Dark Souls Lore - Straid of Olaphis

Dark Souls Lore - Straid of Olaphis
(One thing I forgot to mention, but Straid names his king as 'Alvis' in un-used content)
Today we'll be covering my absolute favourite new character in Dark Souls II - Straid, the wandering sorcerer of ancient Olaphis. Fair warning: I'll be referencing cut/un-used content in this video in an attempt to discover more about our favourite wizard.
Feeble cursed one! Do you really think you can manage the glory that is my shirt? bit.ly/1lNZ2CN
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[@mjuang84]

The best part about Straid is the way he casually brushes off being petrified for millennia. When he hears that multiple kingdoms have risen and fallen in the time he was a statue, he's just "Whatever." and goes right back to business trading souls for spells and weapons. He doesn't even have a coughing fit like Rosabeth.

[@SilverMont]

mjuang84 Straid is just that great

[@thegreatMSG]

Silver Mont My personal interpretation.. Rosabeth is the first NPC to receive the de-petrification treatment form us, maybe we have overdosed her.. LOL

[@unoriginalname8601]

FEEBLE CURSED ONE!

[@TheShadowAmateratsu]

Let's hope the magnificence of my spells has not detred you

[@queequegtheater6093]

FEEBLE UNDEAD. DO YOU REALLY BELIEVE YOU CAN HANDLE THE MAGNIFICENCE THAT IS MY LORE?

[@SilverMont]

Jake O'Shea Siver Mont the illiterate undead can indeed handle it.

[@queequegtheater6093]

Silver Mont YOU WEAK FOOL.

[@feeblecursedone2540]

Doesn't change much, but instead of Navlaan not knowing about Straid or playing it safe, it could be he does know of him but still thinks he's petrified. After all, it doesn't seem like Straid ever mentions leaving the Bastille, and the player has no reason to mention his freedom to anyone really. So maybe Navlaan simply thinks that problem is already taken care of, even if he can sometimes hear "Feeble cursed one!" In the distance...

[@winterwolf211]

"-with possible exception of Shalquoir, who is a cat and therefore basically god." lol

[@LordZylok]

He is black. He got stoned. He got sent to jail. GG from.

[@Antichupius]

Fun fact: the spell flame swathe, created by Straid, changed its name in DS3 to the Profaned Flame.

[@CultivateAwareness]

In some of his cut dialogue, Straid Says : "Our king, Alvis, feared the cursed ones like the plague." Why that was cut is unclear, perhaps to add to the mysterious aura that Straid projects. All what is certain about Straid, aside rampant speculation, is that he is an extremely knowledgeable sorcerer that comes from an age when the events of dark souls 1 are viewed as legends and yet the first flame go off for cycles before being reborn and or/ re-lit is common knowledge. Other interesting facts are that he uses Soul Geyser, a spell that is regarded as a family heirloom to lord Aldia, and which is viewed as blasphemous. It could be hinting at why Straid was turned to stone and imprisoned, and possibly tie him to Drangleic's Royal heritage. Even more peculiar is that the Staff of wisdom which he wields, a staff of the lost land of Olaphis, is actually found in the dragon shrine, close to Aldia's Keep. "Already a finely-crafted staff, made even more effective by its crystal, the brilliance of which has been polished over time with powerful magic.", as far as official DS lore is concerned, the only tie between crystals and sorcery is Seath the scaleless. In his quest to attain the scales of immortality, Seath conducted countless experiments resulting in the birth of tremendous sorceries and yet he was never close to his goal. Mild speculation begins here : If somehow during their battle with the ancient dragon, Straid somehow understood the makeup of the scales of immortality, would it not be logical that his knowledge would push beyond that of seath's which is condensed into an enormous archive full of books ? Omniscience is not an overstretch. Now from mild speculation to wilder speculation : It could be possible that before Straid was "welcomed" into olaphis, in his quest for knowledge, he visited his era's version of the duke's archives and he was the one who introduced the use of crystals as a way to increase the power of magic catalysts. Being human unlike Logan he had no risk of going mad and turning hollow, but interestingly enough, logan dropped the crystal dragon breath spell, something impossible to attain otherwise in the game, suggesting that the archives housed far greater knowledge that was laid to waste due both seath and logan both going equally insane. In a particular piece of dialogue about locking the undead away he says it's "So very typical of meek minds, don't you think?", showing a distaste for doing so. That leaves room for many speculations as well, but I rather not delve into them. Although he says that people started locking everyone away because they became paranoid about the curse and thus turned him to stone, item descriptions suggest it was due to fear of his wisdom. It could be very possible that he was conducting experiments of his own. But another part of wisdom is not so much about knowledge, but understanding, it could be that they hated how he didn't loath the undead. One thing is certain, before Straid was turned to stone, another age of Dark was about to begin.

[@SilverMont]

OkamiXCeleste Straid's one of your typical power-obsessed wizards, although those as a trope are somewhat rare these days. most games go for the wise old wizard or the bumbling apprentice, or even the evil necromancer type. I do believe he's generally benevolent and "good" but primarily interested in his own goals. I do wish we knew a little more about him though, especially his cut story involving the dragon.

