Board Thread:Lore Discussion/@comment-16323332-20140410210836/@comment-24679176-20140411161825

Also, think about this: The way the Emerald Herald greets you the first time: Are you the new monarch? Or just a pawn of fate?

SPOILERS AHEAD

Vendrick was indeed a pawn, but a pawn of Nashandra's own agenda. She convinced him to wage war against the giants and stole something from them, this gave him great power but at what cost? His kingdom destroyed by the giants, his people? hollowed just like himself and Nashandra just waiting for someone to open the throne for her and claim it. She is supposed to be a shard of Manus's Soul which gained consciusnes after a long time and she wants you to "embrace the Dark" which means that after Manus was defeated the Abyss laid low, waiting for someone to unleash it again.

That's why Nashandra wants the Throne, to unleash it herself and "let true dark be cast upon the world" and that's why after you defeat her that the Emerald Herald says that you are the only one who knows what will happen after you take the Thron of Want for yourself: Light or Darkness?