Solaire is Special | Dark Souls Lore 

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Hawkshaw does it again. This is such a great take on Solaire and it rings so true. A couple fun facts from the Design Works interview: - Solaire is Miyazaki's favorite character - Solaire does actually become the sun when he links the flame, which indirectly confirms that Gwyn/the first flame is the source of the Sun in Souls. - The praise the sun gesture was relatively hidden in Demon's Souls (you have to wear a certain ring and cast a miracle) because when Miyazaki showed it to some executives, someone thought it looked uncool. Apparently this made him very determined to make the gesture more prominent and popular in the following game, which is a big reason why Solaire and the Sunlight Covenant are as wholesome and appealing as they are.

I've had this quote boiling in my head for a while: "a great writer can be measured by how well they hide their own self insert characters."

According to Miyazaki, if you save Solaire and defeat Gwyn with him not dying, he'll Link the Fire in his own world. You prevented him of falling in his dellusion, his despair, and he found what he was looking for. Thus further proving your point that Solaire, Miyazaki and us can achieve great triumph through jolly cooperation. We are people, not islands. Your videos make me love more and more Dark Souls. But this one made me cry. Thank you.

Ah man, I can't wait to find out about how Solaire was that real protagonist of dark souls and a demon and eventually becomes the sand worm and was Velka the entire time.

What makes this even more poignant is the fact that Miyazaki put these two different endings for his self-insert without knowing whether this very game, his second (and what could have been his last) shot at fulfilling his dream, would succeed or not. Dark Souls could have very well flopped, gotten misunderstood and forgotten, and Miyazaki CHOSE to insert this observation about the cost of pursing art. And I love it.

It always seemed so weird that he looked for the sun underground, but now that sounds kind of reasonable

See, maybe Miyazaki didn't consciously make Solaire as a representation of himself, but ended up making a reflection of his own experiences (like Tolkien and WWII parallels in Lord of the Rings). Great video as always, looking forward to what comes next.

A true Christmas miracle. I never thought I'd see another Dark Souls Lore vid from you. I've been using your other lore videos as an introduction for newer players to understand why Dark Souls is so interesting for years and I now have another to add to the list.

I'll keep this video bookmarked. Souls lore aside, it's very motivating and recognizes some important lessons for anyone pursuing creative work or personal vision. Well done Hawkshaw!

Praise the Lore! We don't usually ask but please do show your support! Every like, comment and view is much appreciated and gets us that much closer to potentially accessing Elden Ring early to get some lore prepared for you guys. Hope the video helps the wait for Elden Ring!

Can't believe we're receveing even more lore. I thought you guys were done after that Plot Against the Gods video. So happy we have more coming down the way. Any plans to touch on Bloodborne? I sure have some tasty answers to some really deep questions about the lore and the timeline if you guys would ever visit Yharnam and i'd be glad to assist. Praise the Lore.

Just like Solaire in the better ending, he united his efforts with someone else, accepted their help, didn't he?

A truly genuine authentic take on Solaire, loved it.

In Dark souls 3 the sun seems to extinguish when the First Flame fades, it’s almost as if the sun is a result of Gwyn’s flame (the same one that keeps bonfires near-perpetually lit), It’s _as if the Sun IS the First Flame_ in the souls world and the bonfires are linked in some way to it’s power. If that is true, perhaps Solaire’s desire to create his own Sun is FAR more literal than we think, he may believe if he becomes strong enough he can manifest the power of his soul as a Sun to provide light in a dim, fading world.

