Dark Souls III Lore | Hodrick and the Mound Makers

I'm back! This is the first video ever, by anyone, to attempt to understand the Mound Makers and the lore surrounding their beliefs and figures. Sorry if I sound a bit wrecked, I just got back from a 22-hour flight from the UK so naturally I'm slightly out of it.
As usual, let me know what you think in the comments, follow me on Twitter, and share the vid around!
Thumbnail art is by Zezhou Chen!

[@Yami7947]

To give some medical input on the vertebraeshackle: the bone shown is the second bone in the spine the so called Axis. The first one is called the Atlas or mythologigly the Giant who holds the world (the skull). The binding also has a medical corelation which is a ligamment fixing the little spine you see on the vertebra onto the atlas. If we assume that the gods a represented as the Atlas because they "own" the world for they are gods. Humans are seen underneath them only in existance to support and hold them. If you now remove the Humans by killing them thus removing them from their binding the world of the goods comes crumbling down

[@jxntxn1462]

Mytholojiggly

[@onaxclii5554]

leave him be, he's trying his best xD@@jxntxn1462

[@BLung-tq2mm]

The symbol definitely has something to do with the Darksign. The Darksign Brand that appears on undead hollows is also refferred to as "Shackles". Shackles of the Gods to be more specific. The Darksign and the undead curse it causes seems to be a curse placed on humanity by Gwyn (a God).. It's purpose being to drive undead towards the First Flame and supply it with humanity. This was Gwyn's plan to prolong his age of fire much longer than it was supposed to last. I think the Malformed Vertebrae and the symbol found on it are the true source of the Undead Curse. The Darksign Brand is a by-product of the more permanent symbol etched into the deepest and most important parts of the human body. This assures that the source of the curse can never be cut out and removed.

[@mitchl6896]

I think you may be right! Might have to revisit this topic in the future.

[@BLung-tq2mm]

Cool deal Mitch my man, Your videos are always top notch.

[@np8598]

+Brian Lung lure undead to the first flame and give it humanity? what is your basis on this proposal? your shackle thoughts are interesting but that whole "Gwyn linked humanity to the flame" theory has no basis.

[@dumbsterdives]

+nick perez Why else would you need to burn humanity in bonfires to retain humanity in ds1?

[@BLung-tq2mm]

Maldron The Ass Exactly, thanks Maldron

[@takezokimura2571]

I never understood what the caged undead were talking about. Now it makes sense!

[@anonymous_9491]

Takezo Kimura when the fuck did they exist I never heard this mpc. well not good one. but what the hell did I miss as well as I think about it?

[@MathMasterism]

I want to see that sacrifice weapon art in Dark Souls III. It sounds cool as heck.

[@rhynlock11]

the only detail missing from this is why the handmaiden has that weird reaction when she get the dream chaser ashes that trigger Sirris questline. maybe Sirri's dad?

[@adelynn3501]

i know i'm late but this is just because the pendant in ds1 was a useless item and people thought it was the key to some very deeply hidden secret oh and the ash holds the pendant

[@Endros9497]

I know I’m also very late to this, but sirris’ quest line starts once you make it to the crucifixion woods

[@umukzusgelos4834]

the moment when she whispers "Goodnight Granddad" to the dying Hodrick was one of the few where I felt compassion coming from a Dark Souls Character

[@coolguyman16]

Great video! Loved how you painted the Mound-Makers as a tragic bunch (not to mention I think you're the only one whose done a MM lore video). One thing that confused me though was why could you summon a MM as a 'friendly' phantom? At first I thought this was an instance of gameplay-story segregation, but then I thought of something. What if in this case an MM is struggling with their madness? They want to forge a bond with someone via their journey together or give into the madness and take their shackle as a symbol of a bond. It could also be for those who gain the trust of the host only to kill them at the end: they forged a bond and the shackle is something to remember them by. A family doesn't have to be genetically related, it could also be a bond between close friends. Maybe that's what the MM think when they're getting a shackle, either killing or co-oping is establishing a bond and getting the shackle is something to remember them by. As for the MM symbol itself, someone below me pointed out how the circles could be shackles, maybe the two things above them are the Gods and man? The fragility of the shackles could represent how, before the curse men praise and love the Gods, but when the curse starts spreading the shackle breaks and men seek to rebel and hate the Gods. Look at Caithe for example, she is called a Goddess of tears and compassion to some, and a demon by others; it represents the fickle views of Gods men have. Sorry for the rant, I just loved this video so much!

