Dark Souls Part 7: Blighttown and the Fate of the Undead

 

I must begin this post with an apology, as it has been a significant amount of time since my last post. Work, school, girl, the sorts. Although, I would not be entirely honest if I did not say that I haven't exactly been too excited about this post, as it covers one of my least favorite parts of the game. Anyway, when we last left off, you had finally reached the dreaded, poisonous ruins of Blighttown. This used to be a prominent swamp settlement occupied by local pyromancers and other followers of the witches of Izalith. However, a terrible spell poisoned the swamp, and condemned it to a place of plague and quarantine. I doubt it was called Blighttown back then, as its name is now more fitting than it was then.

What remains of the town is now a very hazardous place, and not just because of the crazed inhabitants or the poisonous swamp, but because the buildings really need to update their OSHA regulations. Most of the settlement is built into the cavern walls above the swamp, wooden balconies and houses just dangling at a dramatic height.  Scaling down this dangerous environment, you reach the bottom of Blighttown and head for the second bell. However, it seems someone else has made the area surround the belltower their home, and they don't appreciate visitors...

This spider-lady is as voluptuous as she is dangerous. Her spider half seems to love vomiting magma almost as much as it loves to defecate it. If you manage to survive the heat, you have finally conquered your last obstacle in this quest of ringing bells. You go to do so, and while its not immediately obvious, you soon discover the purpose of these Bells of Awakening. Back at Firelink Shrine, they have awakened an interesting individual - a serpentine fellow by the name of Kingseeker Frampt. Upon confirmation that you are the one who rang the bells, he dubs you the Chosen Undead, and volunteers to share with you your fate...

"Your fate... is to succeed the Great Lord Gwyn. So that you may link the Fire, cast away the Dark, and undo the curse of the Undead. To this end, you must visit Anor Londo, and acquire the Lordvessel.
Those who seek the Realm of Lords must brave Sen's Fortress, a deadly house of traps. Many have gone before you, but none have returned. Fate has chosen you, but proceed with caution. "

So there you have it. It appears that the trials you went through in ringing the Bells of Awakening were exactly that - trials. You have passed the tests, and been deemed worth to succeed Lord Gwyn and continue the Age of Fire. To do this, you must first travel to the mountain top city of the gods - Anor Londo - and acquire the Lordvessel. The Lordvessel is basically just a big container for all the Lord's Souls. Why do you need them? Frampt won't tell you yet. But alas, you have a new quest with renewed purpose. You are no longer fulfilling the quest of a man who saved you - you're saving the world...

Dark Souls Part 6: D*ckwraiths and R.O.U.S.'s

Right, so if somehow by this point you -haven't- been invaded by a Darkwraith, you will be in these sewers. What is a Darkwraith, you ask? Well really, they're pretty much all the same. Some asshole decked out in gear you know for sure you're not getting any time soon runs up to you and stabs you once (maybe twice if you're lucky), and you're suddenly dead.

That's it really, at regular intervals of you progressing through the game, you will be invaded by some asshat who's been griefing lowbies like you all day. Why is he doing it? Well mainly just to be a douche, but also to steal your souls (experience points) and your humanity (limited item which you use to become human, which in turn allows you to summon phantoms for co-op).

And that's really all that being a Darkwraith is about. Essentially, the opposite of the Warriors of Sunlight. Members of this covenant will exploit any and all means they can to make your day a little bit worse. It truly is unfair, as it really doesn't matter how skilled you are in combat. Their gear will always be endgame stuff. Even though they may be the same level as you, it really doesn't matter, as even if you take off a fraction of their health bar with a skill parry or backstab, all they have to do is hit you once or twice and you're dead.

It's actually one of the highest causes of frustration for new players, as it can be very inconvenient to be suddenly killed with nothing you can do about it. However, I believe that is somewhat the point of the covenant. The Darkwraiths are essentially the embodiment of Chaotic Evil. They don't care if they aren't playing fair. What creatures of evil and chaos care about things like honor and conduct? They only care about themselves - so much so that even being a member of the Darkwraiths does not exempt you from being invaded.

 They can only invade you every so often though, so after you're inevitable brutally murdered, you can continue on your way. The way is, of course, infested with giant rats, hollowed dogs, cannibalistic butchers, slime monsters, and frogs that will curse you; but that's pretty much a given at this point.

So after fighting your way through all that, you come to a large chamber. Within this chamber, a creature arises from the depths to (what else?) assail you. However, this is by FAR the largest creature you have attempted to do battle with. It's at least 200 feet in length, with 6 legs, a tail, wings, and a body comprised largely of... well...

