The Irithyll Paintings Explained - Dark Souls

#darksouls3 #darksouls #fromsoftware
a long winded video about my favorite room in irithyll of the boreal valley and lore implications of some of the portraits found within but its mostly just rambling wild speculation about why they would be there, enjoy.

[@lumendrake2265]

Lothric's statue has the profaned greatsword because originally Pontiff's model was meant to be Lothric's final form and final boss of the game. There's no lore connection between the two characters. The first of the scholars is 99% Kaathe since we literally see a Serpent's statue in the archives

[@TheHonoredMadman]

Yeah that makes sense i always forget about the kathe connection. I blame how ive been running thru the series. For some reason remastered kept crashing so i did 2 and 3 first so most stuff from 1 wasnt as fresh in my mind. I still think its possible it could aldia

[@TheHonoredMadman]

I agree with you tho i think the kaathe is more likely though now.

[@TemperedReverence]

That statue was more than likely Frampt, not Kaathe. There's evidence it was created before the scholars became heretical, as it is right beside a priestess and king statue. The Scholars hated the Priestess pillar of Lothric and would have never built a statue honoring them and kept it around. Kaathe was busy setting up a kindgom in Londor to follow his ideals. Lothric was a kingdom that inherited the legacy of linking the fire. It's why King Lothric sired progeny whose entire purpose was to link the flame. It makes much more sense for Frampt to have helped establish Lothric, as their entire culture is in service to the Old Gods of Anor Londo and keeping their legacy alive. If Kaathe was practically worshipped as you suggest, Londor would have no need to send pilgrims or clandestinely influence the kingdom of Lothric the way they're shown doing in DS3. Also, pontiff was not lothric's "final form". Pontiff was originally a boss called "The Old King of the Eclipse" that had no ties to Lothric other than possibly being his father. This original "Old King of the Eclipse" encounter took place in the untended graves. There's no evidence in any game data found so far that Pontiff was a form connected to Lothric like that in any way. Assets and ideas were shuffled around extensively in DS3, more so than almost any other fromsoft game. Lothric's sword was most likely a reused asset. I still like the idea of Aldia being Lothric's tutor. The Soul Stream sorcery found in the archives is evidence of this, but that's all we have to go on. But whether Aldia was the first scholar or not, I think it's a fun thought.

[@specialnewb9821]

​@TemperedReverence I always liked the Aldia theory since he was very much about how it didn't really matter what you did it would just cycle forever. Felt that was definitely what pushed Lothric to choose neither fire nor dark and just let it end.

[@zachariahjonahmaldonado5897]

I've heard Aldia called the Scholar but I don't really buy this, one I think that any primary sources would have mentioned that the Scholar is a burning head made out of branches and two, convincing Lothric to do nothing doesn't really further any plan he'd have had.

[@russian_knight]

I always thought it was actually really sad how those three silver knights don't respawn, implying they weren't hollow or weren't undead, meaning they somehow lived thousands of years, waiting for the royal family to return, but they never did

[@ThommyofThenn]

I guess since they had enough clarity of purpose to avoid going hollow. But like you said, they don't respawn which implies they weren't undead in the first place. Odd, might be an oversight or 'early installment weirdness,' but idk, it seems like they had the lore fairly well thought out. Or they did a really good job backfilling as they went forward with the series

[@Morrov]

@@ThommyofThenn The Silver Knights in DS1 respawn because they're an illusion cast by Gwyndolin. If you break the illusion, they all disappear. They're not humans, they're of Gwyn's kind, so I don't think they'd get branded by the darksign, I think it makes sense how they don't respawn.

[@ThommyofThenn]

@@Morrov thanks for the lore reminder. I tend to forget story elements like that

[@HomingAsatoMass]

There are plenty of non-human enemies that respawn (demons, animals, serpent-men, giants, etc.) On the other hand, there are also enemies that are human and undead, while still not respawning (pretty much every hollowed NPC and a lot of stronger knight-type enemies for example) Dark Souls is very good at contextualizing its mechanics in-universe, but there are limits to that. It's not a perfect game and so not all its aspects can reasonably be interpreted as relevant to the lore.

[@ThommyofThenn]

@@HomingAsatoMass i think any creature can still get turned hollow. Great.. Now i can't stop thinking about the hollow dogs in DS3 but especially in the run up between road of sacrifices and the cathedral

[@sharde26]

I love that humanity sprites are a big part of the lore but they just float around like o_O

[@glorytoukraine5524]

Pontiff is a tree. Aldia is a tree. Pontiff hates gods. Aldia hates gods. Pontiff made abominations. Aldia made abominations. These things have nothing to do with each other. Have a nice day.

