Smough the Cannibal | Dark Souls Lore 

If left alone with the body, Smough definitely would have eaten Ornstein's Liver with some Fava beans and a nice Chianti...

The idea that Smough is actually ripped under his fat armor is one of my favorite details about him

In DS1 we fight Smough the cannibal. In DS3 we fight Aldrich the cannibal. Both in the same arena as well!

You've been hit by 🕺 You've been struck by 🕺 A Smough Cannibal

Man. Realising that the sound in the boss fight is Smough laughing makes him so much more creepy

Adding to the idea that eating humans are what caused Smough’s size, the giant rats found everywhere where drop humanity showing that they had at some point likely consumed a human. If rats grow gigantic from eating humans it stands to reason that it could happen to a human too.

I never realized Ornstein fingers were moving when Smough brought the hammer down. I'd hate to fight alongside anyone who would end me just for a buff.

If we're talking about lotuses, it's also worth mentioning that they blot out the sun and forcefully smother all other plantlife where they grow

Lots of cannibals are depicted as obese in their armor as a symbol of their gluttony for power. The Loathsome Dungeater also gas thick armor as well by eating and defiling human spiritual energy

I always thought the line 'He ground the bones of his victims into his own feed' was a reference to Jack and the Beanstalk where the giant says '...be he alive or be he dead ill grind his bones to make my bread'......so i thought "ah....Smough IS a giant." Lmao

kinda sad you didnt talk about the shape of his hammer, it's a reversed sunflower, its very interesting knowing the relation the game have with the sun

Smough is honest to himself and the world around him, that much I can respect. I don’t really like eating people much though

Something I hadn't thought about until this video, is in regards to Smough's actions towards a defeated Ornstein during their boss battle where he simply smashes Ornstein's body. We know Ornstein left the capital thanks to the armor in DS3, so maybe Smough knew that this wasn't the real Ornstein fighting beside him. Thus, not caring for the safety of Ornstein, knowing that it is only an illusion.

I love how Miyazaki takes fairly straightforward concepts and uniquely "hides" them within his work. The concept of devouring other people to gain their strength is a somewhat well known concept in IRl society, whether you have heard of it in relation to the cannibal tribes of Fiji or somewhere else. Miyazaki took this concept, saw how much it had in common with video game tropes of "acquiring EXP to level up" and implemented both into his game for comparison. Smough, the ireedeemable, insane, butcherer cannibal of men.... standing next to another butcherer cannibal of men. And then much like you did in your video, he linked it to the illusions and falsehood that Gwyn used to prop up his Age of Fire. If Smough was a cannibal all along, and yet still served as knight... what else did Gwyn hide or allow in secret? What other vile acts kept this Age of Fire going? The entire Age of Fire is sustained by blood sacrifice, but it was also started from blood sacrifice. The stone dragons were placed upon the pyre and fed to the flame of progress. With the dragons dead, Gwyn had to seek new sacrifice. Someone could argue that the Age of Fire did not end because it went on for too long, but instead that there was no appropriate fuel for the flame any longer. All that could have been burned, HAS been burned. We see that in Dark Souls 3. So desperate for new fuel, they will cast old ashes back into the flame, hoping against hope that these meager scraps can sustain the flame, just a little bit longer. Just another moment in the warmth. Just a few more seconds of blessed light.

The armor states that it can even be worn by humans which implies that he is not human (kind of an assumption), but if he is actually a giant (and not human) he isn't actually a cannibal, he eats humans but isn't human himself. My other thought is that the hammer from DS3 states he was the last knight to defend anor londo meaning the real ornstien isn't there when we fight him in DS1. Since, Ornstien and all the gods aren't there, it could be why the gods allowed smough to stay a knight as they were going to flee the city anyways. Who is going to assault the capitol with someone with that reputation guarding it? I think the gods only left him as a knight because the fire was fading, and they had bigger fish to fry.

"He takes no care over the room, destroying pillars of the beautiful capital with each attack." 11:56: Ornsitein destroys part of the pillar first. Irony.

Never knew about Frampt only offering 1 soul for Smough's items. I'm sure there's some hidden meaning behind that!