Teeth

A truly daunting foe. However, Knight Solaire and Knight Lautrec once again stand by your side, and with their aid you are able to bring this beast down. With it's defeat, you retrieve a key to the doors that bar entry to the quarantined "city" of Blighttown.

Dark Souls Part 5: Sunbros and Hercules

It almost looks like an emote that originated from 4chan

In this post, I'm going to take advantage of a lull in the pacing of the games story to go into further detail of the covenant that Knight Solaire represents - the Warriors of Sunlight, and also talk more about Knight Solaire himself. The Warriors of Sunlight is a covenant of people dedicated to being Cool Guys. The standards of the covenant are to help those in need, and to uphold righteousness and justice. It is essentially a big covenant of paladins.

Yeah, it's kinda like that

Mechanically, the covenant is built around the game's coop system - you advance within the covenant by helping friends and strangers alike traverse difficult areas and defeat bosses. Upon completion of this task, you receive a Sunlight Medal. These medals are tokens that you turn in to get promoted, and gain access to more powerful miracles. In a game as difficult as this, it is very great to have "Sunbros" to rely upon.

So it's no real wonder why Solaire is such a great guy - he's dedicated to the idea of being a great guy. Of course, not everything seems normal about him. His rather unusual quest to acquire a Sun notwithstanding, he's also exceptionally powerful in combat.

In the description of a Sunlight Medal, it is told that the medal is a symbol of Lord Gwyn's firstborn son. This son apparently lost his deity status, and was completely expunged from recorded history. However, the medal mysteriously notes that the former god still closely watches over his warriors. One could say it is not much of a leap in logic to assume that Solaire is this former god, and that it could possibly explain his affinity with the Sun. In fact, one of my friends compared him to Hercules only a short while after meeting him.

This is actually a matter of hot debate between Dark Souls fans, as there is a piece of evidence that many believe contradicts this theory. In the description of Solaire's armor, it claims that none of his equipment is magical, and that all of his combat prowess must have been obtained through intense training alone. Personally, I believe this to be further support for the theory that Solaire is the firstborn son of Gwyn, not evidence against it. If Solaire is a powerful former god, why would he need magical equipment? He would, by all basic appearances, appear to be just a very powerful mortal. In the end, you'll have to decide for yourself, as there is nothing concrete regarding this.

Anyway, back to the adventure. Searching for a route to head into the depths of the earth to search for Blighttown, you find yourself on the lower streets of the Undead Burg, which are riddled with hollowed citizens and former thieves. You fight your way through before you are almost ganked by another formidable aggressor.

AKA Goat Demon

 I promise to you that this is the last demon you'll have to fight for a while. Why they seem to be all over the place right now, I really don't know. This guy is a really big pain in the butt because he always ambushes you at the start of the fight, and he has two Hollowed Dogs assisting him in murdering you. After an intense and cramped fight, you kill the demon, and find that it has a key to a nearby basement.

When we return, it's time to descend into everyone's favorite (most hated) videogame level of all time: the Sewer Level!

Dark Souls Part 4: Praising the Sun, Shady Allies, and the first bell

A man of conviction

"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!"




Knight Solaire, upon first impression, is a psychotic man. He apparently -became- undead so that he could come to Lordran in search of his own sun. Whether or not he understands the properties of a celestial body such as a sun, he seems fully convinced that he will find one here. He is also a member of the Warriors of Sunlight - guardians of all that is good, and servants of Gwyn. Regardless of his rather strange mission, he offers you his partnership on your quest. He cannot travel with you, though. He explains that the flow of time in Lordran is distorted, and that your time together is limited - he will soon phase back to his own time and world.

I know that's pretty confusing and doesn't make a whole lot of sense, but it is essentially an explanation of Dark Souls's online system. When you see or summon the phantoms of other players, they are supposed to be heroes of the past and future.

Moving on before we reach an inevitable paradox situation, Solaire asks you to summon him when you need his aid and can find his summon sign. For now, he will stand here and gaze into the sun... Yeah. After crossing the bridge and fighting your way through several more hollowed warriors and knights, you finally reach the church. Atop it awaits a bell tower, housing the first bell you must ring to complete your quest.

However, while exploring the church, you meet another rather interesting individual, whom appears to be imprisoned inside a holding cell.

A man of deception

"Oh, still human are you? Then I am in luck. Could you help me? As you can see I am stuck, without recourse. Please, I have duties to fulfill, and I will reward you handsomely. Well? I am certain you stand to benefit."

Whether you choose to free Lautrec or not is your choice. He will assist you in your quest, but this assistance should be taken with a grain of salt, given the circumstances of how you found him.

