when you finish the game you have a lot
when you finish the game you have a lot

of questions who are the Giants what did
of questions who are the Giants what did

king vendrick steal from them
king vendrick steal from them

why does nashandra need you to open the
why does nashandra need you to open the

door to the throne why does the Emerald
door to the throne why does the Emerald

Herald want you to ascend the throne of
Herald want you to ascend the throne of

want
want

why doesn't vendrick sit upon the throne
why doesn't vendrick sit upon the throne

of want what is the throne of want now
of want what is the throne of want now

all of this is really overwhelming I
all of this is really overwhelming I

know but by the end of this video you
know but by the end of this video you

should at least understand my
should at least understand my

interpretation of events and this can
interpretation of events and this can

serve as a really good framework to
serve as a really good framework to

build your own theories from so I'm
build your own theories from so I'm

going to start at the end and work my
going to start at the end and work my

way backwards now this might sound
way backwards now this might sound

strange but there is a reason for it
strange but there is a reason for it

because most characters in Dark Souls 2
because most characters in Dark Souls 2

are driven by a desire a want for
are driven by a desire a want for

example to understand vendrick's
example to understand vendrick's

hollowed state and location you have to
hollowed state and location you have to

understand what he desired above all
understand what he desired above all

else and how it led him there to
else and how it led him there to

understand nashandra desire for the
understand nashandra desire for the

throne we have to understand why it was
throne we have to understand why it was

so important to her and to understand
so important to her and to understand

why the Emerald Herald drives you to
why the Emerald Herald drives you to

become king we need to know why she
become king we need to know why she

needs a new monarch do you understand
needs a new monarch do you understand

the reason we have these questions is
the reason we have these questions is

because these character wants are hidden
because these character wants are hidden

from us until the very end
from us until the very end

that's why you got to the end of the
that's why you got to the end of the

game and you still had questions even
game and you still had questions even

the cursed undead you play as in game is
the cursed undead you play as in game is

told that they will do these things
told that they will do these things

without really knowing why and you as a
without really knowing why and you as a

player are no different the fire keeper
player are no different the fire keeper

says it but one day you will stand
says it but one day you will stand

before it's decrepit gate without really
before it's decrepit gate without really

knowing why the maiden says it if you
knowing why the maiden says it if you

are to be the next monarch then one day
are to be the next monarch then one day

you will walk those grounds without
you will walk those grounds without

really knowing why grave ordinance is it
really knowing why grave ordinance is it

I'll quiz humans are you gone never
I'll quiz humans are you gone never

separating truth from fiction do you see
separating truth from fiction do you see

as the ancient dragon says the curse of
as the ancient dragon says the curse of

life is the curse of want and you peer
life is the curse of want and you peer

into the fog in hope of answers this
into the fog in hope of answers this

game more than any other Souls game is
game more than any other Souls game is

about a search for answers so this is
about a search for answers so this is

great for channels like mine that
great for channels like mine that

interpret the law but it's likely really
interpret the law but it's likely really

bad for the average player who has no
bad for the average player who has no

idea what's going on and I'd assume this
idea what's going on and I'd assume this

focus on answers is why so many item
focus on answers is why so many item

descriptions have questions within them
descriptions have questions within them

because they want to make you question
because they want to make you question

the world you find yourself in and so we
the world you find yourself in and so we

start with the throne of want what is it
start with the throne of want what is it

well first off the throne room itself is
well first off the throne room itself is

a kiln and to understand why being a
a kiln and to understand why being a

kiln is significant you have to
kiln is significant you have to

understand the principles of this world
understand the principles of this world

and it just so happens that they're the
and it just so happens that they're the

same principles we found in Lordran in
same principles we found in Lordran in

Dark Souls 1 in the Dark Souls 1 opening
Dark Souls 1 in the Dark Souls 1 opening

cinematic we see the shambling forms of
cinematic we see the shambling forms of

hollows they called that presumably
hollows they called that presumably

because they're empty vessels hollow
because they're empty vessels hollow

then the first flame appeared containing
then the first flame appeared containing

powerful Souls one hollow found the Dark
powerful Souls one hollow found the Dark

Soul and used it to give birth to
Soul and used it to give birth to

humanity another three found their
humanity another three found their

powerful souls within the first flame
powerful souls within the first flame

and one of these lords became gwyn lord
and one of these lords became gwyn lord

of sunlight his soul was power and he
of sunlight his soul was power and he

ushered in an age of light and fire in
ushered in an age of light and fire in

time though this age began to dwindle
time though this age began to dwindle

the brighter the flame the shorter its
the brighter the flame the shorter its

life and so the world began to darken
life and so the world began to darken

everything fell apart around gwyn lord
everything fell apart around gwyn lord

of sunlight his city became abandoned
of sunlight his city became abandoned

his trusted friends betrayed him demons
his trusted friends betrayed him demons

were spawned when one of his fellow
were spawned when one of his fellow

Lords tried to relight the first flame
Lords tried to relight the first flame

and humanity began to be afflicted by
and humanity began to be afflicted by

the curse of the undead Undead a kept
the curse of the undead Undead a kept

sane through the strength of purpose and
sane through the strength of purpose and

