Dozens of Primordial Serpents greeting the Dark Lord.
Primordial Serpents (世界の蛇, Sekai no hebi, World Serpent) are characters and mentioned characters in Dark Souls.
Lore[]
Primordial Serpents are dark grey-skinned creatures resembling serpents. They have very long necks, serpentine pupils, large flat noses, long floppy ears and a large mouth constantly open to reveal a toothy smile.
They are ancient creatures that can trace their origins from the primordial dragons. Born as imperfect after the First Flame appeared and, bringing Disparity and Souls, allowed them to evolve as living beings.[1] Similarly to dragons mutating or getting imbued with elements from birth (as in the case of Seath, Sinh, Kalameet or the Gaping Dragon), serpents and snake-like creatures are imperfect dragons.[2]
It is unknown how many Primordial Serpents exist in the world, but all hints seem to suggest that they're few and that most of them do not reveal themselves often to anyone. They seem to possess a vast knowledge of the world, its events and secrets, and their affiliation to any political entity, faith or purpose is often uncertain and doubtful. In game, it is impossible to kill or hurt any serpent significantly, making the nature of their souls and any clear scope of their true identity shrouded in mystery.
Dark Souls[]
This section of the lore lacks sources and is in need of further expansions and explanations!
There are two named Primordial Serpents in the game: Kingseeker Frampt and Darkstalker Kaathe. Frampt was a friend of Lord Gwyn[3] and is possibly working with Gwyndolin, as Gwyndolin created the illusion of Gwynevere, who beseeches the Chosen Undead listen to Frampt and link the First Flame.[4] Kaathe, conversely, wishes for the Chosen Undead to bring forth an Age of Dark—also referred to as the Age of Man[5]—by leaving the First Flame to die out, and becoming the Dark Lord of mankind.[6]
Kaathe resides in the darkness of the Abyss, but seems to be more involved in the affairs of Lordran than Frampt. Kaathe gave the Four Kings the art of lifedrain and consequently founded the Darkwraith covenant.[7] He also seems to have tricked the residents of Oolacile into uncovering the corpse of Manus, driving him mad in the process.[8][9][10] This sparked the spread of the Abyss, transforming the townsfolk into monstrous beings whose humanity has run wild, akin to Manus.
In the ending of Dark Lord, ten additional primordial serpents are seen, whose names are unknown. They appear to want to serve the newly-appointed Dark Lord, and possibly usher in the Age of Dark. An interesting note in this ending is that Kaathe states that both himself and Frampt will serve the Chosen Undead, disregarding any actions the player has taken before reaching this point, like placing the Lordvessel with Frampt instead of Kaathe, which would make the latter refuse to cooperate with the player, and vice-versa.
Frampt and Kaathe represent a peculiar class of characters, in that they are both unreliable sources of information, as far as the Chosen Undead is concerned. Both serpents, presenting themselves as ancient beings, put up a display of simply and selflessly wishing to "elucidate [the player's] fate"; and provide unique information that, while conforming with reality, can be neither confirmed nor refuted by any other source. Kaathe proposes an especially exclusive accounting of the events leading up to the first linking of the Flame, one that includes a fourth Lord and an Age of Dark that fell upon the world once before[5]—the history of Lordran does not attest to either having ever existed. It is ultimately left up to the player to choose which side makes the more credible argument, and whose vision merits consideration at this critical time in the Age of Fire when the status quo hangs in the balance.
Dark Souls II[]
In the region and times of Drangleic, their influence appears to have faded, at least from Drangleic and the surrounding regions, as their existence and history are not preserved and known to its inhabitants. However, a shield representing two intertwined "serpentine dragons" can be found in Heide. The two creatures are regarded as "watchers of the flow of time" and depicted as in contrast, one painted white and one black,[11] implying that at least in Heide the Primordial Serpents and the conflicting ideologies of Kaathe and Frampt were partly known.
Dark Souls III[]
In the region and times of Lothric, their influence can still be found in some regions such as Lothric and Londor.
Even after possibly hundreds of thousands years after the first linking of the Flame, Frampt (or other serpents affiliated with his ideology) continued to propagate the cult of the linking of the Flame; influencing kingdoms, rulers and simple Undead to continue the tradition started by Gwyn. When the First Flame drifted up to position itself on the nascent kingdom of Lothric,[12] Frampt or other serpents affiliated with his ideology reached the city too.[13] Over time the serpents passed on the culture of linking the Flame to the royal family of Lothric, pushing them to preserve the tradition and actively produce heirs capable of becoming Lords of Cinder.[14] Frampt or his kin were represented in numerous statues, on par with the Three Pillars of Lothric, with elegant clothes and angel wings, showing their central role within the kingdom, considered "divine messengers".[13] Following Prince Lothric's refusal to link the Flame and the disappearance of King Oceiros, the fate of the primordial serpents present in Lothric is unknown.