[@CultivateAwareness]

Combat styles apart, he's awfully reminiscent of Chester from the first Dark Souls.

[@matthewheays]

OkamiXCeleste Funny that you say that line was cut. He said it to me the first time I met him.

[@CultivateAwareness]

He says our king. He doesn't mention Alvis.

[@matthewheays]

OkamiXCeleste Oh ok.

[@ZahnwehZombie]

I think that the connection between Straid and the Ancient Dragon might just be as simple as both him and the king felled the great beast. In the memories in the boss room of Freja, you see the corpse of the dragon, the ancient dragon, and the dragon soul that exists within the memory. When you put that into context of the great everlasting Dragons of Lore, maybe what the two received was recognition? They slain something that only the original Lords had done. It is never said where the Dragon had perished, just that Lord Aldia had acquired the corpse and begun experimentation on it. :T Straid's petrification has a simple reason. It is obvious that he's only loyal to himself. He seems the sort who only does things that suit his best interest. Mind you, he helps you (the player) out by forging spells and weapons from rare souls. Then again, it still might benefit him. You're giving him the ingredients to forge, to play around and make something of use. He doesn't seem the sort who would make something, then covet it. He merely does things to see if he can, then he moves on. Knowledge is the greatest tool for someone in his position. The means to create, the ability to control, and to test the limits of an ability. Hexes are seen as the greatest taboo since they blend the arts of Sorcery and Miracles together. Despite him focusing on Sorcery in terms of his weapon (The staff of wisdom, which empowers Sorceries, but at the cost of making him limited to only them), he doesn't let that inhibit his desire to understand the basics of magic.

[@desvati4074]

Meaning behind his name. He IS a road. He is an outcome, a path already walked. Clearly powerful, but even his road reached its end, and now he's a man, far out of his own time. Sure, it might not add much to his lore but its a bit of a cool tidbit I'd say. Though it makes me think Olaphis will be one of the three DLC, given the King, perhaps we'll walk Straid's road?

[@TheDougRatman]

"Walk straids road" sounds like a innuendo.

[@desvati4074]

Doug Ratman Hey, I'd do him.

[@TheDougRatman]

Well, Everyone would to get his magic if you know what I mean.

[@lolDrHax]

... Jesus Christ, a black dude in a cloak referencing roads and streets. Fallout NV all over again. *Please, no.*

[@mrthereddragon7622]

From that description, Straid could have been the one who killed the Ancient Dragon found in Brightstone Cove Tseldora, the one whose memory you enter using the Ashen Mist Heart. The DLC seems to have some stuff on Dragons, so hopefully the description will be expanded on, or at least give us something more to speculate with.

[@SilverMont]

I hope so!

[@danieljohnston9723]

Isn't that seath

[@grimkxdo]

@@danieljohnston9723no ???

[@zelda43870]

I'd say Freke is the most like Odin. Odin is willing to do ANYTHING for knowledge and power. And so is Sage Freke. For example, Odin, in his pursuit of the Mead of Poetry, ended up tricking nine farmhands into killing each other, among other things. As for Freke, he urges you to kill the Maiden in Black and keep the Old One around, insisting that you will gain magnificent power, and he will gain unlimited knowledge. Plus, Odin had twin wolves, named Freki and Geri. In Demon's Souls, there are references to a wizard named Geri who is friends with Freke.

[@CrypticSquid1]

Straid's name is quite likely a reference to another FromSoft game, namely Armored Core For Answer. The default name of the protagonist's mech in that game was 'Strayed', and he too was gifted and ended up being feared for his power and fought his former allies, and in the most infamous ending to that game he sides with a character named "Old King" and faces a great challenge, which is likely what the original description referred to. It's typical From self referencing.

[@SilverMont]

Really? Interesting! I've never played Armoured Core.

[@Newtownabbeyist208]

Straid is the name of a village outside Ballynure in Northern Ireland

[@billcipher1913]

Straid is a Fraampt!

[@bigboypal]

Bill Cipher "Straid really sounds like frampt" "you think?" Straid: I don't know what you're talking about *holds shit* "Hey, eat this" Straid: well I'm not really hun- *eats shit* -ack! "IT IS FRAAAMPT!" "GOOD TO SEE YOU BUDDY!"

[@P41ma1]

You my good sir have earned yourself a subscriber. Much respect to vati but your voice and these lore videos I just love. I'll make sure to watch your videos throughout my days and enjoy your content. I only hope your channel gets the much deserved attention it deserves.

[@SilverMont]

Well thanks! I'm looking forward to making Elden Ring videos and talking about it with everyone

[@MarztheStoic]

He sounds like an evil morgan freeman XD

[@SilverMont]

Huh, that's a new one

[@slothful2039]

Except a decent amount younger lol

[@NatethanialG]

I want to see a Nvlaan video next. I find the idea about Navlaan originally being executed, but his soul lingering until the pour soul we know, found his crypt and got partially possessed.

