Dark Souls Lore - Ludleth of Courland

Dark Souls III Lore - Ludleth of Courland & Parallel Dream Worlds
Time to finally have a look at that most peculiar of little lords, and his connection with Firelink Shrine and the Untended Graves. Just who is he, what is he, and what are his goals? Hopefully by the end of this video, you'll have some ideas of your own! Please do share 'em in the comments.
#darksouls
#darksoulslore
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[@lupin2382]

Ludlith is one of my favorite characters, he is the smallest, and the weakest of all the lords of cinder, yet he is the only one brave enough to return to his duties.

[@novajamie9895]

I realize it's pretty off topic but does anybody know a good website to stream newly released series online?

[@notacockgobbler2054]

Just saying but I’m not sure he can do much else but return to his duties considering his lack of legs and size

[@I_am_a_cat_]

@@novajamie9895 ??????

[@dennisnordlund902]

@@I_am_a_cat_ Yeah, why the hell would he Ask that here? 😂

[@I_am_a_cat_]

@@dennisnordlund902 so random

[@Niemandzockt]

What I like about Ludleth is that even while he may want the fire linked, he encourages us to go our own path, even if it means betraying whatever enslaved us and the inhabitants of the shrine to link the fire (whitch is also pretty interesting).

[@mrtoxicwasteland]

Nilus I believe that ludleth found the flame in a dead state. basically when the age of dark was dawning on the world. in a selfish move, he chose to link it and become a lord knowing damn well he was prolonging the age of fire. i think that's why he's so encouraging of your own path and simultaneously guilty. he knows your true path as a human is to usher in the age of dark., he just wanted to know what it was like before it no longer existed.

[@tredfxman]

@@mrtoxicwasteland Neatly presented..

[@UnholyWrath3277]

I always felt the same way about aldia in ds2. In series where we without choice are told to go and slaughter all these old gods and lords who most of the time are minding their own business to burn ourselves alive to save a corrupted world it is very nice to have someone ask what do we want? Before ludleth he was the only one who genuinely was curious what we as the character wanted to do

[@tudorcostea1]

Ain't. Even. Got. Legs.

[@Astrothunder_]

How's it feel seath...to be a bitch

[@SilverMont]

Clearly, he doesn't need them

[@iWillWakeYouUp]

It even got legs

[@chesterclive6300]

Borim Maibe I always thought he was just sitting on his feet

[@meathook3000]

Never skip leg day.

[@spencerb2k]

This is what happens when you try to link the fire without drinking your milk

[@SilverMont]

What if you drank something fire-retardant?

[@cjalamee878]

Silver Mont+ You are officially cindered internally and externally of course

[@calvin624]

Ludeth strikes me as a character who would backstab the hero and then go on to link the fire in their place. Then again maybe he's just there to show that no matter how ill equipped you think you are in game, this little guy once made it.

[@SilverMont]

Yeah, he seems to be there to demonstrate that willpower counts for quite a lot. As that appears to be the only thing he has.

[@donnellebarfield3964]

Well he was immortal just like the ashen one so its possible he linked the fire ashamed it ruined his body.

[@robertdicke7249]

I like to think that Ludleth is actually the most powerful lord of cinder by a lot and if he weren't so dutiful then the player would've been in for a hell of a time. Though that is unlikely and there no evidence to justify it, at the very least this guy was what it took to become a lord of cinder. He is in some way liken to the other lords of cinder, and what a way it must be for him to stand along side them with no legs. Often however, I think the real reason Ludleth is sitting ready to burn is only because he has no legs. Not anything to do with a will to do his duty, its just that he couldn't get very far and even if he did he would be helpless anyway.

[@ytndabino7495]

@@robertdicke7249 he linked the flame and was slowly burning

[@nerobiblios4086]

I just recently finished DS3 and Ludleth is probably one of my most respected NPC. Here's this diminutive man who by sheer force of will, managed to Link the Fire. It's this dichotomy of willpower over physical might that shows that even a tiny insignificant person is able to overcome the odds and do great feats. It's also an ironic notion that the Lord that has the most firm notion of duty isn't a God devouring being or a Giant King, it's the little Lord with the stones to do what is needed to prolong the world.

[@rohiogerv22]

I think the weird, reviving behavior of everyone native to Firelink, and the fact that so many people in the main world are surprised at your appearance “without the toll of a bell” also feed the idea that it’s the bright Firelink Shrine that isn’t playing by the same rules as the rest of the world.

[@mariapazgonzalezlesme]

YES! My favorite Lord of Cinder is finally gaining the attention that he deserves!

[@TrumpCardMAGA]

Maria Paz G. Lesme I completely agree, all those other Lords of Cinder that are renowned and praised for their duty when asked again run from it. The act of being consumed by the fire is shown to be a painful sacrifice, one the Lords known for their power do not wish to do again. It shows that the only one that is really powerful is the one that went through it, acknowledged the pain and still answered the call.

[@SilverMont]

He's like the furtive pygmy, I suppose. Easily forgotten.

[@draxthemsklonst]

+Silver Mont He's a Ludleth noticeable than the other Lords.

[@Hayz45]

did you know lud is actually vatti

[@Garl_Vinland]

I heard Vaati was actually Velka. THE LORE

[@Hayz45]

Garl Vinland. So velka is vatti and lud?

[@illegalmemedealer1270]

@@Hayz45 yes

[@miyclops]

MY GOD GIVE THAT MAN A SANDWICH!

[@SilverMont]

Do it. I'm hungry.

[@StarlightDragon]

The way Ludleth talks about the firekeeper's eyes, the item descriptions surrounding Gundyr, and the fact that you can ignore the shrine maiden until after you go to the unattended graves and talk to her for the first time, she has a fleeting memory of you from that time, makes me think that the unattended graves is the past. I think Ludleth kindled the fire as it had reached that level of dark (possibly this was in the same time as Lothric refusing to link the flame). If it IS that recent, then maybe that's why he feels guilty about and defensive when he talks about linking the fire in his sleep? Maybe he wasn't powerful enough to extend the age of fire for very long. Now, this theory brings up a lot of questions: like what made the firelinkshrine available later, if it was unavailable to Champion Gundyr during the time period of unattended graves?