Even eons past the first linking of the Flame, Kaathe didn't stop trying to bring the Age of Dark. The serpent took into his service what would become the three sisters at the helm of the Sable Church of Londor: Liliane, Yuria and Elfriede.[15][16][17] He then directed their efforts to create a realm inhabited by Hollows that could offer salvation to them.[18][19][20][21] Kaathe taught them his dark powers, and Londor carried out experiments aimed at understanding the Darksign and the Dark Soul under his watch. Their goal evolved into usurping the First Flame, tearing it from its Kiln and ensuring that it could be wielded to finally create a new Age of Man.[17][22][23][24] To this end, the Sable Church awaited the arrival of a chosen Unkindled, preparing to assist and guide them to ensure that they succeeded in their goal.[22] However, before he could see his dream of an Age of Dark realized, Kaathe died of unknown causes,[25] leaving the three sisters to continue to lead Londor and await the future Dark Lord.[24]
During the events of Dark Souls III, when the First Flame was almost fading out, their fate or the number of their survivors is unknown.
Gallery[]
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References[]
- ↑ Opening (Dark Souls) narration.
- ↑ Covetous Gold Serpent Ring description.
- ↑ Kingseeker Frampt dialogue: "I am the Primordial Serpent, Kingseeker Frampt, close friend of the Great Lord Gwyn. Chosen Undead, who has rung the Bell of Awakening. I wish to elucidate your fate, and the very reason your kind have appeared. Chosen Undead, your fate... is to succeed the Great Lord Gwyn. So that you may link the Fire, cast away the Dark, and undo the curse of the Undead."
- ↑ Gwynevere, Princess of Sunlight dialogue: "Please. Father's role thou should assume, and inheriteth the Fire of our world. Thou shall endeth this eternal twilight, and avert further Undead sacrifices. Kingseeker Frampt, the primordial serpent, shall guide thee."
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Darkstalker Kaathe dialogue: "Your ancestor claimed the Dark Soul, and waited for Fire to subside. And soon, the flames did fade, and only Dark remained. Thus began the age of men, the Age of Dark."
- ↑ Darkstalker Kaathe dialogue: "I am the primordial serpent. I seek to right the wrongs of the past, to discover our true Lord. But the other serpent, Frampt, lost his sense, and befriended Lord Gwyn. Undead Warrior, we stand at a crossroads. Only I know the truth about your fate. You must destroy the fading Lord Gwyn, who has coddled Fire and resisted nature, and become the Fourth Lord, so that you may usher in an Age of Dark."
- ↑ Darkstalker Kaathe dialogue: "If you wish, I shall grant the art of Lifedrain, the legendary power of the Dark Lord. It can preserve your humanity while Undead, and cast off the shackles placed upon your brethren."
- ↑ Hawkeye Gough dialogue: "I suspect thou hast taken a gander at it, but the Dark of the Abyss, which swallowed poor Artorias, threatens to devour our entire land of Oolacile. It seems that this dire fate is unavoidable. But, seduced by a Dark serpent or no, they awoke that thing themselves, and drove it mad... One's demise is always one's own making."
- ↑ Marvelous Chester dialogue: "Believe it or not, Oolacile has brought the Abyss upon itself. Fooled by that toothy serpent, they upturned the grave of primeval man, and incited his ornery wrath. What could they have been thinking?"
- ↑ Soul of Manus description.
- ↑ Watchdragon Parma appearance and description.
- ↑ Opening (Dark Souls III) narration.
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 File:Lothric Serpent Winged Statue
- ↑ Prayer Set description and Emma, High Priestess of Lothric Castle dialogue.
- ↑ Yuria of Londor dialogue: (upon death) "Kaathe, I have failed thee..."
- ↑ Billed Mask description.
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 Dark Hand (Dark Souls III) description.
- ↑ Purging Stone (Dark Souls III) description.
- ↑ Hollow Gem description.
- ↑ Dead Again (Dark Souls III) description.
- ↑ Untrue Dark Ring description.
- ↑ 22.0 22.1 Yuria of Londor dialogue.
- ↑ Dark Sigil description.
- ↑ 24.0 24.1 Yuria's Ashes description.
- ↑ Yuria's line upon death: "Kaathe... I have failed thee" can be better translated as "Kaathe... Your dying wish was unfulfilled", which would suggest that the Primordial Serpent died of unknown causes before the events of Dark Souls III