The world of Dark Souls is chock-full of mysteries, like the actual circumstances behind the demise of Yoel of Londor. But few have intrigued players more than the one surrounding the firstborn child of Gwyn, Lord of Sunlight.
This ostracized heir has become a popular haunt for fan theories, with speculations running rampant ever since the release of the first game. We delve into two of the likeliest candidates and find out which is most probably Gwyn’s actual firstborn.
Solaire From Dark Souls 1 Was The Leading Candidate
Initially, many believed that Solaire of Astora, the cheerful Undead warrior from the first Dark Souls game, was the firstborn of Gwyn. His unwavering devotion to the sun, his bizarre dialogue surrounding it, and possession of the Sunlight Straight Sword and Shield all hinted at a potential connection to Gwyn’s fallen heir.
The ambiguity of Solaire’s backstory fueled the theory further, making him a prime candidate for the role of the banished son. However, considering his relatively minor role and absence of specific clues pointing to him being Gwyn’s firstborn, the fans didn’t quite have their answer. That is, until the third game in the series came out.
The Nameless King Is The True Heir To Gwyn
With the arrival of Dark Souls 3, a new contender emerged for the long-running theory – The Nameless King. This seasoned warrior, wielding lightning (a power historically associated with Gwyn’s firstborn) and commanding a fearsome Stormdrake, presented a far likelier alternative to Solaire. The thematic link between dragons and betrayal further solidifies this connection.
This theory suggests that during the pivotal war with the Everlasting Dragons, Gwyn’s firstborn defied his father and sided with the ancient beasts. Although humanity ultimately triumphed, this act of treachery resulted in the firstborn being cast out, and stripped of his name and legacy.
The treason also aligns with an oddity of Gwyn’s character. The Lord of Sunlight, revered for ushering in the Age of Fire, is revealed to have faced a personal tragedy – his son’s estrangement. This internal conflict could explain Gwyn’s desperation to maintain the Age of Fire at all costs, even resorting to sacrificing himself to rekindle the First Flame.
The theory makes a lot of sense, especially when you consider that the firstborn is also known as the Old God of War, which is what the humans worshiped The Nameless King as, pretty much validating the theory. However, the questions of his motives for siding with the dragons, and whether he harbored any lingering affection for his father and his past life, remain unanswered.
The mystery of Gwyn’s firstborn tantalized FromSoftware fans for a long time, but with Dark Souls 3, it seems the developers benevolently answered the question for them. The Nameless King is, indeed, the firstborn we were all looking for.