[@tacticalmattress]

Aldrich hates gods, eats them. Is an abomination. Have nice day.

[@TheMidnightVendetta]

Also hearing you speak on DS2 is great you should make videos about the lore! I think it lends to head cannon and personal ideas the most out of the trilogy, as it’s much more or a romantic/metaphorical game than the other two. And it’s similar to elden ring in so many ways, would like to see what your takes on it would be!

[@minespatch]

Same director. 😆

[@josephjoy2245]

I love DS2 🤷‍♂️

[@parkout95]

DS 2 sucks tho....

[@josephjoy2245]

@@parkout95 to each his own 😂

[@calebgraham3334]

​@parkout95 give it another go. Ds2 straight up has the best armor selection and some pretty damn fun/unique weapons. The magic/hex staves are pretty sick looking. Also, Majula is hands down the best hub in the series. I wasn't a fan of ds2 at first, but it's honestly so fucking dope!

[@michaelbarker6732]

The mound of iron that was given a soul is the Smelter Demon I believe.

[@InTheDawngeon]

I'm pretty sure the First Scholar is Aldia-you even find his personal Sorcery in the archives, and he mentored people into not linking the flame, much like he did to the Bearer of the Curse Its also a more fun theory to me, tbh

[@TheHonoredMadman]

Totally forgot about the soul stream description from ds2 im actually running thru it again rn and came across it after i made this and was like fuck i shouldve waited a day or two more before making it lol

[@TheMidnightVendetta]

Glad your smoking on that ds3 pack

[@ThommyofThenn]

That's a good meme

[@global-sequence]

Man bravo. I think everyone spends a moment in this room trying to figure it out but like you said, it's seldom mentioned. Most notably the knight ogling gwynevere ofc. Actually never noticed that those were paintings from ds2. V happy to know now that there is solid acknowledgement of its existence in ds3. Lastly that Honored Madman illustration about 1/3 into the video fucking rules lmao. Need more honored fanart.

[@samgomez8195]

Please make a video exploring the “Pilgrim butterflies”/Angels in Dark Souls 3! This is such an underexplored topic, even in the games. I’d love to hear your take on it.

[@TheHonoredMadman]

Im obviously making some leaps with how i use certain terms interchangeably but ill try to refine it as i go lol

[@jandeiification]

Same here, when I was still playing Darksouls 3, when I have reached that room, I was like "Whoa.... Queen Nashanra...." Also the Old Ivory King and Alsanna has one of the most enduring stories in DS2, The love of the Ivory King reaffirm her sense of existence, and just imagine how Bad Ass the Ivory king! I mean come on, he built walls and fortification to "COntain" the Bed of Chaos itself! And by the way, A hollowed knight from Berenike, Knight Slayer Tsorig the one that you would encounter in DS3, the one that wields the Raime's Fume Sword, and has the armor of Tarkus, had a ring called "Knight Slayer Ring/ DS3" which seeming earily familiar with "Ivory Warrior Ring/ DS2"... seems Knight Slayer Tsorig decimated what was left of Eleum Loyce...

[@TheHonoredMadman]

I always saw it as tsorig going around looting ruins where famous knights once lived

[@TheHonoredMadman]

But he os called knight slayer and not knight looter, i guess im just surprised he was able to beat raime

[@rigorm136]

@@TheHonoredMadman I don’t think he beat raime. The ds2 player beat raime and tsorig found raime’s sword. It was a sword in the stone situation where no one was strong enough to wield such a massive hunk of rock until tsorig came along and was like “ooh, big sword…!” He then proceeded to decimate whatever was left of eleum loyce with raime’s sword.

[@diredier]

Love this one! DS2 was my first Souls so will always have a soft spot for it :) Got an unrelated question that's been bugging me since Elden Ring released: What do you think is the relation between Elden Ring's Castle Morne and Dark Souls' Morne? Why do you think the blind Irina appears in both games as well?

[@FinneousPJ1]

Just a callback

[@robertsoto5713]

Love ur videos man always get me thinking. Even if it’s wrong still kinda makes sense at the same time. Ramble all day pls.

