History TearJerker / DarkSoulsIII

** Gets even worse when you read the descriptions on his items and soul; [[spoiler: Put simply, ''this'' man is Gwyn's long lost firstborn son that had all of his records expunged. And why, pray tell, did Gwyn pull an UnPerson on him? Because he betrayed his father and sided with the Dragons. Even before all the stuff with the Linking of the Fire and committing the First Sin, Gwyn was carrying a lot of emotional baggage around from having to fight his firstborn during the war and having to forget he ever existed afterward.

** Gets even worse when you read the descriptions on his items and soul; [[spoiler: Put simply, ''this'' man is Gwyn's long lost firstborn son that had all of his records expunged. And why, pray tell, did Gwyn pull an UnPerson on him? Because he betrayed his father and sided with the Dragons. Even before all the stuff with the Linking of the Fire and committing the First Sin, Gwyn was carrying a lot of emotional baggage around from having to fight his firstborn during the war and having to forget he ever existed afterward.]]

* ''Everything'' about Farron's Undead Legion, aka, The Abyss Watchers. [[spoiler: Essentially, a military organisation that was founded by ''Sir Artorias'', they have sworn there lives protecting the world from the shadows, and nameless horrors of the Abyss. Partaking in wolf blood, and donning dark armor, they are nevertheless selfless, heroic soldiers. When they were called on to burn in the Kiln for the greater good, they decided to do it as one, as [[TrueCompanions brothers.]] However, the Abyss, the very thing they swore to destroy, has corrupted them, and driven them mad, just like their founder. Now brother kills brother in mindless combat]], and just like everything else [[spoiler: the Abyss touches]], you need to help them to their final [[MercyKill rest.]]

* ''Everything'' about Farron's Undead Legion, aka, The Abyss Watchers. [[spoiler: Essentially, a military organisation that was founded by ''Sir Artorias'', they have sworn there lives protecting the world from the shadows, and nameless horrors of the Abyss. Partaking in wolf blood, and donning dark armor, there nevertheless selfless, heroic soldiers. When they were called on to burn in the Kiln for the greater good, they decided to do it as one. As [[TrueCompanions brothers.]] However, the Abyss, the very thing they swore to destroy, has corrupted them, and driven them mad, just like their founder. Now brother kills brother, in mindless combat.]] Just like everything else [[spoiler: the Abyss touches]], you need to help them to their final [[MercyKill rest.]]

** Not only is it sad for the [[spoiler: The Chosen Undead]], it also hugely tragic for [[spoiler: Gywn himself.]] Already considered one of the most selfless, and noble characters in the series, the game really hammers home the tragedy of his character. [[spoiler: His kingdom has been destroyed. All of his champions murdered. His son betrayed him to his sworn enemies, the Dragons. After choosing to burn in the Kiln for all eternity, his hope of his daughter, and other son, to preserve his kingdom, is completely crushed when it falls to ruin because of the selfishness of the both them. Said son ends up enduring a FateWorseThanDeath, being consumed by an EldritchAbomination.]] Even the promise of a MercyKill [[spoiler: in ''Dark Souls 1'']] is proven false. Even if your disagree with [[spoiler: Gwyn's choice to Link the Fire]], you'll want to give him a hug by the end of the game.

** Gets even worse when you read the descriptions on his items and soul; [[spoiler: Put simply, ''this'' is Gwyn's long lost firstborn son that had all of his records expunged. And why, pray tell, did Gwyn pull an UnPerson on him? Because he betrayed his father and sided with the Dragons. Even before all the stuff with the Linking of the Fire and committing the First Sin, Gwyn was carrying a lot of emotional baggage around from having to fight his firstborn during the war and having to forget he ever existed afterward.]]

