Gods

For the four great beings who found the Souls of Lords, see Lords.

Sacred statues in Anor Londo. From left to right, statues of: a Silver Knight, Gwyn, another Silver Knight, and Gwynevere. To the utmost left is an empty spot where a statue of Gwyn's Firstborn once stood.

The Gods or Deities are a storyline concept in the Dark Souls series. They are beings, real or fictional, who have been worshipped as Gods throughout the Ages.

A number of them, the Gods of Anor Londo or "Old Gods", are (or once were) real, and members of the unnamed species of Gwyn, Lord of Sunlight, a number of them his direct relatives. The Gods of Anor Londo took on the roles of Gods served by the smaller Humans, mainly through the Way of White, the most widespread Human religion, with Gwyn as its central omnipotent figure.

There are also a number of Gods whose existence and nature remain unclear, either outright described as Gods in item descriptions or worshipped by other beings to a degree. Those include a number of Deities worshipped in Drangleic in the times of Dark Souls II, whose possible relations to the Old Gods are mostly unclear. By the events of Dark Souls III, the city of Irithyll of the Boreal Valley was built over old Anor Londo, becoming the heart of a reformed Way of White.

Lore

The "Gods of Anor Londo" are the members of the clan of Lord Gwyn; one of the four Lords that found the Lord Souls after the First Flame appeared and brought life in the world.

Gwyn during the war against the Everlasting Dragons.

They are part of a precise biological race, distinct from Humans descended from the Furtive Pygmy. For this reason the offspring of their relationships with humans present specific traits that allow them to be recognized as descendants of the Gods even generations later. These dominant phenotypes can be identified in individuals who have a slender build, elongated limbs, together with pale skin and faces with specific features.

At one point a God committed the sin of "greed". For this they were banished and cursed, resulting into their head transforming into an imitation of treasure chests. They became the very first Mimic. The Mimic became "the symbol of shame imposed on a long lost clan, exiled for the sin of avarice", perhaps meaning that this clan were similarly turned into Mimics.

Gwyn led the Gods and their Silver Knights in a war against the Dragons. With their powerful magic and the aid of the Dragon traitor, Seath the Scaleless, the Gods slew most of the Dragons and claimed the world for their own. Gwyn and his family founded the mighty city of Anor Londo, from whence they ruled over the humans, distant descendants of the Furtive Pygmy.

Gwyn derived the bulk of his power and influence from the First Flame, which he shared with the other gods, but in time the Flame began to die. To preserve their influence over the world, Gwyn sacrificed himself by entering the Kiln of the First Flame, where his strength would keep the Flame alive.

Plot

Lordran, the "land of the ancient lords." Towering over it to the right is Anor Londo, the former siege of the Old Gods.

Dark Souls

After Lord Gwyn entered the Kiln of the First Flame, most of the gods abandoned Anor Londo, leaving behind a small army of Silver Knights and two elite knights: Dragon Slayer Ornstein and Executioner Smough, to protect the city. Much more shady was the role of Gwyndolin, the only true God that remained in Anor Londo. He created an illusion of Gwynevere, Lord Gwyn's daughter, to hide the fact that she had left Anor Londo and married the Flame God, Flann. Gwyndolin has the same goal as Kingseeker Frampt, using the illusion of Gwynevere to convince the Chosen Undead to rekindle the First Flame. Gwyndolin seems to survive the events of Dark Souls as he is being consumed by Aldrich, Devourer of Gods in Dark Souls III, implying that the Chosen Undead either did not fight him or only defeated an illusion of him in the timeline canon to the latter game.

The members of the race of the gods and their priests were buried inside the Tomb of the Giants overseen by Gravelord Nito.

Dark Souls II

Statue of Velka, one of the few deities whose worship remain consistent across all three games.

The gods are mostly forgotten by this point in time, with their names unknown, though there remains the ruins of old cities who once worshiped the old gods. The souls of the three Lords are said to have been reborn and try to influence the world despite being mere fragments.

