I remember playing dark souls 3 for the first time. I made a character centered around being born of the abyss itself back in Dark souls 1. I carried the dame character through 2 and into 3 where I learned of the lord of hollows. I made that his ultimate goal making my own little story linking the 3 games to this 1 character to end with him becoming the lord of hollows.
I love the Dark Lord ending, and the npcs associated with it (especially Yuria!) Got it on my 1st playthrough of Dark Souls 3 and have a screenshot of my char becoming the Dark Lord as my wallpaper XD
Just a thought: Darkness is the absence of light. Darkness is not something that replaces light but rather is something that remains when the light is gone. Kaath's mission was true and right, that being to end the age of fire since it was unnatural (as every day eventually needs a night and vice versa), but his philosophy was wrong, that being that he would amass Darkness to overtake the light. But it's not a true Darkness. As we see a black and white sigil in the sky, as we are still able to see the hollows, as we are still able to see period. I say it's not a true Darkness in comparison to the "true ending" when the course of the world is corrected rather than usurped, we then see a true dark with no light. A cold, dark, and gentle place.
I mean, we usurped the flame, so if I were to guess the unkindled one became the only to escape the age of dark (for now), and now all hollows follow him and the light of his fire
darkness in dark souls universe isnt the absence of light but the opposite of light since the universe is built on disparity without dark there is no light and vice versa hence why even in the dark ending there's still some light and in ages of fire there's still some dark otherwise the age of gray would be a dark age just because there was no light
I don't get why people have this mixed up light is the absence of darkness. Darkness is absolute and always exist it's the illusion of light that's produced to fight the darkness. The light dwindles but darkness only gets stronger because it's the absolute of life
Day and night exist in dark souls, they have cycles like we do in the age of fire The age of fire has a night and day cycle and the age of dark doesn't because the age of dark is just a black void while night is dark but still has the light of the moon and gwydolin is the god of the moon/dark sun so your comment is wrong, why do you think anor londo and Irithyll are in the state of night with the moon out its because it is night
It would be interesting if there was a DLC in which we could follow Aldrich's quest to usher in the age of the deep. It would be nice to see what the world would look like in that specific age
@@kenanperez3151 Thats very clearly the Age of the Deep Sea. In the end of the Astral Clockwork DLC, a character says "A bottomless curse, *a bottomless sea,* accepting of all that is, and can be."
Huh… I always thought of it as hollowing yourself out so you can usurp and store the flame within the ashen one accentually making the ashen one a god and a lord. And Sister Friede just didn’t hollow herself enough to make room for the flame and therefore didn’t have the strength to usurp the it. But I like this interpretation, too. It’s pretty cool.
The usurpation ending has an interesting paralel to the very intro in Dark Souls 1: the same way Gwyn and the other lords are picking "Great souls" in the big fire and proceed to spread it and make a new Age in their images, the Lord of Hollows is doing the same but with the opposite intent: suppress fire altogether and usher a new Age of Dark in his image. The act of picking up the Fire is really reminiscent of the first Lords picking up the Souls. The alternative would be for Fire to take its course naturally, be it spreading by itself in DS1 or snuffing by itself in DS3, and thus ending and beginning new eras in natural fashion, without Lords to control and monopolize them. 😉
What about hollows not being humans? They have no humanity, and beings that just came from the dark are basically every humanoid, including gods. It's quite strange how in the first game getting hollow meant loosing your mind and being drawn to souls and humanity, while in DS3 the term seems retconned to me. And even in this retconned variant hollows of Londor doesn't seem happy about their state, so they have to be ruled by fear. I can understand if this is the part of the necessary evil, and hollows can get humanity later on, to even be humans, and in this case it doesn't matters if them being not mindless anymore is a retcon. But usurping the flame doesn't even looks like the age of dark that firekeeper can bring - a dark world, maybe turning shapeless even, like the abyss. Instead we have actual usurping of the flame, in a slightly tainted form, yet it's not too different from the chaos flame, except the fact that bed of Chaos was created as a new thing in a different kiln.
I don't think they retconned it completely but more so defined Hollowing more. From left crumbs for us on this one. I think it goes something like; Hollows do have humanity. You go mindless if you cannot control your own humanity. In DS1 when your Humanity is at 00 and you look like beef jerky it just means you don't have additional humanity. Your change in appearance is your own humanity effecting you. Dark Wraiths steal humanity from others giving them more Dark, their bodies are likely overwhelmed by this and they probably look gross under the armor but their minds still work. When you attack Yuria in DS3 she laments your actions stating, "Hollows need not go mad." Madness is a threshold that can be overcome, a hurtle I assume all Dark Wraiths must first surmount before gaining that title. I completely agree with you about the tainted flame thing and made a post stating something similar in this video before I found your comment. My head cannon has it set that without knowledge of the Rite of Kindling, each link of the flame after the Chosen Undead of DS1 has actually been poisoning the Flame. The Rite teaches us how to fortify fire to handle more Dark but after DS1 the art is not used again. The gods should have been burning their own instead of humans who have Dark in them, the world likely would have persisted in a better state longer.
@@Writh811 The flame wasn't poisoned tho, just weak. Humanity is as good of a fuel as any other. It's just that usurping was a slightly different process, closer to creation of chaos, using the power of the first flame, rather then supporting the first flame. Which is still a simulation of the first flame, different from the actual age of dark (also I love how in the dark ending you can still run around for some time after the world starting to turn into abyss-like state, before the credits start to roll).
I would like to see a Dark Souls 4: Age of Dark, where you character chose not to reignite the flame, and another ashen one went on to lead Londor. We can then explore Londor and maybe try to overthrow the new King for one reason or another.
I missed these lore videos. There really isn't a whole load of them nowadays and I don't know why! This structure of lore videos with the lore, then some dialogue delivered by some of the best voice actors I've ever seen, some classic fromsofware ambiance on the backround always a good thing. Providing us with the dialogue where all what you previously said or are about to say are hidden, so we may ncover it for ourselves, providing detailed explenations of what is happening while also backing those explenations with the according scene of the game etc. AND SOMEHOW THEY ARE NOWHERE TO BE FOUND! The LORE is why I entered this franchise! It was in a pvp skillz video where you had a cameo at the start (sure it was with gwyn and lightning miracles) that made me really want to buy the game. Thank you, ashen hollow, for this video. Really enjoyed it, hope I can see more amazing content like this in the future.