[@ahealthkit2745]

I imagine the thing that made the firelink shrine reappear was the resurrection of the lords of cinder, as per the events that kickstart the game. We know that the lords of cinder rose first and rebuked their duties to link the flame, so perhaps Ludleth used what power he had left to raise the untended graves and firelink shrink as a last-ditch effort to wrest control from the unwilling rulers?

[@daviddalton8861]

Oh right, Ludleth! The important character with almost no lore in the base game, making him even more interesting. Can't wait for all the lore reveiled in the dlc's- oh...

[@SilverMont]

Tell me about it!

[@Garl_Vinland]

Good thing we’re going to learn about the pilgrim butterflies and the... oh.

[@Astrothunder_]

I really really hope that even though From is done with dark souls, they will make some sort of book or SOMETHING that can delve deeper in the lore

[@mrtoxicwasteland]

all of the information is here. we could piece it all together if we could comprehend it all at once... but we can't. our tiny human brains can only hold about 10 different subjects running at super human level. the reality is there's hundreds of pieces of information that's relevant to the ultimate story of dark souls. it all connects like the lines of a tesseract. impossible to see every connection but no doubt, a beautiful sight. After doing some extensive research on sulyvahn and lothric. it's clear that the world was teetering on the age of dark at the critical time when the princes were supposed to burn themselves as fuel like any other lord. yet they denied this duty and let it weaken, to inevitably dissolve into darkness. ludleth capitalized on the pathetic state of the flame. here's the philosophy, an acceptional amount of fuel is needed to make a literal real life bonfire burn brighter. well it only takes a fraction to make an ember start burning again. this is precisely how ludleth obtained the title of Lord. he didn't need the souls of Lords. he simply found it in a dead state and brought it back to life. I believe that is why he harbors so much guilt in regards to his title. the world was nearly at the age of man/dark yet ludleth linked the flame to claim fame amongst the Lords of old. Utterly selfish. it shows in his personality. his ego assures you that he was worthy when he linked it (giving us the sense that he doubts himself or perhaps never had true power at all). his heart cries out in his sleep like a man who betrayed the world. he willingly accepted the pain of being burned to become a famous symbol of honor. he might not even know exactly why he feels guilty as it takes a lot emotional suppressing to handle Burning Alive.. none the less he betrayed humanity thinking it was a golden opportunity of a lifetime.

[@mr.nobody3662]

maybe they experimented to see how the fire would do with a pygmy as it's host/lord? would be a cool back story for him.

[@CompressionPolice]

You've probably seen it mentioned by now, but the Untended Graves version of Firelink is likely to be in the past. If you meet the Handmaid in the dark version of Firelink first, she will recognize you in the current version when you first speak to her.

[@daughterofthegull4822]

Yay another Dark Souls vid thanks Silver Mont!

[@TrumpCardMAGA]

I believe Ludleth is All Father Lloyd, that's why he doesn't have legs because he blew his knees out completely with all his hip thrusts impregnating every woman in his age to make every child of the next generations father or the "all father" to them. He changed his name and home in a attempt to hide from child support. I'm sure fathering that many kids the percentage of souls he would have to pay would be outrageous! When he was finally caught they realized his sexual urges and prowess was powerful enough to become a Lord of Cinder. That's why he cries about it hurting so much in his dreams, he was burned penis first to extend the age of fire. Also it explains why he said he was a "wee" flame, a slang term for penis is wee-wee or weenier.

[@MaledictGaming]

That moment when an obviously troll comment has as much liability as the content of the commented video.

[@swayv1964]

😂😂😂

[@Mitsuru-Miki]

Someone should call Vaati

[@yugiohguyij]

Before the Ringed City came out, I actually had a dream that Ludleth was the final boss wielding two broken straight swords with a phase 3 Friede moveset, it was pretty badass. Still didn't have legs though. Also had a dream about a boss in a catacomb area that was called The Crow Knight, who wore a feathered version of Lorian's armor and the Billed Mask.

[@SilverMont]

A boss version of Ludleth would be pretty interesting, although it makes me think of Yoda.

[@yugiohguyij]

That's what I thought too, honestly, looking back on the dream is was pretty comical - two broken straight swords no less, imagine transposing that...

[@jacquesuren2048]

I believe Ludleth to be a very very old Lord of Cinder as he remembers a time when the Fire Keepers still had their eyes and seems to know the first Fire Keeper. "Ahh. Found her, did we? And the black eyes that shimmer within, I see? Tis as if it were but yesterday. We did all we could to spare her from them. Much has happened since. Mayhap I should apprise thee... Of what the thin light of these eyes might reveal to the eyeless Firekeeper. Scenes of betrayal, things never intended for her ken, visions of... this age's end..." Fire Keepers have been blind throughout the souls series, so this had to happen in Gywns age. So I think this adds to the theory he is a pygmy from the ringed city.

[@Cetzzzz]

shannalotte was not blind... and she was a fire keeper...

[@jojolafrite90]

Actually, he does resemble the pygmies we see in the DLC!

[@jojolafrite90]

Yeah, but she was also in a game that has nothing to do with Dark Souls actual story. I think of it as some filler like in an anime.

[@willadamou621]

@@jojolafrite90 No. Dark souls 2 is cannon.

[@themotivationauts2989]

@@jojolafrite90 It does have loads to do with the story. All these kingdoms take place thousands of years in between each other. Just because you don't like it doesnt mean it's not cannon

[@MidnightatMidian]

I always find awesome the similarity between the ''Leth'' in Ludleth, and ''Loth'' in lothric, like the Lothric dynasty may be descendants of Ludleth. That may explain ''The bastard curse''.

[@plaguerson]

Not sure if you noticed this, but inside fillenore's egg thing she is holding. There is clearly a transposing kiln inside of it. Side note: the stone hag says "where did you here that name" when asking her about the ringed city. Hmm maybe courland is the ringed city. Its a stretcher i know. Lol

[@pretentiosaurus]

I wonder if he's the one the painter girl mentioned in her mother's saying: "One who has not seen fire, can not paint a world. One who is surrounded by fire, must not paint a world." Ludleth, being a Lord of Cinder, has basically been remembered as such, and it even infects his dreams, so he might possibly be the other part to the message.

