Dark Souls 3 Lore: Who Was Solaire, And What Became Of Him?

[@Garl_Vinland]

I think people are misinterpreting the video a bit. I don't think he desired power in a way that someone like Lautrec would desire power. I think he simply wished to "Surpass his own limitations." Which is, in essence to the entire NARRATIVE of Dark Souls, *True human nature*. If treachery and deceit is one aspect of humanity, then Solaire is the other. He is a paragon of goodness, he seeks to improve himself, and encourages others to do the same through cooperation, in that only through jolly cooperation can we surpass our limitations, and become grossly incandescent as the Gods set an example for. His role in the grand scheme of things is simple and pure. He represents the covenant leader of the Sunlight Warriors, a covenant devoted to The Nameless King who was an individual who defied his own family to embrace an alternative aspect of life for the betterment of everyone.

[@HXKUSAI]

So basically he's Goku

[@jasonalcatraz5817]

YES, YES, YES, everything you've just said is so right. It definitely seems like that would be more of Solaire's personality than to secretly desire power.

[@Garl_Vinland]

CelsiusBruh Do you not shout like him when casting Sunlight Spear?

[@jasonalcatraz5817]

Garl Vinland Maybe he does go super saiyan for like three seconds when he uses a miracle...

[@Garl_Vinland]

"And this...! THIS IS WHAT IT'S LIKE.... TO GO...! EVEN...! FURTHER.... BEYOND!!" -Solaire of Astora

[@Butcher_Of_The_Sands]

An undead who is not special but wants to be. Takes non special armor shield and weapon and forges them as good as he can. At the end he was special :')

[@demonfireofhell]

Isn't that kinda dark souls 1 in a nutshell? The person we played wasn't special in any way. Every undead who wasn't hollowed was pretty much told they were the chosen one.

[@Butcher_Of_The_Sands]

demonfireofhell but solaire is different from e.g. Siegmeyer because solaire wants to be something more. If anyone can kill gwyn, solaire, you would say, if you dont know his fate alrdy.

[@killersands5116]

I would love to see an anime with solair as the main character

[@mentalbreakgaming3102]

the first two lines remind me of Hawkwood lmfao

[@Butcher_Of_The_Sands]

Huh, we're not even fit to lick their boots...

[@M3g4UBERn00b]

This doesn't really explain his constant offering to help and love of "jolly cooperation", I don't think he has selfish tendencies

[@FlygonSal330]

(3 years later but here i go lmao) When in the Warriors of Sunlight covenant, you require Sunlight Medals to increase within the ranks and ultimately unlock the Great Lightning Spear, adding to the search for power concept he referenced in the vid.

[@fatty1040]

@@FlygonSal330 So item lists are now lore?

[@nugget-zf5by]

@@fatty1040item descriptions always have been

[@NoahGuillen-c4e]

He should’ve went into detail about where solaire comes from, from Astora and why all characters from Astora Offer help to the player

[@jericho7173]

I don't think we are supposed to know what " sun" solarie is talking about. I always interpreted the sun being his meaning in life or destiny. " I came to lordran to find my destiny ". That's why we can't help Solaire find his sun. In any other RPG we'd be able to help him like a side quest. But it's up to Solaire to find his own sun. Much like it's up to us to find our own meaning in life.

[@romanaguirre8321]

FullMetal Bat very deep and true

[@SemiOmni314]

FullMetal Bat so, putting the sunlight maggot on his head is he's "destiny" then? Just saying

[@jericho7173]

***** putting the maggot his head made him lose his mind. I mean if we follow the videos logic and say Solaire was seeking power, the sunlight maggot doesn't exactly give you a buff.

[@miguelperez6345]

That's deep, good job man.

[@yungmalaria]

FullMetal Bat I think the sunlight maggot is connected to his desperation for the "sun", so he thought the emit light effect from the sunlight maggot was what he was looking for.

[@death174128]

Perhaps you painted Solaire to be a bit too narcissistic? He is still all about jolly co-operation! I get the feel "Praise the sun!" is more akin to positive reinforcement like "Praise Yourself". Its almost as if Solaire admired Gwyn's power and didn't see it as a power of a god,rather an achievable strength that he can aspire tword. Even Gwyn didn't overthrow the dragons in a day, it took time. Solaire was a great knight who trained hard every day of his life to achieve amazing strength, but one day he died. He became Undead and decided not to hollow, but to strive more than ever to get to his goal. He went directly to Lordran to challenge the power he earned against Gwyn( The Highest power he knew). The thing is though, he meets the PC. He doesn't come off as intimidating or dark, rather the opposite! In the hell that surrounds both of you, he offers you his help and encourages you to go on the same journey, to find your own sun! He gives you the white soap stone and shares the PRAISE THE SUN Emote because he believes that You and every PC he meets can become the sun. Ultimately, he was a fool. A Gloriously Incandescent soul that exudes hope, in a dark unforgiving world.

[@wochaoainigejiba1211]

death174128 how is seeking self improvement narcissistic. Aren’t you projecting a bit.

[@wolandv.2355]

@@wochaoainigejiba1211 He said the opposite...

[@PaladinJackal]

@@wochaoainigejiba1211 well you can't read

[@gozinta82]

Exactly. He's literally the epitomy of Ultimate Good. or Lawful Good.

[@Tomxai]

He obviously became the carthus sandworm.

[@Jimbean48327]

Y'know, OBVIOUSLY.

[@VictorGarcia-lb9pk]

Wow I always thought he was the orphan of kos

[@weareinthebeam1877]

duh

[@samyt681]

memes

[@eewweeppkk]

Oh shit. I thought it was a little funny joke because it drops the lightning miracle...but that makes enough sense for me to question my life again.

[@nitter93]

Personally, based on his item descriptions and arc in dark souls 1, I always interpreted solaire as don quixote through the eyes of miyazaki

[@Cracked_Moon]

Exactly how I see him. Someone seeking to be a radiant hero instead of being power hungry, but just isn't cut out for the job.

