A prisoner of desire, augurs of wrath, solitude, fear, and a heretical child of dark. All stem from the Abyss, and therefore the father of it, and these very ties grant them perhaps the strongest link to humanity and human nature of all the characters throughout the world of Dark Souls. The daughters of the Abyss’ collective impact cannot be understated; kingdoms have risen and fallen under their tenure. Indeed, depending on the Bearer of the Curse’s decisions, the whole of the world has been influenced by Nashandra’s machinations alone. I hope to provide a greater understanding of the descendants of Manus, their roles in the world, and their controversial youngest sister.
Nashandra, Queen of Drangleic
The prisoner of desire, Nashandra sought out power above all else, due to her nature as a weak fragment of Manus. As a daughter of the Abyss, she is inseparable from the Dark, and thus to truly understand Nashandra we must understand the Dark.
Pursuers (DS1): Sorcery of Manus, Father of the Abyss. Grant a fleeting will to the Dark of humanity, and volley the result. The will feels envy, or perhaps love, and despite the inevitable trite and tragic ending, the will sees no alternative, and is driven madly towards its target.
Black Serpent (DS3): Pyromancy discovered from the Abyss by High Lord Wolnir that inspired the black arts of the grave wardens. Releases undulating black flames that trace the ground. Be it sorcery or pyromancy, all techniques that infringe on humanity lead to the same place. That is to say, they all seek a will of their own.
Whisper of Despair (DS2): A hex that releases verbose darkness. The darkness echoes words of despair, reducing the defense of opponents.
The Dark blankets the world in black. A thing of tranquility, a thing serene.
Profound Still (DS2): A hex created by an ostracized cleric. Blocks the spells of nearby casters. This hex, born of jealousy and humiliation, is a locus of dark thoughts. The very things that reflect the true essence of life itself.
Scraps of Life (DS2): An esoteric spell created by Navlaan, the infamous exiled sorcerer. Awakens the souls of the long-buried dead.
The heretic Navlaan was executed along with his entire village, and the mere utterance of his name became a crime. Some say it was because he sought to restore the banned art of resurrection.
Ringed Knight Paired Greatswords: Paired black greatswords wielded by the Ringed Knights.
The arms of early men were forged in the Abyss, and betray a smidgen of life. For this the gods cast a seal of fire upon such weapons, and those who possessed them.
“The Queen…Brought peace… to this land, and to her King.
A peace so deep…it was like…
The Dark…” — Chancellor Wellager
“And so, she lived in fear. Of the dark, of the things that gnawed at her flesh.
And yet! The Abyss hath yet to produce any such creature!
Fear not, the dark, my friend.
And let the feast begin.
And so, despite his weighty armour, he lived in fear. Of a delicate thing, little more than a girl.
Where fire resideth, shadows twist and shrivel. But in the Abyss, there are shadows none.
Fear not, the dark, my friend.
And let the feast begin.” — Locust Preacher
Contrary to the violent effects we witnessed in Oolacile at the onset of Manus’ rage, the Abyss and the darkness of humanity are quite nuanced things, representing free will and life, a place of peace and tranquility. Yet in spite of this, the expression of that will has been quelled time and time again, either by the gods or those who adhere to their worship. We see it in the shepherding of humanity towards the First Flame. We see it again in the execution of Navlaan after he encroached upon the taboo relationship between the Dark and life itself. Most notably, we see this in the sealing of the Ringed Knights weapons by fire, a clear attempt to divorce any cultural understanding that the Abyss possessed the qualities of life of its own, the predecessor of all other practices we witness that suppress the Dark.
Nashandra then, can be considered analogous to the “envy” noted in the Pursuers spell description. Her Want, her desire for strength, clearly an attempt to compensate for her own weakness. And yet Nashandra seeks only to own that strength secondhand through her beloved, never to claim it for herself.
“If you proceed, Nashandra will come after you.
Knowing that you will take the throne, and link the fire.
She covets the First Flame, and the Great Soul.” — The Emerald Herald
“You have fought admirably on your journey, cursed Undead.
