Board Thread:Lore Discussion/@comment-10209824-20140321195951

Drangleic is the Kingdom that rests over what was once Vinheim. There are a couple of pieces of evidence that support this:

1) The Devs stated that, in comparison to Lordran, "If DS1 took place in the North Pole, DS2 takes place in the South Pole." This tells us that Drangleic is not in the same location as Lordran.

2) As for Drangleic being where Vinheim was, the Lingering Dragoncrest Ring states, "A ring used long, long ago in a land that existed where Drangleic is now." The Ring in DS1 is an object from Vinheim, hence why you buy it off Griggs of Vinheim.

3) The emphasis on Dragons in Drangleic is similar to Vinheims interest in Dragons. Both kingdoms used them as their sigil. Furthermore, it is my belief that the Dragon Temple, in DS2, was the Dragon School in Vinheim, of DS1. Humans learned the Sorceries from Seath, but Seath was only unique in that he was scaleless. It's safe to assume that plenty of other Dragons knew about the Sorceries, meaning that the Dragon being at the center of the Temple/School would make sense, as Dragons and Sorceries seem to be inextricably linked.

So assuming that Drangleic was once Vinheim, it actually answers a lot of questions. First, the "Land of the Giants", that Vendrick invaded, was Lordran. Why? Because Giants were native to Lordran. In DS1 they worked the mechanisms of Sen's Fortress and were the Sentinels of Anor Londo. Gough and Smough were both giants as well. As for their appearance in DS2, we never actually see the Giants faces in DS1 meaning that their faces in DS2 could be what they looked like. If not, then 1000 years is a hell of a long time so it's entirely possible that they could have changed in appearance.

Anyway, I think Vendrick went to Lordran and stole the First Flame at the urging of Nashandra. This would also make sense, as Nashandra was working to spread the Dark and being in control of the First Flame meant she could directly work to end it's existence. This could be why the Giants hated Vendrick, they were charged with defending Lordran and the Flame and Vendrick stole it. Hence the invasion.

So this is my theory on Drangliec's Origins. What are your thoughts? 