[@leinadlink]

although solaire is op, and is more than cut out for the job.

[@jupiterscock0]

Maybe Siegmeyer fits that role too.

[@LawrenceKassab]

I just bought that book like last year. Still haven't found the time to read it tho.

[@TTVChrisgamefreak]

Leinadlink Siegward* It’s not the same onion knight in both games

[@tase7602]

what are you talking about? solaire is clearly velka

[@topsniper47]

.... wha?

[@rimadichman7215]

no he is yhorm the giant

[@yuiyui4223]

No no,he became a fire keeper

[@stormcommander6387]

No, no, my friend. You're doing it wrong... PRAISE THE BOOBS! \(.)[T](.)/

[@sage552]

Guys how could you all be so dumb, Solaire is evidently the giant dog in the DLC trailer

[@bedtimegames]

“If only I could be so grossly incandescent.” Well, incandescent, when applied to a person, means passionate, spirited, fiery. I think Solaire came to Lordran, not for the purpose of power, but to find a purpose. He admires the sun, Gwyn, all the family has accomplished and wants to find “his own sun.” His own accomplishment that he can be passionate, spirited, fiery for. He was driven mad by the sunlight maggot, yes. But the irony in his words is that they were probably the realization he needed. He is the sun. The passion and dedication he strived for was always within him. We can see that, but he couldn’t.

[@mustekkala]

To me the desire to find his very own sun could be a metaphor for being recognized as a true sunbro. That he has painted the sun by himself to his equipment seem to imply that he was not allowed to join for some reason and took it to his own hands to train a ton to make his own mark in the world. I know this is reaching and i cannot explain why he is indeed a golden phantom but somehow i just don't see Solaire as a person who seeks for power, more of a person who desperately needs to be recognized as something he looks up to.

[@mrjrb561]

I'm with you on this. I believe he wanted to appease his god so bad he eventually began gaining real power. As is seen with the his sunlight sword gaining power over time, and I also think the sunlight talisman was Solaire's also lending credence to this path- "The talisman bears the Knight's own holy illustration, an emblem of his unwavering faith. Use of the talisman's Skill fills the user with similar steadfastness." He had such faith in the sun god(s) that becoming a true sunbro meant becoming one with them. It seems like a kind of reverse form of the corrupting influence of most things in the Souls universe- like he was sooooooo good and adept that it effected his equipment and so on.

[@joemyers85]

3:40 Solaire isn't expressing doubt in his cause due to selfish intentions. It's more likely that he has encountered others during his travels (ie. Kaathe) who have warned him that the path to Linking the Flame is a ruse constructed by the gods to artificially prolong the Age of Fire.

[@tenkovito]

I disagree, we see Solaire the whole game very cheery and positive, yet, in Lost Izalith he's very depressed because he don't seem to find he's sun. I think that its a religious conflict like "God forsake me" The Sunlight Maggot is a parasyte that controlled his mind, he didn't went mad. Him saying he found the sun, that he IS the sun is a mere allucination caused by the maggot.

[@i3ifqgml]

I'd say "power hungry" is a terrible way to word it. Also, doubt in one's beliefs is a motion that many people struggle with in their spiritual walk, unless their culture is more dogmatic - warriors of sunlight respect and worship the sun through their own will and doubting one's quest to attaining the brilliance of the icon he deems so highly is expected in a multi-dimensional character. Of course, he desired to better himself, but it did not come in a selfish and malevolent form in the slightest. He believed that helping others was a way to further understanding for everyone, including his own quest. I see his fascination and dedication to the sun as in sort of a childlike adoration. Of course he wished he was as great as Gwyn, because many of us wished we were as awesome as Batman. Solaire has shown us through his faithfulness and friendship that even if he were to attain his dream of becoming or attain his own sun, he would use it for the better of all. ... At least that's what I think.

[@spooky8491]

Brilliantly put my friend. Praise the cosmos- I mean sun!

[@knight-errant-david-4872]

Very nice way to put, And kinda put my thoughts to words. He always struck me as the type to love life and everyone in it

[@ameliorategibberish8027]

I've seen some good comments here, but this one... This one was the best.

[@lilypad395]

Praise the sun! \[T]/

[@Butcher_Of_The_Sands]

Praise the sun! \[T]/

[@rodrigoparrapalma7673]

+Nevyn what the FUCK

[@rodrigoparrapalma7673]

+Nevyn THE IMAGE IS NOT THERE!! NOT THERE I SAY!! NOT THERE!!

[@Alernategem]

\[T]/

[@firetheflameycat9145]

\[T]/

[@aidanfilby8824]

solaire is praising the son aka gwyn's firstborn who told him to go link the flame or possibly become the dark lord. that's why you can summon him for the final boss. he's another chosen undead

[@aidanfilby8824]

people are saying there is a prophecy of Astora to become the sun. maybe he links the flame to become the sun. also he only came to the land once he was an undead because until then he couldn't link the flame as a chosen undead

[@MikayaAkyo]