[@dezopenguin9649]

Really interesting and entertaining video! (One point of specific agreement is that I do think that grave where we find the Sunless Shield is almost certainly that of Hodrick's wife, Sirris's grandmother. Sirris's clear connection to that specific grave is too significant to overlook. I do wonder how the Shrine handmaid fits in, since finding the Dreamchaser's Ashes and telling her where they were found results in the triggering of the next stage of Sirris's questline, but that doesn't mean anything significant. One thing we do know is that the handmaid is pretty much dead to most sentiment--as you see if you kill her, her dialogue shows how callously she's just after souls.) One point I wanted to add though, is that if we accept the words of Aldia in DS2 and Yuria of Londor in this game, the natural state of the human race is to be Undead and Hollow and the "mortal life" we think is the default is, rather, a condition pressed upon us by the First Flame and maintained by the Linking of the Flame. Thus, when the Fire wanes, the Undead curse manifests itself because the illusion (again using Aldia's words) begins to slip. And in this we see, perhaps, some understanding of what the Mound-makers mean by the "shackle of the gods." They are a covenant of Hollows, after all, and as you point out in the video they seem to be trying to tie themselves in some way to their fading life, or to otherwise replace it with something else, some tie to a sense of self and the human connections that "family" represents. Feeling the illusion slipping from them, desperately seeking that anchor, they fall to madness and murder as a way to create an identity in place of what may have been. The connection to Lucatiel's story was clever; I never made the link with the placement of her armor set even though the crow trade for her mask doubled down on the Mound-makers connection; while I don't know if Mirrah necessarily is the Sunless Realms (though the shield is significant), it does seem plain that the player is supposed to have Lucatiel's story in their mind when they think of the Undead Settlement and Mound-makers, and I regret that I missed it myself.

[@mitchl6896]

Thank you for your balanced feedback! This was a really fun area to investigate and I'm glad that I was able to bring a deep look to it.

[@LSB44446]

Great video as usual man. Excellent.

[@mitchl6896]

Thank you, dude!

[@KaiserAfini]

Mitch L I hope you make another excellent lore video for the Ringed City. Regarding the meaning of the Mound Maker's symbol, look at the crest on the necklace of the statue of Velka in the Undead Settlement, turn that symbol upside down, notice anything familiar ?

[@Gh0StF1sHy]

the whole cage spider- nana quote thing. BIG stretch there.

[@triplebog]

I think the symbols are literally the shackles of the gods. Look at the bottom, you got two rings or shackles. Then the top and middle bit are the chains attatched to the shackles. If you look closer; it seems like the two shackles aren't actually linked. Which ties in to the whole point of the mound makers being seperate from the gods

[@danielwheels9529]

Can you make an in depth analysis of the portrait room in iriythll? I find it fascinating that there are portraits of ds1 and 2 characters in this one room. The lore implications are huge and especially seeing that there aren't many ds2 references in the game. Seeing that black knight staring at Gertrude's painting....that was crazy

[@mitchl6896]

I will be making a video on Iriythll at some point, I've been putting it off for the moment just because it's such a HUGE area. I like the theory that the Iriythll is in some way connected to Anor Londo as the lower levels of the city that we don't reaaaally get to see in DSI. Also, the knight staring at the painting is a Silver Knight, I think. Thanks for watching!

[@kunnykuni]

Very cool ! The connection with Mirrah was so strong and yet I didn't see it. You blew my mind ! Further proof of the connection with Mirrah could be the fact that using the Greatwood soul in transposition gives you Lucatiel's sword. I think people are underestimating Velka's influence in DS3 so I would like to see you theorize on that !

[@mitchl6896]

Thank you! When I started seeing the connections I had to put it in. Don't worry, Velka is on the list and will get a spot soon :)

[@kunnykuni]

Mitch L Cool ! Velka is my favorite god of Dark Souls ! I really hope the third DLC will take place in Londor and that we will meet/fight Velka there. Oh ! Reminds me that one of my wishes for a DLC is to time-travel in Courland to see the Soulfeeder, younger Ludleth and learn more about the abyss and soul-transposition. So if you could do a video on that...

[@TrustedCharl]

The symbol of the covenant looks like a cross section of a vertebrae, maybe this its a slightly altered cross section to represent the "shackles".

[@crsmith6226]

TrustedCharl I know this is old but I’m just watching it now and the first thing I did was look up “inside of a vertebra” and it looks remarkably similar if stylized

[@F1rsttimer]

Great cinematography.

[@LucaDeravignone]

I KNEW this was going to be great. Thanks again for hearing my praise with another great and unique video, fantastic editing and content.

[@mitchl6896]

Thanks for suggesting it as a topic! I had a great time investigating it. Onto the next one!

[@widneyburton448]

simply amazing. this cleared up so much surrounding the mound makers. thank you so much! now I understand sirris and hodrick a bit more :) awesome video. thanks for the upload!

[@mitchl6896]

Thank you for watching!

[@floatingdisc3427]

Great stuff! This is your best video yet imho. keep it up!

[@Garl_Vinland]

That feeling when you realize the symbol in the vertebrae shackle are the two hooded figures and the two serpents depicted in Ariendel's boss room.

[@bobisdoinsomething895]

great video as always

[@rickedyrektd1895]

You're good at this, genuinely really good, enjoying your lack of bias. Keep it up!

[@mitchl6896]

Thank you!

[@rickedyrektd1895]

I wouldn't say so if you didn't deserve it man, thank you. :)

[@theheartsstory]

Really enjoyed this one! I had missed this connection altogether

[@callusklaus2413]

Marvelous breakdown, thank you.

