Dark Souls 3 Lore: The Tragedy of Gundyr 

For the sake of not having to type this a million times, lol. I get the Gundyr's Helm looks like King Doran's from Demon's Souls. That doesn't mean it cannot be referencing more than one thing. I know DS3 has some visual shout out to Demon's Souls, but they would be careful to not confuse these shout outs into the lore of the Souls Universe. For example, an item description, which is where a lot of lore comes from. It says it references a former king, which could be Ocerios and Doran. Which Doran was labeled as the Old King, and Ocerios labeled as the Former King. Both mean the same obviously, but I believe they chose that so they we would come to the conclusion that the reference could be to both of these kings.

Gundyr's helm was obviously modelled after the Burger King.

Gundyr's halberd breaks poise? I thought it was already broken

The real tragedy of gundyr is that I spend 4 hours on his second boss fight...

idk why but I think of my dad when I fight Champion Gundyr

Champion Gundyr is 100% not a theory in the past. proof is that if you never speak to the handmaiden in Firelink, then speak to the one after Champion Gundyr, then finally speak to the Firelink one, she has extra dialogue about how she remembers you from the past.

One thing I've never seen referenced is the broken coiled sword in the very first room of High Wall.

I just wanted to add this comment, I have no way of knowing if you will ever see it, but I did create a channel specifically to leave this comment. I have been a long time fan on dark souls (1, 2, and 3) and I enjoy these lore videos. Also, if someone else has said this before, I apologize for it now. But on the subject of Gundyr and the untended graves. I think there are 3 things that require special mentions. 1) The secret dialogue with the handmaiden if you visit the graves first and talk to her there before you talk to her for the first time in firelink shrine. In this dialogue, she seems to recognize you already. This seems indicative that this is the past, not an alternate timeline or future. 2) If you visit your own grave in the untended graves, there is a corpse there with the ashen estus ring and surrounded by corvians. Considering that in the cemetery of ash, there is no corpse in your grave (cause you left it or the corvians took it) this could lead to some implications. One of which being that the queen left so an unkindled might profit from it, and who profits? You.. because you took it from your own corpse. I might be rambling here, but it might be worth looking into. 3) The unknown warrior that is referenced to have beaten Gundyr may be the player, but another likely suspect is the Sword Master. He is the only NPC that is available to be summoned to fight Gundyr, and dark souls has shown before, especially in Dark Souls 3, that NPCs who get summoned to boss fight usually have a direct link to the boss they are summoned to kill. There are exceptions to this rule, mainly for the Vordt and Dancer fights in the fact that you can summon both the Sword Master and another relatively unknown NPC for them. But the fact that he is the ONLY NPC you can summon for Gundyr, and you do find him later on in Firelink shrine might have something more too it. Anyways, thanks for reading this reply and possibly (?) taking into consideration what I said. Have a good day and keep putting out the good videos. TL;DR: Untended graves is in the past, you rob your own corpse, Sword Master defeated Gundyr first.

who's goondyr he related to gundyr somehow?

You can actually be sure Champion Gundyr is in the past. He does not have a puncture mark in his chest where the coiled sword was

the time travel thing is because ludleth is apparently playing timelord and fucking with the timestream in the hopes of finding a solution to the weakening fire.

I like how he pronounces "goon-deer"

i like GUN dyr better

you are the Bob Ross of Dark Souls theories

Great video, always glad to see another one come out. Keep it up

goon deer

glad to see new lore content! keep it up!

break what poise ?

Keep it up bro, I always had am interest in the lore but never really dug into it as much as you have

I know I've said this before, but I really enjoy the music you choose to place in the background. It really sets the tone for certain videos you post. Great video.

I like games that have really detailed stories like this.

Why is it that everyone disregards the existence of the Sword Master? We know he journeyed into the Untended Graves, wielding the Chaos Blade, and he guards the tower where the body of its Fire Keeper is (NB: also where you find the Chaos Blade). We also know that he partook in a very vicious battle as his very attire when to rags. Then there is the fact that he can be summoned to the Champion Gun'dyr fight. We also know the Sword Master journeyed to Lothric. How do you get to the Fire Link Shrine? Well officially through Lothric. Here is my theory. Mayhaps the unknown warrior who felled Gun'dyr was in fact the Sword Master. There is also the chance that the Sword Master was actually the one the Fire Keeper awaited, hence why we find him hollowed at the based of the tower which houses the Fire Keeper's remains.

You make some really good lore videos, keep up the good work. I hope you make it big some day.

to me, the Untended Graves looks like a alternate reality where the chosen ash never showed up, the First Flame faded, and the world is in the age of dark. i don't know if there is any evidence to support this as i haven't played Dark Souls 3, but that is what it looks like to me.

