Why am I undead Dark Souls 3?

Why am I Undead in Dark Souls 3?

In Dark Souls 3, there are several ways to acquire the Undead status. Hollowing, also known as Tainted, is a transformative process that causes the Player Character to lose their senses and become undead. When the Player’s humanity wears off, they become one of the cursed Undead, doomed to roam the world of Lordran seeking the fire.

Dark Sigil Brand

According to the game’s lore, the Dark Sigil brand is responsible for inducing Hollowing. Caused by the Dark Sigil brand, the once-human becomes undead, seeking the fire that has eluded them. The curse spreads faster as the light of the First Flame declines, infecting more individuals and turning them into Unkindled Ashes.

Hollowing and Purging

As the player accumulates Hollowing Points, they will eventually contract the Undead status, becoming a Tainted Servant. However, hollowing can be reversed at specific points throughout the journey. Purging Stones, obtainable through Yuria of Londor, reset the number of Hollowing Points the player has earned, gradually returning them to their state of humanity. Expending souls, equivalent in value to 100 x current level, at an Altar of Velka located in the Undead Settlement, further allows the player to negate their Undead status by spending their life force and acquiring a fleeting moment of humanity.

Why You Need to Kindle

In order to kindle the fire and restore bonfires to power, the player must continually gather Soul Greatlings and Soul of Lords. At 16 Hollowing points, Velka, Goddess of Sin in the Undead Settlement will offer absolution. This process purifies sin, removing its burden; however, absolving sin does not revive already deceased NPCs, and characters lost to fate cannot return.

Is There an Alternative?

Forgoing the path of the kindled, some players resort to Soul Grating, Sacrificing the Undesired, to bypass soul gathering. Although this unconventional method allows them to forego the laborious procedure of collecting Souls, some might argue it compromises character development and undermines the games’ core concept.

In conclusion, the Unkindled Ashes of Dark Souls 3 arise from two primary sources: The Dark Sigil brand and the accumulation of Hollowing Points. While alternatives to kindling exist, understanding the curse of becoming undead is essential to appreciate the game’s narrative complexity.