I am Nashandra, Queen of Drangleic.
A true monarch carries the weight of their souls.
The last king of this land, King Vendrick, as he was called…
He was less of a king than you might imagine.
He found the strength to rule his people, and when the Undead were born, cursed…
He found more strength, to face them.
But in the end, he never took the true throne.
Visit Vendrick.
We have no need for two rulers…” — Queen Nashandra
Chime of Want (DS2): Sacred chime created from the soul of Nashandra. The old one of the Abyss was reborn in death, split into miniscule fragments, and spread across the land. After taking their shapes, they courted monarchs of considerable power, which they desired to make their own.
As Lokey Lore reveals, the Japanese text refers to the Great Soul as the “Great Soul of the Flame”, the Flame’s linker. This was always intended to be Vendrick, a man Nashandra manipulated for countless years to become strong enough to link the fire. We know from Chancellor Wellager’s dialogue that it was Nashandra that caused the war between the humans and Giants. There is already an excellent writeup that elaborates on the evidence of why, namely that it was purely the strength of the Giant’s souls Nashandra wished for Vendrick to claim. Rather than retread that ground, I want to examine what led Nashandra to this conclusion, as none of her sisters left so ruinous a legacy behind.
Scythe of Want (DS2): The old one of the Abyss was reborn in death, split into miniscule fragments. and spread across the land. After regaining their shapes, they crawled forth yearning for strong souls, in search of greater power.
Bow of Want (DS2): Light and Dark are two sides of the same coin, much like the soul and the curse. The beings who presented themselves to those in search of kinghood were drawn to their awesome strength.
“The Abyss once had form, but then dissipated.
And yet, traces of its existence endured.
Each fragment, thirsting for power, spread Dark, with no relent.
My dear Shandra… was one such fragment…
A feeble, tiny thing that thirsted for power more than any other…
Driven by insatiable lust for a worthy vessel.
Fire came to be, and with it, Disparity.
Heat and cold, life and death, Light and Dark.
Dark was seen as a curse.
Shadow is not cast, but born of fire.
And, the brighter the flame, the deeper the shadow.” — King Vendrick
Nashandra was uniquely pathetic in comparison to her siblings, the driving factor behind her quest for power. Lokey interpreted Vendrick’s “brighter the flame, deeper the shadow” line to be indicative of Nashandra’s relationship with Vendrick himself, were he to take the Throne and link the fire. I am inclined to agree with this. Shanalotte’s dialogue coupled with the fragments of Manus seeking out Monarchs makes it clear the shards themselves do not aim to grow stronger, they desire only to be at the side of those with powerful Souls. As the prisoner of desire, Nashandra needed this more than any of them.
Elana, the Squalid Queen
Squalid is a fitting epithet for Elana, though her original Japanese name “Elena the Disgraceful (穢れのエレナ)” may be even better. A member of royalty whose kingdom has fallen into poison and disrespair, she has had all dignity stolen from her, a truly disgraced figure. By all accounts, she was well-beloved by her kingdom (not unlike Nashandra), with some observing that the Pagan statues, as Gilligan calls them, have been retroactively made to be symbols of her.
The use of the word “Pagan” by Gilligan is fascinating as there is only one other time it is used, once again in Shulva. The bizarre and secluded Pagan Tree must at one time have been an object of worship by the people of Shulva, likely before Elana had seduced their Monarch. Their proclivity for Pagan religions, that is, worship of something other than the gods of Anor Londo, culminates in their worship of Sinh, Slumbering Dragon, and ultimately leads to their collapse.
Soul of Elana, Squalid Queen(DS2): Soul of Elana, the Squalid Queen,
who rest beside the sleeping dragon of the Eternal Sanctum.
This child of Dark accompanies the dragon,
slowly amassing souls in anticipation of the coming day of vengeance.
The wondrous soul of this augur of wrath
can be used to acquire numerous souls,
or to create something of great worth.