We missed you bud! Please make content at whatever pace makes you happiest, we'll always be here whenever that is. I hope you're feeling better and life is treating you right 😁
@@TheAshenHollow Absolutely! Dark Souls vids are great, but a humans health(mental or otherwise) is a much higher priority. Can't wait to see more stuff when you make it 😁👍
I'm waiting to get a next gen console before playing Elden Ring. I'm doing another playthrough of DS3 and of course, soaking in the lore. Thank you for this.
No wonder Manus failed. Imagine how much humanity you'd need to contain to be able to counteract Gwyn's soul, let alone contain the first flame. Only reason 8 Dark Sigils was enough in DS3 was because it was so burnt out that it was practically dead even after being rekindled anyway.
Not gonna lie, I consider this to be the closest to a "good" ending we have as we finally break the cycle rather than prolonging the inevitable or simply restarting it.
@@pauloh.alchaar No, it wouldn't take such an elaborate plan form Sable church to just do the same thing. You do in a way, but you still end the age of fire. Either you become most powerful being, kill off the gods and make your body a siphon from flame to humanity or just kill off the flame (maybe, it's a gamble if you or the firekeeper can guard it till it fades completely, not letting anyone touch it), it reaches the same goal.
@@HellGod67 You'll become a King, and someday another champion will kill you and take your powers and so on. Just like the flame, but in a age of Hollows.
I like to think Yuria of Dark Souls 3 is the same Yuria of Demon's Souls and has dedicated her life to the Dark due to her hatred of the gods for locking her away and torturing her. Better yet, perhaps after the Chosen Undead released her, she met Mephistopheles, who in turn trained her to be the skilled fighter she is in this age.
I really love your videos and I love how futile our decisions are in this game series. DS1: You have 2 options: Succeed Gwyn and link the first flame, essentially continuing the illusion and falsehood and let the status quo remain until the flame fades once again. Or, let it die out and become a ruler of the next age, but it doesn't really matter because another undead will come anyway to link the flame if you didn't. DS2: You have 2 options: Succeed (Gwyn, his name has been long forgotten) and become a "true" monarch and link the first flame, essentially continuing the illusion and falsehood and let the status quo remain until the flame fades once again. Or, let it die out and continue your endless search for a cure that will lift the curse with Aldia (the only being who has somewhat succeeded in this endeavor) by your side. DS3: You have 4 options: Succeed Gwyn and continue the falshood (essentially burning the world away). There isn't much left to burn anyway, so I think we essentially fail to link it in its true sense. Let it die out but the flame will flicker up once again eventually. Usurp the flame and become a lord for your people, essentially breaking the cycle and ushering the age of man (what Kaathe wanted all along). Betray the fire Keeper, kill her, take the flame only for yourself. You break away from the cycle but only you. A greedy choice for you stand alone in a world of emptyness.
Technically Dark Souls 2 Assume the Throne Ending (Succeed option) is a bit more ambiguous as we don't see the Bearer of the Curse Relink the Flame and the narration says we have a choice but it's meaningless as this will all play out again. For all we know the Bearer could've just sat their mopping or got up to to become a Dark Lord.
0:16 When I first heard her say this and after knowing that you'll "marry" someone for the Lord of Hollows ending. Legitimately thought you'd end up with Yuria in one way or another.
sounds pretty solid, good to have another vid, soon this flame too, shall go out. but fear not my friends, we shall soon take refuge within a new land, a land yet unknown... can you even imagine it?
Hope your feeling better. I struggle with a mountain of 'issues' I have. I know it's almost easy to get lost in the dark, it's actually a everyday thing as it's always been for me... Anyway, dear hollow, take heart. It's so easy to say stuff then it is to do it, but I say this to you. There's always a glimmer of hope in darkness, but your the only one who can find it. Don't despair. DO NOT GO HOLLOW
Hey man, nice to see ya back. It may sound silly or not directly lore related (although I guess it is), but could you do a video on why the inhabitants of Lordran, Drangleich, Lothric, Anor Londo etc. are so tall whereas humans are tiny ("normal sized")? See ya man!
@@Elayaass Maybe, but The Ringed Knights are pure humans and they are tall as well. So i guess everyone in Ds are tall, but as humanitty was tied with the undead curse they started to grow shorter as time passes by. Leaving only Gwyn descendants with this high stacture, just a theory. (srry for bad english.)
I think it helped that at one point, some humans realized the truth to the ceremony, and that fueled the strength of the sable church. Take Aldia for one, he became a scholar of the first sin upon realizing the crime Gwen has commited
It's the Dark Lord (just like Gwyn but dark instead of fire) creating an unnatural, scuffed and eventurally degenerative age of dark until the cycle pushes on.
