Unmasking the Dark Souls' Most Notorious Hypocrites!

Summary

Seath The Scaleless helped overthrow dragons only to become a tyrant.
Nashandra refuses to acknowledge anyone more powerful than her.
Aldia seeks to break the Undead Curse but becomes a cruel academic.

It’s common knowledge among fans of the game Dark Souls that FromSoftware has created intricate and vibrant characters for their apocalyptic fantasy realms, and it’s unusual to find many of them as straightforward heroes. In fact, several non-player characters (NPCs) in the Dark Souls series are downright reprehensible individuals with complex and contradictory life stories.

The characters in Dark Souls games are usually not just good guys, and some NPCs have sad and hypocritical pasts, making them terrible people.

In the thrilling realm of Dark Souls, I’ve come across countless characters who talk a big game but fall short. There are those who claim to save the world yet cower at the thought of death, and then there are the deceivers, who turn out to be the very enemies they once despised. You could say there’s no shortage of hypocrites in this franchise.

8. Seath The Scaleless

The Great Betrayer

Appears in Dark Souls.
Found in the Duke’s Archive and the Crystal Cave.
Known as “White Dragon Seath” in the original Japanese version of the game.

Back in the olden times of Dark Souls lore, dragons held dominion over our world with a brutal grip. Yet, Gwyn, the Lord of Cinder, dared to challenge their rule. His predicament was daunting – how to strip these ancient beasts of their eternal life. And then there came Seath, the traitorous dragon, one of the most sinister figures in this gaming universe.

In simpler terms, Seath shared with Gwyn that the scales of the dragon were essential to their eternal life, and these scales could be removed by lightning. Seath aided Gwyn in winning the war and initiating the Age of Fire. However, in his quest for knowledge, Seath transformed into a secluded scholar who oppressed the people of Lordran, eventually becoming as cruel and tyrannical as the dragons he initially sought to dethrone.

7. Nashandra

Poisonous Whispers

Appeared in Dark Souls 2.
Found in the Throne of Want and Drangleic Castle.
The personification of Manus of the Abyss.

In the majority of Dark Souls games, the final adversary is signaled beforehand with clear indications. However, in Dark Souls 2, Nashandra appears initially as a benevolent Queen alongside King Vendrick who becomes mad, transforming into a grim reaper-like figure to serve as the final boss for the player at the game’s end.

In the storyline of the game, Nashandra – a reborn version of Manus from the initial Dark Souls – believes she is rightfully entitled to the Throne of Desire, aiming to establish a new era where only the strongest prevail. However, she resists the player character’s ascent to the throne, despite the fact that their power grows in her presence. This unapologetically malevolent character finds it difficult to accept that anyone could surpass her might.

6. Aldia, Scholar Of The First Sin

The Academic Bubble

Appeared in Dark Souls 2.
Found throughout the game and finally at the Throne of Want.

Among the most cherished and intriguing characters across all Dark Souls, Aldia stands out, and rightfully so. Predominantly appearing in the downloadable content of Dark Souls 2, Aldia is none other than King Vendrick’s brother. Contrary to his royal duties, he harbored little enthusiasm for ruling. Instead, his passion lay in uncovering the essence of the Undead Curse, with the ultimate goal of reversing it and liberating the world from its endless cycles of rebirth.

Yet, Aldia considers himself a learned scholar devoted to humanity’s salvation, but unfortunately, he resorts to tormenting and experimenting on the citizens of Drangleic within his isolated manor. This cruel academic stubbornly dismisses any other viewpoints as incorrect, thereby solidifying his position as a captivating antagonist.

5. Lothric and Lorian

The Princes In The Tower

First appeared in Dark Souls 3.
Found at the very top of the Grand Archives.

In the desolate, post-apocalyptic realm of Dark Souls 3, an eternal cycle of rejuvenation occurs, but each attempt seems less successful than the last until the Lords of Cinder are called upon to sacrifice their lives to reignite the flame once more. However, these Lords of Cinder, brimming with intriguing details and lore, fail to fulfill their duty, allowing the world to decay further. As a player, your mission is to track down these wayward Lords and return them to Firelink Shrine for purification by fire.