[@pooopile]

Olpahis was probably the name of Drangleic etc when Straid was living in his normal time

[@SilkSutures]

I live in Straid in Northern Ireland. Cheers for the shout-out!

[@SilverMont]

+SilkSutures You got any wizards over there?

[@SilkSutures]

+Silver Mont A few, but they are all petrified sadly.

[@868edgar]

The barrel is obviously Straid's ultimate creation

[@ingonyama70]

If not for the fact that they're both alive in the Drangleic era (although one's a statue until you release him), Straid seems to me like a precursor to Aldia, the Scholar of the First Sin. He and his king chased down forbidden knowledge, but in gaining it, somehow led to their kingdom's downfall, or at least something so bad Straid was petrified in the Bastille for it. Sound a lot like what happened between Vendrick and Aldia to me. We don't know for SURE that Straid did any horrific experimentation or the like, but the personality -- ego, pride, a thirst for knowledge -- is there. Just a speculation, but I like it.

[@SilverMont]

It's always possible they cut that stuff just so they could use it for Aldia, after all

[@TheCuddlyKnife]

lmao great ending! i also think straid is the best mage in the souls series. i really like his attitude, and his spells are definitely top teir vs other mages. it would be nice to see a side story with him involved.

[@SilverMont]

That's why I was kinda hoping he'd be involved in the DLC!

[@TheRaon75]

Straid is probably the most powerful of the mages in the souls series, but I like logan the best. His hat is just so fabulous.

[@youtubeaccount2000]

Erik Cobra I liked Logan's underpants...

[@UncannyXander]

I live like a bus ride away from Straid. It's on the coast of NI and as expected there are no amazing Wizards living there.

[@SilverMont]

You should rectify that!

[@UncannyXander]

Silver Mont Grow a goatee, grab a staff and wrek havoc.

[@lpsweet17525]

The Uncanny One make his armor and staff out of something do his voice and just be screaming "Magic Words" at people and get it on footage!

[@TheIrishsheep123]

I want to move to that town!

[@GothicXlightning]

Guts........ :))

[@lilmoe1998]

Straid is a synonym for wander like the sheep straid from the path this reminded me of straid I hope this helped

[@ayakayuzhen700]

Straid is very probably (as a name) a kickback to Fromsoftware's Armored Core For Answer. The latter which is a continuation of Armored Core 4 has the main Character going under the callsign of "Strayed". You can also find an "Ornstein" over there in the Arena (he's rank 20 or something I think), as well as 'Patches'. This however has another interesting correlation, if we come to agree that the points are a bit jumbled around. In Armored Core For Answer, we get to meet the previous player character from Armored Core 4 as we play the story, either helping them or fighting them. So... what if Straid of Dark Souls II was nothing more than a remnant of the Age of Dark Souls I? What if Olaphis was the name of Gwyn's long-lost Kingdom? Straid surely qualifies to have been one of the people that served alongside Gwyn - he knows of the Witch of Izalith and the First Flame, and even appeared to reference directly to the Undead Purgatory when he addresses the chosen undead of Dark souls II about the Lost Bastille. More than that, the removed item description that you showed us indicates that Straid fought alongside an Ancient King, and against the Ancient Dragons - the very same ones that Gwyn fought during Dark Souls' opening cutscene? Something else of note: Straid and Ornifex are the only two characters that can make Weapons out of Boss Souls (or spells), and Ornifex's people are seen in Dark Souls I, albeit in the Painted World. Just like the Velka Bird People, Straid also was stashed away because someone feared him too much - perhaps that Straid was a powerful Mage under Gwyn's service that was eventually disposed of because his magic was found too powerful? Perhaps that Gwyndollin was getting jealous that a stranger to the Gods was being more potent than the son of the Lord of Sunlight? Well, food for thought. One can go on and speculate endlessly.

[@SilverMont]

If you attack Straid, he should just fly off and return in a mech whilst laughing at you over its loud-speaker thingy.

[@Chuckle_Balls]

I thought everyone is cursed when the flame fades..

[@ExileTwilight]

Chuckle Balls It's a gradual change. If everyone suddenly became undead, the persecution for the undead wouldn't make sense. For example, in Dark Souls 1 Siegfried is undead, but his daughter (who you meet if you go through his questline) isn't.

[@maria_remedios]

*FEEBLE CURSED ONE*

[@raulinhentchel1237]

There is the possibility that the Ancient Dragon in Dragon's Keep is a construct. If you kill him, you get a Giant's Soul. The steward in Drangleic Castle mentions Vendrick's ability to create Golems (I think). Maybe the Ancient Dragon was another Aldia experiment to create a Golem that would bring back the power of dragons. Or created by Vendrick to circumvent the curse with something that looked like a dragon, in a similar way to your hypothesis for the Emerald Herald. Golems would need a power source, so maybe the "Ancient Dragon's" is the Giant's Soul. You don't get the real Ancient Dragon soul unless you go back in time with the Ashen Mist heart, the Great Soul in Brighstone Cave Tseldora.