[@BORISTIMUS]

I love the idea that the hollows of the mound makers never fully hollow because there purpose is piling bodies all day.

[@mergevisual]

Love the cinematic angles - also would love to see a Sirris episode

[@CaptainSkylocke]

Another excellent lore video, you definitely put out the best DS3 lore content on KZbin.

[@mitchl6896]

Thanks for sticking around!

[@sazarod]

Damn dude, you are producing awesome DS3 content. Keep up the good work!

[@mitchl6896]

Thank you and will do!

[@boneyardghoul931]

I haven't even watched the video and I'm frothing with excitement, my favorite character and favorite covenant getting attention YAAASSSSS

[@DaGirlzGoCrazy]

Great topic and video bro!

[@cbgthekid]

Love your lore videos man. You touch on many areas of lore that most of the community has just seemed to skip over. I think many of the lore channels are kind of burnt out and really haven't cover ds3 the same way they covered 1 and 2

[@oleksiivoloshyn4194]

Wow, I've seen a lot of Souls Lore videos from different people, but this topic appears to me for the first time, thank you for such a brilliant representation of the story!

[@TheCrackb0ne]

You sir have earned another Subscriber!

[@SilentSpeak]

amazing. How are you not famous yet from these well made lore videos IL never know.

[@mitchl6896]

One day :)

[@slightlytwistedagain]

The editing in this video is phenomenal, your best one yet. You've blown my expectations and I will be even more impressed if you can improve your skills. You definitely have one of thee best DS3 lore series I've seen and look forward to seeing more in the future. Regarding the lore, there's nothing I could add. You covered all the parts I gave some thought over the Mound Makers and then some.Good work.

[@mitchl6896]

Your praise means a lot! Out of curiosity, who else do you watch? I'm loving Hawkshaw's stuff at the moment.

[@slightlytwistedagain]

There's 大佐 RADEC, SmoughTown, MadLuigi, KazzArmA (very good DS3 channel that one), Jacob Huotari, n1lknarf (some obscure lore on DS2), Ashen Hollow, Vaati, DaveControl Hawkshaw and some others names I forget. For Bloodborne lore you have the usual suspects from the list above but I highly recommend Fungo and especially Jerks Sans Frontieres as his lore on it is off the chart. Redgrave's lore on Bloodborne is also incredible.

[@SawdustAndCalluses]

10:16 I'd recognize the sound of grinding steel anywhere.

[@joelsirva4281]

great video Mitch. I had an idea watching this video: could the grandmother be the mound maker who is mentioned in the describtion of bloodlust

[@mitchl6896]

I don't think so as I believe the Mound Maker is referred to as "he"

[@Peace_And_Love42]

Excellent video. I enjoyed Sirris' story while playing, but never sat to put all the pieces together. Thank you!

[@mitchl6896]

Happy to help!

[@lanasrj]

great stuff! This also reminds me of the Sable Church of Londor, which seems to use faith to fight hollowing

[@mitchl6896]

The Sable Church really interests me. That will definitely get its own vid at some point.

[@JoseDSchiffer]

Long but very good!

[@JARedwolf100]

It’s a bit late but the symbol on the shackles of the gods, looks like something from a brain scene and especially from someone suffering a severe case of dementia and/or degenerative neurosis of some kind.

[@onaxclii5554]

If DS3 ever gets a new update (due to the influx of players from Elden Ring), I wish they would make the Mound-Makers a true wild card by allowing Mound-Makers to get their vertebrae by beating a Host's Boss. Good lore video by the way

[@STARRK666LAWLIET]

Another amazing video. I would be really interested to hear your take on Gwynever presence in Dark Souls 3, I do though have a feeling this topic might be easier to cover in the following dlc though, just a gut feeling. Aside from that I would like to hear your opinions on Pontiff Sullyvan, The Cathedral of the Deep, the state of Anor Londo and Aldrich. Keep up the amazing videos!

[@mitchl6896]

Thanks! They should be coming in the future.

[@penatio]

Great video. This story actually made me sad ;(

[@orngcreator6115]

"Nana" might be referring to the Evangelists of the Undead Settlement. The settlement's whole deal is that it's a crappy town that has drained its resources trying to permanent kill the undead and then being taken advantage of by the Deep cathedral/ Way of the White. The evangelists are said to be like grandmothers holding the hands of the settlements undead (which would eventually become all of them) and guiding them to the "greater purpose" as a sacrifice to Aldrich. The footmen, which are the names of the big red guys with saws and cages, are the ones who carry the undead to the cathedral with the evangelists. I think it simply means that the specific footman we find that throws us down into the pit has lost his "nana" meaning his indoctrination to Aldrich and has found a new one with the Mound Makers. Just a thought. Great video again btw. 👌

[@mitchl6896]

Interesting theory!

[@j.avance9031]

Mound Makers covenant is my personal favorite. Choosing between helping a host, or back stabbing them at a critical moment is the best experience in dark souls multiplayer. Made even more fun by using the white phantom ring and tricking them into trusting you.

[@silvertemplar8061]

James Vance Wait how does it work? Also I have sacrificed to them, but they don’t come up as a covenant.