Pushing for the continuation of the age of dark would be more similar to the first sin. The age of fire was supposed to end even before the start of dark souls 1, so I can't say I agree with you on this one
I feel like I don’t belong here sense I’ve never played any of these games but the way you talk about the game’s lore I can’t help but watch this. Very entertaining
I believe the Lord of Hollows is something different than just being the Dark Lord. In Dark Souls 1, the goal was to retain one's humanity, to avoid being a hollow. Everyone even mentions requiring Humanity to stay, well, human, and while you do need a Bonfire, that's curiously unmentioned by every character. Dark Souls 2 goes on to have the Humanity itself, now called Human Effigies, be the key to regaining one's humanity. In Dark Souls 3, an Ember might just be a Humanity that was fished out of a Bonfire, effectively recycling old kindling just like how the Lords of Cinder and Unkindled are recycled. On top of all this, something especially crucial to consider is the Pygmy's state in the Dark Souls 1 cinematic prologue. The prologue reveals that, before claiming souls, all the humanoid beings are hollows. However, after claiming the Dark Soul, the Pymy has fleshy, alive, human hands. As such, even the Dark Soul, Humanity itself, on its own can combat being a hollow circa Dark Souls 1's relevant eras. What the Sable Church works toward appears to be something it has invented, not an old cause it seeks to implement. The Dark Sigils might resemble the Darksign, but Unkindled all have the Darksign itself, and we can see a difference between the two. While the Darksign remains a fiery ring, the Dark Sigils seem to be moist, concentric circles in comparison. They might be a new form of curse, one that can even apply to the otherwise hollowing-proof Unkindled. Additionally, rather than just having the Dark Sigils for health and power, it appears that the Sable Church wants someone to be as hollowed as possible, and not just as a measure of effectiveness either. Their methods are further worrisome, as obtaining Anri's Dark Sigils entails him/her being murdered and his/her body being further desecrated, and it's puzzling that Anri would be so willing to kneel to any Hollow Lord who so thoroughly betrayed his/her trust. Yuria also, quite baselessly, accuses Orbeck of conspiring against the player and tries to have him killed. As such, the Lord of Hollows plan might seek to actively erase one's humanity and keep them on the verge of madness, and if Anri's bowing is any indication, some beings have their wills totally destroyed and are turned into puppets. The Sable Church also seems to believe that the First Flame is effectively eternal and all-powerful, which indicates they don't seek to erase it, but to try a different sort of firelinking. As such, the Darksign curse may still be in effect, and with the Flame actually weakening and at risk of going out, the Sable Church might hope to instead rule an apocalyptic wasteland, or their utterly mistaken notions will cause the Flame to drag down the Dark or keep some form of Darksign present in the world. Additionally, while Yuria's Japanese dialogue upon her death mentions Kaathe's dying wish, the murals in Sister Friede's boss room might add a wrinkle to these words. The Friede murals depict two serpents apparently being killed by two figures, who seem to be women, in dark robes. These figures might be allusions to Friede's sisters, Yuria and Liliane, meaning that the Sable Church may have actively supplanted Kaathe (and Frampt) with plans of their own. Granted, it's quite a stretch for Yuria to mention a false dying wish of Kaathe as she herself is dying, but considering her baseless demands for Orbeck's death and her insane notions of what marriage is, perhaps she's naturally twisted, whether from hollowing or otherwise.
One thing I've wondered: How the hell does mere *water* stop the Abyss? The realm of pure darkness that corrodes everything of fire!? Is it hydrophobic?
So in contrast with asking the fire keeper to betray her oaths, this ending seems more malevolent as the player becomes the would be ruler. Meanwhile, with the fire keeper the player let's the world progress naturally without the influence of other factions, a "true" restart.
I still don't understand the "Unkindled ending" where you tell the firekeeper to end the fire but instead killing her to take the fire, what are you suppose to become with that choice?
Praise the flame an upload! Hope your mentally stable and able to motivate yourself to do anything even if your not happy, try not to mope around. Try not to go hollow my friend...
Ironically the church of Londor os frequently implied to be founded by Velka so she’s very relevant here All items that used to refer to velka in ds1 now refer to londor
Great video as allways :D And i want to point out that something i noted from this ending is that the Lord of Hollows dosent seem to erase the First flame but that he absorved it and was made as not just the true Dark Lord but also the almighty one, suported by hin/her lifting the Dark Sun wich dosent seem much but in some religions and stories when God is asked if he is omnipotent he lifts the sun with his hand to confirm it. Sorry for my not so good english, keep up the fantastic work.
Is the abyss and age of dark connect? Because every time we see a glimpse of the age of dark, like in ds3 dark ending. We see the whole world look it's completely covered in abyss or is that just a permanent state of nighttime?
Abyss and dark are not the same, The Abyss is a byproduct of The First Flame denying The Dark, it's a corrupted darkness. The curse of hollowing was also created because of this denial. Men are creations of darkness and all of evil in the world appeared because the gods didn't want to let the fire fade and lose their rule of the world to humans. The dark flame creates no shadows.
i have recently played through the DS games for the first time and frm wht i have read abt it is tht both ages work in together naturally (like day and night). We have seen wht continuous age of fire did to the world. Now, i m curious abt what will happen with the continuous age of dark ? or if the inhabitance of the world learns frm the mistakes of the gods (which i hope not bec i want more games xD)
For me doing this ending felt wrong, like I am corrupting the world even further. Becoming like Gwyn and probably dooming everyone, doing the end of fire felt more right than this
It's done in that spirit on purpose. It looks like the generic "evil" ending because we were conditioned to think that getting some kind of power instead of sacrificing yourself is not as altruistic. If you're not actually getting the lore then it would seem like it. But when we put it into context of sacrificing yourself like a servant for the "gods" versus getting the power from them in a sort of a coup to make your people flourish it takes a different meaning. You can make an allegory to this in the real world: you can sacrifice yourself for your boss -- overworking with no extra pay while looking like a such a great guy for the boss and certain people, or demand a raise for the high amount of work during your work hours in which your colleagues would benefit as well.
This ending has always felt like your character is being manipulated to me, especially with how she asks us to kill the sorcerer dude saying its a mark of a true lord. Still an awesome ending.
A better Theory: You are not snuffing out the Flame, But becomeing its retainer. The Dark is infact the End of the world, Only a being that can hold the flame and not explode is able to save it. Gwyn Simply did what he had to do. This is also why the dragon hybrid's exist: They were trying to create a being that could hold the Destructive Flame inside of them selves as the Ancient dragons could, Before They were all slaughtered. I think Vaati has to much power over Subjective lore and to many people just repeat what he says.
It's a little condescending to say "a better theory" and provide your own speculation that was mostly already proven false by the compendium. The Dark in fact is not the end of the world, just like winter isn't the end of our world. And what does Vaati have to do with this??