one undead took on an impossible purpose
one undead took on an impossible purpose

he journeyed through the crumbling world
he journeyed through the crumbling world

and consumed thousands of powerful souls
and consumed thousands of powerful souls

in the process eventually gathering the
in the process eventually gathering the

strength to overthrow the fading Lord
strength to overthrow the fading Lord

Gwyn
Gwyn

in the kiln of the first flame where
in the kiln of the first flame where

Lord Gwyn once linked the flame to his
Lord Gwyn once linked the flame to his

own soul and Undead with a powerful soul
own soul and Undead with a powerful soul

did the same he links the flame to his
did the same he links the flame to his

soul like winded and the flame consumes
soul like winded and the flame consumes

him starting a new age of fire before
him starting a new age of fire before

Dark Souls 2 we didn't know what effect
Dark Souls 2 we didn't know what effect

this would have we assumed linking the
this would have we assumed linking the

fire would bring light back to the world
fire would bring light back to the world

and we were right we also knew that
and we were right we also knew that

linking the fire is a temporary solution
linking the fire is a temporary solution

as everything fades in time but what we
as everything fades in time but what we

didn't know is that this process is
didn't know is that this process is

destined to play out over and over again
destined to play out over and over again

it's a cycle the dull ember an item we
it's a cycle the dull ember an item we

come across in our journey gives us a
come across in our journey gives us a

clue about the cycle of light and dark
clue about the cycle of light and dark

an ember radiating a dull light this
an ember radiating a dull light this

flame seems nearly exhausted but it
flame seems nearly exhausted but it

exhibits an eerie resilience perhaps
exhibits an eerie resilience perhaps

this is its ordinary state I think this
this is its ordinary state I think this

quote reflects the concept of light and
quote reflects the concept of light and

dark in the game I think it means that
dark in the game I think it means that

the center point of light and dark is
the center point of light and dark is

around a struggling splattering flame
around a struggling splattering flame

Gwyn linked the fire with his soul this
Gwyn linked the fire with his soul this

prolonged his age of light eventually it
prolonged his age of light eventually it

faded to its natural state where there
faded to its natural state where there

were only cinders at this point an
were only cinders at this point an

undead comes along with another immense
undead comes along with another immense

soul he can either choose to link the
soul he can either choose to link the

flame and bolster the age of fire or let
flame and bolster the age of fire or let

it splutter and die and lead an age of
it splutter and die and lead an age of

dark in Dark Souls 1 this is your choice
dark in Dark Souls 1 this is your choice

whether you choose light or dark it's
whether you choose light or dark it's

possible that it doesn't even matter
possible that it doesn't even matter

because if you choose light your age of
because if you choose light your age of

light will eventually fade to cinders
light will eventually fade to cinders

and if you choose dark you might smother
and if you choose dark you might smother

the flame but an ember will always
the flame but an ember will always

remain in the ashes waiting to be blown
remain in the ashes waiting to be blown

back into life in Dark Souls 2 there's
back into life in Dark Souls 2 there's

an item called sublime bone dust its
an item called sublime bone dust its

description says that it is the remains
description says that it is the remains

of a saint who cast himself into the
of a saint who cast himself into the

bonfire but we will never know for sure
bonfire but we will never know for sure

for soot and ashes tell no story this
for soot and ashes tell no story this

isn't just any old dust it allows you to
isn't just any old dust it allows you to

bolster the power of your Estus flask
bolster the power of your Estus flask

which heals the undead it's also found
which heals the undead it's also found

numerous times throughout the game in
numerous times throughout the game in

numerous locations so it's implied that
numerous locations so it's implied that

these are the remains of the chosen
these are the remains of the chosen

undead before you the chosen undead who
undead before you the chosen undead who

linked the fire before burning to dust
linked the fire before burning to dust

themselves
themselves

many kingdoms rose and fell on this
many kingdoms rose and fell on this

tract of earth mine was by no means the
tract of earth mine was by no means the

first anything that as a beginning also
first anything that as a beginning also

has an end no flame however brilliant
has an end no flame however brilliant

does not one day splatter and fade but
does not one day splatter and fade but

then from the ashes the flame reignites
then from the ashes the flame reignites

and a new kingdom is born sporting a new
and a new kingdom is born sporting a new

face this tells us that the cycle has
face this tells us that the cycle has

repeated itself numerous times many have
repeated itself numerous times many have

sacrificed themselves to renew the cycle
sacrificed themselves to renew the cycle

of light and their ashes are found
of light and their ashes are found

throughout the land one after the other
throughout the land one after the other

without fail a chosen undead resigns
without fail a chosen undead resigns

himself to the kiln to link his soul
himself to the kiln to link his soul

with the first flame so it's my theory
with the first flame so it's my theory

that the undead curse crops up once the
that the undead curse crops up once the

flame begins to fade so that eventually
flame begins to fade so that eventually

a fated undead will appear with the
a fated undead will appear with the

willpower to gather souls and Link the
willpower to gather souls and Link the

flame once again when you link the fire
flame once again when you link the fire

you're also removing the undead curse
you're also removing the undead curse

from the world for a short time but only
from the world for a short time but only

