Silver Knights

Lore

The Silver Knights protect Anor Londo. When Lord Gwyn departed to link the Fire, his knights split into two groups. The Silver Knights stayed behind in Anor Londo to defend the illusory goddess, and their shields are blessed with her divine protection.

Theories

The Silver Knights are Humans

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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:

1. 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.

1. 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:

• Ornstein, Ciaran, Artorias: All three have a human appearance as far as recognizable.

• 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.

Sources

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Icon	Name	Description
	Soul of Darkeater Midir	Midir, descendant of Archdragons, was raised by the gods, and owing to his immortality, was given a duty to eternally battle the dark, a duty that he would never forget, even after the gods perished.
	Gough's Helm	Helm of Hawkeye Gough, one of Gwyn's Four Knights. Received as a decoration of knightly honor. A helm crafted especially for the honorable Hawkeye Gough, only the eye holes were packed with tree resin by those who dismissed Gough as a brutish giant.

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