@@TheAshenHollow O my i didn't expect to catch you in the Net. I wouldn't bother with belligerent comment's like mine. But if would like context: It was my intention to Shed light on how ingame lore is Made in such a way as to be intrepid as one see's fit. Even the Primordial serpents can be understood as both lieing and telling the truth. That is what i personally subscribe too. So far i havent read or seen anything in game that disproves my thought's, While am a certainly reaching! Thats the beauty of the games lore, It can be nearly anything you fancy. As in all 3 games i have never seen one good example of the Dark being a good thing... For anybody. Yes it's better then the world being burnt to Ash, And probably: (My theory Become the Deep sea Aldrich envisioned and what the pontiff was trying to bring about with the Profaned flame: It would Continue the battle between Fire and Dark forever, Were as the Dark was always otherwise destined to win and end the chance of the Deep sea) But the Dark is the bad ending to a hopeless situation. I take the Usurp ending as what Gwyn new all along to be true, That fire is the only true way to *live and the Dark was just the age of what comes after, undeath and stagnation. An age worse then the grey age of the dragons. Both Kath and Frampt were working towards the Same goal of finding the one to bear the flame within themselves, A vessel that could Be a permanent home and shelter for the flame, So it would burn forever and not turn the world to ash, They both just had there own idea's on what was the right way to go about it. Yes I'm projecting, and thats what i mean about liking the ingame lore, It set up to be that way. Everything else in my comment was to insight Doubt in a person's Faith it what they have been told, To better facilitate more free thinking, Even if it brings about Obj lies. I do this with almost all of my comment's. I subscribe to the idea that all established truths should be challenged. This is not an attack, It is a passing fancy of a nobody.
Cool thing about sigils is powering them most sensual is a powered by orgasm while looking at the sigil to power it or pain or sacrifice . So in Dark Souls 3 you get a level when you die from the dark sigil because you're powering it with your death.
So what's different between the dark lord or the Lord of hollows or a dark age and the hollows taking the flame into themselves I mean didn't they have ages where the flame wasn't and also did was weaken the flame is the age of dark even a real thing?
After i know what Abyss has done to Artorias and Sif also almost corrupting Ollacile , i hate the dark age even tho the ending are the coolest one 😅, well in the firekeeper ending she let the flame die too without us being the dark lord but she said there'll be tiny flame dancing again in the dark, so i guess let the fire died out are the only way to start the new fire age with fresh new fire, in this case humanity wouldn't rule the world coz they dont have the dark lord
The Ashen One will eventually become the Dark Lord after the fire fades, he is human. What will you do with all the power you got?? Just sit in the dark with the Fire Keeper?
Idk, the dark lord gives me a bit of a D-bag vibes. I got the end of fire ending. Let the dark come in gently and let the healing begin with my fire keeper. If my life ends, so be it. If i killed the lord of cinder. I DOUBT anyone could take me on. I protected the future with my embers. If a dark lord ever rises, a great enslaver, They would go through me
Ringed knight vs Dark wraith anyone 🤔 👀? Who are they are they one in the same if not how did they come to be? If they are, are they of a different faction?? Or did they change over time.. I need answers 😩
I’m so glad there’s still someone making good DS lore content.
=D
can't wait to see how much lore will elder ring give us
Bro I'm there with you. This shits informational af
I remember playing dark souls 3 for the first time. I made a character centered around being born of the abyss itself back in Dark souls 1. I carried the dame character through 2 and into 3 where I learned of the lord of hollows. I made that his ultimate goal making my own little story linking the 3 games to this 1 character to end with him becoming the lord of hollows.
I love the Dark Lord ending, and the npcs associated with it (especially Yuria!)
Got it on my 1st playthrough of Dark Souls 3 and have a screenshot of my char becoming the Dark Lord as my wallpaper XD
Glad you're back and feeling better my man! Looking forward to the new content you have coming!
Thanks, dude! Glad to be feeling myself again! =D
When dad comes back from getting milk:
They were out of whole so I had to settle for 2%.
Thought it read "getting milked" for a sec
Who else liked, saw they changed 69 to 70 and changed it back?
@@sebastianwinters9864 I salute you, you marvelous bastards
@Watson Forrest don't care
Just a thought:
Darkness is the absence of light. Darkness is not something that replaces light but rather is something that remains when the light is gone. Kaath's mission was true and right, that being to end the age of fire since it was unnatural (as every day eventually needs a night and vice versa), but his philosophy was wrong, that being that he would amass Darkness to overtake the light.
But it's not a true Darkness. As we see a black and white sigil in the sky, as we are still able to see the hollows, as we are still able to see period. I say it's not a true Darkness in comparison to the "true ending" when the course of the world is corrected rather than usurped, we then see a true dark with no light. A cold, dark, and gentle place.
I mean, we usurped the flame, so if I were to guess the unkindled one became the only to escape the age of dark (for now), and now all hollows follow him and the light of his fire
darkness in dark souls universe isnt the absence of light but the opposite of light since the universe is built on disparity without dark there is no light and vice versa hence why even in the dark ending there's still some light and in ages of fire there's still some dark otherwise the age of gray would be a dark age just because there was no light
I don't get why people have this mixed up light is the absence of darkness. Darkness is absolute and always exist it's the illusion of light that's produced to fight the darkness. The light dwindles but darkness only gets stronger because it's the absolute of life
@@stretchwheel9958 but thats not true at all life and death and light and darkness are all distinct in the universe light will also always exist too
Day and night exist in dark souls, they have cycles like we do in the age of fire
The age of fire has a night and day cycle and the age of dark doesn't because the age of dark is just a black void while night is dark but still has the light of the moon and gwydolin is the god of the moon/dark sun so your comment is wrong, why do you think anor londo and Irithyll are in the state of night with the moon out its because it is night
Absolutely love the fact that we are still talking dark souls lore all these years later ... Love these videos we need more
It would be interesting if there was a DLC in which we could follow Aldrich's quest to usher in the age of the deep. It would be nice to see what the world would look like in that specific age
Play Bloodborne
@@Nemesis_T-Type Puhlease... bloodborne is my very first fromsoft game and even got the platinum. That ain't it.
@@kenanperez3151 Thats very clearly the Age of the Deep Sea.
In the end of the Astral Clockwork DLC, a character says "A bottomless curse, *a bottomless sea,* accepting of all that is, and can be."