Dark Souls III

Even after the awakening of the Ashen One, the influence of several gods or their descendants is still present in the world.

Dark Sun Gwyndolin, once the king of the gods and of Irithyll, had been imprisoned in the city's old cathedral by Pontiff Sulyvahn, that stripped him of his power to rule in his place. However Aldrich, Devourer of Gods had arrived in Irithyll and, after defeating Sulyvahn, he began to devour Gwyndolin. Yorshka, Gwyndolin'sister, is still alive and leads the knights's of the Blade of the Darkmoon covenant, but she has been imprisoned by Sulyvahn in an isolated tower.

Gwynevere, Princess of Sunlight was the Queen of Lothric and conceiving Lorian, Elder Prince and Lothric, Younger Prince, the younger son destined to link the First Flame. However, after Lothric refused to fulfill his duty, King Oceiros became obsessed with the power of dragons . Gwynevere granted his wish for an heir of divine and draconic blood and gave birth to her last children Ocelotte, however she later abandoned the kingdom of Lothric and quietly disappeared .

Statues in the Ringed City depicting a Pygmy worshipping Gwyn (center) and a Silver Knight to the left.

Filianore, Gwyn's last daughter, still remains in the Ringed City, asleep to keep the city outside the flow of time and space. Shira, Knight of Filianore, daughter of Seath, continues to remain at her side, defending the princess's sleep and maintaining control over the noble Pygmy family.

Caitha, Goddess of Tears's cult survived from the land of Drangleic and she became the central deity of the Way of White, which settled in Carim. Morne, her favorite follower, became the apostle of the Archbishop of Carim and his influence spread, creating miracles dedicated to Caitha and leading the knights of Carim to adopt his armor and weapons. However, the clerics of Carim also began using talismans that employed intelligence and cast dark miracles and freely devoted themselves to the creation of forbidden rings, implying that the goddess leaves a lot of freedom for her clerics to investigate the Dark. Despite this, Caitha continues to be dedicated to bringing comfort to suffering humans, and the forlorns revere her as their protector.

Pantheon

Old Gods of Anor Londo

Powerful beings who lived in Anor Londo and were worshipped by Humans in the time before the events of Dark Souls. Outside of those explicitly stated as related to Gwyn, their connections to him in blood or species are otherwise unclear.