Sanctum Priestess Tiara (DS2): This tiara has been warped by poison, adding to its peculiar design. It is said that the priestesses sang to preserve the dragon’s deep slumber, but one wonders if a single phrase of their song ever reached the dragon’s ears.
Dragon Stone (DS2): The heirloom of a race that discovered a dragon, worshiped its magnificence, and perished by its side.
Sanctum Knight Set (DS2): The sanctum knights renounced their own
flesh to eternally guard the sanctum from Sir Yorgh and his Drakeblood Knights.
Focus Souls (DS2): An ancient sorcery of Shulva, the Sanctum City.
Fires a focused beam of souls.
The development of sorceries was stunted in Shulva, as they were considered taboo.
Even so, there were some occasional gems created by a group of enthusiasts.
The Dragon Sinh was revered by the people of Shulva, with them willing to die by its side and fight the invading Drakeblood Knights beyond death. It is interesting to note that despite their abandonment towards the worship of the gods, Sorceries were still considered taboo. This is perhaps a remnant of the old cultures of the world, not unlike that of Vendrick keeping the clerics around out of tradition despite his distaste for them.
White Priest Robe (DS2): The clerics of Drangleic were not viewed with particular reverence, and their positions were only preserved as a nod to tradition.
Furthermore, Sinh’s Soul reveals the city was actually built around the slumbering descendant of Archdragons.
Soul of Sinh, the Slumbering Dragon: Soul of Sinh the Dragon, who sleeps in the lowermost depths of this land.
The King erected a magnificent city, and the dragon slept soundly. Until Sir Yorgh disturbed it with a single great strike, and the dragon could bear its store of poison no longer. The rain of death toppled the city, but restored the dragon’s purity.
This thriving culture was not to last, courtesy of Sir Yorgh and his Drakeblood Knights. Seeking the blood of dragons, they laid siege to Shulva, which would never recover.
DrakeBlood Set (DS2): Armor of the Black Drakeblood Knights,
who came from a land long forgotten. The Drakeblood Knights, who worshipped the blood of dragons, were led by Sir Yorgh in a siege of the Eternal Sanctum, but sunk into the Sanctum when the sleeping dragon awoke. The red cloth wrapped around the black armor represents the sacred blood of dragons.
DrakeBlood Set (DS3): Armor of the Drakeblood Knights, worshippers of the blood of dragons. The red cloth is said to symbolize their yearning for blood. Dragon worship has captured the hearts and minds of warriors across the lands for many ages. Perhaps such warriors are attracted to doctrines of few words.
The fixation on blood calls to mind the Wolf’s Blood of Farron, and the lycanthropes that are thought to have imbibed too much of it. Additionally, there is the Blood of the Dark Soul. These three bloodlines form a consistent idea that power can be transferred through blood in the world of Dark Souls, and that is certainly what the DrakeBlood Knights sought, reinforced by the presence of these knights at ArchDragon’s Peak in DS3, seeking enlightenment and transcendence.
Yorgh’s Spear: Spear wielded by Sir Yorgh during his invasion of the Sanctum city. After his defeat of the Sunken King, Sir Yorgh pierced Sinh, the sleeping dragon, with this spear to claim its blood. But Sinh immediately awoke, spewing a poisonous fog that blanketed the city in death, and Sir Yorgh disappeared into the Eternal Sanctum.
With her king defeated and her kingdom ruined, is it any wonder that Elana would come to be known as the augur of wrath? Is it truly unreasonable that she would anticipate a day of vengeance against Sir Yorgh and his knights? I have seen some posit that it was Elana who poisoned Sinh to begin with, but this is not suggested by any item descriptions. Elana does not deal any poison damage, and while her summons do inflict poison buildup, this can easily be interpreted as a result of these summons coming from the poisoned city of Shulva.
“You were not deserving of the mire…
You… forever will you rot…” — Elana, The Squalid Queen
Elana speaks of the murk of Shulva in almost reverent terms, as something we should aspire to be worthy of (and have failed to do so). This scant dialogue would be quite unusual if Elana were actively attempting to destroy the city and the dragon, unless she thought poisoning it was a good thing, of which there is no evidence.