[@michaelutt4035]

Someone probably pointed this out already but the wooden shield you find in the pit of hollows has the same symbol on it and it talks about a mad god that is also known as a God of war in some places. Also the lion guys in dark souls 2 had the same shields I think.

[@rockinalan123]

how can any one dislike this those 2 people need to git gud but good work man i love your lore vids keep it up

[@fluffdafire157]

I'm curious if Greirat and Loretta have something to do with this

[@iHaveContrl]

Your video is so fantastic Mitch, same goes to your character model, care to share your character slider data? :)

[@NamelessKing1597]

I think the MM covenant is an offshoot of the forest hunters of DS1 (who also called themselves a family) founded by Shiva of the East. Those who knew the true purpose of the covenant, to succeed Artorias in defending the world from the abyss consumed the blood of the wolf and became the undead legion. But those who joined for the hunt itself, to stalk their prey and feed the earth with their bones and blood became the mound makers. Bloodlust is a degraded version of the chaos blade which Shiva was originally supposed to steal go nuts and attack you with before his quest was cut from the game. And Shiva, being an Eastern warrior would be comfortable using a katana.

[@BionicmeLoL]

It's good to have you back! Great video as usual, i have only one thing to add; Hodrick doesn't seem like a pyromancer to me. His title of 'Holy Knight' suggests that he rather had been a cleric or paladin(herald?). Pyromancy is known to be usable by all humans, and the one pyromancy he uses has only faith requirements. It'd be logical if he abandoned miracles if the Mound Makers are all about breaking the bond with the gods, and resorting to using a spell that is based on faith and grants comfort makes sense in his place, no? EDIT: I don't want to come off as picky. Perhaps i'm just to passionate about pyromancy to let someone call a single-spell user a fully fledged pyromancer. Sorry! >_

[@fishfillet9355]

Your comment didn't seem picky, it actually made sense and was well articulated. good thinking

[@xx420sephiroth420xx]

Doesn't Hodrick also use Power Within?

[@mitchl6896]

Not picky at all! Pyromancy is, at its core, a revolt against the gods and popular magic. I would be interested to know who actually created Warmth, as it is really a cross between a miracle and pyromancy.

[@BionicmeLoL]

O. That's correct. I guess it's a very easy to use pyromancy?... Much like magic weapon or carthus flame arc, a spell made for warriors of the blade, not the flame.

[@fertrax1678]

Great video Mitch

[@fertrax1678]

By the way, do you mind sharing your Twitter handle? Couldn't find you

[@mitchl6896]

I probably should have put it in the description, lol. It's @Angered_Courier

[@fertrax1678]

+Mitch L thanks.

[@JuanitoJohnes53]

has anyone noticed the similarities of the mirrah set and sirris set? i know it sounds a bit crazy but take a look. both with the blue cape-thing that comes from the pants and leather gloves under sirris armour and that they both have white baggy clothes?!!!

[@JuanitoJohnes53]

also hodrick wears the same blue cape- thing from his pants

[@t.k.5972]

In Bloodborne, we have the cages on the heads, connected to madness, elaborated into a school of magical research. In a way, a strong image both ways, in a similar structure. A collection of family, a collection of supposed insight.. all forms of illusion bound to the helpless obsessed confrontation with the mad side of the world and its workings. Basically the whole soulsborne games in a nutshell, next to the jolly cooperation of course.

[@Ty33Budd]

omg, I've been looking for a Sirris based Lore video, forever, lets see if my questions are answered....

[@luciuspentagone1286]

Their convenant sign is more or less what a verterbrae looks like inside.

[@larriyrnir5756]

i believe the weapon art shows how truly mad they are when acquiring a shackle for there mound or the extent they willing to go to get a shackle

[@otisinnes318]

these videos make me tear up ;_;

[@CNNBlackmailSupport]

If the sigil is two figures of people, the odd shapes make sense if it is depicting malformed vertebrae. The neck and heads jut out perpendicular to a normal neck and head. Basically, if you threw a cloak over one of the figures, they would look like a hunchback. The bottom circles are the dark sign, circle of fire thingy. The left one is separate from it, and the right one is feeding it. Imagine the one on the right had a slit wrist, causing the little line to drip down into the circle to complete it. Think like how Rasputin was reborn in Hellboy 1. The right one is a sacrifice to complete the circle, the left one is letting the circle end. So we have linking the fire through sacrifice and not linking the fire.