Now, after fighting your way through the hordes of this Undead Burg, it is now time for you to ring that bell. You ascend to the rooftop that you must cross in order to reach the bell tower. While crossing it, however, the building begins to shake. Looking for the source of this quake, your eyes rise to the gargoyle statues that surround the bell tower...

You fight this fearsome, fire breathing gargoyle, and it is soon joined by the arrival of a second. However, Knight Solaire fights by your side, along with Knight Lautrec (if you freed him), and the odds are kept in your favor. You defeat your final obstacle, and ascend the tower to find the bell.

You ring it, and as the note of the bell resonates throughout the land, you feel unfamiliar sensations... Hope, elation, and the rewards of perseverance. For now, you need ring only one other bell before you shall allegedly learn your destiny. That bell, however, resides far within the depths of the earth, in the plagued ruins of Blighttown...

Dark Souls Part 3: Arrival in the Land of the Ancient Lords

The Bonfires are the only remnants of the Fire that has kept this world alive

So after flying for miles, our bird friend drops us off in Lordran. Our arriving location appears to be a place called Firelink Shrine. It is a shrine dedicated to the Fire, and the many Bonfires it has created around the world. These Bonfires keep the encroaching darkness at bay. This shrine houses its own Bonfire, and around it, you may briefly see the spirits of other lost souls who are on their own quests through these lands, before they fade away.

Basically, think of a bunch of homeless people crowded around a trash can they set on fire.

Speaking of crazy bums, it is here that you will encounter another undead who has not yet gone hollow. His name is... um... Crestfallen Warrior. Why is he crestfallen? Well, it seems he has accepted that this world, and everything he had in his former life, is lost. Stricken with this depression, he does nothing but sit within the warmth of the Bonfire, and talk smack to those who pass by - like you! Just give him a bottle of whiskey, and I'm sure he fulfills this crazy bum metaphor.

"Well, what do we have here? You must be a new arrival.
Let me guess. Fate of the Undead, right? Well, you're not the first.
But there's no salvation here. You'd have done better to rot in the Undead Asylum… But, too late now. Well, since you're here… Let me help you out. There are actually two Bells of Awakening.
One's up above, in the Undead Church. The other is far, far below, in the ruins at the base of Blighttown. Ring them both, and something happens… Brilliant, right? Not much to go on, but I have a feeling that won't stop you. So, off you go. It is why you came, isn't it? To this accursed land of the Undead?
Hah hah hah hah…"

So now we know that this was not just Oscar's mission. Others have come before you, and apparently failed just as he did. Not letting this discourage you, you take his helpful advice and set out for the first bell. You reach a burg known only as the Undead Burg (at least it's to the point). Far above is a bridge that connects to the Undead Parish. You fight your way through the several Hollow citizens and soldiers that once inhabited this burg, and ascend to the surrounding battlements. You are almost to the bridge that connects to the parish when yet another dreadfully large monstrosity drops from a turret above... Yes, again. I promise these guys aren't one-trick ponies.

This is another demon - a Taurus Demon. Like the astrological sign, it very closely resembles a bull. This demon is far more aggressive than the one back in the Asylum, but with proper use of tactics  and height advantages within the surrounding environment, you are able to overcome it.

And so you have ascended through the ruins of once was surely a provident settlement - lost to the madness of those who have gone Hollow - and reached the bridge connecting to the church, which houses the bell you must ring. It is here that you meet, undoubtedly, the friendliest person you will ever encounter in this twisted land... Knight Solaire of Astora, Praiser of the Sun, adherent of the Lord of Sunlight.

Dark Souls Part 2: Awakening in the Asylum

After learning about the land the player is to quest in, we are transitioned to a bleak environment. It is here that we learn that those who have been cursed with the Dark Sign are condemned by society to a grim fate. They are corralled by their peers, taken to a far away land in the north, and locked away in an asylum to wait until their brains turn to apple sauce.

 A tragic ending to anyone's life, indeed, but it is now that a new revelation is made. You are one of these undead. You have been confined to a cell with nothing to do but stare at the floor and watch your skin slowly rot away. Thankfully, what was surely an extremely long wait is skipped, and your eventless internment is interrupted by a dead corpse falling from a hole in the ceiling above you. Looking up, you see that a man wearing the armor of Astorian knights has dropped you this gift, and he leaves without saying a word.

