How does the curse of the undead work?
The Undead Curse is a complex and multifaceted phenomenon that arises from the fading of the First Flame, a powerful source of light and warmth that has sustained life in the series’ worlds for ages, and is characterized by the reversion of humans to a hollow state, resulting in the loss of humanity and the onset of undead characteristics. The curse is intricately linked to the actions of Lord Gwyn, who artificially extended the Age of Fire, preventing the natural progression to the Age of Dark, and thereby disrupting the natural order of the world.
Understanding the Undead Curse
The Undead Curse is a state of being that is marked by the absence of humanity, and is characterized by a range of physical, emotional, and psychological changes, including the loss of humanity, the onset of hollowing, and the development of undead characteristics.
The Role of Lord Gwyn
The Undead Curse is also closely tied to the actions of Lord Gwyn, who, in his attempt to preserve the Age of Fire, linked the First Flame, creating the First Sin, and thereby setting in motion the events that would ultimately lead to the spread of the Undead Curse.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What causes the undead curse?: The Undead Curse was a consequence of Lord Gwyn artificially extending the Age of Fire, which prevented the Age of Dark from occurring naturally, and caused the dead to awaken at bonfires, and to eventually become hollow.
- What is the Darksign?: The Darksign is a seal of fire cast upon primeval man by Gwyn, and is the source of humanity in the world, and its fading is directly linked to the onset of the Undead Curse.
- How do humans become undead in Dark Souls?: When a person who has a Darksign dies, they come back undead, and being undead means they have no humanity, and going too long without humanity makes them go hollow.
- Why did Gwyn curse humans?: Gwyn feared the Human population and the progressing and continual spreading of the Dark Soul, and created the First Linking of the fire, also known as the First Sin, in an attempt to prevent the Age of Dark from occurring.
- What sin did Gwyn commit?: The First Sin was the linking of the First Flame, which Gwyn did in order to prevent the Age of Dark from occurring, and to preserve the Age of Fire.
- What is Gwyn scared of?: Gwyn trembled at the Dark, and feared the Human population and the progressing and continual spreading of the Dark Soul, and the potential for a Dark Lord to be born amongst them.
- Is creating undead evil?: Spells that create undead are considered Evil because they involve the commitment of ritual evil in order to attract, concentrate, and bind negative energy to a corpse.
- Are humans naturally hollow in Dark Souls?: Being a hollow is in fact man’s natural state in the world of Dark Souls, and having a piece of the Dark Soul is what makes one human, and going hollow is a consequence of the Undead Curse.
- Is Humanity permanent in Dark Souls?: Humanity is not permanent in Dark Souls, and can be lost when one dies, but can be regained by reaching and interacting with one’s bloodstain.
- Do undead feel pain in Dark Souls?: The ability of undead to feel pain varies depending on the type of undead, but most undead are resistant to normal pain, and many are immune to ax in the head type pain.
- What harms undead?: Undead can be harmed by Holy or Slaying weapons, and can be destroyed by burning when their bodies have pulled together enough to regenerate.
- What hurts undead?: Undead creatures are damaged by positive energy, are healed by negative energy, and don’t benefit from healing effects.
- How was the Darksign created?: The Darksign was created by Gwyn as a seal of fire to contain the Darkness and give birth to humanity.
- Why are undead weak to fire?: The undead’s weakness to fire is often connected with the idea that Fire Purifies, and is particularly effective at sending undead back to their graves for good.
- Does the killing curse work on undead?: The killing curse, such as Avada Kedavra, does not work on undead, such as Inferi, and the only spell to work on them is Incendio, or the spell to produce fire.