So this has probably been said before, but is anyone familiar with Emperor Aurelian of Rome? He was known for (amongst other things) his reformation of the a cult know as the Cult Sol Invictus (unconquered sun), elevating the Sun God to the top of the pantheon but more importantly instilling the idea of being the best one can be and bringing out the best in others. They were also known to give out small medallions of the Sun God. One could call it a Sun (Light) Medallion

Man, the line "when it starts to get a bit harder to lose weight and the reality of time starts to show itself. He had done nothing up to this point..." really hits home with me. I'm almost 30, with a child on the way and it made me look over the decisions I've made in my life and it made me realize I've done nothing up to this point. I'm extremely happy and excited to be a father, but I feel that by the time she is old enough to understand I'll have nothing to show for it. Leading up to this point I've always lived by the tried and true method of do everything the safe and cautious way and it's led to a good, but not fulfilling life. It's why now I've decided to send my work to literary magazines and publishing companies so at the very least, if nothing comes of it, I can say with full certainty that I tried and will continue to try to put myself in situations that would be out of the norm as we see it or the social world states that we should live. The monotonous 9-5, big house, wife and 3 kids, a pool and a dog. I want to create lasting memories and something that I can say at the end of my life that I enjoyed.

Aw hawkshaw is back fucking sweet

OMG HE'S BACK, PRAISE THE LORE \[T]/

In my interpretations solaire is such a transparent character who gets corrupted but the theme which he embodies makes him stand out. I'm very curious to learn a new perspective

Solaire will always be another adventurer to me. He's on his quest, we're on ours, and he's nice enough to help along the way. The fact that we can find him in the end makes me think if we fail to link the fire, he will always rise to relink once again. Finding his true sunlight in the flame.

I never gave Solaire's lore too much thought tbh, I mostly saw him as an npc stand in for multi player encounters, in part just so that there would be always be help avaliable even once the game had aged. but also to emulate that importance of connection that lead fromsoft to include those mechanics in the first place. He's likelable, reliable, and there with you the entire step of the way. and you can save him, the same way he's saved you.

This video message couldn't come at a more important time in my life. I have lost so much in last 2 year including my baby brother. But if it wasn't for my loved ones and friends who came to my aid and more importantly refused to allow me to fall into despair I don't know where i'll be. You can do alone but it best together as a group. May we all shine in bright gold! Praise the Sun!

You get the opportunity to save Solaire by using 30 Humanity's, I wonder how many people were on the Demon's Souls development team?

No way, this cannot be! Is this more dark souls lore from Hawkshaw? I'm so happy.

and just to top it off, to save solaire you have to enter a covenant behind an illusory wall and put of lot of humanity in it to open a door that will have the maggot it is almost impossible to know that on your first playthrough, that is something that you learn from someone elsea it is the community that saves solaire, it is word of mouth that made demon souls successful enough to earn an spiritual sequel in dark souls

Thought you were done making vids for DS! Glad you made this.

I'm gonna be honest, I initially rolled my eyes when you said that Solair is Miyezaki, but I gotta say, I was really turned around as you went in depth on them. Great video!

I'm still in the camp of Solaire being John Darksoul cosplaying a sunbro

You know it's a good dark souls video when it opens up with ambient Hollow Knight music playing

I've waited wayyyy too long for a new Hawkshaw dark souls lore video. My body is ready

Last week a friend of mine decided he want's to play the first Dark Souls 1 and I volunteered to help if he needs it, but I was not really that into going back to Lordran. This video re-ignited my will to play. Of course it would be the lore that would bring me back. Praise the lore and, in this case, praise the symbolism. Good to see my favorite lore channel coming back to give another gift to us! Much love!

I’m just gonna go ahead and preemptively like this video.

And just as I finish studying you give me content to glue my attention to!? Thanks m8s!

Honestly so hyped for you guys to start making stuff again, idk what it is about this channel but I have such a deep love for everything you've made and I can't wait for more. Praise the lore!!!

I cannot wait any longer, ypu have the best souls videos on the market

The thumbnail sais secret identity: Solaire is Gwyns firstborn confirmed!

Praise the Lore!!!