+Aidan Filby Gwyn's Firstborn commited Treason, he did NOT agree with his Father's schemes and left Anor Londo before the game even started. His name was purged from History because of his Treason. WHY would he betray his father and get exiled just so he could then force Undead into the same shit his Father and younger brother do? The Humans of Dark Souls are interesting beings. While they're human they're just that, Humans. When they get cursed with the Darksign they become undead, sent out to do whatever the current plan is (Link the First Flame, Claim the Throne of Want etc.) However that only works as long as they have resolve and a goal. This only works till they either achieved that Goal or give up on that hope. An example is the Crestfallen Warrior in DkS1, He's still there but fully gave up on his quest, just idly sitting there being a dude you can talk to, now not taking into account you killing him. When he gets annoyed by Frampt's smell and you talk to him enough he'll say that it's time he did something against it. probably trying to kill Frampt and die Trying as after that he'll be gone from Firelink Shrine and you meet him at the entrance to New Londo.... Hollow Another example is Siegmeyer. Time and time again you find Siegmeyer and end up helping him. You help him enter Sen's Fortress, you then help him get past the Boulder Trap, then you kill the Silver Knights that blocked his way, help him survive the Pit in Izalith and the poison of Blighttown. All these encounters he is in a pickle and you end up helping him out with him doing almost nothing. All these times while you're just trying to be a good guy you give him the Vibe that he's useless. Which ultimately leads to him going hollow at Ash Lake because his only purpose to go on was become a great adventurer which you showed him isn't something for him. Now let's get back to Topic and use those two examples to look at Solaire. If you leave him alone and don't do anything against the Chaos Bug. he'll turn Crazy, i say Crazy because he's not yet Hollow, he's didn't Die (by any means other than the Player) but he's likely to stop trying as he found his goal. Him being at the Kiln of the First Flame and being an Undead does not mean he tried to link the flame. He traveled Lordran to 'find his sun'. At the point of Lost Izalith he however pretty much gave up already. the only Reason he's in the Kiln is that you prevented him from 'finding his own sun' There's however another Character who was PLANNED to be another Chosen Undead. Oscar of Astora. Oscar has the most unused Content i guess as originally he survived the Asylum and fled too. You'd meet him again in Firelink (probably after Queelag and Gargoyles) with him saying that he'll follow the path Sage Frampt set out for him and go to Anor Londo with you later meeting him again in Darkroot forest and having the choice to have him Tag along towards Artorias' Grave. Only for him to show up the last time, after Gwyn's Bossfight and become the Final Antagonist. Oscar was planned to be an Aid and Friend throughout the Game just to end up becoming your opposite. If you decided to Link the Flame, Oscar would show up, scolding you for your foolishness of being a Puppet of the Gods and Frampt. Meanwhile if you decided to become the Dark Lord he'll show up scolding you for being a foolish traitor who fell for the lies of Kaathe. I really don't believe Solaire was after linking the Flame at all, that maybe was a pleasant side-effect of his Journey but seeing how he slowly ended up becoming a Depressed Pile of Sunbro i don't think his 'becoming the Sun' had the Link the Flame part in mind. I mean you find him after Centipede Demon at the Bonfire all depressed because 'he did not find his sun even here' If his ultimate motive was to link the flame he would've maybe been depressed because it takes long, but not say "i didn't find my sun even here' as he'd know that Izalith isn't the Kiln of the First Flame (not the true one at least) Writing this tho i wonder. Why do NPCs only turn Hollow first when they die by any means other than the player and if the Player kills them they simply are.... dead?

[@aidanfilby8824]

Thanks for the essay ;) good points tho

[@romanaguirre8321]

Tykiari Kasane Responding to the last part of your text, I'm guessing it has to do with you (the player) being the dark lord or the descendant of the dark lord.

[@MikayaAkyo]

ultra faded Hmmh Good point, tho there's an Error in that you specify the player as THE Dark Lord or THE descendant of the Dark Lord. The Futive Pygmy claimed the Dark Soul and became the first Dark Lord. He then proceeded to create Humanity. This means ANY Undead is a Descendant of the Dark Lord and if we consider scrapped content then any Undead can possibly become either the next Lord of Cinder or the Next Dark Lord. Oscar could've possibly became close to be the Dark Lord. But your point still prooves Valid in the matter that NPCs killed by other NPCs also don't go hollow and instead can simply be found dead. This means only the Player seems immune to it, possibly due to being the only one in that timeline to actually claim the powerful souls of the Lords / Great Ones / Lords of Cinder

[@GambeTama]

The thing that makes me wonder if his mission was really a bid for power was the soap stone he gives you. What good does "jolly cooperation' serve him, if he never resorts to calling you himself. In fact, this whole process would only serve to delay his time while he hollows. Also, as far as canonical endings go for him, I honestly think either is as likely to happen, but lean towards the "still alive" ending. Much in the same way that you keep running across Siegmeyer and saving him, the chosen undead keeps running into Solaire, ready to lend a hand to each other. A chance encounter with the maggot would mean that the player was a devout chaos servant, and the chosen undead aiding a fire keeper wouldn't be abnormal; since there are two that have quests to aid them. There is also the fact that either way, Solaire never found his sun by the end of the game. The last you hear of him, he is an emotional wreck, wondering if his journey was for naught. This means, depending on whether or not he comes with you to fight Gwynn, he is left broken and gives up, possibly hollowing, or decides to see this through to the end, and uphold his title as a warrior of sunlight - the least that he has - by helping you link the fire. Or I'm a sucker for (sorta-)happy endings. Your pick.

[@FormerlyDeadPresentlyUndead]

What I love about Solaire is that when he is defeated he doesn't go hollow, he goes insane. Not even the undead curse can block out his magnificent rays, only a loss of hope

[@GambeTama]

Ali Ever the persistent optimist, our glorious, green, guardian of grandeur. When life gave him lemons, he made lemon-flavored lightning spears to burn their kiln down!

[@alicealysia]

I feel like saving solaire is one of the rewards for being a good, understanding guy.

[@GambeTama]

Fandom Reviewer Well you do need a touch of sympathy to care about the mutant spider woman who opens the door.

[@mwperk02]

Keep in mind when you assist someone with a boss battle you are rewarded with a portion of its souls and for a warrior of sunlight an extra sunlight medal which is probably what hes after. Gotta get them juicy juicy covenant rewards.

[@Shaginji]

It seems like Solaire probably lived though. In Dark Souls 2 the sunbro covenant has a figure that looks like Solaire on the Sunlight Parma, and Solaires armor set survives into Dark Souls III. My theory is that Solaire survived and spread the sunbro covenant and the uniform he designed. Nothing solid, but it makes sense I think.

[@TheAshenHollow]

I can see that! =)

[@jashloseher616]

This is a year old and all, but the Sunlight Parma was literally just a fan creation for the shield contest.

