Dark Souls 3’s Hidden Connection To The Demon’s Souls Universe

The original Soulslike, Demon’s Souls, is nothing more than a spiritual predecessor to Dark Souls III, but the two have a hidden connection that never receives any elaboration. Though the two are incredibly similar, with the original Dark Souls borrowing a plethora of Demon’s Souls mechanics only two years later, the two universes have no canonical connection. Still, hidden near Dark Souls 3‘s Firelink Shrine is what appears to be a nod to the Maiden in Black, Demon’s Souls‘ most prominent NPC.

Finding this Easter egg involves a run-in with FromSoftware’s most notorious NPC, Patches. From Armored Core to Dark Souls 3, Patches has tormented players in a variety of ways, and his nefarious tricks in the most recent Dark Souls can lead players to a grim sight. Following his first appearance at the Cathedral of the Deep (where he’s trapped Siegward of Catarina in a well), Patches can be found at the locked tower near Firelink Shrine. When players purchase the Tower Key and explore the building, Patches will have trapped the player inside when returning to the entrance gate. Aside from using a Homeward Bone, the only way out of the tower is to attempt some bold platforming down to the foundation.

Successfully jumping to a ledge below will land the player next to a Fire Keeper’s corpse, which can be pillaged for its clothes set. Continuing the descent will bring the player to what appears to be a mass grave of Fire Keepers, seemingly thrown into the pit when their role in tending the flame expired. The Estus Ring can be found among the bodies, and another gate will allow the player to escape Patches’ Dark Souls 3 betrayal and confront him at Firelink Shrine, where he will begin peddling his wares.

Dark Souls 3’s Dead Fire Keepers & Demon’s Souls’ Maiden In Black

The Dark Souls series is no stranger to piles of corpses – it’s in the dark fantasy sub-genre for a reason – but the Fire Keepers in the bottom of Firelink’s tower have an odd substance covering their eye sockets. It has a striking resemblance to the waxy substance which covers the Maiden in Black’s eyes in Demon’s Souls. They have slightly different colors, the Maiden’s being a bit lighter, but the shape is near identical, more than covering the eye sockets and running down the cheeks.

With no direct connection between the two games, the dead Fire Keepers are likely nothing more than a reference to the Maiden in Black. FromSoftware’s games have something of a penchant for blind characters. The Fire Keeper which tends Firelink Shrine in Dark Souls 3 is herself blind, and even Elden Ring‘s own Fire Keeper-like character appears to be blind in one eye. Still, so many Fire Keepers having an appearance similar to Demon’s Souls‘ Maiden in Black is an interesting detail, especially since Fire Keepers have been seen in so many forms throughout the Dark Souls series.

About The Author