[@ChezireRPG]

That was pretty awesome, really gave me a new look onto the covenant. I am now even more confident that they are my favourite covenant across the games. I do have one thing to say though. While I certainly aprove of the idea that the handmaiden in fact is NOT the mentioned gradmother, your reasoning was pretty well thought out and it would make sense, there are still things that don't seem correct to me. First, the Dream Chasers Ashes. The handmaiden reacts to these and only these ashes, and Sirrirs will only teach you the Dark Moon Loyalty gesture after giving these to the handmaiden as far as i know. I doubt that From would tie such things together if not to indicate some sort of relationship between them. Second, while I do agree that it seems heartless that the handmaiden would sell the message, and plausible that she could have just looted it from Sirris' actual grandmother's grave, I think that it is exactly that measily price of 10 souls that indicates her to be the grandmother. Even if a message is attached to the item, she could have easily removed it to sustain the value. Even so, the ashen one is a warrior on a mission and budding blossoms are even more effective than their 1000 souls worth counterpart. Thus to me it seems more like she wants to get rid of the item, rather then sell it for a decent price. Would be glad to hear your opinion on these points, since the points you raised already really put that idea on par with the common assumption of her being the grandmother. Otherwise flawless video, really good job. \[T]/

[@mitchl6896]

Thanks for taking the time to watch it! I'm honestly not sure about the Dreamchaser's Ashes. I have heard it theorised that the ashes belong to Hodrick ... but as we know, he's still around and kicking when the Ashes are found. They could have belonged to another member of the family, like the Grandson carrying the cage, who wished to be a part of the Abyss Watchers before dying, but I don't think that's the case either. At the moment I think it's disconnected. The fact that the Hidden Blessing does tell us something though. Literally the only other place in the game where the Hidden Blessing is found is in the Untended Graves. Could the ashes have belonged to another Unkindled? I'm honestly not sure. As for your second point, you might be right. It's difficult exactly to gauge the Handmaiden's reasoning. However I think it would have made more sense for her to actually drop it on death if it meant anything to her, rather than selling it. We simply don't have enough info on-hand. What I am meaning to do is to dive into the DS3 code to find out about cut content and names for things. Hawkshaw, another KZbinr, was able to find amazing things in the Dark Souls I code. Perhaps answers lie there? Thanks again!

[@ChezireRPG]

Thanks for taking the time to make this great video. Also thanks for the answer. Sounds reasonable I think. Looking forward to hear what you'll find digging around, already subscribed after the video. About the ashes I have my personal theory, or more of a head canon due to lack of proper evidence. I feel like the ashes could belong to Sirris father, hence the negative reaction of the handmaiden and her particular comment ("This barren dust, stuff of a fool" and "Clinging to lofty dreams in this dying world...more's the pity. It must come from one most foolish indeed."). Maybe he left to join the watchers, notice of his disappearance causing Hodrick to initially go mad. I can't find what originally spawned this idea for me, but it still sounds like a possibility. Overall after revisiting this theory now it sounds far less likely, but might be a thought to consider. What I forgot to write earlier, maybe someone has already said so, as far as my knowledge goes another purpose of seppukku was for a loyal samurai to follow his deceased master and serve him in the afterlife.

[@mitchl6896]

***** Look, really anything is possible with Dark Souls, so don't disregard your theory completely. Remember, they did skip talking about Sirris' parents completely. Something must have happened to them, right? I'd like to learn more about them and how Sirris became a blade of the Darkmoon.

[@ChezireRPG]

Yeah, that certainly would be interesting, though I doubt we will learn more from any DLC. But maybe we overlooked things in the game that could hint at something, this is the first Dark Souls game where I actively experience the lore exploration, it's super interesting to learn new facts every couple days.

[@SimenMar]

Hey, Mitch - and thanks for another great video. I want to mention that you left out some important pieces of evidence surrunding Hodric's lore, and his relationship to the Shrine Handmaiden. This is: His armour's resemblance to the Abyss Watcher's, who he assumingly dreamt of joining, and his ashes - Dreamchaser's Ashes: darksouls3.wiki.fextralife.com/Dreamchaser's+Ashes As you may well know, you find his ashes close to the Old Wolf. These ashes trigger new dialogue from Sirris to support that they are indeed Hodric's. However, particularly interesting is the Shrine Handmaiden's reaction to these ashes. She reacts with disdain, yet curiosity asking you where you found it. This is pretty unique, given the handmaiden's usually being pretty monotonous in terms of gracious fine ash. It heavily suggests a relationship between her and the source of these ashes - Hodric. I personally believe that the evidence suggesting the Shrine Handmaiden being Sirris' grandmother is more solid than the argument that "who'd sell their own granddaugheter's parting gift?" The latter may well just be a gameplay consideration, a way of lettting us known about the relationship between Sirris, Hodric, and the Shrine Handmaiden without someone having to say it out loud. It seems like a pretty Dark Souls-way of doing it to me. A legitimate discussion is of course whether these really are Hodric's ashes, given that the ashes are found on a different body. However, given their description tying them with one who dreamt of joining the Farron legion and their implications on Sirris' questline, I think it's more likely that this has something to do with Hodric being an undead/hollow, having died at the Farron keep and then later joined/founded the Mound Makers as an undead. Would love to hear your thoughts!