[@t-mango2491]

10:59 right here the iron king is not a reincarnation of gwyn, the boss we fight is the result of the old iron king become suffused with gwyn’s soul in the lava, that’s what comments about Ichorous earth refer to

[@samwizgamgie3rd828]

From Software games are like eternal discussion.

[@typalmer6850]

Well done Madman, another fantastic video! I had a question regarding your KZbin banner image... it looks to me like it might be a location in Morrowind, but I couldn't quite place it. Anyway, all the best, I look forward to the next one!

[@TheHonoredMadman]

The sunset one right? Its actually from daggerfall suprisingly enough haha

[@typalmer6850]

@TheHonoredMadman Oh wow, well a nice wallpaper it certainly is

[@slightlytwistedagain]

Regarding the Profaned Flame, my theory as to why it is everlasting is that it has insatiable greed. It eats human flesh because it grows in power when consuming it. In the Japanese text, the Profaned Flame and Profaned Capital are known as Flame of Sin and Capital of Sin. With sin representing greed, taking more than you need (everything to do with the dark is about insatiable eating for power) as well as the Dark Sigil saying that it's a bottomless pitch-black hole, it makes sense why it has everlasting characteristics. How it came into creation is similar to the giant dark sigil in the sky at the end of the main game. In the game files, the pilgrim character model is referred to as the summoner of the eclipse. With the lore from DS1 Purging Stone stating that curses can't be cured, only redirected implies that pilgrims such as Yoel can only die when their Dark Sigil/Humanity is transferred. The Profaned Flame is basically that on a smaller scale and perhaps Sullivan's discovery of that gave him knowledge on how to end Gwyn's grip on the world. Everything was going according to plan with his tutelage of Prince Lothic and allying himself with Aldrich, but alas the Ashen One eliminated him before the flame faded enough for him to usurp the First Flame.

[@marystone860]

I really enjoyed this video! You know way more about Dark Souls lore than I do. Like, the Undead Curse/Darksign thing was Lord Gwyn's doing, because he feared Humanity and their potential power/ where they came from, to such a extent, he cursed Humans with the Darksign/Undeath. So that it was the other guy you mentioned that's responsible for it? Sorry I'm a bit confused, but, I'm just trying some stuff out. I've only played Dark Souls Remastered a bit, and I thought I knew how things went during that, but, it's starting to be turned completely on it's head, which isn't a bad thing. I hope you do more Dark Souls lore videos in the future. I'm trying to put together a massive fan-fic crossover that starts when the player from Dark Souls 3 jumps through the painting at the end, and they end up in one of the towns in Bloodborne. To keep things short, at the end of Bloodborne, The Hunter, who mentored the player from DS3, is killed, and said player is the one who fights Geherman/Moon Presence, and upon ascending, wind up in the world of Elden RIng. What I'm trying to put together, is why I clicked on this particular vid! I like the way you present things, and I hope to expand things through them. Sorry this went a bit long, but, I wanted to share why I clicked on this one. 😊

[@viniciuslessa9682]

Considering Irythill holds the legacy and remains of the original Lordran royal family, this manor and it's contents probably pertained to Gwindolin, not Sullyvahn. Interesting ideas nonetheless.

[@KyngD469]

Twilight Princess Frozen Mansion while talking about the cold place is peak editting.

[@saf01guy]

I always liked discussing this with my friends. Thank you for making this

[@calebgraham3334]

Second time watching this video. Love your lore videos!

[@FiveSeVIIen]

I just noticed watching this video that Magerold has a very similar design both physically and mechanically to Domnhall from the first game (I probably spelled those names wrong but anyway) I also feel like the old lady merchant from the forest of fallen giants is similar to the merchant in undead burg who sells certain starting class weapons, that npc seems to be a grave robber because in the places you find starting class armor sets you dont find their weapons, he doesnt sell the bandits axe or the plank shield because the axe is embedded in the giant rats eye and the plank shield is just a plank of wood, the lady in forest of fallen giants sells certain npc armor sets after you kill them. Its also unusual that the dude in the burg uses and drops an Uchigatana but doesnt sell it (while Shiva does sell them) and he talks to an invisible cat (Alvina) he calls Yulia, im sure theres about 50,000 theories and threads that can be connected with all that but im too lazy to think any further.

[@natebookout811]

It feels like there's something to the idea that the theme of the dark ties all the paintings (especially from DS2) together. DS3 develops a lot of new themes that seem to be an evolution of the dark, like Aldrich and the Pontiff's own "Deep" which is mysterious and unsettling. I wonder how much further this rabbit hole goes.

