FromSoftware loves to create obscure stories that you must piece together yourself. Dark Souls 3 brings the trilogy to a close, and brings the cycle of the world into focus. The cycle has been a part of the world since before the events of the first Dark Souls. The cycle involves a powerful soul kindling the First Flame, further extending the Age of Fire and giving the gods more time to fix the world. Should the flame go out, an Age of Darkness will ensue, and humans will be left to rule the world.
By the time the events of this game starts, the cycle has been going for countless millennia. The events of the first and second game have come and gone, and the world is locked into the endless cycle, doomed to continue forever. As the Ashen One, you are just the next in line to become kindling for the First Flame — or to snuff it out for good.
**This post contains SPOILERS for Dark Souls 3**
To Link The First Flame
This is the basic ending of the game, requiring only that you reach the end of the game and defeat the final boss. After defeating the Soul of Cinder, you link the First Flame and become the new soul used for kindling. This keeps the flame burning and extends the Age of Fire for another stretch of time. This ending keeps the cycle going, and in the grand scheme of things is the same ending as the previous two games’ default ending.
The End Of Fire
This ending only takes a small step to access — finding the Firekeeper’s Eyes. They are located in the dark version of Firelink Shrine. After finding them, the eyes should be given to the current Firekeeper residing in the main/current Firelink Shrine. After the Soul of Cinder is killed, if the Firekeeper has these eyes in her possession, her summon sign will appear near the final bonfire.
If she is summed, she will help you snuff out the First Flame, bringing about the new Age of Darkness to the world. With the Firekeeper’s Eyes, our current Firekeeper sees the actions of the past and learns the cycle will only continue forever, stagnating. With this knowledge, she advises the Ashen One to break the cycle, as that would be the world’s escape.
The End Of Fire (Variation)
This ending is very similar to the previous one, with the First Flame being snuffed out and the Age of Darkness beginning. The only difference is that after the Firekeeper is summoned, the player is able to kill her. This ending may just seem like an interesting addition from the developers showing the weight of killing NPCs in their game. Beyond that, this ending shows further defiance from the Ashen One and the start of the new Age of Darkness.
In the dark Firelink Shrine, it shows a past where the Age of Darkness began, but the embers are destined to rekindle the flame. After the flame has been rekindled, a Firekeeper guides the next in line to further kindle to fire, much like in the first Dark Souls. By killing the Fire Keeper, the Ashen One is further pushing the world into Darkness by removing another piece used to reignite the Age of Fire.
Usurpation Of Fire
While the previous endings give you the option to start the Age of Darkness, it is clear that the flame will eventually be rekindled, and the Age of Fire will return. To achieve the Usurpation of Fire ending and become the Lord of Hollows, players will need to obtain 5 Dark Sigils from Yoel of Londor. These Sigils strengthen the Curse within the Ashen One and gives them a soul stronger than previous lords.
This is the most complicated ending to pursue, as the player must follow a specific quest path and obtain another three Dark Sigils and complete the Rite of Avowal. Along this quest path, players are treated to several story developments involving Yoel of Londor, Anri of Astora, and Yuria of Londor. This path cuts Anri’s personal quest short in one regard, resulting in the player marrying her in the bizarre Rite of Avowel marriage ceremony. Once this Rite is completed, you will be able to achieve this ending.
After defeating the Soul of Cinder with a total of eight Dark Sigils, the Ashen One absorbs the First Flame and begins the new Age of Darkness. Instead of snuffing out the flame, the Ashen One now contains it within themselves and uses its strength to keep it from being re-lit. This ending truly breaks the cycle of the Dark Souls series, allowing for an eternal Age of Darkness to take root.