"He'll grind your bones to make his bread" "Oh-hohoho no. That would be a Giant!"

I always wanted Smough's unique habit explained. Starting the video now, but i have faith Hawkshaw will come through for me.

I love his armour making him look overweight when he’s actually ripped. Like Smough was so hated by the people of Anor Londo that even the smith commissioned to craft his armour specifically designed it to make him look worse.

I'd like to imagine that Smough and Astor of Carim would hold secret dinners and indulge themselves in flesh eating along with Aldrich

You’re the only creator that I listen to both when I’m trying to sleep and when I’m deeply, deeply interested in listening. Keep on keeping on friend.

"You are in this court, but we do not grant you the rank of knight."

It's crazy how deep the lore of DS1 goes, just in the silent details. This game is truly an artwork in every aspect!

Babe wake up! It’s Hawkshaw lore time!

I beat Smough for the first time a few weeks ago. Videos like this feel like a victory lap of my accomplishments. I never would have picked the game up if not for the lore.

Can't wait to watch this, currently playing through dark Souls on switch. Delighted we getting these videos again.

The way I see it, Smough's theme of eating is akin to the dark just like burning is akin to the light. That's why throughout the series you get items like the Bite Rings, Dorhys' Gnawing, Irina talking about little creatures nibbling at the flesh, bloating through excessive consumption, which of course is all represented by the greatest sin of all related to humanity, greed.

1:52 - Thank you, seriously. I know that the 'ough' makes sense as 'off' but I've said "sm-oe" since I played the game so "sm-off" was killing me haha

I’m surprised you didn’t see the “grinding bones” to eat as an allusion to western stories of giants

I always loved his laugh during the fight.

You’ve been hit by You’ve been struck by The Smough Cannibal

17:04 that Avatar throw back of the white lotus hit my mind. Fantastic video.

Who HASNT looked at Smough and thought of the giant that Fe-Fi-Fums -- he ground my soul to make his bread

I think that the Smough we fought in Ds1 might also be an illusion, or he somehow survived until DS3 because you get his armor after killing Aldritch, implying he ate Smough. His hammer states that he was the last knight guarding the ruined cathedral, but back then in Ds1 he wasn't a knight and the cathedral wasn't in ruins.

Man i didn't notice Ornstein was still alive O_O

Even after all these years since DS1 came out, I’m still learning new lore and connections. Amazing job at navigating the labyrinth of Dark Souls lore 👍

The reference to "ground bones" is a reference to Jack and the Beanstalk where the giant tells Jack he will grind his bones to make his bread.

Today is a national holiday here in Italy, so thanks for the gift man

Thanks for subtitling your videos. It's so rare nowadays but amazing for those of us who need them ♡

It’s amazing that I can watch these videos after years of playing and still discover something new. Cannibalism on an individual and global level is so clearly present in dark souls and continues to get even worse in ds3.

I am shocked you guys haven’t dived into Demon Souls. I have been getting into the remake and the lack of deep dives into demon souls is making me sad. Please do some demon souls! Or bloodborne. Or both :)

In a world where you gain power by dispatching foes, allowing an executioner- much less smough -shows how someone like Aldrich to overtake anor londo

Dark Souls has the best lore in videogame history period.

So basically, cannibalism=more gains? OH YEAH!

These throwback lore videos on the classic soul games are a nice treat!

Finally some background intro music, with Shadow Of The Colossus, SOTC.

It's amazing how each area of the game reflects an aspect of the heresy induced by Gwyn's attempts to prolong the age of fire. From rats to butchers to swamp men growing huge and bloated off of humanity, flesh and dung. There's the catacombs which focus on various rites that seem like failed attempts to keep the dead from rising. Seems like returning the bones of the dead to the flame was the only successful means. Then there's also the slow reveal of the demons as former humans. Which begs the quest: was Gwyn's fire already encircling the souls of those humans? Did the chaos flame replace the flame of Gwyn in the demons? Most demons have two twisted, fleshy lumps on their backs. Some express as wings while others look more like two dark signs...