I'm pretty sure we're in the past for the secret dialogue of the shrine handmaid: if in the same we talk to her FIRST in dark firelink and then in the normal firelink she will say "Oh thou'rt... Oh, no, 'tisn't anything Ashen One.", pointing out that she recognised you from the past, which is one of the many reasons I love Souls games. I want also to add the fact that both Gundyr are mimicking the Darkmoon Loyalty Gesture, which is no mere coincidence and I find it very fascinating, but I can't link it with Gwyndolin or any Darkmoon blades at the moment. Finally I always thought that the fragment of the coiled sword is the missing part of the broken coiled sword that we find in the little chamber with the lordvessel after we teleport the very first time at the Walls of Lothric, and due to the fact that the fragment says "Bonfires are linked to one another irreversibly, retaining their affinity long after their purpose is exhausted.", thus linking the world with our Firelink Shrine to the other one in tha past.

You truly make the best lore vids on the internet right now.

another cool lore ur doing an excellent job bro keep it up in really love dark souls lores

Amazing video as usual, keep up the great work

I think the helmet was referencing Old King Duran who's helmet looks very similar to Gundyr's. However they are in different universes so who knows. Gundyr's tale truly is a sad one, but still is one of my favorites. Keep making awesome videos man! Also am I the only one who finds it creepy that you go to a past where you maybe currently dead or trying to link the fire yourself? I guess thats Dark Souls however, the tale can be what you want it to be, and I wouldnt want it any other way.

I believe that this is the most exciting game of this century. there is so much story and detail in it

I find your lore videos as informational as Vaatividya and more entertaining. How is it that I've never heard of you until now?

I've been waiting for a Gundyr Lore video. Thanks Ashen Hollow.

Safe to assume the Coiled Sword is a self afflicted wound? Chosen Ash gets killed by Gundyr. Deemed unfit. Stabs self with Coiled Sword. Chosen Ash kills Gundyr. Deemed fit. Takes sword and lights Firelink Shrine Bonfire.

I think that the cemetery we awaken in may be an alternate timeline/demention and the untended graves are in the real world. After all, our firelink shrine that functions as a hub seems to be completely disconnected from the rest of the game's world.

Man I was always thinking the Untended Graves was in the future, but now I'm rethinking that. You're doing great with these videos.

Love your vids man, this is on vaati level. Keep it up

When only ludleth linked the fire he created a pocket of a new age and you use the bonfire to go back in time to get everyone to link it at the same time, this also explains why firelink is not connected to everything else (not done before in a dark souls game)

Like all of the NPC's in FROM SOFTWARE games, they all have a tale to tell. Mostly tragic and sad. I think this adds to the emotional experience of each individual playthrough for each player out there..... And you gotta love it. Thank you for putting a personality to this NPC. It's tragic nevertheless, but we gotta DEFEAT him in order to progress.

Thanks for this video man

Great vid! keep em coming!

This could be the best lore video ever but I had to click out after hearing "good-dear for the 7th time"

10:17 large in all the right places

Love your content dude

In the past: champion Gundyr is the champion of ash In your past: ashen one is the champion of ash

No one: Ashen Hollow: Goon-deer

Can I just say that, historically speaking, this is the worst possible way to fight with a halberd?

Gundyr is truly one of many tragic figures in the Dark Souls series. I feel for him. Great analysis. Good job.

Gundyr is one of my favorite bosses in video games. I love how aggressive he is and how you're on the edge of you're seat whenever you fight him. I love his design and his arena design in both fights.

oh my god just say his name normally once

He’s like Eileen the crow from bloodborne because of the way he pronounces gundyr as goondyr like Eileen says instead of hunter as hoonter and it’s awesome

Love all of your stuff! You always get a like from me. Keep it up!

thanks for the video

I mean, his name is "Gun"dyr, and there is "Ger"trude, "Gwy"ndolin, "Gwy"nevere and Gwyn.....

helm was modeled after a former king. Which is old king Doran from demon souls

no matter how far we are from him,,he closes the distances at a frightening dance moves