• Lord Gwyn, God of Sunlight, who claimed a Lord Soul, conquered the world after defeating the Dragons and ruled it as king of the Gods. He eventually sacrificed himself to Link the First Flame, becoming the first Lord of Cinder, with his empty husk guarding the Flame. He is regarded as the omnipotent main deity of the Way of White, the faith worshipping the Gods of Anor Londo.
• Gwyn's Firstborn Son, once a God of War and of the Sun, who had originally inherited Gwyn's throne and ruled Anor Londo. However, he would later be cast out and undeified, his faith becoming anathema to the Way of White while he became a nameless king, with all traces of him erased from history. He was succeeded by Lloyd as ruler of the Gods. His symbol is that of a sun.
• Gwynevere, Goddess of Sunlight and eldest daughter of Gwyn. She fled Anor Londo prior to the events of Dark Souls, after which she married the God Flann, with whom she had several children. By the time of Dark Souls III, she married King Oceiros, making her the Queen of Anor Londo's neighbouring kingdom of Lothric, and mothered three of his children, although she has fled this kingdom too by the events of the game.
• Gwyndolin, God of the "Dark Moon" and of the "Dark Sun", and lastborn son of Gwyn. Raised in secrecy as a girl, he is a hybrid likely mothered by Crossbreed Priscilla, and the last God left in Anor Londo and Lordran by the events of Dark Souls, although he remains perceived as somewhat of a minor deity, acting from the shadows, including by creating an illusion of Gwynevere. By the events of Dark Souls III, he succeeded Lloyd as ruler of the Gods, and reigned from Irithyll, their new seat of power he built atop old Anor Londo.
• Filianore, lastborn daughter of Gwyn. It is unclear if she was ever deified, or even if her existence was known to the rest of the world, but her endless slumber in the Ringed City is considered holy by those within and protected by Gwyn's Spears of the Church.
• Lloyd, God of Law and Caste, and Gwyn's uncle. By the events of Dark Souls, Lloyd is the leader of the Way of White, having proclaimed himself "Allfather Lloyd" after Gwyn's Firstborn was undeified and cast out. By the events of Dark Souls III, Gwyndolin took the status of leader of the Gods from him, reforming the Way of White to turn Lloyd's worship anathema.
• Velka, Goddess of Sin, tasked with defining sins and overseeing punishment or pardon for them. She is often associated with crows.
• Flann, God of Flame. After most of the gods left Anor Londo, he married Gwynevere and had several children with her.
• McLoyf, God of Medicine and Alcoholic Drinks. He is nicknamed 'Old Man' McLloyf, although it is not his official title.
• Fina, a Goddess who possesses fateful beauty but whose embracing love is as fickle as the weather..
• The Nameless Blacksmith Deity, who forged the weapons of the Old Gods and died before the events of Dark Souls; the Titanite Demons (whom, in spite of their name, are not actual demons) were born from his death. It is unclear if he ever had a name, and although he is called a god in item descriptions, it is unclear if he was worshipped or part of the Way of White.
• By the events of Dark Souls, a God was banished for being "incorrigibly covetous" and cursed into becoming the first Mimic.

Later Gods of Anor Londo

• Caitha, Goddess of Tears, who mourns the undeserving dead and the loved ones left behind. It is unclear whether she was already a Deity in the original pantheon of Anor Londo, but she was worshipped in Drangleic by the events of Dark Souls II, and by Dark Souls III, her cult is prominent in the reformed Way of White.
• Yorshka, Priscilla's daughter and the younger half-sister of Gwyndolin from another father. She originated in the Painted World of Ariamis, but by the events of Dark Souls III has travelled to Irithyll and met her brother, who deified her and made her part of the Way of White's pantheon. It is unclear what she is the Goddess of, although she inherited Gwyndolin's rule of the Blade of the Darkmoon covenant.
• Rosaria, Goddess of Rebirth, a descendant of Gwynevere. She is a mute woman worshipped by the Rosaria's Fingers covenant, described outright as a Goddess and whom once possessed a sword shaped like a crescent moon reminescent of the moon worshipped in Irithyll. She resides in the a cathedral home to the heretic faith of the Deep, although her worship is separate from it, and possibly part of the Way of White.

Relations of the Gods of Anor Londo

These beings were part of the faith, closely related to the Old Gods of Anor Londo, or later came to become important figures in Anor Londo.

• Havel the Rock, a battlefield compatriot of Gwyn who fought at his side against the Everlasting Dragons and inspired many warriors who wore similar equipment. He is referred to as a "bishop" , and is clearly part of the faith of the Way of White, as there were even "priests of Havel" and miracles recalling his tales, although whether he was actually deified, or part of Gwyn's species, is unclear.
• Seath, an Everlasting Dragon who sided with Gwyn against his own species. After the war, he was granted Dukedom, married a woman in Gwyn's family, and came to be regarded as the Godfather of sorcery, although he was seemingly not deified.
• Many Silver Knights since the Age of Ancients served Lord Gwyn and the other Old Gods of Anor Londo, well into the events of Dark Souls III. Their origins and species are never clearly explained.
• Crossbreed Priscilla, hated by the Gods, was exiled to the Painted World of Ariamis hidden in Anor Londo. She was likely the hybrid daughter of Seath, and the mother of both Gwyndolin, with Gwyn as the father, and of Yorshka, from another father.
• Pontiff Sulyvahn, a cleric born in another Painted World and who later came to Anor Londo, where he would forcefully take control of Irithyll from Gwyndolin, becoming its tyrannical ruler.
• King Oceiros, the King of Lothric who married Gwynevere. It is unknown what his original species was, but he would later become similar to a hybrid in an attempt to turn into a Dragon. He is the father of at least three of Gwynevere's children: Lorian, Lothric (named after the kingdom) and her youngest, Ocelotte, none of whom were deified; it is unclear whether or not he fathered Rosaria, the Dancer of the Boreal Valley, or Gertrude, but as Lorian was the heir to the throne, he was likely the two's oldest son, and perhaps their oldest child together.