[@carlthegreat9621]

Our boy sure has some good taste in art.

[@TrickyThe0ne]

This was an interesting video, I haven’t seen anyone talk about these in Dark Souls 3. Pretty insightful considering they can change the interpretation of the game.

[@themaskedhobo]

I can see Irithyl being built on top The Profane Capital, and that either being old Frozen Eleum Loyce itself or having been built on top of it.

[@scovillemtg]

I appreciate the respect you give to head canon

[@TheHonoredMadman]

This is the one lore where it basically makes you come up with a headcanon for everything or atleast it does for me and i love it haha

[@myrrysmiasi4866]

Oh wow! I love your theory about how the profane flame came to be! I never liked DS3 anywhere near as much as DS1, and part of it is certainly that the lore never felt as wondrous and deep. Haven't really looked for new theories for a couple years, should see if other juicy ones have come up to get my own theory crafting re-ignited. Thank you!

[@ericsbuds]

those paintings were always my favorite

[@biomegamechdude]

this was a very interesting bit of lore to ponder on next time i run through ds2 and ds3, where does it say that pontiff is part tree though? i have never heard that theory before

[@herrzyklon]

Thanks for the upload! I really appreciate the fact that you explicitly separate speculation from knowledge. Most others, famously vaati, don't do this, so low intellect people just take it as gospel, whatever he comes out with. It stifles discussion. Your approach does the opposite. Well done!

[@devindonovan8201]

Oddly enough i think one of your last passing comments is quite likely; since pontiff came from a painting, perhaps, at first, he collected what he thought would be "powerful" paintings in hopes of gaining something from them or otherwise interacting with them

[@TheRedCourage]

I always thought of Aldrich as The Darkmoon Gwyndo. Yorshka says he got sick. An item states he was eaten by Aldrich. I think the item is stating in a way like how ObiWan said Darth killed Anakin.

[@xanx3572]

iirc he was poisoned which subsequently weakened him enough for aldrich to consume him

[@jacobhoover1654]

Aldritch's weapon looks like the weapon wielded by Into (and Aldritch even looks like Nito) so i thought Aldritch used Nito's power to get a god "sick."

[@xanx3572]

@@jacobhoover1654 tbh I think it has to do with his whole "dreaming" ability considering he also uses priscilla's scythe in one of his attacks said attack can be transposed as the miracle "lifehunt scythe"

[@paintrain8863]

10:50 i think its stated he woke up (or probably created) smelter deamon, and then got killed by him. Not sure

[@OfficialChrissums]

do the profained flame history vid! but talk about the cut content too, just maybe in its own section.

[@zombiedemon1762]

I see that thumbnail and think the character, Patches is what ties every game he is in together. His existence in Bloodborne as a spider monster with the human head tells me the DS and BB multiverse is connected somehow. Either the Nightmare Spider is just in the future of the Patches Life Timeline or there are multiple versions of this character sent into their separate universes by a higher entity. If the higher entity theory is correct, then I would guess Patches in all of his alternate selves, is actually a Twisted Jesus. So now we have Patches the spider, the human, and I think we are still waiting for the third to represent Holy Ghost?

[@jacobhoover1654]

I thought the Painting Girl's new painting was Bloodborne, since it is painted with blood.

[@zombiedemon1762]

@@jacobhoover1654 . I don't know the Painting Girl. I barely played any of the Dark Souls games. And I can't get very far in what I do play because I suck at these FromSoftware games. Still stuck on the Bloodborne boss with a cage over his head. Well actually I'm stuck at an area before that because I can't seem to get back to that boss. All I can do is collect blood echoes in Central Yharnam and a few other places. And I'm still in the beginning of Elden Ring.

[@abaddon130]

I can help you out if you want a summon to progress through

[@alessandrobaggi6129]

I'd say "From multiverse", where everything and everyone has different versions of themselves in different universes, more than different universes connected in some way (sadly Miyazaki confirmed no connections between series 😢)

[@CODninjarin]

​@@zombiedemon1762grant us eyes.... GRANT US EYES... AWOOOOO

[@darymanzueta8875]

Me personally, I feel like the reason why the painting of Nasandra is there is because Irithyll was the land that she hailed from before coming to Drangleic.