Smough in the last minute: "we live in a society"

Big golden boi absolute unit

God I love seeing these videos pop up on my feed, great job as always my dude!

You are definitely the greatest Dark Souls Lore guide to ever exist. You are the GOAT I been watching you sense the start man keep it up

Hawkshaw has done it again, another banger of a lore video! Great work!

I love ur uploads man. You're by far my favorite channel.

This video is so beautiful and you told the story so gracefully, giving an awesome final note

Ever since your awesome Video"Ash Lake, Havel and the Plot against the Gods", which i have watched many a time, i have held a special admiration for Smough's armour. And with this new video here, you have truly trumped yourselves yet again! Like always, it was a beautiful watch

this channel never disappoint. thanks for the work bro

I never thought I'd hear uncle iroh's theme in a dark souls lore video

I didn’t even notice he’d been laughing during the battle, what a despicable frog man

This was a fantastic vid, was waiting for a good Smough deep dive like this 🤙🤙

Fascinating and well voiced. Great vid

Ah the good ol F.E. music too great touch

Awesome video! I love how well made and well explained your videos are, soulsborne has such interesting and massive lore that Its insane how much has been thought. Fantastic!

Very nice lore. I learned a lot, and I've watched quite a few DS1 lore vids the last two years. Thank you!

Your videos are always a treat

Adding the Tsungi horn was an amazing touch

That video was absolutely phenomenal mate wow

I believe Smough was originally from Catarina. Catarina Knight armor is not only bulbous, but also features the maker's mark of the Nameless Blacksmith Deity (the flower symbol which appears all over Smough's armor). Both armor designs are also drawn from natural imagery (Smough's being a blooming flower, Catarina knight's being an onion). The design of the Catarina armor is described as being "ridiculed" outside of Catarina - so why would such finely crafted, and more importantly, exotic armor be created solely for an executioner in this style? To humiliate him? All that effort, design, embellishment, and grandeur is not humiliating at all, it is of the highest honor. I believe this armor was designed specifically with Smough's heritage in mind by a Blacksmith Deity adored by the people of Catarina. We also know that the people of Catarina never really had much of a connection with the gods themselves (one of their miracles, Emit Force, is mentioned as specifically being "foreign to the Way of White"), and Smough was granted this position partly because he was such an outsider. Catarina knights are famously loyal and duty-bound (Smough never abandons his post). Finally, the potential of Smough having giant heritage is also brought up. We know that Catarina has some connections with the giants (look at the relationship between Siegward and Yhorm in DS3). Smough doesn't strike me as a giant, given that we can encounter full-blooded giants in the game itself and physically speaking, they don't seem to fully match. But what if Smough were half-giant? What if that relationship between Catarina and the giants is more than just amicable? And this could also explain his mysterious childhood, perhaps rejected by all societies for his mixed heritage? Such a childhood would surely be full of abuse, and abuse in childhood is often the catalyst for great cruelty in adulthood. Such a strange offspring would be a fitting selection for executioner. So, I believe this is evidence that Smough has, at least partially, Catarina heritage.

Yall keep making beautiful DS1 videos for us :) And we are honored

Amazing video! One of my favorite souls bosses ever

I will always call him "Smow" because otherwise I can't refer to the fight as Oreo and S'mores

Nothing better than when a new hawk Shaw video drops, especially when it’s new DS1 content!

que video bom, parabéns e obrigado Sr. Hawkshaw! I love your vids, u inspire me to look at theses games and stories in such diferent ways i wouldnt ever imagine, thnk you

So eloquently confirmed my suspicions. Great video 👍

Nice choice of music for intro Shadow of the collosus

Honestly pretty incredible analysis, great video

I'm so glad you've returned to DS1 lore, Elden Ring just doesn't hit the same in terms of story. Thank you for your excellent work!!!

I appreciate you making DS1 lore videos to this day. Have a good one HS.

Salary of an executioner was little, but no tax, you get the affect of the deceased that is not taken by the church or crown, large stewarded land. I love how the hammer is described as flower petals by miazaki but the hammer looks more like 6 simplified Smoughs,

Never get tired of these amazing videos

I love how the second the lotus is mentioned, ATLA music starts playing

Love the video and the use of Shadow of the Colossus music for the intro.