Additionally, her kinship with the Dragon, the last vestige of her kingdom, is strengthened by her Wrathful Axe’s unique design, bearing the signature swirl only the Dragon Weapons of DS1 possess. Sinh’s tail can be cut, but no item will be rewarded. Likewise, his soul can only be traded for a single item. It is possible the Wrathful Axe originates with Sinh, not Elana, and simply became associated with her soul after having wielded it for so long. It is certainly no more bizarre than being able to claim Yorgh’s spear from Sinh’s soul after all.
With this in mind, it is no surprise that Elana attempts to kill us. We are simply one more in a long line of invaders who wish to kill her sacred Dragon, the last memento of her king.
Nadalia, Bride of Ash
Arriving at Brume Tower long after it had fallen into disarray, Nadalia sought a king as her sisters did and found naught but ruin. With Sir Alonne having left the country for other lands (and dying) and the Old Iron King having sunken into the Ichorous Earth (Molten Earth in the Japanese text), the would-be queen was simply far too late.
Outcry (DS2): A pyromancy of Nadalia, Bride of Ash. Spouts multiple Dark flames.
This child of Dark, bearing inconceivable strength, found herself in a kingless land devoid of souls. And in journeying there, has all but condemned herself to a fate most wretched.
Soul of Nadalia, Bride of Ash (DS2): Soul of Nadalia, Bride of Ash,
who renounced her flesh and wandered Brume Tower. In the act of dancing, the Bride of Ash was transfigured as smoke, enticing people to her residence.
And so her seat of power came to be known as the Brume Tower.
The wondrous soul of this augur of solitude can be used to acquire numerous souls, or to create something of great worth.
Contrary to her sisters, Nadalia demonstrated considerable power, being able to ward off countless assailants who attempted to reclaim the defunct tower. Similar to her father, she demonstrated the ability to fracture her body, becoming a black fog that possessed both empty suits of armors as well as the living.
Fume Sorceror Robes (DS2): Robes worn by fume sorcerers.
After the Old Iron King sunk into the lava, scores of men were dispatched to this land to tap the replete stores of iron.
But they soon lost their nerve when faced with the child of Dark, and all but the most steadfast of them became servants of the black fog.
In spite of this, her form of solitude has a weakness in the form of the Ashen Idols she entrusts her essence to.
Smelter Wedge (DS2): An iron wedge forged in this land. Destroys the ashen idol. The ashen idol is of great consequence to Nadalia, who, having renounced her flesh, entrusts her very being to it.
While a tenuous connection at best, the Crown of the Iron King DLC does generate unusual connections between Eygil and Nadalia. It is important to note that they never met, but the note of dancing tying into Nadalia’s collapse of form is unique.
Dance of Fire (DS2): Pyromancy created by the magus Eygil, loyal follower of the Old Iron King. Cast flame in a sweeping motion across a targeted area.
The fire seems to dance, and makes its victims dance with it.
Fire Snake (DS2): Pyromancy created by the magus Eygil, loyal follower of the Old Iron King. Creates several pillars of flame in front of the caster.
Eygil sought to grant fire a will of its own. This pyromancy was conjured up to behave like a snake, writhing toward its prey, with a mind to strike.
Additionally, we have already demonstrated that free will is a connotation of the Dark, possibly indicating Eygil was beginning to tamper with heretical forces. He would have been a suitable champion for Nadalia had they met. Luckily, another would come to Brume Tower and break her curse of solitude.
Soul of the Fume Knight (DS2): Soul of the fume knight that guards the dungeon of Brume Tower.
Raime was a distinguished knight who became infatuated with the Bride of Ash, and settled in this land of smoke and fog.
Raime’s Armor (DS2): Armor worn by the fume knight. The rebel Raime, after his defeat at the hands of Velstadt, came to Brume Tower in search of greater strength. When he found it, it came not from a regal father figure like before, but from a newfound mother, who gave him true purpose
Fume Ultra Greatsword (DS2):Ultra Greatsword forged from the soul of the Fume Knight.
