Aldia and the Young Hollow

[@ghoulish4208]

The biggest Sin was Aldia not making it to DS3, what a shame, what an everlasting shame.

[@colorpg152]

he is too good to be in ds3 if he was he and the cursed monarch would solve the entire plot before your even get there, imagine walking up to a empty boss room just to have Aldia show up and tell you "oh sorry you are late to the party"

[@Zansekai]

Eh, I'm glad that the serpents and Aldia are not in DS3

[@colorpg152]

@@Zansekai no i wanted aldia again

[@ghoulish4208]

@@Zansekai The serpents are actually in DS3 both in lore and item descriptions.

[@robertspeedwagon982]

@@ghoulish4208 As are Aldia and Vendrick, as distant individuals that had a small impact to Lothric (and the Ringed City for the second one)

[@christianhowell3140]

I'm only just realizing that the Emerald Herald's voice peaks thru clearly only on some VERY choice phrases: "life is brilliant, beautiful... it enchants us", and "love... however elusive"

[@AtreyusNinja]

Some believe is the voice the cat. Im not kidding, and it seems to me her voice fr

[@hamzashinwary4215]

Isn’t it Nashandra?

[@gabriellecollier8127]

It's HER voice??

[@TheCeekon]

say what you will about DS2, Aldia was a fucking fascinating character.

[@malum9478]

dks2 is mfing amazing

[@Knights_of_the_Nine]

DS2 is just good. Period.

[@slameno-JR]

It's a mastapeece

[@DragonTamer31K]

Ds2 is one of the weaker games but saying ds2 is my least favourite is like saying "I love all my Ferrari's but that one isn't the best" they all good

[@bighatastrea]

Imo the big problem with the game is just the weird AI (sometimes) and a few annoying passages here and there, where they threw more than 1 enemy at you. The combat also doesn't feel like it has enough impact and response most of the time, and the health bar slowly regenerating when you chug instead of fast. But these are kinda minor issues imo, and Souls games always have ridiculous levels I just ignore and rush, parts that are just bad. Like DS1 Izalith, Archives and DLC areas, Bloodborne forest & DS3 Irrithyland Consumed King's Garden. Areas you just run through.

[@Dev_Six]

Makes me think if Aldia was the last one to truly survive, even after Dark Souls 3. In a world without knowledge, with grey crags, and archtrees... But no everlasting dragons.

[@lycieae8879]

At the end of time there exists only Aldia, Gael, and the Soul of Cinder, I can definitely see that

[@cheefqueef6494]

​@@lycieae8879Bro really forgot Patches' goofy ahh 💀

[@AlexAlex-km9db]

Still amazes me the power these words have over my life almost a decade later. This and Vendrick have shaped my life, in a one way or another. So many times I wanted to retreat back into my safe space and continue my cycle of living in safety, but I always came to this video to shed a tear and continue forward. This wisdom, to seek adversity, to seek what lies beyond ,without falter, without worry. Even tough it was hard, it changed my life drastically, and I still continue to do this, just to see what happens.

[@KingCurtys]

I come back to this video ever so often, hoping that this time I can answer his question. "Young hollow, what is it that you seek? Light, dark, or something else entirely?" It is a hard question to answer for me as I truly do not know what my grander goal is for this life I've been gifted with. There are short-term goals, like getting my degree, finding a job after that, marriage, children, my own house but an overarching goal? No, sadly. Right now I still have not figured out where I truly want to go. I just want to be prepared and have everything in order once I find this grander purpose I have come to yearn so desperately for.

[@hawkwood9257]

*quietly points to a Quran

[@JustOneMoreTaskMom]

@@hawkwood9257 a simple doctrine with rules engaging in acts of suberverting the heretics around you into believing your peaceful. Granted the opportunity to lie about what you live while under your gods will, only for the purpose of taking over in the end. Such a cowardice course of nature. Even Hodrick shows more respect to his enemy. A religion that claims to have seen past light and dark. Yet war rages between themselves. Perhaps just hollows stuck fighting with a belief its bringing them forward. Or just human nature. Is that what you seek?