[@satariands2852]

I think the Ancient Dragon Straid and the King kill is the dragon skeleton you find in "dragon memories", you pike up and ancient dragon soul there. The Ancient dragon in the dragon shrine could be several things. A reincarnation of the ancient dragon? Some speculate it as being Lord Aldia either transforming into the dragon or putting his soul in the body of the dead dragon.

[@driftingswordsmanzer]

Straid is also my favorite sorcerer in the soul series as well. Great video feeble cursed one!....I mean silver mont.

[@c0n33r]

My theory is that Straid got alot of knowledge like Logan but didn't go mad because he's that awesome.

[@Jarrod0067]

Straid was likely a pardoner who passed off his duties. You find his staff with the judgment set at the dragon shrine

[@SilverMont]

Jarrod0067 Yeah, it's a little odd that his staff was found there.

[@Connorcj1]

I agree, he would have thrashed Logan in a battle. It's interesting Logan required the knowledge of the Duke's Archives to create crystal soul magic; yet once in possession of the Paledrake soul, Straid can create both crystal soul spear and the Moonlight Greatsword. In Dark Souls 1, boss weapons worked by crafting a soul into a powerful weapon that was somewhat recognisable to the soul. I doubt it's a lore point, probably just a poor game mechanic change, but in DkS2 it is interesting two beings in the entire continent have the ability to simply mold the souls of others into weapons or magics.

[@Farscryer0]

11:03 Odin = Woten The day, Wednesday, is derived from this name. Woten's Day = Wednesday.

[@vladimirflores-molina779]

Navlaan is From a village near Mirrah i think because Cale also talks about him and some item descriptions

[@gaminhard6923]

I find it interesting that so many spells refer to Straid as the great mage of ancient Olaphis but when you look at his armor set it states that he was actually invited to Olaphis for his wisdom and was eventually led into a dreadful trap. Where did Straid hail from before he came to Olaphis and when he says "My Kingdom was by no means the first" to fall and rise again is he referring to Olaphis or perhaps another kingdom before Olaphis? So many great mysteries surrounding Straid. I really hope they expand his lore in the DLCs

[@SilverMont]

Could be he originated in Olaphis and then traveled about (causing mischief of a sorts) and then was invited back to to Olaphis after a period of time.

[@shroommush4034]

There is actually some cut dialogue from Straid. He talks about him and the king killing the Dragon, and he sas that the king was called Alvis. Also, in the Sunken King DLC there's goig to be some lore about a Dragon called 'Nim' who was slain by a 'tiny hero'. Also, has it been confirmed that Drangleic stands in the same place that Olaphis did? People seem to assume that Olaphis is one of the fallen kingdoms prior to Drangleic because Straid was in a previous kingdom when he was petrified. However, Straid was a 'travelling sorceror' so he could have travelled from Olaphis to the kingdom before Drangleic, and was petrified there.

[@Nawreua]

I think the cut description was cut maybe because they changed the story, so Straid would have no link with the dragons. By the way, I really prefer the way they took about dragon in Dark Souls 2, only one Ancient Dragon, a fake in fact, and many Drakes who aren't powerful compare to their ancestors, because, and it's only my feelings, I would dislike having true Ancient Dragons, they are supposed to be dead. Also, could it be that the Dragon's Memory is the scene we saw in Dark Souls 1, Seath on a top of a pile of dragons, like a memory of his victory ?

[@ArcanalJudgment]

Maybe the ancient dragon he helped kill is the one that we get the dragon soul from in ng+. How that would tie into the story im not sure. But i did have another theory that the body of that dragon was eventually found and used to create the ancient dragon we fight at the end of the game.

[@LifeHatersChannel]

Thank you, i was waiting for your lore videos, they are amazing :D

[@SilverMont]

Thanks! Glad you like 'em.

[@IceBen4444]

Feeble cursed one!

[@unsubme2157]

so many damned kings in this game... and they want ME to become one?? nty ill live out my life on the bridge

[@StepMochi]

+gordon renes ooo you are my neighbor then? I live under the bridge in a cardboard box!

[@kevinsanders6268]

Id just live with Priscilla.

[@trillination]

being a king wasnt so bad. cause i was a king gwynn gave me is daughter gwynivere to marry and believe me I was never unhappy again

[@captainatlanta]

@trillination shes an illusion, hope you like snakes

[@trillination]

Matthew ahem but i have the real one thnk you not that illusion Gwendolyn made for yall

[@jalva50]

Maybe the king he was close to was king Jeremiah because he has been imprisoned for a very long time. Jeremiah was also exiled for a unknown reason but I believe he and the sorcerer wanted to learn pyromancy from the dragons but was exiled due to his experiments and forms of practice which would explain jeramiahs great knowledge of pyromancy as well as the sorcerers knowledge of spells which include pyromancy!. This would explain where king Jeremiah originated from and why he was exiled.

