Dark Souls 2 Lore ► Found in Translation

[@UrbanCohort]

"The Gutter" - a perfect example of translation vs. localization :)

[@tibarion]

Localization is more often used as an avenue to censor Eastern media for western audiences. I rather have straight translations in that case.

[@FFKonoko]

@@tibarion blind idiot translation is awful though, and usually reads like mechanical word salad. Especially since some words don't have direct translation, so you're generally getting more tweaking of the language than you think. As an example, blastrons translation of kumo desu ga nani ka is a far better translation and localization than the turbo translation. If anything the more literal translation actually loses meaning, because they don't properly convey the tone of the original, and the puns and references from the original are all also lost.

[@xmaverickhunterkx]

No. You are confusing three things. Translation, Literal translation, and Localization. Translation and Literal translation are not the same and they are what you are referring to here.

[@Lofirainbows]

All translated involves localisation

[@ItsAStarfish]

1:10 "the slightest mistake" *falls off bridge*

[@masonjones7777]

not as embarrassing as the bridge to the executioners chariot

[@Silquetoast]

I clicked this because I thought Dark Souls lore was found in Sekiro

[@limesnlemonss]

Lore master Vati fell so deep into the abyss he unintentionally predicted Sekiro years before the thought was born to Miyazaki. Truly staggering insight.

[@Efreeti]

In 2014?

[@davidbrussard-composer7372]

@@Efreeti Well, if you look at the thumbnail, it actually looks pretty similar to Sekiro.

[@jesusstaccato8448]

Not only does the thumbnail look like Sekiro but he also makes the "sudoku" joke again in a recent Sekiro video.

[@winter7194]

Boi

[@floggingblogger]

About the Pursuer. I might be over thinking it or maybe under thinking it but in Dark Souls 1 my favorite spell was the Pursuers, "Sorcery of Manus, Father of the Abyss. Grant a fleeting will to the Dark of Humanity. The Will feels Envy, or perhaps Love, and despite the inevitable trite and tragic ending, the will sees no alternative, and is driven Madly towards it's target." The fact that it mentions how it's "driven Madly towards it's target" and how the pursuers in DS2 have some "Madness" compelling them to seek out the undead, and the fact that the Pursuer uses a very similar spell, makes me believe that it may in fact be a more advanced Pursuer spell that is enchanted into a suit of Armor.

[@magnusnordeidebrede892]

holy shit I just found this. godammit that makes a lot of sense! holy friggin shit

[@MikayaAkyo]

+floggingblogger Nice theory, it also makes sense this way that his Pursuer-like attack isn't always ready, Some Pursuers have to stab you first, this stab inflicts Curse which could be seen as the Pursuer draining your Humanity and then using it against you. also the Pursuer attack of the Pursuer also causes Curse, further draining Humanity and thus weakening you.

[@DapaChrons]

+floggingblogger that's awesome man XD

[@Lofirainbows]

That sounds right

[@TheLoremasterNojah]

There's always going to be nuance lost in this kind of thing. For example: The Pursuer's items don't simply say that he "hunts" undead. The term used is 屠り続けている [Hofuri-tsuzuketeiru]. "He is continually butchering them." If you ever need more assistance with vids dealing with translation issues, I'd be happy to help.

[@VaatiVidya]

More people who do what you can would be awesome. I'm just going off one guys translations, and I think I speak for everyone when I say we appreciate anything that you can do! If you ever read through and find something interesting I encourage you to post it on reddit or somewhere so people can see :) I'll likely find it if it's a great discovery!

[@TheLoremasterNojah]

VaatiVidya If you want me to translate any Japanese material then just let me know in a private message. But I'm not going to pore through DS2 item descriptions in the hope I'll find something. DS2's lore just doesn't pique my fascination the way DS1's did.

[@a_lethe_ion]

VaatiVidya yo vaati, do you know, why the queen and king vendrick have statues of the old Heide-knights standing before the throne-room? they also have the alonne-archers.. maybe vendrick united drangleic and the kinds gave the captains and statue as a tribute?

[@RedBrigade82]

In the case of the Undead Huntsman I'm curious to know whether "Undead" is an adjective or noun. (I used to be good with Japanese but I no longer have the knowledge or resources). I ask this, because if Undead is an adjective, then the translation is actually correct.

[@michaelsims1612]

+RedBrigade82 It could be both. But, whatever it is, it is your interpretation.

[@DaveControlLive]

Thanks for putting this together! A lot of great information in this video - and I'd recommend it to anyone.

[@VaatiVidya]

Thanks for watching Dave :) More credit really has to go to the guy who did these translations in the first place though, I just tried to draw some more conclusions from it

[@DaveControlLive]

VaatiVidya He definitely deserves credit as well, but it was a great idea to make a video of it, produce it, and put it all together for everybody! :)

[@besunyip39]

Sudoku...............*Facepalm*

[@WesYes]

Dave and Vaati discussion = (Double Sudoku?)