[@lonelykitchen]

cringe. dark souls is an action game, not a personality trait

[@cyberdiver7076]

A sense of achievement? Enjoyment?

[@joseph4873]

Prepare yourself with acceptance in the case of it being nothing

[@icalrn]

Not gonna lie, I trembled at "A lie will remain a lie"

[@hoxo4641]

yeah i came

[@matthewfera2954]

Once he brings up the lord of light, the voice becomes more and more menacing until that line. Makes me tremble every time.

[@ZowiChan]

I always come back to this video and Vendrick’s when things aren’t going well. There is something very special in Aldia’s dialogue that resonates with my struggles better than anything or anyone ever did. Especially the idea of going beyond a cycle that was imposed on us. Judging by the comment section, I am not the only one to have been impacted by your video. Thank you, Earl KZB. May we all keep seeking strength.

[@smokyprogg]

"We undead will never die... And that's quite a predicament, really."

[@earlkzb]

Just to make clear since some people asked. No, this effigy isn't official art for Aldia. Yes, it's a bust of Dante Alighieri, author of the Divine Comedy. This exact bust is one of the reproductions made by Pietro Caproni. I happen to imagine Dante's face exactly as Aldia looked as a human before getting immortalized as part of the World Tree. The look, the nose, the expression, this is the face I see in that bunch of talking twisted roots.

[@NiCoNiCoNiCola]

Aldia definitely looked like Ernest Gigachad Khalimov when he was a human. Giant jaw. Big chin. Badass beard After all, he and Vendrick are brothers.

[@earlkzb]

@@NiCoNiCoNiCola Yes, Drangleic is ruled by gigachads, how could you tell?

[@ShihoArete]

World Tree? Are you talking about the same tree mentioned in Great Spiritual Tree Shield's description?

[@earlkzb]

@@ShihoArete Not exactly, it's an interpretation of the dark souls universe made by the artist 'qizeaqfile', similar to Yggdrasil in norse mythology. Check it out: i.imgur.com/Kc4ZH4t.jpeg He also made a lot of lore based novels, very worthy of a check. You can find everything in his imgur: imgur.com/user/qizeaqfile

[@I3eltway]

There are people with internet access who do not recognize Dante Alighierei?

[@GilbertTheGilbertGuy]

I still can't get over the line, "What drives you so, to overcome this supposed curse?". The delivery is amazing and him questioning if it's even a curse just shows so much about Aldia's character.

[@0Rei0Rei0]

"Young hollow, knowing this, do you still desire peace ?" Idk, i come here many times in hope to have an answer to that question

[@Number1Rival]

Aldia is the Dark Souls 2 equivalent of Senator Armstrong in my opinion. Not only do they ask or question our own beliefs but also pose several questions that are hard for us to answer. They wish to change the world for the better as their vision sees it. They even share a few attacks during their respective fights. They both even steal the show when they finally turn up. They also seem to have a fascination with eggs. Whether it be dealing with MAKING THE MOTHER OF ALL OMELETTES or dealing with the yoke of fate.

[@StokeDAlive]

Yoke, not yolk. A yoke is a tool for binding oxen together so they can pull a plow for tilling fields. To be yoked is to be tied or bound to something; bound to this fate or unfortunate destiny.

[@wendlernb]

Here again to watch this. Simply perfect.

[@earlkzb]

Welcome back. Glad you care for these videos :))

[@Sephaos]

Yung Hollow and his Scholar of the First Bars album was straight 🔥🔥🔥

[@marcelkran9349]

We all come back here eventually don't we?

[@taska61]

I come back to this video from time to time. It is genuinally a piece of media I've enjoyed watching no matter how many times I play it. Is so well made, so mysterious, so incredibly well fit in the music and the dialogues. And the picture of Dante is just the cherry on the top. Thanks to this video I can always remember the wonders of Dark Souls II, and listen to Aldia's words once again.