[@tobequitefranco]

This needs more likes because it's about time we talk about ludleth

[@wailing_agony6016]

I must say, Alex THE Silver Mont, you are indeed my favorite lore channel.

[@SilverMont]

Thanks pal

[@TheHighBear]

why does no one discuss the ominous nature of ludleth revealed through his ring that drops after you kill him (skull ring) the possibility that he is not strong enough for linking the flame once more after all he barely or rather not completely linked it the first time he needs the souls we bring to empower himself in a way the skull ring refers to him as a soulfeeder and as the ring states this ring can only bee obtained from the soul of such soul feeder and states the following : "The Soulfeeder was a beast that insatiably absorbed souls to feed its own power. Even after its accursed corpse was burned, it is said that the pungent stench of souls left the air permanently stained." its a great insight into his true nature in my opinion one that is really not talked about in souls lore videos

[@Un1234l]

Eh I'd say it shows how shrewd and cunning he is. He uses wit to become a Lord of Cinder. The Skull Ring is a ring worn by Ludleth, fashioned and transposed from the SOUL of a Soulfeeder. We know Ludleth can transpose souls, so the ring can't be his soul. More likely that he wears the ring out of a sense of selflessness, because it makes the wearer a bigger target. This fits in with his character of selfless sacrifice, as he still has traumatic nightmares and pain about linking the flame. "It... burns..."

[@theyremykidstoo1642]

Necro but basically Ludleth is not the Soulfeeder, he killed it and transposed its soul into the ring

[@TheRichard714]

This guy earned my instant respect when I first talked with him wow. This guy is sooo cool!

[@Railgunovy]

I always thought that our Firelink Shrine is a dimension created by the First Flame (and will of those who linked the fire or maybe even Queen of Lothric) to help us with our duty. From there we are travelling to the other timelines to defeat lords of cinder and use them for the sake of our world.

[@SilverMont]

That could make some sense, and Ludleth is a sort of caretaker of the dimension. Almost like Micolash and the nightmare.

[@weilin7005]

I think firelink shrine is just near by the castle lotric it is just the sunless realm this country built it here just like in dark souls 1 the way of white built a church beside ds 1 forelink shrine

[@ElDrHouse2010]

if you use Cheat Engine in Firelink to no clip to the place where you fall from to the Untended Graves you go inside the chamber post Ocerios. Then go back even further do the Ocerios boss fight kill him then proceed normally & the are of Firelink becomes the Untended Graves. Those paths are connected. High Wall > all Lothric Castle > Ocerios Garden > Untended Graves. Similarly in reverse Firelink > Ocerios Garden > all Lothric Castle > High Wall.

[@ihavequestionsaboutthings6167]

Hard to know if that physical reality of the programming was ever meant to be known thus making it kinda irrelevant that the physically present game walls connect. It's the story connection that matters here.

[@ahealthkit2745]

@@ihavequestionsaboutthings6167 And yet the physical locations in-game of where things are in DS1 matter quite a bit in reference to DS3, and in DS1, all locations were physically connected...

[@ahealthkit2745]

Even thinking back to ds1, the firelink shrine is not far from a very large graveyard. Full of... untended graves.

[@dennisnordlund902]

Latvia would make a perfect locale for a dark souls game

[@akush42069]

I love this content, you and vaatividya are my favorite youtubers now

[@SilverMont]

Thanks dude

[@StillJCole]

Yes another lore vid!

[@Archontasil]

Our firelink shrine is an illusion, the real shrine is the one where we fight cinder. We travel to the past to find the lords, the untended grave is... a pocket dimension? The past of the past? Or simply just the shrine during the past's timeline.. without a firekeeper, without someone to attend to the fire, the fire will fade. Probably it's ground zero, where as other places still have light, the shrine was the first to be affected by the dark since its firekeeper was killed (probably by lothric).

[@Archontasil]

But then when did ludleth link the flame..?

[@lynackhilou4865]

Archontasius I don't think this is true because it just doesn't make any sense

[@jacobfreeman5444]

My take was untended Graves is an aborted possiblity. Something that was true but thanks to Ludleth became only a memory. The current Firelink is your Firelink. A place for all Ash but especially the one who is being called to link the fire. And The Kiln is the place where the future can be remade into an ongoing thing...by traveling to the point when it is about to end. Only at the end of all things can the inevitable be avoided. At this low point a new log is tossed on the fire. A new soul to reinvigorate the great soul...the first flame.

[@salahad-din9168]

I'm glad you threw in that Egg = Vagrant = Transposing kiln bit. I've been saying that for months!

[@SilverMont]

I'm not surprised! I knew I wouldn't be the only person to notice there's some similarities between them

[@lukebradley9984]

Three years late to the discussion but Ludleth meaning half lord fits perfectly because of his lack of legs literally being half of a body of a lord of cinder.

[@SilverMont]

He is half the man we are!

[@darthreaper6311]

your videos are very interesting and amazing. :)

[@capxgangxdomo7688]

Is it possible when he transposed the soul feeders soul he transposed a primordial serpent because the soul feeders story seems somewhat reminiscent of the silver serpent rings effect

[@WhiskeyTango76s]

I brought this up about Ludleth and the Transposing Kiln months ago and people acted as if that couldn't be right. Look at it now, in Lore vids. Great vid as always, 'Mont.

[@SilverMont]

Don't worry, I get plenty of that too lol. Just go look at my Licia video! Although technically, I was in the right there. As it turned out, Licia WAS the Nameless Usurper, but my reasoning for it was sound and they patched out the inconsistencies I raised in the vid.

[@WhiskeyTango76s]

Silver Mont Haha I'm sure and I've seen it, I've binge watched your lore playlists multiple times while playing BB and DS1&2. For some reason listening to lore vids while playing the game helps me with immersion for some reason, it's a habit I picked up from the Souls series that's carried over to other games that are full of lore.