[@besunyip39]

lol

[@PlagueOfGripes]

The one thing that remains clear through translations is often human motivation and feeling. Even if there was no dialogue at all, I imagine it would be clear what had happened with Quelaag and the Fair Lady, for example. It's a shame that DS2 focuses so heavily on obscuring irrelevant historical information instead of personal motivations. Still, it's good to have information clarified. Fine work, Vaati.

[@oxodunk]

muh personal motivation

[@Speeef]

Plague, I want you to be on the translation team for Dark Souls 3 (if one ever comes out)... So you can put in random animal facts and shit.

[@MikeyMike87]

Do an animation for DS2 lore Plague!!

[@SapphireCrook]

"DS2 focuses so heavily on obscuring irrelevant historical information instead of personal motivations" Can someone explain that a bit better? I don't quite get what Sir Plague is trying to mutter out here.

[@darugosuenyo]

tubbymanification No, just have plague dump random animal facts in Bloodborne. He can literally be a mad biologist and it'd make perfect sense in that scenario.

[@iamkingkaze9130]

this is so confusing...my brain comitted sudoku!

[@t4e95]

Isn't it possible that Adgars is the Mad Warrior phantom in Belfry Sol? At least that would give this phantom a reason to be there since the Belfry Bells have something to do with Alken and Venn.

[@McSireson]

That makes so much sense!

[@ohmysweetnurse]

Yeah, this makes a ridiculous amount of sense. Well done.

[@makomachine7643]

It would be humorous if the rivalry of the two countries devolved into a petty game of capture the flag.

[@ohmysweetnurse]

Small Crits Anime Critic Wouldn't be the first time some multiplayer ruined a friendship. =P

[@SwedetasticGames]

And the reason he is a phantom, which is equal to some Red NPC's found in Dark Souls 2, is the same as in Demon's Souls: if your soul does not find peace, but is instead filled with hatred, despair, and disbelief, your anger will control your remaining energy until slain. The Pursuer BOSS, ontop of that, is the only one of them with red eye(s) and a sack with collected weapons on his back. I think you just solved a major plothole, good sir. :D

[@ItsZorroDood]

Undead Hunter can still mean a hunter who is undead.

[@PatheticApathetic]

ZorroDood not in Japanese

[@jacobmoorcroft3893]

ZorroDood Also, other items related to the hunters equipment, the skeleton Lord’s and the executioners chariot all imply the area was utilised for hunting, executing and torturing the undead

[@matthew5403]

@@jacobmoorcroft3893 this is why the little undead after the bridge probably ran away from us He was used to be the prey

[@mangomoe7347]

@@matthew5403 I wondered why he kept running away... Now I feel bad for killing him.

[@brandondavis7777]

@@PatheticApathetic In an english translation both work perfectly, though. Huntsman's third definition is "A hunter". The only nuance between the two would be: A huntsman would refer more-so to a hunter who uses hounds to help him hunt.

[@robs2063]

Surely "You were led to this land by a bunshin of me" is referring to the old woman in the first cut-scene who sent the Cursed Undead to Drangleic, right?

[@Batman_83]

Yes. I was about to comment this very thing. It was revealed that the old fire keeper at the start that sent us to the swirling abyss is in fact The Emerald Herald! So this statement would best be taken that she spoke of her future self.

[@amauriherrera6022]

Okay so DS2 played with a dangerous plot device: time traveling(twice) The intro shows the reflection on the lake at the gates of Drangleic in their former glory instead of decrepit and rotten as in the present. After meeting an old lady(present) Things Betwixt is the limbo area between the present and the past.(In Lordran/Drabgleic time is convoluted) There the last Fire Keepers exist in between timelines. The Handmaid tells you there was a fourth keeper(Emerald Herald) and how the keepers are extinct. The Fire Keepers act like you aren't the first undead to show up at their hut and acknowledge this by saying "you spoke to that kind old dear, didn't you?" In Drangleic (the past) the Emerald Herald is the last existing Fire Keeper. A dragon hybrid- perhaps fruit of Aldias research of transfiguring giant souls into dragons to create an unlimited fuel for the first flame (the everlasting dragons from the Age of Ancients) The Ashen Mist heart let's you travel into the past (Inception time travel version) The translation killed the lore. But here we see the Japanese version of the Emerald Herald admits that her bunshin (clone technique) led you to this land. The Old Fire Keeper in the present who tells you that you will find yourself in Drangleic without really knowing why. This implies that all the NPCs who say this met with the Emerald Herald's old clone. They don't remember how they got into Drangleic because of time travel- but you as the player do retain the awareness of Things Betwixt.

[@gerald3339]

@@amauriherrera6022 Time travel was supposed to play a massive role in the original story but after the director changed, it got cut down a lot to become similar to the previous game.

[@PlacidDirge]

It makes sense that Gwyn's name would be forbidden. How many wall murals have we seen thought DS2 that show dragons being revered? Gwyn & his compatriots slayed dragons in there time.

[@suckyskiz]

Oh damn. Good point. Especially since the Dragons seem linked in some way to the curse. Gwyn would be responsible for beginning the curse and also for destroying any chance the curse could be broken. Interesting.