[@Kanga08]

David Gant did a real good job at voicing aldia

[@lukasborges1548]

I realy like yours lore videos, Aldia and Vendrick, very awesome. I can't even say how many times i have watch these videos. Thank's for your edition.

[@earlkzb]

Thanks for the comment. I'm happy to know someone cares for these videos :))

[@HenriqueEnache]

this video is so good, i always watch it at least twice a month

[@mohrganlefay]

Is there any chance of you uploading more videos like this? It's a masterpiece

[@earlkzb]

I'm glad you liked it, it's always surprising to see the few people that care for these old videos. Honestly, it's not in my focus to do more of those right now, but I want to do soon, something in a more elaborate and cinematic format, more complex than simple dialogue and music :-)

[@zakariaelhimer1325]

@@earlkzb dude we love this videos! Upload more please!

[@surtrlombarde4243]

@@zakariaelhimer1325 this is 5 years old.

[@eskeladder7751]

Why yes I do listen to this and the vendrick video on loop as my sleep music as any normal person would

[@roguewarrior6463]

Aldia is the Nietzsche of the Dark Souls universe, change my mind.

[@INEXPLIcabl]

No, Vendrick is. ‘Seek strength, the rest will follow.’

[@Gabu_]

​@@INEXPLIcablThey both are. Vendrick is Nietzsche's nihilism, for he gave up and hopelessly locked himself away. Aldia is Nietzsche's positivism, as he clearly states even a lie has value, if you create said value.

[@SuperibyP]

Casually developing a minor existential crisis after listening to this too many times. It's curse all the way down folks!

[@darendarus3076]

Holy shit.....I just, I have no words. Amazing, stupendous, both are adequate and yet fall short. Loved it!

[@loganboots4192]

No one has come this far, not for a very long while. Young hollow, do you wish to shed this curse? Then accept the fate of your ilk, and face the trials that await you. Unless, , , you have already joined the crestfallen. Young Hollow, there are but two paths. Inherit the order of this world, or destroy it. Half-grown hollow, have you what it takes? Young hollow, conqueror of fear. What drives you so, to overcome this supposed curse? Life is brilliant, beautiful. It enchants us, to the point of obsession. Some are true to their purpose, though they are but shells, flesh and mind. One man Lost his own body, but lingered on as a head. Others chase the charms of love, however elusive. What is it that drives you? Once, the lord of Light banished dark, and all that stemmed from humanity. And men assumed a fleeting form. These are the roots of our world. Men are props on the stage of life, and no matter how tender, how exquisite. A LIE WILL REMAIN A LIE. Young hollow, knowing this, do you still desire peace? You, neither born with greatness, nor granted it by fates. What is it you seek? You cannot even say yourself. Young Hollow. How you grapple, without falter, with this dreadfully twisted world? Peace grants men the illusion of life. Shackled by falsehood, they yearn for love, unaware of its grand illusion. Until, the curse touches the flesh. Do you see what that means? To be alive… to walk this earth… that’s the real curse, right there. We, undead, will never die… and that’s quite a predicament really…We are bound by this yoke. As true as the Dark that churns within men. All men trust fully in the illusion of life. But is this so wrong? A construction, a facade, and yet… A world full of warmth and resplendence. Young hollow, are you intent on shattering the yoke, spoiling this wonderful falsehood? I am Aldia. I sought to shed the yoke of fate, but failed. Now, I only await an answer. Seek light, dark, and what lies beyond…Many monarchs have come and gone. One drowned in poison, another succumbed to flame. Still another slumbers in a realm of ice. Not one of them stood here, as you do now. YOU, conqueror of adversities. Give us your answer….. I lost everything, but remained here, patiently. But the question remains… What do you want, truely? Light? Dark? Or something else entirely……There is no path beyond the scope of light, beyond the reach of the dark… what could possibly await us? And yet, we seek it, insatiably… Such is our fate. Young Hollow, what is your answer.