@@Nemesis_T-Type bloodborne doesn't have anything to do with the deep
@@kingofstrangeness7014 You don't think Bloodborne has anything to do with the Deep Sea? What? Did you play the game?
having seen every lore video ever made, I was like: I don't remember this title... NEW VIDEO!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YEESSSS
Can relate
Likewise....
@@mudoken1557 yup
Concurrence imminent!
Huh… I always thought of it as hollowing yourself out so you can usurp and store the flame within the ashen one accentually making the ashen one a god and a lord. And Sister Friede just didn’t hollow herself enough to make room for the flame and therefore didn’t have the strength to usurp the it.
But I like this interpretation, too. It’s pretty cool.
The usurpation ending has an interesting paralel to the very intro in Dark Souls 1: the same way Gwyn and the other lords are picking "Great souls" in the big fire and proceed to spread it and make a new Age in their images, the Lord of Hollows is doing the same but with the opposite intent: suppress fire altogether and usher a new Age of Dark in his image. The act of picking up the Fire is really reminiscent of the first Lords picking up the Souls.
The alternative would be for Fire to take its course naturally, be it spreading by itself in DS1 or snuffing by itself in DS3, and thus ending and beginning new eras in natural fashion, without Lords to control and monopolize them. 😉
What about hollows not being humans? They have no humanity, and beings that just came from the dark are basically every humanoid, including gods.
It's quite strange how in the first game getting hollow meant loosing your mind and being drawn to souls and humanity, while in DS3 the term seems retconned to me. And even in this retconned variant hollows of Londor doesn't seem happy about their state, so they have to be ruled by fear.
I can understand if this is the part of the necessary evil, and hollows can get humanity later on, to even be humans, and in this case it doesn't matters if them being not mindless anymore is a retcon. But usurping the flame doesn't even looks like the age of dark that firekeeper can bring - a dark world, maybe turning shapeless even, like the abyss. Instead we have actual usurping of the flame, in a slightly tainted form, yet it's not too different from the chaos flame, except the fact that bed of Chaos was created as a new thing in a different kiln.
I don't think they retconned it completely but more so defined Hollowing more. From left crumbs for us on this one. I think it goes something like; Hollows do have humanity. You go mindless if you cannot control your own humanity. In DS1 when your Humanity is at 00 and you look like beef jerky it just means you don't have additional humanity. Your change in appearance is your own humanity effecting you. Dark Wraiths steal humanity from others giving them more Dark, their bodies are likely overwhelmed by this and they probably look gross under the armor but their minds still work. When you attack Yuria in DS3 she laments your actions stating, "Hollows need not go mad." Madness is a threshold that can be overcome, a hurtle I assume all Dark Wraiths must first surmount before gaining that title.
I completely agree with you about the tainted flame thing and made a post stating something similar in this video before I found your comment. My head cannon has it set that without knowledge of the Rite of Kindling, each link of the flame after the Chosen Undead of DS1 has actually been poisoning the Flame. The Rite teaches us how to fortify fire to handle more Dark but after DS1 the art is not used again. The gods should have been burning their own instead of humans who have Dark in them, the world likely would have persisted in a better state longer.
You're absolutely right. There's no good answer for the nature of the undead that doesn't contradict either ds1 or ds3.
@@Writh811 The flame wasn't poisoned tho, just weak. Humanity is as good of a fuel as any other. It's just that usurping was a slightly different process, closer to creation of chaos, using the power of the first flame, rather then supporting the first flame. Which is still a simulation of the first flame, different from the actual age of dark (also I love how in the dark ending you can still run around for some time after the world starting to turn into abyss-like state, before the credits start to roll).
True sunbros never leave another behind, welcome back
I really appreciate you making this, I've wondered about this exact topic for awhile
I would like to see a Dark Souls 4: Age of Dark, where you character chose not to reignite the flame, and another ashen one went on to lead Londor. We can then explore Londor and maybe try to overthrow the new King for one reason or another.
I missed these lore videos. There really isn't a whole load of them nowadays and I don't know why! This structure of lore videos with the lore, then some dialogue delivered by some of the best voice actors I've ever seen, some classic fromsofware ambiance on the backround always a good thing. Providing us with the dialogue where all what you previously said or are about to say are hidden, so we may ncover it for ourselves, providing detailed explenations of what is happening while also backing those explenations with the according scene of the game etc. AND SOMEHOW THEY ARE NOWHERE TO BE FOUND! The LORE is why I entered this franchise! It was in a pvp skillz video where you had a cameo at the start (sure it was with gwyn and lightning miracles) that made me really want to buy the game. Thank you, ashen hollow, for this video. Really enjoyed it, hope I can see more amazing content like this in the future.
Thanks, my dude! Means a bunch! I'll keep trying my best. =]
Literally in the middle of doing this run for the first so crazy, Praise the Sun!
Good luck man! Have fun
Ahem, praise the _d a r k_
Praise Rebirth
We missed you bud! Please make content at whatever pace makes you happiest, we'll always be here whenever that is. I hope you're feeling better and life is treating you right 😁
Thanks dude, that means a ton! =D
@@TheAshenHollow Absolutely! Dark Souls vids are great, but a humans health(mental or otherwise) is a much higher priority.
Can't wait to see more stuff when you make it 😁👍
I'm waiting to get a next gen console before playing Elden Ring. I'm doing another playthrough of DS3 and of course, soaking in the lore. Thank you for this.
No wonder Manus failed. Imagine how much humanity you'd need to contain to be able to counteract Gwyn's soul, let alone contain the first flame. Only reason 8 Dark Sigils was enough in DS3 was because it was so burnt out that it was practically dead even after being rekindled anyway.
I really like your takes on the lore! Keep up the great work!
Thanks, dude! I'll keep trying my best! =]
So glad someone is taking about this, and even happier that it's you.
So what I got from this is you stamp out the flame FOREVER, committing the second great sin and again not allowing a natural cycle of light and dark
Great video Ash, glad you're feeling better aswell :)
Thank you! 😁
These videos get me out of my head in a way I can really get down with, I appreciate your content man
Good to have you back, Ashen One. Superb video as always.