I always thought Solaire was there to let new players know it’s okay to stop and enjoy the scenery. That in this dark world where almost everything wants you dead there’s still extreme beauty and it’s okay to take a break from the overwhelming darkness and enjoy it

This was an amazing video but it has actually convinced me that Miyazaki's story plays out more in the Chosen Undead. The Undead Asylum we start in, his prior coding job. Then one day inspiration seems to fall from the heavens. He passes through the narrow corridors of workspaces towards the exit until he reaches the foyer of the building to leave for the last time. It must have been terrifying, like facing down a huge monster that seemingly will make you stay. He breaks into the world and is tasked with ringing the bells of awakening. Ring a bells is not a prestigious or glorious task but it is something we have to do, something he had to do to get on track. Along the way he would, like anyone make friends (firelink buddies including Solaire) who help him along the way and he helped them. Some of them may have left him with new knowledge and inspirations. He reaches the top of the mountain, Anor Londo/Demon Souls. At first it felt awe inspiring, we/he had made it this far. But if you looked close Anor Londo/Demon Souls was not the perfect heaven and be it by the order of a goddess or the failings in the market place, we/he must leave. From there where do we go? A to dark, depressing, hellish places, and a library. We gather what is precious from these places the feelings, the lessons, the experiences and we sally forth. We face down Lord Gwyn/ he faces down the expectations of his superiors within the company. And we link the flame/and he makes Dark Souls. Of course this narrative could be considered vague or assuming too much at the same time but I think that just makes it Dark Souls lol.

So with this idea of Solaire, I'm now thinking heavy on what deeper meaning Artorious might have. How Arty boy gets all the credit for something he leads the charge on but doesn't finish on his own, maybe even falling into disparity and hopelessness but then for those around you who also believe in seeing it through for whatever reason to help finish the job. It was your mission, you started the fight, but if not for others to join your fight it wouldnt have happened. Also if you think of sif as a metaphor for undying love to an art form the same as undying love for a dog, it pushes that idea. Even if im completely off or this video, I love that dark souls can provoke this amount of analysis. Even if none of it was meant we still can get these beautiful ideas from it

blessed be the youtube algorithm

This is gonna be huge!

I cry every time. Sincerely. Solaire is my favorite character ever and its probably a symptom of being so simple to protect onto. I know that madness- trying to find your own sun. Since then, I've got like 3 shirts and a sweatshirt from etsy with him on it, and my brilliant orange cat is named Solaire- because if only we could be so grossly incandescent.

I'm so used to be late to the party whe it come to souls lore that I felt betrayed when saw the vid's not out yet... Defently hyped to see it when it's out

I was just thinking how I would love more of your videos!

Nice one. Can't believe its been 10 years...at some point, after countless hours in Lordran running through the game, getting lost in the depths, praying for summoning to work, trying to backstab invaders in the forest, anor londo, tomb of the giants without light , figuring out how to kill bed of chaos, trying to save Solaire...Every DS player felt he was Solaire at some point.

I'm so excited for this video, literally cannot wait to watch to it!

It’s simple, Solaire is John Dark Soul, the protagonist of Dark Souls

I remember seeing a video (I believe by The Ashen Hollow) showing how Solaire is actually a really self centered character ("This is my sun, get your own" [paraphrased]), despite his reputation in the community. I'm very curious how this video will look at him

Extremely interesting and thought video. I'd just like to interject on the demon's souls success. It didn't flop in japan, it was a success in Japan for its budget and expectations, they did make money. The word of mouth then made atlus distribute it in the US. I can't remember who published in europe but US and Europe the game was a monetary success as well. Nothing at the scale of the dark souls games, but he wouldn't have made another souls if he flopped.

Figuring it may have to do with the nameless king being his teacher or even father Edit: Welp I am wildly corrected and made a new comment

Yo Hawkshaw I just wanted to say that your lore videos are the best. like vaati, silver mont, smoughtown, mitch l, the ashen hollow and all the other ones are really good, but you really are top notch. I'm really sad that everyone is moving on from ds lore but it was to be expected with elden ring coming out. I'm just sad there is so much stuff that never ended up being thoroughly explained in ds lore. I would just like to say thank you so much for making more lore. You are truly grossly incandescent.