[@Etidorhpa]

Straid is easily my favourite charcter in any Souls game, though Frampt was not my favourite serpent... Kaathe all the way. Maybe the king of Olaphis was the Ivory King? :D

[@WFoong98]

Common, the VA was King Allant(I forgot how to spell), that guy is definitely cool in some evil fashion. I hope we can fight some ML butterfly since it's shown there're snow :L

[@psycoturdle1272]

I'm thinking that the upcoming dlc has plenty of kings that could have had a connection with Straid at one point or another. Maybe he slew the ancient dragon with one of them.

[@SilverMont]

I sure hope Alvis shows up! Or hell, just more Straid would be nice.

[@psycoturdle1272]

probably gonna be one of the 3 kings, hope it's like a giant memory and we could get more info from the source by time travel.

[@SilverMont]

Psyco Turdle It would be really cool if one of the DLCs takes place in Olaphis and we can summon Straid against a boss or something!

[@psycoturdle1272]

Plot twist: you are the king of olaphis and you summon Straid to fight the dragon!

[@Colucciex]

I really enjoy watching your video's. I like your accent, its calming to listen too lol. Anyway, keep up the good work!

[@SilverMont]

Thanks! I'll try my best.

[@TroopperFoFo]

Straid is a neat character. I wonder what we will see in the dlc.

[@Hydronair]

Shalquoir is love Shalquoir is life

[@dylanmunro5280]

Straid was sealed there by the fragments of Manus. :)

[@ladyfox6705]

I just played DS2 for the first time & really enjoyed it! I recognised the wonderful Peter Marinker's voice acting immediately. He's amazing! I also know him well as potty-mouthed spy Thaler from The Witcher 3, amongst many, many other fabulous roles. Also recognised Navlaan as the same actor as Hawkwood in DS3 & Griggs in DS1 (Blake Ritson.)

[@SilverMont]

It's always fun to hear Peter Marinker huh? Back in like 2007 I wanted to make like an RPG sort of thing with him voicing the main character. Not seriously obviously as I know nothing about making games, but is fun to daydream right?

[@ladyfox6705]

@@SilverMont I also constantly daydream - they are free after all! 😊

[@stopcallingmegothic]

I love saying "feeble cursed one" to my dog

[@Northwite]

It could be that the Ancient Dragon they are talking about is an incarnation of Seath pre-Duke's Dear Freja but post-Dark Souls 1 and that Straid and his King defeated that dragon and not the one at the Dragon's Shrine. Plus, Straid sells hexes so he can use them and they require faith so it's likely he can use miracles but doesn't want to.

[@SilverMont]

Would defeating an incarnation of Seath allow them to "taste omniscience" or whatever, though? I suppose it might give them access to some powerful magic, using the bequeathed Lord Soul that Seath has.

[@Northwite]

Silver Mont Seath is probably the most powerful dragon of the Souls series. He dedicated his life to magic and knowledge and in DS2 they consider him to be the source of all sorcery. Seath's soul, like Gwyn's, Nito's, and the Witch of Izalith's, are immortal and continue to influence the land for centuries whereas we haven't yet been introduced to a dragon (outside of Seath) whose soul is immortal and does the same. Since Omniscience is "The capacity to know everything", that characteristic I believe applies more to Seath than it does the Ancient Dragon at the Dragon Shrine. But all of this hinges on the question of was there an Ancient Dragon before the one we see at Dragon's Shrine. Because multiple sources hint at the fact that that dragon is in fact a fake dragon created by Aldia, which means it's only as old as Drangleic itself considering Vendrick created the kingdom of Drangleic and Aldia is Vendrick's brother. There is no indication that there was a dragon before the one at the Dragon's Shrine, but there is a lot of information about Seath, his madness and thirst to know everything in his search to discover how to create Scales of Immortality. What I also find interesting is that there are 2 characters in the game that possess qualities specific to Seath. Those being the Lord of Brightstone Cove, who went mad in his own search for knowledge, and Aldia who performed all manner of experiments designed to try and either find an end to the curse, or to become immortal and immune to it.

[@SilverMont]

I still think Seath is kind of a dweeb.

[@Northwite]

Silver Mont So do I. I don't know why Dark Souls 2 tries to make him seem more than he was. In Dark Souls 1 he wasn't anything special really.

[@shroommush4034]

I think your a bit confused about the 'reincarnation' thing. The Lords (Gwyn, Nito, WoI, Seath) were not reincarnated; their souls were just found by other beings. Since Seath was the last Dragon, it would be impossible for a Dragon to find his soul. Therefore, none of Seath's later forms could be Dragons, as there are no Dragons left.

[@agentbuckwall2806]

Couldn't we say that Logan is at least equally as powerful? Looking at the description of Soul Spear in the first game, "A symbol of Logan's strength, the soul spear is referenced repeatedly in the legends, and is said to be on par with Lord Gwyn's lightning." I say this mainly because of, " ...is said to be on par with Lord Gwyn's lightning."

