Untended Graves: The Dark Souls of Dark Souls

There are few things scarier than the unknown. Of wandering into the unknown and finding yourself completely lost in the moment, wrapped in fear and questions about where you are and what exactly is going on. Dark Souls has managed to grasp this idea and hold it tight throughout the series; be it the mystical unknown of Anor Londo, wandering through a strange history in the Forest of Fallen Giants, or finding your way through the rotting husk of an Undead Settlement. Dark Souls III is the cap of that for the “Souls” trilogy with one area, if not just a single moment, that defines this feeling of the unknown: the Untended Graves.

Dark Souls II: The Lowest Beginning?

Dark Souls begins with the Player, the Chosen Undead, left to rot in a dungeon, unawares of their call to greatness yet to come. They’re rescued and escape a demon to make it to the peaceful Firelink Shrine, aided only by whatever starting gear they’re dropped and some broken weapons, a longbow, and a dagger. The Undead Asylum is a powerful starting point for the series, foreshadowing the lunacy that the Player will experience as they dive into the rabbit-hole. Oddly enough, though, I feel that Dark Souls II provides the lowest beginning for the players.

Consumed King Oceiros: The Main Villain That Could've Been?

Before getting into the meat of Lothric Castle in Dark Souls III, the Player is given an opportunity to head into the castle’s garden area, now a poisonous wasteland for Puss of Mans and powerful Lothric guards standing at attention in defense of…something. It’s unclear what, at first, until you see the precariously placed guard standing dead center in front of a descent of stairs. He’s not guarding something, he’s guarding the man of the area: the Consumed King of the garden. Given how we’ve been looking for Prince Lothric, it’s only fitting that this should be King Lothric, the Prince’s father, and the one whose soul we’re searching for. As it would turn out, Oceiros is instead a completely optional boss leading to another optional area. Lothric is indeed the one we’re hunting, but, why is Oceiros here? And why isn’t he the main villain?