great vid, though i was expecting some kind of reference to ludleth at least, only because i was hoping for more info about the dark firelink shrine and the eyes of the fire keeper… ludleth seems to know the story behind the eyes and how they show “a place born of betrayal” which maybe has to do with why gundyr never met his fire keeper. the tower behind firelink shrine appears to be a kind of mass grave of fire keepers, almost like something had been dispatching and disposing of them to prevent any champions from reaching their goal. the same force may be why there’s only a fragment of a coiled sword left behind as well, and might also be responsible for imprisoning the owner of the eyes in within the shrine (or maybe the illusory walls were meant to protect her?) considering the shrine maiden drops the priestess ring, which as we know only further solidifies the connection to the royal family and the untended graves being in the past, then maybe even the firelink shrine itself was created by the family at the behest of the primordial serpent/scholar; a structure dedicated to linking of the first flame by a family willing to sacrifice anything to do it. it’s heavily implied throughout the series that all the events that happen are cyclical in nature, and maybe the “betrayal” somehow refers to events that didn’t follow through with what was supposed to happen and rightly fudged up its continuum i.e. prince lothric’s refusal to be a lord of cinder, ludleth’s solo attempt to link the fire, the absence of fire keepers when a champion needs one to complete the journey... maybe gundyr realized his best option was to take up the duty to realign the cycle of things when he had no way to finish it himself. maybe the abyss/pus of man got to him first and he sacrificed himself so that another could do what he could not. anyway, that's just more to think about! all stuff i began to ponder after watching this video so thanks for turning those wheels. i look forward to what you have for us in the future!

Am I the only one who said that it was a bardiche and not a halberd

I don’t want to be rude, but you butchered gundyr and oceiros

Time and space are convoluted in lothric - the untended graves would be the equivalent of last Wednesday turning up at the back of your wardrobe. Note things like the great wall "appearing" and Izalith "drifting comparatively close by".

I will meditate on time loop here

What's a "poise"?

gundyr is pronounced (gun-der) not goondeer. This bothered me so much.

Yo, back again with more theories for ya! The way I interpreted you fighting champion Gundyr is that you yourself had been a champion as well of lothric (or someplace else idk) which is also why your buried in the untended graves. If you look at it, many great hero's were buried there and you are too? So it is possible that you were a champion yourself in your former life. Also to note is the ashen estus ring on the grave YOU WERE IN. Possibly someone knew you would be THE Ashen One, maybe even the queen before she disappeared?

Great video! DS Lore is amazing

I think the time travel is more of a distortion it's like with the near end to the first flame seems to mess up the space around the castle and so on, that's just an idea but it's all I can think of that would make sense regardless awesome vid can't wait for more. also the idea of him being apart of the old gods bloodline does make sense but then you should think of Gwyndolin who's the direct son of Gwyn but don't seem to be much taller then an average guy from what I've seen and no I'm not counting his snake legs XD

I miss the days so much of watching your lore videos when the game was thriving and alive. I wish the game just came out again lol. I love your lore vids

I love Gundyr's soundtrack and awesome lore video

Interesting point about Ocireos; as well as being an old king he is also connected to Gundyr by residing in Gundyr's cut boss room, and he guards the intended graves.

Thing I hate about the unintended graves is that the water reflects a lit sky, could never get over that, anyways I always use the single piece of evidence that it’s in the past by how the old lady in the shrine recognizes u if u don’t talk to her the present first

Maybe the bonfires have something to do with the time travel. In the starting area it seems like that area is no longer connected to Lothric castle. Its possible that using the bonfire sends you back in time to when it was still connected. Just a passing thought on the matter. Also did anyone find it strange that for the first time in a souls game there is a bonfire that takes us somewhere we haven't but been. Could it be that because Gundyr had been there before us but the coiled sword was pulled out and put in Gundyr. Possible reason for that?

"Power to break poise" Lol thats every weapon

11:59 "Time itself is convoluted, with heroes centuries old phasing in and out." - Solaire

I was of the understanding that the reason the coiled sword let you transport was not because it innately did it but because you made a bonfire on a Lord vessel. The fire is clearly with a dish in firelink not seen with any other bonfire. It would also explain why we need to Souls of cinder to be specifically in firelink: so we can use the lord vessel.

Gundyrs helm description is actually a reference to King Doran

I agree with your theorie. I was waiting for you to bring up the royal family. They did the exact same thing in dark souls 1. Also, the fire keeper in dark souls 3 seems very fond of the concept of linking the fire. When I read some item descriptions I discover that they are robbed of their eyes to better serve as vessels for souls, and that they are thrown into the tower when they served their purpose. Who decides when they served their purpose? Let alone what their purpose is? I think the royal family is behind all of this. Not only behind gundyr, but also behind the fire keeper which guides us.

I love how cinematic the boss fight is considering it is the first boss of the game

I think you should have talked about the abyss affecting Gundyr, idk what it might lead to but it seems like a very important feature of the the first Gundyr considering the abyss is slowly creeping and damaging the world

Both the fire link shrine and the untended graves are the same place because if you place a message in one place, it also appears in the other

I always assumed that the time travel happened when we warped to and from Firelink. Warping is the only way to get to and from that area, so it wouldn't be a huge stretch to think that we travel through space as well as time. I mean, given how the journey to the final boss goes, it seems a certainty that bonfire warping from Firelink can travel through time.