[@commonlogic3646]

I have watched this so many times...

[@commonlogic3646]

1 year later and i still love it How time passes

[@fakeangel9641]

I don't know if you're still active on this account but I love this video SO SO SO SO much. Thank you for it.

[@gabriellecollier8127]

That female voice superimposed on Aldia's voice is very curious. I really want to know where she came from.

[@TheKing-qz9wd]

I bloody love hearing this mad man. And truly the only correct choice is destruction, that the truth might be known when the facade fades away. *Yeeeees Aldia, yeeeeees...*

[@tobiaskadachi]

It's been 7 years and I never got to watch this masterpiece.

[@eolendes6432]

What exactly is he referring to when he says "A lie will remain a lie" ? What is the "lie"? The illusion of humanity freedom from the kindling cycle? Is he saying that it is impossible for humanity to escape Gwyn's curse?

[@earlkzb]

The answer is basically what you said :-) Thanks for the comment!

[@eolendes6432]

@@earlkzb So Aldia doesn't believe Humanity can't break the curse Gwyn started. But why call it a lie then? Who said humanity could be free of the cycle to begin with? Is he accusing Gwyn's followers of propagating a lie? Did Gwyn lie in some form? Or is it just a metaphorical lie in the sense that humanity's existence is nothing more than as kindling for the fire, extending the age of fire indefinitely? A lie will remain a lie is such a good line, but I don' t think I understand it wholly.

[@MrBl4ckY]

@@eolendes6432 "Once, the lord of light banished dark and all that stemmed from humanity" is the lie, the banishment of the dark soul, or the dark aspect of the soul. In the DS lore, Gwyn used the humans, descending from the dark soul carrying furtive pygmy to defeat the dragons and usher in the age of lords, but, instead of rewarding the humans, he branded them with the dark sign, forever cursing humanity with death, sacrificing their soul to sustain his reign or that of fire and light for one more cycle. He did so through trickery as is shown in the ringed city DLC, but also mentioned in DS1 and 2. In essence, the lie was how Gwyn tricked humanity to accept the branding with the cursed darksign.

[@eolendes6432]

@@MrBl4ckY Thank you! That was the answer I was looking for!

[@kingdomcome3914]

Think of the Way of White's prophecy. A lie to shepard humanity into continuing the Age of Fire that should have ended long ago. Vendrick wished to harness fire to control the Undead Curse, but he then saw the truth of what lied ahead, and abandoned the fire. To quote, "A lie. But I knew no better".

[@queenvictoriann]

How is Dark Souls so pensive as a video game? It’s striking.

[@lucadibattista4864]

Fallout New Vegas had a similar effect. All thanks to the point they have in common: good writing.

[@GilbertTheGilbertGuy]

@@lucadibattista4864 FNV had some of the worst writing. DO NOT compare it to a good game like Dark Souls.

[@Romlamperouge]

In every story a god creates man in their image, and the religion men build around that god contorts their image into a mockery of the deity they claim to worship. If humans are created in the image of their god, as if children, does that god not want what humans want? For their kin to surpass them and become a stronger version of themselves? “Young hollow, what is it that you seek? Light, dark, or something else entirely?” “Seek strength, the rest will follow” Vendrick does not mean fame or wealth, he means other people. If you seek to surpass your creator, however impossible, others will see what the strength of one can do and follow you as if living through you. My answer is the strongest version of myself for this reason. Not blinded by light or deceived by dark, but a balance. “Inherit the fire and harness the dark” not be consumed in either demise.

[@malikwright1519]

This is incredible 👏

[@AtreyusNinja]

Ah ok, i was like: he seems Dante.