[@mitchl6896]

Hey Simen, thanks for watching. I actually considered the Dreamchaser's Ashes connection a lot, but decided that it wasn't relevant for the video. I honestly believe that the Dreamchaser's Ashes belong to someone else for a few reasons, and have no relation to Hodrick. I knot it has been said that Hodrick's set resembles the Abyss Watcher's set, but it really doesn't when you get down to it. They share the same looking helmet, but the emblem on it is completely different. The colour is remarkably different as well - gold instead of mostly red and brown - something that Hodrick could have easily altered himself if he wanted to look like an Abyss Watcher. There is nothing substantial that connects Hodrick to the Abyss Watchers, in my opinion. I believe the Dreamchaser's Ashes are in the game to show that the Undead Legion is an elite unit, and doesn't let just anybody in. They have to be of a certain standard. As for the Shrine Handmaiden, I'd like to offer you a parallel. Think about in Dark Souls I, how the Giant Blacksmith has Gough's Ring behind him. He doesn't sell it, even though it would probably yield a high price. As much as there is despair and sadness among the Dark Souls characters, so too exists a sense of sentimentalism. I'll admit, the Shrine Handmaiden angle is one that could be debated - it's not cut and dry - however the one I presented is my opinion and believe the dialogue given by the friendly cage spider offers some implication that the grandmother has been brought to Hodrick already. However, this isn't something we can answer definitively, I think. Regardless, I appreciate your feedback and your questions! That's what makes Dark Souls lore great, that it can be discussed and mulled over. It is what keeps me making vids!

[@SimenMar]

Thank you so much for your reply and perspectives, Mitch! I agree, there isn't anything that's clear cut and that's what makes everything so fascinating :) Hope to see more discussion on the topic in the community, and looking very much forward to seeing your future videos! In my opinion, they just keep getting better!

[@kidkoopa6389]

An uncanny semblance to the show "Westworld."

[@CaptainSkylocke]

The symbol in the vertebrate logs like 2 people kneeling and praying to each other.

[@mitchl6896]

I thought that too! maybe the DLC can supply us with more answers.

[@MadNeko27]

I Never saw/spoke to that talking corpse pile in the cage. Crazy

[@wolfpitvids6336]

Nice video, i can link myself to your theory due to the fact that I am a mound maker in dark souls 3 so I can identify with the concept of seeking out for some distorted kind of family. therefore i pretend to be a players friend on invasion as I put down some items as embers and pure them to tackle the mob enemies as he has to while I cheer him with gestures. he starts to trust me and we continue running through the area until I try to kill him and he might kill me. now, with the warmth, one can support the other players and help them out, adding a giant seed may increase this bound. a family bound to a player which you dont know but who might help you to reach his and your goals.

[@slightlytwistedagain]

BTW Mitch I think it could be a good idea to do a video called "The properties of humanity". Something that has puzzled me for years is why do you spit poison, toxic and acid pyromancy. From observing DS3 I believe we have a much more clear understanding now. When Cornex says "this pyromancy delves into the depths of men where an untouchable flame resides" he's actually referring to humanity or more to the point a very dangerous form of humanity, even Karla reinforces it by sayng "There's a darkness within man" which I think she is describing literally. So the reason why Eingyi was exiled was because he drew from the humanity within (or dregs) and used it's dangerous properties as an offensive tool. Those properties that poison, toxic and acid all have in common is that they consume and erode the body. You see this with Artorias being corroded or when you take the Artorias ring off during the battle with the Four Kings you're consumed by the abyss (kinda like Wolnir when you destroy his amulets). It also ties into how the fair lady was poisoned due to how humanity is drawn out of the body. If you look at Darkwraiths and the Four Kings, both of them suck humanity out of you from your face when they grab you. Well what does this have to do with the fair lady. Well you as the player feed humanity to the fair lady to make her better so she obviously needs it but I think it goes deeper than that. If you look at the lore of the Chaos Ember and the properties you will know that Chaos infused weapons become stronger the more humanity you have stored in your body. This leads me to believe that when the Witch tried to recreate the first flame she used humanity which birthed the Chaos Flame/Ember. This would explain it's out of control nature as we know humanity can go wild but with the fair lady being a Chaos Witch who lays eggs, I believe the fair lady used to suck the humanity out of the humans for her to produce demons until Eingyi was charmed by Quelana and poisoned/toixced the fair lady when she tried to suck out his humanity. Where this humanity resides exactly is anyone's guess but by looking at a hollows body and the Four Kings, you will notice on their chests wild patterns splintering out. Also as a final note, the fair lady is said to have swallowed Eingyi's great blightpus, could this be by any chance the pus of man in DS3?

[@mitchl6896]

Shieet, I'll definitely have to look into this in the future. Humanity is such an ambiguous element of Dark Souls, but worth investigating. I'll put it on the list of future vids. Thanks for being a consistent voice here.

[@macandcheeseofficial]

If you turn the covenent symbol upside down, it resembles Manus, most just the horns on his head and the sides of his face. So it might have something to do with the abyss, knowing how the red-eyed abyss watchers are corrupted by the abyss, maybe the carthus skeletons are also corrupted since they all have red eyes. Also, only hollows are allowed to be mound makers, maybe it links in with the dark soul.