​Loved it, already sharing the link with friends 🙌🙌

15:50 "Dark Souls is extremely polished." Dark souls is a lot of really amazing, and inspiring things... I would not say that "polished" is one of those things. Especially in the latter half. Incredible? Yes. Ambitious? Absolutely. But polished? No way

I’m gonna be honest I watch that plot against the gods video all the time, I one thousand percent ADORE how you approach interpreting lore and I couldn’t have dreamed of a topic I’d want you to cover more than Solaire

THE RETURN OF THE KINGS

Masterpiece as always, and that's quite a refreshing thought! After watching the video, somehow I think introducing Solarie to the game is the reason From remove Oscar's quest line. They both serve as a fellow of the player, but rather to only be gloomy Solarie's quest also teaches the player a life lesson, a lesson past Miyazaki couldn't have. Bring your own failure into your work requires absolute courage, but when you did, you grew.

i truly wonder what goes on in the depths of Miyazaki’s mind, how he feels about himself and his accomplishments, if he truly creates these worlds from his own unique hardships and struggles. I would love to just talk with him

People's inspirations always shine through their creations. I hadn't thought of any strong connections between Hidetaka Miyazaki's background and Solaire before, but you've convinced me that such a thing was intentional.

I always assumed similarly that 'the sun' was metaphorical and represented dreams etc too but I thought it was just another Berserk reference similarly to how Guts left the band of the hawk then came back realizing they were what he was dreaming of/searching for all along fitting the cooperation theme still... but seeing how much Berserk means to miyazaki it's entirely possible that it's one of the things that helped him realize this for himself too.

10:04, you said what I was hoping you were going to say, and dropped an absolutely unexpected gem of a music track from something that could not be more different from Dark Souls. A+ moment.

i think this is one of the best dark souls lore videos iv ever seen, the amount of effort, detail, the story, it was a great christmas to be a subscriber.

Goes to show just how much love was put in this game, making me wanna play it all over again

this is one of those "there happens to be a few too many comparatives to draw here" for one to not start to believe.

As many others do I love the character of Solaire for being a single ray of light in the land of Lordran. Despite all the corruptions of the undead curse or whatever age may cause him he refuses to give up until he's found what he needs. Whether it be an artificial sun or if he succeeds in linking tbe first flame In either one he never loses that solaire sense of hope

I've waited so long for this one and I'm so glad in here to see it

Praise the sun, for Hawkshaw has returned. 😭

I can't emphasize more just how much Dark Souls has changed my life. Prior to playing DS3 in late 2016 I was pretty miserable in my personal life and I didn't have much ambition. The mechanic of reviving after death, only to die again or perhaps succeed, helped me begin overcoming my fear of failure. I was a "gifted and talented" student since 5th grade and I was so paralyzed by the fear of failure I held myself back. I'm still working on this nearly 5 years later but the franchise reminds me to get back up again and again and to listen more than I speak. It's when we listen that the clues to success are given. Thank you for this speculation video. I feel even more connection to the work now.

Oh my! Praise the sun!!! the best lore channel has returned!!! You have no idea how much more I've loved the games after your videos, making so much more sense of what we know and extrapolating so much more info that we as players aren't aware of. So happy you returned, keep em coming!

YEEES! Love your Dark Souls videos ❤️❤️❤️

What a way to start the morning. I needed this on a deep level. It's hard seeing everyone else with their suns, and being stuck in the trappings that you discuss here. Those trappings can lead one to some strange place where they go mad with delusion. Diligence, hard work, and clarity are what's needed. And some self confidence. Sigh. Thank you man. Of course the lore is appreciated, but your wisdom behind it is appreciated much much more. Thank you.

Honestly, this theory is more emotionally compelling than most Solaire theories.

Me: There are 2 exams tomorrow Hawkshaw: So the first question is who is solaire? Me: He is a lost soul trying to find purpose in life after gwyn dissapeared for his obsession of him was everything. When the definitve sun of Gwyn, or possibly the nameless king, died out to him, in an act of denial just like James Sunderland forgot he killed his wife in silent hill, he gone on a quest to find his guiding sun the mentor who raised him... Just so he goes mad. Cant wait for this video.

This makes so much sense and it really was a treat to have just a pinch more lore from one of my favorite lore channel's of all time.

Sick. Do you ever plan on doing something for DS3 or is it simply too ambiguous to get a solid grasp on?