Every time I fight O+S, they're Giggles and Cat by the time I'm done. Always a rewarding fight in the end, but infuriating in the moment

Also the elevator is probably not custom for Smough but the god elevator, similar to the two stepped stairs outside

I don't see what the issue is with Smough staying despite the discovery of his habits, nor does it imply that he possesses special importance. Why? One reason: The victims are all from those he executed. And if his habit wasn't noticed for so long, then it is evident they weren't going to be buried in the first place, but thrown away. Who cares where they go? They're already dead. True, it is a grotesque and horrid habit to have, but Smough hasn't strayed outside his profession. He is still only killing those who the gods want dead. What happens to the bodies is his business, as it has always been. Of course, he can no longer dream of being one of the " Four Knights", but he can keep his post, as disgraceful as it already is. Also, which part of "flesh and blood of his victims" implies his family?

Another absolute masterpiece

so close to 100k awesome video m8!

One funny detail I would like to add: When Ornstein absorbs Smough he also chuckles the same way as he does, when he performs the arse-dive attack funny right...

Frampt giving only 1 soul for items associated with Smough and Seathe is perfect for his character. He doesn't respect people that try and deny nature, reality, and cheat their way forward by means of cowardice or blasphemy, however in act that shows his own hypocritical and snake-like nature he encouraged the chosen undead heavily to link the flame and deny the ending of the age of fire, an event that would yes, end the current world, but start anew and end the suffering of everyone associated with the age of fire. Another great lore video!

Smough

I love that you used Shadow of the Colossus's music in the beginning ❤

This was a great watch and really shines a light on the consuming nature of Lordran. When pointing out how even the Lords consumed their followers it makes me think of the very the economy of Lordran. An economy that is driven not my metals but by souls. Souls aren't just dug out of the ground like gold, they have to be taken from someone either living or dead. Which could also explain Anor Londo's loss of influence. Lordran is the land of taking souls and this can and will cause a population drop. Through death, soul harvesting, and humans leaving to avoid getting caught up in the soul-game. If the population drops low enough the effective might of the Gods and further on the Lords becomes diminished. In a world of Soul consuming medials, it is the ones with power in places with massive populations that get to become "gods" purely through access to souls. Which could explain the supposed exodus of Gods from Anor Londo. The humans are far more numerous in the outside world. And that outside world may not have had as many soul devouring beings prior to the exodus. Back to Smough, it's possible that that may be the difference in the eyes of the gods. They consume the soul but when Smough consumes the corpse he is taking the soul, the humanity, and the flesh. If he is of the clan of the gods and even possibly part giant he still by nature wouldn't have 'dark' within him. Aldrich and Gale imply, at least to me, that one can consume the dark within another by devouring their flesh. That may also be why he doesn't mind the world going dark, he's slowly been building a tolerance to dark.

I was hoping you'd make a video on Smough, wish there was more given about him in game

That laugh at the end was actually a bit chilling. Great Vid.

Amazing video! Mind blowing. Dark Souls is like an onion! So many layers to peel back. I'm confident I've watched every lore video made but never heard anything like this.😮

The laugh at the end was bone chilling, great video.

Props to using that song from AtLA when you started talking about the lotus.

Amazing character breakdown

I'm a little surprised that the implications in Dark Souls 3 weren't covered. But they're subtle and don't change anything, per se. After defeating Aldritch in the sanctum of Anor Londo, Smough's armor set becomes available for purchase from the Shrine Handmaid. This implies that Smough was devoured by Aldritch along with Gwyndolin. Of course, this isn't concrete, but it does line up with how the rest of the bosses unlock either their own armor or that of someone closely associated with them. You did mention the item descripting for his Great Hammer in DS3 though, but I think there's something important about the wording. Smough's _past_ as an executioner implies by the time of DS3 he had abandoned that. I remember hearing or reading somewhere that he would seek redemption after the events of the first game, but I'm not sure now if that was speculation or not.

Amazing video! And holy shit that angle on Gwynevere's statue, damn