[@SirAchillo]

I think Pontiff could be related to Aldia and here is why: - Tree man - Sorcerer - consumed by Ambition. maybe is Pontiff something like a reicarnation of aldia or something like that and that would explain why they are similar in someways.

[@josephjoy2245]

Bro you making me want to revisit Dark Souls and I’m still balls deep in AC6 😂

[@Jaden-Ring]

You've done something I thought was impossible which is make the profane flame make sense. Bravo even if it's just a theory 👏

[@TupDigital]

Dope topic and exploration thereof

[@arriasinsanite4886]

might be a dumb question but is that an omenkiller smoking a pot with Avatar at 6:28 ?

[@MmPizza77]

Id be "entranced" by that painting too 😂❤ love the vids madman

[@yoitsgiook]

Just in time… I was just fighting Slave Knight Gael

[@minespatch]

I'd be fighting Gael today if my controller wasn't glitching out. Decided to do some shackle farming to take it easy before wakening Filianore.

[@yoitsgiook]

@@minespatch oh damn that’s a bummer. I’m still trying to figure out phase 3. First 2 phases I can do with no hit, but phase 3 his damn teleport spams and long range swings I blow thru my estus smh.

[@TheHonoredMadman]

Them cape swings plus lightning plus that homing attacking. Man is nuts im taking my time with ringed city rn but i just got back to midir, not looking forward to the gael fight but in the past ive always had more trouble with midir than gael

[@yoitsgiook]

@@TheHonoredMadman what’s nuts it’s I played DS3 for the first time this year and just ran through it. I thought elden ring bosses were way more difficult. But I did give up on Midir. I super duper hated the fact that his fire could get under him. Gael I figured out for the most part, I’ve gone at it for 2 hours total. 1st phase took me and hour to figure out, second phase the same. I’ll get it eventually. I can only spend an hour a day on that at most or I’ll lose motivation. I’m not looking forward to going back to Midir though.

[@yoitsgiook]

@@TheHonoredMadman I finally beat him! I figured out phase 3 and what to do. Had no idea nothing happens after you beat him hahaha 😂

[@arigangan]

He came from a painting, that's deep

[@smoage]

One of the weirdest things for me about DS3 pulling so much from DS1 is how it ignores certain story things DS2 tried to talk out at us. Like Straid's monologue in DS2 about the flow of time and kingdoms rising and falling and all that. The Ringed City feels more in line with that than say Anor Londo or an Onion Knight popping up [Or even Laddersmith Gilligan]. That might be some of the weirdness for me about DS2 though too, they did a bit more talking at you about the story than it being told through the environment so when contradictions pop up it's confusing [at least to me, someone who played vanilla when it came out and tried hard to connect dots]. I love playing DS3, though sometimes it feels like they did a bit too hard a pivot back to DS1 in some regards as opposed to forging ahead and things they set up get a bit muddied and maybe lost some of it's own voice [though it's still there and again, mechanically i prefer it]. This is a solid way of connecting it and I honestly never really noticed the DS2 paintings here. Thanks for your work and love your little rip of a sendoff at the end. Cheers!

[@Robocopnik]

Heh, it's like the Dark Souls series version of the 'Dark History' from Turn A Gundam, the series which also has the Moonlight Butterfly and what I think is the inspiration for the Darksign in it. (Might seem unlikely, but we know Fromsoft are well familiar with Gundam, having made the 'Another Century's Episode' games as well as one based on 'Gundam Unicorn')

[@minespatch]

I went there today. I didn't even know the leo ring was there until I decided to go to the Nashandra painting today. Was a bit confused that the knights were in there was missing when I returned. You also mentioned it in your video, so same wavelength. On the conversation of the daughters of Manus, it kind of makes the player character a parent if they played ds1 first. 😆

[@TheHonoredMadman]

Haha holy shit thats a great point. Yeah we shattered manus at the end of artorias of the abyss. Even tho arty himsef gets the credit. Thats an amazing revelation

[@minespatch]

@@TheHonoredMadman Chosen undead parent to four emotional women. 😆 I get what Alvina and Elizabeth did as a way to carry on Artorias's legacy. Wouldn't be surprised if Ciaran is part of the conspiracy due to her praying at the monument.

[@Gameboypxht]

I feel like the dragon sect became the dragon knights, theres a direct correlation based on armor

[@beansnrice321]

Lol, thought you said propane capitol.

[@wilfredwayne7139]

Nah that's were the propane king lives Hank hill.

