Board Thread:Lore Discussion/@comment-172.56.9.225-20140731112048/@comment-16047389-20140731191830

To fully understand this, we have to understand what the Age of Fire and the Age of Dark actually are. If we look at the lore in Dark Souls 1, and cross it with the lore of Dark Sousl 2, the picture becomes a bit more clear.

In the beginning, there was no Light or Dark. But when the Disparity came, Humans came from the Dark and found the Lord Souls in the Light. Gwyn and the other Gods came with the Age of Fire. They come from Fire in the same way that humans come from the Dark. The difference is that Fire is finite, while Dark is infinite. When the Age of Fire ends, the Gods will no longer have a place in this world, and will fade away. Humans, on the other hand, will return to the Dark, and thus will begin the Age of Dark, or the Age of Man.

But, here's what we learn in Dark Souls 2. Grave Warden Agdayne heavily implies that the Dark is actually where humans return to after death. And throughout the entire series, Fire is constantly equated to Life. So the Age of Fire is also the Age of Life, while the Age of Dark is the Age of Death. But you have to understand that in Dark Souls, death is not the same thing as nonexistence. The Milfanito were created by the Dead One (Nito) to serenade the dead to keep their souls at peace in the Dark. The Fenito act as watchers of the dead, to make sure they are not disturbed in their slumber. Both of these facts heavily imply that the dead are fully capable of coming out of the Dark, and causing havoc. Several item descriptions also relate the Dark as being tranquil and peaceful. All of these facts together, in my honest opinion, point to the Dark being a place of final rest after death.

The gods in Dark Souls, show the ability to be born anew (thus the existence of the four Great Souls in Drangleic). They do not truly die, but rather simply change form. However, this only holds true so long as the Age of Fire continues. Should the Age of Fire ever end, they will neither live nor die. Rather, they would simply cease to exist at all. This is the real reason why Gwyn sacrificed himself to rekindle the First Flame. This is also why the Witch of Izalith sought a way to recreate the First Flame, so there would not have to be any sacrifices at all. It is unclear of Nito's true stance on this matter, as he has been shown to neither actively perpetuate the Age of Fire, nor to end it. However, Nito seems to be content to sleep within the Tomb of Giants. Perhaps he actually desires an end to his own existence.

So to humans, the Age of Fire means to live and be capable of experiencing life, happiness, love, and all those other emotions that make humans what they are. However, it also means struggle, pain, and sacrifice in order to maintain it. The Age of Dark means an end to that suffering, and an eternity of tranquil slumber. But it also means to be dead. For Gwyn, the decision is easy, as for him and the other gods, there is nothing awaiting them in the Age of Dark. They can only continue to exist in the Age of Fire. In this respect, he isn't really good or bad. He just wants to live. But for humans, it is different. Do you struggle, sacrifice, and suffer in order to continue living? Or do you simply give up, and let life end to stop the suffering?

That is what the cycle represents. That is the Curse of Life, and the Curse of Want.