The Dark Souls Discussion Thread

[D_Davis]

Oh shit! My mind just got blown.

Just found "The Source of the Dream".

I'm still not quite sure what the implications of the place are. I keep going back to check in.

[megladon8]

Yes!!! Amelia down!!

[megladon8]

Have not been using the rare items I've been getting (ie Amelia's Pendant, the blood of that girl, etc).

I figure in true Dark Souls fashion they will have a more important role to play down the line.

[D_Davis]

I've used one item that I'm sure I'll regret. Oh well ng+.

[megladon8]

Oh my god oh my god oh my god.

What just happened?? Why are there Old Ones (as in, freaking Lovecraft Gods) in this game?? I just crapped my pants in fear.

Double-you...tee...eff!!??!!

[D_Davis]

Just in case anyone thought BB was too easy, at a certain point it gets about 1000 times harder. Jesus Christ. I don't even know how this will be done. Absolutely nerve wracking.

[megladon8]

I'm definitely not finding it too easy.

I'm in the Forbidden Woods now in an area full of piles of snakes. It's hard as hell.

[D_Davis]

Okay, this was easy to fix. Died a lot of times before figuring that out.

getting cursed in DaS was such a cruel mechanic. It made me so scared to walk any where!

[megladon8]

D you mentioned the lore bomb that got dropped on you. Was it...

[

Show Spoiler

running into the NPC on your way to the Forbidden Woods, who tells you of how the first beasts came to be when the blood of old ones was mixed with human blood?

]

I said it last night when we were chatting while playing but I gotta say it again - I honestly feel like someone made this game just for me. Cosmic horror, fast paced action, rewarding progression, awesome loot/weapons. This is like an "all time best" game.

I also really like that there are less weapons than the DKS games. Not that there are few weapons - there are plenty. But by the time I reached NG+++ in DS2, I must have had 500 weapons in my inventory, of which maybe a dozen or so we're actually any good.

They've gone for quality over quantity, which I very much appreciate.

[Winston*]

In Blighttown now. Hated this level in Demons Souls and I hate it here.

Have caved and checked a guide a few times, mostly so I know I'm not completely fucking up my stats. Dexterity and Endurance +++

/updates from a 4 year old game.

[D_Davis]

D you mentioned the lore bomb that got dropped on you. Was it...

[

Show Spoiler

running into the NPC on your way to the Forbidden Woods, who tells you of how the first beasts came to be when the blood of old ones was mixed with human blood?

]

That was part of it, but it's much more.

It's also so simple. No exposition what so ever. There is something you see at a point in the woods, and then a ladder that is a crazy good shortcut, and what that shortcut means. Only From Software could do something so major with something so subtle.

[D_Davis]

In Blighttown now. Hated this level in Demons Souls and I hate it here.

Have caved and checked a guide a few times, mostly so I know I'm not completely fucking up my stats. Dexterity and Endurance +++

/updates from a 4 year old game.

I love The Valley of Defilement (best boss in all of video games, so sad), and Blighttown. Some of the most oppressive atmosphere I've ever experienced.

[megladon8]

That was part of it, but it's much more.

It's also so simple. No exposition what so ever. There is something you see at a point in the woods, and then a ladder that is a crazy good shortcut, and what that shortcut means. Only From Software could do something so major with something so subtle.

Hmmm...is this before or after the area of all the snakes?

[D_Davis]

Before and after, or maybe during - that place is crazy big and complex. The ladder is before, part of the reveal is after.

Crazy hidden.

Lucky I even stumbled upon it, and in the order that I did.

[megladon8]

I'm guessing the ladder is the one right next to the Forbidden Woods bonfire right?

[D_Davis]

Does it lead to a place that blew your mind? Don't want to give anything away.

[megladon8]

Not really no. The bonfire right in front of the bridge, theres a little shack. The door leads to an elevator which takes you to the snake area of the Forbidden Woods.

[D_Davis]

Nope. That's not it. When you find it you'll know.

[Idioteque Stalker]

I dunno if I've gotten to the mind-blowing portions yet, but there's definitely something... going on. The lore in this game is starting to get under my skin in ways the other games didn't.

[D_Davis]

Blue guys. Magic. Poison lake. Super long ladder. Autopsy. Summons letter.

[megladon8]

Is this area in the Forbidden Woods or in Byrgenwerth?

I've been all through the Forbidden Woods and defeated the boss, now in Byrgenwerth. I did encounter some blue mushrooms guys in the Woods but no ladder or anything.