[@Blicero88]

traducción a español: nadie ha llegado tan lejos; no por un buen rato. Joven hueco; deseas romper esta maldición? entonces acepta el destino de tu estirpe y encara los desafíos que te aguardan, a menos... que ya te hayas unido a los cabizbajos. joven hueco; no hay mas que dos caminos, aceptar el orden de este mundo o destruírlo. Hueco en crecimiento; tienes lo necesario? joven hueco conquistador de miedos, que te lleva a oponerte a esta supuesta maldición? la vida es brillante; hermosa... nos encanta al punto de la obsesión. Algunos son honestos a sus causas a pesar de no ser mas que caparazones, carne y mente, uno perdió su cuerpo pero permaneció como una cabeza, otros buscan los encantos del amor, en todo caso elusivo, que es eso que te mueve? Hace tiempo el señor de la luz desvaneció la oscuridad y todo lo que nacía de la humanidad, y los hombres adoptaron una actitud volatil, estas son las raíces de nuestro mundo, los hombres son adornos en el escenario de la vida y sin importar que tan exquisita; UNA MENTIRA ES UNA MENTIRA. Sabiendo esto; joven hueco, aún deseas paz? tu; sin gloria nata ni dada por el destino, que es eso que buscas? ni si quiera puedes decirlo. como te arrastras sin titubear por este horrible y retorcido mundo? La paz le da al hombre la ilusión de la vida, conmovidos por falsedades aúllan por amor, ignorantes a su gran ilusión, hasta que la maldicion toca su carne. Ves lo que significa eso? el estar vivo; para marchar en esta tierra, esa es la maldición, ahí mismo. Nosotros, no muertos; jamás moriremos, todo un predicamento en verdad, estamos encadenados por este yugo...tan cierto como las tinieblas que enmarañan al hombre. Todo hombre confía totalmente en la ilusión de la vida, pero está esto tan mal? una construcción, una fachada y aún así... un mundo lleno de calidez y resplandecer. joven hueco, deseas romper el yugo, arruinando esta placentera falsedad? YO SOY ALDIA, traté de quebrar las cadenas del destino... pero fallé, ahora solo espero una respuesta, busca luz, oscuridad y lo que está mas allá!! Muchos monarcas vienen y se van, uno ahogado en veneno, otro sucumbió a la llama, y otro aún hoy se tambalea en el reino de hielo. Y ni uno se paró aquí como tu AHORA, TU; conquistador de adversidades, danos tu respuesta... Lo perdí todo... pero aquí permanecí, pacientemente, pero la pregunta se mantiene, que quieres??? en verdad?? luz, oscuridad? o algo totalmente diferente? NO HAY CAMINO, mas allá del mirar de la luz y fuera del alcance de la oscuridad... que podría esperarnos? y aún así lo buscamos, insaciablemente, ese mismo es nuestro destino

[@freewilyy9292]

At 1:20 when he says: " others, chase the charms of love, however elusive ", there is some kind of female voice behind, try to listen carefully with a headphone on, what does it mean?

[@mertcelep9144]

She could be Nashandra.

[@earlkzb]

Well noticed. Some times Aldia's voice mixes with other characters, this particular moment he's mimicking Emerald Herald, but he also imitates Lucatiel and Shalquoir, and others maybe. This kinda demonstrate his power, he's not only immortal, but can see through others in a kind of omniscience

[@freewilyy9292]

@@earlkzb this caracter is truly the best about ds2

[@VideoGamingSociety]

YOUNG HOLLOU

[@lukasborges1548]

Just like Ashen One, i'm still here. What is the background soundtrack name?

[@earlkzb]

Hello, Felwinter. Glad you still here :) Look for "Moonlight Sonata" by Beethoven, the song is the very first movement

[@naoiwatani8402]

I certainly hope you do something similar for Elden Ring once it releases.

[@sensan4487]

Please do it if some line strikes you !