[@unclet9825]

I will forever cope and seethe at the absolute dishonor dark souls 2 got in dark souls 3, anyways, lovely vid as usual- would love to hear your thoughts on the profaned capital, perhaps also about how the fact the yhorm is the one within it.

[@TemperedReverence]

Alot of people say Dark Souls 3 tries to retcon or forget about DS2, but I dont believe that at all. The people saying this are people that irrationally hate Dark Souls 2 and have an axe to grind. There are many references to Dark Souls 2 in DS3, both thematically and lore wise. The Profaned Capital has many ties to Dark Souls 2, as does The Smouldering Lake and the Cathedral of the Deep. Caitha is a deity with a large if secretive presence in the background of Dark Souls 3, and Caitha was directly pulled from Dark Souls 2. Alva and Zulle's story is also explored through the base game and The Ringed City. These are just a few examples.

[@jankbunky4279]

While there are plenty of connections to ds2, you also have to consider that one of the main creative forces behind ds1 and ds3 is Miyazaki, who did not to much for ds2 as far as I know. I'd say ds3 feels like a sensible sequel to ds1 for the most part, while ds2 was already a big departure from ds1 itself. I like to view ds2 almost as more of a side-game. You only need to play ds1 and ds3 to get the story of the trilogy, but playing ds2 does give some extra context of different stuff.

[@TemperedReverence]

He was more involved than you think. In an interview he explained that he had a world design/world building document on his computer that had the entire dark souls story from start to finish. He said he used it in "All 3 games", and that Darksouls 3 was the conclusion he set up "in the first two games".

[@TemperedReverence]

Darksouls 2 wasn't a big departure, it just expanded the world. Look at it this way, Darksouls 2 showcased the human kingdoms and how mankind dealt with the undead curse and the cycles of fire. It'd be like if Darksouls 1 took place in Astora, Thorolund, Carim, etc. Darksouls 1 explores the Gods of Anor Londo and how they set the stage, and train in vain to hold on to their glory. Darksouls 2 explores mankind, their myriad kingdoms, and how each king tried to stave off the curse, and ultimately failed Darksouls 3 ties it all together. How multiple cycles of fire have warped the world, and how everything is finally buckling in on itself and burning to Ash. How Lords of all stripes continued to link the fire, and how they all eventually saw folly in it. @@jankbunky4279

[@nikolaskulka9574]

Love the ds3 and ds2 lore

[@foster2095]

I vote for the profs ones capital lore video but I'm equally happy for wheeling and dheeling so I'm happy either way~

[@wormskull2454]

You’re the first person I’ve ever heard pronounce it “Low-Thrick” instead of “Law-Thrick”. I’m not saying one is correct & the other isn’t, it just sounds weird lol. Kinda like the whole “Smoe/Smaow/Smoph” debate.

[@paralam2175]

Hol' up, where DS3 stated that the children of Manus don't truly die?

[@TheHonoredMadman]

Karlas ashes but the exact wording is "child of abyss" so im sort of making a leap to assume its referring to shards of manus even if i use the terms interchangeably in the video. Bad habit of mine lol

[@paralam2175]

@@TheHonoredMadman The Dark Sword she sells tells about some mother-daughter relationship. So maybe a shard of Manus doesn't reincarnate in itself, but it can inhabit others. Kinda like Voldemort when he lived as a spirit and used to project himself onto other living beings to survive. EDIT: but this theoru doesn't go along with how the Queens in DS2 appeared, hm who knows

[@t-mango2491]

It’s also worth noting silver knights do not hollow, the race they belong to has never much been expanded upon, but ornstien, Ciaran, and artorias all belong to a race called “lords” like the silver knights, the only confirmed human to serve among them was pharis, a human archer who served beside the giant gough

[@zachariahjonahmaldonado5897]

I don't think the Pontif has redecorated. I always supposed that the Deep taking over Irythil is a very recent development. Straight up until you fight the Deacons, Anri believes you all are going to fight Aldrich in the Cathedral. Only after that point do they think to go to Irythil. Irythil shows signs of recent battle, with the Pontif looking beaten and burned, the Deacons moving around with still present Silver Knights. A corpse with the Brass Set is still present, unlooted. Gwyndoline seems to be still alive in some state. The land is called the Sunless Realms and Sirris is from there, but makes no mention of it being occupied. As to the paintings, In a thematic reading, I think they're just reused art assets. At least Nashandra's doesn't curse you anymore.