[@LiftedRetina]

You've just earned a subscriber. I know this video is old, but with Scholar of The First Sin releasing recently, I've gotten back on my Dark Souls kick. I'm so happy to find someone who explains the lore and theories with actual translation and logic, rather than blind stabs at subtle placement of enemies and items. This is the first video of yours that I've watched, and I'm looking forward to checking out the rest of what you've put together.

[@Sasuke1x]

Brad Austin you won't regret it, I've come back to Vaati, after every time I played Dark Souls

[@zadig08]

Well produced as always, and your humility at the end of the video is unyieldingly endearing.

[@ColeTrainStudio]

'Ichor' is 'etheral fluid in flowing in/from the veins of the gods'. Basically, it's the blood of the gods. Therefore 'Ichorous Earth' would imply that something/someone with god like power somehow became infused with earth (i.e. Iron). I find that translation even better than the original Japanese, if only in eloquence.

[@rylanspenrathful]

+CJ You're right, it is a fantastic translation. It also has a duel meaning, a play on the other, archaic, use of ichor, which is a fetid discharge from a wound. Not only does it align with some of the other names like Ceaseless Discharge but it also captures the continual rise and fall of divinity in the series and the themes of the body itself as vessels for the flame, darkness, and sanity.

[@adderous]

+CJ I'd say it implies the blood of an earth god, like Gaea, or a place where the blood of gods was spilled more than an earth infused god. It still shouldn't be capitalized either way. And since the word ichor is mostly seen in reference to Lovecraftian deities, a lot of people think it just means slime. They're wrong, but what people will understand from you word choice is at least as important as having the dictionary definition of a word fit.

[@markmawson80]

​our definition of important is massively different. There is ZERO importance in discussing the lore of a video game

[@Tempuslight]

I love these video's man, it's like i missed the ENTIRE DARK SOULS 2 EXPERIENCE by playing the game but simply not understanding most of it ... Thank you for this.

[@FatedMusic]

Wow, this really highlights a lot of confusion I had when going through and reading a lot of the lore... Thanks for the awesome video!

[@ZippieeIfy]

VaatiVidya after reading your description, I wanted to say that all of your video's are worth watching all the way through. Reasons for that is you spend time collecting known facts/descriptions and create logical theories off of them. They're entertaining and accurate. Sad to say i'm in college and can't play dark souls. It's only been 3 or 4 weeks, but I miss it so much already. that's why I rely on youtuber's such as yourself to provide info and fill me in on what i'm missing. Keep up the good work!

[@AIextheguy]

In regards to the Alonne portion, is the fact that the sword is sentient and "seeks blood" have something to do with his suicide if given a perfect battle? Perhaps because you shamed him (or some other reason to have to do with being beaten by an unarmed man with a jester hat and butterfly wings), he lost his will against the sword? Or perhaps it's because the sword didn't get to taste blood during the fight (yours, specifically), and decides that, in it's master's last moments, forces him to give it his own life force as some sort of final treat to a famished instrument?

[@grfrjiglstan]

I think that's how the concept of the Youtou was founded. Swords are often considered to have minds of their own in Japanese mythology, and the concept of seppuku seems like it satisfies both parties - no sword goes without its share of blood.

[@ericmurotake5180]

One interesting thought is that the Ancient Dragon's dialogue is his reference to "That which is stagnant" is reference to Drangleic/the world. That things within Drangleic itself (if it is, in fact, Drangleic instead of a fabricated world) has remained unchanged, static...stagnant in its current state until we come along and begin to move it again. We cause things to begin shifting, stirring...

[@spectralsheep]

Calling it right now, a bunch of people are going to use these mistranslations as an excuse to bitch about DKS2 more.

[@ArcaneVulper]

Nah, it's not B teams fault so they won't.

[@spectralsheep]

ArcaneVulper I kinda doubt that would stop these people from complaining...

[@ArcaneVulper]

Spectral Sheep Oh it won't but the only thing about bashing dark souls 2 is that it was made by B-Team, if there was something bad not by their fualt it'd get ignored because the focus is B-team fucked up.

[@PatheticApathetic]

It's not really an excuse. One of the translation companies really fucked up on a lot of these.

[@spectralsheep]

Lord Parbr And people are going to take this and make a bigger fuss out of it than it's really worth. Only thing about the translation errors that really bothers ME is the lost info on Pursuer.

[@nickwalson101]

Thank you for these videos Vaati, you are the only reason I can understand any of this lore and the lore of the previous games. Because of you I am now extremely into the souls series and love all the lore related information.

[@DarthDevorin]

12:10 It's possible the giants were hunting Nashandra, as if they knew the threat she posed. But that's just my speculation.

[@rejectedsaintsgaming7445]

well played!!! i feel like I live inside the game now... thank you, dude!! now i'm thinking to redo all of my hardwork in the game and know each one of the characters very well... you did an awesome work, man!!

[@x.zubayrkhandwalla1965]

VaatiVidya I read up on "Ichorous Earth" and ichor in english means the fluid that runs in the veins of the gods, which in turn would signify that once the Old Iron King fell into the lava he became the "earth through which the "blood" of the Gods flow, meaning Gwyn. So really the translation isn't that bad, it's the capital letter which messes everything up !