I tend to think it's some sort of dark present or future because it seems to be connected to somewhere (like lothric) unlike the original place being on its own. Also you find the dead fire keeper unless it isn't the same one. Blacksmith also seems to be dead or gone because you find his hammer and the coiled sword fragment could very well be the same one, but now used and broken. I could very well be wrong though

In addition to the theory of Gundyr being a member of the royal family: on the back of Gundyr’s armor is a golden plate like design - with cloth - which is EXACTLY identical to the robes of prayer that Lothric, himself, wears (and which can be obtain via chest in Lothric Castle).

If you talk to untended graves handmaiden before the normal one the normal one recognises you with unique dialogue so either past or fire link is future

Another thing about the untended graves is that after talking to the handmaiden you find out that it's a world without flame and it's just darkness

little sidenote on the untended graves, if you make a note in firelink shrine, it will appear in the untended graves. that can't be by accident, they'd have to do that on purpose. as well as the eyes of a firekeeper being the eyes of Irina of Careem, someone who was to be a fire keeper. also the coiled sword fragment could be a broken coiled sword that you take from Gundyr, as in the future it became damaged (possibly due to the black knights who now roam the area). it is also dark as the flame has faded, leading to an age of dark. possibly an alternate timeline where the ashen one failed to link the flame? or usurps the flame

the shrine handmaid in firelink gives unique dialogue if you talk to the handmaid in dark firelink first, and the dark firelink says the bell hasn't yet been rung, where the firelink one says there has. It's concrete proof that the untended Graves is in the past

I think that the unknow warrior is the sword master this to me would me the most sense. You can summon him right outside of champion gundyrs boss room.this also explains how he's at firelink in the first place.

Seems more likely to me that large size just comes with power, as Ornstein, Artorious, the Abyss Watchers, Vordt, the dancer, Pontif Sulivan, even the deacons are all larger than normal, and are not related to the royal bloodline.

We enter the shrine with a firelink sword and end off with it as it ends. Full circle. amazing.

I believe that the untended graves is the past, before he was stabbed by the soul of cinder, hoping that he would guard the sword and prevent the linking of the flame

Well, *time is convoluted in Lordran*

the description on gundyrs armour says old king, this goes all the way back to Damon's souls where a old king will judge you to see if you may take a sword. the armour look is the same but smaller in Damon's souls

omg hold the door that was such a time loop my girl don't get it I was stunned for days trying to understand

the death animation for gundyr looks a bit like how you find him at the beginning of the game

I am surprised to not hear anything about Ludleth. In a lot of theory/lore videos I see the two paired up which I believe helps explain why the shrine was unlit and then in the future it is lit. From what I have heard Ludleth waited for Gundyr to link the fire, but when he didn't show Ludwig left and linked the flame without him. Since he didn't have as many souls as needed the flame was rekindled, but it wasn't very strong so they needed someone else to link it again. I can't remember what the evidence for this is, but it is still pretty interesting and helps explain why the shrine was unlit in the past, but is lit in the future.

To your description Ashen Hollow, nah it was just too clever.

I looked up the word "iudex" to see if it was an actual word. It is and its Latin for "judge". On the Coiled Sword it says "the sword is bequethed to chosen ash, as judged by the Iudex, who awaits the arrival of ash as a scabbard". Now since Iudex means judge, when we fight Gundry at the beginning of the game, he is a judge. He judges the chosen ash in battle and if the chosen ash defeats him, the Coiled Sword is bequethed upon the chosen ash. See since Champion Gundry failed to linked the fire, he became Iudex Gundry and became a judge and serving as the shealth for the Coiled Sword awaiting to judge the chosen ash.

About the time traveling, i think i can explain it. It is said that in Lordran, time is broken, and when you come to the graves you don't actually travel in time, you just arrive to a location of where the broken time takes effect. Since the time is broken it is not past or future, but rather a big soup stiring around, jumping wildly in time and between timelines. There is a lot more to this but i dont wanna make the comment too long.

While some things point to the past, it also is possible it is the future. There is a broken sword in the shrine which suggests that is was overused or not used for a long time, aswell as the darkness. This could mean that this is a future where you dont link the fire( you follow the yuria of end of fire path)

Do you think the distorted time in the untended graves is a result of the lack of light? The description of Repair says that "light is time", and if that can be taken at face value then perhaps the Untended Graves is stuck in a kind of limbo.

Point of confusion: if Gundyr's quest is a predestination paradox designed to test the Champion of Ash (player character), then why does it appear that the flame has been rekindled in the meantime?