Why Did Gwyn Create the Ringed City? Unraveling the Mystery
The Ringed City, a location of immense significance in the Dark Souls lore, raises numerous questions about its origins and purpose. The straightforward answer to why Gwyn created the Ringed City is that it was a desperate attempt to contain and control the Dark Soul and its inheritors, the pygmies, who are the progenitors of humankind. This city, gifted by Lord Gwyn along with his youngest daughter Filianore, was not a benevolent offering, but a gilded cage designed to safeguard the Age of Fire by sequestering the potent and potentially world-altering power of the Dark Soul. The Ringed City is at the edge of the world, a secluded sanctuary built to hold the power he feared the most. It is designed as a prison that has a subtle beauty to it, a sort of last sanctuary.
The Fear of the Dark
Gwyn’s motivations were rooted in his profound fear of the Dark. He understood that the Dark Soul, unlike the Lord Souls he and his peers possessed, had the potential to usurp his rule and usher in an Age of Dark, an era he viewed as inherently chaotic and detrimental. The pygmies, as bearers of the Dark Soul, were thus considered a dangerous element that needed to be contained. The Ringed City became the physical manifestation of this fear, a place where the power of the Dark could be controlled, if not eradicated.
The Sigil and Control Mechanisms
The city was not merely a physical enclosure. Gwyn placed a sigil on the weapons and armor of the Ringed Knights, a specially created order tasked with guarding the city and its inhabitants. This sigil was a method of control, effectively shackling the Knights to Gwyn’s will, similar to how Wolnir was bound by his bracelets. These control mechanisms highlight Gwyn’s relentless determination to maintain his grip on the world and prevent the rise of the Dark. This use of power indicates a tyrannical control over these knights and the pygmies.
Filianore’s Role
The inclusion of Gwyn’s youngest daughter, Filianore, in the city’s architecture is also crucial. It’s implied she is not there by choice, rather she serves as a powerful seal over the city. Gwyn was a practical leader, and wouldn’t waste a tool like this. The fact that Filianore is a god gives her power over the city. Gwyn wanted to guarantee the containment and isolation of the city, and by giving his daughter to the pygmies, he knew her presence would be an additional layer of protection from the chaos of the dark. The city is a prison, and Filianore is a permanent part of that prison.
More than Just Containment
While containment was the primary function, the Ringed City also symbolizes Gwyn’s broader agenda. It represents his belief that the Age of Fire must be sustained at all costs. His fear of the Dark was inextricably linked to his fear of the unknown, and the potential erosion of his power and the world as he knew it. By creating the Ringed City, Gwyn sought to freeze the natural cycle, to prevent the transition to the Age of Dark by hiding away the thing that could bring about this change. This act epitomizes Gwyn’s controlling and manipulative nature, his willingness to take any measure necessary to preserve his dominion, even at the expense of others.
The Pygmy King and Human Potential
Gwyn’s creation of the Ringed City reveals an uncomfortable truth about his perception of humans. While they were borne of the Dark Soul, he saw them not as equals, but as a threat, as beings capable of disrupting his carefully constructed order. The Pygmy King is a testament to his fears realized, a being who is a fragment of the power Gwyn was trying to keep from the world. The city was made to contain not only this power but this potential future, and those who would dare challenge his reign. This highlights a tragic flaw within Gwyn, a fatal fear of the natural progression of life.
The Ends of the Earth
The Ringed City is located at the “ends of the Earth” for a reason. Its remoteness reinforces its function as a place of isolation. Gwyn wanted to ensure that the Dark Soul remained as far from the rest of the world as possible, making it difficult to influence the cycle of the world. This geographical isolation also highlights the desperation and paranoia inherent in Gwyn’s decision.
