owner of the fortress. Otherwise, the name Sen is never mentioned specifically outside of references to Sen's Fortress itself. This is rather conspicuous, as many Gods and members of royalty are referenced through item descriptions who have far less influence on the world and plot of Dark Souls - Flame God Flann, Old Man McLoyf, Allfather Lloyd, etc. Despite the lack of references to Sen as an individual, however, the name of Sen's Fortress persists.
Andre of Astora, along with Frampt, and the Crestfallen Merchant all know the name of the fortress.
It is probable that the fortress did not only exist for a very long time, like he stated in his dialogue, but that it was also significant enough for its name to be remembered. It is known that Gwyn's Firstborn's name was removed from the annals of history, but it is possible that it did not happen long ago for people to forget the name of the fortress.
With all of this circumstantial evidence at hand, it seems possible to theorise that Gwyn's Firstborn could be initially called Sen.
… But, finally, in the end, the only things that have been partially confirmed is that Sen's Fortress is a fortress, and that "Sen" is (apparently) the name of an unknown person.
Sen's Fortress: Training Ground
Inside the fortress, countless Silver Knight statues can be found, some broken and piled up.
Some point Sen's Fortress to actually be a training ground instead of a death trap, where the swinging blades, boulders, and statues would be the challenge for new knights. The statues seem customisable regarding arm positions, and they also look like they could endure beheading, or losing limbs.
Perhaps the existence of Silver Knight armoured statues here hints at the fortress being a training area for the Knights themselves, or those wishing to join their ranks.
This theory would collide with other theories as Sen's Fortress seems to be the only way to Anor Londo, and there's no proof of it as a training ground.
Another theory points it to be an actual challenge for those who can surpass it. The continuous traps and dangers, combined with the elevator system, could actually represent that, indeed, Sen's Fortress only serves the purpose of testing heroes; perhaps those who survive Sen's Fortress would be worthy of entering Anor Londo.
Undead Burg and the kingdom of Balder
Some theories point the Undead Burg to be the ruined kingdom of Balder, as the actual name of the area could just be unknown in the present. The main point of this theory is that, after being their kingdom ruined by an outbreak of the curse, several Balder knights, led by the great Knight King Rendal, set up defenses in the Parish, while Rendal and other knights went to Sen's Fortress. It appears that Rendal perished, as his ring is found in the area but in Dark Anor Londo, a Balder knight is seen in the main hall, showing that the initial mission of the Balder knights might have been to reach the City of the Gods, as the Crestfallen Merchant implies in Sen's Fortress.
Why the old Undead Parish was abandoned
The largest part of this church is the ruined room in which the Titanite or Prowling Demon resides. Andre of Astora mentions that the old church was abandoned in favor of the church that you passed through. It may be that when this Prowling Demon moved in, the congregation moved elsewhere.
The Fall of Oolacile
Below Oolacile, the sorcerers of the land discover "Dark" sorcery, sorcery that uses the power of Humanity, the powerful life force in all humans. This sorcery was very powerful, and extremely lethal, and quickly became the sole focus of the sorcerers.
Striving to create even more Dark sorcery, the sorcerers decided that, in order to better understand Humanity, they would have to observe it being pushed to the absolute limit. They began taking citizens of Oolacile, and torturing them endlessly, observing their Humanity, and twisting it cruelly in both physical and mental anguish.
This continued for some time, and caught the attention of a Primordial Serpent, whose identity is a mystery. It is said that the serpent came to the sorcerers of Oolacile, and urged them to dig below, that all their questions would be answered with what they would find. As I'm sure they came to regret, they heeded this advice, and stumbled across a grave. The grave of of Primeval Man.
The sorcerers upturned this grave, and awoke the primeval man. Being a human so ancient, it is presumed that its Humanity would be extremely potent, or abundant. This would have delighted the sorcerers, and eagerly they began to torture it, apparently in a small room, with chains dangling from the ceiling.
Oolacile is a Reference to the Christian Paradise
Different hints state that Oolacile is not any arbitrary land in the past but the FIRST of all humans in general.
- It is described as a land of golden sorceries. This seems to be paradisiac conditions.
- Sorceries of Oolacile are not offensive. This indicates a time without war or crime. This could also be described as a state of paradisiac conditions.
- The inhabitants of Oolacile were fooled by a (primordial) serpent.
- In the present, Oolacile is described as a lost land. It is lost and no more accessible for humankind.
- Within Oolacile no hint can be found that in this time any other human land (or kingdom) exists.
- Marvellous Chester notes, that the people of Oolacile turned up the grave of primeval man. If he is buried in Oolacile, he presumably lived here. Therefore it is the place of the first humans ever.
Also important is the area where Oolacile is located at. In the present, the land is lost and forgotten but not the Abyss who has its origin there. Gough notes that by killing Manus, only further corrosion is prevented. So the Abyss didn't spread but persists through the ages. This means that Oolacile must have been located where the Abyss remains in the present.
Consider the placement of New Londo, the Darkroot Basin or any other nearby place. They are in general the area where the player walks through in the present. This results in an important consequence: The origin of all four Lord Souls as well as the kiln of the first flame - everything a reference to the beginning of existence - is close together. Therefore Oolacile seems to be the birthplace of humankind, like the Christian paradise.
Additionally Oolacile is not stated as a kingdom but only as a land ("lost land" or "land of golden sorceries"). There's also no hint for a king or a ruler of Oolacile in general - despite the Royal Wood or that Dusk owns the title "princess" - which makes Oolacile also a paradisiac place where everyone is even.