[@VVOXMUSIC]

The quality of your videos are the only thing that makes this hard-to-follow-story so interesting and captivating. Thanks for your brilliant work! I can't wait to see more places lore like the story time of forest of the fallen giant.

[@Kitade1]

*Emerald Herald weaves hand signs* Kage Bunshin no Jutsu!

[@TonyAus1983]

Hey VaatiVidya, I've been viewing your channel for a while now and I just wanted to take the time to say that each one is always entertaining and choke full of great info that I would never have found myself playing any of the souls games. I'm sure many others would agree with me. Keep up the good work and I'll be looking forward to your latest upload!

[@agent_magenta]

it's weird, the spanish version keeps a lot of thing from the original, lots more than the english one.

[@Wimbleknob]

After I started playing Dark Souls, I started watching your videos as well. Now, I have SO much more understanding of the DS lore. Thanks, Vaati. Couldn't understand any of this if it weren't for you.

[@mattwilliams4902]

I always assumed there was only one Pursuer, and that he kept respawning through the undead curse to come back and beat your ass

[@stah9036]

Your content is like nothing I've never seen before. Without this channel I wouldn't be getting the full experience of playing the soul games. Thank you, I'm glad there is a channel who is willing to put forth effort to make quality entertainment.

[@slightlytwistedagain]

If there's more than one Emerald Herald, then killing the ones at Drangleic Castle and Dragon Erie shouldn't stop the main one from appearing at Majula.

[@Kurollxx13]

maybe after u kill one she stops projecting the others to help you because u made her upset? u have a good point but that doesnt mean that it counters everything existing.

[@jojobinks902]

But I thought the main one was in dragon aerie? This is getting confusing :\

[@slightlytwistedagain]

***** "The one at Dragon Erie IS the main one, right?" There's no way of knowing.

[@Desyncronized]

Risky- Plus, she is the only Emerald Herald that can level you up, so another Emerald Herald elsewhere wouldn't be able to since they aren't REALLY there.

[@Kurollxx13]

***** no he means the old lady in the intro.

[@marzipanjoyner2272]

Imactually super glad you made this, I've been wondering why videos about the story have been slow to come. Really enjoy these, they got me WAY too into Dark Souls

[@joshuaobrien4479]

I prefer the "Allone is possessed" theory. It makes more sense to me. The sword makes him kill himself because he has proven himself inferior to you, and therefore a poor choice of wielder. In this manner, the sword makes itself free for you to use.

[@Internetismyfriend]

Wouldnt it make more sense that he had control of the sword but after losing without even feeding the sword his resolve weakened causing the sword to take over and do seppuku to fill its thirst for blood. He did after all work for the old iron king its unlikely he would have if he was being controlled

[@georgebarnard7831]

I prefer to think he controls the sword. After all, he doesn't act like he is thirsting for your blood when you fight him, because he bows before you fight. Also I believe that he left the iron king because of his cruelty, and after he realised what the sword was making him do, he left the king. This is why he meditates, to retain control over the sword

[@georgebarnard7831]

I prefer to think he controls the sword. After all, he doesn't act like he is thirsting for your blood when you fight him, because he bows before you fight. Also I believe that he left the iron king because of his cruelty, and after he realised what the sword was making him do, he left the king. This is why he meditates, to retain control over the sword

[@seunghanlee4603]

George Barnard He obviously succeeded in that because they built a monument for him and laid the silent sword in front of it. But why come to Nadalia's place to do it? Was this a part of his quest or was he just from there?

[@DryRoastedLemon]

Interesting. I thought of it that Alonne managed to control the sword and took pride in it. The chosen undead then proves to him that his pride is not deserved, after which Alonne commits seppuku to at least die in an honorable way, instead of dying while blinded by pride. That's just me though.

[@DethkloStuff]

You are my absolute favourite in Souls Lore videos. I watch them nearly everyday, just like you said, playthroughs are boring i am also playing these games, but with the help of your videos, i can get a deeper insight into the games story, in those entertaining 5 minutes. Keep up the good work mate. Love from Hungary!

[@veicanoriceia]

A lot of stuff about the Pursuer seems sound. I was just playing the game again today and I happened to stumble on something rather blatant that I'm surprised I don't remember being mentioned in this or any other DaS2 video yet: the Belfrys. I was playing in the Bastille earlier and I was making my way to Belfry Luna for some good ol' PVP. I spoke to the dwarf at the very beginning to join the covenant, when I noticed that in his dialogue he says "the Princess made him to guard the Bell of Alken." I was curious and went over to Belfry Sol in the Keep, where the dwarf before the fog gate there posed some more questions. He says word for word: "The Prince made me! To guard the bell of Venn! In Venn! The bell! Of the fine prince! In Alken! The bell! Of the princess!" Which helps solidify what Vaati said about Venn and Alken. What I want to know, however, is who this Prince and Princess are. If they told us so much as that there is/was a Prince in Venn and a Princess in Alken and that they're both somehow related, surely there's some information hiding somewhere about the lore of the two "kingdoms," their origin, and their history. Something else: on the Bell Keeper's Seal, the description reads: "The twin bells symbolize the bond between two lovers who could never be united. The bell keepers are their eternal guardians. For that is their love; that is their curse." Could never be united? Curse? I think this warrants some investigation.