Thanks, friend! =]
Finding this video waiting for me today was like finding a bonfire 😌🔥ahhhh perfection
🙌 Woot woot!
Not gonna lie, I consider this to be the closest to a "good" ending we have as we finally break the cycle rather than prolonging the inevitable or simply restarting it.
Fire Fading is the good ending. This one you just do the same thing Gwyn did.
@@pauloh.alchaar No, it wouldn't take such an elaborate plan form Sable church to just do the same thing. You do in a way, but you still end the age of fire. Either you become most powerful being, kill off the gods and make your body a siphon from flame to humanity or just kill off the flame (maybe, it's a gamble if you or the firekeeper can guard it till it fades completely, not letting anyone touch it), it reaches the same goal.
@@HellGod67 You'll become a King, and someday another champion will kill you and take your powers and so on. Just like the flame, but in a age of Hollows.
I like to think Yuria of Dark Souls 3 is the same Yuria of Demon's Souls and has dedicated her life to the Dark due to her hatred of the gods for locking her away and torturing her. Better yet, perhaps after the Chosen Undead released her, she met Mephistopheles, who in turn trained her to be the skilled fighter she is in this age.
I really love your videos and I love how futile our decisions are in this game series.
DS1: You have 2 options:
Succeed Gwyn and link the first flame, essentially continuing the illusion and falsehood and let the status quo remain until the flame fades once again.
Or, let it die out and become a ruler of the next age, but it doesn't really matter because another undead will come anyway to link the flame if you didn't.
DS2: You have 2 options:
Succeed (Gwyn, his name has been long forgotten) and become a "true" monarch and link the first flame, essentially continuing the illusion and falsehood and let the status quo remain until the flame fades once again.
Or, let it die out and continue your endless search for a cure that will lift the curse with Aldia (the only being who has somewhat succeeded in this endeavor) by your side.
DS3: You have 4 options:
Succeed Gwyn and continue the falshood (essentially burning the world away). There isn't much left to burn anyway, so I think we essentially fail to link it in its true sense.
Let it die out but the flame will flicker up once again eventually.
Usurp the flame and become a lord for your people, essentially breaking the cycle and ushering the age of man (what Kaathe wanted all along).
Betray the fire Keeper, kill her, take the flame only for yourself. You break away from the cycle but only you. A greedy choice for you stand alone in a world of emptyness.
Technically Dark Souls 2 Assume the Throne Ending (Succeed option) is a bit more ambiguous as we don't see the Bearer of the Curse Relink the Flame and the narration says we have a choice but it's meaningless as this will all play out again. For all we know the Bearer could've just sat their mopping or got up to to become a Dark Lord.
0:16 When I first heard her say this and after knowing that you'll "marry" someone for the Lord of Hollows ending. Legitimately thought you'd end up with Yuria in one way or another.
I think if I had to pick a favorite Dark Souls youtuber it’d be you, Jake! With Hawkshaw following close behind
Oh, you. ☺
sounds pretty solid, good to have another vid, soon this flame too, shall go out. but fear not my friends, we shall soon take refuge within a new land, a land yet unknown...
can you even imagine it?
My interpretation is that the Ashen One has transferred the Undead Curse from Humanity to the First Flame.
Hope your feeling better.
I struggle with a mountain of 'issues' I have. I know it's almost easy to get lost in the dark, it's actually a everyday thing as it's always been for me...
Anyway, dear hollow, take heart.
It's so easy to say stuff then it is to do it, but I say this to you.
There's always a glimmer of hope in darkness, but your the only one who can find it. Don't despair.
DO NOT GO HOLLOW
Thanks, dude. That means a bunch!
To you as well! =]
Hey man, nice to see ya back. It may sound silly or not directly lore related (although I guess it is), but could you do a video on why the inhabitants of Lordran, Drangleich, Lothric, Anor Londo etc. are so tall whereas humans are tiny ("normal sized")? See ya man!
isn't it because they all are like descendants of Gwyn and the other gods?
@@Elayaass Maybe, but The Ringed Knights are pure humans and they are tall as well. So i guess everyone in Ds are tall, but as humanitty was tied with the undead curse they started to grow shorter as time passes by. Leaving only Gwyn descendants with this high stacture, just a theory. (srry for bad english.)
@@pauloh.alchaar Don't forget, there are giants as well, so they all could've been part giants.
@@HellGod67 Indeed. Giants and Humans share the same ancestor, the furtive Pigmy. Same goes for the little beings in Lothric.
I think it helped that at one point, some humans realized the truth to the ceremony, and that fueled the strength of the sable church. Take Aldia for one, he became a scholar of the first sin upon realizing the crime Gwen has commited
More great content from my favorite creator. Sorry it took so long for me to watch, I just recovered from spinal surgery. Love your work man!
Oh, damn dude! I wish you a well and speedy road to recovery. Take care and thanks for watching! =]
@@TheAshenHollow Thanks for the support, Your videos have really helped me through this!
You’ve become my favorite souls lore content creator by far keep it up my friend...
Good to have you back :)
Idk why but for some reason that one girl calling me “honorable lord of hollows” is like the best feeling for me in this game
I love these videos... these channels make me wanna run all the games again ! Keep up the awesome work Jake!
This is a year late, but what armor is the character wearing at the "wedding" with Anri ~ 5:05 and following? Deserter set?
I was curious about the Hollow ending. I assumed you'd make a Ringed City 2.0
It's the Dark Lord (just like Gwyn but dark instead of fire) creating an unnatural, scuffed and eventurally degenerative age of dark until the cycle pushes on.
Pushing for the continuation of the age of dark would be more similar to the first sin. The age of fire was supposed to end even before the start of dark souls 1, so I can't say I agree with you on this one
Crazy how when you get this ending Two yuria’s like twin serpents
The age of dark is the cure against Gwyn First Sin.
More like the natural part of cycle of things that was shattered by the first sin
More like a way for some people to feel heroic.
Always a good day when I get to watch your videos
I love your theories man! Keep up!