[@FyrexYT]

Did i just miss you mentioning the ring he drops on death and his description about a "soulfeeder"? Anyway, nice lore vid.

[@SilverMont]

+FyrexYT I'll be honest, I didn't think the ring was too interesting; I decided to focus on the other parts!

[@FyrexYT]

Fair enough. :-)

[@tobequitefranco]

I fell into a burning ring of fire I went down, down, down And the flames went higher And it burns, burns, burns

[@escabeche6436]

I don't think pygmies and humans are entirely different races. The first are probably ancestors of humanity, only interbred and kept "pure" (maybe even locked in time) within the walls of the ringed city, so they are closer to their original form than the humans that wandered off into the world and adapted to different lands. Also, good video. Ludleth's lore hints to super interesting things but it really seems impossible to get any conclusion from it.

[@jacobfreeman5444]

Interesting. So maybe men as they are now are byproducts of the gods and pygmies are men as they were before the gods meddled? Perhaps there is some god blood in men and that is the distinction. Pygmies are the purebloods and men are those who are neither purely of dark or light...and that is why hollowing is seen as a return to a true shape. In death the gods influence is stripped away leaving only all that is man.

[@SilverMont]

Judging from Manus, who was called a "primeval man" it could always be that they are very similar.

[@ahealthkit2745]

I'm fairly late to dinner here, but Manus is referenced as a primeval man, Aldia in Dark Souls 2 tells us that humanity is an illusion created by the curse that Gwyn put on mankind, and Kaath in Dark Souls 1 specifically tells the player character that they are a descended of the furtive pygmy, the one who claimed the dark soul. So, yes. Pygmies and humans are the same species. Pygmies (or more appropriately, hollows) are the true form of mankind, and are the part of humanity that Gwyn sought to contain. (ringed city, darksign. Both emblematic of a ring of fire containing a hole of unending abyss. The same abyss that Manus fathered, a primeval man... a pygmy. A pygmy, when angered, summoned the abyss. Something that no entity of the age of fire can safely walk without making a pact with/covenant with the native beasts of the Abyss.) I assume the 'gods' are just those who collected the lord souls before the Pygmy claimed the dark soul. With fire came disparity, after all. So naturally, that disparity must be the power of the lord souls. I assume that the dark soul is ultimately the strongest weapon against all of the Age of Fire and what it's 'gods' used to stand for, so Gwyn handicapped it by essentially locking it away within the darksign. The 'Age of Fire' is the illusion Aldia talks about in ds2. Humanity is a temporary visage created by the lord's souls, crafted to convince pygmies to give up their true strength in order to live a comfortable existence in servitude. There's also the implication that the holders of the dark soul (like Manus) are relatively simple-minded. They don't want for much, they don't care for much. So long as they have something modest, they don't yearn for more. However, the lords' ambitions are what ultimately leads to things like Manus being disturbed, the Abyss being invaded by Artorias and later the Abyss Watchers, as well as the linking of the flame, technically even before all that it led them to exterminate the dragons... It really seems like the Pygmies were contented with the ringed city, and those who gave up their legacy and heritage in order to become civilians within Gwyn's many kingdoms where allowed to do so, on the basis that they'd be giving up their knowledge of the darksoul and the power they inherit.

[@Spoon80085]

Either he hasn't hit the gym in a few eons, or he had some sick strategy to beat the Soul of Cinder

[@asaltyone3015]

Who knew a Pygmy could be such a badass?

[@SilverMont]

Judge him not by his tiny ass body

[@asaltyone3015]

Silver Mont “I may be small, but I will die a colossus.”

[@haphazardlark1502]

Oh hell yeah ludleth content I love this little guy

[@SilverMont]

He's pretty neat

[@OldManMcLoyf]

I believe that Earl Arstor and Allfather Lloyd were the leader and religious leader of the Ringed City, with the Pygmies including Manus being Judges. Then I believe Manus was a Pygmy Judge in regards to matters of sorcery and transposition, who eventually left the Ringed City, a forbidden act, forever putting a stain on transposition in the city. After such occurs, I believe the Mad Pygmy King is born and then overthrows Earl Arstor the Impaler and Allfather Lloyd, exiling them both, in which after their exile, he himself gets impaled. The Pygmy Judges then wished to be the leaders of the Ringed City, Ludleth disagreed and wanted to stay true to their duty given to them by Gwyn, and then he was forcefully sacrificed in order for the Pygmies to basically say... “Lord Gwyn sacrificed himself to the First Flame and is therefore holy, and now one of us has done the same, proving that we are suitable to lead the city.” As well as to shut Ludleth up, of course.

[@SilverMont]

I think there must be something special about Manus, seeing as he created the most powerful force in the entire Souls franchise, in the Abyss. Because they kept on going on and on about it, years after we defeated Manus and calmed it down. As of Dark Souls III there is literally nothing that can withstand the abyss. They were not consistent with it, at all.

[@OldManMcLoyf]

In the Japanese translation of... “Manus Father of the Abyss” It actually calls him... “Manus, Master of the Abyss” Which makes him the creator of the Abyss unlikely.

[@OldManMcLoyf]

Also yeah, the Abyss, Darkness, and Pygmies, are not at all consistent.

[@NanashiAkai]

That part with Aldia at the end got me thinking and Silvermont I have a question for you. What do you think happened to Aldia and the bearer of the curse? I'm asking because at the end of dark souls 2 isn't our character the only undead in history to resist the curse?

[@SilverMont]

Depends on which ending you go for, but in my head I like to think the canon ending of DaS1 is linking the fire and canon ending for DaS2 is the second ending. And I guess the Bearer would've just tried to return home and live out their life, now that they've sort of achieved their goal. Aldia is briefly mentioned, or rather hinted at, in the third game. He seems to have had some presence in the archives at Lothric, where he perhaps influenced Lothric as to the linking of fire. This coming from the Soul Stream spell, which is one of his creations.