[@whitet-shirt2133]

Very cool, but I have to disagree. The cage spider says "so go into the cage and become nana's shade." A "shade" I believe refers to a phantom, you know white, blue, red, but in our case purple. Why would it be nana's shade if, as you said, nanas were sacrificed. Also about the shrine handmade. If the budding blossom was to be left on a grave stone, why wasn't it like Hawkwoods shield or better yet Hodricks Shield. And doesn't seem like the handmade ever leaves that chair. So it seems to me that it was given to her. Why doesn't she care? Not quite sure, maybe she isn't the grandmother and Sirris is just crazy too, maybe she doesn't remember Sirris being undead and all, or maybe she just doesn't care, shrinemade doesn't care about anything whose ashes you gave her if you killed them or not she doesn't even care if you kill her. However there is one exception. The dreamchaser ash. If you give her this she is offended by it, calling it worthless, however it grants some good items. This could be a callback to DS2, "like a dream" and all that and how shrinemade looks to be one of the old firekeepers if not the one from the intro. But I heard a theory that it was Hodrick's, a possibility that Hodrick dreamt of joining the Abyss watchers since there armor seems similar. Not sure I agree with it but worth mentioning.

[@judgementaljames207]

These are so addictive. Is there any hope of you explaining how Souls 2 fits into the mix at all? I've heard theories it happens around the time of 3, or just before it.

[@ThePeetzerGuy]

The Golden Falcon Shield's item description confirms that DkS2 is set in the past, relative to DkS3: A metal shield fashioned in the form of a falcon with wings outstretched. The golden falcon was the emblem of an ancient band of sellswords, and even to this day, many mercenaries remain who look upon it as a token of good fortune. "Ancient sellswords" is pretty clearly referring to the Falconers of Volgen.

[@judgementaljames207]

B10NIC PIZZA True, but the only way to explain stuff like Earthen Peak --> Iron Keep is through time travel for a lack of a better term. A lot of the game is like that, like I heard a theory that the Alonne (butchered that spelling probably) story arch is around the time of 3. Also the theory that Aldia persuaded the Lothric Princes not to link the flame.

[@ThePeetzerGuy]

+JudgementalJames I think the better term than time travel that you're looking for is "memory loss." It's kind of a big theme in Dark Souls II.

[@judgementaljames207]

B10NIC PIZZA Yeah that works I suppose. Though you do seem to, well, travel through time. Iron Keep for instance is in the past, it's really the only explanation. Much like how you end up in the past in Souls 3 when walking into the darkened firelink shrine

[@ThePeetzerGuy]

+JudgementalJames Or you traveled a great distance and the Bearer of the Curse doesn't remember it. Throughout the game, we traverse great distances while taking relatively little time to do so. Furthermore, when we do actually time travel in Dark Souls II (into the DLCs), we go BACK in time, and as we've already established, Dark Souls III is definitely in the future.

[@brandonpeck2677]

I have to say, I appreciate that you don't dismiss dark souls 2 lore. Don't get me wrong, the game has its issues, but I think we're missing a lot of pieces of Dark Souls 3's lore because it's been dismissed out of hand

[@CardsNSleevesTCG]

8:44 when you fuck up the cinematic pan but keep it in the video cuz why not lol

[@boch2411]

Wargod shield you find at the pit has a pretty familiar symbol in it. Also the shield is worn by the passively cursing battleaxe wielding hairy things at shaded woods before the scorpioness fight. Any ideas?

[@luiznanini8282]

Since Gwyn is credited for the creation of the undead curse, it would make sense for the mound makers to revolt against the gods. Maybe in a last ditch attempt to stop the curse form taking over them they follow one last goal. "Free the undead from the curse." So they kill and take away the shackles of the gods, the curse. Maybe they think the vertebra is the source of the curse.

[@mitchl6896]

I actually like this theory a lot.

[@CK-et5do]

the symbol is a likeness of a lateral cross section of a human vertebrae. hence vertebrae shackle. it is a shackle because it symbolizes the curse of the undead and its inescapable nature.

[@nbridges7321]

If you ask me, and I have no qualifications other than an opinion, but the mound makers symbol looks like two humans bowing on either side of a flame. Possibly relating how humans are shackled to the fate of the flame by the gods

[@TheStrayHALOMAN]

I like playing with friendly fire on, and since there is no Darkwraith or Rat Coven I don't have much choice for non standard pvp play in darksouls 3. Please bring the humanity and dark hand back from DS1 put them in DS4, when we get one.

[@bigdog517]

Memento is a fucking awesome movie, watch it yall

[@leachimgod13]

Ok, hold up. I'm probably late AF on this and someone else probably already pointed it out, but does anyone else see the silhouettes of the painting in Friede's boss room during phase one? I can see two hooded figures over two white snakes, with one of them being picked up by the figure on the left.

[@deegee6122]

shrouded by night, but with steady stride; coloured by blood, but always clear of mind. proud hunter of the church: beasts are a curse and a curse is a shackle. only ye are the true blades of the church.

[@deegee6122]

if one's shackles are cause for discontent, perhaps it is time for some old-fashioned greed

[@deegee6122]

'please! grant me death! undo my shackles!'

[@silvertemplar8061]

I’m a simple man, I find a vertebra shackle and deposit it to the mound.

