Solaire of Astora

Lore

Solaire of Astora is a member of the Warriors of Sunlight covenant who appears in several areas. He is a cheerful and powerful knight who does not let the crumbling world affect his mood. He speaks of willingly becoming an Undead so that he could search for his own sun.

Upon first meeting him, he explains that "the flow of time itself is convoluted, with heroes centuries old phasing in and out". As the First Flame fades, even time begins to unravel in Lordran. People from different points in time can cross into each others worlds as a result of this, and Solaire offers the player a way to do this, as well as offering to come into the Chosen Undead's world, should they require assistance.

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Design Works Interview

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Miyazaki: On the other hand, the design for the Iron and Sun Set went extremely smoothly. I really felt like we agreed on the main elements; the large sun symbol and the mismatched, almost hand-made look, so the design emerged remarkably quickly.

Satake: I never expected him to be raising his hands like that when I drew it though.

Miyazaki: Ah, that pose was something I brought over from Demon's Souls, it belonged to a holy man.

Satake: We actually took to calling that his "Power", didn't we.?

Miyazaki: Yes, we did, although I think the 3D artists would have heard that more than the concept artists, or those people in charge of lighting and effects. At first, we tried to explain it saying "you know, the light glows behind him like this", but in the end it was just easier to call it "Power"

That pose actually carries some significance for me: in Demon's Souls that was a holy sign. When I presented the game to the rest of the company, I showed them the pose and one of the higher-ups told me that it just wasn't cool enough. Of course, I told him I'd get rid of it, but I secretly kept it for later… so naturally, with this game, I was determined to use it.

By the time I began thinking about Solaire's character I had already decided that I was going to use it for the Sunlight Warriors covenant. By using it for summons, it doesn't interfere with player action. I remember I actually acted the pose out so the artist could take pictures.

Game No Shokutaku Interview

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Miyazaki: As for the good characters, obvious ones are the Warrior of Sunlight!

Murohashi: Solaire.

Isomura: Praise the Sun!

Miyazaki: Solaire. I really like that character. I wanted to create a good character, like him, from the very beginning. Also, I sometimes get inquiries about me having problems with religion or religious people… it's a misunderstanding. The characters are like, you know…

Murohashi: I know what you mean.

Miyazaki: What I wanted to do is show total devotion, in a pure form. That's how I imagined it: the Warriors of Sunlight.

Isomura: Ah, he's popular.

Murohashi: And a good person.

Miyazaki: Yeah, he is.

Miyazaki: My favorite character is Solaire. We don't make polls on favorite characters but from what I've heard, our staff in London and the translators really liked him as well. The staff seems to like him because he's a good guy. I like him the most, too.

Isomura: There are many unique NPCs but there's also the blue guy, the Crestfallen guy. Is he a tradition? He also appeared in Demon's Souls.

Murohashi: He's a cliché, basically.

Miyazaki: Yeah. I wanted to make it a tradition. I believe I'll be making more titles and I think he can give that kind of… "quirkiness". I think he is also kind of humouristic, about how he talks about the player and what's happening in the world.

Murohashi: I see.

Miyazaki: It's convenient, and an easy way to give hints, too.

Isomura: About Mr. Solaire. Isn't it impossible to finish his story if you play normally?

Miyazaki: It's impossible to do it without hints. For Solaire, there's a shortage of hints in general. To be able to fight alongside him in the end was pretty much a secret. We expected Solaire to be taken over by the Sunlight Maggot as the general norm. But anyways, in this case (and in others), the conveying of hints is a subject we need to work on. This is another topic, but we should work more on achieving goals in the game regarding both locations and objects. We should try to include more ways to present clues, as it is my personal taste. I just think there are more ways to convey hints. Going back to Solaire, it's really a secret and I think that the happiest ending for him is to die by becoming the sun!

Theories

Solaire may be Gwyn's Firstborn

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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

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(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".

Dialogue

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First encounter:

Ah, hello! You don't look Hollow, far from it!
I am Solaire of Astora, an adherent of the Lord of Sunlight.
Now that I am Undead, I have come to this great land, the birthplace of Lord Gwyn, to seek my very own sun!
Do you find that strange? Well, you should!
No need to hide your reaction. I get that look all the time! Hah hah hah!

Speaking:

We are amidst strange beings, in a strange land.
The flow of time itself is convoluted, with heroes centuries old phasing in and out.
The very fabric wavers, and relations shift and obscure.
There's no telling how much longer your world and mine will remain in contact.
But, use this, to summon one another as spirits, cross the gaps between the worlds, and engage in jolly co-operation!
Of course, we are not the only one engaged in this. But I am a warrior of the sun!
Spot my summon signature easily by its brilliant aura. If you miss it, you must be blind! Hah hah hah!

Speaking to him at the shrine (no covenant needed):

Hmm! Ah, oh… hello there. Forgive me, I was just pondering… about my poor fortune.
I did not find my own sun, not in Anor Londo, nor in twilight Blighttown.
Where else might my sun be? Lost Izalith, or the Tomb of the Gravelord… ?
But I cannot give up. I became Undead to pursue this!
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! Hah hah hah!

Speaking to him at the bonfire:

Why? … Why?… After all this searching, I still cannot find it…

Speaking to him at the shortcut (killing the Sunlight Maggot first):

Was it all a lie? Have I done this all, for nothing? Oh, my dear sun…
What now, what should I do…? … My sun, my dear, dear sun…

When he's hostile at the shortcut (failing to kill the Sunlight Maggot first):

… Hrg, rg… Arrrgh… Finally, I have found it, I have!…
My very own sun… I am the sun!… I've done it… I have…
Yes, I did it… I did!… Ohh, ohhh… Hrgrraaaooogh!

Sources

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Sunlight Straight Sword
This standard longsword, belonging to Solaire of Astora, is of high quality, is well-forged, and has been kept in good repair.
Easy to use and dependable, but unlikely to live up to its grandiose name.

Sunlight Talisman
Medium for casting miracles of the Gods. The talisman of Solaire of Astora, the Knight of Sunlight, is decorated with a holy symbol, illustrated by Solaire himself.
This talisman is a projection of Solaire's upstanding, unwavering faith.

Sunlight Shield
Shield of Solaire of Astora, Knight of Sunlight. Decorated with a holy symbol, but Solaire illustrated it himself, and it has no divine powers of its own.
As it turns out, Solaire's incredible prowess is a product of his own training, and nothing else.

Iron Helm
Helm of Solaire of Astora, Knight of Sunlight. Of high quality, but lacking any particular powers.
Solaire's incredible prowess must have come from rigorous training alone, for his equipment exhibits no special traits.

Armor of the Sun
Armor of Solaire of Astora, Knight of Sunlight. The large holy symbol of the Sun, while powerless, was painted by Solaire himself.
Solaire's incredible prowess must have come from rigorous training alone, for his equipment exhibits no special traits.

Iron Bracelet and Iron Leggings
Bracelets of Solaire of Astora, Knight of Sunlight. Of high quality, but lacking any particular powers.
Solaire's incredible prowess must have come from rigorous training alone, for his equipment exhibits no special traits.

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