[@sliceofbread29yrago52]

An illusion is neither good nor bad. Excellent video

[@SilverMont]

Hey Plato

[@lost_witness_8495]

I always imagine him being like Ferra/Tor from Mortal Kombat riding on the back of Vordt or something just like Lothric, he wasn't exactly physically imposing either lol

[@catrinlatino5294]

I believe that the throne of ludleth was meant for champion Gubdyr, who woke up to late, and Luldleth took his place as a lord of cinder

[@yosh2248]

The problem with that theory is that Gundyr isn’t a lord of cinder. He hasn’t linked the fire as hinted by his inability to enter the lord of cinder embedded state like all the other lords could. I think he’s just a hopeless warrior who lost his purpose, so now he just serves as a test for undead: to determine if they’re worthy of continuing to firelink

[@postal3412]

His name translating to 'Half-Lord' is super interesting to me. I wonder if Ludleth actually linked the fire completely, or if he only got partially through it? All the other Lords of Cinder were completely turned to ash, and came back without their injuries. Ludleth, on the other hand, is charred and missing his legs. This leads me to believe he never died in the first place, so I wonder if he actually was a powerful champion before he linked the fire, but the pain was too much and he gave up halfway, leaving him as he is? Super interesting character, I love him

[@ahealthkit2745]

He wouldn't be a lord of cinder he if hadn't linked the flame. He was either always like he is in-game, or his current appearance is a result of some cruel trick played by whatever force resurrected him. OR, my personal theory, is that he was the only lord of cinder who wanted to link the flame, and because of the refusal of the other lords, spent whatever energy or lifeforce he had to transpose the firelink shrine back into existence.

[@brajkraft]

I like too belive that Ludleth as a pigmy lord or just a pigmy had witnessed several circles come and go while chillin in the Ringed City (then still referred to as Court-Land). For one reason or an other he took intrest to one pirticular cicle that went on far too long. Traveling into the seeping darkness above, willingly or from exilement, he hears a tolling bell and so happens upon a shrine, a hand maid that tells him storys of gods, champions, fire and dark. Having already heard storys and myths about the way of white and seeing the sorry state of all the world above, he takes pity upon it and sacrifices himself (maybe he shoved a sword through a certain bouncer for souls to apease the starving flame). What little there probably was of Ludd was enough too spark life too a new world (ours) but this one was not very durable. Lothric was emencly pissed off when found out he had to listen to that fucking bell with his bad for company brother for another half millennia. So I guess we travel backwards in time after returning to the crypts. Katana dude gets past Gundyr becuse luddleth kills him. There are still "grave tenders" in the dark shrine meaning Lothric didnt want anyone reviving. Also the firekeepers eyes was retrieved from a fire keeper who had seen the darkness and the truth about the first sin. If they come from our fire keeper in the future than thats a paradox sense we can give them too her. The original owner was probably someone who had watched, maybe from a belltower, as lothric (the kingdom) fell too infighting due too the "sinful" acts of Lothric and Lorian. The very same vessels that she patiently awaited... and waited.

[@sunsetsockhop9576]

You never included one of the most noticeable giveaways about this, watch the video on KZbin about the real location of Firelink Shrine. You will see that it's actually on the opposite side of Castle Lothric, the exact opposite. But then start a new game. Go to free look and look behind you. There's Castle Lothric... from the backside. There are two mirror versions of Castle Lothric, one you cannot access, it's just low poly in the backdrop 180 degrees and way way up from where the player begins the game and the camera angle is pointed at the default starting point. Start a new game, free look, go way way way up, and turn around to look behind you.

[@umukzusgelos4834]

I just wonder, Ludleth seems to know the End and what there is to come when the fire fades... he even knows about the eyes of the firekeepers... But how? If he did take the mantle of Lord on his own free will, then would he not have linked the flame the moment it started fading before everything could go down? Did he witness the age of Dark? Or at least the beginning of it? Did he embrace it? And then there is that bloodstain where his feet would be and him pleading that he >is not to blame< when he is dreaming... It looks to me like a set-up-scenario, someone making sure he would never leave, even if he wanted to

[@SilverMont]

We don't know too much about prophecies in Dark Souls, but maybe he was a prophet and had foresight or some kind? Or he lived it and then made illusions/time travel to try and prevent it

[@chesterclive6300]

I always thought he was just sitting on his feet

[@Illjustwait]

Coolest lil fella in the whole game. Maybe he represents the average souls player, just a normal human sitting in a chair that was somehow able to kill the pantheon of gods and rebirth the wotld.

[@suertetrece9347]

Holy shit how have i never seen your vids! SUBBED!

[@SilverMont]

Hello! You've got a lot to watch, in that case!

[@suertetrece9347]

Silver Mont yea im ready to binge watch :D

[@Jonne-ks9bw]

Look at his drop, and the purpose of the kiln, see a connection, ring talks about something that consumes souls, ludleth takes "twitsted" powerful souls.

[@kkjh0kkjh]

Couldnt the Ringed City still be Courland by another name? Maybe the name changed because of Gwyns influence. Maybe he was exiled because of Gwyns influence. Maybe he was forced to link the flame because of... Gwyns influence.

[@ahealthkit2745]

I think there would be more evidence in-game to support this theory if that was the case. Such as items referencing courland.

[@badbuddha93]

Could it be that he's simply proud of the fact that he became a lord and returned to his throne willingly? He is certainly more proud than to admit that he is constantly assailed by horrid visions of his own linking of the fire, and begs the player's forgiveness for having overheard him during such a vulnerable moment. I don't think there is anything particularly special about him, apart from his connection to the transposing kiln. If the kiln is modelled after or inspired by Fillianore's egg, perhaps Courland was the name the pygmies gave to the Ringed City themselves and Ludleth is an undead pygmy. After all, he returns when you kill him, much like the Firekeeper and other undead NPCs like Andre the Blacksmith. I think he is there as a Character for convenience sake and not much else. He doesn't have a lore base in the 3rd game or any of the DLCs apart from the shape of the kiln and he seems subject to the confused swirling of time in Untended Graves as much as anyone else. In my opinion, Ledleth was probably a way for the character to see what their future will be if they link the flame, motivating them to find other paths than simply linking the fire if they don't want to end up a shrivelled half-king. .