I feel like I don’t belong here sense I’ve never played any of these games but the way you talk about the game’s lore I can’t help but watch this. Very entertaining
You certainly belong! You don't need to play to love the lore! Heck I haven't actually PLAYED Dark Souls in years lol!
Great vid Ashen Hallow. I smashed the LIKE button for you! Cheers
Yes the ashen hollow is back
Just as me and my brother decided to a speed run race nice
Nice video, I love your work!
Very happy to see you embered again. Please never go full hollow my man :)
Thanks, friend! I'll keep trying my best! =]
I believe the Lord of Hollows is something different than just being the Dark Lord. In Dark Souls 1, the goal was to retain one's humanity, to avoid being a hollow. Everyone even mentions requiring Humanity to stay, well, human, and while you do need a Bonfire, that's curiously unmentioned by every character. Dark Souls 2 goes on to have the Humanity itself, now called Human Effigies, be the key to regaining one's humanity. In Dark Souls 3, an Ember might just be a Humanity that was fished out of a Bonfire, effectively recycling old kindling just like how the Lords of Cinder and Unkindled are recycled. On top of all this, something especially crucial to consider is the Pygmy's state in the Dark Souls 1 cinematic prologue. The prologue reveals that, before claiming souls, all the humanoid beings are hollows. However, after claiming the Dark Soul, the Pymy has fleshy, alive, human hands. As such, even the Dark Soul, Humanity itself, on its own can combat being a hollow circa Dark Souls 1's relevant eras.
What the Sable Church works toward appears to be something it has invented, not an old cause it seeks to implement. The Dark Sigils might resemble the Darksign, but Unkindled all have the Darksign itself, and we can see a difference between the two. While the Darksign remains a fiery ring, the Dark Sigils seem to be moist, concentric circles in comparison. They might be a new form of curse, one that can even apply to the otherwise hollowing-proof Unkindled. Additionally, rather than just having the Dark Sigils for health and power, it appears that the Sable Church wants someone to be as hollowed as possible, and not just as a measure of effectiveness either. Their methods are further worrisome, as obtaining Anri's Dark Sigils entails him/her being murdered and his/her body being further desecrated, and it's puzzling that Anri would be so willing to kneel to any Hollow Lord who so thoroughly betrayed his/her trust. Yuria also, quite baselessly, accuses Orbeck of conspiring against the player and tries to have him killed.
As such, the Lord of Hollows plan might seek to actively erase one's humanity and keep them on the verge of madness, and if Anri's bowing is any indication, some beings have their wills totally destroyed and are turned into puppets. The Sable Church also seems to believe that the First Flame is effectively eternal and all-powerful, which indicates they don't seek to erase it, but to try a different sort of firelinking. As such, the Darksign curse may still be in effect, and with the Flame actually weakening and at risk of going out, the Sable Church might hope to instead rule an apocalyptic wasteland, or their utterly mistaken notions will cause the Flame to drag down the Dark or keep some form of Darksign present in the world.
Additionally, while Yuria's Japanese dialogue upon her death mentions Kaathe's dying wish, the murals in Sister Friede's boss room might add a wrinkle to these words. The Friede murals depict two serpents apparently being killed by two figures, who seem to be women, in dark robes. These figures might be allusions to Friede's sisters, Yuria and Liliane, meaning that the Sable Church may have actively supplanted Kaathe (and Frampt) with plans of their own. Granted, it's quite a stretch for Yuria to mention a false dying wish of Kaathe as she herself is dying, but considering her baseless demands for Orbeck's death and her insane notions of what marriage is, perhaps she's naturally twisted, whether from hollowing or otherwise.
One thing I've wondered: How the hell does mere *water* stop the Abyss? The realm of pure darkness that corrodes everything of fire!? Is it hydrophobic?
The best explaination for the best DS3 ending
So in contrast with asking the fire keeper to betray her oaths, this ending seems more malevolent as the player becomes the would be ruler. Meanwhile, with the fire keeper the player let's the world progress naturally without the influence of other factions, a "true" restart.
I still don't understand the "Unkindled ending" where you tell the firekeeper to end the fire but instead killing her to take the fire, what are you suppose to become with that choice?
The lord of hollows is very hollow inside.
Praise the flame an upload! Hope your mentally stable and able to motivate yourself to do anything even if your not happy, try not to mope around. Try not to go hollow my friend...
Thanks! I'll keep giving it my best! =]
Great video, hope you're holding up okay man. Looking forward to your next release 🙏
Thanks, dude! Hanging in there, always trying my best! =D
Good stuff Jake lyb!
I love your content very interesting video , and perfect editing like always
Thank you very much!
Talked my brother into picking up DS3, another for the pit in due time..... great video sir!
Wait, hold on a second. Where is Velka?
Jk xD great video!
Ironically the church of Londor os frequently implied to be founded by Velka so she’s very relevant here
All items that used to refer to velka in ds1 now refer to londor
The Ashen Homestead looks as welcoming as ever
=D
Great video as allways :D
And i want to point out that something i noted from this ending is that the Lord of Hollows dosent seem to erase the First flame but that he absorved it and was made as not just the true Dark Lord but also the almighty one, suported by hin/her lifting the Dark Sun wich dosent seem much but in some religions and stories when God is asked if he is omnipotent he lifts the sun with his hand to confirm it.
Sorry for my not so good english, keep up the fantastic work.
so would that make the fire keeper the lady of hollows in the end of the fire ending?
I wish there were more Gear for Lord of Hollows
Is the abyss and age of dark connect? Because every time we see a glimpse of the age of dark, like in ds3 dark ending.
We see the whole world look it's completely covered in abyss or is that just a permanent state of nighttime?
Abyss and dark are not the same, The Abyss is a byproduct of The First Flame denying The Dark, it's a corrupted darkness. The curse of hollowing was also created because of this denial. Men are creations of darkness and all of evil in the world appeared because the gods didn't want to let the fire fade and lose their rule of the world to humans.
The dark flame creates no shadows.