[@BigboiiTone]

Didn't see anyone else comment about this. 20:36 on the topic of umbral ash and the familial relations of the Shrine Handmaiden. She also has an emotional reaction when given the dreamchasers ashes. Could it be because her loved one was slain on some fools quest? Or lost themselves? The more I think about it the more confused i am about who she's referring to.

[@mikeanos3996]

when i look at the symbol of the mound makers the first thing that comes to my mind are 2 fs' looking at each other

[@matonabeex7039]

michael pl yep

[@DRDHOLE1]

I know this is quite a stretch but the two large symbols kind of look like a person hunched over, and the symnols underneath look like umbilical cords. With the symbol on the right looking as if the cord is hanging out of it. Put that together with how the vertabrae are only find by the mad or insane ( madman's knowledge, insight), and the bloodlust katana recieved after giving ten vertabrae, and how hodrick would attack foe or friend, kind of the like the villagers in Yharnam attack the hunter. . . sounds very blood borne to me

[@heinekenskywalker8115]

I think the symbol, is intentionally upside down. if you turn it over, it looks like 2 people facing, and it looks like one of the heads is the dark sign. maybe lol

[@zagrebastrophotographer2686]

The shrine handmaiden isn't exactly very... affectionate. maybe the 10 soul price is some form of respect or sentiment. idk about the reason you gave about the budding green blossom, the cage spider seems more of a compelling argument for the handmaiden not being sirris's grandmother, but who knows? maybe the spiders dialog regarding "another Nana" has nothing to do with that grandmother specifically. The disappearing of nanas in undead settlement could be common. Consider Loretta. (side thought, if not the handmaiden, then what about Loretta?) personally, I see the budding green blossom being in the hanfmaidens posession proves she's the grandmother. That and she most notably seems to resist hollowing completely

[@alejandrolopez5151]

you forgot about the war god shield you find in the pit of hollows it has the same symbol as the mound maker on it

[@gawegawlan3988]

I'm always asking myself - did Cornyx wanted to join the Mound Makers before you met him?

[@headecas]

i think sepuku was so that ur dishonor died with u, this way u kept family name clean

[@HutchinsonSkater]

It resembles two people with shackles on there hand and below are the shackles

[@benwil6048]

Its also worth noting that the entire nation of Londor are hollows who frequently pose as otherwise (-> Londor untrue rings)

[@mitchl6896]

Interesting thought actually

[@skubber23]

6:40 How is that bird's eye view possible?

[@mitchl6896]

skugga I had to hack the camera.

[@kingshne]

Did you ever consider that the Shrine handmaiden may be selling the blossoms at a pittance because she's desperate to get rid of them (and with that the memory of her husband) She seems very eager to sell firebombs and other goods at a premium compared to other merchants like Greirat. Why sell these blossoms (which she knows are worth 1000 souls if you look at the regular, less powerful version in her inventory) so low then?

[@snorp_lord6141]

Looking at the symbol I see two people standing above what may be a flame. Makes sense for the god link?

[@alec6583]

Ehhh. I think the Handmaiden is the grandmother. The biggest evidence for me is that your friendship with the Sunless K***ht is only formed after you return the ashes of the Dreamchaser, who's implied to have known the Handmaiden. She heard about how good a person you are, presumably because she'd been talking to the Handmaiden. Meanwhile, she has a cold disposition toward those she doesn't know.

[@chrischartier3928]

The symbol looks like the curse rotted great wood to me. It even almost looks like the hand is there on the lower right side, and maybe the circular shapes at the bottom are the vulnerable polyps in the boss fight. The boss is a great symbol for family, as it seems to be almost motherly (birthing (grandma?)), and as the hollows almost seem to worship it. It is also directly above the pit of hollows... it may have had something to do with the covenant.

[@WilliamFarge]

The symbol is here : darksouls3.wiki.fextralife.com/Wargod+Wooden+Shield Mound Makers -> Nameless Wargod -> Forossa -> Lion Knights -> Orstein -> Nameless King/Gwyn's Firstborn ?

[@doarner]

Maybe it's just me but i saw Nito in the vertebrae, for the skull face in the middle and its surroundings which make it look like the coat and body of him. Maybe.

[@malbhet]

Sir Alonne was the only DS character to use his own katana on himself, so maybe this is a reference him!?

[@mitchl6896]

Perhaps. Sir Alonne is an interesting figure and I don't believe we know everything about him yet.

[@OljeiKhan]

What if the symbol is the two snakes from the original game? Kaathe and Frampt. They shackle mankind to circles of dark and light. Kaathe says "fire did fade" "and soon only dark remained" so since ds1 there have been supposed dark lords and their ages of dark. But none of those were true ages of dark since we have ds3 that means the age of fire was always linked , every such dark lord had eventually fallen to some lord of cinder. So Frampt gathers these lords of cinder while Kaathe keeps trying until a strong enough dark lord can emerge and take the flame from the kiln to his own self. Long explanation but that seems like shackles of gods to me.

[@VERDICTInsanity]

I think the symbol is to signify roots