** Not only is it sad for the [[spoiler: The Chosen Undead]], it also hugely tragic for [[spoiler: Gywn himself.]] Already considered one of the most selfless, and noble characters in the series, the game really hammers home the tragedy of his character. [[spoiler: His kingdom has been destroyed. All of his champions murdered. His son betrayed him to his sworn enemies, the Dragon. After choosing to burn in the Kiln for all eternity, his hope of his daughter, and other son, to preserve his kingdom, is completely crushed when it falls to ruin because of the selfishness of the both them. Said son end's up enduring ''AFateWorseThenDeath'', being consumed by an EldritchAbomination.]] Even the promise of a MercyKill in [[spoiler: in ''Dark Souls 1'' is proven false. Even if your disagree with his choice of [[spoiler: lighting the flame]], you'll want to give him a hug by the end of the game.

* ''Everything'' about Farron's Undead Legion, aka, The Abyss Watchers. [[spoiler: Essentially, a military organisation that was founded by ''Sir Artorias'', they have sworn there lives protecting the world from the shadows, and nameless horrors of the Abyss. Partaking in wolf blood, and donning dark armor, there nevertheless selfless, heroic soldiers. When they were called on to burn in the Kiln for the greater good, they decided to do it as one. As [[TrueCompanions brothers.]] However, the Abyss, the very thing they swore to destroy, has corrupted them, and driven them mad, just like there founder. Now brother kills brother, in mindless combat.]] Just like everything else [[spoiler: the Abyss touches]], you need to help them to their final [[MercyKill rest.]]

** This extends to [[spoiler: his brother; Lorian the Elder Prince. Lothric was too weak and sickly a vessel for his entire life, so Lorian had to step in and bear the brunt of the Flame's power in his stead when the time came. This broke his mind and rendered him a brute crawling on his knees.]]

* Oceiros, the Consumed King is a blind, dragon-like thing that [[spoiler: is convinced that you have come to kidnap or assassinate someone called Oceirlot. As the fight goes on, he starts calling out for Oceirlot, saying they have nothing to fear and calling them "child of dragons", all the while cradling an empty claw to his chest and with a baby's cries echoing in the air.]]
* The Nameless King starts the second stage of his battle by [[spoiler: laying a hand on the head of his downed GiantFlyer mount before harvesting its soul for more power. When he goes to finish it off, he hesitates for a long moment with his weapon held up. You can see it shaking in his grip.]]

* The final Lord of Cinder: Lothric the Younger Prince, is even ''more'' heart-wrenching than the Abyss Watchers: [[spoiler: Lothric was predetermined and groomed to link the First Flame, to the point that he was never given anything to wear beyond a ''sacrificial hairshirt he was given at birth''. When you encounter him, he's been broken and disillusioned into wanting the world to fade into darkness for daring to demand he submit his essence to such agony again. And you force him to go back anyway, possibly for nothing if you forgo Linking the Flame yourself.]]
** This extends to [[spoiler: his brother; Lorian the Elder Prince. Lothric was too weak and sickly a vessel for his entire life, so Lorian had to step in and bear the brunt of the Flame's power in his stead when the time came, his broke his mind and rendered him a brute crawling on his knees.]]

* The final Lord of Cinder: Lothric the Younger Prince, is even more heart-wrenching than the Abyss Watchers: [[spoiler: Lothric was predetermined and groomed to link the First Flame, to the point that he was never given anything to wear beyond a ''sacrificial hairshirt he was given at birth''. When you encounter him, he's been ((MaddenIntoMisanthropy: broken and disillusioned into wanting the world to fade into darkness for daring to demand he submit his essence to such agony again.)) And you force him to go back anyway, possibly for nothing if you forgo Linking the Flame yourself.]]
** This extends to [[spoiler: his brother; Lorian the Elder Prince. Lothric was too weak and sickly a vessel for his entire life, so Lorian had to step in an bear the brunt of the Flame's power in his stead when the time came, his broke his mind and rendered him a brute crawling on his knees.]]

* The final Lord of Cinder: Lothric the Younger Prince, is even more heart-wrenching than the Abyss Watchers: [[spoiler: Lothric was predetermined and groomed to link the First Flame, to the point that he was never given anything to wear beyond a ''sacrificial hairshirt he was given at birth''. When you encounter him, he's been {{MaddenIntoMisanthropy: broken and disillusioned into wanting the world to fade into darkness for daring to demand he submit his essence to such agony again.}} And you force him to go back anyway, possibly for nothing if you forgo Linking the Flame yourself.]]