[@SoicAngellis]

Several years old, but Miyazaki even states in an interview that in Solaire's 'world'/timeline, his canonical timeline, he was saved and went on the link the Fire

[@JoeVanniRangel]

Solaire is the embodiment of a dark souls player someone trying to get their own and at the same time becoming more powerful anyone who plays this game can't hate the guy because he is just a normal dude with ambition trying to be the top dog but he doesn't do it in a scheming evil way he journeys through the whole game against all odds in a honest and hopeful manner to achieve greatness

[@SethTheProgrammer]

Nice job on content release. You just don't see that from bigger youtubers. Props. Me and you actually both hit 10k at the same time speaking of which lol.

[@TheAshenHollow]

Thanks man! Oh nice that's awesome! That 10k mark is pretty fuckin cool beans!

[@slightlytwistedagain]

I think glory is the bigger objective for Solaire rather than power, though those two can intertwine as wanting to be glorious is also wanting to be idolized which is a form of power. Glory can also be something warriors of war seek which is also fitting to the Warriors of Sunlight and the god of war.

[@TheAshenHollow]

For sure, I can see that! But after looking back on Solaire he definitely was up to something bigger than expected. Regardless of what his intentions were to do with that power or glory! =)

[@punipunipyo]

if he want to have the sun, then why he refer to the sun as a "Magnificent Father" and want to be "Incandescent" ? He is obviously wanting to fulfill the prophecy of Astoria, where undead is to be come the sun!

[@iWillWakeYouUp]

Uhh where do you get this from? I don't recall any of the three games saying that Astora's prophecy means that to become Undead is to become the sun, or that Undead have the ability to become the sun. All it says is that those who are undead are chosen, those who make it out of the Undead Asylum shall seek the land of ancient lords. When you ring the bell(s) of Awakening, you'll know the fate of the Undead. What is the fate of the Undead? One could say it's to hollow out and become an empty husk. Other might say it's to link the fire. Some people might even say it's to end the fire, and a religious group from Londor claims the fate of the Undead is to usurp the fire and inherit it. I wonder why the game says "Heir Of Fire Destroyed" when you kill a boss. In my opinion, the usurpation of fire ending seems to be the "definitive" ending of DS3. You inherit the fire through usurpation.

[@Bazonkaz]

I wouldn't argue that Solaire was selfish in his pursuit for power, he could have just wanted the power to aid others. If he was so selfish, what reason would he have to aid the PC on his quest? Solaire even helps you defeat Gwyn if you do everything correctly. Whether he died in Izalith or linked the first flame isn't canon as the whole "time is convoluted" thing would imply that there are different outcomes. As for the Astora Sword having lightning, I would argue that he could have found his "own sun" and imbued his sword with lightning in DS 3. But this is all speculation of course. Interesting video, man.

[@zabaoth]

I don't care if he was truthful, deluded or insane, he was the only person in that entire game with a good attitude. That shit goes a long way, you know.

[@atakina]

Oh yeah, he is. Other people are sad, or jerks for the most part.

[@peazeralus]

Amen. Both of you.

[@koncentra5767]

What about Andre?

[@fluffypanda605]

I didn't want the sun for power I just wanted to praise it but senpai sun didn't notice me. :((

[@TheAshenHollow]

Sorry, buddy! =/

[@fluffypanda605]

it's okay I forgive you =) now who's up for some jolly co-operation!

[@lordhelmchen3154]

\[T]/

[@fluffypanda605]

yes praise the sun! \o/

[@danielsimm9843]

\[T]/

[@kidoumaru4942]

What I think is that he was faithful to the Firstborn, perhaps a common soldier, and one day when the Firstborn lost his title and everything and was excluded from the history annals and if we stop to think about it, if you read the description of the ring will see that it is as if they wanted that he had existed, so I think the Solaire at that time began to wonder what had happened to their god that did not respond more their prayers and that moment of doubts coincidently he became undead and he began to think that he was destined to take the place of the firstborn as sun heir, and perhaps it was not only him as the description of the medal sunlight in dark souls 2 describes "the brave fighters who bore These medals are gone , but the sun never sets. On this day begins the contest to find the Sun 's truest son. " as says the final phrase, began a search for who would be the true heir of the sun.

[@TheAshenHollow]

Just a friendly reminder: Solaire did not link the flame. Miyazaki said that he links to think that upon the Chosen Undead saving him, that he went on to link the flame in his world. Nothing about it was written into the story. With Miyazaki saying he "likes to think" does not make something canon. He would not do something like that, especially in a random interview! =)

[@HardCoreTea]

they do not conclude every storyline in these games, with that being said, "likes to think" means just that. because it's up to the player to form his own story.

[@TheAshenHollow]

Alex DemiHuman Absolutely! It's kind of the whole embodiment of what Dark Souls lore is about! Writing out your own stories! =)

[@HardCoreTea]

and you do a great job at it.

[@TheAshenHollow]

Alex DemiHuman Thank you friend!

[@korvin312]

Excellent video. But I was wondering if you had any ties as to why Pickle Pee the invisible crow has Solaire's armor? I also find it curious that Pickle Pee also has Lucatiel's mask. For such a passive NPC, she seems to have some incredibly important items. Or do you have your own theories in the works related to this matter?

[@Red-hm8cd]

All these smiling faces, shining beacons of happiness in this otherwise dark and dreary world, gone...

[@Tullerman]

Solaire keep looking for his own sun outside of himself when he always had the light within. If he had only stopped and listened for a while he would have found it, the symbolism is that we'll do anything to protect the first born which is our ego and what prevent us from seeing what's already there.

[@jellybean358]

na na na na na na na na na na NOT LISTENING! SUN BRO IS FIRST BORN! SOLAIRE4LIFE!

[@t-dogthedowgydog4660]

YEASS

[@spiko331]

you dont play DS3 right ?

[@t-dogthedowgydog4660]

Yup, I do, got a buttload of characters with a buttload of time, you don't have to get snippy just cuz I'm having some fun

[@matthewchavez3658]

nooooo this cannot be

[@t-dogthedowgydog4660]

What?

