Dark Sun Gwyndolin is arguably the most important character in the entire Dark Souls franchise. While his famous father Gwyn may have overthrown the dragons and begun the Age of Fire, Gwyndolin is the one who's kept the flame of that society burning. As the mastermind of a plan to sacrifice undead to keep his family's age of self-proclaimed gods alive, he is one of the few characters who truly knows everything that's going on in the realm of Lordran.

Yet, despite being the closest thing Dark Souls has to an overarching villain, there is much about Gwyndolin that remains a mystery. From his serpentine lower half to the full power of his mysterious lunar blessings, this grand puppeteer is just as enigmatic as the Dark that frightens his kin. To shed a little light on the mysteries surrounding him, let's look behind the misty portal and get a closer look at the man with the plan.

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He Has Snakes For Feet

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In what might be the most obviously unusual of Gwyndolin's traits, he has writhing serpents where one's legs would usually be. Yet, as uncomfortable as having a lower-half consisting of vipers must be, it doesn't seem to hinder him in the slightest. His teleportation compensates for any mobility issues, which, combined with his archery and sorcery, allows him to easily distance himself from would-be foes before striking from afar.

How this came to be is unknown. Some fans claim it's the result of a connection between the Dark Sun and his co-conspirator, the Primordial Serpent Kingseeker Frampt. Others suspect it's an illusion Gwyndolin himself created to seem more menacing, or possibly a sign that the dragon Seath the Scaleless experimented on him. Alternatively, it might be a sign of his connection to a different character.

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He Might Be A Crossbreed

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Gwyndolin's Finger is an unused item in Dark Souls III, one that describes a "young crossbreed girl" that loved her brother, even after his destruction. This refers to his sister Yorshka, who possesses a tail, scales and strange tendrils coming from her face. She's also not the only creature of her kind, as the first game featured a half-dragon, Crossbreed Priscilla.

As established, Gwyndolin has serpents coming from his body, which Dark Souls' lore describes as "imperfect dragons." Given this, and his relation to Yorshka, it's possible that he is also some kind of crossbreed. Given that his father made war against the dragons, this might be another reason why he loathed the boy. Of course, if that is true, it would invite the question of why Lordran's most prominent dragon-hater keeps siring so many crossbreeds.

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He's Secretly Sickly

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Like so many characters in Dark Souls, Gwyndolin just can't catch a break. Despite being one of the most powerful magic-users in the game, his body is described as being weak and frail. This poor physical health was apparently a mark of shame for the Dark Sun and his family. He personally regarded himself as hideous, and there are no statues honoring him as there are with his father and sister.

Unlike Gwyndolin's serpentine legs, however, fans generally have a good idea why this is the case. While it could be a result of his serpentine mutations, his father Gwyn was an abusive parent who spurned his child at every turn. Compared to many of the would-be gods ruling Lordran, Gwyndolin hides behind illusions and diversions. Made to feel unworthy of the sunlight, he dwells in the shade, a reclusion that almost certainly contributed to his weak constitution.

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He Endured Being Eaten Alive

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Despite Gwyndolin's poor health, however, the boy is nevertheless Gwyn's son. As such, it takes a lot of work to put him down for good. In Dark Souls III, the Dark Sun returns as a victim of Aldrich, the Devourer of Gods. It's not known for how long the monstrous Saint of the Deep has been consuming him, but the would-be prince is clearly half-eaten by the time the player character finds the two of them.

Despite this horrifying state of affairs, it's implied that Gwyndolin is still alive in some form. While Aldrich is clearly in control, the moans and screams emanating from his body seem to be coming from his meal. Indeed, he is at least conscious enough to still dream, allowing Aldrich to search his memories and learn abilities like the Lifehunt Scythe. Gwyndolin can't be saved from this hideous fate, but ending Aldrich will release both from their awful existences.

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His Lunar Blessings May Make Him The Most Powerful God

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Lord Gwyn was hardly the kindest father. Being an emotionally abusive control freak, it's little wonder that his son turned out to be a secretive wreck of a god. The moon's power was strong in Gwyndolin's body and, since Gwyn considered this unmasculine, he shunned the boy at every turn. However, had Gwyn learned to appreciate the power of this son's lunar blessing, he could have had an unstoppable assassin or spymaster on his side.

Gwyndolin's powers grant him such mastery of illusions that he can make his father's capital, long-since taken by the Dark, appear in its full radiance. He can manifest perfect replicas of the kingdom's greatest warriors and deities. He can conceal himself from the world and operate without anyone knowing he was there. With this and his powerful sorceries in mind, Gwyn should have been grateful that this son never rebelled. After all, how can one fight an opponent that they can't even see coming?

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