[@crestfallenwarrior5719]

Its a shame that no one answered to this interesting Comment. The only thing i could add, is that Venn and Alken together are a similar word like Velka. And i remember that there are NPCs invading you, maybe they have something to do with something?

[@gaspardp7314]

God I can't for the life of me remember what item I read it on but it said that the prince and princess used their soldiers as puppets for their dark schemes until they became puppets of fate themselves, or something of the like

[@mackdontpayforstrange3207]

Awesome video my dude. Very eye opening about the translations and how things get turned around. We all need to rethink what we think we know about the lore.

[@MorganEarlJones]

Sir Alonne is obviously Shiva the Deceased

[@gamerhats4145]

What?

[@RorschachsVoice]

They have a sleight resemblance, yeah. But their roles and motivations are completely different.

[@gamerhats4145]

Walter Kovacs Is Shiva from Dark Souls, or is he unrelated, because I remember a Shiva guy in Dark Souls, and if that's who you are mentioning then no, his soul would not be powerful enough to have any influence

[@BlackenedDrummer]

That's a giant dad reference you idiots

[@gamerhats4145]

Nathan Magnuson There was no need for any insults, so how about you fuck off

[@wanderingfist]

You're so humble and polite to your viewers. I can't wait for these future Dark Souls 2 lore videos. Keep up the amazing work.

[@Higth115]

3:05 I have never seen that move!!

[@Chompski_]

same...

[@JLinusVanPelt]

It may happen after he stabs you with his blue sword, not always but it's possible

[@Tsukuyomi500]

He only does that move if you are hit by the blue sword stab. It curses you, then the Pursuer fires those homing orbs at you.

[@Internetismyfriend]

He only does dark magic attacks when he does his curse stab

[@ThePowerOfNike]

JLVP

[@aka_BSB]

I love the King's Field music in the background. Thank you for that, Vaati.

[@KingWesleyIV]

I feel almost as though the Giants are barely sentient at all. I fell as though they are merely puppets created by someone (or something) much like the golems. The reason I feel like this is because the giants have a very similar face to that of the golem. It is merely a hole with nothing inside. No face, no mouth. Nothing. So perhaps the Resonance of the Giants is actually the very thing that allows them to exist. I'm not sure about this as not much is said about why the Giants even crossed the seas but, I feel as though they play a very large part with the Throne of Want.

[@ArcaneVulper]

Their weapons are extremely crude, save for the Giant Lord, I think if someone made the giants they'd give them better weapons then a rock tied to a tree...

[@KingWesleyIV]

This is true. However I did say "barely" sentient. If the dragons were created with the same way the giants were. The dragons are obviously pretty intelligent. Perhaps the giants gained some kind of sentience and rebelled against their creator.

[@nicholaspotter93]

ArcaneVulper Not necessarily. When you're twice as tall as most men with strength to match, a rock tied to a tree is really all you need to utterly destroy something. From a standpoint of "I'm going to create these beings so that they can fight," why would you put in the time and effort to manufacture high-quality weapons for a creature that can kill most men even if it's unarmed? Big and cheap is all you need.

[@MrMilkyCoco]

I feel the giants are just sentient but severely disfigured walking trees ... >_

[@TheValinov]

Nick Potter but why would you give them "expensive" shorts? :P ... or cloaks for the mages..

[@NightDoomyeayuheard]

Holy shit, I wish I could like twice. Yours is such an impressive work, every time I watch one of your videos I get a huge twist in my perception of the Dark Souls universe. Please, keep up the great work, I really enjoy what you do, and I'm certain other people do too. Awesome job man!

[@Slicerness]

The Emerald Herald wants to be the Hokage of the Dragon Village. Believe it!

[@Torruun]

Well Vaati, I certainly appreciate all the hard work you put into making these lore and speculation videos. Seeing the japanese translations CERTAINLY clarifies a few things, and opens up questioning of others. I hope with the White Crown DLC comes some much-needed revelations, and clarifications.

[@AquilaGuard]

Undead hunter might not mean hunter of undead but rather a hunter that has now become undead. In which case, Undead Huntsman is a fitting translation.

[@TheValinov]

Risky- well he was a good hunter and killed every animal, then he was bored to un-dead xD

[@TheValinov]

and butterflies :P

[@Pyronar]

Some languages have different words for those two meanings ("a hunter who is undead" or a "hunter who hunts undead"). I think japanese is one of them.

[@pokashine]

George K. ^ exactly. 「不死狩り」 can only mean "One who hunts the Undead", since 「狩り」 means "to hunt", and 「狩人」 means "hunter".

[@AquilaGuard]

ah, ok. Does that mean that Huntsman's Corpse really means hunter's corpse.

[@MorelleNoir]

Never imagined that so much of the descriptions were so badly translated. Awesome video :)

[@genm4827]

So the Bewitched Alonne Sword is just Anubis from JoJo's Bizarre Adventure? Nice.