[@theangelofdeath7750]

Love your content please dont stop

[@Garl_Vinland]

The scholar came from the profaned capital. Pontiff Sulyvahn merely acquired his sword much like the Greatsword of judgement wasn’t his to begin with either. Sulyvahn is a tree creature

[@nickfish-y6i]

nice research, nice storytelling!

[@YungTigris]

lets gooooo my fav souls creator

[@kennyjo7817]

Maybe the painting of nashandra is his mother it's speculation. She could have returned and went into the painting. The painting are for those who had lost everything. It was a place they could belong . Since she is tied to matisis want maybe that's all she wanted was to be left alone.

[@specialnewb9821]

I will always maintain Rosaria is a Manus sister

[@billD.Boomer]

The people want armored core theories. Like Balteus, you gotta beat the Arquebus big dogs to the punch!

[@billD.Boomer]

Can we expect any Armored Core lore?

[@timsims4938]

Of course gwyneveres painting would be in irithyll because irithyll is anor Londo and it makes no sense that pontiff sulyvahn hung those paintings it felt to me like there were there from the start

[@the-annoyinator]

NAHH BLUD WAS THAT THE IVORY KING IN SKYRIM LMAO

[@jeffconnors6740]

Constructive criticism, narrative voice

[@djspit8929]

0:51 "these are probably just easter eggs" Come on madman, you know theres no such thing as a coincidence in this series

[@staomruel]

Praise the tree.

[@Caribbean-Man]

good vid. subbed.

[@g.r.o.g.u.1892]

big chest painting ahead

[@LaydiNite]

I'm being incredibly nitpicky here, but you can't be on the losing side of a stalemate. A stalemate by it's nature has no winning or losing side, it's a tie that can't be broken.

[@theULTIMATElife50]

Why is Brume Tower called that? Brume means mist or fog. Smog might fit as a description if the name is accurate but i feels like a stretch of the meaning brume. Or could the name be a mistranslation and instead be Bloom Tower as in a bloomery, a small chimeny used to smelt iron.

[@elias.t]

No, the Japanese name means Tower of Black Fog. Don't know why they chose brume instead, but the choice has nothing to do with bloomery.

[@alessandrobaggi6129]

I've always intended the Profaned Flame as "profaned from its tomb (=Old Chaos fits well), from its demon legacy, and used by humans (or others, see Yhorm)"... "Corrupted by Alsanna's darkness" doesn't make so much sense to me...

[@mikjall9345]

Far out that bong pull at the end was cringy.

[@devindonovan8201]

Agreed lmao 😬

[@carlucioleite]

Nice

[@Nik37346]

Pontiff kinda looks a bit like Titchy Gren. Just a though

[@arigangan]

Please make the profane capital video

[@rattle_boyale]

Let’s goooo

[@lovesiriusblack]

Next series: A brief history of _ ✌

[@robertbcardoza]

The way Elden Ring has contextualized the memes of dark souls is so cool

[@dwaynedibly1203]

voice got me like honk shoe

[@shadquirk607]

I always thought the painting woman made these.

[@Evil_Noah]

Wonderous chest ahead, thus try Hard

[@stubenhockershr1161]

deffo profane flame, never yould make sense of it, but im also an idiot

[@Salty_C.J.]

iove had a screen shot of this room as my background on xbox since the game came out

[@greenhowie]

Honestly, if you want to fit DS2 into the series' timeline properly you have to work out the timeline within DS2 and that is MESSY. Like, going through areas is just an interpretation of what really happened... except it kind of DID happen that way... until you go back to the bonfire. Then history changed. Literally 4D chess, good luck.

[@imdefinitelynotjesus]

You know with you saying pontiff was partly a tree made me stop and realize something. He’s a homage too elden ring, he uses magic and fire is part tree and took over rulership by usurping power. Well Radagon mastered magic and faith Aka fire and is part of a literal fucking tree that he claimed only due to usurping in some mysterious manner. At this point I’m not sure you could convince me they they aren’t some sort of weird mirror matched situation.

[@Pneubeteube]

Fromsoft has a history of revisiting themes and hashing them out more in each installment, so you probably are correct

[@Embre.E]

dank souls 2

[@ichabodthecrane]

dawg its fucking pronounced "law-thrick" they say it in the fucking intro cutscene

[@cruxlamar9681]

Maybe through in a sekiro video??