I swear, Guts' theme fits with literally everything souls-related, that ending gave me shivers

The one and only RU-vid video I’ve ever set a reminder for and RU-vid didn’t even notify me. 😒 Absolutely love your videos. You bring such depth and quality to the souls lore community. They feel like historical documents rather than video game lore videos. 10/10. Always hoping for more in the future.

This almost brought me to tears, especially when the shadow of the colossus music played @22:00 amazing job.

But how does the Carthus Sandworm fit into this?

Gods, what a video! Solaire is my favorite character of all time...he is very dear to me. ;_; I would be lying if I were to say that I didn't tear up during this video. Thank you, Hawkshaw! Stay warm, kind, and creative. But most importantly, praise the sun! ☀️ \|T|/ BTW when you mentioned Solaire's belly I couldn’t help but laugh. xD I always thought that was one of the cutest things about him. Sunboi is well-fed and powerful. 🥰 Built like a tank, shaped like a friend.

A million thanks for your work. That is one of the most inspiring if not the most inspiring story I ever heard. This game is truly representative of what an honest life looks like. Do not expect an easy ride if you want to be true to yourself...

Hope he isn't sans

Ahhhh.... Solaire One of few who still worship the nameless firstborn, the heir to Sunlight. One who braves the walled Undead Burg, the Parish within, its Church resting a guarded firekeeper, the golden kingdom uprooted by Dark, the dragon's treacherous Depths, Twilight Blighttown, the renamed fortress built by old gods, the ancient Anor Londo, its Darkened, submerged sister, the lost vestiges of the fiery Queen's home, the Gravelord's tomb, the Paledrake's grand archives, all in pursuit of the Sun. One who set alight his own humanity, becoming Undead, for his Sun. One whose prowess is owed to naught but his own skill. One who recognizes his own foolishness, before the Sunlight Altar. One who, even upon the eve of the Lord's sun setting, still offers his sign. One who is a friend. But alas, unwittingly or not, One who follows the footsteps of the wargod Faraam, the disgraced deity who abandoned Forossa to ruin, with his ultimate betrayal One once bound to the firstborn prince, whose noble kingdom Astora was ravaged by the evil eye, punishment for his ultimate betrayal One who skillfully navigates the heir's once replete armory, no longer of Gwynsen, stripped of his deific status One who commits genocide against the demons One who assists in the murder of the eldest's first knight, illusory as the lion may be One who falls to parasite, not unlike the divorced, heartbroken Queen One who, unlike the Forossian legends, has not gone beyond death, upon a stormy peak Despite the ages passed A Warrior who still follows the Sun A Warrior who still follows the Son \[T]/

As I recall (and correct me if I am wrong) one way to save Solaire involves attacking an enemy through a game asset- ie, the spot where our dear sun bro gets infested is on the other side of a wall, and we can attack through it to prevent the bad end. The glitch is likely unintentional... but it does under this reading suggest that being open can lead to people unknowingly helping us, or us not knowing all who have helped us. Looking forward to your Ring Things.

Hawkshaw the best people

So glad to have more lore videos. Sidenote, had to go and listen to the whole Outer Wilds OST again when I heard Andrew Prahlow's "Timber Hearth" start playing at 10:04.

I am Solaire....the 2nd....not sure what happened to the original....stop asking....This is great timing i'm doing my first Solaire build in Ds1 !

omg!! can t wait for this

Secret Identity? I always knew that Solaire is Batman.

I think Solaire being Miyazaki is a bit of a stretch, but he could represent some of the motivations and goals (finding his own sun) you were talking about. I believe all characters in DS represent many different paths/motivations that one can have in life, thus creating a purpose for oneself. To find meaning in a world which doesn't care and kills you in the end anyway.

Awesome job, I love Miyazaki and really relate to his journey. Thank you for this!

It almost feels like how a comic book character might feel if they found out their favorite billionaire is also their favorite superhero, Batman. Also, this video and a few others has made me realize Dark Souls' story is fairly meta. The character goes hollow after dying too many times because the player puts down the controller and doesn't return to the game if they fail too much. The real-life player is the humanity that leaves the husk of a video game character. The age of dark comes when there's no more sequels, the story ends, and everyone stops playing. And the age of fire continues because a challenge was made to draw players in and link (or not link) the fire. It's why the choice doesn't matter as long as the journey is made. It's why the Lord of Cinder is an amalgamation of player characters. The new painting might be Elden Ring. Gael went around taking a dark soul from everyone to make the ink for it. FromSoft might be saying they learned a little from all the players. It might not be perfect, like I can't reason what in-game humanity is, but the meta just might have been intended.