Irithyllians and descendants of the Old Gods

Beings who descend from the original Gods of Anor Londo gods of Gwyn's clan and their multiple relationships with other Gods or humans, but are not confirmed to have ever been regarded as Gods.

• The Dancer of the Boreal Valley, a direct descendant of Gwynevere, possibly her daughter. She was reduced to a life of servitude by Sulyvahn, becoming one of his Boreal Knights.
• Gertrude, the "Heavenly Daughter", a maiden of Gwynevere when the latter was Queen of Lothric, believed to be Gwynevere daughter. Although she may not have been revered as a Goddess, she was the central figure of an "Angelic faith" once prominent in Lothric. a luminescent humanoid that had evolved from the fermented humanity of the pilgrims of Londor According to her scriptures, Gertrude was visited by an Angel who imparted to her truths that contradicted the teachings of the Old Gods; because this new faith was heretical to the Way of White, Gertrude was imprisoned in the cell positioned high above the Grand Archives, where she likely died, and part of her scriptures were labelled heretical.
• Lorian, Elder Prince and Lothric, Younger Prince, oldest two sons of Oceiros and Gwynevere when the latter was Queen of Lothric. Lorian was raised to inherit his father's throne, while Lothric was raised to become a Lord of Cinder; however, Lothric was born frail and weak, leading Lorian to join their souls together in an attempt to assist his brother. Ultimately, Lothric refused to Link the First Flame altogether.
• Ocelotte, last child of Gwynevere and Oceiros. His father attempted to turn Ocelotte into a "child of dragons".
• Shira, Knight of Filianore, daughter of the dragon Seath and the relative of Gwyn he married, sworn to protecting the slumber of Gwyn's child Filianore.
• Aldrich, the "Saint of the Deep", once a cleric from Irythyll who turned to eating Humans and would become the central figure of a new heretical faith focused around "The Deep", to which the Cathedral of the Deep is dedicated. He would later become a Lord of Cinder, yet be resurrected as fodder for a new Linking of the First Flame; renouncing this new duty, he resumed his duties as leader fo the faith of The Deep and seeked to become a "Devourer of Gods".
• The various followers of Pontiff Sulyvahn in Irithyll:
  • The Boreal Outrider Knights, including Vordt of the Boreal Valley, doomed by the dual rings Sulyvahn gifted them to lose their sanity, and eventually turn into horrible beasts.
  • The Pontiff Knights, whom were slaughtered by Aldrich shortly before the events of Dark Souls III and resurrected by Sulyvahn's necromancy, fighting for him still now as empty husks.
  • The Fire Witches, former holy knights who were corrupted by the Profaned Flame.

Gods of Drangleic

Deities of uncertain origin, whose potential connections to the Old Gods of Anor Londo are unknown.