The Exile swordsman Raime had the ability to expunge the black fog, but chose to live alongside it, in company of the child of dark that haunts his sword.
The Dark Souls 2 Design Works interview paints the symbiotic relationship in a slightly different light.
“The important part of the character was the fact that he isn’t fighting you of his own volition, but rather he is being controlled by the queen. It’s a little complicated isn’t it [laugh]” — Dark Souls 2 Design Works Interview
However as the final item descriptions shift their relationship in a more positive light, we can assume this is the canonical direction taken in the game proper, with Raime having found purpose after his exile, and Nadalia finally possessing the champion she had always desired.
“Welcome darling,
You’ve come!
Come to me!
Come quickly!
Let me surround you,
Let me surround you,
Please don’t go.
I waited so long for you
It was unbearable, my dear.
Where were you?
Oh, it doesn’t matter. As long as you’re here.
Do not be fooled.
I have a champion of the Dark.
It’s you who have lost.
You’ve ruined us!
My dear sisters will come.
I require thy strength.
I require thy ear.
After all that!
You fool!
You are mine now.” — Nadalia, Bride of Ash
Alsanna, Silent Oracle
Alsanna is the first truly altruistic child of the Abyss we encounter. Being the “augur of fear”, she clung to a mighty King like her sisters before her. Unlike them, her true nature was understood by the King immediately, and he would entrust the kingdom to her when he ultimately sacrificed himself.
“My dear lord, a most true king.
It was with his magnificent soul
that he built Eleum Loyce…
…and contained the spread of Chaos.
But the Chaos would not be sated,
and the King gave his own soul.
Inevitably, the King was drained of vigor,
and plunged into the Chaos’ heart.
Eleum Loyce was frozen in time, it’s leader lost…
I remain here, to contain the Chaos,
honouring my Lord’s wishes.
Prehaps one day, he will return…
There’s nothing here,
save that accursed flame…” — Alsanna, Silent Oracle
Crown of the Ivory King (DS2): Crown of the Ivory King who once ruled this land.
Far to the north, a King built a great cathedral to appease the raging flame. But when he sensed the degradation of his soul, he left without a word, leaving everything to Alsanna, who had, unbeknownst, found a place at his side. But these were events of long ago, and today, no one even remembers the King’s name.
Eleum Loyce is by all accounts, one of the most magnificent and well-preserved kingdoms we witness throughout the Souls series. This is for good reason, after the outburst of the Chaos Flame in the region, the gates were flung open, freezing the city in time and space.
Ivory Warrior Ring (DS2): Ring of the guardians of Eleum Loyce. Attacks greatly reduce enemy stamina.
Eleum Loyce existed to subdue
the raging flame, but when the ivory
gates were flung open, the land grew cold
and lifeless.
It is important to note that the Ivory King is originally from Forossa, a land “mired in war” according to Headless Vengarl, that worshiped the war god Faraam (likely another name for the Nameless King, Gwyn’s firstborn). The remnants of Eleum Loyce still showcase his culture and its advancements in the form of automated Golems and a thriving practice of advanced Sorcery. Retroactively, the latter pairs quite nicely with the idea of the Nameless King as Faraam, as there has been a tangible connection between Dragons and Sorceries since Seath the Scaleless, and the Nameless King was allied with the Dragons prior to his exile.
Ivory King Ultra Greatsword (DS2): It is said that the Ivory King was once
the highest ranking knight in his home of Forossa, famed for its god of war.
After taking his crown, they say he was the first to swing his sword in times of need, be it for his homeland or his people.
Rampart Golem Lance (DS2): Lance wielded by the rampart golems,
granted life by the Ivory King. The golems were charged with the
containment of the creatures of chaos within the boundaries of the wall. When the doors of Eleum Loyce were flung open, the place turned frigid and lifeless, but the golems remained dutifully on guard.
All of this begs the question, who or what is responsible for the resurgence in Chaos after the Bed of Chaos was first slain in the original Dark Souls?