[@cristophermedina8749]

I believe that Solaire was one of the knights under Gwynns firstborn. And when he was banished Solaire ,much like Orstein, whent on a journey to find him. His "sun" could be just that, his captain and leader.

[@TheMrSandMan11]

The description for the sunlight straight sword in ds3, the one sided adoration in particular seemed like it was referring to Solaire and his own one sided love of the sun. At least thats my shallow take on it from face value. Thanks for another gr8 video jake!

[@souleaterxstein]

i love solaire, probably my favourite npc

[@jonathancapps1103]

If I didn't know better I'd think you had feelings for him.

[@jameswfabricant4553]

Grierat is my fav

[@Suhloor]

galvan wheel Galvan deal

[@Suhloor]

+Cash Kirby Same

[@madscientistshusta]

patches is in all of em, except I only ever shotted his creepy ass in BB lol

[@uriel7395]

Solaire became the Carthus sand worm that you get lightning stake from. Did you not watch the most vital lore video!?

[@QuestionableObject]

?

[@weareinthebeam1877]

solaire is clearly the estus you drink. lol duhhhh

[@unhygenicweeaboo933]

umm actually solaire is that one cloud in high wall lothric

[@pploversuckerandhuffer]

is that gas? ;-; you seriously need to step up your game, Solaire actually is that one crystal lizard that drops a lightning gem

[@kingmayonnaise4913]

Stefano Crispi maybe the worm ate him or something with all the bodies inside of it

[@appaloosahill4499]

If solair. Was truly only after his own goals why does he help us along our journey ?

[@knightofastora2340]

He needed souls to lvl up.

[@valesmonda22]

That means nothing, even Lautrec helps you twice and he was an dick.

[@loyalcav1575]

Well lets face it we all need help at one point. Plus he could have make you do all the work but he actually fights. Plus if Solaire was trying to gain power at least he is working for it. Something that the 4 great souls founders never did. They found their souls out of luck. I like to picture Solaire as this guy who wants to have his own sun, like a king wanting his throne, however a guy thats not actually a mean person.

[@SavageGeneticss]

Sunlight Medals.

[@NeostormXLMAX]

actually lautrec helps you because you saved him. he does indeed pay you back, its petrus who was a dick

[@tylerthompson2187]

Plot twist Solarie is the nameless king

[@orthodoxy6470]

Tyler Thompson you just answered my question but why you think that

[@isaac2990]

Angry Sun bro I know this is really late but there was an actual theory with pretty good backing when the first dark souls game out that solaire was really the first born

[@Alexander59059]

Solair is too good to be labeled as a petty “god”

[@oooooopppps12]

There is something that Solaire says that sort of torpedoes this When he first praises the sun for being so "grossly incandescent" he refers to it as a magnificent father Now why is this important? Solaire is looking for purpose, but he's not quite sure what that purpose is. What he thinks he's searching for is something of literal power as you say, not unlike Gwyn. And without player intervention he is doomed to madness, pursuing a cause with no goal, and in which his story best serves as a cautionary tale of the quest for power without purpose leading to unfulfilled hope and eventual madness. However, if the player does save him he becomes depressed, rethinks his approach and realizes that his purpose was to be the protector he always was, which is why he's summonable for the Gwyn fight. By that time, he's realized what a fool he's been, and realizes what he's actually searching for. Solaire never invades, his covenant is one solely focused on protection, and he never becomes a Darkwraith or bad phantom, so he never quested for power for power's sake. He was just a dude, with a desire to be a beacon of hope, like the sun. So thats what he did. At least thats my interpretation

[@tilmanr.3299]

His sword from DS1 wasnt a replica... after the successful fight against gwyn (Lord of sunlight) on your side, he may gained a bit of his power, or even during the rekindling of the flame. That made the the actual sunlight sword from DS3 that powerful.

[@tilmanr.3299]

Its the same sword

[@TheAshenHollow]

According to what? Because you fought Gwyn with Solaire? That doesn't make it canon. I killed Gwyndolin in DS1, yet here he is in 3 getting devoured by Aldrich.

[@Warcrafter4]

I thought I read somewhere that the devs has said if you saved him and kept him alive through the final boss then declined to rekindle the fire he would do it himself but it was never shown onscreen.

[@tilmanr.3299]

Warcrafter4 most lore isnt shown on screen... so..

[@NeostormXLMAX]

Tilman Rath you know the sunlight ss does not have lightning at all

[@Graff-z4x]

I like to think, if we save Solaire from the maggot, he actually has a change of character and gets pissed that he couldn't find the sun, and goes with the chosen undead to punch Gwyn in the face. But conversely, having been infected with the parasite, the parasite's body grows immensely over time to become the Carthus Sandworm, whom we know to contain the Lightning Stake. The yellow bug pellet describes the sandworm as being singular, and having stumbled into the catacombs, making it his new home. The closest area in proximity to the catacombs is the lost ruins of Izalith... different from a typical worm, it has a spine and ribs. It also drops undead bone-shards that I personally liken to being the dregs of Solaire himself. It's head also opens up similarly to a sun-flower. *drops mic*

[@Jimbean48327]

For someone whose name sounds like a brand of suncream, he sure is bloody majestic.

[@RealLilVodka]

I think Solaire was too selfless to only care about power. But if he was, I don’t think he would use it for wrongdoing.

[@Mr.Lycalopex]

Nice opening animation! I always liked to think that Solaire is the personification of the spirit of men. Throughout history, men have looked up and said "Damn, that's fucking mighty and worth of adoration". Men's own spirit tells them to be better day by day, shinier. Solaire's way to be better was trough might, he was a warrior after all, and he believed that his ultimate self, his Sun, was what being powerful is to a warrior. He was just a man, following the path marked as "good" by his very own God, his Sun.

[@Kinda_Venty]

This has to be one of the most revolutionizing dark souls theories out there.