[@cheeseisgoodman425]

Gwynn's balls man! Jk i love it.😎

[@RincsArt]

I'm really glad that you take your time with your lore videos. I come here to be informed, amazed and to gain a deeper and better appreciation of DS lore. You make this possible and your hard work and effort really shows through. Thank you!

[@enricobagnoli998]

0:25 The sudoku… what a tragic ending for such a cute lil' green guy! By the way, the pursuer isn't an hollow suit of armor, in his cutscene a little of is face is shown, I think it was a bit of the nose… And you know how Alonne's Bewitched Sword was translated in italian? Spada Ammaliante di Alonne… Amazing Sword of Alonne… Damn it Italy!

[@xandaer13]

'Ammaliante' doesn't mean amazing but litterally bewitched but with an inner meaning, in fact it usually refer to the ability to lull or hypnotize. So it fits more not less.

[@enricobagnoli998]

andrea mancuso Aaaw shit I fucked up. I misunderstood the meaning of Bewitched.

[@Schleicherfreund]

Remember the dwarfs that guard the bell towers? They are as well just mere pieces of armor come to life, by something that allows for demons to be born anew. These guys also have faces, so a fleshy face does not mean they are not created originally by an armor. In the Bellfry Luna tower you see countless, lifeless pieces of armor, the armor these dwarfs are bearing. To quote them: "The princess made me, just like so!".

[@enricobagnoli998]

Schleicherfreund Mh, you got a point.

[@ragegauge7313]

Videos like this (and the ending narrative) are what put you above the thousands of garbage videos we have to sift through, in order to reach the gold beneath. Vaati you deserve so much credit for delivering quality above all else and always keeping the interests of your subscribers in mind, in line with your own. You are awesome man.

[@iWillWakeYouUp]

Alana Of The Filth? Behold, the girlfriend of Francis Of The Filth, aka FilthyFrank.

[@dirtyharry0191]

It's just a prank bro.

[@alexanderstilianov]

"Ketsu taberu." - Franku (Translator's notes: "Ketsu taberu" means "I eat ass.")

[@Nordborne]

Vaati. I wanna say thank you. Because thanks to your videos, they got me into the Dark Souls lore in the first place, which made the game 200 times more enjoyable for me. So thank YOU for being so awesome and for making these videos for us fans! I don't speak for everyone here but I am certain I am not alone when I say that thanks to your videos I have started to look into the lore much more so than when I first started playing the souls games :). So thank you Vaati and I can't wait for more awesome videos from you in the future!

[@EldenMango]

I just clicked thinking this was a new Sekiro video from the thumbnail....

[@Polygoing]

This was fascinating, man. Given the storytelling style in Souls titles and knowing there are always liberties taken for localization during translation, I _always_ feel like I'm missing a slew of subtle nuance with the English releases. Almost like a telephone game retelling. I really enjoyed the poignant ending regarding your approach to making videos, as well, balancing schedules and quality and confidence. Enthusiastically adding another like to the pile.

[@dentaphon]

Whose name can't be repeated? He who cannot be named? Lord Voldemort

[@chrissullivan5027]

Yet again the quality of your videos continues to astound. Very interesting and very well done,

[@arcticdino1650]

So the old iron king met Gwyn in the lava. What I want to know is, why was Gwyn down there?

[@temporaneo617]

Being nostalgic of that time he burned himself

[@hunterotte4085]

If I had to guess due to countless souls being reincarnated each age of fire, maybe the one who held gwyn's soul died visiting the Iron Keep. Likely when the place got engulfed in Magma. (either due to the creation of the Smelter Demon, or because the castle was so damn heavy it cracked open the earth and was flooded with the magma) In 3 we see the Soul of Cinder use it, implying it wasn't reincarnated that age. But we also see it use other player fighting styles, implying not every soul is brought back in each age as well. They are likely held by the flame to give it a protector so that nobody weak or unworthy tries to link it. But that does beg the question... How did Ludleth link the flame in 3? At the same time there are many theories that attempt to explain it, and some actually give a fair explanation. Some being that Lorian and Lothic killed the Soul of Cinder together and left the flame to fade without a protector, thus Ludleth could have linked it and made a new age. A weak age, where the previous champions needed to be directly revived and not reincarnated, and even further the ash related to them when they skimped out in their duties. But an age nonetheless, even if its already dying the instant it was instated. (also explaining why the flame doesn't normally take the weak.) But by no means am I saying this theory is correct, just that I like it as it fills a few crucial holes in the lore and stays true to the characters in its story. So its kinda my head cannon I suppose, until we get anything that directly states otherwise.

[@Henry-oi2yv]

Thanks for the vid. Take all the time you need with the lore vids, long vids are great with all the info we will be getting!

[@Zeredek]

I think the sword being sentient and controlling Alonne makes sense. I mean, if you beat him without taking damage, he kills himself. It might just be shamefur dispray, but it could be that the sword not tasting blood for a while could let him regain enough control to kill himself.

[@DWFTW]

Or the opposite and it's lack of blood makes him take his own blood instead. He did seem to be meditating and may have bowed (although I amn't certain on this personally), so I imagine he was still in control. Of course he could have just been sitting, who knows.

