Anastacia of Astora

Lore

Anastacia is the Fire Keeper of Firelink Shrine and is bound to the bonfire to keep it lit.

Initially, she is unable to speak due to her lack of a tongue. If Lautrec is allowed to kill her after both Bells of Awakening have been rung, the player can later invade him in Anor Londo using the Black Eye Orb found on her corpse and retrieve her soul and use it to restore her to life. Her tongue will also be restored, allowing the player to engage in conversation with her.

Anastacia is mentioned to be "impure", however, what exactly made her so is never revealed though it is strongly suggested by her comments on her impure tongue that it is due to something she has said.

It has been hinted from item descriptions that Anastacia chose her own banishment and even imprisonment.

Her Dingy Set implies that she was maimed to prevent escape.

Cut Content

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Cut Dialogue

She has 18 unused sound files of moaning and trying to play, and the following unused line:

Vereor Nox.

Theories

How Anastacia ended up at Firelink Shrine

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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.

Dialogue

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• Speaking to her after returning her soul:

Th, thank you… I am Anastacia of Astora. Now I can continue my duty as a Keeper. But… I only hope that my impure tongue does not offend.

• Talking:

Forgive me… I am impure, my tongue never intended for restoration. Please, if you have any heart… Leave me be… I wish not to speak…

• Speaking to her after placing the Lordvessel:

Frampt has told me of you… That you have agreed to link the Fire. I thank you, sincerely. Finally, the curse of the Undead will be lifted, and I can die human.

I am powerless, but I will do all that I can. Please, save us all… Please…

Sources

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Icon	Name	Description
	Fire Keeper Soul (Anastacia of Astora)	Soul of the Ash Maiden, Fire Keeper of Firelink Shrine. A Fire Keeper's soul is a draw for humanity, and held within their bosoms, below just a thin layer of skin, are swarms of humanity that writhe and squirm. Was the Ash Maiden locked in this dark prison for some transgression, or by her own will?
	Dingy Hood	Worn by the Fire Keeper at Firelink Shrine. It is thought to have once been the white hood of a maiden, but smoke and ashes from bonfires darkened it over the years.
	Blood-Stained Skirt	Worn by the Fire Keeper at Firelink Shrine. It is thought to have once been the white skirt of a maiden, but its true origin is lost in patches of blood. Perhaps its former wearer was maimed to prevent escape?
	Black Eye Orb	Mystical orb found on a Keeper's corpse. Invade the world of the murderer of a Fire Keeper, to defeat the perpetrator and reclaim the soul of the Fire Keeper. The Black Eye keeps constant watch on the city of the Gods, Anor Londo.

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Kinght Lautrec dialogue

• After ringing the first Bell of Awakening

Oh, hello.
I'm considering a change of location…
I have a rather, pressing matter to attend to up above.
That Keeper has served me well, but… enough with her…
Keh heh heh heh…

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Crestfallen Warrior dialogue

• After trying to talk to Anastacia the first time

Oh, have you seen that terribly morose lass?
… The Fire Keeper.
She's stuck keeping that bonfire lit.
Sad, really. She's mute and bound to this forsaken place.
They probably cut her tongue out back in her village, so that she'd never say any god's name in vain.
How do these martyrs keep chugging along? I'd peter out in an instant.
Hah hah hah hah…

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PREV: Alvina of the Darkroot Wood

NEXT: Andre of Astora

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Comments

Misinformation due to mistranslations

Astralia123 29 Oct 2018 11:15

"It is thought to have once been the white hood of a maiden" should actually translate to “the white hood of a saintess”. The same title "saintess" (聖女) is also used on Leah.
Which means, she is likely to used to possess some religious status within the Way of White. The cut dialogue "Vereor Nox", which means "May the fire guide you" is also a hint of Way of White background. The "impure" dialogue is also likely to refer to a religious status, which serves to justify using her as a sacrificial victim.

She could be a man-made undead like Leeroy, Leah and other Way of White undeads, and is placed here intentionally to serve a purpose (robbing her of her firekeeper soul is a sin that attracts divine attention, which leads to the black eyeball allowing you to invade Lautreac).