* The final Lord of Cinder: Lothric the Younger Prince, is even more heart-wrenching than the Abyss Watchers: [[spoiler: Lothric was predetermined and groomed to link the First Flame, to the point that he was never given anything to wear beyond a ''sacrificial hairshirt he was given at birth''. When you encounter him, he's been [[MaddenIntoMisanthropy: broken and disillusioned into wanting the world to fade into darkness for daring to demand he submit his essence to such agony again.]] And you force him to go back anyway, possibly for nothing if you forgo Linking the Flame yourself.]]

* The Nameless King starts the second stage of his battle by [[spoiler: laying a hand on the head of his downed GiantFlyer mount before harvesting its soul for more power. When he goes to finish it off, he hesitates for a long moment with his weapon held up. You can see it shaking in his grip.

* The final boss, [[spoiler: Soul of Cinder]] is heavily implied to be [[spoiler: either the remnants of Gwyn, Lord Of Cinder OR the player character from the first game. The first phase of the fight has the boss use a variety of ''Dark Souls I'' moves, even Darkwood Grain Ring flipping to dodge attacks whenever he uses his curved sword moveset. Phase two begins after their health is depleted. Gwyn, Lord of Cinder from the first game's soundtrack slowly begins to take over the epic background music, until it eventually fades to just the piano. Amidst all this, the Soul of Cinder begins to spam you with souped up version of Gwyn's moves.]]

* ''Everything'' about Farron's Undead Legion, aka, The Abyss Watchers. [[spoiler: Essentially, a military organisation that was founded by ''Sir Artorias'', they have sworn there lives protecting the world from the shadows, and nameless horrors of the Abyss. Partaking in wolf blood, and donning dark armor, there nevertheless selfless, heroic soldiers. When they were called on to burn in the Kiln for the greater good, they decided to do it as one. As [[TrueCompanions brothers.]] However, the Abyss, the very thing they swore to destroy, has corrupted them, and driven them mad, just like there founder. Now brother kills brother, in mindless combat.]] Just like everything else, [[spoiler: the Abyss touches]], you need to help them to there final [[MercyKill rest.]]
* The final boss, [[spoiler: Soul of Cinder]] is heavily implied to be [[spoiler: either the remnants of Gwyn, Lord Of Cinder OR the player character from the first game. The first phase of the fight has the boss use a variety of Dark Souls 1 moves, even Darkwood Grain Ring flipping to dodge attacks. Phase 2 begins after their health is depleted. Gwyn, Lord of Cinder from the first game's soundtrack slowly begins to take over the epic background music, until it eventually fades to just the piano. Amidst all this, the Soul of Cinder begins to spam you with souped up version of Gwyn's moves.]]

* ''Everything'' about Farron's Undead Legion, aka, The Abyss Watchers. [[spoiler: Essentially, a military organisation that was founded by ''Sir Artorias'', they have sworn there lives protecting the world from the shadows, and nameless horrors of the Abyss. Partaking in wolf blood, and donning dark armor, there nevertheless selfless, heroic soldiers. When they were called on to burn in the Kiln for the greater good, they decided to do it as one. As [[TrueCompanions brothers.]] However, the Abyss, the very thing they swore to destroy, has corrupted them, and driven them mad, just like there founder. Now brother kills brother, in mindless combat.]] Just like everything else, [[spoiler: the Abyss touches]], you need to help them to there final [[MercyKill rest.]]

* The image of all the Firekeeper corpses in the bottom of the tower where a Fire-Keeper soul is found. It's equal parts disturbing and sad. And what's even sadder is the description of them being allowed to rest, [[FateWorseThanDeath which makes one wonder about what it must be like to be a Fire-keeper]].

