- "I may be but small, but I will die a colossus."
- — Ludleth of Courland
Ludleth of Courland is a character in Dark Souls III. He is one of the Lords of Cinder and acts as a merchant to the player, allowing them to transpose the souls of bosses they have acquired for boss soul items.
Location
Found in Firelink Shrine, sitting on the second throne from left to right.
Lore
Ludleth is a Lord of Cinder, having linked the flame prior to the events of the game. He is a practitioner of the seemingly little observed art of Transposition. Little is known about his past, although it is implied on his throne that he was exiled from somewhere at some point.
Wares
| Item | Cost | Soul required |
|---|---|---|
 Havel's Ring |
5,000 souls |  Soul of a Stray Demon |
 Prisoner's Chain |
- |  Soul of Champion Gundyr |
 Pontiff's Left Eye |
- |  Soul of Boreal Valley Vordt |
Drops
| Item |  Skull Ring |
| Drop Rate | Guaranteed |
Dialogue
| Introduction | "Oh, thou’rt unkindled, and a seeker of Lords. I am Ludleth of Courland. Look not in bewilderment as I say… I linked the fire long ago, becoming a Lord of Cinder. If substantiation be thy want, set thine eyes upon my charred corse. This sad cadav’r. No need to be coy, have a closer look."
"Fret not, fret not. My feet are here firmly planted. For I am a Lord, and this is my throne." |
| Talk | "Knowest thou of our purpose? Five thrones will take five Lords, as kindling for the linking of the Fire. The fast fading Flame must be linked to preserve this world. A re-enactment of the first linking of the fire. So it is, I became a Lord of Cinder. I may be but small, but I will die a colossus." |
| Leaving | "Treat the Fire Keeper not with discourtesy. She is much like thee. Prisioners, both, kept to link the fire."'' "Now, now, do not be away overlong." |
| Talking once player has reached Undead Settlement | "Listen, this might pique thine interest. Before I was a Lord of Cinder, I was a student of transposition. The process of extracting, and coalescing the essence of a soul. A forbidden art, that once left a foul stain upon Courland's honor. Tis an art that grants powers once thought unattainable. Most transposing kilns were lost with Courland, but this place is a crossing for all manner of cursed objects. If thou happen'st 'pon a transposing kiln, bring it to me, quick." |
| Giving him the Transposing Kiln | "Oh, belike it is… a transposing kiln in thy possession. Seen better days, but, methinks it shall suffice. Now bring me a twisted soul. Transposition is the art of extracting, and coalescing the essence of a soul. In transposing a twsted soul, its true power transferreth to thee. Thy purpose is to seek Lords, and slay them. What's to fear in a little transpositon, now?" |
| Talking once a Lord of Cinder has been killed | "Ahh, most illustrious Lordseeker. Or should I say, Lord-Slayer? Fine kindling for the thrones , is it not, each soul truly worthy of Lordship. And all slain by thy hand. To bind them them to their thrones, even in death. Oh I have no qualms. For as we to our thrones, thou art to thy duty. In fact, methinks thou'st help helped these poor Lords along their rightful path." |
| Talking while with Lothric's and Lorian's Swords |
"Ahh, thou'st two most peculiar swords discover'd. A curse once bound them together, such that they served as one. A transposing kiln should restore their rightful form. But before thou should'st act, think well upon the matter. As thou knowest, they are but newly rent apart." |
| Introduction after finding Firekeeper Eyes | "Ahh. Found her, did we? And the black eyes that shimmer within, I see? Tis as if it were but yesterday. We did all we could to spare her from them. Much has happened since. Mayhap I should apprise thee... Of what the thin light of these eyes might reveal to the eyeless Firekeeper. Scenes of betrayal, things never intended for her ken, visions of... this age's end..." |
| Talking after finding Firekeeper Eyes | "The eyes show a world destitute of fire, a barren plane of endless darkness. A place born of betrayal. So I will'd myself Lord, to link the fire, to paint a new vision. What is thine intent?" |
| Leaving, after giving the Firekeeper Eyes | "I took the mantle of Lord of Cinder of mine own volition. I speak these words with pride. Choose thy fate alone. Seize it with thine own hands. All the more, should thy fate entail such foul betrayal." |
| Approaching him after he has been killed |
"Ahh, it singeth, to the bone, it hurts... Please, help me. Be done with me... No, gods, no, I cannot bear it... It burns, burns, help me..." |
| After placing all Lords Cinders, and he has been previously killed | "See ye not? I am a lord... A wee flame, belike, but I shoulder the world... Forgive me. Oh please... I am not to blame. I'm not" |
| Talking after he has been killed |
"Ah, beg pardon. I must have dozed a while. So, happened upon any twisted souls?" |
| After Aldrich has been killed with Anri | "Ahh, well met. Thou'rt at last returned. Knowest thou the name, Anri of Astora? The brave lad/girl (depending on the players gender) left this, as thanks. Though gave no elucidation... So. Happened upon any twisted souls?" |
| Leaving after Aldrich has been killed with Anri | "Now, heed this little warning, from this little lord. Seek not the boy. She/He knoweth her/his faith. What will become of her/him upon her/his duty's end. She/He would not wish thee follow her." |
| After placing all all Lord Cinders on thrones | "Ahh, well met. All is as planned, is it not? Five lords for five thrones... Glory be, my Lord-slaying Champion. It is all thy doing. The stage is set for me to play my part as Lord, too. Go. Speak with the Fire Keeper." |
| Wishing for a world without Fire | "Ahh, well met. All is as planned, is it not? Five lords for five thrones... To think others might ne'er be raised... And I, of the Last Lords, a rather little lord, most undeserving of the honour. Speak with the Fire Keeper." |
Notes
- Similar to the Fire Keeper, Ludleth will revive after reloading the area if he is killed by the player.
- After defeating the Curse-rotted Greatwood in the Undead Settlement, the player can give him the Transposing Kiln. This enables him to become a merchant and lets the player trade boss souls for boss items.
- It is not necessary for the player to carry their acquired boss souls in their inventory in order to begin transposition. As long as the player has defeated a boss and obtained its soul, its available transpositions will appear in Ludleth's menu, even if they have been placed in the storage box.
- Once the player places the last Cinder of a Lord on its respective throne in Firelink Shrine and kneels before the bonfire, Ludleth will die. However, transposition of boss souls will still be available by interacting with his throne.
- However, if the player defeats the Curse-rotted Greatwood after Ludleth has died, rendering it impossible to give him the Transposing Kiln, transposition of boss souls will be unavailable to the player by any means in that playthrough.
- If the player brings Ludleth both Lorian's Greatsword and Lothric's Holy Sword, a new entry will appear when talked to, allowing to use both swords to forge the Twin Princes' Greatsword.
- This is only possible in at least a second playthrough, though, as each weapon requires one Soul of the Twin Princes to be created, and only one can be obtained per game.
Trivia
- His throne refers to him as "Ludleth the Exiled".
- Ludleth speaks a much older form of English than the other characters.
- The fabric on his throne appears to be stained with blood or soot.
- Ludleth's in-game model actually has no legs, most likely to give the effect of him being small.
- If the player decides to attack and kill Ludleth, upon reviving he will be having a nightmare, vocally describing the pain of being a Lord of Cinder.