[@biblicallyaccuratesoul]

DWFTW So like shinobi?

[@biblicallyaccuratesoul]

DWFTW So like shinobi?

[@Lofirainbows]

Cool

[@darkenwarrior]

"you're time is important to me" is like the best frickin thing to say when you're providing a service of some kind. I wish others were that considerate.

[@demilung]

Death by Sudoku. What a horrible way to go.

[@axelkh8]

We appreciate you too. I love learning about all the lore. You catch things I never would have never seen. So in short. Thank you.

[@evanseifert8858]

"The Resonance with the Giants" is still a bad translation. The original Japanese is 巨人の共鳴, which simply means "The Resonance of the Giants". The word 共鳴 (resonance) is used in another part of the game too; it's the name of a hex that consumes souls to use. The hex is called resonance in English too, by the way. Anyways, the concept of resonance seems to relate to techniques that manipulate souls; it has nothing to do with man's relationship "with the giants". In other words, the official "Kinship" translation was about a hundred miles off the mark. Great video by the way. This is very useful even years later.

[@GamerKito]

Your videos are awesome! helping a young game designer work on his lore!! Thank you!

[@sweetmoonpigeon7469]

The Japanese description of the throne made me think of something. What if nothing is really looping at all? It does state that you lost your memories at the beginning of the game, so what if your character is simply reliving all that they know. If the Throne shows them what they want to see, how can they know that they don't want the journey they experienced if it is all they know. Maybe there really isn't a cycle at all. Maybe Drangleic is not even real. What if it is all just shattered and shoddily pieced together memories of Lordran? But, it's just a theory.

[@Richie_Godsil]

you're work is great and though we have to wait a long time to get some of it, I'm glad it's because you want to deliver the best content without having to redact any claims or speculation, well done, mate

[@pious83]

So by that logic, The Maiden in Black was a 'Bunshin' of The Old One?

[@Kurollxx13]

maiden in black? i dont really know what you mean by that.

[@pious83]

Andreas Stiben Demon's Souls equivalent of the Emerald Herald.

[@Kurollxx13]

pious83 oh well no idea about that (i know the black maiden btw but i didnt expect anyone to talk about demons souls)

[@pious83]

Andreas Stiben Just a theory I've had on the Lore of Demon's Souls for a while. Sparked off by Vaati's talk of the Emerald Herald here.

[@Kurollxx13]

pious83 i see

[@PhyreI3ird]

First I have to say that's so cool you have King's Field Ancient City music playing here. Second I gotta say most of the Dark Souls community is ravenously facepalm inducing but you guys here, piecing all the lore together in these beautiful videos and theories are just all soo badass and it makes me able to appreciate and think so much about things I really might not otherwise in the series. You guys are the prize gem of the Dark Souls community in my eyes and I love ya!

[@omier]

18:38 So the 3rd DLC is going to be about Gwyn's crown?

[@kyosukeplays]

The reason comes out for why there are no Let's Play videos. I see and understand the reasoning, but Let's Plays would be nice too. Thanks for all of the hard work! Keep up the great videos :)

[@bizmonkey007]

Didn't catch that the Old Iron King had the Soul of Gwynn.

[@ohnoitsseth3710]

+bizmonkey007 only on ng+ n00b ( jk jk )

[@kingKapuzina]

It's not clear that it is Gwyn.It is also possible it's the 4 Kings reference,so we have all 4 great souls from DS1. However, since the 4 Kings gained a part of Gwyns soul, or just the power (it is rather unclear), it does not matter that much. However i think it cant be Gwyns soul since he was the first to light the bonfire, and we need to get all 4 great souls to keep moving, his soul part cant be part of the 4

[@csgilmore3536]

Your videos have given me a lot to consider with the Dark Souls universe, it is very interesting. Great job.

[@azwi186]

So the pursuers are like terminators? They even have their eyes glowed red like the terminators.

[@DlwinnerS197]

This is why I subscribed to you. You take the time to make sure everything you upload is high quality and that we're entertained by real content, not just filler that you make for views. This video, once again, displays why you're one of the best quality KZbinrs out there. Keep up the amazing work!

[@mitchsz]

Sadly, translation was always something that could come with "errors", imagine how hard it is to me that receives translation from JP > NA > BR in those type of games hahaha

[@OmneAurumNon]

The pursuer's moveset is really similar to the haunted suits of armor in the tower of brume, which makes me think maybe it was created by the iron king

[@Chibi_changa]

0:52 Saw that, Vaati.

[@Polygoing]

Comment, the second - I love the revelation of the Alken/Venn (Vane) rivalry you mentioned during The Pursuer section. That adds some nice depth to the star-crossed lovers of Belfy Luna and Belfry Sol and _why_ they ".. could never be united," as mentioned in the Bell Keeper's Seal description.

[@dthequargean8676]

Prepare to cry at the lack of a satisfying conclusion?

[@grfrjiglstan]

Satisfying Conclusion DLC - only $19.99!

[@garethniles6152]

im glad you made this. I am just getting into the souls games, and i was curious about what was lost in translation.