The ENORMOUS grave stones everywhere are certainly eerie as hell.

[D_Davis]

Forbidden woods.


Also. Where have you guys been sending your NPCs when they ask for a safe place. I think i totally screwed up this part of the game because I'm pretty sure I also sent a killer to them. Crazy.

[megladon8]

To the Cathedral. I didn't think there was a choice - Cathedral or tell them you don't know of a safe place.

So back to this mystery please you keep talking about...


[

Show Spoiler

I got to the "bottom" of the Forbidden Woods where there was a little body of shallow water covered in little green orbs of light like fireflies. I had to fight two giant pigs to get there.

I went in one direction and I came to those little blue mushroom guys. There was some Madman's Knowledge pick ups but that was all, it was a dead end. In another direction was an elevator back to the beginning of the Forbidden Forest. No ladder I could see though. So where is this place?

]

I tried to explore Byrgenwerth a bit but came to an enemy who latched onto my head and leeched 8 freaking Insight out of me!! I went from 35 to 27 in like 10 seconds!! Gah!!

[D_Davis]

Spoilers about the rad shortcut, and some lore.



This is going to be somewhat rambling - I'll just stuff in bullet point order.

[

Show Spoiler

1. When you return to the first lamp in the game, and go up the stairs to the room you made the contract in, you find that the door is closed. There is a woman behind the door named Ioesfka (sp?). When you talk to her, she will eventually give you an item, and tell you to send any people you find to the clinic as a safe place. At one point it sounds as if the inflection of her voice changes, or at least the way she addresses you changes.

2. When you exit the clinic, there are two gates. 1 leads to the main central area, the other is locked.

3. Now onto the forbidden woods. This is where you first encounter the blue alien creatures. First point of interest - they use homing soul mass and homing soul spear to attack. Same animations and sounds as in the Souls games. This could mean that the Soul arts are actually alien/cosmic technology/abilities, and not magic at all. But that's just speculation. Remember the blue guys for now.

4. From the lamp in the forbidden woods, if you cross the bridge and continue down the main road, you will come across the games to a small village. Don't go through the game. Walk along to the left, and you'll come across a couple of houses with some dog kennels around. In these houses you will find what is probably the first of the magic items.

5. Near one of the houses is a hidden path that leads deep down into a cave. In the cave is a poisonous pond, with these giants who will one-shot kill you, and these damn poisonous eels that are freaking had as hell to dodge and kill. This are is tough as nails. There is some statue in this are that has to be something, but I'm not sure yet.

6. However, the main point of interest in this cave is found at the end of a small pathway in the back. It's a ladder. The ladder is long as hell. Like really long. You climb up, up, up, up, and finally out.....

7. All the back at the beginning of the game, behind the locked gate right outside of the clinic where you started! HOLY FUCK. The ladder exits through a dug out grave. Someone at the clinic was using this as a way to move between the forest and the clinic. But what could be so special about the forest? (in light of this, it makes the long loading times make more sense - the entire world is loading each time. Had there been a load time between these areas, it would not have been as epic a discovery).

8. Those aliens. If you explore around the back of the clinic, you will discover a mind flayer enemy, and another ladder that leads up to the backside of Ioesfka's clinic - the room you started the game in. In here, you will have to fight her - she's super tough. But why is she attacking you now? In the room you started in, you will find one of the aliens on an operating table. Alien autopsy? The connection between the Celestial beings and the beasts - the clinic was doing experiments on aliens and tainted the blood of man with their blood.

9. There is also a letter, addressed to you. The letter is a summons to Cainhurst Castle, telling you to meet in Hemlock (sp?) lane. There is also the NPC named Alfred who I think is trying to get to the castle, but I can't find him now. If you go to a certain pillar in Hemlock lane, a carriage comes, picks you up, and takes you to Cainhurst Castle. This is implying that your goal at beginning of the game wasn't even to join the hunt! You were just trying to get to Cainhurst Castle for some reason, and were probably abducted by the clinic and then experimented on.

10. Side note - if you have 40+ Insight, you will notice all kinds of weird things in the city, and more of the Celestial/cosmic nature of what is really going will reveal itself.

11. The story in this game is on another level - it's amazing.

]

[Idioteque Stalker]

Yeah, I'm right there with you. Just finished Cainhurst Castle and joined a covenant. Also, shit got really weird during/after Byrgenwerth as well.