Lothric and Lorian are twin princes raised in a society centered around maintaining the flame’s link, with Lothric specifically being born from generations of rulers’ bloodlines to become a Chosen Undead, or Lord of Cinder. However, contrary to expectations, this Lord of Cinder consistently resists taking up his destined position and challenges the player at every turn instead.

4. Pontiff Sulyvahn

The Unholy Figurehead

First appeared in Dark Souls 3.
Found in Irithyll of the Boreal Valley.

As a gamer, I find it unsettling in the world of Dark Souls, where tyrants, killers, and psychopaths reign supreme, that Pontiff Sulyvahn stands out as one of the most morally twisted characters. This self-proclaimed holy man, using the discovery of the Profane Flame, constructed a religion to satiate his own curiosity and, in turn, fed Aldrich the Devourer, all driven by his insatiable ambition.

In the realm of Dark Souls 3, characters who refuse to accept the inevitable demise dominate, and Pontiff Sulyvahn maintains his control through cruelty, raw power, and deceit. Despite donning holy robes in Irithyll, he exploits it not as a sanctuary for the oppressed populace, but as a harbinger of their downfall instead.

3. Darkstalker Kaathe

The Void Serpent

First appeared in Dark Souls and mentioned in Dark Souls 3.
Found in the Abyss.

Among all the peculiar beings found in the universe of Dark Souls, none are quite as enigmatic, unsettling, and possibly malevolent as the ancient serpents that roam the lands, devising intricate strategies to extinguish the Age of Fire and dawn the Age of Dark.

As a gamer, I’d put it this way: Kaathe, in his charismatic manner, lures the chosen undead with the illusion of an Age of Dark that serves humanity’s welfare. Yet, beneath the surface, this Age seems to be a stage for ancient serpents like him to seize control. I suspect Kaathe of being a two-faced character, as he pretends to advocate for humanity while secretly aspiring for the unbridled power of Gwyn, the king he aims to overthrow.

2. Gwyn, Lord Of Light

The King Who Never Let Go

First appeared in Dark Souls.
Found in the Kiln of the First Flame.
Called “Gwyn, King of Kindling” in the Japanese version of Dark Souls.

In the world of Dark Souls, certain characters are so iconic in their lore that their influence transcends the game and is felt in its subsequent sequels. Gwyn, for instance, is a key figure shrouded in mystery, who sparked the rebellion against dragons, established the Age of Fire, and rules as a supposed benevolent ruler over mankind during this era.

In the realm of Dark Souls, I find myself grappling with a tainted world, infected by the Undead Curse. Yet, Lord Gwyn clings onto the Age of Fire, fearing that giving it up would pave the way for a human Dark Lord to rise and bring forth an Age of Darkness. Although he might appear benevolent, his reluctance to change and embrace the unknown keeps him trapped in this miserable apocalypse, as he dreads a world that deviates from the norm.

1. Patches

The Returning Reprobate

First appeared in Dark Souls and reappears in Dark Souls 3.
Found all over the place but usually near Firelink Shrine.
Also known as ‘Trusty’ Patches.

If Gwyn embodies the noble yet hypocritical character, Patches stands as his polar opposite. He’s an outright hypocrite, one who weaves deception into each of his sentences, ready to speak whatever he deems necessary to acquire what he wants without remorse.

In a straightforward manner, Patches is characterized by a sardonic view of life that leads him to deceive, harm, or eliminate anyone who extends kindness towards him. When questioned about his actions, he habitually asks for forgiveness, though it’s seldom genuine. Essentially, Patches embodies blatant hypocrisy, which contributes significantly to his popularity among fans, as he appears in the majority of games developed by FromSoftware.

2025-03-15 07:48

Unmasking the Dark Souls’ Most Notorious Hypocrites!