[@SilverMont]

Matt Kenney "Is said to be" haha. Still, from a gameplay perspective, Soul Spear and Lightning Spear are close enough I suppose. And in the end, Logan hollowed from his own pursuits, whereas Straid has yet to.

[@agentbuckwall2806]

I didn't think that Logan went hollow in the Archives; I though he just went insane. I've only fully been through the game once (and that was a while ago), but isn't he fully human when you fight him? I could be wrong, though.

[@fredderf2411]

Feeble cursed one!!

[@sebanetic6217]

i think the king of olaphis is actually one of the personalities of navlaan and he was simply reincarnated, because he repeatedly refers to his body as a vessel. soooooo maybe aldia attempted to reincarnate the king of olaphis because he had a connection to dragons

[@SilverMont]

I dunno... Navlaan's evil side doesn't seem to have much in the way of goals. He's just "using what the gods gave him" - he just seems to be on a power trip. A sociopath who enjoys murdering others.

[@jesterface0521]

I believe that Straid is the Pyromancer Salamance in Dark Souls mentioned by the Witch of Izalith at the swamp who was her student. She says that he made quite a name for himself and his skin is dark. Maybe he was cursed like the Black Knights were when theu fought the war against the demons. I know its very hard to relate these things but it would ve cool if he learned and made his own pyro spells then moved to Oolacile/Olaphis to help the king there fight a dragon like Kalameet. But yeah a lot of what ifs. :)

[@SilverMont]

JesterFace05 Does she mention that his skin is dark? I don't remember that.

[@jesterface0521]

I guess its just me shooting stuff out you know like verbal diarrhea... and see if we can make sense of it all. Anyways thanx for responding and I love your work. :)

[@jesterface0521]

Also I would recommend looking at Epicnamebro Pyromancy lore video. The dudes name is Salaman but yeah that character Salaman always interested me and thats why I wanted it to be Straid going to Oolacile and training there on his magics. His skin isn't mentioned but its not black but gray like a Dark Elves. I wonder if it was the constant use of powerful souls or his power in sorcery and pyromancy that made his skin dark. I hope he isn't left alone as a character and we get to see more of his story. My made up story is what I think would've been cool not necessarily the truth.

[@SilverMont]

JesterFace05 Ye, I think I've watched all of ENB's lore videos, although it was a long time ago. He is obviously one of my inspirations for making videos and in general.

[@jesterface0521]

But anyway thanx again. I wish ENB could write back too but I can only imagine how busy that bro is.

[@ethenoliva2782]

I think that the king of Olaphis might be the Ivory King because in the first episode of the DLC, you have the Sunken King ( Which has to be the king of Heide) Then you have the Iron king and finally you have this mysterious Ivory King whom we know nothing about. Could it be that in the 3rd episode of the DLC you traverse through the crumbling ruins of Olaphis? What do you think Silver Mont?

[@EinsteinJR2]

"Let's hope the magnificence of my videos does not deter you"

[@MithDragoness]

There is a dead ancient dragon in the spider bosses chamber assumably is the one who he and the King of olaphis had killed

[@redsagehorrorwitz6453]

Not really. Look at it this way; the dragon memory was in a land filled with grey skies and remnants of arch trees. That means that it was a memory from a dragon that fell during the Lords vs Dragon war.

[@MithDragoness]

thats possible but that happened far from where the dragons body is located so i still think my theory is more likely

[@GothicXlightning]

LOOVE!!! Straid so damn much brother thank you for making this, love the thumb nail illustration

[@SilverMont]

lu belmont dragoth Me too! Straid's my fave.

[@GothicXlightning]

Silver Mont yeah man 1 thing I love about Dark souls 2 is that they truly added many great interesting new characters Straid is WITH NO DOUBT among them that character has everything right is like a dark gothic version of Gandalf

[@mesarosmm]

DAT ENDING!

[@kingshlitdylers7260]

Lordran turns to olaphis which turns to drangleic. Olaphis is the only of the "numerous kingdoms" came and gone. Very rewarding kinda fun fact. Took quite a while to figure out tho considering what were told of straid,the king of olaphis and the imprisonment of the undead I assume olaphis is actually the kingdom that became lordran. As lordran is established by the end of the dragons.Maybe these conflicting theories are the reason we are only told of this kingdom out of so many past. DSprequel?

[@SilverMont]

Young Dylers Olaphis certainly came after Lordran, I think. Gwyn established it, and that was the "first" kingdom, although not specifically human. Even Straid lived so long after the event that he didn't know much about it.

[@kimashitawa8113]

Maybe he has something in connection with the Drakeblood knights... Cuz "dragons" and "omniscience".

[@MrBuch169169]

The peculiar magic birthed by his WHAT?! Oh I see.

[@Vesporeon]

Isn't the OIK ruler of the land of Venn, that's what I remember

[@ModeratelyAwesomeX]

I think Straid might be a bit running a bit low on self-esteem, usually people who degrade people like Straid does, by calling us feeble for example, and by obviously placing himself in a higher position, and trying to bump up his self-esteem, maybe to keep himself from going insane, trying to keep his vision of him being all mighty is maybe the only thing keeping him afloat. That's my thoughts at least.