[@Klefth]

9:50 that would be pronounced "yoh-toh". Anyway, I really liked this video, especially since I'm a translator myself. :)

[@liamsutton6202]

vaati your video's are so amazing i look all the time to see if you've uploaded you and other youtubers have managed to take the already amazing souls series and somehow made it better :D

[@RETURIO]

Praise the sun

[@Link1275]

The original boss name for the Old Iron King was Ichorous Earth. But it was changed halfway through development. You might want to get together with ENB and/or AGS about some of that stuff.

[@varunchaturvedi2581]

The character on the thumbnail looks exactly like Sekiro.

[@protomanred1]

Haha I enjoy this video. I also enjoy your subtle use of Kingsfield music in the background.

[@GothicKin]

The part about the Herald was just as clear as the english translation was.

[@TheSentry777]

Top quality youtubeage Mr Vidya. Your work is amazing.

[@timothyuy2052]

So pretty much ENB knew all of this from the beginning...

[@AdamUnparadised]

So, when you mentioned "the soul of one who's name is forbidden" I instantly thought firstborn. Then you proved it was Gwyn, and I cried a bit.

[@SeathPL]

Hey VaatiVidya i hope you answer me what you think about my kinda bald theory: Thats kinda risky theory, but... I think the emerald herold is an avatar of Velka, cause you see ornifex so some kind of connection must be there. And again Herold speaks that she was "born of dragons" have you ever think about from where Velka is? She has her crow people in the first DkS, and you bringing revenge on the gods, but revenge for what? what have the gods done in first Dark souls ? They killed all the dragons ( almost) She keeps in aramis a half breed dragoness and an undead dragon on the bridge. She must have some connection to dragons. And i think she continue trying to find a way to bring the old dragons back, so she try she needs power to do it. She needs the power to animate things (or re-animate things) she might have used the remnaints of Manus and created 4 queens ( i think there propably will be 4th queen in next dlc) then send them to do this task. It feels from the descriptions that queens were send by someone. Don't you remember that they tried to found their kings? Queen from second Dlc failed cause her king was dead. But she didnt gave up there she still had a task. Lets ask ourselves what is possiblity of Gwyns soul being in a vulcano? I think someone tried to revive the old iron king. Next thing is throne of want, and someone who forgives your sins. Arent only believers of Velka allowed to do it? Another proof that Velka is in Drangleic. Throne is something that question you, do you think that there is only something that you see or is there something more to it? Velka was always in the background outside of vision, pulling strings. Vhy she was a goddes, she had to be powerful. She have made avatars that guide you to the Drangleic. Is she trying to bring the world to the old order when everything was static? Or is she the one that was static (one of dragons) but she started to move when the world started to do it. She hidden the truth under the mist of lies (or maybe literally under mist/fog). But that gives me another question is she trying to bring the world to the fog again, or is she trying to stop the circle that "gods" have accidently started.

[@RMeitzen]

Your theory is highly plausible, and you also forgot to mention why the Black Set (Judgement Set) is found at the Dragon Shrine. Dark Souls 1: "Mask/Robe/Manchettes/Tights worn by pardoners serving Velka, the Goddess of Sin." Dark Souls 2: "Mask/Robe/Manchettes/Tights honoring an ancient goddess. Sin was said to be her domain, but the name of the goddess is long forgotten." "Little is known about what purpose the mask/robe/manchettes/tights served, only that it was worn by a person of great authority." Coincidence? I think not.

[@SeathPL]

exactly

[@adamheeley285]

Amazing video dude, good job peeling back the layers.

[@bluepandaj48]

i think the forbidden one is solaire be cause he wore IRON Armour plus he could have been the one who was banished from the first game

[@lucaslima5681]

But the forbidden one is a SHE solaire is a man :c

[@swagmasta6928]

Lucas Lima I think he's referring to Gwyn, not the lost sinner

[@bluepandaj48]

Alexander Kürbs you are correct i mean gwyn

[@Kurollxx13]

if the iron armor is such a big point then why isnt it iron tarkus? just saying, the iron armor doesnt make any sense.

[@DannyFatSack]

Andreas Stiben Its more that Gwyn's 1st born was supposed to be erased from history books, and his name was never to be spoken again. Most people think Solaire is the 1st born

[@TheMightyYousef2]

Respect Vaati, You literally got my Respect after this Video. I'm waiting for more Amazing Content from you man, Keep it up!

[@josephjoestar3627]

Is that sekiro in the thumb nail 4 years early

[@issacclark1876]

Definitely worth waiting!! Thank you for putting so much effort in to these videos.

[@breguera77]

Wouldnt the forbidden name be the Nameless King? We know more now.

[@conquest4211]

O M G

[@7ftofdirt]

Upload Date...

[@armistice9670]

+Dunkstein And Slamough yeah we know but this is what we know NOW

[@Batman_83]

I was thinking that very same thing. Going back, with more knowledge of things bc more info has been brought to light, and watching this gives even better answers.

[@OgieSifter]

Japanese translation videos have always been my favorite lore videos. They always hold the information that cleared up the dark souls lore.