Board Thread:Dark Souls III/@comment-3236835-20160805064715/@comment-29257715-20160806172013

I would agree that it is the Ashen One, wearing the Firelink Set, while I understand your point on the Ashen One wearing his/her class gear. That is only for the first playthrough. NG+ and beyond show the Ashen One rising out of the grave with whatever you had equipped when making the transition. Plus I always figured whatever he was crushing was an Ember, but now that I've taken a closer look it does make more sense for it to be ash instead. A close to his identity.