Lothric

Lore

Society

Lothric is a monarchy; the military and the Church are held in special consideration; the Church, in particular, is consulted by royalty even in private matters [Priestess Ring]. Slavery is commonplace, and the King’s subjects have no consideration for them. Their face is usually covered, and carry an axe to deliver quick and deadly blows [Thrall Hood, Thrall Axe].
They’re considered to be even lower than criminals, who are often shamed by making them wear the attire of slaves [Thrall Hood].

The Military

The knights were once famed drake hunters. They typically used Lightning Urns to subjugate them, until they learned how to tame them [Lightning Urn]. The Sun — source of light, and associated with lightning — was worshipped by them, probably because it was seen as the source of their most effective hunting tool [Lightning Urn].

Lothric knights are traditionally known as fierce defenders of their homeland; their drakes gave them an edge in battle [Lothric Knight Sword]. Given the current state of the world, it’s been a long time since they went to battle against another army. They’re known to use refined straight swords [Lothric Knight Sword].

The Winged Knights, imposing figures armed with a halberd which requires inhuman strength, are known to have "sworn themselves to the Angels" [Winged Knight Halberd].

The King’s Black Hand are possibly another order of knights in Lothric. It was a title bestowed upon hunters who served successive generations of kings, a very rare thing — no more than three people ever held that title [Black Hand Armor].

The Church

In Lothric, miracles are performed somewhat differently than in Carim: Carim and Lothric priests both memorize and later chant a tale of the Gods [Priest's Chime, Saint's Ring], but Lothric priests use a sacred chime instead of a talisman as a medium to be blessed with their revelations [Priest's Chime]. The Lothric Church is very close to the royal family.

Theories

Location in the World

+ Expand

Lothric may be the same as Lordran, and it's commonly accepted that Drangleic is not the same place, but they may at least right next to each other. A land that resembles Drangleic can be seen plainly from the edge after the fight with Vordt of the Boreal Valley, where you raise the Banner. In this image, the patch of land far to the right, right next the to the Cathedral of the Deep is Drangleic.

Compare this to the official map of Drangleic in this image, and you'll notice all the defining features are there. There's the cliff where Majula is located (red), the mountain ranges (blue), the forest (green) and the coastline is a close match (pink). Even the geographic orientation of the area seems to be a good match, given the assumption that the official Drangleic map is oriented in the standard way, with the top of the map pointing north.

With Undead Burg as a reference, we can clearly see that the Anor Londo cathedral is oriented from south (entrance) to north (Gwynevere's chamber). Assuming that this still holds true for Dark Souls III, we can, by locating Anor Londo from the edge after Vordt, deduce that the coastline that we can see should be the northern edge of this part of land, with the mountains going all the way from the south to north east. This, again, lines up perfectly with the official Drangleic Map from Dark Souls II. At worst, it would be a few days of travelling between the two regions.

The Center of Faith

+ Expand

The Queen was possibly a direct descendant of Gwynevere. So Lothric, Lorian, Gertrude, and Ocelotte all carry the blood of Gwyn, though Gertrude was not born of Oceiros (and what happened to Ocelotte during the Oceiros fight? Was he even there?) So the royal line itself is divine, and also would fit with Frampt, being a "close friend" of Gwyn, having a religious significance.

There is one particular statue in the Archives that is especially important to understanding the core Lothric faith that goes unmentioned. In the clearing where you fight the threesome - the Faraam knight, Black Hand, and the crystal sage pupil Kriemhild - there is a statue in the center of a figure on a throne that looks like it has been blasted by something like the Kiln of the First flame, the kind of event that melts all the stone in each Kiln incarnation. This is the centerpiece of Lothric faith. The purpose of the kingdom is to Link the Flame, and produce a worthy heir to do so - which Prince Lothric was groomed to do from birth.

---

---

Comments