* The sheer soul-crushing fact that everything everyone fought, struggled, suffered, and died for in the previous two games was all for naught is a serious case of FridgeHorror. No one figured out how to stop the curse or the cycle, countless civilizations have come and gone by building on the bones of their predecessors only for them to become the next set of bones, and ''nothing anyone could do could prevent this.'' Even ''[[VideoGame/DarkSoulsII Dark Souls II's]]'' revelation that [[spoiler:Vendrick figured out how to stop the curse and break the cycle but was too late to implement it]] is of little comfort given that this game proves [[spoiler: that The Bearer of the Curse a.k.a. ''YOU'' were unable to do anything even with the cure he gave you.]] And all of this pain and misery and senseless sacrifice is this game's ''set-up!''

* The fact that the fight against [[spoiler:Gwyn, Lord of Cinder]] in ''VideoGame/DarkSouls'' is set up as a TheLastDance scenario makes the revival of the ancient Lords of Cinder all the more tragic. All these poor people gave everything they could to keep their respective Ages of Fire going, and now not even the release of death is enough to keep them from their self-imposed shackles. Gotta feel bad for these poor sods.

* The sheer soul-crushing fact that everything everyone fought, struggled, suffered, and died for in the previous two games all was all for naught is a serious case of FridgeHorror. No one figured out how to stop the curse or the cycle, countless civilizations have come and gone by building on the bones of their predecessors only for them to become the next set of bones, and ''nothing anyone could do could prevent this.'' Even ''[[VideoGame/DarkSoulsII Dark Souls II's]]'' revelation that [[spoiler:Vendrick figured out how to stop the curse and break the cycle but was too late to implement it]] is of little comfort given that this game proves [[spoiler: that The Bearer of the Curse a.k.a. ''YOU'' were unable to do anything even with the cure he gave you.]] And all of this pain and misery and senseless sacrifice is this game's ''set-up!''

* The sheer soul-crushing fact that everything everyone fought, struggled, suffered, and died for in the previous two games all was all for naught is a serious case of FridgeHorror. No one figured out how to stop the curse or the cycle, countless civilizations have come and gone by building on the bones of their predecessors only for them to become the next set of bones, and ''nothing anyone could do could prevent this.'' Even ''[[VideoGame/DarkSoulsII DS2's]]'' revelation that [[spoiler:Vendrick figured out how to stop the curse and break the cycle but was too late to implement it]] is of little comfort given that this game proves [[spoiler: that The Bearer of the Curse a.k.a. ''YOU'' were unable to do anything even with the cure he gave you.]] And all of this pain and misery and senseless sacrifice is this game's ''set-up!''

* The sheer soul-crushing fact that everything everyone fought, struggled, suffered, and died for in the previous two games all was all for naught is a serious case of FridgeHorror. No one figured out how to stop the curse or the cycle, countless civilizations have come and gone by building on the bones of their predecessors only for them to become the next set of bones, and ''nothing anyone could do could prevent this.'' Even ''[[VideoGame/DarkSoulsII DS2's]]'' revelation that [[spoiler:Vendrick figured out how to stop the curse and break the cycle but was too late to implement it]] is of little comfort given that this game proves [[spoiler: that The Bearer of the Curse a.k.a. ''YOU'' were unable to do anything even with the cure he gave you.]] And all of this pain and misery and senseless sacrifice is this game's ''set-up!''

* The sheer soul-crushing fact that everything everyone fought, struggled, suffered, and died for in the previous two games all was all for naught is a serious case of FridgeSadness. No one figured out how to stop the curse or the cycle, countless civilizations have come and gone by building on the bones of their predecessors only for them to become the next set of bones, and ''nothing anyone could do could prevent this.'' Even ''[[VideoGame/DarkSoulsII DS2's]]'' revelation that [[spoiler:Vendrick figured out how to stop the curse and break the cycle but was too late to implement it]] is of little comfort given that this game proves [[spoiler: that The Bearer of the Curse a.k.a. ''YOU'' were unable to do anything even with the cure he gave you.]] And all of this pain and misery and senseless sacrifice is this game's ''set-up!''