Lothric, Younger Prince

For the boss battle, see Lorian, Elder Prince and Lothric, Younger Prince.

For the location, see Lothric.

Lothric, Younger Prince or Prince Lothric is a character in Dark Souls III.
He is voiced by Harry Lister Smith, who also voiced Dark Sun Gwyndolin in Dark Souls.

In-Game Description

The Lothric bloodline was obsessed with creating a worthy heir, and when this proved impossible, resorted to unspeakable means. Suffice it to say, the path to linking the fire is a cursed one indeed.

Location

Lothric and his brother Lorian reside atop Lothric Castle, within the most remote chambers of the kingdom. They are guarded by several Lothric Knights and foot soldiers in addition to Kriemhild, Albert and Kamui.

Description

Lothric is a pale, emaciated young humanoid of great size. He has long, claw-like fingers, light-colored hair that falls to his shoulders, and dark, sunken eyes. The way he clings to Lorian's back during battle suggests he is unable to walk due to his illness. He wears the same baby clothes that he used throughout his entire life. Lothric relies on magic alone during battle, and is a considerably powerful magic user, casting homing soul masses, soul spears, and teleporting his brother around the arena. He is one of the few humanoid magic users in the series to cast spells without any apparent catalyst.

Lore

Lothric is the son of Oceiros, King of Lothric and the Queen of Lothric. He is the younger brother to Lorian, as well as the older brother to Ocelotte.

Lothric, the younger prince, was the destined Lord of Cinder, who would sacrifice himself as fuel for the First Flame to uphold the Age of Fire. The prince, born a sickly, frail child, was nevertheless viewed as the "last hope of his line", the culmination of generations of Lothric rulers obsessed with producing worthy Champions for the Flame. For the anticipated journey of the young prince to the Kiln of the First Flame, a platinum sword was crafted and blessed with strong magic by the High Priestess, long before he was ready to fulfill his destiny. Oceiros created extensive propaganda around Lothric, not only giving him the name of the kingdom, but also building statues that depicted him with his sacred sword ready to complete his task, as well as preparing his throne at the Firelink Shrine in advance.

However, the hopes of the royal family would soon fade as Lothric remained a shriveled child from birth into adulthood, never even growing out of his baby clothes. Furthermore, the first scholar of the Grand Archives seemingly became a private mentor to young Prince Lothric, and likely divulged his skepticism on the nature of the Age of Fire to his student. The frail prince also demonstrated talent for sorcery, and learned several powerful and refined spells.

Realizing that Lothric would not improve from his condition, the royal family resorted to repulsive acts in an attempt to obtain a worthy Champion: the rulers bound the souls of the two princes together with a curse. Although the exact motive behind this act is unknown, it is likely that the rulers intended for Prince Lothric to share in the strength of his elder brother's soul, which could have allowed him to qualify as worthy Ash for the First Flame. It was even said that Lorian willingly submitted to the curse, even as it crippled him. The resulting Soul of the Twin Princes was one worthy of providing kindling for the First Flame, even as the princes were physically incapable of overcoming the obstacles involved in linking the Flame.

Meanwhile King Oceiros, consumed by his search for a worthy heir and driven to madness, would abandon the government to try to transform himself into a dragon, condemning the kingdom to the consequences of the fading of the Flame, as well as the chaos of a war of faith among the ranks of the army.

When the First Flame began to fade and the time came for Prince Lothric to fulfill his destiny and become a Lord of Cinder, he refused the call. After reflecting on his mentor's teachings, the state of the kingdom and the world, his accursed life, and the atrocities committed for the Flame, the prince denounced the legacy of the Lords, and chose to await the Flame's death from the distance. Unable and unwilling to fulfill their destiny, the princes retreated to their chambers atop Lothric Castle to await the end of the world, protected by their royal guard and Lion Knight Albert, Black Hand Kamui and Daughter of Crystal Kriemhild.

His decision shattered the realm, and as a plague of Pus of Man ravaged the city, a civil war erupted within Lothric's walls. The government of the Three Pillars, represented by Emma and the Knights, was trying to keep the kingdom together and still attempting to convince Lothric to reconsider his position and link the fading flame. On the other side, the Winged Knights, a portion of the army still heralding the royal insignia, was now clashing openly against the government, as they had embraced the heretical "Angelic Faith" spread by Gertrude. The scholars of the Archives apparently decided to ignore the situation and closed the doors of their facilities, isolating themselves to continue their studies.

The cinders of Lothric

The prince's decision led the system managing the linking of the Flame to resort to an emergency measure: ringing the bells and awakening the Lords of Cinder of the past from their graves, beings who had previously linked the Flame, to unite their cinders and energize the fading Flame. However, most of the awakened Lords of Cinder refused to sacrifice themselves again and returned to their lands, leaving their thrones at the Firelink Shrine empty.

The ringing of the bells would also awaken the Unkindled, who would hunt down the Lords of Cinder and bring their cinders back to Firelink Shrine. Many of these Unkindled attempted to storm the castle to slay Prince Lothric, but were all killed by the royal guards or by his brother Lorian.

When the Unkindled One arrives before the prince, he's welcomed by a bitter comment from Lothric, naming them as nothing but another fool attempting to win his favour or to take his life. The feathers covering every corner of the room indicate that the Winged Knights had tried to reach the Prince to either persuade or kill him, but were all eliminated by the royal guards or by his brother Lorian. Lothric then watches as Lorian engages the Unkindled One in combat, who defeats the elder prince. Teleporting next to his brother's body, Lothric revives Lorian and climbs onto his back, kindling their bodies together. The brothers then fight the Unkindled One as one, but are unable to overcome their enemy and are both cut down. As he dies, Lothric warns the Unkindled One that they would remain among the accursed.

Trivia

• Lothric's throne inside Firelink Shrine calls him "ロスリックの聖王" that can be literally translated as "Holy King of Lothric".

Gallery

Lothric climbs onto Lorian's back after resurrecting him.

Lothric prepares to resurrect Lorian.

Concept art of Lothric (left) and Lorian (right)