[@SilverMont]

People do that on the internet, for sure. But then, most internet trolls aren't also ancient wizards who can zap us with magic, despite what they'd have us believe. Still, it's a good point all the same.

[@dagonhd7937]

I think its so sweet when the sneek in firelink sleepfs

[@DBfan106]

One thing that is never really explained, what exactly does one have faith in when they do have 'faith'. perhaps straid can use hexes because he has faith in his own abilities.

[@SilverMont]

Presumably, it's faith in the gods. There are "evil" gods, too, after all. Take the Gravelords in Dark Souls one for example - presumably they treat Nito like a god and have a faith in him, which is why Sword Dance is a miracle, etc. Hexes could be a similar faith in gods, evil or otherwise. Maybe it's faith in the abyss itself?

[@DBfan106]

but why would straid have faith in the abyss? or any god for that matter, he doesn't seem like the one to go to a church or shrine of any kind.

[@SpaceFishGaming]

I summoned the same guy you summoned to help me

[@SilverMont]

Small world.

[@alfd11]

I would love to learn more of Straid in the Ivory King dlc

[@SilverMont]

alfd11 Here's hoping he shows up as a summon or something. That'd be fun.

[@alfd11]

Silver Mont Or maybe an optional boss in a memory like Sir Alonne!

[@MrDaniho]

Love your videos ! And like you he's one of my best characters in Dark Souls 2. Waiting for some more lore videos! :)

[@SilverMont]

Thanks! And yeah, Straid is awesome. I hope to have another lore video up this month.

[@MrDaniho]

Silver Mont i can't wait ! :P Maybe some spoiler about next lore video ?:D

[@bluerose5071]

Straid is awesome!

[@Buzani27]

Fucking love straid

[@grimkxdo]

Well I don’t think that Straid lied about slaying the dragon . Remember the one we see in Aerie is just a giant Vendrick manage to transform Into a giant dragon it’s not even really a dragon .

[@MjAuRdXo]

After playing through DS3, I would guess Straid has something to do with Velka, Londor, or New Londo. Perhaps that's where Olaphis really is? Velka might have a relation to Kaath though, as well. So... Hmmm...

[@dylanmunro5280]

Navlaan was the King's Sorcerer and isn't that old.

[@noble3696]

the pic of him mushing the cheak of the faraam warrior is cute. ok i think im wierd

[@SilverMont]

Shows how powerful he is, he can squish metal.

[@noble3696]

yep

[@TheSniperMAJOR]

My theory is that Straid is the Chosen Undead!

[@solaire6116]

I got the craziest idea. King of Olaphis is the chosen undead. Straid is the crazyass magic spammer chosen undead summoned. Then they rekt Kalameet (ancient dragon). But then... actually thats the point where i stopped thinking. OIaphis? place they came from, if chosen to not burn yourself chosen undead did that place, if chose to be burned maybe straid made the place and did something crazy.

[@solaire6116]

oh shit you actually said that sry i stopped the video second before you said that king of olpahis was maybe the chosen undead. btw we got to get some shorter name for chosen undead.

[@SilverMont]

hollywood The CU!

[@jackfavvv]

12:02 Yeah, it's safe to say that won't be for DLC.

[@rugbyfan0025]

straid is like strayed.....as in strayed from the beaten path

[@ChAkEnEx]

Great video! I believe that the Ivory king (DLC) is the king of Oolaphis, not the Iron King, but i do believe that the Iron king invited Straid to Venn (iron keep) or Alken (from No man´s wharf to the Lost Bastille) as we know that the iron king was a man that brought a lot of foreing shit like the Alonne Knights and so, so as Straid said that the Ancient witch of fire (Quelana and maybe the lost sinner) led her daughters (prince of Venn and her sisters) against the old ones (iron king and and ivory king (only speculation, but i believe that the Ivory kingdom is in the top of the mountains of Tseldora, and the duke in Brighstone, is the Duke of the Ivory King, because all duke need a king)), maybe he turned against the old ones aside the ancient witch of fire and her daughters, so after the old ones won the war against the witch of fire, the iron king and maybe the ivory king, locked down everyone who was a thread in Alken, but Straid had to be petrified because of his magic, but why did the witch of fire turned against not only to the iron king, but also possibly to her husband and father of her daughters? (and maybe that is why the love of the prince of Venn and the princess of Alken are forbidden), well i believe we do have to wait for the DLC, but i believe it is related to relight the first flame and Chaos. What lore vid will you do next?

[@SilverMont]

Hmm... I've been feeling pretty spiritual, so maybe I'll try and focus on the power of faith and miracles, in my next vid.

[@ChAkEnEx]

Silver Mont Vereor Nox

[@BluntStop]

YEAHH! Straid is Vendrick's Brother. as in Brother in arms, cuz we know the chosen one didnt have a direct brother.