[@JoeVanniRangel]

Solaire is loved because he is trying to get his own it's not like everyone loves him because he is a team player everyone who is playing this game is trying to become more powerful and Solaire is the embodiment of a dark souls player

[@Zed-th3vx]

OR Solaire IS the first born... the nameless king does remain nameless after all. The armor looks somewhat similar, both have the bracelets instead of gauntlets, both have that tattered skirt. The sun symbol could've rubbed off over time since he painted it and his face was completely covered in dark souls 1. The size of the character doesn't mean much in a souls game, since you can wear smough's armor and carry the Old demon king's hammer... just sayin' it's possible, and it's more convincing (to me) that he would be the first born, than to want to be the first born. Also, usually when there is an NPC storyline, the lore carries over assuming you followed it all the way through in any previous game, which is why most of us felt it was weird that Aldrich killed Gwyndellyn, since we would have killed him before. idk though, what do you guys think? Praise the sun \o/

[@TheAshenHollow]

I really don't use the word "no" very often at all when talking Dark Souls lore. But, no, Solaire is not the firstborn.

[@sike52]

a couple things seem suspect too considering he is next to a belfry bell and he helps with that boss fight, he fights with a feather covered dragon and you get his armor from a nest covered in feathers, he seems to have a similer spell set and uses his spear more like hes trained with a one handed sword. it also seems really really weird to me that solaires items are found next to estus soups because it seems evident that siegward cooked those soups and that gives him a (possible)connection to the storm ruler and solaire. storm king and the storm ruler? So its cool if you dont think hes the firstborn but its not just no, theirs purposeful hints there and theirs very rarely absolutes in dark souls you know that.

[@TheAshenHollow]

The problem it is just "no". There are few things in the game like that it's true, but this is one of those instances. On top of all the easily found evidence that point to Solaire not being the firstborn, there is also the fact that Miyazaki confirmed it when he said that the Firstborn was NOT in Dark Souls. Don't mean to sound rude, this is just a big pet peeve to me.

[@sike52]

yeah...he also said he likes to think solaire linked the flame soooo.....

[@sike52]

i get that thats your opinion and im not trying to change it but your stating something that is arguable as fact

[@D1ab0lical]

Solaire was just a random warrior of sunlight with a passion, literally nothing else was special about him.

[@fishcebab2371]

\`[T]/ |*| ||

[@sherkislove9607]

I never associated Solaire's search for the sun with a search of power. I think it was more of a metaphorical search for purpose. In a dark, dark world like dark souls (or our own sometimes) everyone seeks their own sun. Some find it in a quest (Siegmayer) , in duty (Astoria), in faith (Rhea), in love (Sif?), etc. Solaire struggled with that. I believe he found his own sun within himself ( "I am the sun" ) but just a little too late (unless the player intervenes). He grew wise enough to enlighten his path from within and that's how he is the only NPC that could reach Gwyn. Its a very lore unfriendly and poetic way to see it but that's how I like to view it!

[@SmoughTown]

Excellent stuff as usual man

[@TheAshenHollow]

[@pettersonystrawman9291]

I think Solaire's story has a great deal of symbolism and alegory for real life. I think that he is like an archatype of someone hard working and self improving. The moment with sunlight maggot represents a danger for such people, to lose their minds to the self improvement and to lose themselfs. I think it's also greatly important, that the only legit way to save him, is to be a chaos servant and you need to gain 2 ranks, so you really have to go out of your way with the chaos, to save him. I think the message is that the cure for self obcession is chaos. There are many ways to interpret this, but I understand it as that the chaos breaks people's narrow view of the world.

[@DonutSwordsman]

This almost made me cry from nostalgia man. Good video, that song made it really uplifting.

[@Butcher_Of_The_Sands]

I finished the game yesterday. I fcking love it

[@DonutSwordsman]

right on. Its so cool that people to this day are still enjoying it for the first time.

[@TheAshenHollow]

Thanks buddy! =D

[@shanghai9029]

Solaire went to lothric and became the carthus worm. Lore Master Bumble confirmed it

[@im50yearsold]

Solaire is my favorite madman

[@greed0599]

0:06 Solaire, I don't feel so good...

[@sike_out]

Gotta love Solaire theories.

[@lazykiwi936]

Fighting all those bosses with Solaire really were some jolly cooperations

[@alphakid4582]

I am Solaire and I praise the sun

[@MJD_Ishimura]

But in a way, there are SunBros all around the world now, so he did become the new god of war keeping a close eye on his warriors of sunlight, he IS the sun

[@Orthanderis]

NO. THIS IS NOT OKAY.

[@bacchusendo9032]

great video, I never thought of seeing Solaire from this perspective. When I think about Solaire a little further, I can't help but also think of his voice actor doing the voice for Alfred from Bloodborne. I never really took the time to play Bloodborne to completion, but from what others who have beaten the game have told me, Alfred may seem like a nice guy, but by the end of the game we realize he has darker motives. It makes sense now, why the developers would have Solaire's voice actor also be the voice actor for Alfred in Bloodborne.

[@xTGE]

What's the bet that we will see this bastard in the final DLC.

[@Kinda_Venty]

While that'll be cool as heck I dont think it'll happen as you can already get his set from the crows

[@killersands5116]

that would be a good idea.

[@ArthaxtaDaVince777]

Well the point of these dlcs is to clear up unfinished lore, and sunbro is definitely unfinished. So what you can get his set.

[@killersands5116]

ArthaxtaDaVince777 true he probally threw it away if still alive cause he probally gave up on the sun.

[@ArthaxtaDaVince777]

killer sands Yeah, but then I wonder why the sunlight sword is so much stronger now.

[@GypsyKingGG]

great video man : ] i'm really glad you're keeping the DS lore alive. Speculation is one of the best aspects of the game

[@TheAshenHollow]

Thank you kindly friend!