Eye of the Priestess (DS2): The eye of the First Priestess who watched over Eleum Loyce. Allows one to see the unseen. All the great priestesses replaced one of their birth eyes with this, returning it after their term was complete.
Vessel Shield (DS2): Shield depicting a priestess of Eleum Loyce. Emanates a certain heat that heightens the abilities of its bearer. The priestesses, who devoted themselves to appeasing the ancient flame, are no longer.
There is a subtle but important detail in these two items. They establish that the Priestesses watched over the Flame of Chaos of course, but the Eye of the Priestess omits any mention of the Chaos Flame, only discussing its purpose as a tool of divination. My interpretation of this is that it predates the Chaos Flame’s appearance in Eleum Loyce, as the Eye notes the First Priestess only watched over the city, not the Flame nor the Cathedral built to contain it.
With this in mind, we must consider the fact of the missing eye the Priestesses are said to possess. There is only one character bearing a connection to both the Flame of Chaos while also fitting these criteria.
The Lost Sinner’s exact sin and gender are never made explicit in any item descriptions (the feminine pronouns used were in fact a localization change), though she is still referred to as female in the Dark Souls 2 Design Works interview. Sweet Shalquoir’s dialogue, however, creates definitive parallels between the Lost Sinner and the Witch of Izalith.
“The Lost Sinner lives deep within the bastille.
The fool. Trying to light the First Flame…” — Sweet Shalquoir
Even if this is meant as an oddly written reference to the Witch of Izalith exclusively, the Lost Sinner’s own equipment bolsters the effects of Pyromancies and provides some of the greatest flame resistance in the game. And in regards to the missing eye …
The Chaos Bug needs a home to climb into after all. With this in mind, I believe this cleanly establishes the Lost Sinner as the First Priestess of Eleum Loyce. This creates a bitter irony when one considers the nature of Demons and the Chaos Flame. By bringing about a new advent of Chaos, the Lost Sinner sealed her own fate and those of the Demon race. Alsanna’s well-intentioned actions bring about a genocide, as we discover in DS3.
Soul of the Old Demon King (DS3): The shriveled Old Demon King is now like a clump of burnt ash, but he is the last living witness of the Chaos of Izalith.
Soul of a Demon (DS3): Demons were born of the Chaos Flame, but the flame has not survived, and the demons are a dying race.
Soul of the Demon Prince (DS3): The demons, birthed from a common Chaos, share almost everything between them, even the pride of their prince, and his nearly-faded flame. So that the last demon standing may rekindle it.
“Many of Eleum Loyce’s faithful knights followed their Lord into the Chaos. But none of them returned. The King’s dutiful subjects waited patiently for His homecoming. But it was too long a wait to bear… The knights of Eleum Loyce await a new leader. One who will guide them into Chaos. After having freed all Loyce Knights. The knights, reborn will follow your word.” — Alsanna, Silent Oracle
Soul of Alsanna, Silent Oracle (DS2): Soul of Alsanna, oracle of Eleum Loyce, who prays in silent vigilance.
This child of Dark, in reverence of the apocalypse, devotes herself to a ritual in hopes of appeasing the raging flame. The wonderous soul of this augur of fear can be used to acquire numerous souls, or to create something of great worth.
Alsanna devotes her life to righting the Lost Sinner’s wrongs, but in the world of Dark Souls, it is only natural that this would bring about greater untold suffering.
Karla, the Spurned
Karla’s status as a daughter of Manus is heavily contested, and that is what the bulk of her section will focus on. From her title “spurned” to her unusual magical qualities, there are many reasons I believe she is the final Abyssal child. To begin with let’s examine the terminology Karla and her items use to refer to herself.
“You’re here to save me…?
But I am guilty. A wretched child of the Abyss.
Is that something you can forgive?” — Karla
Karla’s Ashes (DS3): Umbral ash of Karla. With this, the shrine handmaid will prepare new items.
The spurned child of the Abyss never dies, but phases in and out of its fringes. Only, there is no one to search for her any longer.