[@SilverMont]

I do wonder if he even remembers those nightmares, upon waking up. It could be he forgets them immediately and has no recollection of it. Especially as they happen between his momentary "death" and rebirth.

[@badbuddha93]

I have had him go through the nightmares without killing him before, so he doesn't have to die to have them. He may not remember the nightmares, but he certainly remembers, at least on some level, linking the fire and what a horridly torturous experience it was; which must have been at a time when the fire was still quite vibrant compared to when we as the Unkindled link it, as it only kind of creeps up our arm and rests across our shoulders like an old, worn-out and ragged mantle. He does everything he can to convince himself that linking the fire was a proud, noble and righteous thing to do, and even comments on how he will "die a colossus" even though he is small, withered and broken. Almost as if he was tricked or forced into the role like Lothric was going to be, but tried his best to convince himself it was right instead of rejecting his "destiny". Also, thank you for taking the time to reply. I'm a huge fan and I love your lore videos :)

[@LordZonar]

Im gonna throw this out here, it seems like the prologue shows someone dragging a hollowed-looking person by the wrist, maybe this is Ludleth, as he doesnt have legs, which I think was done to him to keep him from running away from the throne.

[@Dsmbr03]

I think the undented graves is the past but now just suspected in time for our use. It's where that big dude just came and realized it was too late and then we came and slay him. Perhaps after that Ludleth rekindled the flame, but it's being resurrected from embers is why it's so weak in the first flame. Maybe that's why they're the lord of CINDERS.

[@mrtoxicwasteland]

Middle Dark precisely what I thought. he found the last embers on the edge of the age of dark. he lit it selfishly calming the title of Lord when in reality. he betrayed his fellow humans by extending the age of fire.. I think he knows this.... he just doesn't want to think about it....

[@RagdollRalph]

In sweden ludd is that fuzz that forms in pockets and other garments

[@atahanakay]

I like how there is no good ending in Dark Souls in general, If you link the fire,you break the cycle of nature and the age of fire won’t fade.So the curse will come back again İf you don’t kindle the flame,the dark will come and everyone will hollow but all of it will play out again

[@SilverMont]

Yeah, and then even with that it's all in perspective, like fire fading is good for some not for others

[@meatmun7747]

TFW Silver Mont shows footage from his latest DS playthrough that he has yet to release.

[@SilverMont]

It's from Part 19 or 20, IIRC. So it'll be coming this week!

[@meatmun7747]

Can’t wait for it mate!

[@jbill2986]

Lord Half could add to the theory that he transposed half of himself into the chalice goblet of Wolnir. Course he may be, as others have commented, a pygmy with some of the knowledge of the Abyss a la Manus. That idea loses weight when learning of Courland's honor stain. Transposing, forcing souls to fill different shapes, is like Pandora's box. How do we know Ludleth tells the truth? How do we know any of the characters do?

[@SilverMont]

The only "reliable" person in Dark Souls seems to be the narrator / the item descriptions. And even those can be dubious at times! But, unlike the NPCs I think they are probably the most accurate info

[@darklight6921]

little ludleth afraid of the dark

[@andriusdaraskevicius]

This is the last place I expected to hear about Curonians. So easily forgotten

[@SilverMont]

Right? Sometimes you find fun things when looking stuff up

[@sarah_drake]

What's the quote at 12:20?

[@mateovicentin4886]

I think that Pigmy Ludleth effectively linked the flame when the great betrayal was schemed. The great betrayal being Lothric's Prince and other Lords of Cinder refusing to link the flame. Perhaps Champion Gundyr was then supposed to do it although he somewhat failed to get on time. So Ludleth proposed himself as a Lord and did so. Remember that there wasn't any light left, so kindling the flame vould have been a lot easier bearing in mind that he's a Pigmy and has got a big fragment of the dark soul of man. Strangely though something doesn't add up as you have mentioned in the video. First of all, timespans Secondly, having two firelink shrines as if one is a mere illusion (well, three in fact, since you can find the original firelink shrine in the Ringed City DLC). Still, it may be that instead of two Firelink Shrines existing only one actually exists and the other one is an illusion or rather than that, we travel through time when we get to the Untended Graves, somewhat the same happening with Fillianore's slumber Finally, as a conclusion, it's great how Ludleth's lore was created. A magnificent work performed by DS3 writers

[@mateovicentin4886]

To add up, pigmies were related to Gwyn as being some kind of royalty for defeating the ancient dragons. So, it could be, that Ludleth was part of this royalty and thus being close to Gwyn and his purposes and desires. So he linked the flame to prevent the age of man in order to honour Gwyn

[@jayfray1519]

I don't think all humans are pygmies only that they came from the fertive pygmy.

[@871335]

A little detail I never see anyone talk about is his ring. People debate what a Soulfeeder was but I think it seems to be a Primordial Serpent. Based on the etching looking like one and the info on it saying that even after they burned it, it's still stank. And if we remember when Frampt first appears the stench of it drives the Crestfallen Knight. And the ring makes it easier for enemies to detect you, the ring makes you stink. So that all feels like it's fairly certain that the Soulfeeder was a primordial serpent. It feels like it's a solid answer but then that leaves SO MANY questions. Was this Frampt or Kathe? Who killed it and how did its soul end up in the hands of Ludleth? Surely he didn't kill a soulfeeder and why is he, the tiny man, wearing a ring that makes you stink so bad people aggro on you?

[@SilverMont]

Frampt sure did like eating souls.

[@AlexxxxxSaysHi]

leg day ludleth

[@iWillWakeYouUp]

...and the furtive pygmy, so easily forgotten.

[@gmaster634]

Ah Aldia at 12:20 to sum it all up 👌, he probably had the best dialogue in all the souls in my opinion(not including cinematic). He actually made me question the whole dark souls story, not on its validity, but just the whole story in general. "Beyond the scope of light, beyond the reach of dark. What could possibly await" "And yet we seek it insatiably....such is our fate"

[@SilverMont]

He's one of my favourite NPCs, too. He kinda amounts of info dumping, it's true, but I just love his lines.