[@titolovely8237]

Mabe big hat logan succeeded in his search through seath's library after all? after all, big hat logan is found locked away by seath. upon freeing logan, you find him in seath's library, obviously having gone insane, but madness is closely related to genius, and who's to say he didnt accomplish his mission after seath's defeat by the chosen undead? similarities between them do add up. both are extremely powerful mages whose life's goal is knowledge. they both seem to be able to create spells. they both are extremely powerful but are trapped and need saving. straid is exceptionally old, and seems to have little qualms about having been trapped for so long. we arent told from whence he came, but it's safe to assume he came from a past era where he was regarded as extremely powerful but had a weakness, he was easily trapped. who does that sound like? another interesting fact is that both npc's sell "crystal soul spear" spell. this spell was found in the regal archives (dark souls 1 description). seems to me logan may have succeeded, but at what price? perhaps he had to give up a part of himself to gain the knowledge he sought? perhaps he gave up his sanity, or even lost what made him logan, creating an entirely new alter ego known as straid.

[@actualsnow]

Is it possible that Navlaan's evil alter ego is a memory of Straid, conjured using a beautiful and cursed spell? If so, does Navlaan's evil dialogue match the attitude and character of Straid?

[@SilverMont]

Hmm... I don't think that's the case, but you never know! I think Navlaan's alter ego was born from his own personality, perhaps? I've not checked up on Navlaan much, but I'll have to make a lore video on him in a bit.

[@ayakayuzhen700]

Something else that I forgot to point out - Navlaan doesn't ask of you to attack Straid because either he expects the poor man to be still stuck as a petrified statue, or maybe that Straid is just Aldia and Navlaan, having once served under him, sees no reason to attack (or earn the ire) of his old Master. Straid was petrified as he was about to escape his cell - who put him there first, could it be Vendrick? I'm aware that most game descriptions state that Aldia was locked away inside his manor and vanished someday, but it might just be misleading information spread around to hide the fact that the King had petrified his own brother, or well, "sworn brother-in-arms". I don't think that Vendrick and Aldia were ever stated to be brother in bloods, and that might be some info that's taken for granted. Straid is known to have developed a lot of magic. He is very knowledgeable, just like one would expect a figure like Aldia to be. Having defeated the Ancient Dragon, perhaps that this is what drove him to do even more research to try and recreate Dragons. His ability to make fearsome weapons and spells out of souls would further lead into making a point that this man knows exactly how to manipulate the essence of the Soul... This is of course, just speculation and linking together a lot of "if"s. Ultimately, Navlaan and Straid might've been a single storyline broken into two separate NPCs and ultimately have nothing to do with each other.

[@SilverMont]

Well, Straid professes to have no knowledge of Drangleic - he's been petrified in the Bastille since before Drangleic even existed. Which should preclude him from being Aldia. And Navlaan probably just didn't know about him, although who knows what would've happened? Both are amongst the most powerful sorcerers of their generation. (Personally, I think Straid would whoop 'em, even if he's not all that strong if you attack him)

[@BluntStop]

Odin also has a mask, as straid

[@ReaperCaliber]

I wish Dark Souls 2 had better lore. I hope the remake has better story telling elements like Dark Souls 1 had.

[@dannenoob]

Who needs help with the dragonrider? Haha

[@SilverMont]

Danlu05 Dunno, but co-op's fun!

[@batusan4927]

you know the ancient dragon from the freja boss with the memory thing that is the dragon that straid and the king killd

[@TravelerWhereof]

Straid=Strayed ....Wow It actually does have some meaning~~

[@yugiohplayerist]

what if the crown of the ivory king takes place in olaphis

[@camerondowd6351]

prounounced shrawd á is pronounced like awww lol

[@GunRunner106]

iirc... people like to connect the ivory king currently to something dragon related.... I cant really see the Iron King connected to Straid... and the sunken crown doesn't appeals much as of yet as well - so out of PURE SPECULATION - the Ivory King had some low chances of connecting something with him, if at all...

[@SilverMont]

Straid's king was supposedly called "Alvis" - but as that content was cut from the game, who can say? Old Iron King's name is never given, as far as I'm aware. Some think it might be Eygil (Eygil's idol could be taken to mean the king, or a god that he created an idol of)

[@EverTM]

Straid is very close to "Strayed", which is the default name of your first Core design in Armored Core: For Answer, another title From produced.

[@SilverMont]

Ever TM Does this mean we'll get to pilot a giant Straid mech in Dark Souls III? I hope so.

[@EverTM]

Silver Mont A man can dream, can't he? lol

[@ziion2lord]

personally i've never been much of a fan of Straid cuz i've always felt like he's a bit of a doosh but still, i cant exactly hate the guy who sells all those badass weapons and OP spells XD

[@Nin.killim]

I think he and the old king had a three some with the ancient dragon

[@irontarkus6955]

dude remember the ancient dragon from the last game yea im thinking thats the dragon they slew the dragon that gave you the dragon greatsword.

[@CrutchTouch]

Are most people thinking Olaphis is Oolacile? I would prefer to think that the truth