Finding Your Sun: A Comprehensive Guide to Solaire After the Centipede Demon
After vanquishing the Centipede Demon in Dark Souls, that fiery, lava-spewing monstrosity, you might be wondering where your favorite sun-bro, Solaire of Astora, has wandered off to. The answer is relatively straightforward: If you’re progressing through the game normally, Solaire will be waiting for you at a bonfire in the Demon Ruins, just before the entrance to Lost Izalith. He’ll be sitting, presumably pondering the intricacies of the sun and its meaning in this bleak world. However, this encounter is a pivotal point in his questline, setting the stage for either a tragic or triumphant ending.
Solaire’s Journey: A Deeper Dive
Finding Solaire after the Centipede Demon is more than just a simple pit stop. It marks a crucial junction where your actions will determine whether Solaire descends into madness or retains his sanity and continues his quest. To fully understand Solaire’s post-Centipede Demon whereabouts and the implications of that location, we need to delve deeper into his questline, his motivations, and the mechanics of the game world.
Why This Location Matters
The bonfire where you find Solaire is strategically positioned. It’s the last safe haven before plunging into Lost Izalith, a region teeming with demonic horrors and treacherous terrain. This is also the area where Solaire’s unwavering quest to find “his own sun” takes a dark turn. Without intervention, he falls prey to the Sunlight Maggot, a parasitic creature that feeds on his desire, twisting his perception and driving him insane.
The Two Paths: Madness or Salvation
This specific location highlights the two possible fates for Solaire:
- The Tragic Descent: If you proceed directly into Lost Izalith without taking specific precautions, Solaire will succumb to the Sunlight Maggot. You’ll find him deeper within Lost Izalith, a hollowed and hostile figure, pathetically clinging to the maggot as his “sun.” This path leads to a heart-wrenching boss battle against a friend turned foe.
- The Path to Salvation: However, if you are a member of the Chaos Servant Covenant and have ranked up enough, you can unlock a shortcut that bypasses the main route to Lost Izalith. This shortcut leads directly to the chamber where the Sunlight Maggot resides. By eliminating the maggot before encountering Solaire in Lost Izalith, you ensure his survival and maintain his sanity. This allows you to summon him for the final boss fight against Gwyn, Lord of Cinder, offering a glimmer of hope amidst the bleakness of Dark Souls.
The Importance of Covenant
Joining the Chaos Servant covenant and offering humanity to Quelana’s sister is critical to unlocking the shortcut that saves Solaire. This requires offering 30 humanity to the covenant.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Solaire
Here are some frequently asked questions to further clarify Solaire’s journey and the specifics of his questline:
1. What happens if I miss Solaire in the Undead Burg?
Missing Solaire in the Undead Burg is not a problem; he’s a static NPC, so he will remain there until you interact with him. Just revisit the balcony after defeating the Taurus Demon.
2. Is it possible to save Solaire without joining the Chaos Servant Covenant?
Unfortunately, no. Unlocking the shortcut requires being a member of the Chaos Servant covenant and offering 30 humanity. It is not possible to save him through other ways.
3. What are the consequences of killing Solaire?
Killing Solaire prevents you from completing his questline and summoning him for boss fights. It also deprives you of a friendly face in a hostile world. Additionally, killing him could prevent you from finishing the story arc of Gwyn, Lord of Cinder with Solaire at your side.
4. Can Solaire die permanently in boss fights?
No. If you summon Solaire for a boss fight and he dies, it only means his phantom is defeated. This does not affect his questline or his potential survival in Lost Izalith.
5. Does Solaire have to survive the final boss fight for his questline to be considered complete?
No, Solaire doesn’t have to survive the final boss battle. Even if he falls during the fight against Gwyn, saving him from the Sunlight Maggot is considered the “good” ending to his questline.
6. What happens if I find Solaire hollow in Lost Izalith?
If you find Solaire hollow in Lost Izalith, it means you failed to prevent him from being consumed by the Sunlight Maggot. You will be forced to fight and kill him, a tragic end to his journey.
7. Why does Solaire go insane?
Solaire goes insane because he cannot find his own “sun.” This is a metaphorical representation of his desire to achieve greatness and find purpose. The Sunlight Maggot preys on this desire, twisting it into an obsession and driving him mad.
8. Is Solaire Gwyn’s son?
There is a common theory that Solaire is Gwyn’s firstborn son, whose name was stricken from the annals of history, however, it is only speculation and hasn’t been confirmed in the game.
9. Where else can I find Solaire in Dark Souls?
Besides the Undead Burg and Demon Ruins/Lost Izalith, you can find Solaire in Anor Londo, where he assists in the fight against Ornstein and Smough.
10. What is the Sunlight Maggot?
The Sunlight Maggot is a parasitic creature found in Lost Izalith. It emits a bright light and preys on those seeking illumination or purpose, driving them insane.
11. What does Solaire drop when he dies?
If Solaire dies, he drops the Sunlight Maggot (if he’s hollow) or his armor and shield (if killed normally).
12. Can I still summon Solaire for Gwyn if I haven’t summoned him for other bosses?
Yes, as long as you save him from the Sunlight Maggot, you can summon him for the final boss fight, regardless of whether you summoned him for previous encounters.
13. What is the “canon” ending for Solaire?
The game doesn’t explicitly state a canon ending for Solaire. However, many players consider saving him from the Sunlight Maggot the “good” or “true” ending, given the positive implications for his character. It’s possible that the references in later games suggest he linked the fire in his own world, achieving his goal.
14. What are the benefits of summoning Solaire for boss fights?
Summoning Solaire can make boss fights easier, as he provides valuable assistance and can draw aggro from the boss. It also adds a heartwarming element to the game.
15. Is there a way to tell if I’ve saved Solaire before entering Lost Izalith?
The easiest way to tell is to observe Solaire’s dialogue when you meet him at the bonfire in Demon Ruins. If you haven’t saved him, he will mention his pursuit of his sun. If you have saved him, his dialogue will change, reflecting a more somber tone. When you arrive in Lost Izalith the red eye sunlight maggot helmet wont be on the ground.
The End of the Journey
Ultimately, the journey of Solaire is one of the most poignant parts of the Dark Souls experience. Whether he finds his “sun” or descends into madness is, in part, up to you. Be sure to explore the world, discover the secrets, and, most importantly, remember to Praise the Sun!
Want to discuss Dark Souls or other games in an academic setting? Explore the Games Learning Society to find a community of like-minded individuals! Visit GamesLearningSociety.org.