for a short time for when the world
for a short time for when the world

darkens the curse appears again the
darkens the curse appears again the

curse is a part of life itself no one
curse is a part of life itself no one

will ever be rid of it and so there is
will ever be rid of it and so there is

only one choice to await a worthy
only one choice to await a worthy

monarch a monarch who can shoulder your
monarch a monarch who can shoulder your

a birdie lest this land swallow you
a birdie lest this land swallow you

whole as it has so many others you are
whole as it has so many others you are

the bearer of the curse but this means
the bearer of the curse but this means

more than you'd think
more than you'd think

you don't just bear the curse of the
you don't just bear the curse of the

undead where you die over and over but
undead where you die over and over but

by linking the fire you also bear the
by linking the fire you also bear the

burden of this cursed world you are the
burden of this cursed world you are the

worthy monarch who sacrifices himself so
worthy monarch who sacrifices himself so

that humans can die instead of going
that humans can die instead of going

hollow why do humans go hollow well do
hollow why do humans go hollow well do

you remember the hollows from the Dark
you remember the hollows from the Dark

Souls one opening cinematic that seems
Souls one opening cinematic that seems

to be their natural state some of these
to be their natural state some of these

hollows found Humanity in the first
hollows found Humanity in the first

flame and became human reverting to your
flame and became human reverting to your

hollow state doesn't seem that unnatural
hollow state doesn't seem that unnatural

when you consider that does it so as I
when you consider that does it so as I

said earlier remember the throne room
said earlier remember the throne room

you enter at the end of the game look at
you enter at the end of the game look at

the design it's a kill just like the
the design it's a kill just like the

kiln in the first game it exists
kiln in the first game it exists

how's the first flame a kiln used to
how's the first flame a kiln used to

change the form of something with heat
change the form of something with heat

the throne and the room itself is
the throne and the room itself is

covered in ash and as you enter the
covered in ash and as you enter the

Emerald Herald tells you that you can
Emerald Herald tells you that you can

link the fire should you choose to do so
link the fire should you choose to do so

the giant skinship reads each King has
the giant skinship reads each King has

his rightful throne and when he sits
his rightful throne and when he sits

upon it he sees what he chooses to see
upon it he sees what he chooses to see

or perhaps it is the throne which shows
or perhaps it is the throne which shows

the king only what he wants so this is
the king only what he wants so this is

the effects of the ending for now simply
the effects of the ending for now simply

know that it represents another cycle
know that it represents another cycle

taking place you are sitting upon a
taking place you are sitting upon a

throne and the throne is but a symbol of
throne and the throne is but a symbol of

power and choice the power and choice
power and choice the power and choice

that lighting the first flame gives to
that lighting the first flame gives to

you as you can decide how to reshape
you as you can decide how to reshape

your world
your world

the Emerald Herald says that once the
the Emerald Herald says that once the

fire is linked the souls you've
fire is linked the souls you've

inherited will flourish anew and inherit
inherited will flourish anew and inherit

new bodies and all of the events that
new bodies and all of the events that

just occurred will play out again the
just occurred will play out again the

age of fire will be bolstered and the
age of fire will be bolstered and the

undead curse may disappear but in time
undead curse may disappear but in time

the fire will fade and eventually a new
the fire will fade and eventually a new

undead will come along bound by fate she
undead will come along bound by fate she

then says it's your choice to embrace or
then says it's your choice to embrace or

renounce this and like in Dark Souls 1
renounce this and like in Dark Souls 1

you have that choice to embrace light or
you have that choice to embrace light or

to reject it and let darkness come the
to reject it and let darkness come the

only difference between Dark Souls 2 and
only difference between Dark Souls 2 and

Dark Souls 1 that I can see is that in
Dark Souls 1 that I can see is that in

Dark Souls 2 we aren't able to make the
Dark Souls 2 we aren't able to make the

in-game choice of linking the flame or
in-game choice of linking the flame or

walking away from it and when you think
walking away from it and when you think

about it why would we need to make that
about it why would we need to make that

choice in-game because now we know
choice in-game because now we know

regardless of what we choose you as a
regardless of what we choose you as a

player know the cycle will start over
player know the cycle will start over

again great sovereign
again great sovereign

take your throne what lies ahead only
take your throne what lies ahead only

you can see now that you know what the
you can see now that you know what the

throne of want represents you can really
throne of want represents you can really

understand the stories of those who
understand the stories of those who

would sit upon it so click here to view
would sit upon it so click here to view

part 2 which is about vendrick nashandra
part 2 which is about vendrick nashandra

The Herald and the world your player
The Herald and the world your player

character goes through as you play the
character goes through as you play the

game I really hope that you enjoyed this
game I really hope that you enjoyed this

video but in my opinion the best stories
video but in my opinion the best stories

are in part two I'll see you there
are in part two I'll see you there

you
you