[@BigE3618]

Okay but I don't ever recall Solaire claiming to have created the symbol, only that he chose to wear it proudly on his armor. And while I admit there is some merit to your claims about his desire for a sun of his own, there's another side to it. What else does the sun do? It helps, it heals, it grows, and most importantly it persists. And what does Solaire do throughout all of Dark Souls? He helps, he grows, and he persists, at least until his light is eclipsed by that of a false sun. Is Solaire a fool? Kind of, as he blindly rushes forward in search of a sun he can call his own. But is he selfish and evil, absolutely not. Because if he was, why the hell would he ever offer his hand in friendship?

[@tank19768]

Hey, this was a great video! it definitely makes sense when you think about it like this. Solaire wanted power and as a result idolised how Gwyn had found his own (power) sun (in the form of his lord soul) and came to Lordran in the hopes that he would be able to find a similar power for himself. He trained rigorously and maintained his equipment to the highest standard because he was so dedicated to being a strong warrior. In this sense it is fitting that the firstborn, a god of war, would grant him the power of lightning spears. In a sense Solaire did worship the firstborn, in that he idolised his power and as a result stuck by the creed of assisting others, but this wasn't enough for Solaire, as he wanted a power that belonged to him alone, rather than one granted by others. He searched high and low for "his sun" but in the end such a power was never there to find in the first place. Regarding the "one-sided adoration" it likely refers to how Solaire adored the power of the sun, but the one who inherited the sun had no great opinion of him and was likely indifferent. Since faith itself can increase the power of miracles, it's not unlikely that Solaire's faith in the power of the sun was eventually capable of imbuing the sword with this power.

[@HitmanMr047]

Hey I came from VaatiVidya's channel! Good stuff man!

[@TheAshenHollow]

That's cool beans! Thank you friend! =D

[@PacMan41000]

The one problem I find is that you say he is looking out for himself yet he is the one to give the soapstone, enabling coop play and offers to help you along the way.

[@thestralner6335]

You sure it's sun, or could it be son? Kappa

[@TheAshenHollow]

+Slipstream Ah, I see what you did there! ;)

[@dariuszupan8145]

I always thought that Solaire's sun was him trying to find his purpose. I came to Londran to find my purpose. Another comment on this video says that his sun is his destiny. I also agree with that. Solaire wants a purpose, a sun, a goal to strive for. He may not know what it is, but he embraces it with open arms. I believe his canon ending is he links the fire in his world. He helps you in his quest and you help him in his. He doesn't necessarily seek power, he seeks his purpose.

[@tigerstoneman5727]

If this were game of thrones, Solaire would have been Gwyn's bastard child that wanted his half brother's power, and linking the flame and defeating his father would be his revenge for being cast to the side. just a thing that popped into my head as I watched this anyway

[@oldman2573]

Or died in a horrible, pathetic way. That happens a lot in GoT.

[@tigerstoneman5727]

lol yes it does

[@Zaephyrus]

I have a possible explanation for why the current/newer Sunlight Straight Sword is imbued with power. It is because of us, the players. DS3 is very much a tribute to the souls series as a whole. After the many fanmade contributions, which quite often feature Solaire, his weapon has become a symbol and focalpoint for our belief that he is Gwyn's firstborn. Although we now know that this faith was misguided, the power still accumulated, resulting in the sword's current state. Hell, our belief in Solaire might even be the reason why we can beat the Nameless King at all, due to some of his power being siphoned off. This last part is just wild speculation by the way. I cannot recall any evidence that the power of the "gods" in the DS universe is reliant on faithful followers.

[@scatty7761]

Solaire is Qualag in disguise

[@TheAshenHollow]

I knew those tits looked familiar! ;)

[@Kravockian]

I always viewed solaire as seeking purpose rather than power. He is in a covenant that helps others which is antithetical to craving power. His last words support this. The power hungry don’t lavish in their destruction however he sounds like he discovered his purpose.

[@TheAshenHollow]

You receive more than your just reward for helping people. As is the case for the majority of people put their signs down, they're looking to get more souls and humanity. His last words don't support that at all. They were the words of a lunatic who thought he had transcended into the sun; a great source of power.

[@Kravockian]

This sounds like a post modernist argument. Those seeking power do not assist others in attaining power. The sun is very seldomly viewed as a symbol of power but is seen as a symbol of truth, life, or something holy. Given how he acts, the symbol he adores, and his covenant I still believe that he seeks purpose not power. The arguments in this video aren't concrete and a lot of assumptions are made. (to be fair dark souls is a world were mostly only assumptions can be made.) Some of your own points are counter productive to your argument. Those who seek power don't care about the perception of others. (being worried about be viewed as a fool). You also talk about one sided adoration and yet he constantly helps the player. Even his covenant gives the host something besides just progression. Finally when he says "I am the sun." it is in a moment of realization. It would be intuitive given how he acts and what we know of him that he had been his own purpose, to help others which would go hand in hand with his covenant. Not saying you are wrong but outlining my thoughts on this.

[@ShiranuiLoki]

PRAISE THE SUN!!! He inspire us to follow his path.

[@RealLilVodka]

Bandai-Namco needs to have a canonical book or comic written about Solaire and his life.

[@Senctia]

Solaire is a cool NPC and all but we all know who the true hero of Dark Souls 1 is. TARKUS A U R K K R U A SUKRAT

[@gozinta82]

Tarkus squared?

[@solaire4085]

>* Does solaire cosplay * > * Uses lightning spear * *Kowalski: Analysis*

[@visualeyezdoug8158]

for every comment knocking ashen's "interpretations" let me remind you that THAT is what the entire series is all about. there are no right or wrong answer's. why do you think the story is told in the way that it is? Miyazaki encourages the player to form their own ideas about the story, the lore, and what it all means... Also, the more perspectives that are out there, the more interesting that is to viewers. Would you all want just ONE plain unarguable canon? no. that's what 99% of every other game is... Enjoy souls for being unique, in this sense.

