Aside from introductory cutscenes, Dark Souls doesn’t present lore in the most direct way. It’s up to you to explore the realms to read whatever you find and talk to whoever you can in order to get an idea of what’s going on. Even the descriptions of the items you collect can give some clues as to the history of the Dark Souls world.
The biggest mysteries you’ll encounter are those surrounding the monsters and beings you’ll face. One of the most prominent is Dark Sun Deity, an optional boss found in Anor Londo named Gwyndolin. You can play through the whole game without discovering his existence, but he hides a number of truths and secrets.
WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD!
10 He Is The Last-Born Son Of Lord Gwyn
When you start Dark Souls, a name you learn early on is Lord Gwyn. He was the Lord of Sunlight and became the Lord of Cinder when he ushered in the Age of Fire. Even though he has a number of powerful associates, he also had quite a large family.
He had four children which included two daughters and two sons, of which Gwyndolin is one. He was the last-born child and was considered weak and ugly by his own father. Despite this, Gwyndolin remained fiercely loyal to his family, even after Lord Gwyn’s demise.
9 There’s No Explanation For His Appearance
Since Lord Gwyn was the Lord of Sunlight, many of his children were also connected to it in some way. Before he became hollow, Lord Gwyn was a proud and noble-looking being. Both of his daughters were seen as beautiful and luminous with many people praising them. For the sons, however, it’s a different story.
His eldest son would eventually come to be known as a monstrous creature called the Nameless King while Gwyndolin was born with disturbing features. He is ghostly pale and has serpents where his legs would be. He hides behind illusions and barriers so as not to be seen, but it’s never explained why he looks like this.
8 He Was Raised As Gwyn's Daughter
The Gwyn family was associated with Sunlight with Gwyn and his two daughters being the most connected with it. For some reason, the sons received their power from other sources. The eldest son gained strength from warfare while Gwyndolin got his from the moon.
Due to this lunar connection, Lord Gwyn raised Gwyndolin as his daughter, although this doesn’t stop Gwynevere from referring to him as her brother when talking about him. Gwyndolin has also developed some defined feminine features but still identifies as male and is called the God of the Darkmoon.
7 He Is The Last True Deity Guarding Anor Londo
The Age of Fire was a prosperous time for all the deities who supported it, but this was not to last. Once the fire began to fade and the hollowing began to spread, many of the deities fled for survival. Anor Londo was the city of gods and where Lord Gwyn ruled during the height of his power.
Now, Anor Londo has been abandoned with the only two remaining deities being Gwynevere and Gwyndolin. However, since the former is just an illusion, this makes Gwyndolin the last true deity in Anor Londo.
6 He’s Connected To The Moonlight Butterfly
An idea that starts to emerge the longer you play Dark Souls is the idea that everything is linked. The bosses you encounter can look like they come from different planets yet there may be something that connects one to another. The Moonlight Butterfly is a large, elegant insect that is fought on a bridge covered in plants.
Though this boss is considered to be quite easy, it shares several distinct connections to the more powerful Gwyndolin. Both of them share the same music theme, both get their power from the moon, both attack from a distance and both are quite frail.
5 His First Incarnation Is Believed To Be An Illusion
The problem with introducing optional encounters and side-quests is how you incorporate them into the overall story. It’s possible to play through Dark Souls without ever learning about Gwyndolin, but there are ways to interact with him. Whether you serve him or not, trespassing into Lord Gwyn’s tomb and seeing Gwyndolin will immediately cause him to become hostile.
Still, considering that he comes to play an important role in Dark Souls III, it’s believed that this Gwyndolin is another of his illusions. Both Gwynevere and the sunlight of Anor Londo are proof of his illusory powers. Although, the illusions remain after Gwyndolin dies, implying that there’s still someone maintaining it.
4 He Eventually Becomes The King Of The Gods
Though Gwyndolin is completely unknown in Dark Souls II, he plays an important part in Dark Souls III. He succeeds in taking his father’s place as King of the Gods and is worshipped throughout the land.
While in this position of power, he spends his time looking for those who are still able to link the Fire as well as anyone who may be related to the gods who abandoned Anor Londo in the original Dark Souls. Even during the end times, Gwyndolin is determined to keep the power of the gods alive.
3 He Has A Strong Bond With Company Captain Yorshka
Gwyndolin is never seen in the company of others, but he’s anything but a loner. Despite his disturbing appearance, he was able to form the Darkmoon Covenant and become a popular figure in Dark Souls III.
He chose to share his power with Company Captain Yorshka, a Crossbreed woman who many believed to be his sister. Their relationship is never explored in full but it was serious enough for Gwyndolin to give her a name, control of the Darkmoon Covenant, and his own personal Chime.
2 He Falls From Power Due To Illness
When we think of gods and deities, we picture immortal beings immune to things that plague mortals on a daily basis. However, Dark Souls deities can only do so much to remain powerful before their inevitable decline.
Gwyndolin already had physical problems due to his frail and monstrous body. Even though he was able to rise to a position of extreme power and authority, he falls from grace due to an unknown but serious illness. He became unable to lead or protect anyone which would leave him vulnerable to the villain, Aldrich.
1 He Shares His Voice With Prince Lothric
Even though Gwyndolin is an optional encounter in Dark Souls, this is the only place where you can hear him speak. He has a firm yet somewhat delicate voice with some haunting tones to give him a mysterious aura.
When he returns in Dark Souls III, Gwyndolin is never heard speaking, and then one time he is encountered, his body has been possessed by Aldrich. Still, you can hear his voice come through in Prince Lothric, another important character in the story. He plays a significant role and is eventually fought alongside his brother, Lorian.