While humans are certainly of the Dark, no mere human characters are ever referred to as being “of the Abyss” in any of the games. This is very specific terminology that can only call to mind Manus. Additionally, it is noted that Karla never truly dies, only phasing in and out. This is not entirely different from Manus’ own splintering and rebirth after his death, and his daughter Nadalia’s splintering of her soul into numerous proxy bodies.
There is the issue of Karla’s parentage, which is highly suggested to be the result of Alva and Zullie from DS2 via environmental evidence and invasions.
Dark Edge (DS3): A forbidden dark sorcery. Strikes with blade formed of humanity’s darkness. Passed from mother to daughter, this blade was intended for both protection and as a means of taking one’s own life. The young girl never swung it more than once.
The mother of course, must be Zullie the Witch due to the presence of Alva outside of Karla’s cell, but Zullie’s own equipment makes it clear this was not a biological parentage.
Black Witch Garb (DS3): The purple Garb of the witch Zullie, who intended to seduce Alva the Wayfarer, but eventually became his closest supporter, spending her entire life with him.
It is said that Zullie the witch, who was never loved, nor loved another, experienced all manner of misfortune, and yet in the end, found her purpose in life.
Thus Karla must have been an adopted child of the two, leaving room for her true ancestry to stem from Manus. What other purpose in life could there be for Zullie, one who has gone unloved, but to care for a child? Zullie is herself a participant in forbidden dark magics, so it is understandable that she would take pity on the “skinny little heretic”.
Next there is the matter of her curious epithet the “spurned child”. Spurned means to have been rejected harshly. While this could simply be due to her heretical dark nature (itself unique from the standard treatment humans receive, itself already quite terrible), she was certainly embraced by Alva and Zullie. If we ascribe the patterns of her sisters to her, spurned could refer to the rejection by a Monarch rather than the general populace.
Finally, there is Karla’s peculiar ability to teach us all manner of dark sorceries, pyromancies, and miracles, though she feels unworthy of the latter. While Straid of Olaphis is nearly as multifaceted, he has no Abyssal connotations of his own, merely being proclaimed a genius sorceror as the explanation for this.
Chime of Want (DS2): Sacred chime created from the soul of Nashandra.
The old one of the Abyss was reborn in death, split into miniscule fragments, and spread across the land.After taking their shapes, they courted monarchs of considerable power, which they desired to make their own.
On the other hand, this is actually a trait shared by most of Karla’s sisters. Nashandra’s Chime of Want acts as a holy item, while the Bow of Want fires lightning bolts commonly associated with Miracles and divinity. This being in addition to their connection to the dark. Furthermore, Nadalia has spawned Pyromancies of her own completing the trilogy of magical types if we consider that in the original Dark Souls nearly all dark magics were Sorceries (with only one Dark Pyromancy present and debatably two of Velka’s Miracles).
With this in mind, there is no doubt in my mind that Karla is the final daughter of the Abyss. It fits a pattern established since DS1, four significant figures, and a fifth that has been obscured. This replays in DS3 with the four Lords of Cinder and Ludleth, and now as we see here, with Manus’ four kingseeking daughters and Karla.
This would also explain her captivity in the Irithyll Dungeon. She refers to her captors as leeches, implying they wished to obtain something from her. With her extensive knowledge of all manner of dark magics, she would be immensely useful to Pontiff Sulyvahn who wishes to bring about an Age of Dark.
“Hm.
You’re a wicked one, aren’t you?
Very well. Humans are of the dark, and you are no different.
Some may avert their eyes, but the truth remains the truth.
Be careful though. Few humans are privy to this knowledge.
Let it be a secret, kept between you and I…” — Karla
“Once, the Lord of Light banished Dark, and all that stemmed from humanity
And men assumed a fleeting form.
These are the roots of our world
Men are props on the stage of life, and no matter how tender, how exquisite
A lie will remain a lie.” — Aldia, Scholar of the First Sin
Karla and her sisters are a link to the bedrock of the world, the purest essence of humanity as Dark Souls understands it.
