Summary
Dark Soulsis known for its cryptic lore and ruined world filled withcharacters and monsters lingering in the shadows. Among the dark chaos, certain NPCs stand out, offering assistance or mere words for players. These characters are shrouded in mystery, their motives unclear, and have an impact on gameplay through a number of means.
These mysterious NPCs inDark Soulsserve as guides or obstacles in the player’s journey. Some offer items, trigger significant events, or reveal information about the world and its narrative.
1Ingward
Keeper Of New Londo’s Seal
Ingward stands upon a rooftop in New Londo Ruins, dressed in crimson robes and wielding a Tin Banishment Catalyst. All that he reveals through his cryptic dialogue is that he is the last of the three New Londo sorcerers who long ago undertook the task of guarding the seal, hiding away the Four Kings, and flooding New Londo.
There’s no evidence ofother surviving New Londo sorcerers, and Ingward seems to atone for a dark past by offering cures for Curse statuses. He also holds the Key to the Seal used to drain the valley of New Londo, and after defeating the Four Kings, he moves to the Firelink Shrine where players can use his services but find him an enigma.
2Shiva Of The East
The Forest Hunter
Shiva is a member of the Forest Hunter covenant and only reveals himself when players join their ranks. Not much is known about Shiva other than he enjoys collecting things and is from an Eastern Land only ever mentioned in theSoulsgames.
Shiva remains amicable when players approach him and will sell a variety of exotic weaponry whenmet in Blighttown. Despite his friendliness, his veiled threats and obsession with strange weapons suggest a darker past, and he defends this with brute force if provoked. He’s extra dangerous as he is accompanied by a transparent bodyguard, making the duo a challenge to fight.
3Marvelous Chester
A Sarcastic Mystery
Marvelous Chester is found in theArtorias of the Abyss DLCofDark Souls, and like the player, he too was dragged back to the past by Manus, Father of the Abyss. The prefix to Chester’s name may be sarcastic, as he sells a variety of useful items at prices higher than normal and eventually invades the player in an attempt to kill them.
Should players defeat him during an invasion, he continues to sell items but with a disgruntled attitude. Marvelous Chester tends to talk a lot about what’s going on around him, but when it comes to personal details there is next to nothing.
4Domhnall Of Zena
An Enigmatic Merchant
Hailing from yet another ancient land with very little known about it, Domhnall of Zena is a merchant found in the Depths near the gate to Blighttown. Domhnall shares vital information with players, and as players spend more souls at his shop, he tells more information. But he does not share anything about himself.
This enigmatic merchant is most notable for his inventory of armor that matches that of the bosses players have slayed, including Lord Gwyn’s armor available only in NG+. Domhnall doesn’t seem to affiliate himself with anyone but himself, making him an approachable yet questionable NPC.
5Oswald of Carim
A Pardoner Of Sins
Oswald of Carim appears at the base of the bell tower after the Gargoyles are defeated and the bell is rung. He stands with a unique posture, and deals in sinners and sin, offering Purging Stones for half the price of what the female Undead Merchant asks for.
Oswald does not reveal much about himself, as he is more concerned with absolving sins (for a price). He’s also the only character who sellsKarmic Justice, a miraclethat implies a larger-than-life power. If players ask, he teaches the“Well! What is it!”gesture for free, which is an appropriate response from anyone wondering what else he could offer.
6The Giant Blacksmith
A Kind-Hearted Blacksmith
For how often players interact with the Giant Blacksmith, it’s a wonder how little is known about him. He does come off as rather simple, speaking in single-syllable words. His story leaks out through dialogue, hinting at the fact that he once resided in Anor Londo before most of its denizens left.
The Giant Blacksmith is the most friendly NPC inDark Souls, and other NPCs can account for his heart. InDark Souls 3, his corpse can be seen in Anor Londo, holding the Giant’s Coal which can be given to Andre of Astora, who says “I miss the old bugger, I do.”
7Quelana Of Izalith
The Last Surviving Daughter Of Chaos
Quelana of Izalith is known to bethe mother of pyromancy, as she’s the one who taught the great pyromancer Salaman. She can be found in Blighttown and can be talked to, where she will reveal her motivations to kill her mother and sisters in order to end their misery. One important piece of information about her is that she faked her death before the Bed of Chaos transformed her family into demons.
Now Quelana of Izalith is a living legend, with more mystery in her conception and beliefs than shadows and demons inDark Souls. Her name transcends the first game — her unique spells can be found inDark Souls 3in the form of the Quelana Pyromancy Tome.
8Darkstalker Kaathe
Serpent Of The Abyss
Darkstalker Kaathe appears in the Abyss after defeating the Four Kings and only if players have not already placed the Lordvessel. He is shrouded in shadow and deceit, a primordial serpent thatoffers a specific ending to the game. His serpentine form and cryptic speech exude a power from ancient times and reflect a similar demeanor to his counterpart, Kingseeker Frampt, albeit with different goals in mind.
Kaathe’s true motives are never fully revealed, leaving players questioning whether his guidance leads to a good change or doom. His ties to the downfall of New Londo leave a dark mist of uncertainty around his end goal.
9The Crestfallen Warrior
Visitor Of The Firelink Shrine
The Crestfallen Warrior is the first NPC anyone meetsat the Firelink Shrine. He offers nothing but dreary comments and after repeated dialogue, useful information about the world. It’s as though he’s taken a break from the world, but knows way too much about it.
His sarcastic and jaded attitude makes sense for the world, but players see no reason for him to act the way he does. Sadly, after players proceed through a majority of the game, the Crestfallen Warrior will lose his disposition and appear hollowed in New Londo Ruins, attacking anything that moves.
Great Merchants, Strange Souls
The most mysterious and unassuming NPCs in this game are the Undead Merchants (Male) and (Female), as they sellextremely useful itemsand don’t seem to be afraid of anything in this terrifying world. In fact, if one attacks the Undead Merchant (Male), he says“You’ve gone mad, have you?”, and proceeds to defend himself with a Uchigatana. If one attacks the Undead Merchant (Female), she retreats farther away where she cannot be attacked and begins an awfully long rant about how useless the player is.
The Undead Merchant (Male) sits in the Undead Burg and seems obsessed with madness, and sometimes mentions a “little Yulia,” who appears to be an imaginary pet sitting in the pot next to him. The Undead Merchant (Female) is located in the lower parts of the Undead Burg, and very little is known about her despite her tendency to critique the player.