[@OwlskiTV]

Interesting analogy of what happened to Solaire. When you brought up the description of the Sunlight Straight Sword in both DS1 and DS3, I actually thought about how if both swords were indeed the same, it'd imply he had achieved the power he was looking for in the end, which he then bled his powers over on his sword. A flaw to this though though is that his armor still seems to be unremarkable with no special powers in DS3. However, a good question to ask is; "If Solaire died back in DS1, how did his armor end up where we find it in DS3?"

[@olivervanderkuip1627]

Solaire dies, crows scavenge armour? Solaire was seeking the sun-power for vengence, Velka both crow and vengence! What does it mean?

[@lukedamianstein7836]

Praise the sun..... BE THE SUN!

[@aidankeogh9994]

He is the most innocent cinnamon roll of a man in Dark Souls and absolutely nothing can convince me otherwise.

[@roaringlaughter3812]

solaire sought reall power, not through shortcuts but through hard work and endurance. there is nothing wrong with that. inocent no, corruppted? hell no. he stood for what makes humans great.

[@georgeharvey9084]

as the warmth from solaire’s body left him in his final moments, cold swept over him so much so that he felt as if he were burning. With the light consuming his sight, he realizes he has finally found his own sun. He had become, his own sun. The exhilarating power of the sun.

[@FormerlyDeadPresentlyUndead]

oh. my. god. First off you act as if the sun Solaire desired was a giant ball of hydrogen in space, in the simplest form, the sun Solaire sought was something worth dying for, that's it. You're overanalyzing this, Solaire was just a brave man from Astora that wanted to be a blinding light of hope in a darkened world. Side note I saw a comic that really ties together some loose ends with Solaire. (it's not cannon but it fits) Solaire found the home of the nameless king as an orphan child, and the nameless king told Solaire to go out into the world and find his own sun, just google it cuz this comment is long enough and I don't want to type down every line.

[@TheAshenHollow]

+Ali Perhaps you're under analysing it? The sun wasn't just a metaphor for something worth dying for to him. Or else he would not found himself in the fiasco with the sunlight maggot. The sun he sought was the same sun Gwyn boasted. Hence why he came to Lord Gwyn's birthplace, and was looking for his own.

[@FormerlyDeadPresentlyUndead]

FromSoft will leave many questions unanswered and doesn't plan to address them. Solaire's sun might be one of them, but it sure as hell isn't Gwyn's first born or some physical orb locked away in the Anor Londo closet of metaphors

[@Teaspoonofswag]

Solaire taught me 3 things. 1. Jolly cooperation 2. Praise the sun 3. How to pose majestically under the radiant sun.

[@jeremyabrahamson2872]

...none of that interpretation is supported by any of the evidence you provided. Well, except the possibility of wanting to restore the warriors of sunlight

[@TheAshenHollow]

This is an awfully silly comment.

[@deangeloellis6910]

I don't know it always seem to me that Solaire wasn't interested in power but in comfort that the sun brings and the power it shares with all

[@pinecone5129]

solaire is obviously a fragment of manice

[@pinecone5129]

10/10 best theory

[@iWillWakeYouUp]

You must be Iron Pineapple's firstborn.

[@whatthe5954]

I think that it's important to note when Solare finds the maggot that casts light, he hollows. He finds a literal light source and with no further cause, hollows. He was after light. Further, someone after their own personal gain, wouldn't spend their time helping others. This is a super odd way to look at Solare.

[@Mortablunt]

What, Solaire isn't Velka, too!?

[@gabrielvinicius2409]

WE SHALL NOT ALLOW THE MEMORY OF OUR GREAT SUN BRO BE TAINTED LIKE THAT. Long live SOLAIRE of Astora, Lordran's nicest and crazyest dude. Wherever you are, i hope you are cheerfully burning in Joy. He SHALL always be OUR SUN. PRAISE THE SUN

[@MaocatsMisadventures]

An amazing sum up of Solaire's story, I definitely find this to be the most reasonable and possible theory. Then again I've never really been one to believe Solaire could have been the First-born, that would just be too easy.

[@vibey4649]

unrelated request, please, please link me the music at 3:23 the links in the desc are just to the artists and websites not the actual songs

[@gabrielperez9757]

But one think, he said he is a decent of the sun

[@tank19768]

No he didn't. He said he is "an adherent of the lord of sunlight".

[@tatersalad76]

I'm like Solaire: I'll boast about my character being strong as Gwyn himself, and then refuse to use any lightning miracles

[@SilentSpeak]

No you fucking didnt! You are so awesome for this.

[@TheAshenHollow]

Thank you friend! =)

[@tomthestone1470]

Whether or not he seeks power or not, we still mourned with him in his failure or corruption. He was a companion, we fought alongside him as he did us, we watched him make his journey to the top, but at the top was nothing for him, so we felt his pain as our own as a friend,

[@scrungobeepis5443]

He's obviously *_god_*

[@flashgmaing2967]

I just realized that solaire is one punch man. he has all his powers because he had rigorous training in which he chose to gain.

[@Nat-kq2oe]

RIP Solaire all ways in are hearts

[@orthodoxy6470]

COMMIASSR NAT he’s not dead he’s the nameless king

[@ladyofthewinds8267]

i believe that the "sun" was a metaphor for his sanity or will to live and that was what he sought since he had the opportunity to do so as an undead, he perhaps thought that by helping others, it would also help him find his very own "sun" or will to live and that's why he came to lordran, where he could help others. By finding the bug he realized he is his own sun or will to live and that helping others was not necessary anymore, in fact was detrimental to him, that's why he would accuse you of wanting to steal his sun, because he would always help you but you wouldn't help him. He went agressive towards you after that realization. But hey that's just my theory.

[@ameliorategibberish8027]

lol no

[@TheAshenHollow]

lol yes

[@ameliorategibberish8027]

*Contemplates writing sizable, in-depth statement* "No one's ever going to see this anyways." *Erases, throws in 2 cents worth as a joke* *N O T I C E D A N D R E P L I E D T O*

[@donovanhowell9831]

One of my favorite videos so far I really enjoy the different perspectives you show in your videos