@@HellGod67 makes sense
This is a really old vid but I wish this was the canon ending cus this is such a bad ass way to end the trilogy
i have recently played through the DS games for the first time and frm wht i have read abt it is tht both ages work in together naturally (like day and night). We have seen wht continuous age of fire did to the world. Now, i m curious abt what will happen with the continuous age of dark ? or if the inhabitance of the world learns frm the mistakes of the gods (which i hope not bec i want more games xD)
Fancy intro!
Yeah Sin
Thanks Sin! =D
I’m always down for some souls borne lore.
For me doing this ending felt wrong, like I am corrupting the world even further. Becoming like Gwyn and probably dooming everyone, doing the end of fire felt more right than this
It's done in that spirit on purpose. It looks like the generic "evil" ending because we were conditioned to think that getting some kind of power instead of sacrificing yourself is not as altruistic. If you're not actually getting the lore then it would seem like it. But when we put it into context of sacrificing yourself like a servant for the "gods" versus getting the power from them in a sort of a coup to make your people flourish it takes a different meaning.
You can make an allegory to this in the real world: you can sacrifice yourself for your boss -- overworking with no extra pay while looking like a such a great guy for the boss and certain people, or demand a raise for the high amount of work during your work hours in which your colleagues would benefit as well.
This game never die
This ending has always felt like your character is being manipulated to me, especially with how she asks us to kill the sorcerer dude saying its a mark of a true lord. Still an awesome ending.
A better Theory: You are not snuffing out the Flame, But becomeing its retainer.
The Dark is infact the End of the world, Only a being that can hold the flame and not explode is able to save it.
Gwyn Simply did what he had to do.
This is also why the dragon hybrid's exist: They were trying to create a being that could hold the Destructive Flame inside of them selves as the Ancient dragons could, Before They were all slaughtered.
I think Vaati has to much power over Subjective lore and to many people just repeat what he says.
It's a little condescending to say "a better theory" and provide your own speculation that was mostly already proven false by the compendium. The Dark in fact is not the end of the world, just like winter isn't the end of our world. And what does Vaati have to do with this??
@@TheAshenHollow O my i didn't expect to catch you in the Net.
I wouldn't bother with belligerent comment's like mine.
But if would like context: It was my intention to Shed light on how ingame lore is Made in such a way as to be intrepid as one see's fit. Even the Primordial serpents can be understood as both lieing and telling the truth. That is what i personally subscribe too.
So far i havent read or seen anything in game that disproves my thought's, While am a certainly reaching! Thats the beauty of the games lore, It can be nearly anything you fancy.
As in all 3 games i have never seen one good example of the Dark being a good thing... For anybody.
Yes it's better then the world being burnt to Ash, And probably: (My theory Become the Deep sea Aldrich envisioned and what the pontiff was trying to bring about with the Profaned flame: It would Continue the battle between Fire and Dark forever, Were as the Dark was always otherwise destined to win and end the chance of the Deep sea) But the Dark is the bad ending to a hopeless situation.
I take the Usurp ending as what Gwyn new all along to be true, That fire is the only true way to *live and the Dark was just the age of what comes after, undeath and stagnation. An age worse then the grey age of the dragons. Both Kath and Frampt were working towards the Same goal of finding the one to bear the flame within themselves, A vessel that could Be a permanent home and shelter for the flame, So it would burn forever and not turn the world to ash, They both just had there own idea's on what was the right way to go about it.
Yes I'm projecting, and thats what i mean about liking the ingame lore, It set up to be that way.
Everything else in my comment was to insight Doubt in a person's Faith it what they have been told, To better facilitate more free thinking, Even if it brings about Obj lies. I do this with almost all of my comment's.
I subscribe to the idea that all established truths should be challenged.
This is not an attack, It is a passing fancy of a nobody.
I think that the relation between kaathe and Velka came before the relation between the three sisters
"Prove that the Truth becomes you." - Darkstalker Kaathe
Woah fresh lore yes
Yes!!!!
More videos pls
kinda interesting that the Lord of Hollows would be embered haha
What helmet is that at the end paired with the hard leather armor?
Creighton's! =]
@@TheAshenHollow thanks!! I appreciate it!
Finally some good f**king food
Amazing video dude, thanks for explaining the lore. I didn't know any of this till today
Cool thing about sigils is powering them most sensual is a powered by orgasm while looking at the sigil to power it or pain or sacrifice . So in Dark Souls 3 you get a level when you die from the dark sigil because you're powering it with your death.
I was wondering what I am, thanks for the video
So what's different between the dark lord or the Lord of hollows or a dark age and the hollows taking the flame into themselves I mean didn't they have ages where the flame wasn't and also did was weaken the flame is the age of dark even a real thing?
More please
After i know what Abyss has done to Artorias and Sif also almost corrupting Ollacile , i hate the dark age even tho the ending are the coolest one 😅, well in the firekeeper ending she let the flame die too without us being the dark lord but she said there'll be tiny flame dancing again in the dark, so i guess let the fire died out are the only way to start the new fire age with fresh new fire, in this case humanity wouldn't rule the world coz they dont have the dark lord
The Ashen One will eventually become the Dark Lord after the fire fades, he is human. What will you do with all the power you got?? Just sit in the dark with the Fire Keeper?
That new intro :0
The Lord of Hollows is a Vasto Lorde
Idk, the dark lord gives me a bit of a D-bag vibes. I got the end of fire ending. Let the dark come in gently and let the healing begin with my fire keeper. If my life ends, so be it. If i killed the lord of cinder. I DOUBT anyone could take me on. I protected the future with my embers. If a dark lord ever rises, a great enslaver, They would go through me
Ringed knight vs Dark wraith anyone 🤔 👀? Who are they are they one in the same if not how did they come to be? If they are, are they of a different faction?? Or did they change over time.. I need answers 😩
I've been subscribed for a few years now but in all this time I never found out what those "reasons" were for the Twitter follow...
Dad jokes.
But what about in dark souls one? Why don’t you need to do any of the ceremony when becoming the lord of dark in the first game?
Because technically the canon ending of 1 was the Chosen Undead linking the Flame.
True sun bro.. 👍👉☀️