Password Gatekeeper

Lore

The Password Gatekeeper was a loyal servant of Provost Willem. When the students left Byrgenwerth under Laurence's leadership, Willem kept both the Password Gatekeeper and Dores back at the institute. Willem was an old man when the students left, as shown in the scene where Laurence tells Willem he is leaving, so he would have been unable to continue his research into the Cord of the Eye (the One Third Umbilical Cord). Willem therefore sent Dores and the Password Gatekeeper into the Old Labyrinths (Chalice Dungeons) below Yharnam to further his research.

Unforunately, both Dores and the Password Gatekeeper encountered the eldritch Truth in the Labyrinth's and went mad. The eldritch Truth is the wisdom of the Great Ones as seen in the Madman's Knowledge description. At this stage the servants would have been of little use to Willem in his research and so were given more menial tasks. Dores was charged with guarding the graves in the Forbidden Woods. These graves have been erected over the Hintertombs, which are on the periphery of the tombs below Yharnam. The Password Gatekeeper was ordered to stand as a watchman of the gate into the Forbidden Woods, refusing entry to all but those who knew the sacred adage of the Healing Church which Laurence took with him from Byrgenwerth: “Fear the Old Blood.” Perhaps to Willem this ensured that only those who respected his views would be able to walk the grounds of Byrgenwerth once more.

The Password Gatekeeper appears to have carried out his duty loyally, though it seems to have caused him much suffering, and eventually his life. His skeleton is found sitting on a pillar at the entrance to the woods. His body, when interacted with says "Already dead" and will give the player a Madman's Knowledge item. If we examine his dialogue we can hear his fixated obsession with completing his duty, and the agony he went through reminding himself of this.

Theories

Title of theory.

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Text of theory goes here.

Dialogue

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When interacting with the closed door:
“The password… ahhh…. the password… [laughter]…. ah heh, mmm, …mmm… the password… [incoherent mumbling]…knows that I’m (not?) the doorman(?)…. [sigh], got to…. got to close the door…. [while laughing] got to close the door [incoherent laughter then sobbing] … no, no no no… got to get the door, got to get the door(?) No one…(?) who’s there, who’s there?… [incoherent mumbling then a deep breath] … bit me, bit me… [incoherent mumbling] no no no [incoherent mumbling] … blood… [incoherent mumbling] no…. No… I don’t like that, don’t like that no! No no no, got to get the door Laurence(? - or “once”?) don’t forget the door… no, no not now, not now, not now, not all day, all day… all day… all day [laughs]… [then quietly] all day. Knock, knock.” [incoherent mumbling mixed with laughter, sometimes breathless and sobbing]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JmeWHHppD7M&list=PLchs24xB-r8J7dpq0DO-vJI1v3SLh35JW&index=12

Sources

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Graveguard Mask
Mask of Dores, graveguard of the Forbidden Woods.
His pale countenance mimics the labyrinth Watchers.
Willem kept two loyal servants back at Byrgenwerth.
When they were sent into the labyrinth, they encountered
the eldritch Truth, and went mad. One became the
password gatekeeper, while Dores became a graveguard
of the forest.
Both remained loyal, even in madness.

Madman's Knowledge
Skull of a madman touched by the wisdom of the Great
Ones.
Use to gain Insight.
Making contact with eldritch wisdom is a blessing, for even
if it drives one mad, it allows one to serve a grander purpose,
for posterity.

Hintertomb Chalice
A chalice that breaks a labyrinth seal.
Hintertombs are the peripheral catacombs
of the old underground labyrinth.
To this day, the Watchers continue to expand the
Hintertombs, unceremonious catacombs filled with
graves and death.

Alfred, Hunter of Vilebloods dialogue:
Select "Talk about Byrgenwerth"
"Byrgenwerth is an old place of learning. The tomb of the gods, carved out below Yharnam,
should be familiar to every hunter.
Well, once a group of young Byrgenwerth scholars discovered a holy medium deep within the tomb.
This led to the founding of the Healing Church, and the establishment of blood healing.
In this sense, everything sacred in Yharnam can be traced back to Byrgenwerth.
But today, the college lies deep within a tangled wood, abandoned and decrepit.
And furthermore, the Healing Church has declared Byrgenwerth forbidden ground.
It's unclear how many of its scholars remain alive…
…but only they know the password that allows passage through the gate."

Cathedral Ward Lore Notes:
Location: Found on top of the tower where you need to drop down to be able to open the second gate:
"A watchman of Byrgenwerth guards the gate with a password, the sacred adage of the Grand Cathedral."

Location: The note is on the right side near some candles before you ascend the steps inside the Grand Cathedral in Cathedral Ward:
"Heir to the ritual of blood, purveyor of ministration. Place your hand on the altar's sacred covering, and inscribe Master Laurence's adage upon your flesh."

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