Upon inspecting the body, the key to your cell is found. Not taking the time to ponder why a complete stranger has given you the means to escape, you quickly retrieve a broken sword hilt as an excuse for a weapon, and flee from your eternal captivity. Running down the halls of the asylum, you find that you are not the first undead to have escaped from a cell. However, your fellow captives who roam these halls appear to be in such a vegetative state that they don't even notice your existence, much less have any knowledge of where they are. Fleeing from this mad place, you soon come to the courtyard directly before the exit. However, before you can manage to escape, a dreadfully large being descends from the roof above...

This is a demon. It has been placed here to prevent you from doing exactly what you are attempting to do - escape. It towers over you by at least 30 feet, and wields a bulky cudgel with a head that is twice your size. Deciding that you prefer the asylum over a death by crushing, you flee back into the halls of madness where the beast cannot follow you.

After retrieving a rudimentary shield and weaponry, you soon find the knight who freed you from your cell. Unfortunately, he has taken a fatal wound, and is in the throes of death. You discover that he is also undead, and upon his death he will go mad like the other citizens of this cursed place. Oscar makes one request of you before he dies: to fulfill the mission in which he has failed. Escape from this asylum, journey to Lordran, the land of the Lords, and ring the Bell of Awakening to discover the fate of all who are undead. Oscar bids his final farewells before drifting away into darkness.

Now armed, you return to the courtyard with newly found purpose. You are not just escaping, but fulfilling the mission of the man who freed you from this terrible fate. You descend upon the great beast, and slay it. With the demon defeated, you exit the front gates of the asylum, and head to the edge of a nearby cliff. Then, something rather unexpected happens...

This Fowl of Unusual Size descends upon you and carries you off into the great distance. Bewilderment is soon replaced with understanding as you realize that this creature is taking you to Lordran. But how did it know? Was it waiting for you? Does it know your mission? Questions to be answered later. For now, you must prepare to arrive in the ancient land of Lordran...

Dark Souls Part 1: An Introduction to Lordan

Prepare to die...

I have started this blog after inspiration from a friend's analysis of The Legend of Zelda, Majora's Mask. Dark Souls is a game that has been made famous mostly by its intuitive gameplay and unforgiving difficulty, but many rightly believe that these things are hardly all a game needs to be a great game. Unfortunately, one of my favorite parts about Dark Souls - the story - is most often overlooked. Not because it is intangible or bad, but because Dark Souls has a rather nontraditional form of storytelling. The game only outright shows you the bare bones of the universe you are cast into. It is as such that I believe this blog will help bring out the story of this great game so that it may be appreciated by those who have missed it.

Without further ado, let's begin...

After personalizing your character, the game introduces you with a cutscene - one of very few in the game, and the only one to be computer generated. It tells of the creation a fantasy world, a formless land ruled only by dragons. Then, in something that could only be related to either Creationism or the Big Band Theory, there was something else - Fire. No, not fire like what cavemen discovered, or fire like what Prometheus gave to man in Greek mythology. This "Fire" is some kind of life force for the world that brought life with it.

From this creation, four entities discovered the four Souls of Lords. Gwyn, the Lord of Sunlight, Nito, the Lord of the dead, the Witch of Izalith, and a mysterious entity known only as the Pygmy - whose only defining trait is how little is known about it. The three other entities (Gwyn, Nito, and the Witch) united, and rose against the rule of the dragons. With the help of a defecting dragon, Seath the Scaless, the Lords were able to all but eradicate the dragons from the world.

And thus began a sort of golden age - The Age of Fire. The gods have ruled over mankind from their mountaintop city of Olymp- I mean Anor Londo, and humanity has prospered throughout the land for thousands of years. However... the world is growing darker. The Fire that brought this world to its prosperity is beginning to die. To make matters worse, several humans start to become afflicted with the Darksign - an incurable ailment that slowly kills the bearer, and then turns them into a mindless Hollow (zombie).

It is unknown if Nito did anything to stop this (I imagine you have to be rather apathetic to be the Lord of the Dead), but Gwyn and the Witch began to fight to keep the world that they had fought to create. The Witch of Izalith attempted to duplicate the first spark that had created the Fire - but this had disastrous consequences when it instead created a monstrous entity known as the Bed of Chaos. From this place, demons were born, and they ravaged through the now lost city of Izalith.

Seeing no other choice, Gwyn took a platoon of his faithful knights, and marched to the Kiln of the First Flame - the very place where this Fire was born. He then sacrificed himself and his power to the flame in order to greatly extend the Age of Fire. Of course, this only delayed the problem, it did not fix it. We are finally now to the present day. The Fire is continuing to die. The other gods who inhabited Anor Londo have all fled, deserting the world to its fate. Hollows, demons, and other terrifying creatures ravage the land. Everyone is slowly dying. Welcome to Dark Souls.