[@f.7506]

After Elden Ring release, I can confirm that there's simply not other character that you could do a video like this. For real, Aldia has such good dialogue that's just incomparable with others characters. Aldia presents questions about life itself, makes you think about your own goals and morals. There's simply no other character like that in any from software game

[@macs589]

should have more views, too bad. amazing work

[@LeonRemingcolt]

I would like to make a Spanish dub but i don't know what it's the sound effects what has used for Aldia's voice

[@mat_ot8025]

Estaría genial

[@jesusdanielsuarezuribe2754]

Creo son voces super puestas en partes y un distorsionador

[@ThalerMan92]

you could make a religion out of this

[@commonlogic3646]

I loved this, are there more videos like this? With other such souls characters perhaps? I would love to watch more

[@dvno7581]

missed opportunity to use his actual theme as the BG music

[@michaelserrano6410]

I'm not sure what it is I seek, or what my purpose is in this world. But I wish to be like Michael the archangel, coincidentally Michael is also my name. I want to be a leader, a protector, someone who guides others safely to their purpose. Even if I'm only a guide for the greater purpose of others. That is still my wish

[@matei3880]

this is perhaps the most EPIC dark souls video i've ever seen... u seem to be philosophically inclined, my friend... is there any specific philosophy or belief you'd say aldia closely aligns with?

[@smokyprogg]

A lot of gnostism can be summarized as "find the divine spark in yourself and acknowledge the illusory nature of material reality" which has a number of consistent themes across all of Dark Souls

[@Diobrando-no1wy]

Mr Earl, what or who (someone or something) is the second image?

[@earlkzb]

It's Crestfallen Saulden in the comic "Dark Souls II: Into the Light". Very different from the game, he basically wears other armour in the comic :-)

[@Diobrando-no1wy]

@@earlkzb thank you young hollow

[@hawkwood9257]

yo, will you make one of these for elden ring also? I mean elden ring doesn't even come close to dark souls in cool dialogues but still..

[@freewilyy9292]

Impressive

[@Nameandaddresswithheld]

Hey, does anyone know where the “do you see what that means, to be alive, to walk this earth..” passage comes from? Is that an NPC or an Aldia excerpt from an obscure manga?

[@AtreyusNinja]

the NPC in majula, the one that gives u the covenant of blue

[@cassiusdomingos]

Masterpiece

[@Goodbye_Nostalgia]

Okay, but what is this other picture? One that like from manga or something.

[@inquisidorkatana]

Somebody Know any Books or autor with this kind of Feeling?

[@rejectiomundi]

Do you see what that means?

[@ComplexInsanity]

Young Hollow or young Tarnished do you seek to end this curse?

[@emperorbigd832]

whats the art at 3:14

[@sensan4487]

Why did you cut off the "truly" after the "do you have what it take,"

[@earlkzb]

Honestly, I don't remember. Probably to add some weight to the 'truly'. I believe the pause is very similar in the original lines, tho. Thanks for the comment :-)

[@adirie4112]

beautiful

[@Nick-ou8hl]

Why Aldia looks like Dante?

[@ilancosta5825]

what's the song name?

[@Diobrando-no1wy]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/moLaZapvjMyLmbM

[@earlkzb]

"Moonlight Sonata" by Beethoven, the song is the very first movement

[@Diobrando-no1wy]

@@earlkzb yes, the same song that i put in the link

[@mikib6262]

moonlight sonata

[@normaleverydayman7004]

2:11

[@Prowarrior1175]

Dark souls 1 and 3 from what i can tell are the main story while dark souls 2 is like the filler of it as we find out about a dlc bosses(manus) spawn and what they did it's like ds2 left a small impact on the main lore in general but left a huge impact on us the players thats at least my interpatation of it ,thats why we see more of ds1 fanservice in ds3 and less ds2.

[@RelaxingNostalgia]

lmfao "ds2 is filler" ds2 is the only game that matters in the series,lorewise and mechanically. it is THE genre defining title,influenced bloodborne,sekiro,elden ring. miyazaki himself said this.

[@ghmatt14]

Can I use this audio? I want to make a video where I add parts of people following e girls, girls causing more simps, etc. It's such a great piece

[@earlkzb]

Of course, do whatever you want (I am honestly curious to the outcome of this).

[@Enderplays12]

@@earlkzb Same, that shit sounds absolutely wack and without context lmao