The Lords Of Cinder: Dark Souls 3 Poetry in Motion
Jun. 1, 2016The Lords Of Cinder: Dark Souls 3 Poetry in Motion
It’s a funny thing when a game can inspire you to create something in another medium. The idea that a game can leave such a profound impression on a person that they want to spend time focusing their creative energies is something that has always impressed and intrigued me.
The Souls series has been a ripe source of inspiration for many people. There are countless artists, cosplayers, writers and musicians out there who create wonderful works of art based on these games. The process by which these come about owe a lot to the quiet nature of the game’s lore and the game’s presentation. Stories are told in this world with the flourish of an attack, a wrinkle in architecture or a tear in a cape. With so much laid in the quiet details, every individual experiencing it is bound to have their own unique impression on these presented images.
Until now I wasn’t one of them, butDark Souls IIIinspired me to not only create something, but to write a poem, something I’ve not done in many, many years. So I give to you,The Lords Of Cinder. Be aware, this poem contains lore and story spoilers, as well as one of the endings to the game.
Rise from your graveOh, being of ashYour destiny awaitsThe one true callThe cycle repeatsThe cinders you huntTo link the flames andCure the unkindled
The Lords Of CinderOnce proud on their thronesBetrayed their own causeCorrupted their soulsReturn their ashesAccept their mantleRepair this world orSee darkness reign down
Soldiers of the wolfIn constant battleReach within themselvesTo fight the abyssBut their legion willMakes them one and allThey lost sight ofWhat they were meant to fight
The giant Lord hidesDeep under the groundThe grief consumedLeft an insane shellForsaken his shieldHe wills his own deathAt the hand of a friendRuler of storms
Devourer Of GodsLeader of the DeepSits high in sunlightBy a princess throneHe casts the darknessConsumed the DarkmoonImbibe the last screamsTaste the end of life
Cursed Prince LothricWith his wounded kinBred for perfectionBorn sick weak and frailRefused the mantleEschewed his fateLothric dreamed of deathWelcomed it with arms
The dark eyes will showThe grand betrayalGive sight to the blindO’things I should not seeThe sliver of lightA frightful imageA world without fireA world plunged dark
Ashen One seek cindersThe soul in the KilnFive souls converge andCreate a beast trueBurning the first flameIn Gwyn’s memoryCast the Soul down andRelink the flames
But what is your goalTo betray the world?The darkness is comingThe world becomes coldAshen one, I seeYou have made your choiceFarewell, mayst thouThy peace discov’r
I wrote this from the perspective of theFire Keeper. I liked to think of her as not just a mechanic to level up your character, but as a guide, as someone who knew the world better than you and would steer you in the right direction. Of course, in reality, that role is filled by the various denizens ofFirelink Shrine, but I decided to make the Fire Keeper the sole person for that role as she as an obvious nexus for focusing the energies and motivations of the game.
I decided to bring in the ending I achieved in the game, giving the Fire Keeper the Eyes and ridding the world of flame. Without digressing too much into a discussion of thevarious endings, I felt like this was the “good” ending, so to speak. Linking the fire results in the cycle beginning anew, whilst the alternative ending seemed almost too much to consider in the poem. Letting the flame fade, ushering in the age of dark (again) seemed more apt. It also allowed for a poignancy in the ending, as without the fire, the Fire Keeper has no purpose, so the line almost seems like a proper goodbye.
The different trajectories you can take in this game create a diversity of experience that makes it unique for every player. Every playthrough leaves an impression, that when reflected into another artistic medium, would result in a kaleidoscope of experiences. I’m not so certain the same breadth of interpretation and inspiration is possible in other game franchises, as they typically feature a heavy handed dispersal of story. When the concepts and feelings are laid bare for you, there is not much more to build off of.
In a way, the Souls series is like nature; always moving and unfolding according to its own functions but never telling us anything explicitly. Perhaps that is where the parallel lies, as the natural world has always been a primary muse for creators through time. It has its own designs but like water, allows itself to permeate every possibility. I haven’t written poetry in over a decade, but Dark Souls III just inspired me in a way I haven’t felt in a long time. The game is a true masterpiece and I cannot wait to see the other great works it inspires as the long years roll on.
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JudasBlitzkrieg
Hey, nice poem man. I’m not usually into poems and suck when i try to make sense of them. So it really helped with the explanationI agree that DS3 has depth really for several playthroughs, and as if that wasn’t enough (lore wise etc), it is the depth of enchanting and all of the weapons, and pvp. Do you usually write poetry? And a question you do not have to answer if you really don’t want to, how old are you?Have a good one man!