Miyazaki confirmed if you save Solaire and have him fight gwyn with you he links the fire in his own world and becomes a lord of cinder. My favorite headcanon for this is you become the dark lord but solaire fills your place and links the first flame

Seeing another video pop up has brightened my day!

I wish to add one more point.. Solaire only avoids his grim fate of becoming one with the sunlight maggot with our, a friend, a jolly companion"s help. Sure, he's sad afterwards, but when we approach the Kiln, he finds a new mission, to assist us in Ending this journey to the end of Lordran, which he possibly did complete before us, indicated by the fact that his sign is in front of the Gwyn's Bossroom when we get there. Long May Miyazaki Shine !

Solaire's hidden story in Dark Souls 3 is honestly the most interesting non-discussed side plot no one talks about. Solaire's equipment scattered through Lothric and as far as Archdragon Peak suggests a lot. It would seem he crawled out of the Ashen Cemetery same as anyone else who failed to link the flame. But for whatever reason, Solaire abandons everything he represented in DS1. Perhaps giving up on the idea of finding his own sun in favor of another purpose? He left everything behind at Firelink to crows, threw his own talisman in the swamp, left his symbol behind in the Undead Settlement. He makes no effort to help anyone, not a single in-person encounter to be had. So where did Solaire go? I belive he simply wandered without a purpose. Somehow getting as far as Irithyll and through chance or fate ended up in Archdragon Peak. He might've visited the Demon Ruins out of pure habit as well, looking to maybe find something there to remember. It's safe to say he doesn't get a happy ending in this second life for those wondering. He doesn't turn into a dragon, or a worm. If the ending to the DLC is anything to go by: He's dead, along with everyone else in history. Anticlimactic, I know. But it's fitting with the nihilistic bleakness DS3 establishes in it's ending.

Miyazaki also absolutely loves Table-Top RPGS. He is quoted saying that he'd love to design one and publish it through From Soft, but he fears he'd get so into it that he'd let other obligations slip if he did. Although Solaire might also just be crazy. He sorta has a similar outfit to Arthur from Monty Python and the Holy Grail and the twist to that story IS that everyone involved is just nuts.

What a wonderful video! Praise the Lore! Thank you, Hawkshaw, for the interesting and inspiring video. Although I just watched the video, I'm sure it will have a lasting impact on me. I would like to share my personal thoughts here, if appropriate. Not comparing myself with Miyazaki (that would be too cocky), I also have a dream to create a certain ambitious achievement in my area of interest. Perhaps too ambitious. However, I am a simple person with ordinary resources. That is why Solaire’s story has always inspired me a lot, with all its ups and downs. I work in science, and about two years ago I happened to come across a strange book on physics. Its author, a professor at a prestigious university in my country, boldly answered many questions which seemed unsolvable by modern physics. It looked suspicious. On closer inspection, I learned that the professor at some point became so carried away with his theories that he lost contact with colleagues and reality. When his work was severely criticized, it was easier for him to blame the conspiracy of the scientific community against him. Tragic story. In a word, Solaire’s problem is characteristic not only of creativity but also of other spheres of activity. I saved this book, and it remains on my shelf to this day as a reminder. Without an external glance, without the help of colleagues and friends, we are doomed to failure and falling into illusions. I'm not very social, so communication is especially difficult for me. However, I try to discuss my thoughts and not to confuse the grossly incandescent Sun with my little illusory ones. I wish you the same. Praise the Lore!

Been playing the Souls series since 2012, Dark Souls being my first game. Played through the games watching EpicNameBro and Vaati’s lore videos. It’s amazing how many new things you can still learn about Dark Souls 1 after all these years! This video was excellently made. Please keep up the good work!