[@gmaster634]

Silver Mont also Alex let me just say i appreciate your replies. It actually makes commenting on your vids worth while. Thanks for the insight, been watching your work since DS1

[@SilverMont]

Thanks!

[@ivanleon6164]

i would like an animation series of Dark souls lore, Netflix!!!

[@blueimpulse-2470]

What sword is that he's using in darks souls 1 with sunlight blade?

[@SilverMont]

It's probably the Silver Knight straight sword, that's my favourite in the first game

[@blueimpulse-2470]

That it is! Thank you Silver!

[@GeneralTaco155555a]

It's late and I'm lazy, but I'm pretty sure there is evidence that Ludleth used the transposing kiln to manipulate others into giving him souls, and that's how he became powerful enough to be a lord of cinder.

[@youareafool6884]

Super late opinion: Ludleth is the furtive pygmy. He linked the fire to remain hidden from gwyn, for providing such a service would make any god happy. Thus allowing him to remain at firelink shrine afterwards.. avoiding gael from eating his dark soul, for he is a "wee flame". So modest, and so timid.. but possibly patient and cunning. Similar to the pygmy that retrieved the dark soul last and kept it secret. Ludleth was king of the ringed city in my eyes, and he took part in transposition, using a kiln similar to filianores egg. Lastly, he is impartial on what we do for he wins either way, if we link the fire, he will die and no longer be consumed by gael, transferring his soul to us for us to deal with the red hood. And if we don't link the fire, then ludleth is able to live in an age of dark, that of which is intended and seeked by all humanity and allows their age to rise. Just some high thoughts I had on the toilet 4 years late 🤣🤣🤣

[@MidnightatMidian]

Yessss!!!!!

[@liamj.s.600]

~~The Ringed City is Courland~~ -my two cents

[@BrandochDaha9]

its a fisher king

[@lukatosic09]

Lud is crazy in most Balkan languages

[@Gobboh]

I wonder why Ludleth has no legs. I think he might have lost them in the process of linking the fire. I really like him, he seems like a regular guy who sacrificed himself because he didnt want the world to be "a barren plane" even tho it might ultimately be inevitable

[@SilverMont]

I suppose you could make the leap and say "every one who linked the fire lost something." Maybe Ludleth lost his legs, Yhorm lost his voice and Aldrich lost his body/sanity, etc etc. Or maybe Gael ate Luddy's legs.

[@TheNamelessScholarOfficial]

If I know correctly (I think Vaati told this) In the Japanese version Ludleth calls himself a pygmy. That's an implication that Courland is the ringed city. And the 2nd implication is that The concept art of filianore The egg seems to have a transposing kiln inside.

[@simenamundsen3166]

No, that proves that Ludleth is a pygmy. Not that he is originally from the Ringed City nor that the Ringed City is Courland.

[@SilverMont]

+I Have No Name He calls himself a dwarf, effectively. In the translations, it appears to be consistent with the term pygmy.

[@TheNamelessScholarOfficial]

Silver Mont Thanks for Correcting me Alex.

[@TheNamelessScholarOfficial]

Simen Amundsen But the ringed city is controlled by the pygmy Lords and the ringed nights are the descendants of primeval man.

[@SilverMont]

Hmm... I dunno about Courland being the Ringed City. I feel like they would've mentioned it at some point during the DLC, you know? I'm not sure if they've ever done that before in the franchise, referred to the same place by multiple names. Even if the inhabitants called it one thing, the game itself usually tells us the literal name of places.

[@thestranger4894]

What I want to know is how a tiny pygmy could kill the soul of cinder. Could be possible he simply ganked SoC with his buddies.

[@f.s7242]

Last time I was this early I wasn't even born yet ...

[@SilverMont]

Worrying

[@S0lidStewie]

Does he have the “DHARK SOUL?”

[@cicerothejester1376]

Kiln looks like midirs soul too

[@Skullivon]

Check out the work of Fauntus if you haven't. He makes compelling arguments that all the names in Dark Souls are based on Tolkien elvish, including Courland translating to something close to Ringed City.

[@SilverMont]

I've spoken in a few other videos (most recently, on the Lothric / Lorian lore video from last month) about some connections between names and the like. Irithyll, Anor Londo, and the obvious "Lothlorien" thing.

[@greasysox]

Even if it’s coincidence it could be the halfling lord

[@peopledontthinkthesunbelik3995]

how did ludlith gain enough power to link the fire he doesnt seem all that powerful (dont even think he can stand) also is gundyr from the same age a ludlith, just a thought

[@faust4813]

I don't think he did have enough power. That's why it's only the shrine not the entire world. I think he burned himself knowing he was unworthy but hoped his sacrifice would allow the world a second chance. I find myself wondering who he cared for enough to do this as this is not the kind of act that a man does for himself.

[@RGCarlton]

He was probably groomed and fed souls like Lothric.

[@viktor_v-ughnda_vaudville_476]

Either that or ludleth was the first time the pigmys tried to link the flame with gundyr as his champoin and once a portion of the dark soul was cast into the flame a cinder of ash was born

[@Gobboh]

Ludleth definetely linked the fire. His dialogue about him dying a colossus actually reads "Even this Pygmy here was honored to become a lord." Also he said he did that long ago. Remember what became of Gwynn, he was mere a hollow of his former power after linking the fire. I guess he plays a way bigger role than you'd expect, after all he (together with someones else) chose to spare the Firekeeper from her eyes to keep her save from what he might see. In the end it seems like everyone can link the fire that is not affected by the darkness.

[@miragegaocariomon9342]

"Even moreso, should it entail such foul betrayal." Perhaps, and this is just my speculation, Ludleth killed the one who was to link the flame, yet chose not to. The champion of his world did not seek to rekindle the flame. And so, a dagger in the back would give Ludleth access to the first flame without needing to deal with the Soul of Cinder, as the Soul of Cinder was already defeated. A loyalist to the cause using underhanded means for what he perceived to be a noble goal.

[@00Boogie]

Ludlithe reminds me of Luddite, but I doubt there's any intended connection.