The Tragedy of the Ringed City
In the end, the Ringed City is a tragic testament to Gwyn’s ambition and fear. It was a desperate attempt to defy the natural order, a misguided effort to control something that could not be contained. This city stands as a grim reminder of the consequences of unchecked power and the destructive force of fear. The Ringed City’s creation was not a noble act, but a desperate one, born of Gwyn’s refusal to accept the inevitable fading of his reign and the transition to a new age. It remains a fascinating location that exemplifies the deeper layers of the Dark Souls lore.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are some frequently asked questions about Gwyn and the Ringed City, which provide even more context to his actions.
1. What is the Darksign, and did Gwyn create it?
The Darksign is a seal created by Gwyn to contain the Darkness and prevent humans from becoming Undead. Gwyn did not directly cause humans to become Undead, but he exacerbated the issue by trying to maintain the Age of Fire. The Darksign appears as a symptom of the fundamental nature of humanity, and the Seal of Fire only keeps humans from becoming Undead normally.
2. What was Gwyn’s greatest fear?
Gwyn’s greatest fear was the rise of humanity and the Dark Soul‘s potential to end the Age of Fire. He believed that the Dark Soul would bring about chaos, and he was willing to do anything to maintain his control and the status quo.
3. What is Gwyn’s weakness as a boss?
Despite wielding a flaming sword and being the one to link the First Flame, Gwyn is famously weak to fire. This irony is often seen as a paradox, symbolic of his desperate and corrupted state by the time the player encounters him.
4. Which Lord Soul did Gwyn find?
At the dawn of the Age of Fire, Gwyn discovered a Lord Soul along with the Furtive Pygmy, Gravelord Nito, and the Witch of Izalith. Gwyn is only referred to as finding a singular Lord Soul, not multiple.
5. What is Gwyn’s “First Sin”?
Gwyn’s “first sin” refers to his decision to link the First Flame, which is when he took the flame and began using his own soul to fuel it. This act extended the Age of Fire but also started the cycle that led to the present state of the world in Dark Souls, creating the need to repeat this process.
6. Why did Gwyn fight the player?
Gwyn fights the player because he fears the Age of Dark and the rise of humanity. He believes that if he can defeat the Chosen Undead, he can prolong the Age of Fire for another cycle.
7. Who was the strongest of Gwyn’s Knights?
Among Gwyn’s four trusted knights, Artorias was considered the strongest in close combat. This is further tested in the Oolacile Township area where players face him in a memorable boss battle.
8. Why did Gwyn sacrifice himself?
Gwyn did not sacrifice his life, but rather he sacrificed his soul in order to re-kindle the First Flame. He used his soul as fuel to maintain the Age of Fire, a desperate measure to avoid the rise of the Dark.
9. Why did Gwyn split his soul?
Gwyn split his soul among his constituents as a way to keep the Undead enslaved and maintain the flame. He saw it as a long-term strategy to keep the Age of Fire going, rather than focusing on his personal gain.
10. What is the Ringed City’s significance in Dark Souls 3?
The Ringed City is considered arguably the hardest zone in Dark Souls 3 and is part of the DLC of the same name. It’s a crucial location for understanding the story of the Dark Soul and Gwyn’s motivations.
11. How many DLCs does Dark Souls 3 have?
Dark Souls 3 has two epic DLC packs: Ashes of Ariandel and The Ringed City, both are part of the Season Pass.
12. Can you access Ringed City without owning Ashes of Ariandel?
Yes, you can access The Ringed City without Ashes of Ariandel if you have reached the final boss fight in the base game.
13. Why did Gwyn disown the Nameless King?
Gwyn disowned his firstborn son, the Nameless King, because the King opposed Gwyn’s rule over the dragons and for wanting to side with them.
14. Does killing Gwyn end the game?
Yes, killing Gwyn triggers the end of the game. The player is immediately thrust into the New Game + after the end of the credits. There is no option to continue in the world of the base game.
15. What is the significance of Gwyn’s sad boss theme?
Gwyn’s music is melancholic to reflect his tragic state. By the time the player fights him, he’s nothing more than a hollow shell of his former self, driven by a failing flame that he has prolonged.