• Faraam, God of War, also the central Deity of the fallen kingdom of Forossa.
• Galib, God of Disease worshipped by a magically-adept cult; his faith was deemed blasphemous, and his followers slaughtered and driven into exile. His symbol is that of a drop of poison.
• Kremmel, God of Struggle who rewards perseverance. His symbol is a black arrow pointing downwards.
• Hanleth, Goddess of Bliss. Her symbol is a white arrow pointing upwards, an opposite to Kremmel's.
• Quella, God of Dreams. Their symbol is that of a great tree, and a tale connected to them tells of a boy who found the protection of a great talking spirit tree from the "dreamworld"; it is unclear if Quella themselves are meant to be a tree.
• Nahr Alma, God of Blood. He is worshipped by the Brotherhood of Blood covenant, who are obsessed with violence and shedding blood, and is depicted wearing a robe and wielding a great scythe.
• Caffrey, Goddess of Fortune associated with wealth. She is depicted as an angel-like figure with wings, and coins representing her later make their way to Lothric.
• Zinder, God of Desire, and Zandroe, God of Greed. Zinder's symbol is a pig head, although both are associated with snakes.
  • Both Zinder and Zandroe are known in the original Japanese as ザンドロ", meaning "Zandro"; the only item mentioning Zandroe being the Covetous Silver Serpent Ring, and with only Zinder being among the many Deities featured on the Name-engraved Ring, they were likely meant to be the same God, with Zandro's division into two deities being a mistake in translation.
• Nehma, Goddess of Love. Her symbol is an Estus Flask.
• Evlana, Goddess of the Hunt. Although remembered as a deity in Drangleic, she was in fact "no goddess at all", and merely a skilled huntress whose legends depict as a Goddess.
  • The Forest Hunter Archer in Dark Souls is called "Pharis the Heroic Archer" in Japanese, although in the English version, Pharis seems to have become a distinct character lore-wise. This Dark Souls Archer wears the same items later associated with Evlana, and as such Evlana might be what Pharis is remembered as in Drangleic.

Others

• Dragons have been worshipped by many individuals throughout history, such as the adherents to the Path of the Dragon, the Dragon Remnants, or the devoted knights of the Dragon Shrine.
  • Sinh, the Slumbering Dragon was worshipped by a culture who built an entire city to protect their slumber.
  • The Drakeblood Knights worshipped not the dragons themselves but their blood, to the point where they were willing to kill Sinh so that they could collect their fresh blood.
• The Lion Clan worshipped a God of War; this God, described in Dark Souls III as "a mad god, revered as a god of war in remote regions", might be the God of War Faraam, whose knights were notably named "Lion Knights" although they were Human.
• The natives of the forest of Millwood worshipped an "Ethereal Oak", and the grounds of their lands from which it grew. The tree would later rot due to the dragon Midir's attempts to use it to heal himself of Abyss, and the people of Millwood moved to the Painted World of Ariandel.

Trivia

• Gwyn's parents are never mentioned, although Lloyd is called his uncle.
• The mothers of Gwyn's children are also unknown, safe for Gwyndolin's, who was likely Priscilla; as only Gwyndolin exhibits hybrid traits, Priscilla is unlikely to have mothered any of his other three known children.
• The actual order of birth of Gwyn's children is unclear, and it is only certain that his Firstborn Son is older than Gwyndolin, and Gwynevere older than Filianore; Gwyndolin is sometimes referenced as the last child of Gwyn in the first game, but as it is possible that Filianore's very existence is unknown to most, this might be a reflection of erroneous belief, and Filianore might be younger.
• It is unknown if the size of the illusion of Gwynevere in Dark Souls is accurate, as she does not appear in person in any of the games lore-wise, and only as an illusion, statue or painting.
• Flame God Flann might have not been a God of Anor Londo; he is only mentioned in the description of the Ring of the Sun Princess in Dark Souls, which states that after leaving Anor Londo, Gwynevere "became wife to Flame God Flann". No item directly associated with Flann is ever found in the games, and he might have never actually been in Anor Londo, and instead a foreign deity, possibly deified only upon marrying Gwynevere. What became of Gwynevere's marriage to Flann is unknown, but although the Sun Princess Ring's description mentions that after leaving Gwynevere also became "a mother, raising several heavenly children", she seems to have returned to Anor Londo in-between the two games without Flann, as she would marry Oceiros in the neighbouring kingdom of Lothric.