[@SilverMont]

Yeah, I think it's just a coincidence there

[@helmutha5589]

this video kinda has a spolier for your ongoing DS 1 Playthrough lol

[@SilverMont]

+Helmut Ha Is it a spoiler? It hasn't happened yet, but I think we all knew it was going to!

[@colinchildress1251]

Maybe Fillianore and the egg were really the source of the undead curse. The spell was broken, and you get to see what happens to the world without the curse.

[@yugiohguyij]

Nah, the Undead Curse was put on mankind by Gwyn, as shown on the Ringed Knight weapons and armor descriptions.

[@weilin7005]

I think fillianore and the egg is the source to manipulate time ,when she awake the spell break, and we see the world's real form remember the magic repair from dark souls3 it says time is light , gwen truly is the biggest villain in this game he already manipulated time just as his title lord of sunlight damn this dude

[@iWillWakeYouUp]

There's also Lud, one of the Ivory King's Pets.

[@SilverMont]

Maybe Ludleth was a cat in a prior life.

[@iWillWakeYouUp]

Lol very funny, but I'm just saying seeing as you pointed out all the possibly relevant name connections.

[@micheler4120]

Poor Ludleth, a Napoleonic complex, nightmares of being burned, ability to provide Boss weapons, and willing to go through the fire again. Pride is one of the deadlies, isn't it?

[@SilverMont]

At least he has that going for him! He can die knowing he fulfilled his duty.

[@L8RSTORM]

They should made him into a boss

[@kristabzz]

courland ha! we still call it "Kurzeme" in Latvian. And "Kurši" were feared even by vikings so they say :). thx for the neat speculation

[@SilverMont]

That is good to know!

[@kristabzz]

Silver Mont feared because they got raided by courlandians/kurši. On the way. I realy like how you compose the material in these videos. Elegant visuals

[@Irhak69]

Seriously no one still put up an issue of convoluted time, "old heroes phasing in and out" and possible bonfire time travel? I think that somehow our graves and Lothric one are same ones but in different points in "ultimate" timeline. Lothric's show the original plan of Kaathe - let the Flame fade. But then they saw what come with the world and make 1 last effort to correct their path and not snuff out the flame but usurpt it. So they gathered remaining power of the bonfires and send Yuria or someone else (like Kaathe) back in time to tweak a bit history so the world would not fall to Deep Darkness but went just Dark. But that's just a ther... I mean fanfic that is loosely connected to DS lore. Time travel was in DS since the very first DS (convoluted time and mainly the whole travel regarding Oolacile).

[@SilverMont]

The whole convoluted time thing was just a reason for NPCs and players to be summoned in the first game. Multiple words floating around -> when they intersect, you can meet others from those worlds, thats' why Solaire shows up in your world from time to time, etc.

[@Irhak69]

Yes, I know. But maybe they unknowingly made a backdoor for such theory as mine? It started as just a mechanic reasoning then they added proper time-travel through Manus and Elizabath(?). But in the end they messed world way to much with multiple instances of same location without really explaining them. Unless we take Gundyr for explaining and Shrine Handmaid then we go back to 2 points in time of same location.

[@jacobfreeman5444]

Is time convoluted? I have wondered. What would it look like to those who are "living" through it if those with parallel journeys suddenly happened upon our path? Like someone suddenly came from nowhere. And how would they explain it if they talked and they originated from supposedly different times in the order of events? Time must be warped here, they would say! I really don't think time is convoluted but rather each journey is a memory of a soul. They play out, sometimes get tangled in each other, and ultimately come to a conclusion. It is not time that changes but recollection. Ever asked why all these different places seem to connect despite the fact they shouldn't? They are memories of places. Places with strong memories that can survive the grinding of time in the world of the physical. In the realm of gods they live on. This, I think, is what makes undead special. They can bridge the physical realm of living beings and the fantastical realm of spirits and memory...the realm of the gods. Seems strange no undead ever returns once they find their way to this realm, yes? Because this is the place where all spirits go to rest...even the restless undead. This cycle of linking the fire is the cycle of keeping the realm of spirits alive. Maybe the world already ended and this is just a story told to keep the illusion of life going. And maybe, without the warmth of souls, it would end so this fight actually does have purpose. No way to know. In a place with no permanence how can we tell what the ultimate truth is. Only thing we know is our fire is slowly going out.

[@Priceluked]

I still could never understand a single fucking word Aldia said. "WHAT?!"

[@SilverMont]

In a nutshell: "You're doomed, but you persist. You weren't born with talent nor were you granted it. You know how this ends, so why are you still trying?" He gives you some further exposition on events that transpired in the first and second game, and drives the point home that there is no option beyond choosing either light or dark, but we seek it anyway. Cos humans will always strive for a third option, no matter how infeasible it may be.

[@Priceluked]

Silver Mont Thanks for replying Silver, I love these games and the community. I could understand some and of course read the subs when playing Scholar of the First Sin in 2. His voice just really annoyed me with all the weird affects behind it.

[@who_ate_my_cereal1794]

2:20 another real place that has the same name from something form dark souls is havel

[@ryanwalker5723]

He is easily the most devoted Lord of Cinder. I wonder who may have cut off his legs? I would suggest that Hawkwood hobbled him. The real question is: did Hawkwood hobble him to further his own quest as an Unkindled? Or did Ludleth request another to hobble him thus binding him to his throne? I find the latter more convincing due to his dialogue and willingness to fufill his duty despite the massive painful toll he knows he will have to endure to help make the world a brighter place for all. Such is his dedication that he hobbles himself, preventing himself from being able to act upon any dark thoughts that are attempting to persuade him to walk an easier path of sleep, rest, and serenity within the Deep. What he lacks in physical stature, he makes up for x10 in discipline and bravery. An absolute Hero.

[@ihavequestionsaboutthings6167]

Lol... calm down. They were obviously burnt away.

[@CNNBlackmailSupport]

Lethe is the basis for the word Lethal. Ludleth would mean lord of death, lethe is also sleep, oblivion, blackness, so Lord of Sleep or Lord of the Void.

[@err0r0b0]

The Ringed City is what it's called, but it's name could be Courland.